STILLWATER, Okla. -- Bob Simmons, whose team has lost six consecutive
games, will resign as Oklahoma State's football coach after the season, ending
his six-year stay at the school.
His last game for Cowboys will be the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State showdown Nov.
25.
"I do this so the university can go about rebuilding the program," Simmons
said Monday. "Any time a coach leaves a program, it comes down to the 'W' --
the wins and losses."
Oklahoma State (2-6, 0-5 Big 12) is assured its third consecutive losing season
and fifth under Simmons.
He told his players of the decision just before an afternoon news
conference.
"That was tough," he said in a halting voice. "I asked them to go forward
and very much be a part of the future of this program, the successes that they
are going to have. I encouraged them to stick around. I encouraged them to
recruit and to build."
Simmons said he wanted to continue coaching.
"I think I've done it the right way, the way they wanted me to do it," he
said.
Athletic director Terry Don Phillips has said there is no question the
program is in better shape than when Simmons took over after the 1994 season.
But he also has said fans and donors are dissatisfied with the lack of success.
"Your program is on solid ground," Simmons said in remarks aimed at fans.
Oklahoma State, inconsistent all season, finally put together four good
quarters in its 21-16 loss to Texas A&M on Saturday.
"Like Coach Simmons says, this team has shown tremendous character, and
we're not going to give up no matter what," said Gabe Lindsay, who had a
57-yard punt return for a touchdown. "We came out, we fought hard, but we just
didn't come out with a win."
Simmons, whose career record is 29-36, had what appeared to be a
breakthrough season in 1997 when the Cowboys won eight games and played in the
Alamo Bowl, their first bowl trip since 1988.
They finished 5-6 the following year, but almost upset Nebraska and Texas.
An early injury to quarterback Tony Lindsay contributed to another 5-6 finish
last season.
Lindsay injured his throwing shoulder during preseason but tried to play
through it. The Cowboys won their first two games, against Tulsa and Southwest
Texas, but they haven't won since.
Lindsay finally decided on surgery after the fifth game. Aso Pogi has played
well as his replacement, but not well enough for the Cowboys to win.
"I feel like that's the OSU team we should have been all year," defensive
lineman Zac Warner said after the A&M loss. "Why we weren't, I don't know."
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