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	Wednesday, September 6 Cowboys shooting for winning season
	By Todd Cooper Special to ESPN.com Oklahoma State Cowboys 1999 record: 5-6 (3-5 Big 12) Coach: Bob Simmons Returning starters: 10 (5 offense, 5 defense) Outlook You don't have to look at the mammoth facade of the new athletic center in the east end zone of Lewis Field to know that Oklahoma State is undergoing a retooling. Coach Bob Simmons hired a new offensive coordinator (Del Miller from Kansas State), a new offensive line coach (Mike Jacobs of Ohio State) and a new linebackers coach (Dave Huxtable of East Carolina). The good news, though, is that Nebraska and Kansas State are off the schedule and Missouri and Iowa State are on it. But in order to beat the Tigers or Cyclones or any other team, the Cowboys are going to have to keep teams off balance and keep quarterback Tony Lindsay healthy. For the first time in 33 years, the Cowboys had no 100-yard rushers. With Simmons' son Nathan gone, Jamaal Fobbs will try to rectify the running game. It won't be easy. The Cowboys lost two of their top linemen - Adam Davis and Reynell Lavigne - and have just two seniors on their top two offensive line units. That will mean Lindsay will have to be at his best running and throwing in Miller's multiple-receiver sets. "The offense is more wide open this year and that will benefit us," Lindsay said. "If we start to throw the ball it will open up the running game for us. We will be ready to run and throw the ball this season." They should be ready to defend the run, too, as three defensive linemen return to anchor the defense. Zac Warner, Zac Akin and Kevin Williams, along with back-up Juqua Thomas, propelled the Cowboys last year to a top 10 finish nationally in total defense. After mass departures due to graduation, the Cowboys need young players to step up and step up quickly at linebacker and defensive back. Keep an eye on ... Lindsay and Lindsay. Tony Lindsay's younger brother, Gabe, is a spark plug of a punt returner. It's a good season if ... The Cowboys have a winning record after playing seven teams from Oklahoma and Texas. Todd Cooper is a staff writer for the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald		AROUND THE BIG 12 Baylor Colorado Iowa St. Kansas Kansas St. Missouri Nebraska Oklahoma Oklahoma St. Texas Texas A&M Texas Tech ALSO SEE Nebraska still the one in the Big 12