TULSA, Okla. -- Oklahoma State and Georgia will play a
home-and-home college football series starting with next season's
opener, Sept. 1, 2007, in Athens, Ga., as part of a deal brokered
by ESPN that will include guaranteed television exposure for OSU
next year.
Georgia will open the 2009 season against the Cowboys in
Stillwater in what will be the first game at a completely renovated
Boone Pickens Stadium.
"I think this makes a statement about how we feel about our
football program and what direction we're headed with it," said
OSU athletic director Mike Holder.
The contract was finalized Wednesday after Cowboy coach Mike
Gundy approved the deal.
Gundy said he would not comment on future schedules until the
2006 season is completed, but Holder said he is looking forward to
the game.
"I think it says a lot about our coaches' confidence in what
kind of job they're doing, what kind of athletes we're recruiting
and what the future is for our football program," Holder said.
"I don't know what the reaction of the fans will be. I hope
it's positive. I know I'm excited," he said.
The 2007 game will be the first between the two schools since
Georgia beat OSU 20-7 in Stillwater in 1947. The Bulldogs also beat
the Cowboys in 1946, 33-13 at Athens.
As a reward for accepting the trip to Georgia, ESPN has
guaranteed OSU two additional games on ESPN during the 2007 season.
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Information from: Tulsa World, http://www.tulsaworld.com