Platform for Barry Sanders Statue Goes up Outside Boone Pickens Stadium

STILLWATER – When I pulled into the West End Zone parking lot for the weekly Tuesday player availability in Boone Pickens Stadium, I noticed a little construction going on outside the Northwest entrances.

The platform for the statue honoring Oklahoma State great Barry Sanders was erected on Tuesday.

It was announced over the summer that the 1988 Heisman Trophy winner was being inducted into the Cowboy Football Ring of Honor during the TCU game on Nov. 13 and would be honored with a statue prior to the start of the game.

I think the location is a perfect one because it overlooks the intersection of Hall of Fame and Washington and can be seen while driving East towards the stadium.

Sanders was one of the most dominant college football players of all time. During the 1988 season, he earned unanimous first-team All-America honors and became Oklahoma State’s only Heisman Trophy winner.

During that season, he rushed for 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns, averaged 236.5 rushing yards per game, 7.6 yards per carry, 44 total touchdowns. He had four games with at least 300 yards rushing and a three-game span where he rushed for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns against Kansas, Iowa State and Texas Tech.

Sanders’ iconic No. 21 is one of just four numbers retired by Oklahoma State.