they put on their pads and got to work .
As a freshman , Turner had his breakout moment . When the Cowboys faced Kansas , Turner started at left halfback , a new role for him . He impressed the coaches , so they elevated him to a regular starting spot , moving him to right halfback .
“ It was kind of exciting at that point ,” Turner said . “ I began to get a little confidence . Some folk might say it was a little cocky , but I think you kind of work on the borders of cocky and confident , you know what I ’ m saying ? Especially at that age .”
Turner and Gofourth , along with several of their teammates , grew into Miller ’ s trusty bodyguards . They took the hits and let him run .
Gofourth cracked a self-deprecating joke about his own lack of speed .
“ I was the only one they accused not only of carrying the piano while you ran a 40 – I was carrying it and trying to play it at the same time .”
Miller interjected , saying Gofourth ’ s contributions on the first three to seven yards allowed him to take that initial burst of speed toward the end zone .
It was an eclectic , hardworking group of guys shifting to new spots and learning on the fly . And it worked . Lincoln said the 1976 team revived OSU ’ s fan support , bringing a spark to the then-run-down Lewis Field .
Just an incredible football team ,” Lincoln said , “ and well-coached , well prepared .”
Although the Cowboy football players of today sometimes move to new positions – a Cowboy Back could maybe shift to linebacker , or a defensive end could step in on offense if he didn ’ t have “ brick hands ,” Gofourth said – these drastic changes have become less common .
The Cowboys of the 1970s wouldn ’ t have been themselves without that flexibility .
“ That ’ s one of the , I think , trademarks of that era , of that team that was willing to make transitions and do things ,” Turner said . “ And really became very good at what we did , we thought .”
JUMPING AHEAD
In early August , as the muggy morning heat moved in at Boone Pickens Stadium , the trio of former teammates stood at midfield for a photograph .
Sporting OSU gear , they admired the recently installed turf and wiped beads of sweat from their foreheads before facing the camera . The new orange logo below their feet appeared neon compared to the previous faded one .
The men were standing on new ground . They never had the luxury of playing under the stadium lights that exist today . But they were , standing at the spot where they created numerous college highlights .
Gofourth and Turner flanked Miller as they had many times , loyal teammates together again .
“ I think that ’ s one of the biggest things that I think we learned amongst one another , is we learned to respect one
another for what we did ,” Turner said . “ And I think that ’ s one of the things that kept us tight and continuing to grow as a team and understanding that we all had something to give , and it ’ s very unique to what we were doing at this particular point in time .”
Perhaps that sense of camaraderie has kept several of those Cowboys close to their college town . Other teammates are nearby . Calvin Miller has coached at Langston , and a couple of team members have lived in Morrison , a town in the “ Stillwater metro ,” as Terry Miller called it .
Miller , Gofourth and Turner are married to women who also have strong Stillwater ties . Miller laughed and said he wouldn ’ t have expected to live in Stillwater if it weren ’ t for his wife , Dr . Nancy Gay Washington Miller , but the former Cowboys and their families have become members of the community .
Gofourth , who runs an insurance agency on Duck Street , married his wife , Milissa , during his sophomore year at OSU , and she has worked at the university . Robert was the same age when he married Annette Turner , who went on to be a longtime employee of Stillwater Public Schools .
Miller met Washington when she worked in one of OSU ’ s dorms , and years later , they reconnected . Washington has been a prominent figure in Stillwater ’ s education circles , most recently serving as the interim superintendent at SPS .
“ It was like , choices are : Stillwater , Stillwater , Stillwater ,” Miller said . “ I ’ ve been here for 26 years .”
As their college years have passed , the former players ’ perspectives of Cowboy football have shifted . They watch as fans , as alumni , as Stillwater locals , as loyal family members . After gaining confidence from his own accomplishments on the football field , Turner takes pride in watching his grandson , JaKobe Sanders , prepare to start his career as an offensive lineman at OSU . Miller is a quiet fan . “ I ’ m a Cowboy ,” Miller said . “ Not nearly as vocal as some , but that ’ s just me .”
The three men have seen OSU evolve into a consistent winning program under coach Mike Gundy . They see the key players of today , from quarterback Spencer Sanders to edge rusher Collin Oliver , catch the nation ’ s attention with their breakout moments .
Miller , Turner and Gofourth had their big breaks . With persistence , support from a tight-knit team and a little of that magic called luck – “ preparation meets opportunity ,” as Gofourth said – the door is open for someone else to
SwOk do the same this fall at Boone Pickens Stadium .
STORY BY : Hallie Hart Stillwater Oklahoma Magazine
PHOTOS : Provided
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 27