MISSISSIPPI DEFEATS OKLAHOMA STATE IN FIRST AT&T COTTON BOWL CLASSIC AT NEW COWBOYS STADIUM

The first AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic at Cowboys Stadium promised a "new beginning" for the 74-year-old Classic, but it was déjà vu for Ole Miss and Dexter McCluster.

The Rebels defeated Oklahoma State, 21-7, to win the AT&T Cotton Bowl for the second straight year — third time since 2004 — and McCluster repeated as the Sanford Trophy winner, which recognizes the outstanding offensive player and commemorates AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic founder J. Curtis Sanford.

Playing in the largest domed structure in the world, the event drew 77,928 spectators — second largest in Cotton Bowl Classic history — plus a national Fox TV audience.

"I'm extremely proud of our team. It's hard to win back-to-back bowls," said Ole Miss Coach Houston Nutt. "To win the final Cotton Bowl at the old stadium and come in here and win again in this magnificent place is just awesome."

By unanimous vote in 2010, McCluster became of first player since University of Houston linebacker David Hodge in 1979 and 1980 to win consecutive outstanding player honors and the first offensive player since SMU's Doak Walker in 1948 and 1949 to earn offensive recognition in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic.

As Nutt pointed out, McCluster is the first player in Southeastern Conference (SEC) history to account for more than 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season. McCluster finished this year with 1,167 rushing yards and 565 receiving yards, including his 182 rushing and 45 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his final game.

"To be the only SEC player to accomplish this — nobody, nobody else — (Auburn's) Bo Jackson and the other great players in this league — Dexter is the only one," Nutt said. "This is why this is so special, because this guy has done something. His heart is bigger than this stadium, I promise."

McCluster said that "it's a blessing to be part of the SEC and a part of Ole Miss." Of a possible record-setting afternoon, which included a career high 32 carries, he said he really wasn't worried.

"I just wanted to win and do whatever I could to help the team win," he said. "I knew if I did that, it would fall into place, which it did."
Following a scoreless first quarter, McCluster gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead on an electrifying 86-yard touchdown run with 11:19 remaining in the first half. The run was the second longest in Cotton Bowl history behind Rice's Dicky Maegle gallop of 95 yards against Alabama in 1954.

"I don't have any problems with getting the ball this many times," McCluster said. "I know I can make plays happen. I come in with the mindset of worrying about me — not the defense. Coach Nutt has the faith in me to go out there, take care of the ball and get the job done and I want to thank him for that."

Following an Oklahoma State turnover with 6:15 to play in the fourth quarter, McCluster scored his second touchdown on a two-yard leap with 4:03 to play, giving Ole Miss a 14-7 advantage.

"Thinking back to last year's Cotton Bowl, we ran the same play to the left side, and I scored. It was the same touchdown, just a different dial, different swag on it," McCluster said. "I just wanted to get the ball and run as fast as I can and get there — just not be stopped. I felt like I wanted to take it in, no matter what."

Ole Miss' got its final touchdown with 3:12 to play on a 34-yard fumble return by Patrick Trahan. "Our defense was just outstanding," Nutt said. (Defensive coordinator) Tyrone (Nix) had a tremendous game plan and our guys were relentless in chasing the ball and putting themselves in the right position to make plays."

Andre Sexton's interception of an Ole Miss pass led to Oklahoma State's only touchdown — a 1-yard jump pass from Keith Toston to Wilson Youngman with 7:13 remaining in the third quarter. Sexton received the McKnight Trophy, which recognizes the outstanding defensive player and commemorates long-time Dallas newspaperman and Cotton Bowl Team Selection Chairman Felix McKnight.

Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy congratulated Ole Miss, commiserated about his team's turnovers and praised the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic for its legendary hospitality.

"Give credit to the Ole Miss defense, but we didn't execute well. We just needed to make a few more plays," Gundy said. "Ole Miss was able to control the tempo and we never got our offense going. It wasn't any one thing, but just a combination of errors. We turned the ball over just about every time we had it late in the game. I just don't know what happened, but give credit to Ole Miss again for swarming all over the place."