STILLWATER — Oklahoma State will play in the Texas Bowl on Friday at NRG Stadium in Houston, 36 years after Rusty Hilger quarterbacked the Cowboys to a bowl victory in the old dome next door.
On New Year’s Eve 1983, Hilger was the MVP of OSU’s 24-14 win over Baylor in the Bluebonnet Bowl inside the Astrodome.
Hilger died Tuesday morning at the age of 57. He had battled cancer in recent years, while living in Southern California.
His Bluebonnet Bowl performance — he led three touchdown drives in the first half before suffering a concussion and leaving the game — was a springboard for OSU’s first 10-win season a year later.