Big Eight First Set by Bryant

Barry Sanders never did it. Neither did Billy Sims, or Johnny Rodgers, or Mike Rozier or any other Heisman Trophy winner produced by the Big Eight.

Not once--until Saturday--had a Big Eight rookie made his rushing debut with a 200-yard game.

Blaise Bryant, who led the nation’s junior college rushers last year, rolled up 213 yards on 27 carries as Iowa State swamped Ohio University, 28-3, in its season opener at Ames.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Bryant, a Cypress High and Golden West College product, said he carried the ball “more than I expected to.”

“I made a lot of mistakes, like cutting the wrong way or slipping, but I need to thank the offensive line for making my mistakes turn into gains,” said Bryant.