Posse August/September 2008 by Oklahoma State

THE GIFT MITCHELL

page 22

Photo by Gary Lawson

LETTER«from»MIKE

contributors As the school year begins, OSU’s football and soccer teams prepare to take center stage, and once again, they need your spirit. In order for our teams to compete at the highest level, they need you to come out and support them at every home game. As you are a POSSE member, you are most likely a season ticket holder for football. Please encourage your friends to buy season tickets and help us make this fall a special one in Stillwater. Tickets in the new west end zone of Boone Pickens Stadium are just $35 per game. Call 1-877-ALL-4OSU or log on to okstate.com for information or to make a purchase. This issue of POSSE begins the 2nd year of our magazine, which was recently voted the best sports publication in Oklahoma. I want to thank John Clerico and other donors who made POSSE possible.

POSSE DIRECTOR Jason Penry EVENT COORDINATOR Brandon Armstrong DONOR RELATIONS Ellen Ayres PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR Clay Billman ATHLETIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT Stephanie Boese CLUB SEAT COORDINATOR Matt Grantham PREMIUM SERVICES Karyl Henry

Thanks also to all the coaches and student-athletes who give us something to read about.

PROJECT MANAGER Shawn Taylor

Remember, ride for the brand.

PROGR AMS COORDINATOR Mindy Walthall DIRECTOR of MARKETING Kyle Wray EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Cory Cheney ART DIRECTOR|DESIGNER Kim Butcher DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGR APHY Phil Shockley CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGR APHER Gary Lawson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Clay Billman, Matt Elliott, Wade McWhorter ADVERTISING: 405.744.7301 EDITORIAL: 405.744.7192 OSU POSSE 102 ATHLETICS CENTER STILLWATER, OK 74078-5070 P: 405.744.7301 / 877.2B.POSSE F: 405.744.9084 WWW.OKSTATEPOSSE.COM POSSE@OKSTATE.EDU The Oklahoma State University Athletic Department would like to thank John Clerico for his vision and dedication to our athletic programs. His generosity has made POSSE magazine possible.

the PLAYBOOK Cover photo by Phil Shockley

FEATURES 34. OSWOOSH 42. COWBOY FOOTBALL 2008 62. COWGIRL SOCCER 72. GIVING REPORT 76. RICHARD WEIS

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WWW.OKSTATE.COM

COMPLIANCE

the PLAYBOOK

Like many of you, I am very excited for summer to be over and to finally get our Cowboy and Cowgirl teams back on the field. This promises to be an exciting year for our athletic programs and I can’t wait to see what our student-athletes accomplish, both on and off the field. Part of my job in our Compliance Office is to make sure all of our coaches, studentathletes and boosters understand the different NCAA rules that apply to them. While I get the opportunity to meet with the coaches and student-athletes on a regular basis, it can be a bit more difficult to reach all of our boosters who are spread out across the globe. In an effort to reach you, our boosters, each of you should be receiving an NCAA Booster Guide Book in the mail that will go into detail concerning NCAA rules and what activities you need to avoid in order to stay on the “right side” of the law. Since I know you will be on pins and needles until the Guide Books arrive, I thought I would supply you with a sneak preview…

Photo by Phil Shockley

DEPARTMENTS 08. ADMINISTRATOR’S CORNER 14. THE DONORS: ORANGE FAMILY HOLLOMAN 16. WHERE ARE THEY NOW? 18. FIRST & 10: BOB TWAY 22. THE DONORS: MALONE MITCHELL 24. THE 150 58. THE WILD WEST 80. SIZE 16 82. WRAY-VINGS

1. What is an extra-benefit and why do I need to know this term? a. An extra benefit is anything provided to a student-athlete or a student-athlete’s family and friends by an institutional staff member or a booster that is not available to the general student body or general public under the same terms. Providing anything considered an extra-benefit to one of our student-athletes or their family/ friends jeopardizes their eligibility to compete for OSU. The following are some common examples of extra benefits: i. Cash, loans, or co-signing a loan on behalf of a student-athlete ii. Free or reduced services (e.g. free oil change, laundry, car detailing) iii. Providing free lodging or rental property at a reduced rate iv. Free or reduced cost meals and drinks v. Providing tickets to concerts, sporting events, and other entertainment activities vi. Any other gifts or presents, even for special occasions (e.g. Birthday, Christmas, etc.) 2. What are the general rules surrounding boosters and recruiting? a. Boosters should not be involved in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes. A prospective student-athlete is anyone who has started classes for the ninth grade. The best rule of thumb is to refer any questions about OSU athletics to our staff and do not attempt to influence a prospect’s decision to attend OSU. Remember that only members of the coaching staff may be actively involved in the recruiting process. When you do receive your Guide Book in the mail I would encourage you to take a few minutes to review the information and be sure to call our office (405-744-7862) should you have any questions. Thanks again for all of your support!! Ben Dyson Assistant AD for Compliance

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admin’s corner » words by: CRAIG CLEMONS

icket holders and POSSE members are critically important to the success of OSU Athletics. Their support through annual contributions to OSU varsity athletics, seat donations and season tickets represent 65 percent of our approximate $40 million annual operating budget.

Each year, your administrative team explores tools, trends, best practices and new services at conference and national level. We then develop offerings and new programs based on budget, technological advances, return on investment and improvements in customer satisfaction. With the start of the 2008-09 athletic season, Oklahoma State is partnering with Ticketmaster to provide loyal Cowboy and Cowgirl fans an opportunity to sell their tickets to other fans using Ticketmaster's TeamExchange program. If ticket holders have scheduling confl icts and cannot attend a home contest,

they can recapture associated monies and ensure a fan will be sitting in their seat for home field or home court advantage. Tickets bought and sold through TeamExchange are guaranteed to be valid for entry, something no other secondary market provider can offer. Sellers may set the value of the tickets to any price over the face value of the ticket, which allows buyers to access the best seats possible at whatever price they are willing to pay. The seller then receives the monetary credit for their sale with the OSU ticket office; money can be used to purchase tickets for other sporting events, or applied toward next year's season tickets. More information about this service is included in the 2008-09 season ticket packages. Call the ticket office at 877-255-4678 or log on to www.okstate.com and click “Tickets.” As a POSSE member, you are truly a difference maker. Thank you for your loyal support.

The future is BRIGHT ORANGE.

New Service Offered to Oklahoma State Athletic Ticket Holders 8

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august|september 08

7EST 3IXTH s 3TILLWATER s /KLAHOMA s s OR s s

Photo by Phil Shockley

Photo by Gary Lawson

the donors » words by: CORY CHENEY

ORANGEFAMILY

HOLLOMAN You know a family is hardcore Orange when the father, an OU grad, can be convinced to switch his allegiance. The Hollomans are that kind of family. “My dad actually graduated from another state school,” says Erin Holloman. “My mom converted him.” Lynn Holloman, the family’s matriarch, graduated from OSU in 1966 with a political science degree, which she used to gain admission to the other state university’s law school. She met Jim on the first day of class and probably started working on him right away. They remember attending a Bedlam wrestling match together while they were dating. “I thought she and I were both going to wrestle that night over the outcome,” says Jim. “She had an interesting habit of grabbing hold of my arm and twisting.” Lynn and Jim both have memories of OSU basketball from before that, however. “As a boy, I remember watching Moe Iba hit a shot from half court to beat the Sooners. Or maybe it was Nebraska. It was a heck of a game,” says Jim. Lynn remembers the 1964 championship game when Gene Johnson, now a close family friend, played for the Pokes. “Those are my days. I remember them carrying Coach Iba off the floor.” The Hollomans have four children, Amy, Erin and twins Matt and Andrew. Three of them are die-hard OSU fans. The fourth roots for the crimson. Amy and Erin, are OSU grads. Matt didn’t graduate from OSU, but he’s loyal to the Pokes. 14

“After years of being a fence rider, Jim finally saw the light, but we’ve not been able to convince Andrew,” says Lynn. “After 20 years, I gave in,” says Jim. “He sent two daughters to OSU,” says Lynn. “He attended all the dad’s days.” Amy, who’s surname is now Adams, graduated in 1992 with a degree in accounting. Interestingly, her husband’s great grandfather, Arthur Adams, was in the first graduating class of Oklahoma A&M. Erin graduated in 1996 with her physiology degree and then attended OU medical school. “I always tease my Sooner friends that the only way I survived those four years is because John Blake was their football coach,” she says. Erin ended up in Stillwater for her undergrad partly because of family tradition, and partly because she was the recipient of the Henry P. Iba Presidents’ Distinguished Scholarship for her athletic and academic achievements. OSU golf coach Mike McGraw was her first golf instructor in the junior golf program in Edmond. She’s an oculoplastic surgeon with an office in Oklahoma City, and a satellite clinic in Stillwater. Matt, a dentist in Edmond, opted to attend a small college so he could play football, but remained a “big” OSU fan. He attended an OSU football camp once, and had Elbert Craig as a tackling partner. “He destroyed me,” says Matt. Matt’s partner in his dental practice is former OSU wrestler Charles Hetrick. OSU fandom is a family affair, except for Andrew, of course.

“We have Bedlam every day in our family,” says Lynn. “Matt and Andrew continuously battle.” “There’s no physical violence,” says Jim. The OSU half of the family will even admit to daily visits to okstate.com and a few message boards to get the latest information on OSU sports. There’s even a story about one of the daughters checking the boards from her phone in the middle of a round of golf while on vacation with the whole family (we’re not at liberty to say which daughter it was, and she’d deny it anyway). “We were in the middle of hiring a new basketball coach!” “Recruit Roundups are our favorites,” Lynn says. “And we know all about the recruits before they ever sign.” The Hollomans have followed the Cowboys and Cowgirls all over the country. Bowl games. NCAA tournament appearances. Baseball Regionals and College World Series. They make all the home football games every year, and try to hit two of the away games. They all went to Seattle to watch the Cowboys take on Washington State, and for the Final Four back in '95. They remember watching Barry Sanders play. They’ve had season tickets to football and men’s basketball for more than 20 years. “It’s just part of us,” says Erin. “There’s no other way of saying it.” Their favorite part of the year is just before the season starts. “We’re pretty much the ultimate optimists,” says Erin. “We have a chance to win every game. During football season, by Thursday or Friday, I’m whipped into kind of a frenzy. But that’s part of the fun of it.”

Photo by Gary Lawson

From left to right: Amy Adams, Jim Holloman, Erin Holloman, Matt Holloman, Lynn Holloman

Like many OSU fans, they’re excited about the stadium construction and improvements to the athletic facilities on campus. “It’s amazing,” says Lynn. “It just makes you very proud. You got tired of hearing about Rustoleum Stadium. I tell the people I work with every day that I’m proud to be a Cowboy and I am thankful for Mr. Pickens and all the other faithful donors.” “I think the football stadium is going to be something special,” says Erin. “When I was in school, I never really thought we had bad facilities, I just liked going to the games. But now, with everything that’s going on there, I can’t imagine how much it’s going to change.” The Hollomans, as a family, have contributed to the Leave a Legacy campaign. “I particularly like the endowment fund,” says Jim. “As we add to it over the years, it’ll become more valuable for more students. I like the fact that it’s going to be maintained. It has such a wonderful investment policy. That was an encouragement for me, to know how our money would be utilized.”

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It was actually Jim, the former OU sympathizer, who came up with the idea. “I’d been involved with endowed scholarship funds at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation,” he says. “Once the OSU program started, I wanted to get involved with it.” “When he came up with this idea, to donate and support the athletic department in this way, I fi nally decided he’s not a Sooner anymore,” says Erin. The Holloman women are thankful for their OSU educations, and Erin believes hers prepared her for medical school just as well as any Ivy League school would have. She’s also part of the OSU Medical Cowboys, a group of physicians, dentists and medical professionals who attended OSU and want to promote OSU as a quality pre-health professional university. The group plans to raise scholarship money for OSU alumni to attend graduate school. “Matt and I are at the start of our careers,” says Erin, “and are just now getting to where we can give back. Our parents have always been good examples for showing

august|september 08

us how to give to our schools and community. Our family loves Cowboy and Cowgirl sports, so it’s natural for us to give to the university through an athletic scholarship.” “We are excited to see them win and succeed in games, but more than that, we love hearing the personal success stories of players like Dantrell Savage and Ivan McFarlin. I read somewhere that Dantrell was the fi rst in his family to graduate from college. And Ivan had trouble qualifying, but at OSU worked so hard he graduated with a degree. I think it is important for us to hear these great stories about student athletes who have strong character. It makes us so proud to be Cowboys. Hopefully, their education will allow them to go forward and do great things.” It’s worth noting that during the interview, which included the entire family all at once, they heckled Andrew out of the room.

where are they now?

»Kevin

Wentworth

Hometown » Oklahoma City Sport » Football, 1979-80. (Voted 3rd Team All-Century center by The Oklahoman). Degree » BS in Business Management, 1981 Family » wife Shelly (1982 OSU alum); daughters Lauren and Krista (both OSU grads). Current Job » “Co-owner of Fine Arts Engraving, a specialty printing company in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. We produce high-end graphic pieces for clients nationwide, from New York City restaurant menus to annual report covers to professional football and bowl tickets. We even helped OSU create its award-winning football media guide cover last year.” Life after OSU » “I worked for 2-1/2 years for a petroleum marketing company before moving back to OKC and joining

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Fine Arts Engraving, a family business. I raised two beautiful girls who both attended OSU and both bleed orange.” Hobbies/Interests » “Golfi ng, boating, working in the yard.” Best OSU memory » “Probably my best memory is graduating in 1981 and getting to walk across the stage with my brother, Curt. It was defi nitely one of my proudest moments. In sports it had to be the fi rst time I walked onto Lewis Field before the kickoff of my fi rst game. To see so many fans just going nuts was unbelievable! We truly have some of the best fans in all of college football.” Thoughts on playing for Coach Jimmy Johnson » “The most interesting thing about Coach Johnson was his hair never moved, and if it did you had better be ready because someone was going to get it. He was a great motivator and recruiter. I transferred from NEO Jr. College and was his very fi rst signee. I had only met him once, and he had me sold on OSU. The man could defi nitely coach, but it sure didn’t hurt to have a staff like he put together.” Best game as a Cowboy? » “It had to be at Colorado in 1979. I played against a nose-guard who was preseason All-American. We scored 21 points in the last 16 minutes to win 21 - 20. I received a Stetson hat (Coach Johnson gave those instead of game balls) for my play in that game.” Do you keep in touch with former teammates? » “All the time. Some of us in Oklahoma City get together for lunch. Kerry Graham has really been instrumental in getting us together on a regular basis. At home games I know where a lot of my old buddies seats are, and I always make a point to go visit with them.” How closely do you follow the current team? » “I am a season ticket holder and have been almost every year sense I graduated. I can’t imagine august|september 08

anything I would rather do on a Saturday then go to Stillwater and spend the day with my family and friends. We tailgate before the games, and if it’s a day game we stay late afterwards. It’s a great atmosphere.” Thoughts on current state of OSU Athletics » “What has happened over the last few years is nothing short of amazing. OSU Athletics is on the verge of becoming one of the nation’s powerhouses. We have the facilities and staff to get us there, now we need to fi ll the stadium. Our players need to play in front of full stadiums every game. There is nothing like the feeling an athlete gets when the crowd is behind them. We can win conference titles and BCS games if we keep heading the way we are going.” Why is it important to be a part of the O-Club and POSSE? » “For me, it is important because of everything I got from being an OSU Cowboy. During my time as a student-athlete here I had so many wonderful experiences that I cherish everyday. It’s important to give back in whatever way I can.” Anything else to add? » “My senior year we only won three games and had probably the worst facilities in the conference. To see how far we have come and how far we can go is a testament to the Cowboy spirit. If everyone continues to support this program there is no telling what the future holds. I will always wear my orange with pride and will always be thankful for my time at OSU. And last but not least, BEAT OU.”

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FIRST & TEN

Bob Tway 1

Bob Tway was supposed to attend the University of Georgia. Though born in Oklahoma, when it came time to pick a college, he lived in Marietta, Georgia. Then he played a tournament, the Insurance Youth Classic, where he was paired with Grier Jones. Tway won the tournament and Jones called OSU golf coach Mike Holder and told him he might want to check out Tway. Holder took Jones’ advice. As a Poke, Tway helped bring OSU two national championships — 1978 and 1980 — contributing to OSU’s reputation as a national power in golf. Tway turned pro in 1981 and has spent 24 years on the PGA Tour, playing in 664 events and earning more than $15 million. In 2008 alone, he’s placed eighth at the Buick Open, eleventh at the AT&T Classic and twelfth at the John Deere Classic. He’s one of nine Pokes currently on the PGA Tour. “I love playing golf,” says Tway. “I really enjoy it, and to be able to do what you like and making a living, that’s what it’s all about.” Tway’s son, Kevin, is a sophomore at OSU on a reloaded Pokes team. This past summer, Tway caddied for Kevin at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. Tway, as one might imagine, is proud his son decided to attend OSU. “It’s obviously great for me,” says Tway. “But it’s great for him, too. I think that was his dream since he was a little kid. He could’ve gone anywhere he wanted, but he’s always been a fan of OSU. “I’m happy he’s not too far away so I can see him often.”

“I love playing golf... I really enjoy it, and to be able to do what you like and making a living, that’s what it’s all about.”

Ten

» What’s your favorite OSU sports

memory? Winning two NCAA Championships in golf. If I have to go away from my sport, it’s when we beat OU in Norman in 2001. We’ve always gone to the OU football games every year and the year we won was pretty incredible. » What athlete, living or dead, do you wish you could see play? Bobby Jones. He had a different grand slam. I’ve read all his books, but I’ve only seen fi lm. I’ve seen Hogan and Nicklaus. But I never got to see Bobby Jones. Those guys are the best, so it would’ve been nice to see him, too. » What’s something that gets you riled up? I get excited about all of OSU Athletics, and I’m excited

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about what’s happening there. I’m pretty fi red up about what Holder has begun. When all that is completed, it’s going to be pretty incredible. I’m excited about what we’ll be able to do athletically. I’ve always been excited about OSU sports, but it’s going to get better and better. » What’s your proudest accomplishment? Winning the PGA Championship. The proudest I’ve ever felt for someone else is when Kevin won the U.S. Junior Championship. Being able to watch that … the nervousness and excitement I felt was something I’d never experienced before, even when I was competing. I remember walking with Coach Holder and him laughing at me. I said, “Coach, I can barely breathe.” » What are three things you would have to have with you if you were stranded on an island? I’d love to have my golf clubs. Obviously, I’d like to have my family. If you can’t, I’d like to have plenty of food so I can eat. » Whom do you admire (and why)? Coach Holder. Having him as a golf coach, and then since then and as a friend has been special. I’ve learned many things from him. He never really asks people to do things he isn’t willing to do, which is obviously great in a coach, but as a person, too. He’s probably had the most influence on me as a person. » You have one wish. What is it? For everyone in my family to have continued good health. » What’s your favorite type of music and where do you listen to it? I’m kind of a soft rock guy. I like rock from the ‘70s and ‘80s, and a little bit from now. I have my radio going when I’m practicing. I usually put it on 96.9 in Oklahoma City. A lot of times I listen to the Sports Animal when I’m driving the car. I only have about 100 songs on my iPod. » Who had the biggest effect on how you turned out the way you did? Coach Holder. » How big an OSU fan are you? I’d say I’m very big. I attend as many games as I can. I’d love for us to get to where we compete at the highest level in everything and I think we can. I’m a huge fan. I pretty much only have three things that are important to me: my family, golf and OSU.

august|september 08

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the donors » photos by: Gary Lawson

From left to right: Malone Mitchell, Amy Mitchell, Robbie Holder, Mike Holder

“The athletic programs are an important part of alumni connection with our university and we want to further that bond.” — Malone Mitchell 22

The gift from Malone and Amy Mitchell — $57.2 million, to be split equally between OSU athletics and academics — isn’t just another gift, it’s a remarkable gift. It’s a financial contribution that will profoundly affect the lives of OSU students and student athletes for years to come. Consider this: if the contributions from Boone Pickens were taken off the ledger, the Mitchell gift would be the largest ever given to OSU athletics. The Mitchells credit Pickens for inspiring them to give to the university. “Boone Pickens was a critical role model for me as a student, inspiring me to pursue an aggressive business career,” says Malone. He graduated from OSU in 1983 with a degree in agriculture. Amy graduated the same year from OSU’s College of Human Environmental Sciences. “That career has blessed us financially. As we got to know Boone personally and his vision for winning at life and his heartfelt desire to improve the university, his examples clarified for us that it was not enough to just wish for a better Oklahoma State – we had to act!” By this point, there should be a name for what T. Boone Pickens has directly caused to happen at Oklahoma State University. Call it, “The Pickens Effect.” Think of it as dropping a really large rock into a body of water and watching

not ripples but white-capped waves radiate across the surface. OSU alumni and supporters have not just been impressed by Pickens’ philanthropy; they’ve been inspired to give on their own, and often in impressive fashion, such as the Mitchell gift. What the gift means to Cowboy sports fans is that construction on new facilities in the athletic village, such as the Sherman Smith Training Center, will begin that much quicker. “Our plan is to combine it with our investment at BP Capital,” says Mike Holder, vice president for OSU athletics. “This will accelerate the construction schedule.” Holder has a philosophy of responsible spending in regard to the athletic department’s funds. The next phase of new construction will not be initiated until there’s enough money in the BP Capital fund to pay for it, assuring the department will not incur debt in the expansion. Furthermore, Holder believes in securing endowments to pay for the operation and upkeep of new facilities prior to their construction. After all, what good is a new building if you can’t afford to keep the lights on? “This gift will have a significant impact on the future of OSU athletics. We are proud to have Malone and Amy Mitchell as distinguished alumni and are grateful for their generosity,” says Craig Clemons, associate athletic director for

From left to right: Burns Hargis, Amy Mitchell, Malone Mitchell

external affairs. “Their gift will touch many areas including sport programming, recruiting, upgraded facilities and the lives of our student-athletes.” Only half of the Mitchell gift was for athletics, however. The other half goes to the Spears School of Business and will create a state-of-the-art entrepreneurship program. The transformational gift was made through the donation of one million shares of SandRidge Energy [NYSE: SD] stock and is the largest nationwide donation ever to a university entrepreneurship program. SandRidge Energy was previously Riata Energy. The Malones founded Riata in 1984 with a $500 loan, and Malone served in many roles including chairman, president and chief executive officer. During this time, the Mitchells grew Riata Energy into one of the largest privately held energy companies and the largest privately held land driller in the U.S., with significant midstream and tertiary oil production operations. In December 2006 Malone retired from SandRidge to start new companies. With $22 million designated for chairs within the business school, the academic gift will have an impact of $94.6 million once fully matched dollar-for-dollar by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education as well as Pickens’ $100 million chair match commitment. This places the gift’s total cumulative academic and athletic impact at $123.2 million. “This incredible expression of generosity by Amy and Malone Mitchell will have an enormous impact on OSU academics and athletics,” says OSU President Burns Hargis. “The entrepreneurship program we 02.01

will create with this gift supports our vision of a new land-grant university that cultivates greater creativity and collaboration among students and faculty.” The commitment to the Spears School of Business will build a world-class entrepreneurship program at OSU over the next five years, and will also create the Riata Center for Entrepreneurship. Specifically, the gift will create a center for entrepreneurship and innovation, allow academic collaboration to build a campus-wide entrepreneurship program, and foster greater partnerships august|september 08

with academic units and state entities in supporting entrepreneurship activities within the state. “Our vision for Oklahoma State University is to be the premier institution in the area for classroom or extension instruction for students wishing to learn how to create, fi nance and manage their own business,” says Malone. “The athletic programs are an important part of alumni connection with our university and we want to further that bond.” Portions of this article were contributed by the OSU Foundation. 23

the 150

! A R T X E

02. Malone & Amy Mitchell 03. Sherman & Eloise Smith 04. Karsten Manufacturing 05. Walt & Peggy Helmerich III 06. John Clerico 07. Ed & Jana Evans 08. W & W Steel Co 09. Ross & Billie McKnight 10. Robert A. Funk 11. AJ & Susan Jacques 12. ONEOK, Inc 13. Joe & Connie Mitchell 14. Mike & Robbie Holder 42,376 Men’s Golf 15. Gary & Jerri Sparks 16. Harold & Joyce Courson 22. Home National Bank Men’s Golf 18. Joullian & Co 19. Patrick & Patricia Cobb Wrestling 20. Richard & Barbara Bogert 21. Stillwater National Bank 22. Jim & Mary Barnes 23. Vickie & Tucker Link Foundation 24. Dennis & Cindy Reilley 25. OSU President's Office 26. OG&E 27. Chuck & Kim Watson 28. Flintco, Inc 29. Chad Clay 30. SemGroup, LP 31. United Supermarket 32. Lew & Suzanne Meibergen 23,539 33. Andy Johnson 34. Phillip & Shannon Smith 35. Jon & Suzanne Wiese 36. Anonymous 37. Sandra Lee 38. David Bradshaw 39. Sparks Financial 40. Bob & Kay Norris 41. Sally Sparks 42. Jameson Family LLC Spirit Squad 43. Garland & Penny Cupp 44. Berkeley Manor Enterprises 45. Les Dunavant 46. OSU Foundation 47. KNABCO Corp 48. Greg & Rhonda Casillas 49. David LeNorman 50. John & Gail Shaw 51. Richard & Joan Welborn 52. Jay & Connie Wiese 53. Jerry & Lynda Baker 54. Ed & Mary Malzahn 55. Thomas & Barbara Naugle 56. K.D. & Leitner Greiner 57. Anonymous 58. Kent & Margo Dunbar 59. Scott & Kim Verplank Men's Golf 60. Mark & Lisa Snell 13,532 61. Bryant J. Coffman 62. Larry Bump 63. Harvey & Donna Yost 64. Russ & Julie Teubner

65. Johnson's of Kingfisher 66. Austin & Betsy Kenyon 67. James D. Carreker Football 68. Brent & Mary Jane Wooten Men’s Track 69. Jim & Vicki Click, Jr. Football 70. Chandler USA, Inc 71. Russ Harrison & Natalie Shirley 72. Chesapeake Energy 73. Norman & Suzanne Myers 74. Bill & Claudean Harrison 75. Jay & Fayenelle Helm 76. Jack & Joyce Stuteville 77. Bank of Oklahoma 78. Dennis & Bonnie Smith Spirit Squad 79. John & Jerry Marshall Men’s Golf 80. Lambert Construction 81. Bob & Tammie Tway Men’s Golf 82. John & Sue Taylor 83. A-Cross Ranch 84. Ike & Mary Beth Glass 85. Titleist & FootJoy Worldwide 86. Brad & Margie Schultz 87. American Fidelity 88. The Siegenthaler Family 89. Greg & Kay Massey 90. Bill & Laurie Dobbs Baseball 91. Darton & Jamie Zink 92. Emricks Van & Storage 93. E.K. Gaylord 94. John & Patti Brett 95. David & Marellie Littlefield 96. Larry & Shirley Albin 97. Ed & Kathy Raschen 98. The Oklahoman 99. Tom & Patricia Maloney 100. Griff & Mindy Jones 101. AEI Corporation 102. Ron & Marilyn McAfee 103. Bruce Smith 104. Mark & Susan Morrow 105. Tom & Cheryl Hamilton 106. John & Terri Smith 107. Donald Coplin 108. Bob & Mary Haiges 109. Spirit Bank 110. Midfirst Bank 111. Southwest Filter Co 112. Bancfirst 113. Drummond Investments 114. Pixley Lumber Co 115. Judith Mace 116. Phillip & Susan Ryan 117. Max & Lynn Elsberry 118. Bill & Karen Anderson 119. F & M Bank & Trust 120. Southern Cross Alliance, LLC

121. Ed & Marilyn Keller 122. Justin & Karla Hoose 123. Lonnie Jay & Sally Lamprich 124. Melvin Jones 125. Z-Equipment, LLC 126. Wentz Oil Company, LLC Football 127. Kirk & Jan Jewell 128. Harriett Phillips 129. Randy & Patti Thurman 6,861 130. Roy & Norma Townsdin 131. Jack Bowker Ford 132. Jack Allen, Jr. 133. Fred & Kellie Harlan 134. Jerry & Rae Winchester Football 135. Steve & Judy Thurman 136. Sem Materials 137. Steve Tuttle 138. Edd Bellatti 139. Henry Wells 140. Robert Fletcher Family 141. Connie & Stephen Tatum 142. Walter & Alma Duncan 143. AT&T 144. Robert C. & Martha Buford 145. Bryan & Becky Brady 146. John & Delone Hessel 147. Don & Mary McCall 148. Wittwer Construction Co 149. Stan & Shannon Clark 150. Barry & Roxanne Pollard 6,104 Former athlete or coach OSU Athletics Priority Point System The Priority Point System provides a fair, consistent and transparent method of providing benefits to donors in exchange for their financial investments in OSU Athletics. Donors gain points three ways: • Contributions: All current and lifetime contributions (cash or stock) are worth 3 points per $100 donated. Planned (deferred) gifts in the new Leave a Legacy Endowment Campaign will receive 1 point per $100. • Commitment: Donors will earn one point each year for each season ticket purchase and one point for each year of POSSE donations. • Connection with the University: Donors (or their spouses) who are OSU Alumni receive a one-time 10 point bonus, as do OSU faculty/staff and letterwinners. Points never diminish and will carry over to subsequent years. Donors retain all previously earned Priority Points in their giving history. For questions about the POSSE Priority Point System, e-mail posse@okstate.edu or call us at 405-744-7301.

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OSwoosh The Swoosh. You see it on every jersey of nearly every athlete at OSU. There are lots of reasons for that, but a few stand out. CONTINUED

Photography by Phil Shockley

”

We’re not stretching a polo to its limits standing on the sidelines. Footwear, game uniforms, that’s what needs to hold up. Of those major companies, Nike has the best product. It’s about what’s best for our athletes.

”

First, the student-athletes want it, which in turn allows the coaches to use it as a recruiting tool. “The power of the Swoosh when we’re recruiting is second to none right now,” says Wes Edwards, equipment coordinator for the Athletic Department. “For a number of reasons, partly Nike’s marketing, kids want the Swoosh. It’s a powerful thing. “It started back with Michael Jordan. And then Bo Jackson. And now most of your premier athletes at the professional level are wearing the Swoosh. Football and basketball drive it at both the professional and college levels. That’s what everyone sees.” Nike, the number one shoe and athletic apparel distributor in the world, commands 20 percent of the athletic shoe market in the States and raked in revenue in excess of $16 billion in 2007. Nike isn’t just Nike. It’s also Cole Haan, Hurley International, Converse and Umbro. It’s Nike Golf and Nike Pro and a whole array of other sub-brands.

Nike is a monster. And for good reason – they make good stuff. “We felt at the time we did the contract that Nike has the best footwear of all the other companies,” says Edwards. “There are some other companies starting to get into football cleats, for example, but Nike’s football cleat is second to none.” OSU signed a new five-year deal with Nike that began during the 2007/08 season. Not that the athletic department hadn’t been working with the shoe giant previously, but the new contract includes more of OSU’s sports. It’s a bigger deal than before. We’re going to be a bit cagey about the actual numbers. Personally, I don’t have the security clearance for that kind of information. But I was made to understand that it’s a lot and enough. There’s a bottom line economic benefit to the Nike contract: it’s money that doesn’t come out of the operating budget.

Anything that person needs, apparel-wise, from head to toe, hats to shoes and everything in between is from Nike.

”

“What our contract value is, we’d most likely be spending that anyway,” says Edwards. “Instead of ordering what we need and the athletic department paying for it, in a sense, Nike is giving it to us and saving that money in our budget. “What’s in it for Nike is that anytime we’re on TV or our guys are doing interviews, the Swoosh is there,” says Edwards. “I don’t want to say it’s free advertising because of the money they give us, but that’s what the real swap is. We expose the Swoosh on television and in person, and in turn, they give us the equipment.” It’s a win-win situation. The cost of running a major ad campaign on the big TV networks is probably larger than footing the bill for an athletic department’s equipment needs. Word of mouth has traditionally been more powerful than advertising. Edwards has binders full of product pictures (they’re not quite finished enough to be called catalogs) and listings from Nike, and he orders for each sport based on the coaches’ requests. These orders go in sometimes nine months to a year in advance. The designs for the football uniforms for 2009 were approved in June. “I’m already thinking about 2009 and the 2008 stuff isn’t even in the door yet,” says Edwards. It’s worth noting the 2009 football uniforms look exactly like the 2008 versions, so don’t get excited. “We love what we have and we think it’s a look that’s only Oklahoma State,” says Edwards. “I don’t see any change in the football uniform for a while. I don’t see the need.” Edwards can order pretty much anything Nike makes, and he has a certain dollar amount from which to pull from. “We have a finite amount of money we can use for the athletic department,” says Edwards, “whether it’s football, men’s basketball, women’s

”

basketball, soccer or any other sport. We divide the money up for each sport based on the number of athletes, need and other factors. “I sit down with Jason Lewis, Coach Holder and Amy Weeks and we determine what’s fair for each sport. This is after we’ve conferred with the coaches to find out what their needs are. Football gets most of that money. Not half, but football receives more than any other sport because they have 115 athletes. For example, each football player receives: practice jerseys, practice pants, t-shirts for the weight room, girdles, gameday undershirts, headbands, wrist bands, game jerseys and game pants and those skinny bicep bands. Nike also provides the visors for the helmets, if the players wear them. “Nike’s not into football helmets yet,” says Edwards. And then there’s the footwear. “One athlete might go just through one practice cleat and one game cleat all year long. Just two pairs of shoes. Other guys might go through four or five practice cleats and two or three game shoes,” says Edwards. “And then we also have shoes for the weight room and travel shoes.” Football coaches also get their share of swag, including sideline gear – polos, pants and shoes, heavy and light jackets, rain gear, hats, even sunglasses. “Anything that person needs, apparel-wise, from head to toe, hats to shoes and everything in between is from Nike,” says Edwards. That said, not everything OSU’s coaches and players wear and use is a Nike product. Some teams had contracts with outside vendors, and coaches were allowed to keep what they were comfortable using. For instance, the baseball team didn’t have to use a Nike bat, instead sticking with Louisville. “We don’t want to come in and take something away from the athletes that

they’re comfortable with and that they perform well with,” says Edwards. “I think we’d all agree baseball did pretty well with the Louisville bats. “If there’s a product out there Nike doesn’t make, we’re not bound to them. For instance, Nike doesn’t make riding gear, so Coach Sanchez doesn’t have to change his uniforms to Nike polos.” Still, he could. Nike customizes many of its products to Edwards and the OSU coaching staffs’ requests. When teams get new uniforms, they’re created with input from coaches and players. When Nike makes new products, OSU is in line to have access to it before schools without a Nike deal and way ahead of the general public. Nike will even provide custom-made shoes and equipment for student-athletes if needed. “As equipment manager, a polo is a polo,” says Edwards. “We’re not stretching a polo to its limits standing on the sidelines. Footwear, game uniforms, that’s what needs to hold up. Of those major companies, Nike has the best product. It’s about what’s best for our athletes.”

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2008 Photography by Phil Shockley

CONTINUED

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It’s a combination of having the strength and the smarts to stay out there and being able to play one on one.

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Cowboy safety Andre Sexton must be crazy. How else can you explain his desire to throw his 6-foot one-inch, 210-pound physique into the dreaded “box?” That’s the space between the hash marks on a football field, within about five yards of the line of scrimmage. It’s where lumbering 300-pound offensive linemen brutalize defenses while the offense’s bruising fullbacks and tight-ends clear a path for shifty running backs. And that’s where Sexton will start this year — at the “star position,” a safety/ linebacker hybrid — taking over for Donovan Woods, a free agent signee of the Pittsburgh Steelers who led the Cowboys last year in tackles with 82. Not only will Sexton have to shed blocks from linemen, but he must also have the fleet feet to cover wide receivers who run blazing times in the 40. “It’s a combination of having the strength and the smarts to stay out there and being able to play one on one,” says Sexton, a veteran junior who relishes delivering the blows that make that area of the field so dangerous. “That’s where all the action is.” Sexton, who fi nished last season with 69 tackles, will play alongside junior Orie Lemon, who has moved to middle linebacker, and weak side linebacker Patrick Lavine. Taking his place at strong safety is Ricky Price, who rounds out an experienced and quick secondary with upperclassmen Quinton Moore at free safety and Terrance Anderson and Perrish Cox as cornerbacks. The moves come after a 2007 season in which the Cowboys finished 7-6 and beat Indiana in the Insight Bowl. The OSU offense put up gaudy numbers that ranked it among the best in the country, but the

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defense did not enjoy the same degree of success. That led to a series of improvements that made a defensive struggle out of the Orange and White spring scrimmage, when the Orange team topped White, 9-7, on a safety by backup linebacker Seb Clements. During that game, Sexton laid a hit on Dez Bryant on the opening kickoff return and forced a fumble. Defensive Coordinator Tim Beckman has gelled the defense, tailoring his schemes to fit his players. Defensive tackle Tonga Tea Jr. has slimmed down, and, joined by junior college transfer Swanson Miller up front, should help control the line of scrimmage. Also, fans should see improvement from last year at the defensive end position with Ugo Chinasa. “Finally, it’s all come together and I think it’s time for our defense to show it and really start putting it on people,” says Sexton. “Everybody’s bought into how we work in this system.” Although the defense’s spring play earned praise from the media, Sexton says, “I don’t think they really respect us yet. It can get you down or it can motivate you. I just try to focus on what we need to do to get better.” That may be evident in a preseason poll of 51 journalists who cover the Big 12. Forty-nine of them picked OU to win the Big 12 South. OSU was picked to finish fourth, between Texas Tech at third and Texas A&M at fifth. “That’s how you want it. It’s hard to be chosen to be first. Then it also doesn’t feel good to be put in the back.” The 21 year-old sports management major isn’t worried. Summer football has been competitive and the defense has been

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Defender Andre Sexton brings down an OU runningback during the 2007 Bedlam battle.

scrimmaging against the team’s spread offense. That has been a great study to help the defense read and react to its explosive plays. Also, the defense has been watching game film of opposing teams each week during the summer. They didn’t do that last year, he says. It should give them a leg up by the time the season begins. Sexton came to OSU in 2005 from Cypress Falls, Texas, where he was a one-man wrecking crew, making 126 tackles his senior year in high school, nabbing three interceptions, recovering seven fumbles, blocking three punts and two field goals. He redshirted his freshman year in Stillwater due to a preseason injury, but came on strong in 2006, starting in each game at safety, leading the defense in tackles and forced fumbles. He was a fi rst-team freshman All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America that year. Sexton intercepted the fi rst pass thrown in Boone Pickens Stadium last season, returning it 14 yards for a touchdown in a 42-6 trouncing of Florida Atlantic. He fi nished the season strong, too, leading the team in tackles during the Insight Bowl. Before the 2008 season started, he spent time in Texas, taking in some home cooking and spending some rare time with his friends and family, including his two younger sisters, Gabrielle and Chante. “My sisters joke about when I come home that that’s when we get to eat the good food.”

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, v tbal5l th - Boulder o o F boy ovember 1 Cow ay N at the l l a b Saturd et asks B y sic ndo, FL o b a l ebel w C R o la r e y C O c d i a p 0th NLV L Old S r 27-3 U e b t a m ll Nove etba k s a c irl Bs Classi Vegas, NV g w o C istma t - Las Chr mber 18-21s Join us and the Cowboys on the road!

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Be sure to contact us for all your travel plans. 800.678.2255 or email us at osu@travel-its.com Please visit us at www.travel-its.com.

From Left to Right: Soccer coach Colin Carmichael, Thomas Graves, Larry Soderstrom, Larry Dustin, Louise Soderstrom and Softball coach Rich Wieligman.

Thanks to all of our 2007-2008 Orange Rewards participants. Your devotion to Cowboy and Cowgirl Athletics helped make the first year of the program an enormous success. During the first year of Orange Rewards, more than 900 OSU fans participated, and they earned free, exclusive OSU gear just for showing up and supporting OSU student-athletes. We would also like to thank sponsors: Stillwater National Bank and P/K Equipment/John Deere. All you have to do to make the second year another success is to keep showing up and earning more OSU gear.

GO POKES!

SHOW YOUR COLORS

No matter where you are — at home, the office, the park, the grocery store — support the Cowboys and Cowgirls by wearing your OSU Authentic gear and show your colors.

AND REMEMBER, ALL COWBOYS WEAR ORANGE. Aug. 29, 2008 – the 4th Annual College Colors Day

Center for Executive and Professional Development

celebrating 55 years of education beyond the usual 2008 MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Tulsa

Succession Planning: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

September 4

9 am – 4 pm

Tulsa

Motivation to Lead, Motivation to Follow

September 10

9 am – 4 pm

Tulsa

Building Successful Project Management Teams

September 23

9 am – 4 pm

Oklahoma City

From Boomers to Millennials: Leading Generations at Work

September 30

9 am – 4 pm

Oklahoma City

Supervisory Program: Leadership, Mentoring and Coaching for Outstanding Performance

October 9 – 10

9 am – 4 pm

Oklahoma City

Managing Difficult People in Difficult Situations: “Working with You is Killing Me”

October 14

9 am – 4 pm

Oklahoma City

Developing Effective Attitudes in the Workplace

October 23

9 am – 4 pm

For more information or to enroll in these programs call 866.678.3933 or e-mail cepd@okstate.edu

EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT BRIEFINGS AND TULSA BUSINESS FORUMS » EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT BRIEFINGS — Oklahoma City • Thomas Friedman, Author of The World is Flat and Foreign Affairs Columnist of The New York Times | Wednesday, September 10, 2008 • George Will, Author and Newspaper Columnist, The Washington Post | Thursday, December 4, 2008 • Susan Packard, Cofounder and President of Brand Outreach, HGTV | Tuesday, March 24, 2009

» TULSA BUSINESS FORUMS • Thomas Friedman, Author of The World is Flat and Foreign Affairs Columnist of The New York Times | Thursday, September 11, 2008 • Steve Forbes, Chairman and CEO of Forbes, Inc. | Friday, January 16, 2009 • Susan Packard, Cofounder and President of Brand Outreach, HGTV | Wednesday, March 25, 2009 To register or for more information, contact the OSU Center for Executive and Professional Development by e-mail at cepd@okstate.edu or call 866.678.3933 or visit us online at cepd.okstate.edu. Center for Executive and Professional Development 1.866.678.3933

OSU Spears School of Business

cepd.okstate.edu

Noncredit Opportunities: Open Enrollment Programs • Custom/On-Site Programs • Business Speaker Series • Retreat and Conference Planning Credit Opportunities: Distance Learning Degrees, Certificate Programs and Courses • Study Abroad and Travel Programs

THE WILD WEST This fall, get ready to experience the excitement of The Wild West – the rowdiest section in all the stadium. It features 16,000 more seats, 130 new suites and some of the best views in the stadium. In the Wild West, you have an unobstructed view of the entire field. You’re close to the rowdy student section and rubbing elbows with the Cowboy Marching Band. And the prices are right with season tickets starting at just $35 per game.

Arrive Early. Wear Orange. Make Some Noise.

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nce e r e f n 2 Co a State 1 g i he B Oklahom t f o r tier ent, the e p p the u Tournam p. n i s e ishe he NCAA next st n fi utive und of t take the c e s con y to d ro After he secon m is read t and er progra Socc

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anked 23rd nationally at the start of the season, Head Coach Colin Carmichael says the 2008 Cowgirls have the talent and depth to compete for a conference championship and go deeper into the post-season. “As far as goals are concerned, a natural progression would be to compete for a regular-season Big 12 Championship, which we’ve never won, and try to get into the Sweet 16,” he says. “I wouldn’t say they are our only goals, because I think you can have a successful season without that, but those are two things we would look at to jump to the next level – especially the Sweet 16 – just getting out of that second round of the NCAA Tournament. I think our kids realize that’s the next big step for us. “Over the last two years we’ve done enough to deserve our ranking as a Top 20 program,” he adds. “I think if we back that up this year and maybe break into the Sweet 16, people will look at us and say we

are a legitimate Top 20 team every year.” In 2006, the Cowgirls finished with a school-record 17 wins before falling to Clemson on penalty kicks in the NCAA Tournament round of 32. “The Clemson loss is one that kind of sticks with you,” Carmichael says. “We certainly had the better of the play, and Yolanda (Odenyo) actually hit the crossbar in overtime on a great shot. We were inches away from hosting the Sweet 16. We were that close.” Last year, OSU posted another strong showing (including a landmark road victory over No. 9 Notre Dame), but ran into top-ranked UCLA to end the season with a 14-6-3 record. Carmichael, who’s been at OSU since the program’s inception in 1996, says this year’s squad is the most talented team to wear the orange and black. “On paper it’s the best group we’ve had. I think we return 12 of our top 15 kids from last year and brought in eight

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newcomers. I think all of them have a chance to play immediately. It’s the most talented and certainly the deepest group we’ve had since I’ve been here.” In the Big 12, Texas A&M has clearly been the premier program. A perennial Top 10 team and the defending league champs, the Aggies are the team OSU needs to beat to reach the next level. “A&M has been the flagship of the conference, and every year you’re going to have to go through A&M to win the championship,” Carmichael says. “This year we could be as close as we’ve ever been to bridging that talent gap. I think in years past, we’ve had five to seven kids who were as good as what A&M had. The difference was, they had 17 or 18. When we played them last year, for 60 minutes we were the better team and were beating them 1-0. But late in the game they were by far the better team, and a lot of that has to do with fresh legs. They made some changes late in the second half and we couldn’t. Sure enough, late in the game we faded a little bit due to fatigue. “So this year, our hope is that our depth is equal to theirs, and maybe that gives us the edge. I’d like to think we’ll be equal with them this year and have a good chance to beat them.” A lack of depth can take its toll over the course of a season, he adds. “As the season wears on that’s a big factor, because if you can’t sub in the earlier games your kids get run down by the end of the season. If we can pull players like Yolanda off for 15 minutes here and 20 minutes there and not miss a beat, then obviously late in the year they’re not as banged up and they’re a little bit fresher.” Odenyo, a senior from Uppsala, Sweden, is the team’s difference-maker. A first team All-American on the field, as well as an Academic All-American, Carmichael says she’s a rare talent. “To me, Yolanda’s the best player in the conference, but I’m biased,” he says.

“There’s only a handful of kids who are special, and she’s one of them.” Carmichael says Odenyo makes the players around her better. “Having Yolanda is huge. Not only her performance, but she just inspires confidence in the rest of her team. She leads by example on and off the field. She’s just an invaluable part of our team. When Yolanda came here, we didn’t have the supporting cast around her that we do now.” The team’s experience – and success – against top-tier competition over the past two years should serve them well this season, he says. “When we used to play against the top teams I think we were trying to survive and maybe pull an upset. Now we go into those games really believing we have a chance to win. That’s half the battle. Now our kids don’t get fazed by a name, like Notre Dame, UCLA or Texas A&M. Going on the road and playing a lot of good games you just get a lot more confidence.” The 2-1 win over the Fighting Irish, which snapped Notre Dame’s 43-game home winning streak, helped put OSU Soccer on the national map. “It got us a whole lot of national recognition. I think a lot of people in Big 12 already knew Oklahoma State was pretty good, but going to Notre Dame and winning opened a lot of people’s eyes that we were a legitimate Top 20 team.” [+]

“When you realize what you can do, you start setting greater goals... We know we can play with anybody so championships are what we’re going for.” — Yolanda Odenyo

Carmichael says OSU offered to host a return match. “They’ll schedule you at their place,” he says, “but it’s real tough to get them to come here. It would be very difficult to get a team like Notre Dame or North Carolina or UCLA to come here. They’re always willing to play you at their place, but they’re usually not too excited to come to Stillwater.” OSU will host USC in 2009, however, a match that was scheduled before the Lady Trojans won the 2007 National Title. “That basically happened through meeting their assistant coach at a coaching clinic, hanging out over lunch one day and saying we should play home-and-home,” Carmichael explains. “This was before they were national champions, of course, so it kind of worked out nice. Our team getting better is helping us with scheduling, because it improves a team’s

RPI if you have a good season.” The Cowgirls’ recent improvement has also helped the top in-state recruits stay closer to home, as OSU tapped into Oklahoma’s growing talent pool. “First, we brought in international kids, and they helped us to build the program to where it was better recognized in the United States. Now when we recruit, we have a better chance to get the top players, so we don’t need to go overseas to find those players,” Carmichael says. “In the last couple years, for whatever reason, the state of Oklahoma has had very good classes come out. From the Hurricane ’89 select team we got Siera Strawser (Bixby), Allyson Leggett ( Jenks), Katie Richardson (Broken Arrow), Mary Pat Hardin (North Little Rock, Ark.) and Sarah Brown ( Jenks) – and they were a team that went to the Regional Finals two years in a row. From the Edmond ’90 team, we’ve just brought

in Melinda Mercado (Sapulpa), Kyndall Treadwell (Cleveland), Colleen Dougherty (OKC Bishop McGuinness) and Alison Farrell (Edmond North). That team has been to the national Final Four twice. For whatever reason in those age groups there’s been a lot of talent in Oklahoma, and we’ve been able to pull some of them in. Those two club teams have done a really good job of developing kids, and we’re just hoping to reap the rewards.” In the past, Carmichael says, top local recruits would set their sights on premier out-of-state programs. “In years past they’ve looked at us, but if an A&M or a Duke or a UNC or a Notre Dame came calling, it was going to be real hard for us to keep them in state. Now they see a Top 20 program at OSU and they don’t have to go out of state to achieve what they want to do. Those kids want to compete nationally and to be able to do that here is appealing to them. Our success has definitely helped to keep the kids home.” The team’s success has also created a loyal following of fans, Carmichael says. “We have a very loyal fan base that comes to every game, rain or shine. Last year we averaged close to 1000 per game, which is the most in our history. It makes a huge difference. When we come out and see several thousand people there wearing orange, it definitely gives our kids a little extra buzz for the game.” Carmichael says many first-time spectators are surprised by the physicality of women’s soccer. “A lot of people think soccer’s non-contact. Come watch a game. Or even better, come watch a practice. It’s full contact and these kids put their body on the line every day. Probably the hardest working member of our staff is Todd (Gerlt), our athletic trainer. It’s a very physical sport. There’s a lot more contact than people might think.” Clay Billman

SENIORITY RULES Colin Carmichael knows all about the highs and lows of Oklahoma State Cowgirl soccer. Now the program’s head coach, Carmichael has been on the coaching staff in all 13 seasons of OSU soccer’s existence. So it’s no small praise when he calls the Cowgirls’ 2008 senior class the best in school history. “It’s arguably the most successful group of seniors to go through the program,” Carmichael says. “They’ve meant a whole lot to the program and

have helped us build on the success of previous years. They’ve raised the expectation level every year. When they came in, our goal was just to get to the NCAA Tournament. Now it’s to advance to the Sweet 16, and anything less would be considered a bit of a letdown. “That’s a reflection on how well they’ve done in their four years here.” OSU’s ’08 senior class includes four true seniors – Yolanda Odenyo, Erin Stigler, Jamie Markaverich and Jessica Jarrell. A fifth player, Leah Hope, is a junior eligibility-wise but [+]

will graduate in the spring and will not return to the team in 2009. The success of this group of Cowgirls can be highlighted in a number of ways, both on and off the field. In the last three seasons, the group has led OSU to a 41-15-9 record, a winning percentage of .700. Among their biggest accomplishments are the first back-to-back trips to the NCAA Soccer Championship in school history. The Cowgirls advanced to the second round of the tourney each of the last two seasons. Accomplishments like these “have definitely raised the bar for this program and definitely gives us a lot of positive momentum for the future,” says Carmichael. As Cowgirl soccer continues to build on its success, the current senior class takes great pride in what it's helped achieve, and is hungry for even more in their final collegiate seasons. “The expectations we have on ourselves, that the coaches have on us, that even the fans have on us, are greater now because we’ve shown

what we can do,” Odenyo says. “We have a greater group of quality players every year. When I first got here, maybe we had seven. Then we had nine, then 11 and 15. Adds Stigler, “We’re getting to be a deeper group, which enables us to compete with anybody. We want to be the most respected team on campus. We want to have other athletes and people in the general public look at us and say ‘That’s a quality team and a quality group of girls.’” There are plenty of reasons for Cowgirl soccer to reach that role model status. Along with the on-field success, each of OSU’s seniors has been an Academic All-Big 12 performer and helped the team earn the NSCAA Team Academic Award each of the last six seasons. Odenyo also became the program’s first Academic All-American in 2006. And of course, like any great team, the Cowgirls are not content. “I remember the first year I was here, it was a big deal just to get to the Big 12 Tournament,” Markaverich

says. “Now, we expect that, and we’ve got much higher goals. We’ve got a lot more confidence, and now we believe we can win games in the NCAA Tournament every year. “We try to be role models to the younger girls, and we let them know the winning expectations this program has now.” Those winning expectations have also carried over to OSU’s fan base, which last year supported the Cowgirls in record numbers as 10,222 fans attended games at the Cowgirl Soccer Complex. Winning for their growing legions of fans only fuels the motivation for the Cowgirls. “Compared to my freshman year, even though we had a lot of fans at some games, now I feel like the fans are a lot more involved,” Odenyo says. “People know us. Now I walk around campus, and people know me – that did not happen three or four years ago. It’s not just people randomly coming to watch us now. People are actually fans and follow us. “You look around and realize that someone is watching you. It’s not just about you. You realize that, ‘I put on this jersey, and I’m not just representing myself but Oklahoma State University, and on Monday mornings someone is gonna hold me accountable.’” With that being said, giving fans of Cowgirl soccer reason to stand up and cheer in 2008 is certainly a focus of the ’08 senior class. And the group is setting lofty goals in order to do just that. “When you realize what you can do, you start setting greater goals,” Odenyo says. “We know we can play with anybody so championships are what we’re going for.” Wade McWhorter

PASSION FOR THE GAME

native of Scotland, Colin Carmichael grew up with a passion for the sport of soccer. As a coach, he hasn’t lost that fire.

“I like to think I’m passionate,” he says. “I’m not somebody who’s going to sit back and allow things to happen. I get after the girls in practice, and I’ve been known to get after officials from time to time. I definitely have a passion for the game, which I hope would show in how our kids play.” Carmichael says he prefers to play an attacking style of soccer. “I like for our kids to play a very high-tempo, high-pressure game because I think that goes along with my passion for the game. Other coaches prefer a more laid back, slow style … to me that’s boring. We don’t like to do that, we like to get up in your face and play hard. I think that comes from my love of playing and coaching. I’d rather our girls lose trying to win than to sit back and play for ties.” Sometimes the coach’s passion has been known to get under the officials’ skin, and he’s collected a few red cards (ejections) to show for it. “It’s been a while though,” he laughs. “Maybe I’m maturing or wising up a bit. I do have a pretty good relationship with most of the officials in the Big 12. I think they understand that I’m a passionate person and I speak my mind. At the same time, when the officials do a great job I’ll be the first one out on the field congratulating them. I think when all is said and done after the game, everything’s kind of left on the field and you move on. I hope there’s a mutual respect there. I certainly respect what they do. It’s not an easy job. I wouldn’t want to do it.” Becoming a first-time father last year has helped put things in perspective, Carmichael says. “I love my job, I’m passionate about my career, but at the same

time, when you’ve got a family at home, it really prioritizes what’s important. I think having a family just gives you that leveler, you know. I used to go home, and if we had a tough loss I’d take it home with me. Now you’ve got to go home and be able to leave it at the office and mellow out a little bit. So I think it helps.” Coincidentally, both he and Assistant Coach Tony Economopoulos became dads on the same day in the same hospital. Dominic Economopoulos and Maggie Carmichael were born on Sept. 10, 2007. “Tony and I were texting from the delivery rooms next to each other, ‘What’s going on over there?’ … Then we’d go out in the hallway, ‘Any movement?’ ‘Nah. You?’ It was unbelievable. It’s all a blur now.” Soccer has always been a family affair for Carmichael. “I’m from a town called Airdrie, right outside of Glasgow, but when I was 12, my dad moved to Houston with the oil industry,” he says. “We moved in ’82, and it was supposed to be just a one or two year deal, but my dad loved it and it ended up being six years. So I went through high school there and then went back to the UK for a year to play soccer. I thought I was going to be a professional soccer player. It didn’t quite pan out that way, and I ended up coming back and getting a scholarship to the University of South Alabama.” After his collegiate career, Carmichael helped coach the women’s team at his alma mater before joining Karen Hancock to start the OSU program from scratch. Those days were a struggle to be competitive, he recalls. “The first few years Karen and I were just fighting to keep our heads above water, just trying to get any player who was decent to come here and try to win a few games. We had a couple really down years, but in 2000 we had a very good recruiting class. And from there we’ve been able to build. It’s been a process, but certainly I’d say the last two years we’ve maintained a level of stability, and that’s the key. If you want to reach that next level, you’ve got to be consistently at the top. I think that’s the sign of a successful program.”

Carmichael says he hasn’t been back to Scotland in several years, but has managed to convert his family into diehard Cowgirl fans. “My dad used to think women couldn’t play sports, but he’s now become this massive OSU soccer fan, and so they come here every fall.” When they visit, Carmichael’s family is quick to point out that his Scottish brogue has become a southern drawl. “I guess my accent is kind of a blend between Scotland, Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma. They say it doesn’t sound Scottish anymore. Occasionally ‘y’all’ will slip out, and I’ll just get blistered for it.” [+] Clay Billman

“A lot of people think soccer’s non-contact. Come watch a game. Or even better, come watch a practice. It’s full contact and these kids put their body on the line every day. —Colin Carmichael

JAMIE

YOLANDA

ODENYO Midfielder

MARKAVERICH Midfielder

“Yo is just invaluable - not only her individual stats, but her leadership and the confidence she brings to the rest of the team,” Carmichael says of Odenyo. “She’s made a huge impact on our program on-and-off the field. She’s our focal point, and we’re hoping she has a great senior year.”

“Jamie was a part-time starter for two years and then last year, she really blossomed into a very good player,” Carmichael says. “She’s worked very, very hard in practice and in the weight room. “This spring, she was one of our best players, and I expect her senior year to be her best year so far.”

ERIN

STIGLER Goalkeeper

“You can’t say enough good things about Erin Stigler,” Carmichael says. “From walk-on, fourth-string goalkeeper to setting shutout records, she’s been great. She’s playing with a lot of confidence, and our team realizes they’ve got a good goalkeeper behind them. That gives everyone else more confidence.”

LEAH HOPE Forward

JESSICA

JARRELL Defender

“(Jarrell) sometimes flies under the radar, doesn’t get any accolades, but year-in and year-out she’s one of our best defenders,” Carmichael says. “She’s been brilliant for us. She might not get the recognition, but from a coaching standpoint, she’s one of the first names you put down on the starting 11.”

“Leah is a kid that knows how to score goals, and she’s scored some important ones for us,” Carmichael says. “The one that sticks out is down at Texas A&M on national TV. “She works very hard and a lot of times gives us a spark off the bench, and she’s always a threat to score goals when she’s playing.”

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Get ready for more Orange Power this season. Because we’re bringing more horse power. Here comes Bullet.

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The Student Store is Oklahoma State University’s original outlet for Cowboy clothing and souvenirs. Owned and operated by OSU, all proceeds help fund the many activities the Student Union and Campus Life provide to keep memories alive in the students at OSU.

$115 Million

The Story Behind the Big Number & Why It’s Important

It’s no secret

Mike Holder pushes people to achieve more. That’s what coaches do. A little more than a year ago, he decided to push the athletic department’s development team. They had just finished the successful “Next Level” capital improvement campaign and were discussing what the next program should be. “We had a tremendously successful Next Level campaign,” says Larry Reece, executive director of major gifts and voice of the Cowboys. “Coach Holder asked, ‘Guys, what should we do next?’ “That’s when we looked at endowments. It was, frankly, embarrassing. I like it when OSU is number one, not when we’re dead last. In endowments, we were dead last. We had $2.1 million in scholarship endowments we could count. In comparison, number one in the conference, at the time, was Texas A&M with $60 million. “We were way behind.” The team dug in and did due diligence. They discovered that most schools were just making up a number they thought they could achieve, just pulling something out of thin air. “A lot of them were saying $150,000 endows a full scholarship,” says Reece. “If you crunch the numbers,

it doesn’t even come close. It’s a little scary, but $500,000 is what it takes to endow a scholarship.” For one year, full scholarship for one athlete costs between $18,000-$20,000. “When you have 229 of those, you have a big number,” Reece says. “We didn’t candy coat or make up some small number we thought we could get a lot of people to do. “Coach Holder doesn’t do anything halfway. He said, ‘What’s it going to take to do them all. Larry, that’s your goal.’” That goal: $115 million. In just a year, the team has raised scholarship endowments from $2.1 million to $25 million in present day and deferred gifts. “That’s crazy,” says Reece. “There’s been a change in the mindset. Cowboy fans and supporters have really decided to step it up in unprecedented levels. It’s been pretty rewarding to see us go from dead last to basically a tie for third with Texas. “The scholarship campaign has been really rewarding because people get it,” he says. “They like the fact they are helping our student-athletes. That’s what we’re all about. That’s why we’re all here. We want their experience to be the best it can be.

“It’s been amazing. I don’t believe any of us have been turned down yet.” There’s another obvious benefit to endowing all 229 scholarships. Each year, approximately $4.5 million comes out of the athletic department’s operating budget to pay for these scholarships. When the scholarships are endowed, that money goes back into the pool. OSU’s athletic budget at $40 million per year is a third that of Texas ($120 million), and half that of OU ($75-80 million). “We’re trying to compete with these people,” says Reece. “Not only did we have small endowments, but 10 percent of the $40 million athletic budget goes to campus to pay for our athletic scholarships every year. That is a major hit. “We’ve always been the little athletic department that could,” says Reece. “We’ve always had a smaller budget. We were able to compete in golf and wrestling and basketball, but football has always just had a brief period of success here and there. It’s never been consistent.” The reality is that OSU didn’t have the resources, or the budget, to compete on a consistent basis. So how do you grow the budget? The obvious answer is to sell more tickets. “We all know that if we win more ballgames, we’re going to have more people attending,” says Reece. “We need to battle for a Big 12 Championship and sneak into a BCS game. That will change things. The good news is we have 16,000 more seats in the west end zone so we have the ability to sell more tickets.” Another answer is to grow the POSSE. “We’ve gone from 6,000 to 8,050 POSSE members in a year,” he says. “We’ve been at 6,000 since I’ve been here. Texas A&M has more than 23,000 in their booster club. We need to reach for those kinds of numbers, but we need to get to 10,000 fi rst.” Reece says there was a need to be more forward thinking, to abandon the mindset, for instance, that ticket prices can be raised once the teams start winning. “We couldn’t wait for that to happen,” he says. “It probably never would have happened. We just kept it flat because we weren’t very good and just wanted to keep people coming. And we owe about 25,000 fans who came no matter what a debt of gratitude. We appreciate those folks, even though they may not think we appreciate them because they’re feeling the pain of the increases now. “We’re still in the middle of the pack,” says Reece in regard to ticket prices.

Numbers based on an informal survey as of 2006.

Numbers based on an informal survey as of 2007.

Texas A&M

$60,000,000

Texas A&M

$65,000,000

Kansas

$29,000,000

Kansas

$29,000,000

Texas

$25,000,000

Texas

$25,000,000

Baylor

$23,000,000

Oklahoma State

$25,000,000

Oklahoma

$20,000,000

Baylor

$24,500,000

Missouri

$18,000,000

Oklahoma

$24,000,000

Kansas State

$10,000,000

Missouri

$22,500,000

Colorado

$62,000,000

Kansas State

$21,000,000

Texas Tech

$3,700,000

Colorado

$15,000,000

Iowa State

$2,690,832

Texas Tech

$6,900,000

Oklahoma State

$2,162,891

Iowa State

$6,200,000

It was a tough choice to make, and unpopular one, but necessary. Already in his short term as AD, Holder has shown the ability to make the right choice, even if it’s a difficult one. “We’re fortunate we have an athletic director who’s one of us,” says Reece. “Mike Holder is a Cowboy. He’s been here as a player, as a tremendously successful coach, and now he’s our AD. “I think a lot of times ADs around the country go to a school and think they’re going to be there a relatively short period of time, three to five years. They’re thinking, ‘What can I do right now to bolster my résumé, make things look good for my next job.’ Mike Holder’s not going anywhere, so he’s trying to figure out, ‘How do I secure the future of the school we all love?’” It’s a question many Cowboy fans are asking. Fortunately, Reece and the rest of the team have an answer: endow a scholarship. “An endowment is always going to be there,” he says. “It’s about securing our future.”

“There’s been a change in the mindset. Cowboy fans and supporters have really decided to step it up in unprecedented levels. It’s been pretty rewarding to see us go from dead last to basically a tie for third with Texas." — Larry Reece

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THE

WISDOM OF WEIS

As a four-decade career comes to a close, Richard Weis plans to go out with a bang this November. Entering his 26th and final year as men's track and field coach at OSU, Weis says the cross country team could be national champions this season. This season, which ends at the NCAA Championships before Thanksgiving, will be a capstone on a career that took Weis, a father of five and the son of a chemical engineer, from his home in White Plains, N.Y., to physical education studies at Kings College, part time jobs as a garbage man, personal coach and teacher. He came to OSU as a cross country coach in 1983 from the University of Missouri, where in four years Weis coached 26 All-Americans and a two-time Big Eight champion. At OSU, Weis’ list of accolades stretches into next week: 53 All-Americans coached, two Olympians, one world-record holder, four national champions and five runners-up, and the list goes on. He turned the Cowgirl cross country team into a Big Eight powerhouse with a conference championship in 1986. He became track coach in 1989 and his teams qualified for nine consecutive NCAA tournaments and landed six district titles. Weis has also been named the district’s coach of the year six times. Dave Smith took the reigns of the men’s cross country team in 2006 and will take over entirely once Weis retires. Here are some excerpts from a recent POSSE conversation with Weis, his New York accent-laced comments spanning everything from coaching to family, and his plans to travel, golf and fish his way through retirement. MATT ELLIOTT » This is going to be your last year at Oklahoma State. Does it feel any different at all?

Photo by Phil Shockley

"I honestly believe we’re going to be back on the podium again in the top four. Just what number, I don’t know. Things fall right, we could win it all. So that would be nice to go out with a national championship. That’s what we’re looking for – what we’ve always looked for."

RICHARD WEIS » No, it’s just coming to an end after 44 years, a long time coaching. M.E. » Are you planning on staying in Oklahoma? WEIS » Oh yeah. We’re staying here (in Stillwater). All our kids are here or close. I have one daughter north of Dallas. My son ( Joe) works at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kan. And I’ve got another boy (Ray) who's a wrestling coach down at Jenks. And my other daughter is going back to school getting her master’s degree. M.E. » What was it that drew you to OSU, apart from the job?

WEIS » It was a good move for me. I was out in Missouri, coaching the women and it was just a better deal to come down here. Of course, my son Ray was interested in wrestling. And this was the best place to come for wrestling, never knowing that he was going to get on the team. He walked on as a freshman and made it to the nationals. M.E. » Did you ever think you’d end up this far away from New York?

time. How’d you make it through that? WEIS » I’ve got a good faith in God that he’ll guide me where to go, so I was concerned, but I wasn’t worried. I knew something would work out and would work out for the best. And it was good because where we were living in New York and everything was really, really turning to drugs. It was really getting out of hand in Rockland County, north of New York City. It was turning into a bad situation and I didn’t want my kids subject to it.

WEIS » No. For a long period of time, I was the only high school coach around getting interviews at universities but I never got a job. I interviewed for Syracuse, West Point, a whole bunch of other schools and never got a job, so I’d kind of given up. Then, I got the job at Missouri. I never even went there for the interview. I interviewed on the phone and I got the job as the women’s coach. In 1979, they interviewed me on Tuesday and Thursday on the phone, and I was hired on Friday.

M.E. » What are you going to do after you retire?

M.E. » How big of an adjustment was that for you, to leave New York and go to the rural Midwest?

WEIS » The best place is right here in town, Boomer. In the last three years at Boomer, I’ve caught two sixes, a seven, and an eight and nine-pound bass. Nobody fishes there.

WEIS » When I went to Missouri, it was kind of culture shock. But coming down here was fine. I had been to Stillwater a number of times. I’d met a number of people down here, so I had a good idea what was going on. And my kids had been here with me, too, on trips. They all wanted to come. M.E. » What was the first big lesson you learned about coaching athletes and trying to get them to improve? WEIS » Listen to them. When I first started coaching my brother, he was going into his senior year in high school. And he was a 4:54miler. He wanted to get better. We had this course we would run and I just developed a thing for him. I told him, “Run out a minute. Come back a minute. You’ll get two minutes’ rest. Then out a minute and back a minute and two minutes’ rest.” We did it the first day and everything was fine. The second day, he said it was tough. The third day he says, “Aw, I’m dragging. I can’t do this three days in a row. It’s killing me.” So, I said, “OK, take a day off and just run easy” … Then from there we just kind of picked it up and found out that two days hard and one day easy was a lot better ... He ran in three races during the summer, and the last race he ran a 4:28 for the mile. He ran his last lap in 59 seconds … He ended up getting a scholarship to the University of Houston. M.E. » How’d you pay the bills after college? WEIS » I got married in '66 and then I started school in ’68. I graduated in three-and-a-half-years and I was working 47 hours a week. I had like five jobs. I taught in a Catholic school half a day a week. Whenever the job came and I was open, I worked it. I worked garbage in the summer and over Christmas, and sometimes on Sundays I drove the garbage truck. M.E. » Did you and your wife have any kids at the time? WEIS » Yeah. We had one, Kate, and another, Joe, one on the way. I was superintendent of recreation and parks down at Mount Pleasant. I had about a hundred people working for me, and then around 1974 I got the job at Albertus Magnus High School, in Bardonia, N.Y. I was there four years and we won two state championships had a national record in the two-mile run. M.E. » You mentioned you were laid off from your next job at a nearby school district. That had to have been a rough

WEIS » I play golf and fish. I played golf this morning and hopefully this afternoon even though it’s raining. I’ve got a buddy who’s coming and we're going to go fish a couple of farm ponds up in Pawnee. I fish all over the place. M.E. » How’s the fishing around Stillwater?

M.E. » Now that you’ve said that, a bunch of people are going to go and fish there. You’ll lose your spot. WEIS » Yeah, well they’ve got to get out there and fish. They’ve got to find the spots and all. The last time I was down at Boomer, I caught a 13-pound catfish. M.E. » What else will you do? WEIS » I plan on traveling back to Europe a couple of times. My wife really likes England and Scotland. I’d like to spend some time in Wales. One of the kids we had here, Nathaniel Lane, got an MBA here and is a lawyer in Wales. He wants us to come over. He said he’d take some time off and take us all over Wales ... When we go to England, Paul Larkin (an NCAA champ for me in the mile) is the editor of two magazines and so he’s taken us around a couple times. M.E. » It sounds like you’ve had a wonderful career here. WEIS » Yeah, well, it’s been very, very, very good. I’ve gotten to meet a lot of good people and had a lot of good times. It was well worth being here, believe me. You don’t know how good it was for the family, being here. M.E. » What are you going to miss about it? WEIS » When you do something for 44 years and you’re doing it seven days a week, you kind of miss it. I told Dave if he needs any help I’ll come back and help him. But I don't want to interfere. It’s going to be his program after this is over. When he first came here, he just meshed pretty well … A couple years ago I made him head cross country coach to keep him. Now we’re down to the last. It’s just been me and him for the last six years. It’s just a matter of getting through this season. Last year, we were third at the nationals and we really had a great race. We had four out of five kids run a perfect race and ended up third. I think we’ve got a better team this year. I think we’re going to be in the mix of it again. I honestly believe we’re going to be back on the podium again in the top four. Just what number, I don’t know. Things fall right, we could win it all. So that would be nice to go out with a national championship. That’s what we’re looking for – what we’ve always looked for. 77

Photo by Phil Shockley

THIS SHOE IS ACTUAL SIZE

Go ahead. Hold it up to your foot. You know you want to. No one's watching. This is the size-16 cleat of Cowboy defensive end Ugo Chinasa. He's a 6'6", 255-pound sophomore out of Richardson, Texas, and he's ready to use these cleats to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines this fall. Tickets are available. Photo by Phil Shockley

wray.vings KYLE WRAY

DRINK Many things have changed over the last 20 years in the world of athletic training. Workout gear used to be clunky and gray. Today, dry-fit clothing comes in “breathable” material in every color of the rainbow. Even the length of shorts is dramatically different. Go back and look at some pictures from the Leonard Hamilton era. The style was short and tight. And by “tight,” I don’t mean “cool.” I mean snug. Canvas Converse used to be the footwear of choice. Okay, there was the choice between the colors of black and white, but that was it. Now the choices are endless. (Have you been in a sports store lately?) Industry giant Nike dominates the landscape. New Balance, Reebok and Asics all build shoes designed to propel you into the next stride. Perhaps one day they will invent shoes so efficient, the shoes can do the running for you. Even the athletes have changed. They seemingly defy physics by being bigger and

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ORANGE faster than ever. As the Olympic Games in Beijing demonstrated this summer, world records were made to be broken. One thing that has not changed is the need for replenishing your system with water. The harder you work, the more you need it. Gatorade, POWERAde or good oldfashioned, quality H20 will do the trick. As Bobby Boucher taught all of us, you should never underestimate the need and importance of water during physical exertion. When I played football, the intelligence of the day suggested water was bad for you. It made you weak. That must have been before they invented dehydration. Football practice was a fluid-starved gauntlet of strenuous activity. We used to pray for a mirage during two-a-days. A tall cool bottle of Gatorade

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was a wild fantasy. It seems all coaches subscribed to Paul “Bear” Bryant’s school of thought when it came to football — no nonsense, no mercy, no water. Salt pillsyes. Water-No. Now that I think about it, what were we supposed to wash those salt pills down with? Today, our football players are encouraged to hydrate themselves before, during and after practice. The wisdom of the day indicates cramps are prevented by drinking proper fluids many hours prior to physical activity. It makes you wonder what we will know 20 years from now that will make our present-day logic look foolish. So the next time you are thirsty, it’s ok to crack open a Gatorade. There is lemonlime, grape and a host of other flavors. Of course, we prefer you drink Orange.