COMMERCIAL INTERRUPTION

BY KEVIN KLINTWORTH SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR

This is going to sound like an advertisement — and I guess in a way it is. It’s an advertisement for access, approachability, connection, school ties, family ties and lifelong bonding. It’s a look at people with big heads and big hearts. It’s an OSU story.

In a time that seems so long ago, but in reality not so much, college athletics was different. There was a casual feel to even the biggest sporting events of the year. Security was lighter, game times were consistent and social media meant listening to a game on the radio with a friend or two.

In those days, access to your favorite athletes or coaches took place in person rather than electronically. It was such a non-factor it was rarely discussed. But the world has changed. Some of it for the good and some of it — to be determined. In any case, unfettered access to many athletes, professional or collegiate, is mostly a thing of the past.

Except …

At OSU, there is a program called Pistol Pete’s Partners for children eighth grade and younger. It is perhaps the best kept secret in OSU Athletics. For a $30 annual membership, kids receive a t-shirt, ID card, a surprise birthday card, free admission to soccer, wrestling, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball and softball (some exceptions apply) and a discounted ticket to one football game each year. In addition, there are exclusive parties with Pistol Pete and OSU’s student-athletes.

It’s an early indoctrination to the Cowboy Life and it can be impactful. And it provides access to OSU athletes and coaches that is mostly a thing of the past.

How much of an impact can childhood memories have?

In 1998, 10-year-old Lauren Blackwell of Chicago was in Stillwater for Homecoming to visit her cousin, Nick Kalina, who was a member of the OSU football team. The magical weekend of house decorations, Pistol Pete and the spirit squads worked their magic.

“That weekend I told my dad that OSU was where I was going to college,” said Blackwell, who now hangs out with Houston Astros as the team’s in-game (video) host. “I applied to OSU early in 2005, attended Camp Cowboy in the summer of 2006 and moved to Stillwater for Rush Week in August. It truly changed my life.” okstate.com/kidsclub

There aren’t a lot of events that change your life at age 10. And often times we don’t recognize them when they happen. But Pistol Pete’s Partners in an introduction into the world of OSU.

And if you are in one of those nasty relationships in which the kids are in a tug of war regarding college loyalties, it might be the best $30 you ever spend.

POSSE Magazine Staff

VICE PRESIDENT OF ENROLLMENT AND BRAND MANAGEMENT KYLE WRAY

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR KEVIN KLINTWORTH

SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS JESSE MARTIN

ART DIRECTOR DESIGNER DAVE MALEC

GRAPHIC DESIGNER CODEE CLASSEN

PHOTOGRAPHER / PRODUCTION ASSISTANT BRUCE WATERFIELD

ASSISTANT EDITOR CLAY BILLMAN

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS GARY LAWSON, PHIL SHOCKLEY MELISSA MORALES

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CLAY BILLMAN, JOHN HELSLEY KEVIN KLINTWORTH, JOHN LANGHAM WADE McWHORTER, ROGER MOORE, KYLE WRAY

Athletics Annual Giving (POSSE) Development Staff

ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / ANNUAL GIVING ELLEN AYRES

PUBLICATIONS COORDINATOR CLAY BILLMAN

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING RYAN SEVERSON DIRECTOR OF DONOR EXPERIENCE & COWBOY VIP ALLISON ESCOTT

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, ANNUAL GIVING EVENT COORDINATOR ALEXA ABLE

Athletics Major Gift Development Staff

SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR DEVELOPMENT LARRY REECE ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT MATT GRANTHAM

ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT SHAWN TAYLOR

At Oklahoma State University, compliance with NCAA, Big 12 and institutional rules is of the utmost importance. As a supporter of OSU, please remember that maintaining the integrity of the University and the Athletic Department is your first responsibility. As a donor, and therefore booster of OSU, NCAA rules apply to you. If you have any questions, feel free to call the OSU Office of Athletic Compliance at 405-744-7862 Additional information can also be found by clicking on the Compliance tab of the Athletic Department web-site at www.okstate.com

Remember to always “Ask Before You Act.”

Respectfully, BEN DYSON ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR COMPLIANCE

IN THE WORLD OF COLLEGE ATHLETICS,

large rosters normally mean lots of helping hands for head coaches: operations folks, assistant coaches, maybe a graduate assistant or two and possibly some administrative help.

For the OSU spirit squads, with a roster of 53, just two women run the show.