THE COWBOY LIFE

Individuals who didn’t possess that particular quality had to find another profession. There was no time for weakness. It was hot. It was cold. It was dangerous. It was hard.

Driving cattle in and through Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado or Wyoming in all kinds of weather conditions meant you had to be ready for almost anything. Risking life and limb represented more than just a wage at the end of the trail. It meant you rode for the brand, and all it stood for, whether the chips were up or the chips were … cow chips.

Every day there were small victories and small defeats. A metaphor for life. And then there were the people. Some you didn’t care for and some that didn’t give a care. When you rode up on a camp or a town for the first time, cowboys used caution if they were smart. Cowpokes couldn’t afford to judge a book by its cover. Smarter to set back a spell and take in all of your surroundings. No sense in rushing into anything.

Tough is defined as “of a substance strong enough to withstand adverse conditions; able to endure hardship or pain.” Cowgirls and Cowboys found that if they were riding through difficult situations, it was usually best to just keep on ridin’. Stopping to feel sorry for yourself wouldn’t do anyone any good. There is a reason the first five words to the Oklahoma State fight song — all five of them — are “RIDE.” You don’t get ’em rode in just one ride.

Even today in the professional rodeo world, you can tell when a cowboy is about to notch a good ride in rough stock competition. When his balance and countermoves to the bull or bronc are effective, you can tell before the eight-second buzzer sounds that success is imminent. In fact, you can hear other cowboys yell out, “you got ’em” as they watch.

GO POKES!

OSU Cowgirls and Cowboys are tough. Even when the seasons of life are, too. Learning how to be victorious and how to come up short is important for groups of fans and for individuals. Show me a fan base that doesn’t know how to win and lose with dignity, and I’ll show you a bunch of folks who haven’t learned the lessons sports should teach us. As fans, we root for our teams because they are part of the family, not because we get some warped sense of personal identity boost from winning.

You win some. You lose some. And the next morning, cowboys saddle up and view the promise of a better opportunity in a new sunrise … A BRIGHT ORANGE ONE.

Scholarships

KYLE WRAY Vice President Enrollment & Brand Management

Kyle Wray OSU @KyleWrayOSU