The O'Colly, Friday, September 8, 2023.

Beyond the orange suit

Ashton Miller Staff Reporter

Flamenco guitars, orange suits, EDM music and a packed freshman course define Oklahoma State University professor Mark Perry.

With a host of accolades and accomplishments that stem from universities and scholarly groups internationally, Perry’s passion for music and learning shines as he connects with students in filled lecture halls.

Perry teaches one of the most popular classes offered at OSU: “History of Rock and Roll.” He is also the director of the Music Industry Program.

Perry said he went into teaching because it was the family business, as his father was an art professor.

The “History of Rock and Roll” class has always been popular, but throughout the years, Perry extensively advertised the class to bring in as many students as possible.

“I knew that I was going to use the concert hall and there was going to be a lot of space,” Perry said. “So, I worked hard to advertise the class and make it known that it’s available.”

Perry said the class’ subject matter is what attracts students, though many argue it could be Perry himself that draws students

Friday, September 8, 2023

Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief

When Christine Ormsbee, vice provost at OSU, was a college student, she witnessed technology in education taking small steps toward what it is today.

Her biology class was shown on TV and the class material was mailed to her house. Almost 40 years later, Ormsbee is now having meetings to discuss the proper use of artificial intelligence and how to navigate a new era in education.

“The dynamic of the way we teach has changed because students are used to digital learning and that has impacted their attention,” Ormsbee said. Although research on AI-

based education emerged in the 70s, it has burgeoned rapidly in the past 10 years. With the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, the conversation surrounding the consequences of AI use and if students should be allowed to use the tool has become frequent among educators. The initial ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions turned into a layered topic that involved questioning whether students have the ability to work on their critical

thinking skills while using tools that, if used incorrectly, can get in the way of learning.

OSU’s policies allow faculty to decide if students can use specific AI tools in their classes. It is the student’s responsibility to understand their professor’s expectations. For professors who do not allow AI use in assignments, OSU’s administration discourages the use of AI detectors because they work more as an indicator than absolute evidence.

FAMILIAR FACE

to the class.

“Although there are many students in the class, (Perry) makes sure that everyone feels involved and engaged in the learning,” said Ashylnn Hutton, a sophomore taking the class.

The course content is not the only thing that appeals to students. Perry’s fashion sense is well known across campus, too.

Perry said he originally wore extravagant suits to differentiate himself from his students as a young professor.

But the suits became tradition, and Perry said his inner artist may be the reason the suits stuck around.

One suit stood out.

On the first day of each class, Perry wears a bright orange suit made for him by a tailor in Thailand.

When choosing the fabric options for his suit, Perry immediately flipped to the back of the book in search of the unique colors.

The confused employees asked what Perry did for a living, and upon discovering he was a musician, everything clicked.

Not only did the fabric coincide with America’s brightest orange, but it matched the colors Perry would wear on stage during his time in a rock band in the ‘80s.

“My favorite colors that I would wear on stage a lot were orange and pink,” Perry said.

Lusk back to boost school of Ag

& Lifestyle Editor

The school of agriculture has a new face at OSU.

Jayson Lusk, the new vice president and dean of Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, has been on the job for less than one month.

“It’s amazing the sort of warm welcome that you get from people, of all the agricultural commodity groups, all the alumni, all the donors, they’re just so happy to have somebody in this role, and that’s excited about the change,” Lusk said.

“So it makes you feel good.”

Lusk oversees faculty and staff in the Ferguson College of Agriculture. As the vice president, he is in charge of OSU Extension and OSU Ag Research.

But Lusk is not new to Stillwater. He worked at OSU for 12 years as a professor before working as the department head of agricultural economics at Purdue.

Lusk said the choice to return to Stillwater was easy.

“I thought, ‘I only want to do this at a handful of places that I might really care about,’” Lusk said. “I just didn’t think it’s the kind of job that you could do well at some random school, and we still had a lot of fond feelings of Oklahoma State and Stillwater.”

Lusk and his family maintained their Stillwater friendships during their time at Purdue, so their return to OSU was welcomed.

“It’s a good location for us,” Lusk said. “My wife is from Kansas. I’m from Texas. We still

had a lot of friends here.”

Lusk is succeeding Tom Coon, who previously served as the vice president and dean for nine years.

Lusk worked with Coon as a professor at OSU. He talked with Coon numerous times throughout the application and interview processes to get his perspective.

One of the main projects Coon spearheaded was the construction of the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall.

“I think there are lots of sort of opportunities to go after next, now that New Frontiers is sort of at least on a path towards finishing that we can start to dream about new ideas,” Lusk said.

As far as improvements, Lusk has a few ideas.

‘AI needs human management’

OSU takes steps toward learning the technology

Kennedy Thomason News

Courtesy of Mitchell Alcala Jayson Lusk has made his return to Stillwater as OSU’s new vice president and dean of OSU’s Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources.

“ The smarter I can make faculty about AI, the better guides they will be for students. ”

Christine Ormsbee

OSU professor teaches through creativity

OSU’s Boynton shares 9/11 experience as a New York native

It already wasn’t a normal Tuesday for a 19-year-old Mike Boynton.

Jay-Z, fellow New Yorker and a decorated rapper who Boynton idolizes, was releasing sixth studio album, “The Blueprint.” Boynton left study hall that morning to buy a copy from Best Buy when he heard the news over the radio.

“An announcement came on saying a plane flew into the World Trade Center,” Boynton said. “Going through my mind at that moment was, ‘What kind of pilot was driving that plane? That’s a pretty big building.’ And it didn’t make any sense... I get to Best Buy, buy the album, and I get back to campus to a building where it’s showing on TV.

“And I see the second plane fly into the other building. I was saying to myself, ‘That’s not a coincidence. Something bad must be happening.’”

Boynton, now Oklahoma State’s men’s basketball coach, wasn’t in his hometown of

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AIR DEANS

A group of OSU deans found fun in promoting the department of theatre’s upcoming show “Airness.” From

Brooklyn, New York, though. He was more than 700 miles away in Columbia, South Carolina, preparing for his sophomore season with the Gamecocks basketball team.

Cellphones weren’t popular, and it was difficult to check on his family. Boynton’s father worked at the New York Stock Exchange, and his grandmother worked at JPMorgan Chase Co. in the financial district of New York City: just blocks away from the destruction.

All he could do was wait.

“I immediately started thinking about my family,” Boynton said. “Neither my dad or grandmother were there that day, but we knew a lot of people who worked in that area. I started thinking about the amount of people it would impact. To know New York City, is to appreciate how condensed it is, and how something like that can impact hundreds of thousands of people in an instant.

“To see the smoke fill the air and to watch the buildings fall was unreal.

“It was very nerve-wracking to sit through and watch. It wasn’t until later that afternoon that I felt comfortable that

News & Life editor Kennedy Thomason news.ed@ocolly.com

nobody I knew had died or was significantly injured. It was a stressful time.”

It wasn’t until March 2002 when Boynton returned to NYC to see the aftermath for himself. When South Carolina reached the NIT Final Four, which is played in New York’s historic Madison Square Garden, his coaches allowed Boynton and his teammates to visit ground zero.

“It was unreal, because it still hadn’t been fully cleaned up,” Boynton said. “To be there, knowing that those buildings have been there for so long were just gone — it was indescribable — to think of the loss of life and devastation.

Although most New Yorkers remember exactly where they were on Sept. 11, a vast majority, Boynton included, also recall the immediate aftermath and unity shared amidst tragedy.

“With President Bush throwing out the first pitch (at Yankees Stadium) and showing New York toughness and grit was impactful,”Boynton said. “Watching the Yankees in the playoffs that year was really gratifying for all of us.”

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News & Lifestyle reporters:

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Mike Boynton was a sophomore on South Carolina’s basketball team when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks took place in New York City; his hometown.

Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter

Keith Garbutt

Jon Pedersen

Dean’s Airband

top to bottom: Dean’s Airband, Keith Garbutt, Jon Pederson.

By Luisa Clausen

Kayse Shrum Lusk...

Continued from 1A

Much of the work he is planning is based off the strategic plan President Dr. Kayse Shrum unveiled earlier this year. He wants to focus on landing students with “good paying jobs,” finding a way to attract top extension talent to Oklahoma and making extension more effective in helping economic development of rural areas.

As far as OSU specific goals go, Lusk wants to have more hands-on experience for students through projects like the student farm and to improve research facilities, such as the agronomy farm, to make OSU’s crops more productive.

“If you drive across the state of Oklahoma, you see a field that’s planted to eat, there’s a 70% chance, that wheat that’s grown there was created at that (agronomy) farm at Oklahoma State University,” Lusk said.

Lusk is also focusing on building relationships.

Q: If you had to change your first name, what would you change to?

A:

He plans to have a former secretary of agriculture visit later this fall. Lusk is excited for his new position, and said one of the most challenging aspects has been finding enough time in the day.

“There’s a million people that you can talk to or that want to talk to you and there’s only 24 hours in the day,” Lusk said.

“Trying to find enough time to really both listen, and digest that understand what their interests are, and then come back and then try to have time to do something about it is a challenge.”

Despite these challenges, Lusk is optimistic about his transition back to OSU and the future of the program.

“I look forward to engaging with students, whether you’re in the College of Ag or in the Spears School of Business or Arts and Sciences,” Lusk said. “We all eat. What happens on farms impacts all of us.

“I really look forward to having those conversations.”

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Q: Do you have a hidden talent? And if yes, what is it? A: “I don’t know if this is considered one but I would say it is interior decorating. I love to do that.”

Graphic by Ben Holieway

No more late night studying

Edmon Low rolls out new hours

Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor

Edmon Low Library’s doors now close at midnight.

The operating hours changed at the start of the semester. The library now operates 7 a.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 9 a.m. to midnight on Sundays.

Previously, the library operated on a 24/5 schedule, with reduced operating hours on the weekends.

Bonnie Cain-Wood, a manager in the communication services department for Edmon Low, said the change was implemented because of staff feedback, staffing troubles, budgetary constraints and lack of patron traffic.

“It was not uncommon that our employees outnumbered guests in the building,” Cain-Wood said.

Cain-Wood said there were nights the library had to close its circulation desk to have enough staff to operate the doors and circulate the building.

The night shift at the library is 2-7 a.m. Employees who would sign up to work the shift would be paid an extra $3 per hour, but Cain-Wood said the pay did not compensate for the toll it took on employees.

“About two months into the semester, we were getting a lot of feedback from the folks who were working who were either asked to pull off of those shifts and changed when they’re placed, some of them would quit altogether,” CainWood said. “And they said that the mental and physical strain of working those hours was just too much while they were still trying to be students as well.”

Reed Simpson, who works security at Edmon Low, is unhappy with the change.

“I think the new hours are maybe not super conducive to a lot of student life,” Simpson said. “I think if we’d stayed open ‘til at least 2 a.m. would have been a lot cooler.”

Simpson, who has worked security for a year and a half, said he picked up the night shift to make extra money.

However, Simpson said extra pay was not the only motive for employees. “I know a lot of my

co-workers, and now former co-workers, were kind of only working at the library for that overnight position because that was the only time they could really work with their busy schedules during the day,” Simpson said.

Patrons are still discovering the new hours.

Camie Garcia, a biology pre-med major, said she will have to adjust to the new hours.

“I personally like to study late and usually don’t complete studying until like 1 or 2 a.m.,” Garcia said. “The library is a nice place to have access to late at night because it is quiet and offers no distractions.”

Students will have to work around the restricted operating hours.

Cain-Wood said though the library hours are set for this semester, they are subject to change in the future. She also emphasized that Edmon Low will be open 24/7 during prefinals and finals week.

“Nothing says that this will be how it is forever,” CainWood said. “Yeah, stuff changes. We try to be flexible to those changes, but that’s kind of where we are right now.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Mitchell Alcala Jayson Lusk is looking beyond finishing the New Frontiers Agricultural Hall to new opportunities for the program.

Bryson Thadhani

“This is a hard one, I like my name. But if someone said ‘You’re going in witness protection, you cannot have your name Kayse,’ I like the name Wren.”

wasn’t like ‘Man, I’m 30 years old.’”

AI...

Once professors have enough information, they determine whether or not to let students use the tools while they still try to meet their course’s goal.

OSU, Our Daily Bread tackle food insecurity

Jessica Pearce Staff Reporter

Stillwater and OSU are fighting food insecurity as a team. OSU and Our Daily Bread Food and Resource Center work together to deliver much-needed produce to Payne County households experiencing food insecurity.

Over the past five months, OSU’s new student-led farm has become a key resource in Our Daily Bread’s mission of providing healthy food to a community that desperately needs it.

Fourteen percent of households in Payne County lack access to filling and healthy foods, according to Feeding America.

And this need may grow in the next year. Rachel Condley, the executive director of Our Daily Bread, said they will help 14,000 households.

“The need is really great, with increasing expenses,” Condley said. “Benefits that increased during the pandemic decreased back to prepandemic levels, but costs didn’t go down, so we saw a lot more people this June than we had previously.”

order was canceled because the Regional Food Bank was not getting enough donations.

To become more selfsufficient, Our Daily Bread first worked with OSU Extension to develop a small garden— about a quarter of an acre— outside the food bank’s facility.

“One of the things we wanted to do a couple of years ago was trying to increase production out there because we wanted more fresh produce,” Condley said. “I met with Dr. Moss to try to figure out how to do that, but we’re just limited. A huge production is pretty much out of the question.”

Condley credits Justin Moss, head of the department of horticulture and landscape architecture, for the creation of the student farm and the farm’s partnership with Our Daily Bread.

“He said his students in horticulture and landscape architecture needed experience actually growing big crops of fruits and vegetables,” Condley said. “And we need big crops of fruits and vegetables. So he said, ‘Man, if we could get permission and support this would be the perfect collaboration.’”

Moss’ vision came to fruition:

AI was used and whether or not it was used inappropriately.

If a professor uses an AI detector and the result is positive, Ormsbee advises faculty to have a conversation with the student and ask questions such as “How did you create this paper?”

“What was your thought process?” before moving further into disciplinary action.

When using AI, the vice provost advised students to learn how to go back through what it wrote and make the changes needed. Those changes involve asking multiple follow-up questions, fact-checking the story and its quotations, reading the material with critical eyes and implementing changes that will add the student’s voice to the story.

“AI needs human management,” Ormsbee said. “It’s doing a matching of words, so it doesn’t know, and that’s why it gives you bad information. I am not against letting students use it as long as they do it the right way.”

Tools such as ChatGPT can be a good resource but should not be the sole tool. That is why Ormsbee prepared 12 different AI trainings for faculty during the summer. The vice provost’s goal is to teach professors how to use AI for teaching because if they understand its complexities, they can help students better understand the benefits of AI as well as the drawbacks.

Suit...

Continued from 1A

OSU provides weekly information to faculty about ongoing training and information on AI.

“The smarter I can make faculty about AI, the better guides they will be for students,” Ormsbee said.

With new AI apps, Andrew Doust, the associate dean for academic programs, said the university and the students need to reflect on what they are trying to achieve. The dean said the overall goal is to learn, and when students use someone else’s work, that goal is put at risk.

“It doesn’t engage the mind, and I think learning happens when you engage the mind,” Doust said. The dean said AI is a double-edged sword. It can be circumvented, but it can also be used to support learning. Doust said he wants students to learn from the interaction and assigning specific questions, tying assignments to things that happened in the classroom, having in-class assignments and asking for drafts are some of the ways faculty can combat AI use.

Joshua Jansa, associate professor of political science and academic integrity facilitator, does not allow students to use AI in their schoolwork.

Jansa gives his students the benefit of the doubt and before charging them with an academic integrity violation, he investigates what type of

Continued from 1A news.ed@ocolly.com

“Now is the time for faculty members to start talking frankly about artificial intelligence to their students,” Jansa said. “And no matter what they decide, professors need to be straightforward with their students in saying what is allowed and what is not.”

Jansa said he puts his detective hat on as a professor and uses multiple sources to determine if a student has used AI or relied on it too much when doing their work.

“The reason I don’t allow it is because I want students to think critically, putting their thoughts into their own words and I think AI at this point replaces that better than helps complement it,” Jansa said.

Doust, Ormsbee and Jansa encourage students to reflect on why they chose to attend college in the first place and remember the goal is to learn what they can here, so they can successfully start their career.

“It is a great opportunity to rethink what are we asking students to demonstrate?” Doust said, “If we’re asking them simply to demonstrate that they can give us back content, I mean, then AI will do that better. That can’t be what we want to educate our students to do. ‘What can’t it do?’ I think that’s maybe more important to think about how AI can’t make human connections, disruptive thinking or creativity. It’s always an average of what is out there.”

Providing a steady stream of healthy foods to many households is a challenge. Despite being necessary for a healthy, balanced diet, produce is often too expensive for households struggling with food insecurity and too unstable for most food pantries to stock.

“Produce is hard to manage no matter if you’re buying it at full price or getting it donated,” Condley said. “It’s hard to store, it’s hard to keep fresh. And it’s hard to supply consistent amounts, especially if you have a drought or a flood.”

Prior to OSU’s student farm, however, much of their supply came from the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, which was often unable to supply what the community required.

Condley said the organization requested four pallets a week of produce from Regional Food Bank. Most of the time, the orders would were two pallets short and sometimes their

Our Daily Bread receives all of the produce grown at the student farm, free of charge. Condley said Our Daily Bread received more than 45,000 pounds of produce from the student farm since they started harvesting. There are plans to further expand production and reach in the coming year. “We’re hopeful in the future that they will start producing so much that they can become a regional hub for the Regional Food Bank,” said Cordley.

Due to Payne County’s position on the border of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma’s service areas, Condley said she hopes OSU’s student farm and Our Daily Bread will ultimately serve both networks.

“With production the way it is, I feel like we’re real close to being able to attend to a whole lot of other people,” Condley said.

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Perry has extensive knowledge of the music industry and has experience performing.

Despite this, Perry said the desire to learn more about the subject is what drove him to teach.

He found a way to incorporate his love for music, his constant quest for learning and his need for a career that pays the bills at OSU. He said he

wanted to let students know that they can get a bachelor’s degree in the music industry.

“There are options for somebody that either wants to work in the background or somebody who has hopes or aspirations to be a musician on stage,” Perry said.

Some people don’t know that there are other job opportunities in the music industry other than performing.

Perry wants students to know that if that’s what they want to do, OSU has the resources for them to pursue that dream.

Luisa Clausen

File Photo

Anyone with an OSU ID is welcome to take what they need from Our Daily Bread’s pantry during monthly shopping sessions.

“ Produce is hard to manage no matter if you’re buying it at full price or getting it donated ”

Rachel Condley

OSU installs first year-round topiary

consuming process.

Green getaways near you

Lake McMurtry

Although OSU’s campus boasts impressive greenery, Stillwater has many other natural spaces to escape to.

From sprawling pastures to residential areas, the classics such as Theta Pond or the garden on Library Lawn are great to take advantage of while on campus.

However, there are alternatives for students to enjoy.

Boomer Lake

One of the most accessible lakes, located a little more than 2 miles from campus, is a quick drive away. The location features a two lane paved path, running 3.1 miles that encompasses the lake. The loop is ideal for a 5k run, a relaxing stroll or a quick bike ride.

Visitors can also venture along the paths leading away from Boomer Lake, one running toward Stillwater High School and the other toward a neighborhood on the north side of the lake.

Boomer Lake features various leisure spots, with benches and pavilions scattered along the path. On the west side, Boomer Lake has a small playground and a splash pad for children.

This location is a little farther off the beaten path, but worth the drive. Located about 10 miles from campus, Lake McMurtry has an assortment of trails for visitors to explore. The trails are well maintained and are an excellent option for trail running, biking or hiking.

Trails range in distance from 2.5 to 10.1 miles, and Lake McMurtry itself has more than 30 miles of trails.

The lake is available for fishing, as well as kayaking and paddle boarding. Lake McMurtry has campgrounds and a disc golf course.

Entry is a $6 daily use permit good for one vehicle.

Lake Carl Blackwell

Owned and operated by OSU, it is another lake people can visit in Stillwater. Located off West Sixth Avenue, this lake is another spacious outdoor space to explore.

Similar to Lake McMurtry, there are various biking and equestrian trails to explore. Many of the trails run in open spaces, as opposed to the wooded trails of Lake McMurtry.

The park requires a car to access it, as many of the trails and the lake are a distance from the road.

Lake Carl Blackwell also has campgrounds, but features the lake itself as its prominent draw for visitors.

A daily recreation fee is $5 or $50 for an annual pass. Boating and equestrian fees are $10 daily or $100 for an annual pass.

Botanic Gardens at OSU Located off of West Sixth Avenue, the Botanic Gardens at OSU has some of the best greenery in Stillwater.

The gardens are split into different sections with similar plants grouped together. There is a Japanese garden, a collection of cacti, a small koi pond, a chicken coop, a tree grove and various plots.

The Botanic Gardens has walking paths that lead visitors between each section, easily transitioning to the varying greenery.

In addition to the wide array of plants, the Botanic Gardens also feature a playground with a rope bridge swinging high above the ground, musical elements such as xylophones and two pavilions for visitors to rest and visit under.

The paths that run throughout the Botanic Gardens are easy to walk on. Although the surfaces change from a paved path to gravel to grass, they are all flat and well maintained.

Whether you need a break from studying or want to take a moment to spend time in nature, Stillwater has many free spaces you can take advantage of.

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Pumpkin spice is back

As many wait for cozy sweaters, falling leaves and the holidays, the arrival of pumpkin spice signifies the unofficial start of autumn.

However, some disagree with the controversy of timing and the drink all together.

This year, Starbucks celebrates the 20th anniversary of pumpkin spice lattes with the introduction of two new seasonal drinks. The iced pumpkin cream chai tea latte and the iced apple crisp oat milk shaken espresso have been a hit this season for Starbucks.

Sydney Gaddis, a junior at OSU, said she does not like pumpkin spice. She said it is too early for fall with the heat reaching record highs in Oklahoma this summer.

“I feel like it’s too artificial,” Gaddis said. “It might be an unpopular opinion, but I just don’t like the taste at all. It is way too hot for an obviously fall fashioned drink. It needs to wait for its time.”

Some customers’ feelings for pumpkin spice are not strong enough to outweigh the slow changing seasons.

Chloe Tolar, a junior at OSU, said though she loves pumpkin spice, it doesn’t feel right having it before the leaves

hit the ground. “I actually just tried it for the first time,” Tolar said. “My roommate bought a big bottle and made me a latte because I have an espresso machine and to my surprise, I really liked it. I think the beginning of September is a fine time for it to drop, but August is just way too early. The beginning of fall doesn’t even start until Sept. 23.”

Pumpkin spice flavored drinks sold quickly since its release and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

Maddy Blue, a senior at

OSU, said now is a perfect time for pumpkin spice.

“I don’t think it’s too early at all,” Blue said. “Mainly because it is one of Starbucks’ most beloved flavors so why wouldn’t their customers get the max amount of time with that flavor?”

Pumpkin spice lattes and other seasonal flavors are back and available now at Starbucks. Whether your love for pumpkin spice contradicts your patience for fall, the drinks are out for a limited time.

There is a new addition to campus.

OSU’s Facilities Management and Landscape Services unveiled a new topiary on Hester Street to honor Oklahoma’s biodiversity and native wildlife.

The topiary, a lifesized American Plains bison, is the university’s first year-round topiary. The bison marks the entrance to OSU’s Native Plant Corridor, which runs along Athletic Avenue between Hester and Monroe streets.

The bison, native plants and art installments combine to reflect the state’s native wildlife and the relationship between humans and the environment.

“If you’re walking through that area, you have the American wheat and the bison,” said Nick Ouellette, University Landscape Design Manager. “It’s what you would see on the plains. It’s what’s native to — or was native to — Oklahoma.” The bison is the culmination of months of work across OSU departments. The Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering was responsible for the construction of the bison’s frame, and landscape services spent weeks cutting, irrigating and filling out the topiary.

“It took us around a month to get into irrigation,” said Greenhouse Coordinator John Stevens.

“From there, I was just wrapping it with chicken wire and packing it with the soil and our moss (to form the bison’s hide).”

Planting the bison’s fur was challenging. In keeping with the native plant theme, landscape services selected a native grass, Carex Pensylvanica, to act as the bison’s fur. Stevens said this was a time-

The bison is just one of many topiaries around OSU’s campus, including the boot topiary at the corner of University and Monroe Streets and the OSU Fans topiary outside the Alumni Center. Each requires extensive care and constant vigilance.

“These topiaries don’t have the groundwater or certain types of resources like most plants do when they establish to the bare soil,” Ouellette said. Although the other topiaries are taken down for the cooler months, the bison will be a permanent fixture, so landscape services have to take additional precautions when building and caring for the bison.

In the summer, the bison will be shaded by a canopy. “The tents help shade the plant, prevent sun scorch and help keep the water more accessible,” said Irrigation Supervisor Aaron Long. For the cooler months, “we’re trying some unique ways to help keep the soil temperature up using some heat tape,” said Tyler Malley, the assistant manager of installation. “It’s a commonly used product that people oftentimes wrap their exterior pipes with to keep from freezing.”

Over the coming months, the topiary will need constant monitoring.

“The work doesn’t stop,” Stevens said. “We have some plugs that just didn’t take for whatever reason— whether it was the weather or maybe it wasn’t getting enough water from the drip — so we’re constantly having to make adjustments.”

After a year of seasonal changes, growth spurts and constant maintenance, the topiary will experience changes.

“It’s going to be an interesting time to see how it evolves,” Malley said.

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Alexis Higgins

Stillwater has various natural spaces around town.

Courtesy of Tribune

The timing of the return of pumpkin spice lattes is debated by coffee lovers across campus each fall.

Cloe Campfield Staff Reporter

Jessica Pearce Staff Reporter

Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor

Lifestyle

Zach Bryan and Turnpike Troubadors release new albums

Ashton Miller Staff Reporter

Leading up to the release of Zach Bryan’s new album, social media teemed with predictions about possible songs, titles and influences that might grace the album’s content.

Now that fans listened to it, a range of opinions formed.

Zach Bryan rose to fame while in the Navy with his release of “Quiet, Heavy Dreams” and has been open about his dislike of Ticketmaster and other large aspects of the music industry. With his humble attitude, undeniable musical talent and the connection fans felt to his last album, listeners were ready to love his new album.

However, after feeling so much excitement and expectation leading up to the release of the album, some fans were left disappointed.

Furthermore, some fans were so caught up in the drama surrounding Bryan’s new girlfriend, social media influencer Brianna LaPaglia, they remain focused on the relationship rather than listening to the album for the sake of the music.

When fans settle into the album and focus on the songs rather than Bryan’s fame, they will find music filled with soul and truth they can relate to as strongly as “Godspeed” and “Revival.” A song sure to find its way onto many playlists is “Hey Driver.”

After Bryan’s burst of fame from his last album, a dynamic and energetic tour and his fiery romance with LaPaglia, even an album filled with poetry, lyricism and soul is facing heavy pressure.

One thing that stuck out on Bryan’s new album is the number of collaborations

included, as well as the artists he did them with. For example, The Lumineers feature on Bryan’s new album attracted a different demographic of listeners than typical country music fans.

Bryan mentioned the popular Turnpike Troubadours in his song “East Side of Sorrow.” In the song, Turnpike is mentioned when Bryan says, “I heard Turnpike’s back together and they’re writing songs.”

Turnpike’s success streak was put on hold when lead singer, Evan Felker, went to

rehab. Since Felker’s recovery, fans have awaited more music, and that day finally came with the release of “A Cat in the Rain.”

“Mean Old Sun” is undeniably the poster song for the album. It stood out as the true return of Turnpike Troubadours. This album fits in with Turnpike’s signature sound. Each song is consistent without being repetitive, but on first listen, there is nothing that leaves a listener too impressed.

Turnpike’s new album is

one of those albums that needs to be listened to a couple of times to hear how truly great it is. If Turnpike was a new band, these first impressions might signal a quick plummet for the album’s ratings, but Turnpike is known for its loyal fanbase. It is a fanbase that has been rooting for Felker’s recovery and the band’s revival since the unexpected cancellation of their tour in 2019. It is a fanbase that will continue to listen to the songs until they find that Turnpike connection.

Overtime, both albums will gain traction and become popular. However, because time is necessary to appreciate both albums, they are both disappointing in the short term. It is a possibility that the albums are disappointing because of unrealistic expectations set by fans. It is also possible that because both artists have released incredible albums in the past, these new works might not compare.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Creative Commons

Zach Bryan rose to fame while in the Navy with his release of “Quiet, Heavy Dreams” and has been open about his dislike of Ticketmaster and other large aspects of the music industry.

‘Riverdale’ unveils final season

seasons.

But the final season of “Riverdale” is weird in a good way. It acts as a reset of the show to the Season 1 formula but more faithful to the original Archie comics from the early ‘40s and ‘50s.

in the ‘50s are similar to teens in the present was genius. The ‘50s setting displayed the issues in bright neon signs, while today, these issues are more subtle.

“Riverdale,” the show that made sense in Season 1 and never again.

When watching “Riverdale,” I held out longer than most, but the show lost me long ago. Most of the time, I returned to TV drama when I wanted a background show.

I won’t lie, I loved the show when it came out. The mystery and silly teen drama worked. It was “Scooby Doo” for people who wanted a little more darkness with their Scooby snacks.

The first season set up unique characters and an interesting mystery. Season 2 followed this formula relatively well, only getting weird toward the end.

Then things got strange for a few

The show tells the teens’ stories through the ‘50s lens of perfect Americana and purity, showing the teens’ struggles with their morality, sexuality, independence and views on the American landscape at the time.

Betty struggles with wanting more than the pure “girl-next-door” mantle, Archie’s perfect worldview changes, Jughead battles with expression and Veronica fights to hold power as a woman.

Each character grapples with the reality of the family style of the ‘50s as it threatens their right to explore their teenage selves and love whom they love.

Betty constantly struggles with wanting an intimate relationship and makes out with everyone in the show in her fantasies. It felt silly but made a great point that men and women both want intimacy.

The way writers showed teens

As everyone finds themselves for the millionth time, the story maintained its classic mystery element. Jughead uncovered a Russian plot against America and saved Riverdale. Cheryl’s parents are revealed to be building a palladium bomb.

The Red Scare angle on the story is interesting because the villains in the show use it to control the teens and attack Jughead’s new comic book gig.

I liked Jughead’s story and how he wrote the old Archie comics that inspired the show. It is a perfect full circle moment.

The season is plenty campy. Every line drips with the goofiest ‘50s dialogue possible coupled with every pop culture reference under the sun.

The show contains plenty of weirdness. At one point, in a move against the “Footloose” style ban on Halloween, Veronica, Kevin, Cheryl

and Clay perform as four dead students. Betty constantly has fantasies. There is a fan fiction level reveal that Betty, Jughead, Archie and Veronica are in a ‘quad.’ They dated for a year because they loved one other.

I am not going to lie, the ending of “Riverdale” made me cry. Maybe it was because I watched it for seven years or maybe because of the ending.

Tabitha Tate, Riverdale’s guardian angel, returns to the 50s and gave the characters their memories back. They decide to remember only the good, except Betty and Jughead. Viewers witness a montage of the good moments over the past seven seasons.

The final episode shows Jughead leading an older Betty through her last day of high school before she peacefully passes away and walks into Pop’s to grab a milkshake and relive the best days of her life.

If you’re debating watching Season 7, I recommend giving it a go. “Riverdale” is a rollercoaster of weirdness, but it is about being a teen and wanting to recapture the fun of being young.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Creative Commons

“Riverdale” premiered on Jan. 26, 2017, to positive reviews, though subsequent seasons were criticized for the screenplay, acting, direction and lack of coherent storylines.

Hayden Alexander Staff Reporter

Latu finding success with discovered confidence

to grasp his role in Stillwater, dealing with frustrations of being a backup, but he said he’s become a new person, ready for this chance.

OSU Game day

Nathan Latu sat behind the likes of all-conference players and NFL Draft selectees for two years while he cycled through three defensive coordinators.

That took some confidence away.

“(It) hindered my performance, but (defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo) helped me gain that confidence,” Latu said.

It’s taken time for Latu

Now, Latu is starting at defensive end for the Cowboys. The redshirt senior is already making an impact, with six tackles and 1 1/2 sacks in the Cowboys’ season-opening win.

“I came in selfish,” Latu said. “I’m humble enough to admit that because I feel this whole program changed the way I am. I feel like I’m a new man. Everything I went through is for a reason, and I couldn’t see it at the time, but I bought into this team and if I didn’t go through that, I wouldn’t be the man I am today.”

Latu transferred from

WHEN: Saturday, 9:30 p.m.

WHERE: Tempe, Arizona

TV: Fox Sports 1 RADIO: 93.7 FM SERIES: 2-2

LAST GAME: 34-17 OSU (2022)

Snow College, a junior college in Utah, as an early enrollee in 2021, alongside then-freshman OSU linebacker Nickolas Martin. Martin watched Latu work through struggles at OSU, and Martin said it’s been a pleasure watching Latu blossom into an impactful starter for the Cowboy defense.

Kirkland bulked with ice cream to be OSU’s nose tackle

sweet treat, prolonging his “dirty bulk” diet he’s been on since 2020. He came to Stillwater weighing 342, giving thanks to Moose Tracks.

Offensive line slashing slow starts to achieve run goal

yards on 21 carries (3.04 yards per carry). It finished with 149 rushing yards — after finding success in the fourth quarter — which sits eighth in the Big 12, but that’s below the bar the offensive line set, or what the coaching staff wants, with its emphasis on running the football.

Before the season began, Cole Birmingham gave the OSU rushing game an ultimatum. Block people. Run the right schemes. Do the job right and have faith in others to do the same. Do that, he said, and the Cowboys would lead the Big 12 in rushing.

Sure, there are other little things, but Birmingham said the Cowboys could meet their goal of being the top rushing team in the conference if they checked those boxes. Surely it’s not that easy, right?

“It is that easy,” Birmingham said. It didn’t come easy in Week 1, though. Through three quarters, OSU rushed for 64

The offense’s push to rush the football more effectively than last season depends on the offensive line. It found stride in the fourth quarter and created lanes, but coach Mike Gundy said that’s too late for the offense to start clicking. The offensive line has adjusted some schemes, emphasized the run and gained some experience. Now, the Cowboys must block, like Birmingham said.

“If there was a short, quick solution like that, I would have used it last year, starting about Game 2,” Gundy said. “In my opinion, we’ve just gotta get better at what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Justin Kirkland credits his weight gain to Moose Tracks ice cream.

The sophomore starting defensive tackle for OSU ended his freshman season at Utah Tech weighing 307, then he discovered the vanilla, peanut-butter cup and fudge

Kirkland has quickly become a mythical figure in the eyes of Cowboys fans. He served a mission through the Church of Latter-day Saints for a year in Hawaii. His wife, Marlee, and he have been friends since they were

7. Kirkland compares their relationship to a Hallmark film. Oh, and he lettered in four spots in high school, one of which was tennis.

“If we didn’t have COVID, you might’ve seen me in the state final,” Kirkland said with a smile.

Sure, in his doubles pairing, he was the less athletic player, but he proved an intimidation factor unlike many high school tennis players. This intimidation factor remains in collegiate football too, as demonstrated by Kirkland, a 6-foot-4, 346-pound behemoth of a man.

In his freshman season at Utah Tech, Kirkland played in 11 games and had 40 tackles for the Trailblazers.

See Kirkland on 2B

Coach Smith ‘sole reason’ for Scott’s return to OSU

“When you’re offered an opportunity to coach with arguably the greatest wrestler of all time, that’s something you just can’t turn down.”

Scott built a program from the ground up in Chapel Hill and made it a national contender. And he created a legacy there.

An eight-year stint at North Carolina was enough to consider a permanent stay.

But after a phone call from a Stillwater phone number, one Scott wished to leaved unspecified in an interview with The O’Colly, leaving North Carolina crossed his mind.

About 30 minutes later, his mind was made up. After 124 duals coached for the Tar Heels, Scott is returning to Stillwater to be an associate coach alongside his former coach John Smith.

“John Smith is the sole reason I made this decision,” Scott said. “If, like, Iowa or somewhere had come calling, I probably wouldn’t have gone.

“By about Year 5, I was thinking, ‘This might be it.’” Scott said. “We were winning, and I was enjoying every bit of it.”

Scott, a former OSU wrestler, led the Tar Heels to a 12th-place finish in nationals this year – their best postseason finish since 1995 – and watched UNC 157-pounder Austin O’Connor attain his second individual national title.

The decision to exit a program Scott put on the college wrestling map wasn’t easy. Moving away from the relationships built at UNC was perhaps the most stressful thought.

File Photo

Coleman Scott wasn’t looking to leave a North Carolina wrestling program he built into a national contender. But when the chance to return to OSU arose, the former Cowboy wrestler couldn’t pass it up.

Ethan Scott

Slow starts in the rushing game have become normal for OSU, but after a slow start in the season opener, the Cowboys look to eliminate them.

coordinator Bryan Nardo.

See Latu on 4B

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Ashton Slaughter Asst. Sports Editor

Three-QB system unusual, but Cowboys not rushing decision

well enough to help us in a game.”

Martin exemplifies team’s culture after first career start

The veteran who reads the offense and makes calls for adjustments on the field. Martin, who played all but eight snaps in that role last Saturday, is starting to become a leader.

When Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh announced the Wolverines would be running a twoquarterback system ahead of his team’s 2022 season opener, many questioned the decision.

Nickolas Martin is prideful of his background.

He grew up playing football in East Texas, or as he and others from the area call it, “Beast Texas.”

It takes a certain mentality to fight through and be successful in with dominant high schools playing each other.

His energy showed on the field in his first career start during OSU’s win vs Central Arkansas last week, when he recorded a sack and two tackles for loss. But when fellow linebacker Justin Wright went to the sideline with an injury, Martin’s compassion showed.

“He came in after halftime and he had tears in his eyes,” Martin said. “It really broke my heart, seeing how this could be really serious. I thought I needed to play for him, get this win for him and ball out for him.”

It’s both sides of Martin that work for OSU and will help solve problems in the future.

“MIKE” linebackers are often compared to the defenses’ quarterback.

With new defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo still working to implement his scheme, it’s up to the leaders such as Martin to translate what they’ve learned from practice to the field. There aren’t many seniors across the defense, such as staples from past teams like Brock Martin or Brendon Evers, so Martin has progressed as a leader early in his career.

“We brought Nick in here from East Texas, undersized, tough, strikes you as an old school player. You don’t see a lot of guys like that anymore,” said OSU coach Mike Gundy. “He could run and would play the game violently. That’s what we liked about him. He’s got a long way to go, but he’s trying to be a leader with his actions and bring guys along with him.”

The defense wasn’t perfect last week, though. Tackling was a concern for both coaches and fans watching the game. Central Arkansas took advantage of open space, running after the catch with OSU’s high missed tackle rate.

Nardo attributed it to inexperience, as the

team does not train going to the ground in practices. Without tackling since OSU’s bowl game in December, coaches and players said it takes a mindset to actually tackle someone.

Martin, who said some of his adrenaline prevented him from playing at his best at times, needs to bring the ferocity he showed and Gundy talked about after the game. “There are ways to focus on it without going to the ground,” Martin said. “Getting clean thuds, wrapping up, following through and focusing on everything before the actual tackle.”

Martin enrolled at OSU behind Malcolm Rodriguez, Devin Harper, Mason Cobb and Kamryn Farrar. Rodriguez and Harper stayed five years at OSU and left to the NFL. Cobb transferred after OSU lost six games and Farrar when he didn’t start. Martin could’ve followed Cobb or Farrar but stuck it out after a redshirt.

Now, he can follow the path of Rodriguez and Harper; building OSU’s defense through years with a new defensive coordinator, to make it last longer than he’ll be in Stillwater.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Starting quarterback Cade McNamara returned after leading the Wolverines to their first College Football Playoff, but sophomore JJ McCarthy impressed enough to earn a shot. Two games into a two-QB system, McCarthy won the job.

Mike Gundy is faced with a similar issue. Except this time, he’s choosing from three options: Garret Rangel, Alan Bowman and Gunnar Gundy. And none have considerable game experience at OSU. So, he’s sticking with all three for now.

“I don’t know of anybody that’s ever done three (quarterbacks) in (a position battle),” Gundy said. “We started (assessing) in August, and we looked for the players that we felt had good practices,

Throughout fall camp, Gundy said the starter hadn’t been named because it was too close to call. Some tabbed that at coach speak. But Saturday’s narrow 27-13 win over FCS foe Central Arkansas showed that may be the case. Prior to last Saturday, Gundy said he and his staff informed the three they would be playing in thirds, regardless of the scenario. And to the surprise of many, the Cowboys didn’t pull away until the fourth quarter.

Against Central Arkansas, Rangel led the Cowboys on their first touchdown drive in the first quarter, showing flashes of potential and the need for improvement.

Bowman made smart decisions but wasn’t spectacular. And Gunnar led OSU to consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, giving the offensive unit the fluency it had lacked all game.

“If (the combined stats for each) were one person, you would probably say it’s a pretty good

day,” Gundy said. “It just looks a little odd (involving) three people. But they all three played pretty well.”

And thus, the team’s quarterback battle remains unresolved.

None stole the show, but each played well enough to help lead the Cowboys to a slim victory over an outmatched opponent.

But play only gets tougher, with Arizona State this week and Big 12 play in just two weeks. Gundy wants a starter at some point, but right now, the offense is content playing all three.

“The good thing is that I don’t think from my vantage point up top (from the play-calling booth) I don’t think we saw a lot of guys making mistakes or bad reads,” Dunn said.

“As long as (this competition) is ongoing, I genuinely don’t think we have any bad options.

“Obviously you’d hope to have it solved soon. But we have good options either way.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Continued from 1B

After entering the transfer portal, Kirkland was bowling with his family when he received a text from a former defensive line coach, informing him that OSU was giving him a call and was interested in bringing him to Stillwater.

“It was just kind of surreal,” Kirkland said. “I can’t believe it’s already been eight months since I’ve been here; it just has been flying by.”

Another surreal feeling for the Roy, Utah, native was running out in front of a soldout Boone Pickens Stadium crowd. Well, his running almost ended right out of the tunnel. Kirkland said he nearly tripped. Fear not, though. He didn’t.

But while looking around

the sea of orange for his parents, he couldn’t find them— something that wouldn’t have been a challenge at Greater Zion Stadium, which holds 10,500.

His job in Bryan Nardo’s defense is simple: slam into offensive linemen and make the linebackers look good. This showed up on the stat sheet last week against Central Arkansas, as he didn’t record a single tackle, while starting OSU linebackers Xavier Benson (four tackles) and Nickolas Martin (three tackles) showed up more often than the interior defensive lineman.

Kirkland isn’t a big stats guy, though. He’d be happy to take payment from the linebackers in donut form.

“I tell those boys (the linebackers) in there all the time, ‘Hey, if I’m taking a double or triple-team and you

guys are (getting) hits in the backfield, if you guys’ stats are that good, maybe get me some donuts on a Monday morning,” he said.

The donuts and dirty bulk are working for Kirkland — “You just can’t stop him,” said safety Trey Rucker. “...You’re gonna put him in the middle of the line and tell him to wreak havoc.” — who’s embracing his role as a Cowboy. He’s not done putting on mass and getting stronger, though. Kirkland has his sights set on breaking the NFL’s Draft Combine record for bench press reps. The record is currently held by Stephen Paea, who benched 225 pounds 49 times in 2011.

Kirkland says he’s close, so maybe a few more Moose Tracks pints would do the trick. “Mass moves mass,” he said.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

OSU sophomore linebacker Nickolas Martin recorded two tackles for loss and a sack in his first start.

File Photo

The Cowboys will likely play three quarterbacks Saturday, including Garret Rangel.

File Photo

Justin Kirkland wants to break the NFL’s Draft Combine record for bench press reps, and he says he’s close. “Mass moves mass,” Kirkland said.

File Photo

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Gabriel Trevino Columnist Column

sports

Wilson, Martin headline questions for OSU’s matchup at

Will Wilson play?

Preston Wilson, the Cowboys’ starting right guard, didn’t dress for OSU’s season opener against Central Arkansas. After the game, coach Mike Gundy said it was for non-football reasons and, “It’s just between him and me.”

On Monday, Gundy said he expects Wilson to travel with the team this week, but the lineman’s status for the Cowboys’ Week 2 matchup with Arizona State is yet to be confirmed. Taylor Miterko and Wilson share

an “OR” at right guard on the depth chart ahead of Saturday’s contest.

OSU’s transfer linebacker Justin Wright suffered an undisclosed injury in the win vs. UCA that will sideline him until Week 5, according to his social media post, leaving Nick Martin as the guy to step in and fill Wright’s place next to Xavier Benson.

Martin is a redshirt sophomore coming off a year where he played mostly on special teams and recorded 15 tackles with 10 solo stops. He gave the Cowboys a little bit of everything in Week 1 with

Arizona State

Another even QB Split?

three total tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack, and he’ll see more opportunities moving forward.

How does Martin look?

Sparky’s

respark?

Rookie QB, coach leading ASU rebuild

Jaden Rashada took a unique route to ASU.

The former fourstar prospect, who is a top-five all-time recruit at ASU, initially signed with Florida, where a $13 million NIL deal reportedly awaited him. But the deal fell through, and Rashada was granted a release from his letter of intent.

Arizona State was immediately on the radar, as Rashada’s father, Harlen, played as a defensive back for the Sun Devils in the ‘90s. On National Signing Day, Rashada officially became a legacy recruit, signing with ASU.

Rashada joins new coach Kenny Dillingham, 33. The freshman quarterback and rookie head coach are trying to build back a program that has struggled on and off the field, and Game 2 is Saturday against OSU.

ASU self-imposed a postseason ban on Aug. 27, stemming from an investigation into allegations of improper recruiting under former coach Herm Edwards,

who coached the Sun Devils from 2018 up until three games into the 2022 season.

Dillingham is focused on building back a Sun Devils program coming off a tumultuous 3-9 season and giving his players something to play for.

“The seniors deserve the right to win every football game,” Dillingham said. “I firmly believe that. (The postseason ban) doesn’t change anything. The seniors deserve the right to go into every football game and try to win.”

Edwards walked out of Boone Pickens Stadium on Sept. 10, 2022, after a 34-17 loss to the Cowboys, and eight days later was fired.

The former NFL coach was a catchy hire, but he went 26-20 across four seasons.

Dillingham, former Oregon offensive coordinator, is ASU’s 10th coach since joining the Pac-12, meaning the Sun Devils have had a new coach every 4 1/2 years, and six coaches since 2000.

Not great stability.

And since 1978, the Sun Devils have

won six games or fewer 23 times, with only 10 seasons with nine or more wins. They haven’t won more than eight games since 2014. Not great performance. But there’s a chance for a new beginning in Tempe, as their home in the Pac-12 collapsed and they are a Big 12 member as of 2024. First impressions haven’t gone well, though.

ASU athletics

director Ray Anderson, less than 24 hours after ASU was voted into the Big 12 on Aug. 4, made smart-aleck comments toward the Big 12.

“I promise I’m not going to Morgantown,” Anderson said about Big 12 school West Virginia. “I’m going to sign that to Jean Boyd (deputy AD). He can go to Morgantown. But send me to Texas and the rivalry with Arizona and starting a new one with BYU and Utah and Colorado.”

Within days, billboards popped up with messages that read “#FireRayAnderson” and “Only you can save ASU athletics.”

ASU was a stalwart for the Pac-12, so

the forced move from a crumbling conference came with some disappointment and hard feelings, but Dillingham believes the future of ASU is bright in the Big 12.

“The coach in me – who came in here to do a job and to get this place where I know it can go – is excited and thrilled because I know this was, by far, the best thing for Arizona State,” Dillingham said.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

OSU will play multiple QBs, but it could look different this goaround.

Garret Rangel, Alan Bowman and Gunnar Gundy each saw four drives with a fairly even snap count in the opener. Rangel started the game, led the team in passing and threw for a touchdown. Bowman did the least amount of work, throwing for only 80 yards. Gundy helped put the game away with two series that resulted in touchdowns.

Mike said the three QBs would split reps in practice and use this week to determine who plays in Tempe and how much. He also said Gundy “earned some stripes,” meaning there could potentially be a change with how snaps are distributed.

Key Matchup

OSU defense vs. ASU run game

OSU’s defense didn’t allow many points in its season opener against Central Arkansas, but it did surrender some yards on the ground.

The Bears’ running backs rushed for 134 yards for an average of about 6.1 yards a carry. Not great.

Meanwhile, the Sun Devils rushed for 134 yards at a pace of 4.6 yards a carry last week. Not a huge performance, but they showed they’re capable of running the ball. Running back Cameron Skattebo transferred from

Sacramento State, where he was last season’s Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year, and he earned All-Pac-12 preseason honorable mention. Skattebo, 5-10, 225 pounds, had 17 carries for 71 yards in the season opener and is tough to bring down. The OSU defense struggled to slow UCA’s run a week ago, so this is a test for the Cowboys. ASU quarterback Jaden Rashada poses problems in the passing game, but if the Cowboys can’t slow the run, that could make matters worse.

Sun Devils to watch

No. 5 Jaden Rashada, QB

The hype doesn’t come much bigger than it did with Rashada.

A freshman, Rashada was the No. 2-ranked dualthreat quarterback prospect in the 2022 ESPN 300, and he is a top-five all-time recruit for the Sun Devils. His arm talent was on display at times in ASU’s 24-21 win in its season opener against Southern Utah, in which Rashada passed for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Although he had just two yards on three carries, Rashada also has the ability to scramble and break long runs. With a game under his belt, he could be on the way to finding his stride and living up to the billing as one of the top young QBs in college football.

No. 2 Elijah Badger, WR Badger had a breakout redshirt sophomore season last year, and now paired with a talented quarterback, Badger could be dangerous and worth keeping an eye on. Last season, Badger led the Sun Devils with 866 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, earning him a spot on the preseason Biletnikoff Award watchlist. At 6-foot-2 190 pounds, Badger has the size and athleticism to give defenses problems. Badger had a quiet season opener with three catches for 19 yards, but he had six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown when the Sun Devils played the Cowboys in Stillwater last season. sports.ed@ocolly.com

Braden Bush

Sports Editor

Arizona State has struggled on the field in recent years and will have

a self-imposed postseason ban this year.

File Photo

Both photos courtesy ASU Athletics

Jaden Rashada

Elijah Badger

Cowgirls’ offense producing goals at ‘unexpected’ rate

Griff McClellan Staff Reporter

When looking at the roster before the season, Colin Carmichael didn’t know where the scoring would come from.

The Cowgirls lost Olyvia Dowell and Grace Yochum, who led the team with eight goals each in 2022 and are top-five goal scorers in program history. That’s a major chunk of last season’s 31 goals scored.

But no worries. This season’s Cowgirl team scored 24 goals through six games without those two stars, which is 10 more goals than the Cowgirls scored through six games last season. Sure, Carmichael knew they had talent, but even he is surprised by the offensive production.

“I’d be lying if I said I expected this,” Carmichael said. “I knew we had some kids that were capable of scoring

goals, but we graduated Grace Yochum, the all-time leading scorer, and lost Olyvia Dowell, a big-time goal scorer as well. One of the biggest question marks coming in was determining who was going to step up and put the ball in the net.”

OSU has seen production across the lineup.

Veterans such as Hannah Chance and Megan Haines.

Underclassmen such as Xcaret

Pineda, Logan Heausler, Lexi Lee and Adelhia Ghonda have shined, too.

That’s a pleasant sight for Carmichael.

“We’re getting goals from a lot of different places,” Carmichael said. “It’s nice to have a lot of different options, and hopefully that continues. We understand that the competition level is going to ramp up when conference play begins, and those chances become fewer, but that should be giving us good confidence.”

A big reason for the Cowgirls’ success is the 4-3-3 formation. They often utilize variations, too, depending on the opponent.

For example, Carmichael will play two defending and one attacking midfielder, or vice versa. He often decides to stretch the field, too.

Pineda, a sophomore,

started 17 games last season but has already surpassed last season’s goal total with three.

“This year, we’ve had a lot of success in the attack of just getting numbers forward, and it’s allowed me to be in better positions,” Pineda said.

Ray said even with a young group, communication and execution has been great

O-Line...

with this team and vital to its unexpected offensive outburst.

“I think it’s always important to connect with your teammates that allow you to read them and the type of player they are,” Ray said. “You can do that through verbal communication and body language, and I think we’ve got that figured out.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

weren’t expecting it, we’ve just got to be able to play better against it.”

Continued from 1B

“He’s dealt with some battles, and to see him overcome that is nothing less than inspirational,” Martin said. “He’s really stepping up into the player he’s destined to be and I’m excited to see the type of man he’s going to continue to be.”

OSU coach Mike Gundy is seeing the improvements and increased mental toughness in Latu throughout fall camp and from the first game.

Gundy said when Latu used to get beat on a block, Latu would get mad and give up on the play instead of running toward the ball to make up for it.

The coaching staff

found film from the UCA game where Latu got beat on a block and started to go back to his old ways.

After two steps, coaches saw Latu realize he had quit on the play, then correct himself and run toward the ball instead of standing in sorrow. Growth.

“With Nate, a lot of times he fought himself,” Gundy said. “He’s matured a lot in the last six months, and that’s helped him. So, he’s coming around. He’s going to be a really, really good player if he stays strong mentally and continues to compete.

“When he stays in his box, with his technique and assignment and doesn’t get out of control, he’s a good player and is going to get better and better. Fortunately, at his position, we have depth,

so he has the opportunity to play really hard.”

It may be difficult to stay consistent while shuffling through three coordinators, but Latu said he feels great working with Nardo.

Nardo said he’s been impressed with Latu and gave him one of the best compliments a defensive player could receive from his coach after the team’s first win of the season.

“He’s unblockable if he wants to be,” Nardo said. “He plays hard. He is driven. He’s a kid that you just have to understand wants the best for this football team and he wants to succeed. So, to see him play the way he played, that was a great moment for him.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Pineda developing into heart of Cowgirls’ offensive attack

Calif Poncy Staff Reporter

Xcaret Pineda danced around two Central Arkansas defenders and found a lane.

From the top corner of the penalty box, Pineda used fancy footwork to create space and sneak a left-footed shot to the opposite side of the goal. Easy to forget she’s only beginning her sophomore season.

Not often is a sophomore considered a veteran, but on this OSU soccer team, that’s just what Pineda is.

While the team has a few seniors who lead in the locker room, the players contributing and scoring in matches have largely been underclassmen, and at the heart of the Cowgirls’ youthful attack is Pineda.

“She’s just a better version of the player she was last year,” OSU coach Colin Carmichael said. “Confidence is

high, and she’s so good on the ball.”

Pineda is on a tear the past few weeks, scoring a goal in the last three games, prior to Thursday, and assisting one other. But her on-field performance is nothing new for those who follow the Cowgirls.

Pineda played in all 19 games as a true freshman last season, starting in 17 and establishing herself as one of the Cowgirls’ building blocks.

She took last year’s performance and built on it, becoming one of OSU’s most prominent offensive players, commonly initiating offense for herself and others.

Pineda’s development on the field has also put her in a position to become more vocal off it, and with two more years to come into her own as a player, her role as a leader is just beginning to grow. “I

it’s really important to have those connections,” Pineda said. “Also, just leading by example, I feel like if you see your teammates working hard during training and games, I think that will go onto them.”

Pineda’s emergence provides the Cowgirls with even more hope for the future, which includes several other young players who are taking stake in production.

If Pineda continues to develop at the rate she has through her first two years in Stillwater, there will be plenty more exciting goals. But already, Pineda has carved out a name as a central figure on the team.

“I love her composure, her maturity. She’s developing into a leader, (and) she’s finding her voice,” Carmichael said. “I think she’s a star in the making.”

Right guard Preston Wilson was unavailable for non-football reasons Saturday, and right tackle Jake Springfield played 20 snaps before an injury ended his day. But the non-injured starting linemen – center Joe Michalski, left guard Jason Brooks Jr., left tackle Cole Birmingham and right guard Taylor Miterko – played all 82 snaps Saturday, and they had combined for 42 starts.

The experienced group struggled to accomplish anything early, and UCA used an unexpected front, but the O-line helped create 85 yards on 10 carries in the fourth quarter.

“As a front, we’ve played before,” Michalski said. “So, I mean we’ve still got to do better just on the fly. There’s gonna be looks every game where we don’t know, we

In OSU’s 2022 season opener, it rushed for 142 yards at a pace of 3.9 yards a carry. In 2021’s season opener, the Cowboys accumulated only 54 yards, for an average of 1.9 yards. In 2020, 141 yards and a 2.8-yardsper-carry average was all OSU amassed.

beginning and not just kind of have that slow start,” Michalski said. “If we do that, we’ll be just fine.”

Rough rushing performances in season openers are nothing new for OSU. The Cowboys’ final tally of 149 yards at a 4.8 average Saturday is their best since 2019. Habits are tough to kick, but the Cowboys see signs of improvement.

“It’s just we’ve got to be able to do that from

OSU season opening rushing performances

2023: 149 yards - 4.8 YPC

2022: 142 yards - 3.9 YPC

2021: 54 yards - 1.9 YPC

Continued from 1B sports.ed@ocolly.com

2020: 141 yards - 2.8 YPC

Gundy said the Cowboys still didn’t run the ball well enough Saturday, and he isn’t going to pretend they did. But he, like Michalski, saw signs of life that weren’t present at the end of last season. Late in the game, when both OSU and UCA knew the Cowboys had to rush, OSU asserted its will.

Birmingham’s words still ring true, whether it’s as easy as he said it is or not. The Cowboys need to block. Earlier, too.

The scheme changes were slow to work in the season opener, but going forward, Gundy and Michalski said the Cowboys aren’t changing anything else. Maybe just the results.

“I saw it work all spring and fall,” Michalski said. “It’s just we’ve got to make sure we don’t have that off start.”

The Cowgirls lost two of their all-time leading goal scorers after last season, but the OSU offensive production has increased. OSU coach Colin Carmichael said he didn’t even expect that.

File Photo

The Cowboys had their best rushing performance in a season opener since 2019, even with a slow start from the offensive line.

Flie Photo

Nathan Latu sat behind players like Collin Oliver and Brock Martin for his first two years in Stillwater. Ethan Scott Xcaret Pineda was a glimpse at the future as a freshman last year on a team full of

Pineda is leading a youthful Cowgirl offensive attack as a sophomore.

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Cowboy Calendar

Friday 9/08/2023

Classic Cinema

Stillwater Community Center @ 7 p.m.

Saturday 9/09/2023

Brewery Tours

Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 3 p.m. $15 / person

Stillwater Farmers Market

Prairie Arts Center until Oct. 28th @ 8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Monday 9/11/2023

Trivia Night: Stonecloud Brewing Company @ 7 p.m.

Tuesday 9/12/2023

Playing in the Dough: PIES! :FAPC @ 8:45 a.m. - 3 p.m. $75 / person https://food.okstate.edu/training-andservices/calendar-of-events.html?trumb aEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid% 3D163274601

Wednesday 9/13/2023

Louie Kids’ Night :Louie’s Grill & Bar @ 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.

Live Trivia : Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 7 - 9 p.m.

Bingo Night: Louie’s Grill & Bar @ 8 p.m.

Thursday 9/14/2023

Line Dancing: Outlaws @ 7 - 8 p.m. $10

Friday 9/15/2023

2023 Fall Family Weekend at OSU: Oklahoma State University -- All Weekend https://go.okstate.edu/family/family-weekends. html

Scott Mccreery: The McKnight Center for the Performing Arts @ 7:30 p.m. $35+ https://mcknightcenter.org/Online/default.asp

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Assertiveness works well now. Advance by following your plan. Envision perfection and then make it happen, step by step. Action translates into satisfied results.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — Rest and recuperate. Review where you’ve been and plan for what’s ahead. Contemplate potential outcomes and consider backups. Savor peaceful privacy, natural scenery and birdsong.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 6 — Collaborations are especially effective. Coordinate with your crew and perform your role to the best of your abilities. Disciplined teamwork can accomplish miracles.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 6 — Power into your work and reap rewarding results. Disciplined action wins extra prizes today. Find new efficiencies. Energize your own productivity for unexpected benefits.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — You can get where you want to go with disciplined planning and action. Investigate a fascinating subject. Follow intriguing clues. Discover unexpected wonders.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Clarify and verify the data. Handle financial matters with your partner. Coordinate to keep budgets and plans. Discover mistakes before they get expensive.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Coordinate and synchronize with your partner. Work together like a well-oiled machine. Follow practiced routines. Support each other and then celebrate shared results.

Friday

Art & Wine Walk: Downtown Stillwater @ 4 - 8 p.m.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Focus on work. Make calculated moves. Faithfully maintain practices. Physical action gets satisfying results. Step lively. Quicken the pace. Concentrate on what you’re doing. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 6 — Follow a creative idea where it takes you. Express yourself with music, art and words. Romance flowers naturally. Have fun with people you love.

Cowboys claim win No. 1

The Cowboys opened their season with a 27-13 win against Central Arkansas this past Saturday in Boone Pickens Stadium and showcased their new uniforms.

Photos by Ethan Scott, Nick becker and Marcus Conrad

By: Ethan Scott

By: Ethan Scott

By: Ethan Scott

By: Ethan Scott

By: Marcus Conrad

By: Ethan Scott

By: Marcus Conrad

By: Nick Becker

By: Marcus Conrad

In 1994, Tom Fazio designed the Karsten Creek Golf Club, specifically for the Oklahoma State golf teams to practice and enhance their skills.

The course’s first college event was the Karsten Creek Collegiate in 1996. It then went on to host the NCAA Central Regional, 2002 Ping/ Golfweek Preview and NCAA Championships.

Although Karsten Creek is one of the top golf courses in Oklahoma, there is always room for improvement.

On Sept. 29, Karsten Creek will close for 18 months for major course enhancements, one of these being geothermal greens. The best grass in Oklahoma does not thrive in summer heat or the cold of winter, and the geothermal technology will allow the greens to adjust temperatures, due to hydronics underground.

Scott...

Continued from 1B

But, as Scott explained, life is built off choices. He said he made the right life decision returning to OSU.

“The opportunity to show my wife and family where I began my career, it’s also something I couldn’t pass on,” Scott said. “I love Stillwater. I love (Gallagher-Iba Arena). I love everything about that campus.”

And the timing was

right. Former associate head coach Zack Esposito departed for a position with USA Wrestling as its National Freestyle development and resident coach.

“Coleman is a champion and one of the brightest young coaching minds in our sport,” Smith said in a statement regarding Scott’s hiring. “Success has followed him wherever he’s gone, and we’re excited to have him and his family back home with us at Oklahoma State.”

The Cowboys reeled in former All-American transfers in Sammy Alvarez and Izzak Olejnik,

and they return three-time 133-pound national runner up Daton Fix. Perhaps new blood could be what OSU wrestling was lacking in its long-awaited return to national prominence. And adding a coaching guru with experience at OSU such as Scott could be what is necessary to shift the program back in the right direction.

“I’m ready to win,” Scott said. “I think we have the guys, and we certainly have the coaches to do it. I can’t wait to be next to that mat, coaching my alma mater.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

“With these hydronics, we can push the greens as much as we want to in terms of keeping them fast and firm all year long,” said OSU coach Greg Robertson. “There are a lot of things that help us out with that technology, but you’ll have the best greens anywhere all year long.”

Golf courses topdress the greens in the spring, placing big holes in the greens and covering them with sand. Spring is an important season for golfers, and the sand makes putting inconsistent with distance and speed.

With the geothermal greens, top-dressing can be done during the winter when golfers are home and interest is low. The greens will be warm in the winter, so grass growth will continue. Purposeful practice can occur during the spring without inconveniences.

Not only are the greens being renovated, but the rest of the course will undergo a few changes. Six holes will no longer exist, new holes will

be added and the routes will be changed. Greens and tee boxes will also be moved.

“A year and a half from now, it won’t look anything like it does now, which is really hard to comprehend considering it’s a top-35 public golf course in the country,” Robertson said. “When these changes get done, it’s really going to be one of the top courses across the board.”

During the time the course will be closed, the Cowgirls are getting creative with their practices. In a normal season, the team practices mostly at Karsten Creek but also plays at the Stillwater Country Club about once a week. Although the course cannot be played, specific practice facilities will still be utilized.

“Most of our playing is going to be done at the country club,” Robertson said. “We’re going to try to get on some courses in Oklahoma City, Edmond or Tulsa, just to switch it up a bit.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Karsten Creek will close for 18 months, adding geothermal greens

New associate head coach Coleman Scott was a four-time All-American and 2008 NCAA Champion at 133 pounds while wrestling at OSU, and he went on to win a bronze medal at the 2012 Olympics.

Courtesy of Larry Slater

Karsten Creek, home to OSU golf, is already one of the top courses in the state, but major renovations of the course will begin later this month.

Courtesy of Larry Slater

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

The O’Colly Sports Picks

Yeah, OSU didn’t play great against Central Arkansas. I won’t sugarcoat it. But does beating an FCS team by just two scores at home mean the Cowboys will struggle once they face Power Five opponents? Not so fast. The team used three quarterbacks and its base defense with no changes. Once Gundy and Co. figure out who the starting QB is and uses multiple defensive looks, they’ll become more comfortable and find a groove in Big 12 play.

Should OSU’s week one performance scare Cowboy fans?

What’s that saying? If you have two quarterbacks, you have none. Well, OSU has three. Bravo. On top of the QB question marks, giving up nearly 400 (!) yards to Central Arkansas I mean, cmon. New defense or not, not showing your hand or not, that is pitiful. Arizona State doesn’t have a prolific offense or anything, but when OSU gets to Big 12 play and even South Alabama in the middle of the month, it could get ugly.

Gabriel Trevino

Ashton Slaughter