Friday, February 7, 2025
Shrum steps down
The OSU/A&M Board of regents announced it accepted Oklahoma State President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s immediate resignation Wednesday morning, effective Feb. 3.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Shrum for her dedicated leadership, unwavering commitment to students, and significant contributions to the OSU System,” the statement read.
“Dr. Shrum has led with passion and
vision, championing key initiatives in academics, research and innovation while advancing OSU’s land-grant mission. During her tenure, Oklahoma State University has experienced record enrollment, student retention rates, research funding, and philanthropic support setting the stage for a bright future. From the outset of her presidency, she was thrust into a critical role of navigating the disruption within the Big 12 Conference. Dr. Shrum worked tirelessly to help stabilize the league
Oklahoma businesswoman speaks on DEI executive order
The Sapulpa native studied broadcast journalism and African American studies while playing Division-I basketball at Kansas State. After a few knee and ankle injuries, ultimately declared career-ending, Grant felt her passions choose her.
and protect OSU’s athletic programs, ensuring the university remained competitive on the national stage.”
The announcement comes after Tuesday night’s report from Reese Gorman, which said Shrum, 52, was “expected to” announce her resignation.
Shrum, the 19th university president and first female in that role, was named OSU’s president in April 2021 and assumed that role on July 1.
The Coweta native succeeded Burns Hargis and was OSU’s Center for
Health Sciences president before becoming the face of the university. During her tenure, she navigated OSU through anything from COVID-19 pandemic to conference realignment in college athletics. Shrum has brought new initiatives and record-breaking enrollment, too.and Nutrition Research Institute, which was created in 2022 to develop strategies to combat obesity and chronic diseases.
See SHRUM on page 5A
Risha Grant thought her future would be played out on the basketball court, but after experiencing injuries she hung up her sneakers and picked up a microphone.
“I was able to marry my love of communications with my love of — just at the time it was really about Black history — and so I was able to kind of marry those two, and I started Oklahoma’s only diversity communications firm.”
OSU Firefighter Challenge Team promotes fitness, teamwork
pad, the weight of the dummy slamming down on top of him. Todhunter blacked out from the exhaustion, but the roaring crowd roused him, and he heard his time: 1:38:31.
Jason Todhunter, equipped in full bunker gear, dragged a 165-pound dummy as he pushed toward the finish line, seconds away from setting a new record.
Onlookers and teammates cheered on Todhunter as he fought for every step. One hundred and six feet felt like miles, but he was almost there. One more heave over the line and Todhunter fell backward onto a crash
“I heard my time, and I knew that I got the time I wanted, and I was pretty shocked about it,” Todhunter said.
That day at the Firefighter Challenge League World Championships in Nashville, Tennessee, Todhunter earned a spot in the Lion’s Den, an honor given to competitors who complete the five-stage Firefighter Challenge in less than 1 minute and 40 seconds. He also placed second in his division.
Courtesy Risha Grant
Risha Grant started the first full-service diversity communiations firm in Oklahoma.
Courtesy OSU FFTC
Payton Little
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents announced President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s resignation on the morning of Feb. 3, after she stepped down Monday.
Jeanette Mendez will serve as OSU’s acting president, effective immediately.
Courtesy Jeanette Mendez
Acting OSU president announced
OSU has an acting president.
Jeanette Mendez, who previously served as provost and senior vice president, will immediately assume the role, according to a Wednesday email from the OSU/A&M Board of Regents. Mendez will succeed former OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum, whose resignation was announced Wednesday.
“Please know that we remain steadfast in supporting OSU faculty, staff and students and are committed to ensuring
a smooth transition and maintaining the momentum of OSU’s land-grant mission to serve the state of Oklahoma and beyond,” the statement read. Mendez has been a faculty member since 2005. She was promoted to interim provost in 2021 before assuming the sitting position. Mendez has also served as vice provost of academic affairs, interim dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, associate dean for research and facilities, interim associate dean for research and political science department head. Mendez has a doctorate and master’s degree from Indiana University. She has a bachelor’s degree from Santa Clara University.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little
Following President Shrum’s resignation a spokeperson denied Gov. Stitt’s rumored interest in the position.
Gov. Stitt ‘has no intention’ of becoming OSU’s next president
second term as Oklahoma governor.
That term extends until January 2027, but he’s been speculated as a future candidate for the OSU presidency since even before it was reported Tuesday night Shrum was “expected to announce” her resignation.
Amid speculation that he might ultimately pursue former Oklahoma State President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s role, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s spokeswoman, Abegail Cave, told The O’Colly the OSU graduate has “no intention” of becoming the 20th president.
His spokeswoman did, however, give a statement from Stitt about Shrum’s resignation.
“I want to thank Dr. Shrum for her service, and I wish her the best in her future endeavors,” Cave sent via text. Stitt, a 1996 OSU graduate, is in his
On Wednesday, that announcement came from the OSU/A&M Board of Regents, which accepted Shrum’s resignation Feb. 3.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Dr. Shrum for her dedicated leadership, unwavering commitment to students, and significant contributions to the OSU System,” the statement read.
Jeanette Mendez, who previously served as provost and senior vice president, is now the acting OSU president.
news.ed@ocolly.com
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Ask the Pokes
How do you feel about Shrum resigning?
“I am very sad about her resigning. We will all miss her dearly. She was a great president and I’m scared for what’s next.”
- Jordyn Scott, sophomore
“I feel very saddened that President Shrum is resigning because throughout my time here, she has already been so involved with student and just been a great mentor to them.”
- Mia Lalawallen, freshman
“I am disappointed that President Shrum has resigned, mostly because it’s kind of uncertain what will happen in the future — how we’ll get a new president, how that’ll end up going.”
- Tyler Amicarelli, freshman
“I was shocked. I just want Oklahoma State to feel the same that it always has, and someone to continue her legacy and the drive that she had to make this school better.”
- Maycie Shanklin, junior
Kraich, Calif
Social
Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
Britoocolly.com
O’Colly Staff
‘No longer viable’: OSU official resigns shortly after Shrum
Shrum issued a statement to NonDoc on Wednesday afternoon.
“I have loved Oklahoma State University all my life,” Shrum said.
Former Innovation Foundation
President and CEO Elizabeth Pollard said she resigned after learning she would no longer work under former President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s leadership.
“I felt that President Shrum’s vision supported our agenda, and I had full respect for her leadership,” Pollard said Wednesday in a brief interview with The O’Colly.
Earlier Wednesday, NonDoc reported that the OSU/A&M Board of Regents approved four motions last Friday, including orders to stop funding and freeze hiring efforts for the foundation. The motions stemmed from what NonDoc called “an ongoing review of improper transfers of legislatively appropriated funds’” involving the Innovation Foundation. Pollard stepped down earlier this week, an OSU official confirmed.
Pollard, who was recruited to help build the foundation in February 2023, said in a statement she is proud of her time at OSU.
“It was an honor to work with President Shrum, Jerome Loughridge, and the many talented leaders at OSU who were committed to the IF mission,” Pollard said. “The IF followed University policy and procedures, including financial reporting into University systems. We worked collaboratively with OSU’s President, CFO, and the A&M Board of Regents Office of Legal Counsel. The IF board of directors, Regent representation and management were regularly informed. We stand by and are proud of our accomplishments. It became apparent to me when President Shrum resigned that my ability to impact change for OSU was no longer viable, so I chose to resign.”
Pollard became CEO in December 2023, reporting to Shrum. She succeeded Jerome Loughridge, who held the same position.
“Serving as its president has been the highest honor of my career, and I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of such a remarkable institution.
“My core values are integrity, excellence, and service. These values have guided every decision I have made as a leader. I have always lead with honesty, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is right for students, faculty, and the great state of Oklahoma. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply not true. My dedication to this university has been rooted in integrity and a steadfast belief in OSU’s mission.
“As I step away from this role, my heart is full of gratitude, for the students who have inspired me every day, for the faculty and staff who work tirelessly to shape the future leaders, and for the OSU community that embodies the Cowboy spirit.
Watching our students challenge the status quo, overcome obstacles, and achieve their dreams has been the greatest privilege of my time here. I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished together, expanding opportunities, fostering innovation, and strengthening OSU’s impact across our great state and beyond. This university is built on a foundation of excellence, and its future is brighter than ever because of the incredible people who make OSU what it is.
“Though I may not longer serve as president, I will always be part of the Cowboy family. OSU will always have my heart, and I will forever be it’s champion, standing firmly in my integrity, my love for this university, and my belief in the students who carry its legacy forward.”
Jeanette Mendez, former provost and senior vice president, was named as the acting president Wednesday morning.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Students react to
former OSU President Shrum’s ‘definitely shocking’ resignation
to get away from it before.”
As reports circulated Tuesday evening about Oklahoma State President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s potential resignation across campus, students’ phones lit up with texts and calls.
Freshman Eli Conner found out Tuesday night after a reporter from Channel 4 approached his friends for comment. Conner said he viewed her potential resignation as a chance for something new.
“I don’t know much about her,” Conner said. “I’m actually kind of excited to see if a change is made what I could see in the future.”
Conner and fellow freshman Hallie Curry are a part of OSU’s largest enrollment class to date, an initiative Shrum championed. Curry said she didn’t understand why Shrum would resign after everything she’s achieved.
“I think it’s kind of strange,” Curry said. “She did a really good job welcoming us, so I’m not sure why she would leave right now after achieving that (record-breaking enrollment) goal.”
Curry’s tablemate freshman Bella Vance, questioned why Shrum would resign during the semester.
“It’s definitely shocking,” Vance said. “I also feel like it could be something that’s about to come out, and she’s trying
Shrum was named OSU’s president in April 2021 and assumed the role on July 1 of that year. Shrum has played an integral role in OSU seniors’ college experiences. Senior Kaitlin Westhoff said she loved the former president’s handson style.
“I love how interactive she is with students,” Westhosf said. “It’s not just behind-the-scenes stuff that she’s doing, but also she still pressing into college students here.”
Sophomore Abby Smith said she would be sad if Shrum resigned. During her short time at OSU, she has loved seeing the president in action.
”I love the energy she brings to OSU, and how supportive she is of our athletes and all the different clubs on campus, and how willing she is to step in and be everyone’s number one supporter,” Smith said.
The news of Shrum’s potential resignation was upsetting for many students, but Conner said he is not upset with the president for the decision.
“I think we all have things that we have to do in life, and maybe she has something that she’s feeling called to do that’s different than this,” Conner said. Westhoff agreed, and though she wanted Shrum to stay, she understood and wished Shrum well.
“I think it’s just sad because I’d love for her to be able to stay, but I mean, at the end of the day, it’s her choice,” Westhoff said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
How OSU will select its next president
three others, including a professor, associate professor and assistant professor selected by the Deans Council, would be included.
A search for Oklahoma State’s 20th president will soon be underway.
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents announced Wednesday morning it approved OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum’s resignation effective Feb. 3.
The BOR appointed Shrum in April 2021. Based on the guidelines that appointed Shrum, the following may happen in the coming months.
The board chair, Jimmy Harrel, would appoint a succession planning committee.
The committee would be made up of several university officials, students and community members. Four regents, including the board chair; four faculty, including the current vice chair of the Faculty Council; and
If the committee follows the same guidelines as in 2020, it would consist of four students with at least one graduate student.
Twelve other individuals from different campuses, the city of Stillwater and other university offices would be placed on the 28-member committee.
The committee could also recommend an executive search firm to serve as a consultancy.
Once the search process — chosen by the committee and approved by the BOR — is finished, the committee would forward three or four names to the board. The regents would be able to employ a president from the list of unranked names or reject all the candidates and reopen the search.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy OSU News
Elizabeth Pollard resigned from her role at OSU, she told The O’Colly on Wednesday.
Connor Fuxa
The OSU/A&M Board of Regents accepted former OSU President Shrum’s resignation Feb. 3.
Career Services helps students prepare for events, future jobs
in our resource center at the bottom of the page,” Van Pelt said.
Ask for help
The Career Fair is a week away, so here are some tips and tricks for preparing for the big day.
Update your resume
As you prepare, make sure to update your resume to take with you to the Career Fair. A well-crafted resume will enhance your ability to present yourself to potential employers.
“Make sure that all of your information is updated,” said London Van Pelt, OSU office of career services career coordinator. “Also, be yourself.”
Van Pelt works hard to make sure everything is organized and ready for the event. She is ready and available to answer students’ questions. She said students can visit the career services website for more information or email the office.
Don’t stress
Talking to professional companies might be frightening, but many of the people you are going to talk to started out as a college student at a career fair themselves. Take a moment to breathe, and if you need help, reach out to Van Pelt and her team through SLATE to connect with your college-specific coordinator.
“We have resources found on all sorts of things on the Career Services website,
Career Services is student’s one-stop shop for support. Students can take any questions they have directly to the office. It may be daunting, but asking for help is the easiest way to ease nerves and prepare for the Career Fair.
Career Services is located on the third floor of the Student Union and provides resume review, mock interviews and Career Fair advice.
“I recommend for students as they go into interviews familiarizing themselves with the STAR method in terms of answering the questions and interviews, which is Situation, Task, Action and Result,” Van Pelt said.
The STAR program can help students brainstorm responses for the dreaded “Do you have any questions about our company?” question at the end of each interviews.
Be yourself
The biggest takeaway for students is to remember to be yourself. Dress professionally, but make sure you are comfortable, and put your best foot and smile forward.
If you have any questions, Career Services is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The OSU STEM Career Fair is happening Monday, Feb. 10, and the All Majors fair is taking place on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
OSU Career Services, located on the third floor of the Student
pare for upcoming career fairs and future employment.
2025 Grammys: Best moments
with the dance-pop track building anticipation for her upcoming album “Mayhem” being released on March 7.
$7 million raised for L.A. wildfires
The O’Colly Super Bowl Picks
Super Bowl LIX is this Sunday. The Kansas City Chiefs will be taking on the Philadelphia Eagles in hopes of becoming the first team in history to win three Super Bowls in a row. Here is The O’Colly editorial board’s predictions.
Ashton Slaughter, Editor-in-chief: Chiefs, 27-23. It’s irresponsable and borderline disrespectful to pick against Kansas City no matter how good Philadelphia is, so I expect a three-peat.
Parker Gerl, Sports editor: Chiefs, 24-23. I’m not picking against Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. I trust Mahomes more than Jalen Hurts.
Calif Poncy, Assistant Sports editor: Chiefs, 26-24. Whether you love them or hate them, KC and Patrick Mahomes have been incapable of losing close games this season. Seeing as KC has won in this spot each of the last two seasons, I see no reason to pick against it now.
Kenzie Kraich, Assistant Sports editor: Eagles, 34-27. This is more so a root against the Chiefs than for the Eagles. It might be improbable, but I can’t stand to watch another game where penalties work in favor of Mahomes.
Hayden Alexander, News & Lifestyle editor: Eagles, 35-27. I am not a football
fanatic, but I know one thing: I don’t like the Chiefs. After three Super Bowl appearances in three years I’m over it. The Super Bowl is the only NFL game I watch and I am bored. Dear NFL script writers fix it.
Music superstars Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce, Charli XCX and Chappell Roan won big at the 2025 Grammys on Feb. 2 in Los Angeles at the Crypto. com Arena.
Here are the top moments from music’s biggest night.
‘Not Like Us’ sweeps the awards
Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss track “Not Like Us” won five times, bringing home the most awards of the night. Lamar took home awards, beating artists such as Taylor Swift and The Beatles. With Lamar’s anticipated upcoming Super Bowl performance, it’s safe to say Drake probably isn’t having a good month.
The Swamp Princess wins best rap album
Rapper Doechii won for her 2024 album “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” joining the only two women to win the award previously, Lauryn Hill and Cardi B. Doechii’s speech was arguably one of the most heartwarming moments of the night as she told the story of the ups and downs of her career starting in Tampa, Florida.
Lady Gaga returns to music during commercial break
After teasing new music on the red carpet, Lady Gaga unexpectedly dropped the video for her new single “Abracadabra” during a Grammys commercial break. It seems Gaga is returning to her early days of music
The Grammys had a different tone this year, with the recent Los Angeles wildfires affecting many people in the audience. Instead of being used for comedy, Trevor Noah filled the intermissions by encouraging the audience, viewers and corporations to donate to help rebuilding efforts.
It was announced that $7 million were raised during the Grammys to help communities affected by the fires.
Live performances
Nominees Sabrina Carpenter, Benson Boone and Chappell Roan hit the Grammys stage to perform their hits. Each singer dazzled in their signature style and lit up the room with undeniable energy. Carpenter won Best Pop Vocal Album for her “Short n’ Sweet” album and Best Pop Solo Performance for “Espresso.”
Roan won Best New Artist and during her speech advocated for the fair treatment of artists by record labels.
Beyonce wins her first grammy for Album Of The Year
The Album Of The Year category at this year’s Grammys was a pop girl bloodbath. With artists such as Billie Eilish, Roan, Swift and Carpenter, Album Of Year could have truly gone to anyone. However, “Cowboy Carter” secured the night’s biggest award, securing Beyonce’s first Album Of The Year win in her 21-year career.
Raynee Howell, Assistant News and Lifestyle editor: Chiefs, 35-28. I bet you hoped you’d get through a Super Bowl article without the mention of Taylor Swift, but I’m here to make sure you don’t. I hope the Chiefs win because I want Taylor Swift to be happy, although real Swifties know she loves the Eagles.
Payton Little, Photo editor: Eagles, 24-21. Saquon Barkley; that’s all I have to say.
Bryson Thadhani, Social Media editor: Chiefs, 35-32. As much as I don’t want to see it, Chiefs 3x winners incoming. Call me a conspiracy theorist, but Mahomes is the baby of the NFL and the refs will have him win by any means necessary.
Megan Turner, Design editor: Chiefs 27-23. Patrick Mahomes...what other reason do I need?
Jose Brito, Assistant Social Media editor: Eagles, 34-30. I think Saquon will continue to show what he has been doing all season. He is just an unstoppable force.
news.ed@ocolly.com O’COLLY
‘Hurry Up Tomorrow’: The Weeknd leaves in his prime
Review
RICHARD ROBERTSON STAFF REPORTER
The face of a generation, The Weeknd, released his last album on Friday, Jan. 31.
Since his career inception, The Weeknd has dominated pop culture. His excellent songwriting, relatable topics, well-executed concepts, hip-hop blends, and stellar production have cemented him as a pop icon.
For the last 14 years, he has constantly appeared on radio, in movies, on charts, and in video games. The impact The Weeknd has made in such a short time is mindboggling. His impact rivals that of greats like Kanye West, Drake and Taylor Swift.
Pressing play on “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” you realize this is no meager pop album; it is a grandiose symphony. The Weeknd did not want his last album to be something people occasionally bump for two years. He wanted to make the greatest pop album of all time. It’s an album you can never escape from—30 years from now, an album that will sell.
The Weeknd wants a ‘Thriller.” The question of Hurry Up Tomorrow is not one of quality—The Weeknd made a great album—but of impact: Did The Weeknd make the album?
“Hurry Up Tomorrow”is The Weeknd at his peak. You will find depressing pop, club moshpits, EDM, singalongs, techno, and more on the album. The pacing is perfect. The first seven tracks are smooth and throw you onto a slide impossible to get off of. There is so much to praise about “Hurry Up Tomorrow.” The production sounds futuristic. The Weeknd masters pop with a story. The artists uses all of his talents. However, as easy as it is to praise “Hurry Up Tomorrow,” it is not perfect.
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” is not trying to be the greatest pop album of 2025 but the greatest pop album of all time. Therefore, it would make sense to judge it as such.
The songs are way too long at an average length of 3 minutes and 40 seconds. Twenty-two tracks at nearly 4 minutes long each is overkill. Some songs are too boring for the length they are given, like “Enjoy The Show.”
“Enjoy The Show” is a slow jam featuring Future. Both artists’ deliveries felt lacking and uninspired. It’s not a skip by any means — the album has no skips — however, when attempting to make the biggest album of all time, every minute needs to be focused.
The Weeknd’s subject matter is very similar to his past showings. The Weeknd has three song types: A hip-hop bop with a crazy beat, an upbeat dance track with catchy vocals, or a slow dark ballad. The Weeknd either celebrates his lavish lifestyle while acknowledging its downsides, apologizes to his partner for his sins, or moans depressingly about his pain. If you took lyrics from random songs throughout The Weeknd’s career, it’s impossible to tell which album they originated from. We do not expect artists to change what they do best on their last album. However, we should expect them to evolve lyrically.
The Weeknd releases the same songs, and as much as I do not want to believe it, there is no evidence to dispute that claim.
“Hurry Up Tomorrow” is a success by most standards. It capped off the career of a music icon, it gave the world good music, and it pushed pop forward. Overall, do not expect “Hurry Up Tomorrow” to be timeless in popularity. It is a treasure to listen to in the present. With no skips, a great concept, and excellent pacing, a few bad minutes do not detract from the listening experience. “Hurry Up Tomorrow” is a 9/10.
Kareem Sawan
Union, works with students to help pre-
Courtesy Creative Commons
Chappell Roan won Best New Artist at the Grammys on Sunday.
ASHLEY YARBROUGH STAFF REPORTER
Patrick Smith/Getty Images/TNS
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (left) is playing for his third straight Super Bowl.
Continued from 1
Shrum has also overseen campus upgrades, such as the $115 million New Frontiers Agricultural Hall at the start of the fall semester. She was part of a deal to bring Cross Canadian Ragweed to Boone Pickens Stadium in April for “The Boys From Oklahoma, a long-awaited reunion.
As a student, Shrum graduated with a doctorate degree in osteopathic medicine from the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine after playing softball at Connors State College and attending Northeastern State University and the University of Arkansas.
Shrum spent part of her tenure at OSU-Stillwater focused on state legislature. She made visits to the capital to advocate for OSU, including a July appointment of Jennifer Callahan to the OSU/A&M Board of Regents and Capital Cowboys visits.
Shrum announced during a Faculty Council meeting in November that OSU planned to ask the legislature for $75 million to help cover the deficit tuition waivers have created.
Shrum served as the secretary of science and innovation under Gov. Kevin Stitt before becoming president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences in 2013. She started her position as OSU’s president July 1, 2021.
Oklahoma House Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, said in a statement Shrum “has shown incredible leadership during her time at OSU.”
“She made history as the first woman to lead a public research institution in Oklahoma,” Ranson said. “She made great philanthropic strides and increased enrollment under her tenure. I have greatly enjoyed working with her and I join all of OSU in sincerely thanking her for her service.”
OSU’s Faculty Council shared its support for Shrum after her resignation.
In a statement released Thursday morning, four officers, Chair Lisa Slevitch, Vice-Chair Stephen Perkins, Secretary Chris Crick and Past Chair
Brandt Gardner, said they appreciated the “shared governance” relationship they had with Shrum.
“During her presidency, Dr. Shrum maintained regular dialogue with the Faculty Council, demonstrating a willingness to engage with and respond to faculty concerns,” the statement read.
“Her support of faculty initiatives and her understanding of the challenges facing higher education helped strengthen the relationship between administration and faculty. Through regular meetings with the Faculty Council and various faculty committees, she fostered an environment where faculty voices were heard and respected.”
An OSU official confirmed Wednesday that former Innovation Foundation President and CEO Elizabeth Pollard and former Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff Jerome Loughridge also resigned.
In a statement released to NonDoc, following its reported review of improper transfers, Shrum said she considers serving as the president of OSU the highest honor of her career.
“Though I may no longer serve as president, I will always be part of the Cowboy family. OSU will always have my heart, and I will forever be its champion, standing firmly in my integrity, my love for this university, and my belief in the students who carry its legacy forward.”
Now, a search will begin for OSU’s 20th president.
“The Board will begin the process of identifying the next leader for Oklahoma State University and will provide updates as that process moves forward,” the OSU/A&M Board of Regents statement read. “In the meantime, we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and maintaining the momentum of OSU’s mission to serve the state of Oklahoma and beyond.
“We thank Dr. Shrum for her service and wish her the very best in her future endeavors.”
Hispanic students protest against change in national deportation law
Elena Gomez, a member of the Hispanic Student Association, said it is difficult to be Mexican-American in the U.S.
Grant
Risha Grant LLC is Oklahoma’s first full-service diversity communications firm. Grant has led the company for 26 years, gradually switching over from consulting to speaking and training companies like Google, AT&T, Microsoft and more.
The root of Grant’s passion — DEI — has recently been under fire from government officials, including Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and President Donald Trump. In December 2023, Stitt signed an executive order prohibiting state agencies and institutes of higher education from utilizing state funds, property and resources to fund any DEI program, department, procedure, personnel or activity. On Jan. 20, Trump signed a similar order.
As a blanket of clouds hung over Stillwater, a protest formed in front of Edmon Low Library.
The group gathered Thursday to protest a policy change that allows Department of Homeland Security officers to enter “protected areas” to arrest undocumented immigrants. Schools, healthcare facilities and places of worship are now subject to search.
Fatima Acevedo, chair of the Latiné Caucus for the College Democrats of Oklahoma, said fear of deportation “does more than just tear families apart.” “It weakens our communities and it stifles our potential, and it holds us back from achieving everything we could accomplish together,” Acevedo said.
The Hispanic Student Association organized the protest. Many students, of varying ethnicities, marched around the campus’ perimeter, chanting, “Latinos unidos jamás serán vencidos.” In English, “No fear, no hate, immigrants are welcomed here.”
She said some of her grandparents are immigrants, as well as her stepdad. For them, the policy change means making plans for what to do with her little brother if a family member gets deported.
“My big thing right now is if it doesn’t affect you, specifically, it doesn’t mean it’s not affecting other people,” Gomez said. “Just educate yourself a little bit. These are families who are being taken away. How would you feel if that was your family?”
The same concerns have infiltrated
Christian Jimenez’s family.
The Latin American Student Association president said some are “scared for their safety.” Some avoid going into work, while others have chosen to keep their kids home from school, he said.
“Many of us know people that this is going to affect, and they can’t really stand up because of fear of being deported,” Jimenez said. “So it’s like we have to do it. We are the U.S. citizens. We are their children. So it’s like we have to stand up for them, especially when they can’t.”
On Jan. 21, Trump signed another order targeting DEI titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-based Opportunity.” This order had a section dedicated to “Encouraging the Private Sector to End Illegal DEI Discrimination and Preferences.”
Grant spoke with The O’Colly about the effects of DEI on her life, her business and what the future may hold for DEI.
Q: Coming from a less diverse place, what inspired you to pursue a career in DEI?
A: I think when you live in a place like Sapulpa, even though there’s a lot of love there, and I got along really great with everybody, especially during that time, it was primarily white, and so there weren’t that many Black kids in my grade (or my) school system. But if you pull all the categories together, from disability to people of color, LGBT, all of that, there’s actually a lot of diversity in our state. But if you were just to look at us, you would think it’s mostly white…that every year we’re going to vote Republican first, you know? It’s difficult to come from a state where you feel like you’re not valued in the way that you should be. And so I have fought for that my entire career. And as I was in my 20s and starting to build my business, I got to meet some really cool people from the Hispanic community and from the Asian community, and I remember thinking, ‘Why can’t we all figure out how to unify in a way that matters, where our voices are heard?’ So I started to realize it’s not just about what Black folks are going through. This is about what every other marginalized group of people may be going through, and that’s how I got from Black history to diversity overall.
Q: How did Stitt’s executive order affect your livelihood?
A: I’ve literally in this state almost starved trying to sell DEI right? Because people didn’t understand the need for it. But it was an education process. It was me building the business case for it, and you begin to see the tide change… so to be in a space now where it’s being used as a fear tactic to divide people is really tough for me to see. It’s tough for
my business, and I think that people don’t understand what DEI is truly about. It’s really just about treating people with respect. It’s about making sure that opportunities are fair across the board. It’s about making sure that if I go get a greeting card for my mom, I can find somebody that looks like my mom. It’s so asinine to me that all of a sudden people are scared of it. What’s happening right now is scary, but I also feel like, for most people that fall into marginalized communities or diverse categories, they’re so used to stuff like this. We’re going to figure out a way around it, and we’re going to continue to do what we do. We’ve been born with the skill set, right? We’ve had to have it for so long, but it is so painful to watch. I mean, because it’s happening in ways that I don’t think we’ve ever experienced, depending on your age.
Q: What do you foresee happening with DEI across the US?
A: I have to hope that people care about people enough to say this is not right. This is not OK. I don’t think treating people the way they need to be treated is ever going to go out of style, no matter who tries to make that happen. So I think it’s going to be tough. I think that no matter how tired we are, we’re going to have to stay in the fight, and it’s ridiculous that we are having to have this kind of fight in our own country, but I have to believe that there is a bigger plan in place and that we’re going to come out on the other side better. Now I’ll tell you, there are some days that are hard for me to believe myself, because I’m seeing stuff and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh. Like, what the hell?’ But I don’t know. People in marginalized communities are so resilient.
Q: What would you say to students who qualified for DEI programs in Oklahoma and can no longer be a part of them?
A: I would say, ‘Don’t give up.’ I know that it feels like, why bother? Why do we keep fighting? Why do we keep going through this? Because I feel it as well. But what I know is, when you think about the Civil Rights Movement, you think about the feminist movement, all of these movements that have come before us, they didn’t give up. Because just think, if they had given up, we wouldn’t even be where we are right now. So in the face of adversity, we have to stand, we have to connect. We have to speak up and speak out for each other, and we have to call something wrong when it’s wrong. And I think that it is up on all of us. It doesn’t matter who you are, what kind of power you think you have or you don’t have. You have the power to say when something is wrong. You have the power to go to the polls and vote. You have the power to uplift somebody else and try to make their day a little bit better. So I would say, no matter what it looks like, we have to keep going.
These quotes have been edited for length and clarity.
Continued from 1 news.ed@ocolly.com KENNEDY THOMASON
Courtesy of Risha Grant
Risha Grant’s latest book “Be Better Than Your BS” is a national bestseller
Firefighter
Serving the community
Todhunter is from Montana. His dad, a volunteer firefighter, inspired him to pursue a career in fire protection. So at 17, Todhunter signed up to be a volunteer firefighter.
“I fell in love with firefighting itself,” Todhunter said. “I’ve been part of the volunteer fire department since then, and I got an associate’s degree in fire science, and I am continuing my passion for that. And now I’m getting my bachelor’s degree here in fire prevention and safety engineering.”
Many members of the OSU Firefighter Challenge Team have aspirations to firefight. The team’s vice president, Hannah Marie Akoury, is a volunteer firefighter with the student service battalion in Yale, Oklahoma. “I always knew I wanted something in public service,” Akoury said. “It took me a while to figure out that firefighting was that route.”
Like a family
Fostering a “firehouse culture” is vital to Akoury. The Massachusetts native wants to make sure members feel at home within the club like she did after joining. Akoury learned about the team in high school and joined it the second she arrived at OSU. She quickly found her home away from home.
She said nothing compares to the feeling of finishing the course.
“I can’t really hear anything,” Akoury said. “I’m just doing it, but afterward, you have a runner’s high, and it’s awesome.”
The Firefighter Challenge League encompasses multiple groups, including veterans, retired and current firefighters. She and the team are considered rookies in the sport and profession.
Akoury said despite being one of the youngest competitors, firefighters are very supportive.
“The firefighters, they’re very welcoming,” Akoury said. “They understand that we are younger than them, and we don’t have as much experience as them.”
The Firefighter Challenge League brings out a different kind of competitiveness. It’s not about beating the person next to you but cheering them on to set a personal record.
“The people are amazing,” Todhunter said. “You’re not racing against other people; you’re racing against your time before, because everyone’s trying to help everyone achieve that, and it’s a really cool atmosphere.”
Emphasis on health
team, providing them with resources and ways to improve their health. Joyce said finding time to focus on health can be challenging for first responders.
“It never gets easier,” Todhunter said. “You only get faster.” Continued from 1
“You’re like a little family, which is really nice, especially since you’re coming to a big school,” Akoury said. “I don’t have any family out here, so I knew no one coming out here. It provided me kind of like the structure, stability and honestly, the basis of a lot of my friendships I have now.” Akoury competes in tandem, single and relay rounds of the challenge.
Community is an integral part of the Firefighter Challenge League, but one of the main pillars of the organization is health. Sudden cardiac death is the leading cause of death in firefighters, according to the National Fire Protection Association,
The Firefighter Challenge League aims to change that statistic by promoting mental and physical health while encouraging healthy habits.
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Associate Professor Jill Joyce specializes in the health and nutrition of tactical athletes. She works with the
“The jobs take a twofold toll,” Joyce said. “They’re exposed to things like fire and toxins and chemicals that increase their risk for cancer, but for them the job also makes it hard to be active because they’re working shifts.”
Finding the time to incorporate healthy habits can be challenging, and Joyce said the toll the job takes on mental health drives a lot of unhealthy decisions.
“People often don’t realize just how hard it is,” Joyce said. “Imagine if you were exposed to devastating events every shift.”
The team is already working to make a change within its ranks and promote physical and mental well-being. Team members meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays for group workouts at the Colvin Recreation Center. They work together to prepare for the competition and improve their fitness early on in their careers.
“We’re seeking a way to push ourselves physically,” Todhunter said. “We all try to be healthier.”
For more than 30 years, the Firefighter Challenge League has been working to improve the health outlook of service members by engaging firefighters on all levels. Joyce said she’d like to see more programs like the league.
“If we can create those fitness habits and those nutrition habits to focus on health early, the impact we could have on their job performance, their career length their quality of life in a long retirement, that’d be awesome,” Joyce said.
Everyone’s invited
The OSU Firefighter Challenge
Team is open to everyone from future firefighters to fitness enthusiasts.
“You don’t have to be a fire protection major to be in the club,” Akoury said. “We have some fire protection, but we also have exercise science, business majors and a sociology major.”
The team is Akoury’s home away from home, and she encourages students interested in firefighting or looking to better themselves to try the club.
“We’re very close-knit, and it’s a great way to get to know some amazing people, and it’s a great way to strive and put yourself to be the best version of yourself,” Akoury said.
Todhunter is highly competitive and loves how the challenge pushes him mentally and physically. He invites students looking for a unique sport but warns them that they’re in it for the long haul once they compete.
“I always tell them (students), once you go to one, you’ll want to go to all of them because it’s such a cool experience to go and so rewarding when you’re done with the race,” Todhunter said.
You only get faster
Todhunter said that he plans to return to the challenge no matter where he goes after school and plans to donate to the club when he can.
“It has a special place in my heart,” Todhunter said. “I am always going to try to go to the competition.”
The Firefighter Challenge League is not for the faint of heart. The challenge is intense, but the reward is worth it, and Todhunter, Akoury and the team are always at work.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy OSU FFCT
The Firefighter Challenge is a two minute race against the clock through a series of five job-related challenges.
news/Lifestyle
Oklahomans gather outside state Capitol to protest proposed bills
undocumented immigrants and doesn’t think they deserve so much hate.
“It’s about caring about other people,” Dylan said. “Ultimately, there’s even an element of self-interest in it, because it’s only so long before they come for me or somebody I actually know.”
Hundreds of Oklahomans gathered outside the state Capitol Monday for the “Rally for your Rights” protest.
Monday marked the start of the 2025 legislative session, and demonstrators made their presence known ahead of Oklahoma Gov. Stitt’s State of the State address.
Activists held signs advocating against several proposed bills targeting LGBTQ+ rights, undocumented immigrants and the unhoused population among others.
State lawmakers, including Rep. Jared Deck, Sen. Mary Boren and Sen. Nikki Nice, spoke at the event. Deck picked up an acoustic guitar and performed an anti-fascist ballad outside the Capitol while Boren delivered a message of hope.
“Whenever you see that fear is gaining ground, just remember that love always wins,” Boren said.
Protestors focused on Senate Bill 484, which restricts municipalities with a population below 300,000 from providing care to the unhoused population.
Zoe Chandler attended the protest to stand against Senate Bill 484, but she stood with everyone advocating for civil rights.
“Everything,” Chandler said. “I believe in all of the stuff everyone’s got signs for.”
Dylan, who asked us not to use his last name because of safety concerns, learned about the rally through friends and online posts. Dylan said he knows
Dylan has been involved in activism for most of his adult life and plans to continue rallying for human rights whenever he gets the chance.
“We will not lose our rights,” Dylan said. “We will fight for our rights, and we will fight for our neighbor’s rights because that’s more important than anything.”
Some in attendance disagreed. Phillip, with Warriors for Christ, who asked us not to use his last name because of safety concerns, spoke through a megaphone. Phillip said that he believes God is not for LGBTQ+ rights and “pro borders.”
“We’re out here to warn people that the things they’re standing for, gay pride, pro-illegal immigration, abortion, the things they’re trying to get support for, are the very things that are going to take them to hell,” Phillip said.
Mike Howe, an Oklahoma activist, has a different take on religion’s role in activism.
“He (Jesus) would be labeled woke, a radical leftist, communist,” Howe said.
“The Jesus I believe in, the Jesus I follow taught me that all people are holy and sacred, unconditionally.”
Chandler believes that everyone, regardless of politics or beliefs, should care about protecting their and others’ rights.
“It’s just human rights,” Chandler said. “If you don’t care about it (human rights), you don’t care about your life and your future.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
A TRIUMPHED END!
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering , and the time of my departure Is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing.”. (2 Tim.4:6-8 NKJ)
Here is a man who has lived a life in serving the Lord Jesus and others. He is in a prison cell, expecting his execution at any time. According to history, Paul was beheaded at Rome.
In his last words to a young man and minister, Timothy; Paul was looking ahead to greater and lasting judgement that would come from Christ himself. A
well done to a good and faithful servant. We all can take encouragement from his life of service to the Lord and his vision of something much better that awaited him.
As Jesus neared the end of his life. He prayed:to God “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me...with the glory which I had with you before the world was.”
(Jn.17:4-5 NKJ)
Brother and Sister in Christ: Let us set our goal for a triumphed ending by finishing the work God has called us to do. If it be large or small to our eyes; no matter! Let’s be faithful to that calling and receive a greatly blessed entery into the eternal presence of God. Remember, this life is not the end. It is only a short beginning that will last for eternity.
OSU dining adds new boba option
SUNGJOO CHUNG STAFF REPORTER
The Corner Plaza Café at OSU introduced a variety of flavorful boba drinks and smoothies Monday, offering students a refreshing new option on campus.
The addition of boba tea reflects University Dining Services’ commitment to diverse dining options.
“We want to offer variety to the students,” said Vedda Hsu, Director of University Dining Services. “We don’t want you guys to be bored.”
Hsu had envisioned bringing the boba tea concept to campus years ago but encountered significant challenges.
“The challenge is that food service operation is labor intensive and requires reliable staff and good quality products,” Hsu said. “We were also not ready because since COVID happened, we had trouble recruiting.”
The breakthrough came when Hsu discovered an innovative solution at the National Association of College & University Food Services conference last July. There, she encountered Botrista, a company founded by a team from Taiwan, where boba tea originates. The company has developed an automated machine that uses artificial intelligence and data-based decision-making to cater to any specific demographic, cuisine and flavor profile.
“When I saw this machine, I’m like “OK, this answers my prayer from the past few years,’” Hsu said.”It helps us with food quality and product consistency, and it doesn’t require a lot of labor.”
The machine streamlines the boba tea-making process by automatically
mixing drinks according to customer preferences.
Quality control and consistency were primary factors in choosing this automated system over traditional boba tea franchises.
“I could just bring in the boba tea concept like Gong Cha; there are many boba concepts out there for us to bring in,” Hsu said. “But the challenge would be to ensure consistency in the quality of the drinks that we are looking for.”
The machine’s ingredients come pre-packaged from Taiwan, ensuring authentic taste and consistent quality. Customers can customize their sweetness levels, choosing between half-sweet, regular-sweet or extra-sweet options. The flavor selection has been carefully curated based on extensive market research conducted by Botrista, specifically targeting college demographics.
OSU is among the early adopters of this technology in the university setting.
“We are one of the very few universities to bring the machine in,” Hsu said. “There are only four or five schools before us.”
The implementation required coordination across multiple university departments.
“It’s a team effort,” Hsu said. “We needed to work with The Office of Central Procurement and Facilities Management for the installation of the water line, and the IT department for internet connectivity.”
The boba tea machine represents a broader trend in campus dining services, where institutions are seeking innovative solutions to balance labor challenges with student demands for diverse, highquality dining options.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Bryson Thadhani
Hundreds of Oklahomans gathered outside the state Captiol on Monday to protest multiple proposed bills.
Bryson Thadhani
Boba flavors at the Corner Plaza Cafe include dragonfruit and caramel milk tea.
Fast cash or hidden costs? OSU students weigh in
money off of,” Baghose said. “I think anybody can do it.”
For some students, the ability to work whenever they have free time and choose their own hours is a major advantage.
“Oil changes come way quicker when you’re driving that much,” Morales said.
Melendez said that he has seen increased gas expenses since he started dashing.
When Audrey Morales started delivering for DoorDash in high school, she did it because she heard it was fast cash.
Now, as a junior at Oklahoma State, she still relies on the food-delivery app for extra income — but not without some hard lessons learned along the way.
“It puts a lot of miles on my car,” Morales said. “My car has taken an absolute toll.”
For many college students, gig work like DoorDash or Uber offers flexibility and the ability to make money on their time. But between damage on their cars, inconsistent earnings and hidden costs, some students are questioning if the convenience is worth it.
As the gig economy expands, DoorDash is becoming a popular way to get quick money. Seventy-four percent of dashers are ages 18-25 years old, and 94% say the job offers more flexibility compared to more traditional jobs, according to a DoorDash report
Flexibility is what drew OSU junior John Baghose to start delivering.
“DoorDash is just so simple to make
Seventy-four percent of students who dash say flexible scheduling allows them to work around commitments and classes, according to DoorDash. However, students like Morales have experienced the unpredictable nature of gig work.
While some students find DoorDash to be a convenient side hustle, others say that the income is unreliable. OSU freshman Jayden Melendez said that some days he barely gets any orders.
“I’d just sit around for two hours and only get one order,” said Melendez. “It just wasn’t worth it.”
That inconsistency is common. Sixtynine percent of student dashers say they do it to replace lost income or to make up for reduced hours at their part-time or full-time jobs, according to Statistica. However, the sporadic nature of DoorDash orders means students aren’t guaranteed steady pay.
Beyond inconsistent earnings, the financial strain on vehicle maintenance is a major concern. Morales, who has been dashing for several years, said the job put significant wear and tear on her car.
“If I wasn’t DoorDashing, I definitely wouldn’t be driving as much,” Melendez said.
One of the biggest concerns for student Dashers is something many don’t realize until it’s too late: most standard car insurance policies do not cover accidents that occur while driving for delivery services. That means if a student is in an accident while delivering for DoorDash, the student could be liable for all of the costs of damages.
Morales’ family opted to add businessuse coverage to their insurance, costing an additional $20 per month. But for students relying on gig work for extra income, that can be an added barrier.
Despite these downsides, DoorDash remains a widely used platform for students, both for work and delivery. Seventy percent of college students order from a third-party delivery service, and 71% are most likely to place their orders when midterm or final exams roll around, according to Medium’s DoorDash Report.
Late night orders are also common, with 65% of orders coming between 9 and
10 p.m, and 19% of orders being placed after 11 p.m.
So, is DoorDashing worth it for students? Well, it depends how they use it.
For students looking for a low-effort way to make quick cash, DoorDash offers flexible hours and on-demand pay.
Ninety-two percent of student Dashers report being happy with their experience, according to a DoorDash report.
However, for those who rely on DoorDash income to replace either a part-time or a full-time job, the hidden costs of fuel, car maintenance and insurance risks might turn them away from the gig work.
“It’s best if you’re just doing it casually,” Melendez said. “It’s not a stable income, but it’s good for extra cash.”
Morales advises students to think about the long-term costs before signing up.
“You have to be really careful with driving because it really puts miles on your car,” Morales said.
Ultimately, DoorDashing works best as a short-term side hustle, not a replacement for a steady job.
“It’s easy money, but not always good money,” Morales said. “Some days are great, and some days you feel like you wasted your time.”
Raynee Howell
With students turning to DoorDash as a source of income, the question of viability is one that needs to be answered.
BRYSON THADHANI
SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Cowboy coaches ‘saved my life’
Despite dismissal, Williams credits Taylor, OSU staff for his wake-up call
BY DANIEL ALLEN I STAFF REPORTER I @DANIELALLEN1738
As he sat in a cold cell at the Payne County Detention Center, Jordan Williams heard a voice call his name.
He turned his head to see an officer waiting outside his cell.
“Your buddies got you out.”
Williams, then an Oklahoma State wrestler, was escorted to the lobby of the detention center to find teammates Cael Hughes and Carter Young awaiting him. They’d pieced together their own money to cover Williams’ bail after he was arrested and charged with a criminal misdemeanor for public intoxication and malicious injury to property.
It was a brief moment of joy, but it followed Williams’ second alcohol-related arrest in a year’s time, and even then, he
said, he suspected what was coming.
Still, Williams remained cautiously optimistic until the next morning, when he spoke on the phone with Cowboys coach David Taylor, who uttered the gutwrenching words Williams said linger in his mind to this day: “I think it’s best that we move on.”
When No. 2 OSU visits No. 16 Little Rock at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Jack Stephens Center, Williams will see his former teammates for the first time since the fall. For the first time in his college career, Williams will be suiting up on the opposite end of the Cowboys (12-0).
“I haven’t seen them in a while,” Williams said in a phone interview with The O’Colly. “So I’m really excited to see them and compete against them. I’m really excited to see everyone and to talk with
SAM MITCHELL ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
6,359, less than half a full arena. Despite this, Lutz has been consistent in voicing his goal to bring OSU and Gallagher-Iba back to the glory days. His recent efforts have been focused on OSU’s Greek community. That’s why, on Jan. 23, Lutz walked into an Interfraternity Council meeting. All fraternity chapter presidents were there, as well as other members Parker Huizinga, the IFC president and member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, facilitated the meeting.
my teammates and coaches again.”
Almost six months ago, Williams’ career was on life support. Within a day, he went from a heralded OSU sophomore — he’d gone 17-9 and finished Big 12 runner-up at 149 pounds — to a studentathlete without a team.
At times, Williams said he wondered if he would ever wrestle again. He contemplated quitting the sport, moving back home to Owasso and starting a new life.
Instead, fortune shed a light.
Williams found a new home with the Trojans (14-2) and has logged a 19-3 record. He’s ranked 12th at 149. And on Saturday, Williams will face the 17th-ranked Young — a moment Williams referred to as “full circle” and “pretty surreal.”
To understand how far he’s come, you have to go back to how this all began —
before Williams got his second chance; before the peril had even surfaced.
*** Williams promised himself only a couple of drinks.
Some friends had invited him over for a special occasion. Initially, Williams said he was skeptical. But he was still on summer break. So why not?
One drink turned into two. Then three. Then came the liquor. And by the time midnight rolled around, Williams said, “I was so drunk that I could actually feel myself slurring words.”
Eventually, his friends wanted to leave and go to another party. Williams said he refused and his friends began to pressure him into going.
OSU coaches react to Shrum’s resignation as president, discuss future without her
cially announced Shrum’s resignation Wednesday morning
Jacie Hoyt nodded while absorbing the question before looking down at the table in front of her, trying to control her emotions.
In the Gallagher-Iba theater room Thursday afternoon, the Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach was trying to find words to describe what former OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum meant to her, both personally and professionally. This came after the OSU/A&M Board of Regents offi-
“She meant a lot; she does mean a lot,” Hoyt said. “She’s been an incredible friend to me; she’s been an incredible mentor; she’s someone I look up to as a female leader; she’s everything that I hope I can be. She’s got wisdom, she’s got class, she’s got integrity; she’s just a leader. And she has been with me through the highest of highs in my time here and the lowest of lows. And I’m forever grateful to her for that and just her friendship, her mentorship. Feel like I kind of lost a hero, in that sense.”.
See COACHES on page 2B
this season, the reported attendance per game is
See JORDAN on page 2B
Courtesy Little Rock Athletics
Former Oklahoma State wrestler Jordan Williams, now in Little Rock, was dismissed from the program after his second alcohol-related arrest within a year.
Payton Little
Gallagher-Iba Arena has lacked consistent crowds, so Steve Lutz is trying to change that.
Payton Little
Steve Lutz (center) was one of the coaches who Dr. Kayse Shrum (right) hired as OSU’s president.
sports
Jordan
“For some reason, I remember, I just didn’t want to leave that place,” Williams said. “Everyone was like ‘Come on. Let’s get in the car.’ But I was already obliterated drunk. Like, maybe the most intoxicated I’ve ever been.”
The house began to empty, and Williams left. He’d moved into an apartment with some teammates but he still had access to his dorm, and it was a shorter walk. Still, it was three miles, and Williams set out to walk it barefoot.
Along the way, he realized he didn’t have his phone. Shortly after, Williams said, he checked his wallet and money was missing.
“I felt like something bad was going to happen,” Williams said. “I don’t know why, but I just did.”
But Williams continued his walk, adamant to get to bed, sleep away his troubles and solve them the following morning.
When he arrived at his dorm, he realized he was missing the card that would grant him access. Frustrated, Williams began a new trek to Gallagher-Iba Arena, hoping to catch some sleep in the team locker room, he said.
“At this point, nobody knows where I’m at,” Williams said. “Nobody even knows what’s going on. I’m just trying to (get some sleep).”
He tried typing in the code to get into GIA, but to no avail. He tried again without success.
After a few more failed attempts, which Williams credited to his drunken state, he walked over to rest in a golf cart parked in Lot four.
The reality of the situation seeped into his mind. No phone. No money. His friends didn’t know his whereabouts. And he was too drunk to remember the entrance code to the arena where he spent most of his time.
He tried the code again, this time to gain access to the golf cart. Access denied.
At this point, Williams had reached his breaking point. Out of frustration, he rose to his feet and kicked the golf cart window.
Even in his drunken state, Williams said he knew the window had broken. His mind raced .
He noticed flashing blue and red lights through his peripheral vision, he said, before a “sinking feeling” reached his stomach. A police officer questioned him about the situation, and then came the words Williams said he had feared. “Son,” Williams said the officer told him, “you’re under arrest.” ***
The worst part of finding his phone, Williams said, was knowing he’d have to call Taylor.
After Williams’ dismissal from the team became official, Taylor told him, “The first thing you need to do is get yourself together.”
But the magnitude of the situation, outweighed the thought of any comeback. He was without a team, without a resume button in sight for his college career.
Intrusive thoughts seeped into his mind.
He contemplated moving back to Owasso. Forget wrestling, he thought. Maybe he needed a fresh start.
“I genuinely didn’t know what I was going to do,” Williams said. “At that point, I felt like my career might be over with.”
Then, OSU assistant coach Tyler Caldwell contacted him, indicating a desire to help Williams find a new school. As the days went by, the less likely Williams would find a landing spot at a notable wrestling program.
Until Nassir Little, a friend coming off an All-American season for Little Rock, reached out to him.
Shortly after, Williams got in contact with Trojans head coach Neil Erisman. Immediately, his interest was piqued.
Erisman pitched the concept of a small-town vibe, minimal outside noise and a strong probability of a starting spot. It helped that the coach was an OSU wrestling alumnus (2006-10), as Erisman established early in their conversations.
But above all else, Williams said, Erisman showed genuine interest in him as a person — not exclusively as a wrestler.
“The first thing I told Jordan was that I wanted to help him,” Erisman said.
“Talent is one thing — Jordan has all the talent in the world. But I knew he needed help getting his life together. I felt like at a small place like Little Rock, we could offer him what he needed — a fresh start.”
Erisman told Williams that due to NCAA rules, he would sit out the first half of the season. But to Williams, that was the least of his concerns. He was just happy to have found a new home.
“There were other schools I was dabbling in and looking at, but it just felt like at the time that Little Rock was the best place for me,” Williams said. “It was small. If I did go back to my (bad habits), it would be so noticeable. There is no room to hide that. I knew (Erisman) would check on me the moment I got there, which he did. So, it was pretty easy to build a relationship with him from there.” ***
For some, the most difficult part of crossing paths with old friends is wondering what could have been. Williams said he often ponders that.
But with adversity often comes an opportunity to grow. And in one season at his new home, Williams has done just that.
“I’m so proud of the growth that Jordan has shown this year,” Erisman said. “He’s a good kid who just needed a little bit of guidance. He got that and now he’s turned his career around; good for him.”
Williams said he reflects upon his dismissal from OSU “every day.” He doesn’t consider his arrival to Little Rock a comeback. Instead, he uses the situation as motivation.
Williams could have stayed at OSU, been ranked in the top 10 at his weight class and aided in a program turnaround that has the Cowboys back among college wrestling’s elite during Taylor’s first season. He called himself a believer that everything happens for a reason. Perhaps his dismissal from the program he grew up cheering for is a prime example of that.
“I’m really grateful for what happened,” Williams said. “I’m thankful for coach Taylor, for him not sweeping the whole situation under the rug. That was honestly the best thing that could have happened, looking back on it. I honestly feel like that whole coaching staff saved my life by doing that.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Coaches
Hoyt then went on to share what Shrum did professionally for her program and OSU since hiring the coach on March 20, 2022, including how when she talks to kids “across the country” who know Shrum, it’s huge, especially for a women’s sport.
Like Hoyt, Shrum played a role in OSU athletics from the time she assumed the role on July 1, 2021. That was the same day athletic director Chad Weiberg — who was out of town, per his assistant, and unable to provide a statement on Shrum’s resignation to The O’Colly — assumed his role, and a couple of weeks into their tenures, they were faced with a jarring task as a welcoming gift: conference realignment.
Since then, the duo kept OSU in the Big 12 Conference, hired and fired coaches and continued to try to raise the bar for OSU athletics.
One of the ways they tried to do this was pushing their chips to the middle and betting big on football, which seemed logical after the Cowboys’ 12win, Fiesta Bowl-winning 2021 season, including raises for the coaching staff.
After a public and frenzy-filled December between head football coach Mike Gundy and OSU, though, the Shrum and Weiberg’s all-in push on football doesn’t look as smart in recent history. Mike Gundy doesn’t have a statement on Shrum at this time, an athletics spokesperson told the O’Colly.
Other coaches, like men’s basketball’s Steve Lutz and wrestling’s David Taylor, were hired during Shrum’s time. They both gave The O’Colly a comment during weekly press conferences.
“Obviously, I’m the basketball coach, so I’m not privy to a lot of things, but she was the one that put faith in me and hired me, and she’s no longer here, so it’s an interesting situation,” Lutz said. “But this university has always managed to excel, and I’m positive that we’ll
continue to maintain that and move forward with whatever they feel is best for our university.”
Taylor, too, reflected on Shrum helping hire him.
“I just think that she’s done a great job with the university,” Taylor said. “She was super supportive, obviously, of when I came down here and (was hired). My interactions with her have been great. I think that she’s leaving us in a great spot, and I wish her luck as she moves on. And I’m excited for the future of our program and the university.”
Larry Sanchez, OSU’s equestrian coach, is entering his 26th year in Stillwater. He, like many, was shocked. His wife told him the news Tuesday evening when Shrum was “expected to announce” her resignation.
“My wife told me last night she saw it and I was like, ‘Wait. What?’ Sanchez said. “…Now that I’ve kind of let it sink in and they’ve put out a release that she’s stepping down, whenever you have a president of a university that truly gets it because she was a female student-athlete when she was in college, how can that not be great? Not that past presidents haven’t been really good to us as an equestrian team, but she just definitely — there was a connection there, for a lot of reasons, but that was one of them that really brought her close to our team and I’m sure a lot of other teams on campus as well. Be truly missed, for sure. She did a great job.”
For Hoyt, Shrum’s “presence” is “gonna be hard” to replace, she said. However, she entrusts the university to find the right person to be OSU’s 20th president.
“I have full confidence that we’re going to get the right person in… but she just meant a lot to me personally and to me professionally,” Hoyt said.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Connor Fuxa
Jacie Hoyt called former OSU president Dr. Kayse Shrum “a hero.”
Lutz
“I was connected to him through the assistant coach, James Miller,” Huizinga said. “He told me that Coach Lutz wanted to stop by real quick just to say a few words and encourage guys to get to the basketball games.”
Lutz’s team is 11-11 and 3-8 in the Big 12 Conference, and he understands it’s harder to generate excitement with a struggling team. In response, he has been intentional in his attempts to reach the Greek community, which was on display at the meeting.
“He came in, and basically he was just really trying to communicate with the chapters, trying to get more guys at the games,” Huizinga said. “Telling them that the basketball team would make accommodations for Greek life, like getting a Greek student section together, or something like that.
“He also really wanted to just talk with the presidents about his dedication to their basketball team and their success and how he was going to work as hard as he could to make the basketball team even better, so that way the games were really enjoyable for everyone that was attending.”
Lutz’s intentionality stood out to Huizinga, and Sigma Chi president Josh Phelps.
Phelps attended the IFC meeting Lutz appeared at and said when they were told Lutz would be coming to the meeting, excitement could be felt in the room. There was excitemnt in the room outside the meeting walls as well.
“In Sigma Chi, from everyone I know and my close friends, I think we’re all really excited about him being here,” Phelps said. “We all think that he’ll be here for a long time and have a lot of sustained success. And it’s a very exciting thing... So, seeing that he’s interested in supporting us as much as we’re interested in supporting him, it’s a very encouraging thing, and it definitely makes it easier on us to be so involved and excited about basketball in particular.”
Lutz has put in more effort than just showing up at a meeting. His weekly radio show, the “Nothing But Net Tour,” occurs at whatever Greek house
will have him. One of his stops was at Huizinga’s Phi Gamma Delta.
“He did a little introduction about himself, and it was a really personalized experience,” Huizinga said. “He did his radio show and encouraged participation from the members, and we got to watch and listen. Overall, it was a really cool experience.”
Lutz’s radio show has made five stops at Greek houses — including one sorority, Pi Beta Phi, on Thursday — so far, with more on the way. His show and appearance at the IFC meeting have stood out to the Greek community, and Lutz’s efforts seem to be working.
“I definitely think that his care and intentionality goes further than he knows,” Huizinga said. “And I think that him personally going to each of the chapters to do stuff like his radio show and coming to speak at (Interfraternity) Council is definitely propelling the involvement when it comes to getting students to basketball games.”
This “propelling” has worked for Sigma Chi, which has 140 members. Including Kirk Cole,who is on the basketball team. That and Lutz’s efforts have caused Sigma Chi members to try and make it to each home game this season.
Phelps said sometimes as many as 100 members go to the game to support. Despite the difficult season, they plan to continue going to games.
“Sigma Chi supports Steve Lutz, and we support OSU basketball,” Phelps said. “And we’re really excited.”
Lutz has put effort and intention into reaching the Greek community, and it has paid off. Despite the struggling season, Lutz has given reasons for students to attend games.
“It’s so important for us to embrace the student population,” Lutz said. “Greek life is obviously one of those areas that we are invested in... The Greek organizations have been fantastic. They’re at the games, they’re funny, they’re loud, sometimes they’re a little obnoxious, but that’s great. You know, I love it. It brings a collegiate atmosphere to the games and it helps our home court environment. I invite all students to come, we need them.”
How OSU basketball could increase attendance
Thousands of empty bright orange chairs are what might catch eyes the most at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
While Oklahoma State men’s basketball has several things to improve, attendance is certainly one of them. The Cowboys are averaging 6,359 fans through 10 home games — a number that leaves the majority of the upper bowl empty.
Here’s how OSU could generate more fans.
Win games
The simplest yet most effective route.
OSU hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2021, when it had Cade Cunningham, and has only made it twice in the past eight years. To get bigger turnouts, the Cowboys have to start winning and put tournament-caliber teams on Eddie Sutton Court.
First-year coach Steve Lutz has OSU 11-11 overall and 3-8 in Big 12 Conference play. Although it’s not a surprise the Cowboys don’t appear to be headed for the big dance, March Maddness, that expectation needs to change once Lutz brings in some of his recruits and establishes a culture.
If history is the best predictor of the future, though, being a consistent tournament team under Lutz shouldn’t be difficult. In his three seasons as a head coach, Lutz always reached the big dance.
More theme games
The Cowboys defeated Utah 81-72 last Saturday in front of a crowd that executed a pink-out theme well in support of breast cancer awareness.
And though that theme was rightfully in honor of a good cause, the Cowboys should come up with more themes to attract crowds like they
did against the Utes. A basic black-out game or something quirky like a camouflagethemed game could draw extra attention. Fans, especially college kids, want to have a reason to put on a special T-shirt or accessory and walk into GIA and be rowdy.
On-campus opportunities
Early this season, a video surfaced of first-year Louisville head coach Pat Kelsey walking around campus, emphatically asking students to attend a basketball game.
Lutz, assistant coaches and players could take a similar route, given that Lutz, like Kelsey, is in his first year at a Power Four school.
Lutz and Co. could walk around campus and hand out tickets, go to the student union and interact with the student body, drive a golf cart around and hype up those walking to class. Heck, go talk to classes.
Kansas State’s Jerome Tang has a series called “Hangin’ with Tang,” where he sits down on campus with students and has back-and-forth conversations. Lutz could do something similar, which might help fill more seats.
Miscellaneous
Other creative ways to get fans in GIA could include coming out with a concession item that piques fans’ interest. Ever seen BYU’s Cougar Tail? Fans want to go inside LaVell Edwards Stadium to see if they can devour that 15-inch maple donut. Getting big-time athletes to come and sit in the student section could work, too.
In 2019, former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski took pictures with Syracuse fans at one of the Orange’s games. Syracuse broke an attendance record that evening. OSU doesn’t need someone of Gronkowski’s caliber. Instead, bringing back former big-time Cowboy and Cowgirl athletes could work.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Courtesy OSU Athletics
Steve Lutz does a weekly radio show at OSU fraternity and sorority houses.
Payton Little
Oklahoma State head coach Steve Lutz has asked Greek life for support and offered fans pizza to try to increase attendance at Cowboy basketball games in Gallagher-Iba Arena.
How Stailee got her groove back: Heard leading the way for OSU
to anyone else on the Mustangs or Mean Green staff.
Stailee Heard would be the first to tell you: her freshman season was far from what she expected.
After winning two state championships at Sapulpa, the guard joined an Oklahoma State women’s basketball squad fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance, poised for another big run.
Instead, the Cowgirls were plagued with injuries and personnel issues and finished with a 14-16 record.
Heard felt out of sorts, despite her Big 12 All-Freshman season.
“It was difficult,” Heard said. “It was a hard year; I was just surviving basically.”
But Heard’s competitive nature — something she’s had since she was young — has taken her from an underrecruited prospect to one of the conference’s best players in her second season and boosted the Cowgirls to a bounceback season.
‘She is determined not the lose’ Heard’s mother, Lila Osceola-Heard, remembers her daughter “scaring” other first-grade girls.
“She’s always been aggressive and intimidating,” Oseceola-Heard said. “I remember, even as young as first grade, she’d scare the other little girls; she was just so intimidating. She’d be waiting at half court, and the other little girls were so scared of her.”
It makes sense for the competitive Heard, who with her mom, a basketball coach, was on a court by five months old. Growing up a middle child with an older brother, Bronnson and a younger sister, Tyla, Heard would always compete with her siblings. Eating, racing — it didn’t matter; the Heard kids were competing.
“She hates to lose. She’s been so competitive her whole life.” Sapulpa women’s basketball coach Darlean Calip said. “She would attend camps; we’d have free-throw competitions, hot-shot competitions, relay races. She almost never lost. She’s just so competitive that she’s determined to not lose in anything.”
A quiet recruitment
Averaging almost 20 points and 10 rebounds in high school usually gets big schools’ attention.
Not for Heard, though.
During her senior year at Sapulpa, Heard averaged 19.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, four assists and 2.5 steals to go along with her State Tournament MVP.
Despite that success, Heard only received Power Five offers from Houston and Oklahoma State.
“I think there was a lot of confusion,” Calip said. “She didn’t understand why she wasn’t getting more opportunities; we didn’t really quite understand why.”
Maybe recruiters feared the 5-foot-11 Heard was too small or she didn’t shoot 3s as well as they wanted. It’s not as though Stailee had any off-court issues that hindered her ability to play at the next level.
She was simply being overlooked. Her mom said she “didn’t get her name out” early enough.
But OSU assistant coaches Jhasmin Player and Kelby Jones took notice. At the time, Player and Jones had Heard on their radars at SMU and North Texas, respectively.
She would talk to both nearly every day. Heard liked what both Player and Jones had to offer but wasn’t connected
At the time, Heard didn’t have any real interest in coming to Stillwater and becoming a Cowgirl. But that all changed when OSU hired coach Jacie Hoyt.
Hoyt brought in Player and Jones, and suddenly Heard was high on OSU’s board, and vice versa.
“When they ended up here, I was like, perfect.” Heard said.
Freshman fade Heard isn’t a crier, but last season broke her.
The losses mounted; nine of 16 were by 10 points or fewer. Her family wasn’t with her. The team didn’t have “anyone to look up to,” she said.
“Quite a few times she was like, ‘I don’t even know why I’m doing this,’” Osceola-Heard said. “She never cries; she never shows emotion, but after that, she was in tears. It was hard watching her go through that.”
Last year’s team neither meshed nor fit Heard’s playstyle. She went from winning two high school titles to missing the Big Dance.
“I never saw her have fun last year,” Calip said. “It was the first time I’ve ever seen her not enjoy the game of basketball. I think she began to question whether or not she had the passion for it.”
Osceola-Heard said it “hurt (Stailee’s) soul,” which showed when Heard — typically a practice-loving gym junkie player — hated practice and was first to leave.
Despite those struggles, Heard began to focus on herself and controlling what she could control with help from her parents, who told her “there’s a bigger picture.”
And during the offseason, the fun came back with a great team around her.
“The emphasis on this year was just getting the right people in,” Heard said. “I feel like (the coaching staff) did a really good job of picking and choosing who they wanted to come in. … Ever since then, I would say, I’ve enjoyed basketball like I did in high school.”
Sophomore surge
Heard went from missing a leader to look up to last season to becoming that leader for her teammates this year.
“She’s done an incredible job in becoming a leader,” guard Anna Gret Asi said. “I don’t know what we’d do without her.”
That, and the All-Big 12-level Heard’s been playing at makes her Hoyt’s “steal of the century.”
“Stailee’s just so well-rounded,” Hoyt said. “... Some people didn’t realize how effective she could be.”
Whether it be her ability to play any position, her soaring 3-point percentage (up eight points this season to 44%) or her ability at 5-foot- 11 to go toe-to-toe with some of the best centers in the nation — including Iowa State’s Audi Crooks and TCU’s Sedona Price — Heard is showcasing her dominance.
She also added some mental toughness; her mom calls Heard’s ability to hold things in on the court a “superpower.”
With just seven regular season games left, the undersized and once-underrecruited Heard has fallen back in love with hoops while leading a surging OSU team.
“(Heard’s) the head of the snake for us,” Hoyt said.
Hoyt
reflects on time with Kansas State ahead of ranked matchup with No. 12 Wildcats
on her coaching style is her mom, a legendary high school basketball coach in Kansas. That said, the parallels in play style between K-State and OSU are undeniable.
In 2013, Jacie Hoyt was nearly 1,600 miles from home.
After playing three seasons at Wichita State, Hoyt had broken into the coaching ranks at Fort Hays State before landing an assistant job at Nevada.
She was a self professed “Kansas girl” who was nowhere near Kansas.
Until Kansas State head coach Jeff Mittie changed that.
“That was so special to me,” Hoyt said. “I am forever grateful to coach Mittie for bringing me back home and giving me that opportunity. I loved my time there, and I loved learning from him, clearly, he’s one of the best in the country.”
Mittie offered her an assistant role and Hoyt pounced, moving back to her home state and becoming a coach in the conference she watched growing up. Hoyt would eventually leave KState to become the head coach at Kansas City, eventually leading her to become the OSU coach.
“Every coach would say there is pieces of what they do ingrained in them from the people they’ve coached with and learned under,” Hoyt said. “There are certainly elements of what Mittie does ingrained in me.”
Similarly to OSU, K-State earned its biggest win of the season earlier this week against No. 9 TCU.
The Wildcats took a different path to taking down the Horned Frogs.
While the Cowgirls staged a dramatic comeback and didn’t take the lead until the final minute, K-State led for most of the game, but it was close. With roughly a minute left, The Wildcats took a nine-point lead and finished the game with relative ease.
cowgirl Game day
WHEN: Saturday, 2 p.m. WHERE: Gallagher-Iba Arena TV: ESPN+
Vs.
Eight years after leaving Kansas State, Hoyt is the head coach of the No. 25 Oklahoma State, which happens to host the No. 12 Wildcats on Saturday at 2 p.m.in one of the biggest games of the season in the Big 12.
One doesn’t have to look far for similarities between OSU and KState. The team’s total 3-point attempts stand at 524 and 518. Both sides are top four in the Big 12 in 3-point percentage, top five in field goal percentage and commonly put pressure on the ball with hopes of causing turnovers.
K-State will often put full-court pressure on opponents for long stretches, if not the whole game. Hoyt rarely employs full-court press for more than a few possessions at a time, but it is still something she will throw out.
Hoyt has said the biggest impact
RADIO: KXXY-FM 96.1
SERIES: K-State 43-37
LAST MEETING: KSU 69 OSU 68 Feb. 2024
K-State’s best player, Ayoka Lee has been out since Jan. 16. Lee was ruled out indefinitely Jan. 20, and isn’t expected to suit up Saturday, but she hasn’t officially been ruled out at this time. Since Hoyt left Manhattan in 2017, both sides have seen ups and downs. Hoyt won the WAC regular season championship in 2020 at UMKC before coming to OSU and leading the Cowgirls to an NCAA Tournament appearance in her first season. After a one-year hiatus, the Cowgirls are on track to return to the NCAA Tournament this season.
The Wildcats have missed the NCAA Tournament four times since 2017-18, but now have a shot at a top-two seed in this season’s tournament.
When Hoyt left K-State, it was impossible to tell where she would be eight years down the line. Now, we have our answer, and it happens to be coaching from the opposite bench on the same court as one of her mentors.
“It was a huge stepping stone to where I’m at today,” Hoyt said.
Kaytlyn Hayes
Connor Fuxa
Jacie Hoyt said she’s “forever grateful” to have gotten an assistant coach job at Kansas State.
Holliday hoping new-look rotation can emulate last season’s pitching success
DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER
@DANIELALLEN1738
Piecing together the best starting pitching rotation is one of the paramount facets of being a college baseball coach.
A year ago, Oklahoma State skipper Josh Holliday and pitching coach Rob Walton did just that. OSU’s pitching staff posted a 4.08 team ERA, which was tied for its secondlowest since 2016 — the last time the Cowboys made it to the College World Series. The starting rotation, which consisted of left-hander Sam Garcia from High Point, right-hander Brian Holiday from juco and twoway star Carson Benge, logged a collective 3.25 ERA.
But, all of the above were drafted over the summer. This offseason, Holliday was tasked with finding another new-look starting rotation. And despite college baseball evolving toward an offense-heavy sport, for OSU to make it back to Omaha, a dominant pitching rotation is essential.
The Cowboys have the pieces to make a postseason run — i.e. projected first-rounder Nolan Schubart, first baseman Colin Brueggemann, infielder Aidan Meola and others. But is the pitching talent there?
“We’ll see,” Holliday said Wednesday morning at OSU baseball’s annual team media day. “It’s a long season. I like the (pitching) staff that we have put together, but a lot can happen over the course of a season.”
Holliday and Co. brought in left-hander Harrison Bodendorf, right-hander Mario Pesca and righty Hunter Watkins. And then there’s right-hander Gabe Davis, whom Holliday said “looks every bit” of his 6-foot-9 stature.
OSU could have three potential ace pitchers in its starting rotation and returning an influx of arms that are starting-caliber. Holliday said it’s a good problem to have. However, as the season progresses, the need to pinpoint an ace and three routine starters becomes vital.
Davis garnered preseason thirdteam All-American honors from D1Baseball in January and is expected to be a starter in OSU’s rotation this season. Pitch command has plagued Davis at times throughout his two seasons at OSU, logging a 7.92 ERA through 22 appearances
and 25 innings pitched in 2023, and a 4.17 ERA through 18 appearances and 45 1/3 innings pitched in 2024 .
Still, Davis’ stuff is among the best in college baseball. His high — 90s four-seam fastball — which can eclipse 100 miles per hour — sneaky sinker and sharp power slider should take care of most hitters he faces. Consistency, however, is needed.
And if Davis can pitch to his potential this spring, the Cowboys could have another first-round arm in their bullpen.
“Just trying to repeat what I was doing the last couple of months of last season,” Davis said. “I feel like I was in a good groove. (My) command was there. I feel like I was just attacking hitters the way that I know I can attack them.
“Now, my arm is healthy — 100-percent healthy. Just trying to get back into that groove of where I was last year.”
Bodendorf is a southpaw who had two stellar seasons at Hawaii, posting a 3.45 ERA in 2023 and a 4.61 ERA a year ago. In the fall, Holliday said his sidearm delivery and “sneaky good” pitch velocity could make him a name to watch. And Pesca is a 6-8 giant who is coming off the best season of his college career a year ago with St. Johns with a 2.96 ERA through 15 starts and 76 innings pitched.
Last year with Grand Canyon, Watkins posted a 3.83 ERA through 18 appearances, four starts and 47 innings pitched. In the fall, when OSU visited Arkansas for a three-game fall exhibition series, Hunter was serviceable.
Whomever Holliday slots into his starting pitching rotation next weekend when the Cowboys face No. 15 Clemson, Louisville and No. 19 Texas in the Shriner’s Children’s College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field, Holliday said he has immense confidence in them. The start of the season often shows the rusty side of teams, which makes the starting pitching even more important.
Time will tell if the Cowboys have the makings of an Omaha-caliber starting rotation. Fortunately, fans and pundits will get an early glimpse just one week from now in Arlington, Texas.
“I like the group we have,” Davis said. “I think we’ll be solid.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
but
Nolan Schubart, pitching rotation headline OSU heading into 2025 season
DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER
@DANIELALLEN1738
With great success often comes lofty expectations. Few know that better than Oklahoma State outfielder Nolan Schubart.
Last month, D1Baseball tabbed Schubart as a first-team preseason AllAmerican. Schubart is also projected as a consensus first-rounder in the 2025 MLB Draft.
In 2024, he led all OSU hitters in batting average (.370) and home runs (23) and recorded 68 RBI. A two-time All-American, Schubart said he knows changing his approach would only hinder his success at the plate. Thus, he said he and OSU’s coaching staff have emphasized fine tuning his swing and approach rather than altering them entirely.
“My approach pretty much stays the same,” Schubart said Wednesday. “I did well last year with it, and I’m gonna keep it going. And I know the guys that are gonna be surrounded by me this year are just as talented as last year’s (team) and have just as much power and control of their bat as we did last year.”
Schubart’s ability to hit pitches anywhere in the strike zone out of the ballpark is something Cowboys’ head coach Josh Holliday referred to as “a gift.” Schubart’s towering 6-foot-5 stature makes him look the part. His swing and raw power complement his pedigree as a prospect.
OSU hasn’t made the College World Series since 2016, and it hasn’t advanced past regional play since 2019. For both to happen, OSU needs Schubart to play at his best, find ways to sacrifice hits for walks and give more opportunities to the rest of the lineup.
“He’s so consistent as a person,” Holliday said. “...All he can do — as would be the case with really any player — is play the pitch correctly and win the pitch. And if winning the pitch means it’s a pitch to hit then drive it. If it’s a pitch to take, take your walk.”
Holliday navigating balance between youth and veterans
The Cowboys return six position starters from last year’s roster, which won 42 games and a Big 12 Tournament championship.
But with that comes the challenge of managing a roster.
It can be a good problem to have, but Holliday must find the most-feasible lineup with a lot of talent to pick from.
where they might get pitches to run, and then also who has the heart beat and pulse to enjoy hitting the runners in scoring position.”
In the offseason, OSU brought in Jayson Jones — a former top-50 recruit — from Arkansas; heralded recruits such as freshmen Garret Shull and Brock Thompson, and junior college transfer Brayden Smith. Holliday said he knew then the collective talent level that his team would have.
To manage that, Holliday said Schubart has played right field and first base in addition to his primary position of left field. Meola and Ortiz have moved around infield positions.
“That’s all part of just our personnel and the guys that we have and how they all fit together on the (baseball) diamond,” Holliday said.
Now, it’s a matter of managing it.
Pitchers pleased with progression of pitching staff, rotation
This offseason, Holliday and pitching coach Rob Walton were tasked with piecing together a new starting rotation.
In came left-hander Harrison Bodendorf from Hawaii and right-hander Mario Pesca from St. John’s. And then there’s the perceived crown jewel – right-hander Gabe Davis, whom Holliday said “looks every bit” of his 6-foot-9 stature.
Davis garnered preseason third-team All-American honors from D1Baseball in January and is expected to be a starter in OSU’s rotation this season.
As a freshman in 2023, Davis showed immense upside with his pitch velocity, despite an uninspiring 7.92 ERA and .290 opponent batting average through 22 appearances and 25 innings pitched. A season ago, Davis began the season as a high-leverage reliever before slotting into a starting role. However, his pitch command issues eventually resurfaced and he was demoted back to a bullpen role in late April, finishing the season with a 4.17 ERA through 18 appearances and 45 1/3 innings pitched.
Holliday chalked such woes up to an issue of confidence. And Davis echoed his sentiment.
If Davis can emulate his late season form, his high 90s four-seam fastball — which can eclipse 100 miles per hour — sneaky sinker and sharp power slider should take care of most hitters he faces. And if Davis can pitch to his potential this spring, the Cowboys could have the makings of an Omaha-caliber pitching staff.
OSU’s
“We’ve been in the headspace of, ‘What do we need to do today to grow the team today? And then tomorrow, we’ll worry about tomorrow,” Holliday said. “I think as we start to lay the lineup down and look at creating a balanced lineup – a lineup where the offense can be effective against both right- and left-handed pitching, putting the lineup together where certain players who could benefit from being on base in front of a certain hitter,
“We loaded up out of the (transfer) portal,” OSU pitcher Drew Blake said. “We’ve got some really good freshmen, who I do think are gonna be really good – maybe this year, hopefully, and in the coming years. They’ve continued to develop really well. The guys out of the portal, they’ve stepped in, they’ve been great. They’re gonna fill some big roles that we need for this year and pitch a bunch of innings.”
Bryson Thadhani
Oklahoma State outfielder Nolan Shubart was picked as a preseason first-team All-American.
Payton Little
Josh Holliday said he likes
pitching rotation,
that anything can happen during a season.
Details of Gundy’s contract after OSU standoff revealed
•$500,000 if OSU appears in a CFP Semifinal game.
•$750,000 if OSU appears in the CFP National Championship game.
The contract dispute between Oklahoma State and head football coach Mike Gundy made national news in December.
It was reported that Gundy and the Cowboys may have been headed for a separation at one point. Ultimately, Gundy and OSU came to terms on a new, amended contract. The details of the new deal were unknown until Jan. 31, when the contract was officially approved by the Board of Regents and made available for open record.
The most notable amendment to Gundy’s contract is a new, lowered annual salary of $5.375 million. Last season, Gundy’s salary was reported to be $7.75 million, and following the original agreement of the new contract, Gundy was said to have accepted a $1 million pay cut.
While Gundy’s annual salary was significantly reduced, he could earn financial incentives based on the Cowboys’ performance.
•$150,000 if OSU makes a bowl game.
•$250,000 if OSU makes the first round of the College Football Playoff or appears in the Big 12 Championship game.
•$375,000 if OSU wins the Big 12 Championship game or participates in a CFP Quarterfinal game.
•$1 million if OSU wins the CFP National Championship game.
Gundy’s buyout was decreased from $25 million to $15 million in the event he is fired before Dec. 31, 2027, and it drops to $10 million if he is fired between Jan.1, 2028 and Dec. 31, 2028.
The contract states that Gundy will engage in “All fundraising and donor engagement and stewardship activities for donors who have the capacity to make significant positive contributions to the University.”
It also guarantees that Gundy will assist the university in finding his successor and helping both ensure a smooth transition.
While there are other changes, Gundy’s new contract most prominently includes his lowered salary, an increased role in fundraising efforts and the requirement that he be involved in the process of OSU finding its next head coach if he makes it to the end of this deal.
With OSU’s former president, Dr. Kayse Shrum, stepping downWednesday, the leadership that helped to rectify Gundy’s new contract is already gone.
Things are rapidly changing in Stillwater, but as of now, this is the deal that Gundy will operate under.
Takeaways from OSU football’s 2025 schedule
the first time in however many years. The Bearcats might end up being a solid team to match up against, but Homecoming games are better when they’re against a longtime conference rival.
Start the predictions now.
On Tuesday, the Big 12 Conference released its 2025 football schedule, giving Oklahoma State its week-byweek, nine-game conference slate to round out the Cowboys’ full-season schedule.
OSU is coming off a 3-9 season — its worst under head coach Mike Gundy — and is looking to rebound with a revamped roster and coaching staff. Here are thoughts on the Cowboys’ 2025 schedule:
The first half seems manageable
Predicting Big 12 football results seems pointless nowadays, especially more than half a year away from the season. But OSU’s first four conference games could end up being a good draw.
The Cowboys start Big 12 play in Stillwater against a Baylor team that finished 8-5 after winning six of its last seven games. But opening at home is a plus, and the Bears are still a prove-it team considering their struggles in 2022 and 2023 along with head coach Dave Aranda’s previous hot-seat status.
OSU’s next three games start with a trip to Arizona before home games against Houston and Cincinnati (homecoming). These are games the Cowboys should feel good about early on.
Arizona and UH are still trying to find their footing in the Big 12 after finishing bottom five in the conference last season, and though the Bearcats have a talented quarterback in Brendan Sorsby, OSU will face him at home in front of a homecoming crowd.
Is it really homecoming?
OSU’s Oct. 18 matchup with Cincy will serve as the school’s homecoming game. But the Cowboys play a home game the week before, too, which takes away excitement for those who’ll return to Stillwater for
Theme opportunities
The Cowboys didn’t have their blackout game in 2024, which didn’t leave OSU fans thrilled. But there are plenty of good opportunities to bring back the blackout game — or some sort of theme — against a good opponent.
OSU’s last two home games are against Kansas State and Iowa State. Those immediately come to mind as opportunities for big-time crowds and blackout or stripe-the-stadium games, as the Wildcats and Cyclones project to be two of the Big 12’s best. If the Cowboys turn their fortune around and play competitive football in 2025, a theme would add more juice to a late-season matchup with a longtime conference rival. Or even the conference opener against Baylor. They’re all good home matchups for a rowdy crowd.
Full OSU 2025 schedule:
Aug. 28 (Thursday): vs UT-Martin
Sept. 6: @ Oregon
Sept. 10: vs Tulsa
Sept. 27: vs Baylor
Oct. 4: @ Arizona
Oct. 11: vs Houston
Oct. 18: vs Cincinnati (h omecoming)
Oct. 25: @ Texas Tech
Nov. 1: @ Kansas
Nov. 15: vs Kansas State
Nov. 22: @ UCF
Nov. 29: vs Iowa State
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Payton Little
Mike Gundy is required to help OSU pick his successor as part of his updated contrct.
Payton Little
Home matchups with Iowa State and Kansas State highlight the Cowboys’ 2025 football schedule.
PARKER
3. Thurman Thomas, football
EDITOR
College athletics mirrors professional sports more than ever thanks to name, image and likeness.
But it wasn’t always this way.
Several big-time former Oklahoma State athletes missed out on lofty NIL packages. Who would have benefited most? Here’s a top-10 list.
1. Barry Sanders, football
C’mon. Sanders won the Heisman Trophy in 1988 and still holds the all-time NCAA single-season rushing record. He’s one of the best college football players ever.
Heck, he’s got a statue outside Boone Pickens Stadium — no-brainer No. 1.
2. Cade Cunningham, basketball
In his one season, Cunningham was the best player in the country and was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Cunningham’s impact wasn’t felt as much as it could have been since he played in the COVID season and arenas were half-empty. Still, he was so great and responsible for the one NCAA Tournament appearance the Cowboys have since 2017.
During his career, Thomas shared a backfield with Sanders, and he’s still No. 3. Thomas is OSU’s all-time rushing leader. He won two Big 8 Player of the Year awards and rushed for 100 yards 21 times in a Cowboy uniform. His services certainly would’ve cost a pretty penny.
4. Rickie Fowler, golf
A two-time first-team All-American, Fowler made orange outfits look a bit cooler and made swinging a club look easy, too.
He won the 2008 Ben Hogan and Phil Mickelson awards and was a two-time first-team All-American.
5. John Smith, wrestling Smith is considered one of the greatest American wrestlers, if not the best. He is the only American to win six world titles in a career, let alone six consecutive, and compiled a 154-7-2 record at OSU, making him the winningest Cowboy ever. His impact would have rewarded him with a lot of cash.
6. Terry Miller, football Miller is another all-time great to play running back at OSU, and finished top four on the Heisman Trophy Ballot in consecutive years (runner-up in 1977). Competing for those trophies with Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell shows how
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great Miller was.
7. Samantha Show, softball Show only played one season at OSU, but she was an electric hitter and pitcher.
She helped the Cowgirls reach the Women’s College World Series and was known for fiery bat flips — like when she hit two home runs against Florida in the WCWS — and had the moxy sports fans love to have on their team.
Pitchers who hit 20 home runs in a season don’t come around often.
8. Justin Blackmon, football It’d be tough to leave off a two-time Biletnikoff winner.
One of two players to win the award twice, Blackmon was a unanimous twotime first-team All-American in 2010 and 2011. He’s simply one of the best to ever play at OSU.
Blackmon was arrested once in college for DUI and three times for alcohol-related charges in the NFL. But he’s received well by OSU fans, and he would have been one of the top NIL earners during his time.
9. Hart Lee Dykes, football Dykes racked up 1,278 yards and 14 touchdowns in the same offense as Barry Sanders in 1988, though his OSU legacy is mixed.
He complied with an investigation during his recruitment that helped the NCAA uncover that OSU paid Dykes
$23,000 to beat out Illinois, Texas A&M and Oklahoma for his services. OSU received a three-year bowl ban, among other sanctions.
So, Dykes essentially received an under-the-table NIL check in the ‘80s.
10. Dez Bryant, football
Everything about Bryant puts him on the list. He was a great receiver and magnetic to OSU fans and football figures. On the field, he caught 147 passes for 2,425 yards. Off the field, he’d sport shiny earrings and eat at Deion Sanders’ house.
However, that same interaction with Sanders cut Bryant’s career short. He was ruled ineligible because he lied to the NCAA and “failed to openly disclose to the NCAA the full details of his interaction with a former NFL player not affiliated with OSU,” the school said in a statement.
Bryant later told The Oklahoman he made a mistake not “seeking advice prior to being interrogated” and that the manner in which the NCAA asked questions “led me to believe that I did something wrong when in fact I had not.”
Nonetheless, he was a star on the field, and his battle with the NCAA made some OSU fans support him more.
Honorable mentions: Robin Ventura, Bryant Reeves, Mike Gundy, Brandon Weeden, Andrea Riley and Pete Incaviglia.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Former OSU guard Cade Cunningham, who went on to
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