The O'Colly, Friday, September 15, 2023.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Back in the saddle

hood pony were formed on the back of a horse.

On Sept. 2, Thomas saw a new view from between the ears of a horse: Boone Pickens Stadium.

Horse ears framed different views for Abigail Thomas throughout her life. Lifelong memories from Oklahoma High School Rodeo Association, roping lessons and rides on her child-

Thomas is the 2023-24 Spirit Rider. She is responsible for riding Bullet at football games, accompanying him to events and riding him during the week.

Ethan Scott

to Spirit Rider

“The whole thing is so Abby,” said Abigail’s mom, Christi Thomas. “I mean, everybody that knows her is like, ‘This is the perfect position for her.’”

She commutes to Tulsa four days a week to ride Bullet and spends every moment of game day by his side. Each week, she pours hours into her major, interior design, and runs a photography business.

Christmas in September

OSU’s Cowboy Marching Band will look and sound different when it takes the field Saturday.

The band is equipped with with 40 custom silver trombones, donated by OSU and CMB alumni Bob and Pam Spinks.

The year-long journey to

attain the trombones began at a football game last season when the Spinkses first met the director of bands, Brad Genevro. Through the second half of the game, Genevro and Bob Spinks, a former band director, discussed the organization’s goals for future years.

“Brad and Bob absolutely connected as music educators,” Pam Spinks said. “Brad’s idea of what he wants to do and how it

helps the kids— they just had a mind meld. We drove home and Bob said, ‘We’ve got to help.’” Bob and Pam Spinks said they view their donations to the CMB as a natural way to give back to an organization that gave so much to them: the Spinkses met through marching band and developed skills and relationships that lasted long after they graduated more than 50 years ago.

Although Abigail said organizing her busy schedule is as easy as writing everything down, her fiancé, Cale Brooks, said her work ethic is to credit for her time management abilities and her position as Spirit Rider.

“There’s absolutely nothing that she can’t get as long as she tries,” Brooks said. “She’ll do whatever it takes.”

See Rider on 3A

Small COVID wave hits OSU

one on her dorm floor to test positive, but there were other cases identified in the same building.

Maggie Bertwell never thought she would spend her first week of college in quarantine.

The freshman noticed symptoms on the first day of class.

“I started feeling sick Monday night, but I thought it was maybe because I’m stressed out,” Bertwell said.

“It wasn’t like I got up the next day on Tuesday and I was like, ‘I cannot do this.’”

Bertwell made an appointment with University Health Services and tested positive for COVID. She self-isolated, bearing the brunt of her 103.7 degree fever.

She was the only

Katly Clift, a student academic mentor for the FIT living learning community living in the same dorm, said some of the freshmen she is in charge of experienced illness.

“I didn’t know about any of the sickness until like a week after they were sick,” Clift said. “They just kind of isolated themselves.”

In line with the rolled back CDC protocols, UHS no longer tracks at-home positive results and doesn’t require students to self-report.

Clift said it was “nerve-wracking” to handle a COVID outbreak during the first week of school.

See Covid on 3A

Abigail Thomas is taking on game day from the back of a horse after spending two years on the sideline.

Courtesy of Robin Herro

The Cowboy Marching Band will debut 40 new silver trombones this Saturday.

See Trombones on 4A

Editor-in-Chief

Luisa Clausen editorinchief@ocolly.com

Assistant sports editor Ashton Slaughter sports.ed@ocolly.com

Assistant News & Life editor Bella Casey news.ed@ocolly.com

Favortie place on campus

Carroll

Sports reporters: Photographers & Designers:

Kendall McGhee

Graphic by Ben Holieway

“The Colvin, because I like to go workout with the people in my frat. It’s a good place to go meet new people because you see new people every time.”

“I like the reading room in the library because it’s got generally good Wifi, there’s charging, and I can eat in here.”

“I like hanging out at Theta Pond because it’s a pretty and peaceful place to walk around in my free time. I love walking by it every morning on my way to class and love chilling with my friends on a bench there while looking at the ducks.”

Blake Meraz, freshman

Jaqueline Bandy, sophomore

Sara Sala, sophomore

Graphic by Luisa Clausen

UHS...

formation,” Lee said. “And it’s only people that are seen by a doctor who are symptomatic. So if someone just got exposed, and they need to test on day five, we aren’t seeing those patients.”

Rider...

after spending another year alongside Bullet on the field. This would be her senior year at OSU, and her last opportunity to be Spirit Rider.

Abigail not only represents this dream, but she fosters it.

“I know (it’s) just me and Audrey (another FIT student academic mentor) and then our CM on the floor,” Clift said.

“We’re just like, ‘We don’t know the protocols anymore.’ Like we’re trying to figure out what exactly the policy was for it.”

Clift said the freshmen were worried about another outbreak and a subsequent shutdown.

However, Brittany Lee, the community engagement coordinator for University Health Services, said there have been relatively low positivity rates for COVID.

The virus’ positivity rate is calculated out of the students who have an appointment with UHS and take the test there. Lee estimated that 800 students have visited UHS, providing a pool for the calculation.

Week 1 had a 32% positivity rate, Week 2 was 38% and Week 3 was 26%.

“That does not include any home tests, since we are no longer collecting that in-

Continued from 1A news.ed@ocolly.com

In response to a rising number of COVID cases across the country, the CDC announced a new booster vaccine on Tuesday.

Lee said UHS has already made plans to have the vaccine available. The CDC has not issued guidelines regarding how to administer the vaccine.

In the meantime, UHS will continue to run its COVID vaccine clinics every other Friday morning. Students, faculty and staff can schedule an appointment with UHS to get their vaccine.

As far as prevention tactics, Lee said the typical routine of good handwashing techniques, getting enough sleep and eating a healthy diet are a good place to start.

“The experts keep saying that getting vaccinated is the best form of protection, but we know that may not work for everyone,” Lee said. “So we are just encouraging everyone to kind of be mindful of what they’re doing.”

Brooks recalled another instance when Abigail’s determination shined: Abigail bought a new horse she intended to train for breakaway roping, but the pair butted heads. Abigail was committed to making the partnership work.

The horse was not.

Brooks said he remembered watching Abigail work with the horse through the back window of her house when it bucked her off.

Brooks said that as quickly as he ran to the arena, Abigail was on her feet and trying to get back on the horse.

Years later, Abigail repeated a similar process with a different horse.

After spending her sophomore year on the grounds crew team for Bullet, Abigail tried out for the Spirit Rider position. She joined the grounds crew with the intention of working her way up to Spirit Rider.

“I was really hoping to get it, and it didn’t end up happening,” Abigail Thomas said. “And I think that was in God’s plans.”

But she got back in the saddle.

Abigail tried out for Spirit Rider a second time

This time, she was selected.

Christi said her daughter’s love for people is one of her best qualities. As children approach her for photos, she compliments them and makes them feel included.

Neither Abigail’s selection as Spirit Rider nor her interest in the position came as a surprise to Christi.

Christi said she took Abigail and her two younger sisters to OSU games growing up. Like many young fans, their favorite part was seeing Bullet run across the field.

The girls never outgrew their love for Bullet, and Christi grew into hers.

“I literally cried when

she came out on that first band run, and it was pretty cool,” Christi said. “That was a very surreal feeling.”

As Abigail streaked across the field for band runs and touchdowns, she said it represented the original cowboy, toughness and conquering something that might seem scary.

Continued from 1A news.ed@ocolly.com

But for the young Cowboys watching the game, it represents their dreams of being a future Spirit Rider.

“She’s definitely charismatic, welcoming, responsible, dependable and she’s also just a great horsewoman,” said Torin Enevoldsen, Thomas’s teammate.

Abigail is known for making fans feel special, but she puts Bullet’s needs above all else.

For Bullet, game days begin and end with Abigail, and a day without her on the ranch is a rarity.

Abigail spent the night at the ranch with Bullet before the latest football game and bathed and rode Bullet before hauling him to Stillwater. In Stillwater, she makes Bullet’s comfort a priority. A unique step in this process is feeding Bullet popcorn at the football game’s halftime.

Although it seems Abigail is the one caring for Bullet, Abigail argued it is the other way around.

“He’s just amazing,” Abigail said. “I could not believe the first time we stepped on the field. He got calmer on the field than he is at home.”

The field is home for Bullet. Now, the field is home for Abigail, too.

By Chelsea Marcantel

File photo

University Health Services is treating a small number of COVID cases among students.

Ethan Scott

The new Spirit Rider, Abigail Thomas, stepped into her role as an integral part of game days.

“She’s definitely charismatic, welcoming, responsible, dependable and she’s also just a great horsewoman.”

Torin Enevoldsen

Abigail’s Teammate

Trombones...

and sound across the ensemble. As a former trombonist, Bob Spinks knew what he had to do: buy trombones for the whole band.

F-attachment, which are used to help reach lower notes but are often unnecessary for large-bore instruments in marching bands.

Orange

New BOB changes leave students, staff out to dry

The Big Orange Bus transports people to and from Tulsa and Stillwater daily, but two cut times are straining some schedules.

The BOB shuttled people back and forth for years and is a big draw for many students and professors.

Starting at 5:30 a.m. every Monday through Friday, the BOBs drive to and from the towns nine times. However, two previous routes, the 4:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. were cut from the roster.

The 4:30 p.m. bus was important to many people on campus, such as associate professor Erik Ekman.

“I took the bus the first Tuesday back,” Ekman said. “But the trouble is, there’s not enough seats for people riding standby. So there were five or six people who didn’t get on the bus that day... I had to take the 7:30 bus. The real problem is that on Fridays, 5:50 p.m. is the last bus, so it’s not really a viable means for getting to work from Tulsa anymore for faculty. It’s very difficult.”

Professors have stand-by seating, meaning that they are able to ride the bus if there are open seats. However, starting this semester, professors are restricted to only ride the BOB on days where they have classes or office hours.

Standby passes are not handed out to faculty whose home campus is the Tulsa campus. If a professor has a class in Stillwater, but their main campus is Tulsa, they will not be given a standby pass, said assistant professor Lindsay Wilhelm who frequents the BOB buses. With the usually busy 4:30 p.m. bus absent, the later buses have taken on additional flow. This has led to people missing their buses and taking later ones because the buses are too full.

Women and gender studies professor Corinne Schwarz was one of those people.

“It’s only happened once,” Schwarz said. “I had to change what bus I was taking, I believe it was because they cut the 4:30 p.m. bus, but I teach a class that goes until

“It was just the most incredible experience,” said Pam Spinks, who played clarinet in the CMB. “It gave me a part of the university to immediately identify with and be a part of.”

Bob Spinks agreed, saying the marching band experience— the hours of work, the long, hot rehearsals and the rush of performing— spans generations. As a CMB alumnus, he is most proud of how excited fans are to see the band’s pregame and halftime performances.

“I know what you go through,” Spinks said. “There’s never really any downtime. But I will tell you this: on Saturday, a lot of people stay in the stands watching (the band).”

After months of development—and weeks of shipping delays— the CMB trombone section finally received the new instruments before rehearsal on Sept. 8. In the Seretean Concert Hall, the 30 musicians wasted no time in opening the packages.

Everything about the trombones— the slides, the counterweights and the cases they came in— garnered admiration from the students.

JP Nelson, a sophomore in the section, was one of the first to assemble his instrument.

“I really like it,” Nelson said, “I’m drooling. It’s so nice.”

Other students, like Jose Rojas and Easton Schweinberg, admitted

“Do they even do that? Do they make those?” Genevro said. The answer was no.

“These actually are prototypes that no one else in the world plays, because they’ve been built for us,” Genevro said. “The specs of this horn no one else has anywhere.”

Last spring, a group of trombone students had the opportunity to play on a prototype of the custom design and Genevero said they loved what they experienced.

5:45 p.m. I rushed over there to make the 5:50 p.m. but unfortunately, with two other folks, I was not able to make (the bus) on the first Tuesday of the semester. It hasn’t been an issue since, because I’ve moved to the 7:30 p.m. bus, which is about 90 minutes after my class ends. It gets me home about 9 p.m., which isn’t ideal.”

People have different ways of compensating for the schedule change and sparse seating. Some professors, like Ekman, turned to driving themselves to campus.

Assistant professor Lindsay Wilhelm had to rearrange her teaching schedule.

“I’ve moved my office hours around to better accommodate the (BOB) schedule.”

Wilhelm said. “The big issue here is that there is no longer a 4:30 p.m. from Stillwater to Tulsa, which has always been the overwhelmingly most popular route. I’ve been taking the 2:30 p.m., which is kind of early, but I do take the 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays after my grad seminar.

“I have had nightmares about potentially missing that one and getting stuck overnight. It hasn’t happened yet. Last year there used to be a 10:30 p.m. on Mondays through Thursdays. They’ve stopped that route.”

The excluded times are not gone for no reason, said professor Ekman.

“My understanding is that they are trying to hire another driver,” Ekman said. “But I think they are also trying to replace a bus and having some supply chain issues... this isn’t usual, I have used (The BOB) for about four or five years and they really... are excellent otherwise. This is the first time I’ve ever had any issue with it at all.”

Schwarz and Wilhelm share similar views, with the recent cuts being one, if not the, only problem they’ve had with the service.

“Having the BOB makes it so much easier,” Schwarz said. “And simultaneously being able to count on it consistently also makes things easier.”

The OSU-Tulsa Information Center, which manages the BOBs, could not be reached for comment.

Continued from 1A news.ed@ocolly.com

The Spinkses found the perfect opportunity to give back a few weeks after their first game when they met Genevro again for lunch, where Genevro told the couple about Jonathan Hanna, a student whose trombone was crushed by a falling ladder at rehearsal the day before.

Musicians know damaged instruments are common in marching bands, but many students in the CMB perform with their personal instruments and must choose between performing on a lower-quality, more durable instrument or a higher-quality, more delicate— and often more expensive— one.

“Probably half the students play (lower-quality instruments) because they’re the ones they use for marching and you don’t take your really nice horn outside,” Genevro said. “And then some of the guys do have their nice horns outside because it’s the only one they have.”

Ultimately, Genevro aims to get every musician a universityowned instrument to limit the risk to students and secure a uniform look

they were initially scared to handle the trombones.

“Think about it— that’s $2,000 in your hand,” said Rojas. Their trepidation is understandable— after all, there are only 40 of these trombones in the world, as Genevro and trombone professor Paul Compton had a specific idea of what they wanted the CMB trombone section to be.

The trombones had to be silver to stand out on the field and complement the silver sousaphones, baritones and mellophones. They had to be large-bore, with wider tubing and a bigger bell, to produce a richer, fuller sound. They couldn’t have an

The trombones will have their marching band performance debut at the South Alabama game on Sept. 16, but they will also be featured during OSU’s homecoming week Wind Ensemble concert on Oct. 24. All 30 members of the CMB trombone section will join OSU’s Wind Ensemble to perform a piece the Spinkses commissioned, with themes from OSU’s alma mater and Copeland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man,” to showcase the custom instruments. Genevro— and the trombone students— said they are thankful for the Spinkses contributions. After the CMB’s Preview Performance on Aug. 20, every student in the trombone section approached Bob Spinks to thank him.

“It made him just smile from ear to ear seeing all of our students smiling, meeting with them and shaking hands,” Genevro said. “They didn’t have to stand in line and wait and shake his hand— but every one of them did.”

Genevro said he hopes the Spinkses will serve as a model for current CMB students and alumni.

“We are all part of the Cowboy Marching Band story,” Genevero said. “(The students) were able to take advantage of this. And then maybe 25 or 30 years from now, they’re the ones that are able to give back.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Carol Ready

The Big

Bus that runs from Stillwater to Tulsa daily has cut the

Isaac Terry Staff Reporter

“These actually are prototypes that no one else in the world plays, because they’ve been built for us. The specs of this horn no one else has anywhere.”

Brad Genevro Director of bands

Courtesy of Robin Herro OSU and Cowboy Marching band alumni Bob and Pam Spinks donated the trombones (top picture).

Pomping in full swing as homecoming approaches

Jessica Pearce Staff Reporter

“America’s Greatest Homecoming” is six weeks away, but OSU’s sororities and fraternities are already working hard.

The process began earlier this year when fraternities and sororities received their homecoming pairings. Tatum Louthan, a homecoming director for Delta Delta Delta, said work on designs began almost immediately after pairings were assigned.

This year, the 18 homecoming directors in Louthan’s pairing went through three to four separate pomping and mechanical designs before settling on a final design.

“The girls handle more of the design aspect, and the guys do more of the moving parts,” Louthan said. “It’s hard, but very collaborative.”

Much of the directors’ work is guided by the OSU Alumni Association’s 52-page homecoming rule book for fraternities and sororities.

Homecoming directors are expected to ensure their pairings meet strict deadlines, follow construction and labor limitations and participate in Homecoming week’s many competitions and activities. Failure to do so can result in point deductions or disqualification from homecoming competitions.

For Louthan, this means lots of paperwork.

“There’s different aspects besides the (house decs), like Harvest Fest and (Basketball) Bonanza,” Louthan said. “It’s all those things you’re gonna have to manage, and then making sure everything’s going right with the different forms. The guys have to get permits to work on their projects. There’s a bunch of little things that you wouldn’t really think about, but it’s all related.”

For instance, Louthan and her fellow homecoming directors must stay within the $30,000 house decoration budget set by the Alumni Association. Given the sheer quantity of material houses must go through, Louthan said working with local businesses to get better prices is crucial.

“It is more expensive than you would think it would be, but it’s all within budget because we’re doing it within Stillwater,” Louthan said.

Although Louthan has many behind-the-scenes responsibilities, she—like almost every woman in an OSU sorority— must also spend hours pomping intricate designs into chicken wire frames.

Chapters cannot require more than 10 hours of pomping each week, but each sorority sets a required amount of hours of pomping or a productivity quota for members to meet, according to the Alumni Association.

Louthan said Delta Delta

Delta women must complete 70 to 80 rows biweekly.

Jordyn Bertrem, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, must complete eight hours of pomping every week. Bertrem says making time for pomping takes some planning, but being in a large organization helps hold her accountable and motivated.

“I try for typically two hours a day,” Bertrem said. “It makes it easier because everybody has to do it. It’s really easy to just be like, ‘Hey, you want to go pomp?’”

Although the women are focused on getting their pomping done, Louthan and Bertrem said they try to strike a balance between work and fun.

“We know whatever we don’t get done now we’ll have to do on All Night Pomp,” Bertrem said. “It’s pretty work-oriented, but it’s not a dreadful environment because everybody’s still laughing and having fun.”

Although every pairing has different expectations and designs for their house decorations, the pomping process is similar across sororities.

Louthan said homecoming directors design their pomping screens on a computer program that breaks the complex designs into tiny boxes with a color-coded key, creating a giant paint-by-number puzzle.

“We have 2-by-2-inch squares of tissue paper, and we’ll lay one this way and one like this, just squares on squares,” Bertrem said. “We’ll put (the tissue paper) here on the top of the base of our hand and take a pencil and stab through the middle so it’s a little cone. And then we put the pointy part of the cone into the chicken wire.”

Once a section of the frame is complete, it will be sprayed with glue to hold the pomping in place.

The pairings’ 10 months of preparation leads to All Night Pomp on Wednesday, Oct. 26— the last opportunity for pairings to finish pomping and hang their screens before Walkaround.

Although the night can be stressful, Louthan said adequate planning and preparation

helps the night go smoothly. “We’ve had it be more of a fun experience where we’re just hanging stuff up and it’s not this chaos moment,” Lou-

than said. “But it just really depends on the schedule. If everything’s pomped, then it’s a good bonding moment. If stuff isn’t done, it can be a little stressful.”

All Night Pomp is when fraternity and sorority members find out what their pairing’s house decoration is. Despite working on the frames for almost two months, only homecoming directors know what the final product will look like.

“It’s very different, but I like it,” Louthan said. “Sometimes we’ll spell out words in the pomp, and they’ll try to figure it out. It’s definitely fun.”

For as much time it took to design and create the house’s decorations, the frames will only stay up for a few days. The Alumni Association requires all pomping to be removed by the Tuesday after homecoming,

and the metal framework deconstructed by that Thursday.

Louthan said the quick turnaround is a little disheartening, but she is still proud of her role in the development.

“A lot of you put a lot of effort in and put it all up, and then you feel like it’s down the next day,” she said. “I gain a lot of appreciation from being a director. I think you can get kind of tired of pomping as a member, but as a director, you get to see it from start to finish.”

Bretrem shared Louthan’s excitement to showcase her hard work.

“I’m excited to show my parents and just be like, ‘Oh, I pomped that part,” Bertrem said. “Just being a part of something bigger than myself is a great experience.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Ashlyn Bryant

Ashlyn Bryant

Members of Lambda Chi Alpha work on their dec for this year’s homecoming celebrations.

“I’m excited to show my parents and just be like, ‘Oh, I pomped that part. Just being a part of something bigger than myself is a great experience.”

Jordyn Bertrem

Kappa Kappa Gamma member

The power of women in leadership

Shrum sets example as first female president at OSU

Luisa Clausen Editor-in-Chief

By the time OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum began her medical career, she had three kids.

Behind Shrum’s professional achievements, the challenge of balancing work and personal life was constant. The inherent feeling of guilt was her friend until she worked on being present, without worrying about where or what she should be doing.

In the last 100 years, women have fought for their space in leadership positions and gained a voice in essential subjects. OSU plays a part in the history of thousands of women and works toward a safe environment for them to take a step toward goals that previosly seemed impossible.

As the first female president at OSU, Shrum has inspired and encouraged women to fight for a seat at the table.

“We all have things we are insecure about,” Shrum said in an exclusive interview with The O’Colly. “But when you step outside your comfort zone, that is when you grow. All it takes is five seconds of courage.”

At 38, Shrum was named the president of the OSU Center for Health Sciences, making her the youngest and first president of a medical school in the state of Oklahoma. Shrum said she had been in different leadership roles at the time, but was not confident in what kind of leader she was going to be. Shrum’s conception of a leader was of someone who made sure there were not any bumps in the road, but as time went by, she realized that inevitably unexpected things get in the way.

“True leadership is how you lead in hard times too and not setting unrealistic expectations, because perfection is not an attainable thing,” Shrum said.

Ashley Peterson, a senior and president of the Student Government Association, took a leap of faith when she decided to run for the position. She had previously been in different leadership positions, but none as big as this one.

The SGA executive team is composed of only women, and Peterson said it is not common to see this, especially regarding politics.

“Oddly enough, the fact my vice president (Hilary Albrecht) and I were females set us apart from the rest,” Peterson said. “It turned out to be one of our biggest strengths and we are an effective team together.”

Peterson studies marketing and has taken part in leadership opportunities that focus on women in business. The opportunities offered by the Spears School of Business helped Peterson create connections and encouraged her to pursue a path in leadership without doubting if she could.

In the U.S., 25% of women feel they have missed out on opportunities for promotion because of their gender, according to Market Data. For Peterson, OSU did not play such a role.

“I felt very encouraged and supported through it all,” Peterson said. “A leader should not be defined by their gender, but by what they believe in.”

Peterson said seeing the women in higher leadership positions at OSU fosters a safe environment to follow in the same footsteps. Peterson has looked up to Shrum for a while, and when the president took off her heels and lent them to a student taking her senior pictures, Peterson knew Shrum was the right leader for the university.

“That is a sign of leadership specific to women,” Peterson said. “We haven’t seen that before. She (Shrum) is fostering a new environment and new ways to lead which I think is really special.”

Lex Washington, an as-

sociate professor in the management department, works on research around gender, status and influence as well as diversity and bias at work. Washington met Peterson when she was a fellow in the inaugural cohort of LeadHERship Spears. During the SGA election campaign, Washington knew Peterson’s aspirations and encouraged her when things did not go as expected.

Washington said generational shifts are happening and there is enough momentum that there is not only one woman in an engineering or a law class. With this shift, there is also a movement where women are more conscious about the kind of roles they choose to take because they are forging their path without a lot of models.

When facing a hard time with work colleagues and their discouragement purely because of gender, Washington encourages women to separate people

in their lives into three different categories: close circle, mentors and the people you are polite to but do not let them know personal weaknesses.

“There’ll be frenemies and be prepared for that,” Washington said. “But then you really do need those real supporters. And when you start living your life in all of its complexity and richness and amazingness you know who you can confide in who will understand who will really be able to feed you will get smaller, and it’s in that circle where when I’m unsure that’s who I go to.”

For Lanie Varner, a senior and the President’s Leadership Council’s coordinator, that has proven to be true. The community she found through her leadership role in PLC encouraged Varner to improve and overcome her imposter syndrome. Starting her second year as the coordinator, Varner said

she notices how many women act like a leader but are hesitant in applying for a leadership position.

“I hope I can use PLC to help people frame their mindset to see that they are safe in that space and their accomplishments and their desires are validated and they can be (a) leader no matter what their style looks like,” Varner said.

To Varner, everyone can be a leader. She encourages young women reflect on their identity, their personality and their drive. She said young women on campus have Shrum to look up to as what a woman in leadership can do because she is changing the culture at OSU.

“Everyone feels so encouraged and welcomed by her,” Varner said. “We constantly see her showing up for all students and creating a better dynamic for the women in leadership positions on campus.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU

Dr. Kayse Shrum has inspired young women to have courage when taking on a leadership position.

Graphic by Luisa Clausen

Scotty McCreery coming to town

Kennedy Thomason News & Lifestyle Editor

Q&A

Scotty McCreery will “See You Tonight.”

All Sports Pass holders not gauranteed football game entry

Emi Norton Staff Reporter

Picture this: you walk up to Boone Pickens Stadium in a crowd of thousands of other fans decked out in orange and black, ticket in hand, and are denied entry.

Before the first home football game, an email was sent stating that tickets bought before each home game for the Cowboys does not guarantee entry.

OSU sold out its season tickets, and students raced to the athletic office to purchase an All Sports Pass that allows them access to sporting events without having to hustle for last minute tickets.

“I feel like OSU has the biggest pride for our football team over any other sport,” said Shane Davis, a junior. “I love football, I go to every game that I can.”

Davis is an All Sports Pass holder and enjoys not having to scramble for tickets before they are sold out. Students with an All

Sports Pass, like Davis, assume there is no reason they would not be able to enter the football stadium.

However, the athletic office sends out an email to students the week of every home game to ensure they are aware of the reality of how packed Boone Pickens Stadium can get.

Gavin Lang, who works in the Athletic Office, said the emails are necessary.

“The main purpose for doing that is just to be transparent, clear and up front,” Lang said.

Lang said the last time he was denied entry was in 2017, and remains uncertain that this situation had ever occurred before that football season.

Last year’s football game against Texas, where BPS was overflowing with people trying to watch the rivalry unfold on the field, is an example Lang pointed to.

“Even when you run into a game like that, we still take the approach where we’re trying to be as flexible as possible,” Lang said. “You have students coming

in, and we try our best to help students get to unoccupied seats. Yes, it might not be in the student section, but we make an honest effort to get them in there.”

Students looking to secure a seat in the student section to watch the Cowboys play on their home field should keep one key strategy in mind:

“I think the best message that you can give students is to say, ‘Hey, look, if you want to avoid this possibly being a part of your experience, arrive early,’” Lang said. “The only people that this could possibly happen to are people who are showing up right at kickoff, or even after the kick.”

There are a total of six more home games for the Cowboys this season and students like senior Shianna Woods intend to enjoy each of them from the student section.

“Football season is my favorite time of the year,” Woods said. “There’s nothing better than the Cowboy spirit on game day. I’m looking forward to making more memories with everyone in the stands.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

The country singer got his start on American Idol when he won the 10th season in 2011. That same year, McCreery was the first country artist and youngest male artist to debut his first album, “Clear as Day,” as No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. He released his most recent album, “Same Truck,” on Sept. 17, 2021. McCreery is on a cross-country tour, visiting cities from Long Beach, California to Winchester, Virginia. He will play at the McKnight Center Sept. 15 at 7:30.

Q: Why did you choose Oklahoma State University to play?

A: “The McKnight Center asked, and I’ve always enjoyed performing in Oklahoma. The audiences there are great and they love country music. Then I learned it was on the OSU campus, where one of my musical heroes (Brooks) went to school. How could I not? I can’t wait!”

Q: What album or song is your favorite?

A: “My favorite song that I’ve written is ‘Five More Minutes.’ I wrote it soon after my grandfather passed away, and it means everything to me. My favorite song

to perform that I didn’t write is ‘Damn Strait.’ It’s a classic country heartbreak song while also being a tribute to George Strait, another musical hero of mine. It’s always great to have new music to play as well, so we will be doing our new song ‘Cab in a Solo’ which I’m really enjoying.

Q: You sang “The River” by Garth Brooks during your time on American Idol. Brooks is an alumnus of OSU. Why did you choose to sing that song?

A: “Garth is one of my musical heroes, so I loved doing his song. ‘The River’ is a message I completely agree with and felt like I wanted to share. I also love to perform his hit ‘The Dance’ for the same reason. I haven’t performed either of those songs in a while. But sometimes we do ‘Ain’t Going Down til the Sun Comes Up’ in concert, so you may hear that this weekend.”

Q: What advice would you tell your college self?

A: “Wow. I think I would tell my college age self to be sure and enjoy this time when you are learning as much about yourself as you are learning school lessons. You will make lifelong friends here and create memories you will remember forever. It was important to me to have a normal college experience in the midst of everything else and I’m so glad I did. It was one of my favorite times of my life.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

File Photo

Even if students have a ticket to a football game, they may not be able to enter.

Style Guide

What to wear on game day

one of these colors for your shirt, dress or romper.

School spirit runs rampant in Boone Pickens Stadium, but the sea of orange can also be fashionable.

Football season is one exciting time of the year for many students. However, finding the perfect outfit for this occasion can be stressful.

Game day outfits can be spirited and cute, but it can be hard for people to know where to start. It is less overwhelming to start by picking a main color for your outfit. Everyone knows the school colors are orange and black. White is also a good choice. Choose

Shirt options include a cropped top or tee, t-shirt, a jersey or a tube top. A black cropped tee could be decorated with the word “Cowboys” in orange jewels. Shirts like this can be found on Etsy for any college for $45 by NGcollegedesigns.

Another option is a dress, which is always a safe choice. Fans often wear orange flowy dresses or tight black ones. A white sundress with boots is also stylish.

Rompers are perfect for games because they look fancy but can be comfortable for long games under the hot sun. Many girls wear bright orange,

denim or button-up denim rompers. Either of these will attract compliments from other sports fans.

Once the main color scheme has been established for an outfit, it is time to select your pants. An orange top can be paired with a patterned black skirt or jean shorts. Many students wear black leather skirts or white jean shorts, which adds a country flair.

Winter games are harder to dress for because the priority is warmth.

But there are still ways to be fashionable in cold weather.

Instead of wearing a skirt with a t-shirt during the winter months, a fan could wear black leather pants with a long sleeved white top. An orange

long-sleeve top can be paired with black jeans and a black and white plaid coat for extra warmth and style.

Accessories are the best part. Boots are recommended to support the Cowboys. Many people have white, black or gold boots that match with almost any game day outfit. For extra credit, wear earrings with cowboy hats, boots or bedazzled footballs. A button with sacred OSU phrases or a classic mullet picture of coach Mike Gundy is another way to support the Cowboys.

Vibrant bandanas are stylish, too. It can be worn around the neck or tied to a belt loop for some added spirit.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Callie Covington

From left to right, Holly Hughes, Callie Covington and Lily Hudson are ready to cheer on the Cowboys.

Addie Wagner Staff Reporter

Addie Wagner

Kennedy Vice (right) and Harley Shelton (left) get ready to head to Boone Pickens Stadium.

QB Carousel

Who is the answer?

Clint Chelf said he’s done more interviews this week than any since his playing days.

That’s because he knows the feeling.

OSU has rotated Alan Bowman, Garret Rangel and Gunnar Gundy in at quarterback the first two games, with each playing a third of the game. Chelf was never part of a three-quarterback rotation during his time at OSU from 201013, and truth be told, few have. But Chelf was part of quarterback battles that bled into the season.

His experience rotating in at quarterback shapes his opinion on the current situation in Stillwater.

“As someone who’s been kind of through a quarterback competition, I’m not necessarily a fan of it,” Chelf said. “I think in the long run, it could be detrimental to your team with not getting enough reps for the guy that’s eventually going to be the starter.”

Chelf said the Cowboys need to pick a starter and tell the other two quarterbacks being second or third string isn’t a death sentence. Backup QBs have gotten plenty of opportunities at OSU throughout the years.

“If they question that at all, they can just give me a call,” Chelf

said, “because I know firsthand.”

The O’Colly spoke with national writers, former OSU coaches and players, and all agree the Cowboys need to name a starting quarterback soon, or probably should have decided weeks ago. But while there’s consensus that a decision must be made, the choice isn’t as clear.

Bowman transferred during the offseason, and many believed the sixth-year senior had the experience to step in and replace Spencer Sanders. Rangel got most of the reps at the end of last season, and he has the most OSU game experience of any quarterback on the roster but is still young. Gundy was the wildcard, having played sparingly and not been considered as part of the preseason race.

Each has played equal amounts two games into the season

with no apparent frontrunner.

“If I were just to ask you who are the two that you would tell so far watching them play, ‘You’re not playing this game?’” said OSU coach Mike Gundy.

Shehan Jeyarajah, a national college football writer for CBS, said the fact that that hasn’t been answered is alarming.

“To me, it’s a little concerning that they don’t feel good enough about any of them to kind of commit to them right now,” Jeyarajah said.

Not committing to one quarterback presents some issues. Jeyarajah said the problem with evaluating quarterbacks in the three-rotation system is players come in cold and get pulled just as they’re gaining rhythm.

How do the Cowboys become more physical?

For how much attention the offense gets for its threequarterback system, there is an equally intriguing question surrounding Oklahoma State.

Two games into the 2023 season, the Cowboys have struggled to rush the ball effectively and tackle in open space. Mike Gundy attributes both to a lack of physicality.

Yet to understand how OSU practices creates inconsistency with what Gundy’s seeking.

During practices, defenders rarely, if ever, tackle ballcarriers to the ground, instead hitting in a way referred to as “thudding.” It makes some sense, considering most injuries are caused when a body crashes to the turf.

Foster Staff Reporter

Quarterback is not the only position that has been in a constant shuffle at OSU this season.

Just as coach Mike Gundy has rotated three quarterbacks in the first two games, the Cowboy offense is doing the same with running backs. Jaden Nixon, Elijah Collins and Ollie Gordon II are in competition for the starting spot, but Nixon said they aren’t in competition at all.

To them, it doesn’t matter who is “RB1.” These three backs share a common goal: staying healthy and winning games, even if

that means sharing snaps among three running backs.

“You don’t want guys to get out there and just constantly keep going and going,” Nixon said. “It’s gonna be a long season. We don’t want to just wear guys down. I really like this rotation, just keeping each other fresh and allowing us to play.”

Cowboy Game day

Cowboys ‘keeping fresh’ in a three-RB system vs.

WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m.

WHERE: Boone Pickens Stadium

TV: ESPN+

RADIO: 93.7 FM

LAST MATCHUP: 55-13 OSU (2018)

Game preview on 3B

Courtesy Bruce Waterfield / OSU Athletics (Middle, Right), File Photo (Left)

consensus is that a starting quarterback decision must be made, but there is less clarity on who it should be.

Courtesy of Cowboy Football/Twitter OSU coach Mike Gundy attributes rushing struggles and tackling issues lack of physicality, but that’s complicated with the Cowboys not tackling in practice.

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

Running back Jaden Nixon said the Cowboys are still working to get the running game going, but that rotating three running backs will help the health of the team.

Braden Bush

Sports Editor

Gina

Gabriel Trevino

See QB on 7B

File Photo

National college football writers said prolonging the quarterback battle between Alan Bowman (7), Garret Rangel (13) and Gunnar Gundy could hurt rhythm and team chemistry.

Class of 2023

Hall of Honor inductees share their stories

Odenyo’s soccer career didn’t end after OSU

Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter

Yolanda Odenyo

Thomas is grateful she wasn’t born a few years earlier.

She joined Oklahoma State’s women’s soccer program in 2005, not long after it formed.

Thomas (then Odenyo) won a Big 12 championship with the Cowgirls in 2009 and was a two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, three-time All-American and finalist for NCAA Woman of the Year: memories she remembers 14 years later.

working in the pros.”

After setting a number of team records at OSU, she moved into coaching. She started at youth levels before going to high school, an assistant at Tulsa University, the head coach at Rogers State, the Tulsa Soccer Club and now an assistant with the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League.

Through it all, she kept in contact with OSU coaches Colin Carmichael and Karen Hancock, whom she still calls her mentors.

“I can always call, and with Karen, she’s a pioneer in our field,” Thomas said. “It’s inspiring. With Colin, I’ve called him before every job I’ve taken, just to get some feedback. They’re longtime friends, and I’m always checking in to see how the program’s doing.”

College was a time

Thomas still fonds. She remembers the bus rides to games with her teammates the same as the accomplishments they were able to achieve, but as a student-athlete, she used her learning and maturity from OSU to impact her career in soccer.

On Friday, Thomas will be inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Honor as a part of the 2023 class, alongside Justin Blackmon, Rickie Fowler, Ann Pitts, Shelby Wilson and David Arndt.

“If I was a few years earlier, I may not have had the opportunities I had,” Thomas said. “The life I’ve lived wasn’t necessarily accessible to a woman 20 years prior. That’s the biggest thing I’ve kept now, even

“It prepared as a player and coach for sure, but the education I got was stellar,” Thomas said. “I ended up with two degrees from (OSU). And even the community of people connected to the athletic department and university taught me lessons about life. College raises you in a way, and I think Oklahoma State did a good job with me.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Hall Of Honor

Arndt, Blackmon, Fowler, Odenyo, Pitts and Wilson will be honored for their athletic achievements Friday, joining 71 other Hall of Honor members in Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Pitts left lasting legacy with OSU women’s golf

Gina Foster Staff Reporter

Ann Pitts never held a golf club until her 30s.

In the 1960s, after Pitts got married, she and her husband joined the Stillwater Country Club, where she began taking lessons. She was hooked.

“I fell in love with it immediately,” Pitts said. “I had never played golf before, I didn’t know anybody that played golf. It wasn’t until I had two small children and was close to 30 years old when I took up golf.”

A decade later, she became the head coach of the OSU women’s golf team, which she coached for 24 years. On Friday, Pitts will be among one of six inductees into the OSU Athletics Hall of Honor.

In 1976, Pitts was pursuing her master’s degree at OSU when she was offered the job.

There was already a group of women from the club team that helped make Pitts’ first year a success. During her 24 years, she coached her teams to 14 Big Eight Conference Championships and a Big 12 Conference Championship.

“The first Big Eight Championship we won was very exciting because it came shortly after I became coach

Wilson’s ankle injury led to Olympic stardom

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

(1977),” Pitts said. “We were brand new. Nobody

Without a left ankle injury, Shelby Wilson remains adamant he wouldn’t have attained the level of wrestling stardom he currently holds.

Forget an Olympic gold medal and two collegiate All-American finishes. The former OSU wrestler finds merit in suffering such a crucial injury.

“It feels weird to say sometimes,” Wilson told The O’Colly. “But it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me.”

On Friday, Wilson will be one of six former figures inducted into the OSU Athletics Hall of Honor. In Wilson’s mind, it wouldn’t be possible without that moment in his life.

Griffith received word that Wilson was ineligible for the impeding season. Griffith had an idea, though.

“Maybe you should try out for the Olympics,” he told Wilson.

The idea nevercrossed Wilson’s mind. All he knew was wrestling for OSU and farming.

really knew who we were out there in the Big Eight.”

Pitts was inducted into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2008, is a member of the National Golf Coaches Association Coaches’ Hall of Fame and has won the Gladys Palmer Award twice for her contributions to collegiate women’s golf.

“When you do your job, you’re not thinking about what awards you might get later,” Pitts said. “I just loved working with these young women. When I got the call about this award, I was totally surprised and very appreciative that they selected me.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

In college, Wilson trained with three-time All-American and national champion Phil Kinyon. But one day, things went south.

A week after a dual win against OU, Wilson tore multiple tendons in his left ankle, ending his sophomore season in 1959.

Wilson and thenOSU wrestling coach Art Griffith applied for a hardship waiver (now referred to as a medical redshirt). After a nearly half-season and full offseason of recovery, Wilson was ready to make his return to college wrestling. Or so he thought.

Before his junior year in 1960, Wilson and

“Wrestling gave me an identity that I didn’t have as a young kid,” Wilson said. “But no man is an island. No man does life by himself.”

So, he took Griffith up on his suggestion.

A 1960 Olympic gold medal and other accolades adorn Wilson’s trophy case. And not to mention, an induction into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1982.

“Had it not been (for wrestling and OSU), I was a kid that would have probably ended up on a farm, or who knows what I would have done,” Wilson said. “It wasn’t training for the Olympics that prepared me. It was everything prior that prepared me. I’m eternally grateful for those guys that I knew that trained me for those moments.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Ann Pitts Women’s Golf Coach 1973-2000

Shelby Wilson Wrestling 1957-59

Rickie Fowler Men’s Golf 2008-09

Justin Blackmon Football 2009-11

Yolanda Odenyo Soccer 2005-08

David “Buddy” Arndt Wrestling 1941-46

sports Game Day Preview

3 storylines: OSUSouth Alabama

Will a quarterback pull ahead?

The quarterbacks seem to be facing another game where they will be played evenly in thirds. This may be the game where one stands out over the others or one falls behind.

South Alabama is 10thworst in passing yards allowed, surrendering 322 yards per game. The Jaguars gave up 350 yards to FCS program Southeastern Louisiana last week.

Gunnar Gundy, Alan Bowman and Garret Rangel have the opportunity to air-itout against USA, unless the plan for OSU is to establish the run game, which has been a struggle this season.

Jags RB duo vs. OSU’s defense

South Alabama running backs La’Damian Webb and Kentrel Bullock have combined for 240 rushing yards in the first two games. The duo combines for 5.7 yards per rush and has three touchdowns.

OSU’s rushing defense hasn’t had a tough test yet, it’s in the middle of the FBS in terms of rushing yards allowed, but South Alabama will bring one of the toughest it will see this season. The two running backs are veteran backs with an offensive front that also wields experience.

Will Oliver repeat impactful game?

Linebacker (and sometimes defensive end) Collin Oliver had a bounce-back game against Arizona State with seven tackles and a forced fumble. He had just three total tackles in OSU’s first game, but seems to be adjusting well to the new defense.

Defensive coordinator

Bryan Nardo brought in a 3-3-5 defense that has been slowly opening its playbook and different play calls this season. Oliver may have another big game with the option of (almost) what he wants on the defense.

Jags on the rise

Wommack guiding Jaguars to success

Parker Gerl Staff Reporter

A couple years ago, the South Alabama football program was lost.

Insert Kane Wommack. He took the team’s head coaching job in 2021 and hasn’t looked back, guiding the Jaguars to their first 10-win season in program history with a New Orleans Bowl appearance in 2022.

Now, South Alabama is a widely respected team as it comes to Stillwater on Saturday to play the Cowboys. The Jaguars had high expectations entering the 2023 season, and they received a vote in the preseason AP Top 25 poll and multiple in the preseason Coaches’ Poll.

“We focus on what we can focus on,” Wommack said, via Fox10 News. “We don’t worry about what people say coming in looking at us or things. As long as we focus on what we can control and mov-

ing the dial forward in what we need to do, I think we’ll be OK.” So, what makes the Jaguars poised for a big year in 2023?

When he took the job, Wommack emphasized recruiting and has kept the program’s player turnover low the past couple of years. More than 15 South Alabama starters from 2022 returned for this season, “To be able to lay the foundation, that took really years to get to this point to where we could compete at a high level (carries momentum),” Wommack said. “And now to have all this experience coming back, you want to focus on the things that you’re doing well, but also the things you’ve got to improve on.”

Among the experience the Jaguars have coming back are two big hitters from their success a year ago in quarterback Carter Bradley and running back La’Damian Webb.

Bradley threw for 3,336 yards and completed 64% of

his passes in 2022.

As Wommack sees it, they’re the engines that make South Alabama go.

“When you think about the combination, I’d say that’s as competitive and challenging of a backfield to defend in Carter Bradley and La’Damian Webb,” he said.

Wommack is setting the program up for long-term success, too.

He’s shown recruiting prowess since he arrived in Mobile, having put together one of the school’s top recruiting classes, while bringing in players through the portal from schools such as Ole Miss and Kansas State.

Combining that with the increase in wins, the Jaguars are on the rise.

“The ceiling for South Alabama can be very high,” Wommack said. “And a lot of that is gonna come when we maximize the talent in the Gulf South.”

South Alabama players to watch: Banks, Webb impactful for Jags

No. 3 La’Damian Webb, RB

Webb rushed for more than 150 yards at the Rose Bowl in South Alabama’s game at UCLA last year, so he’s no stranger to bright lights.

The former JUCO running back averaged 5.1 yards per carry in his first Division-I season last year and reached the end zone 13 times — second most in the Sun Belt. Webb is also a threat catching passes, securing 21 for 213 yards and two scores last year.

Through two games in 2023, including one vs then top-25 Tulane, he’s only rushed the ball 16 times but has been effiicient. He’s bumped his average this year to 7.6.

Banks is an all-around athlete. He played baseball and both sides of the ball in football before joining South Alabama in 2020.

Through two seasons and two games in 2023, he’s totaled 111 tackles and forced 10 turnovers. In 2022, he broke up 17 passes, the most of any Sun Belt player that year. In both games this season he has a turnover, so he’ll be looking for a third in as many games vs OSU.

In the New Orleans Bowl vs Western Kentucky, he snagged a one-handed interception, looking like Air Jordan as he flew to make the catch.

Courtesy of South Alabama Athletics Kane Wommack took the South Alabama coaching job in 2021 and took the Jaguars to a bowl game and their first 10-win season in 2022.

Yam Banks

Both photos courtesy of South Alabama Athletics

sports

Gordon is starting goalkeeper, but ‘not locked in’

For the first month of the season, OSU coach Colin Carmichael had a difficult decision to make.

The Cowgirls had four options at goalkeeper: Grace Gordon, Ary Purifoy, Peyton Pearson and Caroline Dill. Carmichael gave each playing time early on to sort things out.

Now, a decision has been made.

“Right now, it’s fair to say that Grace has won that job,” Carmichael said. Carmichael and assistant coach Justin Elkington meet weekly and evaluate goalkeepers. Right now, Gordon is the pick. She’s started in seven of the Cowgirls’ eight games and has earned the

starting job, but Carmichael said Gordon has to keep it. “It’s not locked in for the season,” Carmichael said. “Grace must keep performing at a high level, and she has been because the other goalkeepers are all very capable as well.” Gordon started the Cowgirls’ last four games, winning three of them while allowing only three goals. She played 90 minutes against Texas State, Arkansas State and SMU, and 84 minutes against Central Arkansas. Gordon has 12 saves and has allowed five goals, which puts her at 0.81 goals allowed per game through Thursday. That level of play has earned her the job, but Gordon said the rest of the Cowgirl defense has taken pressure off her.

“Defense-wise, they make it easy for me,” Gordon said. “They make it hard for the other teams’ offenses to get shots off. They play hard, they play physical, and they make sure that they’re winning every ball in the air.”

Purifoy has started one game and played in four others, and is the most experienced goalkeeper behind Gordon. Competing against goalkeepers like Purifoy in practice prepares Gordon for games.

“Going into game day is a very different mindset from practice,” Gordon said. “You go into practice and you’re competing with your own teammates and starting lineup. Going into a game, the mindset is very focused and locked into what’s ahead.”

Gordon has established a high-energy environment in her team’s locker room, too. The team, has rallied around her after winning the job. Freshman defender Chloé Jospeh said Gordon’s leadership sparks motivation.

In her eyes, Gordon embodies what a team needs in a starting goalkeeper.

“She’s very vocal, which is ideal for a goalkeeper,” Joseph said. “She’s always giving us advice, even during water breaks. She talks to me a lot and encourages me when I do something good. It motivates me to succeed when I know that someone notices my achievements,” Joseph said.

Continued from 1B

Some linemen also don’t block at 100%, not wanting to injure teammates they’re pushing around.

But if OSU needs physicality out if its players, how can the coaches expect it without practicing it?

Tackling 101

In practice, defenders thud. It’s not a full tackle, more of a wrap up and bump into a fullbody push. Most other schools and professional teams do it this way, too, but many of them are good at tackling.

After OSU’s game against Central Arkansas, defensive coordinator Bryan Nardo said the team hadn’t tackled since the Guaranteed Rate Bowl in December. For almost eight months, nobody went fully to the ground. The performance was taken as rust, and it still could be, but again it became an issue vs Arizona State.

OSU will probably never not thud in practices, which brings

the question of how to fix tackling while doing so.

Some Cowboys say it takes a mentality. Now, I’m not, nor have I ever been a coach before, but is that something that is coachable, and if so, how long does it take?

“It’s being pros,” linebacker Xavier Benson said. “Pros know how to practice. It’s tugging and tossing and turning and taking a shot when you don’t need to take a shot.

“And of course, none of us want injuries but that’s just the game. You have to just hope for the best and prepare for the worst.”

Blocking If physicality is a mentality that’s coachable, then the offensive line may not have been paying attention. The Cowboys have struggled rushing the ball when they don’t have a future NFL runner in the backfield, and even then it’s been an overall mediocre rushing attack the past few years.

With Jaylen Warren, OSU averaged 4.2 yards per carry in 2021. Last year the number plummeted to 3.4, and this year it’s back to 4.2.

Blocking has become a lin

gering issue. You can’t just do it halfway in practice, or you’re go

ing to lose the rep and hurt your team. But, again, players also don’t want to injure each other.

“It’s definitely hard sometimes,” said fullback Braden Cassity. “But at the end of the day we’re all family here and everybody knows what we’re working toward.

“There hasn’t been a problem with people being too aggressive, which is good because guys need to hit. And you’re going to get hit harder than that in the game. That’s always been a good thing we’ve done: take care of each other but hit at full speed.”

The Cowboys have found success rushing the ball in the second half of its two games this season, but with three question marks at quarterback, players say they need to be in the mindset early in games.

“We have to make sure we’re on point from the very beginning and not wait to start going,” said offensive lineman Joe Michalski.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

It was 3 a.m. when Xavier Benson got a text message from teammate Nick Martin.

Should Benson be awake?

Probably not, but he answered anyways.

“As long as I can get like three or four hours in, then I’m usually good,” he said.

Benson’s main reason: being there for his teammates whenever they need him.

“Xavier’s a genuine guy,” said linebacker Colin Oliver.

“He’s very relatable. It’s like you can talk to him about a lot of stuff and he’ll understand you.”

In 2022, Benson cemented himself as a starter for the Cowboy defense in the season opener. Seven games in, the Cowboys donned a 6-1 record and a top-10 ranking, and Benson played a paramount role in it.

Then came the downfall.

The Cowboys concluded their 2022 season with a 7-6 record.

Tension brewed.

“When you’re losing like

Flashback: When the Cowboy Marching Band played all night

Braden Bush Sports Editor

Caroline Lee can sum up her first experience as part of the Cowboy Marching Band at the 2011 Tulsa game in one sentence.

“We were all eating wet, cold chicken and playing in the middle of the night,” Lee said.

Twelve years ago this weekend, the Cowboys traveled to Tulsa for a 9:10 p.m. kickoff on Sept. 17, 2011, against the Golden Hurricane. Things got worse when storms delayed the game for more than three hours. It turned out to be one of the latest games in college football history, and Lee and the rest of the band hung around for all of it.

Just before kickoff, pouring rain put kickoff on hold. Then, the lighting, and each strike set the game back another half hour. In the meantime, the band played music underneath the stadium and kept the remaining fans entertained, while parents of players went to the store to buy supplies for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

When lightning struck at 11:23 p.m., it was decided the game would be postponed if there was one more strike. There wasn’t another strike.

“A lot of people were starting to fall asleep, and I was just thinking, ‘Are we still gonna have this game?’” Lee said. “And then they tell us, ‘Yep, we’re still playing.’”

At 12:16 a.m. on Sunday, the game kicked off.

Then it hit Lee. The band still had to perform at halftime. She’s self-admittedly not a night owl, so she battled to stay awake. When halftime came at 1:48 a.m., the Cowboy Marching Band took the field. The show ended around 2 a.m.

The rain made the field slick, which was extra concerning for Lee because the band did a “jazz fun” routine that involved running. She was too tired to recall someone falling on the slippery turf, but she figures someone did.

Katie, a saxophone player in the band that night, said it didn’t matter about the conditions. They were doing the halftime show.

“I don’t even know if we had an audience, but as a matter of principle, it was kind of cool,” Katie said. “We came that far, we had to.”

The band got its boxed dinner during the game. KFC, which was by that point soaked from the rain. When the game finally ended at 3:35 a.m. with a 59-33 OSU win, the band couldn’t wait to get out of Tulsa.

“After we sang the alma mater after we won, everyone yelled, ‘Get on the bus,’” Lee said. “We all literally ran to the bus.”

The next day, Lee was sick, and she diagnosed it as a cold from sitting in the cold rain all night. A souvenir from a memorable night.

“That was probably the latest halftime show to ever be played, maybe at a college football game,” Lee said.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Benson helping teammates after mental health battle

that, it’s tough on you mentally,” Benson said. “Your mind starts to throb. You’re searching for answers and at some points, it’s like you can’t do much about it.”

Throughout, Benson said resources were minimal. He approached OSU coach Mike Gundy and staff regarding his mental health. But in his own words, “There’s something about having a source in your (age group) to go to in situations like that.”

Prior to OSU, Benson spent three seasons at Texas Tech. He took a leave of absence in his third season from the team.

“It was kind of like a culmination of a lot of things,” Benson said. “It’s really hard to put into words.”

But the main reason: “I didn’t have that go-to person.”

So, he transferred to Tyler Junior College after 2020. With a stellar season there, which featured 120 total tackles, he transferred to OSU, in hopes of attaining a fresh start.

sports.ed@ocolly.com sports.ed@ocolly.com

Before OSU, he felt deprived a go-to source in times of poor mental health, uncertainty and other intangibles that come with being a student-athlete.

Now, Benson wants to be that source.

He’s finally attained the voice he waited so long for. That opportunity to be there for his teammates in times of need.

Some of Benson’s teammates say he has already made the linebacker core better through his leadership and unitybased tactics.

“(Benson) is a cool guy to talk to when you need anything,” said linebacker Justin Wright. “You need anything? He’ll answer in a heartbeat.He’s a good human who gets the best out of you.”

Thus the 3 a.m. text conversations. He doesn’t have to engage in them. But he does anyway.

“I don’t want (what happened last season) to happen to anybody else again. I am so serious,” Benson said. “Because that was rough on me. That was really rough. You want (everyone) to be comfortable so that they can play the best they can play.”

Ethan Scott

OSU coach Colin Carmichael feels comfortable picking a starting goalkeeper now, and he’s going with Grace Gordon.

Griff McClellan Staff Reporter

Ethan Scott

OSU will probably never not “thud” in practice, which brings the question of how to fix tackling while doing so.

by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis

Come check out the wide variety of elegant clothing at Formal Fantasy!

Located on 121 E. 9th Ave, Downtown Stillwater

The best selection of beer, wine and liquor that Stillwater has to offer! Perfect for all your game day needs, come to Brown’s Bottle Shop located on 128 N. Main

“The Original Hideaway, located on the corner of Knoblock and University.

Serving quality pizza and more since 1957.”

Murphy’s Department Store

815 S Main, Downtown Open 10-6 Monday thru Saturday

Houses for rent

Spacious 1100 sq. ft 2 bedroom home. Recently remodeled, CH/A, wood floors, nice yard. 2214 E. 6th Ave., Scarlett Bus Route. 405-372-7107.

Cowboy Calendar

Friday 9/15/2023

2023 Fall Family Weekend at OSU

Oklahoma State University -- All Weekend https://go.okstate.edu/family/family-weekends.html

Scott Mccreery

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

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

Saturday 9/16/2023

OSU vs. South Alabama

Boone Pickens Stadium @ 6 p.m.

Brewery Tours

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

Stillwater Farmers Market

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

2023 Fall Family Weekend at OSU

Oklahoma State University -- All Weekend https://go.okstate.edu/family/family-weekends.html

Payne County Flea Market

Payne County Expo Center @ 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. http://thepaynecountyfleamarket.com/

Sunday 9/17/2023

2023 Fall Family Weekend at OSU

Oklahoma State University -- All Weekend https://go.okstate.edu/family/family-weekends.html

Cowgirl soccer vs Abilene Christian Neal Patterson Soccer Stadium @ 1 p.m. https://okstate.com/sports/womens-soccer

OK 23 Art Exhibit

Modella Art Gallery until Sept. 23rd @ 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. https://www.modellagallery.org/

Monday 9/18/2023

Speed Bingo, College Bar @ 10 p.m.-12 a.m.

Tuesday 9/19/2023

Fall 2023 Career Fairs: College of Engineering, Architecture, & Technology Career Fair GallagherIba Arena @ 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Matt Axton & Badmoon Live: George’s Stables @ 9 - 11 p.m.

Voter Registration Day: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Free and Open to the Public

Wednesday 9/20/2023 Live Trivia: Iron Monk Brewing Company @ 7 - 9

& Bar @ 8 p.m.

By Zachary David Levy

improvements. Clean up messes and resolve irritations. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Creative efforts leap forward. It’s easier to learn and express, with Mercury direct. Sign papers, post and publish your views. Communicate and connect.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Financial transactions flow better, with Mercury direct in Virgo. It’s easier to discuss money. Confusion diminishes noticeably. Barriers dissolve. Make deals and bargains

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Listen powerfully. It’s easier to resolve misunderstandings, with Mercury direct in your sign. Serve as a translator for others who don’t get each other.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — Consider dreams. Articulate your feelings privately. Words and traffic flow better, with Mercury direct. Review where you’ve been. Keep a journal, plan and strategize. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Communication barriers evaporate. Team coordination comes together naturally now that Mercury is direct. Background noise quiets and you can hear each other again.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Negotiate, collaborate and network. It’s easier to advance professionally, with Mercury direct. Brainstorming gets more productive and creative again. Discuss possibilities. Develop opportunities.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Make longdistance connections. It’s easier to explore, travel and launch, with Mercury direct for three months. Traffic improves. Confirm reservations. Get your message out.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Buy, sell and discuss finances. Money, invoices and payments flow with greater ease now that Mercury’s direct. Confusion diminishes. Sign contracts and negotiate deals. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Partnership misunderstandings fade. Communication clarifies naturally, with Mercury direct today. It’s easier to persuade, compromise and reach consensus. Share love messages and invitations.

Q&A: Cowboy FB Braden Cassity

Braden Cassity calls himself an “outdoor enthusiast.”

That’s what the Instagram account @90_outdoors says in the bio, anyway. The account, which is run by Cassity, OSU’s starting fullback, has photos and videos of him hunting ducks, catfish and anything else he can find on land or in water.

Here’s what Cassity said about his time outdoors:

Q: Was that an alligator gar you caught? What’s the story behind that?

A: “I’m a big bow fisherman, so we’ll go out with a bow and arrow at night — I got my boat up here — and we’ll shoot them sometimes. Like to eat ‘em, too, actually. The alligator gar (is) really only kinda in the southern U.S., more so the real

South, I guess, and it’s an all-time bucket-list fish of mine.

“I’ve tried boat fishing ‘em, all that stuff, haven’t been able to get on. Decided, ‘OK, well, let’s go to the best river in the world for ‘em,’ and it’s only two hours from my house in Texas. So (I) drove over there, rod and reeled one, just me and my dog.”

Q: Is that the type of animal you chase for a while, that fish?

A: “Yeah, I think I’ve been trying to get one for like four years now, so yeah. Finally got one. That was definitely a bucket-list thing.”

Q: How heavy was it?

A: “I don’t know, but I really had a hard time picking it up... it was awesome. That’s one I’ll never forget. For the rest of my life, that’s like a core memory for me.”

Q: Is that at the top of your all-time fish-

Fresh...

Continued from 1B

That being said, the past two games have shown faults in the rushing game. In both games, the run game has struggled substantially in the first half, then showed up in the second. Still, Gordon (6.1), Nixon (5.4) and Collins (4.4) each have healthy rushing figures in the three-back rotation.

“I think our running backs are playing well in the second half and late in the game,” Gundy said. “One, we’re making a few changes in blocking better which helps a lot, and we don’t have a

ing accomplishments?

A: “Yeah, probably.”

Q: What’s No. 2?

A: “No. 2 might be noodling my flathead catfishes here. I noodled a pretty big flathead this year that I was very excited about.”

Q: Where do you do that? A river in Oklahoma?

A: “Yeah, some rivers. If I told you my spot, I’d have to kill you. But just anywhere within like an hour of Stillwater, we got a lot of different spots. Been here six years, met some awesome people doing that kinda stuff.”

Q: Can you do that competitively? Have you ever tried getting in that world?

A: “You can do it competitively. They do the noodling tournament in Pauls Valley every year, but I’m not on that level at all. Those guys are killing it.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

guy running in the fourth quarter that’s already got 15 carries.”

Gordon and Collins have 16 carries each, and Nixon has 13. None have hit the 100-yard mark on the season, but the balanced attack has kept the running back room healthy.

Getting into rhythm early has been difficult. In first halves, OSU has a combined 54 rushing yards from its running backs through two games.

“We’re not happy about coming out and not being able to run the ball well, but the guys are excited about this week and to get it going,” Nixon said. “The first half is kind of a struggle, but I know our guys can get it done.”

Despite slow starts,

the running backs are averaging 96.5 yards in the second half this season. And while adjustments in the offensive line help, so does freshness in the running back group. Each has their own characteristics, and together, they’re out to prove a multi-back system can work for this offense.

“Ollie has a power side to him. He is agile and elusive, as well,” Nixon said. “Elijah brings a little bit more speed, and he brings power, as well. I feel like I bring a speed, elusive side to it. I can get a little agile every now and then. We all work together and counterbalance each other.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of OSU Athletics

Each OSU running back, including Ollie Gordon, has a strength, and together they’re minimizing fatigue and focused on brining a balanced rushing attack.

Via 90_Outdoors/Instagram

OSU fullback Braden Cassity finally caught a bucket-list fish, reeling in an alligator gar in Texas.

Ashton Slaughter

Asst. Sports Editor

The Athletic’s Chris Vannini said Army’s triple-option offense is the only thing close to OSU’s situation, but Army typically rotates quarterbacks because one has a better arm. That’s not the case at OSU, and team chemistry could be damaged because of it.

“You have to pick a quarterback because it holds back the development and growth of the team during a season,” Vannini said. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence the Cowboys have struggled out of the gate in the two games but turned it on in the second half. Maybe that happens sooner if a single QB is able to work through it quicker.”

Former OSU coach Pat Jones wasn’t one to drag out a quarterback decision.

After beginning the 1986 season with Ronnie Williams at quarterback, Jones insisted Mike Gundy take over as quarterback in the second half of OSU’s third game of the season against Houston. The situations aren’t the same, but Jones made

up his mind and stuck with it.

“I had a feeling about Mike, and we just did it,” Jones said.

Heading into fall camp, Bowman seemed to have the upper hand on Rangel and Gunnar Gundy. Chelf said he would “have put money” on Bowman, the experienced option, winning the starting job before the season. But Bowman didn’t separate himself enough to show coaches he’d earned the starting job.

“It’s surprising and, frankly, a little disappointing to me that he wasn’t able to lock down that job in a big way,” Jeyarajah said. Meanwhile, Gunnar Gundy and Rangel did enough to keep the battle alive. Two weeks before the season started, Chelf heard Rangel was coming on strong. For some, that wasn’t a huge surprise. Rangel showed flashes of promise a season ago when thrown into the spotlight in a tough spot as a freshman.

What was a surprise for many was when Gunnar Gundy took the field in OSU’s season opener. All the talk was around Rangel and Bowman, with little mention of Gunnar, but he led the Cowboys to a win in the

fourth quarter.

“I really thought watching him in preseason that he’s come the furthest of any of them,” Jones said.

Through two games, Gunnar leads the team in completion percentage (75%) and quarterback rating (168.08), and led the offense to more points than Bowman and Rangel.

“I’ve definitely been impressed with Gunnar’s improvements,” Jeyarajah said. “I think that there’s a lot of thoughts that come to mind if you do see somebody with the same last name as the head coach starting at quarterback, but I do think that he has shown through these first couple games that he at least deserves to be in the conversation.”

Jeyarajah also thinks it is a pivotal decision for the direction of the roster.

“Are you playing for this year with an upperclassman quarterback or are you trying to use this as more of a development year so that you can set yourself up better in 2024, 2025, with someone like Rangel?” he said.

Regardless of the choice, how long is the current system sustainable?

Mike Gundy hasn’t

shown he’s in a hurry, and the Cowboys will run the system Saturday against South Alabama. Beyond Saturday, a trip to Iowa State for the conference opener awaits.

“I think Mike will pick somebody before too very long and go with it, because if you get into conference play, it just becomes difficult preparation-wise,” Jones said. “It’s hard enough to get one of them ready to play, let alone three.” But Chelf isn’t so sure.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he thinks he can get through Iowa State rotating three guys,” Chelf said. “I think that that’s something he would look at doing.” Chelf doesn’t like that game plan, because a starter wouldn’t have a chance to get a full set of live reps until OSU’s next game against a ranked Kansas State team. He thinks a starter must be chosen.

But who?

“If I had to pick one, I’d say Garret Rangel,” Vannini said. “He has the liveliest arm and the biggest upside.”

“I do like Alan Bowman to be the starter still,” Chelf said. “That’s the route that I would go.”

“I’m not so sure Gunnar is not the most complete one,” Jones said. “That’s what I would say right now, if they said, ‘Pat, you’ve got to make a decision.’”

“I think it’s going to be Alan Bowman,” Jeyarajah said. “I think that they just are gonna rely on his experience, especially when they go into Big 12 play and they’re playing defenses that are really able to take away what they want to do, because so far, they haven’t.”

In a way, that’s fitting of this QB battle. Gundy says the margins are thin. A conclusion must be drawn, but minds have a hard time agreeing. “If these three quarterbacks are so equal and so similar in their skills, then it shouldn’t even matter who you pick,” Vannini said. “At some point, you have to pick one and let him learn from the good and bad.”

File Photo

Clint Chelf (No. 10) has been in a quarterback battle at OSU, and he said he’s not a fan of dragging a decision on.

“ If I had to pick one, I’d say Garret Rangel. ”

Chris Vannini

“ I do like Alan Bowman to be the starter still. ”

Clint Chelf

Pat Jones

“ I’m not so sure Gunnar is not the most complete one. ”

The O’Colly Sports Picks

Parker Gerl Point / Counterpoint

Davis Cordova

No, it’s been obvious OSU wants to run the ball more, and although the Cowboys haven’t done that with Alan Bowman taking the snaps, they’ve done it with the other two quarterbacks. The Cowboys found success in the second half against Arizona State with running the ball and taking their time. Even with shuffling through three quarterbacks, at this time, it may be hard for the quarterbacks to find a rhythm through the short time they appear in the game.

Can OSU compete in a shootout?

Yeah, I think OSU could compete in a shootout. That doesn’t necessarily mean I think it could with three quarterbacks, but once it names a starter, I think the playbook will open up and the offense’s rhythm will come along. The Cowboys have scored 27 points in each of the first two games with three QBs, so I don’t see why they couldn’t do more damage with one guy playing over the course of a game and taking over the offense.