Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022

Football mailbag Engel answers your questions

flea flicker touchdown against Arizona State and several misdirec tions with quarterback Spencer Sanders per forming the lead blocks.

Adam Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief

Without a football game to write about, I decided to try a mailbag after the bye week. Un fortunately, I received only two questions from Twitter but here it is.

When will Jaden Bray return? -Zac Pogue @Pogalo on Twitter

As always, the Cowboys are tightlipped when it comes to injuries. The best an swer you’ll usually get is classic coach speak from Mike Gundy. “Soon.” “Hopefully in a few weeks.” “We’ll see.” “I don’t know.”

But during Gun dy’s media luncheon Monday, he gave a clearish answer.

“He’ll be practic ing this week,” he said.

Bray, OSU’s soph omore vertical threat receiver is out with a left arm injury suffered in fall camp. In 2021, Bray grabbed two touchdowns in 12 games.

How much of the playbook do you think the coaches have opened up in the nonconference part of the season? – OSUPSY CHO

Honestly, I think you’ve seen the majority of OSU’s playbook so far. Offensive coordina tor Kasey Dunn called several trick plays — the

A lot of the calls are obviously gameflow and opponent based such as the flea flicker against ASU.

OSU hasn’t re ally been in any seri ous late game battles and that’s a reason why they’ve showed every thing matchup wise. You know what I mean? When you gameplan for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, you plan for ArkansasPine Bluff. Not a late one score ballgame with Oklahoma.

Here’s Gundy’s full answer on this question from Monday’s availability.

“We’ve practiced just about everything that we run. I don’t know that we haven’t run everything just based on what defenses give us or what offenses give us. When I said, ‘This is pretty much what Baylor does,’ we kind of know what they do. They know what we do. Things that we haven’t shown up to this point for whatever reason, they know that we have it. They’ve reviewed it and prac ticed it. We might not have done it because of a variety of reasons but there aren’t really any secrets or anything that we’ve held back.”

Gundy talks Big 12 parity, trends and defensive improvement

has cut down on mistakes and a league-wide trend developing.

Here is what Gundy had to say before his No. 9 Cowboys travel to play No. 16 Baylor.

Big 12 Parity:

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

The Cowboys are com ing off a bye week that enabled coach Mike Gundy to evaluate the Big 12 conference, how his team

The Big 12 leaderboard took just one week full of conference matchups to shatter preconceived notions.

Kansas, the preseason pick to finish last, leads the Big 12 with a 2-0 record.

While OSU was on bye, Kansas State upset Oklahoma in Norman to send the Sooners to the bottom of the Big 12 stand

ings with Texas; a team that Texas Tech upset.

“I think the parity in this league is maybe more than ever,” Gundy said. “I’ve said this for a number of years. You might have a team win this league that has two or three losses. You might. I haven’t studied the other games. I just see the scores.”

In 2021, Baylor broke Oklahoma’s six-year streak of conference championships. Gundy said league competitiveness is at a high point.

See Gundy

An unforgettable evening The New York Philharmonic returns

Luisa Clausen Staff Reporter

A performance worthy of a five-minute standing ovation.

The New York Philhar monic made its great return to the McKnight Center this past week end. The series of shows opened Friday night with a concert that left the crowd speechless. The black-tie gala event started at 5 p.m with an exquisite menu filled with flavorful appetizers.

As guests arrived, the ex citement and admiration started to spread across the room. Students, alumni, community members and classical music admirers gathered

around, ready to honor the New York Philharmonic.

Taylor Hatheway, an OSU senior, attended the event with the President Leadership Council to attend the event.

“I don’t know what to ex pect but I am excited to spend this time with friends and listen to good classical music,” Hatheway said. “Everyone here is very dis tinguished and it’s a nice chance to dress up.”

Family and friends of the OSU Greenwood School of Music students performing Friday night wandered around the reception waiting for the show to begin.

Tim Sewell attended the event to watch his son, Benjamin Sewell, a music major at OSU,

sing alongside other students during the finale of Beethoven’s “Ninth Symphony.”

“My son is not the type that gets nervous,” Tim Sewell said. “But it’s an incredible opportunity and we are very proud of him.”

Jaap Van Zweden, the music director of the New York Philhar monic, orchestrated a beautifully choreographed dance, building a story song after song and left everyone in the crowd with chills when the performance ended. The orchestra challenged the viewers’ sense of time and space by trans porting them to a world where only music mattered.

File photo

Jaiden Daughty

OSU football coach Mike Gundy previewed Saturday’s game and covered several topics during his weekly press conference on Monday afternoon.

“The competi

tive nature of playing road games, which are difficult, you’re seeing a lot of teams that are just about the same,” Gundy said.

Fourth down surge:

The Cowboys are an outlier in key situations.

OSU has at tempted to convert one first down this season. It is a stark contrast from other team’s strategies in the Big 12.

“You’re seeing more coaches (going for it), particularly in this league,” Gundy said.

Gundy said he might have seen more Big 12 teams than ever attempt 4th down conversions on Saturday.

“I think there are more analyt ics that coaches are looking at,” Gundy said. “They’re get ting percentages on certain specific situations in games. Right or wrong, they’re buying into the formula that is being presented to those coaches.”

Texas Tech went for it eight times on Saturday in its upset win against Texas. The Red Raiders converted six times and were propelled to victory.

“There is a side of it that is based on who you are as an offense,” Gundy said. “And then, in my opinion, it is who you’re competing against. This is prob

ably an exaggeration but if it was 4th & 2 and I was going against a front like Georgia, I wouldn’t be fired up about going for it. Because it’s hard to knock those guys back.”

Cowboys shor ing up defensive mistakes:

It didn’t take a bye week for Gundy to start seeing im

provements.

After allowing 44 points to Arizona State in the season opener, the Cowboy defense has been much stronger.

OSU gave up 17 points to Arizona State, and seven to Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Gundy says it is because of limiting mistakes.

“We’ve been

better with missed assignments since the first game,” Gundy said. “We got a little better against Arizo na State and we got a little better against Pine Bluff.”

Q&A with Josh Holliday: Update From Fall Camp

Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor

How was your summer coaching with the USA Baseball Col legiate National Team?

“It was fun. I got to meet a lot of awesome people and travel the world

a little bit and kind of see some inter national baseball which is cool. And yeah, meet new people, learn some things, make some new friends. I mean, that’s always fun when you can do that. So that was definitely a high light was just the people.”

I saw you played against Ja pan, Netherlands, Cuba, what was the international travel like?

“We played

in Amsterdam at a world tournament. So, all the teams came to Amster dam and played there.”

Can you tell me about some of the freshmen and transfers new to the team?

“Well, there are a lot of new comers. I mean, so obviously there’s 20 some odd new guys. So you know if you were here today you saw Ben

Monday - Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm

Thursday - Saturday: 10:00am - 11:00pm

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Mackenzie Janish

Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said he’s seeing a natural progression with the defense, especially with the front seven led by Tyler Lacy.

Ben Cohen

OSU baseball coach Josh Holliday spent the summer coaching with the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team and traveled to Europe.

Cowboys ready for Shapen, Baylor

The Cowboys sat idle on a bye week, preparing for the rematch of the Big 12 Champi onship.

Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor

The Cowboys left the field heartbroken the last time they played Baylor.

Saturday, Big 12 play will start, and OSU will get a chance to break hearts in Waco.

The Baylor Bears (3-1) already have a conference win, a 31-24 triumph against Iowa State this past weekend.

Cowboy coach Mike Gundy said minus safety Jalen Pitre, a second round NFL draft pick, the team he will face Saturday isn’t too different from the team that handed him a 21-16 defeat in December.

“There’s a lot of similari ties and their concepts are the same,” Gundy said. “Not a lot of personnel changes other than they had the safety that was a really really good player that’s not there anymore. A couple of skill kids on offense but they look essentially the same scheme wise. Quarter back is back and now obvi

ously got more experience than when we saw him, but same group.”

The same may not be a good thing for the Cowboys.

In the Big 12 Champion ship, Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen torched the Cowboys. He completed 23-of-28 passes for 180 yards and three touch downs.

At the time, Shapen was relatively unknown. The game was just his third with more than two passing attempts. Now, Shapen has four starts this season and threw three touchdowns against ISU.

“So, as you know their concept offensively from an outside looking in is the same as it was in the champion

ship game,” Gundy said. “So, you got to control the passing game. He might complete 14 passes in the game, and it may only be for 75 yards. Three or four of them might be convert ing third downs. So, I don’t really see a lot of difference and it looks like they’ve pro grammed him in that direc tion. You know until they play action, max protect and try to throw your head.”

Possibly Baylor’s most impactful player is 6-foot4-inch 358-pound defensive tackle Siaki Ika. Ika was a force against the Cowboys in 2021. Gundy specifically addressed the way he disrupts offensive rhythm by pushing linemen back into the play.

“Well, he’s an issue,” Gundy said. “He’s a problem. He should be playing on Sun days right now, so we definitely have to know where he’s at on the field.”

The plan to stop such a dominant player is surprisingly simple.

Just block him.

“That’s what we told (the offensive linemen), we’ll give you guys help sometimes, but sometimes you’re going to have to hold your own,” Gundy said. “And he’s going to make some plays. You’re not going to stop him from making plays. But we need to make our share of plays against him.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

ETERNITY IN MIND!

“ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be stead fast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

(1 Co.15:58 NKJ)

Just about everything in this life is tempo rary. Yet, most people work very hard to have a pleasant few years in their lifetime. I would like to remind the true Christians that God is offering us an eternity of bless ing as we serve him and his purposes now.

In 1 Co.15 the Apostle Paul is reminding these believers of Christ’s resurrection and how true and real it was. He continues by emphasizing the sure promise of God that we are going to share in that resurrec tion one day. We will have a new, eternal body like Jesus has now. As we help in the work of God, furthering his kingdom;

demonstrating the love of God in blessing and serving others; as you and I get involved with helping missionary work, even going to help in short term mission trips or providing finances for others to go, we are laying up treasure in heaven “where moths cannot corrupt and thieves cannot steal.”

Actually, this kingdom of God, with forgive ness of all our sins and a new relationship with God as our Father, is offered to all mankind. If you have never opened your heart to Christ, asking for a clean heart and a new life; the door is open wide for you to come. You will not be turned away. Then you too can begin to live for the eternal: laying up treasure in Heaven. I en courage all to consider these words, no matter your age, and choose the best and most satisfying life. It is a life following Christ as your Lord, and going for God’s best in eternity. It is a great and sure future!

Abby Cage

Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen broke the Big 12 championship game record, starting the game 17 for 17 passing.

Abram, a transfer from Okla homa pitcher who’s got good experience, Gabe Davis, a really exciting freshman from Choctaw. Luke Fernandez freshman, Kade Shatwell, fresh man, Manning West freshmen, so you saw a lot of younger kids today. There’s a lot of new guys that we’re learning about them. As we train, compete, practice with one another we see more and more out of them which is exciting. We learn about their personalities and their strengths and then figure out things we need to work on with them.

You played against transfer pitcher Janzen Keisel last year with BYU. What was it like bringing him to Stillwater?

Janzen has a live arm. His first pitch out his hand last weekend was 98 miles- an-hour. So there’s a lot of life in his arm and he’s just a sophomore. So he’s a guy that we’re gonna enjoy the time to develop him here and his upside is tremen dous. So familiar with him for sure. When we recruited him I think that helped to some degree and he wanted to learn more and more as a pitcher and felt like this is a great place to do it. So you know those two things lined up in recruiting, that’s what helped us get him.

What’s it like to have Nolan McLean back?

“It’s great. Yeah. He’s hit some balls really hard here our first three-five in ner squad games he’s hit the ball really hard countless times. And I mean, he’s a major threat and super tal ented player and obvi ously, my opinion, one the best players in the country. It’s great to have him back.”

Has he grown at all from last sea son?

“Yeah. I think he’s well aware of where his game is at, what he wants to do to make the team better. He’s totally focused on that every day, driving the ball to all fields trying to cut down on strikeouts, get the ball in play, add more outfield defense to his resume to go along with third base and pitching so he’s definitely work ing hard.

What was the deal with the report about Nolan’s con tract dispute with the Baltimore Ori oles?

“I’m just glad he’s back. Whatever went on in the ne gotiations between the team and Nolan are between them. We’re not part of that. Whenever he decided to return to Oklahoma State that obviously made us a much better baseball team, that’s for sure.”

What does having former bigleaguer Jordy Mer cer back as a student assistant coach bring to the team?

“Jordy’s awe some. He’s a really upbeat guy, He’s got great energy and glass

is half full, which I love. Players like him. He has a youthfulness about his ability to relate to them having just come off the field. So it’s tremendous to have somebody that’s that familiar with how hard certain things are. Having just done them at the highest level he can immedi ately explain things to our players which is so helpful, because he’s got that doing it. And so that’s such a unique perspective to have played so re cently in understand ing the things that an infielder is trying to do when he fields the ball or throws the ball or you know, what a player is trying to do while at the plate.

Jordy has such an instantaneous recall of that having just finished his career so, great to have him back and between what (former student assistant coach) Robin (Ventura) did for us for three years and now Jordy we’re just really lucky to have loyal alumni like that.”

How cool is it that last season you were handing out Jordy Mercer T-Shirts as a promo tional giveaway and now he’s on staff?

“He’s a neat guy. I mean, he’s been in contact and supportive of the program for the last 11 years. So we’ve always been friends and known that this was a guy that cared about OSU baseball and wanted to give back so he’s been he’s been on board and supporting us and car ing about his school for a long time.”

File photo

Cowboy star slugger Nolan McLean returns to OSU after passing up a professional opportunity with the Baltimore Orioles organization.

The Surf Bar, an acai bowl and smoothie restaurant chain, opened its Stillwater location Monday morning.

The chain an nounced the first 25 people to come in at its opening at 9 a.m. will get a free regular bowl. The line was out the door within the first few hours of operation.

Hannah Brown, an OSU student, was at The Surf Bar during the opening and commented on the need for a place like this in a college town.

“To say the least Surf Bar exceeded my expectations,” Brown told The O’Colly. “The cool beach atmosphere makes you feel as if you really are at the beach. The avocado toast was definitely my favorite so far. I enjoyed my acai bowl, but the toast was

exceptional. I would rec ommend going as soon as you can. You won’t be let down.”

The menu includes everything from acaibased bowls to pitaya or blue coconut-based bowls. Although blended smoothie bowls are the main focus, Brown said the side items are even better.

There are oatmeal bowls, bagels, toast and smoothies on the menu. Brown said they didn’t disappoint.

“I had the Best Darn Thing Ever bagel, which was basically really fancy avocado toast,” she said. “It was literally amazing. It had everything bagel sea soning, basil, olive oil, tomato, you name it and it was on there. I’m glad they offered other things besides the acai bowls. It provides more variety and will bring in more customers.”

Brown said she felt like she stepped into a tropical vacation. The

bar has a green photo wall opportunity with a neon sign and surfboard. The shop also sold stick ers and merchandise during the opening. With upbeat music playing and the perfect weather, several customers said they were satisfied with the new place to go eat.

“I think Stillwater needed a place like this,” Brown said. “Somewhere fun that is reliable and not in a food truck. Surf Bar is somewhere you can go to be with friends. This is definitely on my new favorites list.”

The new location for The Surf Bar can be found at 424 N. Main St. For hours of operation, other Oklahoma loca tions and information on the menu, please visit surfbar.com. Pool

Upcoming events on campus this week

Kennedy Thomason Staff Reporter

As always, campus is a busy place to be. Here are some of the important and interesting events taking place the next two weeks.

The art exhibition, “Small Worlds: Carolyn Cárde nas and Contradictions: Bobby Ross” will be featured Tuesday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the OSU Museum of Art.

Reduce, Reuse, Tie dye will happen on Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. in the Kerr-

Drummond Mezzanine. RHA Eco-Reps is sponsoring the activity, providing free snacks and education on reducing and reusing materials.

Yappy Hour through Pete’s Pet Posse is Tuesday at 6 p.m. The event will take place in the south lobby of Edmon Low Library. The Posse will have pet therapy teams avail able.

On Wednesday, Cowgirl Softball will take on Univer sity of Science and Arts of Oklahoma at 5 p.m. in Cowgirl Stadium.

Also on Wednesday, the Student Union Activities Board will be sponsoring Pickle Fest

from 6-8 p.m. in North Dining. Samples will be provided as long as supplies last.

Cowgirl soccer will take on Texas Tech on Thursday at 7 p.m. in Neal Patterson Stadium.

On Thursday, the OSU Symphony Orchestra presents Schubert 8 and Swan Lake in the McKnight Center. Tickets vary in cost.

“Slapped!” premieres at the Seretean Center for Performing Arts on Friday at 7:30 p.m. This tragicom edy, a production of the OSU Department of Theatre, is a modern adaptation to Leonid Andreyev’s “He Who Gets

Slapped.”

The defending national champion Cowgirls equestrian team clashes with SMU at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Asian American Student Associa tion and Vietnamese American Student Association will host the Harvest Moon Festival on Saturday at 5 p.m. on the Inter national Lawn.

On Monday, Poketober fest will be held in the Student Union Plaza. This event spon sored by the Student Union Activities Board will feature root beer, food, a mechanical bull and other activities.

Yoga in the Garden will occur Oct. 5. at The Botanic

Garden. You can register at rec. wellness.okstate.edu to join in group yoga.

The Miss OSU Scholar ship Competition on Oct. 6 will take place in the Student Union. For $10, you can sup port the contestants as they compete.

All of these activities are sure to keep you busy.

Visit https://calendar. okstate.edu to find specific information about these events.

Abby Cage

Part of the events this week includes Picklefest, hosted by SUAB.

Come check out E.

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,

Open Coming?

Guaranteed Weekday Parking, 1 block from Eskimo Joe’s, $100/year. Go to salemosu.org or call 405-372-3074 for info.

Houses for rent

Now Available Nice Home at 2214 E. 6th Ave. 2-bedroom, 1- bath, Living Room, Dining room, all appliances, washer/ dryer hookups, CHA. 405-372-7107

Help Wanted

Small medical office seeking reliable employee Stillwater. Must be friendly and experience necessary. 405-743-3668

Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (09/27/22). Partnership flowers this year. Disciplined practices grow romance, fun and passion. Creative accomplishments light up the autumn, before educational journeys take a winter twist. Profit through financial collabora tion next spring, before making summer revisions to creative or communication projects. Weave talents, dreams and hearts together. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most chal lenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Take care of business and focus on basics. Review numbers. Maintain positive cash flow into shared accounts. Col laborate with the heavy lifting. Actions get results. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Collaborate to get farther, faster. You can accomplish miracles with the help of a talented partner. Reinforce founda tional elements. Share the rewards of your efforts.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Faithful practice pays off. Healthy routines lead to growing strength, endurance, stamina and energy. Find clever ways to incorporate movement. Dance while you work. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Advance a romantic dream one step at a time. Focus on foundational basics, like logistics. Simplify down to the heart of the matter.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — You’re especially creative with domes tic organization. Plan for the changes you’d like. Use what you’re learning. Clean and declutter. Rearrange and revise. Make lasting upgrades.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Engage with a tantalizing puzzle. Intellectual challenges entice. Handle basic factors. Note discoveries as you inves tigate clues. Write your conclusions, views and perspectives.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Profitable opportunities tempt you into action. Focus on practical foundations first. Follow rules and instructions care fully. Develop lucrative potential into positive cash flow.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Pamper yourself with favorite activi ties, rituals and traditions. Advance a passion project by strengthening support structures and basic elements. Keep your word. Take charge. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 7 — There’s light at the end of the tunnel. Plan your moves. Prepare for what’s ahead. Rest and recharge. Handle logistics. Make sure equipment works.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is an 8 — Deepen social connections. Par ticipate to advance a cause of common passion. Community contribution provides a sense of purpose and belonging. Strengthen bonds with love.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Develop a professional project with discipline and determination. Follow rules, guidelines and instructions carefully. Build strong foundations before adding details. Ensure success with preparation. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Investigate and test your theories. Follow a curiosity where it leads. Explore options. Chart results and conclusions. Build your case on strong foundations.

ACROSS “How tragic” Cent Gender-neutral German article Food safety Infer Foot part thing Annual presidential speech, for of Simply Beet! Sunburn reaction S. thai Angeles for many Chapped, maybe through sound that may sleep High-IQ group “__ Lasso” Doodads Pseudonym Org. S. Regan Wooden barrel involving three claims, the starts of the answers to the starred clues literally are Hardens Sports data “Assuming there is one” “Black-ish” role Generational Trait carriers Wraps (up) Cuatro Flue residue Slyly referred (to) Feminine article Peek through shutters, say Holly’s “Raising Arizona” role Much-used pencil March Madness Holler International reality show that “Shark Tank” Pinnacle Writer Silverstein Get too old __ de plume Lounges around Cruet contents Just so-so Spouse’s kin Scrounging sort Sticky reminder Genre associated black eyeliner Country duo Brooks __ “Two mints in one” mint 2003 Outkast hit Business maj. Milne joey Sacha Baron persona Artery inserts Fragrant wood “If u ask me ... ” Brand that had instant success? Afternoon nap Toll-paying convenience “Wow” Survivor’s struggle, Carafe kin No __, no fuss Jazz legend Actor Rickman __ wave Types (in) Folklore crone Use a trowel

By Christina Iverson

Solution to Monday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk Mepham reserved.

Lifestyle

Philharmonic...

Continued from page 1

Caroline Heaney, the publicist for the New York Philharmonic, is responsible for promoting the work of the New York Philharmonic in New York and around the world. Heaney has worked for the NY Philharmonic for two and a half years.

“My favorite part about the job is getting to work with our amazing musicians and showing the world how

fantastic they are,” Heaney said. “ I am a classical music fan, so it’s a great privilege to work for an institution like this.”

The night ended with Van Zwe den and his artists playing the alma mater in a way never heard before. The audience sang every word with a voice filled with pride followed with a stand ing ovation.

“I enjoyed this evening,” Heaney said. “It’s always a joy to hear the phil harmonic and to be in a new city and watch people’s reaction to the orchestra is a real treat.”

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Ethan Hilbert

The New York Philharmonic performed three times this past weekend at the McKnight Center for Performing Arts.

Ethan Hilbert

OSU supporters enjoyed a night with the New York Philharmonic.