As Luke Clayton gathered strength for the second biking loop of one of the most difficult triathlon series in the world, he looked down at his left forearm.
“One more mile,” one of his many sources of inspiration, was scrawled across it.
Clayton, who was competing alongside Beta Theta Pi fraternity brother Will Mulready, was in the thick of his 13-hour endurance session of the Wisconsin IRONMAN. Knowing the race is notorious for its three large hills and 6,100 feet of elevation gain, Clayton
buckled down.
“It’s just kind of mentally… breaking it up and just being like, ‘I can do one more. Just give me one more,’” Clayton said. By the end of the day Sept. 8, Clayton and Mulready would complete a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike and a 26.2 mile run.
“Going into the race day, just knowing this is going to be my entire day’s activity, like, ‘I’m dead set on this being at least 12, 13, 14, hours, depending on how the race goes,’” Mulready said. “And I’m just, I gotta be OK with that.”
Clayton and Mulready, both seniors, competed almost one year after their first sprint triathlon in Enid. A much shorter version of their most recent triathlon, the sprint was a
750-meter swim, 12.4-mile bike and 3.1-mile run.
The pair, along with some of their other fraternity brothers, competed in the sprint triathlon on a whim, showing up in swim trunks instead of wetsuits like some of their competitors sported.
That race ignited a passion – one that would captivate the attention of Clayton, Mulready and two other Beta Theta Pi members.
“I guess we kind of just caught the bug and just decided to go with it,” Clayton said. “I know that we kind of just both wanted to do something tough, something to keep us both active, especially over the summer because we were both living here, and so we just both decided to go into a full IRONMAN.”
See MILE on page 4A
Upperclassmen choose campus
housing over apartments
LUISA CLAUSEN STAFF REPORTER @ LUISACLAUSEN
Before Hope Crain started her junior year, she chose to call Iba Hall home.
In 2023, Crain, a senior at OSU, returned the apartment keys from her sophomore year home and picked up the new ones that would lead her back to where her college life started: the dorms.
Some questioned her choice. “Why would you go back to sharing a room and using the community bathroom?” they asked her. But Crain was confident in her decision.
A year before the big move, Crain became friends with international students from Japan. The connection was instant, and the bond was strong. Even better, they all lived under the same roof: Iba Hall, the Global Scholar housing and hub for international students.
“I thought ‘You know what? I want to spend
the rest of my college career getting to know these other cultures and getting to be their friend.’ I just had a huge heart for it.”
Crain is one of the 2,234 non-freshmen living on campus this fall, showing a 21.2% increase from last year when 1,842 upperclassmen resided on campus, according to an open records request.
During September’s Faculty Council meeting, OSU President Dr. Kayse Shrum said the reason for the increase was unknown, but the university wants to find out why.
Crain knew her why. She said she was aware some sacrifices would come with her choice, such as sharing community space, but added that there is only one time in life to experience dorm life, and for her, it’s during college.
“People around me asked ‘How are you so excited to move into this dorm?’” Crain said.
“And it’s just because my love and heart for the people are so much
greater than my love for comfort. We can live in a house any time after we graduate, but living in a dorm like this is only during college.”
James Lee, a senior at OSU, shares the same feeling as Crain. He lived in the dorms during his freshman year and decided to move off campus with his friends during his sophomore and junior years. But something changed when he had to choose where to live during his last year. Similar to Crain, the answer felt easy.
A member of BMC, the Baptist Collegiate Ministries, Lee joined the international team, meant to connect and help international students navigate life at an American college. For him, to live at Iba Hall was a no-brainer. Lee said connections happen at random times when students live in the dorms, whether it’s in the community kitchen while making a meal or in the meditation room where somebody may be doing homework.
See HOUSING on page 6A
Campus organizations participate in National Voter Registration Day
HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Tuesday marks a day dedicated to getting citizens involved in the democratic process.
National Voter Registration Day is a nationwide drive to register new voters, educate on voting practices and encourage Americans to participate civically.
The OSU Student Government Association, the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society, the Stillwater League of Women Voters and several other campus organizations are partnering to raise awareness about the importance of voting.
“We just want to push the importance of democracy,” Pi Sigma
Campbell said. “We always say we don’t care who you vote for; we just want you to vote.”
SGA is implementing a campus-wide initiative to encourage students, especially first-time voters, to vote in November’s general election.
Public Affairs Committee
Chair Ashton Tate said the goal is to register 1,000 voters by the general election in November.
“Almost 75% of people on campus, this will be their first presidential election they can vote in,” he said.
Tate and Campbell said many students do not want to vote or are afraid because they believe their vote does not matter, but the pair disagree. They want students to know that registering to vote allows them to decide their future on the local level.
“There’s more than just the presidential election,” Tate said. “That’s my biggest thing: The president is
the whole country, but your superintendents, supervisors, county clerk and the state legislature are the ones that really make a bigger impact on your life.”
Registering to vote allows students to vote on everything from the mayor to the chief of police. Local elections can shape and change the fabric of towns, cites and states.
“Local elections impact your daily life so much, and I don’t think we can talk about it enough,” Campbell said. “Not only are you voting for your president, but you’re voting for who turns the lights on in the middle of the night.”
Presidential elections are often closer in numbers than people realize. Student Volunteer Coordinator for Campus Life Haley Osiek said the 2000 election between President George W. Bush and the Democratic nominee Al Gore is a prime example.
See VOTER on page 5A
Courtesy of Hope Crain
Hope Crain (right) chose to move into Iba Hall for her junior year.
Hayden Alexander
SGA, Pi Sigma Alpha and the Stillwater League of Women Voters encourage students
Alpha President Amy
Courtesy of Luke Clayton
State agency to remove Narcan vending machines, Colvin vending machine to remain
LUISA CLAUSEN STAFF REPORTER @ LUISACLAUSEN
A pilot project using vending machines to distribute Narcan and fentanyl test strips in Oklahoma will see a change at the end of the month.
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse announced Sept. 13, it would withdraw its Harm Reduction vending machines from the field and transition to a more efficient distribution plan. The department said the decision was based on an extensive evaluation of the vending machine program’s performance.
In a press release, the department said the initiative increased awareness and access to critical overdose prevention resources. However, it was less cost-effective than the department had anticipated and posed significant operational challenges. The Colvin Recreation Center has a similar vending machine on site, and it will remain.
The Harm Reduction vending machines will be replaced with marketing posters featuring QR codes. The codes will give people access to information on receiving products by mail and on physical pick-up points.
The program started in May 2023, when the vending machines were placed in schools, businesses, advocacy groups, law enforcement and other high-traffic areas across the state. The goal was to address the opioid crisis, which is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people under 50.
Jamilah Al-Harake, a community-based prevention grant coordinator for opioids and stimulants at OSU’s Department of Community Wellness, has kept up with the program from the start. She said the end of the vending machine project caught her by surprise, but she is confident different resources will help with the issue as well.
“It doesn’t seem that it’s going to affect the actual distribution of Narcan in the state,” Al-Harake said. “There’s been a lot of cost and technical difficulties with the vending machine process, and they just decided they want to push a lot more onto treatment resources and still maintain a way where everyone can get free Narcan, but in a more
cost-efficient and labor-efficient way that can produce better data.”
OSU Community Wellness offers Narcan to community partners in different counties, and Al-Harake said the termination of the vending machines will not impact that.
She said the machines provided some visual representation of what Narcan looks like, and it was a way to catch people’s attention to overdose prevention resources. However, she said there are different approaches to achieving the same goal. okimready.org is one of the tools Al-Harake encourages people to check out.
On the website, people can order Narcan and have it delivered to their homes within two days. In 2023, it shipped 148,886 two-dose naloxone kits and 108,306 fentanyl test strips through the mailout program, averaging 1,200 shipments every month, according to the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse.
“So it is working right?” Al-Harake said. “Hopefully that awareness created through replacing the vending machines with the QR codes will help people. We really try to focus on education programs and what the students need, and we will continue to offer those educational resources.”
Al-Harake said students can reach out to the Wellness Department and have conversations about how to help or be helped, ways to be safe, how to administer Narcan, its importance and more. The Colvin Recreation Center has its vending machine and will continue to offer free hygiene kits, Narcan, sexual health products and other items.
“I would just say be aware that it exists all around you,” Al-Harake said. “Don’t think that substances can’t affect you. It affects everyone in every age, position, economic status, age, gender, you name it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. There are just ways to get help if you need it or ways to make yourself safer. If you’re interested in that, the Wellness Department can supply those to you. We want you to be safe.”
To learn more on how to get help through OSU or learn how to apply for access to Narcan, visit the OSU Wellness website.
Ask the Pokes
Fall officially starts this weekend. What is your favorite fall activity and why?
“My favorite fall activity is carving pumpkins because it takes me back to when I was little, and I find joy in that.”
- Reganne Morris
“My favorite fall activity is going to the football games because I enjoy being around Boone Pickens and hanging out with all my friends, cheering on the cowboys.”
- Grant Taylor
“TI like the cooler temperatures and the leaves change because it makes campus just a much nicer atmosphere.”
“Pumpkin Spice lattee and I love that it’s not summer.”
- Savannah Skelton
Payton Little
“The Connect” vending machine in the Colvin Center offers students Narcan, HIV self-test kits, fentanyl strips, condoms, lubricant, first-aid kits, deodorant and toothbrushes. This machine will not be affected by the change.
SGA approves sustainability alternative for dining services
begin with.
OSU could add a new way to recycle for its dining services.
The Student Government Association passed a bill Wednesday that would replace all Styrofoam items at OSU dining halls with paper materials. The change could improve OSU’s recycling rate, if adopted.
Senator Joshua Wilson, the bill’s author, said a 2016 study found 2.3 million tons of Styrofoam ends up in landfills. Since, he said Styrofoam production and waste has gone up.
“The university, you might see on their bottles or on their various Styrofoam cups that it says, ‘Oh, this is completely recyclable,’ which is true, but it’s kind of deceiving,” Wilson said. “Because it’s recyclable, but only to a certain landfill that this company owns, which we don’t send our stuff to.”
The solution, he said, is to replace it with paper materials, which is an easier and cheaper option to ensure recyclability.
Other universities, such as the University of Nebraska, Appalachian State University and the University of California have adopted policies to remove Styrofoam products from their campuses.
Senator Tristan Mocio voted in favor of the bill, though he questioned why OSU has not recycled its Styrofoam items to
“I’m totally in favor of switching, especially because he (Wilson) said it was cheaper,” Mocio said. “So I was like, if it saves us money and also for the environment. But generally, when someone brings a problem, and his problem is that we weren’t recycling, I was like, ‘That brings an obvious question, why don’t we just recycle?’ Especially because we get to keep all the old stock that we have.”
Although Wilson said he was unable to get any numbers from a discussion with Vedda Hsu, the director of University Dining Services, the research he has done into paper alternatives seems to be cheaper.
Senator Trevor Friesen, who passed a sustainability bill last school year, said he is concerned the paper replacements could have other fees associated that would deter the university from adopting the policy.
“Of course I believe if there is a simple opportunity to switch for better fiscal reasons and better recycling reasons, of course we should,” Friesen said. “It’s a shame we haven’t sooner. However, the (Student) Union has not always been the most receptive to change or the quickest about it, nor by what Josh said did they seem very receptive to it. But I hope he follows up.”
The bill will advance, after a 29-0 vote, to the student body president and vice president, who have the power to send the legislation to university officials or veto it.
news.ed@ocolly.com
New healthcare option for OSU employees offered
KENNEDY THOMASON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
@_KENNEDYPAGE
OSU employees have a new healthcare option.
Rezilient Health has opened a clinic in partnership with OSU, offering some employees a healthcare alternative. The clinic provides telehealth services, along with hands-on care. It is available to OSU employees with a $0 copay and no deductible, which was announced during the September Faculty Council meeting.
Rachel Shreffler, director of benefits for human resources, said OSU started its work with Rezilient to improve the percentage of employees utilizing primary care opportunities, lower overall health costs and improve healthcare options.
“The reason for that is creating opportunities for different experiences, different healthcare providers, and just access
to care, in general, in our communities that are more rural in nature,” Shreffler said.
Employees under the BlueOption PPO plan or the BlueEdge high deductible health plan are eligible, along with their dependents, 7 years or older. They must also live within a 30-mile radius of OSU’s Stillwater campus or Langston University.
The clinic’s model is designed to lengthen time with health care providers, who offer a variety of services. They can perform care including blood draws, hypertension management and annual wellness exams.
The clinic will not automatically share information with Blue Cross Blue Shield, which insures many OSU employees, Shreffler said. OSU and the company had an impasse in 2023 negotiations, when the insurance company and Stillwater Medical Center disagreed over who should pay for rising medical care costs. An agreement was met,
narrowly avoiding Stillwater Medical Center no longer serving as a Blue Cross Blue Shield in-network provider. It would have left many OSU employees with high bills to pay in an emergency.
“There is no charge to the plan participant that is utilizing their services, again, just to be transparent, if there’s referrals to specialty clinics, those or specialty lab processing locations, there is a claim that’s filed through Blue Cross Blue Shield, but there is not for utilization of the Rezilient clinic,” Shreffler said.
The clinic is the first in Oklahoma, making OSU a “pioneer.” Plans for expansion are possible, Shreffler said, with an option to add another clinic to southwest Stillwater in discussions. She said it is also possible the clinics will be placed in other rural areas.
The clinic is open MondayFriday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and is located at East Lakeview Road and North Perkins Road. news.ed@ocolly.com
Trump targeted in second assassination attempt
RAYNEE HOWELL
ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
@RAYNEEHOWELL
Former President and Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump is “safe and well” after gunshots were fired at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, Sunday.
The FBI is investigating the incident as an “assassination attempt,” according to a press release, and has a suspect in custody. This is the second time in two months Trump has been a target of an attempted assassination.
On July 13, at a rally in Pennsylvania, Trump was narrowly missed by a bullet that injured his ear. Thomas Matthew Crooks was later identified as the shooter.
Sunday, the Secret Service was present with Trump at the Trump International Golf Course when an agent, who was stationed one hole ahead, spotted an AK-style rifle sticking out of the fence, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said during a news conference.
The agent fired shots in the direction of the suspect, now identified as Ryan Wesley Routh, and he fled the scene. A witness provided authorities with the car model and license plate number of the vehicle. He was later arrested on Interstate 95.
The gunman was about 300500 yards from Trump’s location, Bradshaw said. Routh left behind two bags and a GoPro after camping outside the golf course for 12 hours, according to court documents. The suspect is believed to have been positioned at the golf course from about 1:59 a.m. to 1:31 p.m. Sunday.
Routh currently faces charges of possessing a firearm with a prior felony conviction and possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number. He appeared in court Monday, and his charges were read. He did not enter a plea and will appear in court again on Sep. 23 for a bond hearing.
The FBI is investigating his motive, and searched his house Tuesday, according to a Newsweek representative who spoke to a FBI spokesperson.
Trump sent out an email to his supporters and posted to his website to avoid speculation about his well being on Sunday.
“FEAR NOT! I am safe and well, and no one was hurt. Thank God! But, there are people in this world who will do whatever it takes to stop us. I will not stop fighting for you,” his statement read.
President Joe Biden said he is relieved Trump was unharmed, and he commends the work of the Secret Service and the local authorities.
“As I have said many times, there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country, and I have directed my team to continue to ensure that (the) Secret Service has every resource, capability and protective measure necessary to ensure the former President’s continued safety,” Biden said on X.
Vice President Kamala Harris released a similar statement expressing relief for Trump’s safety and condemning political violence.
Kennedy Thomason
Human Resources Director of Benefits Rachel Shreffler said Stillwater’s new Rezilient Clinic is the first in the state.
Tribune News Service
Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was the target of a second unsuccessful assassination attempt Sunday.
Mile
Continued from 1
Clayton, who ran a marathon in December, trained for that race throughout the fall semester. Mulready joined in on the training in January, which started as a commitment of 10-15 hours each week. The goal wasn’t to prepare for September’s full. Instead, the group was training for a half IRONMAN in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Clayton and Mulready didn’t make the decision to go for the full until after their May race.
“I had no plan or expectation to do the full, because I was like, ‘Yeah, it would be cool to do the full, but that is just so much time and effort, money (and), you know, broke college student here,” Mulready said. “So I was like, ‘If I’m doing it, I’m gonna have to be working a lot as well,’ but I gave myself a two-week break after the half IRONMAN.”
Then they were back at it. Clayton worked full time at Stillwater Medical Center, pursuing his goal of being a physical therapist. Mulready was the recruitment chair for his fraternity and also logged flight hours for OSU’s aviation program.
During Stillwater’s hot summer mornings and nights and especially on weekends, the pair hit the pavement or pool to train. They reserved their longest workouts of the week for Saturdays, spending 6-7 hours biking and running, Clayton said.
“(They are) huge things by themselves to do, like a big swim and then a big bike and a big run,” Clayton said. “But I think Will and I were very fortunate enough to kind of have each other running and biking and swimming, to do those workouts, to just kind of keep each other accountable and safe.”
On typical training days, Clayton said he would burn anywhere from 1,200-1,500 calories. On highintensity days, it would be 5,000-6,000.
Lexy McKnight, Clayton’s girlfriend, said the time commitment and having an understanding that 70% of training was about having the right mindset were two major factors in their training.
She watched Clayton, who blew his knee out during his senior year of high school, work through the limitations of the injury. Having a training partner helped push both of them, she said.
“They would never say that to each other’s faces, because they’re boys, but I just feel like they really enjoyed each other’s company when they could get to do those things together,” McKnight said. “And I think… as much as they probably won’t portray it outwards, (they are) just proud of themselves.”
Logan Dill, fraternity brother and roommate to Mulready, also watched the pair train day in and day out. He said Clayton’s competitive outlook and Mulready’s willingness to say ‘yes’ to opportunities allowed them to be successful.
“They’re full-time college students,” Dill said. “They both work multiple jobs while in college. They’re both heavily active in intramurals and their fraternity and other organizations on campus outside of the journey. So it’s crazy how throughout everything they’re involved in, they found time to do the training. They found the weekend to do the IRONMAN. I mean, just for how young they are, (that) just sets them apart. “They’re some dogs.”
During the race, Mulready said the intense volume of training led to a successful, but long, race day.
“Even through the race, you just realized how kind of conditioned you were and how much training actually really did pay off,” Mulready said. “So that was cool to see a direct correlation and actually kind of see your hard work pay off.”
As the pair made their way through the course and knocked out hour after hour, they kept tabs on each other. Mulready, who finished the swim slightly before Clayton, waited so they could start the bike together. After a few mechanical issues at the beginning, the pair began the two-track loop of one of the IRONMAN series’ toughest bike courses. They climbed the hills and battled the elevation before hopping off to finish the last 26.2 miles of their race.
Clayton knew the run would be a strong suit, but it was a different story for Mulready.
“I know for the most part, I know I can run a half marathon, and then that last half marathon, I’m just surviving,” Mulready said. “So it’s like, whatever I need to do to survive at that point, I’ll worry about that later.”
As Clayton pounded out the last few miles, he glanced down at the reminder on his arm and sent up a prayer. One more mile.
Clayton finished in 13 hours and 12 minutes, and Mulready in 13 hours and 32 minutes. They competed in the 18- to 24-year old division, placing 41st and 54th, respectively.
For both of them, a highlight was seeing their families near the course, along with Wisconsin’s other “rowdy fans,” Mulready said.
They returned to Stillwater the next day, and Clayton, who “played his cards right” didn’t miss class. Clayton and Mulready are taking a long break from training. Although they are involved in intramurals, they won’t be reaching for their bikes or goggles anytime soon.
“I said I would never do a full after the half, (but) here we are,” Mulready said.
If the race returns to Tulsa, Mulready’s hometown, he said he would consider doing another full, despite the “crazy amount of time and money and effort.” “But at this point, yeah, I’m kind of tapping out,” he said.
Female artists celebrate big wins at 40th VMAs
JOCELYNE PEREZ STAFF REPORTER
The 40th MTV VMAs took place Sept. 11 at the UBS Arena in New York. The award show featured performances from music artists like Benson Boone, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan.
Megan Thee Stallion hosted the VMAs and paid homage to Britney Spears’ 2001 VMA performance. Megan Thee Stallion had a live snake draped around her, replicating Spears’ “I’m a Slave 4 U” VMA performance, but got rid of the snake rather quickly.
The night’s biggest winner was Taylor Swift. She won seven awards, leading her to a total of 30 VMAs. Her awards from the night include “Artist of the year” and “Video of the year.” Swift is now tied with Beyonce for the most VMAs awards.
The pop singer also shocked
fans by shouting out her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, openly. Swift is known to keep her affections to herself when it comes to her love life but was apparently feeling grateful for the happiness he brings to her.
Women have taken over music this past year with the rise of artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. The VMAs even gave its lifetime achievement award, the Video Vanguard Award, to female pop star Katy Perry.
Perry gave a 10-minute performance of her greatest hits and new songs from her upcoming album. Although Perry reached a new milestone in her career, she overshadowed her moment during her acceptance speech –when she revealed she performed on the first day of her period.
Despite the award show being music-based, athletes were also presented with awards. USA gymnast Jordan Chiles was
presented with a “bronze medal” from rapper Flavor Flav. Chiles won a bronze medal during the 2024 Paris Olympics, but the medal was later revoked because of a scoring appeal. Flav stepped in to make up for the Olympics mishap.
Rising star Benson Boone performed, as well as rock legend Lenny Kravitz.
Coincidentally enough, Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes also shared the stage the night of the VMAs. The three music artists have been under close watch from fans after the release of Carpenter’s “Taste” music video, which is believed to be about Cabello and the love triangle the three artists were in.
The VMAs might have ended, but award season has just started. The American Music Awards, AMAs and Country Music Awards will be later this year, which all leads up to the Grammys next year.
news.ed@ocolly.com
New text message campaign to combat alcohol abuse during football season
RAYNEE HOWELL
ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
@RAYNEEHOWELL
In recent years, college-aged women have surpassed collegeaged men in the number of alcohol consumption and drinking and driving cases, according to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
OSU Community Wellness grant coordinator Melissa Walters focuses on alcohol abuse research and became concerned with the numbers in SAMHSA’s study. Walters and her supervisor, Chuck Lester, launched a text message campaign Aug. 30, a day before the first OSU football game. The purpose: to reach the college-aged female population before they make potentially lifealtering decisions.
“We’re just trying to keep kids safe here, and really, provide a resource for them,” Walters said. “We want to provide resources for alcohol safety, drunk driving, if your drink is spiked, 00-14… just trying to hit that hard for them.”
00-14 is an initiative OSU Community Wellness launched last football season as a reminder
of safe drinking practices. It stands for 0 drinks under 21 years of age, 0 drinking and driving, 1 drink per hour and 4 drinks maximum. 00-14 is one of the many messages sent through the campaign.
The campaign also sends out resources that can target more than just college-aged women, but anyone drinking around game time. With key words like “SAFE” and “SPIKED,” the interactive text message program will send out specific resources. With “SAFE,” OSUPD information is sent, and with “SPIKED,” safety tips on how to handle consumption of a potential spiked drink.
There are also keywords, “BAR” and “FOOD,” that send directions to nearby restaurants and bars, along with a safety warning to remind campaign participants to “make a plan” when going out.
With the increased number of activities surrounding alcohol during football season such as tailgates, The Strip bars and parties, many populations can experience unsafe conditions. Walters collaborated with OSU Athletics to reach the intended population.
Around the tailgates, there are now signs with a QR code leading to a site that promotes al-
cohol safety and the text message campaign.
“I think that with tailgating, there is a lot of drinking that goes on,” Walters said. “And I think this time of year is the biggest time of year for drinking, and this is a good pilot time to do this program, in case we may want to carry it over to spring break, or even the summer.”
Once someone signs up, text messages will be sent the day before, and on each game day. Once the first message of the week is sent, a list of keywords to find specific resources will follow. When in need of a resource, the list is there to provide the information needed.
The program is getting off its feet, with 25 contacts currently enrolled. Walters hopes to reach 50 contacts and work toward potentially continuing the program past football season.
“We don’t want to preach to people,” Walters said. “We want to say ‘If you’re gonna drink, here’s some tools. They’re gonna do it either way, and you know, if you’re in trouble or something or say you don’t have money to go home… ‘Hey, here’s some resources on the nearest ATMs to you.’ Or if you don’t have a sober ride home, ‘Here’s some Ubers.’”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Tribune News Service
Chappell Roan was one of the artists chosen to perform at the VMAs on Sept. 11..
Kaytlyn Hayes
In 2000, the difference in the popular vote was about 500,000 compared to the 2020 election, with about 7 million difference.
“It was neck and neck, and that’s really the sentiment behind ‘every vote counts,’” Osiek said. “While it feels minor, and it feels like they’re one individual person, and maybe their vote doesn’t make a large impact, it does, and it’s their way to go out and have their voice be heard.”
Helen Clements with the Stillwater League of Women Voters said she views voting as a part of everyday life. She compares voting to going to school, paying taxes and driving on the right side of the road.
“It’s part of being in our society,” Clements said. “We need people to stay engaged and to stop and think about how they want to participate.”
The push to register voters is a constant initiative for SGA and other campus organizations. The groups will continue to promote voting throughout the semester.
“It’s just something that we saw as a need on our campus to make sure students know that they had more access to get registered, to vote and to get educated before going out to the polls,” Osiek said.
The general election is Nov. 5, and before voting, make sure to stay up-to-date on deadlines.
The voter registration deadline is Oct. 11. Students can register through their state’s online voter portals.
“If you need to change your last name, change any of that, you can do it all in one place,” Campbell said.
The deadline for the absentee ballot application is Oct. 21. Pi Sigma Alpha is hosting an event Oct. 28 so students can get their mail-in ballots notarized.
Early voting is happening in Stillwater on Oct. 30-Nov. 1, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Early voting locations include the Stillwater Public Library and the Cushing Chamber of Commerce.
Whether you are a first-time voter or are working on getting your absentee ballot forms situated and are looking for more information check out the Student Affairs’ website.
news.ed@ocolly.com
‘We’re
doing
It’s a quiet morning at Boone Pickens Stadium, except for the sounds of footsteps as more than 200 OSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and firefighters from across the state climb the steps in remembrance of 9/11.
The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is an annual event hosted by the OSU Fire Protection Society to honor the fallen heroes of 9/11. This year, the event fell on Saturday.
Those participating climbed the equivalent of 110 flights of stairs, the number of floors in each of the World Trade Center Towers. Long said about 40 made the climb in full gear to honor the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11.
“We do it (9/11 Memorial Stair Climb) to honor the firefighters that sacrificed their lives that day,” OSU FPS stair climb coordinator Daniel Long said.
Long has planned the climb for the past four years and still feels the weight and impact of the event.
“It was really moving to see it all come together with the turnout we had and everyone wanting to help,” Long said.
Climbers wore lanyards with photos, names and engine numbers of the firefighters lost on 9/11. Several climbers took to the stadium steps with loved ones in mind.
“I’ve got family that was in the military and family that was directly affected by 9/11, so it means a lot to me,” student Corbin Young said.
Young climbed the 110 steps and enjoyed the community and remembrance the event fostered.
“It’s definitely a bonding experience,” Young said. “One of my favorite parts was going up and down and high-fiving some people coming back.”
Sophomore Rudy Salano also climbs for family. He said an event like this helps prospective fire fighters remember the past and learn for the future.
“You learn about everything in the past, but you also learn about what things should not happen again,” Salano said. “You learn about the community coming together no matter what and sticking together, guiding you even on your toughtest times and lifting you up.”
There were plenty of people to lift up, with firefighters traveling from Owasso, Oklahoma City, Texas and more to participate in the climb.
The community aspect made the difficult climb easier. Freshman Tanner Noakes said the climb is a good reminder of what those who ran into the buildings went through.
“It helps people realize how hard it was because some people come in, ‘Oh it’s not that hard,’ but when you got gear on and a pack on it’s really hard; it’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to do.”
For Noakes, being a member of the OSU FPS means he is apart of something bigger than Oklahoma State.
“Fire Protection Society is a part of the fire service and we all are brothers,” Noakes said. “They all passed away and we’re never going to forget them so we’re doing this for them and to honor them.”
Firefighter Jared Grantham with the Owasso Fire Department said the significance of the event for the Stillwater community cannot be understated. The OSU Fire Safety programs are well know throughout the nation. Grantham is one of many Oklahoma fire fighters that went through the OSU Fire Safety Training program.
“I don’t know if Stillwater recognizes how important OSU FST is to the greater fire fighting world,” Grantham said. “It is kind of the epicenter for fire fighters, a lot of knowledge and skills come out this area so it’s kind of like doing something for the fire service right her in the geographic heart of the fire service.”
Grantham made the climb with his son, a future student at OSU and said he joined the military because of 9/11. For Grantham 9/11 changed the trajectory of his life and the lives of others.
“It changed my experience,” Grantham said. “It’s changed the fire service and as the next generation the things that are important to us.”
Many students making the climb were not alive during the attack, and Long said it’s vital that students and the generations that follow remember 9/11.
“It’s really important that they can experience something close to recognize what everyone went through that day, even if they were not alive during it,” Long said. “There’s a reason that people who were alive can remember what they were doing that specific day when they saw it on the news.”
The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a tradition that ensures that the community will remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001 for years to come.
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SUAB hosts annual Art Festival
from his father. Wallace’s family moved frequently and took pictures of every place they stayed, which he continues to do today.
The Student Union Plaza was transformed into a bustling marketplace Sept. 13.
Tables lined the brick patio, each brimming with jewelry, paintings, sewn articles and other unique artwork. Vendors chatted with browsing students and each other. Around Chi-O Clock, students worked on creating their own pieces, such as customized hats, bookmarks and scrapbook pages.
The entire scene was full of music and excitement.
SUAB’s Art Festival is an annual event where local artists and artisans can display and sell their creations, and students can create their own pieces at arts-and-crafts stations. It provides an opportunity for students to discover the vibrant artistic community within OSU.
Artists are able to share their past journeys and experiences with others through the Art Festival. Artist Jason Wallace’s portfolio included photographs taken from Stillwater to Tuscany, Italy. He is the graphic designer and photographer for the College of Arts and Sciences. He gained his knowledge and passion for photography
“I learned more about where I was from and who I was as a person by leaving and then coming back,” Wallace said.
“So I wanted to keep that up… ‘How far can I push that?
What more can I learn? All of these (photographs) are from my journey of looking for and learning about what all is out there: learning about architecture, learning about nature and so forth and being out there with it.”
Aggie Gillin, a member of OSU’s American Society of Landscape Architects, is another artist who uses her travels as inspiration. Her table consisted primarily of watercolor landscapes she painted while in Taos, New Mexico.
“I design landscapes, so… when I’m like, ‘Oh, this is really good. This is a really good spot… this would be a great photo for a landscape,’ … I take that, and I paint it,” Gillin said.
The Art Festival provides creatives not only with an opportunity to make money, but also a space where they can connect with one other.
OSU’s Graphic Design Club staff were at the festival selling stickers with a wide variety of designs, each one created by its members.
“Part of why our club exists is to help build community for graphic design majors,” President Gretchen Nantz said. “Out of all the art majors, we’re one of the smaller ones... We’ve been trying to help expand the community in the arts here on campus. I think we have a very healthy and positive environment. Every person I’ve met in either graphic design classes, or art history classes, or just regular studio art classes have been really great.”
Though the club’s main focus is to help graphic design majors, it provides a space for all art students to assist each other and learn new ways to apply their skills.
“I feel like the art community on campus is definitely
very open,” Treasurer Beck Hodge said. “I’m a studio art minor, so I’m in between both worlds a little bit. When I talk to studio (art majors), they’re always very welcoming me into their side of the community… whereas graphic design can be kind of specialized. But I feel like recently, there’s definitely been a lot of crossing over.”
The arts have always been a medium for political selfexpression, and the Art Festival was no exception. Freshman Greta Robinson’s series of abstract paintings highlight several issues such as religion, race and trauma. One piece that she felt compelled to make stirred some controversy when she shared it on social media.
“Miss America is my rep-
resentation of America as a being, and it’s really talking about how as America, we did a lot of people wrong, like the Native Americans and during Pearl Harbor, how we treated the Asian community,” Robinson said. “(It) shows the embodiment of how America is today… frail, but also strong. I posted it on Facebook and got some people being like, ‘Why do you hate America?’ I don’t hate America. I’m just talking about the things that we don’t want to talk about. And sometimes art kind of gives me (a) way to talk about things.”
This year’s Art Festival had a large turnout, with large crowds and line spanning the plaza.
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Jose Brito
More than 200 students, faculty, staff, community members and fire-fighters
MILO CANTRELL STAFF REPORTER
HAYDEN ALEXANDER & JOSE BRITO
Milo Cantrell
Freshman Greta Robinson showcasing her series of abstract paintings at the annual Art Festival.
Continued from 1
“I would tell people ‘Don’t be scared to live on campus again,’” Lee said. “Ultimately, if you have a good reason to do it, then it’s super convenient.”
For Brancen Redman, a junior, living on campus was not an initiative. Instead, it was the result of opportunity. Attending OSU was not in the plans for Redman, but scholarships helped him make the choice.
That’s not all they did. Redman’s scholarships also covered his on-campus housing for all four years of college.
Although living on campus was not his dream, Redman said he knew he could not pass on that opportunity. Throughout the past three years, Redman found positive things about his on-campus life, such as being a walk away from class or an on-campus restaurant. But he also had to turn down close friends who asked him to move in with them, and said he wonders what it’ll be like when he moves and experiences offcampus freedom.
“I think there’s a stigma around upperclassmen who still live in the dorm,” Redman said. “It’s like people think I didn’t fully branch out, but that’s not the case. It’s really easy to talk about the negatives, but there are positives of living on campus. Not having to worry about utilities is one of them.”
Some were drawn back to the dorm life, others used scholarship opportunities to cover the cost, but Kara Dye chose to stay simply because it made sense. Dye, a senior, found dorm life less stressful than off-campus options. During her junior year, Dye shared her space with three other roommates, one of them a freshman. They became close friends, and Dye shared some of her upperclassman experience with a new student. For her, the relationships make the dorm life worth it.
“I’m half extroverted, half introverted,” Dye said. “So I know when I have my extroverted side, I really do need to socialize. It’s nice knowing that I have the neighbors and to socialize, and that is very sweet.”
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News
Chipotle and consent Professional speaker talks sexual violence
RAYNEE HOWELL ASSISTANT NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
After the executive director of the OSU Speakers Board saw Bonny Shade at a leadership conference in February, he knew she would resonate with the student body at OSU.
Her keynote speech titled “If you can order Chipotle, you can ask for consent,” highlighted the issue of sexual violence on college campuses and how student leaders can help. It reached the Student Union Theater yesterday with help from sponsors 1 is 2 Many, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs and the Student Government Association.
As a speaker, Shade brought a new engaging energy to the topic of sexual violence. She leaned into the uncomfortable, serious moments, but found humor in other moments, including the segment the title is based on where she compares ordering Chipotle to a conversation about consent.
“What do they ask you when you walk into Chipotle? What can I get for you, right?” Shade said. “It’s important that we realize that as soon as that question is asked, you get to have a conversation. Now imagine your sex life started off by asking that question, ‘What can I get for you today?… You like it spicy?... Oh, today’s the day you want the carne asada?’”
The speech was full of innuendos, but only in the moments there was room for humor. Sexual violence is a heavy topic, and Shade acknowledged that from the beginning. She encouraged students to embrace the uncomfortableness, but take time for themselves if they began to feel unsafe at any point.
She started her speech acknowledging the shortcuts of life, and how talking about sexual violence has become a shortcut. Shade said there needs to be a new approach, and that is her life’s goal.
“I’m not your average type of
speaker,” Shade said. “If we were still doing the same thing, having the same average conversation that we’ve been having around this topic, we’d be getting the same average results, and I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of average results. You are not an average type of community.”
Shade was inspired to begin keynotes, workshops and other versions of curriculum by her own experience and a book titled, “Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town ” by Jon Krakauer.
The book talks about an experience many students are familiar with, Shade being one of them. As a member of Greek life, she had a community to turn to, and she told her closest sisters about her experience. Unfortunately, their reaction caused her to bury the memory inside.
A graphic on the screen flashed “3,156 days.” That’s how long Shade lived with the secret. For almost seven years, Shade coped in her own ways, without telling another soul. When she finally did, it was on a first date with her now-husband. Her back-story set the audience up for her four-step process on
how each person in the room could help combat sexual violence and be there for victims of sexual violence.
Know how to identify sexual violence at all stages
Sexual violence can be more than our physical-being being violated, it can also be a behavior or environment that we create, Shade said.
Know what consent looks and feels like
Check in with the other person. Make sure nonverbal and verbal cues match.
Know how to step in and step up
If approaching a situation is too intimidating, create a distraction to give a person a way out.
Know how to respond
Ask “How can I support you?” and offer resources.
“I just want you to do better now that you know better,” Shade said. “It’s important that we think differently about this topic. It’s important that we dive in differently with this material, to break that synapse, to do something better about it, to be the leaders, to be the people that we signed up to be when we joined our fraternity or sorority.”
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76th Annual Primetime Emmys: “Shogun” wins big
HAYDEN ALEXANDER NEWS & LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Every year, cinema captures hearts and minds with massive productions and big premieres, but elsewhere, a different kind of magic occurs.
Stories play out on the TV and computer screens daily. These tales range from heartfelt dramas to satirical takes on everyday life.
The Oscars had their moment, and now it is time for Television’s biggest night, the Emmy Awards.
The 76th annual Primetime Emmy Awards premiered Sept. 14 and brought a night of new fashion awards and fun.
Hosted by on-and-off screen fatherson duo Eugene and Dan Levy, the awards had plenty of laughs. The
“Schitt’s Creek” stars decided to play it light and have fun with their hosting duties, keeping the audience laughing.
The Met Gala may be one of entertainment’s biggest nights for fashion, but the Emmys looks did not disappoint.
Selena Gomez stole the show in a dark velvet ensemble; Anna Sawai glided across the carpet in Vera Wang and Kurumi Nakata stole hearts in a historically elegant kimono.
“The Bear” co-stars Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allan White rocked the red carpet with classy looks.
The Olympians made their mark on the Emmys. Team USA rugby player Ilona Maher walked the carpet in a midnight blue gown, redefining femininity yet again.
American hero Stephen Nedoroscik, or “pommel horse guy,” posed with his girlfriend, Tess McCraken. The whole -
A SPECIAL PEOPLE!
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet.2:9-10 NIV)
The apostle Peter is writing to a people who previously had no real relationship with God, but as they came to Christ, to trust and follow him all things changed. They are now special people, a pure people, chosen to be a special group who were taken from spiritual darkness. They are God’s people!
If you have come to Jesus, and received forgiveness of your sins; this is also your new condition. The Apostle Paul said it this way; “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Co.5:17 NIV)
We are the people of God and we have sto ry to tell. We can proclaim it clearly and sincerely to all. This happened to me in Japan, November, 1956. I heard the good news of Christ and things begin to change in my life. Jesus became real and began leading my life. It has been an adventure, learning to fellowship and walk with the Lord. I have made many mistakes, but the Lord keeps encouraging me to keep following Him.
The God, who has started a good work in me and you (fellow believer) will finish it with eternal consequences. All through the ages to come we get to experience life with Christ. If you have not yet put your trust in Him and begin following him. I urge you to do It now. He is faithful to lead your life into the best (sometimes difficult) things and will glorify Himself and produce lasting blessings. It’s open to al!.
some pair looked flawless, and were all smiles during the evening’s festivities.
Onto the show. “Hacks,” “The Bear” and “Shogun” captured most of the evening’s awards.
HBO’s “Hacks” scored two Emmys, including Best Comedy Series, beating out last year’s winner “The Bear.”
Never fear. Fans of the FX series got their chance to cheer as “The Bear” star Jeremy Allen White won Best Actor in a Comedy Series, Ebon Moss-Bacharach won Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and Liza Colón won Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.
In total, “The Bear” won 11 awards during the 2024 awards season, breaking its own record of 10 awards for most comedy wins in a year from the 2023 season.
FX’s “Shogun” won four awards, one of which was for best drama series.
Anna Sawai and Hiroyuki Sanada
became the first Japanese actress and actor to win Best Actress and Best Actor in a Drama series. The show also won best directing for a drama series. In total, “Shogun” took home 18 awards during the 2024 season.
Netflix’s “Baby Reindeer” also cleaned up at the primetime awards with four wins.
Elizabeth Debicki won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as the “people’s princess” Diana in Netflix’s “The Crown.”
Billy Crudup won best-supporting actor in a drama series for “The Morning Show.”
Other notable wins include Best Actress in limited or anthology series, Jodie Foster, for HBO’s “True Detective: Night Country.” Lamore Morris for Best
Supporting Actor in a limited or anthology series, “Fargo,” and Best Talk Show, “The Daily Show.”
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Jake Hiatt
Village E is located on Cleveland and Farm Road.
Lilian Easter
Guest speaker Bonny Shade reaches students with a passionate speech on sexual violence Wednesday.
Q&A: Director of OSU Center for Pet Therapy, looks back fondly on program
Note: This article has been edited for clarity.
The only thing better than owning a dog is owning two dogs.
Kendria Cost, the director of OSU Center for Pet Therapy, shares her two dogs, Charlie and Sutton, with the OSU student body through the Pete’s Pet Posse (P3) program.
From events on campus like Yappy Hour in the Edmon Low Library to passing a P3 team in the hallway, students can see familiar furry friends, including Charlie, who is a member of the first class.
Cost and Charlie, alongside former First Cowgirl Ann Hargis and her dog Scruff, created the program 11 years ago. Since the initial pilot class, the program has grown to be a staple at OSU. Cost sat down with The O’Colly to reflect on the creation of the program and how far it has grown in the past decade. Here is what she had to say.
Q: What did you and Ann Hargis expect when creating the program?
A: “Honestly, when we started talking about the program, neither one of us had a dog that was a fit for the program. The Hargis’ didn’t have a dog at all. I was her assistant at the time, and we started seeing a trend on social media of universities around the country bringing in therapy dogs but only around stressful times, like finals week, first week of classes. We thought all
of that sounded just really fun. Wellness was always a very important platform to her personally, so when they arrived on campus, it naturally translated to her area of interest here. We had very robust programs in terms of physical activity and nutrition, and the next phase was really emotional health.
“We developed an advisory board, and we got a group of people together that we felt like were key constituents on campus, and we just started crafting what the program would be like. We handpicked teams and asked people to apply. We started what we call a pilot program with eight dogs in fall of 2013.”
Q: How did you end up with Charlie?
A: “I had three dogs at the time, and my husband was adamant I could not have a fourth. And then Charlie showed up at my house; he was kind of dumped in that area. The plan was always for Charlie to be the Hargis’ dog and that’s what we were planning, trying to convince President Hargis that they needed a dog and Charlie was it. Charlie was a little hyper, he was younger, and he did some sleepovers with the Hargis’, and he was a bit of a wild child. Then they discovered Scruff. He had been rescued by students, he was abandoned in a backyard and shot, and they used social media to raise money for his surgery. They became very interested in Scruff; it was a great story. He was a very special dog, and we lost him last spring, and that was, and still is, very difficult for us. He was a great dog and a great ambassador for the program.”
Q: In 2015, there was an accident during the Homecoming parade that killed four people and injured dozens more. The P3 program was there to support the community. How did it feel to take on such a big tragedy as a fairly new program?
A: “Looking back at the history of the program, I think that tragedy changed the trajectory of our program. I think we were very young, and we saw every day the difference that the dogs made in the lives of our campus community. When the parade tragedy happened, I knew we could make a difference, but I didn’t really know how. I called University Counseling (Services), the director was on our advisory board, and I said ‘What can we do? How can we serve? We’re here, and we want to help our Cowboy family.’ And she said, ‘Well, get
Half of all men between ages 51-60 will suffer the effects of an enlarged prostate.
some teams to the police department tomorrow, they will have been up all night, they’ve been processing the scene.’ So we did, we took three dogs; Zipper, Charlie and Evie. We were at the police department that afternoon serving those officers.
The next morning, we had te”ams lined up to be outside the counseling offices. We had a team in the lobby for students waiting to be seen, and a team stationed outside the counseling door. Some students came to see the dogs, and after visiting with them for a bit decided to see a counselor. I think they really affected students in a positive way. As the counselors finished talking to students, they would come out and interact with us. So, we were serving students, we were serving counselors and anyone who would stop by.”
Q: What do you think the
Posse will be like in another 10 years?
A: “As long as the program is having the impact it’s having, we’re here to serve this campus. I think we’re only gonna get bigger. We have launched in Tulsa, we have teams at OSU-Tulsa, Center for Health Sciences; we have teams in Tahlequah, and we now have teams in Oklahoma City. Those will continue to grow as people learn and understand what the impact truly is. Really, there is no limit to what we can do. We like to dream big — Ann Hargis is still very involved with this program. She provides a lot of input. We have big dreams, big ideas, it’s just trying to implement those with our limited staff at this point. We’re just really hopeful, and we think we can make an even bigger impact in the next 10 years than we did in the first (10 years).”
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RAYNEE HOWELL & MAYA BLANKS
Courtesy of @pets4pete
OSU’s pet therapy program, Pete’s Pet Posse, currently has 85 therapy dogs system-wide.
Cowboys-Utes a clash of parallel programs, coaches
DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER @DANIELALLEN1738
One thousand and twenty-four miles seperate Oklahoma State University and the University of Utah. But the distance
Miles. That lasted until 2004, when Miles departed for the same position at LSU, leading to Gundy’s elevation to the head coach of his alma mater.
Whittingham began his time in Salt Lake City the same year Gundy did at OSU, under head coach Urban Meyer. Shortly after Meyer accepted the same ida in 2004, was hired successor 2005
and Arizona State — thanks to conference realignment — are in the Big 12.
On Saturday, No. 14 OSU hosts No. 12 Utah at Boone Pickens Stadium for both teams’ conference openers. Both are 3-0 heading into a heavyweight conference clash that could determine the trajectory of the Big 12 race.
And the parallels between the Cow boys and Utes couldn’t be more appar ent.
The two head coaches — OSU’s Mike Gundy and Utah’s Kyle Whittingham — are in Year 20 at their respective programs. Each is among the top-three longest tenured active head coaches at their current school, just behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (25).
“They have about the same-sized stadium that we have. Within just a few hundred people, I believe. And so, there’s a lot of similarities between the two programs,” Whittingham said. “Coach Gundy, he’s done a great job there for a lot of years. They’re undefeated — 3-0, highly ranked, as are we. So (it) should make for a good matchup.”
Gundy began his time at OSU in 2001 as the Cowboys’ offensive coordinator under head coach Les
Whittingcoordinators under likely Hall of Fame coaches. Both were elevated to head coaching positions after the coaching
Fast-forward and they’re all-time winningest head coaches at their respective
“I mean, (Whittingham is) compared to Gundy for a reason,” OSU nose tackle
Justin Kirkland said. “Yeah, I mean, he has a good program. He has kids who work hard.
You never see them in the news for anything
vs. cowboy Game day
WHEN: Saturday, 3 p.m.
WHERE: Boone Pickens Stadium
TV: FOX
Gundy’s 20th
Ranking Oklahoma State football’s seasons under Gundy
ASHTON SLAUGHTER
SPORTS EDITOR
@ASHTON_SLOT
Editor’s note: This is a story from “Gundy’s 20th,” The O’Colly’s weekly series to commemorate OSU football head coach Mike Gundy’s 20th season as the leading man. This week, we rank Gundy’s 20 seasons at OSU.
In Mike Gundy’s 19 complete seasons as Oklahoma State’s head coach, he’s made a bowl game the last 18 seasons.
His winning percentage is 68.1% through three weeks of his 20th season.
There have been a handful of great Cowboy football seasons under Gundy, so this week’s “Gundy’s 20th” story includes a top-20 ranking of the Cowboys’ seasons under Gundy.
No. 1: 2011 (12-1, Fiesta Bowl champion)
It’s the chalk answer, yes, but it’s the right one — the 2011 OSU football season is not only the best under Gundy but the best in program history. Home wins against No. 10 OU (Gundy’s first Bedlam win) and No. 17 Kansas State and road wins against No. 8 Texas A&M and No. 22 Texas highlighted the Cowboys’ season. A loss to Iowa State in Ames, Iowa, is the one blemish on this season, and if it weren’t for that, OSU could’ve competed for a national title. Instead, it defeated No. 4 Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl and claimed Gundy’s only Big 12 title.
No. 2: 2021 (12-2, Fiesta Bowl champion)
There’s a real argument to be made that this season could be above 2011. Wins against No. 10 OU, No. 21 Baylor, No. 25 Texas and No. 25 Kansas State outweigh the Cowboys’ lone regular season loss (once again) at Iowa State. This was the Cowboys’ first Big 12 Championship Game appearance, and they came up 6 inches short of winning the game. But OSU defeated No. 5 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl 37-35 and completed
the largest comeback in school history.
No. 3: 2013 (10-3, Cotton Bowl appearance)
Three ranked wins — including one against No. 3 Baylor with College GameDay in Stillwater — and a Cotton Bowl appearance highlight this season, which was the third 10-win season in four years for Gundy and Co.
No. 4: 2010 (11-2, Alamo Bowl champion)
Despite the extra win, 2013 edges out the 2010 season because of ranked wins (three in 2013 to one), which means more than an unranked bowl win. Still, the Cowboys defeated Baylor and won a well-respected bowl game against Arizona.
No. 5: 2023 (10-4, Texas Bowl champion)
This is the weirdest season to rank. Losses to South Alabama and Iowa State keep last year’s squad from being any higher, but wins against No. 9 OU (in the final Bedlam, of course) and No. 23 Kansas and a Big 12 Championship Game appearance elevate the 2023 Cowboys’ season.
No. 6: 2008 (9-4, Holiday Bowl appearance)
Another difficult season to rank. The 2008 OSU season was highlighted by wins against No. 3 Missouri (on the road) and Texas A&M. The Cowboys were ranked as high as No. 7, but losses to No. 1 Texas, No. 2 Texas Tech, No. 3 OU and ultimately No. 15 Oregon in the Holiday Bowl pulled their ranking down.
No. 7: 2009 (9-4, Cotton Bowl appearance)
Yet another difficult season to rank. Opening the season with a win against No. 13 Georgia was a statement, and so was beating Texas A&M in College Station, Texas. But losses to No. 3 Texas, OU and Ole Miss in the Cotton Bowl lowered the ceiling of this season.
See GUNDY’S on page 3B
How Taylor’s success in Senior World Trials helps Oklahoma State wrestling
DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER
@DANIELALLEN1738
David Taylor hadn’t learned to appreciate competition until he isolated himself from it.
In his words, his retirement from competitive wrestling, which he announced in May during his introductory press conference shortly after he was hired as Oklahoma State’s head coach, instilled a newfound passion in him. One he said he had been void of during the latter stages of his tenured wrestling career.
“Funny how things play out,” Taylor said with a laugh.
On Wednesday, Taylor met with the media regarding his competition in the United States Senior World Trials in Omaha, Nebraska, over the weekend. Taylor cruised through the tournament with a 4-0 record, including three victories that ended before the second period. He ended his weekend by pinning 2023 world bronze medalist Zahid Valencia after holding a 8-0 lead in the second match. He’ll now represent the States on the 2024 U.S. Senior World Team. The tournament, Taylor said, reminded him of two things. First, the thrill of winning at a pre -
mier level. Second, the exposure of OSU’s brand on a worldwide stage.
“If things go differently at the Olympic Trials, I’m not here; I’m not sitting in front of you all,” Taylor said. “I don’t get the opportunity to impact these kids, train these guys and be with them. So, the move was a good move. And so, I think things just work out the way that they do.
“When you step away from (competition), it gives you a different perspective coming into practice. And it just created an energy and excitement that I hadn’t felt in years.”
Building OSU’s brand has remained an integral facet of Taylor’s blueprint for his program. Taylor noted on Wednesday that “Oklahoma State is a destination — a wrestling destination.” That likely won’t change considering the Cowboys’ 34 team national titles are the highest total for any college program in Division I athletics.
Over the weekend, Taylor competed alongside former OSU wrestlers Daton Fix, Alex Dieringer and Jordan Oliver. He brought OSU’s 184-pound starter Dustin Plott, a multi-year All-American, with him to Omaha as his training partner. More brand exposure for the Cowboys.
See TAYLOR’S on page 4B
distance of the end-of-season top 10 rankings, if not better.
According to my PlayStation, Oklahoma State has a slight advantage over Utah this Saturday.
I simulated the Cowboys’ home matchup against the Utes 10 times on EA Sports College Football 25. Clear weather, a 3:30 kickoff time (the closest I could get to 3 p.m.) and 15-minute quarters were used for The O’Colly’s 10 simulations.
Below are the results:
The average winner, score OSU went 6-4 against Utah, winning the final two sims after going 4-4 in the first eight.
In the Cowboys’ six wins, the average margin of victory was 11 points. The Utes’ four wins came from an average of 3.25 points.
Overall, the Cowboys won by an average of 5.5 points, which would cover the game’s 2.5-point spread.
Cowboy statistics
On average, OSU had 368 yards of total offense against the Utes. Utah, on the other hand, had 337.3 yards of total offense in the 10 sims.
Alan Bowman completed 55.2% of his passes and totaled 187.5 through the air to go along with 2.1 touchdowns and 0.5 interceptions per game.
In the wide receiver room, Brennan Presley caught an average of 4.2 passes per game for 82.2 yards and 1.2 touchdowns; De’Zhaun Stribling caught an average of 2.1 passes per game for 24.3 yards and 0.2 touchdowns (yikes); and Rashod Owens caught an average of 2.1 passes per game for 38.7 yards and 0.5 touchdowns.
On the defense, linebacker Nick Martin led the team in tackles five times (and tied with safety Lyrik Rawls once), Rawls did that twice (and the tie with Martin) and safety Ty Williams and defensive back Cam Smith did once.
Finally, kicker Logan Ward went 18for-25 on field goals and 27-for-27 on extra points. The field goal stats seem a little harsh for Ward, who has made seven of his eight field goals after three games.
More results
The longest play from scrimmage in any simulation was an 81-yard Bowman to Stribling pass in the eighth simulation, which the Cowboys won 24-23.
The seventh simulation was the only one to go into overtime, as Utah won 42-40 in double overtime. Both teams scored on their first possessions, and after a Utah touchdown and 2-point conversion, OSU failed to respond, as a Brennan Presley touchdown catch was overshadowed by an Alan Bowman incompletion on the game-tying conversion attempt.
Continued from 1
So, with all these parallels, why did the schools never play? Gundy has said in years past that Utah, all things considered, would have been a perfect home-and-home for the Cowboys.
Whittingham cited unforeseen circumstances as his primary reasoning. In other words, it simply didn’t materialize.
“Being in the Pac-12 and obviously in the Mountain West before that, completely separate from the Big 12. We didn’t have a lot of crossover games with the Big 12. Just a few here and there,” Whittingham said. “But I certainly have been aware of his success. He’s done a terrific job there.
“That’s ultimately the bottom line — if you’re not successful, you’re not gonna be at a job for very long. And so, he’s done a good job of winning and being consistent. And it seems to be every year. I mean, every year, you know what you’re gonna get from them. Their guys play hard and they’re well coached and their personnel is good.”
But now, the Cowboys and Utes are conference foes and matchups can be on the schedule for years now.
The consistency Whittingham talked about is true, as both programs usually find themselves atop the conference standings. They’re often overlooked, yet within striking
Gundy hasn’t had a losing season since 2005. Whittingham’s had just two since 2005. Gundy wasn’t coy when it came to paying homage to his counterpart’s success.
“I’ve always watched him from a distance and have noticed that during his career, there’s times they’ve won games that people didn’t think they could win. Which in my opinion reflects the guy’s probably a good football coach,” Gundy said. “And it’s extremely difficult to coach at this level as a head coach for 20 years, much less at the same location.
“So, we have a lot of respect for their organization. Lot of respect for their coaching style. I have a lot of respect for what’s he’s been able to accomplish. He’s good for the game. It’s good to have guys like him in college football today, in such a migrant world that we live in, both as players and coaches.”
Saturday’s contest might bolster one team’s probability of making it to Jerry World for the Big 12 Championship Game in December, but it won’t take away from shining similarities between both programs.
“They’re a great add for the conference,” Gundy said. “I don’t know how much longer that (Whittingham will) do it. We had a little bit of discussion about that, but not in great deal.
“It’s really good for college football when you have guys like him that are in the game and have been doing it a long time.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Ollie Gordon II averaged 6.52 yards per carry and 124.6 yards per game on the ground. He couldn’t find the end zone easily, though, as he only averaged 0.3 touchdowns per game. No fumbles from any game, though, so that’s a positive.
Well, if EA Sports is right, Bowman is going to have an off game after Tulsa, Gordon is going to get back to his running wild ways and Ward is going to miss some field goals.
But despite all of that, OSU’s going to win by five or so points.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Bryson Thadhani
Mike Gundy said that a program of Utah’s caliber is a “great add” to the Big 12 Conference.
Not on track: Can Oklahoma State football sustain success with one-dimensional offense?
DANIEL ALLEN STAFF REPORTER @DANIELALLEN1738
Mike Gundy spent most of his weekly press conference Monday reiterating old sentiments. Ones the Oklahoma State head coach repeated often this past Saturday after OSU’s 45-10 win at Tulsa. Ones that, as of now, don’t appear to languish Gundy’s confidence in his offense.
“It’s just difficult when there’s an extra guy up there,” he said. “(It) forces whoever’s got the ball to run through somebody.”
As the No. 14 Cowboys enter Big 12 Conference play, what is arguably their most difficult stretch of conference games awaits them. No more FCS or Group of 5 opponents. Strictly Big 12 football, which makes the need to not be one-dimensional on offense more imperative. Through three weeks, the Cowboys have been one-dimensional. Running back Ollie Gordon II, the 2023 Doak Walker Award winner, is struggling to emulate last year’s peak form. So far, Gordon has rushed for only 216 rushing yards on 62 carries. His four rushing touchdowns are a quality total. However, his 3.5 yards-per-carry average nullifies that.
Gordon’s deflated numbers are largely because opposing teams have stacked seven to eight, even nine defenders in the box, to combat Gordon. Gordon, however, isn’t alone. Second-stringer Sesi Vailahi is averaging only 0.2 yards per carry — three yards on 13 carries and a touchdown.
Third-stringer Trent Howland, a veteran transfer from Indiana, is averaging a more promising 4.6 yards per carry, but on only 13 attempts for 60 yards. As a team, the Cowboys are averaging an abysmal 3.4 yards per carry.
In an attempt to back his star running back, Gundy noted how “the NFL doesn’t care about statistics,” adding that the NFL will “evaluate running backs based on what their success level is, based on what they’re asked to do.”
But college football does care about statistics. Award voters. Head coaches. Fans. And perhaps most importantly, success over a season’s course, which
those statistics are gauged upon.
Players at each position have taken blame for the lack of success in the running game.
The offensive linemen. Gordon himself. Even quarterback Alan Bowman.
“Look, this is a team game, so everything that happens is a team effort,” Bowman said after OSU’s win against Tulsa.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that we’ll fix this thing and (Gordon will) get going. We’ve seen what can happen when Ollie gets going — it’s scary for the other team.”
Entering the season, Gundy and many others believed OSU’s offense was set to have its best showing since the Mason Rudolph era (2015-17). Returning was a three-headed monster, an experienced offensive line, a veteran quarterback in Bowman — entering his seventh season of college football — and the crown jewel, Gordon.
A year ago, OSU’s offense rose from the ashes four weeks into the season after a lackluster start, as it averaged just 22 points per game in that span. Productivity within the running game, particularly from Gordon, who led college football in rushing yards (1,732), was a primary reason for its surge.
But the Cowboys haven’t had success on the ground parallel to the 2023 season. That has forced offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn to call more pass-heavy games. More deep shots. More 50-50 balls.
And that, in return, has ballooned Bowman’s numbers.
Through three games, Bowman ranks sixth in Division I in passing yards with 967. Bowman has also thrown for nine touchdowns, which is the 10th-best total among D-I quarterbacks.
“I think it was just take what the defense gives you,” Bowman said postgame. “Obviously, we have the best running back in the country. And everybody knows that. So, they’re gonna do everything they can to stop him, and so that gives us favorable matchups on the outside. Those guys made some plays.”
Teams stacking a plethora of defenders in the box has opened the passing game for the Cowboys. So far, sticking with an aerial attack has sufficed.
“If it’s just a guy on the defense making a tackle, there’s
nothing we can do about that — that’s just football,” offensive lineman Joe Michalski said. “And if they want to (continue to stack the box), we can have Alan (Bowman) throw for 400 yards, and we’re just gonna do that. We’re gonna win whichever way they let us.”
But is one-dimensional success sustainable? Past seasons during the Gundy era indicate otherwise.
Most recently, in 2022, OSU averaged just 3.4 yards per carry offensively, which marked the lowest total during Gundy’s tenure at OSU.
Yet, through six games, the Cowboys stood tall at 6-1.
Then came the mid-season avalanche. A 1-5 finish to the season, resulting in an uninspiring 7-6 record.
Chalk the second-half collapse to injuries or a late-season regression from then-starting quarterback Spencer Sanders. But Gundy cited the lack of rushing success.
Of course, the ’22 and ’24 Cowboys are nearly stark contrasts from one another. Simply put, one-dimensional teams get exposed.
“We know that — everyone knows that,” Michalski said. “That’s why we’ve got to get this thing going. We’ll take what the defense gives us, obviously. But (Gordon) is such a big part of our offense.”
Heading into a marquee clash against No. 12 Utah at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, the Cowboys are 3-0. OSU’s offense has been efficient, averaging 446.67 yards per game. Scoring-wise, it is averaging 42.67 points per game. Can that continue?
That likely entails a balanced offensive attack. First, a spark within the running game. That means getting Gordon going.
“I have no doubt in (Gordon) at all,” Michalski said. “No doubt in anyone on the team that we’re going to accomplish what we set out to at the beginning of the season.
“It’s just something that we have to keep working at. What we’re doing right now is not good enough. And we know that. It’s something that we’re going to focus on these coming weeks.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Gundy
No. 8: 2016 (10-3, Alamo Bowl champion)
The Cowboys went 3-2 against ranked teams this season, with wins coming against No. 10 West Virginia and No. 22 Texas in the regular season and No. 10 Colorado in the Alamo Bowl.
No. 9: 2017 (10-3, Camping World Bowl champion)
OSU lost both its home-ranked games this season — No. 5 OU and No. 16 TCU — but defeated No. 21 Iowa State and No. 22 West Virginia on the road before beating No. 22 Virginia Tech in the Camping World Bowl.
No. 10: 2015 (10-3, Sugar Bowl appearance)
After climbing from unranked to No. 8 after starting the season 10-0, OSU lost to No. 10 Baylor and No. 3 OU in Stillwater before losing to No. 12 Ole Miss to finish the season 10-3.
No. 11: 2018 (7-6, Liberty Bowl appearance)
The Cowboys went 4-1 against ranked teams — including wins against No. 5 Texas and No. 7 West Virginia — but five losses to unranked Big 12 teams pulled their ranking down.
No. 12: 2020 (8-3, Cheez-It Bowl champion)
Wins against No. 14 Miami (in the Cheez-It Bowl) and No. 17 Iowa State help the 2020 team, of which two of its three losses came to ranked opponents.
No. 13: 2012 (8-5, Heart of Dallas Bowl champion)
OSU was unranked for most of this season, and lost every game it played against a ranked team except for No. 23 Texas Tech. A Heart of Dallas Bowl win against Purdue helps, though (back when bowl games used to matter).
No. 14: 2019 (8-5, Texas Bowl appearance)
The 2019 Cowboys were unranked or hung around the last five spots of the top 25, as their 2-3 record against other ranked teams often shifted their ranking one way or the other.
No. 15: 2006 (7-6, Independence Bowl champion)
Beating No. 20 Nebraska in Stillwater and Alabama (unranked or not, it’s the Crimson Tide) in the Independence Bowl were statement wins early in Gundy’s tenure.
After starting out 5-1 — with ranked wins against No. 16 Baylor and No. 20 Texas — the Cowboys lost five of their last six to finish 7-6. Because of injuries and other reasons, it’s considered one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory.
No. 17: 2014 (7-6, Cactus Bowl champion)
Other than Bedlam — largely courtesy of Tyreek Hill’s punt return — the Cowboys lost every big game this season: No. 1 Florida State, No. 5 Baylor, No. 11 Kansas State, No. 12 TCU and No. 22 West Virginia. For OSU, though, one Bedlam win meant more than winning most of those games.
No. 18: 2007 (7-6, Insight Bowl champion) OSU defeated No. 25 Kansas State in its Homecoming game but couldn’t win any of its other four ranked games. An Insight Bowl appearance against Indiana did increase Gundy’s bowl streak (and winning streak in those games) to two.
No. 19: 2005 (4-7)
Considering Gundy’s 18 straight bowl game seasons, naturally, the only season that OSU didn’t reach one under him is at the bottom of this list. Even in Gundy’s first season, though, the Cowboys were knocking off ranked teams — like No. 13 Texas Tech.
No. 20/TBD: 2024
This season is TBD, but Gundy’s bowl streak living on is the expectation, and so is competing for the Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Continued from 1 sports.ed@ocolly.com
Connor Fuxa
Ollie Gordon II has only surpassed the 50-yard mark once this season, as he’s having trouble replicating his 2023 form so far,
But Taylor’s relatability to high school recruits, complemented by both his recent and wholistic success as a professional wrestler, brings charm and appeal in a nuanced era of college athletics. And as Taylor said, showcasing his name on a premier stage with OSU’s logo on his orange singlet does just that.
“If you want to be the best in the country, if you want to be the best in the world, this is the destination that you’re gonna seek out and come to,” Taylor said. “And I think that’s what we’re building, and that’s what we’re working on every single day.”
But what altered his decision to retire from wrestling?
Taylor said he departed his introductory presser in May adamant his competitive career was finished. Those within OSU’s athletic department, however, thought otherwise.
“During my first interview here, they thought I was going to wrestle — continue wrestling,” Taylor said. “And at that point in time, I was like, ‘No, I’m not doing that. I’m definitely done.’”
But things change. And after a fourmonth period where second-guessing and life contemplations were recurrent, Taylor gradually felt the urge for more.
Before enlisting his name in the Senior World Trials, Taylor weighed both options: sticking with his gut or passing to focus on coaching, especially with OSU’s seasonopening dual close to two months out.
After deciding to go through with competition, intrusive thoughts arose. They stuck with him during competition, Taylor said, and through the finals round after he
had clinched a first-place finish at 92 kg.
But now?
“It was the right decision,” Taylor said. “That’s what was weighing on my mind — it just has to be right. Because the season is coming up. That’s primary.
“Just making sure that I can — can I balance it all? Can I help the team still? Can I prepare for that level still? Because if I’m gonna go, I want to win. I don’t just want to go show up.”
And the stamp of approval from his protégé and predecessor, former OSU head coach John Smith, made Taylor’s decision all the more satisfying, which Taylor described as “fulfilling.”
Now, Taylor is faced with another decision: compete in the Senior World Championships, which take place in Tirana, Albania, Oct. 28-31, or divert his attention toward the upcoming season.
“I think to go to the World Championships this year; it’s in six weeks, there are some exciting opponents that I could get a chance to wrestle,” Taylor said. “… We’ll make a decision here pretty soon.”
World Championships or not, Taylor said he believes his blueprint is on a feasible pace. Two months from now, OSU fans will get a look at whether that’s true.
OSU is and always will be a prominent brand in college wrestling. Taylor will always be a marquee name within the sport. Showcasing both on a worldwide stage will only expedite his blueprint.
“It does take some time,” Taylor said. “But I think we’re – I mean, to look back, we’ve only been here four months. So, I think a lot has moved in that direction in four months, and it will continue to move forward. So, I think all of this training and competing, just our program and where we’re at right now, it’s all been really good. This is a destination that people are going to seek out.”
Kilcrease looking to build on strong start to her Cowgirl career
Because of her athletic nature, she thought golf would be “a lot easier.”
Grace Kilcrease started playing golf at 13, but set her sights on playing collegiately during the COVID-19 pandemic. She and her dad went to the course “a lot” during 2020, and that’s when she decided she wanted to play at the next level.
Now, the junior is in her first season at Oklahoma State after transferring from the University of Tulsa, and she’s on her way to achieving her goals — staying consistent and earning an All-American title — because she won her first collegiate individual title at the Caramel Cup hosted at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sept. 1. “It was unreal,” Kilcrease said. “Honestly, it took me a couple days to actually process what happened.”
When Kilcrease was younger, she did gymnastics and ran cross country.
But the mental side of golf is what caught her off guard when she first started playing. Kilcrease credited Brock Barnes, a trainer who worked with her at TU, for helping her improve in that area.
“I credit a lot of my success towards him in that part of my game,” Kilcrease said. “I would say I’m, for the most part, pretty calm. I try to keep my emotions pretty level.
“You want to still get mad at some shots, but you can’t let it affect the next hole, so just staying in the present, it’s been really good too.”
During her two seasons at TU, she earned AAC All-Conference first team honors in 2024, set the school record for par-orbetter rounds in a season, carded 19 her freshman year, placed top 20 in 60% of her tournaments, top 10 in 10 of them and finished 34th in the NCAA Championship in the spring to
Wild, OSU heading close to junior’s home for Fighting Illini Invitational
DALTON ARREDONDO STAFF REPORTER
Just 45 minutes from his hometown of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, John Wild is no stranger to playing at Olympia Fields Country Club.
Although Wild said Illinois golf is great in the fall, the winter can bring some problems. So he found other ways to keep his game sound.
“When the weather is good, the golf up there is second to none — just some really beautiful courses and some great golf that I have access to,” Wild said. “But in the winters, the training program that I was in, I was lucky to use a really nice indoor facility that I was able to keep my game sharp throughout the winter and develop some of these skills, and I liked it.”
The junior Oklahoma State golfer has been “very fortunate” to have people back home who support him. So, his homecoming in the Fighting Illini Invitational this weekend will be special.
April, when he played at the Korn Ferry event in Dallas, Texas. Stout said it’s not often the team has a tournament in a player’s hometown, which means supporters of theirs can come out to support.
“It’s always cool to go back to where you’re from and play a course that you know you’ve grown up around, and it’s nice you get to go back and play on grasses that you’re used to and grew up on,” Stout said. “So I’m sure he’ll have a bunch of family and friends that come out to watch him, so that always makes it a little more exciting.”
The lineup joining Wild and Stout are sophomores Ethan Fang and Eric Lee and freshman Filip Fahlberg-Johnsson. No individuals will play this weekend.
become Tulsa’s best individual scorer since 2002.
And when she won the individual title at the Carmel Cup, she was in a state of gratitude; that mindset is what helped her on the course.
“I was just grateful to be out there and to play because I’ve seen (the) women’s opens out there, and obviously Tiger (Woods) winning out there multiple times,” Kilcrease said.
Kilcrease said she transferred to OSU because she knows the program’s history. She felt like she could elevate her game as a Cowgirl.
Annie Young coached at the University of Tulsa for six years and was announced as an assistant coach for the Cowgirls this season. That news also impacted Kilcrease’s decision and has made her transition easier.
Kilcrease is adjusting to life as a Cowgirl and forming relationships, but she said the team is excited for a great season.
He also emphasized the importance of having a great support system throughout his golf career.
“It’s fun to go back home… in my home state, and it’s just a good feeling,” Wild said.
His teammate, Preston Stout, experienced the same thing in
The last time the Cowboys played at Olympia Fields, they finished third to last in the tournament. This time around, they are looking to patch up their short game and to have a successful weekend. Head coach Alan Bratton said if the greens are the same as last tournament, then it should fit the team’s style of play.
“If the greens are firm, it’s a very similar test. So more of the same should suit us,” Bratton said. “We have a good ball-hitting team; if we can sharpen up around the greens, we’ll be in contention.”
Payton Little
David Taylor said that participating in the Senior World Trials “was the right decision.”
Courtesy OSU Athletics
Grace Kilcrease won the Carmel Cup in her first outing as a Cowgirl, as she transferred to OSU from Tulsa.
How Ghonda’s improvement has helped Cowgirl soccer succeed this season
Cowgirl equestrian looking to win a title after losing in semifinal
KENZIE KRAICH STAFF REPORTER @KRAICH20
A whiteboard covered in randomly placed words sits at the front of the Cowgirl Equestrian team room — some red, some green and some blue — but the underlying theme radiates from each of them.
“What society values is stats, wins, losses, trophies and your brand,” graduate student Claire McDowall said. “We decided what really matters is our experiences, relationships, personal growth, happiness, selflessness, family and faith.”
The decorated whiteboard had all McDowall’s listed attributes under a bolded title: “What does it take to win a natty?” It was immediately evident the Cowgirls are looking to not only make it to the national tournament again but win it.
be back in the winner’s circle.”
Last year, Oklahoma State captured its fourth straight Big 12 title and its fifth straight semifinal appearance. Despite that success, the slate is wiped clean and the records are reset, giving anyone a chance at a championship trophy this season.
Head coach Larry Sanchez is counting on his athletes to rise to the occasion, and he expects a big push from them this season.
“They’ve got to do everything they did last year, but better,” Sanchez said. “Every team we compete against is making adjustments to be better, and if we don’t, we’re going to get left behind.”
The Cowgirls are set to match up against fierce competitors this season, including No. 2 TCU and a rematch against last year’s national champion, SMU. Alongside these competitions are notable teams such as No. 5 Auburn, No. 8 UC Davis and No. 9 UT Martin.
When No. 12 Oklahoma State has taken the field during the 2024 season, a few things have stood out.
A dominant defense, technically gifted midfielders and an overwhelming amount of team speed are at the top of the list, but sometimes Adelhia Ghonda’s strength stands out above the rest.
Ghonda, a sophomore out of Houston, commonly overpowers her defender, seemingly deploying some kind of force field that prevents advances from whoever is trying to take the ball away from her.
“I’ve probably been working out since I was like 12, so it’s been a few years,” Ghonda said. “I think that’s something I wanted to make sure I was good at before I came to college. I think that’s something a lot of girls struggle with just because you’re playing with 18- to 21-yearold women and you just came into college. I’ve always kind of been that way, but I also work hard to maintain that.”
Ghonda’s overpowering strength meshes well with the rest of the OSU attack and has allowed her to become a mainstay of the OSU rotation despite her game needing further development in other areas.
Ghonda came to Stillwater extremely raw in the goal-scoring department. Her natural abilities and athleticism allowed her to fit in at the college level right away, as evidenced by her 381 minutes as a freshman. In those 381 minutes, all of which were spent at forward or on the wing, Ghonda scored two goals and recorded two assists, but the opportunity for more was there.
Over the spring and summer, Ghonda made it a priority to work on her finishing, and as a result, she has already played more minutes than she did last season and equaled her goal total.
“She is developing into more of a goal scorer, and that’s the next progression for Adelhia,” OSU head coach Colin Carmichael said. “She’s scored some goals, but I think her production can still go up. Her work rate, physicality and willingness to compete with the other teams’ de -
fenders is probably one of her biggest attributes.”
Ghonda’s strength and playmaking have made her a shoo-in as a starter next to Logan Heausler at the top of the Cowgirl formation. Heausler is OSU’s best goal scorer, and Ghonda, along with teammates Xcaret Pineda and Laudan Wilson, are great at either funneling the ball to Heausler or creating looks of their own. This combination of skills is becoming more seamless as the season progresses, and with Big 12 play now in full swing, OSU’s offense will need to continue to consistently produce to keep the Cowgirls atop the standings.
Ghonda may not be the one in OSU’s group of attackers who leaps off the box score, but her physicality and improved finishing ability make her a key to a deep Cowgirl attack.
“I love it,” Ghonda said. “I think it’s great that we have a program where we have so much depth. Not only does it make me more competitive for the minutes I have, but it allows me to work with people who are just as good or better than I am.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Coming off an 11-9 national semifinal loss to No. 1 SMU in April, the Cowgirls have established their identity for this season, making sure to emphasize that they are capable of the unexpected.
“Bring it on,” senior Riley Hogan said. “We have a point to prove that we are a national championship team, and we will
OSU is heading into this season’s matchups with a bitter taste in its mouth after the tight loss to SMU but is still focused on taking growth one step at a time to get to an ultimate goal.
“It’s not just about winning,” Sanchez said. “It’s about the process as well and doing the right things along the way to set yourself up to be in the position to hoist a trophy at the end of the year.”
‘I’ve been waiting for this moment’ Shettron’s growth apparent after battling injuries
Oklahoma State wide receiver Talyn Shettron couldn’t help but smile.
The redshirt sophomore received encouraging words from OSU head coach Mike Gundy following his three-catch, 110-yard game against Tulsa this past Saturday. Shettron’s best outing as a Cowboy was a fun watch for Gundy. He wanted to let him know.
“I saw him in the hallway, and I said, ‘Hey, you got going a bit Saturday,’ and (he had) a big smile on his face,” Gundy said at his weekly press conference Monday. “I said, ‘It’s nice to see you up and running again, feeling good.’
“I could tell that he was excited that he was a factor in the game.”
Gundy’s words and Shettron’s happiness stem from the receiver’s bad luck in the past. Shettron suffered injuries such as a broken collarbone and ankle, among others, during his first two seasons at OSU, which led to limited opportunities. Now, he’s healthy and showing what kind of impact he can have for the Cowboys going forward.
Shettron’s 110-yard day included a 78yard touchdown, the highlight of his best game in an OSU jersey. Shettron burned
the defense over the top, and Cowboy quarterback Alan Bowman dropped it in his hands for an easy score.
The redshirt sophomore said he repeatedly told himself, “Don’t get caught,” as he ran toward the end zone — he didn’t get caught, let alone touched.
“It felt great,” Shettron said. “I’ve been waiting for this moment, you could say, my whole career here through all the injuries and stuff. It just felt great to get back out there and feel like myself again.”
Shettron was a four-star recruit out of Edmond Santa Fe High School. He enrolled at OSU with high expectations, but the injuries limited him to 10 catches in his first two seasons. Now, he’s up to 121 receiving yards in three games, more than he totaled in his first two years as a Cowboy.
OSU’s receiver corps is one of its best position groups. Brennan Presley, De’Zhaun Stribling and Rashod Owens are a versatile three-headed monster that gives Bowman several ways to attack defenses. But given Shettron’s skillset and his performance in Week 3, Gundy also highlighted his ability when speaking to the Cowboys’ receiver talent.
“They each kind of bring a little something to the game, and you can throw Shettron in there,” Gundy said. “He got an opportunity and showed us the reason that we were excited when he came here out of high school.”
Bryson Thadhani
Adelhia Ghonda is “developing into more of a goal scorer” for the Cowgirls in her second season.
Bryson Thadhani Talyn Shettron’s three-catch, 110-yard outing against Tulsa was his best game as a Cowboy.
Courtesy OSU Athletics
Senior Riley Hogan said that Cowgirl equestrian has “a point to prove.”
Throughout the Kyle Whittingham era, Utah has been known primarily as a ground-and-pound team that can air it out when necessary. Over the past few seasons, that narrative has begun to flip, and there is no better example than Dorian Singer.
Singer has shown what he can do at the Power Four before, namely at Arizona, where he eclipsed 1,100 yards in 2022. Following his dominant sophomore campaign, Singer transferred to USC, where he fell into a deep rotation of receivers, which eventually led him to Utah.
Singer has reestablished himself as a standout this season. He leads the Utes with 10 catches, despite playing two games with a backup quarterback, and he already has more than 100 yards after registering only 289 all of last year.
Game Day Preview
Players to Watch
No. 3, WR Dorian Singer No. 7, DL Van Fillinger
Keller Nienau/Utah Athletics Liv Medivitz/Utah Athletics
Utah has a rich and storied tradition when it comes to defensive linemen, and next in line is Van Fillinger.
Fillinger has been dominant so far this season. He leads the Utes in tackles, sacks and deflected passes, all while being a constant nuisance off the edge.
OSU’s pass blocking has been some of the best in the nation so far this season, keeping Alan Bowman completely clean so far and allowing zero sacks. That being said, Fillinger is the best edge rusher the Cowboys have played this season in terms of production, and he is certainly in the class at the top with Arkansas’s Landon Jackson.
3 Storylines
How healthy is Cam Rising?
Seventh-year Utah quarterback Cameron Rising has dealt with injuries throughout his college career, and now is no different. Rising missed last week’s game against Utah State with a hand injury, and despite being cleared early this week, one has to wonder if someone with Rising’s history can really be at 100 percent.
Rising is the straw that stirs the drink for the Utes’ offense. Through his seven years in Salt Lake City, Rising has developed a deep understanding of the Utah offense, and the Utes are a completely different team with Rising in the fold.
With Rising playing, Saturday’s game is a toss-up between two of the Big 12’s best teams. With Rising out or compromised, OSU should become the prohibitive favorite.
Can OSU establish the run?
Despite the Cowboys’ 3-0 start, there has been one glaring issue.
Ollie Gordon II, reigning Doak Walker Award winner, has surpassed the 50-yard mark only once, and the Cowboys have struggled to run the ball effectively after posting a dominant rushing offense last season.
Last week against Tulsa, Gordon averaged just 2.4 yards per carry and was visibly frustrated on multiple accounts. Utah’s defensive line is better than Tulsa’s, so while the Utes may not fully stack the box like the Golden Hurricane did, one-on-one matchups are likely to be more of a challenge.
Which Alan Bowman will show up?
Throughout Bowman’s college career, his performance seems to always fall into one of two extremes.
He can have games like he did last weekend against Tulsa, where he is hitting deep balls and finding his receivers open on every dropback. He also has games where he plays like he did in the first half against Arkansas or against Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game last season.
Consistency has been an issue, and if that issue rears its head against a team like Utah, OSU will find itself in a tough position.
CALIF PONCY STAFF REPORTER @PONCYCALIF
Five years ago, Micah Bernard began his journey at the University of Utah.
After spending four of the last five years in the shadow of another running back or sidelined because of an injury, Bernard is finally the main man in the backfield for the Utes — and he’s making it count. Through three games, Bernard is averaging nearly seven yards per carry and is likely to surpass the 300-yard mark on the season against No. 14 Oklahoma State on Saturday. In his and No. 12 Utah’s first season as a member of the Big 12 Conference, Bernard has been a key piece in the Utes’ offense and has been one of the conferences best running backs.
Bernard was poised to fill this role last season. Through two games, Bernard racked up nearly 20 carries and just less than 100 yards before being involved in an undisclosed off-field accident that led to Bernard missing the rest of the season. It was another blow in a long list of unfortunate events in Bernard’s career. He had shown that he was a good player, boasting two seasons with over 500 rushing yards, but he had never been able to take that next step and be a true difference maker.
Bernard once looked outside of Salt Lake City for that opportunity. Following the 2022 season, Bernard entered the transfer portal and stayed in it for two months before ultimately deciding to return to Utah. He had started a Ute, and he wanted to finish one. But before and following his season-ending injury in 2023, Bernard was beginning to lose interest in the game that had brought him this far.
“I was telling everybody during that time,” Bernard said to the Salt Lake City Tribune following the injury. “Before, I was falling out of love with football. There was so much going on in my life and stuff like that.”
A few months away from the game was all Bernard needed to reignite his fire.
“Seeing everybody else enjoy it and have fun and be on the field, catch the ball, run the ball, hit something,” Bernard said to the SLC. “I’m just sitting there, like, ‘Hey, I want to hit something, too. I want to run the ball. I want to get in the box.’”
Since returning, Bernard has looked like a different player.
It’s still early in the season, and Utah has yet to face a team who is likely to make a bowl game, not to mention a team with a real chance of sniffing the College Football Playoff like OSU. Regardless, if his early season performance holds any weight, Bernard will be discussed in a different light come the end of this season.
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The Utes certainly have the ability to beat OSU, regardless of who’s playing quarterback for them. Kyle Wittingham-coached teams are always in the mix, and with how poor the Cowboys have ran the football this season, Utah will force OSU quarterback Alan Bowman to make winning plays. The Utes are No. 12 for a reason. They’re a good team, and they shouldn’t be counted out, even if Rising doesn’t play.
Snapshots from Osu-Tulsa
The Cowboys defeated Tulsa Saturday, 45-10. Here are some of our staff’s best photos:
TOP LEFT: Talyn Shettron celebrating his touchdown.
TOP CENTER: Brennan Presley celebrating his touchdown.
TOP RIGHT: Alan Bowman talking with quarterbacks coach Tim Rattay.
CENTER LEFT: Josh Ford on the way to the end zone.
CENTER RIGHT: De’Zhaun Stribling walking to the line of scrimmage.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Cowboys singing the alma matter postgame.
