Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022

Hello Wisconsin!

Badgers’ backs, receivers preview

Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year slowed down a bit in 2022, but still averaged more than five yards per carry and found the endzone 10 times.

Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor

The 95th ranked rush defense in the country, lacking some of its better players from the 2022 season, will line up against one of the best running backs in the country.

No matter Wisconsin’s current quarterback situation — with neither Chase Wolf and Myles Burkett having much experience — OSU’s very poor defense will still have a tough task stopping the Badger offense in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl next Tuesday.

As a 17-year-old, Braelon Allen burst onto the field as a freshman last season, running for 1,268 yards and 12 touchdowns on only 186 attempts. The reigning

After a 6-6 regular season and a coaching change halfway through it, Wisconsin saw a few of its starters enter the transfer portal. There were rumors — as is the nature of college football, star players and the transfer portal — but Allen didn’t even think of it as a possibility.

“I never was in the portal,” Allen said. “I was here the whole time. I was just waiting to get to know coach Fickell and to learn about his plan.”

When new Wisconsin coach Luke Fickell was hired, one of his first recruiting visits was to his starting running back, hoping he would return to Madison for a third season.

“I think we have a pretty good connection and I’m happy to say I think he believes and trusts in what we’re going to do,” Fickell said.

Behind Allen is Chez Mellusi and Isaac Guerendo, who both rushed for nearly 400 yards this season, but the latter of who entered the transfer portal. So if Allen needs a break, expect Mellusi.

The primary pass catcher is receiver Chimere Dike, who posted 653 yards and six touchdowns on the season, with only 44 receptions. A look into the advanced metrics, Dike is similar to Biletnikoff award winner Jalin Hyatt.

Other than Dike, Skyler Bell is a young pass catcher who shows big-play potential when he’s targeted, and Keontez Lewis, a former transfer from UCLA.

It’s still undetermined who will coach the offense in the bowl game, or who will be under-center, but OSU’s defense must not underestimate a talented, yet underperforming Wisconsin offense in Phoenix.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Cowgirls head into Big 12 play with double digit win

Baylor Bryant Staff Reporter

Second half adjustments led to an OSU victory and a double digit win going into conference play.

The Cowgirls advance into Big 12 play at 10-2 after their 62-44 win over the Air Force Falcons on Tuesday afternoon.

The first half was a tightly contested defensive game with less than 50 points scored over all. The Cowgirls led the Falcons 17-12 after the first quarter, but things started to turn against the Cowgirls in the second.

The Falcons controlled the end of the second quarter on a 9-0 run. The Cowgirls were unable to score late in the first half only getting 8 points in the quarter. The Falcons were able to bring the game within

four points and the Cowgirls led 25-21 going into half.

Naomie Alnatas was one of the only positives for the Cowgirls’ offense. She had seven assists in the first half and nine assists in total.

The Cowgirls headed into halftime with a seven-minute scoring drought. Cowgirls’ guard Claire Chastain said coach Jacie Hoyt’s message enabled their second half success.

“Just small adjustments, just move the ball,” Chastain said. “My team does an incredible job of sharing the ball. Mimi having nine assists I think she really made those adjustments for the second half and everyone kind of bought in to what coach Jacie was saying and the adjustments that we needed to improve. And overall I think we executed well coming out from halftime.”

A look behind Shrum’s strategic plan

Kennedy Thomason Assistant News and Lifestyle Editor

OSU’s strategy to become the nation’s foremost land-grant institution is a work in progress.

In early October, OSU President Kayse Shrum and Senior Vice President of Operations Jerome Loughridge announced the plan on the Stillwater campus.

This plan was put together through the efforts of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, industry representatives, tribal partners and state leaders. It contains well-structured goals to support students and parents, along with Oklahoma’s workforce. The plan encompasses many initiatives and topics that are related to the improvement of career placement, career readiness, improving higher education through reduced student loans and an increase in student scholarships.

Shrum said this plan is closely related with OSU’s land-grant roots.

“Research, teaching and service

belong to the land-grants, and we are Oklahoma’s flagship land-grant institution,” Shrum said. “With a presence in all 77 counties, we are called to serve the state and world, and we are well equipped to do that. This strategy is a bold step forward, and I’m proud of the work of the committees involved in its creation. Our goal is to become the preeminent land-grant university. With our world-class faculty, dedicated staff and the bright minds of our students, we will accomplish the goal.”

This plan is being built around the idea of improving the lives of Oklahomans. The state of Oklahoma produces college graduates 25% behind the national average. This leaves a large workforce and economic threat, which OSU’s plan is aiming to address.

Earlier this year OSU announced it will be increasing student enrollment at its campuses in Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Okmulgee.

Eight policy imperatives have been included in OSU’s plan:

Enroll a minimum of 5,000 new first-year students by the fall of 2026 at the Stillwater campus

Increase six-year graduation rate 10% by 2027 through a comprehensive retention strategy

Compete with integrity and excellence

Commit to creating graduates who exhibit the four competencies of professional preparedness, engaged citizenship, ethical leadership and personal responsibility

Align curriculum and programming to support the generation of ideal graduates and to advance the land-grant mission

Leverage R1 status to advance research that impacts society

Elevate and amplify Extension Create an effective and efficient OSU system

Each of these policy imperatives includes goals to increase student retention scholarships; increase the amount of students graduating debt-free to 60%; and decreasing student debt to a maximum of $3,000 each year of attendance. OSU will also create a student portfolio which will help graduates compete in the job market.

Jerome Loughridge, OSU senior

vice president of operations, said OSU uses their pillars to produce competent students.

“These are our fundamental pillars: Access for students, which aligns with our historic land-grant mission; student success, which says after we recruit them we are committed to supporting them through graduation; and the inculcation of key competencies that complement the degree and position our students for success in their careers and impact in the communities. These fundamental pillars will enrich and empower all of our students, irrespective of their major, their school or their campus,” Loughridge said.

OSU’s plan has named these four points as areas of focus to address society’s challenges:

1) Innovating to nourish the world

2) Leading in aerospace innovation and application

3) Enhancing human and animal health (OneHealth)

Courtesy of Wisconsin Athletics

Wisconsin Badgers running back Braelon Allen (0) carries the ball during an NCAA Big Ten Conference college football game against the Northwestern Wildcats Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Evanston, Ill.

Jaiden Daughty

OSU guard Claire Chastain led the Cowgirls with 14 points in their 62-44 win over Air Force on Tuesday afternoon.

OSU gets two champions in Reno Tournament of Champions

Rowdy Baribeau Staff Reporter

OSU wrestlers had a solid day at the Reno Tournament of Champions.

The day’s highlight for the Cowboys was unattached 125-pounder Trevor Mastrogiovanni and 184-pounder Gavin Stika taking home the first-place trophy at their weights respectively. The Cowboys sent six attached wrestlers in Chance McLane (165), Daniel Manibog (157), Gavin Stika (184), Jalin Harper (165), Reece Witcraft (133) and

Zach Blankenship (125). Travis Mastrogiovanni (157) also traveled with his brother to Reno and joined 141-pounder Andrew Bloemhof in the tournament. Of the nine OSU wrestlers that participated, two earned first-place finishes with Mastrogiovanni winning the 125-pound bracket and Stika winning first at 184 pounds. Bloemhof was the only Cowboy wrestler to notch a second-place finish. Witcraft placed third in the 133-pound bracket while Harper notched a fourth-place finish at 165 pounds. Blankenship placed fifth in his second open tournament for the

Cowboys and McLane also ended up with a fifth-place finish.

Manibog and Travis Mastrogiovanni were the only two that didn’t place for the Cowboys. For only six wrestlers attached to OSU, they notched a fifth-place team finish in Reno. Michigan State finished first with ten podium finishes, edging out Wyoming who had 11 place inside the top five. The three unattached wrestlers for OSU did their part as well, earning a spot inside the top 10 as they finished ninth in the tournament.

Trevor Mastrogiovanni had the

best performance of the day by any OSU wrestler as he had three falls and two decision victories in his five matches wrestled. It was a bit of a surprise entry. Trevor is 3-2 in duals and has dropped his last two. So, getting his confidence built up in Reno should surely benefit him going into the Southern Scuffle, which will be more intense than the Reno tournament in terms of competition.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Molly Jolliff

OSU’s 125-pounder, Trevor Mastrogiovanni, won the Reno Tournament of Champions last weekend in Reno, Nevada.

The Cowgirls’ offense stepped up in the second half.

Going into the half, the Cowgirls were up 25-21, and coming off of a bad offensive quarter, they needed to step up to keep the lead. In the third quarter,

sports

the Cowgirls offense put up 23 points on the board. And in the fourth quarter, the Cowgirls put up 14 points to close out the game.

There was not just one Cowgirl who led the charge in the second half. Five players on OSU scored over 10 points on Tuesdays’ game.

Hoyt has been impressed with the team’s balance and is confident in the team’s offense heading into conference play.

“Well, we have so much balance

right and that’s just been so fun to coach such a well balanced team,” Hoyt said. “It’s such a selfless team. I mean, I don’t even know the last time we didn’t have a positive assist to turnover ratio, which I think speaks volumes to the way that our players you know find each other and today we were not very good at scoring the basketball right in the second quarter

Chastain led the Cowgirls in points with 14. Taylen Collins and Terryn Milton had 12 points. Collins

also led the team in rebounds with 15. Alnatas and Lexy Keys both had 10 points. Alnatas also led the team in assists with nine.

“Lior’s been averaging 20 points, the last three games and then she has two today,” Hoyt said. “So that is just really great for us as a coaching staff to have a team where anyone can step up on any given day. And to have that balance. It’s just really fun.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

Cole Gueldenzoph

OSU defeated Air Force 62-44 on Tuesday afternoon. The 10-2 Cowgirls exceeded their win total from last season.

Sports

Cowboys show improvement in final game before Big 12 play

Ben Hutchens Sports Editor

The air in GallagherIba Arena was thick with orange T-shirts.

OSU’s 81-58 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi provided some early Christmas presents for Cowboy fans.

Gameday operations staff throws balled up Tshirts to fans after every Cowboy 3-pointer. For a brief period toward the end of the first half, fans in the baseline student-section didn’t even have a chance to sit before they were back on their feet. Their chance at catching glory was better than ever.

In a span of 1:02, the Cowboys made three 3-pointers.

Bryce Thompson, coming off a career-high five makes from deep last game against Wichita State, started the run and also finished it.

Sandwiched between Thompson’s makes was senior Avery Anderson’s 3-point knockdown. Anderson entered the game making only 22% of his shots from deep. To have the kind of teamwide shooting day the Cowboys had on Tuesday, everyone pitches in.

Five different Cowboys registered a 3-point make.

“We have a lot of guys that are capable of making shots and I think we showed

that today,” OSU coach Mike Boynton said. “So, if we get Bryce continuing to shoot the way he is, get Avery Anderson going, obviously (Anderson’s) nine assists is a big number but 22 assists on 29 made basket is quite an accomplishment.”

OSU made a seasonhigh 13 3-pointers at a nearly 40% clip. It was the most by an OSU team since 2018-19 when 17 triples fell.

Outside shooting was a focus in practice and has been for a while. OSU has shown significant improvement since its November trip to the Bahamas. Since getting back to the United States, OSU has made at least 33% of its 3-pointers in six of seven games.

“Coach Mike just dialed in on us making shots really and taking open ones we just had a conscious effort, and they went in,” guard Chris Harris Jr. said.

Boynton, perhaps the biggest believer in OSU’s ability to shoot the 3-point shot, is seeing results just in time for OSU to open Big 12 play in Allen Fieldhouse against Kansas in 11 days.

“It’s always been there, it’s just a matter of figuring how it all works together, and that’s what you play your nonconference schedule for,” Boynton said.

“I get people want us to be undefeated and be 12-0 or whatever it is. I want to get better. When I put a nonconference schedule together, I never play to lose, I want to win every game, but I don’t want to be 12-0 and not improve I don’t.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Davis Cordova

Bryce Thompson made four 3-pointers in OSU’s 81-58 win against Texas A&M Corpus Christi.

4) Powering a growing world population sustainably and responsibly

Each of these areas involves faculty, staff and students on campus to ensure the longevity of Oklahoma’s workforce. OSU hopes that the success of this plan will lead to replication on a larger scale.

Achievements in these four areas will allow for an improved quality of life, as well as better economic and health prospects for Oklahomans.

“Since Oklahoma State’s creation in 1890, we have remained one of the few and proud leading land-grant institutions in America,” Shrum said. “The university philosophy is predicated on the notion that we provide students with an education that will set them up for success after graduation while using the strength of our research to solve some of society’s most pressing problems.”

Shrum hopes this plan, once implemented, will improve the quality of student learning.

“The strategy has identified areas where society’s greatest needs — aerospace innovation, energy sustainability, food security and One Health — cross with OSU’s greatest research capabilities,” Shrum said. “We have outlined the plan to accelerate knowledge through additional resources and funding. The other key tenet is defining ways we can improve the student experience and reduce the number of students graduating with debt with bold, measurable goals. Student enrollment and student success are key.”

OSU is also a leader in K-12 STEM education through its academic programs and research. This plan will allow OSU to enhance its programs throughout the state.

The plan outlines a strategy to enhance OSU’s academic and athletic reputation. The goal is to rank in the top 30 public universities for awarding nationally and internationally competitive scholarships, like Truman and Fulbright scholarships, consistently compete for championships and finish in the top 30 of the Directors Cup of competitive men’s and women’s Division I athletics.

“To reach great heights, we must all unite behind this daring vision to be the nation’s preeminent land-grant university,” Shrum said. “Together, we will reimagine and revolutionize Oklahoma State University.”

Jaiden Daughty

OSU president Kayse Shrum established a new strategic plan in early October.

Cowboys selected to participate in NASA’s 2023 Micro-g NExT Challenge

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

Many undergraduate students at OSU have been selected to participate in upcoming NASA mission challenges. The College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology had three teams full of Cowboys selected to participate in Phase II of the 2023 NASA Micro-g NExT challenge.

This has been the CEAT’s largest number of teams selected in a single year. Being selected for this experience includes hands-on engineering design, test operations and public outreach.

Micro-g Neutral Buoyancy Experiment Design Teams challenges the students selected to design, build and test a tool or device that addresses a real and current space exploration challenge.

Students on Team APUS consist of Chase Allensworth, Leo Fagge, Emily Goodart and Trent Upshaw. Team APUS is working on solving the challenge to design a tool attachment mechanism for an extension handle for use during lunar surface sampling operations. This challenge is to create tools that allow astronauts to remain standing while working in space. Having to bend down and get back up in a pressurized space suit is not ideal and can create potential hazards.

Team HYDRUS consists of Daniel Aanerud, Daniel Kinard, Colby Wilson and Hector Zeigler. Team HYDRUS focused their challenges on a standalone space suit cooling system that makes use of thermoelectric coolers used for underwater astronaut training in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab.

Team Co.R.V.U.S consists of Ella Higgins. Samuel Hiltz, Tommy

Hosty, Jack Massar, Robert Paddack, Mario Pando, Elam Pebworth, John Pippin, Will Reynolds, Alissa Rojas, Daniel Toll and Chauncey Wagner. Team Co.R.V.U.S’ challenge is a zip tie installer for extravehicular activity. Because of heavy astronaut gear, tying zip ties can be difficult.

Each team is working on something crucial for NASA’s development, and Alyssa Avery has been the acting adviser and mentors all three OSU teams. Avery is the research assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. A faculty member from an accredited U.S. institution or higher learning must mentor and attend events with their team.

Test operations are conducted at the NASA Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. Teams will propose the design and finished product, which will then be identified

by NASA engineers as necessary in space exploration missions. Professional NBL divers will test the tools. Micro-g NExT provides a special opportunity to contribute to NASA’s missions. The 2023 Micro-g NExT challenges focus on astronaut training, Orion crew safety, extravehicular activities (EVA) operations for missions to the International Space Station and lunar EVA operations during the Artemis missions.

To qualify for the challenge, students must be enrolled as undergraduate students in an accredited U.S. institution of higher learning, 16 years or older and must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.

To learn more about the NASA Micro-g NExT challenge, visit the NASA website.

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Courtesy of OSU

Students from the Space Cowboys team were selected for Phase II of the NASA Micro-g NExT Challenge.

Is ‘Die Hard’ a Christmas movie?

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

Christmas movies are an essential part of the holiday season.

Movies such as “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Home Alone” are considered holiday staples in millions of households across America. For a smaller number of American households, Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas if somebody at the dinner table didn’t revive the yearly holiday argument of if “Die Hard” qualifies as a Christmas movie.

In “Die Hard,” Bruce Willis, who plays police officer John McClane, is attending his wife’s company Christmas party when the a group of terrorists there to take over the building interrupts. It is up to McClane to save the building and its occupants from the criminals.

Many argue that “Die Hard” is not a Christmas movie, instead it’s an action movie that happens to take place during Christmas. David Cagle, 25, said that everything about “Die Hard” screams Christmas.

“It takes place on Christmas,” Cagle said. “It takes place at a Christmas party. They play Christmas music throughout the whole thing, and they even have Christmas music during the credits. The entire movie is Christmas.”

Those against the claim that “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie argue that because the movie was not released during the holiday season, it is not a Christmas movie. “Die Hard” was released in July 1988.

“Die Hard” was released before Cagle was born, and he didn’t watch

the movie until many years after it made its theater debut. Cagle said it never occurred to him that “Die Hard” was not released during the holiday season.

“I never knew that,” Cagle said. “I just thought it was a Christmas movie my whole life.”

Tim Kline was 22 when “Die Hard” was released. Kline said the movie’s summer release date does not define it as a nonChristmas movie.

“Anybody who doesn’t understand it’s a Christmas movie hasn’t seen it,” Kline said. “Rudolph, the RedNosed Reindeer” could have happened anytime there was fog, but it’s a Christmas story.”

Kline said “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie because Christmas is essential to the plot of the movie. For many companies, the Christmas party is the biggest event of the year. A minor celebration such as a Halloween party would not require employees to bring a plus one, nor would it have called for company executives to attend.

“If there was no Christmas, there would have been no reason to have all of the upper management there together, where they could come and rob them,” Kline said. “It’s not something they could have done on an average Thursday, or even at Easter or Thanksgiving.”

Although Kline and Cagle make compelling arguments for why “Die Hard” is a Christmas movie, not all would agree a movie of such violence represents the Christmas spirit.

Whether “Die Hard” is truly a Christmas movie, the is-or-isn’t an argument it inspires every holiday season means Christmas for many.

entertainment.ed@ocolly.com

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

Bruce Willis stars as New York cop John McClane in 1988’’s “Die Hard.”

The Wacky World of Obscure Christmas Albums

“Jingle Cats, Meowy Christmas”

Little Staff Reporter

The sounds of the holidays bring back a sense of child-like wonder and fond memories. But in some situations, these sounds may do the exact opposite. Christmas songs have been some of the most played and covered songs of all time. Through classics like “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Jingle Bells”, countless celebrities have attempted to dip their toes in the water to try and capitalize on that Christmas magic. However, with the fair share of good Christmas music out there, comes the weird, bad and downright confusing holiday albums. Here are just a few of the fun and funny albums that have come home for the holidays this year.

“Jingle Cats, Meowy Christmas” is exactly what it sounds like. This album is perfect for that crazy cat lady in your family that just cannot get enough of the holiday cheer… and cat hair. The track list is made up of 20 Christmas classics all covered with cat sounds. Not a great listen for an extended period of time, but it is hard not to crack a smile when listening to “Carol of the Bells” done completely by feline friends. The CD itself may be hard to come by, as it was first released in 1993, but with a quick YouTube search, those looking to listen should be able to find it hiding on the website.

“A Very Spidey Christmas”

What started out as a joke written in “Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse”, became a reality. Peter B. Parker makes a joke stating that he had many things in his life, including a Christmas album. Nothing more than a one-off joke, until the album was released digitally, following the release of the movie in 2018. Now, fans are able to purchase a vinyl

record containing all the songs from the digital album. The album is short, but the joke lands for those that are fans of the wall crawler. Plus, “Spidey-Bells (A Hero’s Lament)” is a pretty catchy tune.

“A Chrisley Christmas”

Released in 2016, this is an album featuring the Chrisley family, as seen on the USA Network’s hit show “Chrisley Knows Best”, singing various Christmas songs along with a few originals. What felt like an odd choice in 2016 has only grown to be more peculiar in light of the recent prison sentence of both Todd and Julie Chrisley after committing tax fraud. It was an obscure listen when it first released in 2016, and it probably will not be echoing through the halls of anybody’s Christmas celebration in 2022.

“Crazy Hits: Crazy Christmas Edition”

Remember that one song that exploded on the early days of YouTube that had the blue frog riding the invisible motorcycle? Well, he made a

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Christmas album. “Crazy Hits: Crazy Christmas Edition” only features two Christmas songs on the album, a cover of Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and “Jingle Bells”. The Crazy Frog is known for making annoying noises and turning them into loud, techno remixes that get stuck in people’s heads. Crazy Frog accomplishes just that with this semifestive musical collection.

This is only scratching the surface of wild holiday tunes made available on albums. While these are all alternate options to accompany the family Christmas dinner, these songs should be put toward the very bottom of the playlist… unless someone’s looking to get taken off the guest list for next Christmas.

Via Spotify

Everyone knows about the traditional Christmas music albums. What about the wacky ones such as “A Very Spidey Christmas.

Courtesy of Tribune News Service

The Chrisley family from USA Network’s hit show “Chrisley Knows Best” released a Christmas music album in 2016.

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