Friday, Oct. 28, 2022

Warm water therapy changes lives

Stillwater’s unique form of recreational therapy

Zoe Kent-Ferraro, Saara Hakanen and Darby Madden O’Colly Contributors

A Stillwater Elementary School student shouted two words after she proved others wrong.

“I’m walking, I’m walk ing,” she said, after being told she would never be able to walk again. This girl got more from warm water therapy than any one could’ve hoped for.

Life-changing recollec tions like this are among the favorite memories of Jonette Passmore, instructor for the warm water therapy lab. Pass more’s job is to teach OSU’s recreational therapy students to work with local elementary and middle school students, so that they could experience similar moments.

OSU’s warm water therapy lab is the first of three clinical rotations required for a recreational therapy degree. Each student in the program works with the same patient from Stillwater elementary or middle school throughout the semester.

During their time together

Halloween

Jaden

Halloween day is nigh.

The spooky houses and pumpkin catered everything have already taken shape across Stillwater.

With Halloween quickly ap proaching, here are events that you can attend this weekend to get your Halloween spirit on before the big day.

Drive-In Movie (Coraline)

Friday, the Western Fields will be showing the spooky

in the pool, patients with limit ing conditions can gain strength and mobility. Warm water therapy doesn’t add stress to the patients’ bodies since water re duces 90% of their body weight. Although the progress takes time, children who have par ticipated have seen confidence boosted as well as improved muscle strength and flexibility.

“The progress you see from September to December isn’t always a lot but I have worked with some kids for four or five years,” Passmore said.

“To be able to look back to when they first came, they cried the whole 30 minutes they were in the water, and now they’re independently doing things.”

“I think you have to go into it realizing that they can teach you something, not that you’re here to teach them,” Passmore said.

Stillwater Medical’s Total Health Fitness Aquatics Center is home to the only warm water therapy program with one-onone attention from student ther apists in Oklahoma. Passmore and her student therapists are in high demand. Public schools’ special education programs evaluate which children they think would benefit the most

from warm water therapy.

“They usually have more Stillwater public students that want to come than what we can bring, just because of the shared numbers in the water,” Passmore said.

To accommodate the limited resources, the pool capacity falls to 20 people in the water at once. That makes it possible to fit 10 Stillwater Pub lic School students and 10 OSU students into one session.

Oliver Riggs, 12, is one of the lucky 10 that gets to play and learn in the pool with a familiar OSU student every Thursday. His smile through the 30-minute therapy session is even more overflowing than the pool itself. When this bub bly kid with Down syndrome is asked whether he had fun in the pool, he grins and gives a straight-to-the-point answer: “Yes.”

Smiles are common inside Total Health Aquatics. The pool and a large gym are a few of the resources that Total Health offers Stillwater resi dents. Vanessa Lane, Supervi sor of Fitness, sees people from all walks of life come together to workout.

“There is one time when a

younger super built man and an older female around the age of 65 were working out together, doing spin classes and weight lifting,” Lane said. “This inter action just shows how much of a family we are at Total Health Aquatics, and we want to lift others up with a smile on our faces.”

Fun exercises can also be useful and highly educa tional. While physically mov ing around the pool, children learn colors, numbers, letters, sequencing and balance among many other things. Passmore said swimming is used as a task in the pool to stimulate all parts of the brain at once.

“That’s what’s great about the water because you can incorporate your left and right brain at the same time with everything you do,” Passmore said.

Hard skills such as read ing and calculating are es sential, but the most important life skills children get to bring home from the pool are soft skills. The first of these kinds of skills is learning natural consequences.

“If I tell you that you’re gonna sink if you don’t have your floaties on, and you won’t

surrounding areas

animation “Coraline.” There will be a trunk or treat ing section, photo booth, yard games and drinks and snacks for everyone to enjoy. There will also be a costume contest that will have an Apple Home Mini and a Horse PillowPet as possible prizes. The activi ties will start at 6 p.m. and the movie will begin at 7.

Sumner Baptist Hal loween Festival

On Saturday, the Sum ner Baptist Halloween festi val will show any attendees a good time with several snacks, food, and games for people to take part in. There will also be a pumpkin carving contest. Saved for last, a costume contest race broken into age divisions will end the exciting night. The event will go from 5-9 p.m.

Spooktacular

listen to me, you jump off the side anyway, you’re gonna go under,” Passmore said. “I’m gonna help you up, of course, but that’s a natural conse quence.”

Another soft skill with a huge impact on the children’s lives is confidence. Passmore said although it’s sometimes harder for these kids to see success, here, they get realiza tions of being able to do things independently. Great power comes with great responsibility, however, too much confidence can be dangerous, especially in a deep pool.

“My biggest fear with our special needs kids is that we’re gonna give them enough confidence that they think they can do more than they can,” Passmore said.

Jayden Fiebiger, a senior at OSU, completed a warm water therapy lab only one se mester before getting to utilize the skills in a real-life job. Her supervisor during a summer internship was aquatic therapy certified, so Fiebiger got to dive right into water therapy with the clients.

how about that?”

Brooks came home to OSU for the day along with his touring team to share wisdom from the music industry, and empower the next generation as they em bark on their own personal journeys through college and beyond.

Garth Brooks said he would be home for Christ mas, when a student asked if he would ever perform on campus.

“We’ll do something for Christmas this year,

Not only was Indus try Insights beneficial for music students but veteri nary students, those start ing a family, and more.

Courtesy of Zoe Kent-Ferraro, Darby Madden and Saara Hakanen

Oliver Riggs, 12, learns plenty of physical skills, colors, letters and sequencing in the warm water therapy lab.

Via Dr. Shrum’s Instagram OSU

Dr. Kayse Shrum noted Brooks

seconds

his talks

Tuesday.

Prep the Dough

1. In a small mixing bowl, add yeast and sugar in water and stir well until dissolved. Sugar and water activates yeast in a few minutes and the mixture should start to bubble and develop a yeasty aroma.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add flour and salt. Pour in the wet yeast mixture and olive oil and mix with a silicone spatula until fully com bined, scraping down the sides of the bowl (there should be no dry flour particles visible).

3. Knead the dough on a clean surface for 5-10 minutes until it turns into a smooth dough ball. You can also mix the dough in a stand mixer on medium speed for about five minutes.

4. Transfer the dough ball back into the bowl and cover with plastic cling wrap. Let it rise at room temperature for an hour until doubled in size.

Shape the Dough

1. Flatten the dough into an approximately 9x12inch rectangle. Use a bench scraper or pizza cutter to divide it into 12 equal pieces.

2. Gently roll each piece into a 9-inch rope and ar range on a parchment-lined half sheet baking pan, evenly spaced an inch apart.

3. Cover the baking sheet loosely with plastic cling wrap and let the dough rise until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes depending on the room tem perature.

Bake the Breadsticks

1. Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit.

2. In a small mixing bowl, stir together melted butter, garlic powder, salt flakes, and Italian seasoning. Use a silicone brush to gently brush the mixture evenly over each breadstick.

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. If you like your breadsticks extra crispy, bake for another five-10 minutes.

4. Let the breadsticks cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve on its own, with marinara sauce for dipping, or with a bowl of soup.

Recipe from Ahead of Thyme

The O’Colly

Witches Brew Midori melon liqueur,

treau

The Grave Digger

spiced apple cider, lemon juice, Cointreau, orange bitters, ginger beer and rosemary

Top 10 missed Homecoming moments

singing along to Pitbull’s “Give Me Everything” as the one of the directors spoke with The O’Colly about how things were progressing overnight.

“I would say most of these guys are running on a lot of caffeine given that it’s two in the morning and they’re act ing like this,” said Gamma Phi Beta Caroline Mosier.

America’s Greatest Homecoming once again came and left so fast it’s hard to re member it was only last week. With all the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to miss some of the best moments that happen.

Here are 10 things, in no particular order, from the 101st OSU Homecoming Celebration you might have missed.

No. 1: Pistol Pete and Dr. Shrum helped decorate Hester Street

If you went to the street painting and looked up, you might have seen some famil iar faces painting alongside you. Pistol Pete, President Dr. Kayse Shrum and Darren Shrum all left their mark on Hester Street prepping for the walk that happened Saturday afternoon. Not only are the Shrums amazing people, we learned they are fantastic art ists, too.

No. 2: Marcus Smart sent a tweet shouting out his alma mater

Farmhouse and Kappa Delta won the house dec com petition this year, and caught the eyes of former Cowboys basketball star Marcus Smart. Part of its dec included Smart with a rotating jersey between his Cowboys and Celtics jersey. Smart took to twitter after see ing the video and said “Love to see the love from @OSUAth letics and @OKStateAlumni and @OSUMBB and home coming weekend in Stillwater. Best weekend on campus,” Smart said on Twitter.

No. 3: Steak sandwiches

Dozens of food trucks came to campus for walkaround, but one of the favorites was the steak sand wiches from the Oklahoma Collegiate Cattlemen and Cattlewomen’s association. The line went by fast, and custom ers were satisfied every time as they took their first bite.

No. 4: OSU football came back to beat Texas

At halftime, the Cow boys were down a touchdown. A missed field goal to try and cut that Texas lead didn’t help the momentum going into the second half. After a slow third quarter with a field goal from each team, OSU found the momentum to tie the game mid fourth quarter. Later, OSU scored another touchdown to lead for the first time in the game. After keeping the Longhorns from scoring in the fourth quarter, OSU took a knee in its final possession as the stadium planned for a field rush that never happened.

No. 5: Caffeine around Stillwater was flooding Greek Houses for all night pomp

At 2 a.m, outside the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity house, boys were seen dancing and

Beta Theta Pi and Gam ma Phi Beta almost filled an about 20 gallon tote with all the cans and cups used for caf feine that night.

No. 6: Pistol Pete jumped in a bounce house

If you were at the Home coming Tailgate, you might’ve seen a giant white bounce house. What you might not have seen, was the moment Pistol Pete took off his boots. As his head barely fit in the bounce house, you could see his permanent facial expres sion turning into a smile as he gathered students to join him as he jumped around.

No. 7: The football helmets were un matched

The photo should be enough ex planation on this one.

No. 8: Waka Flocka Flame per formed in GIA

The moment everyone waited for, and then didn’t stick around for. Waka Flocka Flame was the big name coming to give a concert after Homecoming and Hoops was back in GIA this year, and very quickly was a bust. Despite a packed arena during the pep rally and introduction of the basketball teams, more than half the crowd left before or during the concert. The reality did not live up to the hopes and expec tations of WFF fans.

No. 9: Mike Gundy blew students kisses post-game OSU only gave up three points in the second half, and the fans were three times as rowdy during the second half. Gundy came over to thank the student section as the walked off the field after its victory, thanking the fans for not giving up. He blew kisses and sent his heart out to everyone cheering for the team as they went back to the locker room where the famous Gundy dance commenced.

No. 10: The 1890 limited edition beer cans for the week

OSU Athletics officially has a beer, which means it needed to be top notch for Homecoming week when alums were able to come home and try the beer themselves.

The can was decorated with the official Homecoming logo for the week, and was available to those enjoying walkaround Friday night.

Abby Cage Co-Editor-in-Chief

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Via Iron Monk Facebook

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Trunk or Treat Sunday, Stillwater Church of Christ will be hosting a fun time that will involve decked out trunks and games for every one to enjoy. Bounce houses, hay rides, a petting zoo and candy will all be available for anybody that decides to attend. The event will run from 4-6 p.m.

Lost Creek Fall Fest Sunday, Lost Creek Safari Zoo will have its own trunk or treat and activities including games, crafts, and snacks that will take place from 5-8 p.m.

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Stitt, Hofmeister, battle in upcoming election

ing together to see our economy thrive. We know it means that we have to have a community where we put world class schools at the to... We know that for Oklahoma to flourish, we have to get back to common sense, respect for one another, working together and getting things done.”

about 5% of voters were undecid ed and 3% was picked up by Yen and Bruno with 1%.

Quetta Woodall, an OSU sophomore, talked about her con fidence in voting as a first-time gubernatorial voter.

The polls are in.

Four people are on the ballot for the Nov. 8 election for Oklahoma’s new governor. In cumbent Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, Democratic challenger State Superinten dent for Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, Libertarian Natalie Bruno and Independent Ervin Yen are in the race.

A gubernatorial debate was held Oct. 19 between Stitt and Hofmeister. Bruno and Yen have been polling less than 5%, so pri ority was given to the two leading candidates for the debate.

Hofmeister spoke about her family’s values and her plans for governor in her opening statement at the debate.

“We raise them [our chil dren] with the same values that most Oklahoman’s hold dear,” Hofmeister said. “We value faith, family, education, hard work— and we know that it takes work

Stitt’s opening statement consisted of accomplishments of the state in the past four years.

“I like to remind people about how far we’ve come in the last four years,” he said. “We’ve come from budget deficits to a record savings account, from four-day school weeks and teacher walkouts to now the largest in vestment in education and teach ers in the history of our state. A brightest economy with the lowest unemployment we’ve ever had. Folks, Oklahoma’s turnaround — it is working.”

Polls, including Sooner Poll, Amber Integrated and Ascend Action, have indicated that the election is within a few points between Hofmeister and Stitt. The average of the three polls, accord ing to 270 To Win, put Hofmeister four points ahead of Stitt two days before the debate.

Amber Integrated out of Oklahoma City shows specific numbers in its mid-October poll. With a 4.4% margin of error,

“I feel as if I have high knowledge for who I am voting for,” she said. “I hope the election goes well and the winning party is able to use their power for the agreements they stated during the campaign season.”

Woodall continued on what she thinks the future of Oklahoma government looks like after the election.

“The future of Oklahoma looks bright with Governor Stitt winning,” Woodall said. “The government will stay wise and boost our state’s economy. It will also give power to our execu tive branch. I am unsure how the future will be with Joy, because she is not decisive on what she believes. She loves her family and is very clear on it, but other than that I am unsure where the future will head if Joy is elected.”

For more information re garding voter stations, times and the Nov. 8 election, please visit oklahoma.gov.

Rocky Horror Picture Show is back at OSU

Bella Casey Staff Reporter

A Halloween favor ite returns to Stillwater for the first time since the pandemic.

After years of can cellations and the absence of live actors, the Rocky Horror Picture Show re turns as a live production to help pokes celebrate Halloween.

Students can expe rience the Rocky Hor ror Picture Show in the Student Union Theatre at 8:30 p.m. on Halloween free of charge.

The Student Union Activities Board is collaborating with the Student Art Alliance to produce the show.

As the Rocky Hor ror Picture Show plays in the background, actors turn the movie into an interactive experience by engaging with the audience and acting out important scenes in the movie. Audience members are provided with props and cues that instruct them on how to participate in the show.

“We’re mimicking what’s going on in the movie, but it gives it a little more of an interac tive feel,” said Hailey Rayl, a graduate assistant for SUAB.

SUAB held an open audition to encourage all who were interested to try out for a role in the show. All OSU theatre departments were invited to try out, but no previ ous acting experience or involvement in an OSU theatre department was required.

Rayl has been help ing produce the show for years, and says it takes

a special kind of actor to perform in the Rocky Horror Picture Show.

“Rocky Horror is a very showy kind of production,” Rayl said. “You have to be really confident in what you’re doing.”

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a unique opportunity for actors to showcase their ability to perform in an interactive setting.

The cast members of the show have been re hearsing for over a month to produce the show for students to enjoy.

“You can show that you’ve spent all this time training and practicing and putting on this big production,” Rayl said. “I think it would look really good on a resume.”

Not only is the show the perfect way to celebrate Halloween but is an opportunity to show off your Halloween costume. For Rayl, this is one of her favorite parts of the show.

“It’s a really fun event to see people bring out their costumes,” Rayl said. “So, we really want to play up the Halloween aspect of it.”

There is no better way to celebrate Hallow een than with a comedy horror movie and cos tumes.

“We’re just really excited for you to go and watch what we’ve been working on.” Rayl said.

For more informa tion regarding the event, please visit union.okstate. edu/suab/.

File photo

Oklahomans will

File photo

Members of the Student Union Activities Board performing during the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019, in the Student Union.

Graphics by Rebekah Cleary and Bridget Marrara

Courtesy of Tribune News Services

Therapy...

Continued from 1A

“Since I had that back ground, I was comfortable getting in the water with the clients and actually doing in terventions and activities with them,” Fiebiger said.

Samuel Arteaga, OSU se nior, wants his life to be fulfill ing. He came across recreation al therapy as a freshman and it changed the course of his life. He switched his major from aviation to recreational therapy. Arteaga loved the memories and patients during his sopho more year lab with Passmore so much that he wanted to keep participating as a volunteer.

“My favorite memory was my last day of this class my sophomore year and the pa tient I was working with didn’t like going underwater … I felt bad for pushing him a little bit, but he did it and came back up just fine,” Arteaga said. “Being in that position with something we normally wouldn’t do with him was an awesome experi ence, especially for the last day.”

Warm water therapy is a part of Oklahoma’s system that is designed to support special education students.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work the way it’s supposed to. Passmore mentions instances where children have struggled to get unexcused absences from classes to attend warm water therapy. A national law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, ensures eli gible children with disabilities receive free special education and related services.

Special education pro grams like warm water therapy have the ability to change the lives of OSU students and the children eligible for these free services. Passmore’s perspec tive over children with special needs is something she wants all her students to remember.

“We as a society tend to view them as failures because they can’t learn the way the majority of the people learn,” Passmore said. “My favorite quote is from Einstein: If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will always be a failure.”

news.ed@ocolly.com

Movies to help prepare you for Halloween

Frank-N-Furter’s man sion. This is a movie filled with wild charac ters, music and anticipa tion.

Halloween is ap proaching quickly, and a lot of people have found themselves looking for the best way to get in the spooky spirit.

Watching horror movies has always been one of the best ways to set the mood for the Hal loween season. This year has been fantastic for recently released hor ror movies, so it is easy to reminisce over older horror films that feel like Halloween.

OSU is always doing unique things on campus that highlights the time of year. The Student Union Activity Board is putting on the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” at 8:30 pm on Halloween at the Student Union theater. What is a better way to prepare for the Rocky Horror Picture Show rather than watch ing “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)?

Currently streaming on Hulu, this cult classic follows Brad and Janet, a couple who discover

The horror slasher “Child’s Play” (1988) is one of horror’s most treasured franchises. The first film follows a single mother who gives her son a “Good Guy” doll for his birthday. She soon discovers it is possessed by a serial killer named Chucky, who comes to life and wreaks havoc. There is also a 2019 remake titled “Child’s Play” as well. They can be streamed on Amazon Prime with a premium subscription.

“The Addams Fam ily” (1991) and “Addams Family Values” (1993) are Halloween classics. These are perfect for anyone who enjoys Hal loween but does not nec essarily like the scares. “The Addams Family” and “Addams Family Val ues” can be streamed on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime.

If you call yourself a fan of horror films, you cannot let Halloween pass without watching “Scream” (1996).

Scream

queen Neve Campbell gives an exhilarating per formance as protagonist Sidney Prescott, a trau matized teen who has to learn to survive based on experiences and horror movie knowledge. This is a smart, self-aware horror film and it is avail able for streaming on Paramount+ and Amazon Prime.

M. Knight Shalyaman’s “The Sixth Sense” (1999) is one of the most popular Hal loween movies to date. Certain to give you a good scare, this psycho logical thriller has one of Shalyaman’s most intense plot twists. Shalyaman’s “Knock at the Cabin” (2023) will be released on Feb. 3, 2023. It is a highly anticipated film, starring Jonathan Groff, Dave Bautista and Rupert Grint.

Whether you invite some friends over and have a horror movie marathon or watch a few of these leading up to Halloween, these movies are certain to get you in the right mood for some tricks and treats.

Garth...

Brooks made sure to talk with people from multiple majors and backgrounds, no matter what their future holds.

OSU holds a special place in Brooks’ heart, which made it a no brainer when he was asked to come back and talk to students.

“For any dreamer, you need a safe place to dream from, and that’s here,” Brooks said.

As students gath ered in The McKnight Center to hear from Brooks, he included a fully stacked team of so cial media, songwriting, business and technical experts from his touring group.

“If I am out there talking to a bunch of press people and they’re asking me everything from nuclear waste to whatever, I don’t have the answers,” Brooks said, comparing press meetings with the Presi dent to the current event. “But I think if I am a leader at all I would bring people who had the answers so I never understood why there wasn’t like 10 people behind the president. So I brought people who hopefully will be able to answer any kind of question that you guys have got.”

Though each ses sion was broken down

into certain topics, the overall theme was hard work. Especially for the women in the audience.

“Get ready cause in this business, no mat ter what business you choose, you’re gonna have to work a thou sand times harder than the men to get half as much,” Garth Brooks said as he introduced the women on his team. “That’s just how it is right now. Until it changes, don’t bitch about it, just roll your sleeves up and work.”

Brooks talked about how some of the women in the music business, including Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire, outworked all the men around them to be some of the most successful women in country music history. The women on his team reminded him of that same work ethic in those two ladies.

“Know your worth, but also know how hard you are working to back that up,” media and television extraordinaire Samantha Hines said.

Everything from work, to family, to school was talked about with Brooks and his team. The relation ships made within that team were impactful in Brooks growth as an art ist and as a person.

“Don’t surround yourself with yes people, surround yourself with people who are trying to get you the right an swer,” Brooks said.

Despite not using

his college degree in his everyday life, Brooks said he is still proud to have it, as well as his wife, Trisha Yearwood, with her degree in music business from Belmont.

“It was a sense of accomplishment, it was also that period of time between leaving my mom and dad’s house and being a real adult,” Yearwood said. “Get ting those four years to grow up and learn, that’s what going to college is about.”

Not only was col lege a place of growth for Brooks, getting his degree gave him a sense of confidence when trying to score a record deal.

“Truth is if they’re gonna sign you for a deal, they’ll find you,” Brooks said. “But when you walk in and say ‘I’ve got my degree,’ already that degree paid for itself a thousand times over in that 30 minutes of talking with those guys.”

Brooks returned to his alma mater for the first time in years, and the biggest question on people’s minds was when will he be back?

“I can just tell you this, that woman there (President Shrum) whatever she wants,” Brooks said. “She loves this university, she’ll die for this university, and fight for it. If I can help in any way to get this university a little bit of the credit it deserves, count me in.”

Courtesy of Zoe Kent-Ferraro, Saara Hakanen and Darby Madden

Jonette Passmore is the instructor for the Warm Water Therapy Lab.

Photo courtesy of Dimension Films

“Scream” is a great movie to watch during Halloween weekend.

Abby Cage

Garth Brooks and his team spoke with students from across campus at The McKnight Center in OSU’s

Industry Insights series.

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

All photos by Cole Gueldenzoph, Jaiden Daughty, Mackenzie Janish and Ben Hutchens

OSU to host inaugural Halloween 5K at Boomer Lake

Kennedy Thomason Staff Reporter

Boomer Lake will be haunted with spooky racers on Saturday.

The inaugural Boomer Spooktacular 5K is set to start at 2:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the Leisure Studies Gradu ate Student Association who has partnered with the Depart ment of Wellness to create this event.

“The LSGSA chose to host this event in order to honor our parks and recreation roots,” said Rachel Feasley, the LSGSA President. “In order to strengthen the relationship between the Leisure depart ment and the community of Stillwater, we wanted to raise money and awareness to our

local parks and recreation.”

The race is open to the community, and participants are encouraged to dress in Hal loween costumes.

Feasley shared her favorite part of the event and reflected on what everyone will dress up as.

“The costumes,” she said.

“What is the only thing that makes a fun run and the dis persal of 100 pounds of candy more exciting? Being surround ed by children, families and students alike dressed up as someone or something else.”

The 5K requires registra tion for runners and non-run ners. Registration price varies depending on age and the date of registration. As a part of the registration fee, participants will receive a race T-shirt, racing bib or ticket along with some sponsor swag.

After the race, the Boom er Spooktacular will feature a “Trunk-or-Treat” for kids and a costume parade lasting until 5:30 p.m.

LSGSA plans for the Boomer Spooktacular to bring the Stillwater and OSU com munities together.

“We as graduate students and professionals are enthusi astic about the impact that well organized Leisure events can have on patients and communi ties alike,” Feasley said.

The LSGSA cabinet has worked hard this year to utilize their passion about “commu nity outreach in the name of Leisure.”

“This event is important to the LSGSA for a variety of reasons,” Feasley said. “First and foremost, as a way to strengthen the relationship between OSU and Stillwater,

HIMALAYAN GROCERY STORE

especially between the leisure department and Parks and Recreation.”

As the Boomer Spook tacular is making its debut, the LSGSA is excited to connect with the broader Stillwater community.

“The LSGSA has been around for many years but has not yet made a name for itself publicly,” Feasley said. “What better opportunity to educate others on who we are than to organize an event for the com munities we love?”

Feasley emphasized her appreciation for the OSU De partment of Wellness, which is helping them host the event.

“This is the first time that the LSGSA and Depart ment of Wellness have worked together to host an event,” she said. “It is an exciting way to see what we are capable of as a

team. We couldn’t have done it without them.”

Feasley is excited about the outreach that the Boomer Spooktacular will allow.

“It is a natural exten sion of our abilities to design, organize and execute commu nity events like this one—built to encourage the beautiful city of Stillwater in safe, family fun,” she said. “Stillwater has the opportunity to learn more about our esteemed School of Kinesiology, applied health & recreation, and we have the opportunity to further elevate Stillwater.”

The LSGSA has high hopes for the event.

For more information regarding the event, visit okla. st/boomerspooktacular.

news.ed@ocolly.com

Graphic by Rebekah Cleary

Album review: Swift at her best in ‘Midnights’

Jaden Besteda Staff Reporter

I think Taylor Swift has mastered the art of songwriting. Those were my first thoughts of her new album, ‘Mid nights,” about halfway through. It’s easy to recognize that Swift’s latest effort isn’t something that you can fully digest within the first listen. Most of her projects are like that. Given the relatively short 44-minute run time to say something like that must mean that she uses almost every line to her best ability. That’s exactly what happened.

The thing about “Midnights” is that there are no radio hits. Not in the way “1989” had “Shake it off” or “Reputation” had “Look What You Made Me Do.” That’s exactly what makes this album so interest ing and a great body of work. You can argue that “Anti-Hero” is the big radio song of the album, even that had its share of good writing and cohesiveness that Swift singles usually don’t.

“Midnights” is an album about just that and it’s executed perfectly. Every song perfectly portrays a dif ferent midnight thought or action that any overthinker depraved, shunned or desperate for love would do. The tonal shifts are almost as drastic as a midnight thought can be and the almost laughable lyrics work because of her commitment to the

theme.

The more seri ous lines can be felt even more because the sincerity in them seem to be there. “I hosted parties and starved my body, like I’d be saved from a perfect kiss,” comes from my favor ite song on the album, “You’re On Your Own, Kid.” The song de scribes the chase for af fection and how putting yourself in the lime light can bring the best and worst. The great thing about this song is that it builds slowly and tells a complete story. The beginning, middle and end go together perfectly. The music picks up around the 1:44 timestamp and transports us to a now grown up Swift.

She describes how the heartbreaks have helped her become independent and even though losing friends and lovers is a tough thing, everything that takes courage is a step forward in the right direction. To top it all off, she adds in a little “Yeah, you can face this” with the chorus at the end. Making it not just maybe the most emotional song of the album but the most uplifting track too.

Other standout tracks include, “Ma roon,” “Question…?,” “Sweet Nothing,” and “Snow on the Beach.”

The outro of this album is so unique that I could write an entire article about that by itself. The song “Mas termind” is not your typical outro, the song rings as something that’d be a track seven or eight of any other

album but it’s not. For some reason, that totally works.

“Mastermind” is essentially Swift admitting that she was the mastermind be tween her and another person’s meeting and eventual falling in love. Planning potential run in coincidences and conversations that may or may not ever hap pen. The perfect ending to an album about mid nights. Because what’s more common than a fake scenario at mid night? The song before “Sweet Nothing” works as the slowest song on the album and defi nitely one that’ll grow on many people as time passes. She describes how she caved to be in a relationship that gave her nothing just for the simple reason of not being alone.

Every song on “Midnights” perfectly puts in perspective what I can imagine millions of people have been through and just what exactly they may be feeling at midnights. I’m not sure how exactly radio acces sible this is compared to albums from years past. However, it is still Swift. Anti-Hero will probably be the No. 1 song in the country for weeks to come. Regardless, the album executes its theme al most perfectly and the songwriting from Swift and co-writer Jack Antonoff is extremely crisp. “Midnights” is a terrific album and will be played for years to come.

Probably at mid night.

STILLWATER’S

Courtesy of Tribune News Services

Taylor Swift recently released her latest album, “Midnights” last week.

Calling up Clay

After battling injuries, Clay is the next man up

transferred to OSU in 2020 but tore his ACL just as he was granted eligibility to begin the season. The next year, a partial tear of the same ACL set him back even further.

Two seasons in Stillwater. Zero playing time. Much less a spot on the starting lineup.

There were times when Col lin Clay questioned his future on the football field.

After a freshman season at Arkansas in 2019 where he played in 11 games, his career was put on hold. Clay, a defensive tackle,

So, when Clay took the field to start the game against Texas on Homecoming, there was a sense of relief. He’d been waiting for his chance to get back, and he felt ready for the moment. And it took everyone around him — includ ing Brendon Evers, whom Clay is helping fill the void of after he

announced he was opting out of the rest of the season.

“Brendon, he always told me just be ready whenever your time comes,” Clay said. “So, even when he was playing, he always told me to stand by coach and be ready. He mentored me to get me to the point where I am today, so I can be ready just in case anything happens.”

Like Clay, Evers dealt with injuries that constantly hindered his college football career,

Johnson’s consistency paying off on Saturday’s

Mom mentality

bellowed.

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

anxiously sat in the parent section of Boone Pickens Stadium when a scream ing voice soared over her shoulder.

“Spencer, what the hell are you doing?” a fan

Spencer? Carrie’s son, OSU’s starting quarterback, Spencer Sanders, who’d just missed a receiver on a quick slant route in an eventual 41-31 win over Texas Tech, a victory directed by the quarterback.

Carrie spun toward the voice and spotted the fan in her peripheral vision. She wanted to say some thing, but refrained.

Such is the life of a quarterback’s mom, dealing equally with frequent sing ing accolades and pointed

verbal assaults launched at sons in stadiums every where.

The challenges and stresses are many. Concerns of health and safety associ ated with a physical sport. Zealous fans of a Power Five program eager to jump on a player’s first mistake.

It takes a toll on a mother, both mentally, and in some ways, physically.

Carrie and her hus band, David, experience many emotions every week end they travel from Den ton, Texas, to watch Spen

cer play. But both she and her husband make it work. Ultimately, the successes outweigh any occasional negatives, just like that Saturday against Tech.

Carrie stood, en grossed through much of the game, including as the Cowboys trailed with time winding down in the first half, hoping for a rally against the Red Raiders. Later, she and her husband stood by the same seats they have returned to each

Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor

Amid a small cluster of reporters, Brennan Presley spotted his team mate walking out of the Sherman E. Smith Training center. “It really should be Boogie though (talking to the media),” said Presley, OSU reciever “I mean, six for 90 as a true freshman…”

Presley had the stat line of Stephon Johnson Jr. or Boogie, as his teammates call him, spot on. Johnson Jr. caught six passes against the Longhorns, more than doubling his reception total this season. The 90 yards were second most of any pass catcher in the game. The fresh man receiver from DeSoto, Texas, started fall camp fourth or fifth string on the depth chart, OSU offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn said.

Mackenzie Janish

Collin Clay missed the past two seasons after tearing his ACL twice. Now, he’s starting at defensive tackle.

See Clay on 3B

Carrie Sanders

Mackenzie Janish

Stephon Johnson Jr. is a freshman, but has already made a big impact for OSU football.

See Boogie on 3B

Abby Cage

Carrie Sanders mother of OSU quarterback Spencer Sanders cheers on her son during the Cowboys’ game versus Texas Tech earlier this month.

Braden Bush

Staff Reporter

Boogie...

On Saturday, his consistency in practice and injuries to receiv ers Braydon Johnson and Jaden Bray led to Johnson Jr. starting the Homecoming weekend football game and hav ing the best performance of his young career.

Stephon Johnson, Johnson Jr.’s dad, knew the moment wouldn’t be too big for his son.

In eighth grade, Johnson Jr. played in the All-American game in Beaver Stadium on the campus of Penn State. Last year, HBO worked on a video project around the Desoto foot ball team, so cameras were a constant.

Attention has never bothered Stephon Jr. As a baby, whenever he heard music or felt the mood, Stephon Jr. would smile and dance. His mother started call ing him Boogie, and Johnson Sr. accidentally brought the nickname beyond the walls of the house because he didn’t like saying his own name when talking to his son in public.

So of course, the spectacle of sold-out Boone Pickens Stadium didn’t make Johnson Jr. flinch.

“None of that re ally shocked him, it was just backyard football to

Nixon on the rise

stiff-armed a safety. Even when the cleat on his left inexplicably popped off when he broke a tackle, Nixon kept churning until two players heaved him out of bounds at the Texas 11.

that, like any player, he always wants to be out on the field with his team, Nixon has stayed ground ed with his parents’ advice.

As his right arm shot up to stiff arm a defender, Jaden Nixon didn’t understand how his shoe flew in front of him.

He probably won’t seek out a replay to find out, either. He avoids dwelling on his best plays.

“I usually try not to, like, get myself hyped up,” Nixon said. “Be cause I try to keep myself as humble.”

Nixon, OSU’s red shirt freshman running back, is playing his way into an expanded role. He has gotten an increase in carries in each of OSU’s Big 12 games. He started with zero carries at Baylor and most recently got eight opportunities against Texas.

Expect his work load to crystallize, espe cially after senior OSU running back Dominic Richardson left the Texas game with an injury.

“(Nixon) is ma turing, he’s growing up,” coach Mike Gundy said. “We need him to get eight or 10 carries a game.”

The one-shoed run was certainly replay-wor thy. Down 31-17 against Texas, OSU’s offense needed a spark. Nixon took a handoff and cut twice, veering once to his left and then back right. He navigated past Texas linebackers and burst to the second level where he

It was OSU’s lon gest run from scrimmage against an FBS opponent by a running back. The previous high? Just 19 yards.

“It’s just great, hav ing that opportunity to go out here and be trusted being able to be out there as running back in a big game,” Nixon said. “Homecoming against Texas. Close game. So it’s just great, truly a blessing.”

Nixon has just 36 career rushes, but he has emerged as a speed threat to complement Richardson’s power ful presence in OSU’s backfield. He is not set to usurp Richardson for a lead role, but has carved out a solid role alongside Richardson.

“They both do a great job,” lineman Tay lor Miterko said. “Jaden is a little quick dude a little shifty dude. I know I’ve met him in the endzone a couple times, which is awesome. He’s a great player… to see him take off and run on a run play. It’s awesome. He does a really good job.”

Humility — the reason he won’t clamor to rewatch his 51-yard run when reviewing film with fellow running backs — is something Nixon picked up from his parents. Jeroid Johnson, Nixon’s father, played football and ran track at OSU. His mother Tina ran track at OSU and was a prolific long jumper.

Though he said

“They were always like, ‘Make every oppor tunity count. You could have one opportunity; you could have 50 oppor tunities. What really mat ters is what how many of them you make count,’” Nixon said.

Nixon is averaging 5.2 yards-per-carry; the top mark this season for an OSU running back.

When he ap proached Texas running back Bijan Robinson af ter the game to congratu late the projected first round NFL pick on his 186-yard performance, Nixon mentioned Robin son was “a dog.”

Robinson repaid the compliment.

“I did (get called a dog back),” Nixon said.

“It made me proud. He was like, ‘Keep doing your thing, you’re going to be up there.’ It was great to hear him say that, especially from a top-tier running back.”

Nixon didn’t think his 51-yard run, a big reason for Robinson’s compliment, was the best run of his career. His spinning, tackle-shed ding 63-yard TD scamper against TCU last year came to mind.

Ranking highlights, though, is not something Nixon is big on. He said he’d rather make new ones.

“It’s just get ready for the next one and always do better,” Nixon said. “I mean, I’m always trying to hold myself to a higher standard. So next time maybe two shoes off and a score.”

him,” Johnson said. Dunn recalled a Bedlam game in Nor man where former OSU receiver James Washing ton came to the sideline flabbergasted by the number of fans watch ing. Johnson Jr. avoided getting overwhelmed, something even a second-round NFL draft pick like Washington couldn’t do.

“It doesn’t faze him,” Dunn said. “A lot of it is just his charac ter, a lot of it seems to be who he is, nothing seems to really bother the kid.”

Johnson Jr. put a lot of people on notice Saturday, but not his teammates and coaches. They already knew what Johnson Jr. could do.

“He’s going to be something nice, some thing crazy,” running back Jaden Nixon said. “I’m excited to watch him in the future. Just watch him at practice, it’s honestly no worries just how nice he is. I remember one time at practice he just went up and made a one-hand snag and everybody was like ‘Wow.’”

Toward the end of practices, Dunn said young players work into the rotation in what is essentially a mini scrim mage. He said those snaps add up and con tribute to how someone so far down the depth chart in fall camp is starting games and con tributing on Saturdays.

Presley said he

sees consistency from Johnson Jr. in practice, which is in his mind one of the most important things a football player can do.

“I think that’s the biggest thing, with foot ball especially,” Presley said. “With injuries and stuff like that if you can continually be consistent in your plays and the plays that you are making, that means (coaches) trust you to keep doing what you’re doing whether that’s in practice or in games.”

Johnson, owner of Coast2Coast Athlet ics, reverted back to his coaching mental ity when talking about consistency. He said it’s difficult for young athletes to balance the time management, train ing and rest needed for a stable presence.

That’s why he wants to see his son’s consistency become long term.

“This is just the beginning, it’s very early, you got to stay healthy, got to stay locked in,” Johnson said. “I believe he will, but to me, the proof is always in the pudding. Regardless of what we say, we still got to go out and produce and that’s what we have to wait and see if he’ll be able to produce consistently and how they’re going to fit that in with Braydon coming back whenever that is.”

Mackenzie Janish

Stephon Johnson Jr., a freshman, had six receptions for 90 yards in OSU’s win versus Texas last week.

Mackenzie Janish

Jaden Nixon ran for a season-high 64 yards on eight carries versus Texas last week.

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

Freshman relying on humility as workload increases

OSU game the past four years, nerves obvious as an OSU loss now seemed even more possible.

Of course she wanted the Cowboys to win. That much is obvious, given her bright orange and glazed black attire, featuring a custom-ordered jersey of her son, the reason she and her husband make the 3-hour, 33-minute drive from Denton to Stillwater nearly every game day.

“We try to come up every game to watch him play,” Carrie said. “I can’t count that many games of his that I’ve missed since (he was in) high school. It’s been a big part of me.”

She watched her son express frustration on the sidelines, kneeling at one point on the sideline, his head dropped down, helmet on the ground beside him, body motionless.

She bowed her head, too.

The Cowboys trailed by one at halftime. As Car rie exited her seat and began walking toward the con course to ease her stress, David stayed put to enjoy the halftime entertainment. As she approached the tunnel, more bickering was said in her direction, not necessar ily toward her, but loud enough to where she heard it.

“That should have been a touchdown,” a fan mut

Clay...

including two shoulder surger ies. Having a veteran on the defensive line unit that had also fought through injuries gave Clay someone to look to.

“I just felt like I could kinda re late to it because not being able to play for two years, I just had to sit back and watch people,” Clay said. “And it sucks.”

The rehab was hard on Clay. Not just physically, but mentally.

“It was very hard just having to trust everybody and believe that I was gonna get back healthy because I was starting doubting about if I was gonna be able to play ever again,” Clay said. “So, it was a hard decision to get the second surgery and just be able to come back and play.”

He would get on social media during his recovery and scroll through his newsfeed. He ran across posts doubting his play and ability to get back on the field.

His self-worth started to dimin ish as he let the doubt creep into his mind. With all the success going on around the team last season, Clay struggled with not being able to con tribute on the field to the success.

Between the doubt and rehab, Clay was struggling to find his footing. Finding that footing isn’t easy.

“Young people are more tenta tive now than they ever were before, because they get get more informa tion,” said coach Mike Gundy. “Years ago when we played, nobody really knew how hurt you were. We didn’t of MRIs. These guys know, they have a lot of information, and so they just get a little tentative and then they kind of work through it.”

Clay talked with coaches, team mates and family, and decided he wasn’t going to keep doubting himself. The pain that once made him feel like he couldn’t continue, now made him

tered as she passed by.

Once again, Carrie kept her composure and con tinued walking past the grumbler, knowing the chatter aimed at her son was just noise.

She’s watched Spencer grow up and manage many obstacles to get to this point. Carrie knows the grit and work ethic of her son, which alone gives her the strength to block out the negativity around her.

Two quarters of action later, good feelings pre vailed.

Spencer stood healthy, the fans around her roared happily and the Cowboys were victorious. An OSU win usually makes for an easier postgame conversation with her son.

After every game, she and David drive Spencer to his car and talk to him about his performance or catch up with him on life, sports and other things.

“The car rides and conversations afterwards are easier after a win,” Carrie said. “After a loss he’s sometimes not as talkative. But I’m just happy to see him.

“I’m just so nervous for him during the games that seeing him afterwards is so rewarding as his mother.”

The banter of the OSU fanbase has calmed compared to the level of toxicity apparent in Spencer’s freshman and sophomore seasons.

“It’s not nearly as bad as it used to be,” David said. “But we still hear it.”

Carrie and David remember the “We want Dru” chants, calling for backup Dru Brown back in 2019, and the “We want Shane” cries calling for Shane Il lingworth, another backup.

“They try to just bring him down at the slight est mistake,” Carrie said. “They’ve done it since his freshman year. All he’s doing is what the coaches tell him to do.

“He’s running the plays the right way, and sometimes he makes a mistake, but it’s not always his fault. A coach wouldn’t call a play if they knew that it wouldn’t work, and (Spencer) is just doing what he’s told.”

Admittedly, she doesn’t always have the strength to hold back from voicing her disdain at the bickering.

push harder to get back.

“I just blocked all the noise out and I just stayed to myself,” Clay said. “I got off social media and I just let all the work do the talking.”

A motto of this Cowboy team is “Next man up.” Clay used that term af ter Tuesday’s practice, saying he knew he had to get back and ready for when his name was called. So, he let go of doubt and picked up the pace.

Others began to take notice.

“He never let the injuries faze him,” cornerback Jabbar Muhammad said. “Like, he was always here smil ing, going to rehab. It was cool to see somebody who went through that, you know, approach it like that.”

That next-man-up mentality Clay quoted is something Evers always in stilled in the rest of the defensive line unit. Clay didn’t know how quickly he’d be called to fill in, especially as a starter. Or that it would be midseason in place of one of his mentors.

“Collin’s real good,” Muhammad said. “I think he had to get acclimated a little bit, but after that, shoot, I don’t think nobody can mess with Collin as far as just knocking him off the ball. So, it’s good to see him get the (play ing time) he wants.”

Clay said he didn’t let nerves get the best of him last Saturday in his first start versus Texas. No longer does that doubt and uncertainty fill his mind. He had prepared for the oppor tunity for years.

Now, he’s the next man up.

“Felt great just to be back out there,” Clay said. “It’s been three years since I’ve touched the football field, just playing. Just all the encourage ment, the positivity that I was getting, I just wanted to get out there and be as calm as I can. So, I just thank my coaches and everybody for doing that for me.”

“Yes, I do say something a lot of the time,” Car rie said. “It’s just hard not to sometimes as a mother.”

Four years of sitting through the negatively aimed at her son has made Carrie, as David puts it, “stone cold.”

However, even a brick wall cracks at times.

“It’s just a mother’s love,” David said. “It’s the way I was towards my daughter, Spencer’s sister, when she was growing up. It’s just the way moms are with their sons.”

During the early stages of Spencer’s college ca reer, even David found himself struggling to keep calm when the rampant complaints would be thrown at his son during games. Ironically, it was Carrie who was there to calm him down.

While the roles have been entirely reversed since Spencer’s freshman season, the two enjoy the routine of keeping each other in check amid the banter towards their son over the years.

“Me and my wife have been together for close to 27 years now and it’s just what makes us a good couple,” David said. “If we were both antsy and heated we’d probably lose our damn minds.

“Early on when I was antsy, she’d be there to calm me down. When she’s antsy, I’m there to calm her down. I admit it, we’re not perfect. I’m not perfect. But I always tell her it’s best to not say anything and let it play out.”

Spencer finds comfort every time he takes the field for pregame warmups knowing his mother is watching.

She’s been there by his side, in attendance for nearly every game dating back to his days at Denton Ryan High School. It’s one of the driving factors for the senior quarterback as he goes out hoping to per form to the best of his ability on game days.

“I know she’s watching,” Spencer said. “That alone gives me the strength I need on game days to go out and perform. I play for my teammates, my coaches, and my university, but most importantly I play for her.

“I carry my mother in my heart everywhere I go with me and I’d do absolutely anything for her.”

Moving back

Muhammad’s temporary move to safety

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Jabbar Muhammad found out last Wednesday he’d be playing safety instead of his usual post lining up faceto-face with a wide reciever, against a talented Texas receiving core.

He might be asked to do it again against Kansas State.

For OSU corner Muhammad, he didn’t falter at the thought of switch ing positions. On Tuesday at media availability, Muhammad exuded with confidence and looked that way on the field, too, in Saturday’s 41-34 win over the Longhorns when he recorded five total tackles and three solo, while being asked to run stop more than usual.

“I think I played well, it was good overall,” Muhammad said. “I had a few mistakes here and there when they went a little fast and couldn’t really get lined up, but overall, I feel it was pretty good in the timespan that I had.”

The switch came after safety Thomas Harper was ruled out of the game, and with the depth OSU has at corner, moving Muhammad back to safety was a logical move. This allowed corner Cam Smith to fill in at Muham mad’s original slot.

“His effort was good and he played hard, but it’s new for him,” said coach Mike Gundy. “At times it was too difficult for him to figure out what was going on…”

Abby Cage

Spencer Sanders’ parents try and make every OSU game to support him.

Chase Davis

Jabbar Muhammad made the switch from corner to safety temporarily after injuries to a starting safety.

sports.ed@ocolly.com

‘A joyful presence’

Allen overcomes many obstacles to contribute to OSU soccer

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Smart, witty, joyful.

Three words that are commonly used by the Cowgirl soccer coaching staff to describe OSU true freshman forward Sami Allen.

As of now, college is progressing smoother than expected for Allen. Once homesick, she has settled into her new home in Stillwater. Her grades are up to par, she’s putting in a surplus of practice to continue working on her soccer game, and she’s developed a strong rapport with each of her coaches and teammates. However, as clear as the road may be for her nowadays, there wasn’t always a clear light at the end of the tunnel for the Noble native.

Allen’s mother, Stephanie traces her daughter’s grit and determination back to the moment she was born.

Allen was born with a heart de fect. Her mother recalls multiple medi cal flights to various hospitals across the state after her birth. Stephanie was scrambling for answers, calling family member after family member in search of advice, or at least an opinion on how she should handle the chaos.

Shortly after, she received a phone call from OU Medical Center — one containing the polar opposite of news she wanted to hear.

“I remember receiving the call from the hospital,” Stephanie said. “(The hospital) called telling me that they didn’t think Sami would make it. They wanted to give us a chance to say good bye to her. I was just so devastated.”

While appreciating the good in the potential of seeing her daughter one last time, the logistics of the situation made it difficult to find any positivity in the spur of the moment. The newborn’s chances of survival were slim and time was running out.

After days filled with tears and prayers, Sami pulled through and she was released from the hospital. It was a foreshadowing of her ability and pure tendency to defy the odds.

“I just remember receiving the phone call and almost crying when I heard the doctor say they didn’t think she’d make it,” Stephanie said. “I think about that moment all the time and it’s just another example of this girl’s fight. She doesn’t give up.”

Dating back to her days at Noble High School she was described as the same way. On the field, she was an eye-catching player to watch with her brilliant moves and elite scoring abil ity. After games, she instantaneously reverted back to her playful, goofy ways. Regardless of the situation, or the end result, positivity flowed through the ecstatic student athlete.

“I remember during Sami’s fresh man year, they played at Ada and I think

Sami scored two goals, and the coach wouldn’t even shake her hand after the match,” Stephanie said. “(The coach) said to her, ‘how much longer do I have to put up with you?’ Sami told her four more years and she was only a freshman. Then they laughed it off. That’s pure Sami right there.”

In spite of the number of presti gious honors through high school, her recruiting process was rather stagnant.

So, she settled for the most reasonable offer and committed to Grand Valley State in Michigan. That was until thenGVSU head coach Jeff Hosler departed for the head coaching vacancy at Michi gan State.

Stephanie and her husband received a phone call from the GVSU athletic department stating that Sami’s scholarship offer still stood, but admit ting that they were unaware of what the future held.

When she was informed of the news, Sami was distraught. Yet, amid the chaos and uncertainty regarding her future, she always had a smile on her face shutting down all the negatives her mother threw out, replacing it with a positive.

Months later, Sami attended a camp at OSU, where coach Colin Car michael offered her assistance in finding a potential new home. Sami had been a consistent face at his camps. He knew of her work ethic and was willing to help her in any way possible. He spoke with various coaches in-state and even some in nearby states, but to no avail.

The next day, however, Carmi chael met with Sami and Stephanie outside of the gates of Neal Patterson Stadium, where he spoke words that will stick with Sami for the rest of her life. “I think we can make this work.”

After extending an offer, Sami committed on-the-spot.

While her soccer career hasn’t been the easiest, it hasn’t affected her in a negative manner one bit. Even through all the chaos she has come across in col lege, high school, and even as a young child, the ability to keep a smile on her face regardless of the situation has al lowed her to have a positive outlook on life. With this, she has found more suc cess than she could have ever imagined as she reflects on her past.

“She’s a fighter,” Carmichael said. “But it’s what we love about her. She’s always coming in, willing to work, and wanting to make herself and the people around her better. She knows she isn’t going to play much but she also knows her spot on the team and is content with it… She’s a joy to be around and I look forward to watching her grow during her time here at OSU.”

Moving...

Continued from page 3

Against those guys, you tend to want to put more cover guys on the field to defend the deepest throws that they would have. So, did he play well? Yes. Was there exposure to being inexperi enced at that position? Yes.”

Versus Texas, star safety Jason Taylor II went down with what appeared to be a leg injury, Jacob Unruh of The Oklahoman reported that Taylor suffered from a hyper-extended knee on his sec ond interception of the game late in the fourth quarter, when he successfully kept

his feet inbounds, but awkwardly landed on his right leg. With the unknown status of Taylor and Harper for the road game in Manhattan, Muhammad might be needed to play safety again.

“I mean that’s where we are at,” Gundy said. “You got to put somebody out there, we have to try to mix and match to do the best we can based on availability… I’m not sure what they’re trying to decide or do at corner or safety, and there will be some young guys in the game I’ll tell you that.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Key players to watch: OSU vs. Kansas State

Wyatt Phillips Staff Reporter

Last Saturday, OSU took on Texas in a pivotal game for the Big 12. The Cowboy defense was overloaded in the run game and running back Bijan Rob inson ran for 140 yards while scoring a touchdown as well.

The defense was missing defensive end Brock Martin which only hurt the de fense more. Texas ran the ball at will and showed no signs of stopping the entire game.

This week, the Cowboys are travel ing to Manhattan to play Kansas State. This game is going to be another test for the defense.

Running back Deuce Vaughn is one of the best in the Big 12. Holding him will be essential.

OSU’s defense had a scare last week when safety Jason Taylor II suf fered a right knee after an interception that killed all hope for the Longhorns. The coaching staff has been monitoring him all week to see whether he can play Saturday.

Key players: Kansas State

Deuce Vaughn, running back Vaughn is going to have to have his best game yet against OSU. Especially if Adrian Martinez is going to be limited in the gameplan this week. Vaughn has only been held to less than 80 yards once this season and that was against Iowa State. Vaughn has ran for 744 yards already and

looks to make it even more against OSU. Adrian Martinez, quarterback Martinez suffered an injury after the first drive against TCU last week. If able to go this week, the threat for the run game will be more than ever. Mar tinez and Vaughn are one of the best in the game when on the field together. The Wildcats’ option offense opens when they are on the field at the same time. If the Wildcats can get the run game going, the offense will bloom just like they did against Oklahoma.

Key Players: OSU

Bryson Green, wide receiver Green has played better than anyone expected this season. He always requires attention from the defense. Green should be expecting to see the ball coming his way frequently Saturday. The Cowboys are going to have to let the ball fly this week. Need to make sure to keep their foot on the gas and keep be ing aggressive against the Kansas State defense.

Mason Cobb, linebacker Mason Cobb has been one of the best defensive players for Oklahoma State this season. Against Kansas State, he is going to have to be the best defen sive player on the field. Cobb is going to have to stop Vaughn and the run game. Since the team does not know whether Jason Taylor II is going to be 100% for this game, tackling must be on point against the Wildcats.

Mackenzie Janish

Sami

Mackenzie Janish

With the two starting safeties statuses unknown, Jabbar Muhammad might be asked to play safety again on Saturday versus Kansas State.

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes

Today’s Birthday (10/28/22). Prioritize physical practices for growth this year. Prioritize home and family with regular routines and loving care. Harvest autumn silver and gold for help with shared winter shortfalls. Coordination leads to shared victory, and deeper collaboration around summer financial challenges. Gain strength, endurance and coordination.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most chal lenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 7 — Adventure beckons. Discipline can realize a dream. Some roads and doors are blocked. Try another route. Gentle persuasion works better than force.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is an 8 — Review reserves and coordinate financial strategies. Wait for better conditions to buy, sell or sign contracts. Store provisions. Find what you need nearby.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 7 — Negotiate your way through minor adjustments with your partner. Listen to suggestions. Reserve judgment. Don’t push. Reinforce basic commonalities. Share the load.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Prioritize health, vitality and safety. Guard against impulsive behavior. Watch your step and stick to the stable path. Stick to basic routines and practices.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — Keep practicing. Strengthen foundations for romance. Play for the fun of it. Avoid controversy or jealousies. Connect with your own creativity, passions and talents.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 7 — Keep domestic systems in operation. Make repairs before something breaks. Clarify communications to avoid argu ments. Have patience with a hothead; potentially yourself. Relax.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Reinforce the basics with creative communication projects. You’re especially clever. Determine what’s wanted. Ex ercise restraint. Avoid waste. Edit, clarify and simplify. Less is more.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Get imaginative without extra risk. Adapt around a financial challenge. There could be competition or delays. Learn from another point of view. Stay in communication.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — You’re especially strong and creative. Complications could arise but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Allow extra time in the schedule. Patience saves time and stress.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Rest and recuperate. Take care of yourself before caring for others. Find a peaceful spot to think and plan. Find ways around obstacles.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Reinforce and strengthen social connections. Avoid crowds, noise or chaos. Focus on a team project. Fulfill your part of a group effort. Participate together.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Solve a professional challenge. Guard against technical glitches. Expect delays. Patience at work saves time, money and trouble. Profit from a cool temper.

ACROSS

The “sheet” in “three sheets to the wind”

European wine region

Daily crossword review sites, e.g.

“Downton Abbey” title

One who tweets a lot

Sirius business

*Desire to dress in Victorian era garb and sip tea daintily?

“Inside the NBA” analyst

“Just a __”

“Volunteers?”

who helps fix a banged-up car?

part

spot

Out of juice

Hummus and baba ghanouj

barrel wood

equipment

“Surely you don’t mean me?”

things

Withdraws, with “out”

Winter X Games host city

crust

print about a knee replacement?

that spawns in fresh water

move!”

swimmer

time of the school day for some teachers and students, or a two-word hint for the answers to the starred clues

amends

of IMF

near delts

to prying

by

and

By Wendy L. Brandes

Open stadium

units

in a galley

concern

7-Down,

victims

with one’s

Simple man: Flanagan embodies Cowboy Culture

ondary.

Adam Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief

When Sean Mi chael Flanagan speaks, it’s a slow, deep tone with hints of an Arkan sas twang.

His statements are calculated. Nothing too bold. Nothing too shy. Even tempered. Just like his play as an OSU safety.

A reserved guy who doesn’t worry about distractions. In the spring, a few of his teammates ditched Stillwater for the trans fer portal and the NFL draft. He stayed and worked.

He worked from a special teams utility man — the entry-level posi tion for most freshmen and waited. Waited some more. Didn’t complain. Now, he’s entrenched in his first season as a starter. A savvy veteran mixed with a young sec

“I feel like I owe it to the people that got me here and the university,” he said. “They gave me the shot so why not stick it out? That’s how I feel about it.”

He’s everything OSU coach Mike Gundy said he looks for in a player who fits the Cowboy culture. Loyal. Humble.

“He’s a no sir, yes sir guy.”

A Cowboy.

As a leader, Flana gan reminds freshmen that it’s OK to not start. Trust the process and good things can happen. Veterans told him to stay the course. Now he passes the wisdom to his apprentices.

Flanagan’s de meanor reflects Gundy’s desired attitude. He wants his coaches to act a certain way.

“I don’t want screamers,” Gundy said. “I don’t like yellers. I don’t like guys that are running out of control.”

College hasn’t changed Flanagan, a redshirt senior from Charleston, Arkansas.

Charleston, a town of about 2,490, boasts one stoplight. He’s a simple man from humble begin nings.

His high school defensive coordinator, Matt Stewart, said he encouraged Flanagan to talk more. Flanagan only showed emotion a few times during high school.

“I still remember talking to him, ‘You know, at some point, you’re gonna have to start talking,” Stewart said. “Doesn’t have to be loud. Doesn’t have to be all about attention but at some point, you gotta take control,’ because people looked up to him. Even as a sophomore and as a junior.”

Now, his team mates still notice Flana gan’s quiet leadership.

“He comes in here and works every day,” safety Jabbar Muham mad said. “No excuses. He doesn’t complain at all. I’ve never heard Sean complain like a day in my life. Ever. He comes out there. He works hard.”

sports.ed@ocolly.com

Cowboys, Cowgirls chase

Big 12 cross country title

that ran 2:01 (outdoors 800 meters) and was third at nationals. She is much better. It’s just her entire game.”

Adam Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief

Dave Smith lounged in a faux leather couch with a 2019 Big 12 championship hat atop his head.

Several feet ahead of Smith, several Big 12 Championship trophies sat in a trophy case.

There are a lot of trophies in the room. He couldn’t find the 2020 or 2021 championship hats. No big deal that he wore an old one. Too many wins to choose from.

“This was the one that was in my car,” Smith, OSU’s cross coun try coach, said. “My hair is a mess. I just picked up what was in my car and put it on.”

Smith hopes to earn another hat and two trophies Friday at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships in Lub bock, Texas. The No. 4 Cowboys and the No. 3 Cowgirls enter as the heavy favorites despite some making their sea son debut this weekend.

Gabja Galvydyte, a junior middle-distance runner from Lithuania, will run in the women’s race.

“She’s on a whole new level right now,” Smith said. “She is not the athlete was last year

Smith likened Galvydyte’s improvement to a tall, inside-heavy basketball player who added a 3-point shot to their game. He doesn’t have any concerns in her season debut coming in the postseason. The unknown nature of her as a cross country runner could be a benefit for the team.

“She’s the one I’m most excited about watching, men or wom en,” Smith said. “Not necessarily because she’s gonna be the best. Maybe she will. Maybe she won’t. But it’s just someone who nobody else around the NCAA is thinking about, talk ing about and expecting to see something out of. I know something they don’t know.”

Two Cowgirl fresh men, Natalie Cook and Billah Jepkirui will run in Lubbock. Both won the Big 12 Women’s Runner of the Week this season.

The Cowgirls could snag their second straight conference champion ship.

“I think we defi nitely are in the best shape we have ever been,” Galvydyte said. “This race I think will tell a lot about us. Maybe people don’t expect that much but I think we’re way more than people

No. 4 Cowboys and No. 3 Cowgirls @ Big 12 Cham pionships

Where: Lubbock, Texas

When: Women’s 6K: 10 a.m., Men’s 8K: 11 a.m.

Streaming: ESPN+

expect, to be honest.”

On the men’s side, Isai Rodriguez will also race for the first time this season. A three-time Big 12 Championship runnerup, he said the team could win the national championship.

“From the years past, it just seems like everybody gets so much better,” he said. “Just being around each other and just knowing that we’re all ready to win a national title. That’s what we’re all hoping for, expecting for and train ing for.”

Alex Maier, the Cowboy Jamboree cham pion, and Rory Leonard are expected to lead the Cowboys this weekend.

A win for the Cowboys would secure their third straight Big 12 championship. Smith said to watch out for Fouad Messaoudi, a sophomore from Morocco.

“He’s someone who nobody is talking about. Nobody is thinking about. Nobody under stands how good of a runner he is.”

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

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

128 N Main St.

Stillwater, OK 74075

Mackenzie Janish

OSU safety Sean Michael Flanagan doesn’t show much emotion but his impact his felt in the Cowboys secondary.

Mackenzie Janish

Alex Maier leads the No. 4 cross country team seeking their third consecutive Big 12 championship.

Roc Riggio Q&A

have him back.”

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

As fall baseball camp winds down for the OSU baseball team, coach Josh Holliday and his staff continue to learn more about their team ahead of the 2023 season.

Amid the uncertainty that may be present within the roster regarding the number of new faces and the surplus of key departures following the conclusion of last year, Holliday and his staff can be certain and confident about one key piece.

Sophomore second baseman Roc Riggio had quite the true freshman sea son in 2022.

Here’s what Riggio had to say ahead of his sophomore season:

Q: How are you feeling about the team as fall camp winds down?

“I’m feeling good. It’s just so fun to be back out here on the diamond with the boys again. This is a really good group. Baseball is what we’ve all been waiting for all summer ever since we got knocked out of regional play here (at O’Brate Stadium). I think we’ve got a phenomenal group of guys here and we

should be set come next season.”

Q: What was the experience of playing in the Cape Cod Summer League like and what did you learn from it?

“I was fortunate enough to be able to play with some of the guys out in Cape Cod. We experienced a lot of failure over the summer to be quite hon est with you. Failure that we’re really not used to experiencing. It’s a tough league. It’s a very tough league. We faced a lot of really good arms and a lot of great competition and we just had to learn how to grow from all that and just keep pushing forward. We got better as the summer progressed, but the failure I came across, that I experienced will for sure prepare me for this coming season. Towards the end I went on like a 15game hit streak. So yeah, it was a fun and eventful summer for me.”

Q: Looking back on your first season of college baseball, you started as a true freshman, how beneficial do you think that early experience was for you?

“Once I got my feet wet and be came accustomed to college baseball and everything about it, the level of com petition and increase in talent and what not, I learned things that other freshmen around the country who weren’t (play ing) didn’t. So for me, I mean of course I was honored to be starting, much less playing early on. I worked so hard to get to this point to play as a freshman and play at the college level. I was able to

come through for my team in so many crucial instances in games, especially during the end of the year (in regionals). So, I do think I may have an edge on a lot of other guys, but in the end we’re all college baseball players. We’re all try ing to have fun and make it at the next level.”

Q: What are some main take aways from your freshman season that you can pinpoint?

“I’m good, and I know I’m good. With that being said, I’m not a freshman anymore. I have a lot more experience and maturity than I did this time last fall. Some main takeaways though— being a better leader. Leading these younger first-year players and showing them the ropes of the system and every thing. Just being there for my teammates at all times. Like I said, it’s a good group of guys. But we still have a lot of growing to do before the season starts, and as a veteran it’s on me to help those new guys out more.”

Q: What is it like for you guys to have a player like Nolan McLean around for another season?

“Nolan is a damn good ball player. He’s so good. He’s a great teammate too. He’s going to do great things after his college days are done. But having him back for another year, it’s just awesome man. I think him coming back though, it’s going to serve him well in the lon gevity of it all. It would have been nice to see him with the Orioles in like two to three years, but for us, it’s great to

Q: What is it like having a guy like Jordy Mercer around as a coach?

“Jordy is the man. We learn a lot from Jordy day in and day out and having someone with his pedigree and MLB experience is just so beneficial for us. But in the long term, it’s really just another friend, another coach, another mind that we can rely on and it’s been great for us so far. I’ve learned a lot from him thus far and having guys like him, Robin (Ventura) Matt (Holliday), and Josh (Holliday), it’s more than you can ask for as a ball player.”

Q: Is the blonde hair staying next year?

“You know, as of right now, yes. I like it. But eventually all good things must come to an end. But as of now, yes.”

Q: What are your goals for next season?

“It’s the same goal as everyone else. Win a College World Series. Mak ing it to Omaha is one thing, but actu ally winning a championship is another. I know we have the team to do it. I’m confident in this group of guys. I feel like we’ve grown a lot over the fall and will continue to do so heading into next year. Come opening day, I think the sky’s the limit for us.”

File Photo

Roc Riggio, OSU’s sophomore second baseman, talks about his summer experience in the Cape Cod Summer League and refects on his stellar freshman season.

Picking winners

KSU (28-23)

OSU (43-40)

OSU (37-28)

OSU (30-27)

(31-21)

UCF (35-28)

Cincinnati (33-26)

UCF (34-27)

losers)

Guest Picker leader board

(30-23)

Ohio State (31-30)

Ohio State (40-22)

Florida (By a Million)

UGA (38-20)

Ohio State (41-31)

UGA (38-30)

(31-28)

State (41-28)

State (36-35)

(33-30)

(23-17)

(31-26)

OSU (31-27)

(21-17)

(35-24)

State (42-38)

UGA (40-20)

UGA (33-26) UGA (42-17)

Sam Hutchens

Braden

Hutchens

Trevino

Clint Chelf

Jacie Hoyt