Friday, Oct. 14, 2022

Cowboy Approach

OSU strategic plan details

Micah McKamie

Reporter

A new plan is here.

In a landmark announcement, OSU President Kayse Shrum, reaffirmed her and her staff’s commitment to land grant uni versity preeminence through a multipoint strategic plan that has been formulating over the past year through a series of inter views and sounding board sessions.

The answers that they received through these sessions from close to 3,500 individuals created a matrix through which the plan was established.

“Research, teaching and service be long to the land-grants, and we are Oklaho ma’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.

Cheesiest show on earth

Orange fountain dyeing to kick off Cowboy Homecoming

Kennedy Thomason Staff Reporter

America’s Great est Homecoming will begin this Sunday at 6 p.m. with the historic fountain dyeing, sign competition, and roy alty coronation.

Every year, the OSU community gath ers to watch the water in the fountain in front of Edmon Low turn orange. This tradition marks the beginning of Homecoming week and the start of the new reign of homecoming king and queen.

Alumni travel from all over to watch the event and students gather to witness the beginning of the weeklong celebration.

The O’Colly spoke with Jeff Sweeden, the direc tor for operations and maintenance for OSU Facilities Management,

who provided insight into the process of dyeing Edmon Low’s fountain orange.

“The Homecom ing Steering Commit tee meets on Sunday of Homecoming week to dye the fountain,” Sweeden said. “We have a Facilities Man agement staff member, Wade Blackburn, there to meet the Committee and ensure the dyeing goes smoothly. Wade prepares smaller cups of dye for each com mittee member to pour into the fountain. The dyeing of the fountain is a symbolic show ing that Homecoming week has begun.”

The logistics of the process use specific materials, Sweeden said.

“For safety, we use an orange foodgrade dye for the foun tain,” Sweeden added.

Performing Arts

Every year, Follies picks a charity to support that all proceeds from the show go to.

Follies isn’t just a competition.

This year marks the 51st year anniversary of a singing and dancing competition between the Greek chapters on cam pus. Follies had its show week Tuesday through Saturday with the awards ceremony taking place tomorrow night.

The show is more than just an excuse for the Greek houses to prove which is the best—it’s about helping others when they may not be able to help themselves.

Sarah Sanders serves as the head of the philanthropy commit tee for Follies Steering this year. Steering is the body that oversees the production, execution and success of Follies and helps put the entire show week on.

“Without a cause, Follies is just a bunch of college students singing, dancing and flailing their arms around,” Sanders said. “Philanthropy is the glue that binds Follies and is the one cause every cast can work together towards. This is impor tant, because it allows cast members, direc tors, parents, attendees and the Oklahoma State University community to

feel confident that their participation in making the show happen is for a good reason.

“It is really ful filling to see that final fundraising amount, both for me and for everyone involved with raising money, because it is rep resentative of a broader idea of working together towards a common goal. I believe the philanthropic goal drives Follies for ward and ensures that the show means more than what is shown on the surface level.”

Last year, the show wrote a record-breaking $57,000 check and the executive team hopes to donate even more this year.

Reid Rector, shows and programming gradu ate assistant, hopes that this year’s charity, Still water Public Schools

Performing Arts Program, will benefit greatly from the money raised.

“This year, for the first year ever, the beneficiary for Follies is the Stillwater Public Schools Performing Arts Department,” Rector told The O’Colly. “Grow ing up heavily involved in Performing Arts, I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to help our community enrich the lives of so many students. Through Follies, every program in the SPS Per forming Arts Department will see benefits. Money raised will help provide the students with new instruments, uniforms and equipment, bring in visit ing artists and conductors and provide scholarships to allow every student the

Abby Cage

File photo

President Kayse Shrum crowns last year’s Homecoming queen, which also takes place at the dyeing.

Doctor Amore

“I don’t want to sound foolish, but remember love is what brought you here. And if you’ve trusted love this far, don’t panic now. Trust it all the way.” — “If Beale Street Could Talk”

This week we had a few questions submitted, so we will just dive right into them. We will help love win the day.

I’m meeting my girlfriend’s parents this weekend, and I’m really nervous. How do I make a good impression with the parents?

First off, the fact that you’re writing in to ask about this shows that your heart is in the right place. You care enough to seek help and I promise that her parents will feel your care and goodness. I do have a few tips in situations like this. Have a strong handshake for the father and match the mother’s squeeze on her handshake. Also, be extremely complimentary and genuine with these compliments. Fake compliments will get you nowhere with her family. Wear something nice, but not over the top. No blazers or suits on your first meeting with the parents. My last piece of advice, frequently ask parents about when they dated. Ask what it was like when they met their respective future in-laws and be open about your apprehension in meeting them. Don’t say it was haunting you, but say “I hoped to make a good impres sion with you two, because of how much I value and care about your daughter. She is one of the best things to happen to me and I always want to do right by her”.

How should I ask out a person I like?

There are two schools of thought on this one. If he or she lives out of your city, I fully support the DM sliding on one of their stories over Snapchat or Instagram. Ask them a ques tion about what they posted and create a conversation over it. Then hit them with something casual about grabbing coffee or getting lunch. If it’s in person, you go up to them at an appropriate time with a smile and be honest. I’d start it off by saying, “ Hey (Insert Name), I wanted to say that I like you. Being around you is the highlight of my day sometimes and I wanted to see if there’s something deeper between us. Are you free for dinner or getting Sonic and walking around Boomer Lake this (insert day)?” I like dinner dates or walk ing around lakes with soda. It is a great way of gauging chemistry and seeing what kind of connection is there. Also, go somewhere nice for dinner, but don’t spend your whole wallet on this person for a first date. Write back again after the first couple of dates and we can discuss date ideas and appropriate price ranges.

I’m in love with my best friend’s ex, what should I do?

This is a messy situation to be in, but love can be messy. The first thing you need to do after making sure these feelings are valid and not just attraction is to go to your best friend. Here you have to be completely honest with them about when these feelings started and what actions you’re look ing to take. You need to explain that nothing is guaranteed to happen between you two, but you do plan on asking them out. And, you don’t want this to ruin your friendship. So, in a way you’re seeking their blessing before you pursue the ex. But, never throw away a friendship for love. True friend ship can be harder to find than love, especially the older you get. So, if they don’t initially agree to understand and respect your wishes on the matter. Wait, give that friend time to digest the situation and if they do care. And, if the love you have for them is valid and bottomless. Your friend will come around to their senses and support you. Regardless of how awkward the situation may become.

Keep loving,

Doctor Amore

IN

October 14

The Battle of Hastings (1066)

The Normans defeated the Anglo-Saxons in the Battle of Hastings, establishing the Norman rule in Eng land

Martin Luther King Jr. wins the Nobel Peace Prize (1964)

For his work in civil rights and social justice, Dr. King was given the distin guished award

English author A.A. Milne publishes the classic children’s book “Winnie-thePooh” in 1926

The Chicago Cubs win the World Series in 1908 over the Detroit Tigers. Chicago didn’t win again until 2016

Correction:

In last Friday’s edition of The O’Colly, Richard Hawkins name was mispelled, and the hours were listed incorrectly for the pumpkin patch in Stillwater. The correct times are Monday-Friday, 1-7 p.m.

The O’Colly regrets this error.

Homecoming Schedule

Sunday

Sign Competition, Library Lawn, 2-5 p.m.

Orange Fountain Dyeing & Royal Coronation, Edmon Low Library Fountain, 6-6:30 p.m.

Monday

Homecoming Tailgate, Alumni Association, 5-7 p.m.

Tuesday

Harvest Carnival, PayneCounty Expo Center, 6-8 p.m.

Chili Cook-Off, Payne County Expo Center, 6-8 p.m.

Wednesday

Hester Street Painting, Hester Street outside of Spears School of Business, 5-7 p.m.

Thursday

Orange Reflection, Residential Life Buildings, 9 p.m.-12 a.m.

All Night Pomp, Greek Neighborhood, 3 p.m. Oct. 20-3 p.m. Oct. 21

Friday

Homecoming Dec Walkarounds, Greek Neighborhood, 5:30-9 p.m.

Homecoming Registration, Alumni Association and South Library Lawn, 3:30-8 p.m.

Homecoming & Hoops, Gallagher-Iba Arena, 9-9:45 p.m.

Kick off...

Continued from 1A

Wade Blackburn, a water treatment specialist, is responsible for keeping the fountain orange all week long. You can see him out every morning during the week, cleaning leaves out of the fountain and maintaining the color.

“The fountain circulates the dye but Wade comes out each morn ing to ensure the dye level remains constant and the fountain looks clean and ready for our Alumni and campus community to enjoy,” Sweeden said.

Of course, after the festivi

ties of Homecoming week, the dye must be removed from the fountain. Conveniently, this is also the time that the fountain is drained.

“After Homecoming week, we winterize the fountain, ensuring it doesn’t freeze during colder tem peratures,” Sweeden said.

The fountain dyeing ceremony is a special event for students as well.

Sarah Curley, an agricultural communications major and junior at OSU, shared her experience as an out-of-state student.

“I attended the dyeing cer emony last year and it was a good gateway into what was coming dur ing the week,” Curly said.

Out-of-state students often aren’t aware Homecoming is a big deal at OSU. Curley shared her

perspective about the overwhelming feeling of Homecoming.

“Everyone always talked about how big it is but it’s way more than I ever expected,” she said. “The fountain is a good reminder of what’s coming later in the week and the vibes are just so exciting around the fountain throughout the whole week.”

The fountain dyeing is a spe cial tradition for alumni and stu dents alike. There are many people, such as Blackburn, that work be hind-the-scenes to create America’s Greatest Homecoming.

For more information on the fountain dyeing, you can visit or angeconnection.org.

photo

Courtesy of OSU Alumni Associaton

Homecoming festivities begin with Cowboy Stampede

Payton Little Staff Reporter

From Friday to Saturday, the OSU rodeo team and the OSU Ferguson College of Agri culture are presenting the ninth annual Cowboy Stampede at the Payne County Expo Center.

The National Intercol legiate Rodeo Association sanctioned outing will feature

nine events per night with more than 28 colleges from across Oklahoma and Kansas com peting for championship belt buckles. This is just one of 10 rodeos put on from colleges within OSU’s region, the Cen tral Plains Region. Competitors will be competing as a team as well as individually, giving the rodeo more than 500 entrants.

The event is free for children 5 years old or younger, while tickets cost $10 at the door.

However, OSU students, col lege students and OSU Alumni Association members can get tickets for $5 with proof of ID.

The rodeo brings in many

eyes to watch OSU’s team com pete against all sorts of com petition from across the state, something that head OSU rodeo coach Cody Hollingsworth appreciates about the Cowboy Stampede.

“I think having a rodeo here brings a great deal of more awareness about the program to the university (OSU) and the community,” Hollingsworth said. “Just like any sports team or anything else, the more awareness people have, the better you are as far as helping raise funds for your cause.”

Cowboy Stampede is seen as the first event to kick off

OSU’s homecoming celebra tion, also known as America’s Greatest Homecoming. While that may seem like a heavy burden to carry, the OSU rodeo team, including senior Fallon Goemmer, is confident it can pull off an extravagant display.

“It’s a lot of pressure, but we have a pretty good reputa tion,” Goemmer said. “Our women’s team won the region last year, so it’s definitely a good show. We like kicking off homecoming with a bunch of wins.”

Hollingsworth assured that anyone looking to go at tend the Cowboy Stampede will

be in for a wild night of thrills that all of the family will be able to enjoy along with highquality competition.

“I think you’ll see a lot of high paced action at the rodeo,” Hollingsworth said. “It’s a great time of family friendly action… Our women’s team is doing well again. I think our men’s team has really improved and is continuing to get better, and I think we’ve got a lot of things on that level that are expecting to go really well this weekend.”

The McKnight Center got the blues

Luisa Clausen Staff Reporter

From a childhood spent picking up cotton in Louisiana to becoming one of the most influen tial guitar players of all time, Buddy Guy keeps the blues “alive and well.”

an eight time Grammy Award winner.

Toward the end of the concert, Guy walked away from the stage, leaving the crowd con fused. In fewer than two minutes, the confusion was replaced with a sur prise—Guy left the stage so he could walk in the middle of the crowd and look people in the eye.

mal health.

· Powering a growing world sustainably and responsibly.

· Innovating to nourish the world through horticulture and agricultural research.

“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, dedi cated staff and the bright minds of our students, we will accom plish the goal.” Throughout the 30-minute state of the union-styled address to OSU investors, alumni, students and potential students, Shrum and Jerome Loughridge, senior vice president of the OSU system, gave a brief overview of an expansive plan to not only improve the education offered at the institu tion, but the promise of creating more opportunities for its gradu ates.

Loughridge also touched on lowering student debt and re taining integral personnel to the mission, while also boosting the attendance of the university as well, even though neither presenter touched on solving the housing shortage on campus that was ex perienced this year by the largest freshmen class in school history.

Some of the high points of the presentation included:

· Enhancing human and ani

· Leading in aerospace inno vation and application nationwide.

These areas of concentration will strive to connect OSU and the state in an economically symbiotic bond of research and development between industries and provide an influx of college-educated workers dispersed throughout the state.

Some of the boldest initia tives unveiled were tasks of low ering student debt, raising the graduation rate and increasing the academic advising capabilities for all students attending the univer sity.

The claim to “scholarship like we have never scholarshiped before” was stated with tenable confidence by Loughridge and he also reaffirmed Shrum and her staff’s drive to see this plan through.

These initiatives were ac companied by an affirmation of the “Cowboy Culture” and the desire to compete and a declaration of support in both educational and sports related competitive endeav ors.

From the overhauling of the general education courses to creating a more open, safe creative environment designed to spur a

movement of growth and prosper ity for the state of Oklahoma.

From start to finish there was an all-business approach to revealing the new vision for OSU, however it was paralleled with a sentiment of excitement and hope that these new programs and poli cies will allow for an intellectual boom.

In the university’s eight principle plan, the first goal is to enroll a minimum of 5,000 new first-year students before fall 2026 on the Stillwater campus. From there, OSU wants to increase the six-year graduation rate by 10% before 2027.

To accomplish the first goal, OSU lists three objectives, with the first being to recruit an increased number of college-ready under graduate students. The university also wants to increase scholarship support to new students.

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

Last Friday, the McKnight Center of the Performing Arts wel comed Guy, blues guitar ist and singer, to Stillwa ter for the first time.

Guy put on an hour and a half concert filled with music, dance moves, jokes and stories from his life. Guy played songs from his most recent album such as The Blues Don’t Lie, and from older albums such as The Blues Is Alive and Well.

Guy himself could have brought every person in the audience to stand on their feet, but what made the concert a truly brilliant perfor mance was the respect and admiration Guy showed for his band, encouraging each of the four members to have their moment showing his talents.

Their connection and talent led to a stand ing ovation at the end of the concert and constant cheering and laughing after everything Guy said. He made sure to interact with the crowd the whole time and cre ated a safe and friendly atmosphere, leaving the impression it was only a night among friends and not a concert featuring

“I can’t see no body’s face standing up here with this light on my face,” Guy said a couple minutes before walking off the stage. “I want to see people.”

As he greeted ev erybody, the crowd could not contain its excite ment. While people were fighting for a picture, Guy had his eyes on a teen boy who looked at the singer as if he was amazed by his talents. Guy whispered some thing to the boy, and both made their way back to the stage. The blues gui tarist introduced Carter Sanders to the crowd, a 13-year-old boy who said he knew how to play the guitar.

“I will let you guys decide if he’s good,” Guy said.

As soon as Sanders started to play, the crowd cheered loudly, surprised by the kid’s talent. Sanders did not seem nervous and did not hesitate when one of Guy’s sons, who was making a special appear ance at his dad’s concert, whispered some directions in his ears.

All photos by Jaiden Daughty

The ninth annual Cowboy Stampede marks the start of homecoming, and with that, championship belt buckles for the winners of the events.

Courtesy of OSU Communicaitons

Lifestyle/news

Student Arts Alliance to host OSU Art Festival

“A big plus of it is that the people who are having these booths are able to sell their artwork,” Campbell said.

Local and national artists will have the opportunity to showcase their talent this week on OSU’s campus.

The Student Arts Alliance is holding its third annual Arts Festival this Friday at the Student Union Plaza. It starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m. It is a juried event that includes a range of art forms.

Bri Campbell, vice president of marketing for the Student Arts Alli ance, said the goal of the event is get people engaged in the arts.

“We try to get a lot of people to our smaller events,” she said. “But something like the Art Festival is a good way to grab people’s attention with a big event but also showcase some local artists who are showcasing their art,” she said.

The Student Arts Alliance hopes this event will help bring on a new tra dition of art appreciation and encour ages new art collectors. With the Art Festival, Student Arts Alliance reaches the local art community and the OSU community.

Campbell said there will be 12 or 13 booths plus a tent that features students’ art. The event can also be a peek into art as a business.

“It’s kinda a step into being connected to businesses in order to be able to cre ate that as a profession.”

A real-world experience for aspiring artists.

“It’s a good insight into what it’s going to be like when try to sell stuff professionally,” Campbell said.

A wide range of media categories that include: mixed media, photog raphy/digital art, painting/drawing, jewelry, sculpture work and more from Stillwater and area artists will be showcased.

“It also builds a really big community,” said Izy Wilkerson, the Orange Wall Art Gallery liaison.

“A lot of feedback I’ve heard about the Art Festival is the fact that these students wanting to make art or buy art sit and talk to these vendors for 30 minutes. They’re really excited to actually see art being made and sold so close to their home turf. The vendors also enjoy getting to engage with the students that are really interested in what they’re doing.”

Admission is free to the public, and parking is available in the Student Union Parking Garage.

Outliers: Kicked Out doesn’t conform to music norms

“We didn’t want to be confined to one style of music,” Timbrook said. “Even though some of us aren’t music industry majors, who doesn’t want to be in a band?”

Some students might have dreamed about being in a band as a child. They may have made instruments with whatever they could find around your house. Pots, pans, forks and spoons.

Of course, that dream does not come true for many.

One group of OSU stu dents made their dream a reality.

Kicked Out is a local band that consists of six OSU students. Their sound cannot be defined to one genre, but fits into many. It is best described as “psychedelic surf grunge indie jazz” but they play an even wider range of genres.

“Our originals encapsulate these genres but we love to play covers from all music styles,” lead singer, Lauren Timbrook, said.

Timbrook, Onyx Wannebo, Zackary Tucker, Cort Vanzant, Draven Thomas, and Jackson Fussell make up the band.

Timbrook is the lead sing er, plays tambourine, rhythm guitar and runs the band’s social media accounts. Wannebo plays the flute, sings backup vocals and rhythm guitar. Vanzant does bass guitar and vocals. Fussell plays drums and percussion for the band while Tucker plays saxophone and synths. Thomas is the lead guitarist.

One member in particu lar, Wannebo, said she’s been dreaming of this opportunity for a long time.

“For me, my entire child hood I wanted to be a rockstar,” she said. “As I got older I real ized that wasn’t going to hap pen, but there’s nothing wrong with having fun. It’s easier when you’re surrounded by people who can play instruments.”

Each member plays a vital role in the band. Not only do they all play an instrument or sing, but they have all written songs for the band to produce.

“It’s really cool when one of us brings a song that doesn’t have a lot of form to it,” Tim brook said. “Even if someone didn’t write the song themselves we can be like ‘How does this sound on the drums or bass’ and we can all be a songwriter to gether even if it’s someone else’s bare bones.”

The group dynamic is lighthearted and everyone is given the opportunity to make their own creative decisions. They collaborate on songs and ideas, and try to find unique ways to show their talent.

Continued from 4A

Sanders, whose mother is a music teacher at Westwood Elementary in Stillwater and whose father is an opera singer at the McKnight Center, taught himself how to play the gui tar and saw the opportunity to show he knew what he was doing.

“I was shaking but I was trying to keep a calm straight face,” Sanders said.

After playing a couple of songs together, Guy came to the microphone and thanked Carter for being

brave enough to play the guitar in public.

“I liked it a lot,” Guy said. “This keeps the blues alive.”

Sanders was ecstatic after the concert while tell ing more than one person the performance was not staged.

“I was completely taken by surprised,” said Sanders with a big smile.

“It was an experience of a lifetime. I will remember this forever.”

Marie Sanders, Sand ers’ mom, could not hide her excitement.

“Music brings happi ness to our family,” she said.

“I was thrilled when I saw him on stage. He absolutely killed it, it was a chance of a

lifetime.”

Guy is not only an example of triumph and resiliency, but he is also one of the final surviving connections to a historic era in the country’s musical revolution. He made sure to remind people during the concert his purpose is to keep the blues “alive and well,” especially through kids.

“If I could tell Buddy Guy one thing it would be, ‘Thank you for tonight and for making me love elec tronic guitar even more.’ I don’t know if I will be able to sleep tonight. It was incredible,” Sanders said.

Following the final ABC Ensemble performance last se mester, the band was born. The group formed because of the common idea that they wanted to make music together without conforming to the rules and requirements that the Green wood School of Music has for ensemble bands.

After forming at the end of the spring semester, they spent the summer practicing together to formulate their own sound. In August, Kicked Out made its social media debut.

Each member of the band has its own inspiration they bring to the table. These artists influence the band’s sound and how they make music. Some of these inspirations include Cage the Elephant, Kurt Cobain, An ton Newcombe, John Bonham, Brecker Brothers and Eddie Van Halen.

Most of the members are music industry majors and they all share a passion for music.

“I want our music to be music that people can’t hear in other places,” Vanzant said. “I want them to be eager to watch us play.”

The next big step they plan to take is recording an album with their 12 original songs. Some of their originals include “Your Girl,” “22” and “Crazy.” They plan to record these in the Greenwood studio. After they record, their goal is to promote it and keep playing as many gigs as they can. Their long-term goal is to someday have a song in “Guitar Hero,” but right now they have many ideas for the direction they want to go.

Kicked Out will play at the OSU Art Festival at Student Union Plaza from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m on Friday.

The group will also play at Stonecloud Brewing Co. in Stillwater on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

All photos by Cole Gueldenzoph

Buddy Guy came to Stillwater for the first time and put on a standing ovation worthy performance.

Brylee Smith Staff Reporter

Brylee Smith & Adam Engel

File photo

Art Festival.

“

opportunity to participate in arts, regardless of financial need.”

Philanthropy has always been an important aspect of Greek life, the Fol lies executive team said. The kids of the performing arts program will be able to expand their talents and passions with the help of Follies.

Sanders also shared a little bit about this year’s philanthropy and what the money donated is being used for.

“Donated funds will go toward funding their arts programs,” Sanders told The O’Colly. “From choir to theater to band and more, these programs will get the money they need to be the best that they can be. Similarly, a large chunk of donations will be set aside for ongoing projects at the Stillwater Per

forming Arts Center. The PAC serves the Stillwater community as a venue for local performances, a stage for out-ofstate conferences and more.

“In choosing the philanthropy this year, it was clear the money needed to stay in Stillwater to make the most im pact on this community. We are really excited about this new benefit, and I know that Stillwater Public Schools are equally excited to work with Follies for the foreseeable future.”

Follies is an odd concept to fol low if you are unfamiliar with a show. Sororities and fraternities partner up to create an eight-minute show of com bined singing, dancing, acting and what is called “cheesing.” Cheesing is where the cast members use body movements, jazz hands, facial expressions and other means of acting on a large scale to por tray an array of feelings.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to work with the past two Follies exec teams,” Rector said. “It’s incredibly inspiring to see the progress

that each and every one of our perform ers makes throughout the course of the show. As the show progresses, you can visibly see the students gaining personal confidence and developing as performers. It’s truly wonderful to see casts grow close and bond, all while serving their community.”

The Stillwater Performing Arts Program is a local cause that Steering, the Follies exec team and the Greek houses have been passionate about. The money raised can benefit the program in many ways.

“Follies Philanthropy is impor tant for the kids at Stillwater Public Schools, because these funds will allow their arts departments to focus on what really matters—the art,” Sanders said. “As a future educator myself, I can see the impact that low funding can have on the morale of these programs. These students want to give the best perfor mances they can, but they need proper funding to get there. Without the stress of insufficient materials for these pro

grams these students will get to focus on exploring their love for performing, singing, playing an instrument and more.”

Rector ended with some advice for the kids of the performing arts program.

“As a jazz studies minor during my undergraduate degree, I’m incred ibly grateful that I was always involved in performing arts,” he said. “I would encourage every student to find ad ditional ways to perform outside of the ensemble they are involved in in school. Some of my favorite memories have come from opportunities that I’ve had to create new groups and perform with other students in my orchestra and jazz programs.”

Follies is still accepting donations through Saturday and takes Venmo, @ OSU-Follies, or checks made out to Freshmen Follies and mailed to 211 J Student Union, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078.

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

(1 Co.15:58 NKJ)

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

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

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

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

Cowboys United for mental health

Jaycee Hampton Staff Reporter

This year’s Cowboys United campaign raised a total of $191,044 to improve existing mental health services for the cowboy community.

OSU created an annual campaign to address the imme diate needs of students, and this year’s focus has been all about mental health. On Wednesday, the OSU Student Foundation hosted a Walk the Block event on Willard Lawn to celebrate the success of the campaign and raise awareness of mental health around campus.

Many faculty and students were present to show their sup port, including Douglas Hallen back, vice president of student affairs, and OSU President Kayse Shrum.

“As a physician, I be lieve that wellness and health are more than just our physi cal health, it’s mind, body and spirit,” Shrum said. “We can’t be truly healthy if we are not focus ing on our mental health as well. Sometimes we all find ourselves in a place where we need help, and I think it is really important to talk about mental health so that people understand it is not a weakness. It’s actually, at times, an illness, and we need to be able to get treatment and help when we are sick, both physical ly and mentally. I love that the students are raising money for mental health and are out here supporting that this evening.”

The celebration consisted of food, merchandise and four walks around campus, each a different distance. Many Cow boys came together to show their support and help destigmatize the negative connotation mental health has.

Co-vice president of cam paigns for OSU Student Founda tion, Robert Owens III, helped make this event possible. He is passionate about people getting the help they need and deserve.

“Without mental health, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to go about their days and have something to look forward to,” Owens III said. “Waking up and not loving life is something nobody should have to experi ence.

Being able to provide these resources to people, give them chances and outlets to express themselves and get better, that is everything.”

Co-vice president of campaigns for OSU Student Foundation, Raedyn Magness, also helped put this event on. Working diligently alongside her peers, she cares about receiving the resources her fellow cowboys deserve.

“Mental health is almost a taboo topic,” Magness said. “I think it is so important as students to familiarize other students and familiarize cam pus with mental health. I think that’s the only way we can bring awareness to it, is to familiar ize ourselves with the resources we have on campus. Students are such a big part of this com munity that we really want to make sure that everyone is feeling their best. Even on their bad days, they are still safe and having fun.”

OSU Student Foundation is thankful for the donors’ gener osity. They have given students in this community a new op portunity to feel their best and contribute their best selves to society.

“[Mental health] is not something to be embarrassed about, it isn’t a weakness,” Shrum said. “There is nothing more important than your mental health. When you feel like you need help, get that help.”

For more information on mental health resources for the cowboy community, please visit wellness.okstate.edu/studentwellness/resources.

Jaycee

Miss OSU brings talented women to the spotlight

to the crowd about her social project, which was focused on raising awareness for fine arts in public school.

The new Miss OSU 2023 grabbed the cov eted title last Thursday night.

Tatum Shelton, a sophomore majoring in sports media, finished the night as Miss OSU 2023. Shelton’s social project was focused on eliminating child hun ger and for her talent she performed a dance number.

“I love dancing and performing,” Shelton said. “It took me two months to get the chore ography perfect.”

Being Miss OSU comes with responsibili ties and Shelton is ready to take them on.

“I am most excited about being a part of Homecoming, going to talk to Stillwater schools and throwing a pitch at a baseball game,” Shelton said.

Every seat in the Student Union theater was filled with a loud and encouraging crowd, which made sure the competitors knew they were not alone.

There were several steps to the competition before the judges de cided on a winner. The competitors had 30 sec onds to answer a unique question from the judges and another 30 seconds to explain their social project impact.

Brittany Wren, a junior majoring in music industry, enjoyed being able to explain

“I was most ner vous about the on-stage interview question,” Wren said. “But it actually made me feel empowered knowing that so many people were lis tening to me speak while I was saying something important.”

After interviews, contestants moved to the talent competition. From dance and vocal performances to science experiments and baton twirling, the 17 women were able to show part of their passion.

“I was most excited to perform my talent,” Wren said. “I used to be in musicals and plays in high school, and I miss performing.”

The Miss OSU competition awards the winner with a scholar ship and it also gives the opportunity for the crowned woman to go on to compete for Miss Oklahoma. More than a beauty pageant, Miss OSU creates an envi ronment where talented women can thrive and support one another dur ing the process.

Rachel Davis, the first-runner up and a junior majoring in multimedia journalism, was surprised with the amount of support sur rounding her.

“The environ ment for Miss OSU was so positive and uplift ing,” Davis said. “The girls were so supportive

backstage. I made so many friends and was surrounded by people I could relate to.”

Davis and Wren were best friends be fore signing up for the contest and encouraged each other through the process.

“I admire my best friend a lot,” Wren said.

“I decided to be in the pageant because I knew that I would have fun no matter what since she would be doing it with me.”

Davis did not expect to be in the top five, much less the firstrunner up.

“Brittany and I constantly reminded each other that we were trying something new,” Davis said. “So it did not matter if we won or lost. But I could not believe it when they announced my name. I thought, ‘I am surrounded by my Cowboy family, I am good.’”

The night ended with the crowning of Miss OSU and a stage filled with people who supported the com petitors throughout the process.

“The Miss OSU competition is looking for women to advocate for what they are pas sionate about,” Wren said. “And for women to just be completely their true selves.”

Luisa

Karlie Boothe

Thunder Girl and student Tatum Shelton named Miss OSU

Hutton out: Why OSU’s punter will be hanging up the cleats early

Ben Hutchens Assistant Sports Editor

Tom Hutton just laughed.

Standing in the Sherman E. Smith Training Center after practice, a reporter asked Hut ton, OSU’s punter, if he would return for his extra COVID year of eligibility. In his Australian accent, Hutton gave a short an swer to an important question.

“I’m not coming back, Hutton said.

To him, the answer was obvious.

Hutton, from the town of Newborough, in Victoria, Australia, is a senior who will graduate in May with a degree in construction engineering technology and building. He is in the middle of his best season punting for the Cowboys. Coach Mike Gundy heaps accolades on his punter after seemingly every game.

Oh yeah, Hutton is also 32.

Age is the first reason why Hutton, the beloved punter for a top-10 team, is ready to walk away from football and life in America.

Hutton feels every bit of 32. OSU strength coach Rob Glass makes sure that.

“I don’t know if people think because I’m 32 I can pass on the workouts or runs, I have to do every bit of it and it’s not fun,” Hutton said. “There’s no way I’d put myself through that again.”

Hutton said even in the Abby Cage

Cobb, Benson’s emergence not surprise to Cowboys

ognition of the 2021 group — at least not yet — the new guard has stepped up and played well.

Sam Hutchens Staff Reporter

What Sione Asi saw last year allevi ated any concerns about a position group heading into the 2022 season.

The lineback ers of the future could play.

There was an expected, almost inevitable drop-off in production from OSU’s lineback ers this season.

The Cowboys lost Malcom Rodriguez, whose 408 career tackles ranks fourth in OSU history, and Devin Harper to the NFL.

Starting in their stead: junior linebackers Mason Cobb and Xavier Benson.

But while the Cowboys’ linebacker room doesn’t have players with the grandiose name rec

Asi, a senior defensive tackle, is not surprised one bit.

“I’m here with (the linebackers) practicing,” Asi said. “In the weight room when we’re running. The linebackers are our biggest competi tors so seeing them compete every day, I know that it’s going to transition. They are going to find a way to play good on Saturdays. We already knew that. They’re just wait ing their time. Their time has come and they are seizing the moment.”

Cobb, who played well enough to earn an increase in playing time throughout the 2021 season, has emerged as a key part of the OSU defense. He leads the Cowboys with 38 tackles and has also gotten two sacks and an inter ception.

Green light Cowboy receiver enjoying breakout year

body as an advantage in the receiving game, and [Green] is figur ing that out,” Gundy said. “He’s learning to use his body.”

Adam Engel Co-Editor-in-Chief

Bryson Green used two words to describe his mindset.

“Dawg mental ity.”

Through five games, Green leads the team in receiving touchdowns with four. A player who levitates through the air and makes wicked grabs.

At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, Green serves as a physical vertical threat in the Cowboys’ speedy offense. OSU coach Mike Gundy com pared Green’s skillset to that of Marcell

Ateman, a former Cowboy who briefly played for the Oak land Raiders.

“Marcell was 6-5, but I’m saying that Marcell used his

In college, play ers’ bodies become fully developed. Baby muscle turns into man muscle and skill becomes legitimate.

The veterans dominate the newbies. But when the newbies learn to operate like a veteran? Watch out.

“What are your strengths?’ Gundy said. “Am I a fast guy? Use your speed, quickness to make my cuts. Or do I use my body and body people up? So that’s where he’s improved,” he said.

That’s Green now but not where Gundy expects him to be in the future.

“He’s got a long ways to go, but I’m pleased with his prog ress very early in his career,” he said.

Tom Hutton, OSU’s punter,

Cole Gueldenzoph

sports

Orange October: How this month will define OSU’s season

Gabriel Trevino Sports Editor

Mike Gundy and Co. are amid a stretch unlike any other OSU faced before.

The Cowboys’ next three games are at unbeaten No. 13 TCU on Saturday, back in Boone Pickens Stadium the following week for Home coming against No. 22 Texas, and ending the month at No. 17 Kansas State for its own Homecoming.

This coming after two close wins for OSU, at then No. 16 Baylor two weeks ago, and vs Texas Tech last Satur day. OSU already passed its bye week before embarking on this grueling schedule. And there’s no freebie game in between.

No. 8 OSU Cowboys, who are in the driver’s seat of its own destiny, for both the Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff, will have to get through the rest of October to show the country if they’re legit.

“It’s a 12-game season, right?” Gundy said. “We know we get 12 games, and we can’t get too high on one or too low on the other. There’s not been many teams in the country that finished a year without los ing a game at some particular point during the season. So if you throw all your eggs in one basket and get all jacked up and put everything out there, then you lose, come up short, sometimes it’s hard to recover and get ready for the next one when the preparation needs to say the same.”

Another difficult onemonth stretch occurred in 2008, when OSU knocked off No. 3 Missouri on the road on Oct. 11, then faced No. 1 Texas on the road on Oct. 25, but lost.

Though the difficulty of opponents was higher then, there were only two top-ranked teams in the span. This will be the second half of a stretch that could include four.

If OSU wants to survive the streak, here’s what it needs to do:

Spencer can’t save the Cowboys every game:

Consistent quarterback play is mostly how top teams win in modern college football.

Mostly.

When quarterbacks, even the best of the best, struggle, the great teams in college foot ball find a way to win.

In the first four games of the season, OSU rode the coattails of Spencer Sanders, whether he was throwing or

running the ball effectively.

When he began the game struggling against Texas Tech, the Cowboys trailed 31-23 in the third quarter, the first time they fell behind by more than a field goal all season. Sand ers entered the fourth quarter passing 17-for-36, and his legs contained by the Red Raider defense.

But once the lead was taken back, it gave OSU’s defense the conditions it strives under — playing with a lead.

Under Sanders through out his career, OSU is 5-4 when entering the second half trailing. Not the worst record. But, not the greatest odds. And with TCU, Texas and Kansas State’s offenses collectively averaging 39 points per game with its current starting quar terback, it would become a more urgent call for a come back if the defense falls behind at all.

Which isn’t out of ques tion for concern. While the

defense clutches up when it needs to in critical moments, giving up 546 yards to a now 1-5 MAC team, 354 to an Arizona State squad that fired its head coach the following weekend, 457 to Blake Shapen and Co., and 527 to Texas Tech with a backup quarterback is worrisome.

If OSU wants to make it through the month unscathed, it can’t allow a team to jump out to an early lead. Because it won’t be an easy climb out of the deficit.

A symbiotic relationship:

After ragging on OSU’s defense, there are ways it can help itself, and be able to contribute to an overall win throughout the entire game.

Most of OSU’s allowed yardage this season has been through the air. Seventy-one percent to be exact. With a young, mostly inexperienced secondary (besides safety Ja son Taylor), this makes sense.

To help the middling pass

Creating pressure onto the opposing quarterback forces them to release the ball faster, which leads to in completions, errant throws and turnovers. Through the team’s first five games last season, OSU’s defense dropped op posing quarterbacks 16 times.

This season so far? Only six.

What happened?

The core of the defensive line last season; Collin Oliver, Brock Martin, Tyler Lacy, Brendon Evers and Sione Asi, all returned. The Cowboys even got back edge rusher Trace Ford from injury.

If the Cowboys can rec reate the success they saw last season, it could conjointly help the secondary, by allowing them to be able to cover op posing receivers for less time.

Something Gundy echoed this week.

“If we do a better job of

messing up the quarterback in our pass rush to try to contain him a little better, it may not be easy to get to some of those throws,” Gundy said.

OSU has only started a season 8-0 twice under Gundy. Once, in the 2011 season, a year the Cowboys finished at No. 3 in the final rankings, and again in 2015, a team that won the first 10 on the schedule, climbing to No. 4 in the rank ings, before losing the final three.

This year, if OSU were to start 8-0, by winning out through October, the only teams in its way of another Big 12 championship appearance would be Kansas, Iowa State, West Virginia and the worst Oklahoma team since 1998.

If the Cowboys are to fail, they could be like a num ber of past OSU teams. Good, but not great.

Only they can write the rest.

defense, OSU’s defense could use its strongest position group — the defensive line.

Abby Cage

Since 2005, OSU has only started a season 8-0 twice, a feat the Cowboys are looking to do again this month.

Green makes these highlight-reel plays but to him, he said he’s grateful for the opportunity. He downplays the significance of his feats.

For a team sport, Green views his duties as a small part of a bigger machine.

Green said he enjoys the physical ity. Receiver vs cornerback. An indi

vidual battle in a team sport. If he does that and the team wins, he’s cool with whatever else happens.

To Green, that’s the dawg mental ity. It’s a motto the defense coined — referring to each other as dogs. Beasts that wrangle opponents and embrace the moment. Do whatever it takes for the team. Blood, bruises or broken bones, it doesn’t matter.

As long as the actions have teamfirst intentions.

“Just willing to put your body on the line for anything you want,” he said. “Anything you do on the field is for the team.”

Green can outsprint and outjump his defenders. A sophomore making pro level plays.

The skill astounds some of his teammates including running back Dominic Richardson.

“Man, the dude is phenomenal,” Richardson said. “He’s just a great athlete. Some of the catches he makes, it’s just like, ‘How can you make that catch?’ It’s insane but he got great eye coordination. It’s like a video game for him. It’s crazy how he does it. He’s emerged a lot and he’s a big help for us on offense.”

Green arrived as an early enrollee

New-look Big 12 quarterbacks returning pressure to defensive line

three Heisman quarterbacks and numerous others that went to the NFL.

Braden Bush Staff Reporter

Sione Asi’s rocking-thebaby celebration was for good reason.

It took until the third quar ter last Saturday for the redshirtsenior defensive tackle to wrangle in Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton, whom had evaded Asi and much of the Cowboy defense by scrambling from the pocket to find a target or run for yardage.

Straight off the bench, Morton threw for nearly 400 yards and ran for 46 and a score. South of the Red River that day, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers tossed four touchdowns. North of the state line, Kansas quarterback Jason Bean matched that total and ran the ball effectively.

Such is life in the 2022 Big 12. Better get used to it.

“We’re getting really, really good quarterback play in this league like we used to get for ever,” coach Mike Gundy said, referencing a stretch of Big 12 football in the 2010s that included

“From here on out, most of the guys that we play are going to have the ability to run and take off and make a play.”

Morton’s test is over. Now, TCU quarterback Max Duggan, who has rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns the past two games, awaits the Cowboys. Quite the consolation.

For Asi, practicing against Spencer Sanders is the best preparation for taking on Duggan and other Big 12 quarterbacks. While there’s no simulation in practice that can precisely imitate what the defensive line will face against Duggan, Sanders is the closest thing to it.

With Sanders, Gunnar Gun dy and Garret Rangel, all mobile quarterbacks, being who Asi faces every day, he feels prepared.

“Nothing on them or any of the other quarterbacks in the Big 12, we’re used to running quarter backs,” Asi said.

The running ability doesn’t discount the passing, though. The OSU defensive line is tasked with pressuring Duggan and the TCU offense, which ranks third nation ally in total offense. When Dug gan has time in the pocket, he’s been lethal.

The OSU defensive line

leads the nation in tackles for loss and ranks 14th in sacks, so the pressure has been there, but the backfield has struggled, allowing 304 passing yards a game – 126th nationally. Having the ability to hurry the quarterback provides relief to the defensive backs go ing against Duggan, who ranks second in the FBS in passing efficiency.

“Honestly, it gives us confi dence. More confidence,” cor nerback Jabbar Muhammad said.

“Knowing that you don’t have to cover for that long, knowing that they’re gonna get back there if you give them time. It just kind of makes you do your job a little bit better.”

While the defensive line has gotten to the quarterback and showed up on stat sheets, there are still issues. Morton was able to get to the edge or sneak up a crease in the middle for chunkyardage runs.

The pass rush is there, but it hasn’t always been efficient or consistent.

“We were disruptive, but we were out of control,” Gundy said. “We need to net them up, and we need to be in control.”

“Statistically, they’ve been good. They could be better, work ing as a unit, in my opinion.”

in spring 2021. Coaches and players saw early potential in Green, a former four-star recruit.

“He’s been like this since he got here,” Richardson said. “He’s been making big plays here at practice a lot. Every single day and he goes full speed. No breaks off at all so I’ve been knowing.”

Each game, Green will do that.

Cobb...

Continued from 1B

Coach Mike Gundy said Cobb is learning on the run, and while Cobb occasion ally misses an assign ment or lines up incor rectly, Gundy has been pleased with Cobb’s performance. Defensive coordinator Derek Ma son called Cobb a film “junkie,” which bodes well for Cobb’s future.

“(The lineback ers) are playing good for where we’re at,” Gundy said. “Particularly Cobb. Being a first-time player, he is coming along good. He is going to be a completely dif ferent guy this time next year.”

Benson has tallied 34 tackles so far; third best on the team. Unlike Cobb, who committed to OSU as a freshman out of Provo, Utah, Ben son has taken a winding road to become a start ing Cowboy linebacker.

Benson started his

career at Texas Tech, where he redshirted his freshman year, started for the Red Raiders in 2019 and then opted out of the 2020 season. After a dominant stint at Tyler Junior College in 2021, where his 120 tackles was the most in the NJCAA, Benson committed to OSU.

“Benson is giving us maturity and tough ness,” Gundy said. “He runs hard. He competes. He’s further along.”

For people privy to the work Cobb and Benson put in during the offseason, such as Asi and junior corner back Jabbar Muham mad, it is no surprise OSU’s linebacking core has remained in good hands.

“I’ve seen it from when I first came in,” Muhammad said. “It’s not a surprise to me. They’re just going out there and balling and proving it to you guys who don’t see it every day.”

Abby Cage

OSU is depending on defensive line to combat Big 12 quarterbacks.

Abby Cage

OSU linebackers Mason Cobb is handling his first year starting with confidence.

Hutton...

four years he’s spent in college, he notices it takes longer for his body to recover.

Kelsey Hutton, Tom’s wife, said Tom has dealt with some back issues that have left him sore. She said Tom, even at 32, is in the best shape of his life. She learned that firsthand when Tom convinced her to run the Boone Pickens Stadium steps together and she had to tap out after six trips up and down.

But Tom’s fitness doesn’t make winter workouts any more appealing to him.

“The winter workouts, they’re military grade,” Kelsey said. “And I completely get why they do it that way, but for a 32-year-old who’s older than some of the coaches, he doesn’t really want to be doing that all too much.”

Tom feels his age in other ways.

Against Baylor this season, cow boy receiver Braylin Presley downed one of Hutton’s punts on the 2-yard line. Presley is only 18, making him 14 years younger than Hutton. The age difference makes for a successful team on the field and an interesting dynamic off it.

“It’s good, they’re good kids,” Tom said. “It sounds weird to be say ing good kids, but that’s what they’re like to me.”

Of course, he interacts with the youngsters in the locker room, but it’s

not like they hang out in their off time.

He doesn’t care about the video games, music and memes that get freshmen buzzing and bickering.

Tom said he tries to not be the guy who stops everyone’s fun. When he walks into the locker room, he doesn’t want to be the metaphorical record scratch stopping everyone from doing what they were doing.

Tom has a level of maturity no 18-year-old is expected to have, and he knows that.

“The guys are roughhousing all the time and arguing about trivial stuff,” Tom said. “So, I don’t get in volved in that. But you know, if there’s something that that happens to come up that’s going to affect the culture or the team or any of that stuff, then I’ll speak up.”

Even a veteran Cowboy like defensive lineman Brock Martin, who arrived in Stillwater two years before Hutton, is nearly a decade younger than Tom.

When Tom goes home after prac tice, he doesn’t use the hip phrases he hears from his younger teammates.

“I use that as a way to get away from all that, finally talk to the people my age and get away from all the video game talk and all that stuff,” Tom said.

“So that’s my little escape.”

Part of the reason the Huttons’ home is a peaceful escape is there are no crying babies or mischievous tod dlers.

Arguably the biggest sacrifice the Hutton’s made by coming to the United States for Tom to pursue punting is putting starting a family on hold.

Why wait?

“Have you seen how much it costs to have a baby in the States?”

Kelsey said. “It’s free in Australia.”

Kelsey said she didn’t realize the cost of American healthcare until she and Tom had a conversation about it with an OSU coach and his wife. Since Tom is unpaid and Kelsey works in the marketing department at OSU’s Spears School of Business, the revelation of a baby costing money was a shock.

Plus, the Huttons have no fam ily in America. Having nobody to help support them or watch young children make it more logical to wait until they move back home to start their family.

“My wife and I are ready to have kids and move on with that stage in our life,” Tom said. “The NFL is really not a draw for me. I’m not saying it’s impossible, but the likelihood of me getting drafted at my age and the way that I punt and everything is not very realistic so I’m just really focused on the next stage of life once I get done with college football.”

The Huttons have a lot waiting for them in Australia.

Tom will graduate in May. He spent last summer working with Flint co as a project management intern on the new OSU Agricultural Hall build ing. Tom has a passion for construction and, with a degree in hand, is hoping to trade his previous on-the-tools posi tion for more of a managerial role.

Tom has business connections in Australia. The house the Huttons used to live in, complete with the man-cave Hutton built, is being rented out and theirs for the taking when they get

After making the adjustment from playing footy (Austra lian rules football) to Ameri can football, OSU punter Tom Hutton has improved each season at OSU.

2019:

Average punt: 38.7 yards Long: 55 yards

2020:

Average punt: 40.5 yards Long: 62 yards

2021: Average punt: 42.4 yards Long: 60 yards

2022 (5 games):

Average punt: 42.5 yards Long: 52 yards

back. The family time COVID made so difficult will be as often as they please.

Immediately following the Fiesta Bowl, the Huttons drove to Phoenix airport and flew home. The trip re minded Tom just how much he missed Australia.

“I’ve kind of been craving that for the last, I guess 18 months,” Tom said. “COVID kind of really instilled that in me that the homesickness and stuff which gets to go home after the bowl game, which is good.”

But the Huttons aren’t quite ready to leave America.

“I think once the season’s done, (Tom will) probably be pretty ready, but he’s really enjoying it right now,” Kelsey said.

A Big 12 and national cham pionship is at the top of Tom’s timein-America bucket list. The couple also wants to travel beyond the states surrounding Oklahoma.

COVID canceled a planned trip to Las Vegas for Tom’s 30th birthday. In order to fly their two dogs home, they have to drive to Los Angeles so they are considering a Hollywood, and a Grand Canyon trip.

It won’t be goodbye forever. They have made lifelong friends and connec tions in the states that will bring them back.

Those are the things that made two Australians putting their family on hold and moving almost 9,500 miles to pursue a chance at punting a football worth it.

“I don’t see any downside, to be honest,” Tom said. “I’ve grown as a person. I’ve got these crazy memories and experiences to look back on. My wife’s progressed her career and she’s had these experiences that we’ll cher ish forever.”

Courtesy Kelsey Hutton

Courtesy

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Daily Horoscope

Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Linda Black Horoscopes (TNS)

Today’s Birthday (10/14/22). Fall in love again this year. Fun, romance and artistry grow with steadfast routines. Autumn launches creative projects to new heights, before winter investigations shift focus. Shared accounts get a springtime boost, before a plot twist redirects summer stories. Partnership brings good luck. 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 an 8 — Follow the story where it leads. You’re tapping into a fascinating subject. Find valuable tools and potential solu tions. Share discoveries with others. Summarize and clarify.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 9 — Make a lucrative connection. Dis cuss valuable possibilities. Plant seeds. Buy, sell and sign contracts. Take advan tage of favorable conditions for a healthy harvest.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is a 9 — Use your charm and confidence to contribute to personal projects. Invite friends to have fun for a good cause. Tap into your own passion.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Gain strength from the past. Give thanks to ancestors who led the way. Practice private rituals for peace and good ness. Revise practical plans.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Teamwork and collaboration lead to an exciting victory. Focus on practical priorities. Ignore distractions or illusions. Contribute your piece of the puzzle. Celebrate together.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — Disciplined professional efforts pay off. Lucrative opportunities arise in conversation. Stick to practical actions. Pro vide excellent service, on time and budget, for rising status.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Expand territory. Discover amazing vistas and new perspectives. Explore and find rare beauty. Doubts interfere with progress. Step forward boldly, after thorough preparation. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 9 — Advance shared financial interests. Take advantage of beneficial developments. Collaborate to harvest a windfall. Get help if needed. Adapt to grab a lucrative possibility.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Harmony flowers naturally between you and your partner. Share encouragement and recognition. Take new territory together. Romance arises in conversation. Connect for shared support. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 9 — Physical action gets satisfying results. Prioritize practical goals. Healthy practices energize your work. The pace is picking up. Streamline routines. Strengthen capacities to grow. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is an 8 — Pamper yourself with fun and great company. Advance your game to the next level. Stir up a fine romance. Sa vor fleeting beauty. Share your heart. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is an 8 — Physical efforts make a big differ ence at home. Clean and declutter. Work miracles with soap and paint. Upgrade domestic spaces for peace, inspiration and creativity.

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Solution to Thursday’s puzzle

Virtues of patience Richardson looks back at TCU memories

meet him, but when you get to know him, he’s one of the more fun people to be around,” String er said. “I’ve never met a more hard working kid who just wants to get better like Dom.”

Daniel Allen Staff Reporter

Dominic Richardson saw a split between the two middle linebackers.

He turned his head and waved his hand in the open field, signaling to the quarterback he was open.

Richardson extended his arms and dove, corralling a welloverthrown pass. As he arose from the grass, he pounded his chest in celebration, flexing his muscles and letting his emotions out.

Ryan Stringer, Bishop McGuinness High School offen sive coordinator, was well aware of Richardson’s ability. At that moment, they knew they had a generational talent at running back.

“That’s when myself and the coaches knew he was legit,” Stringer said. “We’d seen it in practice all the time, but that made us realize Dom was legit.”

Richardson was described by many of his high school peers as quiet, shy and to-himself. The commonality in each description was his willingness to learn and get better.

“He’s quiet when you first

Richardson committed to play for TCU and then-head coach Gary Patterson in May 2019. Shortly after, Richardson’s patience would once again be tested.

Richardson had been as sured by the coaching staff he would be the lone running back in the TCU’s 2020 class. That didn’t end up being the case. A week later, running back coach Curtis Luper departed for the same job at Missouri.

Moments later, he opened Twitter to see a retweet of fivestar running back Zack Evans announcing his commitment to TCU. Richardson was speechless.

“After (Zach Evans) com mitted, I had gotten a phone call from (TCU) letting me know what happened,” Stringer said. “That was one of the more diffi cult phone calls I’ve had to make as a coach. Dom was a kid who had worked so hard for every thing.”

After being granted a release from his national let ter of intent, not many coaches remained in contact with Rich ardson. They were either full in scholarship spots for the running back position or didn’t recipro cate interest. One coach remained present when others weren’t — OSU running back coach John

Wozniak.

After many conversations with Wozniak and coach Mike Gundy, Richardson signed with and enrolled at OSU.

As the Cowboys prepare to head to Fort Worth this week end, Richardson says the harsh feelings he had early on towards the program are long gone. He still has bitter memories of what transpired, but believes it’s best to move on from the past rather than dwell on it.

“I mean I love the color purple,” Richardson said. “It’s a nice football facility down there in Fort Worth, really nice. I remember that from my visits I took. But no, always fun going down to the DFW area.”

While the hard feelings may no longer be present, the memories still last. It’s just another reminder to him that patience can go a long way in achieving success in life.

“I know it’s a new staff and all and it’s a new head coach, it’s not the guys that recruited him, but I mean, there’s still a little bit there,” Stringer said. “The fans know who he is. The TCU faithful know that’s the kid who is supposed to be there right now. But looking back on it, it defi nitely worked out for the better. Look at him now. OSU was the place for him to be all along and I’m just so happy that it worked out for him.”

After Tuesday’s practice, Asi’s slogan was “rushing together.”

Defense... sports.ed@ocolly.com

It’s an objective that Gundy said is hard for linemen to master because they’re taught to get to the quarterback by any means necessary, then told to do it con trolled and together.

But against a dangerous quarterback that will make a defense pay, the coaching staff stressed defending gaps and preventing creases while rushing the quar terback.

“Coach (Greg) Richmond has been pushing us, not so much rushing for ourselves and trying to get sacks, but just rushing as a unit

just so we can maintain (Duggan),” Asi said.

Against Duggan and TCU on Saturday and the new era of Big 12 quarterbacks ahead, controlling the pocket is paramount. Contain ing the quarterback can prevent a big scramble or take away time for a deep pass.

Asi said everything on defense starts with his unit. It’s up to the defensive line to set the tone. Regardless of who is at quarterback, Asi is looking to rock the baby again.

“We each have a gap. We each have a responsibility,” Asi said. “If you just do that, then we’ll end up just making the play.”

Mackenzie Janish

Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad said his job becomes easier with the better defensive line play from OSU.

Catching up with Malcolm Rodriguez

Davis Cordova Staff Reporter

Malcolm Rodriguez arrived in Still water as an undersized, underrecruited prospect who flourished into one of the best defenders in recent OSU history.

Now, “Rodrigo,” is defining odds and exceeding expectations, again, this time in the NFL with the Detroit Lions.

The Detroit Lions selected Rodriguez in the sixth round of the NFL Draft, but through five weeks, Rodriguez starts at linebacker, ranks third on the team in tack les with 38 and leads the team in tacklesfor-loss with four.

“It’s just one of those things where I just came in and just put the work in,” Rodriguez said in an exclusive interview with The O’Colly. “It’s just one of the things where I bought into the system that puts players in position to make plays. So, I just bought in and now it’s just doing my job. I’m very harsh on myself to go out there and compete at a high level and try to make every tackle.”

Rodriguez has become a famous figure in Detroit and he has HBO’s “Hard Knocks” to blame. Throughout the show, Rodriguez continued to be featured with segments and it is where the nickname “Rodrigo” was given to him by Lions de fensive coordinator Aaron Glenn.

Rodriguez said he did not expect the fame or the hype, especially from the show.

“It was just one of the things of just me, being me. Me just being a char acter and how I was raised,” Rodriguez said. “It’s just how it was at OSU where they kind of took it, and they just kind of went rolling with it after that. So, I never changed and it’s one of those things where I just, you know, stick to my roles and ethics and how I was raised and just keep doing my thing.”

Since the first game, Rodriguez has honored his family heritage and tradition with a cowboy-like pregame outfit topped with a cowboy hat while he wears boots. There was a segment on “Hard Knocks” that showed Rodriguez shopping for boots and cowboy outfits.

“I like wearing the cowboy fit, but I just have to make sure I change it up every week,” Rodriguez said. “All the fans are looking for it, and they call me the “Detroit Cowboy” for some reason, so that’s stuck after game one. But no, I like wearing boots. You know, it’s more comfortable, people think it’s not comfortable, but that’s how I was raised, it’s very comfortable to wear stuff like that. So, it’s just one of those things where it just goes back to how I was raised and my morals and all that growing up.”

Even though Rodriguez has been starting on Sundays, he’s still been able to watch his former team.

Rodriguez played for OSU from 2017-21 and when he and former OSU linebacker Devin Harper left for the NFL, their roles in the OSU defense were left empty, left for someone else to fill in. OSU linebacker Mason Cobb has filled in nicely into the lead linebacker spot this season and Rodriguez is on notice.

“Oh he’s been a baller,” Rodriguez said. “It’s not a surprise that he’s going out there making plays and flying around. It’s just one of those things where it’s all on you and your mentality and he’s taken that role to the next step. He’s doing a very good job.”

File Photo

Malcolm Rodriguez became one of the best OSU players in recent memory from his playing time from 2017-21.

Picking

TCU

Tennessee (51-49)

(and

(33-31)

TCU (41-38)

OSU (37-31)

TCU (37-36)

OSU (35-27)

Alabama (32-23)

Alabama (38-27)

Alabama (30-28)

Alabama (40-21)

Alabama (42-28)

Michigan (20-16) Michigan (21-13) Michigan (31-24) Michigan (29-26)

Michigan (27-16)

Michigan (24-21)

Utah (34-27)

USC (48-45)

USC (37-31)

Utah (33-24)

Utah (31-27)

USC (35-14)

Mississippi St (38-28)

Mississippi St (34-28)

Mississippi St (38-31)

Picker leader board

Kentucky (40-30) Kentucky (28-21)

Kentucky (28-21)

About the guest picker: Malcolm Rodriguez played linebacker at OSU from 2017-22. The Detroit Lions selected him in the sixth round (pick 188) in the 2022 NFL draft. Through five games, Rodriguez is Detroit’s second leading tackler.

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