Monday, January 3, 2022
Fitting finish
Chris Becker
Fiesta Bowl microcosm of Cowboys’ 2021 season Dean Ruhl Sports Editor GLENDALE, Arizona – College football is often overly romanticized. But, as the football spilled out of Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders’ arm and into those of Notre Dame linebacker Drew White, it only felt fitting the OSU defense had to take the field. A six-point lead, that existed
only because the offense has scored 27 unanswered points, needed to be protected. Less than three minutes remained in the game. The Cowboys, who for the second time had turned the ball over inside the 15-yard line, needed a play to be made. And like they had done all year, OSU called on the defense to do it. They did. The defense allowed just four yards and forced a turnover on downs, in one of the most crucial moments of the season. They returned the ball to the offense, and three OSU run plays later the Fighting Irish were forced to burn their timeouts. A Tanner Brown field goal bumped the Cowboys lead to nine.
30 unanswered points. The Irish would add a touchdown in the closing minutes, avoiding the second half shutout OSU’s defense has become synonymous with dealing out. The Cowboys prevailed in a game OSU coach Mike Gundy called the biggest win in school history. OSU concluded a memorable 12-2 season with a 37-35 win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, after a lastditch ND onside kick was corralled by safety Jason Taylor. Because of course it was grabbed by Taylor. It was only fitting he got it after being a special teams guru the past three seasons at OSU.
“This is clearly the biggest win in the history of the school,” coach Mike Gundy said. The onside kick wouldn’t have even happened had the defense not adjusted at halftime. A lopsided 28-7 ND lead with less than two minutes remaining before intermission spelled a dismal fate for OSU’s season. Without former defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to make adjustments, a strong suit of his, the Cowboys instead had to rely on defensive line coach Joe Bob Clements to step in.
See Finish on 2
COVID-19 guidance for OSU’s spring semester Anna Pope News Editor
The State of Oklahoma’s COVID-19 case numbers are rising.
File photo
Oklahoma State released updated guidance allowing faculty to choose the format of classes for the first two weeks of school. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) reported 3,974 new COVID-19 cases on Friday. The uptick in infections is because of increased travel, indoor gatherings, more testing and the omicron variant, according to OSDH. During the break, OSU’s Pandemic Response Team met to monitor the pandemic and because of the rise of omicron cases, the OSU officials sent out new guidance. Although courses will be begin next Monday, for the first two weeks of the semester faculty may choose to how classes can be held. Faculty can offer in-person classes with three choices. - In-person with mandatory masks.
- Hold hybrid classes where students can attend in person with required masks or online. - Have only online instruction. Once the first two weeks of school have ended, faculty can offer classes under the same guidance as last semester. If someone tests positive in a class, faculty can choose to hold classes in-person with masks, move the course online or hold the hybrid instruction style for two weeks. Additionally, OSU is encouraging faculty, staff and students to get tested for COVID-19 before returning to campus. This guidance comes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shortened the recommended quarantine period when an individual is diagnosed with COVID-19, and the quarantine time when someone is exposed to the virus. “People with COVID-19 should isolate for five days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours), follow that by five days of wearing a mask when around others to minimize the risk of infecting people they
encounter,” according to the CDC. In the statement from the CDC, vaccinated individuals who have been exposed to COVID-19 do not need to quarantine, but it is recommended for them to wear a mask for 10 days from their exposer. For individuals who are exposed and unvaccinated, the CDC is suggesting for them to quarantine for 5 days and wear a mask for 10 days following their exposure. Preliminary data continues to be gathered about the omicron variant and according to Dr. Johnny Stephens, OSU’s senior vice president for heath affairs, it shows the variant is highly transmissible and cases numbers are rising. “Early data also indicates cases of COVID-19 from the omicron variant appear to be less severe than the delta variant, particularly among those who are vaccinated and boosted,” Stephens wrote in a statement. “Statistics available show that getting boosters when eligible is extremely important to prevent serious infection.”
news.ed@ocolly.com