Soaring back home Thursday, September 17, 2020
American Airlines to return to Stillwater By Sheyenne Mitchell American Airlines is back after what Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce called ‘the high point of his stressful time during the pandemic.’ Last month, the Airline announced it intended to cancel flight plans for 15 smaller U.S. cities starting this October. American Airlines cited the recent drop in demand for air travel amid the pandemic as their key decision making factor. That’s when the Stillwater community came together. Stillwater Regional Airport Director Paul Priegel spoke with several federal and state elected officials asking them to continue funding for their airport. Other members of the community also got involved by sending letters detailing the importance of the airline’s business in Stillwater.
Zachary Hunter
The Stillwater Regional Airport will finally have flights back in October.
Soon after their efforts, American Airlines renounced their decision to cancel flights in Stillwater. “The news I got Thursday night that American Airlines is going to maintain their schedule through October and the rest of the foreseeable future was not only
OSU welcomes Tay Martin guys have typically waited their turns. Tay Martin might not be one of them. On Aug. 22, Chris Becker Martin announced his late transfer to Kasey Dunn Oklahoma State has routinely put to- from Washington gether an impressive State. He was receiving corps for granted eligibilthe past decade, but ity on Sept. 4, just
Dean Rutz/Seattle Times Washington State receiver Davontavean Martin.
a couple of weeks before the Cowboys were set to open the season. Now just days away from the start of the season, Martin has only been in Stillwater for about four weeks and he’s already proved himself to coach Mike Gundy that he has learned enough of the offense to earn snaps. Gundy said to expect him to see “an extensive” number of snaps for Martin against Tulsa. Martin comes to Stillwater from Washington State and was coached by air raid connoisseur Mike Leach.. “Well actually Leach built his offense off ours, but either way the terminology is relatively similar and so it did help him in his adjustment to Oklahoma State,” Gundy said.
See Martin on page 6
great news for the community just because of how important that service is to us,” Joyce said. “But it was really encouraging from the standpoint of the community coming together and everybody pitching in a little bit and helping us get that thing
done.” Even before this official decision, American Airlines worked with the Stillwater airport’s administration where they discussed air service preservation. “We have shown American Airlines that we truly value their partnership,” Priegel told the Oklahoman. “By agreeing to work with us on our upcoming flight schedule, American Airlines has shown us that they value our partnership as well.” Joyce said he was pleased to see a community in action and a victory for the town, as well. “To see all that come together, to see it work and to see the positive response from American [Airlines] and them making the decision to keep us on the schedule was really gratifying,” Joyce said. “Not just because it’s a great thing for Stillwater, but because it was a community effort.”
Logan Biggins
New QB coach Tim Rattay looks to optimize Spencer Sanders’ game.
Tim Rattay could unlock Spencer Sanders’ potential quarterback coach Tim Rattay. Rattay spent six seasons as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Louisiana Tech, Joseph Fazio before joining the now Washington The Oklahoma Football Team in State football of2019. fense is certainly Following going to have a new Sean Gleeson’s look compared to departure and last season. Kasey Dunn’s The Cowboys’ promotion to offense has new offensive cooradditions at wide dinator, Rattay receiver, offensive was brought in to linemen and their teach quarterback coaching staff. Spencer Sanders. However, one of “I’m excited the biggest additions to get Spencer at was the hiring of a young age and
really try to help him grow and help him learn and just really work on the fundamentals of the position and his overall knowledge of the offense and the position combined,” Rattay told the O’Colly back in April. Rattay said he previously worked with Sanders’ mechanics with throwing the football and staying in the pocket. See potential on page 6