POSSE - Winter 2014

W I N T E R 2014

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF OSU ATHLETICS

PAGE 24

VOL UM E 8

12/9/14 14:53 PM cover.indd 1

Bullet POINTS

NDBDDYTREATSYOU BETTERTHANBYFORD Don’t just sit there!

C. \-\

cc:,

At Byford Auto Group, we take our motto seriously!

For us, customer satisfaction comes first – we give more because you deserve more ... like free loaners for our service customers, and oil changes for life. And, you can count on our world-class service technicians to keep your car on the road and running smoothly. At Byford, we view our customers as part of our family and maintain a friendly, relaxed atmosphere ... which is probably why we have a top-tier customer satisfaction rating! Come see for yourself at any of our locations.

Nobody Treats You Better Than Byford!

BYFORD BUICK GMC – CHICKASHA • 2900 S. Hwy. 81 BYFORD CHEVY BUICK GMC – DUNCAN * 1909 N. Hwy. 81 BYFORD CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM – DUNCAN • 8307 N. Hwy. 81 BYFORD MOTORS – OKC • I-240 & Shields

800-752-2360 BAG 09-17-14 Posse Magazine.indd 1 cover.indd 2

ByfordAutoGroup.com

Go Anywhere. Go Pokes.

Take advantage of our special bowl game ticket & travel packages.

BIJFORD AUTO GROUP

CHICKASHA • DUNCAN • OKC

9/17/14 2:06 PM

12/9/14 14:53 PM

• Freeestimates • Expertpackingandcrating • Local,longdistanceandinternational moves • Recordmanagement center • Commercial warehouse anddistribution • Specialties in movingelectronicequipment • Officemoving • Smallpartdistribution • Officerecordstorage

emricksallied.com C. PaulBakerJr., Owner• AlliedVanLinesAgent

rela -.

load.

4021 4021NW NW3rd 3rdSt., St.,OKC OKC73107 73107•• 800-299-7070 800-299-7070 |I 3126 3126S. S.Van VanBuren, Buren,Enid, Enid,OK OK73703 73703•• 800-299-1053 800-299-1053

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 3

12/9/14 14:16 PM

PHOTO / BRUCE WAERFIELD

THE WINTER TEMPERATURES INDICATE BASKETBALL AND WRESTLING SEASONS ARE UPON US. Our men’s and women’s basketball teams welcome players we are accustomed to watching as well as a mixture of brand new faces. PART OF THE PLEASURE OUR FAITHFUL FANS EXPERIENCE EACH YEAR IS THE BLENDING OF RETURNING PLAYERS WITH VERY YOUNG ONES FROM ACROSS THE NATION AND THE WORLD. This process ensures the growth

and success of our teams.

Coach John Smith also has a blend of experience and youth on our wrestling team. Once

again, the Cowboys enter the season highly ranked and have scheduled a rugged list of opponents leading up to the Big 12 and NCAA Championship tournaments this spring.

Greetings, OSU fans.

The cold weather reminds us why the Sherman Smith Training Center and the Mike and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center were built. Just

another important step in our quest to provide the very best training environment for all of our athletes. STILL TO COME ARE PLANNED IMPROVEMENTS FOR SOCCER, BASEBALL AND EQUESTRIAN.

-------Thank you very much for your loyal and generous support of our efforts to build championship teams in all of our sports. WITH YOU ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, WITHOUT YOU WE ARE NOTHING. I want to congratulate Coach Gundy and the football team on a great road victory

4

in Bedlam and wish them luck in the Ticket City Cactus Bowl!

GO POKES!

MIKE HOLDER DIRECTOR OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS Former OSU Men’s Golf Coach OSU Class of 1973 WINTER 2014

Playbook.indd 4

12/11/14 14:42 PM

the

PLAYBOOK

2014 VOL.8 WINTER COVER PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL SHOCKLEY

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

FEATURES

16 SoCal To Stillwater

FROM STUDENT-ATHLETE TO SPIRIT RIDER (AND BACK)

24 Moonlighting

32 By Word and by Deed MAKING LEMONADE

38 Turning Tragedy

into Triumph

44 Red, White, Blue

and Orange

54 The Father Figure of

Cowgirl Basketball

60 A Rising Star

Earns Her Stripes

THE PINNACLE OF BASEBALL

66 From Red Dirt to Red Sox 72 Karsten Creek at 20

DEPARTMENTS

8

THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS

The Weight of the World

20 The 150 70 The Honor Roll JUMPING THE SHARK

5

82 Wrav!ngs

DIFFERENCE MAKER

Desmond Roland

WITH A PAIR OF TOUGH-YARDAGE TOUCHDOWNS, senior tailback Desmond Roland helped lead the Cowboys to a comeback Bedlam victory. Ben Grogan’s 21-yard field goal in overtime sealed OSU’s 38-35 win over OU, propelling

Mike Gundy’s squad to a 9th-straight bowl appearance.

Playbook.indd 5

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

POSSE

12/12/14 14:58 PM

POSSE POKES POSSE MAGAZINE STAFF V I C E P R E S I D E N T O F E N R O L L M E N T M A N AG E M E N T / M A R K E T I N G E D I TO R - I N - C H I E F / S E N I O R A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C D I R E C TO R

J E S S E M A R T IN

S E N I O R A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C D I R E C TO R / E X T E R N A L A F FA I R S A R T D I R E C TO R / D E S I G N E R

K Y L E W R AY

K E V IN K L IN T W O R T H

PA U L V. F L E MIN G

A S S I S TA N T A R T D I R E C TO R / L E A D D E S I G N E R

ROSS MAUTE

P R O D U C T I O N A S S I S TA N T / P H OTO G R A P H E R

B R UCE WAT E R F IE L D

A S S I S TA N T E D I TO R

CL AY BIL L M A N

C O N T R I B U T I N G P H OTO G R A P H E R S

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

B R UCE WAT E R F IE L D, P HIL S HOCK L E Y, G A R Y L AW S ON , B O S T ON R E D S O X

WA DE M cW H O R T E R , R YA N C A M E R O N , GE N E JO H N S O N , CL AY BIL L M A N , A U S T IN CH A P P E L L , JO H N H E L S L E Y, TAY L O R MIL L E R

ATHLETICS ANNUAL GIVING (POSSE) DEVELOPMENT STAFF A S S I S TA N T AT H L E T I C D I R E C TO R / P O S S E D I R E C TO R P R E M I U M S E R V I C E S D I R E C TO R

K ARYL HENRY

P U B L I C AT I O N S C O O R D I N ATO R

CL AY BIL L M A N

P R O G R A M S C O O R D I N ATO R / B E N E F I T S

At Oklahoma State University, compliance with NCAA, Big 12 and institutional rules is of the utmost importance. As a supporter of OSU, please remember that maintaining the integrity of the University and the Athletic Department is your first responsibility.

As a donor, and therefore booster of OSU, NCAA rules apply to you. If you have any questions, feel free to call the OSU Office of Athletic Compliance at 405-744-7862. Additional information can also be found by clicking on the Compliance tab of the Athletic Department web-site at www.okstate.com.

Remember to always “Ask Before You Act.” Respectfully,

BEN DYSON ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR COMPLIANCE

E L L E N AY R E S

MARY LEWIS

E V E N T C O O R D I N ATO R / G A M E DAY PA R K I N G M A N AG E R AT H L E T I C D E V E LO P M E N T A S S I S TA N T

JO E N E L S O N

S T E P H A NIE B O E S E

ATHLETICS MAJOR GIFT DEVELOPMENT STAFF S E N I O R A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C D I R E C TO R / D E V E LO P M E N T D I R E C TO R O F D E V E LO P M E N T / AT H L E T I C S P R O J E C T M A N AG E R

L A R R Y R E E CE

M AT T GR A N T H A M

S H AW N TAY L OR

OSU POSSE 1 0 2 AT H L E T I C S C E N T E R S T I L LWAT E R , O K 74 078 - 5 070

4 0 5 .74 4 .73 01 P 4 0 5 .74 4 . 9 0 8 4 F

•

f

O K S TAT E P O S S E .CO M O K S TAT E P O S S E P O S S E@ O K S TAT E . E DU ~ @OSUPOSSE

ADVERTISING

4 0 5 .74 4.73 0 1 E D I T O R I A L

4 0 5 .74 4.170 6

ORANGE PRIDE & JOY Each fall, a number of OSU fans and automobile enthusiasts get to show off their rides outside Boone Pickens Stadium at the pregame HALL OF FAME BLOCK PARTY . Held prior to the OSU-Texas Tech football game, this year’s COWBOY CAR SHOW featured another cool collection of orangethemed custom vehicles, from motorcycles to muscle cars and tricked-out trucks.

First place in the show was awarded to Dick McGuire’s 1933 FORD VICKY. A 1955 CHEVY owned by Jim Moseby scored second place honors, while Glen Elliott’s 1980 CHEVY LUV took the bronze. The Fan Favorite award went to Cody Dean and his 1953 CHEVY.

6

Donations received may be transferred to Cowboy Athletics, Inc. in accordance with the Joint Resolution among Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma State University Foundation, and Cowboy Athletics, Inc. POSSE magazine is published four times a year by Oklahoma State University Athletic Department and the POSSE, and is mailed to current members of the POSSE. Magazine subscriptions available by membership in the POSSE only. Membership is $150 annually. Postage paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices. Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order 11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to admissions, employment, financial aid, and educational services. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 Whitehurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-9154; email: eeo@okstate.edu.

This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University as authorized by the Senior Associate Athletic Director, POSSE, was printed

by Royal Printing Company at a cost of $1.115 per issue. 8.175M/December 2014/#5477.

POSSE magazine is published four times a year by Oklahoma State University, 121 Cordell North Stillwater, OK 74078. The magazine is produced by OSU Athletics and University Marketing, and is mailed to current members of the POSSE Association. Membership starts at $150/year and includes benefits such as the POSSE Magazine and member auto decals. POSSE annual funds contribute to student-athlete scholarships and operating expenses, which are critical to helping our teams stay competitive. Gifts of all sizes impact all areas of athletics. Postage paid at Stillwater, OK, and additional mailing offices.

PHOTOS / BRUCE WATERFIELD

WINTER 2014

front matter.indd 6

12/15/14 14:38 PM

PEARTHE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 7

12/9/14 14:17 PM

ETEAM

TH ELJI~ IQTHE B ITEA:M:S THE

Weight OF THE

ROB GLASS — ASSISTANT ATHLETIC DIRECTOR-STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING

W RLD THE LOCATION OF OSU’S STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING CENTERS are somewhat symbolic. They can be found at the ground level of the west end zone, and below the court of GallagherIba Arena. In other words, the two strength centers are at the very foundations of their buildings.

NICK HOHEISEL — ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR WOMEN’S BASKETBALL AND MEN’S/WOMEN’S TENNIS

TRUMAIN CARROLL — ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR FOOTBALL AND TRACK

They are, in fact, the very foundation of OSU’s athletic successes.

For most student-athletes, the successes of their

college careers are dictated by their dedication to their foundation: their strength and conditioning training. It is the bridge that helps propel them from a prep star with potential, to a successful Big 12 athlete. The effort they put in away from the spotlight, under the direction of OSU’s strength, speed and conditioning staff, has a direct impact on their successes in the arena of competition.

There is an OSU staff of professionals overseeing

8

their weight training, helping athletes through psychological barriers, helping them rehabilitate from injuries.

And they are vital to every varsity sport on the OSU campus.

MALLORY FOWLKES — ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR SOCCER, SOFTBALL AND EQUESTRIAN

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 8

12/9/14 14:17 PM

GARY CALCAGNO — ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR WRESTLING AND FOOTBALL

JOEL TUDMAN —

ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR FOOTBALL AND TRACK

JAKE MANZELMANN — ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR MEN’S BASKETBALL AND MEN’S GOLF

TRACY BALDWIN — ASSISTANT STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH FOR BASEBALL, WOMEN’S GOLF AND CHEER

9

OSU’s speed, strength and conditioning staffs are usually the first in the building — either building. It is not uncommon to see a crowd of student-athletes heading out of the athletic center for a 7:30 a.m. class ­­— after a workout in the weight room under the direction of OSU staffers.

Strength coaches, as they are known in the business, never seem too terribly interested in climbing the ladder.

More than perhaps any other branch of the athletic department, they witness the growth and maturity of OSU’s student athletes. They witness it first-hand, and, in fact, are in many ways responsible for it.

And when you are responsible for the foundation, it’s hard to walk away.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 9

12/9/14 14:17 PM

Did You See It? 12/6/14 – VS. OKLAHOMA 38–35 (OT) OKSTATE.COM/RENEWAL 877.ALL.4OSU (877-255-4678)

10 WINTER 2014

photo spread 1.indd 10

12/9/14 15:44 PM

11 PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

photo spread 1.indd 11

12/12/14 15:28 PM

12 PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY LAWSON WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 12

12/9/14 14:17 PM

13

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 13

12/9/14 14:17 PM

THE

6l

RANCH

An Epworth Living Community

Beautifully appointed homes. First class amenities. Highly trained and experienced staff. The Ranch offers an invaluable investment in your future and your peace of mind.

There's never been an option like this, and there's never been a better time to discover Stillwater's choice for retiring independently and living graciously.

-THE VOSSES -

Future Residents

Don't wander into retirement - blaze your own trail and take the reins of your future.

Limitedtime incentivesare being offered at The Ranch,Stillwater'sfirst and only Lifecarecommunity.

CONTACT US TO DISCUSS CHARTER CLUB MEMBERSHIP CALL 405.743.2990

I 866.463.6726 or VISIT TheRanchliving.org

MARKETING OFFICE: Fountain Square 1329 South Western,Stillwater,OK

ads RANCH & 5DECADES.indd 14

74074

12/12/14 16:15 PM

·, , ~=1!1na~~. Ja,:~

,

CELEBR ATING FIVE DECADES AS THE TEAM BEHIND THE TEAMS

okstateposse.com

12:28 PM

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 15

877-ALL-4-OSU

@osuposse

okstateposse

12/9/14 14:18 PM

SoCal To Stillwater STORY BY WADE McWHORTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

HELEN HODGES is admittedly a late bloomer when it comes to Oklahoma State athletics.

Sure, her parents, the late Dillon and Lois Hodges, graduated from Oklahoma A&M in the 1940s, and Helen earned a degree from OSU in 1979. But Hodges’ passion lay in other things prior to a chance encounter several years back.

16

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 16

12/9/14 14:20 PM

TODAY, HODGES is a

proud BOONE PICKENS STADIUM SUITE HOLDER and TRAVELS FROM HER HOME IN SAN DIEGO TO STILLWATER to cheer on coach Mike Gundy’s Cowboys on Saturdays in the fall.

Hodges’ story starts out in northwestern Oklahoma, on a farm west of Hennessey, where her family raised beef cattle and wheat.

For Hodges, growing up an only child on a farm was an extraordinary experience. She recalls helping feed the cattle, as well as gathering and moving them, running them through the chute and getting them ready to sell.

A nd that ex per ience resulted in something that surely made her the envy of young girls everywhere.

“The best part was I got a pony!” Hodges said. “We bought her when I was fiveyears-old from some neighbors, and she was spoiled.

Apparently they let her do whatever she wanted to do, and that was not satisfactory to me. So we had a number of discussions, and finally she would go wherever I wanted her to go. We became fast pals, but we did have some problems at the beginning of our relationship.”

Hodges spent hours riding her four-legged friend, Judy, to help round up cattle, and later she would add driving a tractor in the summers to her list of chores.

“I loved being in the country,” Hodges said. “There were some limitations because I was 17 miles from my school. It was pretty easy for my parents to say, ‘You’re not going into town.’”

Follow ing her g raduation f rom Hennessey High School, it was Hodges’ time to leave the farm life, so to speak, and she followed her parents’ footsteps to

As a freshman living in Willham Hall, Hodges was confident of two things — she loved political science, and she wanted to be a lawyer.

But her father had some advice for her — and as it turns out, father did know best.

“My dad said, ‘Helen, what are you going to do if you don’t go to law school?

You really should get over to the business college and get a degree where you can

remembered the land she roamed growing up just happened to lie underneath the Vance Air Force Base training area and the allure of machines overhead.

“I’m out there on the farm in the middle of nowhere, and I look up and see those military trainer jets and I think ‘Wow, wouldn’t that be cool!’” Hodges said.

“When I got to college, I didn’t think much of it, but I got to talking with my dad and told him it would be really cool to learn how to fly. And he said, ‘Well why don’t you do that?’ He offered to pay for it, so I decided to do it.”

Hodges made the most of that experience as well. She obtained her private pilot’s license, and after earning her degree in December of 1979, stayed another semester so she could join the OSU Flying

“Helen makes an unbelievable commitment to be in Stillwater six or seven Saturdays a year to cheer on the Cowboys.” i

Stillwater and OSU.

Aggies team.

“I just loved that — it was the best,” Hodges said.

And Hodges was part of the best as the Flying Aggies won top honors at the 1980 National Intercollegiate Flying Association competition, a skills event that tests such things as power-on and power-off landings, aircraft recognition, cross-country MATT GRANTHAM navigation using only instruments and one of Hodges’ most memorable tasks, a get a job if you don’t go to law school,’” “bomb” drop where participants are chalHodges said. “And so I took his advice. lenged with dropping a piece of balsa wood I went over to the business college, and with a tail from the flying plane into a I decided accounting was the best major barrel on the ground. for me.

Accounting degree and pilot’s license in “I struggled in accounting — it was a hand, Hodges was ready for her next step challenge for me. But I did get a degree, and — to make good on her dream of becomI did go to law school. And that accounting ing a lawyer. degree got me every job I ever had.”

That passion was also born of Hodges’ It turns out, that wasn’t the only piece of experiences growing up. In the summer rewarding encouragement Dillon Hodges following her high school graduation, she had for his daughter. worked for BOB BARR, a lawyer and friend While an undergrad student reflectof the family, filling in for Barr’s secretary ing back to her days on the farm, Hodges for several weeks.

17

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 17

12/9/14 14:20 PM

Hodges said Barr’s practice “looks exactly like you’d expect a lawyer’s office in downtown Hennessey, Okla., would” and sounds like something out of a John

Grisham novel.

“You had a little reception area where the secretary sits, there’s always a pot of coffee on, and people walking down Main Street are just stopping in,” Hodges said.

“And behind the closed door is the lawyer with his law books and his big desk.

“Bob Barr meant the world to me, and he helped me and my family in so many ways — and I saw that he helped other people. And I darn sure didn’t want to be the secretary — I wanted to be the lawyer!

I thought it was interesting and would be challenging, and it was. (Barr) was helping people — he was truly a counselor. “ THAT’S WHY I’M A L AW YE R, BECAUSE OF BOB BARR.”

Upon receiving her degree from the University of Oklahoma Law School in 1983, Hodges didn’t immediately begin a career in law — she first spent two years in tax accounting for Arthur Andersen.

Her first big break into law would come during the Oklahoma City Penn Square cases in the 1980s. The judge in those cases was Hodges’ former law school dean, and she clerked for him, working on the accounting end of the cases.

“Like I said, I’ve always used that accounting degree that I got at OSU,” Hodges said.

With her appetite for law whetted, Hodges headed west to San Diego in 1987 and joined one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs’ law firms. Hodges and a group of lawyers from that firm subsequently formed a new firm, now known as Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLC. Nearly three decades practicing law in San Diego has proven quite fruitful for the small-town Oklahoma girl, who specializes in securities litigation and has been recognized as one of the city’s top lawyers.

Hodges has been involved in numerous multi-million dollar class action suits, but the pinnacle of her career — at least to this point — began in 2001 when Hodges

focused on the prosecution of Enron, where a record $7.3 BILLION has been recovered for investors.

Hodges’ group represented a class against Enron, but the lead client was the University of California Regents, whose pension fund had invested in Enron and suffered a loss of over $100 million. Several big banks had chosen to settle, but after long and hard litigation and preparing for trial with those who didn’t, an appellate court threw the rest of the cases out just a few weeks before trial in 2007.

“It is absolutely a highlight,” Hodges said. “We were very successful for investors — we recovered over seven billion dollars. It was huge, and it took thousands of hours. We had a huge team, and I was one of the senior people on the team of lawyers.

“To me, it was great fun. After that case, no other one was as interesting to me. It was so big — big banks engaging in convoluted, complex financial transactions with Enron. Then you had a bankruptcy

18 Left to right, WALTER TONEY, BETTY RATLIFF, DOROTHY TONEY, STEVE BARNES, HELEN HODGES, ANN PHILLIPS, MATT MCLANDRICH, PATTY CORSINI and TOM CORSINI WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 18

12/9/14 14:20 PM

case and all sorts of people bringing private cases — it was just a big tangle. We went against what I felt like were the top lawyers in the country, and that’s part of what made it interesting — the challenge.”

Hodges is still looking for the next big challenge in her career, but in the meantime, she’s found yet another passion — Cowboy football game days

in Stillwater.

And in that regard, she’s somewhat making up for lost time.

“I’m sure when I was in college I went to some football games and maybe a few basketball games, but that was about it,” Hodges said. “I was pretty focused on school and academics.”

Hodges’ foray into football fandom began in the late 2000s when she was invited as a guest of Scott Sewell, who serves on the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees, to the Boone Pickens Stadium suite of Ross and Billie McKnight.

After attending her first couple of games in the McKnight’s suite, the OSU Foundation began offering Hodges suite tickets that allowed her to bring one guest.

Among those Hodges brought along were her friend Ann Phillips, a 1943 Oklahoma A&M graduate and big OSU supporter who had been a neighbor of her mother’s at Spanish Cove Retirement Village in Yukon, Okla., and PATTY CORSINI, Hodges’ best friend from high school.

AND AFTER A FEW TASTES OF THE SUITE LIFE, HODGES WAS HOOKED. “I just thought that atmosphere was the most fun,” Hodges said. “I enjoy watching the game, I enjoy watching the band and we just always have a great time.”

Good times presented a problem for Hodges, however.

Not long after her first visit to the Boone Pickens Stadium suites, Corsini — who famously worked her way into the suite of the stadium’s namesake — inquired of Hodges, “Gee, I really had a great time.

Could we do that again?”

“And I had to say no because I didn’t get that many invitations,” Hodges said.

“So literally, I got a suite so that I could invite all my friends.”

Hodges became a BPS suite holder in time for the 2013 season, and she can’t imagine a better way to spend Saturdays in the fall than traveling back to Stillwater and having the ability to accommodate her growing list of game day companions — the 91-year old Phillips and several others from Spanish Cove, Corsini and other friends from her high school and college days, cousins, aunts, uncles, you name it.

“It’s a perfect time to be able to visit and connect with my people, catch up with them and enjoy the game day experience all at once,” Hodges said. “It’s a party where I don’t have to prepare the food or move the furniture!”

And fans like Hodges are a blessing to OSU football as well.

“Helen makes an unbelievable commitment to be in Stillwater six or seven Saturdays a year to cheer on the Cowboys,” said OSU Athletics’ Director of Major Gifts Matt Grantham. “I would guess traveling from San Diego to Stillwater is quite a challenge for a weekend trip, but I can’t remember not seeing her at a game since meeting her and that shows you her level of dedication.

HELEN HODGES AND ANN PHILLPS

19

“She’s an inspiration to all the Cowboy faithful and such a humble person. WE HAD TO BEG HER TO DO THIS FEATURE BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WOULD INSPIRE OTHERS.”

HELEN HODGES AND TERRY SLAGLE

HELEN HODGES AND PATTY CORSINI

POSSE

DONOR Helen Hodges.indd 19

12/11/14 15:02 PM

THE AS OF OCT. 15, 2014

1

Boone Pickens 6,104,441 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

20

Malone & Amy Mitchell Sherman & Eloise Smith John Clerico Dennis & Cindy Reilley Michael & Anne Greenwood W & W Steel Co. Karsten Manufacturing Ross & Billie McKnight Robert A. Funk Dennis & Karen Wing Walt & Peggy Helmerich III A.J. & Susan Jacques Chesapeake Energy Inc. Ed Evans Bank SNB Harold & Joyce Courson Joe & Connie Mitchell

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 20

19 Mike & Robbie Holder 68,572 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

Ken & Jimi Davidson Bob Howard ONEOK, Inc. Watson Family Foundation Kent & Margo Dunbar Gary & Jerri Sparks Vickie & Tucker Link Foundation Richard & Barbara Bogert Chad Clay The Cobb Family Greg & Rhonda Casillas Anonymous #1 RCB Bank OG&E Brad & Margie Schultz Joullian & Co.

36 Lew & Suzanne Meibergen 38,967 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59

Neal & Jeanne Patterson David & Tracy Kyle Flintco, Inc. Russ Harrison & Natalie Shirley James & Mary Barnes OSU Foundation Sparks Financial Anonymous #2 Bob & Kay Norris E. Turner & Cynthia Davis David & Julie Ann Ronck Bryant J. Coffman Garland & Penny Cupp Jon & Suzanne Wiese OSU President Jay & Connie Wiese Jim & Vicki Click Jerry & Rae Winchester Lambert Construction Jameson Family, LLC Andy Johnson Anonymous #3 American Fidelity

12/9/14 14:18 PM

HOW DO MY POINTS RANK?

OSU ATHLETICS PRIORITY POINT SYSTEM

AS OF OCT. 15, 2014

The PRIORITY POINT SYSTEM provides a fair, consistent and transparent method of providing benefits to donors in exchange for their financial investments in OSU athletics.

POINTS

DONORS GAIN POINTS THREE WAYS:

RANK

162,679 top 5 31,366 50 19,388 100 7,496 250 3,690 500 1,740 1,000 612 2,500 155 5,000 48 7,500

CONTRIBUTIONS: All current and lifetime contributions (cash or stock) are worth 3 points per $100 donation. Planned (deferred) gifts in the new Leave a Legacy Endowment Campaign will receive 1 point per $100.

COMMITMENT: Donors will earn one point each year for purchasing

season tickets (one point per sport annually), as well as one point for each year of POSSE donations.

CONNECTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY: Donors (or their spouses)

who are OSU Alumni receive a one-time 10 point bonus, as do OSU faculty/staff and letterwinners.

Points never diminish and will carry over to subsequent years.

Donors retain all previously earned Priority Points in their giving history. For questions about the POSSE Priority Point System, email posse@okstate.edu or call us at 405.744.7301.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL SHOCKLEY

107 Scott & Kim Verplank 108 OSU Alumni Association 109 BancFirst 110 MidFirst Bank 111 Austin & Betsy Kenyon 112 Johnsons of Kingfisher 113 Anonymous #15 114 John & Gail Shaw 115 Tatum Family 116 F & M Bank & Trust 117 Russ & Julie Teubner 118 Stan & Shannon Clark 119 Larry Bump 120 Brent & Mary Jane Wooten 121 Terry & Martha Barker 122 Bill & Claudean Harrison 123 Brad & Leah Gungoll 124 Chip & Cindy Beaver 125 Jim & Vanessa Hester 126 Bob & Mary Haiges 127 Mike & Judy Johnson 128 Chandler USA, Inc 129 OSU Business Office 130 AEI Corporation - Oklahoma

131 Randy & Pati Thurman 14,716

60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

Atlas Paving Company Blueknight Energy Partners, LP KNABCO Corp Calvin & Linda Anthony Philip & Shannon Smith Ike & Mary Beth Glass David LeNorman Mark & Beth Brewer Richard & Joan Welborn David Bradshaw

71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84

SST Software JS Charter Investments, LLC Barry & Roxanne Pollard Griff & Mindi Jones OSU Center for Health Sciences Thomas & Barbara Naugle Anonymous #4 Bank of Oklahoma The Foothills Foundation Jack & Carol Corgan Mike Bode & Preston Carrier Les & Cindy Dunavant Sandra M. Lee Harvey & Donna Yost

70 Mark & Lisa Snell 23,965

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 21

85 Doug & Nickie Burns 86 Chris & Julie Bridges 87 Southwest Filter Co. 88 Larry Albin 89 K.D. & Leitner Greiner 90 Darton & Jamie Zink 91 Ron & Marilynn McAfee 92 Bryan Close 93 Steve & Jennifer Grigsby 94 Diane & Steve Tuttle 95 The Bank of America 96 John & Jerry Marshall 97 Henry Wells 98 The Oklahoman 99 Emrick’s Van & Storage 100 Jerry & Lynda Baker 101 Z-Equipment, LLC

102 A-Cross Ranch 19,074

132 Anonymous #14 133 Tom & Sandy Wilson 134 Vionette & John Dunn 135 Jay & Fayenelle Helm 136 Thomas Winton 137 James D. Carreker 138 Drummond Investments 139 Fechner Pump & Supply 140 James H. Williams 141 Mustang Fuel 142 Jack Bowker Ford 143 First Capital Bank 144 Chris McCutchen 145 Bill & Karen Anderson 146 Robert & Sharon Keating 147 Randall & Carol White 148 John & Patti Brett 149 Norman & Suzanne Myers 150 Steven Farris

21

103 Baab Legacy, LLC 104 Ed & Mary Malzahn 105 Ameristar Fence Products 106 Ed & Kathy Raschen

12/9/14 14:18 PM

ads FNDN & STORE.indd 22

12/12/14 16:17 PM

A. Nike Pre-Season Dri-FIT Performance Polo (2408148) Whenever you watch OSU dominate their opponents, it's imperative you wear something that's not only stylish but comfortable as well. When Oklahoma State begins their quest for another memorable season, make sure this is your go-to polo! Also available in orange and black. SizesS-XXl/$65.00

0

B. Nike Ladies Rewind Football Top (2481978) Prove your undying devotion to your favorite team in the nation when you show off your Cowboy pride with this Nike tri-blend top. Sizes XS-XXl/$42.00 C. Nike Cowboys Training Day Tee (2409252)

As a man of style, you know how to put together an outfit.

Nothing beats your Cowboys gear, though. Add this Training Day tee from Nike for a handsome statement of OSU spirit.

Also available in black. SizesXS-XXl/$28.00

0

D. Nike Legend Long Sleeve T-Shirt (2454131) If you had it your way, you'd be on the sideline encouraging your Cowboys to keep on fighting for the win! This stylish Cowboys long sleeve tee will let you represent your Cowboys everywhere you go! Sizes S-XXl/$36.00 E. Nike Club Rewind Hoodie (2454015) Cheer on your Cowboys in this Club Rewind hoodie from Nike! Cowboys fans won't have to worry about being too cold to cheer on their teams once they wear this hoodie.

Also available in black. SizesS-XXl/$60.00 F. Nike Ladies Warp Epic Sweatshirt (2483874) Whether you're making your way down the streets of campus or following the Cowboys on the road, when game day rolls around you're always ready to make a bold statement in this Epic Sweatshirt. SizesXS-XXl/$65.00 G. Nike Ladies Raglan Long Sleeve T-Shirt (2463087) There is nothing like being able to combine your cute and sporty style with your love for OSU! Be sure to add this tee to your Oklahoma State Cowboys collection! SizesXS-XXl/$36.00 H. Nike Ladies Logo Long Sleeve T-Shirt (2483623) Celebrate your Cowboys fandom with this Logo long sleeve tee! This tee will show the world how deep your team spirit runs. You'll be super comfortable while you cheer for the Cowboys! Also available in black. SizesXS-XXl/$32.00 I. Nike Tri-Blend Raglan T-Shirt (2449701 J

As an OSU fan, you are delighted to inform everyone which school is best in the nation. Let this soft, tri-blend shirt do the talking for you, and everyone will know that you are a true Cowboy fan. Sizes5-XXl/$3600 J. Nike Ladies Warp All Time Full Zip Hoodie (2483749) Amp up your Cowboys game day gear with this full zip hoodie. The Therma-FIT technology in this hoodie will help keep you warm when the weather starts to cool offi Head to the game in style. SizesXS-XXl/$80.00

universitystore AT

THE

STUDENT

ads FNDN & STORE.indd 23

UNION

~ SHOPOKSTATE.COM ~ 1-800-831 -4OSU • Don't forget, OSU Alumni Association members receive a I 0% discount! You must have your OSU Alumni Association membership number (located on your membership card) at the time you place your order to receive the member discount.

12/12/14 16:17 PM

MOONLIGHTING From Student-Athlete to Spirit Rider (and Back) STORY BY CLAY BILLMAN | PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

24 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 24

12/9/14 14:23 PM

25

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 25

12/9/14 14:23 PM

THERE’S AN ALL-AMERICAN WAITING ON THE SIDELINES AT BOONE PICKENS STADIUM, READY TO TAKE THE FIELD WHEN CALLED UPON. CONFIDENT. DRIVEN. Pulses quicken as the Cowboy offense moves into scoring position.

It’s only a matter of time before this standout student-athlete is thrust into the spotlight.

A touchdown is scored. Pistols fire. The band plays. Arms wave.

Following the extra point, the public address announcer updates the score as referees and players clear the field. Children of all ages crane their necks to get a better view. Nearly

60,000 orange-clad fans know what’s next, many shouting along in unison.

“Heeeeere … comes 26 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 26

12/9/14 14:23 PM

…

With that, the beloved black horse charges out from the stadium’s southwest corner toward midfield before making a counterclockwise loop back to the tunnel. Brandishing an orange OSU flag, the proud Spirit Rider sits tall in the saddle, a picture of poise amid the clamor of gameday.

Underneath that black cowboy hat is Katy Krshka, a senior from Yukon, Okla. This isn’t her first rodeo, so to speak.

She just happens to be the most decorated rider in the history of the OSU equestrian program. Krshka has earned a total of five first-team All-America honors across both western disciplines (horsemanship and reining), with one season of competition remaining.

The 2014 season marked the first time a member of the Cowgirl Equestrian squad served as the Spirit Rider. Before Krshka tried out for the job, the Saturday side-gig had to be approved by her coach,

Larry Sanchez.

“Katy called me in the spring and asked if it was possible for a team member to ride Bullet,” the coach recalls. “She wanted to make sure it was doable before she made any commitment to try out.

That’s who Katy is as a person. She’s going

… BULLET!” to make sure the process is done right.

When she talked to me, I told her that the biggest issue was if there were any conflicts between competition days for our sport. It just so happened that our schedule this year did not conflict with any home football games.”

“It’s my last semester of undergrad and I have some easier courses to take, so I thought I could handle the workload if I were possibly chosen,” Krshka explains. “Larry was all for it as long as I knew equestrian came first.”

Sanchez was confident Krshka, one of four team captains chosen by her teammates, could handle the extra demands.

“I know she’s great academically. She does very well in the classroom. She takes care of her business. She’s very responsible. She honors her commitments. I’ve always believed that your busiest students are your best students, and she’s still been able to achieve at a very high level. Knowing that about Katy, I knew that she was capable of managing both being the Spirit Rider and continuing to win All-America honors at the end of every season.”

The equestrian season runs from late September through mid-April. However, the bulk of OSU’s home competitions are scheduled in the spring semester.

That’s when Sanchez’ second-ranked squad will look to win its fourth-straight Big 12 championship and compete for the National Collegiate Equestrian Association team title.

With the coach’s blessing, Krshka sent an application to Spirit Rider coordinators Ty and Jennifer Cunningham.

The Cunninghams are both former Spirit Riders who took over the program in 2005. Bullet resides at their rural Tulsa home.

The tryout process included riding the actual horse, as well as a personal interview.

“I went to the arena, rode Bullet and then did a personal interview with them,” Krshka says. “We rode without stirrups while carrying the flag. If you haven’t held a flag in Oklahoma wind…it’s a task to ride a horse at the same time.

“The interview was pretty casual, but you just talked with them about what your hopes were being on the team and stuff. I’d always grown up riding horses, and to be able to try out for something new involving horses was fun for me.

Two years ago, my cousin (Reed Kyle) rode Bullet, so that sort of got me thinking. I had talked to my mom about it a couple times and thought this would be a cool thing to do.

27

PHOTO / GARY LAWSON

Equestrian Bullet Cover Story.indd 27

12/11/14 14:58 PM

“The Spirit Rider is such a legacy here.

It’s an honor to be able to carry on that tradition, and I felt that it would be a really fun experience.”

Jennifer Cunningham says a key attribute they look for in the Spirit Rider is experience in handling horses in various situations.

“Being in the horse industry, Ty and I have watched Katy grow up on a horse, so when I received her application, we were very familiar with her skills and abilities.

I’ve watched her show in several Youth World competitions, and so I’ve seen her in very nerve-racking situations. And obviously she went on to be very accomplished with the OSU equestrian team. She just holds herself together so well. My confidence in her is just limitless.”

Krshka’s coach agrees.

“YOU PROBABLY COULDN’T FIND A BETTER RIDER THAN KATY ON THE OKLAHOMA STATE CAMPUS,” SANCHEZ SAYS. “So I knew when it

came to the actual tryout that she would

be hard to beat. Katy rides. That’s what she does. That’s her passion. That’s what she’s done her entire life. And she’s ridden more horses than you could count.

“She came through her youth career having to ride all different types of horses, which is what they have to do once they get into our program. They ride very nice ones — and there are some that are not so nice — so she was very prepared when she came in because of her background.”

Krshka’s family is well known in equine circles. Her parents, Tom and Jackie, founded Krshka Quarter Horses, a training, breeding, show and sale barn in Yukon.

Jackie, an accomplished trainer and former competitor, is a past AQHA Horsewoman of the Year honoree. Katy’s late grandfather, JACK KYLE, is enshrined in the

American Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame.

“My grandfather was very influential in the Quarter Horse industry and helped draft the very first western riding pattern still used today, so it definitely goes back in the family. I have strong roots there.”

Continuing the tradition, Katy is a former AQHA Youth World Champion,

impressive list of accolades made her a coveted college prospect.

“Katy was the top western recruit in the nation that year,” Sanchez says. “Schools from all over the country wanted her and were offering her full-ride scholarships for her to commit. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE

under the saddle, and according to the experts, the horse is exceptional.

“The situation that the Spirit Rider is put in at the football games is not normal for a horse or rider,” Sanchez says. “It’s amazing what that horse tolerates and puts up with. He’s a phenomenal individual. And with a confident rider, it makes it even more possible to get through stuff like that.”

very close to her family, and that played into it. Oklahoma State also has the caliber of program that she knew she could win team championships with, as well as thrive individually.”

Bullet is an American Quarter Horse with the registered name “LEAGUERS COUNTRY ZIP.” The 17-year-old gelding has ten years of gameday experience

Krshka says. “I’m so glad I get to ride him.

He is a saint. It takes a special horse to be able to do what he does.”

Crowd noise, shotgun blasts, referee whistles, blaring music, Paddle People and sideline media are just a few of the many on-field distractions that can unsettle even the most veteran horse and rider.

Despite a number of pre-season practices and run-throughs with the Cowboy Marching Band, nothing can replicate real in-game scenarios.

four-time youth Reserve World Champ and 11-time Congress Champion. The

THAT HER FAMILY LIVES IN OKLAHOMA AND HER DAD IS AN OSU GRADUATE AND HER MOM BLEEDS ORANGE. HER BROTHER WENT HERE. SHE’S BEEN AN OSU FAN FOREVER. Katy is

28

“Bullet does his job phenomenally well,”

WINTER 2014

Equestrian Bullet Cover Story.indd 28

12/11/14 14:56 PM

ULLET BULLET W

e all know there would

environment. Things at a football game

be no football program

are never predictable and it is easy to

at Oklahoma State University without

forget a horse is involved. Although he is

OSU’s talented coaches and players who

AN EXCEPTIONAL ANIMAL, one mistimed or

make up the OSU Football Team. However,

wrong move and we could have an emer-

there are many things beyond the team

gency on our hands. I’m just there as a

itself that help make each home game a

precaution, a safety net. I work closely

special experience for all those in atten-

with Ty and Jennifer Cunningham, Bullet’s

dance. There is the extremely gifted band

caretakers, to make sure that Bullet is as

performing in the stands and on the field

happy and safe as possible.”

during halftime. There are the dedicated

Precautions are also taken to ensure the

cheerleaders and pep squads, the fans

Spirit Rider who rides Bullet around Boone

and our famous mascot, Pistol Pete. And

Pickens Stadium after each touchdown is

there is one more thing—the thunder of

hooves racing around the stadium as Bullet and a Spirit Rider celebrate each touchdown.

A Spirit Rider has been celebrating OSU

a highly qualified, experienced horseman or horsewoman. Katy Krshka of Yukon, Okla., has been selected as Bullet’s rider

REED KYLE WITH BULLET PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

for the 2014 Football Season.

Cowboy touchdowns at home football

Katy is a senior OSU student majoring

“In reality both Katy and Bullet are ath-

games since 1984. In 1988, OSU bought

in Animal Science with a business option

letes,” says Gilliam. “They both need to be

and minoring in Agricultural Economics.

in top shape to perform at their best. As

After graduation, she plans to pursue a

part of the Equestrian Team, Katy works

master’s degree in international agriculture.

out with a personal trainer to make sure

its own black horse. Oklahoma State’s

own Center for Veterinary Health Sciences has provided Bullet’s veterinary medical care for years. In 2005, OSU took

that care to a new level when Dr. Lyndi

Gilliam began accompanying Bullet to every home game.

“I have been riding horses since I was

she is in shape. At OSU’s Veterinary Medical

6 or 7 years old,” says Krshka. “I grew up

Hospital, we make sure Bullet gets the

on a horse training and breeding opera-

proper wellness care to keep him healthy.

tion and was showing horses by the time

He is on a routine vaccination and para-

I was 8 years old.”

Katy, a member of

equine veterinarian at OSU’s Veterinary Medical Hospital. “By being with Bullet at home games, I can attend to his needs should he get hurt. It takes a very special horse like Bullet to perform in a game day

exam from head to tail by our board cer-

dents who tried out to

for the upcoming season. From equine

be considered as Bullet’s

internal medicine and surgery to sports

rider.

medicine and rehabilitation, we have spe-

tified specialists to make sure he is sound

“It was quite a pro-

cialists trained in the latest techniques

cess. We had to fill out

to take care of Bullet should he have any

an application, ride

health problems.”

29

“We always hope that Bullet won’t need

viewed by Bullet’s care-

our care during a football game but it’s a

takers Ty and Jennifer

comfort knowing we have such a highly spe-

Cunningham,” adds

cialized team right here on campus ready

Krshka. “I’m excited

with the latest techniques and products

to be part of the five

in equine veterinary care should the need

member Spirit Team.

arise,” adds Gilliam. “Game day would not

It’s an honor to be part

be the same without Bullet and we take

of something that is such an OSU tradi-

great pride in ensuring that we do our job

PHOTO COURTESY OF OSU SCHOOL OF VETERINARY MEDICINE

safe at all times,” explains Dr. Gilliam, an

Purina feed. He receives a pre-season

OSU’s Equestrian Team, was one of 15 stu-

Bullet, and then be inter-

TODD HOLBROOK, REED HOLYOAK, MIKE SCHOONOVER, LYNDI GILLIAM

“It’s important to OSU to keep Bullet

site control program and is well fed with

tion. I’ve shown horses in front of a lot of people but not that many. It will probably be an adrenaline rush. This is an amazing opportunity and I’m very thankful to be

to make sure fans can hear ‘Heeere comes

Bullet!’ at every home game.

For more information on OSU’s equine veterinary care, call 405-744-7000.

carrying on this type of legacy.”

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 29

12/9/14 14:24 PM

“You have to be a wellrounded person that’s used to getting things thrown at you.”

— KATY KRSHKA

30 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 30

12/9/14 14:24 PM

“There’s no simulation,” she adds.

“There’s nothing like having all those people in the stands. It’s an adrenaline rush for sure. I don’t think I remember the first time.”

“I trust Katy’s abilities to keep Bullet in the best mindset possible during all that,” says Sanchez. “There were some things this year that were different, as well. The new turf threw him a curveball in the first few games.”

Over the summer, a new artificial surface was installed at Boone Pickens Stadium. The updated design

features a bold black and orange OSU brand at midfield, along with a matching Big 12 logo at the 25-yard-lines, blackon-orange end zone lettering and a black border defining the out of bounds area.

“Horses don’t have depth perception, so when he is running over that black on the field, it has to look like a hole to him,” Krshka says. “When we practiced prior to the first game, you could tell he was nervous about it. The black definitely scares him a little bit. He didn’t want to go over the logo.”

“HE DOES NOT LIKE THE BIG 12 THAT’S PAINTED ON THE FIELD,” Jen n i fer

Cunningham says. “He’s never liked the Big 12, but he especially doesn’t now because it’s surrounded in black rather than white. A few times, maybe unbeknownst to other people, he has tried to jump over the logos, but Katy just sat right in the middle of him, and she did well.

“Katy knows how to handle a horse and does an excellent job,” she adds. “Ty and I have obviously both been on this horse’s back in different scenarios, and so there’s no way to replicate what you do on the field. It’s just a moment-by-moment situation. It’s not something you can practice. You just have to handle it as it comes.

She’s done great, and we’ve got a great team that’s on the ground helping her out.”

Sanchez has noticed the same thing from the bleachers.

“You can’t run a horse through what he thinks is a big hole like that and not expect him to try and save himself and the rider,”

he says. “But Katy’s just got an incredible, natural talent of feeling a horse and being able to sense things sooner than anybody else as far as what that horse might do.

That is what helps with her success. “ I’ VE H A D PEO PLE C O M E UP TO ME AND SAY, ‘MAN THE SPIRIT RIDER THIS YEAR IS EXTREMELY GOOD!’ I’M PROUD TO SAY, ‘YEAH, SHE’S ONE OF OURS. SHE’S A FIVETIME ALL-AMERICAN.’”

“Even though what you’re doing seems simple, you have to think through every part of it,” Krshka says. “It may not seem as complicated as equestrian, but you definitely have to have a plan of what you’re doing, because there’s everything thrown at you out there — there’s people, there’s the band … I hit a pylon. You have to be a well-rounded person that’s used to getting things thrown at you.”

The coach admits he gets a bit anxious watching his star student-athlete in such situations.

“Yeah, I’m a little nervous. Anything can happen when you are horseback.

Anything can happen in practice, too. I want her to finish her college career with a bang. I want us to win a fourth Big 12 Championship. I want to win the National Championship in her senior year. But I’m happy to know that she can look back in 20 years and say, ‘I rode Bullet.’

“So many young people across the state of Oklahoma dream of riding Bullet. When we realized it was possible for Katy to keep her commitment to the team and do it, why wouldn’t we want her to have that experience and have that joy of being the Spirit Rider?”

Krshka says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s the best seat in the house. I get to sit on a horse and watch a football game.

31

HOW MUCH BETTER CAN IT GET?”

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 31

12/9/14 14:24 PM

By Word and By Deed MICHAEL COBBINS’

ASCENSION FROM A LONG, LANKY HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT IN AMARILLO, TEXAS, TO OKLAHOMA STATE’S INSIDE ENFORCER AND VOCAL LEADER HAS SEEN ITS SHARE OF UPS AND DOWNS. He’s been a part of squads ranked as high as

No. 5 in the country, logged 35 minutes in the Cowboys’ overtime victory over second-ranked Kansas in 2013 and played on multiple NCAA

Tournament teams.

32 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 32

STORY BY AUSTIN CHAPPELL PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

On the flip side, he’s been on OSU teams that hovered near the bottom of the Big 12 standings, struggled with drama in the locker room and even suffered through a seven-game losing streak.

Despite the wide range of emotions experienced over that stretch, Cobbins has come to know the Oklahoma State program, coaches and philosophy more than most associated with the team, making him a FAN FAVORITE and leader going into his senior season.

12/9/14 14:25 PM

“I’ve had memories here in Stillwater that will literally last a lifetime,” Cobbins said. “It’s been a journey and an experience that will shape me for the rest of my life. This place is my home.”

Cobbins’ close bond with OSU began at Palo Duro High School in Amarillo, where he established a stellar career as one of the top big men in the state. The program’s historical success had been limited to a 3A state title in 1956. But Cobbins’ presence in the paint helped the Dons reach the regional finals in 2009 and helped the program stack up with a plethora of powerhouses.

With notable averages of 18.3 points and double-digit rebounds during Palo Duro’s playoff run, Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford took notice and initiated talks to make Cobbins a part of the Cowboys’ recruiting class. Despite his thin, sub-200-pound frame, Ford saw him as a potential star, primarily on the defensive side.

“Michael is really good at being a versatile defender, and that’s one of the first things I noticed about him.” Ford said.

“He blocks, he protects and he guards, and when a player has a sense of those things before he even plays in college, you know

you’ve got someone who can become an allaround player.”

Ford and the Oklahoma State coaching staff reached out to Cobbins early on and became the favorite to land the FOUR-STAR RECRUIT. However, after an injury during the summer between his junior and senior seasons kept him off the court for an extended amount of time, Cobbins was forced to consider other options, including GEORGIA

with Cobbins despite his nagging injury.

With his grandparents located only two hours away in Clinton, Okla., Cobbins attributed his final decision to Stillwater’s close proximity to his support group and friends at home and a tight-knit relationship formed with Ford and the OSU coaches.

“They always stayed in communication with me, even when I got hurt during the early part of the recruitment process,” Cobbins said. “They still stuck with recruiting me and talking to my family all the time. They really made me feel like a part of the team, even when I hadn’t even arrived here yet.”

After redshirting during his first year on campus, Cobbins’ presence at Oklahoma State exploded, as he appeared in all 33 games of the 2011-12 season.

He chipped in 15 MULTIPLE-BLOCK

on the team came from being under guys like Marshall and Matt (Pilgrim),” Cobbins said. “Going up against them and seeing what they gained from experience in games and in practice helped me figure out what I needed to work on and improve.”

Cobbins also kicked off the start of his career by forming close connections with other key members of his freshman class, as evidenced by a YouTube video created with former Cowboys Markel Brown and Brian Williams. In the video, the three newcomers acted out an MTV Cribslike presentation of Oklahoma State’s brand new state-of-the-art locker room.

GAMES, A TOP-FIVE REBOUNDING MARK IN CONFERENCE PLAY AND SEVERAL DOUBLE-FIGURE SCORING PERFORMANCES.

The following year he played well enough to earn All-Big 12 honorable mention and Big 12 all-defensive team honors.

In addition to his experience gained on the court, Cobbins was also able to gain knowledge from relationships with some of the Cowboys’ most prolific leaders, including Marshall Moses.

“Part of what really got me prepared to step up and have a leadership role

33

TECH, MEMPHIS and OKLAHOMA.

Oklahoma State stayed in touch, though, and constantly made contact

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 33

12/9/14 14:25 PM

The trio showed the relationship’s stability when they were named captains for the 2012-13 season. Despite Brown’s departure for the NBA, Cobbins said the friendships remain intact.

“When you’re out on the court with Markel, and even when you’re on the bench, you play with a completely different drive,” Cobbins said. “I loved whenever Markel would get a dunk because it would make me celebrate like I just had a dunk. That’s stuff that you don’t ever forget.”

Cobbins attributed that same emotion to former Cowboy and current Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart , who played with Cobbins for both seasons of his dynamic college career.

“It was a different type of energy with Marcus and Markel, especially with the extreme energy and extreme amount of

34 PHOTO ABOVE / PHIL SHOCKLEY

heart they both gave,” Cobbins said. “When you played with them, you could actually feel the energy coming off of them, as weird as that sounds.”

The beginning of Oklahoma State’s 2013-14 season was meteoric, as the Cowboys entered the year the No. 8 team in the country and reeled off seven-consecutive wins.

But during a game against Robert Morris late in the team’s non-conference schedule, Cobbins suffered a season-ending injury on a freak inbounds play, a moment he describes as the lowest of his career so far.

“THE FIRST THING THAT WENT THROUGH MY MIND WAS DISAPPOINTMENT,” Cobbins said. “My family

was in the crowd that night, so I felt like I had let them down in some ways.”

“After that, there was the anger and questioning. My mind was just all over the place as soon as it happened, and I just hated being injured and missing out on playing ball.”

Oklahoma State ended up winning that game by a convincing 26-point margin, but the score didn’t reflect the future travails of life without Cobbins.

After a narrow defeat at Kansas State in the conference opener, Oklahoma State reeled off victories over Texas, West Virginia and TCU, giving the team a revitalized sense of confidence heading into a road matchup at Kansas.

Cobbins said the success leading up to the team’s game against the Jayhawks stalled the feeling of not being able to contribute, but after the Cowboys suffered a heart-breaking two-point loss in Lawrence, everything sank in.

“It was an overwhelming feeling at first, but as time went on, I guess I kind of went into, well, I wouldn’t really call it a denial phase, but more of a desperate hope to get back out there,” Cobbins said. “During the Kansas game, though, I was just like, ‘Man, I gotta get there,’ and

I remember thinking how crazy it was that I wouldn’t get to play with those guys anymore.”

“That game, it really just brought tears to my eyes, even before the game started.

I really didn’t know what to think.”

The Cowboys responded to the defeat at Kansas by posting a win over West Virginia, but eventually began a sevengame slide during the most critical stretch of the team’s conference slate. And with five of those defeats coming by a gut-wrenching six points or less, the pain of Cobbins’ injury not only deepened within himself, but with the team as whole.

Without being able to suit up during games, or even practice, Cobbins was left without a specific role for the first time in his career. However, as he had done during his commitment process, he went to his family, friends and virtually anyone who could provide him with a sense of motivation.

His first source of support came through his family, which included parents, grandparents, cousins and siblings all flocking to Cobbins’ need. He then added MICHAEL PATTERSON, a close friend and high school teammate, as well as Brown and Williams to the mix. With an established support group, Cobbins made the decision to confront his coaches about how he could help during his injury.

“Coaches can only do so much as far as on-the-court coaching goes, but as far as off the court, the players have got to have somebody who can relate to them,” Cobbins said. “They need somebody who has been in their shoes and knows the player aspect of the game, so I

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 34

12/9/14 14:26 PM

felt like I could give them both of those, mainly because I saw so much more than just being on the court.”

After seeking motivation from friends and family, Cobbins and the Oklahoma State coaching staff developed the idea of using him a team motivator.

“Mike was a very important part of that team, so when he went down, we felt sorry for him,” Ford said. “But at the same time, we couldn’t feel sorry for the team.

We needed him to contribute in any possible way, and with him being one of the most

outgoing and vocal guys on the team, we knew he would be a great fit to get this team going.”

of conference games looming, he called a private team meeting at his house and laid everything out on the table.

“Basically, I told the guys that we can’t step outside the boundaries and go past our limits, and that we have to trust everybody,” Cobbins said. “We had to know that, ‘If he’s going to do this, then I’m going to do that,’ and, ‘I’ve got your back, and you’ve got my back.’”

After the team’s seven-game losing streak, the Cowboys responded with a four-game stretch of victories in conference play, highlighted by a 72-65 upset over fifth-ranked Kansas in Stillwater.

The contributions stemming from Cobbins’

Cobbins said the goal is the same as it has always been before each year.

“Everybody’s got to be on the same page and make sure they’re doing the same thing, and the guys already know that,” Cobbins said. “This might be one of the most close-knit teams I’ve been on since I’ve been here, which is surprising considering the number of new guys we have.”

“It’s basically a whole new change, but

I REALLY LIKE THIS TEAM, AND I LIKE WHAT WE CAN DO.”

“I’ve had memories here in Stillwater that will literally last a lifetime.”

— MICHAEL COBBINS So, Cobbins became the team cheerleader. During practice, he made himself a constant presence by encouraging teammates and doing his best to physically help with workouts. Cobbins was even featured on ESPN’s SportsCenter for his “Dunk Face,” displayed after one of Williams’ highlight plays last season.

Despite not playing a minute, Cobbins was able to take his force previously on display in the paint to the bench, where he served as the primary source of encouragement, even with teammates who weren’t in the game.

“I felt like I was definitely making a contribution, especially with those guys who

were on the bench with me,” Cobbins said.

“I knew that there would be a time and chance for them to get in, and I knew they would have to bring it once they got in.”

A key initiative of Cobbins’ newfound philosophy came two games into the Cowboys’ seven-game slide after a close home loss against Baylor. With a key stretch

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 35

enthusiasm became visible to the team, the Oklahoma State fan base, and most importantly, himself.

Now, heading into his senior season, Cobbins is HEALTHY, REVITALIZED AND READY

TO ADD TO HIS MOTIVATIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS WITH SUCCESS ON THE COURT. With seven members gone from the 2013-14 squad, Cobbins also has the chance to revive the chemistry created with former teammates and help it blossom within the Cowboys’ group of incoming talent.

35

12/9/14 14:26 PM

COME FOR THE MENU, STAY FOR THE MUSIC. StillTHAT GOOD. 00@Mffl4ikfo ■ • -

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 36

•Ti:•

12/9/14 14:18 PM

Rancher

The Ranchers Club continues to welcome guests for Stillwater’s most unique dining experience while The Atherton Hotel receives a major makeover.

Lunch served Monday thru Friday, 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Dinner served Tuesday thru Saturday, 5 p.m.–9 p.m.

405-744-BEEF (2333) theRanchersClub.com Ranchers ad 12 05.indd 37 3 _POSSE_Club v8 WINTER.indb

405-744-6835 AthertonHotelatOSU.com 12/5/14 12/9/14 15:29 14:18 PM PM

Have you known someone who seems to consistently make lemonade out of lemons?

They lose their job and find a better one the following week. They are jilted by a girlfriend and then end up with a much prettier sweetheart.

But how about turning tragedy into triumph? Tragedy is defined as a dreadful event, calamity or disaster. That’s a far more challenging endeavor.

Some 50 years ago, in 1964, the United States launched military attacks against South Vietnam in response to an attack against American naval vessels. Henry Bellmon was serving as governor of Oklahoma.

Turning Tragedy into

38

STORY BY GENE JOHNSON

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 38

12/9/14 14:27 PM

Triumph

39

That same year, Oklahoma State junior Bob Swaffar (6-foot-9 and 200 pounds) was expected to be a key player on coach Henr y Iba’s Cowboy basketball squad.

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 39

POSSE

12/9/14 14:27 PM

A

s a senior at Tulsa’s Will Rogers High School, Swaffar had been recruited

by Princeton, Tulsa, Navy, Kansas and

Oklahoma State. PRINCETON ALLAMERICAN BILL BRADLEY paid him

a visit and was so impressive that Swaffar decided he wanted to go there. However, Swaffar’s father thought it was too expensive, and he didn’t want his son to “turn Ivy League” and become a snob. Princeton charged $3,000 per semester for tuition and only offered Bob a $300 per semester scholarship.

Eddie Sutton, then a coach at Tulsa Central High School, had seen Swaffar play numerous times and recommended him to Mr. Iba. So the Cowboys became his second choice. It was a place where his dad had graduated with honors. Mom wanted him to go to KU. With straight blond hair and a handsome yet rugged face, Swaffar excelled in academics and had a quick, albeit a little ornery, wit. Joining him that upcoming season were six returning seniors, three who had been three-year starters, plus an outstanding sophomore prospect and a cast of other quality teammates.

Mr. Iba had exceedingly high hopes for the squad, according to local media. He told Volney Meece of The Daily Oklahoman that “I think we have the makings of a real fine ball club.”

Lavish optimism was unusual for Mr. Iba. However, on a dreary cool October evening, tragedy struck.

Swaffar and this writer were teammates, daily battling against one another trying to earn the starting center position.

40

Following a late afternoon practice, I ate supper at the athletic dining hall in the basement of Bennett Hall and then walked over to my room in Gallagher Hall, picked up my books and proceeded to walk to the library. After studying for several hours, I returned to my room. I noticed my roommate wasn’t there, and I assumed he was studying with some of his fraternity brothers at the Lambda Chi house.

After a few minutes, the phone rang.

My watch said 10 p.m. We used the pay phone in the hall outside our room so I hurried to answer it on the fourth ring.

“What are you doing?” my sister Linda Kay, an OSU sophomore, asked nervously.

“I just got back from the library. Why? Is everything Okay?” It was unusual for her to call me that late.

“I just heard on the radio that Bob Swaffar had an accident, something about his arm.”

“What? Are you serious?” I asked, letting her words soak in.

“I’m not kidding.”

“Wow!” was all I managed to say. “I’ll see what I can find out,” and hung up the phone. I walked the short distance to the rooms underneath the north portion of the football stadium where six basketball players, including Swaffar, lived in three different rooms. As I opened the hallway door, I saw 10 or 12 guys, mostly basketball players, along with two wrestlers and a baseball player. They talked in quiet, almost hushed tones. When they saw me, several nodded.

“What happened?” I asked.

THERE WAS SILENCE. No one wanted to explain the tragedy that had just occurred. Finally, teammate Jimmy Tom Watson answered.

“Bob lost his balance, fell forward and got his arm caught in the extractor, and the @&**** machine snapped it off midway between the shoulder and the elbow. Blood is splattered everywhere in there, looks like a war zone,” as he nodded toward the laundry room. “ Doc (Dr. Donald) Cooper and Hass (teammate Gary Hassmann) went with him in an ambulance to the Stillwater hospital a little while ago.”

I didn’t respond. No way did I want to see that room. Swaffar had been doing a load of clothes while he and Hass studied. The laundry room was equipped with an industrial washer, dryer and extractor to launder practice and game attire for all sports. After the clean gear was removed from the washer, it was put into the extractor, a large barrel-shaped apparatus with a smaller barrel placed inside that had numerous 50-cent piece sized holes on its sides. With a push of a button, the inside barrel spun up to 2,500 rounds per minute. It was enough force to squeeze water from the washed items before they were put into the dryer. To stop the spinning, the same button was pushed to disengage the power, and there was a footbrake to quickly slow it down.

I learned that Swaffar’s roommates, Les Berryhill, Watson, and Skip Iba, plus teammate Jack Herron, were first on the scene. Berryhill and Watson wrapped the severed limb tightly in white towels in an attempt to slow the bleeding. Hass, who had been in the room studying with Swaffar when the accident occurred, shouted for someone to get ice.

Teammates Bill Beierschmitt and Herron located a medium-sized washtub and filled it with cold water since there was

“I think we have the makings of a real fine ball club.”i MR. IBA

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 40

12/9/14 14:27 PM

no ice available. For a few minutes longer I listened to the quiet, almost reverent, discussions. Figuring there wasn’t anything else to be learned, I walked slowly back to my room. A nightmare! I thought.

That evening Swaffar was rushed to the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City. I walked back to the field house and phoned my sister. I didn’t sleep that night.

Swaffar’s arm was successfully reattached by a team of surgeons, one of the first surgeries of that type in the U.S.

Following the accident, he was resilient.

He never appeared to let it get him down.

How he felt on the inside, none of us will ever know. His basketball career, tragically, was over.

I

n the years that followed I’d see Swaffar occasionally, usually at a basketball reunion. In 2005, he attended the 40th reunion of our 1965 Big Eight championship team. He was still the same smiling, slender guy I knew, except that now he had a full white beard and looked like a trim Santa Claus. He had limited use of his reattached right arm and hand and would shake hands with his left.

Fast forward eight years to 2013. I decided to drive to his home in Austin, Texas, to catch up and maybe write a story.

It was a perfect May morning, warm but not hot, birds were chirping, blue sky with large fleecy white clouds and a slight breeze. With the help of my GPS, I drove to his home, which is located in the historic neighborhood just a short walk from the University of Texas campus.

Swaffar greeted me with a hearty lefthanded handshake and a hug. He dwarfed his slender wife, Janet, by well over a foot.

From Swaffar’s very comfortable front porch, he began his story with his arrival at Oklahoma State.

“Sam (assistant basketball coach Sam Aubrey) notified me that I’d be living in room 105. I thought that was in the field house,” he said. “Mom drove me over, and we arrived at noon so the business offices were closed. I couldn’t find a room 105, but finally located it on the second floor,

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 41

down a long hallway, underneath the football stadium. The room was flooded and half of the windows were knocked out. It was a mess. “ M O M WAS N ’ T S U RE A B O U T IT. SHE THOUGHT MAYBE SHE’D BETTER TAKE ME HOME, BUT I CONVINCED HER TO LET ME STAY. Les

Berryhill, who was scheduled to be one of my roommates, showed up the next day or so. Our freshman year we didn’t have heat, and the roof always had a slight leak, so I attached a wire to the ceiling with a plastic cup to catch the drops,” he added.

Soon Paul (teammate Paul Labrue), another roommate, moved in. The room was huge; it previously had been an equipment storage area. We had a lot of great times there. The three of us furnished our home-away-from-home with found rugs, a refrigerator, a couch, lamps, all kinds of stuff.”

Guys who lived beneath the stadium were aptly referred to as stadium rats.

Before Swaffar’s senior year at OSU, assistant athletic director Moose Johnson, Mr. Iba’s right-hand man, came over to inspect his room. “We’d hung an old parachute from the ceiling and a few old Playboy pictures in the back — made it into a real party room. Moose reported back to Mr. Iba that the ‘damned place looked like a brothel!’”

The night after the spring semester was over, when Swaffar was a senior, he and several guys decided it would be fun to drop water balloons from the top of the stadium on the press box side.

“You remember the year before there was somewhat of a riot the night school was out. So we knew the university was on alert, and we weren’t trying to hit anyone, just have some fun and let off steam. Also, there were some old fluorescent bulbs lying around and they made fun noises when they hit the ground.”

Before the group knew what was happening, five police cars raced in. “Looked like Miami Vice,” remembers Swaffar. “We tried to run away, but they caught us and took us to jail. Sam had to bail us out. I’ll never forget it! ”

41

12/9/14 14:27 PM

On playing for Mr. Iba, Bob recalls, “I didn’t have much interaction with him when I was playing — he was somewhat remote. He didn’t always approve of everything I did, but I’m glad I got to play for him. I got to know him better after I quit playing. ONE PRACTICE I JUMPED AND STUFFED A REBOUND, ALL IN ONE MOTION, AND I REMEMBER MR. IBA SHAKING HIS HEAD AND SAYING, ‘WOW!’ I KNEW HE LIKED THAT.”

Asked about the accident that severed his arm, Swaffar said, “I was in a state of naïveté, never a person to plan very far ahead, so I rolled with the flow. I wasn’t

particularly interested in a basketball career,

didn’t even know if that was a possibility for me or not. NBA players only made about $50,000 or so back then.”

During his senior year Swaffar took an interest in politics and became president of the student senate and vice president of the student body.

“I didn’t mind being in a leadership role but didn’t like all the behind the scenes strategy that takes place to get a person elected,” he said. “People tend to get corrupted in a leadership role. Those folks behind the scenes have no ethics.”

Who was his biggest influence?

“I’ve been fortunate to have good coaches, sincere friends and parents who cared. I needed discipline because I tended to get in trouble a lot. Lots of people influenced me.”

Swaffar graduated from OSU with a degree in mathematics. He decided to

42 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 42

serve a year with the Peace Corps. About eight months before his training began he took a job with Conoco in Ponca City, in the computer department. It was a position that would influence him later.

The couple treated me to a tasty lunch of broiled sea bass, asparagus and gluten free cake topped with fresh whipped cream.

The Swaffars, who married in 1977, dined off the same plate.

“This is a habit I picked up in Ethiopia when I was in the Peace Corps,” Bob said.

“It’s kind of cozy and saves on washing dishes.”

He taught math for a year to Ethiopian seventh graders. “It was a rewarding experience except I got a tapeworm and my weight dropped to 175 pounds before I finally got rid of it — not an enjoyable experience.”

Returning from Ethiopia, Swaffar taught computer science one year at OSU, then worked two years for Sun Oil in Dallas as an associate computer analyst. He then moved to Austin where he worked for the University Texas from 1972 to 1988 as a system analyst and programmer while earning two master’s degrees: computer science and architecture. In 1988, he was appointed senior systems analyst, adjunct professor and director of computer laboratories for the school of architecture at Texas. He held that position until his retirement in 2003.

H

ey,” Swaffar said as he stood up, “let me show you my pottery studio.”

I knew he made ceramic pottery or, as I learned, was a potter. Last year my wife had purchased for me a large swirled turquoise vase Swaffar had made. It was an absolutely stunning piece.

We exited through a side door and walked toward the back. The studio itself was an architectural masterpiece, designed, of course, by the owner. It is a rammedearth structure with a loft with both areas totaling 1,200 square feet.

The structure has large glass windows that invite abundant sunshine and, when opened, a breeze. The studio’s design complemented that of the main house. Once inside I immediately saw, on both levels, hundreds of pieces of ceramic work: jars, pots, cups, mugs, bowls and creamers.

His pottery wheel was on the lower level, and his craftwork came in an assortment of styles and colors.

“You notice none of my pieces come with a handle,” he said. “You need two good hands to successfully attach a handle, and I only have one. I used to say I was the only one-handed potter in Texas.

Now I understand there are many potters with temporary injuries or some sort of disability so I’m now the tallest onehanded potter in Texas,” Swaffar said with a slight smirk.

“The reason I retired early is to use some of the physical strength I have left to develop a ceramics business. It can be strenuous, but I like the physical challenge.

I’ve dabbled around with it for a long time and got a minor in ceramics at OSU but have only been serious the past 10 years or so. Knowing one day my daughter would go to college, I felt I couldn’t make a living as a potter so I became a computer guy.

But I’ve always enjoyed taking a lump of clay, actually a ball of mud, and through a very lengthy process, producing something that is long lasting and combining the elements of art and 3D work, putting things in a kiln, firing it and getting out one or two things that you really like. It

“I’ve always enjoyed taking a lump of clay. and producing something that is long lasting.”i BOB SWAFFAR

12/9/14 14:27 PM

I EDITOR’S NOTE:

takes a long time to become a good potter, and I’ve got a long way to go.”

Following my compliments on his work, he became very generous.

“Go ahead and pick out a couple of things for yourself,” he said.

“Really?”

I picked three items: two coffee cups and a drinking tumbler. I looked at Swaffar for approval. He acquiesced.

“Sure. I knew you couldn’t count.”

A pristine 1982 Chevrolet El Camino (half car and half pickup) is parked in his driveway, which he uses to haul his ceramics to arts and crafts shows. “It’s getting more difficult for me to carry all those boxes of pottery. It seems like they get heavier each time.”

Swaffar’s daughter, Jennifer, recently moved from Norman and is a nurse anesthetist. He has a 6-foot-4 granddaugh-

Visit Bob Swaffar’s website, L O S T I N A U S T I N . C O M , and

buy someone you love a piece of Bob’s art. Be sure and ask for the Cowboy discount.

ter, Acacia, who attends Colorado State University on a volleyball scholarship. CSU, an NCAA Division I pro-

gram, was ranked seventh in the country at this writing and is consistently ranked in the top 10. Between Bob and Janet, they have 10 grandchildren.

Besides nearby Barton Springs and some occasional travel, Swaffar enjoys solitude in his studio (five days each week), staying in touch with friends and neighborhood politics. He has served as president of the neighborhood association.

Driving north out of Austin, I thought about Swaffar. Certainly his accident had been a shocking event, but, in the greater scheme of things, did it slow him down?

Yes, as far as his basketball career was concerned, but no, on what he had accomplished with his life: family, Peace Corps,

studying computers and architecture, rising to the top of a department at a major university, becoming a darn good potter and enjoying those things important to him.

43

I think we would all agree that he definitely triumphed over tragedy.

The author, GENE JOHNSON , has recently published a book entitled “LIVING MY DREAMS” about the

1965 OSU men’s basketball team that was crowned Big

8 champions. Copies are $15 and can be purchased by contacting Gene Johnson at osu52johnson@yahoo.com.

Bob Swaffer.indd 43

12/15/14 14:46 PM

RED, WHITE, BLUE STORY BY JOHN HELSLEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

44 WINTER 2014

Veterans.indd 44

12/12/14 15:12 PM

A

E

JOE NELSON BID FAREWELL TO THE HUT THAT SERVED AS HOME DURING A SECOND TOUR IN VIETNAM, pausing to grab but one souvenir from an otherwise hellish experience. One token from there…that always kept him focused on what awaited here in the U.S.

Pistol Pete.

“We didn’t have doors because of the rocket attacks and they didn’t want to have anything impeding us from getting into the bunkers,” said Nelson, now the parking manager and event coordinator for the POSSE.

“A flap was my door.”

Upon that flap, a piece of canvas two feet wide and four feet long, Nelson had sketched his own Oklahoma icon, a source of pride and a sense of home, which he longed to see again while bullets and mortar fire filled the days.

“I MANAGED TO COME BY AN ORANGE MAGIC MARKER AND A BLACK MAGIC MARKER,” NELSON SAID. “AND I PENCILED IN A PICTURE OF PISTOL PETE ON THIS BIG PIECE OF CANVAS, THEN I COLORED IT IN WITH THE MAGIC MARKERS. AND THAT WAS MY DOOR.”

“So when it came time to come home, I took my knife out and cut him down.”

Back in Oklahoma, that Pistol Pete canvas hung over the work bench in his garage, until he came to OSU for a job.

Like Jeff Hunt, a veteran and student coach assisting ROB GLASS in OSU’s strength and conditioning department. At a strategic locale in Iraq, Hunt sat atop a Hesco Barrier, a multi-layered wall used to protect troops in conflict, and listened in long distance, very long distance, while his wife Meagan gave birth to the couple’s first child back in the States. Hours after his daughter Hailey’s birth, Hunt was informed he’d been named 2nd Division Marine of the Year.

Nathan Peterson once harassed enemy quarterbacks from an end spot on the Cowboys’ defensive line. He graduated with a degree from OSU in management.

Then he suited up again — as an officer with the Marine Corps. Peterson is back with the Cowboys, serving as a defensive grad assistant on MIKE GUNDY’S staff, still leading young men.

Jemal Singleton grew up military, born in Incirlik, Turkey, the son of an Air Force sergeant.

So it shouldn’t have been a surprise when Singleton attended the Air Force

AND ORANGE His wife, Pam, had always suggested framing it so once on campus, Nelson figured it was time to fully give his Pete his due.

“When I came to work at OSU and had an office, I framed it and prominently placed him on the wall,” Nelson said. “He’s something I’m very proud of.”

With the recent observation of Veteran’s Day (Nov. 11), Nelson and many others across campus with a military influence took time to pause and reflect and appreciate all who served this country in the name of freedom.

Veterans.indd 45

JOE NELSON, above left, and OSU REGENT CALVIN ANTHONY. in front of “the door.”

Academy, played at the Academy and prepped at the Academy for a life flying fighter jets. Except the Air Force Academy also fueled a passion in Singleton for coaching, eventually leading him to OSU and Mike Gundy’s staff as running backs coach.

45

THEIRS AREN’T THE ONLY STORIES OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE THAT SURELY TOUCH EVERY CORNER OF CAMPUS AT OSU. But they are a sampling of how the military life has influenced — and continues to influence ­— all those who claim to be Cowboys.

12/12/14 15:13 PM

Jeff Hunt did a buddy a favor, driving him to see a Marine recruiter.

Hunt wasn’t at all interested, just giving a friend a lift. After attending high school in Arkansas City, Kan., he’d scored a baseball scholarship to a junior college and was more than happy to keep playing ball.

“I had a buddy who wanted to go talk to a recruiter,” Hunt said. “He didn’t have a car, so I drove him to the recruiting office and they started talking to me instead of him. Next thing I knew, I was sign-

ing the papers.”

Hunt wasn’t coerced and wasn’t tricked.

He recounts no magic words that swayed him to sign on with the Marines. But there was something tugging at him from within, something calling him to a higher cause.

“That was the biggest deal for me, belonging to something,” he said, “belonging to something bigger than myself and having a purpose. I never really had that. I always played baseball and I enjoyed that.

But this was something bigger.”

THE UNINTENTIONAL

MARINE

And it proved to be much bigger, with Hunt embracing the Corps and his expanding role through

two missions in Iraq and another in Afghanistan.

46

Each deployment was different. The first, way out in western Iraq, essentially pitting Hunt and his pals against an invisible enemy, charged with clearing roads of IEDs — improvised explosive devices — to offer safe travel for the troops that followed.

The second deployment sent Hunt’s battalion to northern Iraq, engaging more towns and people, and some threats of a more personal nature, although the explosives remained the focus.

WINTER 2014

Veterans.indd 46

12/12/14 12:31 PM

“WE BEGGED FOR A TOE-TO-TOE GUNFIGHT,” SAID HUNT. “THAT’S WHAT WE’RE TRAINED FOR. THAT’S WHAT WE WANT. We’re going to run to

the bullets. But when they don’t play by those rules ­­­— they won’t stand up to us toe-to-toe, because they’re going to lose — IEDs were the way they chose to fight.

“That was always the biggest threat, and the not-knowing was difficult.”

It was in Iraq, Feb. 2, 2007, that Hunt had a day from heaven in a living hell.

One moment, he was sharing the birth of Hailey with Meagan; another he was told he’d been named Marine of the Year.

“Very cool experience,” he said. “You always look back and think there were 100 more Marines more qualified than I was to hold an award like that. Nevertheless, I was very honored and it was a very cool experience.

“IT WAS A BIG DAY.” After Hunt’s second tour, he returned to the U.S. and was sent to Marine Combat Training Battalion, serving as an instructor for three years. Men learn how to be a Marine in boot camp. They learn how to fight like Marines in the combat training battalion, studying hand-to-hand tactics, weapons tactics, even martial arts skills.

And all

that would prove useful in Afghanistan, where Hunt and his men were the front line of the western-most push, resulting in many more confrontations.

“They were more willing to fight,” Hunt said.

Meanwhile, Hunt was climbing the ladder of rank, which came with added responsibility.

And stress.

“My first deployment, I was a PFC (Private First Class); the second a sergeant,” he said. “I was about the Marines to the left and the right of me when I hopped on that bus or that plane. I kissed my wife the first time and told her bye, then I kissed my wife and my kids bye the second time.

“As my third deployment came, I was telling parents and I was telling other men’s wives and their kids goodbye. And they were looking at me, because I was the one who was supposed to bring them home.”

Hunt led a group of 55 men into the wasteland of western Afghanistan. And he had no

intention of leaving a single one behind.

“That was my main goal, bring those men back,” he said. “I’d been through a couple already. I knew what to expect. I knew how my young guys were feeling.

But anytime you go anywhere, your goal is to bring all your brothers home. No matter what other mission you have or what other goals you have, that is the ultimate goal.”

The goal was met.

All 55 men returned safe and sound.

After that tour ended, Hunt returned to his wife and two children, Hailey and her sister Heidi. And Meagan was pregnant with a third girl. Dad made it back a week before Hope was born — on 11/11/11, Veteran’s Day. He returned to a message, too.

Veterans.indd 47

“When I got home,” Hunt said, “my oldest daughter said, ‘Dad, don’t ever leave again.’ I was about seven months out from having to make a decision to get out or reenlist. That made it a pretty easy decision for me.

“I was told a long time ago that there’s no bigger impact in a girl’s life than her dad. And if you’re not the impact, somebody else will be. So it was a pretty easy decision for me. I got out, we did a whole lot of praying, and we felt like we were led to be here at Oklahoma State.”

Hunt has a son now, too, Jimmy. They all packed up and moved to Stillwater, with dad returning to the classes he’d started at that junior college so many years before. He got a job, too, working for OSU’s agricultural department, doing some farming. With his sights set on athletics, however, he pressed for an opportunity to meet Glass, and eventually got it, and stuck. He keeps pushing towards his degree and he keeps pushing athletes to be their best in the weight room.

47

“I THINK THIS IS WHAT I REALLY ENJOY, BEING ABLE TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN SOMEONE’S LIFE,” he said. “I hope I’m doing that

in some way, even if it’s just one person.

I really feel like this is what I’m supposed to do. It’s what I feel I’m led to do, with God’s calling. I’m hoping to make the best of it.”

12/12/14 12:31 PM

DRAWN TO

SERVE

48 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 48

12/9/14 14:29 PM

Nathan

Peterson

arrived at OSU as a coveted recruit from Tulsa Union, then lived up to billing with a standout career as a Cowboy from 2004-07. Peterson stands sixth on the

school’s career quarterback sacks list and eighth in tackles for loss.

And he earned All-Big 12 recognition as a senior.

And by then, his vision for the future was clear, yet not at all the typical college player’s dream of chasing NFL play days and paydays.

Peterson’s pursuit: becoming a Marine.

The U.S. was imbedded in the Middle East, carrying out Operation Iraqi Freedom. Peterson was drawn to help.

doing anything wrong. It was something where I was upset with myself because of how I looked at it before. Then after meeting some people and some friends of mine who went and served, I came to realize how important it was. And it became important to me.

“It was an idea I had gotten after my junior season. And I had it in the back of my mind, and I couldn’t really kick the idea. And I could tell it wasn’t going to go away.

I got the feeling that if I didn’t do it, I’d probably regret it the rest of my life.”

Peterson graduated with a management degree in 2008.

Three years later, as an officer, he stepped into the Taliban hotbed of Afghanistan. A Marine 1st Lt., Peterson discovered a different world, marked not just by strife and conflict, but by children with the simplest of wants and needs.

“Children who all they would ask for, the whole time we were there, was a pen and some chocolate,” Peterson said. “If you give a child over there a pen, you’ve made their day. It’s amazing, how little they have.

“THE HARDEST THING FOR M E WAS S E E IN G S O M E O F THE STUFF THE CHILDREN HAVE TO

“I HAD THIS URGE TO KIND OF DO MY PART,” Peterson said. “There were a lot of people my age who were involved and stepping up and serving. There was a time when I was more young and immature and I didn’t look at that as something I should be doing, because I was in college and playing football. I looked at it completely different, being immature.

“Then I realized I should do my part as well. I’m not saying people who don’t are

Veterans.indd 49

GO THROUGH OVER THERE.”

There was tragedy, too. Peterson lost a friend and one of his men, LANCE CPL. CHRISTOPHER PHOENIX “JACOB” LEVY, who was killed on patrol while

tracking Taliban fighters who had attacked their compound days before. LANCE CPL. CODY EVANS and CPL. CHRISTIAN BROWN, two more of Peterson’s men, were severely wounded and left double amputees.

Peterson returned to the U.S. with a deep respect for all who serve. And for country.

“It absolutely changed how I look at things,” Peterson said. “Going overseas, you realize how great it is here and how bad it is in other parts of the world. To get caught up in the day-to-day, get up, go to work… sometimes you feel sorry for yourself because you had a bad week or your job’s not great at the time.

“It gives you a great appreciation for everything we have. It’s amazing what we have here. That’s something I try to remind myself of when I have a bad day or I’m feeling sorry for myself. I think of all we have.”

THE COWBOYS HAVE PETERSON. AGAIN. Following his discharge in December of 2012, Peterson headed home — not to Tulsa, but to OSU. He was added by Mike Gundy as a quality assurance coach under defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer a month later. Now a graduate assistant with the Cowboys, he says he’s back where he belongs, having fulfilled one pursuit and now finding another, to help shape young men for the next phases of their lives.

“I love it,” Peterson said. “I’ve said it, and it’s not something I just say, it’s the only place I want to be. This is my home. I’m from Tulsa, but Stillwater is my home. I think this is the greatest place on earth.”

49

12/12/14 12:32 PM

FLIGHT PLAN

AMENDED 50

Jemal Singleton grew up military, as the son of an Air Force sergeant, and with a brother who also served.

So he knew the military life… to an extent.

It took football to open his eyes further, with the Air Force Academy recruiting Singleton out of Taft High School in San Antonio, where he’d been a local star

and an all-state player as a senior.

“I almost feel bad saying this, but coming up through high school, I didn’t know the Air Force Academy existed,” Singleton said. “I didn’t know they had a college football team or anything like that. It wasn’t until I got some recruiting letters that it became an option and something that really intrigued me.”

Singleton’s intrigue only expanded.

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 50

12/9/14 14:29 PM

He played running back at Air Force, serving as co-captain of the 1998 squad, earning honorable mention

“I’VE FLOWN GLIDERS. I’VE JUMPED OUT OF AIRPL ANES AND PARACHUTED,” SINGLETON

All-Western Athletic Conference

SAID. “I’VE GONE THROUGH BASIC

recognition as a senior. He earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences from the Academy in 1999. And he cherished the experience.

“It was a chance to play Division I football. It was a chance to get a phenomenal education,” Singleton said. “And it was a chance to have a lifestyle that I grew up in and enjoyed growing up in. A chance to go be an officer in the United States Air Force was a pretty neat deal for me. My father was enlisted for 20 years.

“So the opportunity to do kind of everything I wanted to do in my life, the Academy offered all those things.”

SURVIVAL TRAINING. I’VE GONE THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS YOU NORMALLY WOULDN’T E X P E RI E N C E AT A D I F F E RE N T INSTITUTION.

“So for me, it was unbelievable. It helped me develop as a man in different ways, whether it was my discipline or my leadership skills, it just helped me so much.”

AND IT HAD SINGLETON ON TRACK TO BE A FIGHTER PILOT. His slot was reserved for training, with a future of flying awaiting.

Except a funny thing happened on the way to the tarmac. Before s h i p p i n g o ut for jet training, Singleton was flying Cessnas in a program called Introduction to Flight Training. During that time, he worked with the USAFA Prep School football team. And every-

thing changed.

“I ENJOYED FLYING, BUT I LOVED COACHING,” Singleton said. “It

And it offered perks, too.

As Singleton knows, there’s a lot to a military education that goes unknown or misunderstood. The demands are high, academically and physically. And there’s the post-graduation military commitment.

But there are lifetime memories as well.

Veterans.indd 51

was a little different from what I intended to do. I started out all my Academy years and even after graduation, I was going to be that fighter pilot guy. I fell head over heels in love with coaching.

“I always thought, ‘Oh, it would be kind of cool to coach.’ When I got down there and was able to do it, and was a part of it, it kind of spoke to me. I felt led. That it was what the Good Lord had in store for me.

“I pursued that dream and was fortunate that some things went my way and I was able to give back to the Academy and coach while I was still active duty military, and also get hired on as a civilian when I separated from the Air Force.”

Singleton worked at Air Force from 2003-2010, coaching running backs and adding the title of run game coordinator his final four seasons. Each year, the

Falcons won the conference rushing title and finished in the top 10 nationally. Gundy brought Singleton to OSU from Air Force in 2011, and the Cowboys’ running game has continued to thrive.

Still, there’s a n Ac a d e my influence in everything Singleton does on and off the field.

“THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY HAS THE CORE VALUES OF SERVICE BEFORE SELF, EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO, AND IT STARTS OUT WITH INTEGRITY FIRST,” HE SAID. “That’s

one of the things I started to internalize.

Probably not as much while I was there, but after I graduated and realized if I could lead my family and live my life with those core values, if I could live through those things, I could probably be a successful person, be a good person and a good citizen as well.

“Those things, that you feel like are being beat into your head when you’re a cadet, to this day they are still codes that come up in my mind and are still fitting for what I do now in coaching football and dealing with young people.”

51

12/12/14 12:32 PM

BLENDING

ORANGE 52 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 52

12/9/14 14:29 PM

School wasn’t going so good for Joe

Nelson in 1965.

He was a freshman at Oklahoma State; and he was bright. But he was dragged down by the usual distractions for a kid getting his first taste of independence. So facing school probation at a time when the military draft was in force, Nelson figured

he’d just enlist, signing on with the U.S. Navy.

It was no pleasure cruise, no shipping off for Hawaii or some other dream locale.

Nelson was dropped directly into Vietnam as a Seabee — in the mobile construction battalion — operating heavy equipment.

On the ground with Marines, evidence of the seriousness of their missions, Nelson and the other Seabees cleared brush and grounds as sites for gun pads and roads and bridges and other facilities.

“I DIDN’T REALIZE EXACTLY HOW MUCH DANGER I WAS IN AT TIMES,”

“I broke into a cold sweat, knowing — because I didn’t have any clue at the time — we could have been wiped out pretty easily. But they didn’t want to be detected, which is what saved our bacon, because they didn’t want to be seen on their way south.”

Nelson spent 18 months in Vietnam during his four-year commitment, before a discharge and a return to Oklahoma.

It was four years that changed him forever.

“I went over there immature, a chip on my shoulder,” Nelson said. “I hadn’t done so well in college; that was only because I didn’t apply myself. It changed my life for the good, for the most part. You learn to appreciate the sun coming up. It’s very meaningful to me, because we weren’t always sure we’d see the sun come up.”

school of hotel and restaurant administration and is now with the POSSE. His office offers reminders of his time in the Navy, most remarkably is his Pistol Pete piece of art, framed prominently on the wall.

“I TAKE PRIDE IN HAVING SERVED,” Nelson said. “And I am grateful to be a survivor. My father-in-law was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He was someone I was always very proud of, too, in him as a veteran and

“WHEN YOU LEARN THE VALUE

NELSON SAID.

OF LIFE, IT REALLY CHANGES YOU.”

He spent two tours in Vietnam, with the first working six miles from the DMZ (demilitarized zone) — the demarcation line separating North Vietnamese territory and South Vietnamese territory.

Nelson sensed danger and trouble, as he and four other Seabees and 12 Marines operated from a small compound surrounded by 15 rows of wire. But it wasn’t until years later, when he was back in the U.S. watching a PBS documentary on the

There was fallout, too, from the two tours. Nelson battled nightmares for more than 20 years, some of them intense.

Still, he came home a decorated soldier, most proud for receiving the Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon, given to those who actively engage in ground combat. He returned to school, too, first at Central State University (now the University of Central Oklahoma).

And it went much better.

knowing what it meant to him. And those I served with, I was proud to serve with them. So it means a lot to me.”

Veteran’s Day means a lot to Nelson, too. And if he happens to be working on a Veteran’s Day, you’ll likely see him in an old stars and stripes tie, bought in the days following his return home and brought out for special occasions.

WITH RED, WHITE AND BLUE conflict that he discovered how close he and his men might have been to death.

“In the documentary, it was noted that the North Vietnamese army was making a push to go south,” Nelson said. “THEY

CAME WITHIN PROBABLY A COUPLE MILES OF WHERE WE WERE AND COULD HAVE OVERRUN US IF THEY WANTED, BECAUSE THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF THEM.”

Veterans.indd 53

“The courses I flunked before, I set the curve,” Nelson said. “Even with the bad grades I carried from my first year, I ended up with over a 3-point grade average overall. So I had become an

honor student.”

Nelson eventually made his way back to OSU, moving with his wife to Stillwater in 1992. He’s worked in university accounting and in the athletic department business office as an accountant, spent time in the

53

“I’ve had it ever since,” Nelson said. “I had to cut it down, because it was really wide. But I wear it on election days and things like that.

If I’m working on Veteran’s Day, I’ll sport that tie.”

“EVERYBODY AROUND HERE KNOWS THAT I BLEED ORANGE. BUT MY HEART IS RED, WHITE AND BLUE.”

12/12/14 12:32 PM

The Father Figure of Cowgirl Basketball STORY BY RYAN CAMERON

One simple chore on a bus trip to Kansas speaks volumes about what kind of man Oklahoma State has in charge of its women’s basketball program.

During a stop at a convenience store somewhere along the route, all but a few people exited the bus to stretch their legs and grab a snack. First-year head coach Jim Littell opted instead to empty the overflowing trash can.

When one of the remaining members of the travel party informed him he was the head coach now and had people at the ready to take care of such tasks, Littell quickly responded, “YOU WILL NEVER GET THE JUCO OUT OF ME,” and proceeded to finish the job.

County (Kan.) Community College (junior college, i.e. juco) that generated numbers normally reserved for fantasy leagues.

During that span, his squads carved out a 418-61 record and produced a 135-game home winning streak and a 38-0 campaign that resulted in a

It is the work ethic and principles responsible for a 14-year stretch at Seward

“I have always had the theory that we are going to out-work people and we

54

What exactly is the “juco” in Littell?

national title in 2002.

are going to out-think people and we are going to out-tough people. We are going to understand the game and we are going to work extremely hard. Practices are going to make games seem easy. We will be very well prepared and give our kids every opportunity we can for them to succeed,” Littell said.

Littell’s trademark throughout his career has been winning with players cut from his same cloth, maybe a bit short on talent, but passionate about the game.

“I have had a lot of good players, but what I think has been neat has been that

I have coached a lot of kids that I think have been overachievers; they had some limitations but turned out to be really good players because of their character and their heart,” Littell said.

WINTER 2014

WATN Jim Littell.indd 54

12/12/14 16:30 PM

55 PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

WATN Jim Littell.indd 55

12/12/14 16:31 PM

Growing up, Littell’s favorite sport was determined by the calendar.

“I loved every sport. I was one of those that my favorite sport was the season that I was in. I loved football, I loved basketball, and really my first passion was probably baseball,” Littell said.

In the end, basketball proved to be the sport of choice for Littell before a knee injury curtailed his playing career at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kan.

“I really enjoyed the game, but I wasn’t very good. There is that old song ‘Glory Days’ about how you got better after you have been out. I look at it and in my mind I still wasn’t very good. It didn’t take me long to figure out that if I wanted to stay in athletics, it was going to be taking the coaching route.”

Littell didn’t have to look far for that blueprint. Both parents worked in the profession.

“My dad and mom went back to college after they were 40 and became coaches. I was in a family of coaches. I just wanted to ensure that I could go on and be around sports the rest of my life,” Littell said.

With the expense of attending a private school proving to be a financial burden, Littell expedited the graduation process, taking 20 hours in one summer and finding a bit of good fortune to secure his first

coaching gig at the age of 20.

“I graduated late in the summer and a coaching job opened late in the summer.

I went to Burlingame, Kan., in 1977, and I was assistant high school football coach, seventh grade girls volleyball coach and eighth grade girls volleyball coach. I was seventh grade girls basketball, eighth grade girls basketball, high school boys assistant, head boys track and junior high girls track coach, drove the bus, made $10,500 and thought I was the richest guy in the world,” Littell said.

To say Littell is “green” was an understatement.

56

“THE FIRST VOLLEYBALL GAMES IN MY LIFE I HAD SEEN I COACHED, SO THAT TELLS YOU THE EXPERTISE I HAD.”

Ironically, Littell had little desire to coach the g irls’ game and only did so when his attempt to break through on the boys’ side failed.

“I applied for the men’s job at a small high school, Oxford High School in Kansas. I kept going back and they finally just said we aren’t going to hire you for the men’s job, but the women’s job is open and we will hire you for that if you want it,” Littell said.

“I remember telling them, I was a men’s coach and I didn’t want to coach girls. I kind of stuck with that for a while. They kept coming back at me, and I finally took it.”

Little did he know about the dire situation he was about to inherit. IT WAS THE

“He makes you feel like whatever is going on with you is more important than FIRST REBUILD IN WHAT WOULD BECOME THE THEME OF HIS COACHING CAREER. anything that is going on with him.”i “I kept asking them before I took the job about how many games they had won last year. They said, ‘Well, they didn’t win many games, but they have a lot of good, young kids coming.’ I kept asking how many games they had won and they never did tell me,” Littell said.

It was with good reason the school held its cards close to the vest.

“I took the job and then they told me they had won two games in the previous eight years,” Littell explained.

The boys’ program’s loss would quickly become the girls’ gain.

“That year, when we were 4-0 at Christmas, I think I was the winningest coach in Oxford High School history,” Littell said with his patented sense of humor.

During a five-year stint at Oxford, Littell amassed a 94-14 record and did the unthinkable for a once downtrodden program, delivering a state champion-

ship in 1981.

TAYLOR HARDEMAN “It was a really neat deal. A lot of the kids hadn’t had much success going through and it was a lot of fun for the community as well,” Littell said.

Two years after his state title run, Littell made the move to the collegiate level for the first time. BILL CARTER, a wellrespected coach in the state, brought him aboard at Friends University in 1983 and the next stop on Littell’s rebuilding tour once again produced favorable results.

“They had been down a little bit when I took that job over. I really loved my time at Friends (located in Wichita) because the kids were there for the right reasons. A lot of them would spend massive amounts of money to go there because it was a private

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 56

12/9/14 14:30 PM

school, and they really enjoyed playing the game,” Littell said.

Like Oxford, Littell quickly righted the ship and brought positive results to a program in need, producing two 20-win campaigns as well as a pair of confer-

ence championships.

Littell followed Carter for a quick foray into southwestern Oklahoma and Cameron University.

“I went to Cameron for a year with Coach Carter and he decided to move late

Plains, Kan., squad posted a 21-3 mark before opportunity once again presented itself at the collegiate level.

A relationship with the men’s head coach at Seward County landed Littell an interview for the women’s head coaching position. Once hired, he found himself charged with the familiar task of reviving yet another program down on its luck.

The Lady Saints had strung together seven consecutive losing seasons, including a single-digit win total the year before his arrival.

“I remember taking it late, and it was a tough first year. We went 14-16 and I remember everybody commenting on how good we were. I thought,

‘You guys are watching a different game than I am because we aren’t very good,’” Littell recalled. “ We h a d a g r e at recruiting class, and we went from 14 to 28 wins the next year and then it just started steamrolling from there.”

SCCC reeled off 13

consecutive 20-win seasons, surpassed the 30-win total seven times and never lost

in the year. I was basically looking for a job. They told me I could take the women’s job there, but they really hadn’t made much of a commitment to the program.”

Not finding what he wanted in Lawton, Littell returned to the high school level for one season. Not surprisingly, his Garden

more than seven games in a season after that first year under Littell.

His formula for success was simple. Find players that had flown under the radar, were not afraid to work hard and PHOTO / GARY LAWSON were willing to buy into the system.

“It was before AAU had developed and there were a lot of kids that just hadn’t been seen and got overlooked. We went to places like Beaver, Okla., and got people like Megan Gregg that ended up being a Cowgirl,” Littell said.

“I guess we found a lot of kids that were diamonds in the rough that people didn’t know about. They really came in and bought into what we wanted to do and just got better. We spent a lot of time recruiting kids that were good teammates from winning programs and were really good chemistry kids as well.”

After giving the folks in Liberal, Kan. a dose of success, the expectation level rose quickly and Littell and Co. did not disappoint, winning 87 percent of the time.

“It was expected that we would win after the first couple of years. If you didn’t win 30 you were having a bad year,” said the

2009 National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame inductee.

While building a dynasty in a community boasting a population just north of 20,000, Littell waited patiently for his chance at the Division I level. However, he was passed over by several schools, including Oklahoma State.

“I had interviewed some other places and got what I thought were some courtesy interviews. I just don’t know how much people respected what junior college coaches did at that time. I don’t know if they thought the success we had there would translate to success in Division I. That was the stigma we had to overcome.

I had some opportunities, but I wasn’t going to go with anyone I didn’t trust.”

That trust to leave the powerhouse he had constructed came in the form of an old friend by the name of Kurt Budke.

The man Littell had called a friend since the mid-80s delivered on a deal the two had made years before.

“I was the head coach at Friends and he was an assistant at Friends,” Littell said.

“We lived together, shared a house and we made a pact at that point that whomever made it first would take the other one.

Obviously, he had great success at Trinity Valley, which led to Louisiana Tech and the success he had a Louisiana Tech led to here. We kept that pact and got back together in 2005.”

57

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 57

12/9/14 14:30 PM

out and recruiting pretty hard during that time frame.”

The fruits of their labors did not take long to pay off. The extensive recruiting efforts signaled the arrival of building blocks in dynamic freshman Andrea Riley and junior c o l l e g e w o r khorse Danielle

Green.

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

The two friends reunited in Stillwater with Budke arriving as OSU’s head coach and tabbing Littell as his right-hand man to help redirect a program that produced a total of 23 wins over the previous three seasons.

Sound familiar?

Success was not immediate as year one resulted in a 6-22 mark with a winless conference season and a 17-game losing streak to close the year, providing a wakeup call of sorts for both.

“I think we were both so accustomed to winning that we took it for granted. I don’t think either one of us had any concept of how bad the situation was or how much work it was going to take to change the program around,” Littell said.

' 58 '

“It was a very long year — especially after having all of the success that Coach Budke and I had experienced at different levels. There were a few

\

games we were in, but there were a lot more games that we were down by 30 in the first half. We did the best that we could to coach the kids that we had, but we were also going

\ WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 58

What was the nation’s largest turnaround as the Cowgirls posted a 20-11 mark and

REACHED THE NCAA TOURNAMENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 11 YEARS

in year two of the Budke-Littell partnership. In 2008, just two years removed from a winless Big 12 season, OSU matched the school record with 27 wins and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time since 1991.

The program was primed to make another NCAA run during the 2011-12 season with a talented young nucleus of players in Tiffany Bias, Toni Young and Liz Donohoe. However, just one game into the season tragedy struck the program with Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna perishing in a plane crash. Littell was thrust into a shocking situation.

What ensued may very well have been the best coaching job in a career filled with eye-popping superlatives. While dealing with the loss of his close friend, Littell rallied his squad, bringing the Cowgirls to the brink of a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

Disappointed after not seeing its dance ticket punched, his squad rallied one last time and, with an outpouring of support from the community, captured the WNIT

championship.

“I WAS EXTREMELY PROUD OF THE TE AM AND HOW RESILIENT THEY WERE,” he said. “It felt like it was a

team that was playing with purpose. They were on a mission. We were really young and everything we had gone through as a team, it would have been pretty easy to just say, ‘You know what, we will try it again next year.’ The way the kids were and how good they were to work with and how they endured everything. I was and am still extremely proud of them.”

In addition to cutting down the nets, multiple silver linings emerged from an unthinkable situation.

“I was a little upset at first that we were left out of the NCAA Tournament, but in hindsight I look back and it was the best thing that could have ever happened. It allowed us to practice a month longer with a young team. We played six games at home and I really believe we built some of our fan base during the WNIT,” Littell said.

The job of a coach is to instruct his team and help them improve, but that season produced a teaching moment for Littell.

“I started trying to have more balance in my life,” he said. “I need to put basketball, at times, in a secondary position to my family and other things. That year taught me to have balance and maybe mellowed me a little bit and made me more compassionate to people. Some people would say it made me softer.”

That compassionate side is something former Cowgirl Megan Byford, who was a member of OSU’s 2008 Sweet 16 squad, says was there all along.

“He is such a grounded person. What makes me laugh is people think he is mean and a scary person, but he is a total opposite of that,” she said. “He is one of the funniest people I know. He always makes sure the people around him are taken care of. He is not caught up in it being all about him and what is going on with him. He wants to make sure everybody is ok. That is just how he is.”

After leading the Cowgirls to that WNIT title, Littell has continued pushing the program toward loftier goals. With him

I I 12/9/14 14:31 PM

at the helm, the program has produced the most successful three-year stretch in its history. OF COURSE, HE IS NOT SATISFIED. “We have talked about raising the bar ever since we have been here. The next progression after winning the WNIT was the NCAA Tournament. We did that. Then we wanted to win a game. We all felt like we should have won the game at Duke (in the 2013 NCAA Tournament) and I think there was a disappointment from our coaches and players. We learned that year that when you go on the road you have to overcome some obstacles and you have to be pretty good to go into an environment like that. That was another chance for us to grow and take the next step. I really believe being that close, our players and our coaches became that much more determined.”

That determination produced a satisfying NCAA Tournament in 2014. A win over Florida Gulf Coast and a second-round triumph over home-standing Purdue meant a return to the Sweet

16 — just the third in OSU history.

His work has not gone unnoticed, drawing praise from numerous peers, including the program’s fiercest rival.

“He’s an unbelievable basketball coach.

I recruited Jamie Talbert from him back in the day when he was at Seward County, and he was an unbelievable coach there.

Nobody wanted to play Seward County.

He’s a great tactician. He does a great job with strategy, and his kids play really hard for him, and that’s a pretty lethal combination,” OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH SHERRI COALE told The Oklahoman last spring.

Littell has already left his stamp on the program in his short time at the helm, but you won’t catch him stopping to admire his work.

“There is a lot more to do. In this league you can’t bask in your glory and you can’t live on what you did yesterday because this league can humble you in a hurry. I don’t know if you ever have time to really appreciate the accomplishments you had. It is a never-ending challenge to try to stay on

top or get to the top. We haven’t gotten where we want to be yet, and that is what we are still striving for,” Littell said.

When not roaming the sidelines, preparing for the next game or searching for the program’s next star, it is likely you will find Littell serving as lead cheerleader.

He and his wife, Barb, have three children.

Whether it’s baseball with his sons JERAME, now a sophomore for the UT Arlington squad, or JON, a freshman for Josh Holliday’s Cowboy nine, or daughter, JACI, a gifted athlete in her own right who may very well wind up playing for her father one day, Littell fills the role of proud father as well as any.

“I AM PROUD OF ALL OF MY KIDS. WHEN YOU HAVE OTHER COACHES SAY THEY CAN TELL THEY ARE COACHES’ KIDS I TAKE THAT AS A COMPLIMENT. They have done well in

the classroom. They have taken care of their business. They are respectful to coaches and teammates and have worked awfully hard to be good players,” Littell said.

“I probably spend too much time bragging on my kids, but I am a proud dad. It has been a lot of fun. It was a special day this spring when Jon’s group (Stillwater High School) won the 6A baseball state championship and Jerame hits a walkoff homer to put his team in the (junior college) world series. Those are moments that make a dad proud.”

With all he has accomplished in the game, ask Littell what he would like his legacy to be and his answer is simple.

“I want the legacy of being a good husband and dad. That is important to me to be a good dad and a good husband,” Littell said.

That father-figure presence is not limited to his family, but permeates throughout his team.

“He is very father-like. He treats you like you are one of his kids. No matter what is going on with his life, he didn’t really bring that to work. He makes you feel like whatever is going on with you is more important than anything that is going on with him,” said former Cowgirl Taylor Hardeman, who was part of the 0-16 to Sweet 16 turnaround.

“I was lucky that I got to play for him.

He is very intense and expects a lot out of you. As a player, you wanted to do your best for him.”

Look no further than Byford, now an assistant coach at Tulsa, to see those “juco” principles in full effect.

“My whole coaching philosophy and style is based on what I learned from him.

I am teaching my kids the same things that he taught me because they work. It isn’t easy, but it is the tried and true way of getting it done.”

For Littell, the words of his former players are worth far more than a jam-packed trophy case.

“One thing that is very special to me now is players from 10-15 years ago calling me and telling me about their successes and what they are doing. It is about a lot more than the wins and losses. It is about the relationships. I want part of my legacy

59

to be that I have helped impact some young people’s lives.”

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 59

12/9/14 14:31 PM

60 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 60

12/9/14 14:32 PM

A Rising Star Earns Her Stripes STORY BY TAYLOR MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

IN MAY, OSU’S VIKTORIYA LUSHKOVA BECAME ONE OF THE YOUNGEST FEMALES IN THE COUNTRY TO ACHIEVE ALL-AMERICA STATUS when

she earned the award at the age of 17. Along the way she became Oklahoma State’s 13th All-American in women’s tennis and its first since 1991.

A native of Simferopol, Ukraine, Lushkova started playing tennis at six.

She said she used it as a way to stay active. Before she turned eight, she was staying “active” six times a week.

She continued to dedicate herself for years, but admitted that there was never a point when she decided that tennis would be her future.

“It was kind of just a go-with-the-flow thing. My parents thought I should go with it,” she said. “So many times I was injured and decided to stop, but then I found some motivation in the fact that I had already practiced for that long so I kept playing.”

Her on-court success caught the eye of coaches from more than 30 American and British universities. One of the interested parties was Oklahoma State women’s tennis coach Chris Young.

61

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 61

12/9/14 14:32 PM

Lushkova decided to attend OSU after talking with a friend and former Cowboy tennis player, VLAD BONDARENKO, who encouraged her to bring her talents to Oklahoma.

The new Cowgirl arrived in Stillwater in December of 2013. Despite having traveled

to the United States a few times before, she faced some difficulties with a slight language barrier and adjusting to the American lifestyle.

“I knew English because I studied it in school, but I wasn’t that great. Sometimes I couldn’t understand what people wanted from me so I felt really weird. As time went on, it got better,” she said. “The people’s mentality here is different than back home. The lifestyle is different. The food here is completely different and not even close to what I’m used to.”

Not long after Lushkova arrived in Stillwater, her country was thrown into turmoil with the uneasiness between Ukraine and Russia.

“Because of all the changes that are going in Ukraine, it is sometimes difficult to communicate with my family,” she said. “During the spring semester, the situation back home distracted me because I was worried if everyone was safe. But now I guess I’m used to it. I can’t change anything because I am so far away. It’s getting better there. Not great, but better.

Not dangerous, but not safe.”

Even though she was uncomfortable in some aspects, she was as comfortable as ever on the tennis court. The freshman began playing at the No. 2 spot for the Cowgirls. She suffered an early loss to No. 25 Maho Kowase of Georgia at the Hawaii Pacific Duals, but stormed back with a 15-match unbeaten streak that lasted two months.

win came against in-state rival and No. 14 Oklahoma on March 9 in Stillwater.

There was a full house at the Michael and Anne Greenwood Tennis Center and the Bedlam

match was featured nationally as a part of College Match Day by the United States Tennis Association.

Lushkova faced OU senior Whitney Ritchie on court one. The Cowgirl dropped the first set, winning only one game. The freshman battled back for a 6-2 secondset victory, forcing a third and deciding set. The match was extended to a seven-point

tiebreaker after being deadlocked through 12 games. The two exchanged points early in the tiebreaker, but it was Lushkova who pulled away for the win, taking four of the last five points. The win sealed the

upset-victory for the No. 39 Cowgirls.

The fresh-faced star’s performance in her first semester didn’t seem to shock Young.

“She came in really confident and she believed that she was one of the better players in the nation. Her expectations and just the way that she went about everything day-to-day was a reflection of her attitude and the confidence she had in her ability,” he said. “A lot times that’s something that’s developed in players as they get older and they start to understand. She came in with a lot of experience and had a good, strong attitude with confidence from the beginning.

“She expects to win no matter what the score is or no matter what situation she is facing. She knows she has the ability to win, and she doesn’t fear anybody. That kind of confidence is important.”

That confidence and skill earned Lushkova 19 wins as a freshman, including seven over ranked opponents.

When the dust had settled on her first season in Stillwater, Lushkova had reached several milestones. She was named the Big 12 freshman of the year and the ITA central region rookie of the year. She was also All-Big 12 in singles

“She expects to win no matter what the score is.”

— CHRIS YOUNG

62

A MONTH INTO HER COLLEGIATE CAREER, SHE WAS BUMPED UP TO THE NO. 1 SPOT IN THE OSU LINEUP. In her first match at the

top position, she knocked off No. 79 Yang Pang of Arkansas in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4. Perhaps Lushkova’s most impactful

“THAT WAS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET,” Lushkova said. “I’ve

never felt that nervous going into a match in my whole life, even when I played Grand Slams. I feel like I had so much pressure to play well because we were going against OU and we had to beat them. The motivation was how I found the weapons to beat her.”

LUSHKOVA CRACKED THE TOP 100 IN RANKINGS THE FOLLOWING WEEK, MOVING UP 25 SPOTS TO NO. 83. She continued to impress

as the 2014 season went on and spent seven-straight weeks in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association’s singles rankings, with

her highest ranking coming on April 22, when she was 44th.

and doubles.

In May, the freshman earned a bid to the NCAA singles championships, marking the first time in 12 years a Cowgirl competed in the event. She entered the tournament ranked

No. 52 and knocked off 42nd-ranked Laura Antonana Iriarte of San Diego State in the first round.

The win pitted her against No. 14 Olivia Janowicz of Florida in the round of 32.

Lushkova fought her way to a 7-5, 7-5 win to clinch All-America status.

“AFTER I WON THAT MATCH, I WAS LIKE, ‘HEY, I’M AN ALL-AMERICAN.’”

“And then I was asking coach what that meant. I’d never heard of that, but I figured it was probably something like what we have back in Ukraine when you get an award for being one of the best players in the country,” Lushkova said. “Now, I get it.

Everyone really respects that honor. I have to work even harder to get it this year. To

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 62

12/9/14 14:32 PM

“We can be great.”

me, it means that I did a really good job to achieve that, and it should reflect well on the school that I did it.”

Lushkova advanced to the round of 16, where she fell to No. 27 Ester Goldfield of Duke, 6-4, 6-3, ending a phenomenal season for the newcomer. Proud of her accomplishments in her first semester, she said she credits her success to early motivation she carried into the season.

“I was so motivated from the beginning,” she said. “I wanted to be Big 12 player of the year or freshman of the year.

I actually hate not getting rewarded when I’m working really hard. If I have goals, I can push through everything. I decided to not give up even though it was hard balancing school and practices. I think that helped me a lot.”

During the 2014 season, the Cowgirl tennis team, full of fresh talent, had one of its best campaigns in recent years with Lushkova leading the way.

She has already seen success in 20142015 as she finished the fall season as the

ITA Central Region singles champion and won the doubles title with partner Kelsey Laurente. She advanced to the

USTA/ITA National Indoor Intercollegiate Championships, where she made it to the singles quarterfinals and the doubles semifinals.

“I think that she has brought a confident attitude to the team,” Young said. “As our program is growing, we have certain benchmarks involved, and she expects to be the best. She’s not going to settle for anything less than that. I think that she portrayed that confidence to the team. I think the team fed off of that last season, and they also gained the confidence that they could play with anybody.”

Lushkova helped the Cowgirls to their

second straight runner-up finish in Big 12 play. The league tournament was followed by a third-straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. A firstround win over South Florida was followed a tightly-contested loss to No. 9 Florida.

“That match was just showing us that we have to work harder and harder and we can compete against good teams,” Lushkova said. “We can actually beat those teams, and we just have to step up more and be more confident. We can’t be scared of the name of the school because you never know who is playing on the other side of the court. We just have to play our game. We can’t give up on easy points, and we have to continue to work hard and try our best. As soon as we do that, we can be great.”

Lushkova, of course, has high hopes for the Cowgirls this year.

“We have some really good players this year,” she said. “I think the team is working harder now. We’re better on the court and we’re more fit. I think those first (fall) tournaments showed that we can compete against really good teams like Duke, North Carolina and Florida. I truly believe that we can get the chance to host some NCAA matches in Stillwater. I think it will be easier for us to play the first couple of rounds here and get us to the Sweet 16. I think that’s a goal we can reach this year.”

As far as her personal goals go, the sophomore is ranked No. 26 in the preseason poll and feels she needs to continue to compete with confidence and be team oriented.

“I already have knowledge of college tennis and how it works,” Lushkova said. “I can’t be afraid of opponents or what school I am playing. I just have to go out there and do my job. I need to stay confident and work toward my goals. I think the most important thing for me this year is to play for my team. Last semester I didn’t have a lot of experience on how to play for a team, but now I know what I need to do. I just have to work harder to be a better team

63

player. THAT’S HOW TEAMS

REACH THEIR GOALS. THEY PLAY FOR EACH OTHER.” POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 63

12/9/14 14:33 PM

State Ad Spring 2014.pdf 1 3/4/2014 3:25:11 PM

Y

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

osu·Career Services

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 64

12/9/14 14:18 PM

STATEF

WE WANT

YOU! Help us find the next generation of Cowboys.

Recommend a future Cowboy online today.

FUTiiiii: I

COWBOY?

orangeconnection.org/knowafuturecowboy

STATEFall13.indb 1 _POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 65

8/7/13 14:18 4:12 PM 12/9/14 PM

From Red Dirt STORY BY WADE McWHORTER

John Farrell has reached the pinnacle of baseball.

66

A big par t of how he got there can be traced back to Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Before he ever led one of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises to a WORLD SERIES TITLE, Farrell helped pioneer a college baseball dynasty at Oklahoma State.

And while he may not have known or entirely understood it at the time, Farrell’s four years in a Cowboy uniform, under the tutelage of OSU’s hall of fame head coach Gary Ward, were integral in Farrell hoisting The Commissioner’s Trophy on the field at Fenway Park in 2013.

“The years that you spend in college, in my opinion, are the years that put the final imprint on who you’re going to become as an adult,” Farrell said. “Fortunately, I was exposed to (Coach Ward) and his methods. In the fall, I can remember we would go up into a classroom in Gallagher Hall, and we would go through hours of listening to motivational tapes and him speaking on goal setting and all the things entailed that create discipline.

“(WARD) WAS DEMANDING, HE WAS DISCIPLINED, HE WAS THE FIRST E XPOSURE I GOT TO GOAL SETTING AND ALL THAT WAS ENTAILED WITH THAT, AND HE MADE A HUGE IMPACT ON ME AS A PERSON.

“There’s no question that helped form who I became as an adult.”

Over three decades prior to becoming a World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox, Farrell was like many high school baseball stars, just trying to figure out where he was going to play college ball. The right-handed pitcher also had the option of professional baseball having been a ninth-round draft pick of the

Oakland A’s in the 1980.

WINTER 2014

John Farrell.indd 66

12/11/14 14:54 PM

One trip to Stillwater and a weekend with Ward and OSU assistant coach Tom Holliday would answer that question for the Monmouth Beach, N.J., native. The Cowboy coaching duo, just over three years into building a college baseball dynasty, had Farrell hooked.

“It was their pursuit of me,” said Farrell when asked what appealed to him about the OSU program. “Both (Ward) and Coach Holliday were active in their recruiting, and it came down to identifying those who you were going to play for. They were a clearcut choice over others that showed interest.

“Their persistence and Coach Ward’s vision of what he had in mind for the program, the facility, the level of play — and all that came to fruition as it turned out.”

DID IT EVER.

Farrell pitched four seasons for the Cowboys, from 1981-84, and each of those ended with

A TRIP TO OMAHA AND THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES. The ’81 club marked the first of OSU’s

10 CWS teams under Ward and began a streak of seven-straight years the Pokes advanced to Omaha, which still stands as an NCAA record.

“Honestly, in high school I didn’t know what the College World Series was about so my exposure to college baseball was minimal,” Farrell said. “Once I arrived in Stillwater, it became clear what our goal was, and to contribute to that and be a part of it was an incredible experience.”

Farrell’s success on the mound mirrored the Cowboys’ winning ways.

IN 52 APPEARANCES IN AN OSU UNIFORM, FARRELL WAS 20-6 WITH 11 COMPLETE GAMES, 168 STRIKEOUTS AND A PROGRAM-RECORD SIX SHUTOUTS.

Rob Walton, now OSU’s pitching coach, was a teammate and roommate of Farrell’s during his days with the Cowboys, and he remembers Farrell as an exemplary presence on the mound and in the clubhouse.

“As a player, he was always prepared and always disciplined in how he went about his business,” Walton said. “The first year I was here, he was in the transition of being a power guy and understanding the pitchability of it. The second year, he really started to hone in on his skills and put it together.

“And John was a guy that was a great teammate because he was a guy that would take a younger player like me under his wing and say, ‘This is how it’s done.’

He showed you the ropes, told you this is how you do things and prepare for your next level of baseball. He was always willing to give you some information and try to help you along.”

to Red Sox

A big part of how he got there can be traced back to Stillwater, Oklahoma.

John Farrell.indd 67

67

12/11/14 14:48 PM

Farrell said that type of tireless preparation was necessary on OSU teams loaded with some of the top talent in college baseball.

“Playing with so many players that were so talented was an eye-opening experience for me,” Farrell said. “Coming from a very small beach town in New Jersey and coming to OSU where players from all over the country were brought in, it was eye opening the level of talent that was in our own program, let alone who we were competing against.

“That was a challenge in its own right, just positioning yourself as a pitcher to get innings.”

And while those OSU teams made a name for themselves with eye-popping offensive numbers, the Cowboy pitching staffs weren’t too shabby either.

“They were deep, they were talented — whether it was Mike Henneman,

Dennis Livingston, Gary Kanwisher, Mike Trapasso, Mitch Coplon, there were a number of guys that

went on to pitch in pro ball,” Farrell said.

“Just earning a spot on the pitching staff, either as a starter or just getting innings, you had to perform to a pretty high level just to compete with those inside the program.

“And as I’ve come to realize, competition within is one of the more healthy things you can be involved with. It drives you to perform and improve, and that was certainly the case while I was there.”

Following a senior season that saw him go 12-2 with a 3.16 ERA, eight complete games and five shutouts — numbers that helped OSU win a school-record 61 games and finish third at the 1984 College World Series — Farrell once again had his name called in the MLB draft, this time as a second-round pick of the Cleveland Indians.

Three years later, he made his big league debut. One of the highlights of his eightyear Major League Baseball career came during that 1987 season when, in just his second-career start, he held PAUL MOLITOR hitless in four at-bats to end the Hall of Famer’s 39-game hitting streak.

68

“Because of (Molitor’s) success and the attention he was receiving around the country, to be involved in stopping it was something you don’t think you’re going to be a part of, but fortunately it unfolded that way,” Farrell said.

IN 1988, FARRELL WON A CAREER-HIGH 14 GAMES; in 1989, he tossed seven complete games and two shutouts, racked up a career-best 132 strikeouts and had another brush with history.

That moment came in May in Cleveland when Farrell carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Kansas City Royals before giving up a single to KEVIN SEITZER.

“You recognize (a no-hitter is) happening probably when you get through the fifth inning, but then with each successive inning following, you felt a sense of something getting closer by the out,” Farrell said.

“And I can remember going out for the ninth inning and (teammate) BUD BLACK giving me kind of a look where there were no words that needed to be spoken, and yet everyone knows what is taking place.

“Unfortunately, Kevin Seitzer broke it up with a base hit to right field.”

Following 36 wins and eight major league seasons, Farrell retired at the AllStar break in 1996.

step down as OSU’s head coach.

“It looked like Coach (Tom) Holliday was going to take over, and I approached Tom and said, ‘Hey, if you’re looking for a pitching coach, I would certainly be interested,’” Farrell said. “I knew I wanted to stay in the game and yet really didn’t have an exact idea of what I wanted to commit to.

“As I look back, getting into coaching was probably the most fortunate and best thing I could have ever asked for. You had to learn how to coach, you had to learn how to scout, you had to learn how to organize, you had to mentor young men — you wore a bunch of different hats. So it was a great position to come into after finishing a playing career.”

One of those Cowboys that Farrell helped mentor was current OSU head coach Josh Holliday, who starred for the Pokes during Farrell’s time as an assistant coach. “(Farrell) brought tremendous background and credibility as a player, and it was especially cool having him as a coach here at Oklahoma State since he played here as well,” Holliday said. “He had a

“He’d be good at anything he chose to do.” — JOSH HOLLIDAY Soon thereaf ter, his baseball career took an unexpected path — but one that once again crossed in Stillwater.

With him and his family still living in Cleveland, Farrell enrolled at OSU for the 1996 fall semester, making the commute from

Cleveland to Oklahoma City to Stillwater every weekend to pursue the 22 credit hours he

needed to earn his degree.

While studying for that degree in business management, Farrell heard opportunity knocking when Ward announced after Thanksgiving that he was going to

lot to offer all of us as players. As I got to know him, playing for him and working with him, he’s just a great person, a great dad, a great husband, all the things that when you get to know someone you start to appreciate them for.

“John is just a smart person in general — he’d be good at anything he chose to do — and everything that he does, he does with a tremendous amount of passion. He knows the game from multiple angles, whether it be the pitching side and the mental side of the game that he learned as a player himself or the other

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 68

12/9/14 14:34 PM

elements of the game that he picked up through observation and being a student of the game. You always knew John knew the game, and he had great relationships and a huge amount of respect from everyone he knew.”

That respect meant the pros would once again be calling on Farrell, and after five seasons as an OSU assistant, he rejoined the Indians in 2001 as their Director of Player Development.

The next step for Farrell was a return to the field, and that came in 2007 when he joined Boston as its pitching coach, a move that paid immediate dividends when the Red Sox captured a World Series title that season.

Next stop — Toronto, where Farrell was named the manager of the Blue Jays in 2011. After his second year at the helm in Canada, he made history as the fourth manager in MLB history to be traded and returned to Boston as the Red Sox manager.

“I subscribe to the notion that if you stay focused with what you’re doing and do it to the best of your ability, the options or opportunities will arrive,” Farrell said. “It just so happens that things have unfolded in five-year cycles. I was at Oklahoma State for five years, I go to Cleveland as the farm director and director of player development for five years. That opportunity then opens the door to get back on the field as the pitching coach for Boston for almost five years.

Then the next opportunity presented itself.

“I just knew I wanted to stay involved in the game. In what capacity, I was unclear.

“I would say my path isn’t a traditional one – crossing over from college to pro baseball, from the front office to the field.

It gives me a set of circumstances that are unique compared to others in the game.

It still comes down to how you manage people and how you deal with the individuals inside of a team concept.”

And once again, it turned out that Farrell was top notch at doing just that.

In his first season as Boston’s manager,

he led an epic turnaround as a Red Sox team that had finished last in its division in 2012 was crowned the 2013 WORLD

SERIES CHAMPIONS.

“I was just part of a group of people that achieved it,” said Farrell, who was named Sporting News’ 2013 American League Manager of the Year. “It was a collection of players that fit what our vision was, and that was good teammates, quality guys, talented yes, but had track records of being very good teammates and were about accomplishing something as a group and not as individuals.

“Everyone receives their highlight video at the end of the year, and as I watched the film, I would find myself pausing it a number of times because the highlight only represents a portion of the story that is underlying. Holding up the trophy at the end of Game Six, there’s a 178-game journey to get to that point. That snapshot is just the tip of the iceberg to all that took place. From the phone calls that happened in the offseason prior to spring training, coming in new and trying to reconnect with the players that were here when I was here before to

iconic franchises in all of sport and the high expectations placed on him from the legion of Red Sox fans.

“It’s humbling, there’s no doubt,” Farrell said. “It’s an honor to wear this uniform and be trusted with the group that takes the field here. When you work in an environment that’s as passionate as Boston is, everything is magnified, good or bad.

I became more aware of it and was definitely more equipped after being a pitching coach here. I had an understanding of the expectations and the magnitude of things. But still, there’s not going to be any external expectations that are greater than your own.

“Some people from afar might view it as daunting, but I think of it as being normal — that’s just the way it is.”

But no matter where Farrell’s baseball journey goes in the future, he’ll always hold a special fondness for his Cowboy roots.

“I spent nine years of my life in Stillwater, and it had a huge impact on me. And as I’m sure it is with a lot of people that come to OSU, it’s something that doesn’t leave you.”

“I was just part of a group of people that achieved it.”

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 69

every day in spring training to the whole season that unfolded and the challenges you were presented with.

“It’s an incredible feeling, and something that was great to share with a lot of people you respect and were glad to do it with them. That’s the thing that really stands out — the people that you share those moments with.”

Now a coaching veteran in Beantown, Farrell embraces his role as the leader of one of the most

69

12/9/14 14:34 PM

the Honor Roll When OSU announced its scholarship endowment initiative, the athletic program was last in the Big 12. Now, more than halfway through the 10-year program, OSU leads the conference.

But we’re not finished yet.

OSU awards 229 full scholarships to student-athletes each year at a cost of $4.5 million. Each dollar freed up through endowed scholarships goes back into our programs. Better equipment. Better facilities.

Better support. Each dollar has a direct impact on the lives of our student-athletes.

“Each scholarship we endow secures the future of OSU athletics and provides more opportunities for our student-athletes on and off the field,” says Mike Holder, Vice President for Athletic Programs and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics.

This is the list of all the generous supporters who have helped to provide a bright Orange future. They are our Honor Roll.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities and how you may contribute, please contact Larry Reece (405-744-2824) or Matt Grantham (405-744-5938).

“It has been amazing to see 315 donors step up to get us past the $58 million mark in commitments to the Leave A Legacy campaign.

The bottom line is OSU supporters get it … scholarships help our studentathletes today while strengthening our athletic budget forever.”

70

— LARRY REECE, SENIOR ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

B A SE B A L L

6.5

F U L L S C H OL A R S H I P

Dennis and Karen Wing (2) Hal Tompkins

Jennifer and Steven Grigsby

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

Mike Bode and Preston Carrier

Sally Sparks

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Bryant and Carla Coffman David and Grace Helmer Jill Rooker FOOTBALL

Martha Seabolt Sandy Lee Dr. Scott Anthony 3 2 .0

F U L L S C H OL A R S H I P

Bob and Kay Norris Bryant and Carla Coffman / The Merkel Foundation David LeNorman Dennis and Karen Wing (2) Dr. Mark and Beth Brewer Jack and Carol Corgan Football Scholarship Jim Click John and Gail Shaw

Ken and Jimi Davidson Leslie Dunavant Mike and Kristen Gundy Mike and Robbie Holder Ron Stewart Ross and Billie McKnight Sandy Lee Tom and Sandra Wilson Wray and Julie Valentine

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

Jim and Lynne Williams John and Patti Brett Mike and Judy Johnson Sally Sparks State Rangers Tom Naugle

Cindy Hughes Donald Coplin Doug Thompson Ed and Helen Wallace Greg Casillas Ike and Marybeth Glass

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Fred and Karen Hall Howard Thill James and LaVerna Cobb Jerry and Lynda Baker Jerry and Rae Winchester John P. Melot John S. Clark Ken and Leitner Greiner Kent and Margo Dunbar Paul and Mona Pitts R. Kirk Whitman Randal and Carol White Roger and Laura Demaree Shelli Osborn Steve and Diane Tuttle Tony and Finetta Banfield

Al and Martha Strecker Arthur “Andy” Johnson, Jr. Arthur Couch Barry and Roxanne Pollard Bill and Ruth Starr Brad and Leah Gungoll Brian K. Pauling Bridgecreek Investment Management LLC Bryan Close David and Cindy Waits David and Gina Dabney Dr. Berno Ebbesson Dr. Ron and Marilynn McAfee Eddy and Deniece Ditzler Flintco Fred and Janice Gibson GE N E R A L

1.25

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

Terry and Martha Barker

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 70

AS

OF

12/1/14

12/9/14 14:18 PM

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

David and Judy Powell Kenneth and Susan Crouch

Baloo and Maribeth Subramaniam

Sally Sparks

GR A DUAT E AT HL E T E

0.7 5

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Bob and Joan Hert Neal Seidle

Tom and Cheryl Hamilton

ME N ’ S B A SKE T B A L L

2 0.7 5

Griff and Mindi Jones James and Mary Barnes Jim Vallion Ken and Jimi Davidson Kent and Margo Dunbar KimRay Inc. Mitch Jones Memorial

WOME N ’ S G OL F

David and Julie Ronck Amy Weeks

Kent and Margo Dunbar

WOME N ’ S T E N N I S

0. 2 5

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Jamie Maher 10. 2 5

F U L L S C H OL A R S H I P

Rick and Suzanne Maxwell Robert and Sharon Keating Steve and Suzie Crowder Terry and Donna Tippens 4.25

F ULL S C H OL A R S H I P lil"Ull:..ll:.. illl<Clfil©X..Glslff.l!.lllmli:lli"

David and Julie Ronck Dennis and Karen Wing

1 .0

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

W R E ST L ING

ME N ’ S G OL F

0. 2 5

H ALF S C H OL A R S H I P lm.l&.X..:W i.ll<Olfil©li:..Glslff.!l!lllmli:ll"

Sally Sparks Sandy Lee Stan Clark

Dr. Scott and Lynne Anthony Gary and Sue Homsey Holloman Family Michael and Heather Grismore

Jill Rooker Jon and Nancy Patton Richard and Linda Rodgers

David and Gina Dabney

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Jack and Carol Corgan Men’s Golf Scholarship

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

A.J. and Susan Jacques Bruce and Nancy Smith Chuck and Kim Watson Lon and Jane Winton OSU Wrestling – White Jacket Club / Gallagher Endowed Wrestling Scholarship OSU Wrestling – White Jacket Club / Myron Roderick Endowed Wrestling Scholarship

OSU Wrestling – White Jacket Club / Ray Murphy Endowed Wrestling Scholarship OSU Wrestling – White Jacket Club / Tommy Chesbro Endowed Wrestling Scholarship The Cobb Family

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

Stillwater National Bank

Mark and Lisa Snell

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Bob and Elizabeth Nickles Garland and Penny Cupp

Richard and Joan Welborn

ME N ’ S T E N N I S

0. 2 5

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Tom and Cheryl Hamilton ME N ’ S T R ACK

0.7 5

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P QVAlol.'Tllllll<i. ll.!i<Clfil<O>X..Ali!Ul;llJ;,:CJtli"

Dr. Mark and Susan Morrow Susan Anderson S OF T B A L L

Bill and Roberta Armstrong Bill and Sally Cunningham Calvin and Linda Anthony Donald Coplin

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P QVGlsll'1.'lt"llllll<i. laClill©X..GlslR.rG\lfilltli"

H A L F S C H OL A R S H I P

Bill and Marsha Barnes David and Julie Ronck Dr. Mark and Susan Morrow Jay and Connie Wiese

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

WOME N ’ S E QU E ST R I A N

F U L L S C H OL A R S H I P

A.J. and Susan Jacques Brett and Amy Jameson Calvin and Linda Anthony Chuck and Kim Watson David and Julie Ronck (1.25) Dennis and Karen Wing (2) Douglas and Nickie Burns

Don and Mary McCall John and Caroline Linehan

Ken and Leitner Greiner

QUA RT E R QV.;'b~T:;;;J~ S C H OL A R S H I P rei<e:rn.i:©lho~~llom,i:ll:i.>

Danny and Dana Baze / Cory and Mindy Baze John and Beverly Williams R.K. Winters

71

0. 2 5

QUA RT E R S C H OL A R S H I P

Tom and Cheryl Hamilton WOME N’ S B A SKETB A LL

6.25

F U L L S C H OL A R S H I P

Brad and Margie Schultz Ken and Jimi Davidson

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 71

Mike Bode and Preston Carrier

12/9/14 14:18 PM

Karsten Creek

STORY BY RYAN CAMERON

72 WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 72

12/9/14 14:34 PM

JUST AS ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY, THE SISTINE CHAPEL WAS NOT PAINTED OVERNIGHT AND THE PANAMA CANAL WAS MORE THAN A WEEKEND PROJECT, SO TOO WAS THE MASTERPIECE THAT IS THE HOME OF OKLAHOMA STATE’S GOLF PROGRAM, KARSTEN CREEK.

73 PHOTOGRAPHY BY GARY LAWSON

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 73

12/9/14 14:35 PM

DEVELOPING A HIGHLY ACCLAIMED GOLF COURSE WAS A TRYING PROCESS REQUIRING EQUAL PARTS DETERMINATION, GENEROSITY AND IMAGINATION.

KARSTEN CllEEK GOLF CLUB MAY 14.,11

The end result of more than two decades of work was well worth it. Emerging from a dense plot of blackjack oak trees was a 7,400-YARD LAYOUT considered one of the premier facilities in college athletics — in any sport.

While countless people played a crucial role in the creation of OSU’s crown jewel, three men were at the forefront of bringing Karsten Creek to life 20 years ago.

The Catalyst A true visionary in the world of college golf, longtime OSU head coach Mike Holder identified early in his career the significant hurdles that had to be cleared in order to sustain a top-tier golf program in Stillwater. Population, weather and location were among the challenges that had to be addressed.

“IT IS HARD ENOUGH TO RECRUIT IN OKLAHOMA. There are three mil-

lion people total in the state and you have that plus in Dallas or Houston or San Antonio alone. You are going to have to go out and compete and get them from other places. It is hard to get a kid to come out of the state

74 MIKE HOLDER WITH KARSTEN SOLHEIM

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 74

of Texas and go north where the weather is worse and the wind blows like a son of a gun. Stillwater is off the beaten path and there’s not much else to do,” Holder stated matter-of-factly.

“There are a lot of negatives associated with it, so I had to try to offset that with something no one else had.”

WHAT NO ONE ELSE HAD WAS A GOLF COURSE PRIMARILY USED BY AND CONTROLLED BY THE GOLF PROGRAM. Holder’s line of thinking was to provide an edge in the most vital element of any team — recruiting.

“It all comes back to recruiting. Your team is only as good as the talent you can attract. My first month on the job I shared an office with Chet Bryan, who was the baseball coach. He had some advice for me, and I was all ears.

He said, ‘I have been watching you and if you think that you are going to win championships based strictly on your ability to coach up talent, you are not going to have a very long career. Go out and recruit a bunch of thoroughbreds, and then just get out of the way.’ That is pretty good advice.” Holder said.

With that in mind, it was not in his shared office space with Bryan that the idea of Karsten Creek emerged, but rather a basement office across campus.

“That first year I was coach in 1973 I was teaching management in the college of business. They had an office in the basement, and my office mate was one of our golfers. He had done a scale model of a golf course just on the south side of Lake Carl Blackwell. It had all of the relief, trees and everything,” Holder said.

No t a c c u s t om e d t o seeing the foliage, ravines and creeks the model displayed, Holder’s interest was piqued.

MIKE HOLDER WITH TOM FAZIO

12/9/14 14:35 PM

“The next time I drove out on Highway Unable to get his equipment in the The Namesake 51, I made a point to glance over there north hands of professionals, Solheim decided to The dream would have remained a fanof the highway as I drove through the area. target the tour’s future players while tasy without the means to bring it to life.

I had never really paid attention to it and still at the collegiate level.

Enter Karsten Solheim. thought it was beautiful and would be a “He had the idea to go a step back and go The founder of Karsten Manufacturing, great place for a golf course.” get some good college players to use them which produces PING golf equipment, Knowing his coach and the program’s and maybe get acceptance at the amateur found his company fledgling during the founder, Labron Harris, had been level. Some of those good college players are 1970s. Needing a jumpstart, Solheim responsible for building Lakeside Memorial going to play the tour, so maybe they will sent GARY HART to Stillwater in 1976 Golf Course, Holder wanted to do that and want to keep playing them,” Holder explained. to meet with Holder in an attempt to GET more for his program.

The sell was not easy, but by the early THE NATION’S PREMIER PROGRAM ONBOARD “Coach Harris built Lakeside, and I 1980s the Cowboys were PING-equipped, WITH HIS PRODUCT. thought maybe we could helping bring the program build a championship vercloser to the reality of having sion of it someplace. That is its own training ground via where the idea came from. It Holder’s relationship with just took me 20 to 21 years to Solheim. find the place,” Holder said.

“We were trying to build The location revealed this golf course. I was talking itself in the late 1980s folto Gary Hart about it all the low ing a golf outing in time. I thought it made sense Oklahoma City with OSU that Karsten would give us track and field coach Ralph some money. Finally, he menTate, athletics director tioned that Karsten had Dick Young and Wiley never played Augusta T. McCollum. Holder National, so I thought BEFORE had learned of a place across maybe I could get him on the highway from Lake Carl because we had a friend, Blackwell known as Ham’s BILL WARREN, who was a Lake, a locale of which, he member. Bill said sure and AFTER hosted him,” Holder said. learned on the ride home, Tate was very familiar.

The trip to Augusta, couA frequent fishing spot for pled with a visit to the future Tate, he detoured the foursite by Solheim, mixed in some’s return to Stillwater with Holder’s persistence, and arranged a boat tour of helped convince the course’s the lake, which confirmed future namesake to get on Holder’s suspicion. He had board with the project. discovered the future home “I can’t even remember of his golf sanctuary. how many years this had “As luck would have it, been going on. He called the university owned about me one night, late, and said three-fourths of the seche was going to send some tion and LAWRENCE HAM money for the golf course.

“They weren’t having any luck getting owned the northeast quarter. If we could I was thinking millions, but he said he PGA Tour players to use their clubs. They buy that we could develop it and use the would send half a million. It was more than were ugly. I say ugly because they were so lot sales to help fund it. So that was the I had, but it wasn’t what we needed. How radically different from what everyone else start. Dr. McCollum, who we played golf do you sound excited and disappointed at was playing and from what everyone else with that day, ended up being the guy the same time? He said he would send it was manufacturing,” Holder said. in a week or so, and I waited and waited that ended up buying the land for us,” and waited,” Holder said.

Holder said.

75

POSSE

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 75

12/9/14 14:35 PM

THE WAIT WOULD PROVE TO BE MORE THAN WORTH IT when Holder received an afternoon phone call from his wife, Robbie, which would lead to a rollercoaster of emotions.

“She called and told me FedEx just brought an envelope from Karsten. I rushed home, ripped it open and looked at it. I thought, ‘I can’t believe this. The guy

only sent $100,000. He was supposed to send $500,000. Now what am I going to do?’

“Robbie asked to see the check and quickly corrected her husband’s miscalculation and bluntly revealed the good news.

“She said, ‘No, you dummy, it’s a million.’

I wasn’t used to looking at those big numbers. I called him up to let him know I got the money and that he made a mistake on that check and sent a million instead of a half million,” Holder said.

TO WHICH SOLHEIM REPLIED, “THAT ISN’T A PROBLEM IS IT?”

The seven-figure check was not a problem, but a shot in the arm and just the

first of several generous donations from Solheim and his family.

“They just kept giving a little bit more, and I still didn’t have enough to build it, and they kept giving a little bit more until we had enough to at least take a shot at it,” Holder said.

Having donated over $4 MILLION TOWARD THE PROJECT, it is clear why the course bears his name.

“We wouldn’t have the golf course if it weren’t for him. I think his generosity and his equipment led to a lot of our success. It was a great partnership because I think we helped them sell a lot of golf clubs,” Holder said.

The Architect By the early 1980s, the project was picking up momentum, prompting Holder to call on Joe Walser, a former Cowboy who had a hand in the construction of courses such as Oak Tree and PGA West, to help select a course designer.

A man by the name of Tom Fazio had caught Walser’s attention. Expressing immediate interest, Fazio made multiple trips to Stillwater at his own expense, providing Holder with his initial blueprint.

“He went back with his team and designed a golf course and gave us the plans to go out and raise money to build the course. He never charged me for any of that,” Holder said.

With an estimated cost of $3 million, Holder went to work seeking 18 hole donors at $150,000 apiece to secure the funds to begin moving dirt. However, the process proved easier said than done and took longer than initially intended.

“It seemed like I would sell a hole or two and get a donor, then they would have a reversal of fortune and fall by the wayside. There were probably 25 or 26 people at one time that said they would do a hole. By the time 1991-92 rolled around, $2.7 million wasn’t going to build a golf course and that is where the Solheims came in and really got us over the hump,” Holder said.

In the midst of Holder’s fundraising efforts, Fazio had ascended to the world’s No. 1 architect and now commanded a heftier fee.

76 “We were persistent and had a dream” i MIKE HOLDER WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 76

12/9/14 14:35 PM

“I really didn’t think there was any way to get him to do this. We interviewed a few other architects thinking this was probably what we were going to have to do. I remember calling him and telling him I thought we might have a chance to do this now, but we didn’t have a big budget like a lot of these places that he was working for now,” Holder said.

Once again, Fazio’s generosity and affection for the project kept him in the fold. After asking how much had been raised, he went to work tweaking the design he had concocted in an effort to become more cost effective.

“He said we had some things in that original routing that would be pretty expensive to build. So, he sent his team back here to walk the site again and see if he could massage the routing and maybe drop the cost. He still hadn’t committed

to building it for us, and I didn’t know if I could afford his fee because he was probably getting $1-2 million a job,” Holder said.

With his services in demand, and in a position to pick and choose projects at his discretion, Fazio stayed on board at the bargain price of $400,000.

“He just liked the fact that we were persistent and had a dream. He liked the reasons that the golf course was being built,” Holder said.

FAZIO’S TERMS WERE SIMPLE: NO ATTORNEYS OR CONTRACTS, BUT RATHER AN OLDFASHIONED HANDSHAKE DEAL. He would

deliver Holder’s golf course for not a penny more than what had been budgeted.

In return, all Holder had to do was pay his fee as well as the construction costs.

“We shook hands and that was the deal.

It was six months into the project before I ever got a bill from him for anything,” Holder said.

“He is quite a guy and the kind of person that you want to do business with.

I have a lot of respect for Tom Fazio way beyond his ability as a golf architect.”

With the renowned designer on board, the two had to work through philosophical differences in the course’s design. Holder wanted the hardest golf course possible to challenge the best players, while Fazio took into consideration the average player seeking an enjoyable round of golf.

77 PHOTOGRAPHY BY BRUCE WATERFIELD

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 77

12/9/14 14:35 PM

“It was a great place for me to work on my game and be able to call home.” i RICKIE FOWLER

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

“I wanted to bring in difficulty and drama, and he was always trying to go the opposite direction. There are still holes out there today that if I had won in the discussion would look differently than they do,” Holder said.

In hindsight, Holder admits he may have lobbied harder to infuse more teeth into a track already known for its degree of difficulty.

“I think with what I know today I would have won a few more of those arguments because it is out here for the really, really good player. It is built for tournament golf, championship golf and it is probably not a golf course that the average player is going to enjoy no matter what. It is too difficult and too challenging even with the equipment of today. It can still bring you to your knees,” Holder said.

78

Fazio’s creation plays no favorites regardless of handicap, which mirrors the mentality used to operate the course.

“EVERYBODY IS TREATED EQUALLY. That is the thing the whole club is based on.

NOBODY GETS A DISCOUNT OUT HERE AND NO ONE GETS A COMPLIMENTARY ROUND. Everybody pays their share of the overhead from the green fee to a membership.

Our golf team buys memberships just like everybody else out here. You just don’t give it away,” Holder said.

With that in mind, Holder engrained in his team an appreciation for the amount of hard work that made Karsten Creek a reality before a single Cowboy had played a shot on its Zoysia fairways.

On the Friday night before the first week of school in 1994, the head coach placed phone calls to his team with instructions to be in the course’s maintenance parking lot at 7 a.m. the next day.

“We get there and nobody was around.

Fifteen minutes go by then you hear these trucks rumbling down the road. Three trucks pull in with sod pallets and behind them was Coach Holder. He just tells us to start walking down to 18. So we walk down to 18 and stand there in this dirt patch, and all of the sudden the tractors start delivering sod. From 8 o’clock until late that afternoon we laid sod. Probably threequarters of the fairway and the left side of the rough,” recounted Brian Guetz, who now serves as the team’s assistant coach.

That day in August was not the way Guetz or his teammates imagined spending their time at Karsten Creek, but one that was not without its reward.

“I remember I was smart enough to eventually go down and sod the rough along the lake. You would roll out a roll of sod, jump in the lake to cool off then go get another one. He sent Leif Westerberg home early, because he had only been in

WINTER 2014

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 78

12/9/14 14:35 PM

town a couple of days from Sweden and had never seen temperatures over 85.

Some people ask if that really happened, and yes it did. We helped clean up stuff on the first fairway one day, too. It is a good story, and you have a little sweat equity in it,” Guetz said.

The Windfall Twenty years in and Karsten Creek has proven fruitful on the recruiting trail with the Cowboys being able to pluck the likes of budding stars Rickie Fowler, Peter Uihlein and Morgan Hoffmann and provide an ideal training ground for life as a professional.

When it came time to choose a school, Uihlein, a Florida resident, readily admits Karsten Creek was instrumental in his decision to leapfrog powerhouse programs closer to home.

“IT WAS HUGE. ANY TIME YOU CAN HAVE A WORLD-CLASS FACILITY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HANDS, IT IS GREATLY BENEFICIAL. I PERSONALLY FELT IT WAS THE BEST PLACE FOR ME TO HONE MY SKILLS AND GET READY FOR THE NEXT LEVEL,” HE EXPLAINED.

Hoffmann echoed the sentiments of his former teammate with a strong endorsement of his own.

“I knew this was the place I could call home

and use as a golf haven to get away from everything, which I really needed. It helped my game a lot. The three years I was here I got so much better, and it helped me get to the PGA Tour,” he said.

Fowler’s perspective on his college stomping grounds validates Holder’s vision for providing a golf course with the program serving as its top priority.

“KARSTEN CREEK IS ONE-OF-A-KIND when you look at it as far as it is the golf team’s course. You see other golf teams around the country have courses to practice at, but sometimes it is the university golf course.

Sometimes they just have memberships.

This is actually the Oklahoma State golf team’s golf course, and you are able to come out here and work on your game and be here on a daily basis,” Fowler said.

“As far as condition goes, it is probably one of the best-conditioned golf courses I have seen on a yearly basis. It was a great place for me to work on my game and be able to call home.”

Karsten Creek has proven so beneficial, the likes of LPGA standout Karin Sjödin and PGA performer Chris Tidland chose to put down roots in Stillwater, achieving another of Holder’s goals.

“It fused everything together,” Tidland said. “Coach Holder made it clear to me when it first opened. He told Alan (Bratton, now OSU’s men coach) and me he wanted guys to stay around here.

Before that I hadn’t really thought about living here. Once it was open and we had access to a world-class practice area and golf course is when it first became an idea.

It quickly became a reality when I turned pro. Karsten Creek was the thing that got us thinking about that. Our love for everything around here made the decision easy,” Tidland said.

“The cool thing about what Alan and I have been able to do is see it transform from truly the initial clear cutting to laying the sod to seeing the first day that the course was open to being able to play it before there was a clubhouse. And now being a part of the finished product,” Guetz said.

“We have seen the transformation and there’s only been a few people — Coach Holder, maybe a handful of donors, that have been around and seen what the last 20 years have entailed from the beginning to the end. It has been pretty cool to see that, and I can’t believe it has been 20 years.”

Not only has Karsten Creek helped propel its teams to success at OSU and beyond, it has helped inspire those Cowboys to pay it forward for the benefit of their alma mater.

“A lot of the principles we stand for are why our players are loyal and they do come back and they do give back. They support golf and they support the other sports here. I think that comes from the fact that all that we have is through the generosity of other people, and they understand that their role, once they use that to their advantage and go out into the world and made a living, is to give back and do the same thing and make it just as significant and just as great an experience for the next generation of OSU golfers,” Holder said.

“THEY ARE ALL-IN FOR OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY.”

79

PHOTO / BRUCE WATERFIELD

_POSSE_ v8 WINTER.indb 79

12/9/14 14:36 PM

• or1um 308 West Franklin Lane, Stillwater, OK 74075 Admission: $7 Open Tuesdaythrough Saturday 10am to 5pm • Sunday1 to 5pm • ClosedMonday (405) 533-3333 • www.okwondertorium.org• www.facebook.com/okwondertorium CentralOklahomaFrontierCountryMarketingAssociation2014 OutstandingChildren's Attra<tion

ads WONDER & THANK YOU.indd 80

12/12/14 16:20 PM

rw OF OKLAHOMA

'BEYOND 'BORDERS

-

APRIL 10-11, 2015 OKLAHOMA

STATE UNIVERSITY

'Di.AKE PLANS NOW TO JOIN usl TICKETS GO ON SALE JANUARY 10, 201S The 4th biennial Wine Forum of Oklahoma will include wine tasting, educational seminars and gourmet diningfeaturing our 2015 special guests:

ads WONDER & THANK YOU.indd 81

12/12/14 16:20 PM

en c.,

ci a: )

WHEN ASKED TO SPEAK ABOUT MARKETING, I OFTEN TELL THE AUDIENCE HOW CRUCIAL IT IS TO KNOW YOUR TARGET MARKET. THEN I TRY TO PROVE I UNDERSTAND IT MYSELF IN THE REMAINDER OF THE SPEECH. IF YOU ARE READING THIS, YOU CERTAINLY MEET SEVERAL IMPORTANT CRITERION ON A LIST OF FACTORS PARAMOUNT TO OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY. As consumers, all of us receive mes-

this a dead-end moment for the creators

loyalties run deep. Ask a fan of NASCAR

sages designed to appeal to our senses

of the show. The feeling was the writers

whose father always bought Chevrolets

and thus, our ability to purchase prod-

had run out of good ideas.

if their family roots for a driver on the cir-

cuit who drives a Ford. Never.

ucts, services or experiences. Those mes-

Sure enough, the shark episode was

sages come to us from morning through

considered the beginning of the end for

Sometimes, as consumers, our favor-

night, packed in a multitude of packages.

Happy Days. Did the end come because

ite brands have a hiccup or two. ONE OF

Perhaps the most powerful package is television. TV has changed a lot in

of the “shark” episode or despite it?

THE THINGS I BELIEVE SETS OUR

Regardless, when some marketers see a

FAN BASE APART FROM MANY IS

the last 40 years.

last desperate attempt of a company or a

LOYALTY TO THE BRAND. You won’t

The marketing profession decided a few years ago to coin a phrase. This phrase

person to garner business by any means, it

find our OSU apparel in the trash can after

is described as “jumping the shark.”

a few losses. We tend to take a long view.

Success is often measured in terms of marathons and not sprints. A few things you have

“JUMPING THE SHARK.”

I’m not sure we have any shark jumping on TV today, but we have some weird programming. We have a show called Naked and

The phrase, “jumping the shark” is

Afraid. Two people who don’t know each

eventually you will lose a few and because

derived from the 1970s hit show Happy

other are stripped naked and dropped

of that, you can’t tie your life’s mean-

Days. The long-running situation comedy

in some desolate location to survive on

ing to a game. :)

idea for a show. How about “WE ARE

Thousands of fans. Speed. A powerful car

can be found in many marketing books across the country.

had good writers and was able to keep a critical, consistent cast of actors around

their own for 21 days. Really? I have an

in California, the script called for him to

AFRAID BECAUSE YOU ARE NAKED.” Bring back Laverne and Shirley … OR SOMETHING. These shock and awe shows are designed for advertisers to sell you and me more items. That’s where the idea of BRAND LOYALTY comes into view. All of us buy certain

jump over a shark held in an underwater

things because they have been “loyal”

tank on a pair of water skis. He did and

to us and us to them, for years. Perhaps

long enough to be wildly popular for a long time and for decades in syndication.

During one of the final years of the show, an episode was set in Hollywood.

As The Fonz tried to prove himself “cool”

82

was just as cool in California as he was

it’s a brand of boots or jeans, golf balls

back home in Milwaukee. As marketers

or makeup, chips or cola. It also trans-

look back on the episode, they consider

lates into larger-ticket items, and these

to realize about sports and keeping score:

I’d like to give that NASCAR thing a try. with lots of brilliant, bright colors.

I WOULD LIKE ONE IN A BRIGHT

SHADE OF … ORANGE.

GO POKES!

KYLE WRAY VICE PRESIDENT ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT & MARKETING WINTER 2014

Wravings.indd 82

12/12/14 16:46 PM

Don’t just sit there!

At Byford Auto Group, we take our motto seriously!

For us, customer satisfaction comes first – we give more because you deserve more ... like free loaners for our service customers, and oil changes for life. And, you can count on our world-class service technicians to keep your car on the road and running smoothly. At Byford, we view our customers as part of our family and maintain a friendly, relaxed atmosphere ... which is probably why we have a top-tier customer satisfaction rating! Come see for yourself at any of our locations.

Nobody Treats You Better Than Byford!

Go Anywhere. Go Pokes.

Take advantage of our special bowl game ticket & travel packages.

BYFORD BUICK GMC – CHICKASHA • 2900 S. Hwy. 81 BYFORD CHEVY BUICK GMC – DUNCAN * 1909 N. Hwy. 81 BYFORD CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP RAM – DUNCAN • 8307 N. Hwy. 81 BYFORD MOTORS – OKC • I-240 & Shields

800-752-2360 BAG 09-17-14 Posse Magazine.indd 1 cover.indd 2

ByfordAutoGroup.com

AUTO GROUP

CHICKASHA • DUNCAN • OKC

9/17/14 2:06 PM

12/9/14 14:53 PM

W I N T E R 2014

THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF OSU ATHLETICS

PAGE 24

VOL UM E 8

12/9/14 14:53 PM cover.indd 1

Bullet POINTS