Friday, June 9, 2023
Holliday and Cowboys ‘gonna have a scar’ after disappointing end to season and locked up a host bid. Just six days later, all that momentum crashed, and OSU failed to make it out of its home regional again. How do you evaluate a season like that? “The game is what it is. We lost by 14 runs – s*** happens, you lose Braden Bush games,” said Riggio, OSU’s second Sports Editor baseman. “But that doesn’t define this program. That one game doesn’t define Roc Riggio found himself sitting this club. It definitely doesn’t define in the same spot as a year ago. me... We’ve got a bunch of good men, For the second season in a row, and we’re not gonna hang our heads.” Riggio met with the media inside the For the second-straight season, O’Brate Stadium interview room folthe Cowboys (41-20) were given a lowing an early end to the season in national seed and hosted a regional in OSU’s home regional. This one was the NCAA Tournament. OSU went 0-2 especially tough to swallow. in a regional for the first time since The Cowboys went 0-2. They 2017 and has not advanced to a super were the first team eliminated. They regional since 2019. were outscored 24-8 by ORU and DBU OSU coach Josh Holliday strugduring the weekend and down by 17 gled to put the weekend into words runs in an elimination game Saturday after Saturday’s 18-4 loss to DBU. in front of a home crowd. “I’m very numb right now,” HolJust two weeks before the Stillliday said. “I don’t really have a good water Regional started, the Cowboys statement, other than that was a difficlaimed the Big 12 regular season cult game, difficult set of emotions.” crown. The next week, the Cowboys OSU’s high-flying offense, which made the Big 12 Tournament title game ranked second in the Big 12 in batting
Chase Davis The Cowboys went from Big 12 champions to an early NCAA exit at home in less than two weeks, making this season tough to evaluate.
average (.302) and first in home runs (108) was largely kept under wraps. Riggio batted .350 in the regular season but went 1-for-9 with four strikeouts in the regional. The offense car-
ried the load much of the season when the pitching was finding its footing, but the OSU bats never found rhythm in either game. See Scar on 3
Trevino’s Tidbits
What would the ‘perfect’ new Big 12 look like in conference realignment
Gabriel Trevino Staff Reporter
Courtesy of Tulsa World Following the Court’s decision that the two abortion bans were unconstitutional, Gov. Stitt released a statement expressing his disappointment in the Court’s ruling.
Oklahoma Supreme Court rules two abortion bans unconstitutional Emilee Norton Staff Reporter
Justice v. Drummond, 2023 the state of Oklahoma, stuOK 24, 9,— P.3d—, finding dents attending Oklahoma an “inherent right of a preg- State University hold differnant woman to terminate a ent opinions regarding the pregnancy when necessary Court’s recent decision. On May 31, the to preserve her life,” we find Junior political science Oklahoma Supreme Court these two statutes to also be major, Ryan Jasper, is pasblocked two laws banning unconstitutional,” according sionate that life begins beabortion in the state of to the Oklahoma Supreme fore birth, therefore, everyOklahoma passed by the Court. one has a right to life. Only Oklahoma Legislature and Following the decision, under the exceptions of rape, signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt incest or preservation of the in 2022. First, a Senate bill Gov. Stitt released a statement that same day expressmother’s life does he think it prohibiting abortion after ing his disappointment in the could be understandable. a heartbeat is detected and Court’s ruling. “The decisions make secondly, a bill passed by “I again wholeheartme feel disappointed, but the House of Representatives edly disagree with the mostly at our lawmakers,” banning abortion in most Oklahoma Supreme Court’s Jasper said. “What I would cases. use of activism to create a like to see is our legislature Petitioners brought right to an abortion in Oklatry again with better legislaattention to the bills, achoma,” Gov. Stitt said. “As tive language that would be cusing them of being unconstitutional, in which the Governor, I will continue to constitutional and also make do my part to fight to protect sense with exceptions that I Oklahoma Supreme Court the lives of the unborn.” have already expressed my has agreed. As the argument support for.” “Pursuant to this revolving around the nature Court’s decision in Oklahoma Call for Reproductive of abortion continues across See Unconstitutional on 6
Former Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby doesn’t get enough of the credit he deserves. Two months after OU and Texas announced it would leave the conference, he found four replacements to keep the conference alive and well and ensured its future. In 2022 when he handed the reins to commissioner Brett Yormark, Yormark continued to take the conference realignment spotlight on the Big 12 to present day, with rumors of future expansion with Pac-12 schools as well as Gonzaga and UConn for basketball. As it enters a new era, how the Big 12 will continue to expand is the biggest question around the conference. Well, I have my own answer. Some ground rules: Keep the Big 12 at 12 teams. Even though there will be 14 teams next season, let’s not make that permanent and have to change the name of the conference. Let’s stay at 12. Second, keeping OU and Texas in the conference would be too easy. They’re gone, and there’s no changing that, no matter how much of the Big 12’s identity they almost single handedly hold. Step 1: You got the wrong school from Utah. Swap Cougars for Utes.
BYU was, and still is, an appealing add to the conference. The brand is transcendent of sports, and the alumni base is massive, but with the Pac-12’s future in jeopardy, take advantage and get Utah. For football — by far the most important from a business and competitive view — Utah has been a perennial top-25, sometimes top-10, team for the past 10 years. The Utes have been to back-to-back Rose Bowls and are only getting better under 19-year coach Kyle Whittingham. They’re solid in men’s basketball and below average in baseball, but are good in women’s basketball, softball, tennis, track and field, cross-country and golf. Step 2: Why stop at Utah? Poach Oregon, Washington and Washington State. The Big 12’s rumored pursuit of Arizona, Arizona State and Colorado hasn’t made much sense. All three are average or below average in almost every sport except one, and if the conference wants to snatch Pac12 schools, why not go after the big names remaining, such as Oregon, Washington and Washington State. Oregon is a massive brand, especially with its backing from Nike. The Ducks are great at football (unless they’re playing Georgia), men’s basketball, women’s basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball. Washington just whooped Texas in the Alamo Bowl and are similar in success with Oregon in other sports. Both have also been to the College Football Playoffs. See Tidbits on 3
File Photo BYU has a major brand and following, but Utah could be the more viable and competitive addition to the Big 12.