DEVIN L. WILBER/O’COLLY
T H E O ’ C O L LY
Coming Home
o c o l ly . c o m N ov. 1 8 , 2 0 1 6
Oklahoma State Linebacker Chad Whitener has gone from walkon to stalwart.
inside: Ford, WBB radio crew remember the four
Page 5: Littell matches Budke in emotional win
page 12: larry Reece recalls ‘Black Friday’
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‘A better perspective’: Whitener’s winding road to OSU BY sa m g r ub en h of f
A
assistant sports editor
4-year old Chad Whitener stood with his feet apart at the far end of his house. His sister, Chavonn, almost 10 years his senior, stood behind him, waiting to unleash the full power a 4-year-old could muster. His father, Charles, was at the other end of the house seated in front of the sofa, using one of its thick cushions to shield himself from what was coming. Chavonn leaned down and whispered in her brother’s ear. “Chad, all right now, what you’re gonna do is you’re gonna run as hard as you can, and then once you get to Dad, just run straight into him,” Chavonn said. “Just run through him, Chad.” He didn’t need to be told twice. Whitener raced across the house at full speed, his legs carrying him as quickly as they could. With his target in sight, he didn’t let up. Like the linebacker he eventually became, Whitener plowed straight into the plush pillow separating him from his father. Laughing, he always got back up and ran back to Chavonn for more coaching. “He would run, and he would hit him, and I’m like, ‘All right, Chad, come back,’” Chavonn said. “‘All right, Chad, you did it. Now you gotta
Devin L. Wilber/O’COLLY
Oklahoma State linebacker Chad Whitener used to participate in BMX, as well as golf. He didn’t start playing football until he was in sixth grade, and the sport came naturally to him.
lower your head, you gotta put your body weight into it. You really gotta come up off your feet when you hit him.’” Then they ran the drill again and again and again until Whitener got too tired. Eighteen years later, Whitener doesn’t tire often. As a starting linebacker for Oklahoma State, he is conditioned not to. But the lessons he learned and the values he was taught growing up with his sister, father and mother, Reiko, have stuck with him and stand out among his peers and coaches. Those lessons have guided him this far, across three states, two colleges and one year sitting out of the game he loves.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016
When he takes the field Saturday against TCU, little more than a year after a matchup with the same opponent vaunted him into the national spotlight and only 24 miles from where he made a name for himself in high school, his family will be there, cheering him on from the stands. They always are. ‘All life was’ Whitener grew up in Mansfield, Texas, a suburban community about 30 minutes south of Dallas and Fort Worth. The city has five high schools and enough fast food joints to service them twice over. On Friday nights in the fall, they’re abuzz with people clamoring to grab a quick bite before heading
over to Vernon Newsom Stadium, the city’s 11,000seat multipurpose football field. It’s a far cry from Boone Pickens Stadium or any of the others Whitener has played in since joining the collegiate ranks, but it’s where he made his mark, playing for Mansfield High School. All the while, his parents watched every game from the stands. Despite the stadium’s grandiose size, Mansfield should not be confused for the legendary small Texas towns where daily life revolves around closing early Friday to climb high atop steel bleachers to cheer on a 1A powerhouse. Instead, it’s a town twice the size of Stillwater. Its chief export comes from
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an electronics warehouse north of downtown instead of a football field. The list of the best players to come out of Mansfield is a short one. Only Washington Redskins receiver Josh Doctson, who played for Mansfield Legacy, was a first-round pick in the NFL draft, and he graduated two years before Whitener. Thus, with little football culture, unlike many of his contemporaries, Whitener didn’t always play football. From the time he was 6 until he reached sixth grade, Whitener raced BMX bikes. He was no slouch either, earning sponsorships and a global ranking. “He was pretty good on a bike,” Charles said. “He was real good.” Whitener’s prowess set a precedent for what was to come. The work ethic Charles, a former Marine, instilled in his son enabled him to achieve it. When Whitener decided to move on from BMX in sixth grade, his parents supported the decision. They always did. He decided to take up golf, and he was good at that, too. Within 18 months, he shot a 74 from the most difficult tee box on a local course. Whitener took up football about the same time, though he said it was only a way to get out of the house and be with his friends at the time. “I just started it ’cause all my friends were playing and stuff,” Whitener
said. “It was just something to talk about back in the day whenever we thought that was all life was. It was nice. It was just something to do.” Charles said Whitener won a youth league championship shortly after taking up the sport, but it seemed as if that wasn’t where his son’s heart was. “He said it was good and it was fun, but he just didn’t want to do that,” Charles said. In middle school, Whitener couldn’t commit to one sport. He wanted to play football and golf. Chavonn, who was a two-sport athlete in high school and a former college basketball player at the University of Texas at Dallas, said she thought she might have something to do with that desire. For a year, it worked, Charles said, until the school took the decision out of Whitener’s hands. Scheduling issues prevented Whitener from playing two sports, and he ended up playing football full time. Gradually, Whitener fell in love with the sport. He dedicated the same passion and effort to it that he had given to BMX and golf, and he was rewarded handsomely for his efforts. After totaling 145 tackles and 15 tackles for loss as a senior, Whitener accepted a scholarship to play football for the Cal Golden Bears. Whitener said it was an easy deciSTORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 3
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sion at the time. “The academics out there is incredible,” Whitener said. “The staff that recruited me out there originally, they put a lot of guys in the league. When I visited it, it was everything you could really want out of a California school.” The problem was, Whitener didn’t want a California School. Make or break Right away, things in California were different. Berkeley turned out to be everything the recruiting trip wasn’t. The air was colder, the protestors more plentiful and Whitener was far from home.
“I’m open-minded, but people out there, there’s just so much crazy stuff that happens on campus,” Whitener said. “I know you’ve seen stuff about the rioting, and there’s like all this different stuff out there. It’s just so different compared to how it is here.” It didn’t help the coach who recruited Whitener, Jeff Tedford, was fired and replaced with Sonny Dykes after the season had ended, and Whitener was locked into his letter of intent. Despite the unexpected, Whitener packed up and headed to Cal. His family packed, too, and headed for their son’s first game halfway across the country. The longstanding tra-
dition of support was far from over, as Whitener’s family did its best to make California feel like home. “We went to Berkeley, we went Oregon, went to Washington, L.A., wherever, Arizona,” Charles said. “Wherever he played, we went.” In limited playing time, Whitener finished an uneventful freshman season with six tackles, three of which came in a game against USC. After a year, Whitener realized the fit wasn’t right. Something wasn’t working. It wasn’t the workload, the early hours or anything else his sister warned him of before he left for college. It was something else. He was too far from
home. So heeding her words, Whitener sought new perspective. Chavonn said the idea was something she tried to stress to her younger brother growing up. “I think a person’s perspective on a situation really determines if it makes or breaks them,” Chavonn said. “So whenever I had the opportunity, I would always talk to him about being able to find a better perspective.” His mind made up, Whitener made a phone call. Charles picked up on the other end. “Dad, I don’t like it here,” Whitener said. “I don’t want to be here anymore.” His father’s response
was short but affirming. “You don’t have to.” ‘The big picture’ The look on Glenn Spencer’s face was pure awe, Charles said. On an official visit to OSU, Whitener effortlessly recounted plays and concepts as quickly as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator could draw them up. “He’s a very intelligent young man,” Spencer said. “You know that talking to him, very mature, sees the big picture. Very coachable, don’t have to tell him a lot how when I want something done, and he’s great with people around him.” After finishing out the year at Cal, Whitener had
renounced his scholarship and come home to Texas. He still wanted to play football, but he would have to sit out a year wherever he went in accordance with NCAA transfer rules. That in mind, he called an old friend. Whitener played football with Cowboys offensive lineman Zach Crabtree since sixth grade. Crabtree signed with OSU coming out of high school, and when Whitener called, he said the advice Crabtree offered was simple. “I asked him for an honest opinion of how the coaching staff was here, especially on defense,” STORY CONTINUEs on page 4
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Whitener said. “He said, from what he’s gotten from seeing how the guys react to them and how they talk to everybody, they coach hard, which they do, but they’re very honest, and they honestly care about your well-being, how you are off the field as well.” Although Whitener had two other schools on his list, TCU and Texas, his decision was easy. It was OSU. “That’s just something I really wanted to be a part of,” Whitener said. “It’s really a family here.” He leaned on that family while he waited for his op-
portunity. Between his final game with Cal and his first with OSU, Whitener waited 649 days to play football again. As a walk-on, he had no scholarship, and he could work with only the practice squad while his teammates struggled to a 7-6 finish in 2014. “That’s like the most growing I’ve done as a person ’cause I’ve never not played,” Whitener said. “Ever since I was little, I’ve always started. Coming here, just being a normal guy basically on the team, you really just learned to deal with yourself more than just letting your sport talk for you
and everything else.” After his eligibility was reinstated for the 2015 season, Whitener didn’t have to wait long for his first start. In the Cowboys’ fifth game against Kansas State, senior starter Ryan Simmons suffered a torn medial collateral ligament and posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Serving as Simmons’ backup, Whitener’s number was called. He hasn’t relinquished the spot since. ‘The signal-caller’ Before the game against Central Michigan on Sept. 10, Whitener sat before his locker listening to a collec-
tion of Drake, Future and 21 Savage. Leaned up against the locker’s frame was the Big Stick. A scaled up homage of the Paddle People’s signature paddle, the Big Stick is as much a testament to a player’s leadership ability as it is a metaphor for how hard he was going to hit you. After waiting nearly two years for his opportunity, after being stripped of almost everything he worked for, Whitener was proving his worth. His 11 tackles and fumble recovery against West Virginia in 2015 kept the Cowboys alive in a trap game. His two interceptions against
TCU the same season sealed the Cowboys’ 10th win of the season. In offseason meetings, he was one of the first to speak up. He earned the respect of his teammates more quickly than most. “He’s feisty,” senior safety Jordan Sterns said. “He’s smart. That’s the one thing. Chad’s an extremely smart guy. He really keeps the defense goin’, and he’s pretty much the signal-caller. I would say he’s what holds us together. He’s a great leader.” Neither Whitener’s leadership nor his success comes as much of a surprise to his father. It’s how he raised his son. He was raised to
be smart, courageous and disciplined. “He just naturally leads people,” Charles said. “He stands up for what’s right. He doesn’t mind making a decision, make an assessment about what needs to be done. Make a good assessment and then call the play. If it’s a bad play, don’t call that one again. “Call another one.” Sam Grubenhoff is a sports media senior from Mansfield, Texas. He can be reached at sports.ed@ ocolly.com. Follow Sam: @ghoff17
Cowboys try to stay focused as they head to TCU to it,” defensive tackle Vincent Taylor said. Mike Gundy has worked But some players, such hard to make sure his as quarterback Mason players aren’t looking too Rudolph, said there is no far ahead. trouble keeping the BedWith a Bedlam match lam game far from their looming in Norman, Gun- minds. Rudolph said he is dy, the coach at Oklahoma so absorbed in preparing State (8-2 overall, 6-1 Big for the Horned Frogs (5-4, 12), wants his players to 3-3) he hardly has time to be focused on the game think about anything else. against TCU on Saturday “We’ve got to play in Fort Worth, Texas. a great defense in Fort For the most part, Worth on Saturday,” players have imbibed the Rudolph said. “That’s the message, but information biggest issue on my mind in this era is so pervasive, right now. Making sure it can be hard to escape. I’m prepared and this ofWhether it’s on Twitter or fense is primed and ready the TV, players are going to go put on a big show.” to see rankings eventually. In TCU, the Cowboys “My TV stay on ESPN, will face the 12th-best so it’s gonna be hard for offense in the nation. This me not to watch (The is nothing new for the College Football Playoff Cowboys. Of the top 20 rankings), but I’m gonna offenses in the country, try to not pay attention seven are Big 12 teams. BY c h andl er ve sse ls S p ort s ed itor
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016
they have similar games with each other.” Going into Fort Worth, the Cowboys will have something on their side that wasn’t there last year: chemistry. Gundy said the team is the closest he has ever seen. “Each week I talk to them about the importance of focus, and fortunately, we’ve had big wins,” Gundy said. “Last night, I said, ‘You Devin L. Wilber/O’Colly only got here by bustOklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph is focused on TCU ahead of the Cowboys’ matchup in Fort Worth, Texas. ing your butt, overcoming deficiencies, finding Last week, OSU kept the similar to what they did answers, practicing hard nation’s No. 2 offense, against Mahomes to slow and preparing for the next Texas Tech, relatively in TCU’s offense, which game.’ They buy into that. check. scored 62 points against This team, from a chemTCU’s Kenny Hill is Baylor in the Horned istry standpoint, has come similar to Tech’s Patrick Frogs’ past game. further in the last month Mahomes in that they are “Keep him in the pocket and a half than any team both dual-threat quarterand don’t let him scramI’ve ever seen.” backs. The Cowboys will ble,” Taylor said. “They’re Bedlam is there, though, look to employ a tactic two different players, but peering over the CowOCOLLY.COM
boys’ shoulder. If OSU can get past TCU, the Big 12 title is within its reach. Taylor said it is hard to ignore at times, but doing so will be crucial to their success. “Coming into practice on Sunday, that’s one of the things coach Gundy talked about,” Taylor said. “Don’t believe what the outside people say because one minute they love you, one minute they hate you. Right now, we just focused on TCU and we’ll be ready for Bedlam next week.” Chandler Vessels is a sports media senior from Moore. He can be reached at sports.ed@ocolly.com. Follow chandler: @chandlervessels
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Littell matches Budke’s win total on somber night began his opening statement, careful not to say John and Mary Margaanything about the Four, ret Budke are a bit older sticking to only basketnow and can’t stand up ball and his thoughts on and cheer as much as they the game. However, the used to. questions were inevitable, A couple of times a and when they were asked, year, they’re able to make Littell let out a small sigh it down to Stillwater and and did his best. Gallagher-Iba Arena to see “It was a tough day for the Oklahoma State Cowme and a lot of people that girls play. Thurday night, knew coach (Budke) and they couldn’t miss it. Miranda,” Littell said. “I Although they sat most told our kids we’re in this of the game, they stood all together and that the up for the most imporonly thing that was worse tant part: the celebration than their playing was my of their son who died in coaching tonight.” a plane crash five years Littell jested about his earlier. coaching, thinking it was Kurt Budke, Miranda the reason the team played Serna, and Olin and sluggishly Thursday night, Paula Branstetter were the but Loecker only shook names that came on the her head no. It was about screen suspenended above more than a basketball Eddie Sutton Court. They game, which the whole were the names that sat on community knew. Loyola paintings outside the lobMarymount did what it by. They were four names came to do, and Loecker that had been gone for an said it was up to her and “unbelievable five years,” Omozee as seniors to public address announcer make sure the night wasn’t Larry Reece said. spoiled for their coach and Devin L. Wilber/O’COLLY Most moments involving the Budke family. Jim Littell, the Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach, holds back tears as he claps in death call for a moment “I had to step up,” celebration of the four lives lost on Nov. 17, 2011, including Littell’s friend, Kurt Budke. of silence to allow for Loecker said. “I’m a coach against Loyola third game of the season. Littell came into the mourning. However, like senior, and I know I had to Marymount, a team that However, this one was postgame media confereveryone Budke touched take responsibility.” on any other day most different. With the 66-58 ence flanked by his two over the years, they knew On what was the night likely would have been victory, Littell earned his four-year seniors, Katehe wouldn’t have wanted of Loecker’s first career done away with easily. Not 112th win as the coach of lyn Loecker and Diana it, so instead, they stood double-double, she was this day, not Nov. 17. the Cowgirls, tying Budke Omozee. It’s usually a up and applauded in an just happy the Cowgirls Through two hours, for second-most all-time. ritual for the coach to effort to “Celebrate the were able to pull out a the undefeated Cowgirls Many a coach would come out with his seniors win at such an emotional Four.” struggled to put away the have looked at that win on Senior Day, so the Everyone cheered, time. She and Omozee sat including Budke’s friend, winless Lions and eventu- as a benchmark, a symbol coach could support his in silence for most of the ally had to come back to to show his or her system players through an emoJim Littell, who had to interview as they let Litattain a victory that would was working. Not Littell, tional day. Thursday night, tell speak about his fallen remove his glasses and seem uneventful for most he only wanted Budke Littell needed Loecker and friends. On a night he wipe his eyes afterward. He still had a game to teams playing only their back. Omozee for support. He didn’t want it to be about BY j or dan bis h op d es i g n ed itor
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him, Littell felt he needed to apologize for how close the game was. He said the program Budke built and Littell has maintained was an exemplary one and wished it looked better Thursday night than it did. “I know our players on a day that we were celebrating lives would have enjoyed playing a lot better, but it didn’t happen,” Littell said. The room became less morbid when Littell talked about the memorial for the Four planned to open in the spring right outside of the arena. He said it would be a “very nice” tribute to some incredible people. Littell didn’t want to say much more as he stared down at his paper full of stats, holding back a few tears before he looked up, glad the interview was over, morose that his friend wasn’t there to see along the program he had built. “(Budke is) a man that revitalized this program,” Littell said. “I’m appreciative of him for bringing me here with him and giving me an opportunity. “I miss my friends. I love them very much.” Jordan Bishop is a sports media senior from Elmore City. He can be reached at design.ed@ ocolly.com. Follow jordan: @jordanbishop35
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‘A CELEBRATION OF LIFE’ Five years later, Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna, and Olin and Paula Branstetter are not forgotten
PHOTO COURTESY OF OKLAHOMA STATE ATHLETICS
FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ‘REMEMBER THE FOUR’ CRASH
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‘the Orange Jacket’: Blazer a symbol for Ford’s admiration after his time at OSU ended. The walls are blue and bare. Frames rest against them ST. LOUIS — Travis Ford waiting to be hung. stared into his nearly empty Ford’s fire remains. He locker in Gallagher-Iba worries it comes to light Arena. All that was left was too often. Budke always did the orange blazer. such a good job of remainHe packed most of what ing calm. He was what Ford he collected during the past eight years. Some items were strives to be. “I always wanted to do tossed aside. Other pieces would go with him, wherever better,” Ford said. “I can lose his next step was. They were my cool way too much and memories to carry forward as show my emotions too much at times. I can’t tell you how his tenure as the Oklahoma State men’s basketball coach many times, as a coach, after came to a somewhat expected he passed, that I would think, ‘Man, I want to be like him.’” but painful end. Ford is still searching for Ford knew he should the right phrases. Half a deleave the bright, almost neon cade before, he left so much orange blazer hanging inside, unsaid. but he couldn’t leave the “Words can’t express how memories, too. much I thought of him as a In Oklahoma, in Stillperson,” Ford said. “I think water, in the arena where about him, I think about Kurt Budke once tramped alongside the benches of Ed- him a lot. I don’t think he probably knew how much I die Sutton Court in his own admired him.” orange blazer, Ford left a jacket that came to symbolize The genuine giant the appreciation of a friend Kurt Budke had no trouble he never said goodbye to. Instead, he said goodbye to proving he belonged in Stillwater. the jacket. “As long as you’re genuine, Five years ago Thursyou’re in,” Larry Reece day, Budke, then the OSU women’s basketball coach, as said. “And Kurt Budke was genuine.” well as assistant coach MiReece is the public address randa Serna and donors Olin announcer for OSU’s football and Paula Branstetter, died in a plane crash in Perryville, and men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as Arkansas. a senior associate athletic For the second time in a director for development. He decade, OSU was left to ask a question that too often goes watched Budke weave his way into a community he has unanswered: “Why?” spent more than two decades Five years later, Ford has no answer. He sits in his new in. In 2008, Budke’s third seaoffice inside Chaifetz Arena son, as the Cowgirls braced at Saint Louis University, where he was hired 12 days to face No. 6 Oklahoma in
Ford listened to improve as a coach. “I would actually check myself at times and say, ‘Man, that’s not how he would do it. … He’d be disappointed in me right now. I’m losing my mind over here,’” Ford said. “I wish I could do it like he did it.”
BY nathan ru iz Edi to r-in -chie f
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016
‘This just can’t be’
For Travis and Heather Ford, the phone call came at 4 a.m. Nov. 18, 2011. Angela Iven, the Fords’ neighbor and wife of OSU team physician Val Gene Iven, got a call from her husband, who was in Iowa with OSU’s football team, telling her about the plane crash. After a 2001 plane crash killed 10 members of the Cowboy basketball family, Iven, even in her weary state, devin l. wilber/O’COLLY was stunned. “I was asleep and just in Travis Ford, Oklahoma State’s former men’s basketball coach, wore an orange blazer for disbelief,” she said. “This each Bedlam home game after Kurt Budke’s death. Budke helped Ford adjust to life at OSU. just couldn’t happen again to most. front of the biggest women’s replaced Sean Sutton as the OSU.” When it came to his team, basketball crowd in Gallagh- OSU men’s coach. In the She called her neighbors, same way OSU welcomed Budke was in command of er-Iba Arena history, Budke figuring they might know Budke, Budke extended a any situation. His players premiered a bright orange something given Ford’s posirespected him because he blazer. That night, OSU upset hand to Ford. tion. Instead, she was the one Their careers took similar respected them. He knew the Sooners 82-63. who delivered the news of how to approach them and “That orange jacket kind of arcs to OSU. They both bethe four deaths. connect with them. Despite summarizes how he became gan at small schools, Budke “We thought there was at Kansas City Community a resounding energy, he a Cowboy and an OSU persome confusion,” Ford said. College and Ford at Campremained calm. son from the get-go,” Reece “‘Somebody’s got something bellsville University. Even He and Ford had daily con- wrong. This just can’t be.’” said. “I think people loved beyond the court, their fami- versations about basketball. seeing him in that. I’ll never Ford called Keiton Page, forget it. When I picture him, lies matched. Three children: Ford doesn’t remember the the Cowboys’ captain. Page two sons, one daughter. last time they spoke. He only was used to receiving early I see him that way, in that In Budke, Ford saw a man knows it was about the game morning calls from his coach, orange blazer, that bright they love. orange blazer. He was proud and coach he wanted to be. but 4:30 a.m. was too early The 6-foot-4 Budke’s They often attended each to wear it.” for even Ford. dominating physical presence other’s practices. Ford sat in Soon, the orange jacket Ford told Page to round was not something Ford, at awe watching Budke work. and Budke became synonyup the players and head to 5-9, could imitate. Budke’s The Cowgirls listened to mous. STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 The next season, Ford demeanor appealed to him Budke to improve as players. OCOLLY.COM
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Gallagher-Iba Arena. In speaking with team trainer Jake Manzelmann, Page learned what happened to Budke, Serna and the Branstetters. He prepared himself and notified his teammates of the conversation that was coming. Page said he doesn’t remember Ford’s words once he gathered the team in its locker room, but he remembers the message. “He had told us that we need to do everything in our power to be with our girls’ program and their families and the coaching staff,” Page said. “We just all tried to huddle around each other and be there for each other during that time.” At 9 a.m., several miles east of Gallagher-Iba Arena, Iven visited the Budkes’ home. Friends of the family were there visiting Budke’s wife, Shelley, and their three children, Sara, Alex and Brett. At some point, Ford was among them. He wanted to endlessly support the Budkes and the Cowgirls. He rented the Stillwater bowling alley for the men’s and women’s teams. Come Christmastime, Heather Ford put up trees in the locker rooms. Ford, though, wanted to find a way to honor Budke. He strived to be more like him as a coach, a father and a person. He thought of his favorite memories of Budke. Watching him spend time with his parents when they visited for games. Seeing him hug Shelley after a win. The moments he spent with his children. “If there’s an example of how to enjoy college coaching, he would be it,”
discussed the jacket. Page has thought it might be nice to give to Brett and Alex, who is now a graduate assistant for the Cowboys. Reece understands if it ends up with the Budkes, but he wouldn’t mind having it back; he wants to wear it for Bedlam games at Gallagher-Iba Arena. “I’m proud of the way Travis handled it,” Reece said. “I’m proud of the fact that he wore that bright orange blazer in Kurt Budke’s honor.” Reece and Page see similarities between the former OSU coaches. Their recruiting skills. Their basketball courtesy of oklahoma state athletics intelligence. Their passion Miranda Serna, center, and Kurt Budke, second from right, died in a plane crash Nov. 17, for the game and for their 2011. Budke premiered a bright orange blazer in the Cowgirls’ 2008 upset of Oklahoma. players. Ford said. “He just seemed intertwined history with “Their alikes were easy to to have it together and the blazer. spot,” Page said. never seemed panicked, The Cowboys won BedYet Ford is left with mesnever seemed rattled. Great lam 72-65. teacher, great motivator. “It was almost like you sages undelivered. He yearns “There’s so many difwere out playing for anSearching for the words to be better, trying to emulate ferent visions, but it’s that other purpose,” Page said. More often than not, one Words can’t a man he can no longer orange jacket, probably.” Ford continued to bring of Page’s postgame texts was watch, a friend he can no express how much out the blazer for Bedlam from Budke. I thought of him longer see every day. ‘Playing for another home games. It became The messages provided enas a person. I think “That whole thing is just purpose’ an opportunity to teach his couragement, reinforcement about him a lot. I As the Cowboys’ first players about Budke, Serna or congratulations, whatever hard to explain, it really is,” don’t think he home Bedlam game after and the Branstetters’ place Budke felt Page needed. Ford said. “It still messes probably knew Budke’s death approached, in OSU history. In Budke and Ford, he had with me. It still just …” how much I an idea came to Ford. In later years, the mestwo father figures. Ford pauses, a deep breath admired him.” He decided the best way sage was more palpable. When Page, now the Cowgiving him time to search for to honor his friend was with Budke’s name was already boys’ assistant director of Travis Ford the right words. the symbol that reflected in the room. Former OSU men’s coach, player development, walked “He was such a good guy. Friend of Kurt Budke him most: the orange blazer. Budke’s older son, Alex, into the Cowboys’ emptying Great guy. It’s still hard.” He needed to find one to walked onto the OSU coaches’ locker room and wear first. men’s basketball team at saw a symbol of both hangReece about borrowing his Nathan Ruiz is a In the early 2000s, Bob ing in Ford’s locker, he felt jacket, Reece was supportive Ford’s suggestion in 2012. sports media/sports manSherrer, then the president of of the idea. Brett Budke joined the team compelled. agement senior from Reno, the Tom James Company and With trash bags scattered Ford kept the jacket hidden as a manager in 2014. Nevada. He can be reached an OSU alumnus, presented “Man, that presence,” around the room and other until minutes before tipoff. several OSU administrators Ford said. “I didn’t do a good lockers not quite emptied out, at editorinchief@ocolly. When he revealed it to the com. with bright orange blazers. enough job telling them how Page took it. team, the Cowboys’ elders, Reece was among those who like Page, understood its much it meant that they were The orange blazer sits in F o l l o w n at h a n : significance. Newcomers received a blazer. a part of it.” his closet. @ n at h a n s r u i z were told about Budke’s Page and Reece have When Ford approached Phil Forte, a fifth-year se-
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016
nior guard for the Cowboys, watched Ford don the blazer for four years. The meaning never dulled. “That’s something that’s bigger than basketball,” Forte said. “That kind of stuff meant a lot to him, and he, I think, made us realize how much more important that stuff is. Like, this is a game. Basketball’s just a game, and stuff like that is so much more important.” Ford figures he won’t do much, if anything, regarding the Four this year in his new position at Saint Louis, but that doesn’t mean he won’t remember. Only a phone call away, he keeps Shelley and the Budke children on his mind, especially as the anniversary approaches. “They’re always a part of my life, and I’m here for them in any way possible” Ford said. “I want them to know I’m thinking about them.”
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the b roadcasters
re m e m b er th e four
voices of cowgirl basketball remember fallen friends BY j ordan bis h op
the court, but both of them remember the most morbid The white maple wood of time coming Nov. 18, 2011, the morning after. Eddie Sutton Court will be Kendrick wanted to go on illuminated Thursday night, a fishing trip in Eufaula that the bright tungsten lights of morning. What he thought Gallagher-Iba Arena shining was an alarm woke him, off it. For the Oklahoma but it turned out to be Bill State women’s basketball Annan, then the Cowgirls’ team, it will be another day director of player developof work, another game. ment. It took a few calls Before they can tip off, from Annan for Kendrick to players from either team, along with everyone else in realize something was up. An airplane on a recruitthe arena, will be asked to ing trip in Arkansas with look up toward the AmeriCowgirl coaches Kurt can flag. Most will think Budke and Miranda Serna, nothing of it — another naalong with Paula Branstetter tional anthem — but at least and her husband, Olin, the two men will be looking at pilot, crashed on the way to the banner next to the flag. Little Rock, Arkansas. No A banner with the names of one survived. four people ingrained in the Shocked, Kendrick texted darkest day of the program Gum, who had just gotten they love but now can only off the phone with Annan bring to life through remihimself. niscence and conversation. “I remember Casey texted Kevin Gum and Casey me not 20 minutes after Kendrick will see the bancoach Annan had called, ner and think of a morning and the exact words were, where the court was dark, ‘What the hell just hapthe lights out and the arena pened?’” Gum said. silent aside from the creakKendrick and Gum ing of the wood and the headed over to Shelley pounding of heavy hearts. Budke’s house to meet That morning was five with Annan, director of years ago. operations Amber Carter and then-assistant coach ‘What the hell just Jim Littell. The Budkes had happened?’ received word only a few Gum and Kendrick have hours earlier and were in the been together on the radio covering Cowgirl basketball back of the house. Realizing there wasn’t much they for more than 20 years, or could do, the coaching staff about half as long as the and the radio crew knew program has been around, they had to go tell the team, Gum as the play-by-play announcer and Kendrick as which hadn’t heard yet. “Part of the reason I dethe color commentator. cided to go to Gallagher-Iba They have seen the prowas because we didn’t feel gram evolve from the lowest like we were serving much lows to the highest highs on des i gn editor
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2016
Courtesy of Oklahoma State Athletics
Casey Kendrick (left) and Kevin Gum have been on the radio for the Cowgirl basketball team for more than 20 years.
purpose there,” Kendrick said. “Shelley hadn’t known for very long herself. She was surrounded by family, and it just felt like we should let them be together and probably head on with the coaching staff.” When the group arrived at the arena, it was about 5:30 a.m., and the players had gathered in the locker room, unsure of what prompted such an early meeting. Gum, Kendrick and the coaching staff said a prayer before walking into the locker room. Littell said he had to compose himself before telling the women the worst news of his life. “Coach Littell just walked out, and he said to the kids that coach Budke and coach Serna had gone on a plane trip to Arkansas to visit a couple of recruits and … that the plane didn’t make it,” Gum said. “Those were the words
he used. ‘The plane didn’t make it.’”
The hardest night
Over the years, Gum and Kendrick, along with members of the Oklahoma State family, have remembered that night every November. None of the weeks leading up to the anniversary are easy, especially when calling a game at that time. But no matter how difficult, it will never compare to the first time the two had to call a game without Budke and Serna on the home team bench. OSU canceled the next two games after the crash to allow the community to mourn. Gum said true healing didn’t start until the Cowgirls hit the court again with their first game back, against Coppin State. Gum said no one cared what the outcome of the game was. It seemed trivial because after
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all, it was only a game. Gum almost fell apart at the beginning of the broadcast when he went to fill in his scoresheet he maintained throughout every game. “I remember having to write Jim Littell’s name at the top of that sheet instead of Kurt Budke, and that was the first time that it was kind of tough on me,” Gum said. “I began to think, ‘Why?’ But I just kind of had to push through it.” Although it was a miserable night, Gum and Kendrick still had a job to do. The duo said they made it through, though they both fought to keep from breaking down in tears. “I don’t think I have ever truly shed a tear on air with exception to that ball game,” Kendrick said. “At the end of that game, the players came over, and they all one by one went into the stands and hugged Shelley Budke. To watch that interaction, it was directly behind us, it was a point that I actually lost it. I couldn’t hardly get through the broadcast; it was extremely difficult. I’ve never been emotional on the air before. Kevin and I just navigated that as best we could. There’s not a manual for that.” When the Cowgirls play Thursday night and every Nov. 17 after, Gum and Kendrick will remember the Four. They will remember that dark, early morning and the emotional roller-coaster season afterward that culminated in a WNIT championship
with Shelley Budke cutting down the net. They will remember the resolve and strength Littell had during that year and how he’s handled the past five seasons. But most of all, when looking at that banner next to the flag, they will remember the good times, the ones that truly keep Serna and Budke alive for one more broadcast. “There will be some happy memories because that’s what they would want,” Gum said. “You’ve got to suck it up because Kurt would tell you to suck it up. ... It has to become at some point a celebration of life more than the mourning of passing of friends like that. I really believe if you knew Kurt and Miranda that that’s what they would be telling you from heaven. ‘Let’s make it a celebration,’ so that’s what we will do.” Jordan Bishop is a sports media senior from Elmore City. He can be reached at design.ed@ ocolly.com. Follow jordan: @jordanbishop35
want more info? To get more Remember the Four coverage: A letter from Shelley Budke and a story containing memories about Budke and Serna are on ocolly.com/sports.
PAGE 4
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PAGE 11
cowgirl basketball
s p o rt s
Reece still trying to wrap mind around tragedy has returned, Reece said. He sees a lot of similarities between Budke and Brad Within 10 steps out of Underwood, OSU’s new Jack Trice Stadium, Larry men’s basketball coach. Reece no longer cared “They’re both Kansas about the result of a footguys,” Reece said. “Big ball game. guys with big personaliThe Oklahoma State ties.” football team had lost to Underwood has quickly Iowa State on Nov. 18, immersed himself in the 2011, ending its perfect Cowboy family, much like season and easy road to Budke did. But there is no the national championship replacement. game, but Reece, the Cow“We can never fill the boys’ public address anvoid that he left,” Reece nouncer for home games, said. “You try to get your had more on his mind. mind around it, but here That morning, Reece we are five years later, and his wife, Renee, stayed and I don’t have my mind with a friend in Iowa. They around it.” didn’t have phone service OSU has yet to make until about 8 a.m., when sense of the tragedy. It they got back on the road likely never will. The comfor Ames. munity, though, has been Texts buzzed in on unrelenting in rememberReece’s phone, delivering the Four, and it’s done ing the news that OSU so as a unit. women’s basketball coach Courtesy of OSU Athletics “I think that’s one thing Kurt Budke, assistant Larry Reece, Oklahoma State’s public address announcer, watches the OSU women’s basketball game Thursday. Reece said about Oklahoma State: coach Miranda Serna, and he can’t believe it’s been five years since Kurt Budke, Miranda Serna, and Olin and Paula Branstetter died in a plane crash. When there’s tragedy, we donors Olin and Paula galvanize and we come quickest I’ve gotten over a sure of Jim Littell, tabbed Five years after “Black Branstetter died in a plane the lobby. together,” Reece said. “We to replace Budke at the Friday,” the day the “You can just tell there’s loss,” Reece said. “It just crash the afternoon before. always say we’re a family. Cowgirls’ helm. Littell’s Cowboy family learned it not a single player thinking put life in perspective. It Reece called donor Gary I think we prove it all the was once again a reminder leadership at the time lost four more of its own, about the football game,” Bridwell, who confirmed time, but boy, we really you need to tell the ones reminded Reece of that of Gallagher-Iba Arena is Reece said. “I could just the news. that you love that you love Eddie Sutton, the Cowmissing something, Reece prove it when times are tell that the players were “Just had the wind tough. said. thinking, ‘We’re not going ’em every single time you boys’ coach when a plane sucked out of me,” Re“When we make a promtalk to ’em because you crash killed 10 members of “It has not been the same to see them anymore.’” ece said from his office ise, we keep it. That’s kind the OSU basketball family. around Gallagher-Iba since As the game went on and just never know.” in Gallagher-Iba Arena. of the Cowboy way.” The next morning, “Jim Littell lost not only we lost Kurt Budke and the Cyclones kept up with “Your heart just sunk to Reece was asked to speak his boss; he lost his best Miranda Serna, and the undefeated OSU, Reece your stomach. You just friend,” Reece said. “For Branstetters were great figured the Cowboys were at the memorial. He sat thought, ‘How could this Nathan Ruiz is a down to write what he him to be able to get up fans, so we saw them in playing distracted. When be possible?’” sports media/sports would say, but he couldn’t. and speak at that memoGallagher-Iba all the time,” ISU won in overtime, he When he arrived in management senior Tears streamed down his rial, I thought was remark- Reece said. “You always was heartbroken. Ames, Reece visited the from Reno, Nevada. face. able.” remember Miranda’s smile, It didn’t seem to matCowboys’ team hotel to He can be reached at “I can’t even write this,” Reece somehow manand you could always ter as he left the stadium, pick up his tickets for editorinchief@ocolly. he said to Renee. “How am aged to hold it together hear Kurt Budke coming though; the Budke, Serna the game that night. The com. I gonna say it?” during his speech. He because he was such a big, players, who regularly saw and Branstetter families At the ceremony, Reece figures it was “divine inter- boisterous personality.” did. F o l l o w n at h a n : Budke and Serna around @ n at h a n s r u i z was stunned at the compo- vention.” A bit of that personality “That’s probably the campus, were gathered in
BY nathan ru iz edi to r-in -chie f
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016
OCOLLY.COM
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cowgirl basketball
sp ort s
C ha n d ler V es s el s S p o rt s E dito r
Nat h an R u i z e d i to r- i n- c h i e f
OSU at TCU
OSU 45-35
OSU 41-31
OSU 41-35
OU at West Virginia
OU
OU
OU
West Virginia
Florida at LSU
Florida
LSU
LSU
LSU
Va. Tech at Notre Dame
Va. Tech
Va. Tech
Va. Tech
Va. Tech
USC vs. UCLA
USC
USC
USC
USC
Washington St. at Colorado
Colorado
Colorado
Washington St.
Colorado
Kansas State at Baylor
Kansas State
Kansas State
Kansas State
Kansas State
h ayde n barbe r sp o rt s Re p o rt e r
Madysson Morris P o m Squad Cap tai n
OSU 42-38
Cowboys head to Hawaii for Maui Invitational BY mar shal l s c ot t
Maui invitational bracket
Co py C hief
The Cowboys are going to Hawaii but not for vacation. The Oklahoma State basketball team is headed to the Maui Invitational for the second time. After a fourth-place finish in 2007, the Cowboys will open up the 2016 tournament against Connecticut. “Growing up as a kid and as a basketball fan, you’re always watching the Maui Invitational,” senior guard Phil Forte said. “Always around Thanksgiving, it’s a tournament I’ve always watched growing up. So to be able to play in that is a huge honor. So I’m looking forward to it.” The Cowboys (3-0) head to Hawaii averaging 107
points a game, the thirdhighest average in the country, but the competition level is about to take a step up. The bracket contains three Sweet 16 teams from
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016
All games on ESPn networks
last season and four teams who entered the 2016 season ranked. “Our team hasn’t really been tested against some NCAA Tournament teams yet, so that’ll be a chal-
lenge that we’re looking forward to,” Forte said. “Just take it one game at a time. Go out there and try to get better still. Nothing changes. We have to do what we do and then take
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it one game at a time and go from there.” UConn (1-2) has had a disappointing start to its season. After entering the season at No. 16, UConn has lost to Wagner and Northeastern to start the year. The Huskies are also scoring 65.3 points a game, more than 40 fewer than the Cowboys. “We just have to do what we do,” senior forward Leyton Hammonds said. “Play defense and come out with great energy, intensity, rebound and run in transition. Just do what we do. They’re a great NCAA Tournament team, so we just have to accept the challenge.” The Cowboys will play either No. 5 North Caro-
lina or host Chaminade in the second round, and depending on results could face Tennessee, No. 9 Wisconsin, Georgetown or No. 4 Oregon in the third and final round. “Every night is something new, but we are grasping it,” OSU coach Brad Underwood said. “We are going to go fight for three straight nights, no matter who is on the other bench. “See you in Maui.” Marshall Scott is a sports media junior from Madill. He can be reached at marshgh@ okstate.edu. Follow Marshall: @Marshall_once
PAGE 13
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c owg i r l bask et ball
FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 18, 2016
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Loecker, Cowgirls edge loyola marymount BY matt mccl a in s po rt s r eporter
The Cowgirls needed a spark. In Oklahoma State’s 66-58 victory over Loyola Marymount, Katelyn Loecker was that spark. The senior forward earned her first career double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds. Her contributions were the key to OSU’s success in the fourth quarter. OSU coach Jim Littell said he thought it was Loecker’s best game in her four years at OSU. Loecker scored five points, grabbed four rebounds, stole the ball three times, had two blocks and assisted once in the fourth quarter. That one assist came with 7:47 remaining. Loecker blocked a shot, and Diana Omozee scooped up the loose ball. Omozee passed it back to Loecker in transition. LMU’s Jackie Johnson trailed Loecker, and Mandy Coleman followed Johnson. Loecker flicked her wrist back, and Coleman caught the ball for an easy layup. The score got the Cowgirls (3-0) within one point of the Lions. Omozee said everyone was in the right place at the right time. “I thought that play was a huge play in the outcome of the game,” Littell said. Littell matched former coach Kurt Budke, who died five years ago Thursday, for second place on the program’s all-time wins list with 112. The leader is former coach Dick Halterman with 333 wins.
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Cowgirl senior Katelyn Loecker earned her first career double-double Thursday. She had 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Littell said the Cowgirls played one of the worst third quarters Thursday night a team could play. OSU did not score in the second half until 5:09 remained in the third quarter. In the remaining time, OSU scored six points, went 0-for-4 on 3-pointers and turned the ball over nine times in the period. On the defensive end, the Cowgirls gave up 18 points and four 3-pointers. The Cowgirls recovered, scoring 26 points in the fourth quarter, including 16 points from the free-throw line. “We just had to be more aggressive on defense and just get stops and let that transition into our offense,” Loecker said. “I think that did help us in the fourth.” Kaylee Jensen came into the game averaging a double-double but did not manage the feat Thursday night. She scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Jensen played only six minutes in the fourth
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016
quarter because she was in foul trouble. Overall, Littell said overcoming adversity, including a seven-point deficit with 1:20 left in the third quarter, did more good for his team than a 40-point blowout would have. The Cowgirls’ next matchup is in Pullman, Washington, against Washington State. Littell said OSU needs to work on three things: rebounding, handling ball screens and playing in transition. “We need to be a lot better than we were today,” Littell said. “An ugly win is something that I’m willing to take right now, move on and learn from.” Matt McClain is a sports media sophomore from Kentwood, Michigan. He can be reached at matthew. mcclain@okstate.edu. F o l l o w m at t : @ m at t d m c c l a i n
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Did one part of a typical triathlon 5 Overwhelm 10 Camera output 14 Tuscan waterway 15 Smoothes 16 1899 gold rush town 17 It’s nothing to Noelle 18 Pines, e.g. 19 Wavy lines, in comics 20 Start of a quip 23 Stuff in a sack 24 Dough shortage consequence 27 “Chicago P.D.” detective Lindsay 29 Quip, part 2 34 Speaks 36 Durango day 37 Rotation meas. 38 Quip, part 3 42 Pranks, in a way, informally 43 Browser’s find 44 Privileged groups 45 Quip, part 4 49 Wrapped up 50 See 52-Down 51 Swiss waterway 53 End of the quip 60 Hook for landing large fish 63 Wines named for an Iberian city 64 Pivot around 65 Plot measure 66 Mexican Academy of Film award 67 McCain’s alma mater: Abbr. 68 Casino device 69 Spider’s web, e.g. 70 Jury member DOWN 1 Asian garment 2 Legal paper 3 Once more 4 Yosemite’s El Capitan, e.g. 5 Scrape 6 Affection
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11/18/16
By Alan Olschwang
7 Europe-bound, perhaps 8 Athletic contest 9 “Hey, you!” 10 Common nocturnal disturbance 11 Wordless opinion 12 Te-__: cigar brand 13 __ stirpes: estate law term 21 Good-sized combo 22 First name in childcare writing 25 How many learn 26 High hat 27 Rages 28 Brawl in the sticks 30 Former “Access Hollywood” anchor Nancy 31 When repeated, mutually advantageous 32 Most liked, casually 33 Versatility list 34 Eye opener? 35 Close 39 NW Penn. airport
Thursday’s Puzzle Solved
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40 Ecuadoran gold region 41 Cheers 46 Tuition add-on 47 Abbr. in some Canadian place names 48 LDS part 52 With 50-Across, flier’s option 54 Therapeutic resorts
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55 Ambivalent 56 One of a tenor’s repertoire 57 Word suggesting options 58 Ancient character 59 Sentence component 60 Yakking 61 German gripe 62 One way to sway PAGE 15
h o ros cop e
Daily Horoscope oklahoma state
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SOLUTION TO THURSDAY’S PUZZLE
11/18/16
Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9. For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit
www.sudoku.org.uk © 2016 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2016
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By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (11/18/16). Make long-term plans to fulfill personal and community dreams this year. A professional obstacle next spring could be a blessing in disguise, leading to love and romance. Resolve household issues next autumn to support your blossoming career. Get quiet and listen to your heart. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Prioritize fun and romance over the next two days. Avoid money talk. Things may not go as expected. Travel is better tomorrow. Relax and enjoy the company. Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Household issues demand attention for the next day or two. Misunderstandings could derail a fantasy. Ponder possibilities. Seek help from an unusual source. Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Write, report and share what you’re discovering over the next few days. Gather information and apply it. You don’t have the full picture yet. Keep digging. Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 9 -- Insights arise. Don’t forget an important job. Confirm your intuition with data. Handle financial responsibilities without great discussion over the next two days. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- You’re getting stronger and more sensitive today and tomorrow. Learn from somebody else’s mistakes. Avoid risky business. Don’t believe everything you hear. Fantasy and reality clash. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is a 6 -- Look back for insight on the road ahead. Notice your dreams today and tomorrow. Consider secret wants, wishes and desires. Have patience with garbled communications. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Social events and group activities require participation today and tomorrow. Distractions abound, and it could get awkward. Avoid emotional outbursts or impulsive spending. Keep your humor. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Your focus faces tests and challenges through tomorrow. Career responsibilities call, despite chaos and distraction. Watch your step; keep your eye on the ball, and swing. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is an 8 -- Sparks fly if you don’t watch where you’re going. Stay light on your feet and anticipate changes. An exploration widens today and tomorrow. Avoid traffic. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 9 -- For the next two days, handle financial matters with your partner. New ideas don’t always work. Mistakes could get expensive; hedge your bets. Track the numbers. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is an 8 -- Take turns in different roles with your partner over the next two days. Support each other. Encourage gently; don’t force. Discuss strategies. Keep confidences. Relax together. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Nurture your health, especially when things get busy today and tomorrow. It could seem chaotic or stressful. Listen carefully to distinguish dreams from action items.
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