Friday, September 18, 2020
Will power
Being Stillwater’s mayor isn’t what it used to be
Zoe Boschee Mayor Will Joyce, who doesn't even have an office at city hall, has to lead a city during a pandemic and balance a day job.
little bit different because if the phone rings and it’s the health department or if something comes up, you can’t really ignore it or tell them, ‘I’ll call you back in three hours,’” Joyce Ryan Novozinsky said. “You have things that are a little more pressing.” When it comes to the tasks Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce performs as mayor durJoyce carries a power title, yet can’t even claim an office in city ing a pandemic, it’s all about constant communication. Joyce hall. So much for perks of the job. has to ensure that various large In a normal year, the signifi- organizations across the city cant issues a Stillwater mayor has are engaging in daily chats, and that the information is accurate. to deal with ranges from riding “It is sometimes difficult Oklahoma State’s homecoming parade, a few ribbon-cutting cer- to balance all the competing demands and try to keep up emonies and some city developwith everything and make sure ment and zoning. we’re getting everything going Not in 2020. and having the conversations During the pandemic, we need to have,” Joyce said. Joyce’s name makes national headlines (for the wrong reasons) “From my perspective, my role because of COVID-19 in Stillwa- during the pandemic, a lot of it has been coordinating converter –– but being the mayor isn’t sation, making sure it’s being even his full-time job. “It’s been weird,” Joyce said. shared across different parts of the community, making sure “It’s tough to describe… (Being Stillwater’s mayor) is a pretty de- I’m hearing from the Payne fined set of things that we gener- County Health Department and the hospital and the city and the ally deal with. But this has been schools and the university… entirely unlike what our normal “I think my role is to try set of issues would be.” to aggregate a lot of that and Joyce, a lawyer who serves make sure that communication as general counsel at Stillwaterbased technology company Inter- is not being siloed and make sure people are having those Works in his “day” job, juggles conversations together.” many things in his daily schedule. Usually he’s able to block time off to adhere to his mayoral duties. Not in 2020. See power on page 3 “With COVID, it’s been a
Welcome to the hotel corona A look inside OSU's off-campus quarantine hotel
By Ryan Novozinsky Trevor Rzeszutko sits in his Hampton Inn room, 103 degree fever, suitcase disorganized, comfortable beds and a non-working ethernet port. Oklahoma State University’s director of housing and residential life
Leon McClinton put him in there. “It’s a pretty renovated and updated hotel,” Rzeszutko said of his experience at OSU’s off-campus COVID-19 quarantine hotel room. “It’s fairly nice. You put the trash outside your door and put your laundry outside your door and they’ll do that for you. There’s a shower and bath in here. The ethernet port doesn’t work,
which kind of sucks. Other than that I think it’s kind of alright. There’s no cabinets or anything, it’s just one little closet.” Rzeszutko, who tested positive for COVID-19 through OSU’s university health services on Sept. 9, is one of 34 students currently residing in the university’s quarantine housing. See hotel on page 3
Trevor Rzeszutko An inside look at Trevor Rzeszutko's room at the Hampton Inn in Stillwater, OSU's quarantine hotel.
COVID resurrects the radio stars
Kelly Kerr The OSU theater department is recapturing the 1950s with its production of radio play “War of the Worlds.”
Chase Congleton Oklahoma State University’s department of theatre converted its fall season to accommodate radio plays instead of tra-
IS
ditional staged plays. The department head David Kersnar worked to create shows that would be able to be produced during the pandemic. Once schools started shutting down because of the pandemic back in March, Kersnar had to figure out a backup plan. “What we were trying to do was create a
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424 S. Main • 405.624.3212 • stillwaterfurnitureshowcase.com
season that was COVID proof,” Kersnar said. “At that point, we didn’t know what April was going to look like.” Radio dramas were a staple in American entertainment until the 1950s when television began dominating the market. See radio on page 3
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O’Colly
Photo of the week
What’s in your backpack? Featuring Chloe Mosca- Marketing major at OSU Favorite thing in bag: Crocs. They’re so comfortable and I can just throw them on.
OBU sweatshirt explained: My uncle went to OBU and it’s the most comfortable sweatshirt I have so it always stays in my bag. I work down in the textbook store in the Student Union so it’s always cold down there, so I always bring it.
Many colored pens explained: I color code every class that I’m in, so every class has a color. So it all makes sense in my head.
Lion charger piece: My charger has a lion at the end of it. It’s supposed to protect from wear and tear, but I actually think it makes it worse.
Editorial board
Editor-in-chief Ryan Novozinsky editorinchief@ocolly.com
Photo editor Claire Boomer photo.ed@ocolly.com
News editor Jennifer Maupin news.ed@ocolly.com
Digital editor Chris Becker digital@ocolly.com
Lifestyle editor Chase Congleton entertainment.ed@ocolly.com Design Editor Maddison Farris designt.ed@ocolly.com
Sports editor Sudeep Tumma sports.ed@ocolly.com Advisor John Helsley john.helsley@okstate.edu
Newsroom 108 Paul Miller Stillwater, OK 74078 (405)744-6365
Reporters/photographers Sports reporters: Jospeh Fazio Jared A‘latorre Jacob Sturm Ben Hutchens Sam Hutchens Adam Engle Marcus Trevino Ryan Breeden Lifestyle writers: Christopher Sneed Amelia Jáuregui Maleeha Hameed Jonathan Harrington
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When a student at OSU tests positive or is in contact with another positive student, they are notified by UHS, then residential life will reach out to the student and give them their temporary 10-14 day room assignment on the fourth floor of the hotel. They’re given three meals per day and a daily laundry and trash emptying service. The new amenities at the Hampton Inn intrigued McClinton the most. “The hotel is less than five years old and there was a certain number of beds that we had to have reserve or designated and this hotel was able to meet us in that area,” McClinton said. “So we are able to put up 60 students if we needed to. 60 spaces available for the semester each month, August through November.” With cases in Stillwater still rising, McClinton also has a viable backup plan if the hotel is to meet capacity. “We’ve been in a situation where we have not had to use our spaces on campus, but we have another 380 spaces reserved for quarantine and isolation purposes on campus,” McClinton said. “We have apartments that are not being used in family and graduate student housing. Then we have another suite community where we would put students there too and the reason we chose these communities is so that students would have their own bathrooms.” In mid summer, McClinton met with many local hotels to pin down which one would suit the university best. He considered fast internet, streaming services on television and other comforts before making his decision. After many meetings with hotel partner Vice President Anish Patel, the Hampton Inn finally became the quarantine hotel for OSU students. “Of all our years in the hospitality industry, we have never had to deal with a situation like this and right before the start of the semester there were still many uncertainties,” Patel said. “So, we worked with Leon and the Housing & Residential Life Department at OSU to create a flexible plan and learn as we go together. They have been great to work with and truly care about making sure the students have the best experience possible.” For McClinton and his team however, this process wasn’t seamless. “Behind the scenes, the leadership team just really put a lot of hours,” McClinton said. “We’re used to meeting one day a week for about an hour and a half, but we went through about a three month stretch where we were meeting four days a week. Because there were so many changes every day and we had to meet every day to make adjustments.” But as Rzeszutko sits in his room, coughing but feeling better, he’s eager to see the world again, but appreciative of the university’s temporary housing options. “I’m honestly just waiting to get out, it sucks being in here,” Rzeszutko said. “I guess this is kind of the best-case scenario, it keeps me away from infecting other people and it gives me access to school work and TV to keep me entertained.” editorinchief@ocolly.com
Power... Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce in a more fun, pre-COVID-19 time.
But this journey isn’t only about dealing with reaching national newspapers for his response to crowded bars, backlash from mask mandates or shuffling his schedule around. Joyce felt genuine pain throughout this –– particularly after the city’s first death in early July. “One of those moments that really just kinda hits you and makes the situation all that more real,” Joyce said. “Not that we haven’t been taking it seriously or that we haven’t been concerned, but when somebody from the community dies, it makes you think about the situation a little differently and why it’s so important that we’re taking some of the precautions that we’re taking. “That was certainly a time I had to sit and regroup for a little bit. It was not unexpected, we were sure we’d see it… but seeing a member of the community die it was so difficult to deal with that.” On top of the hardships, Joyce faces frequent criticism. In August, a prepetition circulated online attempting to recall Mayor Joyce and the entire city council. The petition claimed that Joyce and the council members failed “to support, obey and defend the constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma” … They deprived and restricted Stillwater citizens of their “inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and the enjoyment of the GAINS OF THEIR OWN INDUSTRY” … They violated the “freedom of Oklahomans to provide for their health care” … They violated individuals’ “RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS under the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution which no government official can interfere
with, restrict or prohibit” … They mandated people to “surrender their freedoms on the basis of a virus with an approximate 0.004% mortality rate to state control contrary to OSHA guidelines.” Some experts, including former Stillwater Mayor Gina Noble, disagreed with the opinions in this pre-petition and said she’s grateful for Joyce’s leadership during this unprecedented crisis. “Being the mayor in any city right now would be extremely tough,” Noble said. “Mayor Joyce is doing a great job and handling everything with compassion, grace and dignity. I trust him and the city council members to lead us through the many unknowns of the pandemic because they are making decisions based on scientific data.” As things stand right now, Joyce is remaining vigilant when it comes to his virus response. After dealing with the first death and two others after that, Joyce just wants his community to stay safe amid a major public health crisis. Stillwater medical center’s current ICU capacity is 16, the current volume of patients is 8 and its current COVID/PUI is two. The city has 384 active cases, 1,557 total cases, 1,173 recoveries and three deaths. “The more cases there are in our community, the more chance there is for it to jump into a more vulnerable population,” Joyce said. “Right now and earlier in the summer when we had a jump in cases, it’s mainly been among younger folks and we haven’t seen a big jump in hospitalizations or deaths with either of those spikes, but the bigger they get, the more cases there are, the more chances there are for that to go up.
Courtesy of Stillwater government
“There’s just no way around that. So I remain concerned about the growth of the virus. And the thing that bothers me the most… is the argument being made by some of the folks who are getting this disease right now which is ‘I’m not worried about me. I’m not gonna get sick, I’m young, healthy, I should be able to make that decision for myself and risk myself, I’m not worried about it. Quit trying to protect me from this, let me protect myself.’ “That very selfcentered argument being made… that’s a really difficult argument to deal with from a public policy standpoint because it’s hard to convince people that it’s not about them getting sick. Again, when they get sick, they may be fine. The more people in this community that test positive for coronavirus, the more opportunity there is for someone who is not as robust, not as healthy as you to become infected. That is what I think is so frustrating for me right now.” One day this pandemic will end. Life will adjust back to normal and Stillwater’s city issues may return to problems with sewers, school board meetings and ribbon cuttings. But as Joyce has proven this year, he is ready for anything that comes his way. “I think that’s why people elected me to do this job. So I could go to all the meetings they don’t have to be at, so I could have all the conversations they don’t necessarily have to have and then let them know what’s going on,” Joyce said. “To try to do it in the most straightforward, plainspoken way that I can. I just want people to know what’s happening.” editorinchief@ocolly.com
COVID-19 Update Zachary Hunter The Hampton Inn in Stillwater is for quarantining.
On Sep. 17, Oklahoma’s State Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 418 active cases in Payne county, with 366 coming from Stillwater. No additional deaths were reported across the county. These new numbers represent another decrease in both Payne county
and Stillwater from yesterday. The dashboard also reported a decrease in active cases in Oklahoma for a new total of 10,274. Six additional deaths were reported across the state. From Thursday Sep. 10 to Thursday Sep. 17, the active cases in Stillwater fell
from 421 to 366. There was a slight increase to a peak of 450 late last week, followed by a decrease early this week to the present case total. Over the same time period, the number of active cases on OSU campus decreased from 293 to 229 and the number of people in quaran-
tine housing fell from 51 to 34. The Oklahoma State Department of Health recommends self-quarantining if you have come into contact with an infected person or if you have been within six feet of an infected person for more than 15 minutes.
Page 4A Friday, September 18, 2020
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News
House in low places Garth Brooks' former house in Stillwater demolished
Ryan Novozinsky Blame it all on its roots. Country sensation and Oklahoma State alumnus Garth Brooks’ former house in Stillwater, which has become a popular roadside attraction thanks to its prominent “Garth Brooks lived here 1987-1988” sign displayed above the front door, was torn down Tuesday morning. According to the property manager, the house was torn down due to old age and structural issues. It was built in 1908 and located at 227 S Duck St. “If you were standing right here (and looked at the profile view of the house), the whole house was tilted back,” the neighbor of the house said. “It was unreparable. They were working with it for several years.” The property manager also confirmed that the sign that reads “Garth Brooks lived here 1987-1988” was saved before the wreckage occurred. “We kept the sign and we’ll probably keep it in our office,” the property manager said. “If Garth ever decides to come back, we’d hand it right to him.” Despite the necessary reasons to tear down the property,
Claire Boomer Garth Brooks' college home was torn down on Duck Street on Sept. 15, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
the images of the destruction saddened many nostalgic OSU alumni. “Like a knife to my little orange heart,” said OSU alumna Brandi Ball. “Nothing is sacred anymore and my heart is full of rage,” said OSU alumna Jaclyn Cosgrove. For OSU graduate Nathan Poppe, the house was where he got deeply involved in his musical passion by organizing his ever house music event. “Seeing the Garth Brooks house comes down is like watching someone smash a TV
that’s playing my favorite childhood cartoon,” Poppe said. “Although I only stood in that house for a single night, it represents my love of music and the DIY freedom that filled my college years. It was the first of several shows I helped organize. I’ll never forget the feeling of walking into the packed living room and seeing friends. You don’t really realize you’re making memories when they’re happening, you know, but this place will continue to live on in my mind.” editorinchief@ocolly.com
How are Covid-19 tests reported at OSU? By Sheyenne Mitchell
After you’ve been swabbed and sent back home, what happens next? It’s a smaller journey than you would think. The whole process stays on campus. Your test travels mere minutes from the University Health Services’ testing site to the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (OADDL) within the College of Veterinary Medicine. OADDL became a statewide Covid-19 testing lab in the spring to aid Oklahoma’s overall Covid testing. Now, it primarily serves the
university, and within 48 to 72 hours your results will come to you in an email. University Health Services then take positive test results and report them in a system called PHIDDO, or the Public Health Investigation and Disease Detection of Oklahoma. This is the program used universally within the state for reporting all infectious diseases. PHIDDO allows communication between the university and the Payne County Health Department to maintain accurate numbers of coronavirus cases. news.ed@ ocolly.com
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Friday, September 18, 2020, Page 5A
Radio... Continued from page 1
File Photo
The Student Union activity board is adjusting to COVID-19 by continuing to have fun, safe events.
SUAB continues on with COVID-19 restrictions By Ellen Slater The Student Union Activities Board is taking on its mission of providing fun and diverse activities for students in a different way this semester than they are used to due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Better known as SUAB, the organization is still continuing on for the semester and hosting events on campus. It has played an important role in campus life for Oklahoma State University students since it was founded in 1950, and the on-going pandemic is not making that stop. SUAB already had to cancel multiple events the past school year due to classes going online in the spring 2020 semester. For the fall 2020 semester, it at least knew the possibility of life on campus not looking the same and prepared for it; the committee was not being completely blindsided like they were in March. SUAB President Adriann Crawford is adjusting to the new pace. The structure of the events themselves have changed from the typical, nighttime events that SUAB is used to putting on to more walk-by events during the day, according to Crawford. “We did have a [typical] schedule for a while with the anticipation of it potentially turning into a COVID [sic] schedule,” Crawford said. “But I don’t think that our COVID [sic] timeline
came official ‘til a couple of weeks before school started” This does not just affect the students who go to the events, but also the large group of students behind the events- the SUAB members. SUAB has around 90 members who dedicate time and effort to planning these events. Their role this semester looks different as well. Micah Damon, SUAB’s Vice President, said that it is hard for people to feel like they are a part of something when they cannot meet together and that SUAB is doing all they can to still give that experience. “It is a learning process,” Damon said, “I am still trying to figure out how we can be together without being right next to each other.” Students that attend the SUAB events that are being held in-person are required to wear a mask. Social distancing is enforced. Online events are also being held by SUAB including The Office Trivia on October 14th and a Virtual Campus Feud on November 12. Some of the upcoming in-person events include a Register To Vote Party on September 30th and Poketoberfest on October 16. SUAB has 18 events planned for the Fall 2020 semester. The full schedule can be found on their Instagram account @ suabokstate. entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
THE SOUND OF RAIN! “Elijah was a man just like us...he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” (Ja.5:17-18 NIV) “...Elijah climbed to the top of (mount) Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. ‘Go and look toward the sea,’ he told his servant. And he went up and looked. ‘There is nothing there,’ he said. Seven times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’ The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’” (1 Ki.18:42-44 NIV) We have to be reminded often that the people mentioned in the Bible were people just like you and me. It is easy to classify them differently because they are mentioned in the Bible, and God worked in a very real way through their lives. After he had told the king that the drought was over, Elijah climbed to the
top of Mt. Carmel and got on his face before God. He was praying. Seven times he sent his servant to look for a sign of rain. I am not sure how this happened, but it seems he would pray and send his servant to look. Nothing! He would pray again and send his servant again until he saw a small cloud to the west. Not only did he believe in prayer, but also in persevering until something happened. Over and over we are encouraged in the Bible to persevere; don’t give up praying. Elijah was a human being like you and me. He prayed until the answer came; the abundance of rain. It came with refreshing and then fruitfulness. Possibly you are praying for a specific need, maybe a greater reality of God; or for God to help in another ’s life. God is not limited in hearing and answering! Let’s not give up until it comes.
Because theatres across the country have shut down, many productions needed to improvise, bringing in formerly obsolete methods such as driveins and radio to the forefront. Many playwrights who own their intellectual property have also released streaming rights, thus allowing productions to reach audiences while maintaining social distancing. The OSU theatre department’s first production is “War of the Worlds,” and it will be available to stream on the O’Colly Media Group app on October 22. Kersnar, who is also the play’s director, said there are multiple elements that will be featured on the app. “We’re pre-recording different sections for War of the Worlds and adding a bunch of sound effects,” Kersnar said. “There will be visual elements...but the actual art in itself will be recorded.” H. G. Wells wrote “The War of the Worlds”in 1897, and the plot featured politicians and pop culture figures for the United Kingdom during that time period. When Orson Welles adapted it to radio in 1938, he modernized the setting to America in the 1930s. Kersnar continued the tradition of rewriting the setting for the play. This production will be feature names and locations well-known in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Rehearsals have been occurring each day through Zoom meetings. The ensemble’s first in-person rehearsal was in the Vivia Locke Theatre this past Monday with social distancing measures enforced. Olive Payne is a junior majoring in theatre at OSU and has been working hard as a cast member for “War of the Worlds.” She said that although there have been some challenges in zoom rehearsals, it’s been manageable and exciting. “Monday night, we were really working on the pacing and ensemble work because it’s hard to get that on zoom and because...we want to say lines over each other and can’t do that over a live call,” Payne said. “That’s the biggest challenge, but...we got it all fixed.” The department will have a radio production of “Charlotte’s Web” later in the semester with hopes of having a staged play next spring with a reduced audience in the Vivia Locke Theatre. Although the industry is experiencing a downturn, it is bringing forth innovative ideas that are keeping actors on their toes. Payne said she sees theatre persevering through hard times with this adaptation of “War of the Worlds.” “It definitely feels like a very local SNL situation because we’re writing about Mayor Joyce and Governor Stitt,” Payne said. “The world has stopped, but theatre as an art form hasn’t stopped.” entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
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Cowboys aren’t worried about lack of true home field advantage Chris Becker If last week’s football games proved anything, it’s that in the 2020 football climate does not have true home field advantage it normally does. Iowa State, which normally has one of the best home crowds, played at home in front of only family members and was upset by Louisiana Lafayette. Kansas State also lost at home to Arkansas State with limited fans. After those games one of the biggest questions is how will the Cowboys find that extra energy that is lost at home due to COVID-19 restrictions? Well, the answer was simple. “We think of it as just our team out there,” linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez said. “It’s just a brotherhood, so we don’t really care about that and we’re just going out there and doing our thing.” With the lack of fans, coaches and players have to step up and be extra motivating factors to create energy that is lost from the 75% of fans that cannot be inside Boone Pickens Stadium on game days.
Devin Lawrence Wilber Boone Pickens Stadium won’t sound the same, but OSU won’t let it affect the way it plays on the field.
“Our players have to be able to selfmotivate, rely on the enthusiasm from amongst the team and coaches, focus on what’s happening on the field,” coach Mike Gundy said. “I don’t think there’s any question that teams use the home-field advantage to play to the crowd, and we’re not going to have that this fall. Hopefully they can selfstart and motivate themselves throughout
the game.” Cowboy back Logan Carter said the players that feed off the crowd energy will simply have to find another way to find energy to get excited. See advantage on page 2
Logan Biggins After so many big-time events were canceled, the return of football could bring the spirit back.
Column: The return of football represents semi-return to normalcy for Stillwater
Jared A’Latorre
Inside... ~ Page 3B Calvin Bundage return ~ Page 4B Tylan Wallace ready to fully test his knee ~ Page 4B Three key story lines for Saturday’s game ~Page 4B Key matchup: In the trenches
At last, a light is in the vision of a long and painful tunnel. After a long offseason with social distancing and constant COVID-19 tests, football is back. And there’s no other big event to return in Stillwater than Cowboy football. Since March, when things took a turn for the worst, it didn’t seem like any activities were going
to return anytime soon. And we were right, they didn’t. The pandemic took a huge toll on finances and activities that couldn’t be replaced. It hurt the hearts of fans, athletes and even your regular students. It was especially damaging for the events that Stillwater was planning to have. The 2020 men’s and women’s tennis season was in high gear, with both teams coming up with big wins against ranked opponents. The teams had hopes for a championship appearance in their home court, but
those hopes were shattered. And then there was more. The Cowboy basketball season left in a cliffhanger after the NCAA conference tournaments were canceled. The annual Calf Fry concert in May was canceled. The McKnight Center canceled all of their activities this fall. As we fast forward to the present, the upcoming Tulsa game will not only bring light... See A’Latorre on page 2
Page 2B Friday, September 18, 2020
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Continued from page 1 “Some guys really feed off the crowd,” Carter said. “You have to find a new way to get yourself going without such a big crowd being there. So, it’s not going to be the same, nothing’s the same right now. We have to deal with that and figure it out.” For some players, they were used to small crowds from their time in high school. Star receiver Tylan Wallace said the team will just have to adjust to the lack of noise and keep rolling with the punches. “For me, that brings me back to my high school days, where maybe not so many fans are out there cheering for you and everything,” Wallace said. “The noise and everything on the field is going to be a lot different, but I think we’re just gonna have to be able to adjust. That’s what this whole year has been about, just adjust on the go and go out there and play football.” Kolby Harvell-Peel is a fan favorite on the defensive side of the ball, and he used the pregame walk and the buzz of the thousands of cheering fans to feed off before the game. But other than that change, he’s going
to keep doing his normal routine. “When you come out for pregame seeing all the buzz around the stadium that was always big for me because once the game starts you kind of, although the fans are a factor, you’re focused in and locked into what your job is,” Harvell-Peel said. Definitely pregame that buzz and that excitement that you get to build up for the game it’s going to be different this year. “(It’s the) same thing I always do, talk trash, laugh and dance just trying to bring energy to my secondary group, also the defense and the team as a whole.” Starting offensive lineman Hunter Anthony said that the team knows that they have to follow the guidelines despite wishing the fans would be there in person, watching this team compete. “It will affect us, but I don’t think necessarily it will be a bad thing,” Anthony said. “You obviously wish the stadium was 100% capacity, but keeping people safe and following guidelines.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Kolby Harvell-Peel The stud safety was a true difference-maker in the back end last season, but how he bounces back from late ACL tear will be vital to this secondary. File photo
Shomari Brooks Shamari Brooks, the ubershifty running back, for Tulsa is a key cog in this offense. The 1000-yard rusher is sure to be a handful out of the backfield on Saturday. Courtesy of the Tulsa World
Logan Biggins Oklahoma State’s football team will have limited fans in attendance this year.
Teven Jenkins This O-line has done a lot of shifting this offseason, and Teven Jenkins has had to shift to the left side as a result. His contributions will be key to the pass and run game. Courtesy of OSU athletics
A’Latorre...
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to the city, it brings a special feeling to the culture of Stillwater. That culture is that the players, coaches and fans want their football. Of course, none of us can even hint on what to expect for the football season in regards to the pandemic. It already affected the team by postponing the home opener. But what looks like — at least for now — the Cowboys are playing and the city needs it. Stillwater and the Cowboy faithful have been waiting to see this season with loaded weapons on the field. What better way to get a city back on track in a town where people love their football?
Maybe somewhere in Texas, but Oklahoma’s fan base is pretty intense as well, and no doubt that stretches into Stillwater. There’s also no doubt that one day, we will have wrestling matches, basketball tournaments, track and field events, McKnight Center events and a 100-year homecoming. Until then, Stillwater needs this home opener more than ever. Despite the offseason and the pandemic, fans can finally come together and look forward to what will be a season to never forget as a sign of strength and hope beyond that tunnel. sports.ed@ocolly.com
O’Colly
Friday, September 18, 2020 Page 3B
sports
Change of plans How athletic administration and coaches worked together during a crazy 48 hours
Ben Hutchens Colin Carmichael entered OSU deputy athletic director Chad Weiberg’s office early Friday morning with his team’s spirits down and the future unknown. OSU’s opponent, Oklahoma, had just canceled the Cowgirls’ season-opening game because of the number of positive COVID-19 tests and contacts exceeding the 12’s minimum standard of competition. “My gosh, I was devastated to be honest because we had been practicing for so long and especially for this game, I mean Bedlam is such a big deal around here,” OSU junior defender Ally Jackson said. “I think everyone was at just a loss for words.” It was a tough blow, but
Piper Reese Colin Carmichael coaches the Cowgirls during the Oklahoma State vs. Saint Louis match on Sunday September 08, 2019 at Neil Patterson Stadium in Stillwater, OK.
the two men sat in the office discussing what options the team had. Then an idea suddenly popped up. “It was actually all credit to Chad,” Carmichael said. “Because he said, ‘K-State isn’t playing either, what’s K-State doing?’” From there, Car-
michael immediately called Kansas State soccer coach Mike Dibbini to start working through the process of scheduling a game with the Wildcats. “I think what you found was two schools willing to do whatever they could to allow their student-athletes a
chance to play,” Carmichael said. A plan was worked out and a game was scheduled between OSU and KSU for Saturday night in Manhattan, Kansas. Carmichael said that both schools’ administrations deserve an immense amount of credit. OSU’s administration for allowing the team to pivot like they did, changing the bus schedule and securing two nights of extra hotel stay. Then Kansas State’s athletic team for putting a game together in about 24 hours. Carmichael anticipates there being other postponements, forfeits and cancellations this soccer season but thought that the quick change of plans by OSU and KState is a good example of what many programs will have to do to get through the season. “I think just being flexible, adaptable, being supportive of each other is the way to go and I couldn’t be happier with the way our administration supported our student-athletes and has been transparent with the head coaches and allowed us the opportunity to get this done, Carmichael said.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Calvin's comeback Bundage's long road back to the gridirion
By Sudeep Tumma
Oklahoma State’s defense already looked like it was going to put an exclamation mark on the Big 12, then it got another piece. A familiar one. Linebacker Calvin Bundage, who was widely considered the best defender on OSU, mysteriously disappeared in 2019 and missed the whole season. Now he’s back. “It was really stressful,” Bundage said. “It was hard. It’s great (to be back on the field). It feels good to just put everything to rest and prove I’m the best. I feel like I came back better than last time. Better player this year.” Bundage went to seven or eight different doctors while trying to rehab, most of whom actually told him
his back injury was too exensive, and he shouldn’t play football anymore. Finally, he found one that helped him heal and get back to full strength. “I’ll be honest with you, we haven’t had a lot of luck with back injuries,” coach Mike Gundy said. “I look back on my 31 years in college football, you just don’t see a lot of guys come back with that type of injury. Now, how severe they are I don’t know because with back injuries it’s hard to really tell, but I’m really excited for him. “His attitude and his posture and demeanor over the last two months has been fabulous. He’s smiling again. I’m just happy that he gets to get back on the field because he loves to play football.” With Bundage’s health issues, this linebacking group looked dicey to begin last season. But with the emergence of Malcolm Rodriguez and Amen Ogbongbemiga, it’s become a strength. The two starting spots are locked down, but Bundage should find a way to impact the game, which
File photo
After missing last season, Calvin Bundage will be back to make an impact.
could start in OSU’s season opener against Tulsa. “We play two-deep on defense, he’ll get as much football as he wants,” Gundy said. “He’ll be in there playing and competing right from the start.” Bundage’s return to the field could put him in line for more of a situational pass rushing role. But whatever capacity he plays in,
his return bubbles excitement. “It’s scary,” Rodriguez said. “We got depth now and that’s a good thing. Last year we were a little scared if you got injured. Now, if someone gets injured, we got guys to come back and he’s looking good. He’s ready to go too.”
O’Colly staff picks
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Catching up
Page 4B Friday, September 18, 2020
The O’Colly
sports
Ryan Breeden
It’s been 327 days since Cowboy fans last saw Tylan Wallace take the field when he suffered a seasonending injury. But finally, after a long and crazy offseason, Wallace is ready to go this weekend in Oklahoma State’s season opener against Tulsa. On Oct. 30, Wallace suffered an ACL tear on a non-contact play during practice, which ended his season after just eight games. At that point in the season, Wallace had racked up 903 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, first and second in the Big 12 at the time respectively. After the injury, it was all about rehabilitation. Then it was about getting back to where he wants to be on the field. “There was definitely a ‘knocking off the rust’ period for me,” Wallace said. “But I feel like I’m back where I was, back where I used to be, so I’m ready to go and play.” That road to game
Bruce Waterfield
Image Taken at the Oklahoma State Cowboy Football Practice, Wednesday, August 5, 2020, Sherman E. Smith Training Center, Stillwater, OK. Bruce Waterfield/OSU Athletics
readiness included several weeks of precaution for Wallace. It started with some non-contact work in practice, but now he has progressed to practicing like he normally does. “I think I had the green jersey on for a few weeks,” Wallace said. “[I] took the brace off, got through some of the contact stuff, started running through some routes without it and felt perfectly fine.”
Wallace was able to establish a strong connection with quarterback Spencer Sanders last year, as the duo accounted for almost half of Sanders’ total 2,065 passing yards and exactly half of his total 16 touchdowns, despite missing four games. After re-establishing their connection in practice, Sanders has had nothing but praise for Wallace’s comeback. “I think he has grown
tremendously,” Sanders said. “Honestly, I think it probably made him better as a player. It maybe just showed him some patience.” Wallace has earned national respect for what he has done on the field, dating back to his 2018 sophomore season. In 2018, Wallace had 1,491 receiving yards, second in the nation, and he was named a First-Team AllAmerican by ESPN as well as the Biletnikoff award runnerup. He was on track to do the same thing last year before the injury, but now Wallace is healthy and ready to return as a primary weapon in the Cowboy offense. “He’s going to do what he’s put on film for the past three years,” Sanders said. “He’s the same person.” As the highly-anticipated season draws closer and closer for OSU, Cowboy fans can stand in solace that No. 2 will be wearing orange again this fall.. “I feel kind of like the old me now,” Wallace said. “So, I feel like I’m going out there and just playing football like I used to.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
3 KEY STORYLINES:
KEY MATCHUP:
By Sudeep Tumma
Can the Cowboys defensive line create pressure against a struggling Tulsa O-line? Oklahoma State returns everyone on its defensive line from a season ago including Trace Ford and Cameron Murray. With an Tulsa offensive line that struggled last season, expect the Cowboys to create pressure on quarterback Zach Smith throughout the game allowing the Cowboy secondary with two new corners, converted safety Jarrick BernardConserve and graduate transfer Christian Holmes, to have less pressure on them.
Ry Schneider/Twitter
Ry Schneider vs. Jaxon Player By Sudeep Tumma
Redshirt senior Ry Schneider has locked down the starting center spot, but his first true test will come against Tulsa nose tackle Jaxon Player, who is an elite run stopper and a tantalizing talent. Player, who plays the “0-technique,” lines up directly in front of center, which will put extra strain on Schneider. Containing Player could be a big part of opening up the holes for superstar running back Chuba Hubbard.
Tylan Wallace playing his first game back from ACL surgery It’s no surprise that Wallace has consistently been one of the best receivers in the country when healthy, but coming off of ACL surgery, what will he look like in his first full speed game back? Wallace told reporters that he is ready and fully prepared for the game. Wallace was a key piece of the game plan last season when he went down. Can the secondary limit Keylon Stokes this year? Last season, Stokes had one of his four 100-plus yard outings against the Cowboys. Catching seven passes for 109 yards and one touchdown, expect him to see a lot of matchups against Rodarius Williams, and see if the Cowboys can find the answer for him. The matchup between Stokes and any Cowboy cornerback will be a place to watch.
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File photo Tylan Wallace looks to have a successful season.
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Business Squares Seeking Student Art Submissions for on campus displays! E-mail allied.arts @okstate.edu
Friday, September 18, 2020 Page 5B
News
FOR RELEASE SEPTEMBER 18, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Sit tight 5 Lucy who played Watson on “Elementary” 8 10-Down instrument 13 Isn’t with more people? 15 Miller of “Room Service” 16 Winner of four FIFA World Cups 17 French toast part 18 Baby goat 19 Arc lamp gas 20 Nickname for the first Web user? 23 California peaks, with “the” 24 Peace, in Russian 25 Pen name 28 Family nickname 29 Benjamin Hoff’s “The __ of Pooh” 30 Japanese wrestling 31 Middle of summer? 34 General Motors toy? 37 Stylish flap 39 Tarzan’s Cheeta, for one 40 Evasive maneuver 41 Cheese snack for the road? 44 Until now 45 Vogue rival 46 Volumeincreasing addition, usually 47 Small untruth 49 Mall __ 50 Japanese yes 51 Pitcher’s malady 55 Hangover ... and a hint to 20-, 34and 41-Across 57 “Death of a Salesman” family name 60 Ambient music pioneer Brian 61 SoFi Stadium NFLer 62 Winner of 15 Grammys (20092017) 63 Fort Worth sch. 64 Snail trail 65 Loser to Roosevelt and Truman
9/18/20
By David Van Houten
66 Remained idle 67 Keep
Thursday’s Puzzle Solved
DOWN 1 Foundation 2 Afghan’s neighbor 3 Al __ 4 Goes into 5 Land O’__: dairy aisle brand 6 Competitive 7 Intact 8 “Cars” maker 9 Tabloid twosome 10 Part-goat god 11 “Evil Woman” gp. 12 Example, for instance: Abbr. 14 Adjective for Alexander’s day, in a Judith Viorst kids’ book 21 Mars rover org. 22 Couture giant 25 Mac 26 It might be spitting 27 Dancer companion 29 Varieties 30 __-cone 31 Ranking member, as in a village
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
32 Actress Gibbs of “The Jeffersons” 33 In need of mopping up 35 Baby beds 36 Military leaders 38 Portentous time 42 Bring up 43 In __: confused 48 Come about 50 Dear 51 Pig feature
9/18/20
52 Naturally lit courtyards 53 Paper quantities 54 Big Apple sports mascot 55 Tom or bull 56 Ancient Cuzco resident 57 Bloke 58 Wordsworth wrote one to duty 59 Pound sound
Daily Horoscope By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (09/18/20). Tap into love and shine this year. Romance, fun and creative arts develop delightfully with steady practice. Take a new professional tack this winter, before a home and family growth spurt. Work through domestic changes next summer, before a satisfying career rise. Pursue passion. 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 an 8 — Keep collaborating despite misunderstandings with your partner. Postpone travels or expense. Words may fall flat, yet actions can leap ahead. Share the load. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Prioritize your physical health and work. Words and traffic could get disrupted. Distractions abound. Practice your moves, stretches and activities. Breathe deep and relax. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Have fun without risk or hassle. Misunderstandings and distractions abound. Prioritize creative projects, games and activities that you love. Practice compassion with yourself and others. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Review domestic renovation plans. Imagine the results you’d like and sketch out options. Make decisions that you can live with. Prioritize family comfort. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 9 — Edit, review and update your communications. Adapt to changing conditions on the ground. Take a creative tack. Minimize controversy or risk. Do the reading. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is a 9 — You can make extra cash. Favor action over words, which can get tangled. Use what you’ve kept hidden. Find a lucrative market niche. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 9 — Advance a personal passion project. Don’t talk about it yet; miscommunications would cause delays. Build a dream, step by step. Celebrate small victories. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — Your imagination can run wild. Favor privacy over publicity. Meditate and consider eternal mysteries. Capture your ideas for later development. Craft plans and vision statements. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is an 8 — Lay low to avoid social misunderstandings. Miscommunication, lies and confusion abound. Guard against impatience. Contribute for a common cause. Action gets farther than words. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Career matters occupy you. Upgrade your marketing materials. Communication or technical breakdowns could slow the action. Prioritize basic actions to maintain momentum and advance. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 9 — Detail discoveries and keep digging. Friends help you make an important connection. Go for action over ephemeral stories and empty words. Persist and persevere. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Take advantage of a lucrative opportunity. Make a profitable move. Avoid financial negotiations or conversations as communication barriers proliferate. Action can produce results.
Level 1
2
3
4
9/18/20
Solution to Thursday’s puzzle
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 sudoku.org.uk
© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.
Page 6B Friday, September 18, 2020
The O’Colly
sports
Post-practice pick up Not just for freshmen Sam Hutchens
In what situation can picking up cones after practice, a menial duty that is so easily overlooked, become a powerful statement? When your best player does it. Senior Cowgirl midfielder Kim Rodriguez is certainly in the conversation for the title of best player on Oklahoma State. She was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection and was named to the United Soccer Coaches AllAmerican Second Team. Rodriguez is also part of another group of players — -a group with less recognition. Goals scored and games started don’t matter with this club. In fact, members of this group only need to possess one thing — a selfless attitude. “On the day before practice or the morning of the game walk through, Kim is out there picking up cones, picking up pennies, sanitizing balls — that is just the kind of kid she is,” coach Colin
Carmichael said. “You would think your All-American would be sitting on the bench with their feet up doing nothing but with Kim that is not the case at all. “I think that shows true leadership.” Rodriguez’s off-field leadership was also on display Saturday night in Manhattan, Kansas. In OSU’s NCAA tournament loss to Santa Clara in 2019, the Cowgirls played a man down. Rodriguez was whistled for a red card and was not allowed to finish the match. In accordance with NCAA rules, Rodriguez would also be barred from playing the following game, which for OSU, was Saturday night’s 2020 opening match against Kansas State. Although Rodriguez said not
being able to take the pitch with her teammates “definitely” hurt, she was still focused on making her team better from the sideline. “I knew I had to sit out, so I had to come with the mindset of supporting my team throughout the whole game and communicating with them,” Rodriguez said. As a consistent starter for OSU, Rodriguez’s absence on the field was unusual. “It does feel really weird without Kim because she is the anchor of the back line,” said junior defender Ally Jackson, who marshalled the backline Rodriguez’s absence. “Kim is a huge part of what we do,” Carmichael said. “Beyond being a great player, she is one of our leaders, one of our captains and under-
Kim Rodriguez may be a star player, but her contributions go way beyond that.
Piper Reese
stands our system so well. She just makes us better in so many different ways.” Rodriguez did not let a one game suspension keep her from helping her team secure its first win of the season. Her vocal coaching and encouragement from the sideline even led to her being jokingly referred to as “coach Rodriguez” by her teammates and coaches. “It’s funny because she is a quiet person, but whenever she talks everyone listens,” Jackson said. “I definitely notice she always tries to coach me up and tell me little things to make me better. I really appreciate it.” Rodriguez leads through both her words and actions. Whether she is coaching up her teammates in a game from the sideline, or merely picking up practice bibs and cones after practice, her selfless attitude is radiated throughout the Cowgirls. “The funny thing to me and this isn’t just a Kim thing, it’s really the culture and leadership we have in this group,” Carmichael said. com
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