Different beat Friday, August 28, 2020
The Cowboy marching band is adjusting to various new protocols during the COVID-19 era
Photos by Alicia Young
The woodwinds divide into sections to practice during the Oklahoma State University’s Cowboy Marching Band practice on August 24, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
By Christopher Sneed Oklahoma State’s marching band director, Dr. Douglas Henderson, usually worries about his students marching in a straight line. Now in a pandemic, those lines are measured by social distance. “One of the challenges for us is we’re not going to be able to get on to the field and perform,” said Henderson. “One, because they’re limiting access to the field which is the right thing to do. It’s a smart decision.” Henderson, an associate professor in music, has the difficult task of restructuring rehearsals and game day performances. Coaches, referees and athletes are the only people allowed on the field. Cheerleaders and pom squad are moved above the east endzone underneath the jumbotron. The band will play the pre-game show from their seats,
unlike previous years. “We’ll do our normal thing during the game where we just you know play to support the team and then, at halftime, I think what we’re going to do is play like one tune from the stands and then we’ll pre-record our color guard or flag Corp earlier in that week doing a routine that they can then show on the Jumbotron,” Henderson said. Fans should not expect to see the orange and white uniforms either. Traditional uniforms collect a lot of sweat and are typically gathered after games to be washed. Instead, students will wear polo shirts and shorts allowing each to take their clothes home for cleaning. The band will be in a different area as well, but that decision came before the COVID-19 outbreak. The new location will be above the northwest tunnel where players enter the
field. Additionally, scientists were hired to examine particles that travel into the air when singing or playing a wind instrument. The College Band Directors National Association, of which Henderson is a member, provided funding to hire the scientist. Together, they researched travel distance, differences between playing inside and outdoors and more. Several ideas developed as a result. One is “bell covers” which fit around the bell of horns to catch some of the aerosol blowing into them produces. During the rehearsal process, other contingency plans were put in place. Instruments are handled more carefully because of saliva that collects inside. The different sections of the band are also rehearsing alone to allow
See Sneed Page 6A
Battling without bitterness
Graduate transfer Christian Holmes is ready to compete for OSU By Sam Hutchens When the word “battle” is read, what comes to mind? A war? Two or more sides fighting for supremacy? Odds are, things like “helping each other” and “developing each other” aren’t commonly associated with it. Those uplifting terms define the attitude of Oklahoma State cornerback Christian Holmes, even as he is in the midst of a battle for starting reps. Holmes is a graduate transfer from the University of Missouri. He has long had an attitude and mindset that coaches love: a desire to win but to lift teammates up in the process. When Holmes was deciding where to continue his football career, OSU coach Mike Gundy made sure to let Holmes that his two-pronged mindset would be welcome in Stillwater. “I took a lot of heed into my decision, I thought it out,” said Holmes. The graduate transfer said he picked OSU because he felt he could find on-field success, and also help the team reach its goal. That and he wanted to prove to himself that he could compete in the high-octane of-
fensive world that is the Big 12. It is sometimes difficult for graduate transfer athletes to get acclimated to a new state, college and team culture. It has not been a difficult transition for Holmes, however, who was asked what allowed him to blend into the culture so quickly. “Simple, really just the mindset that all the players have here, the mindset that the coaches have with a winning mentality which is just something I’ve always dreamed about being a part of,” Holmes said It is one thing to get acclimated to the team culture, and it is another thing to earn enough repetitions in practice to become a starter on gameday. It is in these competitions for practice reps and coaches trust that players can sometimes start to become divided and look at a teammate as a rival. “Everybody walks in the doors ready to work,” Holmes said of the cornerback battle. “So we just come in compete get better, grab each other when we’re down, high five each other when we’re up.” This picture of the cornerback battle Holmes paints is different than the one people would usu-
See Hutchens Page 8B
Christian Holmes is excited for his new opportunity with OSU.
Photos courtesy of Tribune news service
Page 2A Friday, August 28, 2020
O’Colly
Page 2
how do osu students feel about being in school during a pandemic?
United States COVID-19 update
Large gatherings and parties are a part of college life, but will there ever be a way to do it safely? -Cole Jenkins, a Freshman at Oklahoma State. Courtesy of Tribune news service
It went from two years of a packed [Student Union] and a sense of community to this year of nothing.
Poll: How long will osu be able to maintain in-person learning?
- Xavier Mares, a Junior at Oklahoma State.
My main stance is that we are not taking this [pandemic] as seriously as we should. And deep down, I feel the campus will close in a couple of weeks. -Ryan Carter, a Junior at Oklahoma State. Photos by Zachary Hunter, Bryan Pizana
Editorial board Editor-in-chief Ryan Novozinsky editorinchief@ocolly.com
Design editor Destinee Adams design.ed@ocolly.com
News editor Alex Sloan news.ed@ocolly.com
Photo editor Claire Boomer photo.ed@ocolly.com
Sports editor Sudeep Tumma sports.ed@ocolly.com
Digital editor Chris Becker digital@ocolly.com
Lifestyle editor Chase Congleton entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
Adviser John Helsley john.helsley@okstate.edu
content creators Sports reporters: Jospeh Fazio Jared A‘latorre Jacob Sturm Ben Hutchens Sam Hutchens
News reporters: Harmony Nelson Ryan Boyce Jennifer Maupin Chase Weems
Lifestyle writers: Christopher Sneed Amelia Jáuregui Maleeha Hameed Jonathan Harrington
Photographers: Alicia Young Zachary Hunter Bryan Pizana
Page 3A Friday, August 28, 2020
NEWS
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O’Colly
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
New Sheriff in town
Photo by Michael Nelson
Joe Harper, Sheriff, patrolling the carnival.
By Alex Sloan Incumbent Sheriff Kevin Woodward was defeated by challenger Joe Harper in the Aug. 25 runoff election, and will be the next Payne County Sheriff. The Payne County Sheriff’s race was just one of many runoff elections held across the state, but was the only election open to the registered voters of Stillwater. Since there were no Democratic challengers for the Sheriff’s position, Harper’s win in the runoff will earn him the seat, without having to go to a general election. Woodward went into Tuesday night with a slight lead on Harper from mail-in and early voting, according to unofficial election results published by the Oklahoma State Election Board. Despite this initial setback, voters who cast their ballots in-person on election day went decisively for Harper, with 1,828 votes to Woodward’s 1,334. The preliminary numbers released by the election board have Harper winning with a total of 2,121 votes to Woodward’s 1,664. Following his victory at the polls on Tuesday, Sheriff-elect Harper spoke to The O’Colly about what to expect from the Sheriff’s office moving forward. “I wanted Payne County to have a Sheriff that they kind of knew, and would recognize out in public,” Harper said.
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Harper said he started working in the Sheriff’s office in 2003, and he liked the way they did things at the time. He said the Sheriff at the time, Carl Hiner, was always out with the deputies, checking on the jail, and making sure everyone had the tools they needed to get their jobs done. Harper started working in the jail, and quickly moved to dispatch, he said. In 2007, Harper said he decided to seek his CLEET certification, and he began working livestock investigations upon its completion. Harper offered a few examples of what his priorities would be once he gets sworn in to office on January 3rd. He said he wants to check in with his employees, and make sure everything is going alright with them. Additionally, Harper said the office’s communications equipment and procedures need updating, and he wants to make that happen. “It’s all kind of sinking in now what we have ahead of us,” Harper said. “I’m excited.” Administrators at all levels of the Sheriff’s office need to be out in the field more with deputies, Harper said. He said he hopes that OSU students and faculty will think of the Sheriff’s office as being a part of their community. news.ed@ocolly.com
Page 4A Friday, August 28, 2020
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NEWS
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
From cattle to COVID Research spotlight on OSU’s diagnostic lab
By Ryan Boyce In the early days of COVID-19, as the virus quickly swept across the globe, Oklahoma State University researchers rapidly mobilized to begin studying the pathogen. The COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory was set up as a way for OSU to contribute to the national and state health efforts. Started back in March, the lab has returned over 100,000 test results since its creation and is responsible for about 15% of all the testing in the state, according to a university news release. The Vice President of Research at OSU, Dr. Kenneth Sewell, has overseen the COVID-19 Diagnostic Laboratory’s efforts from the beginning. In the earliest days of the lab, Sewell said researchers from across OSU’s campus came together and offered up what resources they had to fight the pandemic. Early on, the Oklahoma Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory was determined to have the FDA required machines necessary for testing, he said. “We had the whole setup in place at the Animal Diagnostic Lab,” Sewell said. In order to test in humans, Sewell said the lab needed to pull from the expertise of researchers at OSU Medical, located in Tulsa. With talent from across OSU campuses and specialized equipment from the Animal Diagnostic Lab, the COVID-19 Diagnostic Lab was ready to get started. As the number of cases ramped up across the country, the lab had to grow with it. According to OSU’s COVID lab website, Dr. Sewell sent out a mass email calling for any available volunteers to help facilitate research. In the span of two hours, he received over 150
responses, and now has over 160 people contributing to the OSU COVID-19 lab. Additionally, Sewell said the Vice President of Finance and Administration at OSU increased funding to the lab to outfit it with more equipment. Sewell said the lab is now big enough to analyze massive amounts of COVID-19 tests, as well as carry out its original duties of protecting Oklahoma from pandemics in livestock. He also said the increased volume of staff has allowed many researchers and professors to return to their own labs and duties, in plenty of time for the new academic semester. Today, according to Sewell, the OSU laboratory contracts with medical centers across the state of Oklahoma to retrieve samples for testing. OSU receives payment from the state by the volume of tests completed, which Sewell said he hopes will help repay the cost of the equipment for the updated laboratory. He also said the lab reports its data to the state epidemiologist in Oklahoma City, who creates a comprehensive map of the results in order to track the spread of the pandemic and inform public policy. According to OSU’s COVID lab website, the OSU Diagnostic Laboratory can return results in as little as 48 hours, which aids the epidemiologist in creating a map that is as up to date as possible. The process starts when a person goes to a medical facility somewhere in Oklahoma, Sewell said. They receive a nose swab (which researchers have affectionately dubbed a “brain tickler”), which will provide researchers with a tissue sample. That sample, Sewell explained, is then placed in a special so-
Photo courtesy of UNSPLASH.com In the early days of COVID-19, as the virus quickly swept across the globe, Oklahoma State University researchers rapidly mobilized to begin studying the pathogen. File photo.
lution in a vial to preserve it, which is then shipped to the OSU Diagnostic Lab. At the lab, each sample goes through a process called PCR, which Sewell said reproduces genetic material in the tissue so that researchers have enough to work with. The sample genetic material is then tested in a machine for the markers that indicate the presence of the virus, and results are returned. Moving forward, Sewell said he hopes to increase the university’s efforts toward coronavirus research, including ways in which future pandemics may
be mitigated or avoided altogether. To this end, Sewell said many OSU faculty are training in safety procedures so that they can research respiratory and infectious diseases. Additionally, the NIH is increasing funding for projects related to respiratory diseases in the hopes that coronavirus research will increase in popularity. While OSU isn’t directly working on a vaccine, researchers are working to prevent future pandemics, and to fight the one we’re currently in. news.ed@ocolly.com
What happened on campus this week? Students in the Okstate stand united organization marched across campus to raise awareness for their list of urgencies to OSU president burns hargis
Students march across campus at the OKState Stand United March on August 24, 2020 at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Photos by Claire Boomer
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Page 5A Friday, August 28, 2020
O’Colly
NEWS City Council considers new standards for outdoor service areas
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
@OCOLLY
By Ryan Boyce At their Monday night meeting, Stillwater City Council members donned their masks to discuss the spread of COVID-19 in the community, and conduct other business. While a number of people, including the mayor, attended the meeting in person, the majority of council members opted to participate via videoconference. The council started by discussing an amendment to the zoning laws regarding parking spaces downtown. The proposed amendment would allow restaurants and bars to expand outdoor seating to include stalls built into The Stillwater city council has many new rules about bars, the parking spaces public hearing on the then they won’t be “We want outside of storefronts. proposed ordinance, practical for business things that look Although only one member of owners, but if they nice,” Wedlake said. Mayor William Joyce the public was sched- aren’t strict enough, “but at the same time, recently signed an uled to speak. Chris then they might end we don’t want design emergency declaPeters, Director of up poorly maintained. standards that are so ration which put the Downtown Still Following onerous on the busisimilar rules in place, water Association, Peters’ comments, ness owners as to be City Attorney John expressed concern the council moved on prohibitive.” Dorman said the city about the regulations to discussion of the Councilor would need to adopt surrounding these so- proposed ordinance. Amy Dzialowski sugan ordinance if the called “street eater Councilor gested taking some council wanted to ies”. John Wedlake said he time to come up with make that a long term If they’re too largely agreed with design standards, and solution. strict, Peters said, Peters’ point. using other cities’ During the
that city staff keep working to develop proposed standards for these outdoor service areas. The next item on the agenda was a COVID-19 update from the mayor. The mayor said Stillwater public schools were moved to online classes to slow the spread of the virus. He also cited the city-wide mask mandate as an important step in fighting the pandemic. According to the mayor, hospitals are handling the few serious cases very well, and are ready for an uptick in cases. Moving forward, Joyce said O’colly file photo the city of Stillwater would review the findings of the White design standards as House Coronavirus a guide. However, Task Force to inform she also emphasized its actions regarding the need to get some standards in place be- the pandemic. The next fore businesses start public meeting of investing in these the Stillwater City outdoor seating areas, Council is scheduled only to have the city for September 14, at put in new design 5:30 p.m. Meetings standards. No action was are held in the Council Hearing Room of taken on the ordinance, although Joyce the municipal building, located at 723 S. expressed a desire Lewis St.
Stillwater COVID-19 update
By Ryan Boyce On Aug. 27, Oklahoma’s State Department of Health’s COVID-19 dashboard reported 187 active cases in Payne county, with 147 of those cases coming from Stillwater. No additional deaths were reported in either Stillwater or Payne county. The number of ac-
tive cases in Oklahoma dropped again today to a total of 7586 with 15 deaths and 772 recoveries statewide, according to the State Department of Health . The Department of Health dashboard reported 37 new cases in Stillwater from yesterday, and 40 cases in Payne county overall. Accord-
ing to the Payne County Health Department, 70% of those new cases are young people, ages 18-35. City Manager Norman McNickle said in the release that young people often work in service jobs, and asymptomatic carriers could spread the virus to others without even realizing it. “Due to the overall high
patient census, Stillwater Medical Center is feeling the pressure in staffing. The only answer to this situation is for everyone to take the CDC guidance seriously,” McNickle said in the release. The CDC’s website lists older people and people with preexisting medical conditions as the highest risk groups for CO-
VID-19, especially those with respiratory diseases or people over the age of 85. The city’s release reminds residents to wear masks in public, wash their hands frequently, and avoid close contact with others. news.ed@ocolly.com
Students march in support of ‘The List of Urgencies’
Students march across campus with Okstate stand united. By Harmony Nelson On Monday, August 24th, a large group of Oklahoma State University students gathered for a march across campus with hopes to continue a long overdue conversation about the advancement of racial equity in the OSU community. The march was led by the organization OkState Stand United, with the hopes of bringing attention to a List of Urgencies, written by black and brown students on campus for President Hargis. This list includes several ways that the students believe racial equity can
be achieved on campus. The document calls for the hiring of more diverse faculty, as well as requiring “a substantive racial bias training course for all incoming freshmen, transfer students, staff, and faculty members for the purpose of creating and promoting cultural awareness.” The march began at the Student Union, where students of all racial backgrounds assembled with signs to listen to the founders of OkState Stand United speak. Sean Tolbert, one of the cofounders of the organization, and authors of the List of Urgencies,
said combating racism on campus is a job for everyone. “We’re not here saying that Oklahoma State University created the racism that exists on this campus, but we are all responsible for addressing it face on,” Tolbert said. Gregory Samuel II, another of the document’s authors, said the march in support of the List of Urgencies was a necessary mechanism for bringing change to campus. “We don’t want to march, but we have to. It’s the only way they listen...so we’ll continue to march, protest, start the good trouble. Not because
we want to, but because we have to. It’s the right thing to do,” Samuel said. When the speakers finished, the students marched through campus chanting “Black Lives Matter”, along with other slogans. The march route passed through much of campus, including the Student Union, Library Lawn, Life Science West and Theta Pond, with passersby showing support along the way. The march concluded with OkState Stand United cofounder Destinee Adams reminding the crowd that the fight for equity does not end with the march.
“This movement is more than a hashtag,” Adams emphasized. “Educate yourselves. Show up. Don’t be afraid to talk to your friends about it, we need people to stand up.” The OkState Stand United organization plans to meet with President Hargis next Monday, to discuss the best solutions to address the List of Urgencies. The List of Urgencies can be found at https://linktr.ee/okstatestandunited, along with other information. Students wishing to support OkState Stand United may add their names to the petition. news.ed@ocolly.com
Page 6A Friday, August 28, 2020
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
Union Chophouse Taqueria offers fresh food, but lacks variety
Photo by Alicia Young The woodwinds divide into sections to practice during the Oklahoma State University’s Cowboy Marching Band practice on August 24, 2020 in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Continued from page 1A
the Jumbotron,” Henderson said. Fans should not expect to see the orange and white uniforms either. Traditional uniforms collect a lot of sweat and are typically gathered after games to be washed. Instead, students will wear polo shirts and shorts allowing each to take their clothes home for cleaning. The band will be in a different area as well, but that decision came before the COVID-19 outbreak. The new location will be above the northwest tunnel where players enter the field. Additionally, scientists were hired to examine particles that travel into the air when singing or playing a wind instrument. The College Band Directors National Association, of which Henderson is a member, provided funding to hire the scientist. Together, they researched travel distance, differences between playing inside and outdoors and more. Several ideas
developed as a result. One is “bell covers” which fit around the bell of horns to catch some of the aerosol blowing into them produces. During the rehearsal process, other contingency plans were put in place. Instruments are handled more carefully because of saliva that collects inside. The different sections of the band are also rehearsing alone to allow for social distancing. The entire band has only been together twice so far. Meanwhile, students themselves have been working to keep moral up. Losing the “marching” part of their band is disappointing to students both new and older students. Ryan Lancaster, music education senior, partially chose OSU for the music department’s reputation. He transferred to the school last year from Houston Texas and experienced it for himself. “It was great,” Lancaster said. “There is nothing like stand-
ing in front of that many fans and holding the responsibility of pumping the fans up for the game and keeping the morale high.” Unfortuately, his first game was the only game he will march in, but it may not be his last marching band. Next year he hopes to work as a high school band director. While COVID-19 has made things difficult, he said he feels that it prepares him for teaching. “There’s not anything in my life up to this point that has prepared me as well as the pandemic has for sort of ‘rolling with the punches’ and taking what comes and making the best out of it,” Lancaster said. “I think this has the potential to be a really valuable experience for my teaching career personally.” Corinne Kissel, freshman, is equally optimistic. She is quickly adopting the school spirit of her peers but is prepared for disappointment from some
fans. Kissel, a non-profit management major from Metro Detroit, sees the goal of the school as finding a “happy balance” between keeping everyone safe and allowing people to have a good time. “Not everyone is going to be happy with every decision, but we just have to keep doing what we’re doing to make sure the band is safe, the fans are safe, the players are safe,” Kissel said. Football games are a meaningful part of the college experience and The Cowboy Marching Band is an important element. A pandemic is unfamiliar and creates unique complications. The faculty and students hope attendees are understanding as they work to bring some of that resilient vivacity to this year’s unusual games. “I think the job of the band is to be the driving spirit of the fans,” Kissel said. “We’re that burning flame of OSU spirit at all the games.”
Graphic by Alex O’Neal The art cover for Sean Tolbert’s extended play, T.A.B.S.
Local artist spotlight: Sean Tolbert By Christopher Sneed
A well-traveled student named Sean Tolbert meets up with his producer to decide which songs to include on their album. On August 15, they uploaded “TABS,” which is a five-track album, to SoundCloud. Afterward, he returned to his life of school, work and organizations and waits to see how the public will respond. Tolbert is a senior who studies business management at Oklahoma State University. He credits Frank Ocean and Juice Wrld as influences, but
this project shows who he is as an artist and a conscientious human being. Tolbert said “TABS,” which stands for “Toxic Ass Breakup Songs,” is meant to reach a diverse group of people. It crosses multiple genres and tells a story from the first track to the last. Part of a military family, Tolbert moved around every few years. While it was normal for them, he and his younger brother never looked forward to it. His benefits are not overlooked, though. He said his life seasoned him for college
and interviews, making it easy for him to talk to anybody. “I’ve had so many different experiences because I had to bounce around and experience so much different turbulence and different environments,” Tolbert said. “I think it probably made us well-rounded people.” The family moved to Germany while Tolbert was in the eighth-grade, and they placed him in a boarding school. Though he played sports in America, he had no interest in learning rugby. Opting to take
See Sneed ...
Photo by Chase Congleton A Chophouse Taqueria employee serves students at Oklahoma State University.
By Chase Congleton
Chophouse Taqueria officially opened its location in the Student Union earlier this month and its food a refreshing change for Oklahoma State University’s dining. First seen on OSU’s campus through its food truck, which is still operating at various locations, Chophouse Taqueria’s food has always been a convenient place for students to grab a bite between classes and study hours. The restaurant replaces Baja Fresh’s spot in the Student Union. With both restaurants offering Tex-Mex dishes, it’s nearly impossible to not compare the two despite there being some clear differences. Baja Fresh’s chicken was often dry and their quesadillas and burritos often left me feeling queasy after consuming the meal I paid for. Luckily, Chophouse Taqueria won’t leave customers feeling that way. Chophouse Taqueria offers three burrito bowls for students to purchase: steak, chicken and grilled vegetable. Each bowl contains a flour tortilla with Spanish rice, black beans, cheese, lettuce, pico, guacamole, sour cream and tortilla strips. Each student can also choose between ranchero salsa and tomatillo ranch for his or her dressing. For lunch, I had the chicken burrito bowl with chips and queso on the side. The burrito bowl was refreshingly delicious. The chicken was full of flavor and all of the ingredients came together in a nice blend. Chophouse Taqueria’s food adds a nice accessible spice for those looking beyond a bland and flavorless cuisine. While students can choose to leave out certain ingredients from their burrito bowls, there aren’t any substitutes for ingredients other than what is already offered. For example, pinto beans and white rice are entirely left off the menu, which are both staples at other fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurants such as Qdoba and Chipotle. While the grilled vegetable burrito bowl could be a good option for students who are vegan or vegetarian, students may grow tiresome as it being their only option. And that’s the glaring flaw with Chophouse Taqueria: the lack of options. Because of students coming back during the COVID-19 pandemic, OSU dining services had to scale back on their restaurants. Dining places such as Passport and Noodle U are not offered for the fall semester while other places still offered such as Chick-Fil-A offer an extremely limited menu. Nevertheless, Chophouse Taqueria can easily improve on this when the pandemic starts winding down by offering more dishes and vegan-friendly options. While the restaurant still needs a few changes for the future, Chophouse Taqueria is a welcomed addition to OSU’s dining in the Student Union. entertainment.ed@ocolly.com
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Friday, August 28, 2020 Page 7A
LIFESTYLE
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2020
What your face mask says about you Chase Congleton Face masks invaded the world of fashion in 2020 and Americans have used it as a way to express their individuality. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans struggled to adapt to mask mandates. American culture has never had the urgency to wear face masks in public places until this year. Thankfully, many vendors and stores started carrying a wide variety of masks for people to use face masks as a unique way to express himself or herself. As a result, it is obvious what face mask you wear says about you. Surgical Mask:
You are either studying nursing or you probably play the default main character in every video game such as Mario in Mario Kart. To wear a surgical mask after five months of a pandemic means you don’t care too much about outward expression, but you have the right motives in mind in helping others. Black Face Mask: You are just trying to match your outfits. Although the hot summer August sun is consistently causing your neck and face to sweat like a sauna on the Fourth of July, you use your black face mask as a nice neutral color to not distract from whatever fashion statement you are making
that day. Sports-themed Mask: It goes without saying that you’re an avid sports fan. However, your love for sports is making everyone else in the room feel a little bit uncomfortable. Sure, I miss the concerts I used to go to, but you’re not going to see me wear a BTS-themed facemask from their official website for just $9.99. OK, maybe you will. In that case, I understand why you’re wearing your sports team mask. Homemade mask from Etsy: Not only do you support local businesses but also you are not afraid to express yourself in the
simplest way possible. You probably have switched to non-dairy kinds of milk such as oat and almond. On top of that, you most definitely feel pain when you see littered face masks on the streets of your town. Bonus points if you played Animal Crossing during the quarantine. N95 Respirator: If you wear the N95 Respirator, you are the hero Gotham needs. In all seriousness, you take this pandemic seriously and are not afraid to show it. You care for the health and safety of others and might even have a few spare surgical masks for others stored in your bag.
Photos by Unsplash
Face masks come in all different designs.
Sean Tolbert Continued from page 6A choir, he discovered a love of performing. The next year, he was cast in the musical “Fame.” It was about a group of kids at a performing arts school in New York City. “I had this solo at the end of the first act,” Tolbert said. “Looking back, ninth-grade Sean was belting it. I really felt like I stomped the room for a minute.” The reaction from the crowd, including his surprised parents, signaled to him that his voice might be a gift he could use. In his junior year of high school, his family moved to Oklahoma. While attending Lawton High School, he met Michael Jeantet, who professionally goes by “Jeantet.” Jeantet produces all his music from his bedroom. Tolbert took a hiatus from music for two years as his focus turned to developing a friendship with Jeantet. Jeantet said they’ve been close friends for a while, but Tolbert’s talent still surprised him. “I didn’t even know he sang, and he didn’t even know I produced,” Jeantet said. “I found out literally like when his mom was showing me some videos of him singing.’” Tolbert said his lyrics are inspired by whatever music Jeantet creates. Together, they’ve created about 100 songs that have never been heard by the public. A few times they’ve struggled to agree on whether they like a or not. “Go Home”, which made it
on the project, was one of those tracks. Jeantet has a recording of Tolbert stopping during the song and insisting they drop it. It took some convincing, and Tolbert admits it is one of his favorites now. Taking their time, they chose their five best works. When “TABS” was complete, they agreed the project was worth sharing with others. Tolbert said the duo is happy with the finished product, with individuals’ talents shining through. “This project really just captured everything we were trying to do,” Tolbert said. “We were trying to get to something that sounded commercially successful. This is the first thing that came close to that.” With the project officially released, Tolbert has been busy with organizations such as Student Government Association Multi-Cultural Affairs and OK State Stand United, which is a grassroots Black Lives Matter movement. Tolbert said he wants to continue connecting people with resources and hopes to find work in non-profit work after graduation. He said he dedicates himself to helping people and making them happy, whether through music or volunteer work. He said he summed up his advice to others: “Love people. Listen to music.”
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ZACCHAEUS WAS A LITTLE MAN! The story of Z a c c h a e u s i s f o u n d in Luke1 9:1-10. He wa s a we a lth y tax c o l l ector; not we l l l o o k e d u p o n b y the people. Je su s wa s p a ssin g th ro u g h J e ri ch o w here Z a c c h a e u s l i v ed a n d h e w ant ed to s ee Je su s. H e ha d a p robl em! He wa s v e r y sho r t a n d c o u l d n ot s ee hi m be c a use o f th e c rowd .and yo u i m a g i ne hi m s tr a in in g an d jump i ng t r y i ng t o g et a g l i mpse of Chr i st t o no a v a il . M an y p e opl e would h a v e g i v e n u p , b u t n o t thi s man. Wo u l d y o u l i k e t o tru ly s ee J e s us or get to k n o w h i m b e tter? Ta k e a lesson from Z a c c ha e us; d o n ’t g iv e up! F inal ly he ran u p a h e a d , f o u n d an d c li m bed a s yc a m o r e t r e e j u s t to g e t a v i ew o f this p e r so n h e h a d h e a rd a b out . As J esu s p a sse d b y t h e tree , h e looked up and c a l l e d Z a c c h a e u s b y n a m e. “Zaccha e us, c o m e do w n im mediately. I m ust st a y a t y o u r h o use tod ay.” So m e t i m e s w e th in k God does n ot re a l l y kno w o r c a re f or us . He k ne w Z a c c ha e us a n d h e
k n o w s y o u . T h e Lord know s a ll a bout y o u ! Za cc h a eu s w ante d jus t a g lim p s e o f J e s u s , but he re c e ive d mu c h m o re. A s you re a c h for a little o f J e s u s , G o d is going to give you mo re, a n d th is m a n w e lc ome d it g lad ly. T h is v is it w ith Je s us c ha nge d Z a c c h ae u s s o muc h. H is life took a d efin ite tu rn . H e w a nte d to be c ome a n h o n es t man a nd ge t his life s tra ig h te n ed o u t w ith othe rs . J e s us s a id , “S a lv atio n ha s c ome to this h o u s e. ” J e s u s c a me to d e live r pe ople from th eir s e lfis h w ay s , and bring the m into a tru e rela tio n s h ip w ith G od. B e e n co u ra g ed to g o for C hris t, D on’t g iv e u p b ec a u s e of hindra nc e s . G od h as mo re fo r y o u tha n you c a n ima g in e . It w ill c ha nge your life for e te rn ity. . G o d is fa ithful to finis h w h a t h e s tarts ! .
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COWBOYS After a spoiled Stadium debut in march, The OSU baseball team finally makes its home at o’Brate stadium see hutchens on page 2B
Photos courtesy of OSU athletics Top photo: Marcus Brown Middle photo: Hueston Morrill Bottom photo: Robin Ventura
O’Colly
Friday, August 28, 2020 Page 2B
SPORTS
Holiday in August Long-awaited move to O’Brate Stadium is finally happening for OSU Ben Hutchens As if it was Christmas, the Oklahoma State University baseball team woke up and looked under the tree to find the best present it could ever expect to have — a new multimillion-dollar stadium. The present was opened on Aug. 24 when Cecil and Frances O’Brate cut the ribbon leading out to the field and led the Cowboy baseball team onto the grass for the first time. “That ceremony was certainly meaningful,” said coach Josh Holliday, “This type of a legacy gift will be here forever, and we really wanted to give (the O’Brates) a moment to feel our thankfulness.” The discarded wrapping paper unveiled a beautiful present — O’Brate Stadium finally opening after coronavirus put the unveiling on hold. With the team finally in its new home, Holliday raved about the field conditions. “The surfaces were as perfect as you’ll ever see,” Holliday said. Senior infielder, Dylan Gardner, expressed his thoughts on the new stadium. “I could tell that (the construction crew) did not cheat anywhere, it
The OSU baseball team finally moved into their new O’Brate stadium home.
was just immaculate, they didn’t go the cheap route on anything,” said Gardner. Holliday was happy the OSU baseball program got to express gratitude for the incredibly charitable gift, but said that now it was up to the team to show that same level of gratitude each and every time they step onto the field. But, of course, fans want to know when they’ll get their first taste of the stadium. “We’ll have inter-squad games and be training through the fall,” Holliday said. “I would like
to think at some point we can safely allow people to come to watch inter-squad games and glance at the facility.” The inter-squad training games in the fall are a staple of OSU baseball and a pretty big deal. That will most likely be the first opportunity for fans to watch a game in person. There will obviously be more than Cowboy vs Cowboy games played in O’Brate Stadium this season. “We have some great teams on this year’s schedule,” Holliday said. “I think (OSU fans) will be rewarded with an awe-
OSU Athletics
some baseball experience and a really good team to pull for.” The Cowboys have finally moved to their stadium, and they had their first practice at O’Nrate. “It went great and the kids were fired up, lots of smiles, a lot of first moments, a lot of balls flying over the fence and just good things man,” Holliday glowingly said of the first practice. “(We had) that positive vibe of seeing athletes happily training and running around like crazy.” The first practice also marked the first time the entire baseball team had
been together since last March. “It was pretty surreal… to be around a lot of the guys that were new and the guys I hadn’t seen in five or six months,” Gardner said. All in all, August 24 was much like Christmas day for the OSU baseball team. It was a day where a reunited family came together to celebrate a wonderful gift. “It was a joyous occasion, which is really what sports is all about,” Holliday said. Sports.ed@ocolly.com
Down in the trenches: OSU’s O-line faces many unknowns Sudeep Tumma The ball is snapped, bodies collide, helmets slam — the sound of lineman jarring against each other on a football field is unmistakable. For most, it looks like a nasty battle down in the trenches. But for offensive linemen, it’s just another day. “We all know what we’re risking, but as an offensive lineman, you’re getting pounded on every play,” said Ry Schneider, Oklahoma State starting center. And if you don’t, you didn’t do your job right. We kind of know the sacrifices we’re putting our bodies through and everything. It might be just a little bit more, but it’s just something we’ve grown up doing, and we’ve learned to live with.” Those “sacrifices” led to the redshirt senior left tackle Dylan Galloway retiring from football back in early July. Galloway’s loss was a blow to OSU’s experienced and talented O-line, and it’s further hindered by the transfers of starting right guard Bryce Bray and Jacob Ferrell, who was viewed as a potential replacement for Galloway. Suddenly, the Cowboys sturdy O-line, which paved the way for Chuba Hubbard to rush for 2,094 yards last year, has some holes to be filled. “Competition is high, every-
body is wanting to step up and
O’Colly
The OSU Cowboys offensive line has many holes to fill after departures this offseason.
prove themselves, and prove that they can take that spot that’s opened up,” Schneider said.
“
Someone is going to step up and someone is going to take it, and we’re going to be ready to go - Ry Schneider
“Someone is going to step up and someone is going to take it, and we’re going to be ready to go.” Schneider, who’s proven versatile in his career, is firmly stepping into the starting center role as a redshirt senior. Before the offseason even began, the Cowboys lost Marcus Keyes and Johnny Wilson, who both graduated, but Schneider and West Virginia graduate transfer Josh Sills were ready to step right up. Now OSU has even more O-linemen to account for, but perhaps it can. “We have a fantastic coach in
(offensive line) coach Dickey,” coach Mike Gundy said. “I have complete faith in him that he’ll move some guys around and come up with a group here in a week or 10 days, put it together and get ready to go play. “We’ve got young players in our program that haven’t competed much on game day, but they have some talent. They’re hungry, they’re aggressive, they’re willing to do whatever it takes to be successful.” Gundy said it’ll be on the coaches to find the right guys to make it work, and said he has complete faith in Dickey offensive coordinator Kasey Dunn to put the offense in a position to get it done. But however the line shakes out, whoever is there on gameday, Schneider is ready to be the unquestioned No. 1 guy at center and lead the O-line. “This is what I’ve worked for the whole time I’ve been here,” Schneider said.”I didn’t come here to try to be a second-string or anything. Just me getting some of those starts and me being able to get in the game and get the feel of the speed of the game and everything is going to help me so much.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
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Friday, August 28, 2020 Page 3B
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Friday, August 28, 2020 Page 4B
SPORTS
Mullet mentality Mike Gundy’s meticulous planning allows him to navigate through a pandemic Ryan Novozinsky The COVID-19 pandemic has halted nearly every aspect of daily life in the modern world. But for Oklahoma State football coach Mike Gundy, this is business as usual. “I think (the season will) look exactly like the way it is,” Gundy said. “With schools pushed back a couple weeks from what would be a traditional start date, typical August practice sessions have been in effect now for three weeks, so everybody’s catching up. If we had games this weekend, I think that it might look a little different, but with an additional two weeks of preparation, I’m gonna guess that people are going to be back on track. “I feel comfortable
with what’s happening here at Oklahoma State.” This is in large part thanks to Gundy’s meticulous attention to detail when dealing with offseason planning. The proof of this lies in both his record at OSU and his adaptability as a leader. “I think (the pandemic) forces us into thought with different areas,” Gundy said. “We’ve had tremendous success. Coach (Rob) Glass and I have been here together 16 years. Our culture, our layout and our plan, this discipline, the structure that we have here has been very profitable for Oklahoma State football and our athletic department and our university. As we listen and watch and see we continue to go back to ‘this is who we are, this is what we do.’ For
Devin Wilber
Mike Gundy’s schedule has remained unfazed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
the most part it solidifies that our process has been really good over the last 16 years.” Some of the changes Gundy has made this offseason includes limiting room capacity, protecting players outside of football and other minor details. Gundy noted that despite these changes occurring, the core structure of the program
remains the same. Most importantly, Gundy’s players have adapted to this new normal well. “A lot of flexibility on the part of the coaching staff, taking it as they can. They’ve done a great job of really figuring out what this team is good at. So that’s what we’re gonna do — the things we’re good at
and we’ve been practicing that for three or four weeks now. That’s what we’re gonna run. We’re gonna have to make teams adjust to us this year because we’re gonna do what we do and we’re not gonna change from that.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
OSU’s limited capacity causes problems for some fans Chris Becker When this football season was set to begin, 60,000 were supposed to fill Boone Pickens Stadium with fans screaming in one of the most anticipated football seasons in recent Oklahoma State history. But that won’t be the case this season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the OSU athletics department decided to limit capacity inside of Boone Pickens Stadium to 25%. OSU athletic director Mike Holder sent a message to season ticket holders regarding the upcoming season. “We’ve made our decision that our season ticket prices will not be prorated based on a five-game home schedule instead of our originally scheduled seven-game slate,” Holder said in the statement. “However, we will still honor our pledge to completely refund the cost of a season ticket if you are not comfortable attending a game in Boone Pickens Stadium this fall, or if you disagree with our decision not to prorate the ticket price.” Because of this, season ticket holders were given the opportunity to opt-in or out of their tickets. If ticket holders decided to opt-out, they had the choice of either donating their purchase to the Cowboy Relief Fund or receive a full refund. “My family and I are longtime season ticket holders and renewed for this season to support the university, but will not be coming to any games due to COVID risk,” a season ticket holder told the O’Colly. IIf ticket holders did opt into the season, they were not guaranteed a refund if the season was canceled after a couple of games. Jason Demuth, a four-year season ticket holder, was one of the fans who were told they would not get money back if a game was played. “I called the ticket office, and I asked, ‘What if games get canceled due to COVID?’” Demuth said. “;What if we play two games at home, will I get any money back?; The answer was no. As long as one game gets played, you pay the whole season ticket price. That is just — I have a lot of
bad words to say along with that, but it’s just a bunch of BS.” The OSU ticket office also changed the rules of the student All-Sports Pass making it more of a lottery system to decide who would make up the 2,500 students who will attend the games. “Let attendance priority be for students to give them the most ‘normal’ college experience,” Chrissy Cleary told the O’Colly on Twitter. “Maybe sit roommates near each other to increase seating capacity. If there is
O’Colly Boone Pickens Stadium will have a limited capacity this year.
still room, priority to season ticket holders that are alumni on the basis of years holding season tickets.” When it comes to how the tickets will be given out, OSU will allow 13,000 people into the stadium. Students get 2,500 tickets and the other 10,500 tickets will be given out to season ticket holders based on POSSE points, until no tickets remain. “People are going to have to move,” Senior Associate Athletic Director and Development Larry Reece said. “That’s tough for people because you’re used to sitting at your seat that you’ve been in for five, 10, 20 or 40 years and that’s home to you, but this is hopefully just a one-year deal.” Club tickets will count toward the total capacity, but only around 900 of the normal 3,600 will be allowed inside of the club. Suite holders and their guests do not count
to the 25% capacity. “We’ve had a lot of people opt-out, so there have been a lot of people say, ‘I’m just going to sit out this year,’” Reece said. “Some of them have donated their season ticket purchases and made it an outright donation to the Cowboy Relief Fund and others we have given refunds to or will. In the club, we had about 1,800 requests. Well, half of those aren’t going to get into the club.” All elevators will only run to the suites unless someone has a disability. The elevators will only carry four people at a time, unless it is a family, then the capacity will be six with everyone required to be in masks. Last year, Oklahoma State had an athletics budget of $85 million. Of that, $37 million came from football season ticket sales. Despite losing 75% capacity, OSU is still able to have suite ticket holders, which helps the lost revenue. Reece said that could result in losing close to $27 million in lost ticket sales. “Then there’s potential loss from television revenue, there’s potential loss from the Cowboys Sports Network Learfield, because they’re having a tough time selling certain things because we’re going to have fewer fans here and some of the signage isn’t worth as much,” Reece said. “If I had to guess, we’re going to be in the negative 30 million based off of last year.” Unfortunately, not everyone who wants to attend games in Boone Pickens Stadium will get to see the Cowboys in person, but Reece has a message to all the fans. “There will be some of the Cowboy family left out and I just ask for patience, and that this is hopefully just a one year deal,” Reece said. “Thank goodness we are going to have football because we all need it for our sanity. Even if you’re not in the stadium, that hurts that you’re not going to be there, and we wish you could be, but for safety, we can’t fill it up. At least you get to watch this great team of ours, this championship-level team, on TV for one year.” Sports.ed@ocolly.com
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SPORTS
Changing roles Kasey Dunn’s adaptive nature will help him in his new position Jared a’latorre Kasey Dunn’s involvement as the new offensive coordinator has changed all around the team. While the unique Cowboy Back position would be a place to grow with blocking and running routes, the perspective has changed. Cowboy Back Logan Carter compared his previous experience to what he’s seeing now in practice. “Kasey Dunn, the receivers coach, I didn’t hear from him too much,” Carter said. “I would hear from him if we were running routes the wrong way or our spacing out on the field wasn’t right. But now Coach Dunn, the (offensive coordinator), oversees the whole offense so he’s in charge of everybody, he’s watching everything, his eyes are all over the field.” While he was only the wide receivers coach, Dunn didn’t need to concern himself too much with other positions Now, it’s different. Not only has the interaction changed, but the involvement of everybody on offense has also changed. “Definitely have built a relationship a bit more whether it’s a congratulations for a good block because he pays more attention to that now or a chewing out to get your job done better because that’s what expected here,” Carter said. From experience, offensive lineman Ry Schnieder has already had a fine relationship with his new of-
fensive coordinator but feels even closer with Dunn more involved. “Coach Dunn’s always been a great coach, and he’s always kind of kept in with everybody,” Schnieder said. “He would joke around with his offensive line, and he’s been around for a long time. So as far as transition goes, we just see him and we get to talk to him just a little more and everything.” Head coach Mike Gundy talked about his strengths on Dunn so far, and why he would be a great asset in his new role. “Up until this point, his work ethic, planning ability, structure and discipline with the coaching staff and the players has been excellent,” Gundy said. “His ability to coordinate with our coaching staff and our players have been fantastic.” Gundy had also talked about the past with former quarterback Brandon Weeden and adjustments that were made during that time in the offensive system. Since then, Gundy said that the system has been developed over the years. “I’ve always allowed them that opportunity based on them being the play-callers, and that’s what they have to do to develop themselves as a play-caller,” Gundy said. “So (Dunn) will have certain things that he feels very comfortable with, we’ll know a lot more based on four or five games of experience.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
After serving as WR coach for several years, Kasey Dunn is now transitioning to OC.
Adam Luther
Defensive depth helps Cowboys avoid deep trouble Chris Becker It’s not often that a star DI athlete feels “out of shape,” but that is exactly how sophomore Oklahoma State defensive end Trace Ford described himself. With a shortened, hectic offseason, Ford and his teammates had less time to commit toward strength and conditioning. That combined with a bout with COVID-19, and that left Ford weaker than normal As a result, the strenuous start to the football season has been fatigue-filled. Whether via a battle with an illness or a shortened offseason conditioning program, some Oklahoma State Cowboys may be feeling heightened effects of exhaustion in the 2020 season. In a pass-happy league such as the Big 12 where defensive players are required to run hard for extended amounts of time, exhaustion can lose football games. Combine that with the reality that a player may be pulled off the field at any time if they contract COVID-19, and OSU, along with every other college
Adam Luther
Depth on the defensive line will help the OSU defense out this season.
football team, will find overall team depth critical. For OSU, that important aspect may be a strength. “Depth is deep this year, for sure,” Ford said. “Especially at the ‘Leo’ position. I know I’m out of shape for sure. We all are. We have plenty of freshman linebackers that came in that can easily step up if they need to.” The defensive positions near the line of scrimmage are set up well for the Pokes, but coach Mike Gundy feels confident in
the depth of the entire defensive side of the ball. “We are as good off now as we’ve been in years with players that have some sort of experience or maturity to be able to play in a game,” Gundy said about his defense. Ford and his teammates may be faced with the challenge of defending at a high level in intense circumstances. “If you get into a situation where fatigue becomes a factor, (if) you are playing in a game
where the field temperature is 130 or 140 degrees, more guys have to play,” Gundy said. Gundy explained that exhausting situations such as extreme heat or a team being riddled with injuries make depth a crucial element to team success. “I think depth is a real big factor, and I think we have it right now for defense,” Ford said. sports.ed@ocolly.com
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SPORTS
Best teammate Grace Yochum’s injury led her to be a more mature player Jacob Sturm Not every player prepares for the season the same way. The circumstances athletes are in can be just as unique. Just ask Oklahoma State women’s soccer midfielder, Grace Yochum. Yochum broke her collarbone in practice on Oct. 22 and missed the Cowgirls’ final six games of the 2019 season. OSU coach Colin Carmichael recognized her successful sophomore year. “To be fair to Grace, if she hadn’t been injured last year, late in the year she might have been an All-American as well,” Carmichael said. “She certainly was on pace to do that. We’ve got high expectations for her.” That’s a fair expectation. In her sophomore season, Yochum scored
File photo
Grace Yochum anticipated an exciting 2020 season.
an OSU sophomore record 11 goals from the midfield. The success in front of goal brings decisions Carmichael had not planned on. “She’s been unbelievable,” Carmichael said. “She’s given me a big headache because we were slowing her into Julia Lenhardt’s position as a holding mid, but every time she runs forward
she scores. And so, I am thinking to myself, ‘I must be a horrible coach if I play that kid so far away from goal.’” Yochum was placed in a tough spot with a right shoulder injury, but it didn’t stop her from having an impact on the remaining bit of the season — when she was unable to play. “That was a really
tough time for me,” Yochum said. “Not gonna lie. I’ve never had an injury like that. I’ve never even really been injured, and so to go out the way that I did, it forced me to grow. I had to be a team player because that night that I broke my collarbone, Colin called me and he was like, ‘I need you to step up and I need you to be the best team-
mate you have been in your entire life.’” Carmichael has a fully fit Yochum in 2020 and will rely on her attacking instinct once the season begins on Sept. 11. Carmichael is already preparing for ways to involve Yochum in the Cowgirls’ attack, even from the defensive midfield role. “We’re going to find ways to get (Yochum) up into that attacking area because she is such a goal threat,” Carmichael said. “That’s our job as coaches though. We will figure it out. She is looking really sharp, scored a lot of goals in training and again growing into that leadership role as well and finding her voice and maturing.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
Trace Ford chronicles of COVID-19 Chris Becker Everyone knew about Trace Ford’s athleticism and potential, but most weren’t aware of his COVID-19 experience. Trace tested positive for COVID-19 in early July while going back and forth between his hometown Edmond and Stillwater, but he has since been cleared. Trace said his mother, Desirae Ford, who is a nurse practitioner, understands he is in good hands at Oklahoma State. “I mean she’s obviously concerned,” Trace said. “She tells me to wash my hands every 30 minutes, so she’s definitely concerned about it. I already had it. She knows I’m safe, I live alone and I social distance.” Trace has eight siblings, his mother and father in his immediate family, but he was the only one to come down with CO-
VID-19. “At the hospitals they don’t make us stay home from work if we’re exposed because we’re exposed to people all of the time,” Desirae said. “We just have rules. Like if we become symptomatic, all of the family — besides me going to work — didn’t go to softball practice, stayed home and kind of isolated themselves from everybody for about two weeks.” Trace’s case took a toll on him as he did show symptoms after his positive test, but he said he’s past it and is getting healthy. “I had the symptoms, the no taste, no smell, the headaches, the sweat and the chills,” Ford said. “It was pretty tough, but I got over it and here I am now, so it’s all good.” When Ford tested positive, he left Edmond and self isolated in Stillwater, as his family did as well.
While the entire Ford family was quarantined, Desirae Ford had to continue to work. “Well, I work as a nurse practitioner in a hospital, and we take care of COVID patients, so I’ve seen how prevalent it is and how many patients we have, so I wasn’t surprised at all,” Desirae said. Although she wasn’t surprised she is concerned about Trace being in Stillwater, but said the country should try and figure out a way to live throughout the pandemic. “I’m concerned, but at the same time I don’t know when we are going to have a handle on COVID, and I feel like learning how to live with it in a way that does the least amount of damage to everybody and everything is going to be a trial and error process,” Desirae said. COVID-19 took a toll on Trace even after he no longer had the
virus. Ford is now at 240 pounds after he lost eight pounds during his fight against COVID-19. “It’s been hard to breathe and stuff,” Ford said. “I’m slowly getting back into better shape every day, but it definitely took a toll on my body for sure. I got a little leaner, but I’ll be back.” A large topic of discussion throughout the entire offseason was players opting in or out, but Ford has decided to play despite his tough battle over the summer. He weighed the options and considered his family’s medical conditions, but ultimately decided to stay the course. “I feel like I’m safer here in the stadium than I am anywhere else,” Ford said. “I feel like they take the precautions to keep me safe. I want to play, so I’m here.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
File photo Trace Ford detailed his battle with COVID-19 on Wednesday.
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FOR RELEASE AUGUST 28, 2020
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
ACROSS 1 Quick blow 4 Weary worker’s sigh 8 Dives 15 4 x 4, briefly 16 Six-ton predator 17 Leopard spot 18 ICU staffer 19 False claim about one’s pioneer ancestors? 21 Taking courses? 23 Crest box abbr. 24 Crafty 25 Medieval German spendthrift? 30 Honey, in slang 31 Zip 32 Lot choice 36 Wall St. event 38 Enforcer of some ACA provisions 39 Vague unease 41 Transmitted documents with Red Riding Hood’s location? 45 Bending movement 46 __ clear 47 Large receptacle 48 Nods, maybe 49 It was precious to conquistadores 50 Oliver Twist or Tiny Tim 52 Beauty treatment for poultry? 58 Half-hearted 61 “There’s __ in team” 62 Laundry employee 63 Big-screen entertainment for angels? 68 Hurdle for srs. 69 First religious leader of his title to be called “The Great” 70 Guy 71 Charlottesville sch. 72 Tools for some crossword solvers 73 500-mile race 74 Furry friend
8/28/20
By Jeffrey Wechsler
4 Many an offcampus local 5 An Allman brother 6 Suffix with robot 7 Budgetary excess 8 Fendi rival 9 Seuss activist 10 Amer. capital 11 Bk. before Esther 12 Classic muscle cars 13 Shorthand for unlisted items 14 Alluring 20 With 35-Down, papery construction best left alone 22 Filmmaker Lupino 26 Blacksmith wear 27 For fear that 28 Capital on a fjord 29 Patricia of “Hud” 33 Tending to, as the loot 34 Like pirates, often 35 See 20-Down 36 Uncertain 37 Part of IPA DOWN 38 Midori in a rink 1 Derby cocktail 39 Gourd fruit 2 For face value 40 Piercing tool 3 Japanese takeout 42 Corner off. orders occupant
Thursday’s Puzzle Solved
©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
43 Share juicy details 44 Fabled braggart 49 Dust Bowl migrant 50 Dancing dinosaur 51 Kitchen gadget maker 53 __ circle 54 Pacific salmon 55 Brandish 56 Guts 57 “That’s what I’m talking about!”
8/28/20
58 Sanitizing cloth 59 Latin love 60 California tourist valley 64 Kisses, in love letters 65 Paris’ __ de la Cité 66 “What __ missing?” 67 FedEx fleet member
Daily Horoscope By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency Today’s Birthday (08/28/20). You’re especially creative, charismatic and fun this year. Disciplined action gets results. Consider partnership dreams. Community advocacy and collaboration wins satisfying results this summer, before you discover new romantic solutions. Make a professional improvement this winter, before a sweet home and family phase. Prioritize love. 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 — Explore workspace options. Run with a clever idea and it could take off. Take advantage of a lucky professional opportunity. Dreams can come true. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — Have a meaningful conversation. Articulate a dream and it travels further. An educational opportunity requires discipline and dedication for long-term reward. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Today is an 8 — Keep your own score with shared financial matters. Fortune follows applied collaborative efforts. Work together for solid accomplishments. Get the whole gang to help. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Today is an 8 — Talk with your partner to determine best options. A lucky break is worth pursuing. Consider pros and cons. Listen to your heart. Conversation generates possibilities. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is an 8 — Your physical performance could exceed your expectations. Maintain healthy practices. What you’re doing is working, and it offers long-term benefits. Listen to intuition. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Creative passion projects (including romance, fun and games) flower anew. Talk about a brilliant idea and determine your course. Collaborate with someone beloved. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is an 8 — Discuss a domestic dream with family and housemates. What would it take? Sketch ideas, fantasies and possibilities. Choose one to pursue first. Brainstorming produces solutions. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Today is an 8 — Launch creative works and sign contracts. Words come together naturally. Strengthen foundational elements. News and transportation flow quickly. Get the word out. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 9 — Generate lucrative deals and agreements in conversation. Get terms in writing. Check the fine print. Good luck follows disciplined actions. Long-term benefits are possible. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — A dream inspires you. Find a private spot to plan. Organize and plot your course. Imagine how things could be. What would need to happen? Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Connect with your social circle. You can get what you need. Resources flow through communication. A dreamy opportunity is worth grabbing. Share community support. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 9 — Coordination proves essential at work. A professional project has lasting potential. Get your dream team into action. Long-term benefits flow through disciplined collaboration.
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8/28/20
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
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O’Colly
Friday, August 28, 2020 Page 8B
SPORTS
Cornerback battle Continued from Page 1A ally expect to see. One of multiple players with NFL aspirations battling for limited spots. But the Cowboys have a different approach, even for Holmes, who’s still mastering the system. “There’s times when I have my brain farts but with everyone around me, they help me out,” Holmes said. The painting is also a bit different than what one might expect because of the way OSU football is run. “The way defensive football is played here at Oklahoma State, our ones and twos split reps on defense,” head coach Mike Gundy said. “We get so many reps in a game that if you have legitimate two-deep going into a game the ones might play
50 snaps and the twos might play 35.” Regardless of how the last couple weeks of fall camp shake out and whoever breaks away from the pack to claim a starter’s haul of gameday snaps, Holmes said he’s going to do whatever he can to help his team win. Which brings up the question — is this “cornerback battle” really a battle?. “He’s one of those young men that understands things don’t always go the way you want them,” Gundy proudly said. “Sometimes you have to be willing to work with others, but he continues to have a great work ethic, a great attitude and has been a tremendous addition to our team up to this point.” sports.ed@ocolly.com
“He continues to have a great work ethic, a great attitude and has been a tremendous addition to our team up to this point” - Mike Gundy on Christian Holmes Christian Holmes brings experience and talent to OSU.
Photos by Tribune
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