‘Well-oiled machine’
OSU Ranch Horse team thrives through supportive culture
BY RAYNEE HOWELL I CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On a horse farm in northeast Ohio, Abby Steffee learned more than the average person knows about horses.
Other than maybe her professional-show-jumper parents.
From a young age, Steffee learned from and followed in her parent’s footsteps, becoming a show jumper.
After experiencing struggles in the sport — from burn out to expenses — she knew there was another avenue for her that still included her favorite animal.
“I was kind of thrown in the deep end since I was a kid,” she said. “Show jumping, for me, was just really toxic and expensive.”
A couple years before making it to Oklahoma State, Steffee switched to team penning and ranch sorting — both cattlecentered equestrian events. She
‘The Boys From Oklahoma’ confirm repeating concert series in Stillwater
had no idea the switch would lead her to the OSU ranch horse team.
“I never knew this side of it existed,” Steffee said. “It’s a totally different ball game, and it’s amazing.”
For some, the fair scene in Stillwater was a firsttime experience.
With rides lighting up the evening paired with funnel cake in the air, the Payne County Free Fair was added to one Oklahoma State student’s to-do list.
“This is my first time here,” OSU senior Jada Birts said. “My friend mentioned it in passing, so we figured we should go. In all honesty, I came for the funnel cakes and the pop-up shops.”
The fair was back for another year as local cattlemen, vendors and families came together for cattle shows, rides and fair food.
Throughout the day, goat and junior horse showcases took center stage as young ranchers showed off the structure and quality of their animals in friendly competition.
Troubadours and the Mike McClure Band for the first “The Boys From Oklahoma” concert series. More than 200,000 fans attended the concerts.
Howell
Payton Little
Oklahoma State Ranch Horse Team member Abby Steffee walks with her horse during a Monday practice at Totusek Arena.
Payton Little
Cross Canadian Ragweed lead singer Cody Canada announced at “The Boys From Oklahoma Texas Encore” at Baylor University that he plans to return to Stillwater in April for another show.
Lilian Easter Payne County Free Fair offered rollercoasters, fair food and several cattle events to attend.
Rhema Coleman STAFF REPORTER
Although families from the area crowded the fairgrounds, college student attendance seemed sparse. Birts was shocked at the low student turnout.
On This day
Vendors also came to showcase their skills, and for Kandy’s Koffee, care goes into every cup, no matter who is served.
“I make everything myself,” said Kandy Coyle, owner of Kandy’s Koffee. “I source my coffee beans, none of my syrups have fructose corn syrup, and I offer alternative milk and sugar, just in case someone has dietary restrictions.”
Coyle’s care and consideration comes from her experience at large-scale events.
“I’ve been doing this for eight years, and coffee for about 16,” Coyle said. “I normally stick with state fairs, county fairs, festivals.”
Co-Editors-in-Chief
“I’m surprised there weren’t many other college students,” Birts said.
“We’re always looking for things to do in Stillwater, and this is a nice way to get off campus and enjoy some time away.”
If finding things to do in Stillwater sounds familiar, then the fair is inexpensive and memorable. Cattle shows, rides and food highlights a small portion of Payne County and its community.
The fair is free to attend at the Payne County Expo Center until Sunday from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Editorial board
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
Design editor Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com
Social media editor Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
news.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant social media editor Jose Brito news.ed@ocolly.com
Photo editor Chance Marick photo.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com 52 years ago. 1973.
‘Price
spiral hits coffee freaks’
If Thomas Jefferson appears a little depressed on the front of nickel, it’s because it now takes a Franklin Roosevelt to buy a cup of coffee at the Starlight Fountain in the Oklahoma State Student Union.
Rising coffee prices forced the Student Union Food Service to increase the cost to a dime this summer, ending a three-year practice of selling coffee to students for a nickel a cup.
Meredith M. Andrews, Student Union food service manager, said the price hike was necessary “just to keep at the break-even point.”
“Even though coffee prices continue to rise,” Andrews said. “We will try to keep the price at a dime as a service to students.”
News & Lifestyle reporters: Rhema Coleman
Cody Garcia
Caden James
Marcus Mesis
Megan Roy
Annie Ross
Alli Themer
Olivia Upton
Aliyah Young
Newsroom
Sports reporters: Photographers & Designers:
Timothy Christensen Cayden Cox
Gina Foster Pearson Gilliam Kenzie Kraich
Luke Mazza
Sam Mitchell
Tanner Revas
Will Thorogood
Weston Wertzberger
Jace Bormann
Mykalyn Daidone
Catherine Dzanski
Andon Freitas
Connor Fuxa
Kaytlyn Hayes
Ethan Hilbert
Jonathan Jackson
Kaitlyn Robertson
Isaac Terry
Lilian Easter
Attendees receive ribbon fries from a food stand at the Payne County Free Fair.
Continued from 1 Fair
Boys
The success led to Ragweed playing a “Texas Encore” at Baylor University’s McLane Stadium on Aug. 23. Turnpike Troubadours made the ticket along with American Aquarium, Shane Smith & The Saints and Wade Bowen. More than 35,000 fans filled the stadium seats, making it the biggest non-football event in stadium history, according to Baylor. Before Ragweed’s set ended, Ragweed frontman Cody Canada and Turnpike Troubadours lead singer Evan Felker teased a return to Stillwater. Canada asked the crowd if they would do this again and the crowd roared.
Felker grabbed the microphone and said “I guess we’ll see you guys in Stillwater next year, huh?” Canada responded with “Why don’t we just do a repeat performance? And we’ll see you guys in Stillwater in let’s say… April.”
The display screens in the stadium lit up white with black letters that spelled out: “See you next year... in Stillwater!”
Oklahoma State officially announced the concert’s return Thursday. Fans can sign up for a pre-sale code at https://app.okstate.com/Round2 until 5 p.m. Sep. 3. Tickets will go on sale for those with the code at noon Sep. 5 through 10 p.m. Sept. 8. If any tickets remain, a sale will open to the public Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. news.ed@ocolly.com
EDITOR’S PICK
WHAT SONG DO YOU HOPE TO HEAR AT “THE BOYS FROM OKLAHOMA?”
RAYNEE HOWELL,
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“Heaven Passing Through” by Turnpike Troubadours
PARKER GERL,
CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
“Bang My Head” by Cross Canadian Ragweed
BRYSON THADHANI, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
“7 & 7” by Turnpike Troubadours
JOSE BRITO,
ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
“Boys From Oklahoma” by Cross Canadian Ragweed
CHANCE MARICK, PHOTO EDITOR
“Stillwater” by Wyatt Flores
PAYTON LITTLE,
ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
“Long Hot Summer Day” by Turnpike Troubadours
KATIE LAHEW, DESIGN EDITOR
“17” by Cross Canadian Ragweed
News
SGA president announces Sept. 16 town hall, new officers sworn in
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The new student body president stood at a podium, speaking about the next steps toward reaching the campaign goals he shared in the spring before he was elected.
This time, Wesley Hurlbut was speaking to the Student Senate of the Student Government Association at its first meeting of the year Wednesday.
After the SGA election in March, Victoria Smith was elected vice student body president.
“Victoria and I’s term has started out on optimistic notes,” Hurlbut said. “We started this past spring by meeting with (OSU) President (Jim) Hess and with the director of access and community impact. We had very good meetings with both of them, and we hope that there are great things ahead on all fronts.”
Hurlbut and Smith prioritized student engagement in their campaign. Hosting “town halls” — public meetings to hear from the student body — was one of their goals. In his address, Hurlbut announced the first one has been scheduled. It will be held Sept. 16 from 7-8 p.m. in
Student Union Case Study 408.
Connecting with the multicultural community is also a focus for the pair. Hurlbut said in March at SGA’s open forum he wanted to reboot the multicultural affairs advisory board, hoping to find a leader with no other responsibilities in SGA. The person in the cabinet position would focus on diverse communities on campus and their needs.
But making changes to the current committee guidelines will take time and need to be approved.
“We made all of our cabinet appointments, except for we did not appoint people to the Multicultural Affairs Committee… (that way we can) establish the advisory board,” Hurlbut said.
“That’s one of the things that we hope to do… establish the advisory board as a separate position. And so we wanted to work out some of the ways that we would have to do that — with bylaws — as well as some renaming aspects.”
The current plan is to rename the Multicultural Affairs Committee to the Multi-Program Affairs Committee, but its focus is still to be a voice for students
who are underrepresented.
“The committee’s mandate to assist multicultural students, as well as our administration’s resolve to expand the influence of SGA’s previously underutilized multicultural affairs advisory board, will remain the same,” Hurlbut said.
Hurlbut and Smith’s goals will also be joined with a list of other goals as committee chairs and senators work on addressing specific needs and issues. Seven new members were sworn-in at the meeting, but several others were sworn-in previously.
Thomas Hatfield, Joshua Wilson, Trystan Turner, Rayleigh Carter, Grace Wright, Andrew Schulz and Eli Greenlee were among the new members sworn in. A few spots are still left empty. One seat is left on the SGA Supreme Court and various others are up for the taking.
As those spots fill, Hurlbut is confident in the members of SGA and how they will work together to prioritize the student body’s interests.
“We’re entering this year with potential, and we hope to end this year with results,” Hurlbut said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
A SPECIAL PEOPLE!
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Pet.2:9-10 NIV)
The apostle Peter is writing to a people who previously had no real relationship with God, but as they came to Christ, to trust and follow him all things changed. They are now special people, a pure people, chosen to be a special group who were taken from spiritual darkness. They are God’s people!
If you have come to Jesus, and received forgiveness of your sins; this is also your new condition. The Apostle Paul said it this way; “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Co.5:17 NIV)
We are the people of God and we have sto ry to tell. We can proclaim it clearly and sincerely to all. This happened to me in Japan, November, 1956. I heard the good news of Christ and things begin to change in my life. Jesus became real and began leading my life. It has been an adventure, learning to fellowship and walk with the Lord. I have made many mistakes, but the Lord keeps encouraging me to keep following Him.
The God, who has started a good work in me and you (fellow believer) will finish it with eternal consequences. All through the ages to come we get to experience life with Christ. If you have not yet put your trust in Him and begin following him. I urge you to do It now. He is faithful to lead your life into the best (sometimes difficult) things and will glorify Himself and produce lasting blessings. It’s open to al!.
Payton Little Turnpike Troubadours lead singer Evan Felker performed to a sold-out crowd for four nights in April at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Jose Brito
Wesley Hurlbut was elected as student body president in March.
Sonic debuts Orange Power slush
OSU part-time job, volunteer fair reaches record numbers
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
With the new school year starting, students are looking for employment opportunities and volunteering experience for their resume, and employers are looking to hire students, recruit interns and find volunteers for a wide range of roles.
To connect these groups, Oklahoma State Career Services hosted its annual part-time job and volunteer fair in the Student Union Ballroom Tuesday.
There were companies and organizations, from both on and off campus, present and taking applications. Fifty-two companies were in attendance, including Sonic Drive-In, Special Olympics Oklahoma, Farmers Insurance and Oklahoma State Department of Wellness.
Companies hiring part-time workers and interns were not the only ones present to table at this event; there were also ones looking for volunteers.
Women’s shelters, public education foundations and a group working to bring the children’s museum back to Stillwater needed volunteers.
OSU Career Services said this
was one of the largest turnouts for a career fair it has held. There were 822 students who attended in total. Some of the companies representatives said they had received some of the best turnout from students who showed interest in the companies.
“Huge wave of people at 10 a.m.,” said Dan Lockhoff, a recruiter from InterWorks. “(It was) well-attended. Really bright students and ones excited about the experiences.”
InterWorks was able to reach about 70 students at this event and is excited to be able to connect and work with students in IT consulting. Other companies were able to reach anywhere between 60 and 200 students. The Red Cross was able to reach around 175 students for volunteering.
The event also brought in the City of Stillwater that came to look for part-time workers.
“Wonderful turnout (with) lots of people that want to interview,” said Stacie McGrew, Block 34 coordinator for the City of Stillwater. “We ran out of swag. (We) had to get more flyers brought in; we ran out of those too.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Caden James STAFF REPORTER
Sonic Drive-In is celebrating the return of college football with the launch of two limitedtime slushes.
Orange Power slush, which is a mix of mango and blood orange and Boomer Berry Slush, which is a mix of cherry, blackberry and lime, are available in Stillwater, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and surrounding areas.
Myles Towry is a worker at Sonic in Stillwater and also a student at OSU. He said partnering with the college is a great opportunity for both parties.
“I think Sonic making slushes for OSU and OU is a really unique opportunity in a college town,” Towry said. “I think incorporating that into the store is great, and I think other schools should do that as well.”
Sonic Franchisee Matt Kinslow said he is excited to participate in the festivities of college football returning.
“Nothing beats the roar of Oklahoma college football Saturdays, and we’re excited to kick off a new season with the best fans in football,” Kinslow said in a press release. “Whether you’re shouting ‘Boomer!’ or ‘Orange Power!,’ we can’t wait to raise a cup with you and make these slushes a staple in your game day traditions.”
Ahead of the first game day Thursday, some OSU students tried the Orange Power slushies themselves.
“I think it’s really cool that they are making theme slushies,” said Linus Ezure, a microbiology major. “The slushy is, for me, pretty sweet, but the flavor is really good, and I think they made the slushy very well. It’s not too liquidy.”
Karsin Shephard, mechanical and aerospace engineering major, said she thought the idea was unique.
“Honestly, it’s pretty cool and to me it feels pretty niche,” Shephard said. “It gives off a lot of school spirit, which is nice, and it definitely feels good to have your college be important enough for a big corporation like Sonic (to recognize us).” Slushies are available through Dec. 29.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Chance Marick
Orange Power slush, a mix of mango and blood orange, is the OSU-themed drink available at Sonic for football season.
Teaguen Harbour
HireOSUGrads representative speaks to students about getting involved.
Teaguen Harbour
Various OSU department representatives spoke to students about open positions at the job fair.
Teaguen Harbour
The job fair exceeded previous years in student attendance.
Fantasy Football for dummies
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
The NFL season is almost here and that means football will be on TV every weekend, which also means Fantasy Football is about to begin.
Trying to build the best possible roster for a team starts with the draft, but that can be easier said than done.
The first three rounds of a fantasy draft is a simple process. Out of the first four rounds, you should end up with a combination of wide receivers and running backs. Look to get two of each through these first rounds. You should get the highest projected fantasy points you can while filling those positions.
Avoid taking wide receivers and running backs from the same team. If one of them is having an amazing week that means that the other is not, so spreading out the teams you have represented is better.
The fifth and sixth round of the draft should be spent getting you a tight end and quarterback. In the fifth, look at which has higher projected points between the best available at the positions and draft them. In the sixth, grab the other position not filled.
A tip for quarterbacks is to grab one on the same team as your receiver, this is called a stack. A stack allows for higher potential because if one player does good they will both get points.
The starting lineup is getting filled out, so the next position is the flex, which can be any wide receiver, running back or tight end. To choose, it’s
simple, look for what player has the highest projected fantasy points, and grab them.
The next tip lies here: don’t draft a kicker or defensive player before the last two rounds of the draft. These are the least important parts of the team and are generally going to score the least amount of points. Even if your league mates start to take them earlier, use that as a way to get better players as they grab less valuable ones. Having filled out your
starting roster, it’s time to start working on the bench.
The only big tip here is draft one extra of each position. Pick the highest project points between the three positions — wide reciever, tight end and quarterback — and work your
way down. With the last two picks, grab your defensive players and kicker. Your team should be completed and ready to compete.
Chance the Rapper gets second chance he needed with ‘Star Line’
Chance the Rapper released his first major project in more than six years.
This album — “Star Line” — is genuinely enjoyable to listen to, which is something that can’t be said about his most recent works.
There was a sense of groundedness and maturity to the sound but also there was some of that “Chance the Rapper” vibe, albeit not at the same level we’ve seen before, but still there. The first four tracks also set the tone perfectly.
The album has no skips; it felt like one of those that you could just turn on and do your own thing. There are some absolute gems; some of my favorites were “Ride,” “Space & Time,” “Link Me In The Future,” “Tree” and “The Negro Problem.” This album is almost a reflection of his career at this moment.
You get little memories of the old Chance with songs like “Ride” and “Tree.” Listening to “Tree” really reminded me of “No Problem” on “Coloring Book.” There are definitely major bright spots within this album, and while it’s not perfect, it finally feels like Chance is moving in the right direction. With songs like “Link Me In The Future” leading this ethereal vibe.
It is a breath of fresh air, but you can’t really understand the importance of why this album needed to be good without understanding the history of Chance the Rapper. Early in the 2010s, Chance quickly became one of the most
popular artists in the genre, but his quick rise was met with an equally quick descent. At the 59th annual Grammy Awards, he won Best New Artist and his mixtape “Coloring Book” won Best Rap Album. With those feats, he was the
first artist to win a Grammy being a solely streaming artist. It just seemed it was all up from there for the young aspiring artist. He became a fan favorite because of his personality and positivity. There was even a point where some people
were saying he was going to be the next artist to take Drake’s mantle.
It all started spiraling out of control quickly for Chance. The same upbeat attitude and positive vibes that his fans fell in love with was now the thing
annoying his fans the most. Granted, it wasn’t enough to fully tarnish him; it was just the thing to get the ball rolling. His last album, “The Big Day,” was the straw that broke the camel’s back.
It was received extremely poorly and completely ruined Chance’s reputation as an artist. Which, if you look at face value, would shock you. It is actually his highest charting project, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
You dig a little deeper, you find that he was struggling to sell tickets for his tour and ultimately had to cancel the tour outright. It’s hard to fully grasp how quickly the perception of him changed.
“Star Line” was originally supposed to be released in 2024, but Chance’s own perfectionism delayed it a bit longer. I can’t fully blame him after how terrible his career trajectory went when “The Big Day” dropped. With the release of his new album, a seemingly impossible comeback for the artist seems all the more likely now.
Now, you can fully understand why this album’s success was necessary for Chance’s future in music. This album isn’t an instant classic or his best project to date. However, I will say it’s a mustlisten.
It was a step forward in his discography and now gives us, as the listener, something to look forward to with his next project. He has an unexpected opportunity to re-establish himself back into hip-hop. My final rating for the “Star Line” album is a 7.5 out of 10.
Chance Marick
Friends gather to create imaginary teams of football players and compete based on their NFL game performances.
Jose Brito ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Courtesy Creative Commons
Chance the Rapper redeems himself on “Star Line,” after he fell flat with his last mixtape.
Review: ‘Star Line’
Continued from 1 Horse
Part of what makes it so amazing for Steffee is the team’s dynamic. From the moment she arrived with her horse Dualitchi Martini — Martini, for short — she felt supported as an individual but also as a team member.
“I just got there, and immediately I was like, ‘OK this is where I belong,’” she said. “Like everyone went out of their way to help me. We’re really just a well-rounded team and a pretty welloiled machine.”
The bond and trust between teammates feeds directly into the competition, which consists of cow work, ranch riding, reigning and ranch trail. Martini was bred for cow work and excels in that area.
Reigning is a skill Martini had to work on, but with the horse’s willingness to work and Steffee’s teammates offering assistance, she continues to improve. Each horse and rider team has experience in different areas, allowing them to help each other.
OSU Horse Ranch President Allison Sharp is experienced in reigning and has been riding her horse — Ms. Rowdy Mobster — for seven years.
“Whenever I moved over, transitioned to the ranch horse events, it was just to get experience,” Sharp said. “I kind of fell in love with the versatility that the horses have to have, and how broke they have to be.”
Traveling together is one of Sharp’s favorite parts about being on the team. For each show, the team rents an Airbnb to share, which brings the teammates even closer.
Some members of the horse ranch team compete individually, but point riders compete for a team score. The team became D2 National Reserve Champs at its annual national collegiate show in the spring.
Even after winning competitions, riders still get in their heads. Sharp said the pressure team members put on themselves can be hard.
“We’re a smaller team, and everyone that I’ve met on the team is always pushing, putting their best foot forward, and pushing themselves,” Sharp said. “Having a really good group of teammates and friends to be there and be like, ‘Hey, just go out there and do your best,’ and like, ‘You’ve worked hard for this’ type thing… it helps.”
The team supports each other on the dirt, but also outside of the arena. Each practice, the team of 14 — one boy and 13 girls — gather around in a circle and
“I just got there, and immediately I was like, ‘OK this is where I belong,’” she said. “Like everyone went out of their way to help me. We’re really just a well-rounded team and a pretty well-oiled machine.”
ABBY STEFFEE | OSU RANCHHORSE TEAM MEMBER
share a positive thing happening in each of their lives. The leader behind the positivity — Marissa Chapa.
Chapa is the head coach and senior equine herd manager. She helped create the team with a group of students five years ago.
“It didn’t actually exist when I was in school or when I started my job,” Chapa said. “I had some students approach me, and they wanted to get a team started. And they said, ‘Hey Marissa, if we do this, can you help us?’ and I said, ‘Sure, why not?’”
Sharp works closely with Chapa as president. Sharp said Chapa is always uplifting and positive, especially in intense situations when it’s needed. It’s rubbed off on the team and how they support each other.
“Everyone’s super good about saying ‘Hey, I need help on this…’ So, we
have a lot of good camaraderie and team support,” Chapa said.
The culture Chapa has fostered among the individuals who compete on the horse ranch team is something she is proud of. As a club team, each member has to raise $2,500 to travel to shows and must board their own horse. They also spend countless hours doing chores, feeding and riding them.
It takes more commitment than just simply showing up for practice. But It’s not just about the work they put in for Chapa, it’s also about the person they are becoming.
“They are super competitive, and they are really good competitors, but they don’t lose sight of that character that’s really important at the end of day,” Chapa said.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Payton Little
Oklahoma State Ranch Horse Team President Allison Sharp works closely with coach Marissa Chapa to foster a positive environment.
McKnight Center brings back movie nights for another year
Obadiah Dobbs STAFF REPORTER
Moviegoers gathered on the lawn outside of the McKnight Center for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, but the rain moved them inside to the main hall.
The event — Movie Night on the Plaza — is a staple event brought back again this year. Usually students fill the lawn outside and watch a movie while enjoying popcorn and snacks. Instead of cancelling the event because of the weather, the snacks and the moviewatchers moved inside.
The Greatest Showman — a film about a circus and its ringleader — was shown. The main character is played by Hugh Jackman, who will visit the center Sept. 12 to perform his one-man show. His performance will kick off the McKnight Center’s season.
For some students and faculty members, the movie night was their first time inside the McKnight Center.
Aiyana Johnson, senior financial specialist in mechanical & aerospace engineering, came to the event with her roommate, De’Zhanae Simmons, a business student at Langston
University. Both are new to the center.
Johnson said the event is a way to get plugged in with the community, and part of a Stillwater-centric tour she’s been conducting for Simmons. The movie itself is familiar, as it is Simmons’ third time seeing it.
Johnson remembers being impressed by the film on her first viewing.
“I was kind of surprised when I first watched, as I’m not a fan of biographies,” Johnson said. “But knowing that this is the beginning of circus life, I was impressed by how they told the story.”
Two more movies will be shown on the lawn outside the center. On Sept. 4 its “Shrek the Musical” followed by “Dick Tracy” Sept. 11. There will also be movies shown inside during the colder months.
In October, the McKnight Center will show “Hocus Pocus,” and in February, “Wicked: For Good,” the sequel to the movie-musical that will be released in November.
Other events being hosted at the McKnight Center can be found on their website, mcknightcenter.org.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Guide to campus wildlife
Sam Mitchell STAFF REPORTER
Maybe you’ve heard it — the crunch of small squirrel feet pouncing through the grass, the gentle song of a bird in the trees, just beyond your view.
Oklahoma State maintains its campus well, having won national landscaping awards twice; with flora comes fauna. Theta Pond and the trees around Old Central are home to more than just the hustle and bustle of student life. A whole other world calls campus home.
Here’s a quick guide to what you might see around campus: Most obvious are the geese. The specific waterfowl is the Canada Goose, which leaves its foul droppings all over the sidewalk. Canada Geese call Stillwater their home year round. While they may seem a nuisance now, when the baby goslings hatch in the spring you will find yourself stopping for a second to take a look at their fuzzy heads.
The second critter you will find most often are the squirrels. While they might look friendly and fluffy, their looks can be deceiving. Remember, wild animals can be unpredictable. Don’t pet the squirrels. Of course, you most likely already
Payton Little Canada Goose lies in grass near Theta Pond at Oklahoma State.
know about the Canada Goose and the squirrel. What about the chirps you hear up in the trees?
There are other bird species who live here year-round, and others who are just passing through for their migration or to breed.
Common birds like robins and blue jays will hang around on campus sometimes. Some, like the Mississippi Kite, are only here temporarily, nesting in the top of the trees.
Of course, there is always something new to find on the corners of campus. Bugs, birds and others spend just as much time on campus as students do. Next time you walk around, take a look around. Another world exists aside from the late night study sessions. Consider this your invitation to step into it.
news.ed@ocolly.com
How to celebrate Labor Day in Stillwater: Fun ideas for everyone
Aliyah Young STAFF REPORTER
Don’t have any plans for Labor Day?
Don’t worry. Here’s a list of things you can do to celebrate Labor Day right here in Stillwater.
Payne County Free Fair
Kick off your holiday weekend early and experience the Payne County Free Fair. The fair runs through Sunday at the Payne County Expo Center. Enjoy wildstock exhibits, carnival rides, entertainment, food and activities suitable for all ages.
It is a great, affordable opportunity to engage with the Stillwater community. Bring your friends and family for a lively day out.
Lake McMurtry Labor Day family fishing tournament
On Saturday, families from all over Stillwater will be at Lake McMurtry to cast their lines and compete in the Labor Day fishing tournament. If you are into fishing and friendly competition, the fishing tournament is your chance to showcase your skills. If you’re not so into fishing, come out to enjoy the fresh air and surrounding nature. Online registration is still open. If you are up for the challenge, sign up to join the competition and maybe reel in a prize.
Boomer Lake
Make the most of the good weather and use your time off to unwind in nature. Boomer Lake is a local favorite. Heading to the lake with
your favorite book, podcast or a group of friends is a good way to destress from work and school.
Picnic
To the students who won’t be leaving campus on Labor Day, you don’t have to miss out. Have your own celebration here on campus. Enjoy a picnic with friends on Library Lawn. Have a potluck with snacks, dishes and drinks to make a memory for the books.
Movie night
Pick out a good movie or head to the Stillwater AMC. It’s a perfect, inexpensive way to celebrate Labor Day and relax during your day off.
Game night
Have a game night. Invite all your friends over and have a game night. Pull out your Uno and get competitive. Spend the day mingling with friends and making memories.
Grill
Finally, you can’t go wrong with a Labor Day barbecue. Fire up the grill and cook up your favorites. Make it a cookout and invite friends and family.
Labor day is the perfect time to focus on loved ones and community. Whether you’re walking around wildstock exhibits or having a cozy night inside, Stillwater offers countless ways to enjoy the Labor Day weekend. Enjoy your well-deserved time off in a community that thrives on the spirit of hardworking individuals.
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Jose Brito
Emery Fura (left) and Kaitlin Vaughan (right) grab free popcorn to enjoy at the first Movie Night on the Plaza for the fall semester.
File photo
Boomer Lake Park is a great place to go for a walk, have a picnic or simply unwind.
Lifestyle
Reliving Dallas Cowboys dynasty through new Netflix documentary
Bryson Thadhani SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
There are easier teams to love than the Dallas Cowboys. My dad never gave me that choice. Somewhere between the family TV, Troy Aikman jerseys and the Thanksgiving games that drowned out dinner conversation, I inherited the love-hate relationship that he has carried for decades. The Cowboys aren’t just a football team in my family, they’re more like a birthright and usually not the fun kind.
So, when Netflix dropped “America’s Team: The Gambler and His Cowboys,” an eightepisode look at Jerry Jones and the empire he built, I sat down to see if it would explain why my childhood Sundays were filled with more disappointment than confetti. The series opens with Jones in the West Texas oil fields chasing wealth with the same reckless confidence he later used to run the Cowboys. He was better at spending than saving, and by the time he bought the team in 1989, he was already more than $50 million in debt. The show frames it like a miracle: a man drowning in bills decides to double down, and it works.
“Jerry, you just bought the Dallas Cowboys. Bam,” he told himself. And with that, he instantly became the man who fired Tom Landry, a coaching legend with a fedora and two Super Bowls to his name. One decision turned the Cowboys from America’s Team to Jerry’s team, and the backlash was instant.
The dynasty that followed is the part of the story my dad loves to remind me about, even if I was born too late to see it. Aikman, Michael Irvin and Emmitt Smith became the triplets, the core that powered Dallas through the 1990s. The Herschel Walker trade stocked the roster with young talent.
Former Oklahoma State coach Jimmy Johnson molded them into champions, and Jones spent like a man who never
believed the money would run out. Add Alvin Harper and Deion “Prime Time” Sanders into the mix, and it felt like the Cowboys were inevitable.
The documentary makes it clear, though, that it wasn’t automatic. The team was built on Johnson’s brutal intensity. He pushed players until they broke, told them “asthma my ass” when they begged for air and ran the team with a vision Jones couldn’t resist meddling with.
The results were undeniable.
The Cowboys went from laughingstock to Super Bowl champions in just a few seasons, and by the mid-90s they were the NFL’s measuring stick. Smith played through a separated shoulder in a win over the Giants, Irvin talked like every microphone belonged to him and Aikman looked like he was built in a lab to throw deep outs.
But it never lasts. Jones and Johnson clashed over who deserved credit, and the partnership that delivered back-to-back Lombardis ended in a bitter divorce.
Johnson was out, Switzer was in and the dynasty started to wobble.
The Cowboys still won another title, but the cracks were obvious. Players openly partied in what became known as the White House, a separate house in Dallas used for drugs, women and chaos. Irvin’s court cases turned into headlines, Switzer was arrested for carrying a gun through airport security and Jones spent as much time defending his decisions as celebrating wins. By the time the ‘90s ended, what could have been a dynasty that lasted a decade burned itself out in less than half the time.
The later episodes capture what my generation grew up with: more noise than results. Aikman’s career ended with concussions in 2001, Smith left for Arizona and the team that once owned the league had turned into a soap opera. Jones built AT&T Stadium — a monument with a retractable roof and the world’s biggest video board — but the team that played
inside it rarely matched the spectacle.
The 2000s and 2010s were defined by almosts. The Tony Romo botched snap in Seattle. The “Dez caught it” moment in Green Bay. Romo putting up huge numbers but never getting close enough. Dak Prescott’s early promise, only to run into the same wall of playoff heartbreak.
Every January felt like the same script: the Cowboys selling hope and then finding a new way to collapse. The documentary rushes through these years, but if you lived them, you know how heavy they sit. For me, it’s the soundtrack of Sundays, the thud of disappointment my dad passed down right alongside the star on the helmet.
The final episode tries to tie it together with Jimmy Johnson’s long-overdue induction into the Ring of Honor in 2023. For three decades, the feud between Johnson and Jones defined the Cowboys as much as the wins and losses. Watching
them embrace on the field felt like closure, but also a reminder that Dallas has been chasing its own shadow for nearly 30 years.
Deion Sanders puts it plainly: “They’re chasing the former Cowboys.” Irvin adds, “Football organizations will never win, only football families.” And then Jones, with the only line he could leave it on: “This has been one hell of a f***ing ride.”
Eight episodes didn’t give me a neat answer for why my dad forced this fandom on me, but it did make the picture clearer. The Cowboys are both the NFL’s biggest brand and its most frustrating addiction. They are glitz and chaos, confetti and collapse and the most valuable team in sports that hasn’t won a Super Bowl since 1996. They sell hope better than anyone, even when that hope doesn’t survive the winter.
That’s what I grew up watching. That’s what my dad grew up watching. And that’s why, for better or worse, this is the team I’m stuck with.
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Courtesy Creative Commons
Micheal Irvin, Emmit Smith and Troy Aikman became known as “The Triplets,” in the ‘90s.
OSU kicks off season at home
Martin balancing fatherhood, rookie season in San Francisco
Oklahoma State wrestling is still in the midst of offseason, but the Cowboys are likely already eyeing who their starters will be this upcoming season.
OSU is coming off a season under first-year head coach David Taylor, which included a Big 12 Championship and a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships, while producing two national champions and six All-Americans.
The Cowboys lost seven starters, including their two national champions, from last season after using their final year of eligibility. Taylor found a way to rebuild the roster with a talented 2025 recruiting class and multiple transfers with extensive experience and great potential.
Here are my predictions for the season as a whole, for the team and for the individuals.
PHOTO BY CONNOR FUXA I STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Courtesy Josie Lepe / San Francisco Chronicle
Former OSU linebacker Nick Martin’s NFL season begins Sept. 7 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Payton Little
David Taylor is
OSU.
Rookie season
On April 4, Saint, Martin and Faith’s son, was born. They quickly noticed Saint could sleep peacefully next to Martin while he plucked and strummed the strings of his guitar — unbothered, unworried, each time Martin picked up the instrument.
“I honestly think that’s because when (Saint) was in my tummy, Nick was always playing the guitar next to me,” Faith said with a laugh. “It’s literally like engraved in his brain.” Martin is loud on the football field. He has a great deal of speed and strength and is known for making big hits and filling gaps from his linebacker position.
At OSU, he showcased those traits with a dominant 2023 season in which he led the Big 12 in tackles, solo tackles and tackles per game. He was also a First Team All-Big 12 member and had two 17-tackle games. His 2024 season was limited to five games because of a knee injury.
Off the field, though, Martin is a gentle giant. He spends as much time as he can with Saint and always finds ways to entertain his son, whether it’s with a guitar or through something else.
“It’s just like the craziest thing in the world,” Faith said. “It’s so sweet and just so cool to see the way he is with Saint at home and in comparison with how he plays on the field.”
April 2025 will be a month to remember for Martin and his family. He welcomed a child into the world and reached his lifelong goal of playing professional football.
Faith said her and Martin’s lives have moved fast since then, though it’s gone exactly how they would have wanted.
“I literally can’t even explain to you how insane everything has been,” Faith said. “Like, literally, there’s not even a way to put it into words. Everything has just been such a big blessing.”
The combined populations of Martin’s hometown (Texarkana, Texas) and his college town (Stillwater) are about 86,100.
Now, Martin is getting settled into a city with a population of about 828,000.
Although it’s a big jump from what he’s known, Martin is staying true to himself. He’s still wearing his big animal slippers he famously wore at OSU, and has brought his personality and his flair to San Francisco.
“He doesn’t question what he’s doing,” Faith said. “So, I think that instead of it being how Nick is getting adjusted to California, it’s how California is adjusting to Nick.”
In preseason, Martin put up 13 solo tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. Eight of those tackles, along with the forced fumble, came against the Chargers in a 30-23 victory.
San Francisco opens its regular season on Sept. 7 on the road against the Seattle Seahawks. Some of Martin’s family plan to be in Seattle to watch Martin kick off his NFL career — a goal they’ve seen him long work toward.
“I’m looking forward to that smile on his face,” Tosha said. “After the game, him being pleased with what he’s accomplished and done, that’s what I’m looking forward to most.”
Martin made several plays in the preseason and continuously caught eyes. With his combination of speed and tackling ability, there’s a path for him to be a key contributor right away for 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
Saleh previously said Martin has “tremendous violence” and has voiced confidence in Martin’s abilities. Soon, Martin will continue to put those on display when his rookie season begins next Sunday.
“I’m his dad, so I’m a little partial,” said Michael, Martin’s father. “But with how motivated he is, I think he could go push for rookie of the year if he gets his shots… What’s been most exciting is the progression he’s made and just watching him get here.”
Team predictions
Last month, OSU announced its dual opponents for the 2025-26 season, including both home and away matches. Here’s my prediction on wins and losses against the Cowboys’ opponents this season (in alphabetical order).
at Air Force - Win
at Arizona State - Win
Iowa - Loss Iowa State - Win Little Rock - Win
at Missouri - Win
at Nebraska - Loss Northern Iowa - Win
Oklahoma - Win Stanford - Win Utah Valley - Win
at Virginia Tech - Win
at West Virginia - Win Record: 13-2 (8-0, Big 12)
OSU will also participate in the National Duals Invitational on Nov. 15-16 at the BOK Center in Tulsa. OSU will be one of a few top-tier programs competing, joining Iowa, Nebraska, Northern Iowa, Ohio State and more.
Without any opening round matches set, it’s more complicated to predict where OSU could finish. As of now, I have the Cowboys finishing third in the tournament.
Now it’s time to talk about the postseason. For the Big 12 Championships, Taylor and Co. should win another conference title. As for the NCAA Championships, I have OSU securing another top-five finish and claiming fourth place.
When the season progresses, it wouldn’t be surprising if coach Taylor and the Cowboys either meet or exceed my predictions. After what Taylor produced last season in his first season as a coach, anything is possible.
Individual predictions
Now, moving on to the lineup projection, here’s what it could look like for OSU next season, along with some predictions for the starters.
125: Troy Spratley
133: Richard Figueroa
141: Tagen Jamison
149: Casey Swiderski
157: Teague Travis
165: LaDairon Lockett
174: Alex Facundo
184: Zack Ryder
197: Cody Merrill
HWT: Konnor Doucet
Last season, OSU relied on the bottom half of the lineup. Expect
the opposite this time. The top half of the lineup is going to look hot throughout the winter, especially the front two.
Spratley is a returning standout, having earned runner-up finishes at the Big 12 and NCAA Championships. He’s one of the most versatile wrestlers on the team and will seek redemption for a national title. I think he wins it all at the NCAAs in Cleveland in March.
Figueroa transferred from Arizona State and won the 125-pound NCAA title in 2024. His championship pedigree brings immediate highend experience and potential for program-defining performances with an upgrade at 133. Even in a new class, I see Figueroa getting AllAmerican honors.
While Casey Swiderski is not new to the Big 12, having transferred from Iowa State, he will return stronger than ever after missing all of last season, and I think he takes home his first Big 12 Championship.
Jamison and Travis are also returning for the Cowboys this upcoming season and are expected to provide high-level production once again. I believe Jamison will earn his first conference title and AllAmerican honors.
While the lower half of the lineup doesn’t offer the same amount of experience with Doucet being the only one with multiple seasons as a starter, the five heavy wrestlers will have big opportunities to have their names well heard. Three of those five are freshmen with high potential. Lockett is one of the most electrifying newcomers in the country as a true freshman, having won four state titles for Stillwater High School and multiple elite titles on the international stage. With that amount of showcase he’s displayed without taking a single match in collegiate wrestling yet, he definitely has what it takes to be an immediate All-American and conference champion.
Ryder’s departure from Penn State after his redshirt season came as a big shock, but it now signals high expectations for OSU and is clearly viewed as ready to contribute at the national level from day one.
Merrill is another promising prospect coming off his redshirt season. He’s poised to be a standout freshman with top-seed potential. One remarkable fact to note is that Merrill went a perfect 109-0 at Gilroy High School while wrestling under the guidance of former Cowboy Daniel Cormier.
Overall, the 2025-26 season should be another excellent year for the Cowboys, with plenty of memorable moments, much like we saw last season.
Payton Little
Former OSU linebacker Nick Martin is raising his son, Saint, with his fiancée.
Charles White
Pineda shining in senior season for OSU soccer
Will Thorogood STAFF REPORTER
Xcaret Pineda is off to a strong start for Oklahoma State soccer in her senior season.
Pineda, a big part of the offense so far this season, has five goals on 14 shots (seven shots on goal) and an assist before Thursday’s match against Rice. Pineda has also scored five of the six goals for the team — a highlight of her offensive dominance are the two goals she scored against Arkansas State, marking the first multi-goal game of her career.
Pineda entered this season with a lot of recognitions, including the United Soccer Coaches 2025 Women’s Midfielders to Watch List, 2025 Hermann Trophy Watch List, Preseason All-Big 12 team and the TopDrawerSoccer Preseason Best XI Third Team as well as being ranked No. 30 on that website’s National Top 100 list.
Pineda knew her future was bright before she committed to OSU.
At Plainfield High School in Illinois, she was an allconference and all-sectional performer as a senior for the Lady Wildcats. Pineda was listed as a four-star recruit by TopDrawerSoccer, No. 98 on the IMG Academy 150, the No. 5 recruit in the Midwest Region and No. 30 nationally among midfielder recruits.
Xcaret Pineda has scored five goals this season and is a key piece to OSU’s offense.
She played for Eclipse Select SC in 2021, where she helped them win the girls ECNL U-18/19 national championship with a 3-2 victory in the championship game. That year also saw Pineda be named a Midwest U-17 First-Team AllConference performer and be a member of the United States
U-19 Women’s National Team Virtual Camp roster.
Pineda contributed a lot in her freshman year at OSU, appearing in all 19 matches and starting in 17. Pineda scored two goals with her first career goal taking place against Central Arkansas and the other goal against
Texas. She recorded an assist against Baylor and at the Big 12 championship against West Virginia.
Pineda picked up where she left off after sophomore year, starting in all 22 games her junior season; and ranking second in goals (six), third in points (16), and third in assists (four). The spring saw her play at the Mexico U-23 national team’s camp.
The soccer talent extends through her family with her four siblings — Victor Jr., Cindy, Mauricio and Oscar. Victor Jr. was on the Chicago Fire from 2010-14 as the team’s first homegrown player. Cindy was a midfielder at Notre Dame from 2013-16. Mauricio played at North Carolina from 2016-19 before following in Victor Jr.’s footsteps by signing in 2020 with the Chicago Fire. Oscar is currently playing in the Chicago Fire academy. Pineda wants to make sure she and her teammates come out on top this season and she savors all these moments with OSU soccer that she will never forget.
“I want us to win, and I just feel like they’re my family right now,” Pineda said after the Cowgirls 3-2 win over Arkansas State on Senior Day. “So I’m gonna cherish every moment.”
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In Pineda’s sophomore season, she took a big step forward with a lot of playing time, ranking third on the team in minutes played with 1,518. She ranked second in points (17), third in goals (six) and third in assists (five). Those six goals included a streak of a goal in three-straight games. After the season, she attended training camp with the Mexico U-20 National Team in the spring.
OSU cross country opens season with Cowboy Preview
With the long, hot summer slowly fading into fall in Stillwater, the dawn of a new cross country season arises.
It’s time for runners to lace up and not only compete against others, but also time itself.
Oklahoma State hosts the Cowboy Preview at the iconic Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course on Aug. 29. The exhibition brings in four additional teams including Oklahoma, Tulsa, Northwestern and Redlands Community College.
Now in his 23rd year with the program, it is safe to say Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Dave Smith has his squads ready to make another run.
The Cowboys place No. 3 in the USTFCCCA Preseason Coaches’ Poll and return a heap of firepower, including two-time cross country All-Americans Brian Musau, Fouad Messaoudi and Denis Kipngetich. However, the three plan to hold off on racing until later in the season.
It marks the fourth consecutive year in which the men rank inside the top three to begin the season, and they have
only ever been left out of the top 10 one time since 2006.
The Cowboys are on a mission to avenge their disappointing eighth-place outcome at the 2024 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Nothing will come easy though, especially with No. 1 Iowa State and No. 4 BYU challenging them in the Big 12.
The Cowgirls rank No. 14
nationally and have only missed the top 25 once under Smith’s leadership. They stand all alone at No. 1 in the Midwest Region and will aim to secure a fourth straight regional title.
The Cowgirls can expect a lot of competition from fellow conference foes No. 1 BYU, No. 5 West Virginia, No. 23 Utah and No. 24 Colorado.
Coming off a 27th-place finish
at nationals a year ago, the women are excited to see the return of All-American Billah Jepkirui, who will add a spark to the group after finishing seventh at the 2023 national championships and electing to redshirt last year. Similar to the men, many starters will sit out the race Friday.
The event marks the first of three regular season home
meets for the Pokes this year, with a fourth scheduled for the postseason. The men’s 5K gets underway at 8:15 a.m., while the women’s 3K follows shortly after at 8:45 a.m. Fans can keep track of the races by tuning into @run4okstate on X and the live results at live.reddirtrunning. com/meets.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Kaytlyn Hayes
Pearson Gillam STAFF REPORTER
Courtesy OSU Athletics
Brain Musau (right) is a two-time All-American and back in Stillwater for the upcoming season.
The Big 12 shouldn’t be hellbent on global games
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark is all in on globalizing the conference.
At the league’s football media days in July, Yormark said there’s a good chance Big 12 baseball teams will play games in Mexico City in spring 2026. And about two years ago, the conference announced plans to set up football, basketball, baseball and women’s soccer games in Mexico — none of which have happened yet.
Yormark is considering other places as a host-site for Big 12 sporting events, too.
“We’re having conversations with other countries throughout the world that are very interested in bringing the Big 12 to their marketplace,” Yormark said in July.
Although wanting to grow its brand is understandable, the Big 12 shouldn’t take away big-time sporting matchups from college campuses. Fans, students and everyone involved should have rivalries — some with deep roots — on their campuses like they have been for several years.
The most recent Big 12 international game we got to see was this weekend’s Kansas State versus Iowa State football game, a matchup with rich history coined as “Farmageddon.” The two schools played in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.
The product wasn’t great. Heavy rains led to several dropped passes, a muffed punt and an all-around sloppy game. Going all the way to Ireland, just for the weather to muck up the game, wasn’t a great outcome.
The field conditions at Aviva Stadium weren’t great, either. K-State coach Chris Klieman made note of that during his halftime interview with the ESPN broadcast crew.
K-State and ISU have played against each other in football for 109 consecutive seasons. The storied series runs back to 1917 and has been around longer than TexasOklahoma, Michigan-Ohio State and Auburn-Alabama.
But for the first time ever, the game was taken away from college campuses to go play about 4,500 miles away from the United States. Why? College towns and college atmospheres are what make college sports so unique. Yormark should
do everything to keep intriguing matchups at home.
Yet, it seems as if the Big 12’s head man thinks differently.
“The game in Ireland is an impetus for future global expansion, and I’m all in on it,” Yormark also said at media days.
In next season’s Ireland game, Big 12 member TCU will play against North Carolina. That’ll come after UNC hosts the Horned Frogs in Chapel Hill Monday night.
So, instead of TCU hosting a game against a Bill Belichickcoached team next season and getting to bring a rowdy atmosphere to Fort Worth, it’ll have to play the Tarheels outside the country — even after playing UNC on its home field. That doesn’t make sense.
Baylor and Duke will face off in women’s basketball in Paris in November, another global game a Big 12 Conference member will compete in.
That’s a great opportunity for student-athletes. But if that game was on one of Baylor or Duke’s campuses, it’d have a much better college feel.
That’s what should be preserved in college sports scheduling. Keeping college sports college-like.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Expect Thursday, Friday football games to be a normal occurrence in the Big 12
In 2023, Big 12 conference commissioner Brett Yormark spoke about potential Thursday night football games. Now, two years later, that potential has become reality for Oklahoma State.
Last night, OSU took on UT Martin to open its football season. Maybe you had class on Friday or went to work the next morning. Depending on how late your night was last night — and what you did to celebrate the season’s start — you might be unhappy with Yormark’s hopes for more Thursday games.
While out of the norm for college football, Thursday and Friday night games are part of Yormark’s vision for the Big 12’s future. Seeing as how it looks like Cowboy football fans will need to get used to Thursday night kickoffs, getting acquainted with Yormark’s ideas might be a good idea.
Saturday has been college football’s day for decades.
The drive of young athletes fighting to make their mark has ruled College Football GameDay. It airs each Saturday of the season, highlighting pageantry and stories from around the country.
The NFL tries not to intrude on the sacred day of fans across the country. It also tries to leave Friday nights alone, too, which has become an adequate secondary slot for college football, having to fight only with the Friday night lights of hometown high schools.
Pretty soon, the NFL will resume its Thursday Night Football monopoly. However, it was home to OSU and UT Martin Thursday. It also kickstarted the seasons for Cincinnati, Houston and UCF — all Big 12 members. This, of course, asks the question: why?
The answer is simple — exposure.
Yormark wants as many eyes on the Big 12 as possible. He wants to fill the midweek college football void. In other words, when classmates and coworkers ask each other
The
Conference wants to take advantage of Thursday and Friday TV slots for its football games.
what their Thursday evenings look like, Yormark wants the answer to be, “Big 12 football, obviously.”
At Big 12 football media day in July, Yormark voiced his hopes for the conference.
“All eyes will be on our league,” Yormark said. “Both at home and around the world.”
Will that work? Well, here you are reading about college football on Thursday nights, so it’s grabbing someone’s attention.
Yormark’s plans go further, too.
Yormark is fighting — and winning — the battle for airtime in more ways than just kickoffs on Thursdays. The Big 12 and TNT recently came to a
broadcast agreement, which sees TNT airing football and basketball games throughout each season. This provides additional opportunities for Big 12 athletics to be on large networks instead of streaming services like ESPN+.
Commissioner Yormark has also looked at expanding the Big 12’s reach into other media enterprises. The Big 12 and the WWE partnership, which began in 2023, are the fruits of that labor. The WWE championship belt is presented to the Big 12 football champions, and the partnership has expanded to WWE hosting Friday Night SmackDown in Big 12 areas, such as September in Orlando, Florida, the same weekend as a UCF game.
“All eyes will be on our league,” Yormark said. “Both at home and around the world.”
BRETT YORMARK | BIG 12 CONFERENCE COMMISSIONER
Yormark and the Big 12 are looking further than just domestic enterprises, however. Last week, Iowa State and Kansas State kicked off the football season in a Week 0 matchup in Dublin, Ireland, in what Yormark hopes to be the start of an international interest in the conference. Yormark wants to launch
the Big 12 conference forward. Whether you like it or not, Thursday night games are an important part of his plan. With Thursday night fresh on everyone’s minds, it might be time to plan out your sick days and class absences. Thursday night college football doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
File Photo
Brett Yormark is “all in” on the Ireland football game.
Big 12
Sam Mitchell STAFF REPORTER
OSU schedules two exhibitions
Steve Lutz and Oklahoma State won’t back down, facing Auburn and Southern Methodist University in October exhibitions before the 2025–26 season officially begins.
The Cowboys will open their exhibition schedule Oct. 15 in Birmingham, Alabama, against Auburn, a No. 1 seed from last season’s NCAA Tournament and a Final Four team. The matchup will give Lutz and his second-year squad a chance to measure its roster against one of the nation’s elite programs before the regular season begins.
OSU and Auburn have split four previous meetings, including a notable secondround NCAA Tournament win for the Cowboys in 1999. Their most recent matchup came in 2016 during the Big 12/SEC Challenge, when OSU pulled off a road victory. The upcoming game will mark Oklahoma State’s first appearance at Boutwell Auditorium.
Auburn presents a stiff challenge. Bruce Pearl’s roster will test Oklahoma State’s defense, depth and execution. Lutz is expected to use the game as a teaching opportunity and figure out which of the 10 newcomers can compete against the highest level.
Ten days later, the Cowboys will travel to Dallas to face SMU on Oct. 25. The teams are familiar opponents, having met twice last season.
OSU defeated SMU 89-78 in Stillwater last October, during an exhibition. They also edged the Mustangs 85-83 in Dallas during the NIT’s second round to advance to the quarterfinals.
The upcoming exhibition will mark the third meeting in 12 months, creating a rivalry-like
feel before the season officially starts.
The SMU game will allow the Cowboys to test how returning players and newcomers integrate on the court. According to 247Sports, Oklahoma State had the 59th best overall recruiting class. Similarly to the roster construction in 2024, Lutz went guard heavy in the portal but also added four transfers
who were four stars.
After the exhibitions, Oklahoma State will open its regular season with six home games in the first three weeks. The Cowboys host Oral Roberts on Nov. 4 and Texas A&M on Nov. 9, giving fans in Stillwater early opportunities to see the new-look team in action.
While exhibitions won’t count toward the official
record, they will serve a critical role in preparation. Auburn will offer elite competition, while SMU will test familiarity and execution against a known opponent. Both games will allow the coaching staff to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas that require attention before the regular season tips off. Lutz and his staff will focus on building chemistry,
sharpening execution and integrating new players.
The October exhibitions are designed to provide lessons, confidence and a sense of readiness heading into the 2025–26 campaign.
The exhibitions will offer a preview of the Cowboys’ style under Lutz and set the tone for what could be a promising season in Stillwater.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
3 thoughts on OSU’s nonconference schedule
We don’t know what Oklahoma State’s Big 12 Conference schedule looks like yet, but we do know who the Cowboys will battle in nonconference play.
OSU’s first 12 games of the season feature a wide range of opponents and matchup styles. Here are three thoughts on the Cowboys’ nonconference slate:
Good tests
When the Cowboys host Texas A&M on Nov. 9 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, they’ll have to deal with “Bucky Ball” — the coined fast-paced, intense style of play new Aggies coach Bucky McMillan brings on both sides of the ball.
In the 2024-25 season, McMillan’s Samford team ranked No. 13 in the nation in scoring offense (82.9 points per game) and top 10 in 3-pointers attempted and made. Defensively, the Bulldogs forced 16.1 turnovers per game and ranked No. 4 in the country.
Stylistically, Coach Steve Lutz pushes his OSU team to do both of those things — play fast and create turnovers. That should bode well for the Cowboys to get an early look at how they match up with a competitive Power Four opponent in their second game of the season.
OSU also has games scheduled against Northwestern, Grand Canyon and Bedlam rival Oklahoma. Two games against SEC squads, a matchup with a Northwestern team that finished with a winning season a year ago and a game against GCU — a good mid-major that’s made the NCAA Tournament the past three seasons — offer Lutz several opportunities to test his new-look OSU team early.
No road games — a pro or a con?
The Cowboys won’t play a true road game in nonconference play. The only games they’ll play outside of
Kaytlyn Hayes
Robert Jennings II is the only returner on OSU’s team for the upcoming season.
Stillwater are against OU, GCU and Northwestern, though those are all neutral-site matchups.
OSU’s game against Northwestern is set for Thanksgiving day in Chicago at the United Center, and its game against GCU is Dec. 6 in Phoenix at PHX Arena. The Bedlam matchup is in Oklahoma City’s Paycom Center on Dec. 13. Not having a true road game before
Big 12 play could have its pros and its cons. On one hand, the Cowboys won’t have to deal with a rowdy environment as a visitor. That helps OSU when playing teams like the Aggies or the Sooners, among others.
But the Cowboys struggled in road games last season — 3-10 overall — and want to improve in that area. Perhaps having a game where it plays as the true visitor in nonconference
COWBOYS
NOV. 4: vs. Oral Roberts
NOV. 9: vs. Texas A&M
NOV. 12: vs. Prarie View A&M
NOV. 16: vs. A&M Corpus Christi
NOV. 19: vs. South Florida
NOV. 22: vs. Nicholls
NOV. 27: vs. Northwestern (in Chicago)
DEC. 2: vs. Sam Houston
DEC. 6: vs. Grand Canyon (in Phoenix)
DEC. 13: vs. Oklahoma (in OKC)
DEC. 18: vs. Kansas City
DEC. 21: vs. Cal State Fullerton
DEC. 29: vs. Bethune Cookman
play could help OSU and its several new faces better prepare for Big 12 crowds.
No more Big 12-Big East
In the past six seasons the Big 12 and the Big East held a series in which each of its conference members faced off. The 2024-25 season was the last of the Big 12-Big East Battle as the conferences didn’t extend the series. During that 2019-24 span, OSU faced off against UConn and Marquette on the road and host Creighton. Those were fun, not-socommon matchups that were good for college basketball. Now, fans from both sides don’t have that series to look forward to.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Luke Mazza STAFF REPORTER
Jose Brito
SMU’s Andy Enfield (left) and OSU’s Steve Lutz (right) will meet again in an exhibition in October.
Our best gameday tailgate photos
Chance Marick
Parents of Oklahoma State football players set up to tailgate and celebrate a new season.
Connor Fuxa
Oklahoma State marching band performs at “The Walk.”
Chance Marick
Oklahoma State football fan gets ready for the season opener.
Payton Little
Puddin at his family’s tailgate, dressed in Hard Rock Cafe T-shirt and Pistol Pete necklace.
Connor Fuxa
Oklahoma State student rocks a Barry Sanders Jersey for the first game day.
Chance Marick
Oklahoma State Paddle People gather outside Boone Pickens Stadium before kickoff.
Connor Fuxa
Oklahoma State fraternity members play a game of beer pong at an outside tailgate party.
shots from OSU-UT Martin
Connor Fuxa
OSU football players run out of the tunnel for the season opener against UT Martin.
Connor Fuxa
Oklahoma State running back Sesi Vailahi gets fired up after a play.
Chance Marick
Bullet and the Spirit Riders lap the football field after an Oklahoma State touchdown.
Chance Marick Hauss Hejny running in for a touchdown.
Payton Little
Oklahoma State’s Zane Flores scanning the defense pre-snap.
Chance Marick
Defensive back Wendell Gregory sacking Jase Bauer, UT Martin’s quarterback.
Chance Marick Pistol Pete interacts with young OSU fans.
Chance Marick
OSU quarterback Hauss Hejny running a play with running back Freddie Brock IV.
Remembering Corso’s trips to Stillwater
Cayden Cox STAFF REPORTER
Beneath a mascot head every Saturday is a man known to entertain the people.
For 30 years, Lee Corso has signified his pick for College GameDay’s featured game by putting on the mascot head for the team he chooses.
On Saturday, Corso will pick between Ohio State and Texas. It’ll be Corso’s final show on ESPN’s College GameDay — the place college football fans go every Saturday before games kick off.
Although Corso may be stepping away from the College GameDay desk after making 431 headgear picks, he’s left a lasting impact on generations of college football fans.
Oklahoma State has appeared on College GameDay’s featured game nine times, with Stillwater hosting the show six times.
When the show took center stage on Library Lawn for Bedlam in 2008, Corso portrayed his iconic “not so fast, my friend” punch line. The legendary game day host hinted at selecting the Cowboys for the first time.
“How can you go against a great crowd like that?” Corso said before pulling out a black Oklahoma State flag out from under the desk and waving it. Riding the crowd’s wave, Corso then broke the hearts of those clad in orange and black.
“Forget it,” Corso said as he threw the Cowboys flag onto the desk. With no OSU flag in hand, he reached back under the desk, grabbed the Boomer head and an Oklahoma flag, put the Boomer head on his and waved the OU flag while chants of boos rained down on him.
Two years later in Stillwater, Corso was serenaded with
cheers, picking OSU for the first time, as he was quick to pull the trigger. “Give me Pistol Pete,” he said, before putting on the Pete head and firing off the pistols.
When the Saturday morning show made a return trip to OSU’s campus in 2013 for a top-10 matchup against Baylor, Corso tapped into the history books.
“We’ve been here in beautiful Stillwater three times,” Corso said. “And
Oklahoma State has never won a game when we’ve been here, but Baylor has not won a game (in Stillwater) in 74 years. Not since I was four years old.”
He then turned from facing the camera to facing the thousands gathered on Library Lawn, asking the crowd.
“Baylor can’t win here can they?” He said. “You’re right, give me Pistol Pete and that gun.”
Much like he faked out
Himalayan Grocery Store
the Cowboy faithful in ‘08; Corso did the same to those in crimson and cream in 2017.
Before making his pick for the 2017 Bedlam Clash, Corso had a foam Sooner Schooner hat sitting in front of him and fired off the OU shotgun, all but signifying that he would back OU.
But, in traditional Corso fashion, he would just tease the Sooner fans before donning the Pistol Pete head.
“I got a special feeling,
Pistol Pete is gonna win.” he said, flipping his alliance from the Baker Mayfield-led club, to the one with Mason Rudolph behind center. 2017 was the last time College GameDay was in Stillwater, as well as the last time Corso fired the pistols.
While Saturday marks Corso’s final head gear prediction, he leaves behind a legacy and 30 years of memories.
Courtesy Tulsa World
College football fan-favorite Lee Corso and College GameDay have visted Stillwater six times.