GUNDY GONE.
Photo by Payton Little
Gundy leaves as all-time winningest coach and that success can’t be overlooked
Parker Gerl CO-EDITORIN-CHIEF
Chad Weiberg, in its simplest form, nailed it on the head.
The Oklahoma State athletic director couldn’t have said it better.
“We all have high expectations for OSU football because of Mike Gundy,” Weiberg said. “... Thanks to (Gundy), we know winning the Big 12 Championship, going to the College Football Playoff and competing for championships are realistic (at OSU).”
That was hours after news broke Tuesday that Weiberg and OSU fired Gundy, a massive shake-up to the school’s athletic department.
And although a new era of Cowboy football is underway, Gundy’s can’t be overlooked or replaced. The quirky, sometimes polarizing, mulleted man led his alma mater to unparalleled success and drastically raised the barometer for OSU football. Simply put, Gundy is Cowboy football.
In his 21 seasons, Gundy became the winningest coach in school history with a 17090 record. He also led OSU to 10 AP Top 25 finishes — something the Cowboys only did three times in the 20 years before he took over.
Gundy also became one of 10 coaches in college football history to record 18 consecutive winning seasons, a mark he set from 2006-23 to join the likes of Bear Bryant,
Frank Beamer, Tom Osborne and others.
And since 2009, Gundy’s OSU teams reached five New Year’s Six Bowl games. The Cowboys also won the 2011 Big 12 Championship and played for the conference title in 2021 and 2023.
The list goes on and on.
Gundy did what nobody else could at OSU: make it nationally relevant for several years.
Anyone else who would have won in Stillwater to the degree that Gundy did would have probably left for the Tennessee job (one Gundy reportedly
flirted with), the LSU job, or a similar job.
Les Miles, Gundy’s predecessor, darted for LSU once he built a winning track record in Stillwater. Jimmy Johnson left for Miami.
But Gundy couldn’t quit on OSU. Outside of brief stints on Baylor and Maryland’s staff as an assistant coach, OSU is all he knew, dating back to his days as a star Cowboy quarterback, too.
“Legendary coach,” Doug Meacham, OSU’s interim head coach, said of Gundy.
All of the greats eventually lose their fastball, though.
In this modern era of college football, Gundy was slow to embrace name, image, and likeness and player empowerment, and was more comfortable with the oldschool ways. The sport has changed tremendously, and it was probably time for a reset.
OSU has lost its last 11 games against FBS opponents and entered this past Friday’s game against Tulsa having not scored a touchdown against an FBS defense since Nov. 23.
There were questionable antics, and there were times when Gundy’s mouth got him in trouble. There were highs
and there were lows.
Nonetheless, Gundy was one of the top coaches of his generation and built an ultra-successful program with mostly overlooked players. He’s the most important figure in program history and set a new standard for football in Stillwater.
There will likely be a mulleted statue outside OSU’s stadium in the near future, and it might just be called “Mike Gundy Field at Boone Pickens Stadium” one day. Gundy more than earned that.
Why Weiberg fired Gundy midseason
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
On Monday, Mike Gundy stood behind a podium and previewed Oklahoma State football’s upcoming game. Business as usual.
But almost 24 hours later, seismic changes were made in Stillwater.
On Tuesday, athletic director Chad Weiberg and the university announced it fired Gundy, the winningest coach in program history, an OSU icon who quarterbacked the Cowboys and later led them to unprecedented success.
Gundy, 58, was in his 21st season coaching OSU, trailing only Kirk Ferentz, the longtime Iowa coach. Gundy’s exit comes after the Cowboys started the season 1-2 and are in the midst of an 11-game losing streak against FBS opponents.
Gundy spent more than half his life involved with OSU. Between his playing days, his time as an assistant coach and the head coach, he accumulated 35 years working for Cowboy football.
As OSU’s coach, he put up a 170-90 record and took the Cowboys to a bowl game in 18 straight seasons, a program record. He also guided OSU to eight 10-win seasons — another school record.
Gundy was set to make $6.75 million in 2025. He will be owed $15 million by the university upon his departure.
“We all have high expectations for football at OSU because of Mike Gundy,” Weiberg said Tuesday at a news conference. “Unfortunately, results of the last year have not met the standard.
“... When it appeared that (our expectations were) not
going to be met, I felt like, for the good of the program, it was time to make this decision so that we could start the process of getting the program where we wanted to be.” It came directly from Weiberg: OSU, rather than
letting Gundy try to turn the season around, decided to move forward now with ample time to find its next Cowboy football coach — one to orchestrate a new era and put out a new product at Boone Pickens Stadium next season.
Gundy’s job was in jeopardy after the 2024 season, according to multiple reports, when the longtime coach entered a “standoff” with the university over his contract after the Cowboys went 3-9 and were winless in Big 12 play. Gundy
then accepted a restructured deal to remain coach.
Then, speculation about Gundy’s future ramped up again after OSU suffered a 66-point loss to Oregon on Sept. 6. And after the Cowboys were beaten by Tulsa at home Sept. 19, an end to the Gundy era felt inevitable.
Gundy’s Cowboys were also 16-21 since midseason 2022 and had lost 12 of their last 17 games since going to the Big 12 title game against Texas in 2023.
Given his success with OSU, though, some wondered if Gundy would be allowed to finish the season before a change was made. Weiberg said Tuesday that wasn’t on the table — another sign the school was set on moving forward.
“I felt like in this case, we needed to do it now so that we can position the program to move forward in the future,” Weiberg said.
Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, 60, has been named interim coach and will lead the Cowboys in their remaining nine games.
Now, Weiberg and OSU will launch a national search for the school’s next coach.
Weiberg said “virtually everyone” OSU will consider is coaching in some capacity currently. He also said the timing of the job opening gives the Cowboys the ability to close in on a candidate “as soon as they are finished” coaching this season.
“The ingredients (to win) are here, and I feel very, very confident about that,” Weiberg said. “I know that I will be able to talk about that with many candidates. This is a place that you can win football games at.”
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Chad Weiberg will make the biggest hire of his career when he picks OSU’s next football coach.
Max Faulkner, Tribune News Service
Mike Gundy cemented himself as the most important figure in OSU football history after guiding the Cowboys to unprecedented succes.
Potential candidates for OSU coaching search
Chad Weiberg is preparing to make the biggest hire of his career as Oklahoma State’s Director of Athletics.
On Tuesday, Weiberg and the University made the decision to oust longtime football coach Mike Gundy, the winningest coach in program history, after the Cowboys started the season 1-2 and are 16-21 overall since midseason 2022.
Now, the search for Weiberg and OSU is underway.
“As we have discussions with potential candidates in our football coaching search, I’m going to be interested in seeing how they see building the program, building the vision for how they establish a winning program,” Weiberg said.
Here are potential candidates OSU could consider.
Collin Klein, Texas A&M offensive coordinator Klein, 36, seems on his way to becoming a head coach in college football in the near future.
A former Kansas State quarterback, Klein also spent the 2022 and 2023 seasons calling plays for the Wildcats and is in his second season calling the offense at Texas A&M. The Aggies put up an SEC-best 29.38 points per game in conference play last season and are off to a strong start this season.
Ben Arbuckle, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Arbuckle has helped clean things up in Norman and could do the same in Stillwater.
He’s in his first season at OU and has quarterback John Mateer atop Heisman Trophy lists after the two worked together previously at Washington State. Arbuckle is 30 years old and a Texas native.
Zac Robinson, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported last year that Robinson, a former OSU quarterback, was the school’s “top choice” to replace Gundy had he been fired.
Now, Robinson could be back in the mix. He’s in his second season with Atlanta and previously spent time
as the quarterbacks coach for Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams. Some view Robinson as a future NFL head coach, but the opportunity to lead his alma mater may be too good to pass up.
Alex Golesh, South Florida head coach Golesh has some ties to OSU. Early in his career, he was a graduate assistant for the Cowboys in 2008. Now, he’s a name on the rise in the coaching world.
Golesh’s USF team is 3-1 on the season and has already beaten two ranked teams: Florida and Boise State. Golesh, 41, was born in Russia and is known as a creative offensive mind.
Buster Faulkner, Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Faulkner, 44, has been calling plays and coaching tight ends for the Yellow Jackets since the 2023 season. He’s helped Georgia Tech put together a dominant rushing attack, and quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes have become a dynamic duo in the backfield under his guidance. It would be Faulkner’s first headcoaching gig, but it would have the potential to work out well for OSU.
G.J. Kinne, Texas State head coach Kinne has turned Texas State into a respectable Group of 5 program, taking the Bobcats to a bowl game in each of his first two seasons. Now they’re set to join the revamped Pac-12, partly because of what Kinne has done in San Marcos.
Jim Knowles, Penn State defensive coordinator Knowles, 60, is familiar with Stillwater, which makes him a good candidate. He was OSU’s defensive coordinator from 2018-2021 and helped the Cowboys’ unit improve in several areas. In 2021, Knowles’ defense finished top 10 in areas such as opponent points per game, yards per play and yards per game, among others.
After a successful stint on Gundy’s staff, Knowles accepted the defensive coordinator position at Ohio State and helped the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2024. Now, Knowles is the DC at Penn State.
OSU students react to Gundy’s firing
Cayden Cox STAFF REPORTER
Shockwaves were sent through Oklahoma State’s campus Tuesday with the firing of longtime coach Mike Gundy.
For most students, Gundy is the only man they know leading the Cowboys. Despite the fact that Gundy was at the helm for more than 20 years, some students think that the firing was due.
“Where we’re at in the season, I think it was probably best for us,” Nathan Harbeson said. “Hearing how it ended last week with the ‘Fire Gundy’ chants, having recruits and potential donors hearing that for another five games probably wouldn’t be great.”
OSU student James Lewis said he’s unsure of the timing of the firing. With the Cowboys bringing Gundy back after 2024, they maybe should have given the longtime coach more tim e, he said.
“We restructured his contract in the offseason, so I feel like we had to at least give him the year,” Lewis said.
Some students, such as Emma Woodall, believe firing Gundy wasn’t the right decision for OSU to make.
“I think the timing was not good,” Woodall said. “And I think the firing part probably wasn’t the best, but I think we definitely needed a change.”
Others believe Gundy was on his way out the door, but were surprised by his firing.
“I was a little shocked it came so soon,” Ethan Barbee said. “I thought it was coming in due time after this season, with everything that happened last season. It just seemed like he kinda lost passion a little bit.”
Students such as Eric Clemmerson enjoyed watching Gundy coach, but that he had his limitations on the
sideline.
“He was helping us a lot,” Clemmerson said. “Getting to the Big 12 Championship multiple times, it’s just his coaching style isn’t going to work with this younger generation.”
Gundy leaves as the winningest coach in OSU history. He posted a career record of 170-90 and led the Cowboys to 18 straight bowl games. He maintained a winning culture for OSU.
Gundy was also known for taking under-ranked recruits, developing them and turning them into stars on the field, leading students such as Harbeson to appreciate what he did for the program.
“Watching him develop three-star recruits into top-five teams in the nation was pretty cool,” Harbeson said. “I love Gundy, I’m never going to talk bad about him.”
Noah McCleery believes the Cowboys’ new hire should be somebody who can adapt to the modern era.
“(I want) someone that will be more aggressive in the transfer portal,” McCleery said. “Someone that will use NIL to better the roster.”
Many students hope OSU hires OSU alumnus and current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson. Oklahoma OC Ben Arbuckle, USF coach Alex Golesh and former NFL coach Jon Gruden are other names students want to see leading the Cowboys in 2026.
One common thing students want is finding a coach who will bring the program back to the top of the conference.
“Something kind of new,” Clemmerson said. “It would be nice to get a win and have a decent season. We’re a team that’s supposed to be a top team in the Big 12. I’d like to see us back up there.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
mixed
Jason Getz, Tribune News Service
Zac Robinson is viewed as a candidate to replace Mike Gundy.
Payton Little, The O’Colly OSU students have
feelings on Mike Gundy’s firing.
Big 12, CFB changes during Gundy’s tenure
Luke Mazza STAFF REPORTER
The last two seasons were rough, but if the next coach of Oklahoma State football is half as successful as Mike Gundy, Stillwater will be in good hands.
For 21 seasons, Mike Gundy was the face of OSU football.
Gundy owns the Cowboys alltime wins record with 170; no other coach has reached 62.
Gundy also led the Cowboys to 18 straight bowl appearances. And of the program’s 11 seasons with 10 wins, Gundy played or coached in 10 of them.
Gundy brought sustained success that is unheard of in this era in college football. However, few legendary coaches end on good terms, such as Bobby Bowden (FSU), Mack Brown (Texas), Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) and Les Miles (LSU) to name some.
Gundy with 21 seasons as a coach was the second longest tenure behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz (22). You cannot explain the history of college football without mentioning Gundy’s success with the Cowboys.
To contextualize, here is how much the Big 12 and the landscape of the sport has changed since Gundy was hired:
Big 12 members make up
Current college students weren’t old enough to remember the North and South divisions, but also back when geography shaped leagues — not TV contracts and revenue sharing.
The Big 12 Conference used to have divisions, a tradition that no longer exists in the now 16-team league. Here’s
how those divisions looked.
Big 12 North: Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas and Kansas State.
Big 12 South: Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Baylor and Oklahoma State.
Now, new members include BYU, Utah, UCF and Houston. NIL, revenue sharing and transfer portal
The writing was on the wall. The transfer portal’s hard launch in 2018 and the arrival of NIL in 2021, marked the beginning of the end. Gundy did not embrace the new era of the transfer portal and NIL, which led to the downfall for the Cowboys.
In this day and age, college athletes get treated as professionals and with Gundy’s unwillingness to adapt, there was a growing frustration in Stillwater when his teams did not meet the Cowboy standards.
“We all have high expectations for football at OSU because of Mike Gundy,” OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg said. “Unfortunately, results of the last year have not met the standard.”
While fans grew frustrated with Gundy’s approach, he also raised the program’s ceiling.
Kansas’ coaches
Remember Cowboy fans, it could always be worse. Since 2005, Kansas football has churned through eight head coaches, from former Cowboy coach Les Miles to Lance Leipold, with a handful of failed experiments and interim stints in between.
Now, the Jayhawks are an up-and-coming team, but before then it was the laughing
stock of college football. Since 2015 the Jayhawks have had 15 losing seasons, and Gundy was there for it all.
Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC
One of the biggest shifts came in 2021, when Texas and Oklahoma announced their move to the SEC. The decision rocked the Big 12 and ended century-old rivalries, including Bedlam. For the Cowboys, it meant losing its biggest annual stage and the chance to regularly test itself against two of the sport’s most recognizable brands.
The Cowboys’ 2023 win over Oklahoma served as a fitting finale, but the impact went further. With the Sooners and Longhorns gone, the Big 12 rebuilt through expansion, and the Cowboys moved into a new era as one of the league’s flag-bearers. For Gundy, it was another sign of how much college football had changed since he took the job.
The BCS System
Before the playoff, the BCS used polls and computers to match the top two teams — a system that still haunts the Cowboys today. The 2011 Cowboys, finished 12-1, with a Fiesta Bowl win over Andrew Luck and the Stanford Cardinals.
Fans still argue the Cowboys should have made it to the National Championship, highlighted by two-time Biletnikoff winner Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden.
Coaching changes
For 21 seasons, Mike Gundy squared off against some of the biggest names in college football. His longevity meant
he coached against three generations of leaders who defined the sport.
In his own league, Gundy faced giants. At Oklahoma, he traded blows with Bob Stoops, who built a dynasty in Norman, and later Lincoln Riley, who carried the Sooners to three playoff berths.
At Texas, he went up against Mack Brown, the coach who delivered a national championship, and later faced the likes of Charlie Strong, Tom Herman and Steve Sarkisian.
Across the Big 12, Gary
Patterson made TCU a national power, while Bill Snyder resurrected Kansas State twice — both hall-of-fame level runs that tested Gundy annually. Gundy recently faced Deion Sanders at Colorado, who embodies the celebritycoach era, embracing NIL and the portal with flash that contrasted Gundy’s old-school steadiness. At Texas, Sarkisian blended elite recruiting and offensive creativity to push the Longhorns back into contention.
Which teams were Gundy’s best at OSU?
For the first time in two decades, Mike Gundy isn’t the Oklahoma State Cowboys’ coach.
While this season has gotten off to a poor start and this past season was Gundy’s worst, there is a reason he was trusted as the head man for so long. At a press conference Tuesday, OSU athletic director Chad Weiberg complimented Gundy’s history of success, despite the firing.
“We are forever grateful to Mike Gundy,” Weiberg said. “As head coach, he led the Cowboys to the best era of sustained success in program history, highlighted by a Big 12 championship in 2011, five New Year’s Six bowl appearances and eight 10-win seasons.” Gundy’s success is the source of his long tenure, which has recently been overshadowed by recent events. Here are some of the best teams Gundy coached that contributed to the program’s success.
1. 2011 This should come as no surprise. If it wasn’t for a double overtime loss at Iowa State, Gundy probably would have coached for a national title.
Instead, the Cowboys beat No. 4 Stanford in the Fiesta Bowl to end the season ranked No. 3 in the AP poll with a 12-1 record.
Quarterback Brandon Weeden passed for over 4,500 yards, 1,500 of them to WR Justin Blackmon, who ended the season with 18 touchdowns. The season also included a blowout win against Oklahoma, one of Gundy’s four victories against the Sooners.
2. 2021 Gundy’s 2021 team was a fourth and goal away from a Big 12 title and a possible College Football Playoff appearance. Spencer Sanders looked like the future of the program and Gundy coached his team to a 12-2 season. Those 12 wins included conference wins against ranked Kansas State, Baylor,
Texas and Oklahoma. The Cowboys ended the season on the highest note Cowboy football has had in recent years — a win against No. 5 Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. The Cowboys ended the 2021 season ranked No. 7 in the country.
3. 2017 Expectations were high in Stillwater in 2017. Somehow, a 10-3 season with the Cowboys
ending the season ranked 14th in the AP poll didn’t reach those expectations. Regardless, Gundy capped off his third straight 10-3 season. Gundy’s talent in 2017 was excellent. James Washington had over 1,500 receiving yards, RB Justice Hill rushed for almost 1,500 and QB Mason Rudolph finished seventh in Heisman voting. If it wasn’t for unrealized expectations and potential
playoff and championship appearances later on this list, 2017 would be ranked higher.
4. 2016
The 2016 Cowboys lost to Central Michigan, which is one of the worst losses of Gundy’s tenure. But in what was typical Gundy fashion, the Cowboys bounced back and ended the season with their only other losses being at top-25 Baylor and at top-10 Oklahoma.
A blowout win against No. 11 Colorado in the Alamo Bowl capped off the season. This season is overshadowed by the seasons further up this list, but if you removed the others it would stand out as a great Cowboy football season. This season also serves the special role in Gundy’s history of setting up the next season.
5. 2023
Was this team one of Gundy’s best? Maybe not. However, the 2023 Cowboys might be the best example of a Mike Gundy-led team in recent years
An early season loss to South Alabama seemed to spell ‘doom,’ but Gundy’s team bounced back. Ollie Gordon II won the Doak Walker Award after rushing for over 1700 yards, and quarterback Alan Bowman was able to supplement the rushing attack with a decent passing game.
The end result was a Big 12 Championship appearance and a Texas Bowl win over Texas A&M. Gundy somehow found success with a team that didn’t seem destined for it, as he did over his 20 years at OSU.
Oh, and the 2023 team also won the final Bedlam game, so there is that too.
Richard W. Rodriguez, Tribune News Service
Mike Gundy and Gary Patterson were two of the Big 12’s most successful coaches and built consistent winners at OSU and TCU.
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Mike Gundy led OSU to eight 10-win seasons and put together several successful Cowboy teams.
Sam Mitchell STAFF REPORTER
Meacham, OSU preparing for first game without Gundy
Wertzberger
Interim head coach Doug Meacham described the situation for Oklahoma State football.
“Unfortunately, we are where we are at this point.”
That was during Meacham’s opening statement at his first press conference after assuming the role of interim head coach after the school fired Mike Gundy on Tuesday.
Meacham also praised Gundy and said he owes a lot to the longtime Cowboys coach.
OSU is 1-2 on the season and most recently suffered a 19-12 upset loss to Tulsa last week, Gundy’s last game as the head man. Now, Meacham is tasked with trying to change the direction of the Cowboys’ season.
“Unfortunately, in this business, that’s kind of the things that happen,” Meacham said. “When you do it long enough, it’s going to happen. Unfortunately for us, it had to be at this time.”
Meacham arrived at OSU this offseason as the offensive coordinator after the Cowboys overhauled their entire coaching staff following the 2024 season.
Meacham isn’t new to OSU, though, as he previously spent eight seasons as the tight ends/inside receivers coach from 2005-12 and also played offensive lineman for the Cowboys from 1984-87.
“It means a lot to me (taking over) because it’s my alma mater,” Meacham said. “I’m just thinking one game at a time and just appreciative that (Director of Athletics Chad) Weiberg thought enough of me to give me the opportunity.” While Meacham describes holding the job as an excellent opportunity for him, he’s not concentrated on becoming the permanent head coach.
“That’s not really my goal,” Meacham said.
“My goal is to do the best I can by these kids and go from week to week, that’s it. I’m not really looking to be that guy at all. If it happens, it does. It’s definitely not on my agenda at
all.”
Regarding his duties for the remainder of the season,
Meacham said that his coaching approach will remain consistent with what he established at the beginning of the season.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will serve as the “head coach” of the defense, while Meacham continues to run his offense, he said.
“I don’t think it’ll be any different for me,” Meacham
JAN. 3: AT TEXAS TECH
JAN. 6: VS. UCF
JAN. 10: AT IOWA STATE
JAN. 13: VS. BAYLOR
JAN. 17: VS. KANSAS STATE
JAN. 20: AT TCU
JAN. 24: VS. IOWA STATE
JAN. 31: AT UTAH
FEB. 4: VS. BYU
said. “I just take a stride, go out there and have fun, and coach football. It’s not going to be any different for me.”
Meacham isn’t alone, as other coaches will retain their roles and coaching styles following his promotion.
“I think what’s important is to just keep it the same,” Meacham said. “Everybody’s kind of entrenched in what they do as an assistant — we’ve got guys responsible for red zone, goal line, blitz,
FEB. 7: AT ARIZONA
FEB. 10: AT ARIZONA STATE
FEB. 14: VS. TCU
FEB. 18: VS. KANSAS
FEB. 21: AT COLORADO
FEB. 24: VS. WEST VIRGINIA
FEB. 28: AT CINCINNATI
MARCH 3: AT UCF
MARCH 7: VS. HOUSTON
protections... and we’re just going to keep going with it.”
Currently, he is focusing on maintaining the daily structure necessary for the program and keeping his players focused.
The Cowboys still have nine games remaining and haven’t opened Big 12 Conference play yet. Meacham said he and the players are going to continue to fight, play and coach hard.
“Really, it’s just about having fun,” Meacham said.
“I want them to have fun.
We’ve cut back in some areas at practice. Let’s get rested. Let’s take care of our bodies. Let’s be strong in the fourth quarter. That’s been the message so far.
“... That’s not to say we’re not going to hold them accountable, but at the same time, it’s a sensitive time. We want them to have fun. We want them to go out there, battle, fight and have fun as a unit out there this Saturday.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
COWGIRLS SCHEDULE
DEC. 21: AT CINCINNATI
DEC. 31: VS. BAYLOR
JAN. 3: VS. HOUSTON
JAN. 7: AT TCU
JAN. 11: VS. COLORADO
JAN. 14: AT KANSAS
JAN. 18: VS. IOWA STATE
JAN. 25: AT COLORADO
JAN. 28: VS. BYU
FEB. 1: VS. ARIZONA
FEB. 4: AT ARIZONA STATE
FEB. 7: VS. UCF
FEB. 10: AT KANSAS STATE
FEB. 14: VS. TEXAS TECH
FEB. 16: VS. UTAH
FEB. 22: AT WEST VIRGINIA
FEB. 25: AT IOWA STATE
FEB. 28: VS. KANSAS
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Offensive coordinator Doug Meacham has taken the interm head coach role after OSU fired Mike Gundy on Tuesday.
Photos from Mike Gundy’s career
Payton Little, The O’Colly Gundy walks through OSU’s campus before a game against South Dakota State in 2024.
File Photo, The O’Colly Gundy walks off the field after a game in 2016.
File Photo, The O’Colly
Gundy poses with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl trophy during a press conference in 2018.
File Photo, The O’Colly Gundy screams during a game in 2018.
File Photo, The O’Colly Gundy celebrates after beating Texas in 2017.
File Photo, The O’Colly Gundy takes off his shirt at Homecoming and Hoops in 2017.
File Photo, The O’Colly Gundy speaks at a press conference at the Cotton Bowl in 2013.
Washington has picked up where his freshman campaign ended last year. The running back has been a force next to quarterback Sawyer Robertson. He is averaging 5 yards a carry, and that number has only improved as the season has progressed.
Washington has rushed for more than 100 rushing yards in Baylor’s last three games.
Washington could be in store for a big game against a Cowboys defense that has allowed two of its opponents to rush for 200 yards.
Baylor Players to watch
Bryson Washington, RB
Michael Trigg, TE
With the nation’s leading passer, there comes a big trusted target, and that is what Trigg is for Baylors quarterback Sawyer Robertson. The 6-foot-4 tight end is the go-to target for the Bears. He has nearly eclipsed his career high for yards in a season. Trigg has been a big target in the red zone for Robertson, hauling in two touchdowns vs Arizona State a week ago. Watch for Robertson to look Trigg’s way early and often.
3 STORYLINES
OSU was able to get its run game going against Tulsa a week ago. Rodney Fields Jr. ran for 113 yards, and the Cowboys averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Baylor’s defense has shown a weakness in stopping the run. The Bears have given up over 150 rushing yards in all three of their games against FBS opponents. If the Cowboys are able to carry over their success in the run game, they could be in for a big game on the ground against a Bears defense that has shown weakness.
Can OSU stop Baylor’s offense?
The Bears offense is filled with explosiveness. Sawyer Robertson has thrown for 400 passing yards in two different games, and Bryson Washington has rushed for 100 plus in the Bears last three games. Not only will it be difficult to keep Baylor from getting big plays, but it will also be tough to get the Bears offense off the field. Dave Aranda gives his offense four chances, having already gone for it on fourth down 18 times this season. The Bears can score in one play, or march down the field and wear out a defense, posing a challenge for OSU.
serving as the head coach. Meacham said during his meeting with the media Wednesday that he wants his team to “have fun.” With a new leader at the helm, and a new slate with conference play beginning, the way
leads the Cowboys could provide a spark for a team looking for its first win over an FBS team in more than a year. What will a Doug Meacham led team look like?
Courtesy Baylor Athletics
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Courtesy Baylor Athletics
OSU defender attempts a tackle
With the firing of Mike Gundy on Tuesday, there is a new leader for the Cowboys. Doug Meacham was named the interim head coach. Saturday will mark Meacham’s first game
Meacham
Payton Little, The O’Colly
Interim head coach Doug Meacham
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
Running back Rodney Fields Jr.
The o’colly sports picks
ABOUT OUR GUEST PICKER:
Kenny Gajewski is the head coach of OSU softball. Gajewski has guided the Cowgirls to five trips to the Women’s College World Series and brought OSU its firstever conference title in the Big 12 era.
CAYDEN COX
OSU should target Texas State coach G.J. Kinne. He led the Wildcats to their firstever bowl victory and has yet to have a losing season in his three seasons as a head coach. Kinne has also beaten Baylor and Arizona State in his time at Texas State, showing his ability to compete with Big 12 Conference members.
WHO SHOULD BE OSU’S TOP TARGET FOR ITS NEXT FOOTBALL COACH?
PARKER GERL
Zac Robinson should be No. 1 on Chad Weiberg and OSU’s big board. Robinson, a former OSU quarterback, is the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons and has shown to be innovative. He also understands what it takes to win in Stillwater and would resonate with Cowboy recruits.
Luke Mazza
Cayden Cox
Kenny Gajewski
Friday, September 26, 2025
Chief Beckner says student safety, free speech remain top priority
Raynee Howell
In the wake of the fatal shooting of political activist Charlie Kirk, safety on college campuses is at the forefront of the minds of leadership at the Oklahoma State Police Department.
Kirk, who traveled across the country
visiting colleges on The American Comeback Tour, visited OSU’s campus less than six months ago. In April, thousands turned out to hear Kirk speak and debate.
Kirk was shot while debating at a public university in Utah on Sept. 10. His death is the most recent example in a growing trend of political violence.
University hosts second annual Land-Grant week
OSU highlights its history, role in Oklahoma
Mesis
Events and tabling dedicated to education popped up all over Oklahoma State’s campus for the second annual Land-Grant week.
The campus-wide celebration honoring OSU’s history as a landgrant institution began Monday. OSU became a land-grant institution in 1890, when the university was founded. Land-grant universities were established by the Morrill Act of 1862 as a way to increase access to agriculture and manufacturing education.
The first classes in 1891 focused
on education for students across the state. That focus on education is still the same, even now, said Mack Burke, associate director of media relations and brand management. He said OSU focuses on each student’s education as well as research opportunities.
“It’s a place where research is actively taken into the public sphere,” Burke said. “It is delivered to communities and people that it would benefit the most.”
Land-Grant week celebrates the focus on three pillars: teaching, extension and research. Through each, students receive hands-on learning opportunities that equip and prepare them with real-life experiences and skills.
See LAND-GRANT on page 6B
University of Maryland researchers compared the first six months of terrorist attacks and targeted attacks of individuals, which this study groups together, in 2025 to the same months in 2024.
Thirty-five percent of events that occurred through June of this year were directed at government or political
targets, which is twice the rate of 2024, according to Michael Jensen, a University of Maryland researcher. The political content or controversiality of the event’s message directly affects the security plans at OSU, OSUPD Chief Mike Beckner said.
See SAFETY on page 6B
Multicultural Affairs Committee changes to comply with state law
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The Multicultural Affairs Committee no longer exists.
The Student Government Association passed a bill to restructure and rename MAC, a funding committee for student organizations, to the Multi-Program Affairs Committee. The change comes after Oklahoma enacted a law in May, prohibiting public universities from using state funds for diversity, equity and
inclusion programs.
Student organizations were able to apply for funds to travel, host events and more. The purpose was to assist organizations that were promoting multicultural interaction and activities on the OSU campus, but the funding has always been available to any organization who applied. SGA President Wesley Hurlbut said the change to MPAC will allow students to realize the opportunity is there for every organization.
See SGA on page 8B
Payton Little, The O’Colly
OSUPD Chief Mike Beckner (right) discusses security with patrol sergeant Richard E. Balfanz at a campus event.
Kristyn Lacki, The O’Colly
Imanol Peralta, an accounting and theatre student, grabs free merchandise from a tabling event during Land-Grant week.
Payton Little, The O’Colly
SGA President Wesley Hurlbut spoke about the changes to Multicultural Affairs Committee at the first presidential town hall event.
This Week in O’colly history
2007. 18 years ago.
“I’m a man. I’m 40.”
At the conclusion of the conference-opening victory against Texas Tech on Saturday, everyone thought coach Mike Gundy would be excited about the biggest victory of the season at the postgame conference.
To everyone’s shock, he instead used the time to berate Jenni Carlson’s column in the Daily Oklahoman that was critical of quarterback Bobby Reid.
After a few days of reflection, Gundy was asked what was behind his post-game comments to the media.
“It just happened because of my feelings for the team and the players and I felt it was the right thing, and I was the guy that had to say something about it,” Gundy said. “I certainly didn’t want it to take away from the upcoming game like it unfortunately took away from the last game for the team.”
Oklahoma political leaders react to OSU firing Gundy
Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
More than twenty years of Mike Gundy coaching college football in Oklahoma came to an abrupt end.
Oklahoma State fired Gundy on Tuesday. Two OSU graduates who now lead politics in the state reacted to the news, expressing their respect for Gundy but also supporting the university’s decision.
Gov. Kevin Stitt graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1996. Stitt told KOCO 5 he has always been a big fan of Gundy, but he thinks it was probably time for a change.
“Sometimes you just need a change, whether it’s an organization or a sports franchise,” Stitt said in an interview with KOCO 5. “Oklahoma State was struggling, and I think everybody saw that, and so I’m glad that the leadership said ‘Hey, listen, let’s go ahead and change and move forward.’”
Attorney General Gentner Drummond graduated from OSU in 1985 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. He said he has immense respect for the success Gundy had as coach of OSU. Some of his accolades include a Big 12 title, 18 straight winning seasons and 12 bowl victories.
Co-Editors-in-Chief
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
Payton
Gov. Kevin Stitt is an OSU graduate and has visited the university for events, including visiting the University House last September to speak to students. He reacted to OSU firing Mike Gundy with support for the university.
Athletic director Chad Weiberg said the decision to fire Gundy was not easy in a news conference Tuesday, but both Drummond and Stitt found it necessary and supported the university’s decision.
“Change and progress
Assistant
are usually difficult and sometimes painful — but nearly always worth it,” Drummond said in a press release. “I continue to be ‘loyal and true,’ and more excited than ever to see what the future holds for Oklahoma State.”
Doug Meacham, the offensive coordinator, was named interim coach. OSU is looking for a new leader to continue the standard for football that Gundy started at OSU.
“I think the future is very bright for Oklahoma
Sports
State,” Stitt said, per KOCO 5. “Nobody can forget what Gundy did for our program and for Oklahoma State for those 20 years and then also his time as an assistant and also his time as a player.”
Photographers:
Design editor Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com Assistant
Social media editor
Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
Little, The O’Colly
Raynee
DONTAY ALLEN | SPORTS REPORTER, 2007
Preston Bezant, The Daily O’Collegian, 2007
Junior quarterback Zac Robinson said he supports Gundy’s postgame comments.
September politics:
Domestic policy and the “anticrime” agenda
O’Colly alumna wins prestigious award
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State has seen its fair share of alumni win prestigious awards.
Alumna Brandy McDonnell has been added to the list. She won the Rabkin prize, which awards exploratory arts and entertainment writers across the nation. She is one of two people from Oklahoma to have won the award this year and one of three people to have ever won in Oklahoma. The prize comes with $50,000.
McDonnell works for The Oklahoman as a features writer covering arts and entertainment. She is in her 23rd year working for the publication.
OSU prepared McDonnell for a journalism career through her work at The O’Colly and the classes that she took at the media school. She was a features writer and editor at The O’Colly, earned the Kappa Tau Alpha Top Scholar Award in 1998 and graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1999.
breaking story and how every reporter approaches that differently.”
OSU is still a place that McDonnell has been able to find support in the 25 years that she has been working in the industry. Some professors at OSU support students past their graduation date. For McDonnell, that professor was Joey Senat, associate professor of the School of Media & Strategic Communications.
“The one who kept up with me the most was professor Senat,” McDonnell said “He’s such a well-respected journalist and an expert in sunshine laws.”
The wide swath of knowledge that McDonnell earned while she was at OSU helped prepare her to launch into the position she is in now. She uses skills that she learned in school that she didn’t think she would be using when she graduated.
Over the past month, countless changes to the political climate have unfolded.
You may have missed significant strides from President Donald Trump’s administration, discussions of genocide and state government. Here is September’s political recap to catch you up.
Escalating tariffs
The Trump administration increased tariff implementation in many countries. Tariffs were placed on goods from more than 60 countries, including Mexico, Canada and China. These three countries import the most to the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report.
This caused the average U.S. tariff rate to reach new heights unseen in more than 100 years. This move has sparked a debate among economists who are considering the impact it will have on consumer prices.
Human rights concerns
An independent United Nations official declared that Israel is committing a genocide on Palestinians in Gaza. The commission, created by the Human Rights Council, stated that Israel has committed four acts of genocide since Oct. 7, 2023.
There are five “genocidal acts” defined under a convention adopted in 1948. The independent commission said four of the five have occurred, and it only takes one to be considered genocide. Israel continues to reject the accusation of committing genocide, according to the Associated Press.
Meanwhile, on the domestic front, the Trump administration has deployed the National Guard in efforts to expand the anti-crime agenda. On Sept. 15, Trump sent the National Guard to Memphis, replicating the crime-stopping attempt previously enacted in Washington DC. This strategy has been met with mixed reactions regarding the politicization of militarization and the necessity for deployment.
Local politics: Oklahoma’s approach to homelessness Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced the completion of Operation SAFE in Tulsa.
SAFE, or Swift Action for Families Everywhere, intends to remove homeless encampment sites, trash and litter. Supporters commend the operation for cleaning up the city, while critics question the impact of displacing homeless individuals.
Politics and entertainment
The recent death of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist who visited Oklahoma State’s campus, has erupted a wave of reactions from politicians, citizens and media. Television coverage of Kirk’s death has varied in response.
Jimmy Kimmel, a late-night talk show host, was indefinitely suspended from airing his late-night show because of comments he made about Trump’s reaction to Kirk’s death and the shooter.
“Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is now back on air, but the temporary suspension raised some people’s concerns about censorship and free speech.
“The minute that I started working for The O’Colly I realized, ‘Yes this was the right thing for me,’” McDonnell said. “Because it was, a doing kind of thing. I learned very quickly what was the thing that I liked doing the best and what I was good at, and so I think The O’Colly was super helpful for me in terms of getting to do it actively.”
McDonnell was able to learn what her strengths were at the student newspaper, which helped her succeed in her career. Before winning the Rabkin award this year, she won the Great Plains Journalism Awards in 2017 and 2020 as well as a Society for Professional Journalism First Amendment Award in 2021.
“I had very good teachers at OSU and very good professors,” McDonnell said “It was getting into a newsroom and seeing how everybody dealt with something that would be a
“I was kind of forced to learn all of those sides of how journalism and communications worked,” McDonnell said. “How you design it, how you edit it, how you write it or even topics that you may not be interested in. I think its helped its helped me to kind of learn how everything works so that I could kind of like see my place.”
McDonnell had words of wisdom to give to students studying journalism at OSU.
“Try to learn from other people’s mistakes instead of trying to make them on your own and dealing with the consequences yourself,” McDonnell said. “Listen to the adults, I mean a lot of people who come to (teach), like professor (Senat), he worked at the Commercial Appeal in Tennessee and the Tusla World.”
McDonnell left OSU when she graduated, but her love for the school never wavered. She said her success began with the foundation the school created.
“We just have a great love for this school,” McDonnell said “And yeah, it’s nice to be recognized by my alma mater.”
news.ed@ocolly.com
Randy Holmes, Tribune News Service
Jimmy Kimmel returned Tuesday to “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC after the Disney-owned network pulled him off the air last week.
Aliyah Young STAFF REPORTER
Kevin J. Miyazaki, The Rabkin Foundation
Brandy McDonnell has worked in the journalism industry for 26 years.
Oklahoma State equestrian’s Black vs. Orange scrimmage
Bella Holway jumps her horse Simba in the Cowgirls’ Orange vs. Black equestrian scrimmage Sept. 20.
Photos By Payton little
OSU equestrian team walks to scrimmage.
Equestrian horse, Carti, rests at Totusek Arena after participating in the scrimmage.
Faith Horner performs a sliding stop on Ruf in full Cowgirl gear.
OSU equestrian rider rests in between events.
Oklahoma State equestrian rider Emma Hechtman trotting on her horse Kent.
Emma Filiatreau performs a spin on Reiner during the equestrian team’s scrimmage.
Tristan Bagby performs a sliding stop on Ben in the Cowgirls’ Orange vs. Black equestrian scrimmage.
Faith Horner high-fives a team member after her run at the Cowgirls’ scrimmage.
‘Everything I Wanted’ shows Evan Honer at his most honest yet
Bryson Thadhani SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Evan Honer’s new album ‘Everything I Wanted’ moves fast but lands heavy.
It opens with the title track, a burst of electric guitar and drums that sound bigger than his usual acoustic roots.
“Only good at pushing off the blame, making it about yourself,” he sings while piecing through the end of a relationship. “I don’t know how to hold onto someone who can do without me around.”
The hook, “This is the end of everything I wanted,” sets a restless tone and proves he can write heartbreak that still feels wide open.
From there the record pivots hard. “Place I Hate” slows to confessional storytelling, all weary voice and heavy lyrics. Honer misses Arizona heat and old friends but drinks to get by: “I’m getting good making it look like I’m doing just fine. But the truth is, getting used to getting drunk all the time.”
Small lines sting — “another missed call from my brother,” “I’ve been carrying weight the last few days but somehow it got heavier.” It is one of his rawest songs yet.
“Long Road” is more restrained. “I’m still looking like myself, it’s just a little part is missing,” he admits over sparse guitar before the chorus lifts slightly. It captures the drift after heartbreak without pushing for a big payoff. Then “Better Off Lonely,” already a fan favorite, explodes back to life. The drums snap, the hook is huge and angry: “How long were you plannin’ on doing this? How hard would it be for you to clue me in? Damn it, I’m better off lonely.” It is cathartic and ready to scream in the car.
“Call You Back” strips down
again, chronicling the wear of long distance. “Let’s not have this fight again,” he pleads, trying to hold onto something slipping away. It’s simple but believable. “Lose a Friend,” by contrast, is sly and bright. He claims detachment but the chorus cracks that shield: “I don’t want to lose a friend.” The upbeat guitars hide real fear of closeness and make the song addictive.
“Waiting Room” lasts barely over a minute and a half but hits tender and direct. “I was never good at nothin’, but I’d say lovin’ you is somethin’,” he sings like a wedding vow. It’s small and sincere. “Maybe for Once” faces fear head on:
“Things don’t mean as much as I recall… I’m halfway to realizing I have to get out of my own way.” The drums rise and fall until his voice is left nearly bare, admitting the problem might be him.
With “Curtain,” Honer turns inward. “I tend to write about what I’m dying to forget,” he says while thanking the fans who make it possible: “At least I’m not alone.” Acoustic and keys fill the space before he laughs lightly at the end, a moment that feels human and grateful. “Not There Yet” circles the unease of a partner moving faster than you can. “How is everyone sure while I’m still on the fence?” he asks. The song wrestles with mismatched love and pressure to settle before you are ready.
“It’s a Home” cuts deepest. Honer rewinds to childhood, overhearing his father break down after losing work: “Eight years old first time I heard my daddy cry.” The house is small and flawed — “holes inside the wall,” “water on the floor” — but still precious. It is vivid, painful and loving all at once.
“Finally Commit” stays quiet and unsure, circling fear of decisions and lost love: “Guess I’ll be 80 years old till I can finally make a well thought out decision.”
The album ends with “Wonder,” a jolt of life after so much introspection. “You ain’t livin’ if you’re livin’ afraid,” he shouts over swelling guitars and drums. It’s the record’s cleanest moment of letting go,
built to yell with the windows down.
‘Everything I Wanted’ shows growth without losing what drew people to Honer in the first place. He experiments with bigger, radio-ready production on the opener and “Better Off Lonely,” but keeps space for acoustic storytelling and quiet heartbreak. The sequencing moves between anger, fear, gratitude and
hope without ever feeling lost. At its best — “Better Off Lonely,” “Lose a Friend,” “It’s a Home,” “Wonder” — the songs are personal yet wide enough for anyone to hold onto. It’s a record about trying to heal, to love better and to know yourself, even when that’s messy. Honer has made his most dynamic and honest album so far.
news.ed@ocolly.com
‘The Long Walk’ leans into dystopian themes
What would humans do if they could earn money and have a single wish granted for simply walking?
“The Long Walk,” directed by Francis Lawrence who directed multiple “Hunger Games” movies, answered this question.
The story follows a Stephen King book about a bunch of “lucky” candidates who are picked to participate in a game. The participants must continue walking at a steady pace. Soldiers give them three warnings before they get shot on the spot.
The movie doesn’t shy away from gun violence, ever. King demanded the movie show the violence and human cost.
“If you look at these superhero movies, you’ll see… some supervillain who’s destroying whole city blocks but you never see any blood. And man, that’s wrong,” King told The Times of London.
King’s main inspiration for the book was the Vietnam War — a violent war that he was drafted in but unfit to go.
Though violence is not all the movie has to offer. It’s one of the first to popularize a death game troupe.
The movie balances this with touching moments of unity between participants, but also their psychology. It makes the reader analyze the walk being an optional event that everyone is still applying for and how death is
guaranteed, but no one copes with it. It’s something truly fascinating.
The cast performed well, but some notable actors stood out: Mark Hamill, The Major, and David Jonsson, who played Peter McVires. Hamill played up The Major as an authoritarian capitalist who is using the game to make the common people “less lazy.” He provokes emotion because he thinks he’s right with everything he does.
Jonsson’s character, however, does the complete opposite. He builds up the main character and challenges him on his beliefs. His scenes made the audience feel connected to him because of his humanness and how he delivers certain moments.
“The Long Walk” was a super tense movie that kept audiences on the edge of the seat. Even knowing most of the characters were gonna die, it remained intriguing while also including dialogue that needs to be digested.
The feeling of “The Long Walk” is similar to other dystopian pieces of media that focus on games to be played at the hands of society or the government. If you like “Squid Games” or “The Hunger Games,” this movie will scratch that itch.
With a 5 out of 5 being a masterpiece and 4 out of 5 being a film with a promised delivery on its themes, the verdict for “The Long Walk” is a 4.6.
news.ed@ocolly.com
Caden James STAFF REPORTER
@evanhoner on Instagram
Evan Honer released a new album titled “Everything I Wanted” on Sept. 19.
Murray Close, Tribune News Service
“The Long Walk” is based off a Stephen King novel released in 1979.
safety plans for the event. OSUPD released a statement to reassure the campus community of its due diligence in protecting students who attend events on campus.
Land-Grant
“A lot of people don’t know that for instance that we have an extension,” Burke said. “An extension in all 77 counties (in Oklahoma), and that means a local office where people can connect with resources and talk with extension educators.”
OSU, as a land-grant university, serves everyone in its community. Having an extension in every county provides hands-on education through the state, not just to students enrolled in the college. It creates learning opportunities for students of all ages in the Oklahoma school system.
The university also provides useful resources to the people across the state. One of those opportunities is Mesonet, which provides real-time weather information relevant to the residents of the state.
helps bring it to the people.”
OSU gives students hands-on learning opportunities from research and through the extensions that are present all over the state. Students, alongside experts, often work in the extension offices to share their research with the community.
“I think it’s also because it’s a state (land grant) institution,” said Elizabeth Gosney, marketing and communications manager for the College of Art and Sciences. “We are able to give opportunities, educational opportunities and other opportunities to students within our region but also across the nation.”
Reaching students and communities from all over the nation is a goal for OSU. Research and extension allows them to reach that goal, connecting the education of a few to thousands more.
“I compared it to before I started here… y’all had Victoria Justice and Riley Gaines on the same night,” Beckner said. “There was a humongous difference between the two. If Victoria Justice wants security, we may have one police officer, but with Riley Gaines… if there’s going to be a controversial message, then we would have more. Because by far the utmost importance is individuals being able to express their opinions freely, and also having people there that want to express an opposing view.”
Beckner became chief at OSUPD in January. Part of his duty, when it comes to maintaining campus safety during events, is ensuring all individuals can attend, free speech is protected and the university’s educational mission is preserved.
Turning Point USA, the organization behind Kirk’s tour, has a chapter on campus. It’s one of several student organizations that express political views. The Hispanic Student Association most recently held a protest Sept. 18, voicing its opposition to the Supreme Court lifting a lower court’s injunction that prevented ICE agents from approaching people based on race, ethnicity or language.
But protests on campus aren’t new to this semester.
Students for Justice in Palestine held several protests against the conflict in Gaza last fall. Other organizations, such as Young Americans for Freedom, counterprotested, but the event remained peaceful despite differing viewpoints.
This is an example of what Beckner hopes for protests and other events at OSU — the protection of rights for both groups and the safety of all participants.
“It’s super important that everybody has their right,” Beckner said. “If we have an event that has two opposing views, and we know that both views are going to be there, we want to give each participant an opportunity to express their views, but we want to make sure that they’re safe doing so.”
TPUSA at OSU hosted a memorial for Kirk almost a week after his death. The O’Colly reached out to OSUPD in hopes of clarifying the
“At certain events, there are officers in uniform and in plain clothes on the ground as well as officers strategically positioned in elevated areas such as rooftops to provide comprehensive situational awareness,” the press release stated.
“The OSUPD, the Division of Student Affairs and others plan for these events, ensuring we address all aspects of event planning, from logistical considerations to emergency preparedness, while maintaining our commitment to creating a welcoming campus environment.”
Security measures for Homecoming and football games usually call for all hands on deck, but each event on campus undergoes security planning, Beckner said. Because of Kirk’s political messaging, his memorial at OSU had heavy security.
“It’s something that needs to be done everywhere,” Beckner said. “We’re going to look when events come, and we’ll weigh the security needs based on maybe the message, but also past events at other places, because most people that come here and went somewhere else. We’ll contact the other universities, or look and see how they handled it… if there were any problems, and weigh each event separately.”
Beckner said OSUPD is open to hearing about student concerns and discussing security plans with organization leaders before their events.
Beckner also reached out to the Student Government Association in hopes of creating a police advisory board. The advisory board will connect students with safety concerns to the chief, who will be overseeing the committee. SGA Vice President Victoria Smith said the goal is to finalize the creation of the board by the end of the month.
“We’re very much so looking forward to providing this important bridge between students and campus safety efforts,” Smith said. “He is very interested in getting student feedback of what’s going on campus and where they’ve had problems with safety. He just wants to make sure that he has all the information that he needs.”
“One of things that we’ve partnered with OSU on and partially because it is has been a land-grant university, we have measurements at specific heights on our towers that can help farmers at that crop level, at that cow level, essentially,” a Mesonet representative told The O’Colly.
These extensions and partnerships with OSU help provide farmers with data and experts to help them apply that information to their crops, livestock and equipment. It makes scientific data accessible and digestible to those who need it.
“So I think that an extension is the way to reach the population and make all of the academics into a real world standard and help people on a personal level,” he said. “Rather than just publishing scientific papers, it
“I take it back to what it means to be a Cowboy,” Burke said. “We have the Cowboy Code, which calls to do what’s right, which calls us to end the day, giving everything, and that means (getting) research to the public.”
The Cowboy Code outlines the values the university wants to instill in its students. The goal is not just graduating with a degree, but to become a well-rounded person who is prepared to help others, Burke said.
“It’s not just going to be about us, it’s about making a difference in the world,” Burke said. “and I think that’s just a core part of who we are and I think that’s worth keeping, and helps drive all of us individually and drive us together and ensure that OSU is always and will always be more than then sum of its parts.”
Land-Grant week celebrates the
A TRIUMPHED END!
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering , and the time of my departure Is at hand. I have fought a good fight. I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that Day, and not to me only but to all who have loved His appearing.”. (2 Tim.4:6-8 NKJ)
Here is a man who has lived a life in serving the Lord Jesus and others. He is in a prison cell, expecting his execution at any time. According to history, Paul was beheaded at Rome.
In his last words to a young man and minister, Timothy; Paul was looking ahead to greater and lasting judgement that would come from Christ himself. A
well done to a good and faithful servant. We all can take encouragement from his life of service to the Lord and his vision of something much better that awaited him.
As Jesus neared the end of his life. He prayed:to God “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given me to do. And now, O Father, glorify me...with the glory which I had with you before the world was.” (Jn.17:4-5 NKJ)
Brother and Sister in Christ: Let us set our goal for a triumphed ending by finishing the work God has called us to do. If it be large or small to our eyes; no matter! Let’s
Payton Little, The O’Colly OSUPD officers wore full tactical gear while monitoring the Charlie Kirk memorial.
Kristyn Lacki, The O’Colly
college’s focus on teaching, research and extension.
Lifestyle
Poketoberfest offers face painting, bouncy houses, free food and more each year on Oklahoma State’s campus at the beginning of October.
Stillwater’s best sweet spots to carry you through the semester
Sam Mitchell STAFF REPORTER
The perfect dessert can be the cherry on top of a great day or a pickme-up on a rough one.
Thankfully, no one can say Stillwater is a dessert desert. From gelato to popsicles to mini donuts, Stillwater has options when it comes to sweets. Several factors go into the perfect dessert, but flavor, cost and portion size are defining factors.
Let’s dive into the sugary depths of Stillwater’s dessert sea.
Blue Spruce Rich and smooth, Blue Spruce’s gelato is an elegant adventure into Stillwater’s sweets. It also comes with a price.
Blue Spruce is the most expensive place on this list, but when the opportunity is right, it’s worth it.
Smalls and mediums allow for two different flavors, whereas larges allow for three. The three I tried were Cookie Butter, Chocolate Chip and Double Chocolate.
Cookie Butter is the surprise standout. The base flavor of the gelato did enough to add depth to complement the cookie butter but not supplement any lack of taste.
close to $8. But, the gelato’s richness will leave you satisfied regardless of size.
Frio’s Gourmet pops
Frio’s offers up the simplest dessert on this list, but in this case, simple doesn’t mean subpar. A good ice cream popsicle maintains the creaminess of ice cream in the form of a popsicle. Frio’s pops do both. It’s as simple as that.
The price of a pop is reasonable, about $4-5, which is not too high for what you get but not too low you should worry about quality.
Sugar Llamas
The newest edition to Stillwater’s dessert scene, Sugar Llamas brings a new delicacy to town — mini donuts. Standing on their own or coupled with Sugar Llamas’ ice cream, the mini donuts are a welcome change of pace if you’re wanting to expand your dessert horizons.
The mini donuts are made to order. In this case, brownie batter and chocolate chip pancake flavors.
Raynee Howell
It’s time to grab a flannel, pick out a pumpkin and race in a potato sack. Monday marked the first day of fall and celebrations will soon follow. Don’t miss out on the fun. Attend one of your local fall festivals.
GardenFest
Look no further than the Oklahoma State Botanic Garden to get into the spirit of fall. Grab a few friends and head to GardenFest on Sunday to enjoy food from local vendors and participate in live demonstrations from the Payne County Master Gardeners. Arts and crafts vendors will also display and sell their work at the event.
The event is all ages, but will include special activities for children such as a bouncy house, hands-on crafts and educational activities. GardenFest is free to attend and will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Poketoberfest
The Student Union Activities Board is bringing back Poketoberfest — a Oktoberfest-inspired festival on campus. The downside for some… there will be no beer. Bratwursts, root beer and pretzels are served in its place.
German culture is highlighted at the event through food and activities. The OSU German Club usually puts on a steinholding event — a competition where participants hold a one-liter beer stein with a straight arm, parallel to the ground. Other activities include woodburning, bull-riding and pumpkin tossing.
The event details have not been fully released, but the event will be Oct. 1 on campus.
The Twelves Fall Festival
A local agrotourism venue south of town is hosting its fall festival the first weekend of October. The Twelves, functioning regularly as a pumpkin patch, will host local vendors and food trucks. There will also be a petting zoo, a hay maze, live music, crafts and more, alongside the patch.
The fun begins at noon and goes until 7 p.m. Oct. 4. Kids who are 3 and under get it free. Admission for before 3 p.m. is $8. After 3 p.m., it rises to $15.
Downtown Stillwater Octoberfest
After spending time with friends and family, it may be time for a beer. Stillwater is putting on its own Oktoberfest the same day as The Twelves Fall Festival.
Stillwater Octoberfest is located in downtown Stillwater along 9th Avenue between Lewis and Main, and down Main Street between 9th and 10th. The event will run from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Oct. 4. It will include food trucks, vendors, live music and beer.
Fall Festival at the Payne County Expo Center
Payne County will continue its annual fall festival tradition at the Payne County Expo Center at the beginning of November. This year marks the 44th annual celebration.
The two-day event, Nov. 7-8, is free to the public. More than 150 vendor booths will be filled with art, handmade crafts, gifts and more. The event is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. the first day and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. the next.
The cookie butter flavor is strong, but in the perfect way. There is a satisfying cookie flavor with each bite. WIth that bite comes a satisfying cookie crunch.
If Cookie Butter was a welcome surprise, Chocolate Chip was the opposite. The crunch and texture of the chips were good, but they didn’t come in every bite. The flavor also wasn’t enough to be anything but simple.
While simple isn’t a bad thing, simplicity succeeds when it’s the main appeal, not a lack of something more interesting. If you want something cool with some special moments and no surprises, you won’t go wrong with chocolate chip, but there are better options if you are craving simplicity.
Double chocolate is a surefire cornerstone. It’s just the basics, but the basics done to perfection. Deep chocolate flavor with bitter and sweet undertones come together perfectly in this indulgent delight.
The price is higher than the rest, with mediums and larges costing
The brownie batter donuts came coated in sugar and chocolate syrup. While these flavors can be overdone, they added to the flavor here instead of overpowering it. The flavor is just as advertised, tasting as close to brownie batter as a donut could. The texture of the donut does a nice job imitating the richness of brownie batter as well.
The chocolate chip pancake donuts were a little less special. Where the brownie batter stood out, the pancake donuts fell flat. There is maple syrup on top, but instead of adding to the overall flavor, it overpowers everything else going on. It ended up tasting more like a maple donut with a few chocolate chips than a blend of what makes dessert great.
While partly because of the maple flavor, the texture of the donut doesn’t work as well here. The maple flavor overpowers the flavor of the donut itself, so it’s more of a melty, maple ball instead of a doughy, chocolaty donut.
The donuts’ cost was understandable, The six mini donuts cost right around $5 total if you want one flavor and a little over $6 if you want multiple. This price is not bad if you consider sharing.
news.ed@ocolly.com
File Photo, The O’Colly
File Photo, The O’Colly
Blue Spruce is one of the many dessert shops in Stillwater.
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“The MAC committee, as it was called, was open to funding groups, whether they came from diverse backgrounds or otherwise,” Hurlbut said. “One of the main examples would be the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, which is an organization that acts as a modern legislature that goes to the state capitol. It isn’t necessarily a multicultural group, per se, but it has received MAC funding in the past. If there is this disconnect between how the organization functions and how it’s branding itself, then that turns away a lot of students who might benefit from the funding but think it’s not for them.”
The language of the bill has been changed to reflect its goal of reaching a broader student population. Hurlbut said the original language created confusion and suspicion of discrimination. Diversity organizations are now referred to as “underserved organizations” in the bill.
The term underserved comes straight from the Oklahoma Senate Bill passed in May. The restrictions for DEI shall not be constructed to apply to access programs for military, veterans, Pell Grant recipients, first-generation college students, students from lowincome families, students with unique abilities or underserved student populations, it states.
SGA senators raised concerns that “underserved” is simply a synonym for diversity. Ashton Tate, vice speaker, said the change is a complete reprogramming that will face away from a cultural focus. The change will allow the committee to continue to receive state funding.
“If we were to expand what is currently ‘MAC,’ we would basically just be adding onto what the state has deemed ‘illegal,’” Tate said.
“We are in a sense not creating, but replacing a committee. If we just expand MAC, that would leave us the same issues, so we are renaming, restructuring, and replacing a committee with MPAC.
As part of restructuring, SGA is creating a MPAC advisory
board. The board’s responsibility is to act as a commission to identify organizations who need assistance and identify SGA’s blind spots in serving certain student populations, Hurlbut said.
“We want everyone to feel welcome in SGA,” Hurlbut said. “We want everyone to feel welcome at OSU and that board is to figure out what we can do to improve on that.”
The appointment of a MPAC advisory board chair was tabled at SGA’s Sept. 17 senate meeting. An MPAC director was approved and appointed. Christian Jimenez, who has been unofficially running the new committee, is now the director. He said he encourages all organizations who need funding to apply to reach out to MPAC.
“I am glad I got this position, and I’m excited to be able to help all students across campus,” Jimenez said. “I am sad that DEI had to go because it did help many, but with this new rebrand, we are now able to hit the same groups we did in the past and since we have expanded, we are able to include everyone on campus.”
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Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced Wednesday that he will resign from office.
Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Walters in January 2023 to be the state’s “top public schools official” as superintendent. Walters was elected to serve as Oklahoma Secretary of Education from September 2020 to April 2023. Walters announced on Fox News that he is stepping down as state superintendent of public instruction. He will be leaving his role to become the CEO of the Teacher Freedom Alliance, an anti-union organization based in Texas. The organization’s website said it “will take the fight straight to the unions” and “fight for your conservative values.” The TFA also aims to restore excellence in America’s classrooms.
This news comes weeks after, according to the Associated Press, Walters pledged to put a Turning Point USA chapter in every high school to honor Charlie Kirk and end what he called “wokeness” in public schools, following the assassination of political activist Kirk.
During Walter’s term, Oklahoma’s national ranking in several education metrics declined, ranking 49th out of 50 according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 review. Walters leaned heavily on infiltrating classrooms with religion, including a mandate that incorporates the Bible into public school lesson plans for grades 5 through 12. His endeavors led to multiple lawsuits against him and the agency.
“It’s time for a State Superintendent of Public Instruction who will actually focus on quality instruction in our public schools,” Attorney General of Oklahoma Gentner Drummond said. “Gov. Stitt used to say he would make us Top Ten, but after seven years we are ranked 50th in education. Our families, our students and our teachers deserve so much more.”
Walter’s term was supposed to end on Jan. 11, 2027. Gov. Kevin Stitt will seek someone to replace and finish the term that Walters started.
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APPLICATIONS INVITED FOR SPRING SEMESTER 2026
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF THE O’COLLY
Applications for Spring Semester 2026 Editor-in-Chief of The O’Colly will be accepted from now until 12 p.m. (noon) Monday, October 6, 2025.
Applications are now available in the Paul Miller Journalism and Broadcasting Building, room 106. Applicants must return their completed applications to room 106 no later than 12:00 p.m. (noon) Monday, October 6, 2025.
To be eligible for Editor-In-Chief, the applicant must be a student on the Stillwater campus of Oklahoma State University, be in good academic standing (i.e., not on academic probation), have a grade point average of not less than 2.5, and have completed at least 60 hours toward a degree.
Applicant must show evidence of having worked one semester in an editor position on The O’Colly. Students serving as an Editor-in-Chief may take up to 6 credit hours of independent study in consultation and approval of their major advisor.
An internship on a newspaper in a newsroom capacity may be substituted for one semester of service on The O’Colly. The internship must meet the requirements of the School of Media and Strategic Communications’ current internship course.
230 S. Knoblock St. Stillwater, OK 74074
Payton Little, The O’Colly
SGA Vice President Victoria Smith spoke about the accomplishments of the administration at SGA’s town hall event.
Chance Marick PHOTO EDITOR