Friday, October 10, 2025
Faith on the sidewalk
A Stillwater resident brings prayer to campus
BY BRYSON THADHANI I SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR
Most afternoons near the library, students walk past a man holding a white posterboard that reads, “How Can I Pray For You?” in thick black Sharpie. Some stop. Some glance. Others circle back a few minutes later.
The man behind the sign isn’t
a student. His name is Cameron Luschen, a staff member with Oklahoma State University’s Baptist Collegiate Ministry. For nearly a year, he’s made the OSU campus his mission field following a rough patch in his life.
“I was going through some hard times, probably the lowest I’ve ever been,” Luschen said.
A Stillwater High School student charged with a criminal felony based on 10 counts left the courthouse Monday with no jail time.
Jesse Butler was charged on 10 counts — two counts of attempted rape, three counts of rape by
instrumentation, one count of sexual battery, one count of forcible oral sodomy, two counts of domestic assault and battery by strangulation and one count of domestic assault and battery — in February. The dates of the offenses were throughout 2024. He was 17 when he committed the crimes.
“I didn’t want that situation to define me. I was wanting to find a way where I could put all these emotions into a productive outlet, mainly to glorify God.”
He said the idea came from a video online.
“I saw this guy named David Hurst on social media,” Luschen said. “His 14-year-old kid was holding a sign that said, ‘How
can I pray for you?’ in front of Walmart. I thought that was incredible. So, I drove to Stillwater, found a big piece of paper and just stood by the clock tower. Instantly, people started to approach me and ask for prayer — even people who didn’t necessarily believe in prayer.”
The Oklahoma State University Foundation endowment is at a record high, but the return on its investments fell 4% below its benchmark in the last year.
With more than 4,300 separate endowments, the total donation pool has increased to $1.083 billion. This is double
the size of the endowment 10 years ago. The foundation created a benchmark to monitor its investment returns on the endowment gifts, which are placed together in a fund. The projected benchmark return for FY2025, which is July 1, 2024 though June 30, was 14.2%, but its return fell short of that, coming in at 10.2%.
Bryson Thadhani, The O’Colly
Cameron Luschen, a Stillwater resident, spends most days in front of the library praying for students.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
Jesse Butler’s status changed to youthful offender, reducing a 78-year sentence to community service and other requirements of his approved rehabilitation plan.
Payton Little, The O’Colly
On This day
2000. 25 years ago.
The FarmHouse Fraternity and the Fire Protection Society will enter the house decoration building competition this year for the first time.
Abe Burrell, homecoming chairman for FarmHouse, said building a house decoration is a new experience.
“We’ve been wanting to do this for a few years now,” he said. “We’ve done floats and things like that, but we’ve never built anything on this level. If it is successful, which we think it’s going to be, we’ll probably participate from now on.”
However, FarmHouse is not on the traditional walkaround route.
In an effort to expand the tradition and encourage growth, the Oklahoma State University Alumni Association has come to the rescue.
Anne Scott, director of communications for the Alumni Association, said the association will provide two trolleys to transport people to FarmHouse (located at 424. N. Washington St., in 2000).
Glencoe resident hit while riding scooter in Stillwater
report obtained by The O’Colly.
A drinking water standard was violated at Morrill Hall in April.
OSU officials sent out an email Monday to reassure students and staff that the water was and still is safe to drink Water in the building slightly exceeded the maximum containment level of trihalomethane, which is a compound formed with water’s natural organic matter and chlorine. It is commonly used as a water disinfectant for drinking water.
The standard for trihalomethane content is 0.080 mg/l, and the water at Morrill Hall was measured to be 0.082 mg/l. The compound can be harmful to the liver, kidneys and central nervous
system at a high level over a long period of time.
Treatment staff confirmed it was not an emergency and water was considered safe to drink, and within 48 hours, it was brought back to the correct level. It was determined that the violation was a result of a temporary problem with the chemical feed system for disinfection.
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality notified OSU in September, but levels were verified to be correct during the a monitoring period in July. The O’Colly reached out to Steven Payne, supervisor at the OSU Water Treatment Plant, for further comment on the timeline of the notification from ODEQ. The O’Colly did not receive a response in time for publication.
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A young Glencoe resident suffered minor injuries after being struck while riding a scooter across the intersection of Perkins Road and Krayler Avenue on Saturday. Around 6:30 p.m., Summer Sitterly, 19, was riding across the street heading north when Adriana Valazquaez, 47, struck Sitterly with her car.
In the collision report, officer Lionard Fombe reported Sitterly, who was heading northbound on Perkins, had the right-of-way to cross the road. Simultaneously, in a gray 2011 Lexus, Valazquaez headed west through the green light and into the intersection. At the last moment, Sitterly appeared in view and was hit, according to a
Editorial
Sitterly sustained a cut to her eyebrow, a minor injury on her left foot and a headache. She was transported to Stillwater Medical Center shortly after. In the report, Fombe reported that Sitterly did not recall the collision or what occurred, only regaining consciousness after the incident.
Sitterly’s mother posted to Facebook revealing Sitterly suffered a small brain bleed. Testing revealed the brain bleed was less than 2 centimeters and did not require surgery. She was released from the hospital a day after the accident.
Fombe’s investigation concluded there was no fault, as both parties had the right-of-way when the accident occurred.
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Co-Editors-in-Chief
Raynee Howell & Parker Gerl editorinchief@ocolly.com
Design editor Katie Lehew design.ed@ocolly.com
Social media editor Bryson Thadhani news.ed@ocolly.com
Assistant photo editor Payton Little photo.ed@ocolly.com
CASSIE DELOZIER | THE DAILY O’COLLEGIAN STAFF REPORTER, 2000
Holly Patton, The Daily O’Collegian
Ryan Steward, electrical engineer senior, welds on FarmHouse’s house decoration in 2000.
Rhema Coleman STAFF REPORTER
Payton Little, The O’Colly Scooters are accessible to those in Stillwater both on and off campus.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
at Morrill Hall in April.
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
The two victims reported the crimes to SHS officials in late 2024, a police report revealed.
Butler initially pleaded not guilty March 6 at the Payne County Court House, and later no contest once his offender status changed. District Judge Jason Reese denied his request to be certified and charged as a juvenile. The State of Oklahoma filed the charges and made a deal with the defense for Butler to be charged as a youthful offender, judge permitting.
Butler’s status was changed to youthful offender after a hearing July 24. A youthful offender status usually grants rehabilitation and less severe punishment than an adult would receive. On Aug. 25, Butler pleaded no contest to the 10 counts and an additional 11th count he received for violating a protective order.
The Office of Juvenile Affairs created a rehabilitation plan and presented it to the judge Monday. The plan included more than 100 hours of community service, a curfew, no social media, daily check-ins and weekly counseling until his 19th birthday. It was approved.
The court sentenced Butler to 78 years on Aug. 25, but as long as he complies with his rehabilitation plan, he will not serve any jail time.
Paul Blankinship, an SHS school resource officer, stated in the report that he talked with the two female students Sept. 12, 2024.
One student said to Blankinship that she and Butler were in a romantic relationship for the first three months of 2024.
“She said she would always tell him ‘No’ but he would get aggressive and hurt her until she said ‘Yes,’” Blankinship stated.
The other victim was in a relationship with Butler beginning shortly after her 16th birthday in March, according to her mother’s Facebook post.
Amber Selvey, the mother of one of the victims, said the fight for justice wasn’t just about her daughter. It was about every kid who has been hurt in this way.
“As a mom, I never thought I’d have to watch my daughter fight this kind of battle,” Selvey said. “One where she had to prove she was the victim, over and over again, while the system made excuse after excuse for the person who hurt her.”
Selvey said watching her daughter stay brave while adults failed her has been both inspiring and heartbreaking. On Aug. 25 at the arraignment, both Selvey and her daughter gave victim impact statements to the court.
In the victim’s statement, she
revealed Butler threatened to kill her, her family or himself if she told anyone. She spoke of a scenario in which Butler strangled her until she was unconscious. According to the report, she had to have surgery on her neck and a medical professional told her she was 30 seconds away from dying. She directed her comments about her abuse to the court but also to Butler and his family.
“I need you to remember that what happened to me wasn’t only abuse or strangulation, it was nearly attempted murder,” she said. “So, I ask that you hold him accountable to the fullest. Thirty more seconds and this would not be my statement. It would be my mother’s because I would not have survived.
“I survived what he did, but I will never be the same.”
Selvey spoke about her daughter’s strength but highlighted the reason she’s had to learn to be stronger than her peers was because of Butler’s abuse. She said their family did not agree with the deal Butler received because it was in his best interest, not the victims.
“It’s time for accountability,” Selvey said. “Not just words… action. Our kids deserve that.”
The O’Colly reached out to Butler’s legal representation for comment and received no response.
Lindel Fields was sworn in as the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction on Tuesday. Former superintendent Ryan Walters resigned Sept. 30. Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed Fields Oct. 2 to carry out Walters’ term.
Fields is an Oklahoma State alumnus who graduated in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in trade and industrial teacher education. He received his master’s degree from Southern Nazarene University in education leadership in 1999.
Fields founded and served as CEO of Your Culture Coach since 2021. Before that he served as the CEO of Tri County Tech from 1999 through 2021. He has experience outside of a normal classroom, too as he worked at the Dick Conner Correctional Center as a horticulture teacher in 1991. By 1994, he was the director of instruction for correctional systems across the state.
Fields said that his focus is on student betterment.
“If you’re not taking care of the students, take care of someone who is,” Fields said in a press conference.
He laid out his three priorities for his time as state superintendent. His top priority is working on increasing reading proficiency. A strong belief of Fields is the idea that every student deserves the gift of literacy. His second priority is keeping educators in Oklahoma classrooms.
“Nothing matters more than great educators in every classroom,” Fields said.
The last priority was to give students a clear path out of high school for how to start their career. Reigniting a focus on options outside of college to best fit the needs and wants of the students.
Fields said he understands that he is working not just on helping students but also steadying the situations that are found in Oklahoma schools currently.
Fields asked for patience in the next 15 months as he works to steady the ship so that the focus is on preparing each student for the best they can achieve.
“This work is deeply personal,” Fields said.
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Chance Marick, The O’Colly
Jesse Butler received 150 hours of community service for 11 charges, including rape and domestic assault and battery.
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Lindel Fields on LinkedIn Oklahoma State alumnus Lindel Fields was sworn in as the state superintendent for the remaining 15 months of Ryan Walters’ term.
New members appointed to serve on OSU Foundation Board of Trustees
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Five new members were elected to the OSU Foundation Board of Trustees and will serve the next four years in their roles.
The names of the five members were announced Oct. 3.
OSU Foundation President Blaine Atkinson said it’s a privilege to welcome the new trustees to the board.
Bryan Begley board chair
Begley is not a new member, but was promoted to board chair. Begley graduated from OSU in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. He earned his master’s in business administration at Harvard in 1998.
In Begley’s career, he co-founded two energy-focused private investment firms, 1901 Partners and ZBI Ventures. He is the chair of MEMCO, OSU Foundation’s Investment Management Company and was a regular trustee before being elevated to board chair.
Eddy Ditzler
Ditzler earned his accounting degree and MBA from OSU in 1978 and 1981, respectively. He spent more than 35 years as a certified public accountant with Grant Thornton LLP.
Ditzler still serves in several committees including the OSU Foundation Investment Committee and the Oklahoma City Community Foundation audit committee. In 2024, he was inducted into the Spears School of Business Hall of Fame.
Kayleen Ferguson Ferguson attended OSU before transferring and earning her bachelor’s in secondary education at Utah State University in 1977.
Along with her husband, Ferguson funded scholarships and facilities for the Ferguson College of Agriculture. The college was named in honor of the $50 million gift from the Ferguson Family Foundation toward the new Agricultural Hall and an endowment.
In 2022, both her and her husband were inducted into the OSU Hall of Fame.
Spencer Haines
Haines earned his bachelor’s in accounting from OSU in 1998 before earning law degrees of varying levels at the University of Oklahoma and New York University.
Haines is working as the executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Love’s Family of Companies. Haines also serves on the OSU Foundation Board of Governors and the School of Accounting Alumni Board along with other non-university affiliated committees.
Lindel Larison
Larison earned his bachelor’s in chemical engineering at OSU in 2003.
Lindel is the co-founder of Tall Oak Midstream and has served as founding partner and chief operating officer since 2014. Larison has served on the OSU Foundation’s Board of Governors and the OSU Chemical Engineering Industrial Advisory Committee.
Teri Shaffer
Shaffer graduated with bachelor’s degrees in accounting and political science from OSU in 1984 and 1988. Shaffer has more than 40 years of experience in technology, cybersecurity, risk management and more.
Shaffer is actively engaged in several board governance associations. She and her husband, John, established the OSU Honors College’s first endowed chair.
A total of 23 trustees will provide oversight for the foundation in terms of legal, financial and donor relations. Each member is a volunteer who was chosen for their professional experience and support of the university.
“Each person brings a unique perspective and deep commitment to our mission,” Atkinson said in a press release. “Alongside Bryan’s elevation to board chair, their leadership will help us continue to shape a bold future for OSU.”
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Continued from 1
The endowment report credits the lack of growth in private investments compared to the record-high year in public stocks for the drop in its return.
The Multilateral Endowment Management Company and the investment committee invest part of the endowment in stock, bonds and private equity. MEMCO and the investment committee focused slightly more on private investments in the past year, with 40% of private investments and 36% public.
The report stated the rise in the stock market was mainly the result of investment in AI-driven technology companies and not across each investment. With the foundation investing less in public stock and only a few reaping the benefits of the record-high stock market value, the return’s shortfall was based on an underperformance of private equity investments.
“While not satisfied with the recent underperformance, the Investment Committee and MEMCO remain committed to meeting the needs of the University and the Foundation over the long-term, which we are well-positioned to continue doing going forward,” the endowment report stated.
The foundation’s performance was right below the median return of 10.5% among 23 other college and university endowments tracked by Pensions & Investments.
Even with an investment shortfall, the OSU Foundation was able to provide more than $20 million in scholarships for around 8,300 students in the past fiscal year. Three-fourths of the total endowment gifts are dedicated to financial support for students. This year alone, 73% of the new endowments are scholarship endowments. Lily Stuckey, a senior psychology major, said her scholarship made her realize how much giving back to the university helps future students.
“Scholarships have made me realize the investment our alumni have in the Cowboy Family and their continued graciousness does not go unnoticed,” she said in a statement.
Bryan Begley
Eddy Ditzler
Kayleen Ferguson Spencer Haines
Lindel Larison
Teri Shaffer
Courtesy OSU News
Continued from 1
Since that day, Luschen has returned to the same spot several times a week, rain or shine. He’s prayed for students facing exams, roommates fighting, families grieving, and graduates unsure of what’s next. Each conversation, he said, reminds him that no one walks through life untouched by struggle.
“As I continued to do it, I saw that everyone is going through something,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who they are, what kind of degree they have or how nice they look. Everyone on campus is going through something, whether it’s a small thing like the stress of an exam or a big thing like death in the family.”
The prayers are rarely rushed. Luschen said he tries to meet people where they are — often sitting with them on the library steps or pausing for a few quiet minutes in conversation. Afterward, he writes each prayer request on the back of his sign to remember them later.
“Sometimes people bring up heavy situations, and it’s like, whoa, I’ve got to take a step back after I talk to them and process things,” he said. “My process looks like going to God and praying about it, talking to Him first and putting it in His hands, trusting that He is caring for them. I wish I could be there and help more, but it’s not about me. It’s about what God can do.”
The simple act of standing with a sign has evolved into something much larger — a connection point that transcends belief or background. Luschen said even those who don’t identify with a religion often stop to talk.
“People just want to be heard,” he said. “Sometimes it’s less about the prayer itself and more about
knowing someone actually sees them.”
The encounters have also reshaped how Luschen views faith and community.
“It’s helped me learn how hurt we all are, how hurtful life can be,” he said. “We’ve all been hurt, and we will be hurt again. That’s just the broken state of this world that we live in. But we’re also all connected in that way — we’re all connected in pain. Sometimes you just need someone to sit in the mud with you.”
Other students have taken notice. Grayson McGuire, a fellow member of the BCM, said Luschen’s presence has inspired him to be more open about his own faith.
“It was really encouraging just to see another strong Christian guy out there, just trying to encourage other people,” McGuire said.
“You’d expect there to be some adverse reactions, but more often than not, it’s really positive. Even if it’s from believers or nonbelievers, people really appreciate the fact that someone cares about them.”
McGuire said Luschen’s consistency has made a visible difference around campus.
“It encouraged me to be a lot more outspoken,” McGuire said. “The Lord used him greatly to help do that. If I hadn’t seen him on campus, I probably wouldn’t have done a lot of the things I’ve done since then.”
Luschen’s coworkers at BCM said his willingness to step out publicly with his faith reflects the heart of the organization.
“Cameron is someone that has a huge heart for evangelism, and he’s someone that truthfully steps out into the calling that we are called to as Christians — to be disciples of all nations and to share our faith,” said Olivia Rooker, a senior at OSU and fellow BCM leader. “The passion that he has to share the love of God is something
that’s very contagious.”
Rooker said that while social media has helped Luschen’s message reach more people, what stands out most is his sincerity.
“He’s not doing it for the show and tell of it, but he’s genuinely doing it because it’s his calling,” Rooker said. “The Lord has gifted him with the ability to strike up conversations with strangers and to stand on the street corner with a sign that says, ‘How can I pray for you?’ He’s not doing it for attention, but to sit there and say, ‘Lord, here I am. I’m going to let you use me.’”
For students who pass him daily, Luschen has become a familiar face — one that reminds them of hope, vulnerability and the possibility of connection in a busy college town.
“Sometimes it’s people who see me a few times before stopping,” Luschen said. “It might take them a week or a month to come over, but when they do, those moments are always special. It means God was working on their heart long before I said a word.”
For Luschen, his work isn’t about grand gestures or numbers. It’s about presence — being available in the moment and faithful with what’s in front of him.
“The mission field is where your two feet are,” he said. “My two feet are at OSU.”
When asked what he hopes students take away from seeing him, Luschen said it isn’t about preaching or pressure.
“I hope they take away that I’m an ordinary guy,” he said. “I’m just a dude who found a sign and a Sharpie. Anyone can do this.”
He paused and smiled.
“Living the Christian life is fun,” he said. “It’s satisfying, even when life hurts. If I could bottle that peace up in a pill, I’d make millions — but I don’t have to. It’s free.”
‘It’s
BSA hosts first collaborative event with Student Union Activities Board
The Black Student Association unified students through music at its most recent event, but the collaboration among the event hosts was unification in its own way.
The organization collaborated with the Student Union Activities Board, which has been a goal of theirs for some time, said Jada Williams, BSA publicity secretary and event chair.
“Honestly, I would say it’s a dream come true,” Williams said. “It’s two very big organizations coming together for campus unity, which is what we’re all about.”
The event Oct. 3 was an AUX war and a block party at the Student Union Plaza. It featured games, prizes, music and community. Students came and shared their favorite songs, sorted into categories and had the opportunity to interact with one another on a more familiar level.
AUX wars is a party game, in which those playing recommend songs based on a given category, and to win, a song must correspond with the category or get others to sing along or dance. With brand-name speakers, headphones and even a karaoke machine as prizes, attendees gave their catchiest song suggestions and went home a few decibels louder.
“AUX wars is a game show, picking music for prizes, and a block party, which is something that’s really culturally significant to not only BSA, but for most people who grew up in tight-knit neighborhoods,” Williams said. “I think it was really something beautiful that we created here.” Williams said she worked diligently with SUAB and was pleased with the outcome of the event. Passersby were drawn to the music and liveliness of the night. The atmosphere was infectious, with attendees dancing and singing their favorite songs with one another.
“This is my fourth year, and I’ve never seen a SUAB and BSA collab, so I would say we are trendsetters in a way,” said Krista Sherfield, BSA secretary. “It’s a start to something great that can hopefully last forever.”
With a bond officially formed, BSA is excited for the future of their organization and their new relationship with SUAB. Jermaine Kelley, president of BSA, was inspired by the turnout for the event and support of their organization.
“Seeing how many faces came out tonight was awesome; we really made a good impression as far as having people support BSA,” Kelley said. “It shows our campus representation; we collaborated with SUAB which is a really big thing. This is a good first step and we’re excited for the future.”
Now, BSA is preparing for next week: Homecoming. Sherfield shared some of the events planned for the upcoming week.
“At the Homecoming greek step show, we’ll be crowning our BSA royalties; the prince, princess, king and queen, it’s all really exciting,” Sherfield said. “We’re going to have a Homecoming tailgate and it should be just as exciting.”
After a night of music and fun, Williams expressed her gratitude for those who took the time out to join them for AUX Wars.
“Thank you to everyone who came out,” Williams said. “Even if it wasn’t from beginning to end, I think that whatever part you came at was great, and I think it was something great.”
Bryson Thadhani, The O’Colly
Cameron Luschen prays with OSU student Will Gibson. Luschen also writes down requests on his poster board.
Rhema Coleman STAFF REPORTER
Courtesy Tierra Nelson
The Black Student Association collaborated with SUAB to host an event for the first time.
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An audience gathers to
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!.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly OSU rodeo team member brings American flag to the arena.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
A saddle bronc rider competes at the Cowboy Stampede on Oct. 3.
Payton Little, The O’Colly
watch the OSU rodeo team compete in the Cowboy Stampede.
Payton Little, The O’Colly Oklahoma State bull rider, Morgan Merrill, celebrates with the audience at the Cowboy Stampede.
Payton Little, The O’Colly
An Oklahoma State calf roper competes at the Cowboy Stampede at the Payne County Expo Center.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
A bareback bronc rider competes at the Cowboy Stampede.
Smart side hustles for busy college students
Aliyah Young STAFF REPORTER
College is full of opportunities that demand time and monetary commitments.
Classes, clubs and socialization put a strain on your time and wallet. If you don’t have time to add on a parttime job or you need extra support outside it, a side hustle is what you’re looking for. Here are a few non-timeconsuming side hustles to make a few extra bucks in between busy schedules.
Food delivery
If you have access to a car, consider using free time to take orders. Apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub are perfect ways to make money on your own time. If your schedule is often changing, food delivery is a great non-commitment side hustle that you can plan around your life.
Freelance
Your skills and hobbies can be more than just for fun. Your talents could have you sitting on a gold mine. Monetize your strengths and bring in profit independently.
Freelance your skills and gain a professional portfolio. Websites like Upwork and Fiverr offer gigs for freelance opportunities that can help jump start your business.
Tutoring
Turn your academic success into monetary fortune. Tutoring in a subject of proficiency is an opportunity to reinforce your knowledge, make money and help others.
Try looking for local schools searching for tutors, as well as opportunities at the LASSO Center for classes you’ve succeeded in.
Babysitting
If you enjoy hospitality and taking care of others, consider babysitting. Babysitting is a classic side hustle that is usually in high demand. Websites like Care.com can connect you to families looking for reliable babysitters.
Uber/Lyft
Turn your off time into opportunity. Driving services are especially lucrative during game days and weekends in Stillwater. Maximize the utility of your car and try out Uber or Lyft.
Dog walking
If you have a love for pets and nature, dog walking and pet sitting should be your No. 1 option. Consider looking at Rover.com or Wag for local job opportunities.
Upcycling
Use your creative eye and upcycle clothes to sell. Places like Depop and Etsy allow you to list clothes for your own price. Take advantage of your time thrifting and creating unique pieces.
Facebook Marketplace Facebook Marketplace is full of opportunity. You can sell just about anything, so give it a try. Collect old appliances, clothes and utilities you no longer need. Sell them on the marketplace for a profitable value.
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Finding a good spot to study on campus can be just as hard as finding parking spot on campus.
With exams in full swing and group projects galore, the demand for a good spot is increasing.
Edmon Low Library is in no short supply. All six floors of the library have places to study. The study rooms located through the first three floors provide ample space for small group study. If silence is what you need, the fourth and fifth floors of the library are silent and whisper floors.
The North Classroom building also offers ways to study in silence, with study rooms like the ones at the library.
The Student Union has places that make group studying easy.
The second floor has large tables that provide ample space to do collaborative studying or working on one of your projects. The food court tables, on the first floor, can be used to study with a friend over some food.
Many of the campus’ academic buildings have places that are open for students to use for studying. Most dorms have study rooms located throughout the hall that can be used for individual or group studying.
These common places are not the only ones available to study at. There are locations all throughout campus that have their upsides for studying.
If you are looking for nature while
you study, Theta Pond has benches that you can sit on to do some studying while looking at the pond and seeing the geese fly around. While there’s no table, if you just have one notebook to look at, the pond provides a good back drop for studying.
For the students who enjoy snacking while you study, there are plenty of locations to study and snack as well. Inside the library, Cafe Libro can provide that coffee shop studying experience. Any of the dining halls can be used to study at while getting a bite to eat.
The city of Stillwater has many locations that make great studying spots as well, if you’re looking to get away from campus while studying.
Aspen Coffee and Starbucks are both coffee shops that see many students studying at them throughout the week.
Late night studying in your room can get old after a while and The Strip has a location to break that up. Insomnia Cookies is open late even on the weekends gives a location to do late-night studying and get a refreshing bite to eat.
For the nature enjoyers, Boomer Lake can be a great place to study to see the beauty of the water while poring over your notes. The OSU Botanical Gardens have benches and a pavilion where you could study surrounded by nature.
Raynee Howell, The O’Colly
Students can use DoorDash as a side hustle to earn additional income.
Marcus Mesis STAFF REPORTER
Bryson Thadhani, The O’Colly Finding a good study spot is an essential part of the college experience.
‘The Life of a Showgirl’
Review Album sparks mixed reactions among Swift’s loyal fanbase
Raynee Howell CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
She did it again… kind of.
Taylor Swift dropped her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” Oct. 3. As always with a Swift release, critics are popping up across the internet.
The main critique of her last album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” was the length of the extended edition — 31 songs. Who listens to a 31-song album? Well… Swifites. But regardless, Swift released half of that for this album.
The 12-song album has made its mark. In the first five days following its release, the album surpassed a record Adele has held for the past decade for her album “25,” according to Billboard. The album hit 3.5 million album units, which tallied consumption across both sales and streaming.
Breaking records is not new to Swift and breaking them on her worst album yet is not surprising as it’s all anyone is talking about, mostly negatively. Don’t get me wrong, being the “worst” Swift album is still an honor. Several of her other albums are beyond the scope of an average pop album.
As a “Folklore,” “Evermore” and “The Tortured Poets Department” fan, it’s not surprising that the glittergel-pen songs are not as appealing to me. With not one gut-wrenching, slow song on the album — “Ruin The Friendship” gets close — it falls flat, especially on the first couple listens. But that’s not to say that none made it to my Spotify liked songs list.
Swift starts and ends the album with a bang, but the in between gets murky. “The Fate of Ophelia” starts it off strong, reminding fans of the “1989” fun, pop era.
The music video references several showgirl eras, wonderfully encapsulating the album’s theme. A TikTok dance also emerged, solidifying the song’s impact. As for the song’s content, it’s not super deep. Critics are writing think pieces about how the lyrics do not align with the actual Shakespeare story about Ophelia.
Instead, it is an upbeat love song as is most of the album. This strays away from Swift’s recent dark and sophisticated writing, but that’s OK. A fun song is a staple for every album, and I thought this was it, but the fun pop song format never stopped.
“The Life of a Showgirl” featuring Sabrina Carpenter
“The
wraps up the album. It ties a bow on the era and ranks toward the top for the best songs.
Carpenter’s verse fits in seamlessly and reflects her normal digs at trashing men in her music. The entirety of the album is similar to Carpenter’s style of pop music and the last song featuring her seems like a nod to her impact toward making upbeat, sometimes surface-level but still fun, pop songs popular again. The snippet of the Eras tour show at the end of the song was also super emotional for the millions of fans who experienced the muse behind this album — the Eras tour…
and Travis Kelce, of course.
“Elizabeth Taylor” is the highest point of the album. The beat change and chorus are catchy, and showcase emotions past blissful happiness. It highlights her complicated relationship with the spotlight in the same way as the album “Reputation,” and it is the closest thing we have to a vault track from that album.
The lyric, “You’re only as hot as your last hit” in contrast with “I can’t have fun if I can’t have you,” describes this complicated relationship. She experiences scrutiny for the art she creates, but is addicted to sharing it to millions. The “Life of a Showgirl” is all she will
ever know.
Low points of the album take away from analysis of the intense life of an artist presented in “Elizabeth Taylor” and “The Life of a Showgirl.” Call me boring, but “Wood,”
“CANCELLED!” and “Eldest Daughter” are the lowest points.
CANCELLED!” uses buzz words to try and relate to the audience, but instead it makes a majority of us roll our eyes. She may of girlbossed too close to the sun on this one.
“Wood” is a love song for a specific body part of Kelce’s. Good for her, but it’s not soulcrushingly sad or even clever. If Swift didn’t set the expectations
of her previous songwriting so high, this would probably not be such a low point.
As the youngest daughter, maybe “Eldest Daughter” is just not for me. But hearing the word savage in a Swift song is a reality no one wants. It does live up to the track five theory Swifites have about that being her most raw and vulnerable track of each album with its bridge alone, though. If the entire song reflected that vulnerability, it would be a top contender.
The more you listen, even to the low points, the Swiftie Stockholm Syndrome kicks in and makes it worth listening.
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John Medina, Tribune News Service
Life of a Showgirl” concept came to life for Taylor Swift when she was performing three-hour shows for the Eras tour.
Friday, October 10, 2025
Meacham wants Cowboy players to ‘forge ahead’ and keep battling
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
In the midst of Oklahoma State’s struggles, interim head coach Doug Meacham’s message to his players applies to football but also to life outside of stadiums.
“There’s gonna be a lot of things in your life that don’t go your way,” Mecham said. “How are you gonna respond to it? It’s real easy to pull your hoodie over your face and put a towel over your face, and that’s what average people do… Our message is not to do that, because if you want to turn it around, if you want to get what
you want out of it, that’s the last thing you need to do.”
There hasn’t been a whole lot of fun in Stillwater this season. The Cowboys, 1-4, have lost four straight games, have suffered a 66-point loss and saw former coach Mike Gundy fired early in the season.
But as OSU prepares to host Houston (4-1) on Saturday at 11 a.m., Meacham is continuing to keep the spirits in the Cowboys’ locker room forward-thinking. OSU still has seven Big 12 Conference games left and is looking to win its first game in league play.
Jackson is Meacham’s Swiss-Army Knife, could play QB Saturday
Cayden Cox STAFF REPORTER
When Doug Meacham was in his second stint coaching at TCU, he saw something he liked in Sam Jackson V.
Even back at Naperville Central High School, the Cowboys’ SwissArmy Knife was the do-it-all guy.
“His high school film was unbelievable,” Meacham said. “He played receiver his 10th grade year, and played quarterback his junior year. He reminded me on tape of Trevone Boykin.”
Jackson ended up joining Meacham with the Horned Frogs in 2021 and
first showcased his athleticism against the same Oklahoma State team he now plays for.
In that Nov. 13, 2021, contest versus the Cowboys, Jackson made multiple highlight plays in the fourth quarter, including a 60-yard pass down the field that he made throwing on the run. He also turned a play destined for disaster into an 8-yard gain.
“He can make plays when they break down,” Meacham said. “Which the reality of football is about half of them do break down. He’s the guy that can (improvise) when things don’t go correct.”
Third-down struggles have plagued OSU offense
Will Thorogood STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State has struggled offensively this season, and the root cause of that has been the team’s struggles on third down. Through five games, the Cowboys are currently 27of-82, converting on 32.9% of third downs.
In the season opener against UT Martin, OSU went 10-of18 on third down and had an average of close to eight yards to gain on third downs. The biggest plays on third down with Hauss Hejny at quarterback were a 10-yard reception by Gavin Freeman and a six-yard touchdown run by Hejny to open the scoring on the Cowboys’ first drive. After Hejny’s injury, the biggest play on third down in that game with Zane Flores was a 41-yard pass to Terrill Davis in the third quarter. The Cowboys capped off that drive with a 39-yard field goal from Logan Ward.
See STRUGGLES on page 5B
Kayltyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Doug Meacham is looking to guide Oklahoma State to its first Big 12 Conference win of the season against Houston on Saturday.
See MEACHAM on page 5B
See JACKSON on page 2B
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
The Cowboys’ offense has struggled to extend drives all season and had one of its toughest outings of the season against Arizona.
Red River gives another reminder
The Big 12 needs more rivalries
Two former Big 12 Conference members will duke it out in Dallas on Saturday in a stadium almost equally divided between burnt orange and crimson.
It’s one of college football’s best feuds. It’s the Red River Rivalry. Oklahoma and Texas. Sooners and Longhorns. A longstanding series in which border rivals battle for yearly bragging rights and a big ole golden cowboy hat that goes to the winner each year.
But with OU and Texas now representing the SEC, Saturday’s game can serve as a reminder.
Oklahoma State and several Big 12 schools need a yearly rival in this revamped Big 12. A game that each school and its fans can get crazy about each season, regardless of the way their seasons have gone. These games are what make college sports unique and would help the league reshape itself in a time when it feels disjointed.
Currently, the 16-team Big 12 has four annual rivalry games. They’re exciting and always something to look forward to.
But if you’re OSU, Texas Tech, UCF, Cincinnati, Colorado, Houston, West Virginia or Iowa State, you don’t have one conference rivalry game to look forward to annually. That’s not good for the league, for several reasons.
Rivalry games are great because they give teams something to play for, even if their season hasn’t gone well.
Use OSU as an example.
The Cowboys are 1-4 and don’t have much momentum for an in-season turnaround. But if OSU had a dedicated rivalry
game coming to Stillwater, fans would pack Boone Pickens Stadium and look forward to the matchup, hoping to see their team pull off a win, the same way Bedlam against OU used to.
Even if the game wasn’t in Stillwater, fans would still be more inclined to travel or turn on their TVs and cheer a bit harder in a game that holds more weight.
Rivalry games would also just add some juice to the Big 12 schedule for players, assuring them they have a couple of matchups to circle on their calendar.
The conference won’t be able to create its own Red River Showdown, but that’s not necessary. The league just needs more big games before the conference championship and the College Football Playoff kickoff.
The league already has some great ones, too — Baylor and TCU in The Bluebonnet Battle, Kansas and Kansas State in the Sunflower Showdown and BYU and Utah in The Holy War.
Those are all great for the conference, but there are even more opportunities for the league.
For a nine-game conference
schedule, the Big 12 could simply give each team two rivals it plays each year and alternate home-and-home with seven other teams for a set period of time. Or it could adopt a different format that would protect current rivalry games and set new ones that should be played. More big games. More energy in the regular season. Why shouldn’t OSU and Iowa State face off each season? Those two schools have played several meaningful games over the years. Or why not Baylor and Houston? They are in close proximity and were old Southwest Conference foes. What about Kansas and Colorado? Two schools that used to go at it in the Big 12 North.
Continued from 1
Throughout his collegiate career, Jackson has played quarterback at TCU and Cal, and wide receiver at Auburn; now, in his senior season at OSU, he’s playing both.
Jackson has played the jack-of-alltrades role since the first game season. Against UT-Martin. He returned the opening kick of the season, lined up at receiver and looked to pass the ball on a designed bootleg.
Meacham knew, even if Jackson wasn’t throwing the ball, there were ways for him to cause opposing defenses to panic.
“I always thought if it wasn’t quarterback, he could be a corner, receiver or return guy,” Meacham said. “He has that other element that you have to defend. He can take off and make people miss.”
In the Cowboys’ first game with Meacham as the interim head coach, Jackson did it all. He threw the ball, he ran with it, and he caught it. He also added a touchdown pass to Josh Ford.
“He’s a versatile player,” Ford said. “He can do it all. It’s really cool having him on (the offensive) side of the ball.”
Several times versus the Bears, Jackson lined up in what many would refer to as the Wildcat formation. However, Meacham believes that term should be used loosely when Jackson is under center.
“When you say Wildcat, it’s really not correct,” Meacham said. “He’s not a Wildcat guy. He’s a quarterback playing receiver, so that’s a great pet to have.”
As the season has progressed, Jackson has started to throw the ball more. He attempted one pass against Tulsa, then threw four against the Bears. That number grew to
The list could go on and on. There are several possibilities for the Big 12 to create big games and fire up fanbases throughout its season; it just needs to do it. Saturday’s Red River matchup with the Sooners and the Longhorns should be the latest reminder to Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark that his league needs more meaningful regular season games.
sports.ed@ocolly.com
six against Arizona, as Jackson has taken on bigger roles in specialized packages.
“The little package he had, it was pretty condensed and specialized,” Meacham said. “Now, he’ll do actual quarterback stuff. He’ll have a base package, not just a ‘Sam package.’”
With Zane Flores leaving the Cowboys’ matchup versus Arizona with an upper-body injury, and Hauss Hejny still out with a broken foot, Jackson has begun to shift back to doing more preparation for the quarterback role ahead of the Cowboys’ game against Houston for the scenario in which OSU needs him to play there.
In weeks past, Jackson has stuck with his special teams and wide receiver meetings, but this week, he started meeting with the quarterbacks also.
“Previously he was just special teams, and he’d go to the wide receiver meeting,” Meacham said. “In the past two weeks, he and I met on the side. Now, it’s full blown, coach Johns has him, they do all their extra quarterback meetings. He’s sitting in that room now.”
Against the Wildcats, Jackson had a drive where he played as a fullblown quarterback, lining up with no gloves on, whereas when he ran the “specialized Sam package,” he was wearing his receiver gloves.
Meacham doesn’t think a transition back to quarterback would phase Jackson.
“He’s 22 years old,” Meacham said. “He’s been through a lot. I don’t think he really flinches at this type of stuff. I think he just appreciates the opportunity to go out there and help the football team, playing a position I’m sure he loved.”
Meacham is excited to see what Jackson can continue to do, whether it’s behind center or at wide receiver.
“It’ll be interesting to see,” Meacham said.
Shafkat Anowar, Tribune News Service
Saturday’s Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas is one of college football’s best rivalry games and used to belong to the Big 12.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
OSU wide receiver Sam Jackson V has thrown 11 passes this season.
Parker Gerl CO-EDITOR-
Running back Rodney Fields Jr. takes a rush outside.
Wide receiver Gavin Freeman runs the ball.
Zane Flores keeps the ball and looks to pick up positive yardage.
Wes Pahl punts the ball to the Wildcats during a game at Arizona stadium.
Wide receiver Sam Jackson V tries to avoid a sack while playing quarterback.
Banks Bowen is chased down and tackled by an Arizona defender.
Wide receiver Terrill Davis tries to avoid an Arizona defender.
Kaytlyn Hayes, the o’colly
Wooten poised to be OSU’s lead guard
Cayden Cox STAFF REPORTER
Being the point guard on a Jacie Hoyt-led team comes with a ton of expectations.
After all, the Cowgirls’ coach was a point guard at Wichita State, so she sees the game through that point of view.
“We put a lot of expectations on our point guards here,” Hoyt said. “I was a point guard. I see that game through that lens, and so I put a lot of expectations on our point guards.”
This season, Jadyn Wooten steps into the role of leading the Cowgirls.
During her freshman season, Wooten came off the bench in all 30 games she appeared in. Playing behind experienced guards like Alexia Smith, Anna Gret Asi and Micah Gray, Wooten had to force her way into the rotation, but made the most of her opportunity.
Wooten’s passing ability was one thing that resonated with her teammates last season, even impressing seniors such as Asi.
“Her passing is like one of the greatest I’ve ever seen,” Asi said of Wooten last season.
She also showcased her ability to take over games, including leading the comeback against then-No. 9 TCU.
Against the Horned Frogs, the Cowgirls entered the locker room trailing by 15. When OSU came back onto the court, Wooten made her mark on the game. She led the Cowgirl surge in the fourth quarter, scoring 10 points in the quarter, including a pullup mid-range jumper that tied
the score. On the following Cowgirl possession, she drew a double team, as she drove inside and kicked the ball out to a wide-open Stailee Heard, who drilled the go-ahead 3-pointer.
In a limited role as a freshman, Wooten impressed her teammates and coaches.
Now with another offseason under her belt, Hoyt is seeing the Cowgirls’ point guard
blossom as a leader.
Wooten’s work ethic, development and consistency are something Hoyt sees in her point guard and is impressed by.
“She’s really impressed me with her ability to show up and just be the same every day,” Hoyt said. “She understands getting people in their spots and doing her job herself.”
The point guards for the Cowgirls include Wooten as well as Amari Whiting. In the offseason, Hoyt was impressed by how well Wooten played alongside Whiting.
“Watching (Wooten) and Amari Whiting, I think they are both incredible playing with each other,” Hoyt said. “They can play off each other, but that’s certainly an expectation that we have.”
Leadership is something Hoyt likes to see out of her team, and is thankful that her point guard naturally showcases it.
“Your point guards are the coaches on the court,” Hoyt said. “They’re the floor generals, It’s definitely a bonus when you don’t have to pry (leadership) out of your point guards.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Cowgirl golf finishes fifth at Prarie Dunes Inivitational
OSU Cowgirl Golf (X)
Gina Foster STAFF REPORTER
The Cowgirl golf team concluded its third tournament of the fall in fifth place at the Prairie Dunes Invitational in Hutchinson, Kansas this past weekend.
Oklahoma State finished 13 shots behind the Florida Gators, who won the tournament at the par-70 Prairie Dunes Country Club. OSU has placed in the top five in each of the tournaments. With one remaining in a couple of weeks, the Cowgirls will go for a top-five sweep.
Marta Silchenko led the Cowgirls with a 4-over finish to tie for fourth place. She carded two rounds of 72 for her second top-10 finish in the fall.
Summer Lee carded a 74 and 71 to tie for 12th with a 5-over score.
Ellie Bushnell finished 6-over for 36 holes to tie for 19th. She carded a 71 and 75.
Grace Kilcrease and Tarapath Panya tied for 34th at 11-over. Kilcrease shot a 78 and 73. Payna, who competed as an individual, carded a 76 and 75.
Sammie Miller rounds out the scores for the Cowgirls with a 29-over for a solo 77th place. She carded rounds of 86 and 83 in her season debut.
The Cowgirls conclude their season Oct. 17-19 at the Stanford Intercollegiate tournament in Palo Alto, California.
Cowgirls on the Leaderboard
T4. Marta Silchenko (+4) – 72-72—144
T12. Summer Lee (+5) – 74-71—145
T19. Ellie Bushnell (+6) – 71-75—146
T34. Grace Kilcrease (+11) – 78-73—151
T34. Tarapath Panya* (+11) – 76-75—151
77. Sammie Miller (+29) – 86-83—169
* - competed as an individual
Final Team Standings
1. Florida (+13) – 287-286—573
T2. Eastern Michigan (+20) – 298-282—580
T2. Kansas State (+20) – 290-290—580
4. Baylor (+25) – 289-296—585
5. Oklahoma State (+26) – 295-291—586
6. Oklahoma (+34) – 300-294—594
7. Tulsa (+37) – 302-295—597
8. Sam Houston (+43) – 301-302—603
9. Wichita State (+56) – 316-300—616
T10. Abilene Christian (+59) – 310-309—619
T10. Iowa (+59) – 312-307—619
12. Nebraska (+60) – 307-313—620
13. North Texas (+64) – 316-308—624
14. Oral Roberts (+69) – 323-306—629
sports.ed@ocolly.com
OSU freshman Marta Silchenko led the Cowgirls with a 4-over finish at the Prarie Dunes Invitational.
Connor Fuxa, The O’Colly
Jadyn Wooten’s playmaking ability and experience have her in position to
OSU’s lead creator on offense.
Meacham was asked Monday at a news conference how he’s balanced trying to win football games and keeping players bought in during the recent chaos. To Meacham, those things go hand in hand.
“Winning is (priority) number one,” Meacham said. “We’re in the business of winning, period. So, you want to win, but I know that if you do the first thing I was talking about, then you’re never going to win. You have no choice.”
The Cougars enter Saturday’s game coming off a 35-11 loss to No. 9 Texas Tech. It will be UH’s first road conference game of the season.
UH quarterback Conner Weigman suffered a concussion against the Red Raiders, but the Houston Chronicle’s Joseph Duarte reported Wednesday that Weigman returned to practice and is on track to play in Stillwater. Weigman, who has completed 59.3% of his passes, has been a key part of the Cougars’ 4-1 start.
Defensively, OSU has been the worst in the Big 12 in multiple categories, including points per game and touchdowns allowed. But Houston’s 27.2 points per game is the lowest the Cowboys will have faced in conference play so far.
Offensively, the Cowboys will need to be cautious, as the Cougars’ defense has forced
the most fumbles in the Big 12 (nine) and is in the top half of the league with five interceptions.
“(UH has) done a good job kind of galvanizing those guys,” Meacham said. “I think they’re good at what they do. I don’t think they try to fool you with a bunch of stuff. …I think they’re in the right spots, and they play really hard. And I think numerically, they’re up there in a lot of categories.”
How do OSU players want to be remembered by their teammates when times were tough?
As the Cowboys look to snap their four-game skid during times of frustration, Meacham is pushing his players to put the team over themselves. His message is simple:
OSU took a big drop in its thirddown performance when facing Oregon a week later, going 4-of-16 on third down with an average of about seven yards to gain. The biggest play on third down that game was a 35-yard reception by Christian Fitzpatrick following a false start penalty. That drive ended with the Cowboys scoring their only points on a 23-yard field goal from Ward. OSU ran the ball eight times on third down against the Ducks, converting only twice in those scenarios.
The Tulsa game was fairly similar as the Cowboys had a performance of 4-of-15 on third downs, averaging about 10 yards left to be gained. The biggest third-down play for OSU was the 32 yards gained on the lateral from Fitzpatrick to Freeman on the final play that sealed the first win in Stillwater for the Golden Hurricane since 1951. Apart from that play, another big gain on third down for the Cowboys in that game was a 15yard reception by Fitzpatrick in the second quarter.
The third-down offense slightly improved in the Big 12 opener against Baylor, going 6-of-16 along with an average of about eight yards to be gained on third downs. On third-
and-14 at the beginning of the second quarter, OSU had a 30-yard rushing touchdown by Flores nullified by a holding penalty on Freeman. That drive resulted in a 39-yard field goal by Ward, even though the Cowboys had a shorter third down despite the penalty.
A positive on third down from that game was when Flores completed a 12-yard pass to Royal Capell, a 5-yard pass to Sam Jackson V and rushed for seven yards on three separate third downs. All of those plays occurred on the first scoring drive of the game for OSU.
The spark on third down was nowhere to be found the following week by the OSU offense, finishing 3-of-17 on third down against Arizona. In addition to an average of about nine yards left to be gained. The third-down conversions were all done with three different players under center for the Cowboys.
Jackson completed an 18-yard pass to Freeman, Flores threw a 25-yard pass to Davis and Banks Bowen took a quarterback keeper for 12 yards. So, how does OSU plan to get past these struggles? Interim head coach Doug Meacham wants to create more openings.
“We gotta do better with our skill players,” Meacham said. “Put them in better positions and hopefully we can do that this week (against Houston).”
“Ten years from now, you come back for a reunion, and you look at all of your exteammates, and they’re going to go, ‘That’s the guy that quit, that’s complaining in the locker room,’” Meacham said. “Or (they’ll say), ‘He was all in. …I love that guy.’
“It’s really easy to be a complainer and whatever, but if you want to grow up and learn lessons, it’s stare it in the eye and forge ahead and figure out what to do to win.”
sports.ed@ocolly.com
Fields, Cowboys want to be ‘foxhole guys’ for OSU
Weston Wertzberger STAFF REPORTER
Oklahoma State’s game against Arizona this past weekend was a meaningful moment for cornerback LaDainian Fields.
For the first four games of the season, the freshman learned from the sidelines, hoping to hear his name called soon. When the Cowboys (1-4, 0-2) were on the road last week against Arizona, the coaches gave him the green light — and he made the most of it.
“When they called my number, I was nothing but excited,” Fields said. “It was great, I wanted to go out there and show what I can do, prove to my teammates that I had their back and just wanted to win.”
Fields delivered on that goal, recording his first interception and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of OSU’s 41-13 loss.
Now that the freshman has his first big moment behind him, he carries a boost of energy and valuable experience into Saturday’s home matchup against Houston (4-1, 1-1).
“It does give me a lot of confidence heading into this week,” Fields said. “We have a home game, so now I hopefully get to showcase back at home what I can do. So, it definitely gives me a lot of confidence heading into this week.”
OSU interim head coach Doug Meacham said one of the biggest focuses amid the Cowboys’ early-season struggles has been finding “foxhole guys” — players who step up when things don’t go right.
“I’ve heard (Noah McKinney) at practice being vocal at times,” Meacham said. “And in this day and age, kids, that’s not really their thing. Everybody wants to kind of fade in the paint and just kind of not be that guy. So when someone does become a leader, someone is vocal, and they step out, you really appreciate it.”
Meacham also pointed out several players who made the most of their opportunities in Tucson. Safety Mordecai McDaniel led the team with 10 tackles, while cornerback Raymond Gay II recorded two solo tackles — his first of the season.
That next-man-up mentality hasn’t been limited to defense. On special teams, two newcomers have taken significant steps, with long snapper Aiden Davenport and kicker Gabe Panikowski seeing action in recent weeks.
“There were a lot of guys who stepped up who hadn’t played much and good for them,” Meacham said. “Strength in numbers, you get your moment, get in there and make it happen and some of those guys did that.”
Payton Little, The O’Colly
OSU interim head coach Doug Meacham wants Cowboy players to continue to battle and be ‘all-in’ for each other.
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
Cornerback LaDanian Fields said he wants to have his teammates’ backs.
Laken Chambers, The O’Colly Shamar Rigby and OSU skill players are trying to help OSU improve on third down.
our best from OSU vs BYU Soccer
Midfielder/Wingback Taryn
Daisy Gower, The O’Colly
Cowgirl Soccer celebrating after a goal against BYU at Neal Patterson Stadium.
Daisy Gower, The O’Colly Cowgirl Soccer forward Reganne Morris running for the ball.
Teaguen Harbour, The O’Colly
Thibeau fights for control over the ball.
Daisy Gower, The O’Colly Chloe Joseph defender running past a BYU player.
Daisy Gower, The O’Colly
Katelyn Hoppers runs for the ball.
Teaguen Harbour, The O’Colly Foward player Madi Asel (right) sets up forward player Reganne Morris (left).
Teaguen Harbour, The O’Colly Defender Chloé Joseph sets up a pass for a teammate against BYU.
Teaguen Harbour, The O’Colly Taryn Thibeau battles for the ball against a BYU defender.
Daisy Gower, The O’Colly
Ellie Geoffroy waving to the crowd before the game.
Week 7 Games
OSU vs.
Houston (33-10)
The o’colly sports picks
ABOUT OUR GUEST PICKER:
Mason Young covers Oklahoma Sooners sports for Tulsa World and is an AP Top 25 voter. Young graduated from OU and wrote for OU Daily.
CAYDEN COX
In order for OSU to beat Houston, the offense needs to get ahead of the sticks. The Cowboys’ offense has struggled on third downs this season, and a big part of that is because it gets behind on first and second down. This week OSU faces a Houston defense that has only allowed opponents to convert on 33% of third downs. If OSU has any shot at beating the Cougars, having positive plays on first and second down will be key.
WHAT’S THE KEY TO OSU BEATING TO HOUSTON?
PARKER GERL
OSU’s defense needs to limit explosive plays. The Cowboys have given up 40 points three times this season and are the worst defense in the Big 12. It’s tough to expect OSU’s defense to be great for four quarters, but if it can do better on giving up chunk plays, the Cowboys will give themselves a better chance to win.
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Parker Gerl Weston Wertzberger
Sam Mitchell
Luke Mazza
Cayden Cox
Mason Young
Throughout his tenure as a head coach, Willie Fritz has put an emphasis on having a strong rushing attack. That again rings true for Houston this year. When Connors has found success, so has the UH offense. In two of UH’s first three games, Connors rushed for over 4 yards a carry and scored. However, in the Cougars last two games, Connors has only managed 84 rushing yards and the Cougars offense has struggled. With a question mark at quarterback this week, Connors could again be the engine for the UH offense.
Players to Watch: OSU vs HOuston
Dean Connors, RB Eddie Hayes III,
DE
3 STORYLINES
Does OSU find success on third down?
Wes Pahl has done a lot of punting for the Cowboys this season. The Cowboys’ punter has punted 28 times in the last four games, a big reason why Pahl is seeing the field often is that OSU ranks 122nd of 134 FBS teams in third-down conversions. The Cowboys have only 32.9% converted of their third downs. That number drops to 27% in Big 12 games. Having big gains on first and second down could be key for an OSU offense that is struggling converting third downs.
Who will play quarterback for OSU?
Zane Flores left the Cowboys’ game against Arizona with an upper body injury.
V and Banks
Doug
took over for
Flores is
not going to participate this week.”
as a wide receiver but was previously a college quarterback and has thrown 11 passes this season in different packages.
Advertising Executives Needed
The O’Colly Media Group at OSU is now taking applications for advertising executives to work in our expanding Media operation. Duties include contacting clients and providing them with advertising options for print editions, online editions, special editions and advertising bundle specials. Applicants should be able to work office hours and meet clients at their businesses. Salary includes base pay, commission and bonuses. To apply come to room 106 in the Paul Miller Journalism office or email Lori@ocolly.com
Hayes has transitioned to the Power Four level well after spending last season at Florida International. He has stepped in as a playmaker for the Cougars’ defense. He currently leads the Cougar defense in tackles for loss and is second in quarterback pressures. The UH defense has struggled putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks this year, but Hayes has showcased a strength in getting to them. With the Cowboys likely running with a new face behind center, watch for Hayes to make his way into the OSU backfield.
Will OSU continue to get tackles for loss?
One bright spot for a Cowboys’ defense that has given up an average of 536 yards in its last four games is its ability to get sacks and tackles for loss. Wendell Gregory has swarmed the opposing backfields, already recording 10.5 TFL’s. The Cowboys found their way into Arizona’s backfield, sacking Noah Fifita six times and stopping the Wildcats behind the line of scrimmage 11 times. This week, OSU faces a Houston offensive line that has struggled keeping its quarterback upright at times. Living in the Cougars’ backfield could provide a struggling OSU defense with a spark.
Courtesy UH Athletics
Sam Jackson
Bowen
Flores. Coach
Meacham said
“probably
Jackson joined OSU
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
Kaytlyn Hayes, The O’Colly
Chance Marick, The O’Colly
Courtesy UH Athletics
Outside linebacker Wendell Gregory
Quarterback Banks Bowen
Running back Freddie Brock IV