Comments on: Looking for the Oklahoma State fan’s perspective

By: Clint Davison

Clint Davison — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 18:55:10 +0000

Gina,
Thanks for asking for input. I understand this is your first year in among the Cowboy nation and I appreciate your desire to try and “get it” about what’s so special about this season.
Where do I start? I’m 42 years old, I attended Oklahoma State from 1987-1991 (attended…not graduated, sorry to say), and have been in Idaho for nearly six years – Boise State territory! I became an OSU fan after growing up in a household and extended family of crimson-blooded OU fans. When I was a sophomore in high school, I began to tire of the gunshots going off and the stories of crack sales in Norman. Consequently, at the same time, a freshman running back named Thurman Thomas was running up some nice totals in Stillwater. I began to pay attention to the orange and black, and in less than a full season, my allegiances switched.
I say all that to let you know that, other than just observing the Terry Miller years, I have been with the Pokes through the modern era’s “best of times and the worst of times.”
I remember the Ice Bowl in ’85 when Thurman couldn’t be stopped; but, unfortunately, neither could Jamelle Holieway. I remember the breakout game for Barry Sanders when A&M and the Wrecking Crew defense came into Lewis Field and were promptly shredded by #21. Those were good days, fun days.
However, there is also the heartbreak of Brent Parker dropping Gundy’s pass in the end zone in ’88. The cheap last-second field goal by Gary Gibbs team in ’92 was another dagger. Alas, there have been too many.
However, in my time as a fan, there is nothing to compare to the ’88-’92 Probation Years. 1991 was my last year to live in Stillwater – the 0-10-1 year. That was the year we gave the ball to Rafael Denson as often as possible and he was like, 5’6″, 160. We sat in the stands in stunned silence when Colorado went for the fake field goal that everyone in the stadium except Pat Jones saw coming. We cheered as a miserable crowd against KU when we got our first 1st down of the game…in the 3rd quarter…on a penalty! Over those four or five seasons, we saw our Pokes get thrashed at Ohio State, crushed at Florida, and humiliated by both Miami and Michigan. And I haven’t even addressed the in-conference spankings that came week after week.
Then…on November 11th, 1995, there was a glimmer. Our beloved Cowboys strolled into Norman and walked out with a 12-0 shutout. Never mind OU ended the season 5-5-1, it was a sign of things to come…sort of. (By the way, I got married five weeks after that game and my Mom made my Groom’s cake – a football field with a big scoreboard reading OU – 0, Visitor – 12! Priceless!)
For a while we thought Bob Simmons was AN answer…and he did a nice job for us. Then, the Mad Hatter comes along and steals a couple from Stoops, two great ones mind you: Fields to Woods in the corner in Norman in 2001 and the Rashaun Woods highlight reel in 2002. Then, when Miles basically leaves the program at halftime of the Alamo Bowl in 2004, the hometown kid was hired. Gundy was back. There were skeptics to be sure. But, when TBP bought in, the change was on. Many of us thought 2009 was “The Year” – until the NCAA destroyed Dez Bryant’s college career because he lied! (What if he’d have gone to Ohio St. or LSU? They’d have given him a medal for JUST being a liar!) Last season was nice. 11 wins was a gigantic landmark!
But, (deep breath), this year just feels different. It seems real. It seems possible! Our ‘Boys have some swagga’ – some confidence – even, dare I say, a little chip on their collective shoulder. And as a longtime fan – even from 2000 miles away – it is absolutely exhilarating! To hear my Cowboys mentioned in Heisman conversations, coach of the year talk, and so many other areas of accolade is surreal. To see my (our) Pokes sitting at #3, Lord willing soon to be #2, makes all the heartbreak, all the dropped passes, all the series after series of three-and-outs all seem to be forgotten.
Will I be disappointed if we don’t make it to the championship game? Yeah – kind of. But, that in and of itself should tell the whole story of what it means to be an Oklahoma State fan today. Ride, ride, ride, ride, RIDE ON COWBOYS!!
Pistols Firing!

Thanks Gina,
Clint Davison
Meridian, ID

By: Amarillo

Amarillo — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 22:10:28 +0000

I am the son and grandson of OSU graduates. I have followed OSU football when the Prudential score show would come on and I could find out whether or not the Pokes won that afternoon. I am seeing more OSU clothes being worn in Amarillo than ever before. I am trying to believe wholly but still have a few private nervous thoughts. It has never been a better time to be a Cowboy, that is for sure.

By: Rick Back

Rick Back — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:33:11 +0000

I began following OSU football as a 1961 Freshman in Stillwater. After graduation I would keep up with the team by subscribing to The Oklahoman, even while at a remote radar site in Korea. After that, when the games were in progress, I would tune to radio stations for a score. They would read the in-progress and final scores of most teams nation-wide, so I’d have to wait until they got to OSU and that could take awhile. Sometimes I would try to pick up the game live from a distant radio station, and usually there was more static than content. Or, I would stand in my garage, holding a radio up to my ear and turn it in different directions for clarity. I would even drive miles from home in order to listen on my car radio from the top of a hill where the reception was better. So now, in 2011, I can see most games on TV or listen to the play-by-play via computer. I live in New Orleans so, hopefully, the Pokes will be here for the National Championship game. It will be very satisfying to see Cowboys fans enjoying themselves in the French Quarter!

By: John

John — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 05:27:54 +0000

I’ve lived in Stillwater my whole life. I am now a junior at OSU. I first started out as an OSU basketball fan. I didn’t care much for football at all. But the year OSU went to the Cotton Bowl (against Ole Miss…the first time) I started paying attention to the football. So the lowest low I’ve seen is the 2005 season.
When I was looking at colleges my senior year of high school OSU was 6-1. A week after losing to Texas, I was in Illinois on a college visit and I went into the interview and all we talked about was OSU’s football team.
Since then it’s just been a great run. Now all I can hope for is a win over OU (after K-State, Tech, and Iowa State of course). Go pokes!

By: Syed Ali Abedi

Syed Ali Abedi — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:54:22 +0000

I have been following Cowboys since 1969,when I came to America to go to school.It took couple of years to understand the intricacies of football and I was hooked.
The best year while I was in USA was 1976,we beat Oklahoma
and were tied for Big8 title. After I left USA it was an ordeal following the Cowboys.Subscribing to International Herald tribune,which only gave scores of the games,then switched to USA today,which had more details but not enough to satisfy a die hard fan.Following ’88 season was exciting because we were more in news,Sanders winning the Heismanm.
Then came the net,now I can follow the Cowboys just like all the fans do back in Oklahoma.I read NewsOk everday I suscribe to one of the paid sites,and I have all-access
on Okstate.com.I listen to all the games even though the hours are very inconvinient sometimes 5 in the morning,like Saturdays game with Kstate. But I dont care,the thing I miss
the most is discussing the games with anyone else,I dont know another Cowboys fan in Karachi
another Cowboy fan in Karachi

By: Daily Bullets | Pistols Firing

Daily Bullets | Pistols Firing — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:08:59 +0000

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