OSU-Missouri Chat, 2 p.m. today
OSU vs. Texas A&M live blog, 6 p.m. today
cross country, anyone?
I just finished writing an article that I really hope doesn’t get lost in the shuffle of a football Saturday. The story is about cross country runner German Fernandez, a freshman who’s about to run his first race for OSU. The kid’s unbelievable, all kinds of national awards and records, but here’s my favorite (and please, keep in mind I’m a former mediocre cross country/track runner who’s amazed by these types of things): Last year at the California state meet, the guy went out and ran a four-minute mile, which broke the state record (and keep in mind we’re talking about a pretty competitive running state). Then, TWO HOURS LATER, he went out and shattered the national record in the 3,200. Ridiculous.
I enjoyed chatting with him the other day, along with cross country coach Dave Smith, who has a pretty impressive team this year (they’re currently ranked No. 2 behind Oregon). To put in perspective just how good this team is, they return their top 4 from a team that finished 3rd at NCAAs last year, they add Fernandez and another top recruit in Texan Colby Lowe, and the guy who was the leading scorer at the SEC indoor meet last winter transferred in. So yeah, OSU men’s cross country should be pretty good this year.
by andrea cohen
You! Are you registered to vote!?
After practice and training table, OSU football players head to tutoring sessions by cutting across Gallagher-Iba Arena to the academic center. On Tuesday night they — and a bunch of other OSU athletes — were cut off at the pass by a civic-minded soccer player.
Yolanda Odenyo, the star of the soccer team, headed a little event to get athletes registered to vote. Odenyo, ironically, isn’t a U.S. citizen and can’t vote. That didn’t stop her from spotting people and asking over a microphone if they were registered to vote. For backup she had Monica Dudley, who teaches in the political science department and tutors athletes and was more than happy to explain to everyone why they should vote. But Odenyo was in charge of catching people’s attention.
“Jones!” she bellowed at Richetti Jones. “Are you registered to vote?”
He wasn’t, but now he is. Odenyo didn’t have a final count of how many athletes registered Tuesday, but by my count at least 20 or 25 stopped and filled out the forms (stars among them? Andrea Riley and Kendall Hunter).
by andrea cohen
No Pettigrew and other thoughts
Brandon Pettigrew isn’t playing on that bum ankle, relegated to spectator status.
On that topic, Boone Pickens Stadium is definitely more filled than it was against Houston. No attendance announcement yet, but it looks like it could be in the neighborhood of the record, 51,458.
Mike Gundy didn’t waste any time ending Dez Bryant’s catchless streak at one game. OSU’s first offensive play of the game was a pass to the sophomore standout. He has 48 yards on four catches so far. Meanwhile Kendall Hunter has 39 yards on the ground on nine carries. Each has a touchdown as the Cowboys lead 14-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Just when you thought …
Just as OSU had pulled within two at 16-14, Houston broke off a long touchdown.
But it’s coming back! An illegal formation brings back the TD by the Cougs. Now on the Houston 18.
Houston, we have a problem
The Cougars missed the PAT, but now lead 16-7.
OSU trying to use one-two punch of Tosten and Hunter to get back in it.
Artrell Woods out.
Artrell Woods, who came back from a nearly paralyzing injury last summer to start again for the Oklahoma State Cowboys, has left Saturday’s game against Houston with an injury.
Woods injured his leg early in the game. The OSU radio broadcast reported he would not return.
just saying
Last week Houston held Southern to 35 yards rushing. On OSU’s first carry of the game Kendall Hunter took it 58 yards for the TD.
-andrea cohen
