Rudolph relishes second cover shot
STILLWATER – Mason Rudolph made the cover of Sports Illustrated over the summer. It played well, not only in Stillwater, but also back home in Rock Hill, S.C.
Not as well, however, as the Cowboys quarterback’s latest cover shot: FCA Magazine.
Rudolph is out front in the November issue of national monthly magazine for Fellowship of Christian Athletes, featured in the cover story: “Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph Headlines the Annual Christ-Following College Football Profiles.”
Rudolph, long involved with FCA in Stillwater, said he jumped at the opportunity when presented by John Talley, the FCA rep for OSU.
“I was like, ‘Heck yeah,’” he said. “I know my family will think that’s cooler than the Sports Illustrated thing.
“I did the interview and enjoyed the people at FCA. I’ve always been kind of linked in, whether it was John or with my grandpa, who was a regional director in northern Virginia. It was an honor to be on the cover and talk to those guys at FCA.”
Gundy goes home, as visitor
Mike Gundy starred at Midwest City High back in the mid-1980s, leading the Bombers to a state championship.
Locally there, he’s a legend. Still, it wasn’t the same last week, when Gundy returned to Rose Field, where he played so many games, to watch his son Gunnar quarterback Stillwater High against Midwest City.
“I had never been on the visitor side, never even been in the stands,” Gundy said. “It was so foreign to me. A lot of buddies I grew up with came to the game. And my head coach, Dick Evans, was there, came up and came to sit with me on the other side. He and I spent some time together, and it was funny that he had never been over there either in the stands.
“So there was probably six or eight former players ranging from 55-years old to 40-years old, and we were all on the other side. And the head coach was there and the press box is named for him. It was a neat deal.”
Quotable
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell on Rudolph’s size and passing ability:
“He’s like the robo-quarterback, a little bit, in how he looks. How he throws his deep ball is as good as anybody I’ve seen consistently throw the deep ball – which is fascinating to me.”
Cowboys appreciate Cyclones’ Lanning
Joel Lanning has emerged as one of college football’s feel-good stories, a former quarterback who moved to middle linebacker and now plays some on both sides of the ball.
The Cowboys, who previously had their troubles handling Lanning the quarterback, now recognize how well he’s played on defense, ranking second in the Big 12 in tackles.
“To be able to do all he does, that’s really remarkable,” said OSU offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich. “He’s got to be a really smart kid. Just the leadership qualities, and he’s obviously important to that team.
“That’s what you look for when you’re out recruiting, that guy who’s able to do all those things and give you all he’s got.”