Boone makes his presence felt
STILLWATER — The Cowboys returned to Boone Pickens Stadium on Thursday night.
Boone was there, too, although not in full pregame form, as he continues to recover from health issues he reported himself this summer.
Pickens had become known for holding a sort of State of the State address in the lead-up to kickoff before OSU’s home openers. They were always lively and sometimes harsh when it came to Cowboys coach
Mike Gundy, with Pickens pointing out Gundy’s struggles against Oklahoma.
In lieu of his pregame address to ring in 2017, Pickens provided a statement, one that even threw some fondness the coach’s way.
The highlights:
“To me, the little gaggle with the press was very personal. It was something I looked forward to every year. It was a chance for me to opine my deep love for Oklahoma State and display my inherent competitive spirit. Oh, I do like to win.”
“While I am making progress, my recovery from a Texas-size fall earlier this summer is taking longer than I had hoped. I continue to work with my speech coach. She’s wonderful and I’m optimistic that my speech will fully return, but I don’t want to frustrate myself … or you.”
“I have such a great feeling about our football team this year and our chances to win a national championship. Mike Gundy is building a great program. And it is a program that achieves a goal of mine – play by the rules. You don’t have to cheat to win. I’ve gotten to know Mason
Rudolph. He’s a great team leader, and I know he will have a Heisman season. I wish the very best to Coach Gundy and the team who share my dream of hoisting yet another Big 12 championship trophy and salivate at the prospects of hoisting the College Football Championship trophy.
“My health is improving, but in reality, it is going to be tough for me to do what I’ve done for more than a decade … and that’s make every home game.
“But know this: when I’m absent physically, I’m still leaving all my heart on the field.
“Go Pokes.”
OSU-TULSA A SELLOUT
With a crowd of 56,790, Boone Pickens Stadium was officially announced as sold out.
And yet, the total doesn’t rank among OSU’s top-10 home crowds.
OSU’s move this season to wider seats in some areas, reduced capacity in the stadium. The last sellout — 60,218 for Baylor in 2013 — set the school’s all-time attendance record.
PETE, WITH LEGS
Pistol Pete has become a popular play for OSU’s varied helmet decal choices.
Phantom Pete. Chrome Pete. Big-head Pete.
Thursday night, it was all Pete, literally; in all his old-school flair, chaps and spurs and holstered six-shooters.
HOOPS HAPPENINGS, TOO
The night was clearly about football, with a season opener amid great expectations.
There was good weather. Good vibes immediately, too, with the Cowboys racing to a 21-0 lead through three possessions.
Good hoops, happenings, too.
Cowboys basketball
alums Markel Brown, Michael Cobbins and Jawun Evans made a sideline appearance. And two of the state’s top future recruits – Tulsa Washington’s Bryce Thompson and Putnam City West’s Rondel
Walker – were expected for unofficial visits. Both are prospects for the 2020 class. And both are holding OSU offers.
HEANEY FLIES COWBOYS LOVE
The Los Angeles Angels were headed to Arlington on Thursday for their weekend series against the Texas Rangers.
Before taking off on the team jet, former Cowboys standout pitcher Andrew
Heaney tweeted out a picture of himself in a James
Washington jersey, guns up, with the comment:
“Can’t get off this plane fast enough! Gotta catch the opener! Go Pokes!”
EXTRA POINTS
•OSU’s captains for the opener: Rudolph, Washington, Chad Whitener and Kirk Tucker.
•The Cowboys now own a 40-27-5 edge in the series and are 25-6-3 in games played in Stillwater.
•OSU has now won six straight in the series, dating back to 1999.
•The only school OSU has faced more than Tulsa is another in-state rival: Oklahoma. For Tulsa, Oklahoma State and Arkansas are now tied for its longest series.