Category Archives: Oklahoma State University

Apr 18 2013
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College Football, Oklahoma State University, Recruiting, Social Media

NCAA RECRUITING & SOCIAL MEDIA – 04.18.2013

(written for The Daily O’Collegian in April 2013)

In January, former Oklahoma State All-American Thurman Thomas used Twitter to reach out to prep phenom Laquon Treadwell encouraging the nation’s consensus top high school wide receiver to attend OSU. The NFL Hall of Fame running back thought his actions were harmless. They were not.

Thomas had committed a recruiting violation without even knowing it. Albeit a minor infraction, the OSU compliance department had to self-report the improper contact to the National Collegiate Athletics Association, because Thomas didn’t know that his status prohibited him from contacting prospective athletic prospects urging them to consider Oklahoma State.

But is that really his fault? Continue reading →

Dec 05 2012
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College Football, Oklahoma State University

The Ongoing Saga that is Collegiate Athletics

It’s been an interesting last few days for fans of Oklahoma State football. For the second time in as many seasons, OSU fans have dealt with rumors that head coach Mike Gundy was interviewing with other programs. Just a year after signing a contract extension at OSU, news broke on Monday that  Gundy was a candidate for head coaching vacancies at both Tennessee and Arkansas.

It even got so crazy that at one point yesterday two different reporters for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette wrote that Gundy was the new coach at Arkansas and that Gundy was out of the running within minutes of each other. Bret Bielema of Wisconsin was eventually announced as the new coach of the Razorbacks, but Tennessee still needed a coach. Reports surfaced today that Tennessee had officially made an offer to Gundy and Cowboy fans were left holding their breath for a few hours until it was announced that Gundy had turned down the job and would remain in Stillwater.

Even with Gundy remaining at OSU, the unsettling part of all of this is the fact that Gundy was even considering leaving what he has repeatedly called his “New York Yankees job” and his “last stop.” Things began to make more sense when word came out that the relationship between Gundy and Athletic Director Mike Holder is “fractured.” Through it all, one thing has become clear: something needs to change. When egos come into play (as they often do in business), it’s hard for people to compromise, but if Gundy and Holder both want what’s best for their alma mater, they’ll get together, smooth things over and keep Oklahoma State headed to the top of collegiate athletics.

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Nov 19 2012
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Oklahoma State University Video

Game Day Profiles: Tailgating at OSU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijWj2uk2El8

I took some time talking to football fans around Stillwater and asked them what it was that kept them coming back week after week.

Oct 24 2012
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Oklahoma State University, Podcast

SOUNDSLIDES: DAVE HUNZIKER

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQy5FNOmgOI

Dave Hunziker, the radio voice of the OSU Cowboys, shares his knowledge with students at the university by teaching a sports announcing class. The students aren’t the only one who are learning, however. Interactions he’s encountered while teaching the class has changed the way he approaches his job.

May 01 2008
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Baseball, Oklahoma State University

JORDY MERCER (feature) – 05.01.2008

(originally written for The Daily O’Collegian in May of 2008)

When junior shortstop Jordy Mercer plays games at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium, there are usually more fans in the stands than people in his hometown.

Mercer is from Taloga, Okla., which had a population of 372, according to the 2000 census, but he hasn’t let his small-town upbringing harness his big-time potential in baseball.

Mercer was an All-State player at Taloga High School and led his team to a Class B state championship his senior year in 2005.

Despite playing in a small town, Mercer grabbed the attention of college coaches across the country. He said living in Taloga was beneficial to his career.

“We didn’t have a football program, so we played two seasons of baseball,” Mercer said. Continue reading →

Apr 29 2008
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Baseball, Oklahoma State University

DUSTY HARVARD (feature) – 04.29.2008

(originally printed in The Daily O’Collegian on April 29, 2008)

For most people, signing a Division I scholarship without playing organized baseball in high school would be front-page story.

For sophomore outfielder Dusty Harvard, it’s a footnote.

When Harvard signed a scholarship to play baseball for Oklahoma State in 2006, he became the first player to sign a Division I baseball scholarship from Casper, Wyo., in 20 years.

In the grand scheme of things, though, that accomplishment is not nearly as important as the road he traveled to do so. Continue reading →