There are so many thrills in life, far more ups than downs, and certainly, for me, the glass has always been more than half full.
Hard work, honesty and faith in Our Town have always proved a winning combination. Stillwater is and always has been the best place to call home.
But when it is all totaled up at the end of the day, just how hard does one have to work to be a hardcore Cowboy athletic fan???
It is very, very easy to cheer for consistent winners over the years, whether it be the New York Yankees, Alabama Crimson Tide, Los Angeles Lakers in their Showtime Prime, New England Patriots,Muhammad Ali,
Jack Nicklaus,Tiger Woods or Michael Phelps. Liking any of these names when they were competing was almost always a sure thing; a win/championship was almost always a given. Just give them the trophy.
But our OSU Pokes??
That is certainly another story, isn't it local sport fan nation? The final outcome has never really been a sure thing regarding our Orange and Black athletic players.
My long journey of rooting for our locals began in the early 1950's when they were the Aggies of Oklahoma A&M College. In football on natural grass Lewis Field, I remember when victories were about as easy to predict as Oklahoma's weather. Improvement was gauged in the mid-50's as a single score in 3 consecutive yearly games against OU; that is beginning in 1955, 53-0, 53-0 again in 1956 and, finally, 53-6, in the 1957 attempt against the invincible Bud Wilkinson-led Sooner bunch from Norman. We became somewhat more competitive in the old Missouri Valley Conference with Coach Cliff Speegle at the helm, but not much. The head coaching baton was passed to grizzled Phil Cutchin after we had made the transition to the Big 8 Conference in the mid-1960's. Coach Cutchin helped guide us to defeat OU a couple of times, but overall, we continued to struggle on the gridiron. Sure we always liked to boast our wrestlers, basketballers, baseballers and golfers would be our shining athletic lights, but it never has been a surprise to anyone in this part of the U.S. of A that football has always been the absolute king of the major college sports scene.
Hoopster Coach Henry P. Iba brought our Aggies/Cowboys much fame through the years, but until Coach Eddie Sutton returned to his alma mater, there was quite a void of local success over 25-plus seasons. Baseball was strong with Coaches Toby Greene and later Gary Ward, but the hardball sport had some hiccups after them, until the return of alumnus,current Coach Josh Holliday. Even our bell cow nationally famous wrestling and golf programs have not completely dominated recently as they did years ago, but they are always in the upper mix. The lesser known sports and Title 9 additions of several female sports have had some good showings, too, and Our Town fans come out to cheer them on whether the participants are Cowboys or Cowgirls. Our fan enthusiasm has always been well-known and loud.
Here's something we who have been around watching the locals for a zillion years know for absolute sure. This fact holds no matter what the particular athletic event, where it is being played or what the score is, as long as time remains on the proverbial clock.
THE EVENT IS NOT OVER UNTIL IT IS OVER.
I can't even begin to tell you faithful readers how many times I have witnessed our athletes snatch victory from the jaws of defeat or vice versa.
Because of this given uncertainty, I have to pace myself, and continually recite to myself not to get too optimistic and begin celebrating a win unless the time factor is ZERO.
Absolutely never ever ever never a dull moment at an OSU athletic event.
My bride, Debbie, and I have an private joke we regularly pull on each other when we are enjoying (and worrying?) during an O-State athletic event in which Our Team is way, way ahead, but there is sill lots of playing time remaining. Our quip to one another, "Is it over???", then jokingly (realistically, that is) we smile at each other.
So, Cowboy Nation faithful, please do not ever be guilty of counting those proverbial chickens until they hatch. Simply, savor each moment during the contest just for what it is, pure entertainment. Remember, the only person you are able to control is yourself. We certainly cannot control our beloved Cowboys, and for that, of course, the endings are forever uncertain..
Never ever ever never over until that famous female vocalist sings.........
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