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Oklahoma State Cowboys and Cowgirls

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Oklahoma State Cowboys primary logo
Oklahoma State Cowboys primary logo
Oklahoma State Cowboys "Brand" logo
Oklahoma State Cowboys "Brand" logo

Oklahoma State University's men's athletics teams are called the Cowboys, a name commonly referring to men that tend cattle and horses on ranches in the western United States. Women's teams and athletes are known as Cowgirls. "Pokes" is also a popular nickname for Oklahoma State's sports teams. Oklahoma State was once known as the "Aggies," when the school was named Oklahoma A&M. Oklahoma State is a member of the NCAA's Division I-A in most of its sports, and in the Big 12's South division. Current OSU athletic director is Mike Holder, former Cowboy golf coach and visionary behind Stillwater's famed Karsten Creek golf course.

OSU has one of the richest histories of any athletic program in the nation, and houses the largest homecoming in the country. At 46 total national titles, OSU has the fourth most team national championships in the country. OSU has one of the highest athlete graduation rates in the country. In the Sears Cup standings, OSU has finished among the top 30 programs six times since the award's inception in 1994. The award is designed to recognize the best all-around athletic programs.

The Cowboy wrestling team is among the most storied programs in all of college sports. Most recently, the Cowboy wrestling team captured its third consecutive national title in 2005, scoring the most points ever by an Oklahoma State wrestling team in the NCAAs. The Cowboys' 33rd overall national championship in wrestling is the most ever collected by a school in one sport. The Pokes have also produced 130 individual champions, including the sport’s first-ever four-time champion, Pat Smith.

Cowboy Athletics Overview

Oklahoma State’s athletics department has long been known as one of the most tradition-rich programs in the country — not in one or two sports, but in ALL sports. OSU has accumulated 46 NCAA national championships over the years, the fourth-most in NCAA history. Only Stanford, USC, and UCLA own more national titles. In the United States Sports Academy Directors’ Cup standings, OSU has finished among the top 30 programs six times since the award’s inception in 1994. The award is designed to recognize the best all-around athletics programs in the country.

Individually, more than 160 OSU student-athletes have won national titles, including five members of the 2004-05 wrestling team. Countless Cowboys and Cowgirls have earned All-America recognition throughout the years as well. Success internationally has been standard as well. At the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, eight athletes with OSU ties competed with wrestler Jamill Kelly claiming a silver medal. The school’s wrestling success at the sport’s highest level is astonishing when considering a Cowboy has wrestled in every Olympic Games since 1924 and OSU’s medal count of 17 is higher than 33 of the 51 countries that have produced a medalist.

Oklahoma State’s athletic success has not been confined to the amateur level, however. Two years ago, a trio of former student-athletes made their mark when they became the first group in school history to be first-round draft picks in three different sports. Wide receiver Rashaun Woods was the 31st selection in the National Football League Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, third baseman Josh Fields was taken 18th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the Major League Baseball Draft, while guard Tony Allen was tabbed as the 25th pick in the National Basketball Association’s Draft by the Boston Celtics.

While competing in the Big Eight Conference, the Cowboys and Cowgirls won 135 team titles and crowned 500 individual conference champions. The programs have parlayed that success into the Big 12, earning 18 regular season titles and five post-season tournament triumphs. These impressive results have come despite Oklahoma State operating on one of the most modest budgets in the nation.

NCAA National Championships

  • 1928: Wrestling
  • 1929: Wrestling
  • 1930: Wrestling
  • 1931: Wrestling
  • 1933: Wrestling
  • 1934: Wrestling
  • 1935: Wrestling
  • 1937: Wrestling
  • 1938: Wrestling
  • 1939: Wrestling
  • 1940: Wrestling
  • 1941: Wrestling
  • 1942: Wrestling
  • 1945: Men's Basketball
  • 1946: Wrestling
  • 1946: Men's Basketball
  • 1948: Wrestling
  • 1949: Wrestling
  • 1954: Wrestling
  • 1954: Cross Country
  • 1955: Wrestling
  • 1956: Wrestling
  • 1958: Wrestling
  • 1959: Wrestling
  • 1959: Baseball
  • 1961: Wrestling
  • 1962: Wrestling
  • 1963: Men's Golf
  • 1964: Wrestling
  • 1966: Wrestling
  • 1968: Wrestling
  • 1971: Wrestling
  • 1976: Men's Golf
  • 1978: Men's Golf
  • 1980: Men's Golf
  • 1983: Men's Golf
  • 1987: Men's Golf
  • 1989: Wrestling
  • 1990: Wrestling
  • 1991: Men's Golf
  • 1994: Wrestling
  • 1995: Men's Golf
  • 2000: Men's Golf
  • 2003: Wrestling
  • 2004: Wrestling
  • 2005: Wrestling

Cowboy and Cowgirl Olympians

In the storied history of Oklahoma State Athletics, 55 different athletes have participated in some Olympic sport. Oklahoma State representatives have been coaches, wrestlers, baseball players, softball players, track and field participants, managers, and team physicians. Not only has OSU had many Olympians, OSU athletes have amassed an outstanding 24 medals including 21 gold, two silver, and one bronze.

1924 - Paris
Guy Lookabaugh - Wrestled at 158.5 and received 4th place
Orion Stuteville - Wrestling participant
1928 - Amsterdam
Clarence Berryman - Wrestled at 145 and received 6th place
George Rule - Wrestling participant
Charles Strack - Wrestling participant
Earl McCready - Wrestling participant for Team Canada at Heavyweight
1932 - Los Angeles
Bobby Pearce - Won gold medal at 123 in wrestling
Jack VanBebber - Won gold medal at 158.5 in wrestling
Melvin Clodfelter - Wrestling participant at 145
Conrald Caldwell - Wrestling participant
1936 - Berlin
Frank Lewis - Won gold medal at 158.5 in wrestling
Ross Flood - Won silver medal at 123 in wrestling
Roy Dunn - Wrestling participant at Heavyweight
Fred Parkey - Wrestling participant
Harley Strong - Wrestling participant at 145
George Chiga - Wrestling participant for Team Canada atHeavyweight
Ed Gallagher - Honorary Coach
Clarence Gallagher - Trainer
1948 - London
Bob Kurland - Won gold medal as member of USA Basketball Team
Jesse Renick - Won gold medal as member of USA Basketball Team
Hal Moore - Wrestled at 136.5 and received 6th place
William Jernigan - Wrestling participant at 114.5
Richard Hutton - Wrestling participant at Heavyweight
Art Griffith - Coached the USA Wrestling Team
Cliff Keen - Manager for USA Wrestling Team
1952 - Helsinki
Bob Kurland - Won gold medal as a member of USA Basketball Team
J.W. Mashburn - Participated in track and field
Raymond Swartz - Coached the USA Wrestling Team
Buel Patterson - Manager for USA Wrestling Team
1956 - Melbourne
J.W. Mashburn - Won gold medal in the 1600 meter relay
Myron Roderick - Wrestled at 136.5 and received 4th place
Dick Beattie - Wrestling participant at 160.5
1960 - Rome
Doug Blubaugh - Won gold medal in wrestling at 160.5
Shelby Wilson - Won gold medal in wrestling at 147.5
1964 - Tokyo
Yojiro Uetake - Won gold medal in wrestling at 125.5
Bobby Douglas - Wrestled at 138.5 and received 4th place
Henry Iba - Coached the USA Basketball Team
Rex Perry - Coached the USA Wrestling Team
Myron Roderick - Assistant coach for the USA Wrestling Team
Fendley Collins - Manager for the USA Wrestling Team
1968 - Mexico City
Yojiro Uetake - Won gold medal in wrestling at 125.5
James King - Won gold medal as member of USA Basketball Team
Bobby Douglas - Wrestling participant at 138.5
Henry Iba - Coached the USA Basketball Team
Dr. Donald Cooper - Team Physician for the USA Basketball Team
Tom Von Ruden - 1,500m and finished ninth
1972 - Munich
Gene Davis - Wrestling participant at 136.5
J. Robinson - Greco Roman wrestling participant at 180.5
Harry Geris - Wrestled for Team Canada at Heavyweight
Henry Iba - Coached the USA Basketball Team
1976 - Montreal
Gene Davis - Won bronze medal in wrestling at 136.5
Jimmy Jackson - Wrestling participant at Heavyweight
Harry Geris - Wrestled for Team Canada at Heavyweight
1984 - Los Angeles
Gary Green - Won gold medal as member of USA Baseball Team
Bruce Bumgartner - Won gold medal in wrestling
Lee Roy Smith - Wrestling participant at 136.5
Henry Iba - Coach of USA Basketball Team
Bill McDaniel - Team Doctor for USA Basketball
1988 - Seoul
John Smith - Won gold medal in wrestling at 136.5
Kenny Monday - Won gold medal in wrestling at 163
Robin Ventura - Won gold medal as member of USA Baseball Team
Christine McMiken - Participated in Track and Field
Joe Seay - Assistant Coach for USA Wrestling Team
1992 - Barcelona
John Smith - Won gold medal in wrestling at 136.5
Kenny Monday - Won silver medal in wrestling at 163
Kendall Cross - Wrestling participant at 125.5
Lee Roy Smith - Coach of the USA Wrestling Team
Bobby Douglas - Coach of the USA Wrestling Team
1996 - Atlanta
Michele Smith - Won gold medal as member of USA Softball Team
Kendall Cross - Won gold medal in wrestling at 125.5
Kenny Monday - Wrestled at 163 and received 6th place
2000 - Sydney
Michele Smith - Won gold medal as member of USA Softball Team
John Smith - Coach of the USA Wrestling Team

Hall of Honor

1996

Bob Fenimore (Football)
Ed C. Gallagher (Wrestling, Athletic Director)
Labron Harris (Men's Golf)
Henry Iba (Men's Basketball)
Bob Kurland (Men's Basketball)
Allie P. Reynolds (Track, Football, Baseball)
Barry Sanders (Football)
John Smith (Wrestling)

1997

Neill Armstrong (Football)
Art Griffith (Wrestling)
Ralph Higgins (Men's Basketball, Football, Track)
Mike Holder (Men's Golf)
Myron Roderick (Wrestling)
Eddie Sutton (Men's Basketball)
Thurman Thomas (Football)
Yojiro Uetake-Obata (Wrestling)

1999

Pete Incaviglia (Baseball)
Kenny Monday (Wrestling)
Leslie O'Neal (Football)
Jesse "Cab" Renick (Men's Basketball)
Val Skinner (Women's Golf)
Dick Soergel (Baseball, Men's Basketball, Football)
Bob Tway (Men's Golf)
Robin Ventura (Baseball)

2000

Doug Blubaugh (Wrestling)
Jim Bolding (Track)
Walt Garrison (Football)
Don Haskins (Men's Basketball)
J.W. Masburn (Track)
Bryant Reeves (Men's Basketball)
Jerry Sherk (Wrestling, Football)
Michele Smith (Softball)

2001

A.L. Bennett (Men's Basketball)
Mike Gundy (Football)
Byron Houston (Men's Basketball)
Jon Kolb (Football)
Frank Lewis (Wrestling)
Jackie (Goodman) Rasmussen (Track)

Notable Cowboy Athletes

Wrestling

Written by O-State Illustrated's Justin Wilmeth:

You might know about all the titles the Montreal Canadiens, New York Yankees or Boston Celtics have, but did you know that none of those organizations can match what the wrestling Cowboys have done? Since the program began in 1914, OSU has won a staggering 33 national championships. That leads all of North America – college or professional – in number of titles won. Not only that, but the program has also produced 130 individual national titles and 408 All-Americans as well. The Cowboy program is the gold standard is collegiate wrestling.

The program was built into a powerhouse by Ed C. Gallagher, who also basically laid the foundation for collegiate wrestling today. The inventor of over 3,000 wrestling moves and holds, he established the then-Oklahoma A&M Aggies as the premier wrestling school. Gallagher won 11 NCAA titles with the Aggies, including the very first wrestling championship in 1928. During his time in Stillwater, he put together an impressive dual meet record of 138-5-4. After dying of pneumonia in 1940, Art Griffith took over and kept the A&M dynasty alive. In his 13 seasons, he went 78-7-4 and won eight national crowns. He was succeeded by Myron Roderick, who went straight from wrestling at OSU to coaching. In his 13 seasons, he won seven titles and won 91 percent of his dual meets (140-10-7 record).

Starting to see a pattern of success here? The dual success continued – but the national titles ran dry – into the 1970s and 80s, with Tommy Chesbro leading the way. The sudden rise of Iowa wrestling under Dan Gable shut off the NCAA title train, as the Cowboys won only one title under Chesbro’s watch. He was the coach from 1969-84 and his dual mark of 227-26-0 was the best record in the history of the program until it was passed recently by current coach John Smith.

Speaking of Smith, he has recently re-established the dominance of OSU over the rest of the wrestling world by winning the last three national championships (2003-05). Smith took over the Cowboy wrestling program in 1991 in the wake of NCAA sanctions and probation leftover from the Joe Seay era (two national titles; 114-18-2 record). Smith’s first season saw the Cowboys take second at Nationals, but his second season was crippled by the probation. The Pokes went 4-7 and were banned from postseason competition. But the next season, the Cowboys were back with a vengeance, as top wrestlers who had taken a redshirt year during the probation (such as four-time champion Pat Smith) were back on the mat. OSU went 13-1 that year and won the team title.

The middle part of the 90s, however, saw the OSU program grow somewhat stagnant. Wrestlers were still winning individual titles and claiming All-American honors and the team was still winning Big Eight and Big 12 conference crowns, but their showings at Nationals were disappointing. Between 1995-2002, the Cowboys placed no better than second (once, in 1997) and finished third three times (1998, 1999, 2001). But in 2002, the Cowboys rode high once again, winning the conference and NCAA titles and sporting a 17-0 record. Including that championship season up through 2005, OSU sported a combined record of 55-2. This season, the Cowboys have a 9-1 record and Smith now has 229 wins as coach at OSU, the most ever in school history.

Wrestling Coaches

  • A.M. Colville: 1 year, 0-1
  • Ed C. Gallagher: 23 years (1915-1940), 138-5-4
  • Art Griffith: 13 years (1940-1956), 78-7-4
  • Myron Roderick: 1956-1969, 13 years, 140-10-7
  • Tommy Chesbro: 15 yrs (1969-1984), 227-26-0
  • Joe Seay: 7 years (1984-1991), 114-18-2
  • John Smith: 14 years (1991-Present)

Basketball

Legendary coach Henry Iba assembled one of the nation’s first men’s basketball powerhouses at OSU, then Oklahoma A&M, in the 1940's. His 1945 and 1946 teams were the first in NCAA history to win back-to-back national championships.

The Cowboys have returned to the national scene under one of Mr. Iba’s former pupils, Eddie Sutton. Since his return, OSU has made 13 NCAA appearances, including a pair of Final Fours in 1995 and their second in San Antonio in 2004.

Basketball Coaches

Combined, Henry Iba and Eddie Sutton (not including this season) have a 1006-451 record at OAMC/OSU. Without Iba and Sutton, the other OAMC/OSU coaches combined have a 391-521 record.

  • Prof. Boyd A. Hill: 1 year (1907-1908), 2-3
  • William E. Schreiber: 2 years (1908-1910), 4-5
  • Paul J. Davis: 3 years (1911-1915), 15-16
  • John G. Griffith: 2 years (1915-1917), 18-12
  • Earl A. Pritchard: 2 years (1917-1919), 11-15
  • James E. Pixlee: 2 years (1919-1921), 3-21
  • John F. Maulbetsch: 8 years (1921-1929), 75-75
  • George Rody: 2 years (1929-1931), 8-24
  • Harold L. James: 3 years (1931-1934), 13-41
  • Henry P. Iba: 36 years (1934-1970), 655-316
  • Sam Aubrey: 3 years (1970-1973), 18-60
  • Guy Strong: 4 years (1973-1977), 39-66
  • Jim Killingsworth: 2 years (1977-1979), 22-31
  • Paul Hansen: 7 years (1979-1986), 107-89
  • Leonard Hamilton: 4 years (1986-1990), 56-63
  • Eddie Sutton: 15 years (1990-present), 351-135 (not including the 2005-06 season)

Football

The OSU football program entered the 2005 campaign riding the momentum of three consecutive bowl game appearances after earning a bid to the MasterCard Alamo Bowl in the 2004 season. Now under the direction of former Cowboy quarterback and first-year head coach Mike Gundy, OSU will look to build upon a foundation that includes 16 bowl appearances and 32 All-Americans.

Priding itself on producing talented running backs, greats such as Bob Fenimore, Terry Miller, Thurman Thomas and 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders have roamed the offensive backfield at “Tailback U”.

Golf

One of golf’s finest venues, Karsten Creek, serves as the backdrop for two of college golf’s premier programs. Opened in 1994, the Tom Fazio layout was named Golf Digest’s “Best New Public Course”. In 1998, the course was one of only 10 in the nation to be awarded a five-star rating. The course served as the host site for the NCAA Men’s Championship in 2003.

The men’s squad has qualified for the NCAA Championship in each of its 59 seasons, a feat unmatched by any other program in the country. In its storied history, the team has won an astounding nine national championships, has produced seven individual national champions and raised its tally of conference championships to 49 last spring.

Under former head coach Ann Pitts, the women's squad made 15 NCAA appearances and won 15 conference titles. First-year head coach Mike McGraw made it a clean sweep of the conference golf titles in 2005 for OSU with the help of first-team All-Americans Karin Sjödin and Annie Thurman-Young.

Baseball

The Cowboy baseball program is one the most successful in the country. OSU has made the trek to Omaha for the College World Series 19 times, the second most in NCAA history, winning the national title in 1959. The program has also produced two of the game’s best collegiate players, Pete Incaviglia and Robin Ventura. One of the game’s most revered power hitters, Incaviglia rewrote the NCAA record books en route to being named the “Player of the Century” by Baseball America, while Ventura earned “Player of the Decade” honors and finished third in the player of the year voting.

Under the tutelage of former skipper Gary Ward, the team was a model of consistency, setting NCAA records for consecutive conference tournament titles (16) and consecutive CWS appearances (7). Head coach Frank Anderson has already put his stamp on the program, leading the Cowboys to their first Big 12 Tournament title and a return to postseason play in 2004.

Cowboy Traditions

Many factors contribute to the "college experience" - not the least of which is gaining a feeling of belonging and a sense of loyalty to the school, it's faculty and staff, the community that embraces the university, and the athletic teams that compete to garner conference and national honors.

Wearing school colors and displaying emblems of the university are life-long symbols of allegiance. For Oklahoma State, Orange Peel and Homecoming are yearly celebrations that bring much activity and excitement. Here, we explore the stories behind Oklahoma State's mascots, symbols, celebrations, traditions and spirit organizations.

Fight Songs

"The Trilogy" is considered Oklahoma State's fight song, although it is really comprised of three songs; the "Waving Song," "Ride 'Em Cowboys," and the "OSU Chant." The Waving Song was inspired by "In Old New York," the hit song from the operetta The Red Mill. The Waving Song is played after every OSU touchdown at football games and after a Cowboy victory in basketball or wrestling, with Cowboy fans in the Sea of Orange all waving one of their arms in unison. This tradition is quite similar to a Kansas tradition known to Jayhawk fans as "Waving the Wheat" (KU fans wave both hands to a tune very similar to Wisconsin's Hot Time) and has led to fans on both sides pondering which tradition started first. Though the answer may never truly be known, it's very possible that through the closeness of both schools, Oklahoma A&M fans started the waving tradition and Kansas fans liked it so much that they adapted it for their own use.

Alma Mater

This OSU hymn is played at twenty past the hour by the Library Carillon on campus. Whenever OSU faithful gather, alums use their arms to spell the letters O-S-U on the final three notes of the song. And all Cowboys know the left arm is up on the "S"!

Proud and immortal

Bright Shines Your Name

Oklahoma State

We Herald Your Fame

Ever You'll Find Us

Loyal and True

To Our Alma Mater

O-S-U!

Another tradition started during the 2002 season by OSU Football Coach Les Miles is the post-game singing of the OSU alma mater. After every win at Boone Pickens Stadium, OSU players and coaches gather in front of the student section in the northwest corner of the stadium and sing the alma mater. All fans, students and non-students are encouraged to remain in the stands after OSU victories and join the Cowboys for the alma mater hymn. The Cowboys even sang the alma mater in Norman in 2001, following their upset win over the Oklahoma Sooners. Cowboy fans were seated in a corner of Owen Field, and when the final buzzer rang, with the score OSU 16 - OU 13, the team stood on the field in front of them and celebrated the victory with their loyal fans.

Bullet & the OSU Spirit Rider

The idea for the Spirit Rider came from the late Dr. George "Eddy" Finley. In 1984, he and the President of the OSU Rodeo Association, a student named John Beall, started the tradition of the Spirit Rider. Beall used his own quarterhorse, Della, to celebrate the touchdowns scored by the OSU football team. This soon became a staple of OSU football, and in 1988, Oklahoma State University bought its own black horse. A student contest in the O'Collegian provided the name, "Bullet", and ever since the tradition has remained. Bullet makes his appearance with the marching band at the beginning of each home game and after each OSU touchdown.

Rivalries

Oklahoma State' major rival is the University of Oklahoma, in a rivalry series known throughout the state of Oklahoma simply as Bedlam. The Bedlam Series is, like most other intra-state rivalries, a rivalry that goes beyond one or two sports. Both schools also have rivalries with other schools, though most of those rivalries are limited to one or two sports at the most.

When the Bedlam Series gained Ford and the Bank of Oklahoma as corporate sponsors, the series took on a new personality. A points system was adopted (albeit slightly controversial in how sports are weighted) in order to award a winner of the all athletics competitions combined between the two schools. A crystal bell trophy is awarded to individual Bedlam game winners (such as football), in addition to a trophy for the overall series champion for that year. The "Bedlam Bell" is modeled after the bell clapper in Old Central, the oldest building on Oklahoma State's campus. For a time, the actual bell clapper was a traveling trophy for the two schools, until the popularity of this tradition waned.

Oklahoma State's other rivals arise from other schools that have long competed against Oklahoma State at the top of sports where the Cowboys rank among the nation's elite. The foremost of these is the rivalry with the Iowa Hawkeyes in wrestling. Duals held between the two wrestling giants in Gallagher-Iba Arena (Stillwater) and Carver-Hawkeye Arena (Iowa City) often draw massive crowds.

Oklahoma State's other main rival is the University of Kansas in basketball. However, the OSU/KU basketball rivalry is a very friendly one, thanks in large part to the respect the two schools share for one another. The first basketball game ever held in Oklahoma State's Historic Gallagher-Iba Arena was played between Henry Iba's Oklahoma A&M Aggies and Phog Allen's Kansas Jayhawks; a contest the Aggies won 21-15. Kansas played an instrumental part in the Big 7 Conference accepting Oklahoma State into its fold, forming the Big 8 in 1958.

Perhaps the greatest example of the respect between OSU and KU came on February 5, 2001. That evening, the Cowboys defeated the Missouri Tigers 69-66 at Gallagher-Iba, coming just days after the tragic plane crash in Colorado that killed 10 members of the OSU basketball family. When the score was announced during the Kansas/Iowa State game later that night at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, all of the KU faithful gave a standing ovation.


Big 12 Conference
North Division: Colorado | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Missouri | Nebraska
  South Division: Baylor | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | Texas | Texas A&M | Texas Tech  		 Big Twelve Conference
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