A few thoughts after last night’s loss to Texas A&M. I think there are some bigger issues worth discussing with Oklahoma State basketball, and I’m genuinely curious how other Cowboy fans feel.

First off, I’m not campaigning for anyone to get fired. I was excited about the Steve Lutz hire. The Texas connections, defensive mentality, fast-paced style, and coaching experience all made sense. I still believe he can coach, but we’re in year three and the progress feels underwhelming. I haven’t given up on this team, but if we miss the tournament again, something has to give. This program desperately needs momentum.

I’ve always believed OSU’s biggest mistake was prioritizing football at the expense of basketball. Mike Holder deserves some responsibility here. Investing in Gundy and Boone Pickens Stadium did wonders for the university’s brand, but somewhere along the way, basketball lost its identity.

Let’s be real. OSU has a much more realistic path to winning national championships in men’s and women’s basketball than competing with the likes of OU and Georgia in football. The financial disadvantages, recruiting challenges, and politics of the CFP make football an uphill battle. Basketball is different. JUST MAKE THE DANG TOURNAMENT! That’s the beauty of March Madness. Smaller schools (Like Gonzaga) can compete with national powerhouses when the coaching, talent, and investment are there.

And OSU already has the foundation. Henry Iba, Eddie Sutton, Gallagher-Iba Arena, and decades of tradition. Why not lean into that? I’ve always thought OSU should remain competitive in football while making a serious push to dominate basketball, baseball, and softball. I respect wrestling and its history, but from a national branding standpoint, March Madness and the CFP offer far greater exposure.

Then there’s the athletic department. I like Chad Weiberg, but what’s the plan? He was deputy AD at Texas Tech when Chris Beard arrived and that program started turning around. Why has rebuilding basketball been such a struggle in Stillwater? And what’s the latest on his job status and the rumored interest in Wren Baker?

I’ve also questioned OSU’s tendency to hire “OSU guys.” Loyalty is great, but sometimes we need proven outsiders with fresh ideas instead of continually recycling the same small-town good ol’ boys club mentality.

And what exactly are we getting out of Nike? Schools like Duke and Ohio State receive enormous attention and support, while OSU feels like another number. Would New Balance or ASICS offer a more personal partnership and better marketing opportunities? Nike hasn’t exactly been thriving financially, either.

While we’re at it, our basketball uniforms are just…meh. They look like generic Nike templates with no consistent identity. Compare them to Kansas’ circus font, Iowa State’s clean home and away sets, or Kansas State’s lavender throwbacks. Our previous white cursive Cowboys and black ’90s-style uniforms were much better. Give us an orange version of the black and call it a day. And please, retire those awful gray “Pokes” alternates.

As for NIL, I think basketball needs to become a major priority next offseason. Rick Sosa and Loyal & True seem to be making strides, although I don’t claim to understand the budget. With Eric Morris and Drew Mestemaker bringing renewed excitement and national attention to football, why not capitalize on that momentum? Go all-in on landing a top-three to top-five basketball transfer portal class. Give fans something to get excited about.

And finally, the curtain at Gallagher-Iba is downright depressing. Empty seats, a declining atmosphere, and so many games on ESPN+ are painful reminders of how far this program has fallen. We don’t need to be Duke or Kansas. We just need to consistently make the NCAA Tournament and give people a reason to show up. I’d hate to see GIA permanently lose more seating to suites or lounges because we couldn’t figure out how to fill the place.

I enrolled at OSU during the transition from Sean Sutton to Travis Ford, when Byron Eaton was running point, so I was fortunate enough to experience the tail end of GIA’s glory days. I know what that building can be, and it’s frustrating watching a historically proud program struggle to regain its identity.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Last night’s loss felt like another missed opportunity to build momentum and get people talking about OSU basketball nationally. I’m not expecting overnight success, but I want to see a real plan.

What do other Cowboy fans think? What’s realistically holding this program back, and what needs to change to make OSU competitive again and get Gallagher-Iba packed and rocking like it used to be?

Go Pokes!

Dust Bowl week is here on the Pokes Report Podcast! The guys get you ready for Texas Tech and everything else happening in OSU sports. Watch here: https://youtu.be/4caDiw5IU9g?si=mc22qV6xXqjpsSQD

Before he led the nation in passing and emerged as a potential first-round NFL Draft pick, Drew Mestemaker was far enough down his North Texas team’s depth chart that he didn’t even have his head coach’s cell phone number.

That fact became relevant not quite two years ago, in December 2024, when his phone lit up with a Lubbock area code: 806.

Mestemaker, then a walk-on backup quarterback at North Texas, thought, “I should probably answer this.” It was coach Eric Morris, inviting him to stop by his office later that day.

Chandler Morris, the team’s starting QB, had informed the coaches he was entering the transfer portal and leaving before the bowl game, and Eric Morris told Mestemaker that he was being put on scholarship.

“That was a pretty wild day,” Mestemaker said.

It was just one of many storybook developments in what has been college football’s biggest rags-to-riches story. Mestemaker, the Oklahoma State quarterback who is getting buzz as the potential No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, is the sport’s unlikeliest superstar.

I have 5-6 family members coming to Stillwater from Nebraska on Friday night for the Nebraska/OSU wrestling dual. They want to come back on Saturday to do some OSU tailgating. I know all the local bars, etc, were looking for a tailgate or two to attend. We will bring our own beverages, etc. ideas/suggestions? Show some Huskers how it’s done in Stilly!

The final of the three Ball Talk episodes from Kansas City is finally here! Jordan Burks from Cowboy basketball joins us to talk about this year's Oklahoma State squad. Watch here: https://youtu.be/T6Hu8LBX81Q

Looking for 2 tickets to the tech game any section

Hey guys, I am looking into moving into cottage row next year and I was wondering if anyone had any pro’s or con’s about it. Also does it fill up pretty quick or do I still have a while before making a decision (looking at the 2bed option)? Thank you!

Hey everyone,

I pulled the official grade data for Oklahoma State so you can actually see how hard a professor grades before you pick your summer or fall classes. It shows the exact breakdown (how many people actually got A's, failed, etc.) for past semesters. It’s totally free and also has anonymous student reviews.

Check out the classes here: https://myclassgrades.com/school/okstate

Let me know what you think!

See the impact of OSU’s research initiatives: https://okla.st/47Xnn5T

Has anyone been able to get separate leases for roommates when renting single-family homes in Stillwater? I know it's typically only possible with larger property management companies, but since this is a college town I wasn't sure if it might be a more common setup.

It's Friday and the Pokes Report Podcast is back! We have everything you need to know about the upcoming game against Kansas State and a really fun Mailbag segment for you all as well! Watch here: https://youtu.be/erbAa_zgIO4

Hello I was just wondering if anyone had any tickets they weren’t able to use? I’d obviously prefer lower seats but just let me know!

Looking for someone to take over my lease for this upcoming spring semester. Move in as soon as December 14th; utilities and garage parking are included. Apartment is 4-bed/4-bath, so a private room and bathroom. Rent is about $850 a month; the other 3 rooms are occupied by women, so a female is preferred.

Please message me if you're interested or have questions.

940-222-0813

Ball Talk has a familiar face for Cowgirl basketball this week. Stailee Heard joins the show from Kansas City to talk about this version of Cowgirl basketball. This team is going to be exciting and Stailee will be a big part of that. Watch here: https://youtu.be/9tP33jpmVzs

On November 7, the OSU Museum of Art will host a live, hyper-realistic cake-decorating demonstration. Award-winning cake artist Tiphani Anderson will walk attendees through the process of hyper-realistic cake decorating from start to finish.

Anderson has been featured on Netflix and the Food Network for her confections. The program is inspired by the OSU Museum of Art’s current exhibit, which focuses on Otto Duecker and his eye-fooling hyper-realistic portfolio.

Amy Rader, the museum's marketing and communications coordinator, says Anderson’s visit helps reach a new and unique audience.

“It’s really important to us to be able to get as much part of the community involved with arts because it’s so important for the development of all ages,” Rader said.

Attendees will learn about her techniques, materials and the decorating process as Anderson decorates a cake to look like a Subway sandwich.

“I usually kick everybody out in my kitchen, so that will be the most exciting part for me,” Anderson said. “Just having others there, being able to interact with others and getting their inputs and take on it.”

Rader said she often hears complaints about a lack of things to do in Stillwater. She says paying attention to art- and culture-related activities, like the upcoming demonstration, will show there are plenty of opportunities for community engagement.

“This is gonna be a one-of-a-kind program, so people should really take advantage of having this in Stillwater,” Rader said.

The event is open to the public, and there’s no cost to attend.

hey guys!

this may be a bit of a repetitive post, but i wanted to share some of my stats with yall to see what my chances may be of getting into the osu flight program. obviously the admission deadline has already passed and i have applied. i can't do anything but wait now, so maybe yall could ease my mind. 😬

act score - 30
gpa (weighted) - 4.17
total flight hours - a little over 30
i soloed at 19.1 hrs and have completed my solo cross-country along with all of my night training (something i added to the additional section of the secondary app)

i don't know if this really matters, but i talked about my role as an intern at a regional airport near me as well. i submitted all of the optional essays and leadership resume as ive heard that helps!

my biggest concern is that i haven't taken my written exam yet (bad i know), so let me know if that'll severely hurt me chances. thanks so much yall!