Josh Holliday, Players Address Fans on Would-Be O’Brate Opening Day

On Friday, Oklahoma State’s baseball team did not get to christen its highly-anticipated new venue, O’Brate Stadium, as was planned.

The new weird world we live in claimed yet another sports fatality when the Big 12 announced the early end of baseball a week ago. Instead we are all stuck without baseball, basketball, softball, etc. and hopefully not football down the road.

On what was to be the Cowboys’ Big 12 opener against TCU, both Josh Holliday and a handful of his players addressed OSU’s fanbase with offering words of encouragement, a little perspective and showing their gratitude.

“Thank you for your tremendous excitement and support for what was going to be the opening of O’Brate Stadium tonight,” said Holliday. “Obviously times have changed and our focus and only concern is everybody’s health and well being.

“So take this excitement and passion for Cowboy baseball, put it on hold and when everything gets back to normal, we look forward to seeing you out here.”

A message to our loyal & true from @joshhollidayosu #GoPokes #okstate #MakeItHappen pic.twitter.com/2026egvNVy

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) March 20, 2020

The touted 2019-20 Cowboys ended their season 13-5 and on a five-game win streak. Outgoing seniors Cade Cabbiness and Ben Leeper and freshman outfielder Caeden Trenkle also took time to address the fans on their would-be O’Brate premiere.

Disappointed for the thousands of loyal & true. We ? y’all – everybody staff safe and let’s do this in 2021! #GoPokes #MakeItHappen #okstate pic.twitter.com/mJbRAWa3if

— Cowboy Baseball (@OSUBaseball) March 20, 2020

Missing out on the sports we love stinks, even when we have an objective view of a situation that has become life-and-death for so many. But I think it’s important to remember that our boredom pales in comparison to the empty feeling a lot of student athletes and coaches have been left with.