From Fan to Fan: An Open Letter to Oklahoma State Faithful in 2017

Ed. note: This was a guest post submitted by a reader named Jon Jester. Sometimes, when we get post submissions or emails that are good enough, we like to run them just so it doesn’t feel like we’re exhibiting colonialism on the O-State faithful. This site was built for fans and by fans, and this post was a good reminder.

Thursday nights for me are pick-up basketball nights at a local church in town. Like many recent grads, I’m starting to realize the importance of staying active because my routine of exercising or going to the gym four times a week two times a week is harder to fit into a 40-hour work week than into a 15-hour class load.

I started up a conversation with a guy who I find out is a fellow OSU grad at basketball one night. We get to OSU sports as a topic of mutual interest, and naturally this year’s football season comes up. I admit to him that between the entire offense, both Rudolph’s and Sinor’s Heisman campaign, and Gundy’s unabashed optimism, I’m starting to drink the orange kool-aid a little bit.

He replies that he knows that OSU is supposed to be good this year, but with the exception of 2011, he always ends up let down by the football team, so he’s not going to get too excited until OSU actually starts stringing together some wins.

I understand where he’s coming from. Any OSU fan knows what he’s talking about. The routine of getting your hopes up to only be disappointed wears on a fan of any team. In 2009, there was Dez’s suspension. In 2015, Baylor’s 3rd string QB looked like Aaron Rodgers in BPS. Then take your pick between the 2012, 2013 and 2016 Bedlam games.

These memories still sting a little. I still don’t like talking about Ames, to be honest.

But, the heartbreak is only part of the story. Every team’s season save one ends somewhere other than under a barrage of confetti over a national championship trophy.

College football is tailgating on the lawn of the Cordell. It’s Lee Corso putting on mascot heads every Saturday morning and either energizing or enraging an entire fan base. It’s the storming the field after winning a conference championship against your powerhouse in-state rival.

The pokes have had their fair share of victories too. In 2008, there was the victory at No. 3-ranked Mizzou. In 2013, the then top-10 ranked Baylor Bears got a 30-point drubbing by the Chelf Train. In 2015, Trevone Boykin threw 4 picks and TCU was pummeled in BPS. And, of course, 2011’s Bedlam and the Fiesta Bowl.

Those adrenaline-packed Saturday highs are what college football is about. Where every week, we spend hours before the game with friends and family (and maybe a couple of cold Coop F5s). Then collectively, for that 3-hour span of game time, we come back and ride that emotional roller coaster.

Here’s the thing about this year, though: Bob Stoops retired It’s not looking like an ordinary OSU football season.

The Pokes are ranked the highest they have been ranked in the AP preseason poll since the 2011 season. They have a Heisman candidate quarterback who doubles as one of the top three quarterbacks to ever put on an Oklahoma State jersey. They have the most potent offense in the country according to ESPN’s Trevor Matich. They have NFL talent on defense. They have a tenured, relaxed coach on a lifetime contract who’s won 68 games in the past 7 years.

As much as I wish it was true, these things can’t be said of OSU every year.

This year, 124 teams won’t make the playoff, and 127 won’t win the national championship. Every team’s ultimate goal is that lipstick-looking trophy, but few realistically have a shot. We are one of those teams. This season has the ingredients to be a season where the Pokes reach the unchartered waters of the CFP. Could OSU have the next Vince Young in Jelani Woods and become a powerhouse for the next three years? Sure, but who knows. What we do know, is that this year, we’re going to be really, really good.

No one can promise things will go perfectly, and making the College Football Playoff is still going to be difficult to make even if more things go right than wrong. But, one thing we know for sure though: it’s going to be a joyride each and every Saturday this fall.

Buy in to Oklahoma State football this year. Even if it ends without a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff this year, it’s still going to be a wondrous four months.