How Does Mason Rudolph Want to be Remembered in Stillwater?

Mason Rudolph’s legacy in Stillwater is going to get more complicated over time instead of less. When we think about him 10 years from now, the losses will sting less and the numbers will shine more.

This happens with everyone, but the movement will be greater with No. 2 than most. We will remember that he won 31 (or 32) games as a starter and reset every relevant Oklahoma State QB record. We will remember the losses, sure, but not as well as we do right now.

But how does QB1 want you to remember him?

“When I think about my legacy, I want to be known, I want to be remembered as a guy who was completely committed. Who poured everything he had into the program and was serious about it. Prepared like a champion, played like a champion, was a winner and competed.

“Coach Gundy was talking about Russell Westbrook and the way he competes, his interviews a couple days ago when he beat the Warriors at home. They asked him a question, and he said, ‘I’m a competitor, I’ve always been that.’

“That’s the way I feel from the time I started playing high school football. Playing for a big-time program. I’ve always been a competitor, and it’s always great to play on teams with a bunch of competitors. We’ve got a lot of those guys. Iron sharpens iron. It’s been fun to do it with these guys.”

I don’t think there’s any question that Rudolph has prepared and played like a champion. Breaking Barry Sanders’ school record of 45 TDs in a season is no small thing. I also don’t think there’s any question of just how competitive Rudolph has been. What there is a question about is where Rudolph will fit in the pantheon of Oklahoma State QBs historically.

We’ll sort that out over the next few weeks and months and talk about it for years (because this is what we do as fans), but for me, for now, my lasting image of Rudolph will be the way he reacted to huge TDs. Brandon Weeden was more solemn. Zac Robinson was more muted. Doesn’t mean they didn’t feel it deeply, but Rudolph always showed it, and I appreciated that.

Rudolph’s legacy will be complex, but his desire was not. He emptied the tank. It was enough to win 31 games but not enough to win a Big 12 title. That’s a hard reality, one Rudolph never shied away from.

“The elephant in the room, I wanted to win a Big 12 title,” said Rudolph on Saturday. “That wasn’t in God’s plan or God’s works. You have to take it for what it’s worth. Everything happens for a reason.”