OSU Dining Changing Practices to Serve Student-Athletes During Pandemic

One of the big benefits of being a Division I student-athlete (I’ve heard) is the training table, where the food is both good and limitless. But as we make our way through the pandemic, student-athletes and schools are social distancing themselves, and thus the delectable spread has been inaccessible — at least in a dine-in setting.

But OSU is changing with the times like everyone else. It posted a video this week on Cowboy Dining and how they’ve evolved, and Benjamin Crawford, the dining director, said everything has been upended and the process for doing what they normally do is completely different.

“It’s affected us greatly,” he said. “Our daily process is different now. But we’re doing everything we can to try and provide options for athletes we have left on campus.”

Of course, most athletes Cowboy Dining typically serves have gone home and are learning remotely since OSU’s classes have been moved online. That’s not the case for all, however. So the hundred-or-so athletes still in Stillwater get a once-daily Monday-Friday grab-and-go meal … and plenty of instructions on how to do so.

They’re even practicing social distancing, which you can see below is made easier since OSU has marked off where to stand and how to appropriately keep your distance when picking up meals.

The best part of the video, though? It’s definitely Chef Pete. Look at this!

Must cop.

Obviously all of this is a pretty major adjustment for athletes and the dining staff, but shouts to them for adjusting on the fly and accommodating what seems to be a pretty tough time.

“We’re just having fun with it,” said Crawford, “because right now it’s really difficult for everyone.”