Prior to 1957, Oklahoma State University was known as Oklahoma A&M. As was common with most land-grant schools, its teams were known for many years as the Aggies, though they were sometimes also called the Tigers.[3] However, in 1923, A&M was looking for a new mascot to replace its pet tiger (the inspiration behind the school colors of orange and black). A group of students saw famed cowboy Frank Eaton leading the Armistice Day parade. He was approached to see if he would be interested in being the model for the new mascot, and he agreed. The caricature adopted his nickname "Pistol Pete".
Only a few decades removed from the cattle drive era, the cowboy was still an important figure in the Southwest. The new mascot had become so popular that by 1924, Charles Saulsberry, sports editor of The Oklahoma Times, began calling A&M's teams the "Cowboys". "Aggies" and "Cowboys" were used interchangeably until A&M was elevated to university status in 1957.[4] In 1958, the "Pistol Pete" caricature was formally adopted as Oklahoma State's mascot, though it had been used unofficially for over three decades before then.
The Waving Song
The "Waving Song" is one of the fight songs for Oklahoma State. At Oklahoma State football games, the song is played by the Cowboy Marching Band during the pregame traditions, following touchdowns, and after victories against the Cowboys' opponents. For other athletic events, the Waving Song is played after Oklahoma State victories as the start of the fight song trilogy. While the song is played, fans wave their right arms in the air; the effect is similar to wheat waving in the wind.[5]
The song's melody is that of "The Streets of New York", a song from the Victor Herbert operetta, The Red Mill. The lyrics used by Oklahoma State were written by H.G. Seldomridge, a professor at what was then Oklahoma A&M who heard the tune on a visit to New York City. It was first sung in 1908 at a follies show at Stillwater's Grand Opera House. Ever since, it has been a tradition to play the song at Oklahoma State athletic events.[6] The only real change over the years has been to replace "OAMC" with "Oklahoma State".
Conference history
Oklahoma A&M was a founding member of the Southwest Conference. In 1925, they moved to the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Three years later, the conference split with the six largest schools forming the Big Six and Oklahoma A&M remaining with three smaller schools to form the Missouri Valley Conference. In 1956, Oklahoma A&M went independent in anticipation of an invitation to join the Big Seven (an enlarged Big Six). In June 1957, the recently-renamed Oklahoma State officially joined the Big Seven, which was renamed the Big Eight. However, Oklahoma State did not compete as part of the conference until the 1958–59 season for basketball and the 1960 season for football.[7][8] Because both the MVC and the Big Eight claimed to be the direct successor of the MVIAA, some consider Oklahoma State's move to the Big Eight as rejoining the conference.
Oklahoma State first took the basketball court in 1908. Under head coach Henry Iba, the team won NCAA championships in 1945 and again in 1946. A&M center Bob Kurland was named the NCAA Tournament MVP during their two championship seasons. Kurland was the first player to win the honor two times. Oklahoma State has appeared in the NCAA tournament 29 times, including a total of six Final Four appearances. They have won a total of 23 conference championships, with 3 of those coming in the Big 12.
Under Eddie Sutton, the team made two Final Four appearances—in 1995 and in 2004. Sutton's son, Sean Sutton, began coaching the team in 2006 but resigned on March 31, 2008.[9] The team is now coached by Steve Lutz, who was hired to the head coach position after Mike Boynton Jr was fired following the 2023-24 season.
Oklahoma State first fielded a women's team during the 1972–1973 season. The Cowgirls have been to 17 NCAA tournaments, and have made 3 Sweet 16s. In 2012, Oklahoma State defeated James Madison 75-68 to win the 2012 NIT championship. They have won 3 conference championships, with tournament championships in 1990 and 1991, and a regular season conference championship in 1991. They play their games at Gallagher-Iba Arena, and are coached by 3rd year head coach, Jacie Hoyt.
The Cowboys won their only national championship in 1959, but have finished runner-up on five other occasions. Oklahoma State has won 25 conference tournament titles to go along with 25 regular season conference titles, including 16 consecutive conference championships (1981-1996) under head coach Gary Ward in the Big 8 Conference. During that time, Pete Incaviglia was named Baseball America's Player of the Century, and Robin Ventura was inducted in the inaugural class into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. Overall, Oklahoma State has made 20 College World Series appearances, including seven straight from 1981 to 1987.
The Cowboys' current head baseball coach is Josh Holliday.
Cross Country
Men's Cross Country
Oklahoma State men's cross country is one of the most illustrious cross country programs in the nation, winning NCAA national championships in 1954, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2023. In addition to the 5 NCAA championships, OSU cross country has won 17 conference titles, including 9 straight Big 12 titles from 2008-16, with their most recent title coming in 2023. 13 individual conference champion runners have come from Oklahoma State, including Brian Musau in 2023. The OSU cross country program has also produced 68 All-American runners. The Cowboys run at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course, and are led by 12x Big 12 Men's Coach of the Year, Dave Smith.
Women's Cross Country
The Oklahoma State women's cross country program has been a powerhouse in recent years, winning the Big 12 conference title in 2015, 2019, 2021, and 2022 to go along with their 1986 Big 8 conference title. There have been 7 Cowgirls who have been crowned individual Big 12 champion, with Taylor Roe becoming the first Big 12 individual conference champion from OSU when she won in 2023, breaking a 34 year drought. At the 2023 NCAA Cross Country Championships, Oklahoma State claimed a 3rd place finish, only 33 points behind the winners, the best finish ever for the women's cross country team. 24 Cowgirls have won the All-American award, and 2 Olympians have hailed from OSU. The Cowgirls run at the Greiner Family OSU Cross Country Course, and are led by 5x Big 12 Women's Coach of the Year, Dave Smith.
Equestrian
Oklahoma State women's equestrian competes in the Big 12 conference, alongside Baylor, Fresno State, and TCU. The Cowgirl equestrian team has had major success in recent years, winning 10 conference titles (2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024). They have also had NCEA title success, winning 4 NCEA Western national titles in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2013. However, they were unable to win the overall national title until 2022, when they defeated Texas A&M 11-9 to claim their first NCEA Dual Discipline national title. Oklahoma State equestrian competes at the Pedigo-Hull Equestrian Center, and are led by 5x Big 12 Coach of the Year, Larry Sanchez.
The 1945 Oklahoma A&M team was retroactively awarded a national title in October 2016 by the American Football Coaches Association. The Aggies finished with a 9–0 record, completing the season with a 33–13 win over St. Mary's College in the Sugar Bowl.[10] The Cowboys have won 11 conference championships, along with victories in 3 Fiesta Bowls, 1 Sugar Bowl, and 1 Cotton Bowl. The Oklahoma State football program has participated in 34 bowl games overall and have been to 17 straight, with their most recent bowl game being a 31-23 victory over Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl.
Barry Sanders won the Heisman Trophy in 1988.[11] Other individual honors by Oklahoma State football players include 2 NFL Hall of Fame members, 65 All-Americans, 170 NFL Draft picks, and 21 first round NFL Draft picks to the Cowboys' name.
The current head coach is Mike Gundy (166–79 and 12–6 in bowl appearances). During Gundy's coaching career, the Cowboys have enjoyed ten 9+ win seasons. Gundy coached the team to a record 12 win season in 2011, culminating with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Stanford, and ten years later led Oklahoma State to another 12 win season and Fiesta Bowl victory, this time over Notre Dame. His accolades consist of the 2011 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year, 2011 Paul "Bear" Bryant National Coach of the Year, and the 2011 American Football Monthly National Coach of the Year. He also has won Big 12 Coach of the Year three times (2010, 2021, 2023).
Oklahoma State plays football on Lewis Field, in Boone Pickens Stadium, and the Cowboys all-time record is 638–572–48.
Golf
Karsten Creek serves as the home course of the Oklahoma State University men's and women's golf teams.[12] The Tom Fazio layout was named Golf Digest's "Best New Public Course" and served as the host site for the NCAA Men's Championship in 2003, 2011, and 2018.[13]
The men's program has qualified for the NCAA Championship 74 times in 75 years[14] – from 1947 to 2022, the only year they did not qualify was 2012.[15] They have won 11 national championships (1963, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2006, 2018), 9 individual national championships (Earl Moeller in 1953, Grier Jones in 1968, David Edwards in 1978, Scott Verplank in 1986, Brian Watts in 1987, E. J. Pfister in 1988, Charles Howell III in 2000, Jonathan Moore in 2006, Matthew Wolff in 2019), and 56 conference championships.[16]
The women's program has also had its share of success. Under former coach Ann Pitts, the Cowgirls won 15 conference championships and made 15 appearances at the NCAA Championship. Laura Matthews led the Cowgirls to be Big 12 champions in 2005 and a top-20 finish at the NCAA Championship. Caroline Hedwall won the NCAA Division I individual championship in 2010 under new coach Annie Young.
Oklahoma State's softball team has appeared in fifteen Women's College World Series, in 1977, 1980, 1981, 1982 (AIAW), 1982 (NCAA), 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023.[24] In 1982, the Cowgirls played in both the last AIAW WCWS and days later the first NCAA WCWS. After having played their way through the 1982 regular season, a conference tournament, NCAA first round, winning an AIAW regional title, a loss in the AIAW WCWS final, the team's marathon season ended with 13-inning and 14-inning one-run losses in the NCAA tournament.
In addition to national success, Oklahoma State softball has won 9 regular season conference titles and won the 2022 Big 12 tournament title over rival Oklahoma. They are coached by 9th year head coach Kenny Gajewski.
Tennis
Men's Tennis
The Oklahoma State men's tennis program has won 24 total conference championships, with 18 coming from the Big 8 conference. The Cowboys have been to 26 NCAA Tournaments, with the most recent appearance being in 2024. Their highest final ITA ranking was 11th, which was achieved in the 2006-07 season. The Cowboys also boast having 20 All-Americans and 40 individual Big 12 Champions. Oklahoma State men's tennis plays their matches at the Greenwood Tennis Center, and are coached by 3rd year head coach Dustin Taylor.
Women's Tennis
The Oklahoma State women's tennis program has won 29 total conference championships, including 7 Big 12 titles. The Cowgirls have been to 27 NCAA Tournaments, with the most recent appearance being in 2024. In 2016, OSU made it to the national championship match against Stanford, where they fell 4-3. In 2024, they won the ITA National Indoor Championship, defeating Michigan 4-3. The Cowgirls boast having 24 All-Americans and 28 individual Big 12 Champions. Oklahoma State women's tennis plays their matches at the Greenwood Tennis Center, and are coached by 15th year head coach Chris Young.
Track and Field
Men's Track and Field
The Oklahoma State Men's Indoor Track and Field team has won the Big 12 conference twice, in 2014 and 2016. 13 Cowboys have won individual NCAA titles, and Oklahoma State has been to 33 NCAA Men's Indoor Championships, with their best result being a 2nd place finish in 1965.
The Oklahoma State Men's Outdoor Track and Field team has won 20 conference titles, all coming during their time in the Missouri Conference. 16 Cowboys have won individual NCAA titles, and Oklahoma State has been to 52 NCAA Men's Outdoor Championships, with their best result being a 5th place finish in 1959. Both teams are coached by Dave Smith.
Women's Track and Field
The Oklahoma State Women's Indoor Track and Field team won their first conference championship in 2023, scoring 146 points to win the Big 12 title. 5 Cowgirls have won individual NCAA titles, and Oklahoma State has been to 25 NCAA Women's Indoor Championships, with their best result being an 8th place finish in 2024.
The Oklahoma State Women's Outdoor Track and Field team has never won a conference title, however 3 Cowgirls have won individual NCAA titles, and Oklahoma State has been to 23 NCAA Women's Outdoor Championships, with their best result being a 12th place finish in 2016. Both teams are coached by Dave Smith.
Oklahoma State wrestling's tradition started in 1916 when Edward C. Gallagher, whose name is part of Gallagher-Iba Arena, became head coach. With his expertise in anatomy, he pioneered the sport of wrestling.[25] Gallagher coached the Cowboys until his death in 1940 from pneumonia.[26] During those 24 years, Gallagher had 11 team national titles, 19 undefeated seasons, and a 138–5–4 record.[26]
After Gallagher's death, Art Griffith took over and proceeded to win two straight national championships. Due to World War II, Oklahoma State wrestling was forced off the mat for three years. After the war, Griffith coached for another 11 years and won six more national championships in that time. Due to health reasons, Art Griffith resigned as head coach and Myron Roderick took over. At 23 years old, Roderick became the youngest coach to win a national championship in 1958. Roderick proceeded to win another 5 championships. In 1970, Myron Roderick stepped down to take an executive position with the U.S. Wrestling Federation. Former Stillwater High School coach Tommy Chesbro was hired as head coach and won eight Big Eight titles and one national championship in 15 years. Between 1985 and 1991, Joe Seay, former Cal State coach won five conference titles and two national titles.[26] In 1993, John Smith became the seventh head coach of Oklahoma State University wrestling. Smith led the Cowboys to a national title in 1995 and four consecutive national titles between 2002 and 2006.[26] Smith retired in 2024 and was replaced by 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist David Taylor.
Overall, the Oklahoma State wrestling program has won 34 NCAA championships, along with 53 conference championships, 143 individual champions and 485 All-Americans.
Notable non-varsity sports
Rugby
Founded in 1974, the Oklahoma State University Rugby Football Club plays college rugby in the Division 1 Heart of America conference against several of its traditional Big 8 / Big 12 rivals. The Cowboys are led by head coach Miles Hunter. Oklahoma State also has a women's rugby team that plays in the Mid-America college rugby conference.
Cheerleading
The Oklahoma State University Cheerleaders compete in the National Cheerleaders Association in Division 1A coached by Lindsay Saloitte.
They have won 16[27] NCA national team championships and two group stunt national championships in the following divisions:
The Arkansas Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the intercollegiate athletics teams representing the University of Arkansas, located in Fayetteville. The University of Arkansas student body voted to change the name of the school mascot in 1910 to the Arkansas Razorbacks after a hard-fought battle against LSU in which they were said to play like a "wild band of Razorback hogs" by former coach Hugo Bezdek. The Arkansas Razorbacks are the only major sports team in the U.S. with a porcine nickname, though the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas play in Division II.
The Oklahoma Sooners are the athletic teams that represent the University of Oklahoma, located in Norman. The 19 men's and women's varsity teams are called the "Sooners", a reference to a nickname given to the early participants in the Land Run of 1889, which initially opened the Unassigned Lands in the future state of Oklahoma to non-native settlement. The university's athletic teams compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)'s Division I in the Big 12 Conference. The university's current athletic director is Joe Castiglione.
Gallagher-Iba Arena, also known as "The Rowdiest Arena in the Country" and "The Madison Square Garden of the Plains”, is the basketball and wrestling venue at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. Originally completed in 1938 and named the 4-H Club and Student Activities Building, it was soon renamed Gallagher Hall to honor wrestling coach Ed Gallagher. After renovations in 1987, the name became Gallagher-Iba Arena, as a tribute to longtime basketball coach and innovator Henry Iba.
The Bedlam Series is the name given to the Oklahoma–Oklahoma State rivalry. It refers to the athletics rivalry between Oklahoma State University Cowboys and Cowgirls and the University of Oklahoma Sooners of the Big 12 Conference. Both schools were also members of the Big Eight Conference before the formation of the Big 12 Conference in 1996, and both were divisional rivals in the Big 12 South Division prior to 2011. The rivalry will conclude as an annual conference matchup in 2023, after which Oklahoma will officially join the Southeastern Conference. 40 years of the rivalry's games were played without the teams playing in the same conference, and it is possible that the series may continue beyond that date.
The Indiana Hoosiers are the intercollegiate sports teams and players of Indiana University Bloomington, named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Indiana. The Hoosiers participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in 24 sports and became a member of the Big Ten Conference on December 1, 1899. The school's official colors are cream and crimson.
The Colorado Buffaloes are the athletic teams that represent the University of Colorado Boulder. The university sponsors 16 varsity sports teams. Both the men's and women's teams are called the Buffaloes or, rarely, the Golden Buffaloes. "Lady Buffs" referred to the women's teams beginning in the 1970s, but was officially dropped in 1993. The nickname was selected by the campus newspaper in a contest with a $5 prize in 1934 won by Andrew Dickson of Boulder.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders and Lady Raiders are the athletic teams that represent Texas Tech University, located in Lubbock, Texas. The women's basketball team uses the name Lady Raiders, while the school's other women's teams use the "Red Raiders" name.
The Oregon State Beavers are the athletic teams that represent Oregon State University, located in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Pac-12 Conference. Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver. Both the men's and women's teams share the name, competing in 7 NCAA Division I men's sports and 9 NCAA Division I women's sports respectively. The official colors for the athletics department are Beaver Orange, black, and white.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and competes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his 20th year as head coach. Oklahoma State plays its home games at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team is the most successful NCAA Division I program of all time in any sport. As of 2021–2022, Oklahoma State wrestling has won 34 team national championships, 143 individual NCAA championships, and 485 All-American honors.
The New Mexico Lobos are the athletic teams that represent the University of New Mexico, located in Albuquerque. The university participates in the NCAA Division I in the Mountain West Conference (MW) since 1999, after leaving the Western Athletic Conference. The university's athletic program fields teams in 16 varsity sports.
The SMU Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent Southern Methodist University in University Park, Texas, United States. The Mustangs were founded in 1911 and joined the Southwest Conference, competing against Baylor, Rice, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas and Oklahoma A&M.
The Wyoming Cowboys and Cowgirls are the athletic teams that represent the University of Wyoming, located in Laramie. Wyoming is a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW) and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding 17 NCAA-sanctioned sports. Two Wyoming teams compete in other conferences in sports that the MW does not sponsor. The men's swimming and diving team competes in the Western Athletic Conference, and the wrestling team competes in the Big 12 Conference.
The New Mexico State University teams are called the Aggies, a nickname derived from the university's agricultural beginnings. The mascot is known as "Pistol Pete". NMSU's colors are crimson and white. Since 2023 the Aggies have competed in Conference USA in all men's and women's sports. New Mexico State sponsors six men's and ten women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports. The athletic director is Mario Moccia, who has held the position since January 2015.
The Fresno State Bulldogs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent California State University, Fresno. The university is a member of NCAA Division I's Mountain West Conference (MW). It was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 1992 until 2012, when it left for the Mountain West alongside fellow WAC member Nevada.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. All women's teams at the school are known as Cowgirls. The Cowboys currently compete in the Big 12 Conference. In 2020, CBS Sports ranked Oklahoma State the 25th best college basketball program of all-time, ahead of such programs as Oklahoma and Texas. Oklahoma State men’s basketball has a very rich history of success, having won more national titles and advanced to the NCAA Championship, Final Four, Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen more times than any Big 12 program other than Kansas. Oklahoma State has won a combined 23 regular season conference titles and conference tournament titles, which is the most of any program in the state of Oklahoma.
Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball is the NCAA Division I varsity intercollegiate baseball team of Oklahoma State University, based in Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States. The team competes in the Big 12 Conference. The Cowboys' current head coach is Josh Holliday.
The 2003–04 Oklahoma State Cowboys men's basketball team represents Oklahoma State University in the 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by 14th-year head coach Eddie Sutton. In 2002–03, the Cowboys finished 22–10.
The 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cowboys were led by seventh year head coach Mike Gundy and played their home games at Boone Pickens Stadium. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference.
The 2012 Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) was a single-elimination tournament of 64 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that did not participate in the 2012 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. The tournament were played entirely on campus sites. The highest ranked team in each conference that did not receive a bid to the NCAA Tournament received an automatic bid to this tournament. The remaining slots were filled by the WNIT Selection Committee. The Oklahoma State Cowgirls won their first WNIT title, defeating the James Madison Dukes in the championship game, 75–68. Toni Young of Oklahoma State was named tournament MVP.
. However, Cowboy faithful are quick to point out that the University of Kansas waves wheat, not Oklahoma State.(See below for origins of the waving song.)The Waving SongArchived November 6, 2014, at the Wayback Machine ; at OKState.com
↑ Intercollegiate Athletics; Dellinger, Doris; The OSU Centennial – Histories Series; p. 38.
↑ Plummer, William; Floyd, Mike C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN978-0-9893007-0-4.
↑ Tramel, Berry (August 23, 2017). "Why is Oklahoma State on an island with the retroactive titles?". News OK. Retrieved December 4, 2018. The AFCA did not convene a panel of historians ... Instead, the AFCA opened the process up for proposals. It invited schools to nominate teams they felt were deserving. Then a committee would vote yea or nay on said team – the AFCA acknowledged it could hand out multiple awards for the same season [from 1922 to 1949].
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