Oke State Remembers The Ten

Here's is the half-time ceremony from last night's Oklahoma State-Texas game where the fans at Gallagher-Iba Arena got to hear from Andre Williams, Doug Gottlieb, Eddie Sutton, and Desmond Mason...

It was a time to remember, reminisce, and recall all that was good of those that were lost...
((HT: OSUAthletics))


Texas won 61-46...

Here's coverage from our friends at KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City where the number ten was retired as part of the ceremony...
Marika Lorraine was in Stillwater...
 

“Very emotional night,” said State coach Travis Ford. “Great night to honor and celebrate people who loved and honored this university.

“I'm disappointed we didn't play better for our fans.”

Read more: http://newsok.com/berry-tramel-a-night-to-remember/article/3535864#ixzz1CGavPXbC

Kentucky Campaign '09: Pitino Says Go With The Native Sons

While it appears John Calipari is "interested" in the Kentucky job, UK hasn't asked for permission to talk to Coach Cal. Any doubt though that Calipari is openly campaigning for the Kentucky gig through the backchannels?

The interest though could be mutual as sources tell the 4-letter word that Kentucky is in the process of gathering information on Calipari.

Back to the campaign because former Kentucky head coach Rick Pitino is doing just that for a couple of his former players, Travis Ford and John Pelphrey.

"If you said to me right now, in three years, who will be one of the bright young stars in our game, I would say, without reservation at all, that John Pelphrey or Travis Ford would both be young stars in the game." Pitino said.

"On top of that, they are beloved by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and all their fans, what they call Big Blue Nation. I don't care where they're at, they love Oklahoma State, love Arkansas, but those two guys, you cut them open, and it spells UK. That's what I would do. "

There's no doubt Kentucky blue runs through the veins of Travis Ford and John Pelphrey. As native sons they could adjust to the demands of the gig quicker than someone from the outside. The question is are they seasoned enough to win games at the elite level.

Ford and Pelphrey do have their former coach on the stump on their behalf however, Pitino is the Louisville head coach now. How does that sit with the power brokers within the Big Blue Nation? Does Pitino's thoughts move the needle with them?

Let the dance continue.

Travis Ford Bleeps At His Players

Oklahoma State University Head Coach Travis Ford ((pictured, thanks Nate Billings/newsok.com)) has apologized for saying one of two things at player Obi Muonelo at Kansas University this weekend.

He either said, as the video below might relay, that Muonelo was an "F'n idiot.”

Or, as two sources "close to the program" told Jimmie Tramel of the Tulsa World newspaper, Ford told Muonelo to "F'n get in to it."

As you'll see, the Cowboys were pressing and Ford thought Muonelo was lax in his application of the defense that Ford had called. Ford then raised his voice to get Muonelo's attention.

Brad Nessler gets an award for keeping a straight face on this one...

“I know he’s made an effort to improve but he’s got to eliminate that,” OSU AD Mike Holder told Andrea Cohen of the the Daily Oklahoman newspaper Monday. “I don’t know what else you say about it. When I talked to the coaching staff about it, I said you need to understand what we’re in the business for. We’re in it to help young people at a critical time in their lives, to make their dreams come true. So we’ve got to be role models. It’s very important what you say, and how you say it.”

Holder told the Oklahoman he has no doubt Ford is going to "do something about this." “That’s not what Oklahoma State stands for, and what college athletics is about," Holder told the newspaper. "He’s got no choice. He’s got to change.”

Your verdict can be made here...

((HT: KWTV/news9.com))