Oklahoma

5 greatest Oklahoma State football players of all time, ranked

Published

1 year ago

January 7, 2023

5 greatest Oklahoma State football players of all time, ranked

Oklahoma State soccer has fielded some unimaginable gamers all through the many years. Whereas not discovering the championship success of a few of their rivals, the Cowboys have nearly all the time been related because of the celebs on the sector. As we speak, we’re going to rank the highest 5 gamers in Oklahoma State soccer historical past. Though let’s be trustworthy, everybody already is aware of who the highest spot belongs to.

Earlier than we get to the listing correct, although, now we have some honorable mentions at hand out. The primary of two is defensive again Mark Moore (1983-86), a two-time All-American who nonetheless has the second-most interceptions in class historical past with 16. The one participant he trails is our different honorable point out, Bob Fenimore (1943-46), who holds the college document with 18 interceptions and led the nation in whole offense in 1944 and 1945.

With these honorable mentions lined, listed below are the highest 5 biggest Oklahoma State soccer gamers of all time.

5. RB Terry Miller, 1974-77

A number of the most dominant rushers to ever play soccer have donned the Oklahoma State uniform. The primary of three on this listing, and the primary chronologically, is Terry Miller. Miller won’t be as well-known as the opposite two working backs afterward the listing, however he was a dominant rusher in his personal proper.

In his faculty profession, Miller rushed 871 occasions for 4,754 yards and 49 touchdowns. He completed fourth in Heisman voting in 1976 and second in 1977, racking up greater than 1,600 yards and 14 touchdowns in each seasons. A 2022 School Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee, Miller is second in class historical past in each dashing yards and dashing touchdowns.

4. DE Leslie O’Neal, 1982-85

Leslie O’Neal, a 2020 School Soccer Corridor of Fame inductee, is the best defender in Oklahoma State soccer historical past. His specialty was getting after the quarterback, as he’s the Cowboys’ all-time sack chief with 34. His 16 sacks in 1984 are additionally a faculty document in a single season.

O’Neal was an All-American in each 1984 and unanimously in 1985 , and the Cowboys’ protection dominated. Throughout each seasons, Oklahoma State allowed 20 or extra factors simply thrice. For anchoring an unimaginable protection and being extremely dominant on his personal, O’Neal has greater than earned his spot as Oklahoma State’s all-time finest defender.

3. WR Justin Blackmon, 2009-11

Over the past decade and alter, Oklahoma State has had a knack for producing elite receivers. Dez Bryant discovered essentially the most success on the skilled degree, however Justin Blackmon was truly essentially the most profitable in faculty. Blackmon was a unanimous All-American in each 2010 and 2011, and boy did he earn it.

Blackmon performed sparingly in 2009 however dominated in 2010 with 1,782 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns, each single-season college information. He adopted that up with 1,522 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2011, main Oklahoma State soccer to a top-three end. He gained the Biletnikoff Award each years, turning into solely the second participant to win it twice after Michael Crabtree.

Blackmon is second in class historical past in receptions and receiving touchdowns and third in receiving yards. Though, if he performed a full 4 seasons, he would have shattered all three information. Though he couldn’t escape controversy in his temporary time within the NFL, nobody can deny how dominant Blackmon was at Oklahoma State.

2. RB Thurman Thomas, 1984-87

At practically another college, Thurman Thomas could be the best rusher and possibly even the best participant of all time. Nonetheless, his personal faculty teammate simply so occurs to be arguably the best faculty soccer participant ever. That stated, Thomas was nonetheless a fully unimaginable participant in his personal proper.

Thomas is Oklahoma State’s all-time main rusher with 4,847 profession dashing yards. He additionally rushed for 43 touchdowns, which additionally locations very extremely within the college’s document books. In each 1985 and 1987, Thomas rushed for no less than 1,600 yards and 15 touchdowns, incomes All-American honors in each.

Thomas then went on to have a stellar NFL profession with the Buffalo Payments, even turning into the league’s MVP in 1991. He was then inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2007 and is certainly one of solely two Oklahoma State gamers in Canton (no factors for guessing the opposite). Merely put, Thomas was among the best working backs to ever play soccer.

1. RB Barry Sanders, 1986-88

Wow, who may have presumably seen this placement coming? Barry Sanders is not only the best participant in Oklahoma State soccer historical past, however most likely the best faculty soccer participant ever. In his first two seasons, Sanders largely performed in Thomas’ shadow, though he was an All-American returner in 1987. In 1988, although, Sanders put collectively the best season faculty soccer has ever seen.

Sanders’ 1988 stats are merely unbelievable: 344 carries for two,628 yards and 37 touchdowns. His yardage and landing marks are nonetheless NCAA single-season information, and he averaged over 230 yards per sport. For sure, he gained the Heisman in a landslide that 12 months.

Sanders then had a tremendous NFL profession with the Detroit Lions, dashing for over 1,000 yards in every of his 10 seasons. Though he retired early, many nonetheless take into account Sanders to be the very best working again to ever play. Regardless of the place he went, Sanders simply went out on the sector and dominated.

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Oklahoma

Here's a peek at how our nonprofit news is funded • Oklahoma Voice

Published

5 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Here's a peek at how our nonprofit news is funded • Oklahoma Voice

People often ask me about how sustainable Oklahoma Voice’s operations are. It’s a fair question in an ever-shifting media landscape that’s plagued by layoffs, publication closures and lots of uncertainty about the future of our industry.

We’re lucky to be a part of States Newsroom. This nonprofit network has obtained sustainable, recurring funding for the four core positions in our nonprofit newsroom, which are held by myself and reporters Barbara Hoberock, Nuria Martinez-Keel and Emma Murphy.

That support will ensure we’re around for years to come.

So then where do you come in?

We share the belief that local buy-in to our mission is critical if we want to continue to grow.

One of my goals over the coming months is to add another reporter to our staff so that Oklahoma Voice can bring you more news to help fuel the conversations you’re having with your family and elected officials.

In less than a year, we’ve seen an amazing hunger for our stories. Thanks to your support, Oklahoma Voice stories were republished and quoted hundreds of times during the four-month legislative session. They appeared in publications across this state and beyond.

Our content is always free to read. It’s never behind a paywall. We don’t accept advertisements. And, you’ll never be inundated with annoying pop-ups.

We want everyone to have access to quality news they can use.

So, if you’ve liked our legislative coverage, then please consider making a tax-deductible donation so that we can continue to grow. Every little bit helps.

As always, thank you for your continued support and for being a reader.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules against Catholic charter school proposal

Published

13 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma Supreme Court rules against Catholic charter school proposal

St. Isidore, which aims to serve 1,500 students online within Oklahoma by its fifth year of operation, has the backing of Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt as well as former state schools superintendent Ryan Walters. Proponents of the plan say the online school would be a boon for rural Oklahoma students who do not have a Catholic school in their area.

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board had in April 2023 voted unanimously to disapprove the school’s application, later in June approving the contract 3-2 after revisions to the application.

Brett Farley, executive director of the Oklahoma Catholic Conference and a board member for the proposed school, told CNA following the first disapproval that the plan’s backers were “not discouraged at all.” He said at the time he believed Oklahoma’s government presents a “favorable environment to negotiate protections for religious liberty” to ensure that the school’s Catholic identity is not threatened by the acceptance of public funds.

The Archdiocese of Oklahoma City had pushed for approval of the school after former Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor issued an advisory opinion in late 2022 stating that because of the Supreme Court’s recent rulings, Oklahoma’s provisions banning religious schools from accessing public funds as charters could be unconstitutional. He cautioned that this legal change would not mean that religious schools using public funds “can necessarily operate however they want.” Drummond withdrew his predecessor’s opinion on the matter.

In a dissent to the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s majority opinion, Justice Dana Kuehn argued that St. Isidore’s would be a partner of the state, not a government entity, and thus the state denying funds to St. Isidore’s because it is religious would violate the free exercise clause of the First Amendment.

“St. Isidore would not be replacing any secular school, only adding to the options available, which is the heart of the Charter Schools Act,” she wrote.

“The state is not required to partner with private entities to provide common education. But if it does, it cannot close the door to an otherwise qualified entity simply because it is sectarian … Contracting with a private entity that has religious affiliations, by itself, does not establish a state religion, nor does it favor one religion over another.”

Jonah McKeown is a staff writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, as a producer for public radio, and as a videographer. He is based in St. Louis.

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Oklahoma

Alabama man accused of killings in 2 states enters not guilty pleas to Oklahoma murder charges

Published

20 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

Alabama man accused of killings in 2 states enters not guilty pleas to Oklahoma murder charges

SALLISAW, Okla. (AP) — An Alabama man accused in a string of killings in Oklahoma and Alabama has pleaded not guilty to two Oklahoma killings.

The pleas were entered on behalf of Stacy Lee Drake, 50, during a Monday court appearance, KHBS-TV reported. He faces two charges of enhanced murder.

Drake has has until Aug. 7 in the Oklahoma case to find a lawyer to represent him, or a public defender will be appointed for him, KHBS reported.

Relatives and friends of the victims packed the courtroom where Drake appeared.

Drake was apprehended Thursday in a wooded area in the Morrilton, Arkansas, area after a search that spanned multiple southern states, Arkansas State Police said.

Drake is accused of homicides and carjackings in Oklahoma, Arkansas State Police said. They said he’s also wanted on other felony warrants from multiple jurisdictions on charges including aggravated robbery, carjacking and murder.

A man and a woman were found dead inside a business near Gans, Oklahoma, near the Arkansas state line, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said. Both had injuries consistent with homicide, and the agency said Drake is a person of interest.

In Alabama, Drake is accused of killing Russell Andrews on May 14, according to the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. Capt. Jack Kennedy of the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit said there is a warrant for Drake on a murder charge. News outlets reported that Andrews, 62, was found dead inside the Alcoholic Anonymous building.

Tuscaloosa authorities said Andrews’ vehicle was stolen when he was killed and hours later was picked up by cameras travelling along an interstate near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border.

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