Oklahoma State Cowboys History

Oklahoma State's athletics department has long been known as one of the most tradition-rich programs in the country not just in one or two sports, but in all sports.

OSU has accumulated 44 NCAA National Championships over the years, the fourth-most in NCAA history. Only Stanford, USC and UCLA own more national titles.

In the Sears Cup standings, OSU has finished among the top 30 programs six times since the award's inception in 1994. The award is designed to recognize the best all-around athletics programs in the country.

Individually, more than 140 OSU student-athletes have won national titles, including Cowboy wrestlers Johnny Thompson and Jake Rosholt this spring.

While competing in the Big Eight Conference, the Cowboys and Cowgirls won 135 team titles and crowned 500 individual conference champions.

These impressive results have come despite Oklahoma State operating on one of the most modest budgets in the nation.

Pistol Pete

From the 1890s on, Oklahoma A&M sports teams had been referred to as the Agriculturists or Aggies, the Farmers, and officially but unpopularly, the Tigers. But by 1924 Charles Saulsberry, sports editor of the Oklahoma City Times, and other writers who regularly covered college events had begun to refer to Stillwater's teams as the A&M Cowboys. The Athletic Council authorized Athletic Director Edward C. Gallagher to have 2,000 balloons printed, "Oklahoma Aggies - Ride 'Em Cowboy" for sale at football games in 1926.
The nickname was quickly adopted, yielding a genuine identity that had long been lacking on campus and around the community. Around 1923, an early U.S. deputy marshal, Frank B. "Pistol Pete" Eaton, headed Stillwater's Armistice Day Parade. At the parade?s end, the search for a replacement for the Tigers was over.

The spirited image of a tough, proud, self-reliant cowboy triggered by Eaton became a cartoon drawing. The new mascot was easily woven into campus life, but it was not until 1984 that official sanction would be given to the emblem and its "Pistol Pete" moniker. By then, the Cowboys had already been settled into 60 years of vocabularies and print, spilling over into the general references to the student body, alumni, faculty and fans.

For thirty-five years, the crusty old cowboy was a living symbol of OSU, representing the colorful past of the area. As such, he would attend OSU athletic events, building dedications, etc., and sign autographs, pose for photographs and reminisce about the Old West with anyone who would listen.

Each year, 10 to 15 OSU students try out for Pistol Pete. A panel of former "Petes" judge the tryouts and select the two best candidates based on an interview, a mime, and posing as mascot in different "game situations". The two who are selected split the approximately 500 appearances annually, including all athletic events, pep rallies, business openings, weddings, birthday parties, and public school events.

Though Pistol Pete has been OSU's mascot since 1923, only since 1958 has someone worn the current garb and "head".

OSU Alma Mater

This OSU hymn is played at twenty past the hour by the Library Carillon on campus. Whenever OSU faithful gather, alums use their arms to spell the letters O-S-U on the final three notes of the song. And all Cowboys know the left arm is up on the "S"!

Proud and immortal
Bright Shines Your Name
Oklahoma State
We Herald Your Fame
Ever You'll Find Us
Loyal and True
To Our Alma Mater
O-S-U!

Fight Song Lyrics

(Cowboys a riding,
Lassoes a-flying,
Under the western sky.
And as they ride,
We rise to sing and shout our battle cry!)
Ride, ride, ride, ride,
Ride 'em Cowboys,
Right down the field;
Fight! Fight! Fight! Fight!
Fight 'em Cowboys, and never yield.
Ride, ride, ride, ride,
Ride on, Cowboys, to victory;
Cross (opponent)'s goal;
Then we'll sing 'O-kla-homa State!

OSU Spirit Run

With the unveiling of the renovated Gallagher-Iba Arena came another tradition - the Spirit Run. At least once during home basketball games, a member of the OSU Cheerleading Squad runs around the upper level of the arena carrying a huge OSU flag while the Spirit Band plays the William Tell Overture.