Former Oklahoma lineman dons orange to support daughter, Cowgirls

What, Me Worry? Facing long odds and the long arms of LSU would be enough to drive most teams...
LAUNCH VIDEO PLAYER

ADVERTISEMENT

His daughter, Megan, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who transferred to OSU last summer, had just rebounded an Andrea Riley miss and converted a put-back to give the Cowgirls a three-point lead. It also set the stage for Riley's game-winning free throw that put OSU in the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history.

The Cowgirls will play LSU at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans.

"He doesn't have any problem wearing orange now,” Megan Byford said of her father. "He came up after the game and told me how proud he was of me for being able to step up.”

Three months ago, Lyndle Byford wasn't so crazy about sporting Cowgirl colors. He was an all-Big Eight offensive lineman at Oklahoma from 1977-1982. He helped lead the crimson and cream to three Orange Bowl victories. His background told him orange and black represents the enemy. Lyndle Byford was trained to tackle anything wearing those colors.

So for as long as possible, he avoided wearing it.

"I always wore black to Megan's games,” he said.

But when OSU hosted Oklahoma in the first round of Bedlam on Jan. 12, Lyndle Byford finally gave in.

"I promised Megan I would wear orange for Bedlam,” Lyndle said. "When your daughter is playing, you'll do anything for her.”

Lyndle's relationship with Megan reaches far deeper than any school rivalry.

When Megan was a freshman at Bray-Doyle High School, she wanted to play Division I basketball. Her dad knew what it took and provided the push she needed to make it happen.

"He has prepared me for it,” Megan Byford said. "He has made me the best player I can be, and at the same time, kept me grounded in it. I think I have an advantage having a dad who played Division I sports.”

When Megan blew out both of her knees and was forced to play junior college basketball after high school, Lyndle could relate. He suffered a torn ligament as a sophomore against Iowa State. Lyndle missed the 1979 Orange Bowl.

"I told her it is a long and lonely road back,” he said. "I told her you have to do all the rehab yourself, and that if she wanted to play and be successful, you have to suck it up and do it.”

Megan Byford said her father's success on the field serves as motivation. After hearing stories of championships and rivalry games and looking at her father's Big Eight title ring while growing up, Megan wanted her own jewelry. She wanted her own stories to tell.

After less than a year in Stillwater, the stories abound: A 19-point Bedlam win. A trip to the Big 12 Tournament finals. And of course, the put-back that eventually propelled the Cowgirls into the Sweet 16.

"This is her time now,” Lyndle Byford said.

Lyndle Byford left his Big Eight championship ring at home during the Big 12 Tournament two weeks ago in an effort to avoid taking attention away from Megan and the Cowgirls.

"My time is done,” he said. "This is all about her, and I am awfully proud.”

OSU senior Danielle Green said of taking on LSU in the Tigers' home state: "It will be loud, but there will be some orange in the stands.”

Lyndle Byford will be included.

"I'll be there, with my orange shirt and my O-State cap” he said. "Blood runs thicker than your alma mater.”