Fleming had stood there, emotion-filled, before.
A cousin of former Cowboy Nate Fleming, one of the 10 who died that January 2001 night in Colorado, Tyler considered Nate his role model. Partly for that reason, Tyler seriously considered OSU. Eventually, however, he went with Wichita State, set to visit the Cowboys tonight at 6:30 p.m. in a non-conference clash of regional baseball powers.
"I went on my recruiting trip and they took me to the memorial and asked me if I'd ever seen it,” Tyler, a former Enid High standout, recalled this week. "I said, ‘Oh, yeah, I have.'
"And I told them about my cousin. They were kind of stunned.
"Part of me wanted to go to OSU, to be able to do the things that Nate didn't get to do. And kind of live the life that he wanted to end up living, go ahead and have a great career there.”
So far, Tyler's career at Wichita State is off to an impressive start.
A man for any situation out of the Shockers bullpen, Fleming was 2-1 with a 2.32 earned run average and four saves before he was scheduled to make his first career start against Kansas Tuesday night.
One of nine current Shockers from Oklahoma high schools, Tyler naturally would have preferred delaying his starting debut one more night.
"When I heard I was going to get a start, definitely Wednesday night would have been the one I wanted,” he said. "But for our pitching staff right now, it was more important for me to pitch on Tuesday.”
For the Cowboys and Shockers, it's an intriguing mid-week clash.
In the latest Baseball America poll, OSU is No. 13, Wichita State No. 14. Come time for postseason, both schools should be in the mix to host a regional or super regional – even competing for those coveted roles.
"I thought about that for a minute,” said Cowboys coach Frank Anderson, "but we've got so much more to take care of in conference and all that to just continue to play well. Conference is still the most important thing.
"So I don't know that it becomes any more or less important than any other mid-week game, other than it's Wichita State and it's a good regional rivalry and one we want to continue to have.”
For Tyler Fleming, even though he won't be pitching, this first meeting with OSU represents something special. A 6-foot-3, right-hander, Tyler lettered in baseball and football and earned valedictorian commendation at Enid. He won 10 games as a senior, then the following summer starred on the Enid team that won the 2005 American Legion World Series.
During the team's run, he was named MVP of the State and Mid-South Regional tournaments and made the World Series All-Tournament Team.
Twice drafted by the Texas Rangers – in the 20th and 39th rounds – he spent two years at Cowley College in Kansas, before pondering offers from Wichita State, OSU, Arkansas and Nebraska, among others.
While he ended up a Shocker, there were pulls to Stillwater.
His mother Judy is a former OSU cheerleader. There was the Cowboy baseball tradition to consider and several familiar faces, including Cowley teammates and guys he'd played against growing up, like Jordy Mercer.
"They're a great baseball program,” Tyler said, "always are.”
And there were the thoughts and memories of Nate.
"I was younger than him, but he was playing college basketball when I was in junior high and he was my idol,” Tyler said. "Every Thanksgiving was when I saw him the most. I got to spend a lot of time with him and got to know him pretty well.
"I loved him to death. He was the best kind of guy – all-around. Not only was he a good athlete, he was a good son, a good brother, a good friend and a great cousin.
"Since he's passed away, he's made me want to live my life like he did. And he's been a big inspiration for me. I think about him every day.”
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The truth is that OSU beat WSU. And we own a large margin of wins over WSU. But, you don't know much abotu "truth" just Cameron-grad opinions.
every one of you are sick, opportunistic people, I said nothing bad about osu, seems like the truths that I always tell about osu ring out loud and true.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Apr 24, 2008 at 10:33 am
"If you or anyone else doesn't like what I tell the truth about then ignore me, dont call the clasless names that you and others are so famous for.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore -"
Enough said, you hypocrite. You give Ardmore a bad name. Slow day in the trailer park?
Hey, Danny. Seems you know as little about baseball as you do anything else. OSU-5, WSU-3. Using our #5 and #6 pitchers. WSU outhit 5-13. Speaking of numbers, OSU's RPI-6, WSU-20 (OU-46). OSU's strength of schedule-20th, WSU-40th, (OU-ahem.....96th). Oh, and did I mention OSU just beat WSU. Your infatuation with OSU is disturbing. I swore I would not respond to anymore of your insane ramblings but you make it so easy.
the fact that the LouSER from ardmore used this to spew his useless information shows how disrespectful he is.....this article had NOTHING to do with OU why even post....Tyler is a great young man and Nate was one of the nicest people anyone could ever know I was fortunate to go to highschool with him as well as college and have him as one of my neighbors....and he was an inspiration to me as well as many other people so the fact you used this to get attention is absolutly disgusting and hard to believe you would try to use this for personal gain......you need to get a life and find the way out of your mothers basement you classless moron.....but you are a fan of the gooner nation and you are the very reason ou is one of the most hated programs in the country
I am curious to know if good old hillbilly is aware of the Sooners and their great prowess on the diamond during today's game with NAIA's Southern Nazarene.
By the way hillbilly, OSU is ranked nationally #13, Wichita State #14, and no ranking appearance by your chosen team. And according to you, that must really suck.
More great examples of misinformation spewed out by the hillbilly from Ardmore. OSU's all-time record vs. Wichita State in baseball is 49 wins and 24 losses. That's a nice .671 winning percentage. I have no idea what is happening this evening. Is it a rainout?
Danny, the truth is something you know little about, seeing your posts on here. It is almost sad that you try to pass off your snide remarks and untrue statements as "truth". Mike was not being classless or immature, look at yourself in the mirror and you will find who that is. Posting 3 times at 5 in the morning on an article on OSU. Do you just get done with your night shift at the Phillips gas station down the street? Get out of here, you know nothing of Wichita State or OSU for that matter. This has nothing to do with you and your false "truth".
What this story doesn't mention is that Tyler's father, Gary, was on the OU baseball team with Enos Semore coaching. Tyler made his own decision for the place that was best for him. Tyler is a awesome young man and Nate would be proud.
suckstobeyou, I normally ignore you. You aren't worth my time. But you have crossed the line this time. I went to school with Nate as well and know the family. They would be appalled that you used a story honoring their son's/brother's memory to promote your anti-OSU propaganda. You live a sad life and should be ashamed. If this story had been about him choosing between OU and Wichita State, you wouldn't have posted the same thing. Get a life. Stop exploiting others.
Mike from Tulsa, this time you have gone over the line, you and everyone else knows that the Shocker baseball team will give him the best chance to win, and thats all my posts below said. You are a sick individual turning this story into a personal story for you, do you even know the family? I'll bet you dont! So stop the negativity toward me and what I write. This has nothing to do with osu, when I write more about that school, and you can bet that I will, then you can show your lack of class and immaturity then, but until then get a life.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Apr 23, 2008 at 11:49 am
I dont know what you are talking about Mike from Tulsa, what did I say that was mean or wrong? The Shockers will be the best choice for him to be on a winning team, give it a rest Mike, stop worrying about what I say, seems like you have issues of your own. If you or anyone else doesn't like what I tell the truth about then ignore me, dont call the clasless names that you and others are so famous for.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Apr 23, 2008 at 11:37 am
I think anyone who has ever come into contact with the Flemings, both Tyler's and Nate's families, know they are truly classy people. I didn't know he was at Wichita State but will be following his career now.
Suckstobeyou, usually your posts are just immature and remedial at best therefore worth ignoring. This is an article you should have stayed away from. You are horribly classless.
the best school within 150 miles any way, the tradition and winning records within that radius at all those other schools is terrible. Once again, excellent choice.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Apr 23, 2008 at 5:15 am
great choice of schools Tyler, I hope everything works out for the best, once again, you couldn't have chosen a better more tradition filled school to attend, excellent choice.
itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore - Apr 23, 2008 at 5:13 am
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itmustsucktobeosu, ardmore -"
Enough said, you hypocrite. You give Ardmore a bad name. Slow day in the trailer park?
By the way hillbilly, OSU is ranked nationally #13, Wichita State #14, and no ranking appearance by your chosen team. And according to you, that must really suck.