NewsOK member benefits

What they're saying about OSU donor Boone Pickens: ‘it was kind of the perfect storm'

COMPILED BY BRANDON CHATMON AND JOHN HELSLEY | Published: July 2, 2011 Comment on this article

Multimedia

Videoview all videos

Press Row: Could OSU-Texas wind up on the Longhorn Network?

Jul 7Jenni Carlson and Mike Sherman talk about the possibility...

Press Row: Credit for Les

Jun 17Did Les Miles pave the way to where OSU Football is today?

Photoview all photos

Article Gallery: What they're saying about OSU donor Boone Pickens: ‘it was kind of the perfect storm'

NewsOK Related Articles

What OSU coach Mike Gundy looks for in recruits
07/09/2011 One of the great aspects of Mike Gundy's program has been quality evaluation. It seems like Gundy and his coaching staff find recruiting gems each season....
Honesty with the players is a core of Mike Gundy's program
07/09/2011 A core principle of Mike Gundy's program is honesty with Oklahoma State players and recruits. The Cowboy head coach strives for fairness and honesty when...
Coach Mike Gundy has elevated Oklahoma State's football program
07/09/2011 STILLWATER — Nobody deserves more credit for Oklahoma State's rise on the college football landscape than Mike Gundy. The Cowboys' first-class...
Boone Pickens' commitment never wavered despite major setback in 2008
07/02/2011 Oklahoma State's dreams of build an athletic village took a major hit in 2008 when the Cowboy investment fund lost over $250 million, forcing the plans for...
Boone Pickens gets his money's worth out of OSU donation
07/02/2011 STILLWATER —When Joe DeForest learned of Boone Pickens' $165 million gift to Oklahoma State in 2005, one thought immediately came into the mind of the...
OSU's first-class facilities help secure commitment from QB Wes Lunt
07/02/2011 Searching for a tangible example of the impact first-class facilities can make? Look no further than recent Oklahoma State commitment Wes Lunt of Rochester...
The story behind Boone Pickens' $165 million donation to OSU
06/25/2011 STILLWATER — Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder was relentless in his pursuit to acquire money for the Cowboy football program. When deciding...
Improved facilities come with increased expectations for OSU football and Mike Gundy
06/25/2011 Former Oklahoma State coach Pat Jones understands how difficult it can be when you don't have the means to compete with the nation's best. “It wasn't...
OSU athletic director Mike Holder repeatedly turned failure into opportunity
06/25/2011 STILLWATER — Failure is a word that immediately brings negative thoughts into the mind. Yet, failure has played a critical role in Oklahoma State's rise...
A look at Les Miles' supporting cast while he was at OSU
06/18/2011 When Miles was hired, he shifted some of his proposed salary into his staff search, to help attract the assistants he wanted. It was an unselfish move. And...
OSU's key players during Les Miles era included Billy Bajema, Corey Hilliard
06/18/2011 Les Miles inherited several key players from former OSU coach Bob Simmons — Tatum Bell, Rashaun Woods, Kevin Williams, Greg Richmond, Sam Mayes and others...
Key moments for OSU during the Les Miles era
06/18/2011 Key moments as Les Miles led the Cowboys out of the dark disappointment of the final Bob Simmons years and toward a brighter future: Nov. 24, 2001: OSU 16,...
OSU football program's rise started with Les Miles
06/18/2011 The efforts of four men were key to the Cowboys' ascension, but it started with Les Miles, who initiated the rise with a change in attitude, direction and...
Collected Wisdom: OSU offensive coordinator Todd Monken
06/18/2011 Age: 45 Residence: Stillwater Todd Monken might be Oklahoma State's new offensive coordinator, but his influence on the program's rise to Big 12 and...

Special teams coordinator Joe DeForest: “Because of Boone, you get other big-time people on board. I think there was so much momentum that people got excited. And they saw progress, and anytime there's progress it's easier to give.”

Athletic director Mike Holder: “It's amazing the difference one or two guys can make in the future of something. It was kind of the perfect storm. Two guys that were tired of watching Oklahoma State flounder in football with one of them being in position to do something about it monetarily and one guy who, eventually, was in position on campus as a leader.”

Boone Pickens on his timeline of success: “I didn't have a year-by-year how many wins but I did say to (Coach Mike) Gundy last year, this ‘Being competitive' has moved closer to ‘We need to win.' I'd say everything is on schedule.”