Friends, foes, and friends in low places, if you’re back reading after my previous spooky Oklahoma State post regarding losses that led you to Stillwater’s Main Street Brown’s Bottle Shop, you’re in for a better, more uplifting, read on late night Hallow’s Eve. Previously, I broke down the top 5 spookiest games that broke me in the last 15 years of Cowboys football. 

Tonight, I’ll pop off on the first 5 games that have kept me spending money at Chris’ University Spirit and paying the sponsored Boys Scouts of America parking cost in the Food Pyramid, now Homeland (real ones know it’s still either Albertsons or Food Pyramid), parking lot off of Main. From there, we journey to the Duck Street OnCue for a 32oz cup full of ice to mix and head towards George’s Stables, Joe’s, The Garage, Knoblock Street and then maybe to Stonewall with the Loyal and True tailgaters. Sound as familiar as it has been for me?

All of that is tradition. As is a gameday limey at Copper Penny, the neon palms (bring them back!) at Murphy’s, beer pong at Willies, or the ever-relenting ID check at College Bar, no matter your age. 

Gameday in Stillwater is not just about the football game. It is also very much about the culture. It’s spending way too much money on Oklahoma State gear at the student union, it’s about realizing that you’re not getting a table at Eskimo Joes on gameday if you’re not early, it’s throwing in the towel and parking at University Center Church of Christ when you didn’t get to Stilly in time for a closer parking spot. 

Here on OkState Roundtable, I’m not just going to be analyzing the athletics part of Oklahoma State, I’m also going to makesure I give credit to why I, and the readers of this channel, call Stillwater our mecca. 

Part of that Cowboy culture, that is ever still building (See Section 231), is recognizing the nicknames and organically grown traditions that live on from season to season. It’s why I’ve written about both shared Oklahoma State fandom joy and fandom pain. I, now, give you, while not doctor-recommended, the shared eventual “Where’s That Sooner Magic Now, Baby?” absolute Cardiac Cowboy joy. Before beginning, I want to clarify that I’ll be addressing further games that helped Oklahoma State earn the Cardiac Cowboys name. I started my “top 5” and realized that didn’t properly encapsulate the entirety of the “Cardiac” portion of the nickname. Without further ado though…

November 5, 2011 – Kansas State 45, Oklahoma State 52

The ”Earthquake Game”, the loudest I’ve ever heard Boone Pickens Stadium, the Kirk Herbstreit “blank face”, when he realized that it wasn’t an Oklahoma State that caused the ground to shake, but it was fracking in Cushing, Oklahoma that made Hall of Fame Avenue quake. Former KState QB, Collin Klein, put it all on the line but it wasn’t ultimately enough and the Pokes escaped in the final seconds with a defensive stand inside their own 10-yard line. It was an earth-shattering victory for Oklahoma State. Maybe the best game I’ve ever been in attendance for? 

September 26, 2015 – Oklahoma State 30, Texas 27

Again, friend, Billy Locke and I were attendance for this game. It was super super hot Austin, Texas day and the sun was beating down hard during the 2:30PM kickoff. I remember the sunburn I received to this day. The Charlie Strong led Longhorns fell to multiple mistakes this day and committedmultiple game changing penalties in the final four or so minutes that allowed Oklahoma State to escape DKR with a win. At no point in time, until the clock reached 0:00, was I convinced Mason Rudolph and the Pokes were going to come out on top. They did, though. Thankfully. And friend, Billy Locke, and I had an all-time memorable night on Austin’s Sixth Street and Oklahoma State graduate owned bar, The Blind Pig. 

October 10, 2015 – Oklahoma State 33, West Virginia 26 – OT

I don’t care how good your team is…Morgantown, West Virginia is one of the scariest, trap game, places to play in the entire contiguous lower 48. It’s not up for discussion now and it wasn’t up for discussion in 2015 when Oklahoma State visited the Mountaineers. Noted Oklahoma State great, Emmanuel Ogbah, started off the game with an easy defensive tuddy off a WVU fumble. Pokes running back, Rennie Childs, continued running it up, in the 1st quarter, to make it 14 to nothing Pokes. The Mountaineers managed a safety to make it 17-2 at half and the Pokes were rolling to victory it seemed. WVU had other plans and had a second half resurgence that allowed them to take this game to overtime. Cowboys quarterback, J.W. Walsh saved the day in OT as he punched in from the 2-yard line to lead Oklahoma State over West Virginia 33-26. 

December 6, 2014 – Oklahoma State 38, Oklahoma 35 – OT

Bob Stoops, for the longest time, was and is still considered Mike Gundy’s kryptonite. It seemed it was going to remain that way in 2014. That was up until Bobby Stoops decided to redo the punt, after an Oklahoma State running into the kicker penalty, with 1:01 to go in the fourth quarter. Enter Oklahoma State WR/PR Tyreek Hill. Stoops decides to punt again from five yards back and Oklahoma State punt returner, Hill, takes it 92 yards to the house to tie the game with 45 seconds left to play in the final quarter. The game would go to overtime and Oklahoma State would come out on top in Norman, 38-35.

 November 4, 2023 – Oklahoma 24, Oklahoma State 27

The Final Bedlam. The final Bedlam in the very foreseeable future happened in the beginning of November 2023. Oklahoma was headed to the SEC and, from then on, the State of Oklahoma football fans don’t know when the next in-state matchup between Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will be. 

All things considered, Oklahoma State likes it that way for the time being. Oklahoma State featured transfer, Alan Bowman, at quarterback, while flexing Doak Walker award winner, Ollie Gordon, at running back. It was slated as the final Bedlam and bragging rights for the foreseeable future were on the line. 

At the start of the fourth quarter, the Cowboys were down 21-17. With almost 8 minutes left, Cowboys running back, Ollie Gordon would push into the endzone and give Oklahoma State the lead, 24-21. Pokes kicker, Alex Hale, would push that lead to six points with a field goal at the seven minute mark.

That left OU head coach, Brett Venables and QB Dillon Gabriel, half a quarter to figure it out. Brett and Dillon could not garner a touchdown, though OU kicker, Zach Schmit did make it a field goal game with just under five minutes to play. The Sooners went five plays for just 29 yards on their final drive to either tie or win the game and fell short. Oklahoma State wins the final Bedlam game, in Stillwater. Cowboy fans, rightfully, are still holding onto that joyous moment two seasons later. When will the next Bedlam matchup be?

Again, if you’ve made it this far and read yesterday’s article, I hope I’ve given you somewhat of a reprieve or a form of eye bleach. Tomorrow, I will add a Dia De Los Muertos version of games that coined the term “Vaqueros Cardíacos”. 

OklahomaOState AD, Chad Weiberg, is hot on the search for the next great Oklahoma State head coach and, from what we’ve heard, we can continue to be hopeful for the return of the Cardiac Cowboys next season.