30,000 challenge is part of the plan

STILLWATER — When Oklahoma State's fifth-year seniors were being recruited, coaches sold a dream.

David Koenig, Jeremy Nethon and Marque Fountain were shown drawings of what the future would look like if they signed with the Cowboys, how rusty Lewis Field would be transformed into an NFL-like venue.

Four years later, steel beams in the west end zone and state-of-the-art north and south stands featuring suites are proof it's a new day in Stillwater.

The stadium renovation project is part of the motivation for coach Mike Gundy challenging 30,000 fans to attend today's annual Orange-White spring game. Kickoff is 5:30 p.m. at Boone Pickens Stadium.

"Our coaches and players are committed to take this program to another level,” Gundy said. "The reason for the 30,000 challenge is so everybody can get on the same thought process of what it's going to take in order to take this program to another level.

"You look around the country, college teams that are football national powers, their spring games draw 40,000 or 50,000. Tennessee, from what I hear, has 102,000.”

Gundy and his staff have divided rosters equally. Bobby Reid and Adarius Bowman will lead an Orange team against a White team led by Dantrell Savage and Brandon Pettigrew.

The spring finale will resemble a real game with blitzes, hits on quarterbacks and special teams, although at times there will be a running clock due to limited reserves.

With more than 400 former players planning to attend today's game, there's optimism this is a program on the rise.

"You definitely sense a renewed interest,” said tight ends coach Doug Meacham, who played at OSU in the 1980s. "I never would have dreamed of having a shot at having 30,000 people watch a spring game. When I played here it was your mom and dad and a few others.”

Boone Pickens' donations, highlighted by a one-time $160 million gift, have allowed the Cowboys to dream big dreams.

"I'm blown away by the commitment being made,” said running backs coach Curtis Luper, who played at OSU in the 1980s. "When I was here there were bleachers and concessions stands. That's it. Now everything is first class.”

When the third and final phase of a $260 million project is complete in two years, OSU will have a stadium that will rank among the top college venues.

"It affected me in recruiting and all they could show me were pictures,” said Fountain, a senior defensive end. "Now they can actually show recruits what's going on here. No doubt it will help recruiting.”

It already has. OSU has signed back-to-back top 25 classes.

"Seeing the steel go up in the west end zone is something that will impact players,” Gundy said. "Both the sides were for the fans. This end zone will affect players where we can back up what we said, that we'll have the best facilities.”

Koenig, a senior offensive lineman, said watching bulldozers, sky cranes and construction crews on a daily basis the past four years motivates players.

"Expectations are greater and that's on everybody's shoulders,” Koenig said. "Everybody can now see it to where everyone believes it's going to happen. It's tangible. When I came here it was a dream, something that was going to happen.”

Nethon, a senior linebacker, said he will leave OSU with a sense of pride, having played during an era millions of dollars were poured into the program.

"It's something I'll come back and show my kids,” Nethon said. "I'll tell them how we came from rusty bleachers to where it's going to be one of the best facilities in the country.

"There's no reason why OSU can't compete with anybody. You see the progress. The players feel it. You feel like you're part of building something really special.”