Friday, May 19, 2023
‘A freakin’ two-way All-American’ McLean’s multi-sport background prepared him for OSU of being a multi-sport athlete prepared McLean to be a two-way player on the OSU baseball team and an MLB prospect. “I didn’t think much of it,” McLean said. “I really saw it as my daily itinerary. I was just being a kid. Daniel Allen “I didn’t really have a favorite Staff Reporter sport growing up. Honestly, whatever sport I was playing at the time was Derrik Goffena thought surely his probably my favorite. I just liked compitcher had to be worn out. peting. It built me into who I am.” The Garner High School (North Carolina) baseball coach watched No*** lan McLean heave pitch after pitch with a velocity in the mid-90s. And McLean McLean’s father, Derek, often was doing it an hour removed from tells him he grew up on a baseball diafootball practice. mond and a football field. This wasn’t a one-time scenario. To some capacity, that holds true. It was daily. Derek, a parks and recreations “He just spent hours in football director near their hometown of Willow pads bumping around and hitting other Springs, North Carolina, recalls dropkids,” Goffena thought. ping his son off at football and baseball “Nolan, are you sure?” Goffena camps or games before work. called out. As Nolan became more immersed McLean answered his coach with in athletics, eventually adding basketa nod. Goffena recalls McLean then ball to his schedule, his parents grew striking out five batters and hitting a concerned about his workload. So, they home run during that practice. made him an ultimatum. It was just another day in the life “Son,” Derek said, “we know for McLean, a junior at the time. Wake you love playing, but if you ever fall up, morning lift, school, football prac- behind, we’re gonna take it away from tice, fall baseball practice. That grind you. School comes first.”
Chase Davis Nolan McLean has a 1.65 ERA, which is the best on the team for pitchers with at least 10 appearances.
Nolan, 9 at the time, agreed, saying, “Dad, I just want to play.” Nolan never fell behind on his schoolwork. He worked rigorously to ensure he could participate in the highlight of his day. For that to happen, he made a game of it. “I just thought it was fun,” Nolan said. “At the time I didn’t think much of it. I was just focused on getting past school so I could play sports.” As time progressed, Nolan garnered national exposure. His talent showed as a quarterback on the football field, a forward on the basketball court
and all over on the baseball diamond. College coaches came calling, and offers gradually spewed in. Throughout his recruitment, Nolan and his father made one thing clear to college coaches: he was playing football and baseball in college, or he wasn’t committing. Nolan turned down his dream school, North Carolina, and committed to Oklahoma State, shortly after his official visit and a lengthy conversation with football coach Mike Gundy and baseball coach Josh Holliday. See All-American on 2
College athletics
Unfairness in funding Dylan Taylor O’Colly Contributor
Chase Davis Bedlam always has extra meaning, but for OSU, this time there are Big 12 title and postseason implications.
OSU’s chase for Big 12 title meets Bedlam Braden Bush Sports Editor Nobody on OSU’s baseball roster grew up closer to Bedlam than Isaac Stebens. He played at Stillwater High School, just up the road from O’Brate Stadium, and always wanted to be a Cowboy. He played two seasons at Cowley College with the hope that OSU would come calling one day. And the Cowboys did. Now, in his first season at OSU, Stebens finally has the chance to compete in the instate rivalry that took place
in his backyard. They don’t control their So, what does Bedown destiny – WVU must lam mean to the hometown lose two or three to Texas pitcher? Surely something. this weekend – but they “Nothing,” Stebens can control what they can said. “Nothing. You only control and give themselves give it as much power as you championship hopes with a let it… To everybody else, series win or sweep against it’s a little extra, probably, the Sooners. when the outside world sees “It’s what we’ve been us playing them. But it’s still playing for all year,” Stejust another series.” bens said. “It’s only fitting But this weekend’s that it comes down to OU. Bedlam series in Norman So, that’s a little fun, that’s a isn’t just another series. For little extra. But at the end of this year’s OSU team, which the say, it’s still just another sits second in the Big 12 in series that we gotta go out the final week of the seaand win.” son and is on the bubble of OSU second basehosting and NCAA regional, man Roc Riggio grew up Bedlam means a lot. in California and had no The Cowboys (35-15, knowledge of Bedlam or its 13-8 Big 12) sit two games significance in Oklahoma. behind West Virginia in the As a freshman last season, conference title race with he got his first taste. three games remaining, after winning 12 of 14 games. See Big 12 on 4
release documents that display the gross income and expenditures for a publicly funded athletic department. In 2019, OU brought in the most total revenue of the three schools with $163 million. Although these schools bring in a substantial amount of money, not all of it is prioritized toward small sports, especially women’s sports. This has been a major controversy over the past few years as television numbers are on the rise. OU gymnastics and softball have proven to be very dominant, with each totaling up 12 total National Championships together. However, with how dominant football is at the school, these teams don’t get the same recognition. “People know they’re really good but since they’re not football they don’t get the same exposure which equates to not having as much funding as football, ” said Brenna Sawney, a senior at OU.“Football at OU has a cultish following, so all of the resources are relegated to that program.”
College athletics are a big money-maker for universities across the country. Schools like Oklahoma State University pride itself on its athletics achievements and many times dedicate much of its funding toward these programs. While geographically similar to schools like the University of Oklahoma and the University of Arkansas, these universities financially prioritize different areas of sports. College athletics matter just as much to others as football does to the majority. College athletics can help bring a sense of pride to a student body, so it is important to know how the spending is used for these teams. Sports such as softball and gymnastics have just as talented athletes and competition but do not get the same exposure. Under the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, all public universities are required by law to See Funding on 6
Carson Toulouse Former Oklahoma State women’s basketball player Kassidy De Lapp said she felt the women’s team did not get the same treatment as the men’s team.