Friday, August 11, 2023
OSU is in a familiar QB battle, but this time, Gundy ‘might play multiple’ Braden Bush Sports Editor The news didn’t break until two hours before go time. After months of speculation, there was still no decision regarding the Cowboys’ starting quarterback job the morning of the 2019 season opener against Oregon State in Corvallis. Redshirt freshman Spencer Sanders battled senior Hawaii transfer Dru Brown all spring and summer for the reins of the offense, but coach Mike Gundy never announced a winner. Twelve hours until the game – nothing. Still no word with six hours to go. It wasn’t until 7:39 p.m. – two hours and one minute before the 9:40 p.m. CST kickoff time – that the decision came, but it wasn’t from the mouth of Gundy. In a tweet, Brett McMurphy reported that Sanders had beat out Brown and would get the start.
That was the last time OSU has had a quarterback battle ahead of the season. Now, in 2023, Gundy is back in that spot. A redshirt freshman in Garret Rangel, or a sixth-year senior in Michigan transfer Alan Bowman will lead the offense. Gundy hasn’t announced a starter and admitted he likely won’t until at least 12-14 practices into preseason camp, which still is no guarantee. There’s a chance he doesn’t settle on one at all. “We might play multiple quarterbacks,” Gundy said Saturday at OSU’s Football Media Day. “If there’s two guys that deserve to play, we’ll play multiple guys. If one guy takes the job, we’ll play one guy, but if two guys deserve to play then we’re going to have to play two guys.” The Cowboys have played multiple quarterbacks in a season before. Clint Chelf, J.W. Walsh and Wes Lunt each made starts in 2012, and each also passed for more than 1,000 yards. In 2015, Mason Rudolph was the main man, but Walsh was used in shortyardage and redzone packages where he threw for more than 700 yards and 13 touchdowns but ran for another 359 yards and 13 scores. See QB Battle on 3
Mackenzie Janish Garret Rangel started the Cowboys’ final two games in 2022 but only completed 43.8% of his passes. After the bowl game, he went right to work to improve and earn the starting job in 2023.
OSU MBB six-pack
New look roster, Keiton Page’s promotion and bullfighting
Courtesy of Adam Engel Christine Engel left an enormous legacy before her passing. She taught her son to embrace who he is and never give up.
Breakdowns and breakthroughs
Adam Engel looks at being different as a superpower was no secret to the people around him he would not stop until he got what he wanted. From age 3, Engel had the guidance of speech therapists, occupational therapists and a counselor. Luisa Clausen “I always knew there was Editor-in-Chief something there,” Adam said. “But my family has embraced People are different. Dif- me, no one treated me differently. My mom started a chapferent is good. That is what Adam Engel ter of an autism support group heard from his mom, Christine in Wyoming to connect with other moms.” Engel, since he was a kid. As Adam grew older, Adam, an OSU graduate, the challenges of his diagnosis used this phrase as an encourstarted to play a role in the agement when he felt distant family dynamic. Christine from the people around him. dedicated her time and love Diagnosed with autism and Asto Adam and his two sisters, perger syndrome in third grade, Emma and Ami. The glue that Adam did not let that stop him kept everyone together, Chrisfrom achieving his dream: tine was her kids’ best friend working with sports. and her husband’s, Scott Engel, Growing up in Gillette, Wyoming, Adam always knew better half. After being cancer free what he wanted to do, and it for 15 years, Christine’s kidney
cancer came back in full force in 2020 and did not give her and her family time to process the news before saying goodbye. The central pillar of the family, who shaped the lives of three humans, died at home with her kids around her. “She dedicated her life to the kids, specifically Adam,” Scott said. “His mom had the highest emotional intelligence of anybody I’ve ever met.” Before her sudden passing, Christine guided Adam through anger episodes, bullying and emotional conflicts. After many stays at mental health facilities, Adam said he was a junior in high school when the doctors found the right combination of medication that allowed him to manage overwhelming feelings. Since then, it has been a daily progress toward understanding and accepting his differences. See Superpower on 6
this summer during FIBA basketball about how to coach the four-star forward. “Being able to pick up his tendencies, the things that he naturally gravitates to try to do on the court, how we Ashton Slaughter can implement the things he’s really good at... those are some Assistant of those things I was able to Sports Editor really, really tune into,” Boynton said. Bryce Thompson and Since the OSU men’s John-Michael Wright’s combasketball team is currently mitment to OSU in Spain for three exhibition Many key pieces from games, now seems like an appropriate time to lean back, the 2022–23 Cowboy squad aren’t Cowboys anymore. kick your feet up and crack Bryce Thompson and John-Miopen a six-pack. chael Wright are the two older A Cowboy basketball guys left standing. six-pack, of course. Enjoy It’s more than just stickresponsibly. ing around to better themMike Boynton learned selves; the two want to reprehow to coach Eric Dailey Jr. sent the program and feel they with USA Basketball Not many college coach- have more to give in their time at OSU. es get to coach their players “I just feel like we as a before they make it to campus. team left a lot on the table,” Mike Boynton, though, Wright said. “I didn’t really has now coached freshman big man Eric Dailey Jr. twice, want to go out like that... I just wanted to give another crack at thanks to USA Basketball the it and just see what we can do last two summers. Despite the two having a (with) another year with a new long relationship, Boynton was group, new faces and just (a) able to answer some questions new attitude to the program.” See Roster on 2
Mia Ledbetter John-Michael Wright came back to OSU for a final year, saying he felt like last year’s team “left a lot on the table.”