Oklahoma State University Athletics
A Really Orange Fan
September 06, 2006 | Cowboy Football
He has seen 12 bowl teams and Oklahoma State's career leaders in passing, rushing and receiving play all their home games. He has seen a Heisman trophy winner, 23 All-Americans, 12 future first-round picks, four future NFL All-Pros and two future NFL MVPs in his favorite orange and black.
He experienced the 1988 season and the excitement of Oklahoma State's “triplets”, and he sat through every home game of the disappointing 0-10-1 season.
That is life for Chickasha, Okla. native and OSU alum Gary Badgett. Badgett started going to the Cowboy's home football games in 1964 when he was a freshman at Oklahoma State, and he has not stopped.
In fact, Badgett has only missed one home football games since 1964, the home opener of the 1972 season. That makes 197 straight Oklahoma State home games he has seen and 232 games in all.
Not only has Badgett been going to games since 1964, he has had the same seats since he first bought season tickets in 1972.
“When I started in school everybody would go to the games and I did not miss one,” Badgett said. “After I graduated, I moved to Chickasha, and bought individual game tickets. In 1972, Section O opened up for season tickets, and I have had the same tickets every year.”
Badgett, who graduated from OSU with a degree in industrial engineering, has passed his love for Cowboy football down to his family. He attends games with his wife of 34 years, Charlotte, daughter, Julie, son-in-law Tim Sinn and two grandsons Andrew and Luke. The Badgett clan all sit in section O together.
The last couple of years, Gary has enjoyed tailgating with his family on game days but before that Gary and Charlotte ate at a local restaurant before every game.
“Before (tailgating), we would go to Hideaway before every game. One football Saturday the owner came out and gave me a hat,” Badgett said. “I did not know him, but he said that I had to be his oldest living customer.”
When asked about his favorite game day tradition, Bullet's name popped up as a family favorite.
“Well, my grandkids love Bullet. I like that I also,” Badgett said. “I am a horse guy and have some horses so I enjoy that. “
Oklahoma State's link with the cowboy is one thing that has connected Badgett to the university he loves.
“I love the connection OSU has with traditional cowboy values,” Badgett Said. “I like the western aspect about the university.”
While Badgett has seen nine head coaches patrolling the sidelines for OSU, he has no problem telling people that he is the No. 1 fan of the current Oklahoma State skipper.
“I will tell you this, I am a Mike Gundy fan,” raved Badgett. “I saw every home game he played in and saw several of his road games. I love his passion for Oklahoma State and his competitiveness. I think he knows the game.”
In fact, one of Badgett's favorite stories about Cowboy football is when, as a true freshman, Gundy saw the first action of his record-breaking playing career against Houston.
“I cannot remember the game, but Mike Gundy came in at halftime, during his freshman year, to relieve the quarterback at the time,” remembers Badgett. “It was Mike's first college game, and the rumor was that he only knew four plays. I do not know if it is true but it went around that they had to write the four plays on his hand, and they signaled to him which one to run. I do not know if it is true, but it was great memory.”
Badgett showed just how orange he was when he listed Oklahoma State's 38-28 Bedlam win over No. 3 Oklahoma in Stillwater in 2002 as his favorite game.
“I can die now that I have seen that game,” Badgett said.
Not only does the die-hard Cowboy not miss a home game, but he does not like to leave early either. He claims to have sat through every minute of the 1985 Ice Bowl with OU and every home game of the 0-10-1 season in 1991.
When asked about who is his favorite player was to ever put on the OSU jersey, the conversation quickly came back to Gundy.
“Mike Gundy,” Badgett said. “We have had some guys like Thurman (Thomas), Barry (Sanders) and Walt Garrison who were probably physically better, but Mike is my favorite football player of all time.”
Asked if he had any future plans to quit going to games or if anything would keep him away from Stillwater on football Saturdays, Badgett's answer was simple.
“Shoot no, if I am alive I won't miss a game,” Badgett said. “I don't know how long that will be, but I will be here as long as I can.”
He experienced the 1988 season and the excitement of Oklahoma State's “triplets”, and he sat through every home game of the disappointing 0-10-1 season.
That is life for Chickasha, Okla. native and OSU alum Gary Badgett. Badgett started going to the Cowboy's home football games in 1964 when he was a freshman at Oklahoma State, and he has not stopped.
In fact, Badgett has only missed one home football games since 1964, the home opener of the 1972 season. That makes 197 straight Oklahoma State home games he has seen and 232 games in all.
Not only has Badgett been going to games since 1964, he has had the same seats since he first bought season tickets in 1972.
“When I started in school everybody would go to the games and I did not miss one,” Badgett said. “After I graduated, I moved to Chickasha, and bought individual game tickets. In 1972, Section O opened up for season tickets, and I have had the same tickets every year.”
Badgett, who graduated from OSU with a degree in industrial engineering, has passed his love for Cowboy football down to his family. He attends games with his wife of 34 years, Charlotte, daughter, Julie, son-in-law Tim Sinn and two grandsons Andrew and Luke. The Badgett clan all sit in section O together.
The last couple of years, Gary has enjoyed tailgating with his family on game days but before that Gary and Charlotte ate at a local restaurant before every game.
“Before (tailgating), we would go to Hideaway before every game. One football Saturday the owner came out and gave me a hat,” Badgett said. “I did not know him, but he said that I had to be his oldest living customer.”
When asked about his favorite game day tradition, Bullet's name popped up as a family favorite.
“Well, my grandkids love Bullet. I like that I also,” Badgett said. “I am a horse guy and have some horses so I enjoy that. “
Oklahoma State's link with the cowboy is one thing that has connected Badgett to the university he loves.
“I love the connection OSU has with traditional cowboy values,” Badgett Said. “I like the western aspect about the university.”
While Badgett has seen nine head coaches patrolling the sidelines for OSU, he has no problem telling people that he is the No. 1 fan of the current Oklahoma State skipper.
“I will tell you this, I am a Mike Gundy fan,” raved Badgett. “I saw every home game he played in and saw several of his road games. I love his passion for Oklahoma State and his competitiveness. I think he knows the game.”
In fact, one of Badgett's favorite stories about Cowboy football is when, as a true freshman, Gundy saw the first action of his record-breaking playing career against Houston.
“I cannot remember the game, but Mike Gundy came in at halftime, during his freshman year, to relieve the quarterback at the time,” remembers Badgett. “It was Mike's first college game, and the rumor was that he only knew four plays. I do not know if it is true but it went around that they had to write the four plays on his hand, and they signaled to him which one to run. I do not know if it is true, but it was great memory.”
Badgett showed just how orange he was when he listed Oklahoma State's 38-28 Bedlam win over No. 3 Oklahoma in Stillwater in 2002 as his favorite game.
“I can die now that I have seen that game,” Badgett said.
Not only does the die-hard Cowboy not miss a home game, but he does not like to leave early either. He claims to have sat through every minute of the 1985 Ice Bowl with OU and every home game of the 0-10-1 season in 1991.
When asked about who is his favorite player was to ever put on the OSU jersey, the conversation quickly came back to Gundy.
“Mike Gundy,” Badgett said. “We have had some guys like Thurman (Thomas), Barry (Sanders) and Walt Garrison who were probably physically better, but Mike is my favorite football player of all time.”
Asked if he had any future plans to quit going to games or if anything would keep him away from Stillwater on football Saturdays, Badgett's answer was simple.
“Shoot no, if I am alive I won't miss a game,” Badgett said. “I don't know how long that will be, but I will be here as long as I can.”
Friday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
