Oklahoma State University Athletics
Behind the Scenes With LeRoy McCullough
September 22, 2010 | Cowboy Football
Sept. 22, 2010
By Katie Ann Robinson
OSU Media Relations
As the bright orange Polaris makes its way out to the center of the football field with Pistol Pete, LeRoy McCullough embraces the roar of the sea of orange. When the shotgun sounds and fans rise to their feet, gesturing and screaming the familiar “O-S-U Cowboys” chant, McCullough knows that football season is finally in gear, and his job gets a little bit more exciting.
As a marketing coordinator for Oklahoma State Athletics, McCullough's job is to get the crowd pumped up during every game with his animated voice and witty remarks. This sort of job is perfect for McCullough and his outgoing personality, contagious enthusiasm and love for OSU athletics.
“It's cool that I get the opportunity to be on the field and 'work', if you want to call it that,” McCullough said. “It's basically like being a fan with some responsibilities, and I love it.”
Although he is usually spotted on the Polaris playing music and creating hype for the weekend's game on the Edmon Low Library lawn, McCullough has several other responsibilities throughout the week.
During football season, McCullough also handles the promotions and advertisements at women's soccer games, as well as being the head coach of the OSU cheer squad.
“I don't usually have very many responsibilities during the week for football game days,” McCullough said. “All the promotions and everything are set for football games so that never changes for me. Usually I spend the week getting ready for soccer.
“I try to promote attendance at soccer games, get whatever promotion we have out to the public and make sure we have ads to put out, things like that.”
Once Orange Friday hits, McCullough is completely focused on Cowboy football.
“The Friday before a home game, I go out on library lawn and try to get people aware that we have a game coming up the next day,” McCullough said. “So I just try to get them pumped up for the game and also try to get students to purchase student tickets. I like being out there and interacting with the kids. It makes me feel young.”
When game day begins, McCullough starts his day in the marketing office ensuring that everything is in place and ready to go for the game. This also includes the sound check on the field to make sure his field microphones are working properly.
“After the sound check I go straight to The Walk,” McCullough said. “When The Walk ends, we go to the practice field and warm up for all the things we're going to do that day.
“Then we go to pregame, and I help take Pistol Pete down on the field and help with pregame festivities. I'll come back and make sure the cheer squad is doing what they are supposed to be doing. Then I switch hats again, and I go back to my marketing job for the rest of the game.”
Stressful as it may sound, McCullough insists that nothing about his job is hectic.
“There's not really a stressful part of my job,” McCullough said. “I guess if I had to say one thing is stressful, it would be when the microphones aren't working on the field. And there's no telling how those things go out. But other than that, I can't say that my job is that stressful.”
Being in the stands with the students is one of McCullough's favorite things to do during game days. It's when he finally gets to become a fan.
“I like when I get to be on the fan microphone,” McCullough said. “I'm a fan at heart and when I get to be on that microphone in the student section I feel like I'm a fan rather than doing my job. I get people hyped up about the game, and I have the opportunity to crack a joke about the other team and make people laugh. That's probably the most fun I have on game days.”
McCullough believes his position within the marketing department is his ultimate dream job. Although his job requires long hours, he is still able to display his OSU pride and spread the Cowboy spirit.
“I like my job and the people I work with a lot,” McCullough said. “It makes my job easy. It doesn't feel like work when I come to it, even when we're going 90 miles a minute. Something different happens every day, and we're always interacting with different people so it never gets stale. It's a really cool job for me.”
