Oklahoma State University Athletics
Caring Cowboys
July 04, 2013 | Cowboy Golf
July 4, 2013
Americans commemorate the Fourth of July in numerous ways with fireworks, barbecues and baseball games being among the most popular ways to celebrate the country's freedom and those who protect it.
A pair of Oklahoma State Cowboys went to work more than a month in advance of the holiday in their efforts to honor those who have served in the armed forces. PGA Tour standout Rickie Fowler and current Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden returned to Oklahoma for Memorial Day to take part in the Patriot Cup, which supports the Folds of Honor Foundation.
Created by Major Dan Rooney, a decorated veteran F-16 Fighter Pilot with three combat tours in Iraq, the organization aims to provide financial support for every spouse and dependent of a wounded or fallen service member in the pursuit of higher education.
The event is the perfect avenue for the generous Cowboy tandem to give back while doing one of the things they do best--play golf.
"There are a lot bigger things out there and it is pretty special to be able to spend the day here with Major Dan and everyone else for Memorial Day getting to play golf. That is one of the things that some of these men and women have fought for us to be able to go do," Fowler said.
"Freedom Isn't Free" is a popular phrase heard often among those attending the event held at Patriot Golf Club in Owasso, Okla., and Fowler says donating his time is the least he can do to help the cause.
"Being able to come out and help Major Dan, he is a pretty incredible person. With his family and everyone around him and the foundation, it has been fun helping him out. It is the least we can do as golfers," Fowler said.
"Even though we have a busy schedule, Memorial Day is Memorial Day for a reason."
In addition to the financial support the event injects into the Folds of Honor, the opportunity to spend time with those who have sacrificed so much in the line of duty is rewarding in its own way.
"It is nice we are able to come out and play some golf with veterans and donors for a great foundation, have some fun, but also remember those that have given us the freedom to come tee it up on a day like today," Fowler said.
Like Fowler, Weeden has developed a friendship with Rooney and a respect for the cause behind his organization.
"He invited me to play last year and we just kind of stayed in touch over the course of the last year. He asked me if I wanted to do it again and it was a no-brainer. Dan is one of the nicest, best guys I have ever met. I told him I would be willing to do anything to help him and help this cause and it has taken off from there," Weeden said.
The event has provided perspective for Weeden and his time spent with the military personnel has been equally rewarding for him.
"You are talking about people fighting for this country and the freedoms we have. That is something that, to me as an Oklahoman, I played with a General today and you don't get the chance to do that very often," Weeden said. "It is a special cause and giving these kids these scholarships is outstanding. How many lives they have affected, not only these kids but the families, is a great cause and a great event."
For Fowler, the Patriot Cup is just one of many ways he has shown his generosity since becoming one of the brightest stars on the PGA Tour.
Following the devastating tornado that ravaged Moore, Okla., on May 20, Fowler wanted to help the state he called home for two years and came up with the idea to match the first $100,000 donated by spectators at the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
"I knew roughly what I was willing to give and how I wanted to help out. I was just trying to figure out a way of getting some other people involved. Sam, my agent, kind of helped me with that and brainstormed some ideas," Fowler said.
"We came up with getting Crowne Plaza on board and having basically donations taken at the entrance to the tournament last week. Getting a number of fans involved. They usually average around 120,000 for the week, so I figured it would be fun to get them involved and get Crowne Plaza involved and get some more people to donate to the relief for Oklahoma."
Despite spending just two seasons at OSU, Fowler speaks fondly of his time in Oklahoma and the state that has left a permanent imprint on him.
"It is definitely a part of who I am and that's never going to go away even though it was just two years here. I love Stillwater and I love getting back when I can. I love hanging around Tulsa, and (Oklahoma) City, it's a great place," Fowler explained.
In addition to his monetary support, the 2008 Ben Hogan Award winner marked his ball with a hashtag of support and had a patch with the words `Pray for OK' over the state of Oklahoma stitched on the sleeve of his signature Sunday orange shirt.
"I wish I could spend more time here. Schedule and travel doesn't exactly allow that, but it's a special place and a lot of people can't describe it unless you have actually spent time here and lived here."
Weeden's good deeds are not limited to one weekend out of the year either.
The devastation caused by the tornado affected the second-year NFL signal caller on a personal level with his wife, Melanie, having family members residing in Moore.
"My wife's family is fortunate that it kind of split around them. We went to my brother-in-law's neighborhood and checked on his house first and helped him do some stuff around there. Then we went around his neighborhood and if people were home and out cleaning we asked if they needed help. We bounced around for five or six hours. They have a lot of work to do. It is crazy down there," Weeden said.
The 2012 first-round draft pick made the trek to Moore and spent a day helping those in need in his brother-in-law's neighborhood. The visit proved to be an eye-opening experience to say the least.
"Until you get down there and actually see and communicate with the people that were affected, the devastation is just out of this world. Until you see it you can't really believe it," Weeden said.
"It was good to get down there and spend some time with those families and try to give back as much as I could."
Weeden has channeled his love of golf into the opportunity to give back with another charitable venture this month.
The man who directed the Cowboys' memorable Fiesta Bowl-winning squad two years ago is the point man for the second annual Swing from the Heart Golf Challenge on July 7-8 at Oak Tree National in Edmond, Okla.
In its second year, the event is aiming to benefit children in need of cardiac care with the focus squarely on raising the necessary funds to endow a full-time cardiac specialist at the Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City.
