How Gallagher Made A Basketball Fan

This is the fifth in our summer series featuring the stories that make Gallagher-Iba Arena special. Our first showcased the story of The Sparks - a husband and wife who met on a blind date in Gallagher-Iba and have continued to return ever since. Our second featured Larry Reece, The Voice of GIA and what he's brought to the table for more than 20 years. The third featured Dave Hunziker, The Voice of the Cowboys and his journey to OSU. The fourth told the story of Ryan Hill, also known as the OSU Superhero.

Some things in life just need to be experienced before they're appreciated.

Breanna Yeargin – an OSU alumna – didn't always plan on being an Oklahoma State fan. In fact, growing up in Texas she was a TCU fan alongside her family. But when it came time for Yeargin to select a college, she had a few stipulations.

"I had a requirement," Yeargin said. "I wanted somewhere with a vet school, but somewhere with a good football program."

Oklahoma State happened to be one of just four schools that met the requirement for Yeargin.

With her grandmother pushing her to go to OSU, Yeargin reluctantly agreed to go on a campus tour.

"I kind of just wanted to go to Eskimo Joe's, get a T-shirt and get some cheese fries," Yeargin said.

She cut a deal with her grandmother agreeing that they would go to Eskimo Joe's together if Yeargin toured the school.

"So, I went through my tour with my arms crossed, wondering how fast it could end," Yeargin said. "And at the end of it, I said, 'So, how do I apply.'"

Next thing she knew, she wound up in Stillwater.

But her journey to Gallagher-Iba Arena would take a little more time. When it came time to buy season tickets, at the time students could choose between football and basketball. Yeargin came for football, she didn't really know basketball, so the decision was easy.

That fall she bought seasons tickets and didn't miss a game in Boone Pickens Stadium with the Cowboys.

After the football season ended, Yeargin figured she would try going to a basketball game in GIA. She had talked with former OSU marketing coordinator, LeRoy McCullough, about it and he had convinced her it was a good idea.

Somewhat hesitantly and without being a basketball fan, Yeargin bought tickets to her first game at GIA in 2011. Little did she know just how impactful of a game she had picked.

The random tickets she bought happened to be the 10-year anniversary game of the Remember The 10 tragedy that took the lives of ten people with the men's basketball who perished after their plane crashed while returning home from a game at Colorado.

The Pokes played Texas on January 26, 2011, as they kept their promise to always remember their fallen ten.

"I saw so much tradition in that game," Yeargin said. "I bought tickets for every game the rest of that season."

Being the Remember The 10 game, Yeargin got to experience GIA at its best.

"It was a sold-out arena and it was so loud" Yeargin said. "You left and there was a ring in your ear for a little while."

After falling in love with the gameday atmosphere of GIA, Yeargin took notice of the Cowboy basketball Spurs – a select group of young women who promote spirit for the OSU basketball program – and applied.

"When we became Spurs was the season Marcus Smart was a freshman," Yeargin said, referencing the 2012-13 season.

For the Spurs, the enjoyment came from getting to sit right by the bench and support Cowboy basketball.

"There's no better seat in the house than right there in it," she said.

After graduating and moving to Memphis for work, she could only watch the games on TV or a select few road games. It wasn't the same, but it was something.

"You don't see Cowboy basketball out there," Yeargin said. "So, it was watching every game on TV and following it that way."

Fast forward to 2021, Yeargin and her family got the opportunity to go to a game at GIA for the first time in years. Her Husband, Danny Yeargin, said that if she got free tickets, they would go. Danny and her daughter had never been to GIA.

Again, a Yeargin would get to experience the fabled arena for the first time. If, she could get the tickets.

With that, Breanna set out to find a way to make it happen.

"I tweeted at OSU men's basketball," Yeargin said in attempt to get free tickets. "Coach Boynton was the one that tweeted me back."

So, Breanna, Danny and their 2-year-old daughter, Harper, went to the first game of 2021, an exhibition match against the University of Central Oklahoma in November. A mere two days after the NCAA's decision to uphold OSU's postseason ban.

Once again, as it always does, the Cowboy family would meet in Gallagher-Iba to wrap its arms around the team and provide one of the best exhibition atmospheres anyone in that arena would ever experience.

"We came to the game, and he goes, 'I can see why you love this place,'" she said.

After bringing her family to Stillwater, she was glad to let her husband and daughter get to experience a basketball game at her alma mater.

"Danny goes, 'I feel that tradition here. You don't have to go to OSU to feel the tradition when you walk in Gallagher-Iba.'" Breanna said.

After packing a weekend full of activity with a basketball game, a tailgate and football game against TCU, it felt like she was in college again. Even if it was just for a couple days.

"I had to re-live every experience because I love this place so much." Yeargin said.

After agreeing to tour Oklahoma State only because she wanted cheese fries from Eskimo Joe's, Yeargin found herself an OSU fanatic and a home in Stillwater forever.

"My loyalty will always be OSU," Yeargin said.

Oklahoma State University Athletics

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