Known as America’s Friendliest College Town, Stillwater is equidistant from Oklahoma’s two largest cities. Only an hour from both Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Stillwater is home to Oklahoma State University. Boone Pickens Stadium absorbs all the focus on autumn gamedays. It is named after OSU alum and philanthropist T. Boone Pickens, who has gifted over 600 million dollars to the university. Built in 1919, it is the oldest FBS stadium west of the Mississippi River and one of very few stadiums that have an east-west orientation. Upgraded and modernized, but still classically collegiate, Boone Pickens Stadium is one of college football’s most stately venues.
The action bubbles all around the stadium with nearby Eskimo Joe’s being a hotspot. This restaurant/bar has been serving Cowboy fans since 1975. Dripping with orange and black paraphernalia, Eskimo Joe’s gets packed on gamedays making it a perfect pregame destination. Leading up to game time, wide varieties of tailgating surround Boone Pickens Stadium, and many fans leave their tents to catch the pregame team walk on the streets where cheer squads and Pistol Pete welcome the football players all to tune of “Ride ‘Em Cowboys” being blasted by the Cowboy Marching Band. This blast of color and sound fills the atmosphere with spirit.
Homecoming is next level at Oklahoma State. Appropriately called America’s Greatest Homecoming, this weeklong event hits its peak on Friday night when fraternities and sororities display their meticulously designed house decorations. Near 100,000 people flood the streets of Stillwater to take in these fantastic works of art and showcase their love for Oklahoma State. The Sea of Orange Homecoming Parade follows the next morning with blocks of Cowboy fans cheering on the 100+ entries along the route. Elite homecoming festivities make even a dismal football season feel worthy of celebration.
The orange noise grows more vibrant once inside Boone Pickens Stadium. The Paddle People are the heartbeat as from row one, their hand carved wooden paddles slap the padding along the sidewalls below to create a rhythmically distracting clamor. The athletic department grants this enthusiastic group early access to the stadium to secure their front row status. Even in a capacity crowd, it resonates. With the decibels raging, another tradition emerges. Bullet, the majestic live horse mascot, races onto the field for every Cowboy touchdown. Ridden by Spirit Rider, this duo is Oklahoma State’s powerful symbol of pride.
Gamedays in Stillwater are executed with a theatrical splendor that just feels different. Touchdowns bring fireworks, canons, and a galloping horse – all part of the spectacle. But, when over 50,000 fans begin to wave their arms in unison to the tune of The Waving Song (appropriately inspired by a musical), it introduces a brand of choreography that can only be described as unifying. College football is theater, and the setting at Oklahoma State pulls every emotion to the surface. It’s all born from a devoted fanbase that consumes every moment of gameday with a blend of adoration and intensity. Gamedays in Stillwater provide a top-rate college football experience all led by fans so loyal and true.
