Oklahoma State Football

Boy, Have I Made Some Memories! But It's Time to Pass the Ball

I have a lot of thank you(s) to pass out. The last 25-years on the sidelines for the Cowboy Radio Network have been fantastic.
November 25, 2025
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Story Poster
Photo by Jerod Hill/OSU Athletics

Oklahoma State Cowboys,

First and foremost, I want to thank my wife Lynne, the best friend and best teammate I’ve had. She had no idea that she would share me with football and OSU football, but she is a great football wife. Thanks to my son Zach, his wife Sam, both OSU athletes and graduates, and their boys Cash and Hank. Thanks to my daughter Katy and her husband Logan, both OSU graduates, and their first son and my youngest grandson Walt. I say he’s named after my hero Walt Garrison. They all make me thankful and proud everyday.

I’m determined to keep this short, as short as possible, because I like to say that I’m just the sideline reporter. Saturday’s game with Iowa State will be my final one the sidelines for the Cowboys Radio Network. It has been 25 years of fun and tremendous memories working with some of the best friends of my professional life.

Larry Reece and the late Bill Teegins shared my vision of Oklahoma State having a sideline reporter on radio again. The “captain” Dave Hunziker embraced it as well. I’ve learned how to be a kinder, more considerate person from Dave and his leadership. He is truly one of the best people I know. The only pro bowler I know personally. I’ve worked with Deion Imade, Clint Chelf, Eddie Nuendorf, Adam Hildebrandt, Tom Dirato, Joe Riddle, and all the good people at Learfield.

A special mention to my guy on the sidelines. We call Dennis Smith our sideline producer/engineer and sound guy. I’m proud to call him a great friend.

Pokes Report
From left: Britt Lockhart, producer/engineer; Robert Allen, Dave Hunziker, voice of the Cowboys; John Holcomb, color analyst

Our foundational team is Dave, color analyst John Holcomb, and producer/engineer Britt Lockhart. We have done great work together and received reviews and compliments from Cowboys fans and others that make me swell with pride. We did over nine hours straight in that 2011 storm delayed game at Tulsa that kicked off after midnight.

Our team embodies one of my favorite sayings. “It is amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit.”

John is a great friend and my fellow wordsmith. He’ll like that. Britt is the guy that when you’re listening makes you feel you’re in the stadium. Damn, he’s good. Hey they are both very good!

I love my teammates! They will be friends forever!

Thanks to Kip Racy. Our GM at the network and Cowboys Sports Properties has always supported us and let us have the freedom to do it our way. His support and faith is a big part of the success.

Thanks to all the people at Learfield Communications from Clyde Lear to our broadcasting head Tom Boman. 

Pat Kinnison - Chief Photographer
Mike Gundy has done more for Oklahoma State football than anybody. The moments he and his staff and players created changed the reputation and history of Cowboy football.

Here is the hard part. There is no way to thank and list all the players, coaches, support staff, and many others that have helped and been a part of the great memories that have made up my time broadcasting Cowboys football. I have to start with Mike Gundy. What he did as head coach at OSU, his organization, his football IQ, his vision, and daily examples led to accomplishments and memories I will have in my heart and mind forever. I saw my son and Cole Reynolds, a young man I watched grow up, with kicker Jason Ricks be part of the winning play against Alabama in Gundy’s first bowl game. The 2011 season, loss at Iowa State, Bedlam win, Big 12 Championship, and Fiesta Bowl were awesome. Clint Chelf vs. Baylor, Brennan Presley vs. Miami, Fla, Malcolm and Spencer and company’s comeback over Notre Dame.

Larry Fedora, Joe DeForest, Glenn Spencer, Dana Holgorsen, Todd Monken, Mike Yurcich, Jim Knowles, Kasey Dunn, Doug Meacham, Beni Tonga, Chris Thurman, Clint Bowen, and Todd Bradford are an example of coaches that have helped us out.

Support staff like Rob Glass, Gary Calcagno, Mack Butler, Rod Johnson, Zack Ramsey, Sean Maguire, Chris Deal, Danielle Clary, Gavin Lang, Jon Pickle, and Johnny Barr have been fantastic.

In most cases, the University has been supportive. The athletic department definitely. Kevin Klintworth is a close friend and a valuable member of the Athletic administration at Oklahoma State. Thanks to Athletic Director Chad Weiberg and Deputy AD Reid Sigmon. Those are two smart individuals, professional, and have Oklahoma State at heart.

I need to especially thank Oklahoma State supporter Ken Davidson for his friendship and support. He is a true friend.

I want to thank Dave Hunziker and Kendria Cost for getting me involved with the Eddie Sutton Foundation, Cowboys vs. Cancer, and Special Spectators. That has been a true joy (and at times devastating sadness) to meet those brave kids fighting cancer.

I want to thank my friends at the other schools like Matt Walters and Wyatt Thompson of Kansas State, John Morris at Baylor, John Walters of Iowa State, Tony Caridi and Jed Drenning at West Virginia, David Lawrence at Kansas, and John Denton at TCU.

Then there are the game officials like former supervisor Walt Anderson, good friends like Cooper Castleberry, Scott Gaines, Stuart Schake, Gene Semko, Walt Coleman IV, Brandon Cruse, David Alvarez, and Michael Vandervelde. Those guys are great professionals that I’ve enjoyed learning from.

Most of all the thanks goes to all of the Cowboys fans that have listened. I grew up listening to the Cowboys on radio with Bob Barry and Jack Ogle. I’m one of you and I always will be.

Thanks,

Robert Allen

10 Comments
Discussion from...

Boy, Have I Made Some Memories! But It's Time to Pass the Ball

5,271 Views | 10 Replies | Last: 14 days ago by Katy Logan
LCDinID
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Thank YOU Robert! You've always brought a great flavor to the sideline and to the games in general. I can't say I've always agreed with you - but I can say I have ALWAYS appreciated you and your love for the Cowboys. You define "bleed orange" in my book! Thanks for a great run!

GO POKES!!
GiantStallion56
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I have many fond memories of doing yard work with my grandpa while we listened to your radio show during my childhood summers. Thanks for your years of service! Great ride, Cowboy!
oSu4Life
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Great ride RA! Your insight will be missed, but now you can just sit back and enjoy the games with your beautiful family! I will never forget the days of you calling a high school game on Friday night and then a group of us driving all night to places like Starkville, MS to watch the Pokes! I will never forget the look on Coach Simmons face when we were changing in the locker room when he walked in. Great memories! Anyhow, thanks for your service!
CowboyKip
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Thanks RA! Enjoy the next chapter of your like.

CowboyKip
Osufenceman
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Robert. Really appreciate all of your work. You've been beating OSU's drum for many years. Making sure the Pokes had a presence in the media when almost noone else would.
CanadianCowboy
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To say that I have thoroughly enjoyed following your ventures over the years and wish you the very best of all that you want to do in the coming years is such an understatement but I can't find the words to say it any differently. I "discovered" you about 25 years ago and felt compelled to subscribe to your glossy print version of Pokes Report. Shortly thereafter I went to Calgary to start an assignment in Alberta and became a member of the online version, hence my handle "CanadianCowboy". I've had the opportunity to meet others that were (and some that still are) members of the community you created, have had dinner with some, drinks with others and lots of online conversations many. Zach & I have discussed meeting up for lunch or dinner whenever we can sync our calendars whenever the next time I'm in Oklahoma. But I have not met you in person. I don't think I've ever extended an invitation - maybe your "larger than print" persona, maybe humbleness on my part - but if there is ever an opportunity, consider this my humble invitation. In any case, my respects for your work over last quarter century and wishes for the fulfillment of many well-deserved blessings in the next chapter of Robert Allen's Life! Go Pokes!
Zen
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What is the reason for this being the end of the line for Robert Allen on the sidelines??? He has been a mainstay of Cowboy football.
1slowpoke
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Around 20 years ago, I discovered GoPokes and RA when I was 50. Now I'm 71 and no more Gundy and now no more RA. This has been just an awful year. I can't bear any more bad news!

I listen to your show on TPSR whenever I can and enjoyed Tom Dirado and your discussions the past 20-years and hope you will still be on radio some during your retirement.

My how time has flown bye. OSU will survive but you must be given credit for some of the best years being part of the Gundy era.

Maybe you and Terry Tush can continue with mentoring and teaching the OSU Radio and Television students in your retirement.

No Gundy and now no RA… say it ain't so!!! It can't get much worse! My Chief's are bad and if Andy Reid gets fired my hope will be totally gone!

The Radio and Television School needs to honor you with a building with your name on it and Gundy needs to have the field named after him.

For now, I wish you the best and for your family much enjoyment having week ends off and you can finally use your seats at BPS.





6GUN
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Spoken like a true OK State Cowboy with total class!
Thank you for the many years of excellent reporting; I always looked forward to hearing from you!
Wishing you & your family All the Best!!!
Katy Logan
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Watching you do what you love and share your talents with the Cowboy Family made an impact on me from a very young age. Thanks for always showing us how important it is to work hard, love what you do, and take pride in your work. We love you RA/Rob Dog/Sappy Daddy/Pops!

Katy, Logan, and Walt
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