Oklahoma State Athletics Experiencing COVID Issues

STILLWATER – As with Oklahoma State Cowgirl basketball, Cowboy basketball is also experiencing issues with COVID-19.

Multiple sources have told Pokes Report the Cowboy basketball program has had multiple positive COVID-19 tests in recent days and is believed to be the Omicron variant. There’s no need to put the program on pause as its currently in a break ahead of conference play on Jan. 1. This also applies to Cowgirl basketball as they’re also on a break and in quarantine.

The Cowgirls had to cancel the Tuesday afternoon home game against North Texas, and the Cowboys had their Tuesday evening game against USC cancelled due to COVID concerns within the Trojan program. Over the entirety of college basketball, over 120 games have been canceled this season due to COVID protocols.

Moving over to football and the West End Zone, sources have also told Pokes Report the program is doing some testing today. They’re testing non-vaccinated and symptomatic players only and so far, there have been no problems. They’ve also gone back to full COVID protocols with everyone wearing masks in the facilities, having meetings outside in the stadium as much as possible and cleaning and sanitizing everything often.

“We’re all trying to do the best we can to stay away from each other,” Mike Gundy said on Monday while pointing towards the team huddled together waiting to take team photos. “I mentioned it to them, I tell my own kids. I don’t get around my own kids because that’s where I got it last time. Kids are … they don’t pay attention to these kinds of things. I’m concerned with what’s happening right now, I’ll be honest with you. Very selfishly, we hit a home run with getting through football because we all know that that needs to happen to keep people afloat financially. But I’m a little concerned with what’s going on right now with these numbers that you’re hearing about. I read yesterday 220,000 new cases in one day – that’s a lot. I’m trying to stay away from people. We’re talking to [the players] about it with our staff. There’s a certain percentage now that have already had a shot and already had a booster. We just do the best we can.”

The program will test again after the team arrives in Phoenix for the Fiesta Bowl, but it won’t be right away as the players will have some free time. They will, however, be testing non-vaccinated and symptomatic players later in the week.