Pokes Report Congratulates Graduates Including Tatum Bell and Josh Fields

STILLWATER – Thanks to the Twitter of senior associate athletic director Kevin Klintworth and the statistics and academic accounting of academic advisor Mike Noteware we know there were 35 Oklahoma State student-athletes among the massive crowd of graduates bearing cap and gown along with family members to salute their graduation from Oklahoma State University. 

Oklahoma State University

Graduation in Stillwater on Dec. 17.

I also know there was one basketball player in Wichita that held off on the ceremony despite earning his diploma alreadu in order to wait and walk the stage with several of his teammates in May. Tyreek Smith helped the Pokes to a 59-49 win on Saturday night in Wichita. With his academic work completed he becomes the first member of his family to graduate from college. He will walk in May with several of his teammates. 

Another major success story is that of former Cowboys running back Tatum Bell.

Denver Broncos/NFL

Bell with the Broncos.

Bell, who starred at Oklahoma State from 2000-03 and rushed for 4,285-yards and 43 touchdowns went on to play for five seasons in the NFL with both the Detroit Lions and the Denver Broncos. He ran for 2,773-yards and scored 16 touchdowns in the NFL. Bell said he wanted to go ahead and finish up his degree before his kids could beat him to the diploma. Now he has.

His quarterback at Oklahoma State was Josh Fields. Like Bell, Fields had professional sports opportunities as he was a two-sport athlete that led Oklahoma State to three bowl games and in baseball was an All-Big 12 performer that helped the Cowboys the Big 12 Championship.

USA TODAY Sports

Josh Fields with the White Sox.

Fields hit .364 for Oklahoma State and he also threw for 307-yards in the 2004 Cotton Bowl against Mississippi to set a Cotton Bowl passing record at the time.

He went on to play Major League Baseball for parts of five seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Fields also played in Japan as well. Fields, now in business, also made it a priority to get his degree.