Oklahoma State and Mike Gundy Make One of the Most Anticipated Scholarship Awards Ever

STILLWATER – Even more than the actual announcement and the joy that I know Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy had in announcing that Cale Cabbiness “Cabby” was now officially on scholarship was the reaction of the wide receiver’s teammates and how they celebrated. That tells you all you need to know about the importance, the talent, and the virtues of Cale Cabbiness being on the Oklahoma State football team. 

Thursday mornings are reserved for an early run inside the Sherman Smith Training Center. The workout starts well before sunup and this was the last one of the winter offseason as players will head out along with most of the student body go on spring break. This was actually the last day for the team to work out. Spring football will begin on the Tuesday (March 21) after they get back on campus. 

“There’s a time during the year that we have an opportunity to reward guys that have helped us,” Gundy said with the team huddled up after the workout. “And when we get that opportunity, we are going to do it for guys that have helped us and maximized everything that they can with their potential to make themselves better and make their team better. That is called loyalty and commitment. That is when we have a chance to give a guy a scholarship like Cabby.”

The whole team erupted and went nuts huddled up around the red-shirt junior wide receiver and started chanting, “Cabby, Cabby, Cabby.”

“Yeah, it was a cool moment,” Cabbiness told me by phone on Thursday afternoon.

The video also shows Cabbiness back in the Oklahoma State locker room after the workout on the cell phone with his mom, Taylor.

“Hey, I’ve got good news,” he told his mom, the daughter of former Oklahoma, TCU, and Lamar head basketball coach Billy and his beautiful wife Pat. Taylor was an OU pom squad member in school, but has really had Oklahoma State grow on her. 

You hear his mom take a deep breath and then, “I’m on scholarship.”

Obviously, an awesome moment for Cale and his mom with his younger brother, Cason, another standout wide receiver at Norman North committed to Oklahoma State and joining Cale this summer.

Nathan J. Fish-USA TODAY Sports

Cabbiness after a catch in the Arkansas-Pine Bouff win.

Cale is a player that busts his tail every day. Because of a friendship that I treasured with Coach Tubbs and to this day with Tommy Tubbs, the former OU point guard that is Cale and Cason’s uncle and now an Oklahoma State football season ticket holder, I enjoyed this as much as any announcement. I can relate with seeing my son Zach get honored.  

Cale caught that 24-yard pass on third and seven from Spencer Sanders in the late moments as the Cowboys were trying to hold on to that 21-20 lead on the blue turf. It allowed Oklahoma State to run out the clock. Cabbiness Caught two passes this season including a 25-yard strike from his roommate Gunnar Gundy against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. 

Cabbiness played in all 13 games this season as he has become a regular contributor on special teams as well as at wide receiver. His career numbers are now three receptions for 51-yards. He is listed on the second line of the depth chart heading into spring football.