My Friend Josh Asked Some Really Good Questions at Oklahoma State Media Day

STILLWATER – I met Josh Korenblit at the Mitch park YMCA. Josh is one of those people that never met a stranger. He is as friendly as he can be and twice as enthusiastic. I listened to him tell me about his Dream League baseball games and his exploits in Special Olympics. He listened to me talk about my job covering Oklahoma State athletics, especially football. This is where things get a little interesting. 

Josh’s dad, who I also met at the Mitch Park YMCA, is Michael Korenblit, an award-winning author of the book Until We Meet Again, the story about his parents, who survived the Holocaust and settled in Oklahoma. Michael is a leader in teaching the virtues of diversity and is the President of the Respect Diversity Foundation. I knew Josh’s uncle, Mark Bravo, another award-winning author, accomplished marathon and distance runner, before meeting Josh. I had worked with Mark in media projects. Josh’s family are pretty devout Oklahoma Sooner fans. It wasn’t long before I had Josh wearing a lot of orange, asking all the time about Mike Gundy and Pistol Pete. 

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Josh Korenblit at Oklahoma State fall camp.

I went to see Josh compete in baseball and then I haven’t missed seeing him compete in Stillwater in the Special Olympics in cornhole and three-on-three basketball. This past May at the Oklahoma Special Olympic State Games, Josh teamed up with Cameron Kay from the Mitch Park YMCA and they were awesome winning Gold and Silver medals. It is always a blast to watch Josh compete. He always promises to wear his orange socks and his Pistol Pete hat when he comes to Stillwater. 

This summer, I thought I would see if we could get Josh to a Cowboy football fall camp practice. Director of Recruiting and head of camps including the Extreme Camp Todd Bradford said to bring Josh up. As you can see in the cover picture Josh had a blast, got to meet Mike Gundy, Larry Reece, Dave Hunziker, John Holcomb, and many members of the Oklahoma State football staff. Then I had the idea to have Josh come with me to media day and ask some of his favorite players questions.

Those of you that have known me all these years won’t be surprised with my admission of too often asking long drawn out questions. It is a weakness of mine and I’m not alone. There are many reporters that put too many words in the question often hampering the answer. Josh taught me that you can keep it brief and get great answers. 

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Josh with Cowboys safety Parker Robertson.

He asked Oklahoma State safety, former walk on turned starter Parker Robertson very simply, why do like football?

“I like playing football just for the love of the game because I didn’t think I would even be here,” Robertson started his answer. “Over these years I’ve been building that love, just year after year and stacks on stackes. Then with my dad looking back and he was there all the way through from little league football all the way to high school. Just playing for him and just as the years have gone by for the love of the game.”

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Josh and Malik Charles with the “pistols firing”.

Josh met new Oklahoma State edge rusher and outside linebacker Malik Charles, who has worked hard after discovering he wanted to play football after high school. Three schools later and the 6-4, 280 pound Charles looks like he is going to have a big impact in Stillwater. 

Simple question from Josh to Malik, why do like being at Oklahoma State?

“I chose here, specifically for the coaches and the families. The family atmosphere that I got when I first came here on my visit,” Charles explained. “Then when I moved here I fell in love with the city of Stillwater. This city is amazing and the love that I get from everybody. It just feels like one big family here and I really do love that feeling.” 

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Josh with quarterback Zane Flores

Oklahoma State has two quarterbacks battling for the job this fall. Josh met both Hauss Hejny and Zane Flores. We spoke with Hejny toward the end of the media day and there were several other outlets wanting to speak with him including one of my radio partners, John Holcomb, so we cut it short with Hejny. But we did have more time with Zane Flores and I thought Josh had a great question there asking Zane what was it like to move from Nebraska to Oklahoma?

“I’ll be honest, Oklahoma is really similar to Nebraska,” Flores said. “One of the reasons that I came here was that I felt Stillwater was similar to my hometown in Nebraska. It has really been good in that way for me.”

Then there was running back Kalib Hicks, the 5-11, 215 pound transfer running back from Oklahoma. Now those two had a common bond. Both have worn crimson before and as Josh would say, both are in the Orange club now. 

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Josh with Kalib Hicks

What do you think about Coach Gundy now that you are playing for him?

“Coach Gundy is a great guy, he’s fun, unique, and funny,” Hicks said of his new head coach. “He cares about all of us and makes sure we are all good. We can always go up to his office any time we can to talk. Once it is time to go then he is ready.”

That is a good one to end on, although Josh had some other good questions for players. To end with Mike Gundy feels right because it is Gundy that has pushed himself and his staff to work with players and create the Cowboy culture. It is the culture that has players appreciating all that is around them. The players are quick to make friends and reach out to fans like Josh and all others. These are well gifted athletes that can do some amazing things, but one of the most amazing is to have an appreciation for all others. That too is a part of the Cowboy culture.