November 18, 2010 – Allen Moll

If you were wondering how in recent years the Oklahoma State Cowboys basketball program has been able to stay relevant in the always competitive Big 12 Conference, which features perennial Top 25 powerhouses like Kansas, Texas, Kansas State, and Baylor, look no further than their jaw-dropping athletic training facilities which are valued at more than $4 million dollars.

After nabbing top HS recruits like James Anderson and Keaton Page in recent years, and most recently Top 10 recruit LeBryan Nash for next season, the Cowboys have been known to spend beyond belief on their athletic department, with most coming from donations made from former alumnus T. Boone Pickens. As one of the US’s most wealthiest businessmen, Pickens has donated in excess of $400 million to his former school, with more than $265 million going towards the athletic department.

Some of the new amenities include multiple flat screen TV’s, an orange felt pool table, universal sound system with controls in every room, state of the art kitchen/bar area (surely only used by players over 21), cowhide footstools, and numerous marble staircases.

In an era where there is constant debate over whether NCAA players should be paid or at least be given a stipend during the season, universities are always quick to cite lack of funds as the reasons against paying players. Surely this video of OK State’s facilities will put to rest the notion that athletic programs are short of funds.

Recently OK State incoming freshmen Mike Cobbins, Brian Williams, and Markel Brown did a video tour of the new facilities in MTV Cribs-esque style:

Source: The Sporting Rave

Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen also provides content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.