There have been a lot of stories written about our run, but the story that hasn't been focused on is the impact of the OS.



Young OSU fans may not remember a time, when the OS logo touched everywhere in this nation and when you went somewhere, they knew the brand of Oklahoma State baseball. OSU is a family, Cowboy baseball was always a family within the family. It was a badge of honor to have been a part of that fraternity. In Omaha, we ended up talking to guys from Huntington, WV, that remembered Jon Adkins pitching for the OS in 90s, but had no other connection to OSU. That was OSU baseball, it was a bigger brand than any other sport team, everyone knew someone that played here, or had memories of our team. When we played in UNC this year, Rex had a former UNC player walk up to him and tell him, he still hates the sound of the Gap Band, because of the home runs we dropped on his UNC team.



Josh Holliday has said, the current players have seen clips of what was here. They've heard stories of their fathers. Joe Leinhard and Donovan Walton are the sons of fathers, who both played in Omaha for the OS. But part of me, thinks they have no idea what they have tapped into or revitalized. We've all seen how loose this team is and how they seem immune to the trappings of the College World Series.



Perhaps the most telling quote I've seen was Donnie telling the media that the team would like to win the title for Josh, and not themselves. Gage Green, this week, gave an interview for his minor league team, wherein he said it was his dream to come back to OSU as a grad assistant. Josh is bringing in guys, that buy into the program. For the record, current grad assistant, Mark Ginther, was a Frank guy, Josh has embraced and bridged all the OSU baseball eras.



This is by far my favorite OSU team, of any sport, because they are just a team that plays within themselves. Up and down the order, there are great athletes and men that just go out and do their job. Some of the stories have gotten more light: Collin Theroux's value to the staff and his underrated batting since midseason. Soft spoken, Tyler Buffett's big time success as a pitch to contact pitcher. Remey Reed being hot for every post season game in 6th and 7th inning, but never getting the call, because our starters have been lights out. Corey Hassel, a role player from Stillwater as a frosh, who became the heart and soul of the team as a senior. Cobb doing whatever the coaches asked him to do. Costello, battling a host of injuries, over his career, to lead the offense down the stretch. Garrett Williams having by far the most talent of any pitcher we have, but freak injuries and issues with his mechanics. Garrett Benge, is the most unassuming guy you'll ever meet, and you probably have, he's always around with his family, (he's only player, I noticed at Pizza with the Pokes thing last weekend) but he blends well off the field, to become just a monster on it. J.R. Davis, might be the most under-appreciated big talent guy, we've ever had. And there are countless more guys that are never talked about.



At some point in the next 7 days, the 2016 season will end, and many of the guys will go on to better things in professional baseball or in life, but they will have accomplished something I wasn't sure was possible. They've reunited OSU baseball.



When we won the second game in South Carolina, I couldn't help, but think about all the guys that deserved the chance to play in Omaha, but weren't giving that chance: Tyler Mach, Ty Wright, Corey Brown, Jordy Mercer, Josh Fields, Jason Jaramillio, the list goes on and on. It's been fun seeing the former players embrace this team. I saw Sauyer Saxon and Vince Wheeland at game 1, from reports at least TK and Beanblossom were also there. I imagine they were many more, with far less notoriety. We've seen legends from the 80s like Ventura, to Frank guys like Jordy, be overwhelmed with excitement for this team.



For the years, there have been divides in the Cowboy Baseball family, whether it was TH guys or TH haters, Frank guys or Frank haters, or guys that wanted Inky or wanted to bring back Ward. Josh said it best; we've been made whole again. The OS is back and the flag has brought back every era of player and fan to it. I've even seen, legend and 1960 All-American, Dick Soergel come back for a game this season.



Whenever, this run ends, this team deserves a standing ovation for what they've done on and off the field for this university and the OS.