Welcome to high noon highlights, a place to catch up on everything you missed yesterday in Oklahoma State Athletics.

It’s finals week on the Oklahoma State campus, and I hope everyone did better on their finals than I did on my entomology exam this morning.

Anyway, here’s your daily roundup of the news from the past 24 hours or so in the world of Oklahoma State athletics.

Big Ben is NOT happy with the Steelers.

In semi-surprising news, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and almost-surefire Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger is unhappy with his team after they drafted Oklahoma State quarterback Mason Rudolph in the third round of this year’s draft.

Let’s pull some quotes about just how unhappy the 36-year old is, shall we?

“I was surprised when they took a quarterback because I thought that maybe in the third round, you know you can get some really good football players that can help this team now. Nothing against Mason; I think he’s a great football player. I don’t know him personally, but I’m sure he’s a great kid. I just don’t know how backing up or being a third [string] -- well, who knows where he’s going to fall on the depth chart -- helps us win now.”

“I don’t think I’ll need to, now that he said he doesn’t need me. If he asks me a question, I might just have to point to the playbook.”

If you ask me, I would guess that Big Ben sees the writing on the wall and also sees a legitimate threat to his job in Rudolph. I don’t remember seeing this when the team drafted QB Josh Dobbs out of Tennessee in the fourth round last year.

Robert Klemko of Sports Illustrated published an open letter to the quarterback, reminding him that this situation is similar to what Roethlisberger did to Tommy Maddox.

You were right about one thing back in 2005: You owe. In tutoring you, Maddox was acting as a minister of our beautiful game, a devotee of the code you flouted, and you owe it to him to either mentor the wet-behind-the-ears 22-year-old hoping to be the next Ben Roethlisberger, or, at the very least, answer his questions. Yet now, 14 years later, you seem to have forgotten that debt. ”If he asks me a question,” you said of Rudolph last week, “I might just have to point to the playbook.”

To his credit, the rookie handled your comments with veteran-like diplomacy, trying to defuse the situation: “If I was Ben, I’d probably say the same thing,” Rudolph said. “He’s a competitor. Obviously he has a lot of confidence in himself like I do, and yeah, he’s going to be a future Hall of Famer, and I would expect him to say that.”

One thing is for sure. The situation in Pittsburgh is now one to monitor throughout the offseason. Next season, fans everywhere will be intently watching as the often-injured Roethlisberger looks to fend off his competition and hope that history doesn’t repeat itself in the steel city.

On the other side of the coin, Mason Rudolph had a great interview discussing the draft, why he loves that he is a member of the Steelers and what it means to reunite with James Washington at the next level.

Cowboy basketball season tickets start at a lower price.

Oklahoma State announced yesterday that season tickets to Mike Boynton’s second season will now be more affordable.

Dillon Stoner is the Big 12’s best returning receiver.

Pro Football Focus graded the best receivers that will be returning to the collegiate gridiron this fall, and a familiar name topped the list.

Stoner achieved a 136.3 passer rating when targeted by Rudolph. Oklahoma’s Ceedee Lamb and Marquise Brown were narrowly behind him, coming in at 136.1 and 135.5, respectively. However, all three receivers will be catching passes from a new quarterback this season.

In the loaded WR corps last season, Stoner was a solid option that often flew under the radar. Don’t expect that to be the case this season.

Cowgirl soccer complex update

As the Cowgirls’ new soccer stadium is continuing to be built, they got to tour the project and see where they will be playing soon.

Something to make you smile.

Former Oklahoma State safety, now Seattle Seahawks cornerback Tre Flowers is in his rookie training camp. An adorable picture of Flowers and his daughter, Bailey, surfaced and it just warms your heart.

That’s all for today folks. Enjoy your Tuesday and, as always, Go Pokes!