High Noon Highlights(3/14): Oklahoma State coaches support John Smith after his father dies

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Oklahoma State coaches rally around John Smith:

After OSU wrestling coach John Smith’s father, Lee Roy Smith, Sr., died last Sunday, he received some much-needed support from his OSU coaching family. The Stillwater Newspress wrote a story on what OSU coaches have done to support the Smith family.

With how much of a role the family had in the sports scene in the Mid-Del area of the Oklahoma City metro, the family was very familiar with possibly the “First Family” of Oklahoma football – the Gundys, which lived in Midwest City.

So Mike Gundy and John Smith were inevitably linked through their neighborhood, and then through OSU. So the news hit home for the Cowboy football coach.

“Lee Roy, without speaking out of turn, has lived a great life,” Gundy said Monday. “He was 85 with a wonderful family – 10 kids, I think he’s over 50 grandkids and I don’t know how many greats. But just a longtime Mid-Del guy, and there’s just so many stories. … It’s a tough one, but a pretty special person in the Mid-Del community.” {Stillwater Newspress}

Lindy Waters III brings attention to Native American players:

During the Big 12 Championship tournament, the Associated Press’ Cliff Brunt sat down with Waters to talk about what it means to him to represent Native Americans and bring attention the Native American basketball players that are possibly getting overlooked.

I just don’t think that Native Americans are looked at on a scale for athletics,” said Waters, who is part Kiowa and part Cherokee. “That really stands out to me because I’ve played with great Native American basketball players. They can shoot the ball, they’re really unselfish. They know how to play. Our numbers should be higher than they are.” {AP}

OSU coach Mike Boynton thinks his team is the future:

After a comeback fell short Wednesday night against TCU, Boynton was focused on the future of his team. Take a listen at what he said in the dressing room.