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Hero worship: OSU tight end scores TD, congratulations

Thomas B. Shea/For the Tulsa World
 
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Published: 10/30/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 10/30/2009  6:17 PM

 STILLWATER — Oklahoma State tight end Cooper Bassett caught his first touchdown pass last Saturday.

He got a congratulatory message from his hero, ex-OSU tight end Billy Bajema.

Now Bassett is preparing to play in one of the Cowboys' biggest games of the Big 12 era — a showdown against Texas that will determine sole possession of the South Division lead.

"I'm so lucky and blessed," Bassett said, adding that he is living the dream of every kid who wants to be a Cowboy.

"I grew up bleeding orange. I grew up dreaming of playing for them. This year I get to play and I just scored a touchdown. There is not much more you can really ask for, being a Cowboys fan."

Bassett was born and raised in Oklahoma. He said his father moved here from California and realized you have to pick an allegiance — Sooners or Cowboys? Dad married a former OU student and still chose OSU.

"He couldn't stand (former OU coach Barry) Switzer, so he made the choice pretty early to be a Cowboys fan and I grew up with that," Bassett said.

Bassett attended high school in Tuttle, hometown of OU Heisman winner Jason White. Bassett said he and other OSU kids used to rally together because they were outnumbered by OU kids. That's a story for Bedlam week. This is Texas week.

Bassett said OSU-Texas is "somewhat of a rivalry, but it's not the hated rivalry that we have with OU or that OU has with Texas."

Perhaps it would be more of a rivalry if the Cowboys held
up their end of the bargain. The 'Horns have won the last 11 meetings.

Bassett enters the game more "known" than ever before because, after six reception-less games, he caught two Zac Robinson passes in a win over Baylor, including a 19-yarder for a touchdown.

Said Bassett, "The first thing my little brother told me after the game is 'Coop, if you would have dropped that first one, you would have screwed everything up. You are so lucky you caught that first one or Zac would never look your direction.' So I was glad to get it out of the way."

Bajema, a St. Louis Rams tight end whose OSU career ended in 2004, sent Bassett a congratulatory text. Of all possible ex-Cowboys who could have been Bassett's hero, why Bajema? They used to attend the same church "and I just thought he was it," Bassett said.

Initially, it appeared Bassett wouldn't follow his idol to Stillwater. Bassett committed to Kansas State because OSU didn't seem interested. Then the Cowboys offered a scholarship.

"At first it was kind of —I wouldn't say resentment — but it was just kind of oh man, I may have missed out on the bus and I was already committed," Bassett said.

"And sure enough they kept talking to me as my football season went on, so I was like God wouldn't give me this opportunity if it wasn't meant to be."

Jimmie Tramel 581-8389
jimmie.tramel@tulsaworld.com
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer

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Few Clothes, America (10/30/2009 12:43:50 PM)
If this is considered hero worship, then those in the police departments, fire fighters, and soldiers are in for a surprise the next time lives are saved.
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Few Clothes, America (10/30/2009 6:35:48 PM)
BobDog, are you insinuating that somebody is me? Surely you jest.
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Few Clothes, America (10/31/2009 12:27:06 PM)
Let me get this clear folks. The person was recruited to be a tight end on a football team. His job on the team is to catch a football that is thrown to him. It is his job to catch it. A football was thrown to him and he was able to catch it and make a touchdown. He isn't a hero, he was successful in doing his job. The term hero is thrown around casually these days. To my mind, a hero is someone who saves peoples lives; randomly or while being paid to do so. Occasionally they will lose their lives doing this. This man, which I am doubtful, tells us he bleeds orange blood. He received a scholarship to catch footballs and bleed orange. Again, he is no hero.
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CowboyBobDog, Neamh (10/30/2009 1:32:54 PM)
(Bobdog thinks somebody needs to buy a TV.)
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cowboys_r_us, Oklahoma City (10/30/2009 8:33:50 AM)
I love to see kids come to OSU: who grew up loving OSU, work hard and are good people. 3 that immediately come to mind are Cooper Bassett, Taylor Sokolosky and Bryant Ward. It's awesome to have these guys on our team!
 

 
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