High Noon Highlights(12/21): Bill Young to retire

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Bill Young announces retirement:

After 50 years in football, former Oklahoma State DC Bill Young announced that he’s retiring. His career took him all over after coaching for 10 different colleges. He coached at OSU from 2009 to 2012.

“Coaching has been good to me, a great experience,” Young said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else and having enjoyed it as much. I started off as a high school coach, then worked my way into college.

“It’s been fantastic. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some unbelievably good coaches and people. I think a little bit of all of them rubbed off on me, and hopefully helped me become a better coach.” {Tulsa World}

Cam McGriff looks to bounce back:

Hallie Hart of the O’Colly wrote a great article about Cam McGriff where she talks about what he’s doing to out the 4-game losing streak behind him.

“I’m kind of familiar with what we’re going through right now, and I think I’m trying to handle it the best way possible, keep positive energy amongst these other guys who may be discouraged,” McGriff said.

During McGriff’s freshman year, the Cowboys recovered from the shaky start to conference play and ended with a 20-13 record, going 9-9 in the Big 12. McGriff said the upbeat attitudes of teammates including Hammonds and Forte influenced the outcome of the season, which ended with an NCAA Tournament appearance.{O’Colly}

Darrion Daniels is officially headed to Nebraska:

After playing four games and getting injured, Darrion Daniels is going to get to play his last season of eligibility with his brother at Nebraska, The grad transfer is official as announce by the Huskers this morning.

For DJ Jones, becoming a Cowboy took patience:

Patience paid off in the journey of DJ Jones of Booker T. Washington in Tulsa, After feeling like he was he was in the shadow of high-profile recruits like Dax Hill, he finailla got his chance.

Throughout the process, Jones had to battle the mental hurdle of wondering if his turn was ever going to come.

“Being around Dax and Rylan, some high-profile athletes, I felt like I was overlooked. I was in a little shell for awhile. I was like, is anything gonna come out of this?

“But I listened to my coaches and stayed the course, and finally OSU came.” {The Oklahoman}

Vanessa Shippy remains humble through amazing year:

Softball beat writer for the Stillwater News Press Jordan Bishop wrote a fantastic editorial on what it’s been like to cover Vanessa Shippy {Now Vanessa Fletcher) this passed year.

I remember one particular instance, myself and David Bitton went to do a photo shoot for the cover of the summer Stillwater Style magazine. Vanessa, who had done makeup and everything for the cover shot, didn’t mind working again and again on this shot of trying to encapsulate her throwing a ball to first base while dirt was flying all around her. She raked the dirt and continued flinging it over herself.

David didn’t even get to use the photos and yet, Vanessa was just that kind of person that for whatever she was working on, she gave it 110 percent. When she came to OSU, she started at second base, but midway through her sophomore year, she moved to catcher because that’s what coach Kenny Gajewski needed. She was there for two years until she was able to move to third base – her high school position – in her final season. {Stillwater News Press}

Happy Holidays everyone and we’ll be back with more highlights on Wednesday!