As the official OSU mascot since 1923, Pistol Pete was named after Francis "Frank" Eaton when the school was still known as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College and the mascot was a tiger.
"Pistol Pete is a real, historic figure with a rugged individualism of the Oklahoma settlement," said Harry Birdwell, OSU athletic director.
In his younger years, Eaton was a real cowboy, gunfighter, blacksmith and a Deputy U.S. Marshal. Students chose Eaton as OSU's mascot after he appeared in Stillwater's Armistice Day parade on horseback.
Afterward, the tiger mascot was dropped and Oklahoma A&M became the home of the Cowboys. Students figured a cowboy represented Oklahoma better than a tiger, which was copied from Princeton University's mascot.
Although
Eaton died in 1958, his spirit lives on. Each year two students are chosen
to represent OSU in the legendary Pistol Pete uniform. Jared Wiley and
Josh Pulver serve as Pistol Pete for 2003-04. Wiley, an agricultural communications,
junior, comes to OSU from Ardmore, Okla. Pulver, a leisure services management
junior, hails from Elk City, Okla.
"I tried out for Pistol Pete to achieve a life-long dream," said Wiley.
The tryouts are similar to an interview process. Approximately six or seven former Pistol Petes come back to OSU and conduct business-like interviews.
The interviewees try on the head to act out different situations, said Wiley. The purpose is to see how a
"I tried out for Pistol Pete to achieve a life-long dream," said Wiley.
The tryouts are similar to an interview process. Approximately six or seven former Pistol Petes come back to OSU and conduct business-like interviews.
The interviewees try on the head to act out different situations, said Wiley. The purpose is to see how a
"Pistol Pete has to be strong with the ability to carry a large amount of weight on his shoulders," said Pulver. "My legs often get tired from squatting to be on the level
of children."
The newest Pistol Pete heads were designed between 15 and 20 years ago by The Walt Disney Co. The company literally broke the mold when they were completed.
"The heads have come in three series with the first ones being made from papier-mâché," said Pulver. "The second series was a combination of papier-mâché and fiberglass. The third series, which we use, are made from fiberglass."
Both Pulver and Wiley admitted to getting an adrenaline rush when they get ready to act as Pistol Pete. The rush comes with the territory.
"When I start putting on the chaps, my legs start shaking. Then I load up my gun and that's when my heart starts racing," said Wiley. "I'd say every time I get ready I'm nervous, but once I get started the nervousness goes away after about 10 minutes."
Pulver and Wylie decide prior to each game who will make which appearance. Some of the appearances are at the same time, which is the reason there are two Pistol Petes.
"For an evening game, I start my appearances around 2 p.m. I have one at Chris' University Spirit. One of us has to go to the Spirit Walk and one of us has to go to the family fun zone," said Wiley. "Josh goes to For Pete's Sake and there are usually two or three tailgate parties we go to."
Their main jobs at the various events are to promote OSU and get the fans excited about the game.
Additional places we go are the marching band practice and the alumni tent," said Wiley. "Another way we decide who gets to do what is by our class schedules."
During the game, Pistol Pete has to battle challenges a person would not normally think about.
"Walking up and down stairs, seeing people and not running into things are sometimes difficult tasks to accomplish," said Wiley. "The head weighs 45 pounds and only allows for a certain amount of vision without turning the head all the way to one side or the other."
Heat is a challenge that makes breathing in the head difficult. An additional challenge people may not think about is giving autographs.
"The hardest thing I have come across when signing an autograph has to be the actual fingers of little children," said Pulver. "Sometimes these kids want every finger signed. I don't know why, but they do."
Both Pulver and Wiley practice their gun twirling. Pistol Pete's gun is heavy and it took the men some getting used to for spinning it and shooting.
"At the game, I shoot the gun a lot," said Wiley. "I play Pistol Pete. I just have fun and go out there and try to get the crowd involved. I sign a lot of autographs for little kids and give bullets away. Mostly, we are there for the kids and the alumni. We try to make everybody happy."
The more the crowd gets into the cheering, the more Pistol Pete swaggers around to encourage the crowd. He raises his arms, claps his hands and shoots his gun.
"When I am out there in front of 40,000 people at Boone Pickens Stadium, shooting that pistol, and hearing the crowd yell 'state' at the end of 'Oklahoma,' that gets my blood pumping," said Wiley.
After the game, Pistol Pete mingles with the fans. Then Pulver and Wiley usually tailgate with their family and friends.
After the physical exertion of being Pistol Pete, these guys like to get a little rest and relaxation.
"Being Pistol Pete can be exhausting at times, especially in the heat, but it is so much fun," said Wiley.
Pulver and Wiley get a few extra incentives for their duties as Pistol Pete.
"We get a free faculty parking permit and free tickets to get into the games," said Wiley. "When OSU goes to a bowl game, we get the commemorative T-shirts free. The staff at The Territory western store helps us tremendously with discounts as well."
"We are lucky because we can use the weight room with the athletes and we get a membership to a local athletic club for being Pistol Pete," said Pulver.
At times, being a student may seem like a full-time job, but imagine also having to make 200 personal appearances a year at sporting events and private functions. Pistol Pete is paid a $25-per-hour fee and 32 cents per mile for all private events.
"We go to private functions like birthday parties, weddings and graduations," said Wiley.
Time management is one of Pulver's and Wiley's biggest issues. They must balance their class loads with all the other tasks they must do.
"We are required by football Coach Les Miles to work out two times a week if we want to be on the field during a game," said Wiley.
Pulver and Wiley must keep in contact with the spirit office and keep track of all their engagements by returning phone calls or e-mails.
"To handle my class loads I get up in the morning, go to class, do reading and homework as soon as I can after class because I know at night and on the weekends I'm going to be loaded down and not have time," said Wiley.
Both Pulver and Wiley said they think being Pistol Pete will help them in the future because they have made beneficial contacts and have developed time-management skills.
Anyone wanting to audition for Pistol Pete must be a full-time student with a 2.0 grade point average. In April, the society squares section in the Daily O'Collegian runs a notice for tryouts.
"Everyone should try out," said Birdwell. "It is a highlight in the college experience. You get to live a part of the spirit and interact with kids."
Students interested in trying out can call the spirit office in Gallagher-Iba Arena at (405) 744-8039. Any student is encouraged to try out.
"Pistol Pete represents OSU more than just on Saturday … more than just an ESPN highlight or anything like that," said Wiley. "Pistol Pete represents OSU to kids who are two years old to people who are 102. Pistol Pete is the essence of OSU.
He represents OSU and its traditions." By Lynette Rushin, Mustang, Okla.