Then Sutton, Oklahoma State’s basketball coach since 1990, walked into the press room of Gallagher-Iba Arena Tuesday to face the media for the first time since Saturday’s plane crash that killed 10 people returning from OSU’s game at Colorado.
Sutton was flanked by Cowboy players Fredrik Jönzén and Andre Williams. The three men talked about their healing process. They talked about returning to the court.
They talked about dedicating their season to Dan Lawson and Nate Fleming, their teammates who were killed in the crash.
“I think we are getting better,” Sutton said. “I’ve tried to advocate to the team that this is a long process. One way to do it is to think of the good times we had with the people who are gone.
“The happy times we shared together are part of the healing process. They need to remember this. They need to talk about it.”
That is what they did Tuesday, after their first formal practice since the accident. Sutton called the practice one of the best OSU has had.
Former Cowboy players Desmond Mason, Joe Adkins and Brian Montonati joined the team at practice. Their presence helped make the practice as smooth as possible, the players said.
“These last three days have been like a long nightmare for all of us,” Jönzén said.
“It feels like every day we’re going to wake up and Nate and Dan are going to be there. It was good to practice today. It helped for all of us that Desmond and Joe and Brian were there.”
Williams, a sophomore whose first roommates at OSU were Lawson and Fleming, will speak with Sutton at today’s memorial service, scheduled for 3 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Those who cannot get into the arena can view the service at Lewis Field.
“The biggest thing now is for the families,” Williams said. “We have to let them know how much we care about them.”
Sutton said Williams, who knew tragedy up close growing up in Kansas City, Kan., was the player he thought could best address the crowd at the service.
“Andre is someone that, for strangers to the program, has lived a life of tragedy,” Sutton said. “He has seen more go wrong than anyone in this room will ever encounter.
“I thought he was the one person that might be able to go up there and speak. I asked him and, without hesitating, he said, ‘Coach, I want to.’”
The Cowboys will have a little more time to heal before returning to the court. OSU’s home game against Missouri, originally scheduled for Saturday, was moved to Monday at 7 p.m. and will be televised regionally by ESPN Plus.
Sutton and the players said Fleming, Lawson and the eight others who died in the crash, will weigh heavily on the team’s mind as the season moves forward.
“I think the team will respond in a positive manner,” Sutton said. “I know this team will dedicate themselves to Dan Lawson and Nate Fleming.”
Facing the media for the first time without Will Hancock, OSU’s basketball media relations director who was killed in the crash, by his side, Williams talked about why the team will move ahead.
“This press conference would be a lot easier if I could look over to my left and see Will winking at me,” he said. “But I’ve never thought about giving up. Dan and Nate wouldn’t want us to give up, so that’s never crossed my mind. I will never give up.
“This season, and as long as I am here, is going to be dedicated to Dan and Nate.”
Williams echoed the sentiments of his teammates and coaches. He echoed the sentiments of most people at Oklahoma State University. As time turns pain into memories, they will all find strength in the friends they have lost.
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