Currently, the Oklahoma State Cowboys are #3 in the BCS Rankings behind the Alabama Crimson Tide and the LSU Tigers. Next weekend, OSU plays the #10 Oklahoma Sooners for the Big 12 Championship. The LSU Tigers will be playing in the SEC Championship Game versus the Georgia Bulldogs. Alabama, however, will not be playing because their season is over after having lost the SEC West to LSU. 

Brian Johnson

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State plans to start construction this summer on a new $16 million indoor practice facility that has been in the works for years.

Athletic director Mike Holder announced Tuesday that construction of the Sherman E. Smith Training Center will begin around Aug. 1. The Cowboys will become the last Big 12 team to have an indoor practice site for football.

Smith donated $20 million toward what was intended to be a $50 million facility when the gift was announced in January 2007, but construction was repeatedly delayed.

The training center was part of a the university's grand plan for an athletics village to be funded through a $165 million donation from T. Boone Pickens, but only renovations to the football stadium have been completed so far.

Pickens invested the money and at one point grew the funds to $407 million, but then lost $282 million when the economy faltered.

Smith passed away on June 6, and Holder said his family has allowed the university to use his gift to build the facility instead of as an endowment as it was originally announced.

"We owe another thank you to the Smith family," Holder said in a statement. "They have allowed us to use their gift for the construction of the indoor facility. Boone Pickens has made a testamentary gift that will provide for the endowment of the facility."

Holder said Oklahoma State is raising money to pay for three grass and turf practice fields that are already being built next to the Smith Center site, across the street from Boone Pickens Stadium. The estimated price tag for the fields is $3 million.

Jeff Evans

The Oklahoma State Cowboys are behind the Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS Rankings. The Cowboys have one more game left versus a top ten opponent in the Oklahoma Sooners. Alabama has already played the LSU Tigers and lost at home. 

Brian Johnson

Posted by Chip Patterson

With the combination of the renovations to their football stadium and the recent success under head coach Mike Gundy, things are going pretty well for the Cowboys in Stillwater. For a big-time football program, there is no better opportunity to expand your operation than when things are moving in the right direction. On Tuesday, Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder announced that the University will begin contraction on a new indoor practice facility "approximately August, 1, 2011."

The Sherman E. Smith Training Center will be adjacent to the new grass and turf practice fields already under construction, and located just north of Boone Pickens Stadium. The school announced the approximate cost for the indoor facility at $16 million, while the practice fields and fencing will be completed for $3 million.

Sherman Smith was a close friend of Boone Pickens, and the school said their relationship dates back to the 1940's. Smith passed away on June 6, 2011, and his gift was originally termed as an endowment. Since his passing, the Smith family allowed their gift to help with the construction of the new indoor practice facility. The school will continue to fundraise for the practice fields project.

Below is an artist rendition of the practice fields and Sherman E. Smith Training Center (courtesy of OkState.com). What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Jeff Evans

On Thursday, September 9, 2011 the Arizona Wildcats visit the Oklahoma State Cowboys in week two of the 2011 college football season. Last week, the PAC 12 looked shaky: 

Brian Johnson

In week 4 of the 2011 College Football Season, the Oklahoma State Cowboys will visit College Station to play the Texas A&M Aggies. This game has huge national and conference implications. The winner gets a leg up for the Big 12 South Title and keeps its BCS Championship dreams alive. The loser is most likely out of both. Last year, OSU beat TAMU by kicking a field goal at the end of the game in Stillwater, OK. The Aggies will be looking for revenge.

Brian Johnson

The Oklahoma State Cowboys finished 3rd in the Final BCS Standings even though they blew-out the #10 Oklahoma Sooners in their final game of the season. They were ranked behind the Alabama Crimson Tide and will not go to the BCS National Championship Game at the Sugar Bowl.

Brian Johnson