With Heavy Hearts, Cowboys Prepare To Take On Iowa State

- Christina's Blog

Posted: Updated:

Ames, IA -

Members of the second-ranked Oklahoma State football team will have heavy hearts when they take the field tonight for a Friday game at Iowa State.

The team learned early Friday morning that Oklahoma State women's head basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant Miranda Serna were killed in a plane crash on a recruiting trip to Arkansas.

Also killed were former State Senator Olin Branstetter and his wife, Paula.

The Cowboys already have the weight of the world on their shoulders as they defend their perfect 10-and-0 record and No. 2 BCS ranking against the Cyclones.

During a press conference today, OSU President Burns Hargis was asked about having something like this happen during the success the football team has seen.

"It's just a cold slap of real to you," Hargis said. "It's our worst nightmare. The entire OSU family is very close, very close, indeed. And to lose anyone, especially these two individuals, who were incredible life forces in our family, it's worse beyond words."

Oklahoma State's game at Iowa State kicks off at 7 p.m. It will be televised on ESPN.