Boys Beyond the Boots, Episode 1 - Cooper Hamilton

In the first of a two part series, Callan Hall sits down with Pistol Pete #97, Cooper Hamilton, to get a glimpse of what it is like to embody the iconic mascot of Oklahoma State. Hear what it's like to shoulder a 40 pound head, share a stage with Zach Bryan, and more! Stay tuned for our exclusive interview with Pistol Pete, #98. 

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Transcript

STUFF OSU SHOULD KNOW

Boys Beyond the Boots, Episode 1: Cooper Hamilton

PRODUCED & RELEASED FALL  2024

(5:58)

Cast:

Callan Hall, Guest: Cooper Hamilton

[00:00:00]

[INTRO]

This is Stuff [crowd chanting O-S-U] Should Know [drumroll]...

Callan: Hi, my name is Callan Hall and I am here with Pistol Pete #97.

Cooper: Hi, I’m Cooper Hamilton. Pistol Pete #97, thank you guys so much for having me today.

Callan: Why did you try out to be Pistol Pete?

Cooper: So last year’s Pistol Pete, Caden Schaufele is in the same fraternity as me and I was able to see the experiences, and the people that he got to meet, the places he went, and also it is an opportunity to give back, not just to the University but also to the Frank Eaton family, and to impact someone's life because at the end of the day you didn’t know what they might be going through or how you can help them out, and to help give them the best experience of OSU in the short amount of time I have with them. 

Callan: Awesome! What was your tryout process like?

Cooper: The tryout process is an interview, it's about 20 minutes long, and then at the end of the interview when you are done, you put the head on for about five minutes and they kind of simulate “The Walk” or other scenarios they might have. You are judged by 5 past Pistol Pete’s and then Becki, who’s the Pom Coach / Spirit Coordinator. It is a really fun atmosphere, and not super intense because the Petes wanna have fun with you, and make sure that you are a likable and lively person, and that you have really good character, too. It’s a very fun tryout and it’s a great opportunity to have a good interview, and it’s just a great overall experience.

[1:19]

Callan: How much does the head weigh?

Cooper: It weighs about 45 pounds.

Callan: Geez… Do you feel that 45 pounds when you’re walking around, or does it feel light?

Cooper: The first week and the events that I did my neck was a little sore and my shoulder was a little sore, but after that you kinda get used to it. So it's not terrible.

Callan: Ok, is it hot on game day and how do you deal with the heat on game days? I mean, right now it's hot but eventually it won't be.

Cooper: Yes, this past weekend when we played it was 145 on field temp, so it was pretty warm, but obviously I prepared for that by drinking tons of water and electrolytes before, salt, so you just kinda know your body. I like to run as well. That kinda helps me stay in shape for Pete. I know that sounds so crazy, but it really does help. And then anything I can do to help stay physically active, so that way when I do put the head on on game days it's not nearly as bad.

[2:11] 

Callan: Yeah, how many events do you do a year as Pistol Pete?

Cooper: Me and Pistol Pete #98, Brayden Smith, will do roughly about 800 events between athletics and then private events.

Callan: Wow, that’s crazy! What is your favorite event you’ve done so far?

Cooper: I would say the Zach Bryan concert, for sure.

Callan: Okk, what’d you do at that?

Cooper: So I just went up on stage for his revival at the very end and I got to shoot the t-shirt cannon, kinda hang out with Zach on stage. Played an air guitar with him while he played his actual guitar. 

Callan: Oh my gosh, that’s so cool!

Cooper: Yeah, it was really fun! There was about 20 to 30 thousand people there, it was packed! It was awesome.

Callan: Wow, that’s awesome! Do you have any game day rituals that you do? Anything you do in the morning that’s the same every game?

[3:00]

Cooper: I do not, no. [Callan laughs] Generally it’s pretty early in the morning, so just get up and try to get as much water in before we go. Nothing too crazy, just a normal day really. 

Callan: Ok, I see that throughout the game day, you guys (Pistol Petes) switch. One of you is in costume and one isn’t. One of you has the head on and one of you doesn’t. How many times do you go back and forth, if that makes sense, and how do you decide who does the walk and who off the gun at the beginning of the game?

Cooper: Ok, so on game days we switch every quarter. And if you do the walk, you also do the pep-rally, and block party. And then it’ll go to the next Pete and they’ll do pre-game and first quarter. And then it goes back to the other Pete for the second quarter and flips third back to fourth. 

Callan: Ok, gotcha. Are there any special rules when you’re in the Pistol Pete costume or when you are Pistol Pete? Things you can and can’t do. 

[3:57]

Cooper: Yea, the biggest rule is we’re not supposed to talk when we have the head on. And then also we try to keep it, when we’re changing, pretty secluded, but some events don’t really allow that to be really too secluded. But mainly, just to try not to talk. And then also, you are representing Frank Eaton and OSU. So obviously try to stay true to Frank Eaton and his character. 

Callan: Are there any tips they give you, like things you have to do like when you’re Pistol Pete so you look like pistol pete. Is there a certain way you have to walk? Like a certain way you do things?

Cooper: 100% the walk. [Callan laughs] He was a bow-legged cowboy. You kinda gotta walk like a bowlegged cowboy and you’re kind of goofy looking if you don't have the head on but if you have the head on it's a lot easier to do or you really just walk real slow. Big walks. Swing your arms.

Callan: Can you show us?

Cooper: I don't know about that. [Callan laughing] I don't have the head-on. When you put the head on it's a lot easier to do.

Callan: Yeah, okay! Is the head like hard to see out of?

Cooper: Yeah it is, It's pretty narrow vision. The easiest way we've kind of described it is if you were to take like a tissue box then cut out where the tissues out then cut out then put that to your eyes that's about all you can see. And then you also have to get pretty good awareness because the brim is about 2 and a half three feet wide and then it makes you if you're about six foot it makes you about eight foot tall so the doorways are a pretty big struggle to go through for sure.

[5:16]

Callan: Okay… Alright, well, what's your favorite ice cream flavor?

Cooper: I'm a standard chocolate ice cream. I like chocolate. It's so good to me. 

Callan: Thank you Cooper for taking your time to meet with us and share more information on Pistol Pete.

Cooper: Yeah it's no problem, thank you guys for having me.

[5:34] 

[OUTRO: OSU Band plays]