Stillwater Residents Respond To OSU Plane Crash, Football Loss

Unbearable sorrow fills the OSU nation. Students, fans and even residents in Stillwater say Friday is a day they'll never forget -- from start to finish.

We want to make it clear that we aren't comparing a football loss to the loss of life on Thursday. But from the comments and reaction we've received, it definitely poured salt on an already painful wound

It's a quiet day on the OSU campus. Only the bells signal the passage of time - time that seemed to stand still the day before.

"Don't see as many smiles on the faces as you normally do," said Mike Bays, Stillwater resident.

For the second time in a decade, a plane crash claimed members of the OSU basketball program. Women's basketball coach Kurt Budke and assistant coach Miranda Serna died in the crash near Little Rock, Arkansas.

Special Coverage: OSU Plane Crash

The OSU family was hoping, needing something from that football game versus Iowa State.

"Silver lining to the cloud, a little bit of boost to everybody's poor spirits," said Donna Denton, Stillwater area resident.

But the game didn't go the way they'd hoped.

11/18/2011 Related Story: Mistakes Mount As Cowboys Fall To Iowa State

"Pretty hard blow, the coaches who got killed in the plane crash. Of course, last night with the football game, there was another hard blow," Bays said.

That feeling extends beyond the campus and onto Main Street Stillwater.

"It's disappointing, because we lost and it's hard, but at the same point you can't imagine being a player and trying to play the game after something like that has happened," Stillwater resident Tallie Green said.

Residents grappled with describing their loss.

"I think our guys were just playing with too much on their mind and heavy hearts," Denton said.

University administrators opened up Bennett Memorial Chapel for those wanting to pay their respects and reflect on Friday, knowing this family, this community will overcome again in time.

OSU has scheduled a memorial for the victims on Monday at 1 p.m. at Gallagher-Iba Arena. That memorial is open to the public.

News On 6 will air that live here on TV, and stream it at Newson6.com.