A Gesture by Markelle Martin

Originally Published: Jan 29, 2011 12:22 PM CDT

I was getting ready to board a plane in Tulsa on Friday when I bumped into OSU Associate Head Coach Joe DeForest. He was coming off the recruiting trail, heading back to Stillwater with signing day coming up this week. During our brief conversation he told me a story. DeForest was watching the halftime ceremony from OSUs game with Texas on TV Wednesday and when it was over he got a phone call. Cowboy senior-to-be Markelle Martin had a question. Could he change his number for his final season? DeForest asked why. Martin said he was at Gallagher-Iba Arena and had just watched the unfurling of a new banner honoring those who died in the plane crash, and the announcement that the number 10 would never be worn again by an OSU basketball player.

Martin has worn the number 10 in football since he arrived on the OSU campus, but he was moved to make a similar gesture. Its one of those qualities that you find in great leaders, not just great football players.