Some kids are shy . “ I ’ m not shy ,” Warren says in a phone interview .
e stands tall in his chaps and OSU hoodie , pistols poised . His hands move over his head , the fingertips not quite meeting over his black cowboy hat as he screams - screams - “ OOOOH , ESSSS , YEWW … Cowboys .” His voice vibrates , it ’ s palpable , visceral , and he trembles a bit before he mean mugs the camera . The crowd is erupting . Even as they join the chorus , they feel it as much as they hear it . Warren looks back at his family , now celebrating the moment . Les Thomas Sr ., the front man for the game day experience , whose job is to work up a crowd , almost can ’ t believe what he ’ s witnessed as he wraps Warren Clay in a huge embrace .
This was new . It was cute . It was sensational . But , also , it just sort of worked .
Most Pistol Pete Partners get a prompt from the hype man , see the microphone , stare up at a capacity crowd for Oklahoma State Football and say “ Go Pokes .”
Sometimes it ’ s a shout , or a cheer in a normal speaking tone . A lot of times it isn ’ t more than a whisper . There ’ s an element of stage fright during those quick timeouts . Some kids are shy . “ I ’ m not shy ,” Warren says in a phone interview . A Saturday in October , the Homecoming game against Kansas , Warren was ready .
That day , Warren Clay became Warren the Cowboy in a viral moment that has now been seen by untold thousands of college football fans .
For the university , it was lightning a bottle . That kind of marketing isn ’ t something that can be manufactured .
For Warren , it was the start of something akin to life as an influencer .
In July , he was voted as the top Local Celebrity in the Stillwater News Press Best of Stillwater awards .
His father , Rob , says Warren gets recognized all the time .
“ It ’ s been unreal . I have to be honest . It seems like it ’ s still fresh . We run into people every week , every day almost and they ’ re saying ‘ Go Pokes ’ to him , or they ’ re saying , ‘ Hey , there ’ s Warren the Cowboy .’ Or , ‘ Hey we know who you are .’”
If Warren does become a kind of successful influencer , he really has himself to thank . The younger brother of OSU defensive lineman Collin Clay , Warren is a loyal and true Pokes fan . And he was determined to make something of his opportunity as a Pistol Pete Partner .
“ We knew that moment was going to be very special ,”
Warren leads the crowd in a cheer alongside ‘ hype man ” Les Thomas Sr . Warren and Les were pals way before Warren ’ s viral moment in October 2021 .
Warren with friends and family celebrates the Cowboys with an O-S-U cheer during the Big 12 title game
STILLWATER OKLAHOMA MAGAZINE / 11