ELLERY, Neb. — Ellery State running back Kyle Ostrander, 20, thanked God, his coach, his agent, and a specific sandwich after rushing for 112 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the Herons’ 17-14 win over Dunmore A&M on Saturday, according to a recording of his on-field interview, which ran 41 seconds.
Ostrander’s remarks are reproduced here in full: “First and foremost, I want to thank God. I want to thank Coach Dornan for believing in me. I want to thank my agent, Rich. And I want to thank the Pomeroy’s Big Lou, toasted, on the wheat, with the hot giardiniera. Nobody believed in us but us and the Big Lou.”
The Reporter followed up with each of the parties named, in order. The first was not contacted, in keeping with a department policy that predates this reporter. Herons coach Mitch Dornan confirmed that he had believed in Ostrander. Asked to describe the nature of the belief, Dornan said, “I told him to run hard. He ran hard.” Ostrander’s agent, Rich Pallister, 44, said his client’s agreement with Pomeroy’s Sub Shoppes, a regional chain with 14 locations in Nebraska and Kansas, is “the largest sandwich deal in college football, by length,” and that the terms require Ostrander to name the sandwich in full, including the bread, in any interview lasting more than 30 seconds.
The Reporter then attempted to verify Ostrander’s claim that the Big Lou had believed in the team. According to team records, a single Big Lou, purchased Aug. 1, has accompanied Ostrander to every practice and game this season in a heated case on the Herons’ sideline. It has not been eaten. It is listed on the team’s official depth chart as the third-string fullback and was on the field for 11 snaps Saturday, including the go-ahead touchdown, on which it was credited with a block. Its film grade from the Herons’ coaching staff was 71, higher than three of the team’s five starting offensive linemen. “He’s never let me down. He’s always there for me, at the same temperature,” Ostrander said, referring to the sandwich.
Dr. Marjorie Teller, director of the Center for Measured Outcomes, said athletes thank an average of 3.2 parties per postgame interview, and that the share of thank-yous directed at food has risen 340.6 percent since college athletes were first permitted to earn money from endorsements in 2021.
“Gratitude used to be limited to the divine, the coaching staff, and someone’s mother,” Teller said. “It is now a commercial space. We are seeing athletes thank chips, a mattress, and in one case a specific exit on Interstate 80. We don’t yet know whether the sandwich is aware of being thanked. Further study is needed.” The Center has applied for funding to interview the Big Lou and was told it was “in the case.”
Pomeroy’s Sub Shoppes said Monday that it would name a new sandwich after Ostrander, the Kyle, a Big Lou with extra provolone. Pallister said Ostrander has agreed to thank the Kyle in next week’s postgame interview, which would require the Kyle to thank Ostrander, which Pallister described as “a loop.”
Ostrander said he would spend the week focusing on ball security and that the Big Lou would be “ready if called upon.” The Herons play Kessler Tech on Saturday, Oct. 3.