We are Mustang.

Six years ago, it seemed there was a common attitude that Mustang was 12 square miles. You were in or you were out. At the time it kind of miffed me because although we lived within Mustang School District boundaries and had a Mustang mailing address, the fact we lived outside those limited borders was some kind of distinction.

That has changed.

Mustang has embraced the scope of its community and its influence. From city leaders to school administrators and beyond, people have recognized that the city is more than just a map – it’s a place that’s considered home by a diverse group of people who have a stake in making Mustang a better place, not just the growing “bedroom community” it once was labeled.

That was illustrated, for me, last weekend by a single person, a high school student who showed just how great Mustang really is. With Mustang High School’s band coming back from its first national competition, J.D. worked to spread the word about the band’s return from Indianapolis Sunday afternoon. Sure, he knew a lot of those band members and some of them were friends. But this boy worked to gather support for a group of people he largely didn’t know and then gave time from his own Sunday off – when he could have been playing video games or hanging out with his family or friends – to stand on a street corner and offer a warm welcome. He wasn’t a band parent or a band booster. He was just a good guy who gave of himself for others.

He’s not alone. Mustang is full of people who work tirelessly to help others. From the Kiwanis and Masons to American Legion Post 353, these groups are made up of individuals who are always there to lend a hand. Individuals like Dana Hall, who loves the people she cares for at Willowood Assisted Living so much she is constantly thinking of ways to make their lives better; there’s Don Kuntze, who attends memorial after memorial – no matter how sad – and who works to remind others how lucky we are to be Americans; and Dolly Priest, who has touched the lives of almost everyone I know in Mustang, make Mustang a better place – and those of us who are blessed to know them, better people.

We are Mustang.

That reminds me of the film, “We Are Marshall.” That was the story of a college and a town that endured and rose from the ashes of an unspeakable tragedy. That certainly isn’t Mustang because we have been so lucky in our fortune over all. But we still can rise above some issues that plague us, we can all be a J.D. or a Dana, Don or Dolly.

We still have bullying, certainly people live here who are cruel or unkind to others. That’s the challenge to us as we near Thanksgiving and take stock of our blessings. How can we make Mustang, and ourselves, a better place?

I guess the answer to that is to do the right thing, no matter how difficult that might be. Look for ways to help others – from giving some time at the senior center to showing support for a friend or colleague who is having a hard time. With a school district now topping 10,000 students, there are some who can use support. It might just be a smile or a shoulder to lean on, it might mean finding a way to provide a hot meal or some warm clothes.

It’s not New Year’s, but for me it’s time to make a resolution to try even harder to make Mustang a better place to live, to be more like J.D., like Dana, like Don and like Dolly.

We are Mustang. We are a community. And I am thankful to be a part of it.

When Saturday morning rolls around, Mustang’s football season will either be over or the Broncos will be preparing for a state semifinal game.

 Either way, this season has been a tremendous success in the first year of the Jeremy Dombek era at Mustang.

No one knew what to expect coming into this season after spending the past decade and more with Ty Prestidge and Todd Dilbek calling the shots on the Bronco sidelines.

Now, we all have more of an idea at the direction Dombek and his staff want to go with Mustang football. The destination has gold written all over it as the Broncos will be vying for state championships for many years to come under the direction of Dombek.

Some of you may be asking how I could come to this conclusion following a 6-4 regular season and a 4-3 mark in district play, barely sliding into the playoffs as the fourth seed in their district.

It’s simple, it’s the attitude Dombek has instilled into this program. Mustang won a thriller of a football game last Friday night when the Broncos overcame a two-touchdown deficit to beat Norman North 44-37 in the first round of the playoffs.

I believe in the past several seasons when the Broncos would get down 21-7 in the first half on the road as an underdog, Mustang wouldn’t have had the mental toughness it takes to weather the storm and make a valiant comeback against a worthy opponent.

They did just that. It’s almost as if the Broncos glanced at the scoreboard, snickered and said, “Two touchdowns? Is that it?” They went to work, dug themselves out of a hole and here we are talking about their chances Friday night instead of recapping the season.

This Friday will be a little tougher test for Mustang as Broken Arrow comes knocking on Mustang’s door in Bronco Stadium. The Tigers are clear-cut favorites, but if there’s anything sports can teach us, upsets happen all the time.

I’m not going to sit here and predict a Bronco upset against Broken Arrow, but would it shock me to see Mustang’s score be a little bigger than BA’s on Friday when the clock hits zero? No, it would not.

The team is full of players who are easy to like and easy to pull for when you watch their games.

Senior leaders such as Frankie Edwards, Colton Hadlock, Joey Snodgrass, Tristan Hill, Tanner Robertson and Garrett Hudson to name a few have paid their dues in their careers at Mustang and deserve this opportunity.

Underclassmen such as Chandler Garrett, Zach Davis, Cutter Smith, David Parker, Jakolby Long and Kiante Miles are up and coming stars in the Bronco football program and will help carry this team to the next level.

The atmosphere Friday night at Bronco Stadium needs to be electric. Broken Arrow needs to know they are on the road in a hostile environment. I know it isn’t Yukon and it’s not 80 degrees outside anymore, but Mustang nation should make this about them.

This community, this school district, this fan base has been waiting for this game for a long time. Well, it is finally here and now it’s your job Stang Nation to step up and support your team like you never have before.

Regardless of the outcome of the game, this team and this program has made big strides toward their future, which looks brighter and brighter by the day.