TUESDAY DECEMBER 1, 2009
THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT VOICE VOICCE
Check inside to read how one Sooner recovered from a car accident and became a hockey star. PAGE 3B
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Wednesday’s Weather
news Find a story on how vinyl records are surviving in today’s day and age. PAGE 3A
Read reviews for two of this week’s new music releases. PAGE 1B
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Hastings sets guidelines for former Gov. Palin’s Thursday visit RICKY MARANON Daily Staff Writer
Those wishing to see former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin during her visit to Norman on Thursday will need to follow specific procedures. Palin will visit Hastings Books, 2300 W. Main St., Thursday afternoon as part of her “Going Rogue” book signing tour. There are 10 rules people must abide by if they want to have a signed copy of Palin’s latest book “Going Rogue,” Hastings shift
manager Keith Watkins said. “All copies of ‘Going Rogue’ are limited to Gov. Palin’s signature only,” a message sent by Hastings stated. There will be no personalizations of the book, and only two signed copies are permitted per person per wristband, the message stated. The message stated no memorabilia or additional items will be signed, and only copies of “Going Rogue” that were purchased at Hastings will be signed; they will be checking receipts.
“Cameras are allowed but not in close proximity to the signing area. No photos while at [the] signing table,” the message stated. “No ‘carry items’ other than copies of ‘Going Rogue’ will be permitted in the signing area. Please leave any bags, purses, etc. in your car, or be prepared to check them in the Hastings bag-check area inside the store.” The message stated only attendees with authorized books will be permitted in line to see Palin, and those in line must have a wristband. “Wristbands will be given at the beginning
of the Hastings business day at 6:30 a.m.,” the message stated. “The first 1,000 wristbands will be guaranteed a signature.” Anyone wishing to leave gifts for Palin should give them to the Hastings staff to be delivered to Palin at the SARAH end of the event, the PALIN message stated.
IN FOR THE LONG HAUL, OUT FOR THE YEAR Stoops confirms plans, intention to stay at OU
Knee injury benches guard Whitney Hand for season
JONO GRECO Daily Staff Writer
ANNELISE RUSSELL Sports Editor
PHOTO BY MERRILL JONES/THE DAILY
Head coach Bob Stoops said he has no plans to leave for Notre Dame’s head coaching vacancy and will remain at OU next year. Notre Dame fired coach Charlie Weis Monday afternoon, and Stoops’ name had been linked to the position for the past few weeks. “What I’m saying is, I’m going to be at Oklahoma next year,” Stoops said. “I can’t be in two places at once.” The rumor of Stoops taking Notre Dame’s head coaching job stemmed from an article printed Nov. 16 in The Chicago Sun-Times and quickly circulated around the Internet until Monday. “I couldn’t be more happy and pleased with what we’re doing here,” Stoops said. “I’m not confirming or denying anything about Notre Dame or any other job. My point is, this is what I love doing right now.”
Seasons: 11 Overall head coaching record at OU: 116-29 Accolades as coach: 2000 national championship; six Big 12 titles (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008); four appearances in BCS national championship game
Sophomore guard Whitney Hand will be forced to sit out the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. Hand sustained the injury to her right knee during the Paradise Jam tourney in the U.S. Virgin Islands over the break. The sophomore was averaging 13.4 points per game this season and was the second leading scorer for the Sooner squad. Head coach Sherri Coale sent out a statement Monday after Hand’s injury was confirmed. “All of us are aching individually and collectively for Whitney right now because she loves to play basketball,” Coale said. “Although we lose her tangible presence on the floor, we won’t lose the intangible quality of her leadership. We would ask the Sooner Nation to keep Whitney in their thoughts and prayers and to stand united alongside our team as we move forward in our season.”
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As a freshman, Whitney Hand started all 33 games for the Sooners. She averaged 9.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Hand also earned selection as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and was an all-Big 12 honorable mention. She also landed a spot on the Big 12 allfreshman team and was a four-time Big 12 Freshman of the Week.
Sources: soonersports.com, OU Daily archives
Tailgate attendance reflects success Deer-hunting season boosts economy Oklahomans find love in nature SUMMAYAH ANWAR Daily Staff Writer
NEIL MCGLOHON/THE DAILY
UOSA hosts its second tailgate tent Sept. 19 before the OU-Tulsa football game. UOSA gave out free food, drinks and shirts to OU students who stopped by.
UOSA’s pre-game events reel in up to 600 students CASEY PARVIN Daily Staff Writer
Attendance at UOSA’s new pre-game tailgate party tripled between the Sept. 12 season opener and Halloween’s homecoming game against Kansas State, the UOSA director for the events said. Ally Glavas, political science junior, is the Director of Interior for UOSA, and the tailgate program fell into her lap before the season started. “The first game we had about 200 people attend, and then the number doubled by the second game,” Glavas said. “We topped off at about 600 people for the Kansas State tailgate. We actually ran out of hot dogs 30 minutes before the game.” The tailgates began four hours prior to kick off, and Glavas said she was pleased to see so many different types of people attend the event.
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“We really wanted to build a community among students with these events,” Glavas said. “We saw a lot of international students, a lot of freshmen and greek students as well. Sometimes we’d see the same faces, but we saw new faces at every game.” UOSA teamed up with Housing and Food Services and EA Sports to get the event organized, she said. “We got most of everything donated, so budget didn’t really factor in,” Glavas said. “Housing and Food gave us hot dogs, and EA Sports gave us a few gaming activities for the college students and the community kids.” Glavas said there were video games and multiple giveaways at each tailgate. Since this was its first year, Glavas said UOSA used Facebook, posters, chalkings and a huge banner on game day to advertise the events to students. Allyson Sand, energy management junior, worked as the international outreach TAILGATE CONTINUES ON PAGE 2A
Andrew Rice, advertising junior, joins the thousands of people who are helping boost Oklahoma’s economy through hunting, as the Saturday before Thanksgiving marked the beginning of the 16-day rifle season for deer hunters, according to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. According to the Bixby Bulletin’s Web site, “The total economic effect of deer hunting activity in Oklahoma during 2006 was estimated at nearly $500 million,” while hunting’s total economic effect was estimated at $843 million for the same year. The Web site states hunters are drawn from across the country during deer season. This causes them to purchase gear, stay in smalltown hotels and spend money at local grocer y stores and restaurants. “I’ve been out hunting six out of the past 10 days,” said Rice. He started hunting when he was really young, Rice said. “I mainly hunt because I enjoy it,” Rice said. “It’s soothing to get up at 5 a.m. and go out and see nature come alive. It’s a great way for people to get out, to get away from technology for a
© 2009 OU PUBLICATIONS BOARD
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DREW KRITTENBRINK
Drew Krittenbrink, University College freshman, holds the 16-point buck that scored 184 1/4 inches. The deer, killed in Canadian County Oklahoma, was the biggest harvest Krittenbrink has made during his hunting trips. bit.” E r i k L e e, U n i v e r s i t y College freshman, agreed with the idea of being in nature. “I like being out in the wilderness, removed from everything,” Lee said. “In hunting there is a special
kind of isolation from society because you get this adrenaline rush. If you’ve been hunting before, you’ll know that feeling.” All hunters must comply with state wildlife SEASON CONTINUES ON PAGE 2A
VOL. 95, NO. 70
2A Tuesday, December 1, 2009
OUDAILY.COM » GO ONLINE TO CATCH A VIDEO ABOUT THE ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION’S ANNUAL ASIAN OKLAHOMA NIGHT.
Meredith Moriak, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 325-3666 • fax: 325-6051
Tailgate
Season
Continued from page 1A c ha i r w o ma n o n t h e Fa m i l y Weekend executive committee. She said was very happy to see so many international students at the UOSA tailgate. “There was a lot of food, and everything seemed very well prepared,” Sand said. “I hope they continue the event next year.” Rachel Milton, communication junior, attended the tailgate with Sand and said she had a lot of fun. “I liked the hot dogs and the fact that there were so many different kinds of people,” Milton said. “I would go next year, too. It was cool.” Since the UOSA Executive Branch turns over every year, Glavas said she cannot guarantee tailgates will continue but has every intention of helping the job be as easy as possible for someone to continue next season. “I think the tailgates were very successful this year, and I hope the new administration next year will decide to continue it,” Glavas said. “I’ll leave everything I can to make it easier.”
during the 2007-08 season, hunters donated 39,765 pounds of venison which provided 160,000 meals for needy people. Continued from page 1A Drew Krittenbrink, University College department regulations by completing a freshman, hunts because he likes deer jerky hunter education course and obtaining a and sausage. hunting license as well as a specific animal “There is a huge overpopulation of deer tag for the animal being hunted. Each hunt- where I hunt. It’s about a mile away from the er is only allowed to harhighway, and people vest one buck and one are always hitting “In hunting there is a special kind deer with their cars. doe a year. “After you take a buck of isolation from society because O n my way home or doe, you have to reg- you get this adrenaline rush. If from Thanksgiving ister the animal, so tabs I saw six dead you’ve been hunting before, you’ll break are kept on each hunter,” deer,” Krittenbrink know that feeling.” Rice said. said. Lee said he enjoys the Krittenbrink said effort required to put -ERIK LEE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE FRESHMAN he hunts very often, food on his dinner table. but doesn’t harvest “Another reason I like hunting is be- deer each time. cause I went out and worked to get that “The biggest buck I took was during my meat,” Lee said. “To all those people who freshman year in high school,” he said. “It find that gruesome, I’d ask them if they ate was a 16-point that scored 184 1/4 inches.” chicken or beef and if they knew how those A 16-point buck has 16 tines on its rack of animals were killed in massive quantities at at least one inch, according to the Web site slaughterhouses.” of the Boone and Crockett Club, a club that Lee also donates a portion of the meat certifies hunting records. The size refers to to Jesus House, a Christian outreach the total length of all tines along with the organization. main supporting beam. “Once the venison comes back from the Lee took a nine-point buck earlier this processor in the form of burgers or steak, rifle season. I keep some and donate most of it to Jesus Rifle season for deer hunting ends House,” Lee said. Sunday. Archery season, which began Oct. The 2009 Deer Rut Report also states that 1, will continue until Jan. 15.
CAMPUS NOTES TODAY
WEDNESDAY
CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study at noon in the Oklahoma Memorial Union’s Traditions Room.
CHRISTIANS ON CAMPUS Christians on Campus will host a Bible study at 12:30 p.m. in the union’s Sooner Room.
OU LIBRARIES OU Libraries will host a workshop on “How to Find and Use U.S. Census Data” from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Bizzell Memorial Library, room 149D.
SAM NOBLE OKLAHOMA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY A special preview of “Outer Space Astronauts” will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History’s Kerr Auditorium.
CIRCLE K INTERNATIONAL Circle K International will meet at 7 p.m. in Dale Hall, room 112. EVERETT POETRY SERIES The Everett Poetry Series will present a Central Oklahoma Poetry Legacy Reading at 7 p.m. in Ellison Hall.
STUDENTS FOR A SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY Students for Sensible Drug Policy will meet at 8 p.m. at Crossroads in the union. CAMPUS CRUSADE FOR CHRIST Campus Crusade for Christ will meet at 9 p.m. in the Oklahoma Memorial Stadium’s Santee Lounge.
POLICE REPORTS The following is a list of arrests and citations, not convictions. The information given is compiled from the Norman Police Department and OU Police Department. All those listed are presumed innocent until proven guilty. MINOR IN POSSESSION OF ALCOHOL Christina Ann Albert, 20, 1000 Jenkins Ave., Saturday Ricky Bradford Ray Malone, 19, Jenkins Avenue, Saturday Robert Thomas Rose, 18, 211 W. Boyd St., Saturday Stephen Austin Ryan, 20, 200 W. Lindsey St., Saturday
Blake Owen Williams, 20, 200 W. Lindsey St., Saturday COUNTY WARRANT Paul Daniel Babin, 30, 401 12th Ave. S.E., Sunday Ralph Stephen Condit, 49, Vicksburg Drive, Sunday, also municipal warrant Gary Allen Campbell, 46, Sarkey’s Energy Center, Wednesday UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA Richard Codey Denney, 23, 2820 Dewey Ave., Sunday, also possession of a controlled dangerous substance
within 1,000 feet of a school and municipal warrants Isaac Preston Edwards, 26, 1854 E. Lindsey St., Saturday POSSESSION OF CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCE John Doe, 30, 2650 48th Ave. N.W., Sunday, also weapons violation SPEEDING Jon Doe, 27, 2650 48th Ave. N.W., Sunday, also obstructing an officer and driving without a valid driver’s license PETTY LARCENY Norman Virgil Donwerth,
43, 601 12th Ave. N.E., Saturday, also interfering with official process Zachary Caleb Goudy, 18, 2110 24th Ave. N.W., Sunday Donna Sue Shumway, 42, 2300 W. Main St., Saturday Nathan Daniel Valentine, 22, 2110 24th Ave. N.W., Sunday, also municipal warrant POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA Evan Tyler Fernandez, 18, 1201 12th Ave. N.E., Saturday PUBLIC INTOXICATION Ricky Dee Futischa, 37, 2200 Classen Blvd., Saturday
Eric Joseph Lapotsky, 23, 700 Asp Ave., Sunday, also outraging public decency Jason Thomas Alexander, 32, 1301 Jenkins Ave., Saturday David Cullen Autry, 22, O’Connell’s parking lot, Saturday
VENDING WITHOUT A PERMIT Micah James Leon, 25, Garfield Avenue, Saturday
DRIVING UNDER A SUSPENDED LICENSE Sabella Renea Hill, 23, 2600 Classen Blvd., Saturday Leopoldo Moran Rivera, 66, West Brooks Street, Friday, also driving without insurance verification and an expired tag
DISTURBING THE PEACE Fredrick Dillon McCullough, 33, 3001 Pheasant Run Road, Sunday
OUTRAGING PUBLIC DECENCY Trey Jordan Maddox, 22, 700 Asp Ave., Sunday
DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE Katherine Marie Mikeworth, 23, South Flood Avenue, Sunday
Staci Lyn Moore, 45, West Gray Street, Sunday Samuel Jason Strasbaugh, 23, West Robinson Street, Saturday, also no insurance verification Daniel Brandon Chandler, 25, 1003 Asp Ave., Sunday Edna Blair Baker, 23, 300 W. Boyd St., Sunday PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS Leann Richelle Robison, 21, 1820 Cherry Stone St., Sunday MUNICIPAL WARRANT John Arthur Williams, 48, 401 12th Ave. S.E., Sunday
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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Annelise Russell, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
« BASKETBALL Pick up the paper for a preview of men’s basketball Wednesday.
OU hockey player moves past accident Sooner hockey player opens up about the car crash that could have ended his hockey career and how he kept his spirits high on the OU hockey rink Ryan Querbach Daily Staff Writer
Chris A. Nicolaou, Dallas native and forward for the Sooner hockey team, was the victim of a horrific car accident in December 2006, while he was living in Alaska playing for a semi-pro team, the Alaska Avalanche. Nicolaou and a caravan of his teammates were headed to a community service event at a local elementary school in Wasilla, Alaska. It was a blizzard that morning, and when making a turn onto a two-way highway with no median, tragedy struck. “I lost control of my car, fishtailed and careened into an oncoming vehicle,” Nicolaou said. “We could see the car coming from like 30 yards away but couldn’t stop.” Amidst the terror, Nicolaou said he was first worried about his teammate, whom he heard scream and fall to the ground as he tried to exit the vehicle. “We were in a blizzard in the middle of nowhere; I was really worried about how long it would take paramedics to get there,” Nicolaou said. Nicolaou had a severe gash in his head, which he only realized once he saw the blood running down his face. Jarrod “Blade” Yost, a junior who also plays for OU and lives with Nicolaou in Norman, was also playing for the Alaska team at the time and was on the scene of the accident. “I was really worried about my teammates,” Yost said. He said he recalls the scene being rather brutal, especially with the blood
MARCIN RUTKOWSKI/THE DAILY
Chris Nicolaou, advertising junior, now plays as a forward for the Sooner’s hockey team, despite injuries suffered in a car wreck in 2006. flowing from Nicolaou’s head. Eventually the ambulance arrived, rushing Nicolaou and the other victims to the hospital. Nicolaou’s head wound required 75 staples, and he was then told that he had
sustained a ruptured Achilles tendon and a shattered heal in his right foot. Chris Nicolaou Sr., Nicolaou’s father, heard about the accident later that same day and the next day flew out to Alaska. Nicolaou Sr. remembers him being
pretty banged up. “His forehead looked pretty bad,” Nicolaou Sr. said. “But his spirits were good.” After the accident, Nicolaou saw many of his opportunities go out the window, mostly because he was forced to be off the ice for about seven months. “I really wasn’t sure I would ever be the same player I was,” Nicolaou said. “ I knew NCAA colleges would be timid to take on the risk of committing to me.” So Nicolaou, after hearing about OU’s team, decided to come and play here. “I had heard about OU’s ACHA team being one of the best,” Nicolaou said. “More than a handful of my best friends from amateur hockey who had played in the same league or higher, were coming here for various reasons.” The OU team has four players from that Alaska team: Nicolaou, Yost, Brad “Big Cat” McCabe and Jesse Bryant. Approximately seven months after the accident, Nicolaou made the OU team and began to play, even though his first half season he was forced to play with screws in his heal. Nicolaou’s father said he is ver y proud of his son’s efforts to overcome the injuries. “I was proud of the speed of which he recovered, and the fact that he played his first half season with screws in his heal,” Nicolaou Sr. said. “I know it was bothering him quite a bit, and I was proud that he was still trying his best to play.” Nicolaou, who is an advertising junior, said he has enjoyed his time at OU. “With the exception of not bringing home a National Championship, I have had a great time playing here; the school, my teammates and my coaches have been awesome,” Nicolaou said.
HPV Fact: Your boyfriend can’t get screened for HPV—the virus that causes genital warts.
There’s something you can do.
Visit your campus health center.
hpv.com Copyright © 2009 Merck & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in USA.
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Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Will Holland, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
COMMENT OF THE DAY »
In response to Ian Fullington’s Monday column, “Palin polarizes GOP, represents new generation”
OUR VIEW
“Sarah Palin and Chuck Norris: 2012 dream ticket?” -dio
YOU CAN COMMENT AT OUDAILY.COM
STAFF COLUMN
OKC should pass MAPS 3 A week from today residents of Oklahoma City will have an opportunity to vote on whether to continue a one-cent sales tax to fund another MAPS project. This project, dubbed MAPS 3, is the third project the city has funded through the sales tax. Previous projects are responsible for much of the renovation that has taken place over the last 15 years in the Bricktown area of the city. The projects have also helped the city afford renovations to the Cox Convention Center. MAPS 3, the project to be voted on Tuesday, would allow the city to construct a large central park, improved mass transit outlets and a destination-style convention center, in addition to several other projects. We understand we are in a recession, and any projects that are not absolutely necessary may not be the wisest thing to spend money on now. But we see this project as necessary for large long-term economic benefits.
These projects would go a long way in making Oklahoma City a vacation destination that would attract people from within Oklahoma, as well as from surrounding states. And this influx of visitors would bring with them an influx in money, which would boost the city’s economy. Furthermore, the projects may make OU students more inclined to stay in Oklahoma and around the metro area after graduation, which would help our local economy. And it’s not like this would be an increase in taxes, as the Dec. 8 vote merely decides if an already existing tax will continue. Finally, the projects, like a new Central Park-style park, would make life more pleasant for those who live in and around Oklahoma City. While it is true that many OU students do not live in the city and therefore do not have a say in this decision, we heartily encourage those who do to pass MAPS 3.
STAFF CARTOON
Michelle Gray is an anthropology senior.
STAFF COLUMN
Logical scrutiny disproves faith It is no surprise that my journey to discover truth in this world has forced me to evaluate religious claims. For the vast majority of my life I was a believer in the Christian God. Now, I lack belief in any gods because I do not have sufficient evidence to warrant my belief. I have found that the rational arguments for the beTARRANT lief in a god do not CARTER hold up to skeptical scrutiny. In case there was a perspective or insight I was lacking on the issue, I skeptically questioned believers. Most were unimpressed by my approach of using logic and reason to answer such religious questions. Even when faced with logical refutations to their position they still professed a belief in a god. I asked myself how a rational person could hold onto a belief without reason on his or her side. As you all probably guessed, the answer is faith. To my surprise many “rational” theists value faith more than reason and evidence. They even attach moral worth to this lack of evidence and actually feel validated when logic and evidence do not support their belief. My early education led me to doubt faith as a valid way to attain knowledge. I have always been instructed that I would have to do something to attain knowledge. For example, if I wanted to learn to read, I first had to learn the alphabet and then how to manipulate the alphabet to form words. This required active engagement on my part. With faith all I have to do is merely accept the claim, and I now have
knowledge. Intellectual laziness underlies the concept of faith. Imagine if I took the faith approach when learning to read. All I would have to think, as a lazy first grader, is that I have faith in my ability to read. Voila! I can now read. People realize intuitively that faith doesn’t give us reliable knowledge into any facet of our lives, but for some puzzling reason many people will gladly use faith for religious matters. My college education added further doubts to the merits of faith. As a psychology student I was taught to critically apply the scientific method to my intuitions about human nature. While I can initially believe that my intuitions about human psychology are tentatively correct, my intuitions don’t add anything to our knowledge base unless I can reliably demonstrate their veracity. The concept of faith is counter intuitive to what I have learned throughout my academic career. Aside from my intuitions against f a i t h, t h e re a re m a n y l o g i c a l problems. In the believer’s ingenious attempt to circumvent logical scrutiny by appealing to faith, he or she has created another obstacle for accepting his or her belief. Christians want to say that objective truth exists and this objective truth is God. Yet the evidence given for this belief (i.e. faith) is highly subjective. Since faith is so subjective, I am not warranted in concluding an objective truth from faith. My personal feelings or intuitions (i.e. there is a god) are perhaps the most subjective forms of evidence that exists. I cannot say logically that my personal intuitions about gods, aliens or people are objectively true without
using more objective evidence or a more objective methodology. One would think if objective truth exists (as Christians claim) one would use the most reliable method for arriving at objective truth – the scientific method. To date, no standard for truth is as accurate or reliable in helping us discern the true nature of reality. Ironically, for believers, my subjective standard of faith is somehow better suited to answer supposedly objective questions about God and his nature. Even if faith was a completely valid way to arrive at objective truth, it is unclear which god I should believe in because billions of people throughout history have put their faith into thousands of different gods and spirits. So do I just put my faith into the god that is the preferred god of my culture? Or, since faith is so highly subjective for the believer, do I put my faith into a god that feels right to me? Finally, I question the value that many believers attach to faith. While many young children have faith in Santa Claus, nearly all of them later realize that their belief is without warrant. Nearly every person critically examined their faith in Santa Claus and realized it wasn’t enough to simply have faith. Most people wanted to know the truth about his existence. On that issue most people value truth more than faith. If I am going to demand the truth about such a trivial issue as Santa Claus, I feel I must take this approach with my belief in a god. Therefore, I believe that the argument must shift from discussing faith in a god to whether a god actually exists. Tarrant Carter is a psychology senior.
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Abortion debaters should unite, focus on education This is not just another abortion column. This is not a round of vicious, ineffective name-calling or a breathless accusation of ignorance and hypocrisy. This space will not be filled with fallacious arguments, emotional appeals or a comparison to the Holocaust. We’ve had quite enough grandstanding and aimless outrage in the last few weeks, from both sides. It is time for everyone involved in this debate, on this campus and across the nation, to realize that the current rhetoMARY ric is childish, divisive and completely STANFIELD ineffective. We call ourselves “pro-life” and accuse the others of wanting to commit genocide against helpless babies. We call ourselves “pro-choice” and accuse the others of building a patriarchal theocracy and ignoring women’s rights in favor of their role as child-bearers. We show bloody pictures of aborted fetuses and shout, “My body, my choice!” These tactics accomplish nothing but further separation of the two extremes. We’ve yelled at each other from two stubborn, hopelessly divided poles since this debate began, and it has resulted in nothing but anger. It’s time to come together and find a way to glean an actual benefit from this futile debate. The one thing we can all agree on is abortions are negative things – whether we view them as acts of murder or unfortunate necessities. So wouldn’t all of this energy we’ve been wasting on legal debate be better used to help reduce the need for abortions? All but the most extreme on either side could unite behind this goal and work toward an actual benefit for society. The first step must include comprehensive sex education. Starting in high school, we need to give our children the resources to make informed decisions. This includes the knowledge necessary to have safe sex, if that is what they choose. It’s one thing for parents to teach their children that they should remain abstinent until marriage. I’m sure many teens who are raised with that message end up following it. But many (probably most) do not. And we cannot restrict important information to all students based on the beliefs of some parents. Common sense tells us that teaching children about safe sex does not make them more likely to have sex in general, just more likely to be responsible about it. In fact, a 2008 study in the Journal of Adolescent Health showed that teens who receive comprehensive sex education are no more likely to have sex than those who received abstinence-only education. And it showed that they were significantly less likely to get pregnant or impregnate their partners. Real education on safe sex would reduce the number of accidental, and potentially dangerous, teenage pregnancies. It would also ensure that no one could reach the adult stage of life with a skewed knowledge of sex, as many who are raised in conservative areas do. Can we really argue for a whole generation of adults whose sex-ed came from the Internet? The second step would be to increase the funding and visibility of programs that support pregnant women and struggling parents. Many programs exist to guide mothers through pregnancy and to support parents in financially difficult situations. But finding these programs can be nearly impossible, especially if one doesn’t know they exist. To make an informed decision about abortion, pregnant women need to know about every resource available to them. Increasing the scope of these programs would make it possible for more women to keep their children and not feel the need to abort their pregnancies because of lack of money or support. This would cut down on the number of women seeking abortions, as well as ensure that every abortion was an informed decision. No woman would need to terminate her pregnancy solely out of fear of being unable to care for her child. These are just the first two steps. I’m sure people on both sides – people much wiser in social and political matters than I – can come up with a longer and more detailed plan of action. The important concern is that we work together toward an actual goal. So much emotion, motivation and drive fuel those involved in the abortion debate. We just need to redirect these valuable resources toward an effective goal. With that much passion at our disposal, imagine what we could accomplish. Mary Stanfield is a philosophy sophomore.
The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice. Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and should be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be cut to fit. Students must list their major and classification. OU staff and faculty must list their title. All letters must include a daytime phone number. Authors submitting letters in person must present photo identification. Submit letters Sunday through Thursday, in 160 Copeland Hall. Letters can also be submitted via e-mail to dailyopinion@ ou.edu.
Guest columns are accepted at editor’s discretion. ’Our View’ is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily. Editorial Board members are The Daily’s editorial staff. The board meets Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall. Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are not necessarily the opinions of The Daily Editorial Board.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Cassie Rhea Little, L&A editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 325-5189 • fax: 325-6051
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« LISTEN
OUDAILY.COM Hear music featured in today’s New Music Tuesday online.
» RIHANNA: “RATED R” Disturbia, indeed Returning for her first album since the infamous incident with t h e n - b oy f r i e n d C h r i s Brown, you would have to be completely delusional to think it wouldn’t have an effect on the mood of the record. Sure enough, it does; “Rated R” is harder, darkJOSHUA er, faster and stronger BOYDSTON than anything before. Language warranted Rihanna’s first parental advisory warning of her career, and the
PHOTO PROVIDED
Album cover for Rihanna’s newest music release, “Rated R.”
The Daily’s Joshua Boydston reviews three of this week’s most notable new music releases.
delivery feels rather marred in contrast to the glossy polish of earlier albums. “Mad House” introduces “Rated R,” and the “spook house” organ squiggles and rather ominous drones guarantee a dance party meets graveyard haunts vibe. “Wait Your Turn” stokes that sensation. It’s “Umbrella” meets ”March of the Pigs,” shifting in an eerie mechanical manner as Rihanna bellows like a voodoo witch doctor on its way to a more sleek chorus. It’s a promising, unique mishmash of grotesque and glam that could have worked brilliantly. But that sound quickly drops off, only making awkward, half-hearted reappearances every so often. Rather generic songs like “Hard” and “Stupid In Love” could have writhed into a completely new, interesting thing if she had continued to utilize that creepiness, but alas, they don’t. That twisting disturbance makes a brief showing in “G4L” before crawling back into hiding, making “Rated R” feel mostly like a missed opportunity. Her return to glory comes with “Cold Case Love,” a stark, almost angelic contrast to the rest of the thudding affair. It’s carried by her brilliant, poignant voice that pops over piano ripples, bass vibrations and soul-gripping string pulls. With this, it seems she has found a resolution to all that confusion and identity crises that were fighting in the middle of the album. It’s a happy ending to a sometimesterrifying, often puzzled journey that reads like the most recent chapter of Rihanna’s life story.
THEM CROOKED VULTURES: “THEM CROOKED VULTURES” Sorry, my ears are ringing, what did you say? When I first heard that Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nir vana) and John Paul Johns (Led Zeppelin) were coming together to form a super group, first I thought, no way this is actually happening. After having their existence verified with their first video teasers onPHOTO PROVIDED line, I knew somewhere the rock gods Album cover for Them Crooked Vultures were smiling. Hell, these three guys self-titled album. aren’t too far off from being rock gods themselves. I knew with this trio, the sound would chance to crackle even louder. It only takes one listen to “No One be a nasty, classic take on good ol’ rock Loves Me, & Neither Do I” to remember ‘n’ roll. Pairing Homme and Grohl back to- the glory days of rock ‘n’ roll and to take gether from their early days of QOTSA, solace in these figureheads carrying that I figured the result would more closely sound on loudly and brightly. Knowing how much flexibility all the mirror the noise of “Songs for the Deaf,” however the sound heavily leans to- musicians involved have showcased wards “Era Vulgaris” sensibilities with over their career, it would have been “Black Dog” riffs (“Elephants”) and nice to hear them flex a little range over “Monkey Wrench” melodies (“Mind the course of this monstrous bombast Eraser, No Chaser”) popping in for good that comes off a little one note. But with that one note still ringing in measure. “TCV” pounds hard and fast enough my ear, I wholeheartedly give a thunderous stamp of approval. to seemingly alter your heartbeat. It ’s mostly unrelenting, but give slower (by their standards) tracks like Joshua Boydston is a psychology sophomore. “Bandoliers” and “Scumbag Blues” a
OUDAILY.COM » Read a review for Blakroc’s self-titled album online. Learn the Languages of Law, Medicine, and the Sciences Take Greek or Latin to Satisfy Your Language Requirement The professional vocabulary of lawyers, doctors, and scientists comes from Greek and Latin. If you take courses in these languages, you’ll know what stare decisis means, what hematopoiesis is, and why you’re called a homo sapiens. Besides, it’s just fun to tell people that you know Greek and/or Latin.
Beginning course in both languages are still open for the spring 2010 semester:
We also have some great Gen-Ed courses in English: Survey of Roman Civilization (CL C 2613), Ancient Epic (CL C 3113), and Classical Influences on Modern Literature (CL C 3613).
For more information, contact the Department of Classics and Letters, 100 Carnegie Building | 325-6921 | classicsandletters@ou.edu.
HPV Fact: It is estimated that each minute in the US, there is a new case of genital warts. There’s something you can do.
Visit your campus health center.
2B Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Thad Baker, advertising manager classifieds@ou.edu • phone: 325-2521 • fax: 325-7517
Phone: 405-325-2521 E-mail: classifieds@ou.edu
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MISAL OF INDIA BISTRO Now accepting applications for waitstaff. Apply in person at 580 Ed Noble Parkway, across from Barnes & Noble, 579-5600.
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PAID EGG DONORS up to 9 donations, + Exps, non-smokers, Ages 19-29, SAT>1100/ACT>24/GPA>3.00 Contact: info@eggdonorcenter.com
Employment HELP WANTED Bartender & Wait Staff - Club Fusion, SW 89th & Western - 833-1828
Part-Time College and Young Adult Coordinator Needed. College and Young Adult Coordinator needed for a large church located near the University of Oklahoma in Norman. This individual will guide and develop small groups of people primarily in their 20’s into a closer relationship with God. Please send resume to rwade@mcfarlinumc.org or PO Box 6390 Norman, OK 73070 att Randy Wade.
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Not going home for the holidays? The C Lazy U Guest Ranch in the Colorado Rockies has positions available from Dec 19 thru Jan 3 - after Jan 3, you are welcome to stay w/ free room & board, to ski & snowboard the local resorts for 5 days. Email Phil Dwyer at pdwyer@clazyu.com or call 970-887-3344.
2 col (3.25 in) x 2.25 inches Crossword ........$515/month
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Bartending! Up to $300/day. No exp nec. Training provided. 1-800-965-6520 x133.
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Hiring Leasing Agent Immediately Large apt complex seeking responsible student P/T & Sat, exible schedule, F/T during breaks. $7.50 - $8.50 based on ability. 613-5268
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WINTER SPECIAL! NEAR OU, 1012 S College $295/mo. 360-2873 / 306-1970.
Panhandle Opportunities: working with individuals with developmental disabilities. 7.50/hr to start, paid training. Flexible hrs, beneďŹ ts. Positive environment, Norman area. 942-4822 or fax resume 942-4993. STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM Paid survey takers needed in Norman 100% FREE to join. Click on Surveys.
Taylor Ridge Townhomes 2 Bdrm, 2.5 Bath, Fully Renovated Townhomes near OU! Pets Welcome! • Call for current rates and Move-in Specials!!! Taylor Ridge Townhomes (405) 310-6599
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$400, bills paid, efďŹ ciency LOFT apartments, downtown over Mister Robert Furniture, 109 E Main, ďŹ re sprinkler, no pets, smoke-free. Inquire store ofďŹ ce.
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Contact an Acct Executive for details at 325-2521. 2 col (3.25 in) x 2 inches Sudoku ..............$760/month Boggle ...............$760/month Horoscope ........$760/month
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Walk to class, 3/2/2, ďŹ replace, patio, CH/ A, 801 Elmwood. 329-4119.
4 BDRM, 2 Bath, walking distance to campus, kitchen appl incld, w/d, pets OK. Avail Jan 1 - Call 826-1335.
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Previous Solution 7 6 5 9 4 3 8 2 1
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9 2 1 5 7 8 6 3 4
6 5 9 3 8 7 1 4 2
2 7 8 1 9 4 5 6 3
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Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard
Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.
Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker December 01, 2009
ACROSS 1 They may be nuclear or biological, informally 5 Variety show lineup 9 Good conductor? 14 Light as a feather 15 Checked item 16 Ridge found in rugged mountains 17 Jack-o’lantern feature 18 Light brown 19 Eaten at (Var.) 20 Like many presents 23 Monopolize 24 Police club used in India 25 In some way 27 Type widths 28 Racing vehicle (Var.) 32 Word on a door 33 Book Mark? 34 Dukes 35 Missive leading to military service 38 “Going to the dogs,� e.g. 40 Amalgamate 41 Cotton processor 42 Pick 44 Imitate 47 Satirical
HOROSCOPE By Bernice Bede Osol
Copyright 2008, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- In order to advance a project, you may have to search for someone who has strong, sound ideas that he or she can articulate and put to use. You could find that person.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Perhaps your greatest asset is the ability to get along with everyone from all walks of life, so it’s extremely likely that you’ll thoroughly enjoy the company of some new acquaintances.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Focus on a project or endeavor that encompasses humanitarian elements because these components will propel you to a greater plane of existence and rewards.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) -Allot as much time as possible to a matter that needs finalizing. There are many reasons why you should conclude something successfully.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- A winning attitude will be reflected in all of your endeavors and relationships, making you victorious with each one of them. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- You’re solidly equipped to handle changes and adjustments without missing a beat, whether for personal benefit or for others who are in need. In all cases, these changes will be widely accepted.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- There is a good chance that you could meet someone with whom you’ll find much in common. It is one of those relationships that might grow quickly and turn out to be strong. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- An opportunity to strongly enhance your material well-being will present itself. Don’t hesitate to take advantage because it is far greater than anything you could ever imagine.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Something that hasn’t turned out to be as fair as everyone thought will be renegotiated at this time. The new terms will be far more equitable.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Should you have to handle a serious matter similar to one successfully managed in the past, don’t hesitate to use the same tactics. What worked once will work again.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- No one will have to tell you to do your best because you’ll recognize that you’re in a brand-new earnings cycle, where rewards for a job well done could be larger than usual.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Much success is possible by partnering with someone as mentally strong as you. With each bolstering the other, greater progress than usual will be made.
presidential candidate of 1968 49 Place for a concubine 51 More than is? 52 It might hold up your pants 56 Red Sea peninsula 58 Eurasia’s __ _ Mountains 59 West German capital 60 Brief tussle 61 Microbe 62 Not new or mint 63 Ruhr Valley city 64 Does some tailoring 65 Some teens in the 1960s DOWN 1 Move from side to side, as animal tails 2 Sister of Moses 3 Snow formations 4 Electronic instrument, informally 5 Extraordinary tennis server 6 ___-Cola 7 Diamond cover 8 Drunken daze 9 Zsa Zsa’s
sister 10 South end? 11 Afternoon drink place 12 Pessimist’s hypothetical 13 Margins of victory, in horse races 21 Native American shelter 22 Young newt 26 Like some meatballs 29 Big klutz 30 Do-ityourselfer’s buy 31 Void 33 A way to fish 34 Many vodka bottles 35 Thinners 36 Divisor for any number 37 Opening in “Hollywood
38 39 42 43 44 45 46 48 50 53 54 55 57
Squares,� essentially Roadblock They may have private entries French seasoning “Stop already!� Sweetly melodic Produced, as a literary work Corrects texts Descendant Wedding souvenir It leaves in spring? Physical injury Some shade providers Filled up on
PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER
Š 2009 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com
HORSES OF A DIFFERENT COLOR by Carl Cranby
Previous Answers
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Vinyl records surviving in digital age
3A
NEWS BRIEFS MAYOR ROSENTHAL SEEKS SECOND TERM Norman Mayor and OU professor Cindy Rosenthal announced she will run for a second term as mayor of Norman Monday. Rosenthal was elected to her first term as mayor in 2007 and currently teaches political science at OU. “We have had terrific success and made a lot of headway on many projects, and I want to continue to work on them and see them completed,” Rosenthal said. Rosenthal said she finds it rewarding to be a professor and mayor at the same time. “There have been lots of long days, and I’ve worked many weekends,” Rosenthal said. “I am thankful that class and city council [have] not been in conflict with each other. Being mayor has also made me a better teacher. Working in public administration has made me a better teacher in the subject. All in all, it has been very challenging and also very interesting.” Rosenthal said she has short-term and long-term projects she would work on if re-elected. “We face a tight fiscal year ahead of us,” Rosenthal said. “We need to make sure we are able to carry out our vital services while also taking care of our priorities.” She said long-term goals include working on stormwater collection, drainage and quality control, and she said she would also work on bringing Norman a modern public transit system that would connect to all cities in the Oklahoma City metro area. Rosenthal’s first campaigning event will be a canned food drive at the Norman Holiday Parade on Dec. 12. She said there will be a collection and a small party at the Norman Train Depot between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. that day.
LILY CHAPA/THE DAILY
A customer looks through a variety of records at Guestroom Records. Record sales have been increasing in the last year.
Record sales not following decline of CDs, online downloads, according to 2008 report TROY WEATHERFORD Daily Staff Writer
As CD sales continue to decline, a resurgence of vinyl record sales have proven to be a small ray of hope to the music industry. According to the 2008 Nielsen Soundscan, 1.88 million vinyl records were sold in 2008, compared to 990,000 in 2007, an increase of 89 percent. During that same time, combined sales of CDs, LPs and digital files fell by 14 percent. Vinyl long play and extended play records were the only non-digital music sales that went up in 2008, according to the Recording Industry Association of America. In early November of this year, vinyl record sales exceeded 2 million for the year. That number is up 37 percent from the same time last year, according to Billboard.biz. Guestroom Records, a music store with locations in Norman and Oklahoma City, makes about one-half of its sales in vinyl, co-owner Travis Searle said. One factor driving the resurgence of vinyl is a new tendency of record labels to include a CD or digital download of the album with the vinyl. About nine out of 10 new albums come with this access to a digital copy, Searle said. The average Guestroom Records buyer is in his or her early 20s to mid-30s, Searle said, but record collectors come in all ages. Searle has seen people as young as eight and as old as 80 buy albums on vinyl. Sound quality is a major factor for many audiophile record collectors. “It sounds so much crisper to me than a CD,” said Will Mitas, letters senior. “[It’s] more like I’m at a concert.” Mitas has been collecting records since his girlfriend bought him a turntable during his sophomore year of high school. Since then, his collection has grown to around 100 record albums. “There’s a certain mood transferred over vinyl ... The crackle of the needle on the record is a nostalgic aspect of it,” Mitas said. Searle said listening to a vinyl album is a more engaging experience than listening to a CD or an album on a computer. The album must be removed from its sleeve and flipped halfway through. The listener also has to switch discs on double albums. “It’s an active listening experience as opposed to a passive one,” he said. Searle said record collecting can either be a cheap or
very expensive hobby. “You can get a great big stack of vinyls for $500, or you can get a miniscule stack, it all depends on what you want,” Searle said. There can be a major difference in the cost of albums, even within the same genre and time-period. Classic rock albums from second and third-tier artists can be found used for between $1 and $5. Bigger artists like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Pink Floyd usually cost more, Searle said. Guestroom Records offers used vinyls for $3 and less. These albums are either store duplicates, haven’t sold, or have condition issues, Searle said. While some new vinyl albums are priced comparably to their CD counterparts, most albums are more expensive on vinyl. Some albums are only $1 or $2 more, but some are double the cost of the same CD, something Searle said makes them harder to sell. “It’s hard to convince people to spend twice as much money,” he said. On Amazon.com, an MP3 download of the “Twilight: New Moon” soundtrack is $8.99. The same album on vinyl is $27.53. Searle said there is just something different about owning a vinyl compared t o o w n i n g a n i Tu n e s download. “ It s e e m s l i k e i f y o u spend money on something you should get something out of it,” he said. “With records you actually have something. The difference is whether you want to own it or have a file on your computer.” Some albums have parts that can’t be heard on their CD releases, Mitas said. For example, the end of The Beatles’ “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” has a number of strange sounds, including a dog whistle. Those sounds can’t be heard on the CD, Mitas said. “Being able to sit down and actually hear everything you’re supposed to hear — it’s pretty cool,” Searle said.
PHOTO PROVIDED
EXPECT SNOW WEDNESDAY MORNING Norman could see its first snow of the season Wednesday morning, a meteorologist at the National Weather Center said. “We have forecasted a small chance of a light dusting of snow on the ground Wednesday morning,” Erin Maxwell, meteorologist at the National Weather Center, said. Maxwell said the potential for a small accumulation on grassy areas is possible, but people should expect more of a rain and snow mix rather than any significant snowfall. “If there are any accumulations, it will only be around in the morning,” Maxwell said. “The afternoon will be warm enough to melt away anything that is around.” Maxwell said the weather is part of a Canadian air mass that will bring cold temperatures to the state through the weekend. The National Weather Center predicts temperatures will not reach any higher then the upper-40s through the weekend, Maxwell said. “It’s become really cold lately because we were receiving cold fronts from the Pacific that were more like cool fronts, and now we are receiving cold fronts from Canada that actually feel like cold fronts,” Maxwell said. She said cold fronts in the past few days are colder because they are coming directly in from Canada instead of the Pacific northwest. -Ricky Maranon/The Daily
4B
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
COLUMN
No surprise, Stoops staying in Norman
ZACH BUTLER/THE DAILY
Kyle Terry, now a redshirt senior, competes against a Maryland wrestler Jan. 16 in McCasland Field House. The Sooners will host OSU at 7 p.m. Tuesday.
BEDLAM CONTINUES TONIGHT Sooner wrestling attempts to upset No. 3 Cowboys in dual MJ CASIANO Daily Sports Writer
The undefeated and No. 11 ranked OU wrestling squad will see its toughest opponent thus far at 7 p.m. today inside the Howard McCasland Fieldhouse in Norman. OU (4-0) will take on undefeated and in-state rival No. 3 Oklahoma State, coming off of two impressive wins Saturday at the Oklahoma Open over Oklahoma City University and North Carolina State University, 30-16 and 26-15 respectively. “It’s Bedlam,” Spates said. “We want to follow in the footsteps of our football team and get a victory. Our team wants to encourage all Sooner fans to come out and support us and
root us on to victory.” OU will start four of its highly The last four meetings between touted freshman today as true freshthe in-state, Bedlam men Alex Eckstrom rivals have been split, STUDENT PROMOTIONS (133 pounds) joins with both teams winTyler Caldwell (165) ning in their home alongside Justin - Free pizza for OU matches. For rest (125) and students The dual will be Erich Schmidtke O k l a h o m a S t a t e’s - $300 MidFirst Bank (184). second dual of the gift card to randomly H o w e v e r, s o m e season, and the team selected student upperclassmen will is led by seasoned show their skills as - $300 MidFirst Bank coach and alumwell, including all gift card to greatest atnus John Smith who t h re e u n d e f e a t e d tending Greek house boats an impressive Shane Vernon (6-0, 282-42-4 record. 1 5 7 p o u n d s ) , Je f f Last season, OSU James (8-0, 174) and and OU shared a 1-4 Eric Lapotsky (8-0, record and fourth place in the Big 12 197). regular season. The doors open at 5:30 p.m. and OSU continued on to finish fourth in the Big 12 championships and the action will be shown on Cox channel 7 in the Norman area. 16th at the NCAA’s.
You could hear a sigh of relief Monday following head coach Bob Stoops’ statements about remaining at OU despite the Notre Dame coaching position being available. Notre Dame fired Charlie Weis Monday afternoon, and up until Stoops made his announcement he was at the top of the Fighting Irish’s short wish list. But, it’s called a wish list for a reason. It would be nice to have Stoops, his pedigree would have pointed him in the job’s direction, but in all reality, he was not going to leave a position where he is already considered a king. Just look at three big reasons why Stoops would not leave Norman and JONO head for greater pastures. First, as mentioned above, he is prac- GRECO tically Oklahoma royalty. Stoops is held in such a high regard in this state people who meet him look upon him with awe and, for the most part, are just happy to be in his presence. Like all coaches, he does get criticized from time to time when he loses or makes a questionable decision, but as a whole, he is treated well by the media and his critics. Secondly, Stoops would have to relinquish some of the control of his team if he went to Notre Dame. He as a lot of power as OU’s head coach and is free to do almost anything he wants as long as he stays within legal limits. At Notre Dame, it would be hard to believe he would be given the same amount of power and control as he already has. Finally, just look at how much money he would stand to lose if he left. Stoops is already one of the highest paid coaches in college football, and I don’t think Notre Dame will want to spend that much money on a new coach. Weis was also a top-paid coach and now stands to make $18 million dollars from being fired. Stoops would remain a very well paid coach if he left, but he possibly could lose between $500,000 and $1.5 million by taking another job. But Stoops has his own reasons for staying. I do believe Stoops when he says he will stay, but I am a little hesitant to completely rule out the possibility of him leaving. In the past, coaches have left after saying they would stay with their jobs when another school’s head coach position opened up (see coach Nick Saban leaving the Miami Dolphins and going to Alabama in 2007). So until the bowl season is over or an official announcement of who will be Notre Dame’s head coach in 2010 is made, I’ll remain somewhat skeptical about this whole situation. Until then, it’s good to know Stoops will be patrolling OU’s sideline, barking at players and officials for the time being. Jono Greco is a journalism junior.
Some Sooners may return for postseason Stoops brothers could NORMAN — Coach Bob Stoops says Oklahoma could get several players back from injuries in time for a bowl game, although none of the players who suffered season-ending injuries will make unexpected returns. Stoops said in a conference call Monday left tackle Trent Williams (concussion), middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds (hamstring) and receiver Brandon Caleb (knee) could be able to return for the postseason. Williams and Reynolds both missed Oklahoma’s 27-0 win against Oklahoma State on Saturday. Caleb was helped off the field shortly before halftime, putting no pressure on his right leg. Stoops says Caleb hyperextended his knee. Stoops also says that linebacker Mike Balogun, who sued the NCAA after being declared ineligible prior to the season, will not return to the Sooners. —AP
>>
go head-to-head in bowl
MERRILL JONES/THE DAILY
Junior wide receiver Brandon Caleb celebrates a touchdown during the Sept. 5 game against BYU at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
For Sooner sports updates, columns and podcasts visit our website at OUDaily.com.
TUCSON, Ariz. — Memo to the Sun Bowl: the Stoops brothers would prefer not to face each other in El Paso. With speculation swirling about Arizona’s bowl destination, Mike Stoops said he hopes the Wildcats won’t have to play brother Bob Stoops’ Oklahoma Sooners in the Sun Bowl, one of two bowls pitting the Pac-10 and Big 12. Mike Stoops said a bowl matchup between Arizona (7-4, 5-3 Pac-10) and Oklahoma (7-5, 5-3 Big 12) would be “something we would try to avoid at all costs. “I don’t think it would be fun for either one of us,” Mike Stoops said at his weekly campus news conference on Monday. “I think it would be very uncomfortable for probably everyone. “That wouldn’t be ideal for us, but obviously you’ve got to look beyond that for the possibilities,” he said. “So we’ll cross that bridge Sunday.” Pac-10 bowl pairings are expected to be announced Sunday. Speaking in Norman Bob Stoops echoed his brother’s comments. “We would both prefer not to,” Bob Stoops said. “That’s it. It isn’t a big deal. If we have to, we have to. It’s not a big deal. That’s not a factor in the bowl process.” Mike Stoops served on Bob Stoops’ staff at OU before taking over at Arizona after the 2003 season. They have not faced each other as college head coaches. —AP