W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | J A N U A R Y 17- 2 0 , 2 0 19 | T W I C E W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY, IMAGES VIA FREEPIX.COM AND HANNAH SAAD/THE CRIMSON WHITE
Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts has added his name to the growing list of quarterbacks coached under Lincoln Riley by transferring to the University of Oklahoma.
THANK U, NEXT
Alabama's Jalen Hurts will add name to list of successful quarterbacks to play under Lincoln Riley
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wo days before the 2019 National Championship, t h e n - b a c ku p A l a b a m a quarterback Jalen Hurts was asked a short, complex question at media day. What’s your future with this program? Hur ts smiled, turned and walked away from the question. Eleven days later he answered that question in an 825-word personal letter in the Players’ Tribune — a long, simple answer. He announced his decision Wednesday to transfer to the University of Oklahoma for his final year of eligibility, joining Lincoln Riley and adding his name to a growing list of talented quarterbacks to come through Norman. “To my about-to-be family in Norman, I truly appreciate you for bringing me on board. Y’all don’t know me yet,” Hurts wrote, “but just for now, to introduce myself: I’m a motivated coach’s son from the Eastside of Houston, and I love to play ball.” Hurts’ decision to come to Oklahoma was a no-brainer. The Sooners’ past two quart e r b a ck s — Ba ke r May f i e l d and Kyler Murray — were both transfers, Heisman Trophy winners and led OU to the College Football Playoff. Hurts will be the assumed starter, with sophomore quarterback Austin Kendall exploring the transfer portal and Hurts’ biggest competition, the national No. 1 quarterback recruit in Spencer Rattler, not arriving until June. Additionally, Oklahoma returns nearly all its offensive weapons, despite losing four starters on the offensive line, and will likely have a serviceable defense with the recent hire of defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. But the common denominator in all this is Riley. He’s become the young offensive-minded coach every team, both college and professional, wants and the man every kid wants to play for. And now, with his next quarterback secured, most expect him to keep OU in the national title hunt. “Why wouldn’t Jalen Hurts want to go to Oklahoma?” asked Shane Carden, who played quarterback for Riley at East Carolina
GEORGE STOIA • @GEORGESTOIA 2010-14. “It’s not a surprise at all. You look at what (Riley’s) done, what he’s doing — there’s no signs in him stopping what he’s doing. He’s winning. He’s putting good people in situations to be successful. “Why wouldn’t you want to go play for Lincoln Riley?” ••• Reece Clark never played a down for Riley. The walkon quarterback from Cypress Woods High School in Texas just finished his fourth and final year at Oklahoma, serving as a backup to the backup for four seasons. He sat in the same quarterback room as Mayfield and Murray, learning from the same teacher: Riley. But, Clark said, Riley always views his players as equals. No one in Riley’s quarterback room is above anyone else — not a walk-on, scholarship player, Heisman Trophy winner, nation’s No. 1 recruit or even a highly-touted graduate transfer.
"OU’s had a lot of great quarterbacks. Lincoln’s had a lot of great quarterbacks. But (Hurts) can be the first Lincoln Riley quarterback to win a national championship." SHANE CARDEN, FORMER EAST CAROLINA QUARTERBACK
“He makes everybody feel important,” Clark said. “Me, personally, I’ve grown exponentially as a player both physically and mentally, especially mentally. I learned something new every day in that quarterback room … If you need to talk to him one-on-one, he’s available and he looks you in the eye and tells you what you need to hear.” As a former walk-on quarterback at Texas Tech, Riley has always had that equal-playingfield philosophy. He emphasizes that everyone has a role — from
the stars to the scout team. “S c h o l a r s h i p o r w a l k- o n , he’ll tell you exactly where you stand,” Carden said. “There’s no guessing. He tells you everything directly, what he expects and what’s to come. There’s especially never any questions in that quarterback room. He wants you to be confident.” Players who’ve been in that room say Riley instills that confidence in all his players by being confident in himself. He’s not afraid to be aggressive in his playcalling or take risks in recruiting. He’ll do the same with Hurts. He’s an excellent communicator, simplifying his complex offensive schemes for players. He understands young people and helps them understand him. He makes his offense fit his players, not his players fit his offense. “ W h e n e v e r y o u ’ re i n t h e meeting room, you see what he’s seeing, too,” Clark said. “He does an incredible job of explaining and making things simple. And I think that’s enticing for guys to want to come play for him because he’s a great, young mind.” From tearing up when he had to bench Mayfield on Senior Day to passionately hugging Murray after winning a fourth-straight Big 12 title, Riley is the ultimate player’s coach, building valuable relationships with those around him. “Coach R ile y is just cool, man,” Clark said. “He can have a conversation with anyone. He can talk to you about anything. He’s a young guy. He’s a relatable guy. He’s just a guy you can talk to, and that’s why people want to come play for him.” ••• Just moments after Alabama beat OU in the Orange Bowl, Hur ts and Mur ray share d a short hug. At the time, no one thought much of it, but in hindsight it was a passing of a torch. Now, in a year that most expected Oklahoma to possibly drop off, Hurts makes Riley and Oklahoma once again a national title contender. St i l l , Hu r t s c a n i m p rov e, which might have been part of the appeal of coming to study
under Riley. Going 26-2 as a starter at Alabama and helping the Tide to back-to-back national title appearances in 2016 and 2017, there’s no question he’s a proven winner. He’s an exceptional athlete, totalling in air and on the ground at Alabama for 7,602 yards and 71 touchdowns. But Hurts’ biggest weakness is his arm. In his first two seasons at Alabama, Hurts recorded a completion percentage of 62.8 (2016) and 60.4 (2017). In their four combined years as the starting quarterbacks, Mayfield and Murray averaged a 69.6 completion percentage.
"Why wouldn’t Jalen Hurts want to go to Oklahoma? Why wouldn’t you want to go play for Lincoln Riley?" SHANE CARDEN , FORMER EAST CAROLINA QUARTERBACK
He doesn’t have the accuracy of Mayfield or the arm of Murray, but he does share the same motivation and will to win. And that may be all Riley needs. “You see the unselfishness (at Alabama) and the most noticeable and obvious example is Jalen Hurts,” Riley said at Orange Bowl media day Dec. 28. “How he handled that entire situation, I don’t know if there’s a coach in the country that doesn’t look back at that and say, ‘Every kid, every college football player, every young football player out there, every 6-year-old that’s about to play the game, ought to see that story.’ “We need more guys like him.” Even before Riley got him, one could easily feel the excitement on campus this week. Whether it was the Hurts Donuts being passed out on the second day of classes in the heart of campus or the students excitedly whispering Hurts’ name across the aisles of classes as the news broke Wednesday afternoon, Oklahoma football was all anyone could talk about 227 days before the Sooners’ next game.
JALEN HURTS
BY THE NUMBERS PASSING YARDS
5,626
PASSING TDS
48
RUSHING YARDS
1,976
RUSHING TDS
23
RECORD AS STARTER
26-2
sportsreference.com Perhaps that’s what persuaded Hurts to choose Oklahoma over Maryland or Miami — or maybe it’s the chance to play in an elite offense for a program that can contend for it all. “You have these back-to-back Heismans, all these Big 12 titles, but what’s still out there is winning a national title,” Carden said. “OU’s had a lot of great quarterbacks. Lincoln’s had a lot of great quarterbacks. But (Hurts) can be the first Lincoln Riley quarterback to win a national championship. “I’m sure that’s in the back of Jalen’s mind, and even though he probably won’t admit it, it’d be nice if it came against Alabama.” George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu
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• January 17-20, 2019
NEWS
Nick Hazelrigg, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
Honors College offers research Despite closures, opportunities for research still exist SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker
When interim vice president of research Randall Hewes announced in November that the Office of Undergraduate Research was closing, many students were concerned about the future. While the structure of undergraduate research support at OU faces an uncertain future, certain programs continue to provide students w ith res earch opportunities. Esmeralda Alcala, a microbiology sophomore who previously worked as an undergraduate research ambassador with the Office of Undergraduate Research, said she thinks the change has caused uncertainty and may make it more difficult for students to get involved with research. The Office of Undergraduate Research was one of three research offices closed in November. In response to community concerns, Hewes said in a statement at the time that recent personnel expansions in research had added costs without producing the desired research outcomes, and that his office remained committed to
improving the student research experience. “I think there will be fewer people knowing that there are still opportunities to get funded for research, and there are less opportunities,” Alcala said. “I feel like some people will be more hesitant to do research, just because they don’t know if they’re going to get funded or they don’t know where to start.” Rich Hamerla, associate dean of the Honors College, said he felt at the time that concerns may not have taken into consideration the way research had previously existed. “It was interesting when the undergraduate research office was closed down because the attitude across campus seemed to be that undergraduate research was going away,” Hamerla said. “A lot of the programs that you hear talked about were never in O.U.R. anyway; it was always us.” He said the Honors College offers numerous programs to the entire student body that aren’t going anywhere, despite community concerns. “We’ve been running undergraduate research programs that have been sort of under the radar at OU generally because students and even faculty think they are for only honors students,” Hamerla said. “We have those programs, but most of our programs are actually open to all undergrads.”
These Honors College research programs available to all undergraduates include the Undergraduate Research Opportunities P r o g r a m , F i r s t Ye a r Research Experience and Undergraduate Research Day. Numerous other programs are also available from the Honors College. Hamerla said these programs have offered undergraduate students the opportunity to obtain funding for research and also to demonstrate their work to the OU community. According to a document provided to The Daily by Hamerla, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program provided over $46,000 in funding to 67 undergraduate students in 2018 alone to help them conduct their research. This program is not exclusive to Honors College students. Elizabeth Ambos, exe c u t i v e d i re c t o r o f t h e Council on Undergraduate Research, works at a national level to provide events for undergraduate researchers, understand the impact of undergraduate research and help universities and faculty incorporate research into the curriculum. She said these experiences are vital to attracting, retaining and graduating students. Ambos said in her experience, many universities similar to OU in research have different models for undergraduate research support.
“(The Office of Undergraduate Research at OU) was housed in research,” Ambos said. “That is not an uncommon model, but particularly at what would be called the research high-intensive institutions such as OU, we would see offices of undergraduate research housed in undergraduate education.” Ambos said a distributed model for undergraduate research support and programs, or a model in which research programs are not housed in a centralized undergraduate research office, can be successful. But Ambos said in her experience, a centralized office has distinct benefits. “I think the main argument for the centralized office is that you can more easily measure the impact of research and see patterns, and you can also leverage resources more cost-effectively to provide opportunities for students and ways for faculty to work together to build more course-based experiences in research,” Ambos said. While some universities that have an office of undergraduate research use it as the sort of centralized office Ambos mentioned, OU’s programs running through the Honors College would seem to indicate that OU’s Office of Undergraduate Research did not provide centralization for undergraduate research.
Hamerla said he sometimes felt the Office of Undergraduate Research was a competitor rather than a uniting force for undergraduate research programs at the university. He said when the office was established roughly 10 years ago and after many of the Honors College-based programs already existed, there was never much of a sense of communication. “We never knew what they were doing, they never communicated, or very rarely — but again, it was almost as if we were in competition with one another,” Hamerla said. “We existed before that office popped up. And it’s not their fault. There was never sort of any higher administration decision to partner the two.” While Hamerla said OU President James Gallogly’s goal of doubling research could have many interpretations, he said he hopes and believes undergraduate researchers can benefit. “We’ve always seen ourselves as the premier undergraduate research unit on campus,” Hamerla said. “We have opportunities here that we can expand, and now is a good time.” When considering a goal like doubling research, Ambos agreed there are many ways to measure research success. “From my experience, which has included being a research officer — albeit at
a smaller institution — the primary way that most research offices measure success is number of research proposals and number of grant dollars brought in,” Ambos said. While the administration has not publicly stated the metrics it will use to determine research success, Hamerla said he would like to see any interpretation lead to an increased chance for students get involved in one of the most transformative experiences they can have as undergraduates. “From my office, where I sit, I deal with very bright undergraduate students,” Hamerla said. “What I see as the most important impact of research is the student experience and that they get involved with legitimate, sophisticated research as early as possible in their undergraduate career.” Alcala, who is conducting research on mutants of a plant known as Arabidopsis thaliana, said despite her disappointment with the closure of the Office of Undergraduate Research, she had a word of advice to anyone who might want to conduct research. “Never be afraid to ask a question,” Alcala said. “ T h a t ’s h o w I g o t i n t o research.” Scott Kirker
scott.t.kirker-1@ou.edu
Housing and Food Services leader to leave OU After 33 years with university, director will go to Nebraska SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker
OU’s director of Housing and Food Services is set to leave the university after 33 years to move to another job closer to home. Dave Annis will leave his position as associate vice president and director of Housing and Food Services on Feb. 1 to become the director of Food Services at the University of Nebraska. It is unclear what will happen to Annis’ position moving forward. “The University is continuing to reorganize and I am not sure what is planned for my current position,” Annis said in an email to The Daily. Annis said he has loved his time at OU. “It has been my greatest pleasure to have worked at OU for this length of time,” Annis said in the email. “I
would not trade my experience here for anything.” According to Annis’ biography page on the OU website, he started at OU in 1986 after deciding to move from a position at his alma mater, the University of South Dakota. In a Facebook post Annis s ha re d w i t h Th e Da i ly , he said when he worked at South Dakota, the job at Nebraska had been his dream job, and he originally took the job at OU to gain some experience so he would be ready when the position at Nebraska opened up. Since the job did not open up, Annis said in the post, he stayed at OU and has had a wonderful career. “When the Nebraska position opened in late fall it got me to thinking about Nebraska again and getting back closer to home. I guess some dreams never really go away,” Annis said in the Facebook post. Annis also said in the post he was happy to be moving back to a position primarily focused on Food
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CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
The OU Housing and Food office located on the bottom floor of Walker tower. Dave Annis was the director of OU Housing and Food for 33 years.
Services. Annis became director of Food Services in 1993 and the director of Housing and Food Services in 2008,
according to his biography page on the OU website. During his time at OU, Annis re ceive d numerous accolades, including
t h e U O S A P r e s i d e n t ’s Award for Administrative E xcellence in 2004, the Walter Neustadt Award in 2005, the Otis Sullivant
Award for Perceptivity in 2005, and the UOSA/SGA Nancy G. Mulder Award in 2011, according to the website. According to Annis’ biography page, Annis also wrote a popular weekly newsletter from 1986 to 2008 known as “Kitchen Comment.” The fall 2008 e d i t o r i a l b o a rd o f T h e Daily wrote a playful opinion piece voicing its support of the transparency from “Kitchen Comment” and Annis himself. “ W h i l e w e w i l l l e av e many great friends and memories in Oklahoma, I feel very grateful and fortunate that I will be able to end my career closer to family at a great University that will offer me new challenges and allow me to focus on my real passion, Food Services,” Annis said in the post. Scott Kirker
scott.t.kirker-1@ou.edu
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Community activist Evan Dunn, Ward 6 council member Breea Clark and Ward 4 council member Bill Hickman are running for mayor of Norman.
Candidates get candid Norman mayoral aspirants speak on leadership, goals DREW HUTCHINSON @drethegirl
The City of Norman municipal election will be held Feb. 12, and three mayoral candidates have placed their bid for the job: Ward 4 council member Bill Hickman, Ward 6 council member Breea Clark and community activist Evan Dunn. The Daily conducted an interview with each candidate to ask questions related to their platform and ideas for the city. Answers have been edited for clarity and brevity. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO RUN FOR M AYO R , A N D H OW LONG HAD YOU BEEN PLANNING TO DO SO? C L A R K : I haven’t been planning to run for mayor like I think some other candidates might have. I think that I made the decision to run for mayor because I wanted to make sure that Norman had a choice ... I love this town, and I think we need a leader that can bring us together to move us forward, and I have a track record of building relationships. I think I would be the ideal candidate for mayor given all of the important partnerships and negotiations and other major plans we have on the horizon for our city. HICKMAN: I decided to run for mayor because I have a servant heart and have believed in service above self since I was a young man and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Air Force. I currently serve on city council, and our current mayor decided not to run for re-election, and I believe I’m the right person at this time with the skills to lead our community in the future. I only decided to run for mayor relatively
recently before announcing my candidacy. DUNN: Well, kind of the sense of duty. The realization that so much of our policies recently have been well-intentioned ... and the awareness that Mayor (Lynne) Miller wasn’t going to run for re-election, and that (Clark) and (Hickman) weren’t going to lose their seats if either one of them lost kind of made me feel like, “Oh, good, now I can get on the team.”
different ... What would be different with me is the emphasis on what is important as a community. That’s really what I want to focus on: How do we understand these geopolitical issues, these national political issues, and the way in which our municipal actions can have national effects.
W H AT A R E T H E B I G GEST ISSUES FACING NORMAN RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT CAN YOU REALISTICALLY DO TO HELP I F E L E C T E D , W H A T THEM? WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY THAN PAST CLARK: Well, we’ve had LEADERSHIP? several ongoing issues that we’ve been dealing with CLARK: I think that one for years now. There’s the of my strengths is, again, lack of a stormwater utilbuilding relationships and ity. There’s fulfilling the involving residents in city N O R M A N F O R W A R D decisions. So I would like promises, which is realto definitely have more of ly, really important ... The a presence with residents senior center has just got and make sure they’re in- to be done there. Another volved... One of the things thing we’ve got to be mindI’d like to do is have regu- ful of is walkability and aclar meetings with all of the cessibility ... CART is going council members and cre- away as we know it, so the ate more of a team feel to the university will have their council as a whole. I feel like own transportation system, we’ve gotten a little divided. and the city’s going to have HICKMAN: I’d like for our to come up with a new one. community to have a long- But I think there’s a lot of term vision and a plan for opportunities for partnerhow we’re going to achieve ships there with surroundthat vision. For example, I ing communities and the will be the kind of mayor county, and so we’re going that will roll up my sleeves to need a creative thinker and work to recruit quality and someone that our partjobs to Norman so that our ners can trust so we can exchildren and grandchildren ecute that as well. Then the have a job that pays a living other one that I’m really wage with benefits and stay supporting is sustainability in Norman, if that’s what ... and another one that I’ve they desire. I also believe the worked really hard on permayor needs to listen to the sonally is maintaining our residents and implement autonomy from the state and make a priority the cit- legislature by battling preizen concerns and ensure emption bills. that staff is making the citi- HICKMAN: I think addresszen initiatives a priority and ing our budget challenggetting those accomplished es is a concern, and one for the people. way to address those budDUNN: That’s kind of a hard get challenges is to end the question for me to answer. I University North Park tax don’t want to contrast my- increment financing that self too specifically with is costing the city approx(Miller) and with (former imately $4 million a year. mayor Cindy Rosenthal). I believe that public trust It’s more of a vision that with government is an issue, I’m putting forward that is and we can address that by
the city making it a priority to deliver on the things that the people have voted on already, like a senior center and the school resource officers to ensure the safety and security of our children in the schools. Bad road traffic and congestion is an issue which can be addressed by the no-tax-increase transportation bond that I have led the efforts to develop as the chairman of the Community Planning and Transportation Committee for city council. DUNN: From a municipal policy point of view, you have the University North Park tax increment financing, you have the stormwater utility fee, you have the NORMAN FORWARD projects — many of which are in limbo — you’ve got a number of these programs that aren’t coming to completion because there’s so much contention between the developers and the city. We need to figure out a way in which we can motivate the voting public to recognize that these issues ... It can be something that’s dynamic, something that motivates them to realize their power to be a part of shaping this community.
SOME RESIDENTS HAVE ARGUED THAT THE CITY OF NORMAN SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK FROM OU AND MAKE SURE THE UNIVERSITY DOESN’T INFRINGE ON NORMAN’S TERRITORY AND PURV I E W. I F Y O U W E R E MAYOR, HOW WOULD Y O U H A N D L E W H AT SEEMS TO BE A DISCONNECT BETWEEN THE UNIVERSITY AND THE CITY? CLARK: I think we have to rebuild our relationship with the university. The university isn’t going to up and move out of Norman, and the city of Norman is not going to build a wall around the university. So the best way to have better relationships moving forward is to start over ... And (students)
are our residents. We count them in our population count. We just have to find a better way to communicate. I don’t think that this standoff we have right now is productive at all. And the next mayor will have to be someone who can move us forward and not continue this battle that we have. HICKMAN: It’s important that the city and the university have a positive working relationship, but it’s equally important that the city and the university have mutual respect for one another and their independence. I do not work for the University of Oklahoma and can be an independent voice for the people of Norman, and that is important. We have many issues coming forward that will require an independent voice for the people of Norman, such as the public transit separation between the city and the university, as well as the ongoing discussions regarding the University North Park tax increment financing and any potential future proposals by the university for an arena. DUNN: I think it’s really important for the city and the university to harmonize their policies, and the primary reason is because the international students who come through here, their experience here is their America. Their experience here is what validates or refutes the stereotypes about what America is. If we don’t harmonize our city policies with our university policies, then we’re going to inhibit each other’s ability to redefine how we market the skill set that this university possesses, primarily the sports component and the role that petroleum and gas play in drawing people from all over the country and all over the world to study here. Drew Hutchinson
drew.hutchinson@ou.edu
160 Copeland Hall, 860 The Oklahoma Vleet Oval Daily isVan a public forum, the University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice and an entirely student-run publication.
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OU releases dates for spring events Sooner Scandals, Mom’s Day, more planned for April WILL KOURY
The dates for three of OU’s biggest spring events, giving students the opportunity to spend time with family, volunteer and
enjoy the arts, have been released. Sooner Scandals, a seven-part musical competition, will be held April 4-6, according to an email from OU Student Affairs. Mom’s Day and campus awards will be April 5-7, and The Big Event will be held on April 13, according to the email.
Sooner Scandals is intended to showcase students’ musical and theatrical talent and is run entirely by students, according to its webpage. Mom’s Day is intended to honor mothers and mother figures for students, though all members of the family are welcome and encouraged to attend, according
to its webpage. An awards ceremony will take place during the weekend, including the naming of the Mom of the Year. The Big Event is a day of service to the community for the university’s students, faculty and staff, as they go around the Oklahoma City area and ser ve others. The event
typically sees over 6,000 students, faculty and staff volunteer for this event every year, according to the event’s webpage. This year’s Big Event will be the 20th since its conception. Will Koury
wkoury@ou.edu
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• January 17-20, 2019
CULTURE
Siandhara Bonnet, culture editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/culture • Twitter: @OUDailyCulture
Q&A with Kane Brown on tour
their tour soon. We’ve got some music coming out. We had a song come out today (“Saturday Nights Remix�). We’ve got another song coming out in a couple months with another artist. We just released our new radio single to country radio.
Country artist talks of upcoming tour, stop in Norman SIANDHARA BONNET @siabon
Country artist Kane Brown decided he wanted to experiment. After joining the professional music scene in 2014, Brown is on his first headlining tour, “Live Forever,� performing music from his new album “Experiment.� Brown used the album, released November 2018, to try out different kinds of sounds. The tour will stop at the Lloyd Noble Center on Jan. 19 for its sixth day on the road. Brown grew up in Georgia and later moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee. He got his start in music posting covers of songs on Facebook. He said at the time he was working for FedEx. His album debut was with his self-titled album “Kane Brown� that took the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Top Country albums, as well as made top five in the Billboard’s Top 200. Ac c o rd i ng to h i s b i o, Brown is the first artist to ever be No. 1 on all five of Billboard’s main country charts. The Daily was able to ask Brown a few questions ahead of his performance in Norman:
Q : What is it like working with other artists, like Khalid? What kind of vibe is there when the two of you are in the room? A: We didn’t do it together — he was already recorded and I sang over it, I sang my parts. But we text and stuff like that. It’s cool to have that relationship with other artists and be able to get into their fanbase and them to be able to get into mine. Just kind of discovering music that way. It’s awesome to be able to work with a dude like Khalid. Country artist Kane Brown will perform at the Lloyd Noble Center Jan. 19.
United States? he’s a master of it all, but it A: It’s a whirlwind. I never A: No, I never thought I’d be kind of built itself. I don’t really took anything in — it’s always been the direct supa musician, really. know how to explain it. port, I guess. Last night (Jan. Q: Was it ever in the cards or Q: Are there one or two 10 in Duluth, Georgia) was was it a happy accident? s ongs that are your fa - possibly the funnest night of A: It just kind of happened... vor ites, or do you have my career. I was working FedEx, and favorites? I was putting covers up A: I don’t have any favorites. Q: Why’s that? on Facebook there in the If I had to pick a favorite, I’d A: It was just amazing enmeantime just for fun. Then have to go with “Good As ergy. It was energy I hava record deal just came to You,â€? but that’s really the en’t felt before at a show. It the table. only one that I could pull‌ was our first time using our It’s a song that makes me new production. Everybody was scared at first, we didn’t Q : H o w d i d y o u b r i n g smile when I listen to it. want to mess up. There was the album “Experimentâ€? together? Q: Tell me what it’s been a few hiccups with lighting Q: Did you ever think you A: It kind of just brought it- like transitioning from and stuff like that, but other would tour around your self together. Dann Huff re- doing covers on Facebook than that, everything went home state and across the ally helped as well because to headlining your own tour. really smooth.
PROVIDED BY CARLY SATER
Q: I looked through your tour dates and destinations, and it seems like you’re hitting a lot of small towns. Was that on purpose? A: Yeah, we have a bigger tour starting after March and we couldn’t ... we couldn’t take our tickets from those dates for that tour, so we’re doing all the smaller markets that are a radius away from the tour coming up. Q: What are the next big plans for you? A: I don’t know. We’re touring all year with another artist that will announce
Q: What should fans expect from your show and what would you like them to take away? A: Just have fun. There will be a lot of energy in there. I hope you bring your energy. Q: Is there anything you’d like to add? A: I love my fans, and I hope when you come to the show that you have a good time. Tickets range from about $35-55 for the 7 p.m. Jan. 19 show and are available online. Siandhara Bonnet arahdnais@ou.edu
Student show nominated for ‘college Emmy’ Sooner Sports Pad chosen from over 600 productions NICOLE GENRICH @nicolegenrich47
A Gaylord College student production has been nominated for the 39th College Television Awards. The fall 2017 debut show of Sooner Sports Pad was
entered for award consideration under the sports category and selected as one of 25 nominees from more than 600 productions. Sooner Sports Pad highlights moments from Sooner sporting events and invites guests on the show. The hosts break down different parts of matches or games, or what happened in the previous week, said Matthew Welsh, producer for the show, and supply
chain management and journalism senior. “I was surprised (that we were nominated), but I shouldn’t b e b e caus e there’s so many good people that work on it,� Welsh said. “Everyone there gives 100 percent — we have some of the hardest working, best people.� This contest is designed to imitate the Emmys, where the entries are judged by active Television
Academy members online. Top honors will be presented to students at the award ceremony March 16 at the Television Academy’s Saban Media Center in north Hollywood, CA . A $3,000 cash prize will be awarded to the winning projects. Nicole Genrich
nicolegen00@gmail.com
VIA SOONER SPORTS PAD TWITTER
Gaylord College’s Sooner Sports Pad has been nominated for a College Television Award.
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Too much of anything will lead to trouble. Focus more on what you Be open to suggestions, but don’t let can do to improve your vitality, anyone make decisions for you this health and physical appearance. A little romance will enhance your life. year. Trust in your judgment and stick to what’s worked for you in the past. Change isn’t necessary unless CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Stick to what and who you know. Avoid something isn’t working anymore. Be moderate, take your time and do anyone who is looking for a fight. You’ll accomplish far more if you what’s best for you. keep the peace, go about your business and finish what you start. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Emotional meddling is apparent. Go directly to the source before you LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Socialize, help someone or donate to a cause take up a new hobby, spend time you know little about. Don’t follow with a loved one or make personal changes that will lift your spirits. someone else; do your own thing. Make today special, but don’t AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Take overspend or exhibit indulgent a moment to relax and review your behavior. situation at home and at work. An honest look at affairs will help you VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Don’t let an emotional incident stop you bring about a positive change and from being productive. Consider renew your confidence. whom you are indebted to, and do what you can to wipe out what PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Be you owe. careful what you wish for. Stick to what you know, and make the most of what you’ve got. Simplicity, LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Keep the peace and focus on personal growth, moderation and honesty will keep enlightenment and better health. you from making a mistake. Ease your stress by walking away ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Don’t from people and situations that are causing problems. get angry when you can get moving. If you take care of your responsibilities, no one will have reason to SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Make complain. Personal gains are within a plan that will help you convince others to see things your way and reach if you do what’s right. support your efforts. A lifestyle change will ease stress and encourTAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- You age minimalism. know better than anyone what you are capable of doing. Set high standards and live up to your expec- SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Personal changes will bring you tations. You have the drive and closer to loved ones and improve wherewithal to reach your goal. the way you live. Distance yourself from people who are bad influences. Put health and family first. THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2019 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last
my friend’s got mental illness
To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information. Mental Illness – What a difference a friend makes.
Previous Solution
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.
CULTURE
January 17-20, 2019 •
5
Movie review: ‘Glass’ half-full
Shyamalan’s new film leaves audience on edge SAM TONKINS
@samanthatonkins
The movie “Glass” checks all the boxes of a superhero movie and is a satisfying conclusion to director M. Night Shyamalan’s Eastrail “177” trilogy, which features the events that occur after a horrific train accident. “Glass” is the third and final movie in Shyamalan’s superhero series that includes the films “Unbreakable” (2000) and “Split” (2016). While both of the earlier movies can be considered standalone films, “Glass” continues the story that was begun two decades before. The movie combines characters that were introduced in Shyamalan’s earlier films. David Dunn (Bruce Willis) is a man with super strength who was the sole survivor of the train accident in “Unbreakable” while Elijah Price (Samuel L. Jackson) is the evil genius responsible for the train’s derailment who goes by the name Mr. Glass. Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), who was the main antagonist of the movie “Split,” suffers from dissociative identity disorder and has 23 different personalities. One of these identities, the supposed 24th known as the Beast, has super strength and invulnerability. “Glass” picks up almost 20 years after the events of “Unbreakable.” Dunn is a vigilante hero, known as the
Overseer, who is searching the city for Crumb after he abducted several teenage girls. Dunn quickly discovers the villain’s lair and the two fight. However, both the hero and the villain are apprehended by the police and are taken to a mental institution, the same hospital where Price was sent at the end of “Unbreakable.” The movie centers around the three men being medically treated for believing they are superheroes. Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson) spends much of the movie trying to treat the patients for delusions of grandeur and explaining potential medical reasons for their powers. As she attempts to reason away the men’s powers, clips from the earlier movies play, refreshing the audience’s memory of the films. The characters begin to doubt their abilities. However, as Mr. Glass’ schemes begin to be set in motion, Dunn must decide whether or not to continue being a hero. The movie incorporates several moments of interesting camera work, including many close-up shots, shaky perspectives and scenes filmed upside down. These angles add to the tension of the movie. In true Shyamalan fashion, the movie’s twists keep the audience on the edge of their seats until the very end. “Glass” continuously calls attention to specific aspects of comic books. Characters actually use phrases like “origin story” and “showdown,” which are popular comic rhetoric. Mr. Glass uses comic book storylines and stereotypes in order to reason with
the other characters and to form his plans. The movie focuses on the question of what makes someone a superhero or supervillain and the delicate balance between good and evil. Despite the long gap between movies, Willis easily slips back into the character of Dunn. He is the same reluctant hero of the first film, but he has accepted his powers in order to help the less fortunate. Dunn still seems haunted by the train accident and by Price, the man responsible. Even though the movie is part of a trilogy, viewers unfamiliar with the series can easily follow along as the plot is well-developed and explained. The stories of both “Unbreakable” and “Split” are easily blended together in “Glass,” because the characters are reintroduced. At its core, the movie is a superhero movie. There are convoluted schemes, villains escaping their cells and long, dramatic action sequences. There is a clear hero and a clear villain that must be stopped before their plans destroy the city. However, Shyamalan does add certain elements to the story to make it less predictable. Overall, “Glass” is a wellpaced thriller that keeps everyone guessing. It’s funny, action-packed and just a bit scary. Fans of the series and newcomers alike can easily get caught up in the story and find something to enjoy. “Glass” will be released in theaters on Jan. 18. Sam Tonkins
samantha.tonkins@ou.edu
M. Night Shyamalan’s “Glass” will be released in theaters on Jan. 18.
VIA IMDB
‘Netflix and chill’ gets more expensive Video-streaming site announces plan to raise prices ALMA CIENSKI @almacienski
Ne t f l i x w i l l ra i s e t h e prices of all of its subscription plans after an announcement on Monday. Th i s cha ng e w i l l a f f e c t all 58 million users in the U.S. and in 40 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean where Netflix bills in U.S. currency. Customers will receive an email or will be notified through the Netflix app at least 30 days before the prices are changed, according to The Washington Post. The new prices will affect all new subscribers before prices are adjusted for current customers in the next three months, according to AP News. Netflix plans to invest i n i t s b ig g e st h i t o r ig i nal shows and films like “Stranger Things” and recently acclaime d “ Bird Box ,” and is shifting its prices accordingly. The basic plan, previously $7.99, is now $8.99 per month. This plan allows
VIA NETFLIX
Netflix announced price raises for all subscription plans Monday.
streaming for all Netflix shows and movies on one device at a time in standard definition. The standard plan, previously $10.99, is now $12.99 per month. This plan, which is the company’s most popular according to AP News, serves two devices and streams in high definition. The premium plan, previously $13.99, is now $15.99 per month. This plan allows for streaming on four devices at once in high definition. While this is the company’s biggest price increase since it launched into video streaming in 2007,
it is not its first. In 2017, Netflix raised its price for its most popular streaming plan from $9.99 to $10.99. “We change pricing from time to time as we continue investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience,” said a Netflix spokesman in a statement, according to The Washington Post. In 2017, Netflix spent $3 billion and borrowed $2 billion in an October bond offering. The company has acquired around $14 billion in debt with production and other business costs. Netflix users may dread
the extra dollars each month, but investors rejoiced as the company’s stock surged 6.5 percent in midday trading Tuesday after the news released. Many Netflix users took to Twitter about the pr ice surge rather passively, as the majority expressed they use a shared account with a friend or family member. According t o re s e a rc h c o n d u c t e d by media research firm Magid in 2018, 35 percent of millennials share passwords for their streaming accounts. Sy na m e d i a, a B r i t i s h s oft ware company, developed technology to
track shared passwords for companies like Netflix that have suffered an estimated $500 million loss in revenue. The tracking software analyzes the data found to determine if a password has been shared more than once. The provider may suggest to suspicious users to purchase the premium plan to allow for more devices or, if passwords are being sold to multiple users, may terminate the account. With so many options for streaming, the competition is enabling escalating paychecks for directors, writers and actors. After
many Netflix users protested when the company removed “Friends” from its library, Netflix purchased licensing for the show to stream in 2019 for $100 million. Lovers of streaming services have more difficult choices to make than what show they want to binge next, and media companies are taking notice. Netflix w on’t only be c o m p e t i n g w i t h Hu l u , Amazon or HBO Now. The Wa l t D i s n e y C o mp a ny , NBCUniversal, AT&T and Apple have announce d plans for their own streaming ser vices in the next year. In order to gain more subscribers, Netflix collaborated with T-Mobile to offer a bundle in which a Netflix subscription is included on qualifying plans. T-Mobile CEO John Legere assured customers on Jan. 15 via Twitter that the company’s “#NetflixOnUs” deal is still intact until further notice. Alma Cienski
aacienski@ou.edu
Hozier to perform in OKC for first time The Criterion to bring ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ tour to venue SAVANNAH KOTKIN @Savannahkotkin
Hozier is taking on the The Criterion in Oklahoma City for the first time with his “Wasteland Baby!” tour on April 2. Every ticket purchased online will come with the CD copy of his forthcoming album, which includes
the option to upgrade to a standard vinyl LP, according to Hozier’s website. “I’m very excited to announce the US tour, which will coincide with the release of the new album ‘Wasteland, Baby!’ I’ve enjoyed incredible support from fans in North America and I am thrilled t o b e g o i n g b a c k t h e re soon to play this music live,” Hozier said in a press release, according to Live Nation Entertainment. The “Wasteland, Baby!” tour kicks off March 10 and
will run for 26 days in cities ranging from Nashville, Austin, Los Angeles and more. The Criterion is a venue that can hold large audiences allowing for many m o re p e o p l e t o a t t e n d t h e c o n c e r t s, s a i d T h e Criterion’s Richard Riedl. This is the first time Hozier has come to the Criterion, and he will be one of their larger shows this year. “I know Hozier puts on a great concert. I know he’s got a great following,” Riedl said. “It’s going to be
a great show.” The doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. on April 2 — all ages are welcome. Tickets are $37.50 on the Criterion OKC website. The venue is located at 500 E. Sheridan Ave. in Oklahoma City. Savannah Kotkin
savannah.b.kotkin@ou.edu
VIA HOZIER.COM
Hozier is taking on the The Criterion in Oklahoma City for the first time with his “Wasteland Baby!” tour on April 2.
6
• January 17-20, 2019
SPORTS
George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
OU coach Lincoln Riley looks at the scoreboard in the Red River Showdown in the Cotton Bowl Oct. 6. Riley made two more defensive hires this week.
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Meet OU’s new defensive hires Oklahoma adds experience on one side of football GEORGE STOIA @georgestoia
Lincoln Riley’s staff will have two unfamiliar faces in 2019. After hiring new defensive coordinator Alex Grinch on Jan. 4, Oklahoma and Riley announced two more defensive hires Tuesday afternoon in Roy Manning and Brian Odom. Here’s a look at the two newest additions: ROY MANNING, CORNERBACKS PAST: UCLA (linebackers)
EXPERIENCE: Nine years ALMA MATER: Michigan Manning is highly respected across the coaching world, spending last season on Chip Kelly’s UCLA staff coaching linebackers and special teams. The three years prior, Manning was the linebackers coach under Grinch at Washington State. In addition to UCLA and Washington State, he’s spent time at Cincinnati and Michigan — his alma mater — coaching cornerbacks and outside linebackers. Manning will coach corners in 2019 for the Sooners. “Oklahoma is obviously a historic and nationally recognized program in all facets,” Manning said in the official
press release. “As far as football, it’s as successful and consistent as any program’s been. I think that’s what separates OU is the consistency. They win a lot of football games there, and Coach Riley has done an unbelievable job of taking over the program and taking it to another level with the playoff appearances and the last two Heismans. It’s a top destination in college football.” Manning is known for his enthusiasm and energetic coaching style, making him a player’s coach. He’s exactly what Oklahoma was looking for. “You love the versatility he brings to your staff, and he obviously has ties with Coach
Grinch from their time together,” Riley said in the press release. “Those guys have a great working relationship and familiarity that I think is really important in this scenario. Roy’s got a great personality and I think he’s going to be a dynamic coach for us.” BRIAN ODOM, INSIDE LINEBACKERS PAST: Missouri (linebackers) EXPERIENCE: 14 years ALMA MATER: Southeastern Oklahoma State University Odom joins Riley’s staff after spending the last two seasons at Missouri with his brother Barry, who is the Tigers’ head coach. Odom also spent time on Grinch’s
Washington State staff for two years (2015-16) as a defensive quality control coach. Odom also coached at Houston and Arizona. He will coach the inside linebackers for the Sooners. “The most appealing thing about this opportunity for me is that I’m coming in to help the institution win games, to help develop young men and student-athletes, and to do everything I can to help the program,” Odom said in the press release. “I couldn’t be more happy or excited about it.” This won’t be the first time Odom has been in Norman, having played his first two years of college football in Norman. He redshirted on
the 2000 national championship team and lettered in 2001 before transferring to Southeastern Oklahoma State for his final three seasons. “His players play with great effort and great physicality. I think that’s carried over from the type of person that he is,” Riley said in the press release. “Brian being from this area, playing at OU and being on our last national championship team is obviously a tremendous plus. Like Roy Manning, he has familiarity with Coach Grinch and his system. We’re very excited to add Brian to our staff.” George Stoia
george.stoia@ou.edu
Oklahoma underclassmen leave for NFL Kyler Murray among four Sooners in draft PARKER PRIMROSE @parker_primrose
Oklahoma may not have a professional football team, but it continues to fill the NFL with its former players and stars. Fo u r u n d e r c l a s s m e n from the Sooners’ 2018 team declared for the 2019 NFL draft : Quarterback Kyler Murray, wide receiver Marquise Brown and offensive tackles Bobby Evans and Cody Ford. Here are the highlights from their Oklahoma football careers:
OFFENSIVE TACKLE Evans was a part of the OU football program from 2015 through 2018, starting a total of 40 games between right and left tackle. Evans started 14 games at left tackle in 2018, serving as the blindside protector on an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award. Evans was named a second-team AllBig 12 selection in 2018 and was an honorable mention in 2016 and 2017. Walter Football ranked Evans as M A R Q U I S E B R O W N , the No. 18 offensive tackle WIDE RECEIVER in the 2019 draft class. Brown was a part of the OU football program in 2017 CODY FORD, OFFENSIVE and 2018, starting 21 out of a TACKLE possible 27 games. Over the Ford was a part of the OU course of his Sooner career, football program from 2015 Brown caught 132 passes through 2018, starting a and accounted for 2,413 re- total of 21 games between ceiving yards and 17 touch- left guard and right tackdowns. Brown was named a le. Ford started 14 games at first-team AP All-American right tackle in 2018, anchorand a first-team All-Big 12 ing the edge of what was honoree in 2018. Brown has deemed the best offensive the sixth-most career re- line in the country. Ford ceiving yards in Oklahoma was named a first-team Allhistor y and is the only Big 12 selection and a thirdOklahoma wide receiver to team AP All-American in catch more than 100 pass- 2018. Matt Miller ranked es while averaging more Ford as the No. 1 offensive than 18 yards per catch. CBS guard in the 2019 draft class. Sports ranked Brown as the No. 4 wide receiver in the 2019 draft class. Parker Primrose the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award as well as the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. Murray was named a first-team AP AllAmerican, All-Big 12 First Team and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2018. Murray holds the Oklahoma record for career completion percentage and quarterback efficienc y. CBS Sports ranked Murray as the No. 2 quarterback in the 2019 draft class.
KY L E R M U R R AY, QUARTERBACK Murray was a part of the OU football program from 2016 through 2018, starting 14 games over the course of two seasons. Dur ing his Sooner career, Murray passed for 4,720 passing yards and 45 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,143 yards and an addition al 12 touchdowns. Murray w o n t h e 2 0 1 8 He i s ma n Trophy, was named AP Player of the Year and won B O B B Y
EVANS,
parker.m.primrose-1@ ou.edu
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the Orange Bowl game against Alabama Dec. 29. Four underclassmen from the Sooners’ 2018 team declared for the 2019 NFL draft, including quarterback Kyler Murray.