August 23-26, 2018 by OU Daily

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FAST FACTS ON KYLER MURRAY • 7

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Art of an LGBTQ Pride flag in front of the Seed Sower statue on the Lindsey Street bridge Aug. 22. Norman's first Pride Festival begins Friday, Aug. 24 and ends Sunday, Aug. 26.

STANDING PROUD

Norman native reflects on progress in LGBTQ inclusion ahead of the city's first-ever Pride festival JANA ALLEN • @JANA _ ALLEN21

avid Holladay often found himself coming home late at night, smelling like cigarette smoke and feeling exhilarated after a night spent at a club. The next morning, he’d have to get up, get ready for school and pretend to be just like the rest of his high school peers in the early ‘80s. But Holladay had a secret he couldn’t tell anyone: He was a gay teenager in Norman. At the time, there was no club at school for LGBTQ kids, there weren’t any books on the subject and Holladay couldn’t even use the internet as a source to understand the feelings he had. “Being queer in the early ‘80s was all dark corners and quiet winks and nods. You were afraid

to even express yourself openly,” Holladay said. “I get the sense that that’s not the case today in Norman, even though there probably are many ways to make it better.” Almost 40 years later, Norman has made strides to be more welcoming to the LGBTQ community in its schools and its availability of community-wide resources and support groups. The city will host its first Pride festival, a three-day celebration of the LGBTQ members of Norman and Oklahoma from Aug. 24 to 26.But it took a lot to get to this point. ‘Our son was not a sin’ The Holladays were a church-going family in what David Holladay calls “a typical

Midwest college town.” “It was hard to find anybody that wasn’t steeped in religiosity and church doctrine that said being gay or lesbian was wrong and quote-unquote ‘an abomination,’” Holladay said. “The idea that you were wrong, that your mind was wrong, that the feelings you had were wrong, and that you probably didn’t have much of a hope for being like all the other people around you was pervasive.” David Holladay, born in 1964, had a few close friends at Norman High School who knew he was gay and had a boyfriend at one point, but he always had an internal struggle with the need to fit in. “You just were in a daze about what your existence was going

to be later,” Holladay said. “How in the world am I going to flip the switch? There was certainly nobody at the high school who was like, ‘Hey everybody, I’m gay too. Let’s get together and kind of just talk and support another.’” When Holladay came out to his parents in 1981 while in high school, it was a painful and tearful conversation. His mother Kay Holladay was not angry or appalled — she loved her son no matter what, but she and her husband started to feel isolated with a lack of resources or people to confide in. The couple tried to read books and learn what they could but had little success. It became difficult as the family began the process of reconciling their

Christian faith with their son’s identity, Kay Holladay said. When members of their previous local church told them their son was wrong, they made the decision to leave. “Our son was not a sin,” Kay Holladay said. “We chose to love our son over loving our denomination.” Holladay said he saw a transition in his parents after his coming out. They expanded their understanding of the LGBTQ community and made sure their son knew they supported him. In 1994, a little more than a decade after Holladay left Norman for college in California, his mother co-founded Norman’s chapter of Parents and Friends See PRIDE page 2

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR NORMAN PRIDE FESTIVAL: FRIDAY

SATURDAY

KICK OFF PARTY 5-8 p.m. TOLY Park

PRIDE FESTIVAL 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Grey St. Parking Lot

SUNDAY PARADE FESTIVITIES 4 -10p.m. TOLY Park

Kyler Murray named starting quarterback After long battle, coach Lincoln Riley chooses leader for the Sooners GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia

When Kyler Murray received a text from Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley early Wednesday morning asking him to meet in Riley’s office, Murray knew exactly what it was about.

The redshirt junior quarterback sat in Riley’s office, his typical Wednesday full of classes and practice just beginning. Riley’s conversation with Murray was short, sweet and to the point : You’re going to be the starting quarterback at the University of Oklahoma. “ I t ’s a h u g e h o n o r f o r me,” Murray told the media Wednesday afternoon. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of. I’ve been working hard ever since I

got here. Ever since I started playing, this is what I’ve been working toward.” R i l e y ’s d e c i s i o n t o n a m e Murray the starting quarterback for the Sooners’ opening game against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 1 comes after what was a nearly four-month battle with redshirt sophomore Austin Kendall. In June, Murray agreed to a contract with the Oakland A’s that came with a $4.6 million signing bonus, all but guaranteeing this

will be his final season playing football. Despite this, most people anticipated him being the starter all along, since he’s known as one of the greatest high school players ever in the state of Texas. But Riley took his time with the decision, and in the end, made what he thinks is the best choice for his team. “It was pretty simple, honestly,” Riley said. “I don’t think there’s some elaborate break down. We looked at the whole body of work

and thought (Murray) was slightly ahead of Austin.” And Riley’s selection earned approval from the king himself, Barry Switzer. “Coaches play the best players and make tough decisions when it comes down to talented players — especially at that position — and that’s what he did,” said Switzer, who coached a host of great quarterbacks such as J.C. See KYLER page 7

• August 23-26, 2018

NEWS

Anna Bauman, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

Kayla Branch Editor in Chief Anna Bauman News Managing Editor Julia Weinhoffer Engagement Editor George Stoia Sports Editor Siandhara Bonnet A&E Editor Will Conover Enterprise Editor Caitlyn Epes Visual Editor Emily McPherson Copy Manager Sarah Barney Print Editor

phone:

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The back of building C at Cross Center Apartments Aug. 19. The apartment complex was not completely finished before school started this semester.

Cross remains unfinished Newest on-campus housing struggling with occupancy DREW HUTCHINSON @drethegirl

Final construction for on-campus housing option Cross Neighborhood will not be complete until late September, leaving tenants to navigate the complications of the incomplete residence hall as it also struggles to fill beds. A large part of the advertising campaign for Cross was its dining, gym options and other luxury features — most of which have not yet

opened. An OU Housing and Food Services official said in an email obtained by The Daily that Cross promised amenities would be complete in the next five weeks. Cross currently has a 28 percent occupancy rate, The Oklahoman reported in mid-August. It is unclear how this will affect OU financially, and requests to speak with representatives about the issue were not met. “Building D ... doesn’t even have anybody living in it,” said Braxton Wilkinson, Cross resident and computer engineering sophomore. “On my floor, I’d say every

other door is actually occupied, so it’s pretty sparse.” The Cross amenity construction deadlines, according to the email, are as follows: the black box theater will be complete by Aug. 22, the “sweat hut,” “DIY creative space” and “innovation hub” will be finished by Sept. 1, and dining options for Building A and Building C will open Sept. 10 and Sept. 24, respectively. Right now, however, the unfinished complex is a source of frustration for residents. Wilkinson said he decided to live at Cross because it was one of two on-campus living options given to

JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY

Acre Market, a fresh fruit and produce marketplace, under construction at Cross Neighborhood on Aug. 19. The apartment complex was not completely finished before school started this semester.

PRIDE:

husband are now active members of the First Congregational Church of Norman United Church of Continued from page 1 Christ, a more welcoming church she helped start 10 of Lesbians and Gays. years ago. David Holladay Today, PFLAG Norman is now lives in Washington, influential in the district’s D.C., with his husband and school system, weighing in runs a catering company. on LGBTQ issues and helping teachers and admin‘Pride in yourself, pride istrators handle any situa- in your neighbor’ tions that might arise, Kay In the decades since the Holladay said. The Norman Holladay family experiPolice Department also enced pain and isolation works with PFLAG to im- in Norman, there will be an prove the department’s event in the same place celenon-discriminatory policies. brating the LGBTQ commu“We started this chapter to nity and its allies. ensure that people who had Norman Pride President kiddos coming out to them Andrew Coulter said he would have a place to come started the event because he and be supported,” Kay felt that while people generHolladay said. “We would be ally call Norman an incluable to provide education to sive place, there needed to them and to the community be something to celebrate … to understand that sex- inclusivity and continue edual orientation and gender ucational efforts. identity are simply charac“It’s pride in yourself, teristics of a person and not pride in your neighbor, the a mental illness.” pride of the people you’re Kay Holladay and her around every single day,”

Coulter said. “Knowing they accept you and you accept them and you’re on this equal playing field.” Kay Holladay said though she is no longer on the board of Nor man PFL AG, she knows the group will be involved with the festival. “I’m ver y tickled that they’re doing this,” Kay Holladay said. “It’s really fun to see Norman do its own thing. I’m very excited. It’s on my calendar, and I’ll be there.” David Holladay and his parents agree during the time he came out, there was a blatant lack of resources for the LGBTQ community. The Holladays believe Norman today is a different and more inclusive place, as evidenced by the upcoming Pride festival, but there is always room to do better. Kay Holladay recalls a 2010 Norman City Council meeting to discuss naming October as LGBTQ History Month. She said even though it passed 7-1, there

him as a transfer student. The other was Headington College, one of OU’s residential colleges that also struggled with low occupancy when it opened last fall. “It’s really been a rollercoaster,” Wilkinson said. “The building ’s not finished. Really, the only thing that’s finished about it is the rooms and the staircases.” Outside the buildings, t h e re a re o n l y p l o t s o f dirt where the front lawn and courtyard should be. Wilkinson said this creates problems when it rains. “We’ve started referring to the courtyard as ‘the swamp,’” Wilkinson said. The units in Cross have kitchens that don’t feature ovens or stoves, so residents must rely on a communal kitchen space in the floor’s lounge if they need these appliances. And since the advertised in-house dining options aren’t yet available, residents must find other means of getting food. Cross resident and biology sophomore Mackenzie Graf said she goes to the grocery store to get food, a chore she said she didn’t expect to have since she thought Cross’ dining options would be complete when she arrived. She said she also bought 100 meal points. Wilkinson said he purchased a pay-as-yougo OU Housing and Food Services meal plan that allows him to eat anywhere on campus. Other troubles Wilkinson

and Graf reported include a Sooner Card swipe acc e s s p ro b l e m at C ro s s’ front door, construction workers playing around on the job and a twice-malfunctioning fire alarm — which Wilkinson said left him wondering if the fire alarms would work in a real emergency. The Daily reached out to Cross property management company Balfour Beatty but was not able to speak with a communications representative regarding the facility’s issues. Despite the problems, Graf said she generally likes her new living arrangement but thinks the completion of amenities is a must for marketability. “I think it’ll be better ... when everything comes up,” Graf said. “It’ll be a lot easier to try and sell this place when there’s a bunch of restaurants and the market.” Wilkinson said he doesn’t blame the university for the difficulties with Cross but instead blames Balfour Beatty. “They’re the ones who are at fault for everything not being the way it’s supposed to be,” Wilkinson said. “The OU employees have been really nice and really apologetic about the whole thing, but they don’t really have any power, any influence, over the issue.”

were about three hours of people speaking out against the history month and the LGBTQ community. In 2016, the council once again considered the proclamation, and it passed unanimously with no comment from community members. Kay Holladay said there are still many anti-LGBTQ legislators in and running for office, and they should not be tolerated. Oklahoma does not have any statewide protections that keep members of the LGBTQ community from being fired for their sexual orientation or gender identity. However, Norman passed LGBTQ protections in 2015. “The Pride festival is important because it’s going to save lives,” Coulter said. “It’s something people are going to talk about and by having the conversation it brings awareness to the LGBTQ community and makes (Norman) a little bit more of a safer place. The big thing I’m seeing in Norman

is people are willing to have t hat c o nve r sat i o n , a n d that’s the nice thing about Norman.” David Holladay said when he attended his 20th high school reunion, he was surprised to see other peers had come out as part of the LGBTQ community. Things had certainly changed since high school. “It was kind of fun and liberating to find out people that I’d been next to all those years as a kid found their way,” he said. “Happiness is a constant quest. How painful it is to not feel like the feelings in your heart of love or care or expression, or even now as we know, gender identity are not embraced or rejected.”

Drew Hutchinson

drew.hutchinson@ou.edu

Jana Allen

Jana.R.Allen@ou.edu

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VOL.103, NO. 43

NEWS

August 23-26, 2018 •

JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY

Advika Kamatar, biomedical engineering sophomore and National Merit Scholar, speaks to a reporter Aug. 22. The number of National Merit Scholars at OU this fall has decreased from previous semesters.

National Merit Program pruned Scholarship faces cuts; enrollment numbers halved JORDAN MILLER @jordanrmillerr

For the past several years, OU has boasted the highest number of enrolled freshmen National Merit Scholars among all public and private universities. But after the extensive scholarship and heavy recruitment were scaled back this semester, those high enrollment numbers have been slashed in half. In fall 2017, 317 freshman National Merit Scholars enrolled at the university. This fall, the number is between 155 and 160, OU President James Gallogly said at an Aug. 16 press conference. The decision to pull back on one of OU’s most famous programs was made about a year ago by former president David Boren and the OU Board of Regents, Gallogly said during the conference. Gallogly said in a press conference the decision to scale back OU’s National Merit Scholar Program was made in order to redirect some of the scholarship

funds toward a wider pool of students, especially Oklahomans. About 58 percent of incoming National Merit Scholars are from other states, Erin Yarbrough, interim vice president for public affairs, told Oklahoma Watch. “We really want to make sure that OU is affordable for the citizens of Oklahoma as well as a variety of other students,” Gallogly said at the press conference. “I know that there has been criticism in the past about the number of National Merit scholarships that have been given and how some of that money then doesn’t flow to the students of Oklahoma.” The 2017 SAT Annual Report by College Board stated only 23 percent of Oklahoma 11th graders took the PSAT, the test used to determine National Merit Scholars, in the fall of 2016, compared to 65 percent in Texas that year. Under the new scholarship conditions, according to the National Merit handout, non-residents will now pay the in-state tuition rate minus a $2,000 waiver. Residents will have their full tuition waived. These waivers cover five years. Previously, both residents and non-residents received

a full-tuition waiver. Scholars will no longer receive a freshman-year $4,200 housing stipend, and there will be $500 reductions to both the technology/textbook allowance and research/study abroad stipend, according to honors student ambassador physics and math sophomore Jacob Moser, who is also a National Merit Scholar from Illinois. The office, which previously recruited National Merit Scholars exclusively, will expand to also target high-achieving students who may not have the National Merit distinction. “We are continuing the high level of personalization in National Merit Scholars recruitment and now extending that to other great students in Oklahoma and nationally,” Jeff Blahnik, executive director of the office of admissions and recruitment, said in an email. “We still have dedicated personnel whose focus will be on our National Merit and Honors College strategy, but we’ve also cross-trained our entire (Office of Admissions and Recruitment) staff to be able to better serve these students along with other students in their assigned regions.”

SGA hopes to connect Gallogly with students Student leaders plan to assist with power transition JORDAN MILLER @jordanrmillerr

St u d e n t G ov e r n m e n t Association leaders plan to focus on the presidential transition, college affordability and student involvement in the upcoming semester. With the first presidential transition in 24 years, SGA will have to work with President James Gallogly to communicate the aspirations of both the OU administration and the student government. SGA president Yaseen Shurbaji said one of his goals is to help Gallogly get more acquainted with students. “Students and people in the community are very critical of (Gallogly), and it’s because they love their university,” Shurbaji said. “We want to make sure we

execute initiatives, which basically help pair him with the community. We’re spearheading things which will allow him to interact directly with other student leaders on campus — not just myself and the other SGA leaders, but all across campus.” The first event to bring Gallogly closer to the OU community as a whole will be a town hall Sept. 4. Gallogly will also speak at the first SGA meeting on Aug. 28. “He’s going to speak to us specifically about his vision for the university and how he sees SGA in that vision,” said Tom Cassidy, chair of the undergraduate student congress. “I think that that’s a good first step, so we can understand really where he’s coming from. Then, my hope is that we as congress can really produce the best quality legislation and resolutions so that we can explicitly tell him, ‘We, the representatives of undergraduates, this is where we’re coming

The office designates these “high-achievers” as students who would be admitted to the Honors College as freshmen, Blahnik said. “We also recognize that test scores are by no means the only measure of a student’s likelihood of making a big impact at OU and beyond,” Blahnik said in the email. “As such, we are trying to be very intentional and personal in our service to all students who would thrive at OU.” Although this decision is increasing the price for National Merit Scholars at OU, Moser said he thinks OU’s other attractive attributes will continue to bring in students like him. “ The scholarship was the first thing that caught my eye and put OU into my orbit when I was searching for colleges,” Moser said. “But after that, there were other things like the office itself and the support systems at OU that made it an easy choice to come here.” Biomedical engineering sophomore and National Merit Scholar Advika Kamatar, also from Illinios, said she would not have considered OU if these scholarship changes had been in place when she was w ith Faculty Senate … in the beginning of the school year to talk about ways we can move forward on implementing these things that student congress and student government would really like to implement,” Cassidy said. To get students more connected with SGA, Shurbaji recently took over the OU Instagram account, @uofoklahoma. “Through some witty ways like using Instagram and social media and also just getting our faces out there, we’re hoping to befriend more students so that more students can get involved,” Shurbaji said. Cassidy said strengthening the relationship between the student body and SGA members helps them do their jobs better. “ W h e n w e have t hat super strong relationship with the student body, we’re able to better represent students,” Cassidy said. “We’re ultimately able to make the student experience better for everyone, and that’s our goal in student government.”

from. This is what we’d like to see change at the university.’” In relation to college affordability, Shurbaji wants to see more student involvement with fees across t h e d i f f e r e n t c o l l e g e s, which he said last year were able to be increased without much student input. “This year, we’re hoping to allow students to have some kind of oversight, so they can put checks and balances on those colleges, so that they have input to where their fees are going or if they’re being charged more,” Shurbaji said. Cassidy said they will continue to work on making the costs of courses, such as lab fees or book costs, available up front on ClassNav so students can be aware of additional course costs. Cassidy also mentioned adding a question on the end-of-semester surveys that would allow students to give Jordan Miller f e e d b a c k o n t e x t b o o k s Jordan.R.Miller-1@ou.edu specifically. “I’d like to get working

going through the admissions process. “ The scholarship this year would not have been enough to bring me in,” Kamatar said. “The same goes for my brother too (also a Merit scholar). OU was on his list when he heard about the package that I received, but … he immediately took it off his list when he realized how much it was scaled back.” Since the changes have already shown a decline in National Merit Scholars attending OU, Kamatar said she thinks classroom dynamics will suffer as a result. “ My e x p e r i e n c e w i t h National Merits is that they are a huge benefit in the classroom,” Kamatar said. “A lot of times in discussion-based courses, they’re the ones leading the discussion or in math courses, they’re the ones who answer the questions and interact with the professor more and really move the class forward. Because there’s fewer of them, I do think that the class quality will go down at OU.” Although both Moser and Kamatar recognize the disadvantages of these changes, Moser said there are benefits. “Obviously the University

of Oklahoma is here to serve Oklahoma,” Moser said. “Hopefully (the changes) help spread some of the wealth to Oklahomans because obviously there are deserving kids all over the United States and especially in Oklahoma too, so it’s important that the systems are in place to make sure that people don’t slip through the cracks, especially the people that the university is really here to serve.” Ka mat a r f e l t t h e d i sadvantages of the changes reach far beyond being an attractive option for National Merit Scholars. “( The National Mer it Program) increases the quality of the classrooms, it allows you to bring better teachers here because they want to teach really bright students that they might not find at other schools who don’t have the National Merit Program,” Kamatar said. “But then you also need to have that financial responsibility to the state, and if it’s not using the state’s money wisely in the long-term, then I understand why you have to cut it.” Jordan Miller

Jordan.R.Miller-1@ou.edu

Late-night eaters lose popular spot Crossroads will now close earlier, feature new menu KATE PERKINS @Kate_perkins6

A popular campus restaurant will have shorter hours and a changed menu starting this semester. Crossroads Restaurant in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, previously open 24/7, will now be open 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The restaurant has also changed its menu to include a vegetarian section, more vegan options, a DIY burger and more student-friendly prices, said Dan Dukes, Crossroads’ general manager. Pancakes were also removed from the menu. “We just made some stuff more geared towards the students,” Dukes said, “so we can be more accommodating to people.” Director of Food Services Frank Henry said the change in hours was

made for financial reasons. Crossroads’ financial information was analyzed, and analysts found the hours between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. only accounted for 10 percent of the restaurant’s traffic, Henry said in an email. “The decision to adjust the hours of operation was made to ensure that the university is being more fiscally responsible and cutting costs where they make sense to ensure that tuition can continue to remain as low as possible,” Henry said in the email. S e v e r a l s t u d e n t s e xpressed their frustration in response to a tweet asking how the OU community felt about the change to shorter hours. This shift in schedule comes amid changes to campus restaurants. Cross Neighborhood will open in early September with a 24/7 restaurant option, and Cate Restaurants closed in May. Kate Perkins

mperkins5@ou.edu

NEWS

• August 23-26, 2018

Faculty Senate met with Gallogly Campus leaders conference with new OU president FRANCESCA MARINONI @FrancescaGMarin

O U ’s Fa c u l t y S e n a t e met seven times with OU President James Gallogly over the summer months to discuss his presidential goals, faculty priorities and the university budget. The following are highlights of Gallogly’s meetings with faculty from a report released by Megan Elwood Madden, 2018-19 Faculty Senate chair. May 8: Gallogly met with the Faculty Senate executive committee and discussed increasing support for graduate students, creating standards for measuring increases in success in areas of faculty diversity, equity and inclusion, and improving faculty communication pathways. June 6: Gallogly met again with the executive committee to talk about the need for assets to increase faculty research, university operations, the status of the search for a dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and other upper-level administrative positions. Faculty raises, including the need to correct structural inversion

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU Faculty Senate Chair Megan Elwood Madden speaks at a press conference Aug. 16. The Faculty Senate met with OU President James Gallogly many times over the summer to discuss important issues.

and compression issues before establishing a method to implement merit-based raises, were also discussed. The faculty members also stressed their commitment to improving diversity, equity and inclusion. July 5: Gallogly met with Faculty Senate officers, the 2017-2018 budget council chair and two former chairs to discuss the university budget. Gallogly told faculty that OU was losing money and discussed the recent decrease in OU’s Composite

Finance Index. Gallogly also talked about the importance of ceasing overspending, increasing funds for faculty raises and re-investing in OU’s research mission. Gallogly asked that the executive committee suggest deviations that OU has in comparison with its peers that could be changed to save costs and improve operational efficiency. July 12: The executive committee again met with Gallogly to talk about faculty raises; diversity; equity;

inclusion benchmarks and goals; faculty research productivity; national searches for open administrative positions; university policies affecting faculty; and potential anomalies for further investigation and discussion regarding expenditures and operational efficiency. Gallogly asked for more investigation on the inefficiencies. July 13: Former Faculty Senate chair Sarah Ellis and current chair Megan Elwood Madden met with Gallogly

to talk about the role of the faculty senate executive committee in advising the administration. July 16: The executive committee sent a letter to Gallogly regarding cuts to two study abroad programs. The letter suggested a more deliberate approach in changes to academic programs, recommending a consultation with faculty knowledgeable about the programs before making any changes. August 3: The executive

committee met with Marcy Fleming and Lee Camargo Quinn from Human Resources to discuss proposed benefit changes, changes to deductibles and out of pocket maximums for PPO and high deductible options. These changes have been approved by Gallogly and will be sent to the OU Board of Regents for approval. The executive committee also discussed some open administrative positions, such as associate VP for Community. August 8: The executive committee met with Gallogly again to discuss processes and mechanisms for shared governance, how to communicate plans to faculty, staff and students, and how to build revenues and improve efficiencies. Francesca Marinoni francescag.marinoni@ ou.edu

OU President James Gallogly will give a “state of the university” address at a general faculty meeting at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27 in Sharp Hall in Catlett Music Center.

OU professor to lead ecology research team Project will focus on effects of drying streams PHOTO PROVIDED BY A PRESS RELEASE COURTESY OF THE OKLAHOMAN

Clara Luper, one of the University of Oklahoma’s first black students. OU’s Department of African and African American Studies will host a screening of a documentary this weekend about Luper, the department’s namesake.

Department screens namesake documentary Film focuses on sitin led by OU alum, activist Clara Luper DAVION JUAREZ @DavionJuarez3

An OU department will host a screening of a documentary this weekend about its namesake Clara Luper, an OU alumna and one of Oklahoma’s first civil rights leaders. O U ’s D e p a r t m e n t o f African and African American Studies will show the documentary “Children of the Civil

Rights” by Julia Clifford from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 25 at Meacham auditorium in the Oklahoma Memorial Union. According to the event flyer, the documentary is about an August 19, 1958, Oklahoma City sit-in led by Luper, an OU alumna, in what was one of the first efforts to desegregate restaurants in the state. The Department of African and African American Studies was named in Luper’s honor in March. After the screening there will be a Q&A with a panel that includes Marilyn Luper Hildreth, Luper’s daughter,

OU/TX holiday tradition lives on Classes canceled for Friday before OU/Texas weekend NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg

OU plans to give students a fall holiday Friday, Oct. 5, ahead of the OU/Texas game, O U Provost Kyle Harper announced. In keeping with tradition from David Boren’s presidency, OU plans to cancel classes the Friday of OU/ Texas weekend. The date will still have to be approved by OU’s Undergraduate Student Congress. The announcement came in a letter from Harper to the Norman campus deans, program directors and department chairs. “Please inform the faculty

in your academic units that Friday, October 5, 2018 has been designated as the 2018 Fall Student Holiday so that they can plan accordingly,” Harper said in the letter. “This date is subject to final review by Student Congress. As in the past, only the compressed format courses scheduled for Friday will meet on October 5th. All classes on the Norman campus will meet Thursday, October 4th and Monday, October 8th.” In years previous, the Undergraduate Student Congress has approved the date on the first meeting of the semester. Nick Hazelrigg

nickhazelrigg@ou.edu

and Stanley Evans, an assistant dean at OU’s College of Law who was a participant in the 1958 sit-ins. Karlos Hill, interim director of the department, said he wants the department to be community-oriented and wants to encourage students to be engaged in their communities. “We wanted to host an event to bring recognition to her,” Hill said, “and her legacy, to students at OU.” Davion Juarez

Davion.R.Juarez-1@ou.edu

BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75

An OU biology professor will lead one of the first coordinated ecology research projects to study what happens to streams as they dry from climate change and human use across the U.S., according to a press release from OU research. OU biology professor Daniel Allen will lead and coordinate the project. Most prior research has involved flowing streams, but Allen said he wanted to change the way streams have been studied by focusing on dry streams. “For decades we have studied the ecology of streams that always have flowing water while largely ignoring those that do not, but only 40 percent of U.S. streams always flow,” Allen said in the press release. “This large new project will be one of the first to study

both the 40 percent of U.S. streams that always flow, as well as the 60 percent of streams that dry or stop flowing. In doing so, we hope to change the way we think about streams.” The project will focus on how drying streams influence which aquatic invertebrates can survive and how this influence changes across the different climates in the southern half of the U.S. “This project is really important because it’s not only showing the impact of climate change but of human w at e r u s e,” A l l e n s a i d . “Because of both climate change and human water use, the streams that used to always flow are going dry, and that trend is only going to increase in the future.” The study is funded by the National Science Foundation, which has given grants for the project to OU; University of California; Berkeley; Northern Arizona University; University of L ouisiana at Lafayette; Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; and University of Arizona.

The entire study will include three phases, according to the press release. The first phase of field research will take place at 100 sites across the U.S. in 10 different ecological regions. Some of the study sites in each region will always flow and others will not in order to study the effects of stream drying. According to the press release, Yang Hong, professor in OU’s school of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, will produce hydrological models from watersheds and run them through different climate scenarios for phase two of the project. For phase three, Tom Neeson, a professor in the department of geography and environmental sustainability, will build models using hydrological and field ecological data to project how different climate scenarios could change stream drying patterns and ecosystems. Bailey Lewis

bailey.n.lewis-1@ou.edu

Marijuana applications open License becomes available to legally buy, use, grow weed SUPRIYA SRIDHAR @supriyasridhar_

O k l a h o ma re s i d e nt s will be able to apply for a medical marijuana license to legally buy, use and grow medical marijuana and medical marijuana products. The Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority will be accepting applications starting at 10 a.m. Aug. 25, according to their website. The license will be valid for two years from the date that it is issued, according to the website. In order to apply, residents must be able to provide proof of residence, i d e nt i f i c at i o n , a d i g i tal photo and physician

re c o m m e n d a t i o n f o r m within 30 days of applying. If needed, residents must supply insurance information. Out-of-state college students can also apply using a current rental agreement and utility bill preceding the month of application, said Tony Sellars, communications director of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. If residents have a valid medical marijuana license from another state, they can apply for a temporary license, Sellars said. Once an application is submitted, it will be reviewed by OMMA staff. If it meets the requirements, the applicant will be mailed an approval letter with the identification card within two weeks of the application date, according to the website. If an application is missing

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LEXIE PATTERSON/THE DAILY

In a staged photo, a student smokes a joint. Applications for a medical marijuana license will be available Aug. 25 according to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority website.

information, the applicant will receive an email stating the reason that it is incomplete and may fix it. If an application is denied, the applicant will be mailed a letter stating the reason within two weeks of submission. The Oklahoma State Department of Health

cannot estimate the initial number of applicants it will have, but is expecting 80,000 applications in the first year, Sellars said. For more information on how to apply, visit omma. ok.gov. Supriya Sridhar

supriyasridhar@ou.edu

August 23-26, 2018 •

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Siandhara Bonnet, a&e editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/life&arts • Twitter: @OUDailyArts

City looks to regulate scooters

Bird rental scooters pop-up across OU campus, Norman HEATH KUYKENDALL @HeathKuykendal1

Scooter rental company Bird placed several dozen scooters across Norman, primarily in and around Campus Corner, Aug. 17. While people have already started riding the scooters around town, Norman’s city government is trying to find a way to regulate this new mode of transportation. According to its website, Bird has scooters in 29 cities across the U.S. and in Paris. Users can rent scooters for a short period of time via the Bird app, picking up and dropping off the scooters from “nests” located in busy areas. Because the scooters are placed in public right-ofway spaces, Norman city officials are researching what city ordinances may apply to Bird. “We’re currently looking into what permits and ordinances will apply to this case,” said Terry Floyd, city of Norman development coordinator. “The city has regulations for bikes, mopeds

and similar vehicles, but we aren’t sure yet where these scooters fall. We’re looking to other communities with the scooters to see what actions we might take.” Floyd said that, while the Norman city government is not against the scooters, they want to find a way to make sure they are properly regulated and taken care of. According to its website, Bird has dedicated itself to a Save Our Sidewalks (SOS) pledge. The company has pledged to pick up and repair its scooters, to maintain a reasonable number of vehicles in public areas and to give $1 per vehicle per day back to the city. “Last week, Bird began offering its fleet of dock-free, electric scooters to (the) University of Oklahoma as part of our new University Pop-Up Tour,” a Bird spokesperson said in an email to The Daily. “We are excited to bring our affordable transportation option to the students and faculty of the university.” According to an ar ticle in PR Newswire, Bird’s University Pop-Up Tour will visit public and private colleges around the country to introduce students to

PETER REILLY/THE DAILY

Bird Scooters on Campus Corner Aug. 22. Bird Scooters are rentable electric scooters available across the US.

its scooters. The article includes a link to an application for colleges to fill out if they want to be included in the tour. In an email to The Daily, associate vice president of OU Web Communications Erin Yarbrough stated that the university did not sign up for the tour, but that they were notified by Bird on Friday night that the scooters would be placed near

campus. The Daily reached out to Bird, asking how OU was selected to be part of the tour, but received no comment. Oklahoma City also recently saw the introduction of Bird scooters throughout the downtown area. The Oklahoma City Council voted Aug. 14 to impound the scooters if Bird did not s e c u re t h e p ro p e r p e rmits to operate in the city

by Monday. In a tweet on Tuesday, Oklahoma City stated that none of the scooters were impounded and that Bird now has revocable permits for 15 nests of 5 scooters each in the downtown area. Bird has faced similar backlash in other cities where it has placed scooters without proper permits. Seven cities, including Denver, have impounded

Bird scooters until further notice. Several others, including Austin and San Francisco, have sent cease and desist letters to Bird asking them to file for a permit or face legal action. Heath Kuykendall

kuykendallheath@ou.edu

MAINSITE presents two solo artists exhibits Art gallery gives viewers different art perspectives DEVIN HIETT @DevinHiett

MAINSITE Contemporary Art gallery is showcasing two solo exhibits by artists Debby Kaspari and Don Holladay. This unique dichotomy of works caters to both fans of realist art and those who prefer more experimental, abstract pieces. Kaspari is an illustrator and painter whose work captures the wonder of the great outdoors through meticulous illustrations of wildlife and waterside nature vignettes. Her current exhibit, “Waterscapes/Plein Air,” showcases America’s landscape in Maine, Nebraska, California and Oklahoma. Kaspari’s art has brought her around the world. From the Amazon River in Peru, where she first fell in love with painting rainforests, to the lush greenery of Costa Rica, her setting is always changing. However, the one constant in Kaspari’s work is the presence of water. “I was always within earshot of the burble of water,” Kaspari said in a press release about the exhibit. “Where water flows, nature follows.”

VIA MAINSITECONTEMPORARYART.COM

Norman Arts Council offices in the MAINSITE Contemporary Art gallery on Main Street in downtown Norman. The gallery is currently showcasing two solo exhibitions by Debby Kaspari and Don Holladay.

In contrast to Kaspari’s nature-themed art, Holladay’s exhibition, “Visual Conversation,” cannot easily be categorized or pinned down. Holladay, a mixed media artist and printmaker, used a wide variety of media in order to give his art a sense of “certain vagueness” and

Five cities to have art instalation “Faces of the 47th” to display photgrapher’s work KAMERON DUNCAN Staff Writer

A large-scale art install at i o n c a l l e d “ Fa c e s o f the 47th” will appear in five different cities across Oklahoma. According to a press release about the project, each installation will consist of 47 large-scale (3.5-by-5-feet each) outdoor, photographic portraits, taken by photographer Neil Chapman. Each site will be led by a local site artist. “I contacted (the Inside

Out Project) in NYC, told them what was going on in OK and asked them if we were a good match for the project,” said Sarah Agee, project director and Norman site artist. “Almost immediately I received a response of ‘absolutely.’ From there the Inside Out Project: Faces of the 47th, was born and my worlds of being a mother, an advocate for the arts and activist collided.” This project was created in conjunction with the Inside Out Project, a platform that provides artists the resources needed to stand up for their beliefs through art. The title of the installation is a reference to Oklahoma ranking 47th in the nation in terms of educational

“controlled carelessness” inspired by feelings of energetic immediacy, according to the press release and Holladay’s website. Joshua Boydston, associate director of the Norman Arts Council, said he admires how Holladay’s work does not simply spell out his intent but rather invites

funding. The organizers of the installation hop e that it will call attention to Oklahoma’s need for educational funding and raise support for pro-education politicians this upcoming election. In s t a l l at i o n s ca n b e found in Enid, Norman, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma City and Waynoka. These cities were chosen to represent the diversity of the state. In addition to the installations, director Cacky Poarch is filming a documentary that follows the creation and development of “Faces of the 47th” that will debut sometime ahead of the November election. Kameron Duncan

kameron.o.duncan-1@ ou.edu

people to draw their own unique conclusions and truly experience the art. “For me, I think a lot of it speaks to the immigration crisis we have going on,” Boydston said. “Whether or not he directly intended to do it, I feel like it’s something that ties a lot of these pieces together. I think it’s a really

important thing to experience and talk about in this climate.” The exhibition opened in August and will conclude Friday, Sept. 14. During the 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk on Sept. 14, there will be a closing reception from 6–10 p.m. at MAINSITE Contemporary Art, located

at 122 E. Main St. in Norman. For more information, you can visit MAINSITE’s website or contact Joshua Boydston at joshb@normanarts.org or 405-360-1162. Devin Hiett

hiettdevin@gmail.com

Revolve Production to come to historic Film Row Third annual Amp Festival empowers female creators ABIGAIL HALL

Assistant A&E Editor

O k l a h o m a C i t y ’s Revolve Productions presents the third annual Amp Festival, an art and music festival empowering Oklahoman female creators, Saturday in the historic Film Row. Amp Festival is a free event with live performances, booths from local artists and community organizations, food trucks and kids’ activities

to benefit Oklahoma City Girls Art School. Tobi Coleman, co-owner of Revolve Productions, s a i d A m p Fe s t i v a l w a s inspired by the girls art school focus of empowering female creativity and created the event in 2016. “I know from growing up around here there’s a lack of female performers, so we wanted to have a festival that were all female bands,” Coleman said. “Where it gave other kids a taste to get out and be creative.” Coleman said attendees should look forward to Shawnee-based event headliner “Shoulda Been Blonde,” a band of girls all under the age of 19, and

Edmond-based jewelr y creator “BekahSometimes.” For attendees ages 21 and up, Amp Festival will host their first after-party, Coleman said. Tulsabased DJ Afistaface will perform at the event from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Paramount Room, 701 W. Sheridan. Amp Festival will take place noon to 8 p.m. S a t u rd a y i n O k l a h o m a City’s historic film row, 701 W. Sheridan Ave. Abigail Hall ahall@ou.edu

Auust 23-26, 2018 •

SPORTS

George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports

OU coach Lincoln Riley speaks during OU Media Day July 22. Riley named the starting and backup quarterbacks for the 2018 season on Wednesday.

ARCHIEBALD BROWN/ THE DAILY

Riley confident in QB decision Murray announced as starter for Sooners’ season KEGAN RENEAU @KeganReneau

Kyler Murray is Lincoln Riley’s guy. Riley announced the redshirt junior quarterback will be the Sooners’ starter come Sept. 1 against Florida Atlantic. Here’s what Murray and Riley had to say about the decision.

KYLER MURRAY

ON BEING NAMED THE STARTER: “Obviously, it’s a huge honor for me. Something I’ve dreamed of. I’ve been working hard ever since I got here. It’s a moment,

ON HOW MUCH HE’S GROWN: “I think I’ve been playing the best football of my life the past couple of months — as of late. Growing from freshman year at A&M to now, being w ith Coach Riley has helped me a lot, ON COMPETING FOR sitting behind Baker has THE SPOT: helped me a lot, and now it’s “Every quarterback here time to go put that to show.” — competed with them every day. Coming in, work- ON WHAT HE’S MOST ing hard. It wasn’t real- EXCITED ABOUT: ly about the competition, “Playing the game. This as most of y’all may think is a moment I’ve been waitit is, but me and (Austin ing for, and now that it is Kendall) came in every day here, it’s go time. For me, and worked hard and just next Saturday, and the boys, tried to get better. I mean, we’ll be ready to go.” working with him has been fun. He’s still here, so we got LINCOLN RILEY to work together in order to O N M A K I N G T H E accomplish what we want to DECISION: accomplish.” “Pretty simple, honestly, since I started playing, I’ve been working for this. For me to be named the starting quarterback, obviously it’s a huge honor. I know the standard of the position at this university. So it’s my job to uphold it.”

Get real world experience! Applications due August 24th

jgrobinson@ou.edu

I don’t know that there is some elaborate breakdown that we have. I just think as we looked at the whole body of work, thought that he was just slightly ahead of Austin. It was a very close one, like I told you guys the other day, it was very close, stayed that way — one of the closest that I’ve been involved with. They both did a tremendous job. At the end of the day, only one can do it. We’ll need them both to be successful this year, we know, but Kyler is going to be the guy right now.” ON HOW KENDALL HANDLED THE NEWS: “Like any competitor you would expect. Handled it in a ver y mature way. Certainly was disappointed, wants to play. For a guy

like him, you can’t sit there and say, ‘Well what I did here over the last several months didn’t work.’ What he did over the last several months did work. He’s a much, much improved player. It’s going to help him a lot going forward, and he’s going to continue to bring the same mindset and attitude that he did throughout this entire competition because regardless of anybody else, he has improved dramatically.”

to come here and kind of catch his breath — learn from this program, the culture in this program, from the people in it. To have different roles, from going to being the scout team guy and then being the backup last year, those are roles that he’s never had to have in his life. That was all good for him. I think to understand the whole process, what it really takes to be great. He’s gotten a lot better, he’s got a long ways to go, and this is just the starting point here, ON MURRAY’S GROWTH: but obviously I’m excited “He’s certainly grown about his progress.” a lot. Maturity-wise, he’s grown a lot in every sense of it. I feel like the last two Kegan Reneau years were really good for keganreneau@ou.edu him. He came into A&M so heralded, so much hype behind it, and then to be able

SPORTS

August 23-26, 2018 •

KYLER: Continued from page 1

Watts, Jamelle Hollieway and Jack Mildren. “He made the best decision for his team. They feel like he gives them the best chance to win, and sometimes they find out the other kid can play, too. Hopefully, and I think we do, have two winners.” Murray’s talent is unquestionable. His ability to beat teams with both his feet and arm is something Oklahoma can’t pass up. It’s the reason many thought there wasn’t really a battle for the position, despite Riley repeatedly saying there was. After finding out he had won the spot, Murray let his “people” know, and to most — including Sooner Nation — this wasn’t news. They’ve known this since January. “ ( It wa s ) n o su r p r i s e to me,” Tom Westerberg, Murray’s high school coach, told The Daily Wednesday. “I thought all along he gives them so much — all the things that he can do, throwing the football and adding the run game to it, also. I think he’s pretty much what everybody’s looking for.” Minutes after Georgia running back Sony Michel ended the Sooners’ season in the College Football Playoff last January, Murray slowly walked toward the southeast tunnel of the Rose Bowl. Both his hands grabbing his face mask and a gleam in his eye, Murray wore his emotions on his sleeve for one of the few times all season. While he may not have realized it, this was the moment the torch was passed to him — a torch that’s been held by the likes of Baker

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray runs the ball in the annual Spring Game April 8. Murray was named the starting quarterback for the 2018 football season.

Mayfield, Sam Bradford, Jason White and many more. Murray understands the pressure that comes with being the starting quarterback at a school like OU and knows the big shoes he has to fill. “I know the standard of the position at the university. It’s my job to uphold it,” Murray said. “Everybody is going to be looking at me on and off the field.” “ There’s been a lot of great ones (who have) come t h ro u g h h e re,” Sw i t z e r added. “I think everyone anticipated him being the next. We all know what he can do with his feet — it’s going to be how he handles the passing game. From what I’ve seen, I think he will be just fine.” Murray’s journey to becoming Oklahoma’s starting quarterback is not a traditional one. A top prospect out of Allen High School,

Murray started his collegiate career in College Station at Texas A&M. After one season with the Aggies, Murray decided to transfer to Oklahoma where he sat out one year in 2016 and backed up the Heisman Trophy winner in 2017. T ha n k s t o May f i e l d’s crotch-grabbing tomfoolery in Lawrence, Murray started one game for the Sooners l a s t y e a r a g a i n s t We s t Virginia. Murray took the ball the first play of the game and went 65 yards on a quarterback run. Besides that one game, Murray hasn’t started a football game since 2015. During Murray’s single season at Texas A&M, he struggled, throwing seven interceptions to just five touchdowns. He says he’s a different player than he was three years ago, and he’s ready to prove that. “I think I’m playing the

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray throws at spring practice Aug. 16.

best ball of my life,” Murray said. “I’m a lot more ready … Obviously no one wants to sit for that long, but it’s helped me in a lot of ways. I think I’m pretty ready for it … I was young then. It’s a different situation, and now I feel like I’m in a better situation.” Before his below-average season in College Station, Murray had just about as good a high school career as one can have. He never lost a game as a starter at Allen, winning 43 straight games and three state championships. His success stems from his calm demeanor. “He commands such a presence that he makes everyone else that same way in practice and games,” Westerberg said. “There were so many (moments). There were games where we were blowing people out and then there were games we were down in the fourth quarter where he would

just take over … When people know he’s going to work, and things weren’t going our way, he’d just say ‘all right, let’s get it done.’ Everyone expected him to make plays, and he did.” He has a swagger to him, but not like one would think. He’s a quiet leader, using his actions instead of his words. He’s not going to talk trash in practice or games, he’s just going to take care of his business and do whatever it takes to help his team win. Murray isn’t going to be Mayfield. He’ll probably put up absurd numbers and make highlight-reel plays, but he’s not going to plant a flag or grab his crotch. He’s going to be himself, and so far, that’s worked for him. “ H e’s n e v e r g o i n g t o try to be somebody else,” Westerberg said. “If he just settles down and is just him, and not try to do too much, then he’s going to light it up.

“ ( O k l a h o ma ) ca n e xpect the work and the business-like presence he bring to practice. He’s going to do exactly what Coach Riley wants him to do. I think the sky is the limit for him.” Approximately six hours after officially being named the starter, Murray stood before 32 media members with the OU backdrop behind him. At 5:37 p.m., dressed in his blue practice jersey and white cleats with sweat dripping from his forehead, Murray wrapped up his 11-minute press conference with one final line of confidence. “It’s go time,” Murray said. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, and now it’s here.” George Stoia

georgestoia@ou.edu

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU redshirt junior quarterback Kyler Murray prepares to throw at the annual Spring Game April 8.

Austin Kendall named QUICK KYLER FACTS backup quarterback GEORGE STOIA • @GEORGESTOIA

Kyler Murray to be starter after long competition ABBY BITTERMAN @abby_bitterman

In a competition, someone always has to come in second. On Monday, coach Lincoln Riley said there still wasn’t enough to separate “who’s one and who’s two” between redshirt sophomore Austin Kendall and redshirt junior Kyler Murray in the Sooners’ quarterback battle. On Wednesday, Riley named Murray the starter and Kendall the backup. “We looked at the whole body of work and just thought that (Murray) was slightly ahead of Austin,” Riley said. While most people on the outside long suspected Murray would be named the starter, Riley said the competition was one of the closest he’s ever seen. This is not Kendall’s first time in the backup role — he played behind Mayfield in his freshman season in 2016. Murray took over the backup role last season, and Riley made the decision to redshirt Kendall. The conversation this year, telling Kendall he

would be the back-up quarterback, was different than it was last year when Riley told Kendall he wanted to redshirt him, Riley said. “Last year, for his development, it made a lot of sense,” Riley said. “This year was different because his approach was better. He’s a much better player, he’s more invested, more in-tune with what we’re doing. He played at a high level. This one’s always hard when both guys are playing at a high level.” Riley said the conversations he had with Murray and Kendall didn’t focus on the decision or fall camp, but on what each of them needed to do going forward. “(Kendall) handled it in a very mature way,” Riley said. “(He’s) certainly disappointed (and) wants to play.” An example of that maturity, Riley said Kendall had a strong practice Wednesday afternoon. “For a guy like him you can’t sit there and say, ‘well what I did the last several months didn’t work’ — what he did over the last several months did work, he’s a much improved player, it’s going to continue to help him going forward,” Riley said. “He’s got to bring the same mindset and attitude that he did throughout this entire

competition because regardless of anybody else he has improved dramatically.” The competition between Murray and Kendall was an extremely close one, and Riley said the two quarterbacks fed off each other and made each other better. “Working with him has been fun,” Murray said. “He’s still here, so we have to work together to accomplish what we want to accomplish.” Murray said he talks to Kendall every day in the quarterback room, and today was nothing new. The Sooners will now start preparing for Florida Atlantic with their named starter and back-up quarterbacks. This won’t be Kendall’s last quarterback battle, Riley said, adding that great things will happen for Kendall if he continues to improve the way he has over the last several months. “He’s going to have an important role going forward for this team,” Riley said. “We’re going to need him, and I think he’ll be ready to respond when that time comes.” Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu

HIGH SCHOOL: Allen STATS: 8,334 passing yards, 100 touchdowns, 16 interceptions WHAT TO KNOW: Murray is known as one of the greatest high school football payers to come through the state of Texas. He won 43 games straight as the starting quarterback and led Allen to three straight state championships. He was a fivestar recruit, according to both Rivals and 247Sports. COLLEGE (FOOTBALL): Oklahoma STATS: 359 passing yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions WHAT TO KNOW: Transferring from Texas A&M, Murray had to sit out his first season (2016) in Norman. Last year, Murray’s first year of eligibility with Oklahoma, he sat behind Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield. He played in seven games for the Sooners. He battled with Austin Kendall all spring, summer and fall camp for the starting spot.

COLLEGE (FOOTBALL): Texas A&M STATS: 686 passing yards, five touchdowns, seven interceptions WHAT TO KNOW: Highly touted out of high school, Murray had expectations as soon as he stepped foot in College Station. He played in eight games during his single season at Texas A&M in COLLEGE (BASEBALL): Oklahoma STATS: .261 batting average, 10 home runs, 53 RBI WHAT TO KNOW: In two seasons at Oklahoma, Murray has been a standout on the diamond. Last season, he hit .291 with 10 home runs. This led to him being drafted No. 9 overall by the Oakland Athletics in the 2018 MLB Draft. He signed a contract with a $4.6 million signing bonus in June.

SPORTS

• August 23-26, 2018

Football freshmen to fill gaps Five new faces could make early impact on the field

Redshirt junior defensive lineman Kenneth Mann’s face lit up when asked about Perkins. “Ronnie came in really advanced,” Mann said. “I ain’t seen a D-lineman come in like Ronnie has since I’ve been here. He’s definitely going to be a big impact player in a year or so, if not now.”

ABBY BITTERMAN @abby_bitterman

Oklahoma has a lot of returning talent this season, but there are still holes to be filled. Some freshmen could see playing time early, especially on the defensive side of the ball where the Sooners lost several key players to the NFL and graduation. Oklahoma is also looking to improve its reputation on defense after last season’s performance. Here are five freshmen who could have an early impact for the Sooners: BRENDAN RADLEY-HILES, DEFENSIVE BACK Radley-Hiles came in to Oklahoma as an early enrollee in the spring, and he’s been widely talked about since. In the Sooners’ spring game, he made four tackles and one tackle for a 12-yard loss. He sat out of practice and the Sooners’ most recent scrimmage, but defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said Tuesday Radley-Hiles is back at full strength now. He’s an explosive player who is really only lacking in experience, Stoops said. “Not having him, I think

JORDAN MILLER/THE DAILY

Freshman defensive back Brendan “Bookie” Radley-Hiles raises his arms before the annual spring game April 14. Radley-Hiles is one of five freshman who could make an impact during this upcoming football season.

we noticed that the last couple days when we went against our offense,” Stoops said. “Not having him on the field makes a big difference for us.” DELARRIN TURNER-YELL, SAFETY In recent weeks there has been a lot of hype surrounding Turner-Yell. A three-star safety coming out of Hempstead, Texas,

Turner-Yell has made a fast name for himself since arriving to campus over the summer. Sophomore safety Robert Barnes said TurnerYell is a hard-working safety, and he doesn’t think he’s been hindered by not enrolling early. “For coming in the summer and just not having that much time like a few of the other DBs during the spring, he’s definitely progressed

very well,” Barnes said. “I think he’ll be ready to contribute as soon as the season starts.”

have an opportunity to contribute on a defense looking to change the narrative from last year.

DASHAUN WHITE, OUTSIDE LINEBACKER White hasn’t been talked about much so far this fall, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make an impact this season. The four-star outside linebacker from North Richland Hills, Texas, will

RONNIE PERKINS, DEFENSIVE END Perkins is looking to find his place on Oklahoma’s defensive line. A four-star recruit out of St. Louis, Missouri, Perkins made two tackles in the Sooners’ spring game.

DRAKE STOOPS, WIDE RECEIVER On the offensive side of the ball, a familiar name might be making an impact for Oklahoma once again. Bob Stoops’ son Drake walked on to the team this season and has been catching some attention at wide receiver. “He’s a dog,” junior wide receiver Marquise Brown said. “I like Drake a lot. He’s a great route runner. His ability to catch the ball — for him to be small, his catch radius is very good. He’s going to make a lot of big plays this year.” Abby Bitterman abbybitt@ou.edu

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@OUDaily @OUDailyArts @OUDailySports

Defensive lineman tackles new position Neville Gallimore expected to anchor defense this season KEGAN RENEAU @KeganReneau

The anchor of a defense lies in the middle of the trenches. O klahoma junior defensive lineman Neville Gallimore has spent the last two seasons playing defensive end in the Sooners’ three-man front. He spent his time trying to maneuver around long, athletic guards and tackles. This offseason, he moved inside to the nose tackle position. His strength, explosiveness and speed could cause more issues with thicker, stronger interior offensive linemen, and it’s where he has been the most comfortable. “Not that he couldn’t play the other position, but he feels so much more

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Junior defensive lineman Neville Gallimore speaks to reporters during OU Media Day on July 22. Gallimore has transitioned to nose tackle during the offseason.

comfortable playing the nose,” said Ruffin McNeill, assistant head coach and defensive tackles. “Like I mentioned earlier, last year was the first time he got as many reps and played as much. I think he’s matured

— football was all new to him.” Gallimore came to Oklahoma as the 83rd-best prospect (four-star) and the ninth-best defensive tackle in the country in the 2015 class. The expectations

were high, but growing up in Canada, he had a lot to learn. T h e Ca na d i a n nat i v e s h o w e d u p i n No r m a n without being fine-tuned like many defensive linemen raised in Texas, the Southeast and California

— places where high school football is at a premium. Gallimore had a lot to learn about the nuances of playing American football. Three seasons into his career as a Sooner and now a position change later, the junior nose tackle has grown into a player ready to make an impact this season. “I feel like I’ve definitely matured,” Gallimore said. “Understanding just not only my position but just the position of all the (defensive linemen) and understanding I’m a guy who’s been here since 2015. “I feel like I’ve definitely grown, definitely matured, and I feel like I’m ready to show what I’ve been working on during this offseason coming into the season.” Gallimore is expected to be the anchor of Oklahoma’s defense. The transition inside means he will be taking on more blocks, taking more direct routes to sack the

quarterback and using that size, speed and explosiveness to wreak havoc for opposing offensive linemen. He was listed as one of the most athletic freaks in college football. The expectations for him are high once again, and even with the difficulty of a position change, the junior is ready for the opportunity presented to him. “Playing the defensive line, it wasn’t really that hard of a transition because you understand the mentality,” Gallimore said. “You still got to be aggressive at the point of attack. I mean, just any opportunity I have to make the team better. The coaches put me there, I found an opportunity, and I just ran with it.” Kegan Reneau

keganreneau@ou.edu

Alvarez prepares for final year on field Fifth-year player battles for starting center position GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia

Jonathan Alvarez isn’t the biggest or most talented player on Oklahoma’s roster. But the redshirt senior center has experienced more ups and downs in his nearly fiveyear career than the other 115 players on the Sooners’ roster. He played one game as a true freshman, started 10 as a sophomore, got injured as a junior and redshirted his senior year. He’s seen it all. And now, in his last season, he’s in one of the closest position battles on the team. “I spent all last year focusing on myself,” Alvarez said. “My mindset going into this year is, ‘Just be confident.’ I should know what I’m doing. This is my fifth year being here, and I’ve been in the system long enough that I just see what I see and go with it.” Alvarez is currently

battling redshirt freshman Creed Humphrey for the starting center. Humphrey is one of the most talented offensive linemen on the team and is considered by some as the favorite to win the position over Alvarez. But Alvarez has more on the line. At 6-foot-3, 312 pounds, Alvarez isn’t expected to be a highly touted NFL prospect. This could be his last season on a football field, and that’s something he’s fully aware of. “Yeah, it’s my last year, so I got to do what I can to win,” Alvarez said. “But it’s been like that every year. You fight for that starting spot with all you’ve got.” Alvarez spent last season watching film day-in and day-out. He’d sit down with former Oklahoma center Ty Darlington and go through old and new film, studying where he could get better. “I’m not going to lie, it was really hard to accept the fact that I was redshirting, but sitting down with Ty, I realized that I had to,” Alvarez said. “I had to sit down and work on myself and work on my film...

SIANDHARA BONNET/THE DAILY

Then-junior offensive lineman Jonathan Alvarez walks with his teammates during warm ups before the game against Texas Oct. 8, 2016. Alvarez is currently in a battle for the starting center position in his final season.

Honestly, I just thank Ty for that.” Offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh told the media Monday the battle between Alvarez and Humphrey is still close, and said he doesn’t know when a starter will be announced.

“It’s pretty even right now — they’re going to keep competing,” Bedenbaugh said. “They’re both competing at a high level, nobody has really separated themselves... They’re both great players, they both have strengths and both have weaknesses

right now, and they’ve got to keep working on their weaknesses.” Alvarez doesn’t seem to sense the pressure, despite this being his last run. It’s just another day to the fifth-year senior. “It’s another day fighting

for a spot,” Alvarez said. “Coach B says it every year, ‘It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or who you are, it’s open for everyone every year.’” George Stoia

georgestoia@ou.edu