Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2021 by OU Daily

W E E K LY E D I T I O N | A U G . 3 1 - S E P T. 6 , 2 0 2 1 | O U D A I LY. C O M

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Oklahoma State Department of Health mobile RV vaccine clinic on Aug. 26.

Overcoming hesitancy Initial projections for OU community reaching herd immunity dashed due to vaccine skeptics, highly transmissible delta variant as cases continue to rise ARI FIFE @arriifife

Despite the university’s vaccination efforts, experts say the university has not reached herd immunity, due in part to vaccine hesitancy. OU Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler wrote in an email though younger people aren’t more susceptible to the delta variant, more are hospitalized because fewer are vaccinated. He wrote he believes fear of the delta variant has driven up vaccination rates, but many who remain unvaccinated will still get sick, and some will be hospitalized. As of Aug. 29, 59.1 percent of individuals in the 18-24 age group had at least one vaccine dose, compared to 62.6 percent of those in the 25-39 age group, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, 47.5 percent of the 18-24 age group is fully vaccinated, compared to 51.8 percent of the 25-39 age group. Dr. Aaron Wendelboe, an OU College of Public Health associate professor of biostatistics and epidemiology, said it’s “generally true” that vaccinated students are safe from the risk of serious COVID-19 infection. He said as current transmission rates increase beyond what they were in the height of the pandemic, exposure risks are higher for everyone. The opportunity for exposure is comparable to the lottery, Wendelboe said. Though an individual’s chance of getting infected from one

exposure is low, multiple exposures means heightened risk. Formerly a state epidemiologist, Wendelboe said he originally estimated 70 percent of the OU community would need to be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Now, after discussing with Bratzler and others, and considering the delta variant’s higher transmission rate, he recommends an 85 percent threshold. Oklahoma has one of the highest vaccine-hesitant populations, according to the CDC. In Cleveland County, an estimated 16.51 percent of residents are unsure of whether they should get vaccinated. Wendelboe said the No. 1 reason many college students haven’t gotten vaccinated is “vaccine laziness.” While many students are relatively healthy, he said some don’t feel COVID19 is a big enough risk to their health, so they aren’t motivated to get the vaccine. Other contributors to hesitancy include concerns about the speed in which the vaccine was developed, possible side effects and unknown longterm effects, Wendelboe said. Criminology senior Lauren Gill said she avoided the vaccine for months until she realized how crucial it was after recovering from COVID-19. Gill said she’d always taken the pandemic seriously, despite trusting the opinions of her parents, who were against the vaccine. She wore a mask everywhere she went, but she feared the vaccine because she witnessed the side effects some of her vaccinated friends experienced.

On July 16-18, Gill said she and her family went on a trip to New Orleans for her mother’s birthday, where they went to a crowded bar one night. During that period, Louisiana’s 7-day average sat at 1,198 — more than double that of Oklahoma’s, according to the New York Times. Upon their return, Gill said her mother began feeling sick, but her family members assumed it was a cold. Gill was in the car with her roommate when her mother sent a picture of her positive COVID-19 test in her family’s group chat. “I remember my heart just dropping,” Gill said. Gill said she immediately told her roommate she had to get home to get tested and began her quarantine while she waited for test results. Her first test came back negative, but that same day, she was running a 101-degree fever and was stranded on her couch, in pain and unable to move. Gill knew she was positive at that point and asked to be retested, she said. The second test soon confirmed this. Gill’s fever lasted a week, and throughout her quarantine, she said she experienced every symptom possible. She also saw her roommate, who was vaccinated, experience a milder version. Watching her roommate’s smooth recovery caused Gill to change her opinion of the vaccine, and she got her first shot at a free walk-in clinic the first week of school. “It got to the point where I couldn’t eat … without (it) making me sick because of how

messed up it makes you,” Gill said. “It’s definitely not something that I would want to ever experience again.” Any place where people congregate closely increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission, Bratzler wrote, and even fully vaccinated people can get infected and spread the virus. If community members aren’t wearing masks, they’ll be at greater risk for infection. Student Government Association Undergraduate student congress chair and international security studies senior Crispin South said though the body has passed several resolutions encouraging students to wear masks and get vaccinated, its work has primarily been publicizing the safety and efficacy of vaccines and making sure people know where they can get them. South said he wants to work with larger student organizations, sororities and fraternities to promote vaccination. He also plans to work with administrators to ensure the university is implementing policies that will benefit students. “If we can get the message out to everybody on the lowest level possible, and make sure that information is distributed as widely as possible that the vaccines are safe and they’re effective, and that they will protect you from serious infection, I think that’s at least my goal,” South said. South said though administrators believe state law bars them from mandating masks and vaccinations, there are still creative ways to make vaccination “the path of least

resistance.” He referenced BirminghamSouthern College in Alabama’s COVID-19 response, which requires unvaccinated students to get tested weekly, with a $500 fee for each test. Students who have been vaccinated are exempt from weekly testing and will receive a $500 rebate. Wendelboe said he believes the best thing the university can do is “lower barriers” to vaccination and listen to community members. Administrators plan to encourage discussion of the vaccine through town halls in coming weeks, Wendelboe said. He said administrators are also in discussions about how best to incentivize vaccination. Wendelboe said he favors “aggressive testing” of unvaccinated students and would also support more punitive measures like fining students who continue to avoid vaccination. Though aggressive approaches to encouraging vaccinations can be effective, Wendelboe said it’s important to remember COVID-19 will remain a long-term issue. “I am definitely supportive of an approach that takes the long view, that listens to people and tries to balance out education with understanding behavior change and motivations,” Wendelboe said, “and that takes time.” South said, to his knowledge, most students are still taking COVID-19 seriously, but those who aren’t could elicit a rise in cases, which would be see VAX page 2

NEWS

• Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2021

‘Julius is still holding on’ Attorney general pursues execution dates for inmates MIKAELA DELEON @MikaelaDeLeon12

Newly appointed Attorney General John O’Connor requested Thursday that execution dates be set for seven Oklahoma inmates, including former OU student Julius Jones. Julius was sentenced to death in 2002, after he was convicted of the murder of Paul Howell. Julius was a 19-year-old engineering student at the time, and has maintained his innocence since. He was the first death row inmate scheduled to have his case heard by the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. The Oklahoma Cour t of Criminal Appeals set an execution date of Oct. 28 for Julius, upon O’Connor’s request. Julius is also scheduled for a commutation hearing on Sept.13. “It feels evil. It feels like the Attorney General is in a rush in some way to kill (Julius) when there are so many other credible claims to his innocence,” Cece Jones-Davis, the creator of the Justice for Julius campaign and petition — which currently has 6.3 million signatures — said. “I think that the Attorney General would like nothing more than to see him disappear because of the national outcry that has occurred on his behalf.” On Aug. 26, O’Connor said his thoughts remain with the families of the victims of the death row inmates and claimed the lengthy appeal process is delaying justice. Jones-Davis said she feels the disparity between the treatment of the families of the victims and the families of the inmates could be related to race. Julius’ attorney claimed his original case was tainted by a racist juror who said authorities should “shoot him behind the jail.” Oklahoma’s incarceration rates also reflect racial disparities, as 3,796 out of 100,000 Black individuals from the U.S. are incarcerated compared to the white incarceration rate of 767 per 100,000. “I think that maybe the Attorney General only cares about certain people. Maybe because the Attorney General is not as committed to justice,” Jones-Davis said. “I don’t know for sure because I don’t know the Attorney General, but those would be my speculations, and I feel pretty good about my speculations.” O’Connor is requesting the first executions since 2015. Oklahoma was forced to halt all lethal injection executions after a series of botched executions in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, potassium acetate was mistakenly used instead of potassium chloride in the execution of Charles Warner. Warner’s last words were, “My body is on fire.” In 2014, Clayton Lockett died from a heart attack after 16 failed attempts to set an IV line, which caused Lockett’s vein to explode. As executions resume, Oklahoma intends to return to its former three-drug protocol for lethal injections. Among three of the chemicals in that drug protocol is midazolam, a drug that was also used in the two botched executions in the state. This has caused concern for many, as the state is still embroiled in a federal lawsuit over the botched lethal injections. “The governor of Oklahoma has made great strides toward reasonable, reasonable reform,” Jones-Davis said. “But I don’t think we can trust the judgment of district attorneys and attorney generals, who would rush to put someone to death, when there are still so many outstanding questions about his guilt.” mikaela.j.deleon-1@ou.edu

GRAPHIC BY ARI FIFE/THE DAILY

OU officials respond to delta variant questions OU Chief COVID Officer, spokesperson address concerns

ALEXIA ASTON @alexiaaston

What is the COVID-19 delta variant, and how does it differ from other strains? OU Chief COVID Officer Dr. Dale Bratzler said the delta variant is a mutated form of SARSCoV-2. The variant is more contagious than other strains due to its heightened efficiency at attaching to the Angiotensinconverting enzyme 2 receptor — an enzyme that permits infection with COVID-19, according to a study in Australia. Bratzler said those infected with the delta variant carry 1,000 to 1,200 more viral load compared to infection with the alpha variant — the first variant to spread widely, according to Science Magazine. “If you happen to be close to somebody that’s shedding the virus, and you breathe it in, you’re likely to get infected, because the virus is very effective at attaching to human receptors,” Bratzler said. “It’s kind of the perfect storm.” Which groups are most affected by the delta variant? While younger age groups are contracting the virus at a higher rate than older age groups, the delta variant affects all age groups equally, Bratzler said. He said younger people are infected more than older people due to lower vaccination rates. According to the Oklahoma State Department of Health’s Weekly Epidemiology and Surveillance Report, 36.8 percent of Oklahomans ages 18-24 have had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine compared to 54.1 percent of Oklahomans ages 45-54 and 62.3 percent of Oklahomans ages 55-64, as of the week of Aug. 15-21. Does the COVID-19 vaccine protect against the delta variant? Fully vaccinated people can still contract COVID-19 and pass it from person to person,

VAX:

continued from page 1

detrimental to the entire community. “The position we’re in is not a recipe for anything good,” South said. “So, I would like to see the university take some creative action, in terms of implementing policy that will keep you safe.” Though Gill said she’s

but the vaccine decreases one’s risk of experiencing complications and hospitalization due to the virus, Bratzler said. Where can one receive the COVID-19 vaccine? Vaccines will continue to be administered in the Goddard Health Center with no outof-pocket fees, according to an email to The Daily. Fees will be billed to one’s insurance, if available. Uninsured patients will not be charged. Where can one get tested for COVID-19? COVID-19 testing is available for students, faculty and staff at OU Health Services, located at 620 Elm Ave. OU Health Services is no longer offering free COVID-19 testing, which may be fully or partially covered by the individual’s insurance, according to a university spokesperson. Charges will be based on the type of test that is performed. Previously, the cost of testing was covered by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act using federal funds through the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The CARES Act expired on Dec. 26, 2020, eliminating the “readily available” funding for COVID19 testing. According to a university spokesperson, OU is “actively exploring” expanding testing options for the OU community. Individuals experiencing symptoms and unable to test “should isolate from campus and others for 10 days” and may return on day 11 if they’re no longer experiencing symptoms. What are OU’s masking and social distancing policies? OU strongly encourages masking indoors and in high-density settings, such as classrooms and at special events, according to a university spokesperson. The university eliminated its social distancing protocols in all areas except patient care and clinical research patient settings. According to a university spokesperson, the university requires masking for all individuals in patient-facing settings, including clinical

almost back to normal, weeks after her quarantine ended in early August, she said she was still coughing and her taste hadn’t fully returned. Over the course of her illness, she said she lost 13 pounds of “straight muscle,” and when she returned to work at Old Navy, she found she couldn’t lift boxes. Gill’s family also suffered heavily from the

research participant areas and facilities and areas where patient care is the primary function. Masking is also required on transit buses and shuttles in compliance with Department of Transportation mandates. Can professors require masking in their classrooms? In accordance with Oklahoma Senate Bill 658, which prevents certain entities — such as a board of education of a public or technology center school district, the board of regents of an institution within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the governing board of a private postsecondary educational institution, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the State Board of Education or Career and Technology — from implementing a mask mandate for students not vaccinated against COVID-19, OU is prohibited from requiring masks, according to a university spokesperson. However, a group of OU Law faculty compiled a report before the fall semester stating Senate Bill 658 does not prohibit OU or its departments and faculty from requiring masking. The report states the bill only prohibits OU from adopting narrow mask mandates targeting unvaccinated students. “It does not purport to ban broader masking requirements regardless of vaccination status, such as masking requirements at athletic press conferences or in classrooms and faculty offices,” the report read. In an email, Joseph Thai, a former law clerk for Justices John Paul Stevens and Byron White of the Supreme Court and Judge David Ebel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit who now teaches constitutional law and the Supreme Court at OU, wrote he is “not aware” Gov. Kevin Stitt has the authority to regulate OU or other higher education institutes. Similarly, although the executive order does not include a definition of “government service,” Oklahoma House Minority Leader Emily Virgin

virus. She said her mother had bad lungs even before getting sick and then contracted pneumonia on top of COVID19, which was “one of the scariest things” she’d ever experienced. Her parents received an antibody treatment, which helped their recovery. Despite this, both parents still refuse to get vaccinated, Gill said. “It’s just very frustrating to see, because they

(D-Norman) said there is an argument to be made that this bill is directed more toward state agencies who provide licenses and records, rather than a university. Since its passage, she said she has not seen the state take measures to enforce the order. Considering the pandemic, can professors require attendance? According to a university spokesperson, professors are encouraged to use flexible attendance policies that allow students to miss class if they are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, documented or otherwise. What safety measures are being taken in on-campus housing? OU Housing has a Resident Care Plan to assist OU Housing residents with information to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 within the community, according to a university spokesperson. The plan includes resident responsibilities, such as frequently washing hands, instructions for residents exposed to the virus and a self-isolation plan. Which on-campus restaurants will be open? A university spokesperson said before the fall semester that OU Food Services plans to open all on-campus restaurant locations for the academic year on a phased schedule. According to the OU Director of Marketing and Communications Amy Buchanan, OU Food Services is facing “staffing challenges that are being seen in other areas of the foodservice industry nationwide” due to COVID-19. Information regarding opening dates can be found on the OU Housing and Food Services website.

experienced the pain and all the mental aspects of it with me,” Gill said, “but yet they still just don’t care enough to get the shot.” While Gill said she appreciates that the university is offering free vaccine clinics and that individual professors have been encouraging vaccination, she hopes for university-w ide vaccination and masking requirements. The

alexiaaston@ou.edu

thought of staunch anti-vaxxers returning to campus is disheartening, she added. “I was on that side for a little while,” Gill said, “but until you get COVID, you don’t understand how bad it is. I feared for not only my life, but I feared for my family’s lives.” ariani.s.fife-1@ou.edu

CALENDAR

Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2021 •

COMING UP AT OU

Wednesday

3 p.m., State of the university OU President Joseph Harroz (above) will deliver the annual State of the University address virtually, answering questions submitted by students, faculty and staff.

Friday

6:30 p.m., OU soccer vs. Missouri-Kansas City The Sooners will face the Roos at John Crain Field in a game televised on Bally Sports Oklahoma.

CLARE COLLUM/THE DAILY

Sphinx statue at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on June 18.

‘Visionary museum leader’ OU alumnus returns with intent to grow museum’s impact

Saturday

10 a.m., Back to the Arts The Norman Firehouse Art Center is celebrating its 50th anniversary with its “Back to the Arts” event, featuring live demonstrations and creative projects for participants of all ages. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Firehouse Art Center, 444 South Flood Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.

JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor__

OU announced the appointment of its new director for the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art on Monday, pending the OU Board of Regents approval.

11 a.m., OU football at Tulane OU football will kick off its season opener against Tulane in Norman. The game was originally set to be held in New Orleans, but the impact of Hurricane Ida forced the relocation. The game will be televised on ABC.

history, as both the university and the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art have had a powerful influence on my life and career,” Smith said in the release. “It is an honor to serve as director of a museum that I consider to be the best among public universities. I am looking f o r w a r d t o THOMAS working with BRENT the Board of SMITH Visitors and the university leadership, as well as the museum’s committed and talented staff, to continue to raise the profile and impact of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, both on campus and beyond.”

Thomas Brent Smith, an OU alumnus and the curator and director of the Petrie Institute of Western American Art at the Denver Art Museum, has studied art since 1999. He attended Oklahoma Christian University to earn his bachelor’s degree in fine art. Smith received his master’s degree at OU and will return to his While studying at OU, Smith alma mater Nov. 1, according was a Robert S. and Grayce B. to a university release. Kerr Foundation fellow, and was awarded the Rachel Zelby “I am delighted to return to Scholarship, according to the University of Oklahoma the release. He was also a felat this important time in its low at The Getty Leadership

Tuesday, Sept. 7

1:30 p.m., The Art and Culture of Tibet Norman Cultural Connection will host the Sacred Arts of Tibet touring monks from Sept. 6 to Sept. 19. The first event will showcase the art and culture of Tibet and will be held at Mainsite Contemporary Art, 122 E Main St, from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. 7 p.m., Undergraduate Student Congress The Undergraduate Student Congress will hold its weekly meetings in Dale 211, with a Zoom option available. Social distancing and masking will be expected for in-person attendees.

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last Put more thought into the changes you want to make before you proceed. Make sure that your emotions aren’t overriding your practicality and common sense. Channel your energy where it will benefit you most and help bring in more cash, peace of mind and opportunities. When dealing with personal and professional relationships, trust facts, not hearsay.

Saturday, Sept. 11

6 p.m., OU football vs. Western Carolina

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Take nothing for granted. If you want something done correctly, do it yourself. Choose your path, and follow through with your plans. Letting someone else lead the way won’t work.

Tailgating (above) returns as OU football will host FCS opponent Western Carolina for its home opener at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The game will be televised through payper-view

Previous Solution

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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -Look at the logistics of a situation you face, then make decisions based on facts, not on emotions. A disciplined approach to money, health and rules will spare you any awkwardness. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Get everything in order before you share your intentions with others. Expect someone jealous to challenge you. Know your boundaries and put your energy into finishing what you start. ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You’ll advance if you shift your thoughts to what’s important to you and use your intelligence to fast-track what you want to accomplish. Change requires action and finishing what you start.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- You are sitting in a good position, so don’t let an emotional incident sabotage your plans. Put serious thought into how you live, what you want to accomplish and where you stand on the big issues.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Concentrate on getting ahead professionally. Put your energy into showing others how efficient and eager you are to use your skills diversely and navigate your way into a better position.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Live within your budget. Pay attention to the cost of living and where you can cut corners. Do what you can yourself instead of paying someone. A change will encourage you to rethink how and where you live.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -Distance yourself from people who nag or criticize you. Trust your ability to get things done your way and on time. Use your intelligence and finesse to choose the direction you want to pursue.

listener. Fine-tune your style and appearance. V. EASY

enthusiasm. Love and romance are #2 favored.

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Institute, an adjunct faculty member at the University of Denver and currently serves as the president of The Museums West Consortium.

Smith is the second person to have earned a degree from OU and served as director of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, according to the release. He will continue his many Smith has held various years of museum leadership leadership positions through- as the Fred Jones’ director. out his career, including almost 13 years of service as the “We are thrilled to weldirector of the Petrie Institute come Thomas Smith back to of Western American Art and the University of Oklahoma,” curator of art at the American OU Senior Vice President and West at the Tucson Museum Provost André-Denis Wright of Art, according to the release. said in the release. “He is a creative, competent and visionSmith has received multiple ary museum leader whose awards for his work, including the Colorado Book Award and expertise building long-term the Western Heritage Award financial structures and defor his written exhibition com- veloping community partpanion “Once Upon A Time… nerships will be an asset to the The Western: A New Frontier Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art in Art and Film.” According to and our university as a whole.” the release, his most recent The Board of Regents’ next publication, “The American meeting is currently schedWest in Art,” serves as a seleculed for Sept. 20-21. tion of works produced in the western U.S. and housed at the Denver Art Museum. It also won a Colorado Book Award this year. Jillian Taylor jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu

Universal Crossword Edited by by David August 31, 2021 Edited DavidSteinberg Steinberg May 11, 2021

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PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

5/10

Going Through the Emotions by David P. Williams

Measured Words by Prasanna Keshava

SPORTS

• Aug. 31 — Sept. 6, 2021

Tulane game moved to Norman Rucker named 3rdstring quarterback; Turk gets adjusted

on Arizona Sports’ Doug and Wolf radio show. “We had some things in there that he didn’t agree with and that was fine. He didn’t want to leave but he decided to go somewhere else.” Riley added that the Sooners aren’t 100 percent vaccinated, so it’d be unfair to not add Turk to the roster when he entered the transfer portal. “We’ve got a couple guys that aren’t (vaccinated), and that’s their choice,” Riley said. “And we’re trying to find a good place to try to keep them safe, but also we don’t want to persecute guys that don’t have (the vaccine).”

MASON YOUNG, CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT and AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @Mason_Young_0, @ctengelbrecht, @AustinCurtright

OU’s season opener against Tulane has officially been moved from New Orleans to Norman due to Hurricane Ida and will remain as an 11 a.m. kickoff, the schools’ athletic departments announced Monday. S o o n e r S c o o p’s Ca re y Murdock and Fox 25’s Curtis Fitzpatrick first reported the game would be moved to Norman before Tulane athletic director Troy Dannen refuted their claims on Twitter, saying “no decision on the football game this week has been finalized.” Later, Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel officially confirmed the game would move to Oklahoma moments before Tulane and OU’s releases. Oklahoma announced in its release that, due to the short notice and holiday weekend ahead of Labor Day, it is unable to gather all of its contracted service providers for the contest. Therefore, only the lower bowl of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will be open for fan seating. Tulane will be the home team for the game and will retain all net proceeds from ticket sales. Tickets originally purchased for Yulman Stadium in New Orleans are not transferable. All tickets for the game will be sold separately and are not part of existing season ticket packages. However, OU season ticket holders will have first priority for purchasing tickets and must do so by 5 p.m. Wednesday. Those with lower bowl, club level, loge box and suite

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Freshman quarterback Ralph Rucker looks to throw while under duress from OU football head coach and quarterbacks coach Lincoln Riley during practice on Aug. 10.

season ticket locations can purchase their existing seats. Those with seats elsewhere in the stadium will also have a chance to purchase tickets. Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana on Aug. 29, the 16th anniversary of when Hurricane Katrina hit the state, and made landfall as a Category 4 with 150 mph sustained winds. Ida left all of New Orleans without power, and as of Monday morning, the city’s only electricity is coming from backup generators. With the contest’s relocation to Norman, the Sooners will now play their first four games at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Stadium for the first time since 2004. Oklahoma’s first road game

will be against Kansas State on Oct. 2 in Manhattan, Kansas. Alongside the game’s transition to Norman, OU and Tulane announced they will attempt to schedule a future game in New Orleans. Third-string quarterback: Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley announced that walkon Ralph Rucker has asserted himself as the Sooners’ No. 3 quarterback for 2021. Rucker was a zero-star prospect out of Lovejoy High School in Lucas, Texas, but threw for 3,423 yards and 47 touchdowns as a senior. He beat out Penn State transfer Micah Bowens and fellow walk-ons Ben Harris and Carsten Groos for the right to

back up redshirt sophomore Spencer Rattler and freshman Caleb Williams. “He’s separated himself from the rest of the group and pretty clearly established himself as our third guy, so he’s done a nice job,” Riley said. Riley also clarified redshirt senior quarterback Tanner Schafer is still on the Sooners’ roster, but hasn’t been practicing much. Instead, he has taken on a mentorship role for OU’s other quarterbacks. New punter Michael Turk adjusting quickly: Arizona State graduate transfer Michael Turk arrived on OU’s campus less than two weeks ago, but has acclimated to the team quickly according to

Riley. Turk averaged the ninthmost yards per punt in the country last season with 47.2. He’s also on the watch list for the 2021 Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s best punter. “You look up the numbers and pull up the tape (and) immediately it’s hard not to be impressed,” Riley said. Turk decided to transfer to Oklahoma after ASU administered a policy blocking unvaccinated athletes from traveling to road games, according to Arizona Central. “It had nothing to do with anything but how we treated the COVID situation and what we were going to do going forward,” Sun Devils head coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday

Reggie Grimes comfortable ahead of sophomore season: Football is in sophomore defensive end Reggie Grimes’ genes. His father, Reggie Sr., has coached high school football in Tennessee for 11 years. He even coached Grimes and Tennessee transfer defensive back Key Lawrence through the youth football levels. Grimes credits his current success to his father’s teachings. Grimes also learned a lot last season as OU battled COVID-related obstacles. Now that he’s more versed in the Sooners’ system, he’ll take a bigger role this season. “I expect a lot out of Reggie this season,” outside linebackers coach Jamar Cain said. “Reggie takes coaching really well. He’s hard on himself, which is good and bad in the same instances. … This last week and a half, he’s really taken off. Reggie was a heavy power rush guy, now he’s trying to throw in some pass rush moves and he’s developing really well.” masyoung@ou.edu chandler.engelbrecht@ ou.edu austincurtright@ou.edu

Sooners fall to Houston in Oklahoma Invitational

JASON BATACAO @J_batacao

Just another learning opportunity. That’s the notable takeaway OU head coach Lindsey GrayWalton gave from the Sooners’ (0-3) 3-2 loss to Houston (3-0) on Saturday night. Oklahoma wrapped up the Oklahoma Invitational in disappointing fashion this weekend. After finishing 4-14 last season, Gray-Walton was hoping to get her team off to a fast start this fall. Now, after opening 0-3 this season, she is hoping to use the three straight losses as a lesson to jump-start her team. “This is a young team,” Gray-Walton said. “They have to be in this moment. They don’t understand what they maybe would do differently or just in the moment again. When they know they have the opportunity, they’re going to finish it. … We want wins, but the growth of this team over the three matches this weekend is paramount.” In the fifth set, the Sooners trailed the Cougars 9-4 after three straight attack errors from redshirt senior outside hitter Savannah Davison. Crawling back, much like they did from the previous 2-0 set deficit, the Sooners used five combined kills — two from Davison and three from freshman middle backer Megan Wilson — to bring the score within one. Houston ultimately had its way, capitalizing on the match point and winning the set 15-13. “Things were showing up for us throughout,” GrayWalton said. “Then they made some plays … and made some

adjustments. And I think the three-step blocks to start (the fifth set) off probably not only emotionally messed with the psyche, but definitely built some momentum that they’d been kind of running out of gas with.” Oklahoma’s newcomers provided a much-needed spark amid the 2-0 set deficit. Davison, who has only played three games at OU since transferring from New Mexico State, tallied a career-high 25 kills in five sets. Her offensive prowess was pivotal to Oklahoma winning 25-22 and 25-14 in sets three and four, respectively. Her kills, alongside OU’s .294 hitting percentage in the third set, helped tie the set count 2-2. Davison has been one of OU’s top three scorers in kills in all three of its matches. “ S h e ’s someone that is all gas, no brakes,” GrayWalton said. “And tonight is a spectacle of that happening in the GRAYgreatest ways WALTON — 25 kills, seven errors. She served well. She defended well. She passed really well. … It’s mentally taxing to do what that person does for six rotations. But, she’s physically built for it, and she can still jump just as high in the fifth set. That’s what you want out of a player.” During the first and second sets, Oklahoma struggled to find its offense. Wilson and freshmen outside hitter Kristen Birmingham helped carry the load with a combined 14 kills and 32 assists. Their efforts were for nought, though, as the Cougars won set one 25-22 and set two 2516. Wilson and Birmingham finished the contest with

“

She’s someone that is all gas, no brakes. And tonight is a spectacle of that happening in the greatest ways — 25 kills, seven errors. - Lindsey Gray-Walton,

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Gray-Walton sees opportunity for growth in face of losses

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OU volleyball coach

19 and 10 kills, respectively. Wilson has produced at least 19 kills in consecutive matches. Defensively, OU had 1 1 b l o cks i n t h e ga m e. Birmingham, alongside sophomore middle blocker Kelsey Carrington, accounted for eight. Carrington, who had four herself, garnered three blocks in the third set alone. Birmingham, Wilson and Carrington are three of the young players that can give the Sooners hope for future success if they keep performing at a high level. Oklahoma now turns its focus to Air Force (0-3) at 6 p.m. on Sept. 3 in Spokane, Washington for day one of the Gonzaga Invitational. “I’m really excited to get back in the gym and practice on some items,” Gray-Walton said. “Because I think if that shows up this weekend, consistently going into the travel weekend, we have a really good opportunity to bounce back with three wins.” jason.f.batacao-1@ou.edu

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