Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019 by OU Daily

W E E K LY E D I T I O N | N O V E M B E R 2 5 - D E C E M B E R 1, 2 0 19 | O U D A I LY. C O M

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The University of Oklahoma’s independent student voice since 1916

OU KEEPS PLAYOFF IN SIGHT • 5

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU tribal liaison Warren Queton speaks at the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration Oct. 14. A speaker at the event made a land acknowledgment statement out of respect for Oklahoma’s Native peoples.

‘It’s about telling real history’ BLAKE DOUGLAS @Blake_Doug918

In 1892, David Ross Boyd, OU’s first president, stepped off the train in what would become Norman, Oklahoma. Before him lay a vast expanse of flat prairie, undeveloped and devoid of trees. Despite his surroundings, Boyd made one exclamation — “What possibilities!” This is the story of OU’s founding that most of the university’s students know, shared on campus tours and on OU’s official website. Recent efforts from OU’s Native American community and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion aim to complete that story, though, by acknowledging that the Oklahoma prairies Boyd arrived on were already home to dozens of Native nations. On Sept. 27, OU’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted a town hall where students were invited to share input on the adoption of a university land acknowledgment statement. At the town hall, students said a land acknowledgment statement is an important part of acknowledging and preserving their tribes’ histories while also educating others. Another town hall on the subject to hear opinions from faculty and staff was held in early November, said Warren Queton, OU tribal liaison and citizen of the Kiowa nation. “It’s something we’re working through as a community first, before we start going out to the larger community and asking their buy-in and their feedback — it starts with the people who it really affects,” Queton said. “We want it to be educational. We want it to increase awareness, but we also want to advocate for the well-being of our Native communities.” A land acknowledgment statement is “a formal statement that recognizes and respects Native peoples as traditional stewards of lands,” according to the University of Connecticut’s Native American Cultural Programs website. Many universities across the United States, including the University of Illinois, Northwestern University and the University of Arizona, have adopted the practice. The statements are often read at official university functions and incorporated into the events of other student organizations and communities. Prior to the OU Black

Emergency Response Team’s Sept. 25 press conference, the organization read a prepared land acknowledgment statement. Other groups and events in the past semester have also incorporated land acknowledgment statements. “I hope that the land acknowledgment brings awareness not only to whose land this was, but to change the narrative of how this university came to be,” said Emma Allen, a third-year doctoral student, president of the OU Indigenous Graduate Students Alliance and citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “Beyond that, though, I hope it makes people think about the history of the university, Norman, the state of Oklahoma and this country.”

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“The goal was to really provide a land acknowledgment as an example, or as an outline that people could use within the institution to write their own,” Boyd said. “What’s been really unique (and) awesome is that while we wanted to provide an outline for the campus, we ended up also providing an outline for the community.” Members of the community have reached out and expressed interest in incorporating a statement into numerous events, including at church group events and across various student organizations on campus, Boyd said. A land acknowledgment statement is an important first step, Boyd said, but the goals of institutions adopting them should extend to ensuring the community is “living” the values expressed

Acknowledging that this place, this land, is a home — was a home — prior to David Ross Boyd’s arrival is more than just an acknowledgment.

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OU leaders, Native community discuss land acknowledgment

-Emma Allen, OU Indigenous Graduate Students Alliance president

Queton said university leadership — including interim OU President Joseph Harroz and former interim Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Jane Irungu — has supported moving forward with adopting a statement for OU. The process of creating a land acknowledgment statement for OU is particularly unique, Queton said, because of Oklahoma’s history as a home for tribes native to the area, tribes that migrated to the region later and tribes that were forcefully moved to what was then Indian Territory. “We’re acknowledging and going through those conversations because it’s a complex process, and we want to make sure we’re being respectful of the communities,” Queton said. “Hearing their thoughts, their views on land acknowledgment first because, ultimately, we want to be more inclusive of our American Indian community.” To ensure as many voices are heard as possible, Queton said he has traveled to speak with tribal leadership across Oklahoma and its border states. Nichole Boyd, director of the Native American House at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign, said the community has engaged well with their land acknowledgment statement, which was adopted in 2018.

in the statement by providing resources and spaces for Native American students, encouraging Native American scholarship and reversing erasure of tribal history. Allen also challenged universities that adopt land acknowledgment statements to further pursue ways to positively impact their Native communities. “These institutions should go beyond simple platitudes into real action,” Allen said. “How are these institutions connecting and establishing relationships with Native nations? How are they addressing the history — socially and politically?” Part of putting the statement into practice should focus on how the university tells the story of its founding, Queton said. “When you tell the story of David Ross Boyd, you can say that when David Ross Boyd came to Indian Territory, there were already people that were here,” Queton said. “Acknowledge that there were indigenous people that were here — people that migrated here, people that were moved here, just putting that into a simple (campus) tour would help educate and raise awareness because, as a freshman student, you may not even know what Oklahoma means or stands for.” Another potential way to advance the land acknowledgment

statement’s mission of education could be to provide more curriculum opportunities at OU for people to learn the history of Oklahoma’s Native people, Queton said. “That true history is not being taught in our public school education systems,” Queton said. “We want people to acknowledge that there’s an American Indian history that people are benign to. Things like what has happened to our Native communities, and what is continuing to happen to our Native communities.” But Queton said he does not want to “make it something awkward,” and aims to be respectful of the broader community while also allowing opportunities for those outside the Native American community to understand and reflect. While it may seem like a small event to some, the adoption and reading of a land acknowledgment statement can have a powerful impact for Native American communities by acknowledging their historical identities and beliefs, Queton said. “It’s important to understand that — and I want to make this very clear — American Indian

communities, we are connected to the land,” Queton said. “Every tribe has a deep connection to the land, because it has sustained us throughout our lifetime. We have a historical connection to place that is a major part of our worldview ... We are sovereign nations, we are indigenous to this land, and we are connected to this land.” Allen said she hopes adopting a land acknowledgment statement at OU will lead to a future of stronger cooperation between educational institutions in the state and the Native people they exist alongside. “Acknowledging that this place, this land, is a home — was a home — prior to David Ross Boyd’s arrival is more than just an acknowledgment,” Allen said. “It’s about telling the real history, regardless of how awful it may be. It means people like me are seen, not erased. Hopefully, it leads to more dialogue and future collaborations between these institutions and Native nations.” Blake Douglas

bdoug99@ou.edu

OU opens Native student lounge Community space will offer resources for minority group EMMA DAVIS

@emmarileydavis

OU opened a Native American student lounge in Copeland Hall earlier this month to provide a space for students to gather. Computer science junior Adarius Begay said this addition shows the university is moving toward providing more resources to the Native American community, which is an important community in Oklahoma. “We’re, I think, one of the most least-represented groups here on campus, and we do have a rich history with the state of Oklahoma,” Begay said. The facility includes a common area with a TV, gaming console and two study rooms. Copeland Hall was chosen to house the lounge because it

also houses the Department of Native American Studies and the Native Nations Center. “This is kind of a focal point for our Native community,” tribal liaison Warren Queton said. “So, it made sense to put it in Copeland.” The Native American community, prior to the installation of this space, felt as though they did not have a space of their own, Queton said. “And it’s open to everybody,” Queton said. “But we call it the Native American student lounge so we can kind of create this space for it to be just us.” Next semester, the community is hoping to utilize the space in more ways. “Now that we have this space, we’re able to host some events in here,” Begay said. “And with that, we’re able to reach out to other students on campus.” Emma Davis

emma.r.davis-1@ou.edu

NEWS

• Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019

Students, alumni reflect on AOI American Organ Institute to leave statewide impact BENNETT BRINKMAN @bennett_lostkid

First-year OU master’s student Luke Staisiunas grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania. As he started looking for colleges to attend, he knew he wanted to study the organ. “I think it was when I was 4 or 5, I heard an organ in church for the first time and sort of decided that’s what I wanted to do,” Staisiunas said. Staisiunas had attended some summer programs for the organ in high school, so he reached out to the organists he had met for college recommendations. Almost all of them told him to look at John Schwandt’s o r g a n p r o g r a m a t O U, Staisiunas said. He visited the campus and has been here ever since, first getting his undergraduate degree at OU and now working toward his master’s degree in organ performance — which he was forced to shift to despite intending to earn his degree in organ technology. T h e A m e r i ca n O rga n Institute started in 2006, when Schwandt came to OU from the University of Indiana and began to implement his idea for an all-encompassing organ program. The program included performance and teaching, as well as technology and design. This summer, the university announced it would close the AOI and end the organ technology program at the end of the spring semester because steady funding could not be established for the program. When Schwandt’s mentor at the University of Indiana told him former OU President David Boren was seeking nominations for a new organ position at OU as a way to reinvigorate the organ department, he was skeptical at first. “I remember I said, ‘Oklahoma! Why the hell do I want to go to Oklahoma?’” Schwandt said. His mentor then told him

to consider the fact that the president of a major research university was interested in his idea for an organ program, which Schwandt had been working on in Indiana. Schwandt then decided to apply for the position. “I didn’t think I had a chance in hell, frankly,” Schwandt said. “I didn’t have a lot of years of experience.” He did have his idea for an organ program, though, and he got the job. This led to an eight-year effort to really get the program going, Schwandt said. “The American Organ Institute is the name for the entire organ program,” Schwandt said. “Every last bit of it: organ lessons, classes, lab work, the whole thing. ... The AOI is really a model for interdisciplinary study that colleges and universities across the nation are trying to propagate.” When the program was fully operational, it offered students 14 different courses in organ study, taught by nine different faculty members. This included lab courses in organ technology, as well as organ performance courses. Currently, there are 22 students in the program and three doctoral candidates, which is big for an organ program, Schwandt said. David Anderson, a doctoral candidate in the organ program at OU, came from Charlotte, North Carolina, to join OU’s organ program. “The strength of the program definitely brought me to Oklahoma,” Anderson said. “The way in which the organ is taught in Oklahoma was unique in the nation.” Schwandt’s idea for the program was an attempt to make organ study more lucrative. Its focus on all aspects of the organ made the AOI one of the premier organ programs across the country for students looking to make their careers in the organ industry, Schwandt said. “I saw the problems. And it’s the problem that all the arts have, (which) is, how do you make a living? How do you maintain relevancy?” Schwandt said. “We have a shrinking number of working

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Nolan Reilly, alumnus of the American Organ Institute, speaks to the crowd during a sit-in at Evans Hall to save the AOI Aug. 22.

technicians (and an) increasing number of places, churches, institutions, that they had organs and no one to take care of them.” This was evident in the 100 percent success rate of AOI graduates finding jobs, Schwandt said. Nolan Reilly, organist and director of music at St. Thomas More University Parish, is from Oklahoma City. He considered several other universities to study organ performance before ultimately deciding to go to OU. “The programs offered here were utterly unique in the field, and that’s what really got me to stay in my home state,” Reilly said. Reilly got his current job as soon as he graduated. All of the people in the program with him also got jobs in the organ field almost before they left the program, he said. “Every one of the people in the department with me who graduated from the AOI had a job within the field before they graduated, basically,”

Reilly said. Part of the reason for this was the experience the AOI provided students in all areas of organ study, Schwandt said. “I learned a lot of (organ technology skills) just from, number one, from the coursework and, number two, from being able to work in the workshop,” said Anderson, who is primarily studying organ performance. Staisiunas, who was studying organ technology before his major was removed from the program, said he thought the AOI was giving him a leg up in the industry. “I’m wanting to go into organ building specifically, (and) it’s hard for organ builders to hire people because they’ll get people that sort of have an interest in it, but they don’t know if they’re really committed to it,” Staisiunas said. “And if they have to train someone who might not stick with it, they’d rather look at somebody that has shown a committed interest by going

through the program.” The AOI has also had a major impact statewide on the organ industry, Schwandt said. Many AOI graduates have transformed music programs in institutions across the state, and Oklahoma now has resources to service its organs. “Oklahoma now, for the first time in many, many decades, has first-class organ technicians here in-state to take much-needed care of a lot of instruments,” Schwandt said. The AOI has also restored organs across Oklahoma and installed them in museums and churches where they are featured in concerts, Schwandt said. This includes the organ in Sharp Hall, which was originally in a concert hall in Philadelphia. The AOI’s first project was the installation of a portion of that organ. As OU’s organ program tries to move forward despite the closure of the AOI, many are unsure of what the future holds.

“What I would love to see now is an open conversation about the future with the administration about how we can, how we could have a similar program maybe smaller in scope,” Reilly said. Schwandt said he has no idea what the program will look like moving forward, and he worries this will set a “dangerous” precedent for the university. “This is a tragedy that goes beyond just organ,” Schwandt said. “This doesn’t just affect the arts.” While students in the organ program figure out what to do in the wake of the change, they are working to move forward with one another’s support. Even though he’s in his first year, Staisiunas said he plans to finish his master’s at OU. “It’s been a little bit tense, but we’re all sort of in it together,” Staisiunas said. Bennett Brinkman

bennettbrinkman@ou.edu

OU retirees sue over emails Plaintiffs seek damages for loss of university accounts BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75

Four retired OU employees filed a class-action lawsuit against OU’s Board of Regents Friday for ending retirees’ lifetime access to their OU email addresses and are seeking over $10,000 in civil relief. According to the petition on Oklahoma State Courts Network, the plaintiffs allege that OU breached its promise that retirees would have lifetime access to their OU email accounts. “Unfortunately, and in breach of the University of Oklahoma’s promise to its retirees, plaintiffs and the class have been advised that they will soon no longer have access to their existing OU email addresses, and that the promised lifetime benefit will be terminated unilaterally,” according to the petition. In October, an OU IT announcement said ou.edu email addresses would be decommissioned to save money and enable increased internet security, and alumni could create alumni.ou.edu email addresses instead. According to the suit’s petition, the four plaintiffs and retired OU employees who are representing the class are: Andrew Horton, retired, tenured and endowed professor of OU film and media studies; Ginger Wetz, retired director of finance from the OU College of Law; Neil

my friend’s got mental illness

The outside of Evans Hall Nov. 21.

Suneson, retired staff member and adjunct professor of OU’s Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy; and Cindy Cash, who retired from OU’s Office of the Provost as the director of academic personnel records and financial operations. Scott Poynter, a partner in the Poynter Tucker association of law firms who filed the petition, said the plaintiffs have significant information located directly in their email accounts. “Each of the clients have had their ou.edu email addresses for a long time, their calendars, their contacts, their email, obviously,” Poynter said. “Almost everything they have electronically is tied to that email address. So everything would have to be redone for them, and transitioned over to some other email.” Poynter said the plaintiffs were promised access to the email accounts as a benefit within their retirement package, and they want to keep

using their accounts. “Each (client) wanted to pursue this and (they’ve) been trying to work with the administration to basically not end this life long benefit that they were supposed to have,” Poynter said, “and that’s been unsuccessful. So they don’t really see another avenue other than to try to pursue this avenue, which is sort of a last resort for them.” Around April, OU informed the plaintiffs and class that it was “unilaterally reneging on its promise,” according to the petition, and that OU was “terminating the use of and access to retirees’ ou.edu email addresses” and they would be “permanently eliminated on January 22, 2020.” According to the petition, the plaintiffs allege that OU’s breach of its promise will cause “immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage” to retirees. The plaintiffs are asking for a judgment against OU, a temporary order that requires OU to let them keep

MADI FOSTER/THE DAILY

their email addresses until the case is over, a permanent order that requires OU to let them keep their email addresses for their lifetimes, and “all other relief to which plaintiffs and the class are entitled or that the court deems just and proper,” according to the petition. The university declined to comment on the lawsuit because it has not been served yet, said Kesha Keith, director of OU media relations, in an email to The Daily. “Once received, we will evaluate and respond as is appropriate,” Keith wrote in the email. A hearing is scheduled to take place at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 before Cleveland County Judge Michael Tupper, according to the state courts network. Scott Kirker contributed to this report. Bailey Lewis

bailey.n.lewis-1@ou.edu

To a friend with mental illness, your caring and understanding greatly increases their chance of recovery. Visit whatadifference.samhsa.gov for more information. Mental Illness – What a difference a friend makes.

CULTURE

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019 •

OU archives history of activism Student expands Bizzell’s Western History Collections MOLLY KRUSE @mollykruse98

Sally Johnson spent her fall semester on a hunt for the Western Histor y Collections — one that has involved contacting hundreds of student organizations and even driving down to the Texas Hill Country. Johnson, a peer outreach archivist, is tasked with tracking down and digitizing materials about student activism for the OU Libraries archives. Her job was formed after a survey of the archives this summer showed a glaring problem: They contained almost no materials from students themselves. “If you were to walk into our archives, it’s about what you would expect ... a lot of like, presidential papers,” said Johnson, a histor y and English junior. “Like I said, kind of like old men talking.” While OU has a history of activism, often the only traces of it are documents from the administration. “The student voices we were looking for just weren’t there,” said Bridget Burke, associate dean for special collections at OU Libraries. Johnson’s role as peer outreach archivist has given her the chance to work with student groups that are underrepresented in the archives, she said. “I think it’s a great project because it really gives student organizations a lot of visibility and a lot of agency on campus because we’re giving them access

to organizational records, which historically is so important,” Johnson said. Everything from posters to newspapers to photographs related to student activism will go into the archives, Burke said. Johnson’s work will contribute to Project STAND, or Student Activism Now Documented, a national consortium of more than 40 universities that collects materials related to student activism. OU joined Project STAND in February 2019, in response to racist events on campus, Burke said. The library’s goal is to prove activism is a “normal and a healthy thing” and has a strong history at OU, Burke said. “It’s been kind of one step at a time recognizing the value of activism on campus, recognizing that historically, maybe we haven’t been as thorough as we could be in documenting those voices,” she said. “And then this fall ... Sally’s effort as peer archivist is trying to figure out what to do about it.” One of Johnson’s main jobs was to contact activism organizations at OU and work with them to archive their materials. After reaching out to 600 organizations, Johnson got only eight responses — but “the eight that indicated they are interested are really, really wonderful,” she said. Gant Roberson is representative and co-founder of the Student Leftist Union, an organization that hosts discussions, reading groups and open mic nights, and participates in volunteering and activism, he said. Roberson is working with Johnson to archive materials from the union, and said he feels the project

COOPER LEE/THE DAILY

OU student and peer outreach archivist Sally Johnson takes a book from the stacks at the Bizzell Memorial Library Nov. 21.

is especially important for future generations of students. “I see it as being important to students going to OU 10 (to) 20 years down the line, because I for one would have loved to have had a pretty thorough student activism archive for me to look at of previous

g enerations of O U students,” Roberson said. One of the most surprising elements of Johnson’s work was the unexpected history she dug up, she said. For instance, Oklahoma — which is currently a red state — has a rich socialist history, something she wa s n ’ t awa re o f b e f o re

starting the project. Talking to past OU activists also made Johnson realize the project “transcends generational boundaries” because all ages are part of the activist community, she said. “Something special about this project is that you’re kind of able to

remind people about something that they really believed in,” Johnson said. OU’s collection is coming soon to Project STAND, according to the website. Molly Kruse

molly.kruse@ou.edu

Review: ‘Knives Out’ offers fresh whodunnit Star-studded cast packs pop culture, social issues in film JUSTIN JAYNE @justin__jayne

presents

Indigenous Representations from the Page to the Screen A Reading and Talk by

Dr. Kimberly Gail Weiser Associate Professor of English and Affiliated Faculty Native American Studies and Environmental Studies

Wednesday, December 4, 2018

4:30 p.m.

Regents Room, Oklahoma Memorial Union Refreshments will be served

Hosted by ΦΒΚ in celebration of Founders’ Day Phi Beta Kappa: A leading advocate for excellence in the liberal arts and sciences since 1776 Accommodations on the basis of disability are available by contacting Julia Ehrhardt 325-5258.

Murder mysteries permeate modern culture — characters like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot and even Batman are all worldclass detectives who provide thrilling stories of deception, mystery and intrigue. But what happens when the author of such murder mysteries is found dead in his private estate under questionable circumstances? “Knives Out” sees the normal trappings of whodunnit mysteries brought to life in a modern-day private estate setting in writer-director Rian Johnson’s (“The Last Jedi”) freshest take on the genre. After the death of patriarch and notable mystery writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), a true-to-form traditional detective dripping with Southern charm, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) begins an investigation amid the family squabble over who gets the millionaire’s estate. Like all good mysteries, “Knives Out” is best experienced without spoilers. The fun comes with discovering the clues along with the detective and his company, attempting to beat the characters to the reveal. The heart of the characters’ conflict comes from Thrombey’s privileged and entitled extended family. Featuring a star-studded cast, the film comes alive in heated debates and moments of sabotage as each member vies for the inheritance from their recently

deceased family member. Notable family members are the intimidating publisher and son, Walt (Michael Shannon), the ditzy socialite, Joni (Toni Collette), the vengeful daughter, Linda (Jamie Lee Curtis) and the absent but devilish grandson, aptly named Ransom (Chris Evans). At the center of the conflict is the surprising protagonist, the — until recently — caretaker for Harlan, Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas). Marta finds herself questioning where her loyalties lie and who to trust in the week following the discovery of Harlan’s body. She also finds herself in the unusual position of being Detective Blanc’s No. 1 trusted friend throughout his investigation. As is the problem with other ensemble casts, the main complaint with “Knives Out” is the relative lack of development of certain characters. It’s hard to imagine more than a few characters being key suspects because the plot doesn’t spend much time on them. Johnson’s foremost talent is world-building — films such as “Brick” and “Looper” illustrate his prowess in creating fully realized fictional worlds. It is a shame that the characters in “Knives Out” have the capacity to be as fully fleshed out as the world surrounding them, but simply aren’t due to time constraints. The film is not exactly a straight up-and-down murder mystery. As it is set in current day, social issues underscore the murderous tension: heated political discussions occur at parties — and funerals — the disparity of wealth among the family and the question of morality in the face of total ruin all complement what might

otherwise be passed off as a generic game of “Clue.” Along with modern social issues, the dialogue is also laced with references to popular culture — one character even sings a line from “Hamilton” in his interrogation scene — in such a way that it pays homage to the content it is referencing, while simultaneously building the family into a believable modern family rather than caricatures from fiction. Similarly, the Thrombey estate is chock-full of symbols and references to the genre it occupies: secret windows, squeaky stairs and lots and lots of parlors and fireplaces. Johnson’s film is a love letter to the works of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle while also being wholly his own work. It is a refreshing original story from a different genre among a list of remakes and sequels earlier in 2019. Stylistically, the film is well done. Close-up shots build tension while wide shots establish and set the scene. Dynamic low-point lighting gives a tongue-in-cheek dramatic feel to what is otherwise a quite humorous film. It is rare that a new story such as “Knives Out” comes out entirely on its own, not based on a book or series or other film, to give the audience a chance to be a detective of old in the modern world. T h e f i l m re l e a s e s o n Nov. 27, the day before Thanksgiving, with a PG-13 rating. It will serve as a perfect reminder to audiences that, no matter how bad their family gatherings are, it could always be worse. Justin Jayne

Justin.H.Jayne-1@ou.edu

CULTURE

â&#x20AC;˘ Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019

Triple X Chicken closes

Campus Cornerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spicy new eatery serves last strip

MAINSITE will showcase women as artists, subjects

ABIGAIL HALL @abigail_wah

Triple X Chicken on Campus Corner permanently closed Nov. 9. The Norman Transcript reported Nov. 19 that the restaurant owners chose to close the restaurant because â&#x20AC;&#x153;the community didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to respond to the Triple X Chicken concept,â&#x20AC;? said Nick Swinmurn, Triple X Chicken brand owner, in the report. Ashton Lippel, a former Triple X Chicken employee, told The Daily he went to work on Nov. 8 and was told that the following day, Nov. 9, would be the last day of employment and business operation. Nov. 9 was an OU game day, and Lippel said the employees worked all day without a manager present. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell you an exact reason why it closed, but I would assume it was because the only days we

Gallery to open 2 new art exhibits MOLLY KRUSE @mollykruse98

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

The door of the recently closed Triple X Chicken on Campus Corner Nov. 24.

were busy was OU game day,â&#x20AC;? Lippel said. In The Norman Transcript report, Swinmurn said the company hopes to open a new concept in spring 2020.

Triple X Chicken first media about the closure, opened in Burlingame, and the Norman location is California, and opened its still present on its website. second location in Norman on Asp Avenue this summer. The restaurant has not reAbigail Hall ahall@ou.edu leased a statement on social

M A I N S I T E Contemporary Art will introduce two new exhibits centered on the female body on Dec. 13. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I, DoppelgĂ¤ngerâ&#x20AC;? will feature paintings by artists Alexis Austin and Mary James Ketch. A solo exhibit from photographer Greer Inez will include photos overlaid by paintings, inspired by nature, the female body, color theory, social change and sensuality, according to a press release. Both exhibits focus on the female form, said Erinn Gavaghan, executive director of MAINSITE. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We felt like it was really nice to be able to ... focus both on the female as a subject (and) women artists portraying females,â&#x20AC;?

Gavaghan said. The artists are all from O k l a h o m a . Ke t c h p r o posed â&#x20AC;&#x153;I, DoppelgĂ¤ngerâ&#x20AC;? to MAINSITE a few years back and has previously featured art in the gallery, Gavaghan said. The artists will explore the female theme in different ways. Austin studied fashion design and often uses textiles in her art, Ketch paints scenes of everyday life, and Inez shoots with Polaroid and 35mm film and then paints directly on her images, according to the press release. The exhibits will kick off with an opening reception from 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 13 and will run through Jan. 10. There will also be a closing reception from 6 to 10 p.m. Jan. 10. Both receptions will take place during the 2nd Friday Norman Art Walk in downtown Norman. Molly Kruse

molly.kruse@ou.edu

Q&A with bassist of Percy and the Prefects Local â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wrockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; band discusses Potterhead music scene ABBY TOW @abby_tow

A Harry Potter-themed band featuring an OU alum recently released its latest single with lyrics based on the popular book and movie series. Eugene â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joeyâ&#x20AC;? Albin, an OU library and information studies alum and current librarian at the Bizzell Memorial Library, plays bass guitar for Percy and the Prefects. Percy and the Prefects is one of several in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;wizard rockâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;wrockâ&#x20AC;? genre, a type of rock music that pays homage to J.K. Rowlingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Harry Potterâ&#x20AC;? characters and stories, Albin said. Albin credits the band

Harry and the Potters as the originator of the genre in 2002, performing songs centered around the Harry Potter universe. Other notable wrock bands include The Moaning Myrtles and Draco and the Malfoys, according to Mashable. The bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s recent single â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Sorry Harry Potterâ&#x20AC;? released on Bandcamp in November 2019 and is filled with references to the wizarding world. The Daily sat down with Albin to talk ab out the story behind Percy and the Prefects: Q: Ho w d i d t h e b a n d form? A: I was looking for more stuff to do in music. I was looking on Facebook ... and this guy, his nameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Darvil, posted this video looking for a bass player in Central Oklahoma. And so when I clicked the video, I was like,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Okay, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some band,â&#x20AC;? but they started singing this line about Voldemort. I was like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wait a minute, this song is about Harry Potter.â&#x20AC;? And then I commented and was like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hey, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really into Harry Potter. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m an accomplished bassist, I can learn music really quickly, let me know if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re interested.â&#x20AC;? So he had me come out and jam with him and the drummer James, and it turns out he had intentionally not said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a Harry Potter bandâ&#x20AC;? because he wanted just a good bass player in general. But also just to kind of see, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is anyone going to notice that this song is about Potter?â&#x20AC;? So we started jamming, and I learned a few songs to show up and play, and they went really well. Q: How di d y ou c ome to the name Percy and the Prefects? A: Percy Weasley ... Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

kind of a goody two-shoes who makes some poor decisions and then comes back into the fold ... So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more interesting to write songs about that. The other good thing from a practical standpoint is that if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re writing a song about Harry Potter or some main character, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a ton of details. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s good because you can write a lot of stuff, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also hard because thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a canon. There are facts, and you have to get them right ... (but) you can kind of flesh out the details yourself. Like, I wonder what (Percy) said at this party where we only got to hear what Harry heard. Q: W h a t a r e s o m e o f your favorite performances youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done? A: H e r e a t O U â&#x20AC;&#x201D; t h e Oklahoma Teen Literature Convention. It was really fun to be in this atmosphere of young people and

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Previous Solution

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

By Eugenia Last

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2019 Look for a unique opportunity. If you put your experience and skills to work for you, you will discover how to make the most with what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve got. You have the goods. You just have to put your plan together and present it with passion. Confidence will be your guiding light.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -Concentrate on whatever brings you joy. If you take the initiative to get things done, you will not be disappointed with the results. If you attend social events, creative ideas will develop.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fear change. Give your dreams and goals a chance to flourish. Stop putting things off and start doing SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- A what you know in your heart is best change someone makes will disrupt for you. your life. Dealings with institutions or government agencies will be met CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- You with frustrating delays, but the end can achieve plenty if you are diligent and straightforward. The result will be to your benefit. more open you are, the easier it CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- A will be to clear up unfinished busipartnership looks promising. If you ness and pending problems. Love discuss your intentions, it will lead is in the air. to an excellent deal. Prosperity is LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Not apparent, and a better relationeveryone has your best interest ship is evident. Romance will be at heart. Be careful whom you overpowering. trust with your secrets. Personal problems will surface if you are AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) too demanding. Diplomacy and -- Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe or get involved in rumors. Making decisions based on patience will pay off. assumptions will lead you down a slippery slope. Focus on entertain- VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Travel should be on your agenda. You ment, relaxation and personal will discover something about your growth. past that will change your direction. The information you receive will enPISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- You courage you to try something new. will discover valuable information if you strive to find out the truth. Social events will lead to romance. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Make a choice and turn a negative into Develop a creative interest and a positive. Refuse to let anyone look at the possibilities. cloud your vision or interfere with your decision. Focus on work and ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- A financial gains. quick decision will change your outlook and immediate future. A SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Your financial or professional gain is within reach. Secrets are best kept. determination to get your way and Help someone who depends on you. to get things done will help you accelerate your plans. As long as you are humble and gracious, your actions will succeed.

some older people who care about books. We also recently played at a showcase for librarians. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a big thing where librarians in the state can come and watch performers and then get their contact information to book them for gigs the next year. I think we were the only band. Everyone else (was) puppeteers, and there was this one group that had a lemur and a boa constrictor, a wild animals group and a magician. So it was kind of fun to just be in that circus. Q: Are there any stor y arcs in the Harr y Potter series that speak to you specifically? A: Most of our songs fall in a certain narrative order. When we play live, we try to play them in this order. Percy is from this family, the Weasleys, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re really poor. And he decides to leave his family because

theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re holding him back. And then by the end of his story, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of realized that his familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most fruitful inspiration for us: that idea of growing up and not really knowing how to feel about your family. Maybe being a little bit rebellious in whatever form that takes for you. Then you grow up and learn more, realizing who matters and who to trust and things like that. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most inspirational part. Percy and the Prefectsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; upcoming performances can be found on their Facebook page, and their music is available for streaming on Bandcamp. Editorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s note: This interview was edited for clarity and length. Abby Tow

abby.tow1@ou.edu

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg November 25, 2019 ACROSS 1 Each 7 Car wash cloth 10 Gunk on Santaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suit 14 Send for 15 Woman in 9-Down 16 You can stick with it 17 Under control 18 Bewildered 20 Unflappable 21 Animal that builds a fancy structure to attract a mate 22 Cuisine known for baba ghanouj 24 For example 25 Watsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tech company 28 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re after us!â&#x20AC;? 29 Cacophonies 31 One may roost in a hollow tree 34 Is derisive 38 Wipe out, in surfer lingo 39 Science class session 41 Selassie in Ethiopian history 42 Cannon fodder at a sports game 44 Planeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flight recorder 46 Trail mix 48 ___ Dhabi 49 One has a cover but isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an open book

11/25

50 Detectiveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exclamation 53 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Count me in!â&#x20AC;? 56 Fuzzy buzzer 58 â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Washington Postâ&#x20AC;? composer 62 Taco option similar to shawarma 63 App for travel accommodations, or a hint to 21-, 31-, 44- and 56-Across 64 It leaves a slimy trail 65 Quaker morsel 66 Open, as a letter 67 Moves like a rabbit 68 Grp. that often meets on a school night 69 Author Eliot or Sand DOWN 1 Words that might worry a buyer 2 Kick a football 3 Lead-in to a texterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s viewpoint 4 Online message 5 They pretend to share your view on an issue 6 Circleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lack 7 Scouting mission, briefly

8 Professed 9 â&#x20AC;&#x153;In the beginning ...â&#x20AC;? book 10 Movie ticket remnant 11 Camelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rest stop 12 Divaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s performance 13 Build-A-Bear bear 19 Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expertise? 21 Commonplace 23 Fella 25 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yeah, right!â&#x20AC;? 26 Some are designed for nursing 27 Closet pest 30 Take a nice, long bath 32 Kristen of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ghostbustersâ&#x20AC;? 33 Bar bill 35 Little white lies

36 Close after just a few shows, maybe 37 Alluring 40 Mower part, or mower target 43 Star ornamentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spot 45 Blood-typing letters 47 JFKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s craft in WWII 50 Embarrass 51 Greeting in Reading 52 Energize 54 Company with â&#x20AC;&#x153;counting sheepâ&#x20AC;? ads 55 Human trunk 57 Diaper carriers 59 Lyft competitor 60 Unexpected wrinkle 61 Up to the job 63 8 in a date, for short

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11/24 ÂŠ 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal 11/18 ÂŠ 2019 Andrews McMeel Universal www.upuzzles.com www.upuzzles.com

To Be in the Sky by Will Nediger

SPORTS

Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019 •

Oklahoma stays in playoff hunt

“

GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia

Just minutes after O k l a h o m a ’s B r e n d a n “ B o o k i e” R a d l e y - Hi l e s made a game-winning interception Saturday night, one Sooner fan’s voice rose above the rest in the front row of the south end zone. “It’s official!” he shouted. “Oregon lost!” And with that — an Oklahoma 28-24 win over TCU and an Oregon 31-28 loss to Arizona State — the Sooners’ College Football Playoff hopes have seemingly risen from the dead. If the team can secure a win over Oklahoma State and a fifth-straight Big 12 title, Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) has as good a chance to be the No. 4 team in the playoff as anyone. “We are thrilled about the win. TCU’s hard to beat. The y’re always hard to beat,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “What it means, 10th win, get to play in the Big 12 championship game in a few weeks which is significant, obviously. It’s a big, big deal. Winning 10 games, getting to play in your conference championship game is huge. Right now all our focus is going to go toward Bedlam, to Oklahoma State, going into Stillwater — with a lot of goals intact. “I still know our best ball’s out there, and our team feels like that, too.” Oklahoma, like it has in recent weeks, played some of its best and worst football of the season Saturday night. The offense was stagnant after going up 21-0 early in the second quarter. Quarterback Jalen Hurts was sloppy with the ball, turning it over twice — his interception was returned 98 yards for a touchdown — despite totaling 318 yards and four touchdowns. “We found a way to get this one,” Hurts said. “Talk about just the will. I give a lot of credit to just not giving up and staying true to who we are and playing ball.” The defense had maybe

Winning 10 games, getting to play in your conference championship game is huge. Right now all our focus is going to go toward Bedlam, to Oklahoma State, going into Stillwater — with a lot of goals intact. I still know our best ball’s out there, and our team feels like that, too. -Lincoln Riley, OU head coach

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU coach Lincoln Riley during a play call review in the game against TCU Nov. 23.

its best performance of the season, holding TCU (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) to just 204 total yards and 17 points. Besides a 62-yard run by TCU quarterback Max Duggan in the second quarter, Oklahoma’s defense made few mistakes. “For us, it’s all about that mentality that no matter what happens, no matter what the score is, no matter what’s going on in the game, we’re the gladiators in the arena,” junior linebacker Kenneth Murray said. “It’s all about our performance, and it’s all about three-andout and getting a takeaway.” Similar to OU’s 42-41 win over Iowa State two weeks ago and last week’s comeback 34-31 win over Baylor, Saturday night showcased highs and lows. The last three weeks have left Sooner

Nation wondering just how good this team can be. It’s yet to be seen if this is Oklahoma’s ceiling, but fans could just as easily ask if the Sooners haven’t overachieved this season. They have a new defensive coordinator. They have four new starting offensive linemen. They have a transfer quarterback who was benched at a major program — and if it weren’t for him, Austin Kendall, who was benched by West Virginia last week, would be the starter. Maybe this was never supposed to be a season with national title aspirations or even College Football Playoff hopes, but here the Sooners are, sniffing a thirdstraight appearance in the four-team playoff.

Fans have become frustrated the last few weeks, hoping the Sooners can put it all together by season’s end. “I’d just hope they’d be excited about the guts of this team and how this team plays together and fights through stuff,” Riley said. “How we’re playing defensively and how these seniors have played. I hope we could get excited about being 10-1 and being a pretty damn good football team. I’ll leave all that other stuff up in the air, and we’re just going to try to keep winning.” Riley was extra giddy in his 18-plus-minute press conference. He spoke highly of his team and said they haven’t played to their full potential yet, and they still have everything in front of

“

Sooner win shows defensive prowess, room to improve

them. He’s excited to see how they finish the season. “This win was significant for so many reasons,” Riley said. “First for us, our seniors, what this senior class has meant to us. Whether it’s a guy who’s been here for a year, been here for a few years, somebody who’s been through what Grant Calcaterra went through this week — these guys have all had a huge, huge impact on this program. What they have the opportunity to do in the next couple of weeks is very special, rare.” During the game, OU radio sideline reporter Chris Plank gave multiple updates on Oregon’s game in Tempe, Arizona. The crowd cheered with excitement each time Plank said the Sun Devils

were ahead. Many of the players also watched. Most showed no emotion, but nearly all of their eyes were fixated on the big screen. “Control what we can control. We won the game — that’s all that matters,” Hurts said. “I saw it. I saw it.” “That doesn’t concern me,” Murray said. “I’m focused on winning.” What does Riley think of Oregon’s loss Saturday, opening the door to their playoff chances? He, like Hurts and Murray, has only one thing on his mind. “Getting ready for Oklahoma State.” George Stoia

georgestoia@ou.edu

Hurts responds to mistakes against TCU ‘I remember them as if I’m out there living it right now’ VIC REYNOLDS @vicareynolds

In No. 9 Oklahoma’s 28-24 win over TCU, senior quarterback Jalen Hurts had the worst passing performance of his Sooner career. Hurts has led the Sooners (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) to being one of college football’s best teams in large part due to his improved passing abilities, but he only managed to throw for 145 yards and two touchdowns against the Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-4 Big 12), both of which are season lows. His worst play of the night, and possibly the season, was a 98-yard pick-six when the Sooners were close to taking a 35-17 lead, which would have likely put the game away in the third quarter. Hurts answered a question about the play while donning his all-white football uniform, mirroring the all-white outfit he wore as he entered Gaylord FamilyOklahoma Memorial Stadium for his final home game as a Sooner, and addressed his mistakes with the same brevity and candidness he’s become synonymous with in his 11 months in Norman. “Well, you don’t want to turn the ball over, especially

in the red zone,” Hurts said. “It happens, but we just have to learn from it and move forward.” But it wasn’t just the ill-advised pick six in the red zone. Hurts overthrew redshirt sophomore Charleston Rambo in the first half on a would-be touchdown, he was sacked on fourth down in the third quarter and he lost a fumble in the red zone when the Sooners were in range to go up by two scores in the fourth. All were mistakes where Hurts resembled the quarterback he was for two seasons as a starter at Alabama, a time in his career when he was widely seen as a game manager who didn’t have the talent it took to put a team on his back and carry them. “There were some shots that I missed down the field,” Hurts said. “I remember them as if I’m out there living it right now. But it’s something we have to learn from. You won’t hit them all, but I’m just fortunate enough that we played together as a team and that we found a way to overcome those missed opportunities.” Hurts’ obsession with improvement and focus on execution has permeated throughout the team, and it has become the defining aspect of Hurts’ discussions with the media. It’s an attitude that helped

Senior quarterback Jalen Hurts runs the ball during the game against TCU Nov. 23.

win the vote to make him a captain by his teammates, and an attitude that helps the Sooners stay calm in situations where they struggle. “It helps a lot just knowing that stuff doesn’t bother him,” said Kennedy Brooks, redshirt sophomore running back. “Some quarterbacks will let that stuff get in their head, and it doesn’t do that for him. He knows what he has to do better, and he’s going to go out and do it to help this team win.” Despite all the ways Hurts struggled as a passer, he and the rest of the Sooners thrived in the running

game. Hurts finished with 173 yards on 28 carries, and the team finished with a season-high 370 yards on the ground. The running game was crucial for the Sooners — not only did it provide relief for Hurts’ passing struggles, but it also helped control the clock and keep the ball out of a feisty Horned Frog offense that clawed its way back into the game after an early 21-0 deficit. “We didn’t need to throw it that much,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said, “because we ran it so well. Some of it had to do with

what TCU was doing, some of it had to do with us just running it great. Jalen was running it great, Rhamondre (Stevenson), Kennedy. Our offensive line was as consistent with their job and as physical as we’ve been all year.” Hurts’ season stats so far — 4,340 total yards and 47 total touchdowns — are comparable to former Sooner quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2017 and 2018, respectively. It ’s c l e a r Hu r t s l a ck s the same passing acumen

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

the other two have, but he makes up for it with the championship experience and character he brings to the Sooners. “He did some really good things,” Riley said. “Didn’t get paid off for all of them, but I could see his progress in understanding and taking in what we wanted him to do.” “He’s leading us to victories — hopefully he can lead us to a few more.” Vic Reynolds

victor.reynolds@ou.edu

SPORTS

• Nov. 25-Dec. 1, 2019

Defense turns dreams to reality Upward trajectory excites OU team for last leg of season CALEB MCCOURRY @CalebMac21

For sophomore safety Patrick Fields, sophomore defensive back Brendan “Bookie” Radley-Hiles’ lategame interception was the stuff of dreams. The pressure of keeping a lead that was on the verge of shrinking, having Big 12 Championship and College Football Playoff hopes on the line and hearing the nervous — but loud — crowd of 82,241 are things that young football players dream of. No. 9 Oklahoma was certainly thrown right into the thick of all those crucial situations Saturday night when TCU had the ball on fourth-and-6 with 1:47 left in regulation, down 28-24. The Sooners’ lead was dwindling, their hopes of winning a fifth-straight Big 12 title and making a third-straight playoff appearance were in danger, and the crowd put up hesitant fourth down signs made with their hands. In moments like those, Fields said, the dream is what makes it so exciting. “If we think back a couple of years ago,” Fields said, “we’re all in high school, we’re all so eager to play college football and be on a big stage to make the big plays. Now whenever the opportunity presents itself, you have the opportunity to live out your childhood dream.” Radle y-Hiles dove to snag TCU quarterback Max Duggan’s pass, and the Sooner defense ran to the south end zone to celebrate, but they were celebrating

more than just living a kid’s dream. Here are two more reas ons : The y had just clinched a spot in the 2019 Big 12 Championship game, scheduled for Dec. 7 against No. 14 Baylor, and two of the eight teams in front of Oklahoma in the playoff rankings lost before the conclusion of the Sooners’ win — No. 8 Penn State and No. 6 Oregon. If they’d know n what the stat sheet looked like, it would’ve been a fourth reason. Defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s defense played just 45 snaps — the lowest all season. The defense forced four three-and-outs, and the Horned Frogs had only four offensive drives that resulted in more than three snaps without a touchdown. The defense was barely on the field. “Really?” Radley-Hiles said when he found out the defense played only 45 snaps. “That’s what it was? “ We l l , my b o d y f e e l s good.” Another thing worth celebrating: Grinch’s defense held TCU to just 204 yards of total offense and 139 yards rushing from a run-heavy offense. That’s 76 yards less than what the Horned Frogs — who came into the game ranked No. 22 in rushing offense — averaged. That’s promising for Grinch, who has to face the nation’s leading rusher in Chuba Hubbard when the Sooners take a trip to Stillwater Nov. 30. What the whole team should be thrilled about : Senior quarterback Jalen Hurts has a defense to rely on when the offense leaves the field empty-handed. Hurts led the Sooner offense to three-straight scores

OU defensive coordinator Alex Grinch calls plays during the game against TCU Nov. 23.

in the first three drives of the game. He threw for 145 yards, ran for 173 and garnered four touchdowns — two rushing and two throwing. The stat sheets would suggest he had another great game. But he put his team in some hairy situations as time went on. Hurts threw a red zone interception that was returned for a 98-yard touchdown and fumbled on the TCU 7-yard line, which resulted in another Horned Frog score. Hurts even slipped on fourth down to prompt a turnover on downs on the first drive of the second half. The defense responded with confidence. After the fumble from Hurts, with the

score just 28-24, the Horned Frogs got the ball back with momentum on their side — but the defense went out and forced its fourth three-andout of the game. TCU’s scoring was finished for the rest of the night. “Very proud,” Grinch said. “That’s the word. When you’re called upon, there’s times we call upon the offense to come save our tail, so we talk about complementary football. It goes both ways. So much of what we’ve attempted to do is maybe try to de-emphasize what the situation is for our offense.” And probably the best thing worth celebrating for

Sooner Nation is the fact that plays like Radley-Hiles’ Saturday night are continuing to happen. OU’s comeback 34-31 victory over then-No. 13 Baylor was finished with an interception by linebacker Nik Bonitto, and senior cornerback Parnell Motley made an interception on a 2-point attempt to seal a 42-41 victory against Iowa State just a week before. And with an upward trajectory as obvious as this one, Riley walked into the postgame press conference and said, “I still know our best ball is out there.” For some teams, that could be frustrating, knowing they hadn’t played their best

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

football that night. For the Sooners, with at least three more games on the season — No. 22 Oklahoma State, the Big 12 Championship and a bowl game that could possibly be a College Football Playoff semifinal — that’s just one more thing to celebrate. “That’s motivating at the highest level,” Radley-Hiles said. “When Coach (Riley) says things like that, that means he’s gonna step up what he does at practice. And that means we gotta step up to the plate to guard him.” Caleb McCourry

caleb.a.mccourry-1@ou.edu

Linebacker Caleb Kelly’s 2019 Editor answers debut brings hope, questions OU fan questions In transition year, Oklahoma keeps playoff hopes alive

NCAA redshirt rule creates uncertainty for senior’s future

GEORGE STOIA

AUSTIN CURTRIGHT

@GeorgeStoia

@AustinCurtright

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Senior linebacker Caleb Kelly hugs sophomore defensive back “Bookie” Radley-Hiles during the game against TCU Nov. 23.

Lincoln Riley said. “He’s continued to be active for this team. Some guys when they get injured go into a shell, but he’s continued to make an impact even when he couldn’t be on the field.”

“

a forced fumble scoopa n d -s c o re aga i n st TC U two years ago in the Big 12 Championship, followed by another s co op-andscore fumble recovery on the road at West Virginia last season to clinch a

Some guys when they get injured go into a shell, but (Kelly has) continued to make an impact even when he couldn’t be on the field. -Lincoln Riley, OU head coach

Kelly had not been able to play in first-year defensive coordinator Alex Grinch’s new effort-based defense until Saturday. Grinch emphasizes turnovers and letting the players unleash their potential, something Kelly has been prone to do during his career. Kelly has made s ome huge plays in his time with t h e S o o n e r s, i n c l u d i ng

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Senior linebacker Caleb Kelly made his 2019 debut Saturday night in the No. 9 Sooners’ 28-24 win over TCU after suffering a knee injury in the spring. Kelly — who finished the night with one tackle — was not expected to be able to make a return at all until next year, resulting in Kelly redshirting to regain an entire year of eligibility. However, the former five-star was training as if he could return to the field this season. “All that work, I’m not even at eight months yet,” Kelly said. “That’s like AD, Adrian Peterson with his comeback deal. It was a lot of work, it was a lot of tough days, I still do extra workouts during the week even though I knew I was playing this week.” With hard work and strong faith, Kelly was able to make playing this season an actual reality. “Staying positive is hard,” Kelly said. “My biggest thing was of course, leaning on God, leaning on faith and just knowing he’ll be consistent through it all. We’re promised that good things are going to happen if you believe, but we are also promised that (there will be) trials we’re in.” Kelly was able to stay involved with the team as a teammate, staying positive and willing to be there for each and every one of his teammates. “ The way he’s carried himself through it, it hasn’t been ‘poor me.’ He’s done t h e w o r k ,” h e a d c o a c h

sp ot in the 2018 Big 12 Championship. With the new four-game redshirt rule, Kelly will still be able to play all of n e xt s ea s o n i f h e p lays f ou r ga m e s o r f e w e r i n this season. The only scenario where Kelly could n o t re t u r n f o r a n e xt ra season would be if the Sooners were to make it all the way to the national

c ha mp i o n s h i p a n d h e were to appear in each game. “If I stay under four there’s no reason for me to go,” Kelly said. “If we go to the national championship, I play five games and I have to go. I played 12 snaps as a senior. This is my debut in the league this year. It’s tricky, it’s confusing, and I have a lot to talk about with my coaches.” Saturday night marked senior night, recognizing the 12 seniors on the team, but Kelly was not celebrated despite being a senior. Even though Kelly will most likely stay redshirted this season, the question is whether he’ll decide to sacrifice his season and tr y to help his team win a national championship, or if he’ll decide to sit out a game in order to appear in one more season as a Sooner. Austin Curtright

austincurtright@ou.edu

Grinch, I would say they have completely overachieved. I think that also tells you just how good they can be the next two seasons with all the young talent they have. What is the weak link on this team that is preventing them from being a legit playoff contender? I don’t think it’s just one thing, rather it’s a comb i nat i o n o f t h i ng s. It ’s inconsistency. Some nights, the offense is bad. Other nights, the defense is bad. The Sooners have showed, when they put it all together, they’re one of the best teams in the country. The only issue is they can’t seem to put it all together, and that’s what I like to call an inconsistent team. How does the offense keep going through such terrible lulls? Turnovers is the easy answer. But I think a lot of it has to do with them getting away from the run game. They are one of the best running teams in the country. They should probably run the ball on first and second down nearly every time. I think that’s hard for Riley to do because he’s never done that. Did you cry as you walked on the field for the last time as a member of student media? Surprisingly not. I thought a lot about the many great games and players I’ve seen play there and couldn’t help but smile. I’m sure I’ll cry at the end of the season. But for now, I know this is just one of many bittersweet moments that are sure to come throughout my career.

No. 9 Oklahoma (10-1, 7-1 Big 12) escaped TCU’s (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) upset bid Saturday night, winning 28-24. A f t e r t h e ga m e, T h e Daily’s sports editor George Stoia answered all your questions regarding the game. Am I crazy to think that this team is actually set up better for playoff success than the four previous years’ teams? I would argue the 2017 team was set up best to win the playoffs, but this team is right there with them. The defense is the game-changer. Like you said — this offense is good, not great, and this defense gets stops. I think the problem with this team is I’m not sure if Jalen Hurts is good enough to lead them to the promised land. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray — two of the greatest college quarterbacks ever — couldn’t even do it. That’s not to say Hurts can’t, but he’s going to need to be lights out in a playoff game if the Sooners are going to win. Is OU overachieving on what is realistically a transition year? This might be the best question all season. And I completely agree. This was supposed to be a down year. After last year’s loss to Alabama in the Orange Bowl, I think many people thought this year’s Read the rest of the TCU team was set for a 9-3 sea- mailbag on oudaily.com. son with maybe a chance of competing for a Big 12 title. With Hurts transferring in George Stoia and a homerun hire in Alex georgestoia@ou.edu