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BRIAN ODOM BACK HOME • 5
Sanders focuses Norman BERT rally on income inequality reports
racist incident BSA team posts alert of blackface seen on student social media SCOTT KIRKER @scott_kirker
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks at Reaves Park Sept. 22.
Senator addresses climate change, free college in speech BAILEY LEWIS @BaileyLewis75
They came from Norman, the surrounding area and even other states to gather at Reaves Park. They all chanted the same word: “Bernie.” But the Vermont senator and Democratic presidential candidate returned after his speech, insisting, “It’s not Bernie — it’s you.” Bernie Sanders held a rally at Reaves Park on Sunday, where he addressed climate change, income inequality, student debt and universal health care. Sanders’ visit follows two other candidate visits to Norman — former El Paso Rep. Beto O’Rourke visited Campus Corner on Aug. 19, and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker made his stop on Aug. 29. And more visits could follow. Norman Mayor Breea Clark spoke before Sanders took the stage, and she visited with other candidates at the Democratic presidential debate a few weeks ago to recruit more candidates to come to Norman. “ I ke ep hear ing ab out, ‘How do you feel that all of these presidential candidates (are) coming to check on little ol’ Norman?’” Clark said. “Well, I like to say, ‘I’m not surprised.’ Because we have the most passionate, dedicated, educated citizens in the state of Oklahoma. And, of course, presidential candidates want to talk to you.” After Clark introduced Sanders, the two took a selfie with the crowd — according to a media representative, 4,062 people attended the rally. Sanders began by saying he would address things people do not usually hear in Oklahoma. “But maybe it’s time you did hear it in Oklahoma,” Sanders said, as the crowd cheered in unison. Making public colleges and universities tuition-free is a large part of Sanders’ campaign and is something he
addressed during his speech. If elected, Sanders plans to pass the “College for All Act.” According to his campaign website, the plan would provide about $48 billion per year to eliminate tuition at colleges and universities, along with tribal colleges, community colleges, trade schools and apprenticeship programs, according to the site. “How are our young people going to go out and get the jobs that they need and make it into the middle class unless they have a good education?” Sanders said. “And why don’t we make sure that everybody has that opportunity, regardless of the income of their families?” Sanders also discussed income inequality and the minimum wage. Sanders said, if elected, he will deal with income and wealth inequality and will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, which he called a “living wage.”
who actually b elie ves in science.” Sanders said climate change is “very, very real,” and we can see its impacts “right in front of our eyes” all over the world. He referred to the flooding that is taking place in Texas right now as an example, as well as the catastrophic damage to the Bahamas from Hurricane Dorian. “Instead of spending a trillion and a half dollars on weapons of destruction, designed to kill each other, how about pooling our resources and combating our common enemy, which is climate change,” Sanders said. Sanders wrapped up his speech by saying “this is an unprecedented moment in our country’s history” because the current president is “the most dangerous president in the modern history of this country.” “W hat this campaig n’s m e s s a g e i s a b o u t — i t ’s
“Here in Oklahoma and Vermont and all over the country, you’ve got people that are working two or three jobs trying to feed their families at inadequate wages, and 49 percent of all new income goes to the top 1 percent.” -Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic presidential candidate “Here in Oklahoma and Vermont and all over the c o u n t r y ,” S a n d e r s s a i d , “you’ve got people that are working two or three jobs trying to feed their families at inadequate wages, and 49 percent of all new income goes to the top 1 percent.” In addition, Sanders said it was important to focus on the issue of climate change, and he challenged Trump’s position. “We have a president who thinks that climate change is a hoax,” Sanders said. “Well, I hap p e n t o b e l i e ve t hat Donald Trump is a hoax. I think we need a president
called, ‘Us, not me,’” Sanders said. “What I am asking from you also — I am asking your help to work with me to transform this country, to transform our economy, and create a government that works for all of us, not just the 1 percent.” Wesley Forbes, former OU College Democrats president, said the rally is important because of the strong presence Sanders has in Oklahoma. “This is a great opportunity for students to meet a candidate who resonates well with their demographic,” Forbes said, “and to potentially find a way to volunteer and to get
KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY
involved in the political process, which we desperately need young people to do.” Sanders brought up Trump’s immigration policies and said Trump thinks he’s going to win re-election by dividing the country based on race, place of birth and religion. “We’ve got a president, and I say this with no joy in my heart, a president who is a racist and a sexist and a xenophobe and a homophobe and a religious bigot — that’s what he is,” Sanders said. “In the terms of immigration, we are going to stop the racism and the demonization of undocumented people. We are going to pass comprehensive immigration reform on a path toward citizenship.” College Democrats of Oklahoma President Taz AlMichael said the amount of people who showed up at the rally shows “just how much power we have in making this state go blue.” “If every single person were to show up today for a canvass today, I guarantee you we could overwhelm an entire community with results,” Al-Michael said. “That’s how important it is to show up to stuff like this.” Al-Michael said he felt as though Sanders touched on every issue and that he was blunt in his answers. “Sen. Sanders has a very good reputation of just going straight for the answer, versus like giving you a rehearsed speech,” Al-Michael said. Carla Guevara, OU College Democrats president, said the organization is now working on securing a date, time and place for Elizabeth Warren to visit Norman. “Warren — she is from here — so I think that it would be kind of dumb for her not to come,” Guevara said. “So, currently, we are in the works of getting her to come, but we are just trying to lock in a date and the logistics of where, when and all of that. But other than that, I know Warren is definitely coming.” Bailey Lewis
bailey.n.lewis-1@ou.edu
O U ’s B l a c k E m e r g e n c y Response Team alerted the university community Sunday night that it received information regarding a recent blackface incident. According to messages BERT posted on Twitter, OU freshman Matthew Robertiello posted a picture on a private social media story of himself in a black charcoal face mask with the caption “‘another day, another case.’” According to the message, the caption could reference a January blackface incident in which two OU students withdrew from the university for their involvement in a blackface video that used a racial slur. “Despite not having all of the information, we are certain that our community is exhausted by such incidents of hate and ignorance,” the statement said. Robertiello told The Daily via Instagram direct message that the picture is of him wearing a charcoal face mask while at home with his girlfriend, and he plans on “going to the dean if things escalate.” “The tweets were taken out of context from people who took offense to something I put on my Snapchat, which was in no means intended to be derogatory,” Robertiello said in the message. “I did not post the picture with any intention of ‘black face’ as they’re claiming I am. I feel as if I’m being framed as a racist and I’m not.” OU President Joseph Harroz said in a statement that anyone who applies blackface is “engaging in racism.” “While the First Amendment may protect their speech such that they cannot be legally removed from our university, I too have a voice,” Harroz said in the statement. “And I will call it out for what that expression is — it is racist. The impact it has on our community and all who strive for a diverse and inclusive community, is profound — it attacks our core values, it directly degrades African Americans, and it strikes at our very humanity. No one in our community can claim to be ignorant of the horrible history and meaning of blackface and its damaging effects.” Before BERT’s second tweet including Robertiello’s information and the picture, BERT member Destinee Dickson, political science and women’s and gender studies senior, said an OU student had given BERT the information. “It seems clear based on what we know that it is an instance of blackface,” Dickson said. “We are still trying to get details about the situation, and we will be updating people as we learn more.” O U ’s B l a c k S t u d e n t Association created BERT four days after the blackface incident in January, and one day after a separate incident in which an individual was seen wearing blackface. Five racist incidents occurred this spring in the OU and Norman community. “Upon assuming my role four months ago, I have stated at see BERT page 2
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• Sept. 23-29, 2019
NEWS
Jordan Miller, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily
OU employee sues university Tripp Hall accused of sexual assault, battery in lawsuit JORDAN MILLER @jordanrmillerr
OU employee Levi Hilliard added the university as a defendant in a lawsuit against former administrator Jim “Tripp” Hall, whom he accused of sexual assault and battery in the spring. The lawsuit seeks $150,000 in damages for sexual assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional duress by Hall. The suit also alleges that multiple high-level administrators knew about or witnessed the misconduct, and seeks $75,000 in damages for negligence by the Board of Regents and $75,000 for relief. The amendment of the lawsuit, which was filed by attorney Rand C. Eddy — father of Boren accuser Jess Eddy — followed a notice of tort claim that was filed against the university in June. The Sept. 19 amended petition describes multiple instances of alleged misconduct Hall perpetrated against Hilliard on campus during university events, as Hilliard is an employee of the University Club, which catered many administrative events. The suit alleges that Hall ha d s e x u a l l y a s s au l t e d Hilliard on at least six separate occasions. In each instance, Hall allegedly
KATHRYN STACY/THE DAILY Levi Hilliard, an OU staff member and alumnus, speaks in front of Evans Hall May 15.
touched or kissed Hilliard without consent, according to the suit. The suit alleges that dur ing one specific instance, Hall was “visibly intoxicated” and consumed wine from an open bottle meant for serving, before allegedly kissing Hilliard on the neck after Hilliard had tried to move away. These allegations were d e n i e d i n a Ju l y 1 7 re sponse from Hall’s lawyers to the initial amended petition before the Board of Regents were added as an additional defendant. Hall is being represented by attorneys Clark Brewster and Guy Fortney, and Brewster
also represents Boren. The response said Hilliard had “failed to state a cause of action for which relief could be granted against (Hall).” It also said the allegations of assault and battery were beyond the statute of limitations, and that the allegations were “insufficient in conduct and damages to support any claim for” intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to the suit, Hilliard informed his employers and attempted to a d va n c e h i s c o mp l a i nt with them multiple times, yet they took no action to report these instances
to OU’s Title IX office — a breach of the Title IX policy, which requires all OU employees to be mandatory reporters. According to the suit, Boren — who was also accused of sexual misconduct in the spring by form e r O U e m p l oy e e Je s s Eddy — was “knowledgeable of and p er mitte d” Hall’s behavior. The suit also alleges “current and f o r m e r O U e m p l oy e e s, the board’s officer(s) or its agent(s)” were aware of Hall’s history of behavior but were discouraged from reporting for fear of retaliation by senior officials who had witnessed Boren’s and
Hall’s misconduct. OU General Counsel Anil Gollahalli and current director of football operations Clarke Stroud — who served 18 years as vice president and dean of students — are among the senior officials who witnessed Hall’s misconduct, the suit alleges. “Senior-most OU officials’ failure to report had a chilling effect on the ability of others to report or otherwise remedy ongoing patterns of sexual misconduct and other forms of misconduct,” the lawsuit states. “This amounted to tacit permission of mis conduct among the administration, namely in the General Counsel’s failure to direct-report, the Board itself, and instilled a culture of fear that protected former President David Boren and Defendant Hall in the commission of misconduct.” Boren, Gollahalli and Executive Secretary to the Board of Regents Chr is Purcell were all allegedly aware of the times Hall would consume alcohol to the point of excess and become intoxicated while in the performance of his university duties, according to the suit. The suit also alleges Boren, in the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry into his possible criminal conduct while he was OU president, is also being investigated for questions o f w h e t h e r h e “p l a c e d person(s) in high-paying
BERT:
Mondays: $10 Build your own Pastas Choose a pasta, a sauce and add a protein
Tuesdays: 2 for 1 Parmigiana Mix and match your choice of chicken, veal or eggplant
Jordan Miller
jordan.r.miller-1@ou.edu
“Any member of the OU community who applies blackface is engaging in racism. While the First Amendment may protect their speech such that they cannot be legally removed from our university, I too have a voice. And I will call it out for what that expression is — it is racist.”
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Daily Specials
positions or gave bonuses for their silence.” “It is clear the OU administration was negligent in allowing for the conduct of Tripp Hall toward my client,” Rand C. Eddy said. “Mr. Hilliard seeks justice not only for himself, but for others.” The Daily reached out t o Ha l l , G o l l a ha l l i a n d Stroud but did not receive comment. “The university has been made aware that the plaintiff has made another amendment to his petition in litigation that has been ongoing,” a university spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “The practice of the university is not to comment on ongoing litigation.” Hall was let go from the university in the Nov. 1, 2018 layoffs, before allegations against him became public. He had worked as vice president of university development under Boren before being demoted on July 2, 2018 and working in the Office of University Development under former OU President James Gallogly. Boren resigned from his president emeritus status and teaching position in June, cutting all ties with the university and ending the Title IX investigation into the allegations against him.
every opportunity that diversity and inclusion is our institution’s number one priority,” Harroz said in the statement. “We are profoundly clear that OU is a place where racism is not welcome; where love and tolerance define us; and where we strive, and will help society, to be better. We are making important progress to be a leader among universities in diversity and inclusion, and this incident does nothing but further our resolve.” Emma Davis and Jordan Miller contributed to this report. Scott Kirker
-Joe Harroz, OU president
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3
• Sept. 23-29, 2019
CULTURE
Abigail Hall, culture editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/culture • Twitter: @OUDaily
Fall into activities for season
Pumpkin spice things up with adventures, food
haunted houses and scare zones located throughout the park, according to the website. Fright Fest returns to Frontier City Sept. 28 through Oct. 31. Hours vary according to the date. Visit the website for details. Frontier City is located at 11501 N. Interstate 35 Service Road in Oklahoma City.
LINDSI UNSELL @LindsiU
A few leaves here and there have begun to fall as the sweet taste of the autumn season begins. Sept. 23 is the first day of fall — from pumpkin spice lattes to pumpkin patches, here is a list of festive fall activities coming your way. FESTIVALS AND PUMPKIN PATCHES 1. Fall Festival The fall festival at Quail Creek Park in Oklahoma City offers a splendid array of fun. This festival features games, face painting, pumpkin painting and more. There is also food available for purchase, as well as a fall bake sale. The festival will last from 3:30–6:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at 11032 Quail Creek Road in Oklahoma City. Visit the website for any additional information. 2. Fall Harvest Pumpkin Patch Fall Harvest Pumpkin Patch is just the place to search for your pumpkin. Fall Harvest also features pony rides, a pumpkin train, hay rides and slides, a corn maze and more. Fall Harvest is hosted by Wings, an organization that helps those with developmental disabilities through social, vocational and residential programs. Admission is $5 per person, and kids under 2 are free. Fall Harvest is only open on the weekends — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 1–6 p.m. on Sundays from Sept. 20 to Oct. 13. Fall Harvest is located at 13700 N. Eastern Ave. in Edmond. 3. Orr Family Farm Fall and Orr’s Family Farm
VIA FLICKR USER BARNIMAGES.COM
A carved pumpkin on a porch.
were made for each other with their pumpkin patch, corn maze and fireworks. Orr Farm not only provides a wide variety of pumpkins and gourds — it also features pony rides, a zip line, cannon blaster and concession items for all-day fun. Admission starts at $11.95 but does vary upon certain dates and times. The Orr Family Farm is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 and 1–6 p.m. Sept. 29. For the month of October, hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1–6 p.m. Sunday. In November, hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 and 2, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 9. 4. PumpkinPalooza at STASH For the fourth year in a row, Okie Baking Co. and STASH will hold a pumpkin party open to the public. People and pets of Norman are invited to bring something pumpkin-related to the event, which will
be voted upon for delicious prizes. For the contest, guests may choose from one or more of the categories. It is a time to be as creative as you desire. There are five different pumpkin categories to choose from: appetizers, entrees, boozy pumpkin (pumpkin cocktails), desserts and a kids category, which allows children 14 and under to enter a pumpkin consumable of their choosing into any of the categories besides boozy pumpkin. There will be voting on the dishes and drinks, so put your best pumpkin recipes to work! All attendees will be given voting cards upon arrival to choose their favorite pumpkin treats. Items from each category with the most votes will win. Additionally, the best pumpkin-themed prize will be awarded as the Pumpkin Grand Supreme Winner, according to the event page. It is $5 to attend the event. All proceeds will be donated to SISU Youth Services and Heartprints Animal Rescue, according to the website.
The event will be from 2–4 Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew. p.m. Sept. 29. Visit the STASH Facebook page for additional 3. Neighborhood JAM questions. STASH is located at For some, pumpkin spice 412 E. Main St. in Norman. is not just a seasonal flavor. Neighborhood JAM ofTASTY FALL DRINKS fers pumpkin spice lattes AND TREATS and other coffee drinks year-round. Fall doesn’t truly set in until Neighborhood JAM is lopumpkin spice arrives at every cated at 102 W. Main St. The corner and coffee shop. Here hours of operation are 6:30 is a list of some local spots to a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday visit this fall for those pumpkin through Saturday. spice fiends. SPOOKY ADVENTURES 1. Rusty’s Custard Factory If you enjoy a cooler pump1. Fright Fest at Frontier kin treat, Rusty’s on Main City Street in Norman now offers Fall is in the air, so it's time pumpkin spice frozen custard. to begin thinking about Prices range from $2 to Halloween costumes, scary $5.50. Rusty’s is located at 301 movies and, most importantE. Main St. ly, haunted houses. This September, Fright Fest 2. Starbucks opens with all the horrors and Starbucks now offers thrills you wish to experience. three seasonal drinks sure There are many fun rides to to quench your autumn enjoy at the theme park, but thirst, according to its web- what is really thrilling is when site. Featured beverages are the sun dips below the horithe Pumpkin Spice Latte, zon and all the creatures of the the Salted Caramel Mocha night come out to play. Frappuccino and the new Fright Fest offers several
2. Wicked Forest of Terror If the four walls of a haunted house aren't your thing, Oklahoma City’s grand opening of Wicked Forest of Terror might be what you’re looking for. This is an adult haunted forest and is not recommended for those under the age of 13. You have been warned. Spanning nearly a mile, this haunted trail will keep your senses heightened as it plays on your fears. Find out how brave you really are Sept. 27 and every following weekend until Nov. 2, with extended hours the week of Halloween. The different levels of passes for this thrill ride start with general admission at $25, a speed pass for $35 that shortens your wait in line and gives premium parking when purchased in advance online and the wicked pass at $60, which gives you the ability to skip all lines and go behind the scenes. Only 10 wicked passes are available each night. For the bravest of heart, this haunted forest offers an additional $5 touch pass, allowing the creatures in the forest to physically bring the fear. This upgrade is only available at the box office, where you will be asked to sign a waiver. The Wicked Forest of Terror is located at 9420 W. Interstate 40 Service Road in Oklahoma City. Lindsi Unsell
Lindsi.M.Unsell-1@ou.edu
OU baton twirler balances school, passion Emily Perkins twirls more than just on game days ABBY TOW @abby_tow
JILLIAN TAYLOR @jilliantaylor_
On a humid Monday evening, the Pride of Oklahoma practices its upcoming Motown program on the Pride field adjacent to the softball stadium. The left side of the field hosts a dozen trombonists playing “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder, while the center of the field rings with the chirp of a metronome. But on the right corner of the field, Emily Perkins, OU’s baton twirler, rehearses in a world all her own. Perkins began twirling at age 6 after asking her mother — a baton twirler and coach — if she could pick up the hobby. This hobby soon became a passion, as twirling throughout her teenage years led her to the prestigious role of the University of Oklahoma’s sole twirler. The baton twirler is a position in many collegiate marching bands, rooted in the tradition of drum majors. Formerly known as “majorettes,” baton twirlers perform using their skills in gymnastics, dance and twirling, all with gleaming smiles on their faces. Oklahoma has only two collegiate baton twirlers recognized by the United States Twirling Association, Perkins at OU and Amanda Jantz from Southwestern Oklahoma State University. “The Pride of Oklahoma has a long-standing tradition of having highly accomplished feature twirlers, most of whom have held national and/or international titles,”
said Brian Britt, director of the Pride and associate dean of the College of Fine Arts, in an email. While many colleges have two twirlers or teams of twirlers, OU is home to just one. Perkins decided to audition to be OU’s twirler because just as she began her college search, the position became available. “I came, toured the campus and auditioned with the directors and a whole bunch of other people who came and watched. It was really, really scary,” Perkins said. “I just ended up really liking the campus and really falling in love with the school.” From that point on, Perkins embarked on a journey of independence and a whole lot of practicing. “The band practices four days a week. That's not including games or any outside rehearsals that we may happen to do,” Perkins said. “But whenever I'm not with Pride over the summer, practices can be anywhere from three to eight hours.” Perkins is given substantial creative control when it comes to her routines. With some help from her mother, Perkins choreographs all of her own routines to fit the Pride’s program while maintaining her own personal flair. Her choreography is precise and athletic. During the Pride’s pregame field show, Perkins charges down the center of the field through the band to the 50-yard line. She flips, leaps and entertains the crowd as the band enters the field. In the Pride’s recent Panic! at the Disco themed show, Perkins twirled multiple batons on her elbows without using her hands. “I try to do hard things on the field to push myself to go farther than what I did last year. So this year, my pregame
Pride of Oklahoma twirler Emily Perkins goes through her drills at practice Sept. 16.
is really hard,” Perkins said. Complicated stunts, such as twirling three flaming batons into the air during a halftime show, take hours of rehearsal. The hard work Perkins puts into each practice, however, always pays off, both for her and the audiences she captivates. Perkins performs, on average, for 85,000 people in the stands at home games, not to mention all of the people who watch the televised games. “It's scary, sometimes, knowing that there's so many people there, judging you if you drop,” Perkins said. “But most of the time it's just kind of a blur. I don't see anybody, I don't really hear anything — I just kind of do my twirling and have fun with that.” Outside of OU, Perkins is an internationally competitive baton twirler. She holds 37 U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships individual titles, making her one of the top twirlers not only in the nation but in the world. Pe rk i n s w o n t h e U. S.
National Baton Twirling Championships in 2019, bringing home the title to OU. She holds a silver medal from the World Baton Twirling Federation’s World Championships as a member of the U.S. twirling team. Behind the trophies, leotards and medals, though, Perkins is a normal OU student. She’s a cat lover, a Houston native and an environmental design junior who happens to have an extremely unique life outside of school. “On top of being one of the best twirlers in the nation, she’s very determined to make a good name for the university,” said Matthew Lisenby, OU biology senior and member of the OU color guard. Lisenby and Perkins met when he was a sophomore and Perkins was an incoming freshman at the Pride’s band camp. Balancing life as a college student is already extremely challenging — if you add long practices and time-consuming games, finding a balance
becomes much more difficult, Perkins said. Perkins also teaches baton twirling to kids anywhere from 7 to 18. Perkins said it’s sometimes hard to manage it all, but she has gotten better at it with practice. “I think starting to teach twirling has helped me to better understand everything that I'm doing,” she said. “I have to really know everything concerning what I do, and I have to be able to fix things they're doing wrong. It's a different experience having to teach people who aren't yourself.” Although she holds a solo position, Perkins has fostered close friendships within the Pride — she describes the people she’s met throughout her experience as being like family. “Most, if not all, of my friends are in the Pride band,” Perkins said. “It's just a really nice way to get connections with different people and especially all of the different people who are working with the Pride.”
COOPER LEE/THE DAILY
Friendships, competitions, becoming a teacher, performing at the OU games — these are all opportunities Perkins has encountered through the Pride. She said her gratitude for this position and all it entails is immense. “Having the feature twirler position with the Pride is one of the best things that has ever happened to me,” Perkins said via text. “It has helped me grow by giving me opportunities to choreograph baton routines, organize events, and even become a coach! I am so glad I get to be a part of this group.” Editor’s note: Britt was asked to expand upon the history of OU’s baton twirler position, and he did not respond by the time of publication. Abby Tow
abby.tow1@ou.edu
Jillian Taylor
jillian.g.taylor-2@ou.edu
CULTURE
Sept. 23-29, 2019 •
4
Art theft or misunderstanding? Relative of former OU president finds photo in heirlooms
“The story that was told to me was that this (photograph) is part of the tent revival... My grand(father)’s grandfather that was a preacher during that time,� Anna said. “So my great uncle had borrowed this, I guess with the intention of making a copy to show his mom ... and he just never returned it.� On Dec. 8, 1980, it became the property of Bill Banowsky, who took the photograph to his brother’s home in the small town of Rhonesboro in east Texas, approximately 260 miles from Norman. Anna said she recalls seeing it in her grandparents’ guesthouse, separate from the main building on their farm. “We think when they had the farm, it was over in the guesthouse, and no one thought anything of it because we had just all kinds of old pictures on it,� Anna said. In the early 2010s, it was packed up and traveled about 100 miles to Garland, where it was later discovered. “So it made its way kind of throughout Texas in the 39 years we’ve had it,� Anna said. The Banowsky family thought it was confusing and out of character for the patriarch they’d known and loved, but Anna had another perspective. “From my perspective, this is actually a bigger problem than I think a lot of people,� Anna said. “I think a lot of people (felt) like, ‘Oh, we’ve had this for 39 years, it’s fine, it’s whatever.’ Whereas I’m like, ‘Okay, but that belongs to somebody.’� Anna packed the photograph up for one more journey — about 200 miles back to OU and into Monnet Hall — to return it to the Western History Collections library. “When she brought it in and told me the narrative, I was astounded,� said Todd Fuller, curator of the collection. “I thought ... well, that’s a long journey for this picture and the frame — and ended up not being nefarious in any way, it just evolved and happened.� Despite the confusion around the photograph’s
ABIGAIL HALL @abigail_wah
On a Saturday in early September, Anna Banowsky came to one conclusion after looking through a family member’s belongings: Her great uncle, OU’s 10th President Bill Banowsky, was an art thief. The discovery occurred when the Banowsky family was combing through the home of Richard and Anne Banowsky, Anna’s grandparents, in Garland, Texas, to divide family belongings after their recent relocation to a nursing home. While taking photographs off the walls to determine whether items were heirlooms or could be tossed away, a black and white photograph in a brown frame caught the family’s attention. The back of the frame contained a square, white piece of paper that read: “Western Histor y Collections, University of Oklahoma Library. Dr. William Banowsky has permission for one time non-exclusive use of this print for publication purposes. Date: 12.8.80.� It appeared to Anna, a political science senior at OU with intentions of pursuing cultural property law — a field dedicated to returning artworks to the proper owners — that great uncle Bill had borrowed a piece of valuable property from the university, and he had chosen not to return it. “We’re going through all this stuff — what do they have, where does it need to go, what’s family stuff, what’s stuff that no one cares about that we can donate,� Anna said. “And then we’re like, ‘Oh, this is not ours at all.� The photo in question was taken in the small southwestern Oklahoma town of Hollis during a church revival. The photo was donated to the Western History Collections’ photograph division as part of a collection of 98 photos from Hollis Public Library.
VIA WESTERN HISTORY COLLECTIONS
The photograph titled “Grandma Lesly, Aunt Lena, little Margie� from OU’s Western History Collections.
origins and the collections library’s paper sticker on the frame, it turned out to be a copy. Anna turned the framed photo over to a student worker at the library, who brought it to Fuller, who had it inspected by Jacquelyn Slater Reese, librarian of the collection and associate professor of bibliography. After Slater Reese inspected it, she realized it was a copied print, Fuller said. “I was delighted when Jackie (said,) ‘Have Anna come back and get the photo — she can have it,’� Fuller said. The Western Histor y Collections library consists of four divisions: photographs, manuscripts, books and maps. The collection hosts thousands of donated and sought-after documents worth a “substantial amount of money,� Fuller said. Had the original photograph b e en missing, Fuller said, someone from the collection would have contacted Bill Banowsky when his tenure as president ended and asked for it back. The real story is far less scandalous. On Dec. 8, 1980, then-President Bill Banowsky went to Monnet Hall and requested
t h e p h o to g rap h, t i t l e d “G ra n d ma L e s l y , Au nt Lena, little Margie,� to be copied. The standard procedure at the time was to take the original negative and develop it in the collections library’s dark room to produce a print, Slater Reese said. The print was then sent to a photo framer to be framed in the standard brown frame and labeled with a sticker on the back of the frame to provide the proper citation of the photograph. Additional wording on the sticker states that in order to recopy the copied print, Bill Banowsky was required to ask permission of the collections library before doing so. As it turned out, the original negative never left Monnet Hall. In fact, every original in the photograph division is a negative stowed away with information about the donation and the stories behind the photographs, Fuller said. Fuller said issuing copies of photographs and other documents is a daily occurrence for the library. The darkroom used in the ‘80s closed in the mid 2000s, and today if someone wants a copy of an original negative, Slater Reese and the library staff simply scan the negative on a flatbed scanner, she said.
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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.
ACROSS 1 Like some threats or promises 6 Smell of baking bread, e.g. 11 ___ and abet 14 Territory of India’s capital 15 Less ludicrous 16 Bathroom, in Bristol 17 *Gives the go-ahead 19 What it takes to tango 20 Lead-in to bad news 21 Lead-in to bad news 22 Raise, as a child 23 Pushes a bowling alley button 25 More kind 27 *Robocop? 32 Infamous 1919 team’s nickname 36 Developmental phases 37 Like fish with lots of omega-3s 38 Scot’s refusal 40 Partners of reels or cones 41 Sunflower color 44 “American Idol� winner Kelly 47 *Like an injured player on the sidelines
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49 Opening remarks 50 Wyndham hotel chain 55 Smallest bills 57 Subtly suggested 60 Desertlike 61 “Breaking ___� 62 Rants and raves, or what a director does after saying the starred answers’ ends 64 Popular bird in crosswords 65 Barn-raising sect 66 Group of experts 67 Opposite of nope 68 ___’s Puffs 69 Far from oblivious DOWN 1 Poe’s first name 2 Grammy winner Haggard 3 Guilty, not guilty, etc. 4 The ones right here 5 Yang’s opposite 6 “Yeah, right!� 7 Extreme anger 8 Available 9 Measures of performance 10 ___ Technica (site for gadget lovers)
11 Clark Kent and Bruce Banner 12 Caucus state 13 “Let’s Make a Deal� choice 18 Says “th� for “s� 22 Comment 24 Disapproving sound 26 Pet that’s not fetching? 28 Very long time 29 Precise 30 Ctrl+Y, on a PC 31 Part of APA: Abbr. 32 Laddie 33 “In ___ of flowers ...� 34 Like a 1-1 score 35 “Battlestar Galactica� baddies 39 Roth of horror
42 Frequently, to poets 43 Exercise for generals 45 Biggest artery 46 Genetic messenger 48 Treat baked on a sheet 51 Colorful parrot 52 Gladiator fight site 53 One may have ’50s decor 54 “Hello� singer 55 Controversial wedding vow verb 56 Tom, Dick or Harry 58 “___ of the D’Urbervilles� 59 Tennis great whose name sounds like a tree 62 Damage 63 Mud wrap place
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Onset by Trent H. Evans
However, the process is becoming even easier with new technology — there are now phone applications that can take a picture of a negative and convert it into a positive. “People are welcome to photograph anything here for no charge,� Slater Reese said. “Photo negatives have been the one thing that has been a really tricky thing. If you take a picture of a negative, it’s negative. Whereas if you take a picture and then convert it, it’s really awesome. And then you don’t need us to do this.� The librar y still copies photograph prints, if asked, and charges a fee for the use of the software. The Banowsky photograph, which is an 8x10, would have cost $18 to be copied, Slater Reese said. As for the story behind the photograph, it is mildly unknown, Fuller said. All the information the collections library has of the donated originals is labeled on a manila folder holding the image. In the case of the Banowsky photograph, all that is known is the inscription: “Hollis Public Library Collection. Mrs. Chester Ha r m o n . Ho l l i s, O k l a. Lesley Church meeting at Cave Creek south of Vinson. ‘Grandma Lesly, Aunt Lena, little Margie.’� It is currently in Anna’s
possession until she decides what to do with it. She said she plans to ask her family members if anyone has an attachment to the image, and if so she will give it to them. Otherwise, she’ll keep it for herself. “ I’ m a l s o s o c u r i o u s about who these people are in the picture. We had family members that did this sort of thing, but that’s n o t t h e m. S o w e d o n ’ t know who these people in the picture are,� Anna said. “I wonder what happened to them — what is their story, too, you know? Because there’s the story of the picture, but there’s also — there’s people in the picture.� While the mystery of the photograph’s origins may never be uncovered, Anna said she’s happy to have her great uncle’s name cleared from such an odd charge. “I’m very glad it’s not actually stolen, and I know the family members that I’ve been able to talk to are also really relieved because ... this (was) so not like him,� Anna said. “We’re all very glad that ... it’s not actually taken and lost for 39 years.� Abigail Hall ahall@ou.edu
HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last
Copyright 2015, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.
PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- What you do to help others will be challenging, but will also lead to interesting encounters with people Do what feels right, and keep moving forward. Let go of what isn’t who can influence your future. A change looks promising. working for you and let yourself shine. Put negativity behind you ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- Don’t and be open to trying something let emotions stand in your way. new. Prepare to launch the new you. Success begins with a positive If something comes up that you want to do, jump in. Broaden your attitude. horizons and live life your way. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Size up Romance is favored. your situation and make adjustments. If you wait for someone else TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- Set to make the first move, nothing will a high standard and make your be accomplished. Trust your instincts position clear. How you present what you want to do will affect the and do what needs to be done. changes you can make. Be bold. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- The GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Selfmore you know, the better. Dig improvement projects will help you deep, ask questions and embrace recognize your potential. Discipline new experiences with enthusiasm. Listen and observe, but don’t reveal and hard work will be necessary for you to overcome obstacles. A too much about your beliefs or partnership should be re-evaluated. personal life. Don’t lose sight of your long-term goals. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- Refuse to let someone ruin your CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Make day. If you trust your judgment, changes conducive to getting ahead, you will avoid being led astray. A and put a stop to situations that personal gain will depend on how hard you work. Thoughtfulness will are bringing you down. Stay calm, keep the peace and do what’s best be key. for you. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Put more thought into how you handle LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Get together with people you haven’t your finances and avoid trying seen in some time. The information to buy love or favors. If someone doesn’t like you for who you are, be you are given will provide insight into something that can help you prepared to walk away. redirect your energy. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- If you look for opportunities, you will VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Pardiscover a way to use your skills to ticipate in an event or conference get ahead. An unexpected opening that will introduce you to new ideas and people who can help you parlay should not be pondered over. Be your skills and experience into aggressive and take action. something exciting. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2019 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last
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• Sept. 23-29, 2019
SPORTS
George Stoia, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports
Coach builds on Oklahoma roots
PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY
Linebackers coach Brian Odom walks on the field before the game against South Dakota Sept. 7.
Odom's intensity may be what defense needs
doesn’t go his way. His reputation always precedes himself. “Everywhere he goes becomes a better place. We used to always say, ‘Brian’s GEORGE STOIA just busy being Brian.’ And @GeorgeStoia that’s the case for him at Oklahoma football was Oklahoma now. He’s busy once predicated on de- being him.” fense. It was known for a “HE WAS A certain mentality. CULTURE-CHANGER” You have to be physical like Brian Bosworth and Odom and Cody would Torrance Marshall. You wake up early every had to be relentless like Saturday, drive across town Rocky Calmus and Rufus to JD’s Cafe on Broadway Alexander. And most im— a staple in Ada — and portantly, you had to be pick up a copy of The i n t e l l i g e n t l i k e Te d d y Oklahoman. Lehman and Travis Lewis. They’d grab breakfast Brian Odom, Oklahoma’s sandw iches and quicknew linebackers coach, is ly flip to the sports secall three. tion, reading the rankings “He’s got a great combiand results of the class 5A nation of a natural intensi- games the previous night. ty and toughness that you’d Often, Ada sat on top, one say is ideal for coaching of the best high s chool that position,” head coach football programs in the Lincoln Riley said. “He’s an state at the time. outstanding young coach. Odom and Cody are just No doubt about it.” two names on a long list Odom, 38, hasn’t always of former greats to play been a linebackers coach. for the Cougars. Guys like Once a standout at Ada for mer New York Giant High School just an hour Jeremy Shockey, former s o u t h e a s t o f N o r m a n , Los Angeles Ram Byron Odom grew up a running Beams, former Oklahoma back. Today, according quarterback Bob Warmack to the people of Ada, he’s and former Oklahoma wide considered one of the best receiver Brandon Daniels high school football play- all wore the maroon and e r s O k l a h o ma ha s e ve r white. seen. This led him to OU in But it’s Odom who often 2000, where he spent two stands above them all. seasons before transferring “ He’s n o t j u s t o n e o f to Southeastern Oklahoma the best high school playState. ers in Ada history, but in Ada molded Odom. Like O k l a h o m a h i g h s c h o o l many who grow up in the f o o t b a l l h i s t o r y ,” C o d y small town off Highway 39, said. “He was the face of Odom is a blue-collar guy the program.” with an all-business perNeither Odom nor sona. He’s intense, but re- C o d y g r e w u p i n A d a . laxed, and always looking Odom moved there from for ways to better his craft. Maysville after seventh He’s taken on the per- grade, Cody from Colgate sonality of the tow n he after sophomore year. The played in. And thanks to two balanced each other his two years at OU, he o u t . O d o m w a s l e v e l knows the program and its headed, while Cody was a expectations. troublemaker. It makes Odom uniquely They spent most of their skilled to coach the most time in the weight room important position on a or on the field — or somedefense that’s lacked both times at the local Daylight physical and mental tough- Donuts for a late-night ness the past several years. snack after a game. The “He’s a hardass. He’s fun, two aspired to one day play but a hardass,” said Dan major college football, and Co dy , w h o p laye d w i t h nothing was going to stop O d o m at b o t h Ad a a n d them from achieving that Oklahoma. “And that’s kind dream. of what makes him a good “Football was our life,” coach, that mentality of Cody said. “Our downtime he’s not going to bend for was just hanging out in anything or change who he small-town America playis just because something ing ball.”
Cody, and just about all of Ada, knew how special of a player Odom was after his first season. He helped Ada win its 19th state championship in 1996, becoming the first player in Ada history to start at running back as a freshman while also starting at safety. He was a leader from the moment he stepped in the locker room. He took football seriously, treating it as a job rather than an extracurricular activity. “Getting him to smile was kind of tough,” said Chris Berus, who was Odom’s position coach at Ada and is now the head coach at the school. “I’m sure he joked around his boys, but around his coaches? No way. He was all business.” Yance Vaughan, son of former Oklahoma great Mike Vaughan, transferred to Ada before the 1998 season and remembers watching Odom in the weight room when he visited the school in the spring. “From an outsider’s perspective, you could just see how his presence overtook the room,” said Vaughan, who played quarterback at Ada in 1998 and 1999. “You would have thought he was a senior, not a sophomore.” Odom was never the fastest or most athletic, but he always outworked his peers. He was a physical back, often running through defenders. And he rarely got tired, thanks to a r igorous offseason workout schedule he held himself to in preparation of the load he was about to carry. In his junior and senior seasons, the Cougars often handed him the ball 40 or more times a game. Ada built his physical and mental toughness. “Brian was just a tough, tough guy,” Berus said. “Brian was never flashy. B r i a n w a s t h e g u y t hat w o u l d s c o re 4 0 t o u c h downs and hand the ball back to the referee. He was never a ‘me’ guy. It was never about ‘give me the ball.’ It was never about any of that stuff.” Odom still holds the school record for rushing yards and total scoring in a career (5,917 yards and 606 points) and rushing yards in a single season (2,490). His senior seas on in 1999 was one to
remember, helping Ada to a perfect 10-0 regular season record and scoring 41 touchdowns, also a school record. He was named the Oklahoma High School Football Player of the Year by the Tulsa World. To d ay , t u c k e d i n t h e back of Ada’s facility is a room with pictures hanging on the wall. There are no chairs or tables, just photos of players and teams of the past. To have your individual picture on the wall, you had to have been an all-state selection. There are exactly 100 players on the wall. Cody and Odom’s photos are next to each other — the 85th and 86th players to make it. “When you think of Brian, it’s not about the one thing he did — it ’s what he did all the time,” Berus said. “He was a culture-changer.” “ONLY SOMEONE LIKE BRIAN ODOM COULD DO THAT” During Odom’s historic senior season, then-Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops came to Ada’s season opener against Ardmore to watch him. Odom was impressive, rushing for 275 yards in a 27-20 win. Stoops ended up off e r i ng O d o m a n d C o d y
scholarships to Oklahoma after seeing the two in person. For Odom, it was a no-brainer. He’d grown up going to OU games with his grandfather, sitting in the north end zone in section 18. Cody went with him, saying he wanted to stay close to home.
field much at Oklahoma. He sat behind guys like Seth Littrell, Quentin Griffin and Renaldo Works, who was in Odom’s same recruiting class, f ro m Tu l s a’s B o o k e r T. Washington. Odom knew his playing time would likely con-
“He’s got a great combination of a natural intensity and toughness that you’d say is ideal for coaching that position. He’s an outstanding young coach.
No doubt about it.” -Lincoln Riley, OU head coach
Odom made an immed i at e i mp re s s i o n u p o n his arrival in Norman. He won the team’s “Iron Man” award his freshman year for standing out in the weight room, which led to his instant connection with then-strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. “That alone says a lot,” Cody said. “Schmidty doesn’t just let anyone into his circle.” But Odom didn’t see the
tinue to be limited with the Sooners, as he often played only special teams. He decided to transfer to Southeastern Oklahoma State following the 2001 season. “Everybody loved Brian. The hardest part for him, I think, was leaving everybody,” Cody said. “It wasn’t about swallowing pride. It was tough on him and all of us. But shit hell, if you love see ODOM page 6
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SPORTS
• Sept. 23-29, 2019
CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY
Senior quarterback Jalen Hurts runs the ball during the game against UCLA Sept. 14.
Jalen focuses on details, future Quarterback calls for improvement from Sooner team GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia
Jalen Hurts wants better offensive execution. That’s saying a lot coming from the quarterback of a team that’s averaging 352.3 passings yards, 324.2 rushing yards and 676.7 total yards per game — the most in the countr y. Oklahoma’s offense has been a juggernaut, no
question about it. But Hurts wants more. “It’s not about numbers, it’s about execution. Being better in our execution,” Hurts said. “Just sharpening those things up. Just not our standard of play at times. Just being consistent doing it. Having that mentality every time we touch the field.” The word “execution” is one of the most-used words in Hurts’ vocabulary. Tuesday, he used it five times in a five-minute media scrum. Hurts is a perfectionist. Even though he’s scored
more touchdowns, 13, than incompletions, 12, he sees those as small mistakes that he can get better at. While an outsider may see the Sooners’ offense, Hu r t s’ p ro d u c t i o n a n d the staggering numbers they’ve put up, he knows there are small details he and his teammates could work to change. And that type of mentality is rubbing off on those around him. “It’s the little things we see on film,” junior halfback Jeremiah Hall said. “ I k n o w t h a t Ja l e n h a s said multiple times that
we could be better (at the small things), and I totally agree with that.” But there’s only so much OU’s offense can improve on. They’re converting 59.3 percent of third downs, they’re averaging 10.5 yards per play and they’re scoring 55.7 points per game. How much better can they realistically get? “ I d o n ’ t t h i n k w e a re where we should be as a team,” Hurts said. “(UCLA was) probably the most complete game we’ve played as a whole. Is it where we want to be as a
team? No. We’re fortunate enough to have a bye week where I think we’ve had the right intent so far. When we get an opportunity to show it and go out there play and compete again, hopefully we can do it the way we want to do it.” A s f o r H u r t s , h e ’s been nearly perfect in O k l a h o m a’s f i r s t t h re e games. He’s 49-of-61 with 880 yards passing, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions. And he’s rushed 38 times for 373 yards and four touchdowns. That’s good enough for 12th in country for passing
yards, sixth in the country for rushing yards and second in the country for total offense. So what did he say when a reporter asked if he thinks he’ll finish the season in t h e to p 1 0 pa ssi ng a n d rushing yards? Nothing. What about top five? “ N e x t q u e s t i o n ,” h e said w ith a gr in, a rare occurrence. George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu
Heisman, Selmon brothers statues in works OU advances plans to build football stars’ monuments GEORGE STOIA @GeorgeStoia
Oklahoma’s athletics department is officially seeking bids to make Heisman T r o p h y s t a t u e s o f f o rmer quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, as well as a statue to honor the Selmon brothers, Lee
ODOM: continued from page 5
the game and you love the guys you’re playing with, it’s hard not to be upset about stuff like that. “We hugged it out in the OU parking lot that day.” Not once did Odom complain about playing time while at Oklahoma. And not once did he complain after he left, Cody said. In fact, he and those who know him credit his time at Oklahoma for jumpstarting his coaching career. “It’s about where you start in this business, and he was fortunate to start at a great place,” Odom’s father-in-law Joe McCauley said. “The impression h e ma d e t h e re g o t h i m his start. He earned their respect.” Odom’s first full-time coaching job came in 2005.
Roy, Lucious and Dewey, The Daily has learned from a request for proposal the university posted online this week. Mayfield’s statue is expected to be completed by spring 2020, Murray’s by spr ing 2021 and the Selmon brothers’ by fall 2021. The last statue Oklahoma unveiled was former coach Bob Stoops’ at the 2018 spring game. Mayfield was OU’s sixth Heisman Trophy winner, taking home the hardware
in 2017 after leading the Sooners to a College Football Playoff appearance and throwing 43 touchdowns. Murray followed in Mayfield’s footsteps, winning the award in 2018 after also taking Oklahoma to the playoff and totaling for 54 touchdowns. Oklahoma became the first school ever to have quarterbacks win back-toback Heisman Trophy winners. Their statues will join those of Billy Vessels, Steve Owens, Billy Sims, Jason
White and Sam Bradford in Heisman Park. Th e S e l m o n b ro t h e rs were considered three of the best defensive linemen to ever don the crimson and cream. They helped Oklahoma win the 1974 and 1975 national championships, and all three went on to play in the NFL. Their statue will be the first defensive player-dedicated statue the university has made. It is expected to be north of Heisman Park off Jenkins Street.
“It’s a long time coming,” former OU coach Barr y Switzer said. “I knew about it for awhile ... It probably should have happened a long time ago. It’s something we should take pride in. It’s something that’s never happened and probably w ill never happen again — three brothers play alongside each other at one school, one team. One of the greatest honors of my life was coaching those three. God bless Mrs. Selmon.”
The poses of the statues will be selected by the players themselves. The bid also states the university may add additional statues at any time. The Daily has reached out to the athletic department for further comment and has yet to receive a response.
He was hired by Arizona’s then-strength and conditioning coach Corey Edmond, who had been at Oklahoma under Schmidt when Odom was there. “A lot of guys get a start and do nothing with it,” McCauley said. “Brian did something with it.” Odom spent seven years at Arizona working with the performance prog ra m. He t h e n w e n t t o Houston to run its performance program for three years before joining Alex Grinch’s defensive staff as a quality control coach at Washington State in 2015. This eventually led him to Missouri to become their linebackers coach and join his brother Barry, who is now the Tigers’ head coach. In two seasons at Missouri, Brian Odom showed his ability to coach a position group. He helped the Tigers go from 58th in rush defense in 2017 to 22nd in 2018.
“A guy coaching linebackers that played runn i n g b a ck ? T hat s h ow s adaptability,” Cody said. That adaptability led him back to where it all started: Oklahoma. “For a guy that didn’t even graduate from OU, he left a hell of an impression,” Cody said. “O nly someone like Brian Odom could do that.” That lasting impression, combined with the grace in which Odom left Oklahoma, is why he’s back in Norman today. He brings a selfless attitude and a determined mindset to improve. He took what he learned those two years at OU and has applied it throughout his coaching career. “A former player, this place means a great deal to him and his family,” Riley said. “I know Alex (Grinch) really trusts him and leans on him for a lot. I think a lot of it has to do with his background being in the
strength and conditioning field, which has helped shape him. “He’s made a big impression in a short amount of time with our linebackers, our recruits. He brings a lot to it. Our players have really taken to him in a short amount of time.”
focused on this team and these players. And that focus has led to quick connections. “Personally, I like how fierce he is,” White said. “He’s a hothead, he is. But he leads us the right way and (helps us) keep our edge about us when we’re out there playing.” Players respect Odom. They like intentionality and the way he communicates. “I don’t think he bullshits around. I think h e ’s s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d ,” McCauley said. “What you see is what you get. Every day is the same with him. There’s not highs and lows. “Football players like people they can trust, and they can trust Brian.” Odom and the linebackers still have a lot of work to do. But if three games are any indication of what’s to come, Big 12 offenses might be in for a surprise this season with the OU defense. Through nonconference
p l ay , t h e S o o n e r s have given up 60 fewer yards per game and have had two more turnovers than they did this time a year ago. And Oklahoma currently ranks 11th in third-down defense. Odom is just one part of the equation, and he’ll be the first to admit that. He’d also be the first to admit that if it weren’t for his legendary career at Ada and his short playing career at OU, he wouldn’t be who he is today — an intelligent, relentless coach who preaches physicality. “It’s a part of your makeup. It sets the tone for what you do the rest of your life,” Odom said. “If you’re that guy and you have that expectation to be great, then that’s a pretty common place for you.”
“IT’S A PART OF YOUR MAKEUP” Starting Oklahoma weakside linebacker DaShaun White had no idea his position coach was once an all-state running back. “No way,” he said. “I’m going to have to ask him about that.” Odom doesn’t talk much about his past. He doesn’t talk about scoring 38 points in a game his senior year at Ada or winning the national title his freshman season at OU. I t ’s n o t b e c a u s e h e doesn’t relish those moments. It’s because he’s
George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu
George Stoia
georgestoia@ou.edu