Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2021 by OU Daily

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How Lincoln Riley’s departure affects OU’s future · pg. 2

OU RESOLUTE AS RILEY WALKS ‘ THIS ONE GUY DIDN’T ALL OF A SUDDEN CREATE OU FOOTBALL‘

MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0

‘This job is one of the best’: As Joe Castiglione searches for next OU coach, Bob Stoops re-takes the wheel after Lincoln Riley ditches Sooners for USC. After 24 hours that left many hopes for the Sooners’ future hollowed out, Bob Stoops’ fiery energy reverberated through the room overlooking the stadium his hallowed legacy once restored to greatness. Oklahoma’s former and now-interim head coach, who’ll be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame next week, was visibly frustrated about mounting concerns that have engulfed the program he led for 18 years, including the national championship in 2000. He answered questions curtly like he did during his heyday, sparring with reporters and putting the college football world on notice that he’s back and the Sooners aren’t going anywhere. It was part of a united front OU presented Nov. 29 to a shell-shocked fanbase after former head coach Lincoln Riley, whom Stoops handed OU’s program to in 2017, agreed Sunday to become the 30th head coach at Southern California. Riley boarded a plane to Los Angeles at 6 a.m. Nov. 29, alongside four assistants from the team he led for five years, which won four Big 12 Championships, made three College Football Playoff appearances and produced two Heisman Trophy winners. It was a stunning end to the Riley era that OU seemed poised to ride into its looming ascension to the Southeastern Conference, the toughest in college football. “This job is one of the best ever in sports,” said OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione, equally resolute if less clearly annoyed than Stoops. “It’s been made that way because of incredible players that chose to come to the University of Oklahoma that did exceptional things while they were here (and), obviously, the coaches that found them, developed them, and continued to recruit and build upon that as we pursue championships.” Stoops son Drake is a redshirt junior Sooners receiver and a handful of players he recruited are still around. He will take over as interim coach for OU’s bowl game and balance his responsibilities as a television analyst for Fox College Football. Simultaneously, Castiglione will begin his search for Riley’s replacement. Stoops and Castiglione, alongside President Joseph Harroz Jr., have collectively amassed over 70 years of service to the university and attempted to soothe concerns about the program’s future Nov. 29. Tasked with keeping the Sooners afloat in their darkest hour since he was hired by Castiglione almost 23 years to the date in the winter of 1998, after four straight losing seasons with no bowl appearances, Stoops delivered a passionate spark of hope to players, parents, recruits and fans alike. “The message to all of you is, listen, when I arrived here Dec. 1, 1998, there was something to be concerned about. … Two years later, we were 13-0 and won the national championship. This place is in a hell of a lot better shape than it was on Dec. 1, 1998. “Just understand, give it a little bit of time, and you’re going to see this is just a little bump in the road.” ‘We would’ve liked more notice’ For weeks as this season unfolded, Castiglione said he and Harroz had been preparing a contract extension for Riley, but they never got the opportunity to formally make their offer. On Sunday morning, Castiglione said he received a phone call from Riley informing him he planned to interview with USC. Riley asked if he could meet with Castiglione and Harroz later in the day, and when they gathered, he informed them of his departure. “We would’ve liked more notice. We were surprised by it yesterday,” said Harroz, who in his 20 months as president has already seen his athletic department replace long-tenured men’s and women’s basketball coaches Lon Kruger and Sherri Coale. “But that was his decision, and you can only impact those things that you can control.” Riley told reporters in Los Angeles that USC first expressed interest in him late Saturday and that conversations with the Trojans carried into early Sunday. However, according to the Los Angeles Times, USC athletic director Mike Bohn’s courtship of Riley began in September and persisted through the regular season. The realities of the job he had versus the one he took makes clear the struggling Pac-12 provides Riley an easier annual path to the College Football Playoff than OU will face after its transition from the Big 12 to the daunting SEC by 2025. Harroz and Castiglione, however, said Riley expressed no concerns to them about the future or what would be needed to consistently contend in that conference. “There wasn’t any mention of any unrest,” Castiglione said. “When (Riley) talked to President Harroz, he said that he was intrigued by a different kind of opportunity. (He was) absolutely happy with everything that we had talked about with our infrastructure, support resources, facilities and all the things that we possibly talked about, so all of that was absolutely great. He just got very intrigued with a different and unique opportunity that he felt was best for him and his family.” Yet, Castiglione said his program is conducting a “comprehensive review” of its athletics department before entering a new age of competition. Pressed about the review, Castiglione said OU athletics administrators have already visited the campuses of “four or five” SEC schools for insight regarding finances, staffing and facility development. An agreement between Riley and USC was reportedly reached shortly after his postgame press conference late Saturday. He met with USC leadership via Zoom on Sunday morning, a conversation he said helped seal the deal. “You can’t just rely on the logo,” Riley said during his introductory press conference on Nov. 29 in Los Angeles. “Just because it’s USC, that’s a great start, but that’s all it is, a start. You better have the right people behind it, you better have commitment at all levels, you better have alignment at all levels, or you’re not going to be successful. And when I met with (USC) leadership, I could see there was total alignment, but there was excitement as well.” Whether shared administrative vision or the ability to put his own stamp on things, Riley has always been calculating the future. As an up-and-coming offensive coordinator at East Carolina from 2010-14, in his quarterback meetings, Riley would remind his backups they should aspire to be starters, while the starter should look to become the best quarterback in the country and get drafted. Examining his own profession, he emphasized position coaches should strive to see RILEY page 2

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

SPORTS

Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2021 •

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VOL. 108, NO. 13

Stoops confident in return

Former head coach reprises role for bowl game AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @AustinCurtright

Bob Stoops is going recruiting. Again. Oklahoma’s interim coach – who went to Tuttle on his first night as OU head coach in 1998 and recruited future Heisman winner Jason White – said Nov. 29 he’s laser-focused on the opportunity to keep the program he helped build in strong position as long as it needs him. Stoops, who led the Sooners from 1999 to 2016 and carried them to their latest national championship in 2000, is tasked with damage control, cleaning up what was left behind by his former assistant Lincoln Riley. As of early Nov. 29, Oklahoma had lost six commitments following Riley’s shocking Sunday departure after five seasons as head coach for the same job at Southern California. As of late Nov. 29, the Sooners had fallen from No. 7 to No. 11 in the 2022 class rankings per 247Sports and from No. 1 to No. 3 in 2023. On Nov. 29, OU presented a united front with Stoops, athletic director Joe Castiglione and President Joseph Harroz, who met with reporters to address not only what had transpired in recent days, but also

to preview how they’ll handle the coaching search and anticipated roster transitions facing the program. “I’ve had multiple meetings already with players,” Stoops said. “I’m going out recruiting tonight.” Among the former OU coaches joining Riley’ new staff are former defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, outside receivers coach Dennis Simmons, director of sports performance Bennie Wylie and director of operations Clarke Stroud, who were seen boarding a plane to Los Angeles on Nov. 29. Shortly after OU’s press conference ended, USC started its introduction of Riley in Los Angeles. “We’re gonna do a lot of it,” Riley said of the imperative of recruiting quickly ahead of the looming signing day deadline. “(I’m) thankful that we’ve got two weeks to get it done. We’ll get a lot done in two weeks. And there’ll be important decisions we make in the next few weeks that will shape the future of this roster. “We’re definitely going to hit the ground running.” Meanwhile, others made their presumed exits from Norman. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Spencer Rattler announced he was transferring Nov. 29, becoming the first Sooners’ player to transfer after Riley’s departure, and redshirt sophomore receiver

Jadon Haselwood joined him in doing so Nov. 29. Both were former five-star recruits. “Entering the transfer portal does not necessarily mean they exit through the portal,” Castiglione said of players in general when asked about Rattler in particular. “We’re going to do everything to give them every reason to stay.” Riley’s exit cuts deeper than the loss of his coaching expertise that captained OU to 55 wins, four Big 12 titles and two Heisman winners. He played a large role in the development of Oklahoma’s previously No. 1 ranked 2023 class which included five stars such as No. 2 overall quarterback Malachi Nelson and No. 1 receiver Brandon Inniss, who both decommitted Sunday night. With the upcoming early signing period from Dec. 1517, Castiglione faces a task that requires hiring a head coach at a blue-blood school with limited time to salvage future talent, whether through decommits or the NCAA Transfer Portal. “We know the importance of time and timing,” Castiglione said. “And what we need to do with everything that’s going on in this very different and new world. We’ll move it quickly.” Just minutes after multiple reports surfaced that Riley was taking the job at USC, OU commits started to react. 2022 five-star running back Raleek

Brown, who attends Mater Dei High School — approximately 40 miles from USC’s campus — hinted toward flipping his commitment to join Riley. Riley had previously landed OU commitments from Nelson’s high school teammates at Los Alamitos High School — five-star receiver Makai Lemon and four-star receiver Deandre Moore in the 2023 class. 247Sports predicts Lemon will flip to the Trojans, while Moore tweeted he was still committed to Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray. OU also lost commitments from 2023 four-star recruits in running back Treyaun Webb and defensive lineman Derrick Moore, along with 2022 four-star offensive lineman Demetrius Hunter, and even 2022 fourstar linebacker and longtime commit Kobie McKenzie, who pledged back in January 2020. The transfer portal also poses a challenge, as Stoops mentioned multiple players expressing interest in playing in the bowl game, but potentially entering the portal until finding out how they’d fit in plans for whoever succeeds Riley in Norman. However, as Stoops gears up to lead OU through a unique challenge, he added a sample of his recruiting pitch geared toward keeping

recruits, and current players’ pledge. “It’s an easy sell, you sell the university, you sell the leadership here,” Stoops said. “You sell the history of success — not just 23 years of success, decades of success — and it’s going to continue to happen. We’ve got great leadership, great facilities. (It’s) a great university to recruit to academically, all of it together is still here.” For the next two weeks, Oklahoma’s players will continue to prepare before likely playing in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29, with an outside chance at a New Year’s six bowl, when postseason matchups are announced on Sunday. Stoops said he will use that time to recruit, and limit the further damage of the program before the Sooners turn their focus to the bowl game. “Give it a little bit of time, you’re gonna see this is just a little bump in the road,” Stoops said. “There’s not one guy, one person in the history of this program that’s bigger than the program, Coach Switzer, myself or Lincoln Riley.” austincurtright@ou.edu

‘Stealthy’ head coach search begins Potential candidates emerge to fill head coach vacancy CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT @ctengelbrecht

Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione has always kept a list of potential head coaching hires for his football program. He just never thought he’d have to use it so soon. Joined by OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. and interim head coach Bob Stoops, Castiglione shed some light in an OU press conference Nov. 29 on how the search for the Sooners’ 23rd head football coach in school history will operate. “I thought (this search) might be well down the road,” Castiglione said, referring to how Lincoln Riley — who left unexpectedly for USC on Sunday — had been in play for other jobs in prior years he was at OU. “But, that being said, that’s why you have a list.” “I’ve already engaged in the process to review those people that I had identified. ... But the type of coach that we’re looking for? (It’s) the type of coach like Coach Stoops, the type of coach like Lincoln Riley, the type of coaches that we hire in our program. (Coaches) that really possess

RILEY: continued from page 1

become coordinators and coordinators become head coaches. “I think that’s him,” said Shane Carden, ECU’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns who thrived in Riley’s five seasons with the Pirates. “I think he never wants to be complacent, and he’s always had an opportunity to do that, to prove how good a coach he is, how good a play caller he is, what he’s able to do.” Riley departs Oklahoma in devastating fashion. A team that had preseason national championship expectations finished 10-2 and failed to win its conference. In the aftermath, preseason Heisman Trophy favorite Spencer Rattler entered the transfer portal Nov. 29, and six recruits have decommitted, among them five-star quarterback

the competency, the confidence, the character (and) the ability to develop chemistry in a program and have a clear vision for how they’re going to put this program in position to constantly compete for championships.” Castiglione didn’t offer a timeline for how long OU’s coaching search will last. Still, he expressed urgency in getting the job done the right way. Stoops, whose connections in college football run deep, said he’ll offer advice to Castiglione and Harroz along the way, but he made clear they are the “pickers.” “I’m not getting into (hiring) friends,” Stoops said. “That doesn’t matter. I’ve got a lot of friends. A lot of friends I’d never hire. … It’s who fits here the best, who brings the most in (and) wants it most. This is a great job, and he’s going to have his share of candidates.” Riley’s departure is part of a blur of coaching changes in college football. With the national early signing period approaching on Dec. 15-17, the Sooners will need to act fast. Here are six coaches being discussed nationally who could become Oklahoma’s next head coach: Dave Aranda, head coach, Baylor Head coaching record: 12-9 over two seasons. The Bears (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) play Oklahoma State in the Big 12

Championship on Dec. 4. Aranda was previously the defensive coordinator at Hawaii, Utah State, Wisconsin and LSU. After defeating OU 63-28 in the 2019 Peach Bowl, he helped the Tigers defeat Clemson 42-25 to win that season’s national championship. Aranda’s defensive prowess held Oklahoma to its lowest-scoring games in the Riley era. Across three matchups, the Sooners scored 28, 27 and 14 points against Aranda’s defenses and won just one of those bouts. Shane Beamer, head coach, South Carolina Head coaching record: 6-6 overall and 3-5 in SEC play in his debut year at South Carolina, earning the team bowl eligibility for the first time since 2018. South Carolina also upset Florida 40-17 and Auburn 21-17 this season. Beamer was the assistant head coach and H-backs coach under Riley at OU from 2018-20. Before arriving at Oklahoma, he had coaching stints at Mississippi State, Virginia Tech and Georgia. His father Frank Beamer was the head coach at Virginia Tech from 1987 to 2017 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2018. Matt Campbell, head coach, Iowa State Head coaching record: 77-48 over 11 seasons. The

Cyclones finished this season 7-5 overall and 5-4 in Big 12 play. He was the head coach at Toledo for five seasons, going 35-15. Won the MAC Coach of the Year award in 2015 after leading the Rockets to a 9-2 record. Since being hired at Iowa State in 2016, Campbell has turned the Cyclones from a Big 12 afterthought to title contender. He’s a two-time Big 12 Coach of the Year winner and led Iowa State to its best season in school history in 2020, finishing 9-3 and second in the Big 12. Luke Fickell, head coach, Cincinnati Head coaching record: 47-14 over six seasons. The Bearcats (12-0, 8-0 AAC) face Houston in the American Conference Championship on Dec. 4. A win would likely send Cincinnati to the College Football Playoff as the first non-Power Five school to make it. Fickell served as Ohio State’s interim head coach for one season in 2011 and went 6-7. After the Buckeyes hired Urban Meyer, he returned to his role as OSU’s co-defensive coordinator and linebacker coach until he was hired by the Bearcats in 2017. Lane Kiffin, head coach, Ole Miss Head coaching record: 76-41 in 10 seasons in college, 5-15 in two seasons in the

NFL. He was the head coach at Tennessee for one season, USC for four and Florida Atlantic for three. Hired as Ole Miss’ head coach in 2020, Kiffin is 15-7 over the past two seasons. Kiffin is viewed as a top offensive mind in college football and helped Alabama reach the CFP twice and win the national championship in 2017 as the team’s offensive coordinator. Brent Venables, defensive coordinator, Clemson Although he’s never held a head coaching job, Venables has helped Clemson win the national championship twice during his tenure as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Before arriving at Clemson in 2012, Venables coached the Oklahoma defense from 1999 to 2011 and was an integral part of the Sooners’ 2000 national championship win. He left the Sooners in 2012 following the return of defensive coordinator Mike Stoops to Norman. Venables won the Broyles Award — given to the nation’s top assistant coach — in 2016 and was the second-highest paid assistant in college football in 2017, receiving $1.7 million yearly.

Malachi Nelson. Riley’s final game at OU was a 37-33 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday, his first and only defeat against the Cowboys and one which, depending on which side is talking, he may have known would be his last. That and a flattening 27-14 loss to Baylor on Nov. 13 — following a bye week where rumors linking Riley to LSU’s head coaching vacancy began to swirl — derailed the Sooners from winning a seventh straight Big 12 Championship, as they missed the conference title game for the first time under Riley. Riley exits Norman with a 55-10 record but failed to reach the season’s final game with either Baker Mayfield or Kyler Murray, two of the greatest quarterbacks in OU history. His only bowl victory was a 55-20 thrashing of depleted Florida in the 2020 Cotton Bowl after Oklahoma suffered two losses early in the regular season. Ultimately, his Sooners went 0-3 in the

College Football Playoff during his tenure. With his jump to the Pac-12, though, he has the opportunity to achieve something he never accomplished through previous stops at Texas Tech, ECU and Oklahoma, where he only inherited and maintained traditions established before his time. “He took over a program that Bob Stoops really left in great shape, and he did a great thing with it and continued it on,” Carden said. “But this is just an opportunity to really put his name on something directly on his own.” ‘They are OU football’ Stoops, who in recent years beyond his broadcast duties has coached an XFL team and endorsed a line of tequila, was on the golf course Nov. 28 when his phone rang. It was a call from Castiglione and Harroz, and before they could even finish asking if he’d be willing to serve as interim coach, he answered. “Of course I will,” he said.

Stoops pledged his assistance for as long as it’s needed, though he said he doesn’t expect Castiglione to take long finding OU’s next coach. He said candidates have already started calling Castiglione to express their interest, and Castiglione said he’s already reviewing a pre-prepared list of names. Above all, he said the search, as usual, will be conducted in a “stealthy” and speedy manner. After joining Castilgione and Harroz at the podium Nov. 29 with legendary former OU coach Barry Switzer watching from the crowd, Stoops doubled down on his belief Oklahoma football will maintain its stride despite being thrown off balance. “There’s not one guy, one person, in the history of this program that’s bigger than the program. (Not) Coach Switzer, myself or Lincoln Riley,” Stoops said. “And what I told the players is, they are the program. Players throughout these decades, they are

OU football, not us as a coach. I’m getting in the Hall of Fame because of them. … I look forward to doing everything I can within the next few weeks to help it continue to succeed the way it has.” Moments later, as the assembled parties departed Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Stoops hopped into a sleek back Porsche coupetwo-door and cruised down Lindsey Street. On the way, he passed the statues of himself, Switzer and fellow legendary Sooners coaches Bud Wilkinson and Bennie Owen — the very place where, in Riley’s introductory head coach press conference in 2017, he suggested Riley might one day have a statue of his own. Instead, Stoops had retaken the keys to the program, determined to help the sports car that is OU football continue at full speed.

chandler.engelbrecht@ou.edu

masyoung@ou.edu

SPORTS

Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2021 •

Botched punt return bites OU

Weak second-half performance leads Sooners to loss MASON YOUNG @Mason_Young_0

STILLWATER — Eric Gray looked comfortable as the football plummeted toward him. Turns out, comfort is an unforgiving enemy. Gray positioned himself directly beneath the punt from Oklahoma State’s Tom Hutton, but the ball slipped right through his arms and hit the turf, where Oklahoma State cornerback Demarco Jones pounced on it. Three plays later, Cowboys running back Jaylen Warren rumbled into the end zone from one yard out to give No. 7 OSU a four-point lead over No. 10 Oklahoma with nine minutes and 43 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The flub by the Sooners’ junior running back, an offseason transfer from Tennessee, was the climax of OU’s undoing as it fell to its in-state rival 37-33 on Saturday night. With a 33-24 lead entering the fourth quarter, Oklahoma (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) relaxed and Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1) capitalized, scoring 13 unanswered points to exit Boone

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Freshman quarterback Caleb Williams during the Bedlam game against No. 7 Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Nov. 27.

Pickens Stadium victorious. Complacency is the same bug that bit OU when it fell to No. 9 Baylor 27-14 on Nov. 13, leaving it desperate for a win against the Cowboys. As a consequence of their second loss, the Sooners were denied a chance at a seventh consecutive conference title. Instead, OSU will face Baylor in the 2021 Big 12 Championship game on Dec. 4. Additionally, any remaining hope of OU reaching the College Football Playoff was wrangled away by the Cowboys on Saturday. “Obviously, Eric would

Sooners’ playoff, title hopes nixed Bedlam loss drops Oklahoma from championship play CHANDLER ENGELBRECHT

@ctengelbrecht

STILLWATER — Jeremiah Hall wants to walk away with his head held high. Although Oklahoma’s shot at a seventh straight Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff berth came to an end Saturday, the Sooners’ season did not. Hall, a senior H-back who has won four Big 12 Championships in his career, wants a better ending for No. 10 OU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) than a 37-33 loss to No. 7 Oklahoma State (11-1, 8-1). “I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished in the past,” said Hall, who led the Sooners with four receptions for 76 yards on Saturday. “But … I want to go out with a ‘W.’ I want to go out with a win. Last thing I want to do is leave a bad taste in my mouth. “(I want to) walk away with a smile, hug my mom and dad at the end of the day and be proud of the work that I put out there for my last one.” Oklahoma will discover its postseason fate on Bowl Selection Sunday on Dec. 5, after the Big 12 Championship between OSU and Baylor concludes. If the Cowboys win and advance to the CFP, that could place the Sooners in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl or Allstate Sugar Bowl. If the Pokes fall short or fail to make the playoff, that likely sends the Bears to a New Year’s Six bowl and OU to the Valero Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29. Yet, regardless of where the Sooners land and who they face, Hall said he’ll be suiting up. In fact, as non-playoff bowl games have seen a recent uptick of players opting out, Oklahoma’s leadership seems to be against that. Senior defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas said he’s “leaning toward playing” and redshirt junior Kennedy Brooks — who hinted a week ago that he may have played his last game in Norman — said he’ll play this postseason, and encouraged his teammates to do the same. “I don’t expect any of us (to opt out),” Brooks said Saturday night. “We love each other. We love this game too much. (Opting out is) crazy because you should love your team enough just to have one more chance just to play this game with them. You won’t

have another one. … (Our last game will) be a special one. It’s gonna be a big moment.” Brooks had 22 rushes for 139 yards — marking his fourth 100-yard rushing performance this season — against OSU. He also became the fourth running back in school history with three separate seasons with 1,000 rushing yards on Saturday. Unlike Brooks, Hall is indifferent about if his teammates decide to skip Oklahoma’s final game. He’d prefer his entire team come back for one more game, but if not all Sooners do, Hall “won’t be mad.” When the Sooners missed the CFP in 2020 and faced Florida in the Cotton Bowl, only then-senior cornerback and now-Seattle Seahawk Tre Brown opted out of the game. Conversely, four players opted out for the Gators, among them now-Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, who finished at No. 10 in the Heisman race that season. The last time Oklahoma didn’t play in a New Year’s Six bowl was Dec. 29, 2014, when it fell to Clemson 40-6. 2014 was also the last season OU didn’t win the Big 12 Championship. Head coach Lincoln Riley was distraught postgame that he couldn’t continue the Sooners’ conference title streak. By the time OSU or Baylor secures the title on Dec. 4 in Arlington, Texas, Oklahoma will have been the conference’s reigning champion for 2,199 consecutive days. “For all the guys in the locker room, there’s two sets of players in there right now,” Riley said. “You got guys that have been through it, been with us and won championships, won games like this, and went on to win championships. Then you got guys that are in that locker room for the first time that haven’t been a part of this ride and what it feels like. I think, for everybody, what this does is it makes you appreciate it. “What this program has been able to do here over the last seven years is pretty amazing, and it makes you appreciate how hard winning is, how hard winning championships are and how hard winning against good football teams on the road are. That was the year of the Big 12. If you look at the top three teams, the home team won every single one of those games. We had our chances.” chandler.engelbrecht@ou.edu

want that one back,” former OU head coach Lincoln Riley said after the game. “Now, that’s obviously not what cost us the game. There were a lot of other opportunities to separate and put that one away, so we’ll own it. We emphasized special teams coming down here, and historically in this game, there’s been a lot of very significant special teams plays, and there were tonight. Both teams were hurt by it, and both teams were aided by it.” As Riley reiterated, Oklahoma’s implosion was not Gray’s fault alone. The Sooners’ passing offense was stagnant in the second half while freshman quarterback Caleb Williams stumbled under the weight

of his first Bedlam appearance. He completed just six of 18 passes for 48 yards and a fumble in the final quarters after going 14-for-21 with 204 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. Williams had little room to operate behind an offensive line that allowed three fourth-quarter sacks and a season-high six for the game. The player nicknamed “Superman” wasn’t heroic in important moments, converting just two of 10 thirddown attempts and failing to save the day on two fourthdown tries. Redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks was a small bright spot offensively, rushing for 139 yards on 22 carries. However, he was

handed the ball just five times on four possessions after OU took a nine-point lead in the third quarter. “I’m not really about to point fingers, but we didn’t execute as well as we did in the first half,” Brooks said. “We could have done better, but we should have done better. Other than that ... it’s on us.” OU’s defense had plenty of momentum plays in the first three quarters, among them a pair of interceptions by redshirt sophomore cornerback Woodi Washington and a safety forced by senior nose guard Perrion Winfrey. However, the Sooners were penalized a season-high 12 times for 74 yards, compared to six for Oklahoma State. “In all honesty, it felt like we were playing against the refs, too,” said redshirt senior defensive lineman Isaiah Thomas. “But that’s just what happens when you’re on the road environment. It feels like sometimes everyone’s against you. “I’m not going to put anything on the refs because we’ve still got to execute, but you can’t just call a game one sided. ... It’s hard to keep your composure when you’re trying to play for a championship and compete for a spot in the playoffs.” On special teams, sophomore receiver Trevon West bumped OSU’s Brennan Presley into bobbling a punt, and redshirt senior defensive back Justin Broiles was able to return it for a third quarter touchdown.

Broiles’ scoop-and-score delivered Oklahoma’s last points of the night, though, as the Sooner Magic ran out in the fourth quarter. Cowboys quarterback Spencer Sanders ran 37 yards for a touchdown to open the final period and cut the deficit to two before Gray’s gaffe put Oklahoma State on top. Next, OU is most likely headed to the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio with a slim chance at a New Year’s Six game. Following yet another letdown performance, the Sooners’ season nears its completion with expectations unmet. In the interim, former OU head coach Bob Stoops will reprise his role as the Sooners seek a permanent hire. “A horrible feeling is about the only way I can describe it,” Riley said. “We’ve had a chance to win this league six years in a row. We’re not gonna have a chance to do that this year, and it’s a gut punch. … I’m just heartbroken for our players. The guys laid it on the line. They wanted it more than anybody, and I’m proud of the way we fought.” masyoung@ou.edu

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Freshman quarterback Caleb Williams during the Bedlam game against No. 7 Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Nov. 27.

Williams ‘going to grow a lot’ Quarterback draws praise from team despite loss to OSU AUSTIN CURTRIGHT @AustinCurtright

STILLWATER — Caleb Williams settled alone on Oklahoma’s bench. The true freshman quarterback, just minutes earlier, had poised the Sooners for a potential game-winning score after his 50-yard scramble put them deep inside Oklahoma State’s territory. But, after numerous failed end zone shots and a final sack, the former five-star recruit came up short. After the Washington, D.C., native was sacked by Cowboys defensive lineman Collin Oliver, large portions of the 54,990 fans stormed Boone Pickens Field in No. 10 OU’s 37-33 loss to No. 7 OSU on Nov. 27. Williams jogged back into the locker room with tears dripping down his face as he became the first quarterback under former head coach Lincoln Riley to fail to reach a Big 12 Championship. “This game was full of highs and lows,” senior H-back Jeremiah Hall, who led the team with four catches for 76 yards, said of Williams. “He’s emotional right now. I told him to keep his head up. He’s having a tough time right now, a lot of pressure on a young

guy. The weight of the world (is) on his shoulders.” Williams finished 20-of-39 passing for 252 yards and three touchdowns in Oklahoma’s (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) only loss to the Cowboys (11-1, 8-1) in the Lincoln Riley era on Saturday night. The Washington, D.C., native struggled mightily in the second half, where he was just 6-of-18 for 43 yards and a fumble, leading the Sooners’ offense to zero points. Despite the loss, which upended OU’s College Football Playoff hopes, Williams was provided an opportunity to learn and improve moving forward. “He did the best he could,” said redshirt junior running back Kennedy Brooks, who ran for 139 yards on 22 carries. “He’s going to grow a lot from this, and he’s going to be a lot better player. It’s going to take some poise for him to come back and he will come back so I can’t wait to see.” The 6-foot-1 freshman looked positioned to return to the “Superman” form he displayed against Texas on Oct. 9, when he led a 21-point comeback. His first-half performance against Oklahoma State — 14-of-21 for 219 yards and three touchdowns — appeared promising, but he couldn’t lead a fourth-quarter comeback despite three chances to take the lead. Williams, who made just his sixth-career start, posted

his third consecutive game completing under 52 percent of his passes, while taking a combined 13 sacks and leading OU to a 1-2 record in that span. However, in the third quarter, when Oklahoma’s defense caused two turnovers, allowed zero points and helped gain a 33-24 advantage with the offense faltering, Williams displayed a maturity beyond his first-year designation. He returned to Oklahoma’s sideline and sparked conversation with its defense, including senior defensive lineman and team captain Isaiah Thomas. “‘Just give me the ball back, we’ll do the best we can to get the job done,’” Thomas recalled Williams saying. Williams’ culmination of leadership and never-give-up attitude made Riley proud of his performance, despite the outcome. “He fought his guts out, man,” Riley said. “I thought he did a lot of really good things. Made a lot of plays, made a lot of great throws, had the run at the end. This whole stretch will be very valuable for him going forward. He’ll learn so much, and (he’s) not afraid of the moment and made a ton of big plays. I’m proud of the way he played. Always have some things leaving any game that you want back. Like a lot of our guys, he was a warrior.” Williams found early success with his H-backs — Hall,

senior Brayden Willis and junior Austin Stogner — who combined for 166 yards. Willis and Stogner, who both scored a touchdown, grabbed highlight catches in the endzone that were among Williams’ best throws of the game. But when Williams’ shortcomings came in the second half, it was a reminder to Sooners fans of an otherwise disappointing season. Spencer Rattler, the preseason Heisman favorite, was replaced by the freshman, who experienced highs and lows through multiple games decided by single digits. In a season that virtually became Williams’ learning year, different from the national championship hopes Oklahoma originally possessed, he gave flashes of a future Heisman contender. Perhaps a final strong performance, likely in the Alamo Bowl, with chances at a New Year’s Six bout, will provide Williams momentum heading into his first full season as the starter. “He’s a great player,” Brooks said. “He’s matured a lot. He’s going to come back even better, and I can’t wait to see it.” austincurtright@ou.edu

• Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2021

‘School has changed’

COMING UP AT OU

Rise in academic misconduct amid remote learning

Wednesday

Men’s Basketball vs. Florida, 7 p.m. Watch OU take on the Florida Gators at home at 7 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center. For more information, visit soonersports.com. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily.

Thursday

Meet and Greet the Honors Diversity and Inclusion Committee, 6:30 p.m. Come out to meet the Honors Diversity and Inclusion Committee at David L. Boren Hall Room 180 for refreshments and a movie at the Cross Black Box. HDIC is co-hosting with HSA and American Indian Student Association and will be watching the movie “Smoke Signals.” Refreshments will be available. OU Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. OU Symphony Orchestra will be in concert at Sharp Concert Hall featuring Gabriel Fauré’s “Prelude to Pélleas et Mélisande,” Chou Wen-Chung’s “And the Fallen Petals,” and Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Day Dreams.” Jonathan Shames and Chelsea Lu will be conducting.

Friday

Contemporary Dance Oklahoma, 8 p.m. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Sidra Bell creates an exciting new work for the dancers of CDO. There will also be original choreography from School of Dance faculty Leslie Kraus and Roxanne Lyst. The performances will be held in Elsie C. Brackett Theatre. This production is suitable for all audiences. Video on demand will be available.

Saturday

Women’s Basketball vs. Mississippi State, 2 p.m. The Sooners will take on the Mississippi State Bulldogs at home as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. Tipoff is at 2 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily. Christmas at OU, 7:30 p.m. The OU School of Music is hosting a festive, familyfriendly holiday event featuring the OU combined choirs, brass ensemble, saxophone choir, percussion and organ. The concert will also feature the OU University Chorale, Women’s Chorus and Men’s Glee Club. The concert will be at Sharp Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $6-10.

Tuesday, Dec. 7

Women’s Basketball vs. Eastern Michigan, 5 p.m. Watch OU take on the Eastern Michigan Eagles at home at 5 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center. For more information, visit soonersports.com. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily. Men’s Basketball vs. Butler, 8 p.m. The Sooners will take on the Butler Bulldogs at home as part of the Big East/Big 12 Battle. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. at the Lloyd Noble Center.

In March of 2020, COVID19 forced OU students and faculty to leave campus, move classes online and completely change their normal habits. As the community adapted to virtual learning, OU found itself in the same situation as many universities across the country. With classes shifting online, cases of academic misconduct began to rise. Will Spain is the assistant director of the OU Office of Academic Integrity Programs and has worked in the office since 2012. Prior to working in the Office of Academic Integrity Programs, he worked in the Office of Legal Counsel and in athletic compliance. From the 2018-19 academic year to the 2019-20 academic year, OU saw a 57.6 percent increase in academic misconduct cases, going from 565 cases to 891. The next year, the Office of Academic Integrity received 886 academic misconduct cases, following the same trend as the year prior. Spain said the rise in cases is largely due to students taking classes at home. Spain also said those most affected by the change were students who were used to and preferred having their professor in person, having their tests proctored and not having access to other devices while taking exams. Many of the students he met with regarding academic integrity issues had no intention to cheat, but factors like mental health, access to technology and lack of true proctoring affected students’ decisions, Spain said. Another resource students used frequently to help them cheat is Chegg, an online platform where students can rent textbooks, receive tutoring and find answers to homework and exam questions. Political science and letters senior Aaron Turner currently serves as the chair for the integrity council, a student-led group that educates students on academic integrity and guides students through the academic misconduct process “to protect the value of the OU degree.” Turner said while there’s a time and a place for Chegg, an exam environment is not it.

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2021 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Be clear about your wants and plans. Speak from the heart and strive for success. Don’t underestimate others or take on more than you can handle. Inconsistency will hold you back.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Explore new possibilities and use your skills to achieve something big. Taking a diverse approach to life, work and happiness will bring stellar results and encourage exciting partnerships.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Make rational decisions. If you let your emotions take the reins, you will regret the promises you make. Put your health and personal needs first. Take a creative, energetic approach.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) An incident will arise if you let your emotions take charge. Focus on doing the best job possible, and you will receive recognition for a job well done. Refuse to let jealousy or insecurity cause a rift with a loved one.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Put more thought into investments and contracts. Choose a healthy, fit lifestyle. Looking and feeling your best will give you the boost you need to do a good job.

– From staff reports

KAYLIN CARPENTER

Previous Solution

2 6 7 1 6 8 7 9 1 9 4 5 8 2 1 4 4 6 2 9 5 3 2 8 9 3 7 4 4 5 3 6 Instructions: Fill in the grid so7that every row, 3 every column 1 8and every

3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that V. EASY in any row, column or box. no number is repeated

“In many ways, it’s a lot like a less reliable version of our math center here on campus. You take a problem to Chegg and someone answers it and tells you how they got that answer,” Turner said. “Where we get into a problem is when people are taking test questions or big homework problems to Chegg and then not doing their own original work. … Therefore, it’s academic misconduct.” Spain said the issue with Chegg is that students get immediate answers rather than working through the steps and learning the processes, like they would in action tutoring. Additionally, Spain said many students don’t understand that using Chegg for answers is actually plagiarism, the most common form of academic misconduct at OU. “(Plagiarism) has traditionally been our breadwinner in terms of academic misconduct,” Spain said. “I actually haven’t run the exact numbers on this, and some of that was because of difficulty quantifying what exactly we should call some of these newer types of academic misconduct. If I am using Chegg, is it collaboration? Or is it plagiarism? There can be some distinction there.” One of the integrity council’s main goals is to educate students on academic integrity at OU to prevent academic misconduct. The idea is, if students understand what academic misconduct looks like and what the process is following a report, they will be less likely to engage in it. If a student is reported to the Office of Academic Integrity, the report gets sent to Spain’s office, where he then processes the information and meets with students if the situation calls for more than a warning. In these meetings, Spain explains what the student was reported for, what the academic misconduct process looks like and what their rights are as a student. He will also recommend a sanction and give the student the option for an investigation. If the student wants to proceed with an investigation, the integrity council and other faculty members will oversee the process, which will lead to a hearing led by Spain. From there, a panel reaches a resolution and assigns a sanction. Throughout the process, students are allowed to have an adviser present. Advisers can be parents, friends,

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Mull over how you feel about your relationships with others. Make a point to reach out to someone who shares your beliefs and long-term goals. A healthy conversation will help resolve issues.

6 4

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Spend more time nurturing what you’ve worked so hard to build and the relationships that are meaningful to you, and you’ll feel good about your accomplishments. Work to stabilize your life. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Aim high and refuse to let anything or anyone stand in your way. Hard work pays off. Arguing a moot point will slow you down and waste time. Don’t settle for less than what you expect.

7 2 2 4 5 1 ARIES (March 9 21-April 19) Be patient and listen carefully to others. Understand 2 your place and 3 8 6 value in the grand scheme of things. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Don’t take a risk 7with your health, 5 8Put your heart and soul into making reputation or investments. Try to your surroundings more convenient accommodate others. 1 6 and comfortable. 5 Your4 strength will come from doing what’s best for you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) 9Work to increase 3 your prosperity. 2 A sudden change will backfire if you take on too much too5 fast. Take 8 a 6SCORPIO (Oct. 243-Nov.722) moment to work out the logistics, and Refrain from sharing personal you’ll realize what’s 4 required7if you 5information. 8 Be a good listener; 9 it want to become successful. will give you the upper hand when with 1 peers, 8 friends and 2 3 dealing relatives. Take a unique approach V. EASY

to life.

outside lawyers or an adviser from the Student Government Association General Counsel. These advisers are paid for by the university, can step in if a student does not have someone to serve in this role and can serve as a neutral adviser for the student. Second year OU Law student Nick Hazelrigg currently serves in this general counsel role. “I saw this opportunity, and I was like, ‘This would be a good way to do some public service and make some money on the side and also hone my legal skills a little bit,’” Hazelrigg said. Hazelrigg said his role with students who have been accused of academic misconduct is to walk them through the process, answer all questions and go with them to any meetings or hearings. He said the two most beneficial aspects of having an SGA adviser are that they can make the process less scary for students and help strategize the best way to present their case at their hearing. Ultimately, the goals of the process are to teach students the value of academic integrity and how it can impact a student’s learning and to protect the value of the OU degree. “At the end of the day, when we go to OU, we all want to get a degree from OU that is valuable in the job market,” Hazelrigg said. “We can’t do that if OU has a reputation for being a school where people are allowed to get away with cheating and academic misconduct. So it’s important, obviously, to prosecute cases of academic misconduct.” Turner also emphasized the value of the OU degree and how cheating in class can affect a student’s future career. “The stuff you learn here can have real world applications,” Turner said. “If you slept through Engineering 3030, which is how to make a bridge stand up, and then, you’re asked to make a bridge, you would want to know, and you would want someone who hasn’t cheated.” Spain, Turner and Hazelrigg each emphasized the importance and effectiveness of on-campus tutoring resources and reaching out to professors when students are struggling in a course. However, they also explained that professors can take certain actions to prevent academic misconduct in their classes. Turner believes effective

NEWS

communication with students is one of the best ways to gain students’ respect and prevent cheating in a course. “I think professors who are open and honest about their standards and willing to talk to people are pretty good at preventing academic misconduct,” Turner said. “But I also understand that not every professor can be in a class with only 20 people, and so sometimes, there is a question of workload management for them. But I do think that candor and willingness to communicate does a lot of legwork to prevent misconduct.” Hazelrigg believes that mental health plays a major role in a student’s likelihood to cheat. “I think that (COVID-19) has affected a lot of people’s mental health. So I personally think that’s part of it as well. School has changed in COVID, but also we have changed as a result of COVID, and we’re not all doing as well as we might have otherwise,” Hazelrigg said. Hazelrigg said if professors were more aware and understanding of their students’ mental health, more students may seek out other resources “I think a good professor would know that you can’t grow as a student if you are going through a mental health crisis that’s untreated,” Hazelrigg said. “So I think that my advice to professors is to just care about your students’ mental health. You get to decide how much you care and what that looks like in your classroom, but you should care about it and it should be a thought that you have.” As OU stays in its current hybrid model and continues to move toward a fully in-person experience, Spain expects to see academic misconduct numbers start to drift back down to the 500-600 case range. Turner and Hazelrigg expect this as well and are hopeful to see OU life return to what most students and faculty consider “normal.” “I am hopeful that people will be less stressed. I’m hopeful that people will be generally more excited for class and less inclined to fake their way through and commit academic misconduct. Really, I’m just hopeful,” Turner said. “I think being back in the real world will be good for a lot of people’s mental health. It’s certainly good for mine.” kaylin.n.carpenter@ou.edu

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg November 30, 2021 ACROSS 1 One may have more than 10 items 5 Trace of flavor 9 “Enough!” in Ecuador 14 Norway’s most populous city 15 Grapelike berry 16 Put in the paper 17 Groundhog 19 Bob Marley, religiously 20 Longtime Chevy named for an antelope 21 Brooklyn ___, N.Y. 23 Coop female 24 “I’m outta here!” 25 Mix that might include polyester 28 Time card nos. 29 “Paper Planes” rapper 31 Seoul proprietors, say? 32 Mare or stallion, to a child 34 Where the Taj Mahal is 35 Recites the Quran, for example 38 “Go away!” 39 Exploding stars 40 Spinning ride at Disneyland

11/30

43 Tiny pencil 44 Word often added to the five W’s 47 Resisted 49 Yemeni’s neighbor 51 Suffix for “winning” 52 “Brokeback Mountain” director Lee 53 Signals to enter 54 Type face? 57 Beach debris, or a clue to the word that moves through 17-, 25-, 35- and 47-Across 59 Beachy title of Fiona Apple’s debut album 60 Nevada city near California 61 Debussy’s “Clair de ___” 62 Make a face 63 Uses one of the five W’s 64 River that didn’t touch Achilles’ heel DOWN 1 Not great, as an offer 2 Chemical relative 3 Hit the ___ (go skiing) 4 The present 5 “LOL” 6 Hosp. area 7 Chip at a Super Bowl party 8 Trendy videosharing app

9 “Tiny Desk Concerts” station 10 British pop star Rita 11 Interpreted “All of you” as “I love you,” perhaps 12 “Rabbit ears” on an old TV 13 Places to sit, ironically 18 Noisy 22 ___-mo 25 Even outcome 26 Gloat over 27 Bricks that purists don’t pluralize 30 Tax refund org. 32 Illegal booze 33 Yang’s counterpart 35 Question posed while pondering a dilemma 36 Koi habitat

37 “Law & Order” spinoff, for short 38 Caused by an earthquake 40 Posts that may contain “@” 41 School bake sale org. 42 Name that anagrams to “adorns” 44 Is borrowing, as a library book 45 Like a pungent dip 46 Surface cleaner brand 48 Shrek and Fiona 50 Whimpers 53 Corp. cash controllers 55 Molar holder 56 ___-tempered 58 Printer cartridge filler

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

11/16

Boardwalk by Adam Simpson

SPORTS

Nov. 30-Dec. 6, 2021 •

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Confetti rains down as former OU head coach Lincoln Riley holds up the Big 12 Championship trophy after winning the Big 12 Championship game Dec. 2, 2017.

Former OU head coach Lincoln Riley (middle) locks arms with redshirt senior defensive back Chanse Sylvie (left) and redshirt junior offensive lineman Creed Humphrey during the march for unity on Aug. 28.

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Former OU head coach Lincoln Riley holds up the Big 12 Championship trophy after the win against Texas Dec. 1, 2018.

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Former OU head coach Lincoln Riley accepts the Golden Hat trophy after the Sooners won the Red River Showdown at the Cotton Bowl Oct. 12, 2019.

PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Former OU head coach Lincoln Riley grabs the trophy after winning the Big 12 Championship game in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 7, 2019.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

Former OU head coach Lincoln Riley holds up the Big 12 champion trophy after OU won the Big 12 Championship Game against No. 6 Iowa State at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Dec. 19, 2020.