Feb. 8-14, 2022 by OU Daily

W E E K LY E D I T I O N | F E B . 8 -14 , 2 0 2 1 | O U D A I LY. C O M

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3 percent tuition hike proposed OU SGA presents fee simplification KALY PHAN

kaly.n.phan-1@ou.edu

The OU Student Government Association and Division of Student Affairs presented a fees simplification process and strategic plan investments, including a tentative 3 percent tuition rate increase, during a webinar on Jan. 31. The webinar was presented by Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students David Surratt, Associate Vice President of Budget and Finance Stewart Berkinshaw and Senior Vice President and Provost André-Denis Wright, with SGA President Zack Lissau acting as moderator. Lissau said the webinar would be made available on the OU SGA website for any and all to view in the interest of transparency. “(Tonight is) about a

discussion and … to talk about ways in which the university is looking to further look at resources and invest in the university’s future, especially as it relates to our strategic plan, ‘Lead On,’” Surratt said. Berkinshaw said planned investments for the 2023 fiscal year approximate to over $33 million, with the largest portions of money being allocated to a faculty and staff raise program, faculty hiring and maintenance. To pay for these investments, he said the OU Administration and Finance office would be amounting approximately $36 million from various places. The $36 million will be allocated through, but is not limited to, internal budget reductions and reallocations, rate in-

RECENT HISTORY •2021: The OU Board of Regents approved a 2.75 percent increase in tuition and fees for undergraduate and graduate rates. •2018: 5 percent increase in tuition for resident students, with a 6.5 percent increase for undergraduate non-resident students and a 4.3 percent increase for non-resident graduate students. •2017: Former OU President David Boren recommended a 7 percent increase in tuition for resident and non-resident students. •2016: 4.8 percent tuition increase for resident and non-resident students. •2015: 4.8 percent tuition increase for resident and non-resident students. — Jonathan Kyncl

see SGA page 2

Student reps seek education funding KALY PHAN

kaly.n.phan-1@ou.edu

The OU Undergraduate Student Congress passed bills encouraging awareness against the dangers of vaping and advocated for increased funds for higher education during its meeting on Feb. 1. External Affairs chair Lacey Lewis authored a bill which would allow students to advocate and lobby for increased funding for higher education resources, as allocated by the Oklahoma government on behalf of OU. “This is something that (External Affairs) does every single year,” Lewis said. “I think it’s really influential and important for the university’s sake. I’m really happy that students get to get involved this way and meet their local representative, if they’re from Oklahoma, or just get lobbying experi-

ence in general.” Oklahoma currently ranks 47th in the nation for higher education, and Lewis said she believes lobbying for increased funding could increase the chances of climbing the ranks. The resolution passed unanimously with a vote of 21-0-0. Associate Shrey Kathuria spoke on his bill, which recommends an increase in education and awareness for the dangers of vaping and nicotine for OU students. This bill seeks to increase content of the university’s Alcohol and Other Drug training to include content on vaping and to create a health promotion-based, peer-educator facilitated group. Kathuria said he wrote this bill because the “vaping epidemic” has see FUNDING page 2

‘The house was ash and a hole’ OU alumni, student recall Colorado wildfire devastation TAYLOR JONES

taylor.p.jones-1@ou.edu

A wildfire swept through Boulder County, Colorado on Dec. 30, resulting in $513 million in damage and an OU alumnus losing his home. Daniel Hesselius, an OU aviation graduate and current director of flight operations at the University of Colorado, lived in Louisville, Colorado, in a neighborhood called the Enclave where “roughly 90 percent of the houses burned to the ground,”

including Hesselius’. Hesselius said the day of Dec. 30 started like any other. He was off work for the holidays and at home with his wife and highschool-aged son while his other son, another OU graduate, was at the airport about four miles away. “It got really windy late in the morning (with) 90 to 100 mile an hour winds,” Hesselius said. “That’s always concerning. My wife was chasing trash cans down the street because the wind was blowing them away. There were more than hurricane-force winds. And overall, other than that, (we were) just looking for-

ward to New Year’s Eve.” Later in the morning, Hesselius was on his way to pick up his son from the airport. As he drove out of the subdivision, he began to hear sirens and saw smoke. Hesselius said he immediately went back to his home to gather more information on what was happening. “I called my son up at the airport, who said ‘you better get back right away,’” Hesselius said. “He drove about three miles back real quick. He had to drive through pretty much what I would call most of the smoke at that time, which is interesting because, at our house, it

was a clear blue sky. Fantastic visibility. A perfect day. But, if you look to the south from our house … it was almost like it was nighttime.” By this time, Hesselius said he and his family knew they had to evacuate. They grabbed what they could in a matter of minutes. “All it took was that wind direction shifting maybe 15 degrees and that fire that was pretty close turned our way,” Hesselius said. The power went out and the fire marshal knocked on the door to tell the family to evacuate see FIRES page 2

Photo of Louisville, Colorado

PROVIDED BY DANIEL HESSELIUS

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NEWS

Feb 8-14, 2022

SNOW DAYS SHELBY REASOR/THE DAILY

An OU flag in the snow on Feb. 4.

FIRES:

tried to ascertain whether or not they had a house. The alarm system in Hescontinued from page one selius’ house notified the immediately. Hesselius family of the fire for about said he and his family left an hour until the system in a traffic jam, as many stopped responding. families fled the fire. What It was not until two days was normally “a five-min- afterward that Hesselius ute drive” took nearly said he and his family two and a half hours for were able to go see the Hesselius, as he drove his remains of their house. family to the airport to “The house was still acmeet up with their older tually on fire. Parts of the son. house were aflame,” Hes“Ashes were falling out selius said. “The house of the sky, burning embers was ash and a hole. There were falling out of the sky, was nothing left standing and at that point, the wind of the house whatsoever. direction had shifted to Some of the remains still where we were, directly had small, one-foot tall downwind of the fire,” flames burning on it two Hesselius said. days later after it snowed.” That night, Hesselius Hesselius said the said he and his family house had been in the stayed in a hotel as they family for 28 years and he

SGA:

and exercise science, and physics and astronomy departments. continued from page one Wright said these increased costs will allow creases, fundraising and the university to support consolidating back office students who currently do operations. One of these not have access to opporincreases is a proposed tunities that could further tuition rate increase, their education, such as tentatively put at three research or study abroad, percent, pending what due to financial costs. state appropriations will “So, although (the budbe for the 2023 fiscal year. get plan) looks like it may “We do have a placeprohibit students from holder right now for a tui- taking those programs,” tion rate increase,” Berkin- Wright said, “It would shaw said. “That’s always actually look at improving been part of our budget. their experiential learnNothing’s been finalized ing and give them more for that. I just do have a experiences.” placeholder there just to Berkinshaw said the be transparent about what new proposed academic we’re thinking.” service fees structure — The estimated finanwhich was streamlined cial impact for students, and simplified by cutBerkinshaw said, is an av- ting course-specific fees erage of $670 next year in and combining college the impacted areas, which program and technology include the Colleges of fees — was made to be Engineering, Earth and more understandable for Energy, Atmospheric and students. Geographic Sciences and “Right now, we’re … Architecture, and the getting feedback from Dodge Family College of faculty, students and Arts and Sciences chemis- staff and making a final try, biology, microbiology proposal to our regents and plant biology, health

FUNDING: continued from page one

been “very relevant” on campus, with many students becoming addicted, despite the university’s zero tolerance policy. A research study from the CDC found Oklahoma has the highest percentage of e-cigarette users among adults. In 2019, OU’s Public Health Discussion — a student activist and consultancy group dedicated to researching and developing solutions for public health issues on campus — conducted a study on vaping with 281

respondents. The group found nearly one in four people from the survey reported vaping at OU and more than 60 percent believed vaping shouldn’t be allowed on campus, despite being divided on if vaping was harmful. “As somebody who has asthma, I want to feel safe on this campus,” Kathuria said. “I want others who have asthma to feel safe on this campus. It’s important that SGA does everything in its power to protect everyone here.” The bill passed with a vote of 15-7-0 and will move to the Graduate Student Senate for further consideration. Congress also saw

had lived in it for roughly five. Out of about 40 houses in the neighborhood, only about five survived, Hesselius said. “There was absolutely nothing salvageable from the house because the heat was so (intense),” Hesselius said. “We have a big metal rolling tool chest that started to melt. There were two cars in the garage that were completely melted and destroyed and almost nothing on the house was recognizable. Everything just turned to ash.” Current OU student and Spanish foreign language education sophomore Taylor Niehoff said, although her house was not directly affected by the fire, she and her family for approval in our March meeting,” Berkinshaw said. He said the deans he has spoken to are fully on board with the cutting of fees and are concerned the budget structure could become more “credit hour driven.” The shift to credit hours driving the budget, Berkinshaw said, will be surprising but ultimately “for the good of the colleges.” “(For example,) the College of Fine Arts (is) not expecting to grow significantly in enrollment but, if they can maintain their enrollments, there are no changes in their budget, (and) they’ll continue to get what they always receive,” Berkinshaw said. “For others that have the potential to grow and the capacity to grow, there’s an opportunity here for them to see additional funding come back to them.” The OU Board of Regents are currently scheduled to meet March 8-9 at the OU Health Sciences Center. an auxiliary bill, which will appropriate Student Government Association funds to 12 different OU organizations and associations. The act passed with a vote of 20-2-0 and also moves to the GSS. Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, Minority Health Sciences Conference, OU Gaming Club, Tau Beta Pi Association, Interior Design Student Association, Rug Making Club, Biomedical Engineering Society Student Chapter, Afrobeatz Dance, American Indian Student Association, Alpha Lambda Delta and Psychology Graduate Student Association set to receive the proposed funds.

live in Broomfield County, just outside of Boulder County, on the other side of the highway where the fires burned. Niehoff said she and her family were out of town Dec. 30 and only heard about the fire from the news and family friends. “I just remember feeling pretty helpless at the time,” Niehoff said. “Like, there’s really nothing we could do. Even if we were there and we got evacuated, (there was) not much we could do, so I’m really thankful for our family and friends that helped us out to go get our cats taken care of (and) get them out of the house.” Niehoff’s neighborhood did not have to evacuate during the fire, but, in

the uncertainty of the moment, Niehoff said she remembers feeling extremely anxious. Looking back almost a month later, Niehoff said she was most surprised at how the surrounding community sprung to action. “It was incredible to see the community come together,” Niehoff said. “Just friends helping out friends, neighbors helping neighbors. I mean, the fire was still going on. It wasn’t even put out yet before people were sending out messages on Facebook like ‘Hey, what can we donate? Who’s putting together drives?’ and things like that.” Hesselius said he was extremely thankful

and impressed with the community response. The hotel he and his family stayed in allowed all pets to remain with the evacuated families, and an emergency coordination center was created nearby so the Hesselius family could pick up supplies for their dog and receive water, food and other necessities. “It was a fantastic effort to get that together so quickly for everybody, to pool all those resources into one place where everybody could go in kind of one-stop to fix everything,” Hesselius said. “So that was very good and really well done by the community.”

This is a really great question about consent, especially since it implies that neither person was capable of giving consent. Consent is simple until you add alcohol, and then it starts to get tricky. Let’s start with defining consent. OU defines consent as “the act of willingly agreeing to engage in sexual contact or conduct. Individuals who consent to sex must be able to understand what they are doing.” Did you catch the really important piece of that? The person MUST be able to understand what they are doing. If you or your partner is drunk, they are likely not able to meet that requirement... meaning any sexual acts you engage in would be nonconsensual. And if you are also drunk, you may not have been able to give consent either, which makes things even more complicated. If you were both drunk and unable to give explicit consent, you are both at risk of legal repercussions. It may even become “you said, they said” situation, where it’s your word against theirs. Your best bet is to never engage in sexual acts if you’ve been drinking. If you choose to engage in sexual activity while drinking know the following ins and outs of consent and MAKE SURE all of them are met before engaging.

The use of alcohol or intoxication are not legal defenses and will NOT excuse your behavior. Safeguard yourself by setting a drinking limit, keeping your BAC at 0.05 or less, and not engaging in sexual activity while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. This Red Cup Q&A is written by Charlene Shreder, MPS, ICPS, Chloe Sanders, LCSW, and Mackee Slattery, BSW from OU OUtreach Southwest Prevention Center. Content provided by University of Arizona Health Promotion and Preventative Services department of the UA Campus Health Service.

Red Cup Q&A is paid for by SAMHSA SPF-PFS

NEWS

Feb. 8-14, 2022 •

COMING UP AT OU Wednesday Men’s basketball vs. Texas Tech, 8 p.m. The Sooners will take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at home. Tipoff is at 8 p.m. in the Lloyd Noble Center. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit soonersports.com. Don’t forget, students get in free with an OU ID. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports.

Thursday OU University Theatre: The Scarlet Letter, 8 p.m. OU University Theatre presents “The Scarlet Letter” based on the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Guest director Beth Greenberg will present four shows, with opening night on Thursday. Shows on Friday and Saturday will be at 8 p.m. and there will be a matinee performance on Sunday at 3 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.ou.edu/finearts/ universitytheatre.

Friday Women’s gymnastics vs. George Washington, 6:45 p.m. The No. 2 Sooners will host the George Washington Colonials in Lloyd Noble Center. Students get in free with their student ID. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow us on Twitter @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports. For tickets and other information, visit soonersports.com.

Election claim disproven County board refutes machine malfunction claims PEGGY DODD peggy.f.lail-1@ou.edu

Mayoral candidate Nicole Kish’s claim that an election worker took a voter’s ballot after a voting machine malfunction is false, according to the Cleveland County Election Board. Kish claimed on Facebook Thursday that, around 4 p.m., a voting machine had broken during the early voting process and a Kish voter was asked to leave her completed ballot with an election worker. Bill Pretty, the assistant secretary of the Cleveland County Election Board, said that the claim was false. In the event a machine broke down, an election worker would’ve directed the voter to place their ballot in an emergency bin to be scanned once the machine was replaced or fixed. Pretty said no machines have malfunctioned, and no ballot was taken from a voter on Thursday. Around 150 people voted on Thursday, and 200 people had already voted as of Friday afternoon, despite the

ARI FIFE ariani.s.fife@ou.edu

Curiousiday – “For the Love of Natural History,” 10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Join Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History for a day of fizzy reactions, learning how animals in nature find a partner and spread the love for natural history. All activities will be in both English and Spanish and free with general admission. For more information, visit samnoblemuseum.ou.edu. – From staff reports

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Previous Solution

OU announced Friday the hire of OU Health’s inaugural chief executive officer, Dr. Richard Lofgren, following an “extensive and competitive” national search. Lofgren will advance OU Health as the state moves toward an “unmatched union” of patient care, cutting-edge treatments and healthcare research, according to an email. Lofgren will lead the OU Health system in his new position, reporting directly to its board of directors and working on-site in Oklahoma City starting in mid-March. According to the email, he’ll oversee the organization’s strategic vision and growth, clinical and operational direction, quality and safety,

inclement winter weather Norman was experiencing, Pretty said. Friday afternoon, Kish’s campaign Facebook page posted an update to its original claim, saying the voter spoke with Cleveland County Commissioner Rod Cleveland instead of reporting the claim to the county election board. Cleveland then spoke to election officials, who explained what happens when reports like this are made. “They have a procedure to

financial performance and integration. He aims to transform OU Health into a healthcare model that mirrors “the healthiest states in the nation.” “We are confident that under his leadership, OU Health will strengthen our proud tradition of delivering exceptional care while remaining on the forefront of new discoveries,” the email read. Lofgren previously worked at UC Health in Cincinnati, where he’s served as president and CEO since 2013, the email read. According to the UC Health website, the institution is made up of more than 11,000 employees, physicians and practice providers, and includes the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, the West Chester Hospital, the Daniel Drake Center for PostAcute Care and the Lindner Center of HOPE. The email read that while in the position, he led the

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2022 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) Take note of what others do and how they act. Keep your thoughts to yourself, which will help you assess what’s going on without making waves. Time is on your side, and patience will pay off. PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) It’s up to you to bring about change if that’s what’s required. Don’t wait for someone to make a move when taking the helm and making things happen will bring higher returns. ARIES (March 21-April 19) Watch, and you’ll see a pattern form that will help you make up your mind. Call on someone who offers sound advice, and you’ll come up with a plan that will put your mind at ease. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Don’t let uncertainty hold you back. Check off all the boxes and forge ahead with confidence. It’s up to you to make things happen and turn your ideas into something substantial. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Don’t lose sight of your goal. Home in on your target and don’t stop until you reach it. Steer clear of anyone who tends to meddle or entices you to be indulgent. Take your responsibilities seriously.

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.

TREY YOUNG/THE DAILY

People vote in voting booths for the United States Presidential election on Nov. 3, 2020.

follow when things like this happen,” a Kish spokesperson wrote in an email to The Daily. “That procedure was followed.” The spokesperson wrote that the voter “felt concerned” because they were worried their vote would not be counted. In Kish’s original Facebook post, she wrote if voters experience other issues, they should call the “Election Integrity Team” at 405-561-1684. The spokesperson clarified this

number is the automated Kish campaign phone line included on her campaign contact page, which voters can call if they “experience irregularities.” The Norman mayoral and city council election is Tuesday, Feb. 8, while early voting ended at 6 p.m. on Friday. A compilation of The Daily’s coverage on the candidates is available at oudaily. com.

University hires OU Health CEO Dr. Richard Lofgren first to helm system in strategic capacity

Saturday

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Use your skills and knowledge to find a distinct way to get ahead. Team up with someone who has something to contribute, or discuss your ideas with an expert who can help you focus.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Consider indecisiveness a red flag. Spare yourself the worry and stress of getting involved in something that makes you feel uneasy. Protect what you have worked so hard to achieve. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Live in the moment, observe what’s going on around you and learn all you can to help you monetize your skills. If you socialize with like-minded people, promising opportunities will appear. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Put a halt on joint ventures or shared expenses. Divvy up what’s yours and what’s not to protect against loss or do damage control. Go it alone if you want to get things done. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) You’ll attract people who are disciplined and ready to take on additional responsibilities. Discussing your plans with a friend or relative will be enlightening. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Do what suits your needs and helps you stay on course. Taking care of your responsibilities will also keep a meddler at arm’s length. A serious approach to your finances is encouraged. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Pay attention to detail, organize your thoughts and incorporate changes at home and to your schedule to ensure you reach your objective. A kind word will lift someone’s spirits.

organization to becoming a “world-class” academic health system with unprecedented growth and expansion of services. Lofgren earned his medical degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the email read. He earned a Master of Public Health degree and completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. His healthcare leadership experience spans over 40 years and includes positions at University HealthSystem Consortium, the University of Kentucky and the University of Pittsburgh, where he helped execute strategic visions, according to the email. According to the email, Lofgren also has experience

as an academic physician, having earned tenure at the University of Kentucky, the Medical School of Wisconsin and the University of Pittsburgh. He earned 14 awards for teaching excellence throughout his career, as well as becoming a funded researcher, with multiple publications and contributions. He also created two research centers focused on improving healthcare outcomes for veterans. “A national thought leader within academic health care, Dr. Lofgren is an expert in health system transformations and redesign, with a proven track record of uniting hospitals, clinics, and centers into a single enterprise with a single purpose,” the email read.

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg February 8, 2022 ACROSS 1 ___-fi 4 Beats by a long shot, say 11 TV show with a cold open 14 Sheet-___ dinner 15 “Gotta have that!” 16 Seydoux of “No Time to Die” 17 *Campaign strategist’s targets 20 Wilson of “The Office” 21 Where clouds “hang out” 22 Annoy 23 Language family including Ukrainian 25 Season for sledding 26 Cuatro + cuatro 28 Religious act 29 Appealing to hipsters, perhaps 32 High-five invitation 34 Baker’s measurements: Abbr. 38 Apt anagram of a flower symbolizing love 39 Benefit of a promotion, often 40 Exchange 41 “ur hilarious” 42 Cream-filled pastries 44 “Rocks” at a bar 45 Letters before 15 or 30, on

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some tubes 46 DVD predecessor 47 Luka Doncic’s league 48 In mint condition 49 Sea creature such as Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid” 51 Not short 53 Coca-___ chicken 55 Kagan who was Harvard Law’s first female dean 59 Opposite of 48-Across 62 Border on 63 Adored 64 Ctrl+Y, on a PC 65 Ear projection 66 Baggy 67 Mix 68 Result of a spill 69 Leopard’s markings 70 “Como ___ usted?” DOWN 1 Cowboy boot accessories 2 Gondolier’s waterway 3 Country with the highest rail bridge (in Jammu and Kashmir) 4 Occasion for eating out? 5 Sea urchin, in Japanese cuisine 6 Rx purchases 7 Timid 8 Whirling

water 9 Actress Tyler 10 “Enough of that!” 11 Frozen rain 12 Gumption 13 Beam from a high-tech alarm 18 Foreign representatives 19 Central beliefs 24 *They ring at Notre Dame 25 *Pair on a front windshield 27 Stones with a fire variety 28 Violinist’s block 29 Fish that can swim backward 30 Let fall 31 *Caddie’s bagful 33 Spanish for “aunt” 35 Common playground fixtures ... or

36 37 42 43 50 52 53 54 56 57 58 60 61

the starred clues’ answers? Salsa brand Erupt “Casino Royale” actress Green ___ Paulo Prices that are set Frontline health professional Relaxed Double-reed instrument Play on repeat Salad dressing staple: Abbr. Warbler’s digs Proofreader’s change Explorer with a talking map

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

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Back and Forth by Karen Stock and Matthew Stock

SPORTS

• Feb. 8-14, 2022

OU’s 2022 signing class STAFF REPORTS

Oklahoma has solidified its 2022 signing class in the last three months despite the abrupt departure of Lincoln Riley for Southern California, which in turn threw the Sooners for a loop in recruiting. New head coach Brent Venables and his rebuilt staff have done their best to retain previous commits and add new pledges since Riley left. OU signed 21 players between the Dec. 15 early signing day and the Feb. 2 late signing day. Follow along with the OU Daily’s tracker of all 2022 signing activity: All rankings and stars are provided by the 247Sports Composite Ratings, while stats are per MaxPreps. Feb. 2 signees JOSHUA McCOY/OLE MISS ATHLETICS

Former Mississippi and current OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby during the Rebels’ game against Vanderbilt on Nov. 20 in Starkville, Mississippi.

Lebby returns home to OU New offensive coordinator builds with ‘genuine juice’ AUSTIN CURTRIGHT austincurtright@ou.edu

Jeff Lebby wasted no time after coming to Oklahoma. The Sooners’ new offensive coordinator signed his compliance and human resources paperwork and instantly went on the recruiting trail. First, a trip to Flower Mound, Texas, awaited. Lebby coveted four-star 2022 quarterback Nick Evers, who he recruited during his previous job at Mississippi. The 38-year-old coach invited Evers to take an official visit to Norman after he arrived at his home and garnered a quick commitment from Evers on Dec. 13, just five days after Lebby’s hiring was officially announced by OU on Dec. 8. However, the Oklahoma graduate, who has returned for his second stint as an OU coach, wasn’t done there. Lebby acquired more for the Sooners’ 2022 class, signing Evers’ friend and freshman-year roommate, fourstar receiver Jayden Gibson from Winter Garden, Florida. Twenty-seven days after being announced, Lebby made his biggest splash, landing Central Florida transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel. Lebby recruited the Mililani,

Hawaii, native to Orlando and coordinated the Golden Knights’ offense in 2019, when then-freshman Gabriel threw for 3,653 yards and 29 touchdowns. On Feb. 2, Lebby spoke for the first time as OU’s offensive coordinator to discuss its 2022 recruiting class. The offensive coordinator has helped bolster Oklahoma’s 2022 class, replace its positional needs with transfers and install a culture in his 56 days on the job. Lebby contributed to signing four-star running back Jovantae Barnes, who committed at the 2022 Under Armour All-American Game, along with retaining fellow four-star running back Gavin Sawchuk and four-star pass catchers Nicholas Anderson and Kaden Helms, among others. Lebby and OU head coach Brent Venables boasted the Sooners’ “hit-rate” on gaining commitments from players they’ve invited for official visits, noting they’ve missed on just one player that’s stopped by. Lebby chalked up Oklahoma’s recruiting success since Lincoln Riley’s departure for Southern California to the culture being built in Norman. “I think the thing I’ve continued to say is: ‘genuine juice,’” Lebby said. “There’s a lot of fake, fluffy juice out there with guys. But I think when you walk in the building, we

really do have genuine juice. We care about young people, we care about the people that we work with every single day, we care about Oklahoma football, and we care about the University of Oklahoma.” Now that Lebby has time to rest after contributing to the Sooners’ No. 8-ranked recruiting class, their highest since 2019, according to 247Sports, he recapped the process that returned him to coach at his alma mater. W h e n Ve n a b l e s , t h e Sooners’ defensive coordinator long ago, contacted Lebby about becoming his first offensive coordinator as a head coach, the former OU graduate assistant from 2002-06 had one question. He asked for the pen, because he was ready to sign immediately and reunite with a fellow assistant from his first stint in Norman. “I think I’ve always wanted to be back and have an opportunity to be back,” Lebby said. “I’ve told a lot of people, ‘I’ve got asked to come back to Oklahoma twice,’ (and) I said yes as fast as I could. And that’s the reality of it.” Lebby’s next collegiate job after leaving his GA role with the Sooners was as an offensive assistant at Baylor from 2008-16. He was then fired by the Bears in 2016 following their sexual assault scandal under head coach Art Briles. He is also married to Briles’ daughter. However, according to

Venables, Lebby went through a lengthy vetting process and was deemed an acceptable hire. “There was a vetting process done by our administration,” Venables said. “A lot of interviews, a lot of vetting. Obviously, I’ve known Jeff for a long time and there’s some things that I was aware of for a long time. It’s not like the last time I spoke to him was when he was a player and I was a coach at Oklahoma. “But, (I) felt very good after the vetting process that we are getting somebody of high integrity (and) of high morals that has been about the right stuff. The people where he’s worked have nothing but incredible things to say about him.” Although Lebby has his hands full building an offense from scratch without OU’s starting quarterback from last season, Caleb Williams, and its leading rusher in running back Kennedy Brooks, he won’t be using that as an excuse. Last season, Lebby choreographed an offense at Ole Miss that ranked third nationally in yards per game and fourth in points scored, despite spending just his second season there. At UCF, in just one season as the offensive coordinator in 2019, his unit ranked second nationally in yards and fifth in points scored. Quick turnarounds aren’t unusual for Lebby, and

• Gracen Halton, DL, St. Augustine High School (San his expectations won’t be Diego, California), Stars: 4 scaled back for Gabriel and the Sooners’ unit. Thankfully for Oklahoma, having an ex- • Jamarrien Burt, ATH, Forest perienced quarterback who High School (Ocala, Florida), knows Lebby’s system can Stars: 3 help accelerate the process. “I tell (Gabriel) all the time, • R. Mason Thomas, DL, we’re in a race against our- Cardinal Gibbons High selves to be as good as we School (Fort Lauderdale, possibly can be before we Florida), Stars: 3 get into spring ball,” Lebby said. “Having (Gabriel), that’s • Gentry Williams, CB, Booker a huge piece of it. But what T. Washington High School we’re trying to do is, we want (Tulsa, Oklahoma), Stars: 4 to find ways to get them the (offense) install in pre-spring, Early signees spring, summer and fall camp. And I feel like if they’re going to get it four times before we • Jaren Kanak, ATH, Hays ever step onto the field against High School (Hays, Kansas), UTEP (in our season opener), Stars: 4 mentally, we’re going to be in a really good spot.” • Kaden Helms, TE, Bellevue Soon, after the Sooners West High School, (Bellevue, c o m p l e t e t h e i r o f f s e a - Nebraska), Stars: 4 son workout regimen with strength and conditioning • Jake Taylor, OT, Bishop coach Jerry Schmidt, also in Gorman High School (Las his second stay at OU, Lebby Vegas, Nevada), Stars: 4 will get his first crack at developing another high-powered • Alton Tarber, DL, Deerfield offense in the post-Riley era. “Fifteen years have gone Beach High School (Deerfield by since I spent my last fall Beach, Florida), Stars: 3 in Norman,” Lebby said. “Humbling for me to be back • Gavin Sawchuk, RB, in this position being the of- Valor Christian High fensive coordinator. Sitting in School (Highlands Ranch, a great chair. It’s got a lot of his- Colorado), Stars: 4 tory and a ton of tradition. “I look forward to fighting • Jayden Rowe, CB, Union for every inch every single day High School (Tulsa, to continue to build this thing Oklahoma), Stars: 4 the right way.”

Roof embraces Sooners legacy New defensive coordinator follows Brent Venables’ leadership to OU COLTON SULLEY colton.m.sulley-1@ou.edu

When Ted Roof arrived at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium for the first time in December, one thing in particular caught his eye. It wasn’t the bronze statues of hall of fame coaches Bud Wilkinson and Bob Stoops that surround the facility or the record seven Heisman trophies that line the hallways of the Barry Switzer Center. It was the 50 conference championships marked in crimson on the back of the stadium video board that captivated the 35-year veteran coach. “Just as important as the great coaches and players, (it was) the great teams that certainly jumped out at me,” Roof, who had never been to Norman before being hired

as OU’s defensive coordinator, said on Wednesday. “I understand the privilege and the responsibility that comes with that.” That tradition is what led Roof to follow new coach Brent Venables from Clemson to Oklahoma after Lincoln Riley stunned the nation by leaving for Southern California. Venables’ strong leadership and track record made the decision easy. The two worked together for just one season with the Tigers, but Roof quickly took note of the passion and care Venables shows his assistants and players. Being a defensive assistant, he had a front-row seat to some sterling moments and some rough ones during an up and down 10-3 season. “How passionate and driven he is, the energy that he brings and how much he cares about those kids and pours into them and the staff as well,” Roof said of what stood out about Venables during their time at Clemson. “(He) was a guy that gave it all he had every

day and that jumped out.” A native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Roof played linebacker at Georgia Tech and once recorded 25 tackles in a single game against Tennessee, the second-most in program history. After college, he entered coaching as a graduate assistant at Alabama in 1987. Since then, he has coached at 13 different places, compiled a 6-45 head coaching record at Duke from 2004-07, and won a national championship as defensive coordinator at Auburn in 2010. Roof last served as defensive coordinator at Vanderbilt in 2020, a season that saw the Commodores finish 0-9. When Venables offered him the Oklahoma job, Roof finally received an opportunity to prove that he can lead a defense again. “When this opportunity was presented to me, I couldn’t say yes fast enough,” Roof said. “I’m so excited, humbled and appreciative to be here under the leadership of coach

Venables and the tremendous history and tradition that the University of Oklahoma is known for throughout the country.” While his career hadn’t taken him to Oklahoma until now, Roof has always admired Sooner legends from afar. He has known Stoops for more than 20 years, going back to his time as defensive coordinator at Florida and remembers once meeting Switzer. Perhaps his biggest connection to OU is his friendship with Jay Wilkinson, the son of Bud and a former AllAmerican halfback at Duke. Now that he’s in Norman, Roof has the opportunity to get OU’s defense back to where it once was under those legendary coaches. It helps that he and Venables brought defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis and co-defensive coordinator Todd Bates with them from Clemson. Roof and his defensive staff helped Oklahoma finish as one of only two schools with a top 10 transfer and signing

• Kevonte Henry, LB, Leuzinger High School (Lawndale, California), Stars: 3

• Jacob Sexton, OT, Deer Creek High School (Edmond, Oklahoma), Stars: 4

• Robert Spears-Jennings, S, class for 2022 on Wednesday. Broken Arrow High School They locked up four-star cor- (Broken Arrow, Oklahoma), nerback Gentry Williams, Stars: 4 a Tulsa native, and flipped three-star edge rushers R. • Cedric Roberts, DL, Mason Thomas and Kevonte Hendrickson High School Henry from Iowa State and (Pflugerville, Texas), Stars: 3 Michigan, respectively. For Roof, signing day was • Nicholas Anderson, WR, just the first step in helping Katy High School (Katy, Oklahoma compete for chamTexas), Stars: 4 pionships. The journeyman coach is as ready for the chal• Kip Lewis, LB, Carthage lenge as one can be. “I have so much respect for High School (Carthage, the coaches and the players Texas), Stars: 4 that have come through here before,” Roof said. “Wherever • Nick Evers, QB, Flower you go and whatever you do, Mound High School (Flower you want to make an impact Mound, Texas), Stars: 4 and you want to leave it better than where you found it. • Jason Llewellyn, TE, Aledo “And at the same time, I’m High School (Aledo, Texas), excited about the opportuni- Stars: 3 ty to try to make it better. And again, I know because of the • Kobie McKinzie, LB, history of Oklahoma and all the great coaches, players, Lubbock-Cooper High School teams, tough-minded com- (Lubbock, Texas), Stars: 4 petitors that have built this place, there’s a responsibility • Jayden Gibson, WR, West that goes with it and (it’s) one Orange High School (Winter Garden, Florida), Stars: 4 I’m ready to embrace.”