March 29-April 4, 2022 by OU Daily

W E E K LY E D I T I O N | M A R C H 2 9 - A P R I L 4 , 2 0 2 2 | O U D A I LY. C O M

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PEGGY DODD/THE DAILY

Norman Mayor Breea Clark speaks at the Pike Off OTA rally inside the Oklahoma state Capitol rotunda on March 23.

Norman protests OTA Residents rally against turnpike plan at state Capitol PEGGY DODD plail-1@ou.edu

Hundreds of Normanites and residents from cities surrounding Norman flooded into the fourth floor of the Oklahoma state Capitol rotunda Wednesday, armed with shouts of “go away, OTA” that echoed through the halls, stretching into the Senate and House of Representatives chambers. Their signs reflected worries of losing their homes to a turnpike, which is proposed to cut straight through the rural east side of Norman and extend along Indian Hills Road. Blindsided by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s announcement, residents brought their emotions to the lawmakers. Some carried pictures of their homes on posterboards while others made shirts that advocated for the OTA’s downfall. A few parents brought their children, clothed in anti-OTA language, carrying signs that read, “don’t take my home.” Pike Off OTA, a grassroots organization opposing the construction of the ACCESS Oklahoma Kickapoo Turnpike extension, formed after the creation of the Facebook group, “NO MORE TURNPIKES, Oklahoma!” exceeded 5,000 members. T h e ra l l y b e ga n w i t h speakers from Pike Off OTA, including OU Professor Dr. Amy Cerato, WildCare Executive Director Inger Giuffrida, lawyer Stan Ward, transportation policy analyst Tom Elmore and former Ward 5 Councilmember and Pike Off OTA President Michael Nash. Ward was the first to speak

at the rally and discussed possible legal steps the organization may take, including finding any potential Open Meeting Act violations from OTA. In a press conference before the rally, Ward said that if OTA is found to violate this act, anything they’ve decided would no longer be valid, and the organization would have to start over with their turnpike plan. “We have people that are going to be looking very carefully at the agendas and the minutes of the last five years … to see if, in fact, (OTA) had given notice that’s reasonably calculated to tell ‘we the people’ of the business to be transacted,” Ward said. Ward was an attorney for the Fraternal Order of Police during an Open Meeting Act lawsuit filed against the city of Norman following a decision to reallocate $865,000 from the Norman Police Department’s proposed budget increase in June 2020. Ward called OTA “dreamers and schemers” and encouraged attendees to say “hell no” to the proposal. Cerato followed Ward, saying that Pike Off, OTA wants a modification to state statute 69-1702 — which pertains to the authority to construct, maintain, repair and operate roads — that would limit the power of OTA, as well as actions by legislators against the organization. “We the people want the legislators to put regulatory oversight protections in place to hold the OTA accountable … to remove the sovereignty they bestowed upon the OTA 70 years ago and replace it with accountability, transparency and ethical engineering,” Cerato said. C e ra t o a l s o a d v o c a ted for the preservation of

rose rocks, the official state rock and a rare geological find. She said that a small band between Lake Stanley Draper and Noble is the only place in the world where these rocks can be found, an area threatened by the turnpike, adding that she is working to make this area a national geoheritage site. “The citizens of Oklahoma, together with elected officials, must hold the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority accountable and preserve this rare geological formation for generations to come,” Cerato said. “Keep fighting friends. We are going to succeed.” Giuffr ida sp oke after Cerato, continuing discussions about the ecological impacts of the turnpike, calling the ACCESS Oklahoma plans “destructive,” “callous” and an “assault” on rural lifestyle and culture. According to Giuffrida, the turnpike would cut off wildlife access to Lake Thunderbird, affect bald eagle nesting sites, migratory birds, kill thousands of animals that use the wetlands of the lake and cause habitat degradation leading to a “wildlife desert.” “If (the turnpike) runs a l o ng t h e w e s t o f L a ke Thunderbird, it is going to be disastrous for wildlife, some of which we know to be threatened and endangered,” Giuffrida said. “This was not considered at all by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.” Giuffrida talked about watershed impacts, saying that the toll road will create pollution from vehicle traffic within Lake Thunderbird, which serves as the source of water for Norman, Del City and Midwest City. Giuffrida serves as the executive director of WildCare, a 4 0 - ye a r o rga n i z at i o n based in Noble, dedicated

to protecting Oklahoma’s wildlife. The turnpike will run about half a mile from the front of WildCare’s properties, which Giuffrida said may make it “untenable” for the organization to continue its work. “People’s lives will be turned upside down to save a few minutes of commute times and travel reliability time. … Let’s protect the land that we love, the wildlife that roams it, the water we all rely on and the people that have made their lives in these wonderful places in Oklahoma,” Giuffrida said. Elmore, who has 40 years of experience in independent transportation policy, was involved in shutting down a similar turnpike project in 1999. In his speech, Elmore addressed Tim Gatz, the secretar y of transportation and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation executive director, saying that he has disappointed the citizens of Oklahoma. “Let me tell you that Mr. Gatz and his predecessors and this governor and the legislators who enabled this, the people of the state of Oklahoma with their roads, their investment, their trust in public officials, are getting the short end of the deal,” Elmore said. Nash, who was appointed to the Norman city council in 2020 and served before losing his seat in the 2021 election, spoke about the unity the turnpike brought to Oklahoma. “In a display of unity we haven’t seen in 20 years, the people have dismissed their trivial differences and organized to fight a common enemy that threatens all Oklahomans,” Nash said. “We’re stopping the turnpike project. We’re stripping the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority of their ability to

ever do this again.” Prior to the March 22 city council meeting, Nash held a press conference highlighting Pike Off OTA’s goals. During that conference, Nash said that the plan would affect more than 1,000 people in the cities surrounding Norman, adding that nearly five percent of Noble’s population will be displaced. According to rally organizers, every gubernatorial candidate was invited to speak at the rally, including Gov. Kevin Stitt, but only Republican candidate Mark Sherwood attended. Sherwood said that the wildlife and nature that would be destroyed by the turnpike was “heartbreaking” and encouraged residents to continue calling legislators and demanding more accountability for OTA. “OTA should mean office without accountability,” Sherwood said. “We can’t keep building turnpikes to pay off past debt. … We need representation again, we don’t need someone to profit off of you and call you just a rooftop.” He added that a turnpike was built near where he used to hunt and fish and changed the land and atmosphere of the community. “I go there today and it looks like a different place. It not only changes the character of the land, it changes the culture of the people. Our state should not be about trying to make more money in the bank accounts of politicians, it should be about trying to create more quality in the lives of the citizens of the state of Oklahoma,” Sherwood said. Norman Ward 5 Councilmember Rarchar Tortorello and Mayor Breea Clark spoke at the rally as well, with Clark using her

time to send a message to Gov. Stitt. “We do not stand blindly while you ruin retirement homes, dream homes, multigenerational homes, businesses. We deserve better than this. If you are going to be my governor, come out of that office and join me in Norman and let me introduce you to the people who will be impacted by this turnpike,” Clark said. Later Wednesday afternoon, Clark tweeted that she had stopped by Gov. Stitt’s office, leaving a letter inviting him to walk the neighborhoods that would be impacted by the ACCESS Oklahoma turnpike and asking to speak with him about the notification process and planning stages of the turnpike. Tortorello expressed his pride in Ward 5 and Norman while echoing Clark’s call to the governor. “This is your hometown, governor. You grew up in Norman. … We are fighting for your people, and we are asking that you fight with us,” Tortorello said. “I am so proud of my Norman. Gov. Stitt, I ask you to come down and walk with us.” At the city council meeting on March 22, the council unanimously passed a resolution expressing its opposition to the turnpike. Every council member spoke out against the turnpike, and Clark assured the people of Norman that their city leadership fully supported them. S e ve ra l st ate l e g i sla tors spoke at the rally, including Sen. Mary Boren (D-Norman), House District 46 Rep. Jacob Rosecrants (D-Norman) and House District 45 Rep. Merleyn Bell (D-Norman). Boren began her speech by thanking the attendees for coming see TURNPIKE page 2

NEWS

• March 29-April 4, 2022

OU hires 1st associate VP of tribal relations Role to ‘enhance’ OU, Tribal Nations partnerships PEGGY DODD plail-1@ou.edu

VIA UNIVERSITY PRESS RELEASE

OU’s first Associate Vice President of Tribal Relations Tana Fitzpatrick.

O U P re s i d e nt Jo s e p h Harroz announced Tana Fitzpatrick as OU’s first associate vice president of tribal relations in a Friday afternoon press release. As associate vice president, Fitzpatrick will work to “enhance and sustain” the partnerships between OU and Oklahoma’s Tribal Nations across all three of OU’s campuses, according to the release. Her other responsibilities will include working to support faculty in “scholarship, outreach and engagement” with Indigenous communities and Tribal Nations and

developing and implementing a strategic plan for OU’s Indigenous initiatives, according to the release. Fitzpatrick began her position on March 21, returning to her hometown of Norman with 14 years of legal experience through tribal and federal service. “ He r v a s t b re a d t h o f knowledge and her diverse professional background will be a significant asset in our university’s commitment to honoring the fundamental partnerships we share with our Native Nations,” Harroz said in the release. Fitzpatrick received a bachelor’s degree in political science and Spanish from Oklahoma City University before attending Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. While in Arizona, she worked as an attorney for

two tribal communities. She served in the U.S. Department of the Interior as senior counselor to the Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs and in the Office of Management and Budget and the National Indian Gaming Commission. Re c e nt l y , Fi t z p at r i ck worked in the Congressional Research Ser vice at the Library of Congress. She’s published reports on tribal matters, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs appropriations, energy and implications of the Supreme Court ruling of McGirt v. Oklahoma. “Her specialized knowledge and her ability to distill complex issues for a variety of constituents make her an outstanding choice for this important role at OU,” Harroz said.

OU Law announces Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair Pratt first to fill position focused on civil rights law, race ARI FIFE

ariani.s.fife-1@ou.edu

The OU College of Law announced March 21 that it selected the current Washburn University School of Law dean to serve as its first Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair in Civil Rights, Race and Justice in Law. According to the College of Law press release, Carla Pratt is slated to enter the position

in the fall of 2022, focusing on teaching and conducting research in civil rights law, election law and race in the legal system. Pratt has served as Washburn University School of Law dean and professor since 2018 and has taught classes centered around constitutional law, federal Indian law, education law and race’s relationship with law. Pratt told The Daily that she has worked as an administrator for many years and is excited to return to the classroom and engage more with students. As an Oklahoma native, she said she was originally interested in the position because it directly aligned with

her specialties and allowed her to return to her home state. “It seemed like the stars had kind of aligned and that there was a chair available that had been named for someone who I certainly have very high regard for,” Pratt said. OU Law administrators announced the creation of the endowed chair position in September 2019, in response to the 70th anniversary of the admission of Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher, the first Black OU Law graduate. Associate law professor Melissa Mortazavi, who helped develop the position,

PEGGY DODD/THE DAILY

Attendants of the Pike Off OTA rally hold signs inside the Oklahoma state Capitol rotunda on March 23.

TURNPIKE: continued from page 1

a n d e n c ou rag i ng v o t e r registration. “I think that everybody in the state of Oklahoma knows that everyone is in the same place when it comes to OTA, we just don’t know whose turn it’s going to be next,” Boren said. “And hopefully, by using our voices and using our votes, we can change the way the OTA treats Oklahomans.” Boren ended her speech by saying Gov. Stitt has the power to stop OTA, “right now, right here,” adding that a lot of voters at the rally voted for him and trusted him to “listen to the voices” of his constituents. Rosecrants welcomed the rally to “their house” at the start of his speech, adding that the fight against OTA was not solely for Norman,

but also for all Oklahomans. He also spoke about the unity and bipartisanship the conflict has bred. “This is not a Republican issue. This is not a Democrat issue. This is not a Libertarian issue. It’s an issue for all of us,” Rosecrants said. “The legislature doesn’t fund OTA like they’re above us. Somebody asked me to defund OTA, but I literally can’t, which is crazy.” B e l l , w h o re p re s e n t s Norman’s Ward 5 at the state level, was the last speaker at the rally. She talked about the importance of constituents contacting their representatives, saying that legislators aren’t “privy” to the voices of Oklahomans due to the lack of communication like she’s received by residents since the turnpike announcement. “ I t h i n k w h a t y o u ’v e shown more than anything

else is that when it really does affect you, you will stand up, you will heed the call, you will make your voices heard. And I think every House member and every senator in this building needs to hear that message,” Bell said. Bell encouraged rally attendees to visit as many legislators as possible while at the state Capitol and asked them to sign up for her updates to stay informed about how she is fighting the turnpike, adding her last conversation with the OTA “didn’t go great.” “East Norman is so much more than pasture land and farming. … One of the most beautiful letters that I’ve ever received said, ‘It’s where our children dance underneath the stars together,’” Bell said. “It’s not the beginning of the beginning for (OTA), but it is the beginning of the beginning for this fight.”

said it would be the first crowdsourced professorship at OU and the first professorship focused on civil rights, race and law in Oklahoma. Since its creation, nearly 80 different donors have contributed about $100,000 to fund the chair, and a gift of $910,000 from an anonymous donor completed the fund in September 2020. Before her work at Washburn, Pratt served as associate dean for diversity and inclusion, Nancy J. LaMont faculty scholar and professor of law at Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law, according to the release. While there, she was

awarded the law school’s Philip J. McConnaughay Award for achievement in diversity-related work. From 2012-18, Pratt served as an associate justice for the Supreme Court of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Pratt told The Daily that although her position will consist mostly of teaching, she believes it might also entail collaborating with Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Belinda Higgs Hyppolite and OU Law faculty, staff and students on some of the law school’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

As the inaugural Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher Chair, Pratt said she’s not entering the position with an agenda, instead aiming to shape her role around what her colleagues hope she can accomplish. By maintaining an impeccable work ethic, Pratt said Fisher created an impressive standard for herself, which she hopes to emulate while in the role. “I have to make sure that I’m not disappointing the Fisher family,” Pratt said. “Her children still reside in the area, and I want them to be proud of the things that I do in their mother’s name.”

CULTURE

March 29 - April 4, 2022 •

COMING UP AT OU Tuesday Softball vs. Wichita State, 6 p.m. The Sooners will take on the Wichita State Shockers at Marita Hynes Field. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit soonersports.com. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow @OUDaily or @OUDailySports on Twitter.

Baseball vs. Oklahoma State, 7 p.m. OU will take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys at home in L. Dale Mitchell Park. 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 @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports on Twitter.

Thursday Women’s gymnastics vs. NCAA Norman Regional Second Round, 7 p.m. The Sooners will take on Arkansas, Arizona State and tickets, visit soonersports.com. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports on Twitter. Mobile Mammograms Mammogram bus will be available on campus. Most insurances, including government plans, cover yearly screenings for no out-of-pocket cost for women 40 and older and most insurance is accepted. Call (800) 422-4626 to schedule an appointment.

Friday Softball vs. University of Alabama at Birmingham, 6:30 p.m. OU will take on the UAB Blazers at home at Marita Hynes Field. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit soonersports.com. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow @OUDaily or @ OUDailySports on Twitter.

Saturday Women’s gymnastics vs. NCAA Norman Regional Finals, 5 p.m.

information or to purchase tickets, visit soonersports. com. For game day coverage, visit oudaily.com and follow @OUDaily or @OUDailySports on Twitter.

– From staff reports

Blake Douglas Editor-in-Chief Jillian Taylor News Managing Editor Mason Young Sports Editor Trey Young Visual Editor Justin Jayne Video Editor

Chandler Engelbrecht Enterprise Editor Jazz Wolfe Culture Editor Makenna Buckskin Engagement Editor Francisco Gutierrez Copy Chief Seth Prince Staff Adviser

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Previous Solution

6 8 1 9 8 2

2 6 7

1 9

4 5 1 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

‘I grew up watching it’ OU student takes home cash prize, wins trips COOPER MARSHALL

cooper.r.marshall-1@ou.edu

Joya-Dean Hegamin has been a fan of “Wheel of Fortune” since she was a baby. “It was like a family thing. I grew up watching it with (my momma and gramma),” said Hegamin, a women’s and gender studies senior. “My gramma says I’m the only person who can beat her, and I’m holding onto that streak.” Last Tuesday, Hegamin won over $40,000 and two trips to Europe. Hegamin submitted her audition to the show in 2020, thinking she could get in with few submissions due to the modifications in effect due to COVID-19. It took almost two years to hear back. “After they contacted me about going onto the show, it just felt like a dream,” Hegamin said. When she was accepted in

December 2021, she also indicated that she wanted to participate during College Week, when all Wheel of Fortune contestants are college students. She had no idea when she would get to participate. A month before recording, she received a call asking her to go down. She immediately booked a flight. “ I p r i o r i t i z e W h e e l ,” Hegamin said in an interview with Maggie Sajak, a Wheel of Fortune social correspondent. She took an early spring break to California where “Wheel of Fortune” is filmed. Filming took place in only one day. Before filming started, Hegamin was able to meet the other contestants, Sami Martinez and Michael Zargari, and also practiced spinning the iconic wheel. “The wheel was really heavy. Having the opportunity to practice was really cool,” Hegamin said. When she played, it felt like everything fell into place. She knew exactly what to do from her years of watching the show.

HOROSCOPE By Eugenia Last

TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 2022 ASTROGRAPH by Eugenia Last ARIES (March 21-April 19) Take stock of what you’ve done and what’s left to do. Taking an energetic approach and reaching out to those who complement your skills and share your mindset will encourage success. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Control your emotions when working alongside others. Making a change without consulting others will cause havoc. Use your power of persuasion to get others to do things your way. GEMINI (May 21-June 20) Stick to instructions. Be wary of anyone who tries to lure you down a slippery slope. Temptation is the enemy, and intelligence and practicality will be necessary. Romance is apparent.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Joya-Dean Hegamin on “Wheel of Fortune.”

CANCER (June 21-July 22) Keep your thoughts to yourself and do your own thing. You’ll leave others wondering what you’ll do next. A modern approach will capture the moment and put you in the spotlight.

6 4

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Participate in events that give you the platform you need to show everyone who you are and what you have to offer. Share your thoughts and intentions with someone who can help you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) Refuse to let anyone goad you into an argument. Gravitate toward people who encourage you to use your skills uniquely and live life your way. Make happiness your long-term goal. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) Listen carefully, but don’t get into a debate with someone looking for a fight. Focus on professional gains and taking care of your responsibilities. Discipline will be required. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Work behind the scenes putting together a foolproof plan that will tip the scale in your favor. Precision and attention to detail will ensure that you gain momentum and get things done.

7 2 9 2 4AQUARIUS 5(Jan. 20-Feb.119) Set your sights on accomplishment. 2 3Wasting time 8on something 6 that doesn’t fit your lifestyle, budget or skill set will 7 5 8leave you in a vulnerable position. Don’t be a follower. 1 6 5 4 VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) Get into the groove and make your 9Pay attention 3to others while2letting move. You have plenty going for you, so your imagination run free. You are don’t let anyone stand5 in your8way. Be 6 overdue for a change that will 7 make you a leader, look at the big picture and feel content and give you peace of focus on reaching 4your goals.7 5mind. Follow 8 a path that brings 9 you joy. 2 3 1 8 LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) Making a change based on your emotions could cost you. Think matters through before you act. Run your ideas by someone you love and trust, and together you’ll come up with a solid plan.

V. EASY

In her last round, she spun and won in the category “person,” with a “hero in the making.” The answer won her the whole game. The day of recording went by in a blur, Hegamin said. She was so pumped, she said it made the bonus round tough for her, but she came in prepared. To start, she chose “What are you doing?” as her category because she automatically knew the letters i, n and g would be in there for a verb. Unfortunately, even with her strategy she was left with a blank three letter word. The answer was “widening the gap.” She did not win the bonus round, despite her strategic planning. “I was so amped … by what I had just done that it doesn’t bother me to ... this day,” Hegamin said. “But … it was more my pride.” Despite the loss, she still

won over $40,000 and trips to Spain and the British Isles. She plans on saving the winnings for her future. She had to keep her victory to herself until her episode aired. When it did, she and her friends, her RA, and her mom had a big watch party at Headington Hall. “My mom came down. At first she was gonna watch it at home, but then she was like ‘I can’t imagine watching this episode and not being there with you,’” Hegamin said. “It was kind of a surreal thing … especially having watched the show my whole life.” She hopes that other people will also go for the things they love and to just have fun with it. “I encourage people, whatever it is you want to do, just go for it. Just do it,” Hegamin said. “My mom said, ‘I just want you to have the experience and have fun.’”

Universal Crossword Edited by David Steinberg March 29, 2022 ACROSS 1 Stereotypical math whizzes 6 Harvard rival 10 Org. pursuing cartels 13 “Centipede” game company 14 Leave out 15 Crystallize 16 Execs at an electric company? 18 Sad piece in an alumni mag 19 Malia Obama’s middle name 20 Poker starter 21 Like mocking remarks 22 Promoter at an electric company? 26 Climate activist Thunberg 27 Tweet written in all caps, perhaps 28 Palindromic Honda model 29 IOU 31 ___ fail 35 Drive a getaway car for, say 36 Casual talks 37 It may be taken out of your sails 38 Netting 39 Tardy 40 Bulletin board fasteners 41 Actor McGregor 43 Urban green spaces

3/29

44 Happenings at an electric company? 49 One end of a battery 50 Leave the stage 51 Bitter brew, for short 54 Puerto ___ 55 Storage containers at an electric company? 58 Thor’s brother, in Marvel comics 59 Small part of Hawaii 60 Smart ___ (know-it-all) 61 None in particular 62 ATM charges 63 Things to work on? DOWN 1 County in Wine Country 2 Prestigious English boarding school 3 What controversial topics “touch” 4 Nickname that drops “An” 5 Knight’s title 6 Without gray hairs, say 7 Friendship 8 Classic toy with illuminated pegs 9 Klingons or Ewoks: Abbr. 10 Credit alternative 11 Suppress, like a syllable

12 Modify 15 “The Daily Show” host from 1999-2015 17 Singer Bareilles 21 Jem, to Atticus Finch 23 Concurrence with a denial 24 Possible substitute for many things, briefly? 25 Bits in granola 26 Taunt 28 Zoom call device, informally 29 Cabaret singer 30 Fedora or fez 32 Interceptions returned for touchdowns, in football slang 33 Signs, as a contract

34 Sleeves : records :: cases : ___ 36 Group of families 40 Soak up the sun 42 Tiny 43 Townshend of the Who 44 Rhea’s “Cheers” role 45 Merger 46 ___ road ice cream 47 Possible fate for a deposed ruler 48 Immoral activities 52 Light kiss 53 Poses a question 55 Skippy alternative 56 Dreadful 57 Cheer in Chile

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

3/22

Zap! by Drew Schmenner

SPORTS

• March 29-April 4, 2022

RAY BAHNER/THE DAILY

Redshirt junior wide receiver Theo Wease during Sooners’ open practice on March 24.

Wease recommits to Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver returns after injury, testing transfer portal MASON YOUNG masyoung@ou.edu

Theo Wease has been laser-focused on his craft during the offseason. But, the redshirt junior wide receiver did notice his “pretty fired up” teammates’ excitement when he announced his return to Oklahoma. After coach Lincoln Riley left Norman for Southern California, Wease entered the NCAA Transfer Portal on Nov. 29 to examine his options. He quickly found his best opportunity was to stick with the Sooners, so he withdrew from the portal and made his recommitment to OU official on Dec. 17. Wease later revealed March 9 on “The Podcast on the Prairie’’ that he’d planned to transfer even before the coaching change from Riley to

Brent Venables and was interested in going to Mississippi. At the time, Jeff Lebby was the Rebels’ offensive coordinator, but the former Oklahoma offensive lineman and graduate assistant was hired to run the offense at his alma mater on Dec. 8. Lebby’s return to Norman made it a no-brainer for Wease to come back, too. “I never wanted to leave Oklahoma, I love this place,” Wease said Thursday after his third spring practice of 2022. “(The turning point in my decision), I would definitely say (was) Coach Lebby, just his philosophy and how real he made me feel, just the family-like feel I got from him. “It was hard (to enter the portal), but my family, they stayed with me, they uplifted me and everything, and my teammates, they still talked to me about everything. So it was hard, but at the end of the day, it was a pretty easy decision (to return).” Having taken a liking to Lebby’s up-tempo play style,

Venables’ energy and the holistic development being provided by the Sooners’ S.O.U.L. Mission team, Wease declared he’s 100 percent confident ahead of a potential breakout season. Equally importantly, though, he feels like an 11 health-wise on a scale of 1-10. That hasn’t always been the case for the former five-star recruit from Allen, Texas, who missed essentially the entire 2021 season due to a lower body injury suffered during fall camp. His only action last season came during a kickoff return on Nov. 20 against Iowa State. As he looks back on the tumultuous time, however, now he feels a sense of appreciation. “I wouldn’t say (the injury) really changed my perspective on the game, but I would say I’m grateful for the injury because it brought something out of myself,” Wease said. “I knew I had it in me, but being injured and being off the field made me dig deeper and actually find that and just put it

to work.” Much like they were excited to see him return from the portal, Wease’s teammates were elated to see him work back from his injury. “Everyone has their own journey and everyone takes different paths, and so I’m definitely thrilled that he’s here with us now and that he’s gonna have a chance to play ball again,” said redshirt senior receiver Drake Stoops. “It’s hard to see your brother missing games and missing practice and stuff like that due to injury, so I’m thrilled to have him back and I’m just happy for him.” Keeping Wease — whose decision was also influenced by the retention of receivers coach Cale Gundy, his primary recruiter in high school — was a massive win for OU since it lost a pair of fellow wide receivers and former-five star recruits during the offseason. Jadon Haselwood, a staple of the Sooners’ 2019 recruiting class alongside Wease,

transferred to Arkansas. Meanwhile, Mario Williams transferred to USC, reuniting with Riley and former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams. The ex-OU receiver duo combined for 779 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Additionally, former OU wide receiver Mike Woods, a one-year Arkansas transfer, is preparing for the NFL draft in April. Those departures leave Wease, Stoops, junior Marvin Mims and sophomore Jalil Farooq with plenty of opportunities to snag Central Florida transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s passes. Though it’s early in spring practice, Wease is already showing glimpses of the player who made 37 catches for 530 yards and four touchdowns in 2020, and ranked in the top three on the team in each of those categories. “He has operated at a high level as far as just being a human and being a guy that has done things right every single day,” Lebby said. “He’s

been incredibly competitive, he’s been incredibly bought in, he’s worked his butt off to get him to this point. We’re two days into spring ball, so excited about where he’s at, but proud of him because of his work ethic and how he’s led in that room.” Wease said enhancing his leadership was an offseason priority, as he wanted to better set the example for younger teammates. Farooq already looked up to Wease when he arrived in Norman last fall, and his admiration and expectations continue to grow. “Since day one … the way he ran routes, the way he is after the catch, I always loved how he does it, so when I was sitting back I always watched Theo,” Farooq said. “Unfortunately he didn’t get to play, I was very excited for him to play last year, so I’m excited for him this year.”

Farooq competes for larger offensive role Receiver develops confidence, skills ahead of fall season AUSTIN CURTRIGHT austincurtright@ou.edu

Following Lincoln Riley’s departure for Southern California, few Oklahoma players seemed likelier to transfer than Jalil Farooq. After appearing in just seven games with one reception during the regular season, Farooq was buried on the depth chart as a freshman. Then, the former four-star recruit’s childhood friend and quarterback Caleb Williams followed Riley to USC. In today’s college football landscape, it’s common for younger players to leave for other opportunities when adversity arises. Since Farooq committed to the Sooners only a few months after Williams did, the former youth teammates naturally appeared primed to reconnect for their remaining three or four years of eligibility. But Farooq had other plans. The now-sophomore receiver chose to stay in Norman and is preparing for the 2022 season with the Sooners during spring practices. Even with Williams gone, Farooq is competing for a large role in Oklahoma’s offense. “Me and Caleb, as kids we played on the same little league team so it was a dream come true to come to the same school,” Farooq said. “We narrowed our schools down. We always wanted to come to the same college. Unfortunately, things do happen. Life. We had to deal with adversity.

He made his decision, I made mine.” The duo’s connection was on full display in Oklahoma’s 47-32 Alamo Bowl victory over Oregon on Dec. 29 when Farooq caught three passes for a team-high 64 yards. Highly impressive were his 30-yard and 23yard receptions that set up a touchdown drive midway through the third quarter. The Upper Marlboro, Maryland, native received extra opportunity in the Sooners’ bowl game after p ro m i n e nt p a s s c at c h ers Jadon Haselwood and Austin Stogner transferred t o A rk a n s a s a n d S ou t h Carolina, respectively. Just a week prior to the matchup, OU receivers coach Cale Gundy, then the interim offensive coordinator, told the then-freshman to prepare for his moment. And the performance boosted Farooq’s confidence to present day, where he’s building off the momentum gained. “It boosted my confidence so much that I feel that I could be the guy that I always wanted to be,” Farooq said. “My confidence was definitely a little low being a step behind and being behind other guys. But I definitely learned a lot from them. I feel like I could step up to the plate right now and be the guy I want to be and be productive for OU.” From that moment, Farooq gained one of his greatest football friendships outside of Williams in Gundy. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound wideout said he talked to Gundy almost every day following Riley’s

departure. “Me and Coach Gundy, we had a relationship but it got so much closer when everything happened,” Farooq said. “I feel like Coach Gundy stepped up to the plate for me. Personally, he was the biggest guy in my ear. … Probably one of the best relationships I have right now.” The speedster, who now thinks he could be “the guy” in OU’s receivers’ room, should have plenty of chances to do so after Haselwood and Mario Williams transferred, and Mike Woods declared for the NFL draft. Most expect Farooq to play significant snaps in offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby’s system alongside returners Marvin Mims and Theo Wease. Faro o q als o hop es to catch a few deep balls from his new quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who transferred from Central Florida after throwing for over 8,000 yards in parts of three seasons. Farooq mentioned he even had to adjust to Gabriel’s arm strength, given the amount of velocity he puts behind his throws. However, those surrounded by Farooq in the receivers room believe he won’t have a problem adapting. “I’m definitely putting my money in the Jalil Farooq stock,” Wease said. “He goes to work every day. Plays hard, finishes hard and he’s an all-around great person. I’m excited to see what he does this season.” Farooq of course knows he still has improvements to make, noting he sometimes showed up to meetings or

RAY BAHNER/THE DAILY

Redshirt junior cornerback Woodi Washington and sophomore wide receiver Jalil Farooq during an open football practice at Everest Indoor Training Center March 22.

practices late as a freshman, which nowadays could get him in hot water with strength and conditioning coach Jerry Schmidt. He also wants to improve his conditioning to keep up with Lebby’s fast-paced offense. Although Farooq is still close with Williams and upset that his “best man” left

Norman, he’s aiming to create his own legacy by himself in his second season. Lebby, who was imp r e s s e d w i t h Fa r o o q ’s offseason training progress during workouts with Schmidt, hopes Farooq can turn his flashes into consistent production in the fall. “He has come prepared

every day,” Lebby said. “He’s bought into what we’re doing offensively. … This guy attacks off the ball. He runs off the ball, he’s incredibly competitive, he’s hard on himself. Looking for him to continue to grow and be a big, big part of it.”