Wednesday night’s catastrophic hailstorm added to the list of damaging and severe weather events Norman has experienced over the past six months.

State Sen. Rob Standridge’s opposition to diversity training (with two other white male Republican senators, of Transcript 4-25) strikes me as a classic dog whistle for exclusivity by those who want to deny the continued unequal treatment of minorities, women…

The road to OKC begins in regional play at Marita Hynes Field.

On Selection Sunday, Patty Gasso’s top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners learned that they will enter the 2021 NCAA Softball Tournament as the No. 1 overall seed in addition to hosting the Norman Regional for the tenth consecutive postseason on Friday, May 21.

Joining OU in the Norman Regional field this year will be the Morgan State Bears out of the MEAC, the Texas A&M Aggies out of the SEC and the Wichita State Shockers out of the AAC. As usual, each tier of the tournament will feature a double-elimination format, meaning a team will need to avoid two losses in order to advance to the following round.

This past weekend, Oklahoma earned the program’s seventh Big 12 Tournament crown days after claiming its 12th all-time regular season title.

From the opener, the Sooners have been on the kind of roll that hasn’t been seen before. For perspective, OU currently leads the nation with 526 total runs, 130 home runs, 32 run-rules and 21 shutouts. Top to bottom, this group is deep with power at the plate and elite ability in the field.

Following championship weekend, Gasso’s squad boasts the nation’s most impressive record (45-2 or .957) for any team that has played more than 40 games, is ranked fourth in NCAA Division I RPI and holds non-conference victories over fellow league champs like Portland State (Big Sky), Liberty (ASUN) and Wichita State (AAC). In exhibition play earlier this season, Oklahoma swept the Olympic qualifying Mexico National Team in a three-game series.

Comparing the top three seeds of the tournament, OU went 14-2 against teams ranked inside the top 30 of the RPI, while UCLA (41-4) went 14-4 and Alabama (45-7) went 26-6 against similar competition. Additionally, neither the Sooners nor the Bruins lost to a team outside the top 30, while the Crimson Tide suffered one loss to a team outside the top 30 (South Alabama). Coming into Sunday, there was some speculation that Oklahoma would not be awarded with the No. 1 seed, but the selection committee clearly valued an entire body of work over any singular statistical metric.

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Run-rule victories are a habit for Patty Gasso’s squad.

Happy Friday, friends and fans!

Oklahoma Sooners coaching legend Bob Stoops recently sat down with Colin Cowherd to discuss his decision to walk away from coaching at the young age of 57 and life after football. It’s a great interview, and wait until the end for the playful dig from OU’s winningest head coach.

Stoops also discussed his excitement for his new job as a FOX college football analyst, the potential challenges of coaching in the NFL vs. college, what makes Spencer Rattler so special as a quarterback and a whole lot more. Make sure you check out the full length interview below for all the insight from the living legend himself.

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Postseason play for Patty Gasso’s squad starts in OKC, Spencer Rattler is the odds-on favorite to go first overall next April, the Conference of Champions has a new leader and more!

OU Links

• Well, it was another run-rule victory for No. 1 Oklahoma when the Sooners took on the Baylor Bears this afternoon. BU got out to a 2-0 start in the first frame, but how many times had we seen that move before? In the end, Patty Gasso’s squad brought the power and overwhelmed another opponent. The Sooners’ contest against TTU is slated to begin around 7:30 p.m. CT. All the action can be streamed live with a subscription for ESPN+.

• According to Sports Betting Dime, Spencer Rattler currently has the greatest odds of becoming the first overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. I’ll take those odds.
• A group of writers over at Athlon Sports recently offered their thoughts on which team in the Big 12 has the best chance of dethroning OU this upcoming college football season. The obvious choice is Matt Campbell and his Iowa State Cyclones, but which other team could sneak its way to the top?
• The folks over at Pro Football Focus have shown a lot of love for the Sooners this offseason, and included in their most updated list of the nation’s top five interior defenders is Jalen Redmond, who returns to the fold after opting out of the 2020 season. This defensive line could be straight up nasty come September and beyond.

• Skip Johnson and his baseball team understand the ups and down they’ve experienced this year, but they are hopeful to end the campaign on a high note as the end of the 2021 regular season draws closer. OU Daily’s Colton Sulley has more.

Around the Sports World

• The Pac-12 Conference has named George Kliavkoff — president of entertainment and sports for MGM Resorts International — as its next league commissioner after Larry Scott manned the role for the last 12 years.
• Boston Celtics All-Star guard Jaylen Brown has undergone successful surgery on his left wrist and is expected to be back in time for the start of the 2021-22 NBA season.
• The Golden State Warriors have re-signed point guard Gary Payton II to another 10-day contract that will keep him on the team for the remainder of the season.
• A massage therapist in Columbus, Ohio has been banned from interacting with members of the Ohio State Buckeyes after an investigation revealed that she had engaged in impermissible sexual activity with a number of student-athletes since 2018. This is the kind of story that will rub a lot of people the wrong way.
• New York Yankees shortstop Gleyber Torres recently became the eighth member of the organization to test positive for COVID-19 after becoming fully vaccinated. All eight of the cases are asymptomatic.

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One set of college football futures makes OU a solid favorite to win the Big 12 again.

BetOnline has posted odds to win each of the Power 5 conferences this season. To be clear, these are all terrible bets. If you sum up the implied probabilities for each team in a conference, they exceed 100% by a significant margin. That is: a) mathematically impossible; and b) how sports books make money.

But since we’re in the content desert of May, why not talk about them? Here are a few knee-jerk reactions:

ACC

Clemson -800
North Carolina +750
Miami, FL +800
Florida State +2500
Louisville +3300
Virginia Tech +3300
Wake Forest +3300
Pittsburgh +4000
Boston College +5000
Georgia Tech +5000
NC State +5000
Virginia +5000
Duke +20000
Syracuse +20000

*Look, Clemson is really good. One of the best programs in college football, without question.

Good night, though – how is it possible that the Tigers continue to enjoy that much separation from the rest of the ACC? It still feels to me like the rest of the league’s mediocrity doesn’t get enough attention from the punditry at large.

*The better play would be to figure out which team might win the Coastal and have a slim chance to upset Clemson in the conference championship game. In other words, Miami or UNC.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Tar Heels host the Hurricanes in mid-October and have the superior quarterback of the two teams in Sam Howell. However, that is UNC’s seventh straight game before its first open date of the season, and the Heels face six conference opponents in that stretch. Miami will be fresh after coming off an open date the week before. Lean to the Canes.

*If you’re looking for a long shot, try… Florida State.

Alicia Devine/Tallahassee Democrat via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Second-year coach Mike Norvell is still looking at a huge climb to get the Seminoles back to respectability. FSU has a favorable situation going into the Clemson game, though, with an open date two weeks before and a game against UMass immediately preceding its trip to Death Valley. A head-to-head win could put the Noles in position to steal the Atlantic division.

Yes, it’s unlikely.

Big 12

Oklahoma -140
Texas +275
Iowa State +350
Oklahoma State +1000
TCU +1400
West Virginia +2200
Kansas State +2800
Baylor +5000
Texas Tech +5000
Kansas +15000

*With the Oklahoma Sooners going for their seventh straight Big 12 title, it comes as no surprise they’re the favorite. At -140, that feels like a decent option.

BRYAN TERRY via Imagn Content Services, LLC

*If Iowa State is widely seen as the conference’s No. 2 team behind OU, why does Texas have better odds? First and foremost, Texas is a name brand that attracts lots of bettors. The goal if you’re taking action on the Longhorns is to avoid lopsided exposure. Offer too good of a price, you may end up getting swamped should they win the league.

Of course, UT also has the best talent in the league outside of the Sooners, and the Horns lost three games by a combined 13 points in 2020. They weren’t that far off.

*If you’re looking for a long shot, try… Kansas State.

Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports

OU learned all too well last year what the Wildcats can do when Skylar Thompson is healthy. KSU draws four of its 50-50 games in Manhattan, too: Iowa State, TCU, West Virginia and Baylor.

TCU would also work here.

Big Ten

Ohio State -150
Wisconsin +800
Michigan +850
Penn State +850
Iowa +1100
Indiana +1200
Northwestern +1200
Nebraska +1400
Minnesota +2000
Michigan State +5000
Purdue +5000
Rutgers +5000
Maryland +8000
Illinois +10000

*The Buckeyes have won the B1G four years running, but they do feel a little vulnerable heading into 2021. For starters, OSU sent a total of 29 players to the NFL in the last three years. Even though the Buckeyes generally reload, those kinds of runs can lead to the occasional blip. Moreover, according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly ($), OSU has one of the lowest rates of returning production in the country this season.

Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

On the flip side, Ohio State has a backloaded schedule featuring Minnesota, Rutgers and Maryland in the first half of the season. That should give coach Ryan Day and his staff time to work out the kinks.

*Wisconsin has a dream schedule, with Penn State, Michigan, Northwestern and Iowa all traveling to Camp Randall Stadium. The toughest conference road game for the Badgers may be a trip to Rutgers. Oh, and no Ohio State on the ‘21 slate.

The bulk of UW’s team from a year ago returns, so count on the Badgers to get back on track this fall. If you can’t bring yourself to back the Buckeyes, Wisconsin looks like the play.

*If you’re looking for a long shot, try… Minnesota.

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

You might as well set your money on fire, but you asked for a long shot. P.J. Fleck’s team has a veteran quarterback and offensive line, which help when you’re trying to bounce back from a frustrating campaign like last year. The Golden Gophers also have continuity on the sidelines with offensive coordinator Mike Sanford Jr. entering his second season and defensive coordinator Joe Rossi back for a fourth year.

At worst, Minnesota should bounce back from a miserable 2020 season.

Pac-12

Oregon +225
USC +275
Washington +375
Arizona State +450
Utah +1000
UCLA +1200
Stanford +1600
California +2000
Colorado +2200
Washington State +2800
Oregon State +4000
Arizona +6600

*Per usual, uncertainty is the buzzword around the Pac-12. The odds are pointing to one of the clump of four teams at the emerging, but would it really shock anyone to see a team like UCLA playing for the conference title at the end of the season? That’s just how this league seems to shake out.

*Part of the problem here is that it’s hard to trust the coaches of the top four teams. Washington’s Jimmy Lake deserves an incomplete grade for last year, and he could be the best of the bunch.

That said, Oregon seems to have the most talent, so why not the Ducks as the favorite?

*If you’re looking for a long shot, try… Utah.

Melissa Majchrzak-USA TODAY Sports

The Quaker Oats of the Pac-12. The Utes don’t do anything flashy, but they’re about as reliable as it gets. You can usually count on them for a minimum of eight wins and then work up from there.

Veteran coach Kyle Whittingham added two nice pieces who may help jumpstart his team’s offense in Baylor transfer Charlie Brewer at QB and ex-OU running back T.J. Pledger. More importantly, aside from a road game at USC in October, Utah is playing its toughest games in Salt Lake City.

Also keep an eye on UCLA. The Bruins played better last year than many people realize.

SEC

Alabama -125
Georgia +250
Texas A&M +750
Florida +1000
LSU +1200
Auburn +1800
Ole Miss +1800
Missouri +2800
Tennessee +2800
Kentucky +5000
Mississippi State +6600
Arkansas +6600
South Carolina +20000
Vanderbilt +50000

*Despite the offseason speculation about Texas A&M as a potential contender for the crown and LSU bouncing back, these odds still say the SEC will come down to Alabama and Georgia. The Bulldogs and Crimson Tide still have the two best rosters in the conference, if not the entire country. Dethroning either in their division races will probably take some major misfortune befalling them during the course of the season. (Even that may not be enough.)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

*If there’s a landmine sitting out there for Alabama, it’s a visit to The Swamp in week three to play Florida. UF will take a step back this season, but the Tide will still be awfully green at that point in the season.

*Speaking of odds, what are the chances Ed Orgeron is still coaching at LSU in 2022?

*If you’re looking for a long shot, try… Missouri.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Mizzou might have hit the jackpot when it hired Eli Drinkwitz away from Appalachian State. The Norman native has infused the program with some needed juice after a few ho-hum years under Barry Odom.

Chances are slim that the Tigers will beat out UGA for the top of the SEC East, but the schedule sets up nicely for them. A loss in Athens is a given, but Mizzou has an early road game versus a Kentucky team that is in for a down year. A&M is a crossover opponent from the West, but the Aggies are coming to Columbia. So is Florida.

Gilliam, a 2021 signee, will arrive in Norman this summer.

Happy Thursday, friends and fans!

Oklahoma Sooners 2021 four-star signee DE Kelvin Gilliam out of Highland Springs, Virginia was recently named the Gatorade Football Player of the Year in the state of Virginia for his outstanding performance on the field and in the classroom in addition to his exemplary character.

In 10 games as a senior, the 6’3, 250 pound Gilliam racked up 48 tackles, 16 tackles-for-loss, 11 sacks and a pair of safeties while leading the Springers to the Class 5A state championship title game. Off the field, he served as a peer tutor and was involved with volunteer groups that provided meals for the homeless, all while maintaining a 4.16 GPA.

Gilliam is expected to arrive at OU at some point this summer. Now I don’t know what the immediate future holds for him, but I sense absolute greatness from this young man before his time at Oklahoma is done.

Now for today’s Hot Links! Ice Trae is playoff bound, Bryce Thompson makes his decision, KU’s revamped football staff rounds into shape and more!

OU Links

• On Thursday, infielder Tiare Jennings and outfielder Jayda Coleman were named finalists for the NFCA/Schutt Sports National Freshman of the Year award. Both Sooners are deserving of this high honor, and with each of them sticking around Norman for presumably the next three years, the future of Oklahoma Softball looks awfully bright. Boomer!

• The Athletic’s Jason Kersey recently took a look at the state of OU’s football program entering the 2021 season. With a highly skilled Spencer Rattler embarking on his second season as the starting QB, and a defense that has shown rapid improvement, breaking through in the postseason is the logical next step. You must be subscribed to The Athletic to read this article in full.
• SI Sooners’ Ryan Chapman scrolled through Oklahoma’s illustrious history of standout defensive linemen to rank the program’s top 10 DLs of all-time. Of course, Lee Roy Selmon tops the list, but who else made the list?
• According to multiple reports on Wednesday, former Sooners RB Seth McGowan has pleaded not guilty to several counts in Cleveland County district court following his alleged involvement with a robbery in April. OU Insider’s Parker Thune has more.
• Trae Young and his Atlanta Hawks have officially punched their ticket to the NBA Playoffs for the first time since 2017. Congrats, Mr. Young, now keep it going!

• Former Kansas Jayhawks guard Bryce Thompson has chosen to transfer to the Oklahoma State Cowboys over OU and the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. That’s a small bummer, but I still believe in what Porter Moser is building in Norman.

Around the Sports World

• On Wednesday night, the Los Angeles Lakers finally unveiled the team’s championship banner for winning the 2019-20 NBA Finals. Can LeBron James and company repeat the feat this season outside of the Orlando bubble? Stick around and find out.

• The Kansas Jayhawks recently announced the completed coaching staff for newly hired head coach Lance Leipold. The group consists of a mix of coaches from the Buffalo Bulls as well as some retained assistants that were formerly under Les Miles.
• Amid the ongoing Aaron Rodgers drama, the Green Bay Packers have reportedly signed former Jacksonville Jaguars QB and first round pick Blake Bortles to a one-year deal.
• Miami Heat guard Victor Oladipo has decided to undergo surgery on his right quadriceps tendon, effectively sidelining him for the remainder of the 2020-21 NBA season.
• On Wednesday, the Seattle Kraken officially signed the team’s first player in center Luke Henman. The brand new NHL organization will make its debut in the 2021-22 season.

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