Photo by Ann Hermes/The Christian Science Monitor via Getty Images
Admission is free, plus there’ll be a full-service bar!
Happy Friday, friends and fans!
At risk of being flamed for looking ahead (eye roll), ONEOK Field and the Tulsa Drillers are opening up their gates on Saturday, Oct. 10 for the Oklahoma Sooners ’ Red River Showdown against the Texas Longhorns . The best part — admission to the outdoor watch party is completely free!
Looking for a place to watch the OU/Texas game? @TulsaDrillers have the spot for you: ONEOK Field. The team will be holding a FREE watch party. Fans can even bring blankets and sit on the field. #DrillVille #Sooners pic.twitter.com/LMw5tBkDas
— Scott Pfeil (@scottpfeil) October 1, 2020
Since the Cotton Bowl won’t be running at full capacity this season, more fans will have to watch this year’s OU-Texas game on TV. Now, folks will at least have a chance to upgrade their viewing option to a brand new, 67-foot HD video board ideal for experiencing the Red River Rivalry in style. Plus, food and drink will be available inside the park throughout the game, as well as a full-service bar.
Masks are required upon entry, but spectators can choose to sit wherever they want, be it in the seats or on the field itself. Social distancing measures are also advised. For those who may want a more private, comfortable arrangement, suites with indoor and outdoor seating will also be available for purchase. Check here for more information .
Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! No word yet on the eligibility of a potential impact Sooner, a pair of conference basketball dates are set for OU, the Jets continue to look hopeless and more!
OU Links
Lincoln Riley says the team had a good week of practice coming off the loss to K-State, and even though the game atmospheres haven’t been the same this season, Oklahoma’s road warrior mentality will still be relied upon in Ames.
Friday’s final word.@OklahomaNatural | #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/m8KXB1llMO
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 2, 2020
Speaking of Riley, he recently stated that Oklahoma’s lodging situation for away games has been re-worked so that players aren’t rooming in pairs this season. Instead, they’ll be staying in rooms by themselves in order to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, writes OU Insider’s Joey Helmer.
Sooners Wire’s Steven Plaisance broke down Oklahoma’s performance in recent years when it’s been undefeated versus the times it’s had a notch in the loss column. Perhaps unsurprisingly, OU typically steps up its play in a statistically significant way after losing its first game.
SI Sooners’ John Hoover recently wrote about how Oklahoma’s poor pre-snap communication against Kansas State led to the many defensive breakdowns that allowed the Wildcats to pop big plays on them in the second half.
C&C Machine editor-in-chief Jack Shields caught up with Wide Right & Natty Lite for a Q&A on the upcoming matchup between Oklahoma and Iowa State . Check out his answers to their questions on the game itself as well as his take on the power of an actual cyclone.
According to the Athletic’s Jason Kersey, Lincoln Riley has yet to receive a ruling from the NCAA on the availability of UCLA Bruins transfer OL Christaphany Murray . With the offensive line having some struggles in the early going this season, it sure would be nice to be able to insert Murray into the lineup given his talent and experience.
I asked Lincoln Riley about Chris Murray’s status today.
“Nothing new on his status yet. Eagerly awaiting. He certainly has a skillset to help us this year, without question.” https://t.co/Yz3yFmcVtO
— Jason Kersey (@jasonkersey) October 1, 2020
The OU men’s basketball team has the official dates for two Big 12 games in 2020. On Sunday, Dec. 6, the Sooners will visit TCU before hosting Texas Tech on Tuesday, Dec. 22.
The Big 12 will play two league games in December. The on-campus tilts will start Dec. 6 and stretch until Dec. 22, sources told @CBSSports , and here are the scheduled games. The bold/underline emphasis is mine; they are matchups between expected preseason Top 25 teams. pic.twitter.com/rsfFQRwq5V
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) October 2, 2020
For all you program collectors out there, you can get your virtual hands on a digital program for every home or away game this season from SoonerSports Publications . Sure, it’s not the same as a physical copy, but in these times, we all have to work with what we’ve got. Each edition still features the up-to-date stats and information you crave to satisfy your Oklahoma Football fix. Boomer!
Now available for every game, home and away! View this week’s digital game program today.
https://t.co/qbSPoTCqkZ
SoonerSports2Go app (select the Game Day tab)#BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/2D8Ny392r3
— Oklahoma Sooners (@OU_Athletics) October 1, 2020
Oklahoma women’s tennis player Oleksandra Korashvili is currently battling Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Myelofibrosis and is in need of a bone marrow transplant as well as financial support for her medical bills. Other than being an outstanding student-athlete, Sasha, as her friends call her, has been a tremendous representative for OU Athletics and the university as a whole. Sooner Nation, if you or anyone you know would like to offer help or assistance for Sasha, follow this link or the GoFundMe link in the tweet below.
#OUrFight is for Sasha @OKorashvili has been diagnosed with Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) with Myelofibrosis and is in need of a bone marrow transplant.
More about her journey and how to help ➡️ https://t.co/qAbojMg5jr pic.twitter.com/R7ZYHgTQGj
— Oklahoma Tennis (@OU_WTennis) October 2, 2020
Around the Sports World
On Thursday evening, the Philadelphia 76ers officially hired Doc Rivers as their next head coach .
Former five-star RB recruit and Clemson Tigers signee Demarkcus Bowman has reportedly entered the NCAA Transfer Portal . The true freshman currently ranks third on the team in carries.
The Tennessee Titans ’ home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers has officially been rescheduled for Sunday, Oct. 25 after Tennessee’s practice facilities were temporarily shut down following news of several Titans players testing positive for coronavirus earlier this week.
The Denver Broncos grabbed their first win of the 2020 NFL season on Thursday against the New York Jets , who remain winless. RB Melvin Gordon iced the game with this intuitive 43-yard run. Also, shout out to QB Brett Rypien for picking up a key block down field.
.@Melvingordon25 DID THAT.#BeatTheJets | : NFLN pic.twitter.com/SocOWTGl64
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 2, 2020
After successfully eliminating the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Oakland Athletics are advancing in the MLB postseason for the first time since 2006.
We’re headed to the ALDS!
FINAL: #Athletics 6, White Sox 4#RepTheTown pic.twitter.com/Xyvs6eqCq5
— Oakland A’s (@Athletics) October 1, 2020
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