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COLUMN: How Mike Leach Permanently Changed Oklahoma’s Culture, and More

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COLUMN: How Mike Leach Permanently Changed Oklahoma’s Culture, and More


What sort of affect might one assistant coach have made at a school soccer big like Oklahoma in only one yr?

If that assistant was Mike Leach, then the affect is incalculable — and, virtually 1 / 4 century later, ongoing.

Leach, 61, reportedly fell sufferer to an enormous coronary heart assault on Sunday and tragically died Monday. Buddies and colleagues are lauding Leach for his distinctive personalty — quirky and irreverent, humorous, however from an oddball perspective. His press convention persona virtually grew to become its personal cottage trade for countless on-line giggles.

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However it must be emphasised what a superb soccer thoughts Leach was.

Leach’s early life in soccer had been spent on the desk of BYU legend and offensive savant LaVell Edwards. Among the many Cougars’ quarterbacks throughout Leach’s time in Provo had been Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon and Steve Younger.

Leach earned his bachelor’s diploma from BYU and obtained a Juris Physician from Pepperdine. In 1987, he obtained into teaching full-time and commenced to unfold his distinctive soccer insights.

He joined Hal Mumme’s workers at Iowa Wesleyan in 1989. It was the pairing with Mumme that produced classic Leach: three years in Iowa, 5 years in Georgia at Valdosta State, then two years at Kentucky, turning Wildcat soccer right into a type of basketball on grass.

The duo hatched their “air raid” offense on Division I soccer, and the outcomes could be seen at just about each stage of the sport at present, from youth league to highschool to varsity and even within the NFL.

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It was nonetheless Mumme calling the performs, however Leach’s enter on their improvements at Kentucky popularized the unfold, made UK quarterback Tim Sofa the No. 1 choose within the draft and ensured Leach would have an indelible legacy within the sport.

The synchronicity of Leach and Mumme crossing paths with Bob Stoops in 1997 and ’98 — at simply the correct time in school soccer historical past — grew to become the stuff of legend.

Stoops had created a monster as Kansas State’s defensive coordinator below Invoice Snyder. In three seasons below Steve Spurrier at Florida, Stoops plied that monsterous protection right into a nationwide championship.

Stoops has famously informed the story many instances that when he obtained the top teaching job at Oklahoma and wanted to rent an offensive coordinator, he requested himself who was it that had given him essentially the most issues at Florida.

The Wildcats scored 28 factors in opposition to Stoops’ Gator protection in 1997 in a 55-28 loss, and scored 35 in 1998 in a 51-35 loss. These had been staggering outcomes in opposition to a Gators protection that gave up simply 16.1 factors per sport in opposition to everybody else in 1997 and 11.8 in 1998.

“I knew I couldn’t rent Hal, he was the top coach,” Stoops stated Tuesday throughout an interview with Toby Rowland on KREF in Norman. “However I needed the offense. I requested Hal, I stated, ‘Can Mike do what you do?’ As a result of Mike was his protégée. He was all the time with him. I knew Hal referred to as the performs. And to me, that mattered. He stated, ‘Oh, completely.’ ‘Might he be the chief in entrance of the offense?’ And he stated, ‘Completely.’ In order that was what I needed to do.”

Underneath Stoops, with Mike Stoops and Brent Venables as his co-defensive coordinators and Leach as his offensive coordinator, Oklahoma rotated 5 years of dropping and mediocrity and produced a 7-5 file in 1999.

Not nice, however sustainiable. Not good, however lasting.

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Leach’s speedy affect was on offensive manufacturing, however greater than that, he recruited Josh Heupel out of Snow Junior Faculty — Heupel’s official go to was merely a two-day marathon movie session, entrenched in a darkish room with Leach — and the savvy left-hander led OU to the nationwide championship a yr later.

Leach additionally recruited 2002 Rose Bowl MVP Nate Hybl as a switch from Georgia. He additionally recruited Tuttle product and 2003 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White, who performed in two nationwide championship video games.

“He had a big impact on us at OU in that first signing class,” Stoops stated, “with Josh Heupel, Nate Hybl and Jason White.”

Leach didn’t get to benefit from the fruits of the air raid seeds he planted. He took the top teaching job at Texas Tech after only one season in Norman and rebuilt that program in his personal quirky however infinitely prolific picture.

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Though Leach’s tenure in crimson and cream lasted lower than 12 months, it merely can’t be overstated how everlasting his fingerprints grew to become throughout his quick time at Oklahoma.

With out Leach, OU would have by no means landed Heupel. With out Heupel, Stoops may need needed to wait a protracted, very long time to win his nationwide championship. With out that 13-0 season in yr two of the Stoops period, the complete OU athletic division can be considerably lesser at present.

The 2000 title restored optimism at Oklahoma and introduced a stage of donor generosity that hadn’t been seen at OU — ever. That cash ignited a constructing increase that elevated not solely each athletic facility on campus, however numerous educational and residential amenities as nicely.

And naturally, as Stoops handed the offense to Mark Mangino, Chuck Lengthy, Kevin Wilson and finally Heupel, the Sooner offense maintained parts of Leach’s air raid ideas. Heupel’s successor was Lincoln Riley, who studied below Leach himself at Texas Tech. Even at present, Jeff Lebby’s offense stems from Artwork Briles at Baylor. Briles, too, was a Leach disciple at Tech.

Now, with luminaries like White, Sam Bradford, Landry Jones, Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts and Caleb Williams, Oklahoma lays declare to being “QBU.”

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Leach’s enduring legacy as an offensive innovator — directing a scheme that matches on an 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of paper on gamedays and is infinitely quarterback-friendly — is one factor.

However doing it at a spot like Oklahoma is much more mind-blowing. For seven a long time, OU’s DNA was operating the soccer, pounding away on the bottom, grinding defenses all the way down to a nub with a relentless operating sport constructed on each energy and pace.

For the reason that days of Bennie Owen, by means of the Break up-T dynasty of Bud Wilkinson, and out and in of the wishbone wizardry of Barry Switzer, generations of Sooner Nation knew solely how you can run the ball. Like at present’s service academies, throwing the soccer at OU was an oddity, a determined gambit, a one-off.

Possibly Switzer would have efficiently shifted to an aerial offense if Troy Aikman had stayed wholesome — and if his rogue gamers hadn’t gotten him fired. Who can say for positive?

However even after Switzer left, whether or not it was Gary Gibbs or Howard Schnellenberger or John Blake attempting unsuccessfully to alter the tradition and set up the ahead go, the Sooner offenses of the Nineteen Nineties virtually inevitably resorted to having to run the soccer — largely as a result of they couldn’t throw it.

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Even after Leach arrived and proved it was doable to win in Norman with massive passing numbers, many followers resisted.

“We’d win extra if we went again to the wishbone,” was a standard criticism on sports activities speak radio through the ’99 season.

Now, OU is taken into account the vanguard of offensive soccer. In an trade that’s inherently transient, Mike Leach’s imprint might be everlasting.

“Mike,” stated Stoops, “was large.” 



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Oklahoma

Paula Lewis wins reelection as OKCPS school board leader • Oklahoma Voice

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Paula Lewis wins reelection as OKCPS school board leader • Oklahoma Voice


OKLAHOMA CITY — An incumbent school board leader in Oklahoma City Public Schools won reelection in dominant fashion Tuesday.

Paula Lewis secured another four years as board chairperson in the Oklahoma City district by earning 53.54% of the vote, crossing the 50% threshold needed to win the seat without continuing to a general election. 

She defeated Niah Spriggs, who earned 29.69% of the vote, and Jan Barrick with 16.76%.

Lewis, 54, ran on her record of leading the school board through a transformative era in the district’s history since she became chairperson in 2017, a period that includes carrying out a massive school consolidation plan in 2019, weathering the COVID-19 pandemic and securing a historic $955 million bond issue in 2022. 

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“We have really smart kids,” Lewis said as the final results rolled in Tuesday night. “They weren’t able to get the resources they needed soon enough, and we’re getting them there. We’ve right-sized the budgets. We’ve passed the bond. We’ve done all the things, and now our kids are ready to go. We’re going to really change lives in the next four years.”

She fended off Spriggs, 50, and Barrick, 73 — two first-time candidates who campaigned for change in a district that has chronically suffered from low reading and math scores.

Barrick did not return a request for comment Tuesday night.

Niah Spriggs earned 29.69% of the vote, falling short of Paula Lewis, in the election for the board chairperson seat on the Board of Education in Oklahoma City Public Schools. (Photo provided)

Spriggs, an educator and former businesswoman, said the results were “sad for the children of Oklahoma.” She said the state has “allowed the system to fail for so long, it’s going to be very difficult to pull ourselves out of this hole.”

“Hopefully we can make some impactful change, hopefully starting the conversation,” Spriggs said when reached Tuesday night. “Because before Jan (Barrick) and I started talking about this, everything was the status quo.”

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Spriggs also lamented the large amount of money poured into the race.

Lewis raised $66,640 for her reelection campaign, public records show. Spriggs raised $4,250 and loaned her campaign $1,200, according to campaign finance records.

Jan Barrick finished third in the race for the school board chairperson seat in Oklahoma City Public Schools with 16.76% of the vote. (Photo provided)

Barrick, the former owner of the curriculum and testing provider Alpha Plus Educational Systems, hasn’t filed any documents detailing her campaign fundraising or spending. 

Lewis, an occupational therapist, pledged to continue steady leadership as the board develops a new strategic plan focused on student outcomes. She said the goal is for the board to spend 50% of its meetings discussing academic results and student achievement.

This will be her final term on the school board, she said. Her son, Reign, will be in the final months of his senior year of high school when her term comes to a close in 2029.

“I won’t run again because I feel like being a parent has been a game changer,” Lewis said. “Sitting in this seat, it has allowed me to see the decisions we take votes on from a parent’s view and how that affects me at my house and my children, as well as from a district policy level.”

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Two other board incumbents, Carole Thompson from District 1 and Vice Chairperson Lori Bowman from District 2, automatically were reelected to four-year terms after not drawing opponents.

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These Oklahoma towns are among the safest in the nation: See the list

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These Oklahoma towns are among the safest in the nation: See the list


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Edmond and four other Oklahoma communities were named among the safest small towns in the U.S., according to a new study.

The study, conducted by Vivint, a home security system brand, used FBI property crime data from 2023 to determine which small towns were the safest. The company analyzed trends for property crime, larceny, motor vehicle theft and robbery for U.S. towns with populations of 50,000-100,000 residents.

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Analysts ranked the towns by weighing each variable equally to determine which were the safest. Vivint’s list included 425 towns, shedding light on where safety is prioritized and the factors that make these towns stand out.

Here’s a breakdown of where Oklahoma towns ranked in the study and why, as well as a round-up of the top towns on the list and some tips from the company to protect your personal property.

What are the safest small towns in the U.S.? 

These 10 small towns were found the safest, according to Vivint. 

  1. Columbus, Indiana 
  2. Wheaton, Illinois 
  3. Saratoga Springs, Utah 
  4. Jacksonville, North Carolina 
  5. Little Elm, Texas 
  6. Sammamish, Washington 
  7. Newton, Massachusetts 
  8. Little Elm, Texas 
  9. Yucaipa, California 
  10. Chino Hills, California 

What Oklahoma towns are the safest? 

According to Vivint, Edmond was ranked as Oklahoma’s safest town and 132nd safest nationwide. The city has the fewest property crimes among Oklahoma cities on the list with a rate of 156.4 crimes per 10,000 residents. Edmond also has 129 larcenies, 9 vehicle thefts and 1.5 robberies per 10,000 residents, according to FBI data.

Second to Edmond, Moore also stood out among Oklahoma towns in the study with fewer larcenies (116.4) per 10,000 residents.

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On the other side of the scale, Enid has the state’s highest rate of property crimes per 10K residents at 282.7, Midwest City has the highest rate of larceny at 192.5, and Lawton has the highest robbery rate at 7.1, according to study data.

For scale, the town ranked lowest in the list of safest towns was San Leandro, California. That community has 593.6 property crimes, 301 larcenies, 230 vehicle thefts and 43.5 robberies per 10,000 residents, according to study data.

Here’s a breakdown of how Oklahoma towns ranked on the list:

  • 132. Edmond 
  • 152. Moore 
  • 251. Lawton 
  • 260. Enid 
  • 265. Midwest City

How to protect your personal property

Here are some practical tips from Vivint to help safeguard your belongings, whether you live in a safe small town or in more populated areas with a higher crime activity:

  1. Install security cameras and alarms: Security systems act as both a deterrent and a means to gather evidence if a crime occurs. Smart cameras with motion detection and remote monitoring features can provide added peace of mind.
  2. Lock your doors and windows: It may sound simple, but consistently locking all entry points, including car doors, can significantly reduce the risk of theft. Most property crimes are crimes of opportunity, and an unlocked door is an open invitation.
  3. Keep valuables out of sight: Avoid leaving expensive items like electronics, jewelry, or shopping bags visible through windows in your home or car. Use blinds or curtains to obscure valuables in your home and store items in the trunk of your car when parked.
  4. Light up your property: Motion-activated outdoor lighting can deter criminals by removing the cover of darkness. Well-lit properties are less attractive targets for burglars and thieves.
  5. Get to know your neighbors: A strong community network can help prevent crime. Neighbors who look out for one another are more likely to spot and report suspicious activity, adding an extra layer of protection.



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Weekend Wrap: What We Learned From Oklahoma’s West Coast Swing

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Weekend Wrap: What We Learned From Oklahoma’s West Coast Swing


Oklahoma wasn’t faced with the stout schedules of past opening weekends, but the Sooners still got tested in a number of their contests to get rolling in 2025. 

Patty Gasso’s squad battled a solid San Diego State team through nine innings on Thursday, and then endured a marathon against Long Beach State where OU eventually prevailed after 11 innings on Sunday. 

Breaking in nine freshman and five transfers was always going to be a process, but the No. 2-ranked Sooners showed plenty of grit to turn sometimes imperfect performances into wins. 

“I’ve been putting them through a lot,” Gasso said on Thursday. “This trip has already been a lot — a lot on your legs, for sure. They handled it well and I’m really proud of that. So it’s been a good first weekend. 

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“I didn’t even really honestly know what to expect. But they fight, they work and I know we can go forward with something like that.”

Oklahoma pitcher Kierston Deal fell three outs short of her second collegiate no-hitter on Sunday against Long Beach State.

Oklahoma pitcher Kierston Deal fell three outs short of her second collegiate no-hitter on Sunday against Long Beach State. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Last offseason, Oklahoma lost pitchers Kelly Maxwell, Nicole May and Karlie Keeney as well as incredible defensive players all across the field. 

And while the Sooners didn’t have to face the ’27 Yankees this past weekend, the pitching and defense was good enough for the team to lean on throughout the first month of the season while the offense really gets going. 

Freshman shortstop Gabbie Garcia committed the only error of the weekend in Game 1, but she bounced back and had a nice weekend on the left side of the infield. 

Utah transfer Abby Dayton came up huge with a diving grab in center field on Sunday against Long Beach State that saved a run and prevented a loss. 

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Kasidi Pickering came up firing multiple times in that same contest on Sunday from left field, and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas and Cydney Sanders both made numerous nice plays in foul territory on the corners. 

All of that supporting a pitching staff that had a strong showing through the first six games. 

Campbell transfer Isabella Smith pitched 12 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just tow hits and one walk while fanning 14 batters. 

Oklahoma's Pitching Statistics

Oklahoma’s Pitching Statistics / OU Stats

Kierston Deal bounced back from a start against CSUN where she allowed plenty of traffic on the bases by denying Long Beach State a single hit for six innings on Sunday. 

True freshman Audrey Lowry was excellent in pressure-filled innings against San Diego State, only allowing a single unearned run against the Aztecs as a result of the international tiebreak runner, and Sam Landry grew throughout the weekend after leading the staff with 15 innings pitched.

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Gasso promised that the 2025 Sooners would have a different feel about them, but her infield continues to be well drilled, and things should only get better throughout the season. 

Ella Parker posted Oklahoma's best batting average through the first six games, going 13-for-22 at the plate.

Ella Parker posted Oklahoma’s best batting average through the first six games, going 13-for-22 at the plate. / SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ella Parker and Pickering are stepping into even bigger roles as sophomores, but both showed no signs of a second year dip. 

Parker finished the weekend 13-for-22 with eight RBIs, five doubles and a homer while also drawing five walks. 

Pickering went 7-for-20 with a pair of home runs, nine RBIs, a double, a triple and seven walks. 

There were other outstanding performers form the rans of the newcomers — notably Dayton and catcher Isabela Emerling — but an offense built around Parker and Pickering can carry the Sooners a long way. 

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Oklahoma's Hitting Statistics

Oklahoma’s Hitting Statistics / OU Stats

Notably, it was the clutch hitting from Parker and Pickering that helped ease the pressure on the rest of the team. 

Parker and Pickering combined in the fifth inning against CSUN to give OU its first lead of the day. The sophomore duo then combined for five RBIs against San Diego State to help Oklahoma erase the early three run lead, and while the offense struggled with runners in scoring position against Long Beach State, Parker and Pickering seemed to always be on the bases to give the Sooners a chance. 

Oklahoma shortstop Gabbie Garcia was one of three freshmen who hit their first homers for the Sooners this past weekend.

Oklahoma shortstop Gabbie Garcia was one of three freshmen who hit their first homers for the Sooners this past weekend. / BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Gasso’s best lineup card is still a question, and she’ll have plenty of pieces who will continue to battle for playing time. 

Garcia and Sydney Barker appeared to share staring duties at shortstop depending on the matchup with the opposing pitcher early, though Garcia settled in at shortstop as the weekend wore on. 

Hannah Coor’s injury saw Ella Parker get time in the outfield to clear a spot for Tia Milloy in the lineup as the designated player as well. 

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Garcia hit .167 in 18 plate appearances through the first six games, which was mirrored by Barker’s .167 average in four at-bats. 

Mostly every freshman who saw playing time showed off the power they possess. 

Milloy hit a pair of monstrous home runs and both Garcia and Barker each hit their first collegiate homers this past weekend. 

Continued experience and work with JT Gasso would give the impression that all the freshmen will continue to improve this year, and the transfers can improve as well. 

Ailana Agbayani went 3-for-15 through her first six games, but she hit .424 a year ago at BYU which leaves plenty of room for growth. 

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“Real happy with the way some of these guys are swinging the bat,” Gasso said after OU beat Loyola Marymount on Saturday. “I see that we’ve had nine different Sooners hit home runs over the course of (the first) five games. 

“… So I’m loving what the defense is doing. Our pitching staff is doing great. Our offense just has some lulls at times and we’ve got to get that worked out.”

Oklahoma will be back in action this weekend in Waco, TX, where the Sooners will take on Baylor and Hofstra twice each in the Getterman Classic. 



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