Oklahoma

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

Published

1 year ago

December 13, 2022

Press Room

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.

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.

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.

Mike Leach and Bob Stoops

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports activities

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.

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.”

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.

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

Oklahoma State Lands Xavier Transfer Center

Published

7 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma State Lands Xavier Transfer Center

Oklahoma State has added more size for next season.

Xavier transfer Abou Ousmane announced on social media Tuesday that he is committing to OSU. Going into his fifth season, Ousmane offers the Cowboys more experience.

Ousmane played a key role at Xavier last season, starting 29 of 34 games. However, his production took a hit when he moved to the Big East.

In his only year at Xavier, Ousmane averaged 6.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.4 blocks. With the Musketeers, he posted four double-doubles and had 13 games with at least two blocks.

Before transferring to Xavier, the 6-foot-10 big man spent his first three seasons at North Texas. He had his best campaign in his final season there, making the All-Conference USA third team.

As a junior, he averaged 11.1 points, six rebounds and 1.3 blocks. In 2023, he helped North Texas post a 31-7 record and win the NIT.

Although Ousmane only played one game of the Mean Green’s NIT run, his impact that season earned him interest from a number of larger schools. However, that interest was not only because of his performance that season.

In 2021-22, Ousmane averaged 10.2 points and 5.9 rebounds. In his final two seasons at North Texas, Ousmane started all 66 games he played.

Before that, he played a limited role on North Texas’ NCAA Tournament team in 2021.

After OSU fired seven-year coach Mike Boynton, many key players entered the transfer portal. Athletic director Chad Weinberg chose Steve Lutz to lead the program into next season.

Ousmane is the latest addition to an OSU team that will look vastly different next season. Alongside the Cowboys’ other additions, Ousmane will look to help OSU back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.

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Oklahoma

Governor Signs Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act Into Law

Published

14 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Press Room

Governor Signs Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act Into Law

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has signed into law Monday a bill, which aims to provide financial grants to construct or retrofit homes, making them more resilient against the destructive forces of tornadoes, windstorms and hail.

Under the new law, known as the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act, grants will be made available by the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) to residential property owners who meet specific eligibility criteria.

These criteria include an owner-occupied, single-family primary residence. The grants are intended to help homeowners achieve safety standards outlined by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS).

Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready praises the Oklahoma Legislature and the Governor for approving this measure and the difference it will make to assist Oklahomans in fortifying their homes against natural disasters.

“The recent destruction we have seen across our state is a grave reminder why this legislation will be so important to help Oklahomans rebuild and protect their homes from severe weather,” said Mulready. “I am grateful to legislative leaders and the Governor for understanding our goal to help Oklahoma consumers reduce their homeowners insurance rates and fortify their homes against mother nature.”

The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Act will establish a grant program aimed at assisting homeowners in reinforcing their roofs with impact-resistant materials that meet FORTIFIED standards set by the IBHS. These funds will enable consumers to construct or retrofit their homes with impact-resistant shingles and other enhancements. Additionally, many insurance companies offer reduced premiums for homes with such modifications.

The new grant program created by the law will be in development through the end of the year, with the first grants going out in 2025.

Source: Oklahoma Insurance Department

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Stats rundown: 4 numbers from a Dallas Mavericks loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder

Published

22 hours ago

May 14, 2024

Press Room

Stats rundown: 4 numbers from a Dallas Mavericks loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder

The Dallas Mavericks fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder at home, losing 100-96. The loss means the series is even at two games a piece, and Game 5 shifts back north to Oklahoma City. The Mavericks had an opportunity to take control of the series, as teams that go up 3-1 win 95 percent of the time. Now they’ll have to win two of the next three games in order to advance to the Western Conference Finals.

Shia Gilgeous-Alexander led all scorers with 34 points, as well as eight rebounds. P.J. Washington led the Mavericks with 21 points, and also tied with Luka Doncic with 12 rebounds for most in the game. Doncic only scored 18 points, and Kyrie Irving didn’t do much better, scoring only nine points.

Here are four numbers to know from the game:

11: The number of missed free throws by the Mavericks

The Mavericks were awful at the charity stripe, only shooting 52 percent. That’s 11 misses from the line. Perhaps you noticed, Dallas lost by four points! Maybe hitting even half of those misses means they win the game. Championship contenders don’t give away free points, and that’s exactly what the Mavericks are doing. They need to fix it, immediately.

7: The number of turnovers by Doncic

Perhaps the most depressing stat of the night—Doncic had more turnovers (7) than field goals made (6). He’s banged up, obviously tired, but he has to be better. Sure, he ended up with a triple-double—18 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists—but the Mavericks need Doncic’s scoring. Part of this is on the coaching staff. They need to make things easier on Doncic, help him get some easier looks off actions from Irving or even Washington. Whatever, the solution, the Mavericks won’t go very far with Doncic performing like this.

4: The number of field goals by Irving

Similarly, the Mavericks need more from Irving. He’s been oddly passive in this series, but it hasn’t mattered much, since the Mavericks were winning. But tonight, he looked completely off and not aggressive at all. He only had four makes from the field and five fouls. Irving only took two 3-pointers, missing them both. As mentioned above with Doncic, Irving can’t have games like this. He did have nine assists, but the pressure he puts on defenses when he’s looking to score changes the dynamic on offense, and the Mavericks need it.

13: The number of blocks by the Mavericks

One positive stat! The Mavericks had 13 blocks as a team. The Dallas bigs were active and mean around the rim. Dereck Lively II and Derrick Jones Jr. had four blocks each. Daniel Gafford had three. Washington and Doncic even got in on the block party with one each. The game result was disappointing, but the defense around the rim was incredible.

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