Oklahoma
COLUMN: How Oklahoma’s Young Coaching Staff Uses New Sideline Tech to Its Advantage
NORMAN — A half-dozen times or so in Friday’s season-opener with Temple, the Oklahoma quarterbacks were presented during the ESPN broadcast huddled on the sideline around graduate assistant Ty Hatcher — and his new iPad.
Sophomore starter Jackson Arnold sat to Hatcher’s left, freshman backup Michael Hawkins sat to his right, and behind them, standing up behind the bench, was senior third-team QB Casey Thompson. Hatcher was usually talking, or eliciting a response from Arnold, as they all leaned in to peek at the screen.
They were not scrolling cat videos on YouTube or Instagram shorts, and they were not playing NCAA25.
The tablets are now ubiquitous in college football. Every position group has them, watching plays from the last series and trying to gain an edge for the next series. (In the SEC, teams have an exclusive contract with Apple to use iPads, other conferences have cut other deals.)
For quarterbacks, it would seem an extremely helpful tool to quickly review pass coverages in real time, to make sure protection calls were correct, so see exactly who did what and where, and then communicate any corrections for upcoming drives.
The system is brand new this year, with the NCAA allowing teams up to 18 tablets on game days. So although anyone not on the sideline probably won’t notice it, the whole process should continue to evolve throughout the season.
OU head coach Brent Venables said he likes how the logistics of Friday’s game went.
“I didn’t think there was any issues,” he said Tuesday during his weekly press conference. “I didn’t look at a whole lot. I watched (the game) in person. I saw what just happened. Somebody gave up penetration in the A gap, the quarterback had to throw it early, or whatever. But it is, it’s an excellent resource that everybody has now.“
On the sideline between series, Hatcher gathers up the QBs and opens a line to offensive coordinator Seth Littrell, who’s upstairs in the coaches box with assistant QB coach and offensive analyst Jack Lowary. Littrell tells Hatcher what plays to queue up on the iPad, and they’ll communicate what the play call was, what the defense was doing, and what was good — or what should have happened.
Lowary, Venables said, is “really smart. He’s got some great communication skills.”
“And then Ty’s a good young coach, and he’s helping in all kinds of ways. He’s also facilitating a conversation that’s taking place, making sure they’re on the same play and what have you and the read progression, things like that.”
Lowary and Hatcher are both new to the Oklahoma staff and have both been great assets so far, Venables said. They’ll take the next step on Saturday night when the No. 15-ranked Sooners host Houston.
Lowary, from Huntington Beach, CA, was a backup quarterback at Missouri under Barry Odom. His offensive coordinator at the time was Josh Heupel. Lowary also worked at Tennessee for Heupel and Vols offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle — which should come in quite handy when the Sooners host Tennessee on Sept. 21.
Hatcher, from Hueytown, AL, was a quarterback at Samford and worked for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M last season.
“Great young minds,” Venables said.
On his weekly coaches show Monday night, Venables called it “a player’s worst nightmare” because they no longer have to wait until Sunday film review to get chewed out for a bust.
“You can make it big,” he laughed. “Really zoom in.”
Still, Venables isn’t actually a fan yet of having tablets on the sideline. Venables is old-school to the core, and he thinks giving both teams equal technological assets can somewhat “neutralize” any advantage a talented coaching staff might have.
In other words, one staff puts in overtime on game prep, such as recognizing formations or anticipating pre-snap tendencies — but that mountain of extra work is suddenly leveled because the other sideline can see things in real time on a tablet. Or a school pours financial resources into a salary budget to compensate a top-shelf staff — but any edge in actual coaching skill is taken down a peg because the opponent gets the exact same look.
“Like anything, more isn’t always better,” he added. “If somebody said, ‘Would you vote for everybody to have them or not have them,’ I would say no. Because I like figuring stuff out and seeing it on the field. I think that can be an advantage. Some people can’t see it.
“It still comes down the players out there executing and being physical.”
On Tuesday, he reiterated that stance.
“If you analyzed the iPads as opposed to no iPads, if you asked me, I’d rather not have them. The reason is because I think if you’ve got a good eye for just what happened — who’s in what spot, who wasn’t in the right spot — it gives you a potential competitive advantage on figuring it out. Doesn’t mean you’re gonna win or all of a sudden all of the bad things are gonna go away. But I do think it can be a competitive advantage without the iPads.
“I think it neutralizes a lot of things. I think what you’ve gotta be careful is not overloading information. Most of the time, I think it’s affirmation. ‘Well, that’s what I thought. You’re too wide.’ Or, ‘That’s what I thought. You didn’t block the backside backer.’
“I think it’s a good thing, when it’s all said and done. I think it’s good. … Kind of like the transfer portal has created more parity, I think this will be another thing.”
Teaching is easily one of the most challenging and rewarding professions anywhere. And while most deserve to be recognized, when we heard about Deanne Strothers, we had to come meet her.
The Harding Charter Prep teacher has been teaching life through math for 30 years.
“My goal is to make them understand that they can get through tough stuff,” said Strothers.
But seven years ago, there was some tough stuff put on her plate that was really tough to swallow.
“I had kids that would come in, and they didn’t have any. They didn’t have a lunch card, so they couldn’t eat,” said Strothers.
She recalls one student in particular, at a previous school.
“She came in, and she’s like, I’m hungry,” said Strothers.
After giving the student the peanut butter and jelly sandwich she had brought for lunch, Strothers made a decision: as long as she was teaching, no child would go hungry.
“And so, I’m like, I’ve got to get something that is universal, and we landed on peanut butter and jelly,” said Strothers.
So, for the past seven years, each night she and her husband have prepared peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, totaling over 30,000 sandwiches.
It’s always grape jelly, you don’t have to be in any of her classes and the sandwiches are typically gone before 9 a.m.
“I would rather have a well-fed child than a child sitting here, not having the capability to really pay attention because they are hungry,” said Strothers.
As word spread of her personal feeding program, it prompted a visit from Oklahoma’s Secretary of Education, Dan Hamlin, who didn’t come empty-handed.
“Well, we wanted to give you a check for supplies,” said Hamlin.
“I think it’s incredibly important that we recognize the great work that our teachers are doing across the state,” said Hamlin.
“I’ll keep doing this as long as I am teaching,” said Strothers.
As expected, Mrs. Strothers says she will use the check for more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. The $250.00 donation will paY for about one semester of sandwiches.
Today on the Spotlight, our crew explored why Winter Park Resort is so much more than a snowy winter destination. Nestled in Colorado’s breathtaking Fraser Valley along the Continental Divide, this mountain escape transforms into an outdoor paradise once the snow melts—offering cool temperatures, endless sunshine, and adventures for every kind of traveler.
Just 70 minutes from Denver and one of the closest major mountain resorts to Denver International Airport, Winter Park makes it easy to trade city life for alpine views. Surrounded by towering 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks, the resort delivers postcard-worthy scenery with summer temperatures that rarely climb above 80 degrees. Add in more than 300 days of sunshine each year, and it’s easy to see why so many visitors are discovering Winter Park as a perfect warm-weather getaway.
The resort village itself offers plenty of charm, with lodging, dining, shopping, and activities all conveniently located in one walkable area. Whether you’re looking for high-energy thrills or a laid-back mountain retreat, there’s no shortage of ways to enjoy the outdoors.
One of the most popular summer attractions is the scenic gondola ride, which carries guests up to 10,700 feet for unforgettable panoramic views of the Continental Divide, colorful wildflowers, and towering aspen groves. Adventure seekers can race down Colorado’s longest alpine slide or hit the trails to explore more than 3,000 acres of scenic hiking terrain. For those wanting to relax, Sunspot Mountain Lodge offers mountaintop dining with incredible views.
As the sun begins to set, the mountain comes alive with happy hour gatherings and live music on Friday and Saturday evenings, creating the perfect atmosphere to unwind after a day of adventure.
Winter Park is also home to the legendary Trestle Bike Park, one of the top downhill mountain biking destinations in the country. Opening Memorial Weekend, the park features more than 40 miles of gravity-fed downhill trails designed for riders of all skill levels. Advanced bikers can tackle technical terrain, while beginners can ease into the sport with mellow trails, rental gear, and lessons available onsite. Visitors who prefer a more relaxed ride can explore the area with e-bike rentals and guided mountain tours.
Beyond the resort, Winter Park serves as an ideal base camp for exploring some of Colorado’s most iconic outdoor destinations. The quieter west entrance of Rocky Mountain National Park is only about 35 minutes away, offering fewer crowds and incredible opportunities to spot wildlife like moose and elk.
And for travelers wanting to spend time on the water, Grand Lake, Lake Granby, and Shadow Mountain Lake are all within about an hour of the resort, offering boating, fishing, paddling, and even more mountain recreation opportunities.
From scenic gondola rides and alpine slides to mountain biking, hiking, lakeside escapes, and national park adventures, Winter Park truly lives up to its reputation as Colorado’s gateway to summer fun. Visitors looking to plan their next mountain getaway can find lodging deals, trailside stays, and a full calendar of summer events at Winter Park Resort.
Convicted felon Robert Morris — a megachurch pastor who abused 12-year-old Cindy Clemishire in 1982 — walked out of an Oklahoma prison in the early hours of March 31.
But time is running out to get legislation aimed at helping abuse victims such as Clemishire — and a bill named for her unanimously passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives— to Gov. Kevin Stritt’s desk.
The Cindy Clemishire Act, HB 4227 would eliminate Oklahoma’s statute of limitations for prosecuting child sexual abuse and prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in related settlement cases.
The NDA provision is also known as “Trey’s Law” in remembrance of Trey Carlock, who was sexually abused at Camp Kanakuk, a Christian retreat in the Ozarks. Part of his legal settlement included a restrictive NDA that prohibited him from speaking about his abuse or Kanakuk’s role.
Carlock died by suicide, aged 28, after having told a therapist, “they will always control me, and I’ll never be free.”
Your tax-deductible gift supports our mission of reporting the truth and restoring the church. Donate $50 or more to The Roys Report, and you can elect to receive our featured offer, “Kiss and Tell: The Innocent Moment That Shattered Mark Driscoll’s Cult” by Vince Manuele – click here.
Yet for unknown reasons, the Oklahoma Senate’s leadership hasn’t yet brought the measure to the floor, and the legislative session is slated to end this Thursday (May 14).
“I’ve just been told they’re not going to hear it. No reason,” Oklahoma state Sen. Darrell Weaver (R-Moore) told online news outlet NonDoc.com on May 5. “I am baffled. Disappointed and baffled.”
Apparently standing in the way are state Sens. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, the Senate floor leader, and Sen. Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, Senate pro tempore. Daniels, according to the NonDoc.com report, won’t schedule a hearing for the bill, and Paxton reportedly is deferring to her on the matter.
The Roys Report (TRR) has contacted Daniels and Paxton for comment, as well as state Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore. None immediately responded.
In a statement, Clemishire admonished Oklahoma lawmakers to get the bill passed.
“For decades, predators like Robert Morris have hidden behind outdated laws to evade justice, but the time for silence is over. To the members of the Oklahoma Senate: you have the power to ensure no other child is forced into the shadows, but your work is not done until these protections are sent to the governor,” she said.
Elizabeth Phillips, sister of Trey Carlock and founder of No More Victims, was also emphatic about the need for passage.
“Predators rely on silence and time–the law shouldn’t reward either,” said Phillips. “We are calling on Oklahoma Senate leadership to stand with survivors by ending the forced silence imposed on them by NDAs, like the one that silenced my brother to his grave, and remove the criminal statute of limitations for child sex crimes just as 44 other U.S. states have done. Please, don’t let the clock run out on survivors.”
Oklahoma is one of six states — along with the U.S. House of Representatives — where measures aiding victims of clergy sexual abuse have been filed. Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, and West Virginia are the others where legislation has been introduced.
In 2025, similar legislation was enacted in Texas, Missouri, California, and Tennessee, while Alabama and Georgia did so this year.
Mark A. Kellner is a reporter based in Mesquite, Nevada. He most recently covered statewide elections for the New York Post and was for three years the Faith & Family Reporter for The Washington Times. Mark is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands and also attended Boston University’s College of Communication.
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