Oklahoma
Getting More Aggressive Must be Part of Oklahoma QB Michael Hawkins Jr.’s ‘Maturation’
NORMAN – When Brent Venables made the decision to replace quarterback Jackson Arnold with true freshman Micahel Hawkins Jr., he kept circling back to one major issue – turnovers.
“The turnovers and where they were at were really a real issue, obviously,” Venables said ahead of the Auburn game when identifying what went wrong with Arnold in the lineup against Tennessee.
Throughout the spring and fall, every indication from Venables was that Hawkins was doing a great job of both learning the offense and making quick, smart decisions on the practice field.
Through 10 quarters of football, Hawkins has delivered on protecting the ball in the passing game.
He’s thrown no interceptions, but not only that, he hasn’t really come close to put the ball in harm’s way through the air. Hawkins hasn’t had to rely on the good fortune of a defensive back dropping an interception, as the ball either ends up in the hands of an OU receiver or safely out of bounds after making the decision to live to fight another down.
Taking care of the football is always a good thing, but Venables said Hawkins still has to take the opportunities in front of him when they reveal themselves throughout a game.
“We had plenty of opportunities in the first drive of the game,” Venables said on Tuesday. “After getting the first down, we’re open, we’re behind the defender and we just overthrow it. We don’t catch it in the end zone. We attack vertically. There’s always a pros and cons with that, too. You want to try to stay on time and stay on schedule and stay ahead of the chains. So when you take shots down the field, you like your matchup, you like your coverage, you like where you’re at on the field, but you’ve got to live and die with that, too.
“… And then our third drive, we get things going there, and we get three first downs but we miss some opportunities within the drive. There’s plenty of opportunities, but we got a slant rout open on 3rd and 7, we go to hit him. Again, well-designed play, and it’s going to be tight coverage, but we’ve got to make those plays.”
Hawkins finished the game 19-for-30 through the air for 148 yards. He was under duress essentially the entire contest, as he was sacked five times.
But there were a few moments late where even a turnover might have been more productive than just throwing the ball away.
Down 27-3 in the fourth quarter, Hawkins threw the ball away on fourth-and-3. Despite having no obvious places to throw the football, the offense doesn’t have a chance to convert if the ball isn’t kept in play.
Hawkins again was unable to make anything happen on the final play of the game, where he threw the ball out the back of the end zone as time expired.
The offensive issues don’t rest on the shoulders of the true freshman – far from it.
But there are chances to be more aggressive with the football, and that’s the next step Hawkins will have to take in his development as he gets more comfortable and makes just his third career start against South Carolina on Saturday (11:45 a.m., SEC Network).
The coaching staff will continue to work with him on exactly when to try and make a big-time throw as well to balance pushing the ball further downfield without being reckless.
“The second half, he had a couple of really nice throws,” Venables said. “Over-the-middle type coverage, bang-bang type plays. Didn’t happen the first half early. There’s times you don’t trust it. That’s just part of the maturation. You don’t want that. You go back, you freeze the picture, show ‘em what’s there. You develop that for practice and the confidence that comes with it. Everybody’s gotta be on the same page. And again, you go back, you show ‘em the ones that were good and then you say, here’s the ones that were there. You match ‘em up with maybe what we did in practice.
“… So you try to show the players that you do that to create affirmation, that you’re being shown the right things. You gotta execute the things that you know are gonna be successful. When you get on the field with a call, you’re in a good position to be successful.”
Hawkins will be the first to say he can make improvements, too. He was quick to identify areas where he can be better in the immediate aftermath of the loss to Texas.
“I just could’ve came out a little harder,” he said on Saturday. “Saw little things I could’ve fixed on the sideline after plays. Got to do better, could’ve gotten through it better and just leading my team in a better way. The biggest thing for me is just coming back harder, my mindset of working and leading my team when things go left.”
Growing pains are to be expected with a true freshman quarterback in the SEC, and Venables is looking forward to Hawkins getting right back on the horse at practice this week as he works to improve.
“As I go back, were there opportunities there? Were guys wide open? Yeah, several times wide open,” Venables said. “Is the protection there when they were wide open? Yeah, it sure was. Do we got to pull the trigger? Yeah, we do
“… You try to build the confidence, continuity, cohesion, the timing, all of those things. By the end, we’re gonna go right back at it again. You hit it head-on as much as anything.”
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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