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In the Wake of Tragedy, Oklahoma Softball is Playing for Something More

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In the Wake of Tragedy, Oklahoma Softball is Playing for Something More


NORMAN — Moments after Oklahoma’s exhilarating 8-0 win over UCF to open Tremendous Regional play on Friday, the scene at Marita Hynes Area turned somber.

Jocelyn Alo took just a few steps exterior the third base dugout to take part in a postgame interview with ESPN, and her Sooner teammates stepped behind her into the shot holding 4 indicators.

Emblazoned throughout the poster boards have been the phrases “Pray 4 Uvalde”, in addition to the photographs of 4 of the victims from this week’s mass taking pictures tragedy at Robb Elementary Faculty in Uvalde, TX.

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The 4 college students proven have been youth softball gamers, and Patty Gasso’s workforce felt moved to honor their reminiscence after the competition.

After the sport, Gasso stated she was related to the coach of two of the victims honored via a social media direct message.

“It was from a younger coach who coached two of the women who misplaced their life and it simply affected me, affected this workforce,” Gasso stated after the sport. “(We) knew we wanted to reply. If there’s something that we are able to do to convey pleasure or hope or simply acknowledgment of those younger lives and make these households really feel higher, we’ll do no matter we’ve to do as a result of this sport has allowed us to do these sorts of issues.

“In any other case we might be one like anyone else. However we’re capable of do these issues. And we’ve realized that this sport permits us to achieve folks. And if meaning bringing them some form of consolation, that’s our hope.”

Alo stated the horrors of this week hit house along with her on account of how tight-knit her family is.

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“I’m very shut with numerous my youthful cousins,” Alo stated. “And I see my cousins in them. So for me it was onerous to handle.

“However I do know that coach is at all times going to have my again on stuff like that.”

The teaching workers have been those to assist print out the photographs and put the indicators collectively, Alo stated, after which the workforce stepped in to put in writing messages of prayer on the indicators.

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Friday’s present of help wasn’t the primary time the Oklahoma program has stepped as much as present help for victims of a tragedy.

In 2013, the Sooners marched to a World Collection crown whereas enjoying for the victims of the huge twister that ripped via Moore simply weeks earlier than.

That season, Gasso’s workforce honored 9-year-old Sydney Angle, inviting Sydney’s sister Casey into the dugout all through the title run.

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From the youth ranges all the best way as much as the huge stage of the Girls’s Faculty World Collection, the softball group is shut.

“These athletes up right here and people earlier than them began after they have been (7 or 6 years outdated) screaming in dugouts and simply cheering,” Gasso stated. “This camaraderie that softball has, there’s a sisterhood that you may really feel on about each workforce. And so they struggle within the dugout collectively in that method of cheering and having enjoyable and rallying.

“And it’s simply at all times been that softball applications are accessible and look like they’re accessible to the group.”

So when introduced with the chance to try to brighten somebody’s day or honor a liked one gone too quickly, the Sooners determined they weren’t going to cross up the chance.

“I believe that’s a part of the enchantment to observe,” stated Gasso, “is not only good athletes, but in addition simply good-hearted younger ladies who like to do what they do.

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“But additionally like to make any individual be ok with what they’re doing.”

It wasn’t a simple week mentally on this system, however Alo stated she’s simply proud that her workforce wished to step up and make a distinction.

“Every time ladies that play softball that simply so occurred to be in that have been affected by that,” stated Alo, “it form of hits a little bit bit nearer to house.

“So it was fairly robust to handle. However I’m additionally simply completely happy that we’re speaking about it and we get to simply honor them the remainder of the best way out.”



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What time, TV channel is the Oklahoma Sooners vs Auburn football on today? Free live stream, spread, game odds

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What time, TV channel is the Oklahoma Sooners vs Auburn football on today? Free live stream, spread, game odds


The No. 21 ranked Oklahoma Sooners face the Auburn Tigers with a true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. being named the starter after an impressive second half in a loss to Tennessee last week. This game kicks off at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, September 28 with a live broadcast on ABC, and streaming live on ESPN Plus.

WATCH: Auburn vs. Oklahoma football live for FREE with Fubo (free trial), or stream this game and more on the cheap with one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).

The betting odds for this game have moved all over the place, originally opening with the Sooners as the favorites. However, most sportsbooks now have Auburn as slight favorites over Oklahoma in this matchup.

What TV channel is the Oklahoma vs. Auburn game on?

When: Kickoff takes place at 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on Saturday, September 28.

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Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium | Auburn, AL

TV Channel: ABC, and streaming on ESPN Plus

How to watch live stream online: If you don’t have cable, you can still watch this game live for FREE with Fubo (free trial). If you are out of free trials, the cheapest and best way to watch this game and more football this month is by signing up for one month of ESPN+ (costs $10.99/month, cancel anytime).

If you already have a cable or satellite subscription already, you can watch the game on Watch ESPN or the ESPN app by signing in with your provider information.

You can find out more about which channel ABC is on in your area by using the channel finders here: Comcast Xfinity, DIRECTV, Dish, Verizon Fios, Spectrum/Charter, Optimum/Altice.

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Oklahoma vs. Auburn spread, betting odds

Point Spread: OU: +1 | AUB: -1

Moneyline: OU: -105 | AUB: -115

Over/Under: 44.5



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LB Dasan McCullough Joins List of 11 Oklahoma Players Unavailable against Auburn

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LB Dasan McCullough Joins List of 11 Oklahoma Players Unavailable against Auburn


The list of unavailable players for the Sooners just keeps growing. 

Oklahoma linebacker Dasan McCullough will not be available for OU’s game against Auburn at 2:30 pm. Saturday, according to the most recent SEC availability report that was released Friday night. McCullough also missed last week’s game against Tennessee after being listed as doubtful most of last week. He was listed as questionable this week until Friday. 

McCullough joined a list of 10 other Sooners that will be unavailable for Week 5. The only other OU player included on the availability report was offensive lineman Jake Taylor, who was listed as probable. Unless he’s considered a game-time decision, Taylor’s status will be known when the final availability report is released 90 minutes before OU and Auburn kicks off. 

The bright side of this week’s report is that it looks like Geirean Hatchett, who is out for the season, will be the only offensive lineman the Sooners will not have available.

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Those unavailable include five of OU’s top receivers in Jayden Gibson, Jalil Farooq, Nic Anderson, Andrel Anthony and Deion Burks. Gibson has already been ruled out for the season, while Farooq is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after breaking his foot in the Sooners’ season opener against Temple. Anderson made his first appearance of the season last week but was injured during the opening drive. 

Burks was the newest receiver added to OU’s injured reserve on Thursday after also suffering an injury against Tennessee. Burks is the Sooners’ leading receiver with 26 receptions for 201 yards and three touchdowns. The next leading pass catcher is tight end Bauer Sharp with 14 catches and 116 yards. 

So many injuries to OU receivers even influenced Brent Venables to switch cornerback Jacobe Johnson to wide receiver. And the Sooners are enduring all these injuries at receiver as freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. is set to make his first career start Saturday.

Freshman running back Taylor Tatum and defensive back Kendel Dolby were also injured last week. Tatum was ruled out on Thursday, while Dolby, who plays the cheetah position, will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on Wednesday. Fellow defensive back Gentry Williams was also ruled unavailable for Saturday. 

The biggest shock of this week was kicker Tyler Keltner, who will be unavailable after an emergency appendectomy. Zach Schmit will presumably take over all kicking duties after participating in only kickoffs so far this season. 

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As for Auburn, the Tigers’ list is much shorter. Auburn will be without defensive backs Tyler Scott and Champ Anthony, as well as tight end Brandon Frazier. Defensive lineman Isaiah Raikes, kicker Alex McPherson and offensive lineman Izavion Miller are listed as probable. 

WR Jayden Gibson, Out
LB Dasan McCullough, Out
WR Jalil Farooq, Out
WR Nic Anderson, Out
WR Andrel Anthony, Out
WR Deion Burks, Out
RB Taylor Tatum, Out
DB Gentry Williams, Out
DB Kendel Dolby, Out
OL Geirean Hatchett, Out
K Tyler Keltner, Out
OL Jake Taylor, Probable

DB Tyler Scott, Out
DB Champ Anthony, Out
TE Brandon Frazier, Out
DL Isaiah Raikes, Probable
K Alex McPherson, Probable
OL Izavion Miller, Probable



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Sources: Auburn’s Thorne to be QB1 vs. Sooners

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Sources: Auburn’s Thorne to be QB1 vs. Sooners


Veteran quarterback Payton Thorne will start for Auburn when No. 21 Oklahoma visits Jordan-Hare Stadium Saturday afternoon, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel Friday.

Thorne, the former Michigan State transfer, started 13 games for the Tigers last fall. He returned as the program’s starter in 2024 before he was replaced by redshirt freshman Hank Brown in Week 3. In Thorne, Auburn will have an experienced starter under center in Week 5 against a Sooners defense that leads the nation in turnovers (12) and ranks 28th in total defense this fall.

Auburn initially turned to Brown after Thorne threw a career-high four interceptions in a 21-14 home defeat to Cal on Sept. 7. Brown led the Tigers past New Mexico in his first career start in Week 3, but struggled against Arkansas last Saturday, completing 7-of-13 passes for 72 yards with three interceptions. After Auburn went scoreless before halftime, Thorne took over at quarterback in the second half of the 24-14 home loss, finishing 13-for-23 for 213 yards with two touchdowns and interception.

Both quarterbacks turned in strong weeks of practice ahead of this weekend’s visit from Oklahoma, but Auburn will go with Thorne Saturday, banking on his experience and the momentum he built in his relief work against Arkansas as the Tigers chase their first SEC win of 2024.

Auburn hosts the Sooners at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on ABC in Oklahoma’s first SEC road game.

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