Oklahoma
Opinion: Christian nationalism is at the root of the high number of executions in Oklahoma
White Christian nationalism is a widespread form of religious extremism in the United States. White Christian nationalists believe in a social hierarchy that supposedly has been ordained by God: the United States is superior to all other nations, Christianity is superior to all other world religions, and the man is the head of the household. At the root of it is a belief by white males of European ancestry that they are superior to all other people and an intolerance of people that are below them on the social hierarchy. The use of force is justified to maintain their social control.
Gov. Kevin Stitt claimed “every square inch” of Oklahoma for Jesus Christ in a public prayer outside the state Capitol upon his reelection in 2022. Stitt signed House Bill 1775 in 2021, which banned the teaching of critical race and gender theory in Oklahoma high schools. This is a rejection of any view of history other than the traditional view of the white European male.
More: White Christian nationalism is a danger to democracy, critics say. Oklahoma is no stranger to the ideology
Christian nationalists embrace capital punishment, which is a means of maintaining social control over people of color and poor people. Samuel Perry, a leading authority on Christian nationalism, has noted that states in which Christian nationalism is strongest have the most executions. The more adults affirm Christian nationalism, the more they are likely to say, “the problem with the death penalty is we don’t use it enough.”
Oklahoma has executed 14 men during Stitt’s administration, second most among U.S. states. All but one were people of color or poor, or a combination thereof. The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has recommended clemency for five men, but Stitt has rejected their recommendation four times, granting clemency only for Julius Jones, whose cause gained notoriety and provoked walkouts by high school students in Oklahoma City, Edmond and Tulsa. Stitt appeared to grant clemency grudgingly as a result of political pressure.
In a statement released after Emmanuel Littlejohn’s execution on Sept. 26, 2024, Stitt called himself “a law-and-order governor.” That is an ideological statement that emphasizes harsh enforcement as a means of reducing crime and enforcing social control. Law and order was a slogan used as a racial dog whistle in the 1960s and 1970s as part of the white backlash against the Civil Rights Movement and urban unrest. Stitt’s statement said nothing about Littlejohn’s repentance and his conduct in prison.
James Coddington, Phillip Hancock and Littlejohn would be alive today if Stitt had followed the recommendations for clemency made by the Pardon and Parole Board. Most CEOs follow the recommendations of their boards, but clemency apparently conflicts with Stitt’s view of justice. There is no place in it for mercy and forgiveness for men who have been convicted of violent crimes. It does not matter whether they are changed men, have been model prisoners, have repented of their crimes and have apologized to the victims’ families. Retribution must be carried out.
More: Opinion: Ryan Walters’ Bible choice reflects the preference of Christian fundamentalists
It is ironic that Christian nationalists are more supportive of state violence than any other segment of the American population. Christian nationalists betray the teachings of the Christ they profess to follow, who was not white and not European and created nonviolent communities in which women were leaders. He refused to allow his disciples to take arms to defend him when his own life was threatened. On the cross he forgave those who were crucifying him.
The Rev. Don Heath is minister of Disciples Christian Church in Edmond and the chair of the Oklahoma Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
NORMAN — Cord Rager’s return comes at a pivotal time for Skip Johnson’s Oklahoma Sooners. Not only do they get their day three starter back in time for big road matchups against Auburn and Arkansas on the horizon, but the Sooners pitching strength, their rotational depth, is primed and ready for the test.
The freshman lefty finished with eight strikeouts and only gave up one hit in only 65 pitches before his day ended in the sixth.
No. 14 Oklahoma earn its first conference sweep of the season, defeating Missouri 8-4. It was OU’s fourth conference series win.
Oklahoma (27-12, 10-8) put their best foot forward as they turn the page to the meat of their schedule where they will do battle against No. 13, No. 20 and No. 16 over the next three weeks — two of those series’ on the road.
Four runs in five hits in the second got things rolling for the Sooners.
Camden Johnson continued his brilliant play of late with a triple in the second. This came after a Brenden Brock solo home run to put OU up 1-0. Deiten LaChance grounded out to short but scored Johnson. Dasan Harris and and Nolan Stevens each found home before the inning ended.
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OU found fortune from the plate again in the fourth. Four runs off of four hits highlighted by a three-run home run by Johnson put Oklahoma up 8-0. It was Johnson’s seventh home run of the season, second on the team behind Brock’s nine.
Trent Collier got the nod in the sixth to relieve Rager.
In the seventh, Missouri finally got on the board for the first time since the ninth inning of Friday night’s Sooner victory. Cam Durnin hit a solo shot — his fourht of the season — to make the score 8-1 in favor of the home team.
The Tigers got their third hit of the game shortly after. From there, Collier’s short day was done. Gavyn Jones came on to relieve
LaChance missed a home run by inches when Tiger center fielder Kaden Peer made a leaping catch, jumping into the fence.
In the eighth, the Tigers continued to chip away. With bases loaded, Blaze Ward hit a basehit to score two Missouri base runners. OU led 8-3 heading into the final inning.
Harris led the Sooners with three hits. His day was accented by an RBI, stolen base and a run.
Oklahoma will travel to Auburn to take on the No. 13 Tigers for a three game series starting on Friday. Before that, they will host Oral Roberts for a midweek game at Kimrey Family Stadium in Norman. The Sooners won 4-0 against ORU earlier this season.
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New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
New Iowa State wrestling coach Brent Metcalf outlines vision for team
Iowa State wrestling’s first commitment of the Brent Metcalf era will be a transfer portal addition.
The Cyclones added Oklahoma State transfer Brayden Thompson, who announced his commitment on April 18 via Instagram. Thompson is a one-time NCAA qualifier at the 2024 NCAA Championships, doing so as a true freshman. He redshirted in 2024-25, but competed in open tournaments at 184 pounds and was 9-0. He did not wrestle a match in 2025-26 and will have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
Out of high school, Thompson was ranked the No. 3 pound-for-pound wrestler and No. 1 at 182 pounds in the 2023 recruiting class by Flowrestling. He also won Powerade and Ironman titles, two of the more prestigious high school tournaments in the nation. Assuming Thompson returns to 184 pounds where he last wrestled, he should fill in nicely as a potential replacement for Isaac Dean after his graduation.
Thompson is Iowa State’s first transfer portal addition after several departures, including Anthony Echemendia and Christian Castillo, who also entered the portal.
Eli McKown covers high school sports and wrestling for the Des Moines Register. Contact him at Emckown@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @EMcKown23.
NORMAN — The Oklahoma Sooners liked their wide receiver room a year ago. They want 2026 to be even better.
Isaiah Sategna’s return helps that desire. Earning experienced pass catchers Trell Harris and Parker Livingstone via the transfer portal gives you added play makers. But after the Sooners Spring Game on Saturday, an unlikely hero emerged.
When Jahsiear Rogers flipped from Penn State to Oklahoma last December, he drew the usual excitement that comes with a new commitment. But few expected him to climb the depth chart this quickly, even with the injuries that hit Emmett Jones’ room.
Rogers did just that and more on Saturday. He led all pass catchers with five receptions for 70 yards in Oklahoma’s annual Red/White game.
“I knew it was time to showcase,” Rogers said after the game. “It was amazing to see the fans and get used to the OU way. I’m a playmaker. They really want to put the ball in playmakers hands. I pretty much knew I had to lead the white team.”
Rogers got the ball rolling early. On the second offensive play for the white team, backup quarterback Whitt Newbauer rolled to his right wide, then stopped and looked towards the middle of the field where he saw Rogers running open. Newbauer connected with Rogers for a 39-yard gain.
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With Rogers on the white team, he is running against (most of) Oklahoma’s starting defense. As fate would have it, on that 39-yard reception, Rogers beat his favorite teammate to compete against — Reggie Powers.
“He is just a leader, good guy,” Rogers said of Powers. “Me and him go after it every day in practice. Reggie is strong. When I come at him, I have to really come at him.”
Rogers’ big play over Powers was the second-longest catch of the spring game — Sategna’s 50-yard reception that appeared to be a touchdown before coaches pulled it back to set up a red-zone rep. The other four catches weren’t flashy, but they were important in their own way, and Rogers looked like he belonged on the field.
“I love it. As long as I can get the ball, I can be me. I love it,” Rogers said. “When I am on the field, I am ready to go. I am ready to be a playmaker.”
The season is still months away, and Rogers hasn’t earned a spot high on the depth chart yet. A strong spring and an encouraging Red/White Game can only lead to early playing time if he carries that momentum into summer and fall camp.
More experienced players will return from injury and receivers who’ve been in the program for a few years will have an extra leg-up.
But Rogers is taking everything in stride and leaving no stone unturned in his development.
“Just learning from the older guys,” Rogers said. “Manny Choice, Isaiah Sategna, Trell Harris, Mackenzie Alleyne. Really all of them. We lean on each other, learn from each other. That is kind of how our room is.”
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