Oklahoma
‘Real Change’ is Coming for Oklahoma, Starting With a New OC ‘In the Next Few Days’
BATON ROUGE, LA — Oklahoma’s football season ended on Saturday night in the bayou with a quick look at the past and a long look at the future.
After OU ended the year with a 37-17 loss at LSU — putting a miserable finish on a miserable 6-6 season — head coach Brent Venables was asked to examine the full scope of the program and assess where and how it can get better.
First and foremost, Venables said, is hiring a new offensive coordinator.
“Obviously we’re gonna, in the next few days or so, we’ll hire a new coach on offense and kind of get that sorted out,” Venables said. “I think that’s important as well. And then we have a signing day in a few days (Wednesday), and the transfer portal is going to open up (the following week), and it’ll be — we’ll be like about everybody in the country, where there’s going to be some real change.
“And some of it is by design, and some of it will be a surprise. That’s just, that’s the world we live in. It’s open-ended free agency. So we’ve been working for this moment, for the last several months, in anticipation of the signing period and the transfer portal opening up — and have a good evaluation of where we’re at.”
Venables’ bottom line: Oklahoma needs to get better — a lot better — and will have several avenues by which to accomplish that.
“That’s been a constant evaluation during the course of the season to identify the places from a roster standpoint that we need to improve and get better as well in the next seven days,” he said.
It’s expected that Venables will announce his offensive coordinator possibly as early as Sunday, though Monday fits more closely with the logistics.
But there will be plenty of talking with recruits about his decision — no doubt he’ll let them know who he’s chosen ahead of Wednesday — and then their signing day will continue the immediate offensive rebuild.
“There’s a lot of careful planning that goes into the things talked about,” Venables said. “We’ve worked over, you know, for almost two years with the signing class, and really incredibly excited about the guys going to sign this next week, and feel like they’ll be able to to have great opportunity to come in and help make us better right away.
“For the last, you know, couple of months, been working on finding the right fit for us from a coaching standpoint, and feel that we’re going to be in a great position, a strong position, to make us better with that higher so feel really good about that.”
Venables also said he will not be surprised as current players on this year’s roster work their way into his office to let him know about their decision to enter the transfer portal or stay. It may seem like a tight window with the season ending on Saturday and the portal officially opening a week and a half later, but Venables doesn’t see it that way.
“I don’t think it’s a tight window for the transfers. Actually, they still got a big window,” he said. “But we’ve been planning for this for last several months, so I won’t be surprised with anything — knowing that there are going to be a few surprises. I expect there to be, and I’m okay with that.”
Venables said he was proud of the improvement the players on this year’s team showed throughout the season, though he acknowledged that improvement was not linear.
Such as throttling Alabama last week in Norman, but losing to both Missouri and LSU — who lost to the Crimson Tide by a combined score of 76-13.
Venables often talks about handling success — and this squad clearly did not handle the success of beating Alabama very well at all. Venables did add, however, that he didn’t see Saturday’s uneven performance coming during the Sooners’ week of practice.
“It was really good,” he said. “I told them, ‘I wish I could say I told you so, like, we had crappy practices, we didn’t put in the extra time, or we weren’t invested, we didn’t have a passion (and) intensity about us all week, or even today,” Venables said. “But that wasn’t it. I think that would be just too easy to blame it on that. I thought our guys — our leadership — did a great job, our coaches, did a really good job, and we just couldn’t put it together tonight.”
OU concludes its first season in the SEC with a 2-6 record — its worst in conference play, by winning percentage, since 1931.
Still, Venables sounds resolute — both about this squad making immediate strides before a bowl game (that’ll be announced a week from Sunday) as well as jumping into a brighter future.
“I do know, without question, that there’s a bunch of guys on both sides of the ball that made improvement here this back half of the season,” he said. “We’ve talked about that a lot, and so continue to do those things.
“We’ll be practicing for the next several weeks, and with the idea that we’re going to improve the football team fundamentally through hard work. That’s where the progress is going to come from: putting your head down and going right back to work, doing the things that we need to do in order to improve just a daily focus of getting better.
“Again, a lot to be disappointed (about) at the end of the day. Being disappointed in being (6-6) that’s, you know, far below our standards.
“And so we got a lot of work to do, and I got a lot of — once we get some of these big decisions and moments and things on our on our schedule here out of the way — you know, go back and look at every area of our program where we need to be better.”
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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