Oklahoma Sooners Football Hot Links: Orlando Brown continues to impress, OU’s secondary shows progress

Happy Hump Day, Sooner Nation! It is a great day, because we now have NBA Basketball to tide us over from Saturday to Saturday. Speaking of things (and people) being back, Adrian Peterson brought home some hardware this weekend. We look at that and more in today’s hot links:

OU Links:

• Orlando Brown is one of the best offensive linemen in the country, and the rest of the Big 12 is finding that out the hard way. Brown has been making statements against top defensive lines.
• The secondary had been highly scrutinized following lackluster performances against Baylor and Iowa State but was able to hold Sam Ehlinger in check in last week’s win over the Texas Longhorns. That’s a good sign.
• K-State QB Jesse Ertz sets tone for OU week with motivational speech. The last time the Sooners traveled to Bill Snyder Family Stadium, they left with a 55-0 victory. Jesse Ertz is determined to make sure his team is ready this time around.
• Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at Trae Young’s recruitment. College basketball recruiting has been a hot topic in the weeks since the FBI announced it had uncovered charges against a number of top programs. Ray Young made sure his son didn’t get sucked into the trap that has tripped up many other top recruits.
• Adrian Peterson has been named NFC Offensive Player of the Week! Many people thought AD’s career was over after tallying just 27 carries for 81 yards in four games with the New Orleans Saints. Many people were wrong. AD exploded for 134 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his debut for the Arizona Cardinals. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come and AD’s career takes on a second life out in the desert.

National Links:

• Here’s how Mike Gundy came home and built Oklahoma State football. Say what you will about the Pokes, but Bedlam is more fun when both teams are good. Gundy has done quite a job in Stillwater. His 109-51 record as a head coach is impressive... especially considering when the fact that he’s 2-10 against the Oklahoma Sooners ;)
• In case you aren’t on Twitter and weren’t forced to subject yourself to a ton of horrifying screen shots, Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome leg injury in last nights season opener. His first season with the Boston Celtics is over before the rest of the league has even played a game. This reaction by the Cleveland Cavaliers bench tells you pretty much everything you need to know.

• Speaking of the NBA, Tim Cato wrote a great piece on the culture in Oklahoma City that has built them into legitimate championship contenders one again. The Thunder begin their season Thursday night at home against Enes Kanter and the New York Knicks.
• One last NBA note: Kevin Durant hit a buzzer beater to beat the Houston Rockets last night... but it was waved off after replay showed he didn’t get the shot off in time. Just a shame. A real shame.

“STICK TO SPORTS”

• Here’s a closer look at Apple’s “secret” self-driving car. Would you trust a machine to drive you around on a busy street or highway? I’m also kind of worried that this would happen.