Happy Hump Day, friends and fans!

This still feels weird to type, but Houston head coach Dana Holgorsen caught up with the NFL Network crew covering this week’s Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, and he was asked about his assessment of Kyler Murray. After a stellar performance in that wild 59-56 Friday night victory in Morgantown, Holgo surely had enough of a sample size from which to draw an opinion.

His answer really puts in perspective how tough, if not exhausting, it’s been for the rest of the Big 12 over the last several years. Having to deal with three years of Baker Mayfield and a season of Murray is about as difficult as it gets as far as opposing QB play.

To make matters worse for Holgorsen, he’s still not able to avoid a clash with the Oklahoma Sooners now that he’s no longer coaching the Mountaineers. As he pointed out, his Cougars open the 2019 season in Norman. If that isn’t enough of a steep hill to climb, he’ll have to face Jalen Hurts in what will be a bit of a new look on offense for Lincoln Riley’s group.

Now for more of today’s Hot Links! Jon Gruden has seen the light with undersized QBs like Kyler Murray, Ben Powers is still a terrifying human being, Aggie QB Nick Starkel is transferring, and more!

OU Links

• Signed, sealed, delivered. Alabama grad transfer QB Jalen Hurts is officially an Oklahoma Sooner after signing a financial aid agreement and enrolling in classes.

• Jon Gruden might make some questionable decisions as far as constructing the roster on his own team goes, but there’s no doubt that the man knows football — especially the quarterback position. This right here is a sentiment more and more people around the league are coming to terms with, and it’s about time.

• Oklahoma cornerbacks coach Roy Manning understands how the meaning of dominant defense has changed over the last couple decades, and he’s also eager to instill his confidence into the players he’s coaching, writes John Shinn of the Tulsa World.
• Round 2 of Bedlam tips off tonight at 8 pm CT on ESPNU. The Sooners are looking to end a two-game skid and earn the program’s first Big 12 road win since Dec. 30, 2017 (at TCU).

• Oklahoma basketball is at the front of the nation’s technological race when it comes to monitoring and enhancing player performance. Blake Griffin has been impressed with the advancements he’s seen at the Sooners’ new facility, which carries his family name.
• Ben Powers and Dru Samia are among three Sooners who will be representing the Sooners this weekend at the Reese’s Senior Bowl. Punter/kicker Austin Seibert is also in the mix down in Mobile, Alabama.

• Speaking of Powers, I’m going to miss his excellent quotes and soundbites. He never fails to deliver quality messages of doom, and he’s mastered the art of taking pleasure in others’ despair.

• The Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team is back on top of the College Gymnastics Association rankings after two weekends of competition. These guys are really good, folks.

• After accepting an invitation, Oklahoma women’s golf senior Julienne Soo will represent the Sooners in the first ever Augusta National Women’s Amateur this April. The inaugural tournament will take place on the weekend prior to The Masters. Congratulations, Julienne!

Around the Sports World

• Texas A&M junior QB Nick Starkel has announced his intention to transfer after backing up Aggies starter Kellen Mond in 2018. Starkel opened the 2017 season as TAMU’s starter, but ultimately lost his spot after suffering an injury.

• Future Hall of Fame WR Larry Fitzgerald has revealed he intends to return for a 16th season with the Arizona Cardinals.

• The MLB Hall of Fame class of 2020 is being assembled, and greats like Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, and Jason Giambi figure to make the cut and then some.
• Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather shared a friendly interaction with each other at a Los Angeles Lakers game. Let the hype of Manny vs. Money: Round 2 begin?

• After recently being traded to the Chicago Bulls, only to be waived shortly thereafter, what’s to become of Carmelo Anthony’s legacy? Is his stubbornness to blame for the fact that the end of his career has become nothing more than an internet joke? (Hint: yes)

Stick to Sports!

• Sue the Tyrannosaurus Rex is famous for being the largest and most complete T-Rex skeleton ever found, and recently, scientists have discovered that tiny shark teeth were preserved in the sediment near the excavation site where Sue was found. The shape of the teeth resemble the pixelated spaceships from the 80s video game Galaga, thus, the new species was named Galagadon nordquistae.

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