Happy Hump Day, friends and fans!

The Oklahoma Sooners looked like they lost their mojo last time out, but forget all of the actual reasons why that happened. Instead, imagine if OU’s true source of power came from the mascot itself. The Sooner Schooner, which was annihilated by its own sharp turn on Homecoming, has been repaired and is making a comeback (to the sidelines, at least).

Keep in mind that the actual running schooner is a separate matter entirely, as they’re still working on that new, separate schooner. In any case, I can already feel the Sooner Magic uplifting my spirits as I watch it wheel along.

What’s on the docket for today’s Hot Links? Lincoln Riley has several injury updates for some key players, Trae Young goes down with a rolled ankle, Bill Murray might be your next hostess during date night and more!

OU Links

• Have you ever wondered about Lincoln Riley’s taste in music? No? Well you’re going to find out about it anyway because Stadium’s Brett McMurphy has surveyed every head coach and conference commissioner at the FBS level. As it turns out, Lincoln Riley is an RHCP guy. Mike Gundy went with Prince, which is cool. Predictably, Tom Herman went full-bro with the DMB choice. Les Miles is a fan of 21 Savage, just as we all assumed.

• The Norman Transcript’s Tyler Palmateer shared news from Lincoln Riley about senior LB Caleb Kelly. The vocal leader has been using this season as a redshirt year after suffering a lower body injury in April, but his head coach recently stated he’s officially been medically cleared. Keep in mind that before he can see the field on game day he’ll have to practice (a lot), so don’t hold your breath on a return just yet. Having said that, the chances of him making an appearance in the later stages of the season (and preserving his redshirt) seem fairly high.

• The OU Daily’s George Stoia also shared this injury update from Riley. Having junior TE Grant Calcaterra back in the mix would be especially huge going into November.

• Between LB Kenneth Murray, DT Neville Gallimore, WR CeeDee Lamb and QB Jalen Hurts, I’m going to go out on a limb and say at least one of these studs is going to bring home some neat hardware come awards season. Boomer!

• Lincoln Riley shared his thoughts on the NCAA announcement of potentially moving towards a system that student-athletes can financially benefit from, writes Kegan Reneau. Keep in mind that yesterday’s event isn’t particularly consequential in the grand scheme of things.

• Riley and his team of Sooners understand the kind of standard that has been built at Oklahoma. Losing to Kansas State last weekend was shocking, yes, but anytime OU doesn’t win it’s viewed as a disappointment. Tyler Palmateer of the Norman Transcript has more.
• The real thing tips off in less than a week, folks! The Oklahoma men’s basketball team hosts UTSA on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the LNC to open the 2019-20 regular season. Also, in case you missed it, you can check out my recap of the exhibition match from last night.

• Speaking of OU hoops, former Sooner turned Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young appeared to have rolled his ankle in the second quarter against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night. He was eventually helped off the court and did not return. Fortunately, things aren’t looking as serious as originally feared.

Around the Sports World

• After formally meeting in Atlanta on Tuesday, the NCAA says it is moving towards a model that would allow student-athletes to potentially profit from their name, image and likeness. We are still at least a few years off from potentially living in this new era of collegiate sports, but this is a small step in that direction. But, again, this does not mean that a change has occurred (as many in the media erroneously reported on Tuesday). The NCAA is basically just saying that they’re going to explore the possibility changing it “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model”.

• Penn State starting defensive tackle Antonio Shelton has been suspended one game for spitting on a Michigan State player last weekend. Gross.
• On Tuesday, the Cincinnati Bengals benched QB Andy Dalton for rookie Ryan Finley. It gets better (worse?), because it just so happened to be on Dalton’s birthday. That’s pretty mean, even for Cincy.
• The Washington Nationals forced a Game 7 in the 2019 World Series after defeating the Houston Astros, 7-2. The road team has won every game in this series, which is totally bonkers.

Stick to Sports!

• Hollywood legend Bill Murray has accomplished a great many things in his life as a renowned actor and comedian, but his latest endeavor may be his most adventurous yet. Murray recently revealed that he applied to work at the Chinese-American chain restaurant P.F. Chang’s. His application wasn’t necessarily for any particular position, just in general because working there looks fun. Oh, Bill, never stop being you.

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