How’s it going, everybody?

There are a number of compelling storylines surrounding the 2019 Oklahoma Sooners on the football field. Grad transfer Jalen Hurts will likely take control of the keys to Lincoln Riley’s offense, the new defensive coaching staff changes will finally begin to yield measurable results, and the young trio of star-studded receivers are on track to make their collegiate debuts.

Speaking of those receivers, for Trejan Bridges, Jadon Haselwood and Theo Wease Jr., their elite talent has allowed them the opportunity to play at a place like Oklahoma, but it’s the driving forces behind them that have propelled them to these positions. Too often, tragedy strikes at the most inopportune times, but whenever that happened in the lives of this group, they used it to fuel their motivational reserves. The OU Daily’s Vic Reynolds takes an in-depth look into each of their stories that have led them all to the same destination.

I think what’s most telling about Bridges, Haselwood and Wease after reading this project is that they’re not simply phenomenal football talents, they’re also good people. It would be easy for any one of them to let the stardom of being one of the most highly coveted recruits in the nation go to their head, but having just a little insight into what they’ve each been through is explanation enough for why they’re such a special bunch.

Every year is memorable for something, and the more I learn about this new crop of receivers, the more I expect them to play a major role in the legacy of this upcoming season.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Matt Freeman is in the transfer portal, Tanner Mordecai and Kevin Murray go way back, Opening Day is here and more!

OU Links

• CB coach Roy Manning is here to bring you your daily dose of motivation. It’s been said before, but if his players play with three-quarters of the energy he exudes in these messages, I expect a lot more plays to be made from the cornerback position this fall. He has gained notoriety for these videos at his previous stops, and I love that he’s bringing this same energy to Norman.

• In case you missed it, Oklahoma men’s basketball player Matt Freeman has entered the NCAA Transfer Portal, according to several reports (including Joe Mussato of The Oklahoman).
• When Tanner Mordecai answered questions at the podium on Wednesday, he was asked about his relationship with Kevin Murray, who is not only Kyler Murray’s father, but also a renowned quarterback coach in the state of Texas. Since Mordecai was a high school freshman, Kevin Murray helped him develop into an Oklahoma-caliber signal caller, writes the Norman Transcript’s Tyler Palmateer.
• OL Cody Ford finally finished up the Big 12-themed, career-charting tattoo he spoke about weeks ago. Ben Powers, Dru Samia and Bobby Evans, step right up!

• Graham Chapple of SB Nation’s Peachtree Hoops took a deep dive into Trae Young’s ongoing rookie season and reflected on how clutch he’s been. Yes, he’s come up big down the stretches of tight ballgames, but statistically he’s placed himself among some rather elite company.
• Former Oklahoma head coach Kelvin Sampson is making a run in the 2019 NCAA Tournament with his Houston Cougars, and his son Kellen Sampson has followed in his footsteps every step of the way. This is one assistant coach who Kelvin always knew was destined for this line of work.
• 25 years ago today, as Barry Switzer began the process of taking his talents to Dallas, where he would soon become the second coach to lead a team to a Super Bowl win after being a National Championship coach at the collegiate level.

• Speaking of which, this other tweet from The King would induce a “PHRASING!” from Sterling Archer. I believe Switzer was talking about chewing someone out (so to speak), in this case reporter Ed Werder, but sometimes words are, for lack of a better term, messy. Side note: Twitter, please install a damn edit button for crying out loud.

Around the Sports World

• MLB Opening Day is here! Check out this new ‘Let the Kids Play’ ad campaign the league is promoting this season. And of course Mike Trout is the star, the man is being paid in chests of gold bricks.

• Eli Manning takes a lot of heat from New York Giants fans, but he also has to hear it from nine-year-old Eagles fans. What ever happened to the rule that if you don’t have anything nice to say then don’t say anything at all?

• UConn Football fielded perhaps the worst defense ever seen in the 21st century last season. I’m with Bill Connelly when he figures there’s only one way to go from there.
• The Dallas Mavericks’ rookie sensation Luka Doncic is great with the fans, too. Here’s a clip of him playing rock, paper, scissors with someone off-screen. Now I just want to know who won best two out of three.

• Philadelphia Flyers mascot Gritty was attacked by a child on the ice, but I suspect it was for show and not a serious altercation. Or at least, I hope it was just for show, for Gritty’s sake.

Stick to Sports!

• Some people go above and beyond to show off their fandom, like these people who wanted to express their love of HBO’s Game of Thrones through permanent ink on their bodies. Popular GoT characters for tattoos are Jon Snow, Arya Stark, and last but not least Daenerys of the House Targaryen, the First of Her Name, The Unburnt, Queen of Meereen, Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains and Mother of Dragons. That will never not be exhausting.

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