What’s up, everybody?

Heisman Trophy winner and former Oklahoma Sooners outfielder Kyler Murray is slated to throw out the first pitch this Saturday at 2 p.m. CT as TCU comes to Norman. With K1 in the house, it’ll be the most happening place around (provided the weather holds up).

My first experience of watching Murray perform in person was at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The guy had a cannon out in center field, and his speed on the bases was a sight to behold. Little did I know back then how incredible of a season he’d have later in the fall on the football field.

The first round of the 2019 NFL Draft is three weeks from today, so this Saturday’s appearance at OU’s baseball game could very well be one of the last chances fans will have to see Murray in the Sooner State for a while. Once his name is called on draft night, he’ll pack his bags and get to work. Knowing how he operated in Norman, the man is all about working on his craft, and nothing like what that Charley fella once reported.

With all this said, do your best to come show some love for not only Kyler Murray, but also Oklahoma’s baseball team. It’s been a somewhat stretch as of late, but the 22-8 overall record is still a good place to be. Also, let’s hope the first pitch doesn’t turn into some viral moment for all the wrong reasons, as that could impact his draft stock. I’m kidding... although that take would probably be made somewhere by some loon.

Now onto today’s Hot Links! Brayden Willis became a Sooner through an unexpected recommendation, Sydney Romero is a Senior CLASS Award finalist, Reggie Jackson breaks ankles like it’s his hobby and more!

OU Links

• If Lincoln Riley doesn’t have this Little Giants play on his play sheet, then I’ve lost all faith in him as a coach and as a man. In all seriousness, that’s a great movie reference captioned by Kyler Murray.

• The Oklahoman’s Ryan Aber wrote about sophomore H-back Brayden Willis and the unusual path he took to land on Lincoln Riley’s radar. Also, updates on Jadon Haselwood’s ankle and Mykel Jones’ decision to redshirt in 2018.
• The Tulsa World’s Eric Bailey highlighted former Northeastern Oklahoma A&M defensive end LaRon Stokes, and it looks like the Sooner coaches have noticed how quickly he’s picking up the defense and adapting to this level of college football.
• For a stretch of the 2018 season, TJ Pledger was Oklahoma’s third running back in the rotation and was making strides until an injury hampered his freshman campaign. The Norman Transcript’s Joe Buettner detailed how Pledger sought advice and guidance from Rodney Anderson, who is all too familiar with physical setbacks during his career at OU.
• Sydney Romero has been named a top-10 finalist for the Senior CLASS Award. Oklahoma is having yet another superb year on the softball field thanks in large part to Romero’s outstanding 2019 season. Fans can vote on finalists through the link below, and last I checked, Syd had over 50% of all votes. That’s the power of Sooner Nation.

• Oklahoma men’s basketball is set to play at Creighton next season as part of the first Big 12-Big East Challenge. There are a lot of great and historic programs involved in these matchups, which were first reported by Jon Rothstein.

• Cody Ford will be at Icons of Oklahoma following OU’s Spring Game to sign autographs. If you’re in the neighborhood, check out the big mauler before he takes off for the league as a possible first round pick.

Around the Sports World

• Reggie Jackson didn’t have to do Myles Turner like that with all the cameras watching. The man wants to be able to show his face when he retires, but damn.

• Jon Rothstein is reporting that TCU men’s basketball head coach Jamie Dixon would be a prime candidate for UCLA’s coaching vacancy if not for the hefty cost of his buyout. Interesting developing story, nevertheless.

• Notre Dame is scheduled to play in five NFL stadiums over the course of the 2020 college football season. That number could jump to as high as seven depending on if they make the CFP cut and advance or not.
• MLB umpire Ron Kulpa seemed to take issue with several of the Houston Astros players on Wednesday night. I don’t know what the problem was, but this just looked unprofessional.

• Jose Alvarado is a sorcerer disguised as a lefty pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. I’m convinced after seeing this.

Stick to Sports!

• In Vancouver, a mom found her seven-year-old son being attacked by a mountain lion in their backyard, and she rescued him by prying open the animal’s mouth with her bare hands. The boy is reportedly fine, and two nearby juvenile cougars were found and euthanized by animal control.

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