Happy Friday, friends and fans!

On Thursday, former Oklahoma Sooners QB Landry Jones became the first quarterback to sign with the XFL. After six seasons in the NFL, OU’s all-time career passing leader will enter a draft this October to find out which of the new professional football league’s eight organizations he’ll call home.

XFL commissioner Oliver Luck welcomed Jones as its first QB signee. It’s pretty cool that no matter how the life of this league plays out, a Sooner will go down in the history books as the first to come aboard.

Bob Stoops is the head coach and GM of XFL Dallas, and of course he was at OU for Jones’ entire prolific career. It would be great for Oklahoma fans if these two could join forces once again with their already established relationship as a foundation.

The XFL is scheduled to kickoff shortly after the NFL postseason concludes in February of next year, which makes for a prime opportunity in an otherwise football-less period. Congratulations Landry! You continue to make Sooner Nation proud!

Now onto this week’s Friday edition of Hot Links! Adrian Peterson still has it, Curtis Bolton picks one off, Bryce Harper walks it off and more!

OU Links

• Former OU LB Curtis Bolton intercepted a tipped pass from fellow rookie QB Trace McSorley in Thursday night’s preseason game between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens. Things have been going quite well for Buzzy, as he has really turned some heads as an undrafted free agent.

• Is Oklahoma the most likeable team in college football? Ask anybody around here and they’ll tell you ‘absolutely’. Ask Michelle R. Martinelli of USA Today’s FTW and she’ll say so as well!
• Lincoln Riley has always had a sharp mind for the game of football, but his original dream wasn’t about becoming a star in the coaching ranks. After suffering an injury in high school, his future as a player turned bleak, but his brilliance was only to deepen. Looking back, everything clearly worked out for the best.
• Check out the helmet cam during practice from redshirt sophomore C Creed Humphrey. They should also use one of these whenever he and the rest of the offensive linemen go out to eat. Would be epic.

• Eric Bailey of the Tulsa World recently covered sixth-year senior WR Nick Basquine, who after suffering back-to-back Achilles tendon injuries is looked up to by his teammates for his perseverance and determination.
• In his second preseason game, Kyler Murray struggled against the Oakland Raiders’ aggressive defense. Sure, there was some questionable officiating, but at least K1 will be able to learn from the experience and gain a better understanding of the nuances that only live games can reveal.
• If this is a sign of things to come this season for Joe Mixon, Cincinnati fans should be quite excited.

• Adrian Peterson does not age like the rest of us because he’s just not human. I expect he’ll continue to do big things in Washington this season as long as he’s on the field.

• In case you missed it, Allen Kenney caught up with grill master Malcom Reed on this week’s episode of the Blatant Homerism Podcast. With football season just weeks away, Reed, creator of ‘How to BBQ Right’, discussed some of his tricks of the trade when it comes to grilling whilst tailgating. Make sure you check it out!

Around the Sports World

• Philadelphia Phillies star Bryce Harper did a thing. Even for this veteran all-star, hitting a walk-off home run in front of a home crowd in a comeback win is an electrifying feeling. Awesome stuff.

• After fearing the worst as far as knee injuries go, it’s been revealed that Los Angeles Lakers big man DeMarcus Cousins has indeed suffered a torn ACL and will likely miss most of if not the entire 2019-20 NBA season. ‘Boogie’ just can’t catch a break lately.
• Which college football teams should sustain their increased success from last season this fall, and which teams that disappointed last season will bounce back? ESPN’s Bill Connelly offers his takes.
• Liverpool backup goalkeeper Adrián has been thrust into the starting lineup because of an injury to starter Alisson Becker, and during a recent postgame celebration, a fan slid into the new keeper’s ankle while attempting to evade security. C’mon, my guy, that’s just not cool. You might have put your team in serious trouble at a key position.

Stick to Sports!

• Dave Chappelle is coming back with a brand new stand-up comedy special on Netflix. ‘Sticks & Stones’ premiers Aug. 26, and if you’re a fan of this legendary comic’s previous work, I suspect you’ll be delighted with this latest installment to his career’s collection. Also, check out this super weird trailer narrated by the one and only Morgan Freeman. Word of warning, there is a bit of NSFW language.

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