Happy Monday, friends and fans! Who’s ready to revisit the dumbest controversy in collegiate athletics?

Throwing the horns down was quite the talking point in 2018, but over time the outrage had been shelved. Well now it’s back thanks to OU Spirit Coordinator Phil O’Neill, who oversees all Oklahoma Sooners spirit teams such as the RUF/NEKS and Lil’ Sis program, the cheer and pom squads, and the mascots department.

However, this time there’s a twist. Reportedly, O’Neill has instructed all spirit team members to remove any social media images of their members making the horns down gesture and prohibited them from doing so at future sporting events. The OU Daily’s George Stoia is all over the scoop and has more details of these preposterous demands.

There’s a lot wrong with this, namely because of where it’s coming from. At Oklahoma, Texas is the chief rival. Everyone knows that. In a rivalry as hotly contested and deep-seated as this one, requesting the censorship of something as harmless as throwing the horns down is the real offense. It’s a well-documented gesture born out of the spirit of fun in a game where fun can easily be lost.

So just chill, Phil, and if that’s too much for you, there’s another fan base south of the Red River who would gladly welcome you with open arms and upward horns.

Now onto this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links! Kenneth Murray is living up to the preseason hype, OU Golf is cruising on the greens, Baylor inks Matt Rhule for the next eight years and more!

OU Links

• Kegan Reneau from Sooners Wire wrote about MIKE LB and team captain Kenneth Murray Jr. and how he’s not only living up to others’ expectations, he’s also meeting his own standards.
• Kansas Jayhawks running back Khalil Herbert did not play against TCU last Saturday, and is not expected to see the field against Oklahoma this weekend. That’s a major loss for a KU team already facing an uphill battle with the Sooners coming to town.

• This past weekend, a FOX College Football feature aired showing Joel Klatt meeting up with Lincoln Riley to discuss the birth and growth of the air raid system, and how it’s evolved into an entirely new beast at Oklahoma.

• Lon Kruger might have himself quite the duo brewing in sophomore Jamal Bieniemy and freshman De’Vion Harmon. The Norman Transcript’s Tyler Palmateer has more.
• OU men’s golf is doing work at the Nike Golf Collegiate Invite in North Plains, Oregon. The Sooners led the way after the opening round thanks in part to 23 combined birdies. Here you can check out the live scoreboard for today’s action.

• This week’s SB Nation FanPulse Top 25 has been released, and although Oklahoma has dropped another spot in the national poll, Sooner fans are showing increased confidence in their team by bumping OU back up in their own polls.
• It’s almost October, and everybody knows that means you need to upgrade your look for the year’s home stretch. There’s no better way to do that than to rock these Jordan Brand React Havocs. Represent your Sooner fandom proudly with these. You won’t regret it!

Around the Sports World

• Starting in 2023, collegiate student athletes in the state of California will not be prohibited from making money off of their name, image or likeness. This does not mean the school will be paying players, only that those players can start to receive compensation from outside bidders.
• Baylor Bears coach Matt Rhule has agreed to a contract extension through 2027. BU has started the 2019 season 4-0 and could be in contention for the Big 12 Championship as the season progresses.

• Rutgers Scarlet Knights coach Chris Ash and OC John McNulty were both fired on Sunday after another subpar start to the college football season.

• After an illegal hit on Indianapolis Colts TE Jack Doyle, Oakland Raiders LB Vontaze Burfict has been suspended for the remainder of the 2019 NFL season. Yes, you read that right.
• Here’s an amazing story. On Sunday, St. Louis Cardinals beat writer Derrick Goold used CPR to help save a man’s life in the Chicago Cubs dugout after he suffered a sudden heart attack and subsequent stroke.

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