Today is Memorial Day, and whether you’re a fan of the Oklahoma Sooners or otherwise, this is a day of remembrance that unites us all on the same team. For those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service of this country, thank you.

Now onto this Memorial Day edition of Hot Links! Oklahoma looks strong in preseason polls, Eddie Sutton’s legacy affected Sooner Basketball, Tiger-Manning thwarts Phil-Brady on the course for charity and more!

OU Links

• On Sunday, Lincoln Riley, Bennie Wylie and Ty Darlington completed the famous ‘Murph Challenge’ in honor of Lt. Michael P. Murphy, who died in Afghanistan in 2005. The timed workout consists of a one-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats and another one-mile run — all while wearing a 20-pound vest. Awesome stuff.

• It’s no surprise Oklahoma leads the way in the latest William Hill Sportsbook’s odds to win the Big 12 in 2020, but which teams pose the biggest threat to ending the Sooners’ five-year conference title winning streak?
• OU Insider’s Joey Helmer summed up where the Sooners currently stand in the early preseason rankings for a number of college football publications, including Athlon Sports which recently placed Oklahoma as their No. 4 team going into the 2020 season.
• On Saturday night, news of legendary Oklahoma State coach Eddie Sutton’s passing made waves across the college basketball world. Shortly after, the Norman Transcript’s Joe Buettner took a look back on the former Cowboys’ leader through the lens of Bedlam hoops, and reflected upon the impact Sutton made on the rivalry, the state and the game itself.

Around the Sports World

• On Sunday night, Brad Keselowski held off seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to win the Coca-Cola 600.

• On Sunday, New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced that all pro teams in the Empire State can re-open their respective training facilities to prepare for a return to play.
• In a recent interview, Reggie Bush expressed his concerns with the NCAA allowing student-athletes to receive compensation. Speaking from experience, he believes the inevitable reality that’s coming in the next few years could be a slippery slope for college sports if a proper foundation isn’t established first.
• Tiger Woods and Peyton Manning won this year’s Champions for Charity match over Phil Mickelson and Tom Brady, but it was the six-time Super Bowl winning QB who posted the swing of the day. Not even Charles Barkley’s trash talk could rattle the GOAT. Great stuff, and in the end these sports icons donated $20 million towards COVID-19 relief.

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