Happy Monday, friends and fans!

Oklahoma Sooners women’s basketball head coach Sherri Coale issued a public apology on Sunday after several former OU student-athletes alleged she made racially insensitive remarks toward them during their time with the program. The Norman Transcript’s Joe Buettner has more details.

Here is the apology in full from Coale, as well as a statement from Oklahoma Athletic Director Joe Castiglione.

The first former player to open up about these troubling allegations was Gioya Carter, who last suited up for the Sooners in 2017. Joining Carter in support in offering their own personal stories of a similar nature were Ijeoma Odimgbe, Jacqueline Jeffcoat, LaNesia Williams and Vionise Pierre-Louis.

Coale is one of the longest tenured coaches in the sport, leading the Oklahoma program since 1996. Since the 2009-10 season, the Sooners have failed to win a Big 12 title after claiming either a regular season title or conference tournament crown in seven of her first 13 years on the job.

Now onto this week’s Monday edition of Hot Links. Bill Bedenbaugh’s O-line is deep and experienced, a former OU back is set to take a huge leap in the NFL, Rahm sinks a putt from 22 yards out for the win and more!

OU Links

• Sept. 4 is College Colors Day! Whether you’re out and about or still working from home, make sure you’re representing that classic Crimson & Cream this Friday. Boomer!

• Bill Bedenbaugh is loving life knowing he has five offensive linemen returning with legitimate starting experience. More than that, he also has a number of young players who could challenge said starters, namely redshirt freshman tackle Stacey Wilkins, writes SI Sooners’ John Hoover.
• Make sure you read up on Allen Kenney’s recent article examining the current state of Oklahoma’s running back room. With Trey Sermon transferring, Kennedy Brooks opting out, and Rhamondre Stevenson missing games due to a suspension, there will be plenty of carries available for some new faces to shine.
• Speaking of RBs, former Sooner Joe Mixon is now entering his fourth season with the Cincinnati Bengals, and many believe this could be the year he finally receives recognition from around the league for his phenomenal play.
• How does Philadelphia Eagles OT Lane Johnson weigh nearly 320 pounds yet have a visible six-pack? Must be that OUDNA. Whatever it is, I need to lay off the fries. This is my wake-up call.

• It’s not too late to check out Nike’s latest OU-themed shoe! Out of all the Sooner specific kicks I’ve seen, this is definitely one of the cleanest designs in my book. They won’t be around forever, so act now and order the new Air Zoom Pegasus 37 for yourself and maybe even that special Oklahoma fan in your life!

Around the Sports World

• With this insane 66-foot putt, Jon Rahm defeated Dustin Johnson in a playoff for the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship. The odds of anybody making this has to be a million-to-one, I mean come on now. Amazing stuff from the 25-year-old phenom.

• The Auburn Tigers were forced to cancel multiple scheduled football practices last week after a COVID-19 outbreak among the team affected a large number of players. Reportedly, when Gus Malzahn’s squad resumes practice on Tuesday, it will be without at least 16 players. The Tigers’ season is set to kick off Sept. 26 against the Kentucky Wildcats.
• On Monday, the Jacksonville Jaguars waived former LSU Tigers first-round pick RB Leonard Fournette. In three seasons, he amassed 2,631 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding 1,009 receiving yards and two scoring receptions.
• On Sunday, the Los Angeles Dodgers set a new National League record by hitting 57 home runs in the month of August. Leading the way for L.A. at the plate has been sluggers Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger, both with 10 dingers apiece in just the last 30 days.

• Legendary basketball Hall of Fame coach for the Georgetown Hoyas John Thompson has passed away at the age of 78. The storied collegiate program he built in D.C. became a powerhouse during the 28-year period he coached there. The basketball community at large will miss this incredible man for all he contributed to the game and the lives he forever impacted as a result.

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