Scary Prospect for the SEC? OU’s Softball Arms Strike Hard
Oklahoma’s pitching staff quietly dominated Ole Miss, with Audrey Lowry, Miali Guachino, Sydney Berzon and Allyssa Parker combining to allow just one earned run over a weekend series. Lowry breezed through five innings, Guachino fanned five in relief of a built-in lead, Berzon closed out Sunday’s game and Lowry returned to snuff out Monday’s rally. The weekend sweep sets up a road trip to LSU and a looming stretch against top-16 teams in Arkansas, Georgia and Texas A&M where OU’s arms will face their toughest tests.
Forget the litany of sluggers in the SEC—Oklahoma’s pitchers are like ninjas armed with softballs. They sneak up on you, whisper “you’re out,” then vanish before you know what hit you. LSU hitters might want to pack tissues and apology letters before entering Tiger Park, because these Sooners throw gas that could melt a punch-out puppet. As for Arkansas, Georgia and Texas A&M, well, brace yourselves: the pitching staff’s next series looks less like a game and more like a bloodsport for bruised bats. Softball isn’t just getting scary; it’s chillingly brilliant.
Trail-Runnin’ Tailback Tours Top Camps Before Signing Day
Keldrid Ben, a 5-star 2027 running back from Montgomery, Texas, remains committed to Oklahoma but will take an unofficial visit to Notre Dame on March 28. Initially an unranked prospect, Ben rushed for 1,560 yards and 15 touchdowns as a junior. Now a consensus 4-star recruit (No. 86 overall, No. 5 at his position), he’s drawn offers from Oregon, Texas, Florida State, USC and the Irish. Despite the visit, OU’s No. 1-ranked 2027 class—boasting 19 pledges, 11 four-star—remains optimistic about keeping Ben in Norman.
Recruiting season: when teenage athletes play musical chairs with college logos and fans draft hot takes faster than prospects fill out visits. Ben’s unofficial trip to Notre Dame is like a first date with the Fighting Irish—complete with free press clippings and stadium selfies—yet he’s still got one foot in Norman’s turf. Oklahoma’s coaching staff is probably sending him “we miss you” texts and memes of Lincoln Riley holding a neon sign. Meanwhile, the kid’s out there sampling Irish stew while OU feeds him Sooner tacos at home. In the end, will he choose the golden domes or the crimson helmets? Stay tuned for the next episode of College Football’s Greatest Tease.
Spring’s Big Three: Witten, Morgan & McCullough Under the Microscope
Oklahoma added three new assistants in the offseason: Jason Witten at tight ends, LaMar Morgan at cornerbacks and Deland McCullough at running backs. Witten aims to unlock the full skill set of Tennessee transfer Jack Van Dorselaer; Morgan inherits freshman All-Americans and veteran Jacobe Johnson to shore up the secondary; McCullough must revive a rotating backfield that has lacked a 1,000-yard rusher since Eric Gray, with options like Xavier Robinson, Tory Blaylock, Jonathan Hatton Jr. and DeZephen Walker.
Welcome to the coaching Hunger Games, where one misstep in spring drills could get you tributed to the SEC. Witten is expected to turn tight ends into touchdown-sniffing Swiss Army knives, Morgan must conjure cornerback magic before anyone notices the backfield gaps, and McCullough has to wrestle a running back carousel into a single, gloriously spinning wheel of productivity. It’s like handing the Avengers three mismatched gadgets and hoping for a bolt of lightning. If these coaches succeed, Sooners fans will shower them with high-fives and nachos; if they fumble, well, there’s always next spring—and a fresh batch of volunteer assistants looking for a break.
Sooner Seconds: Stewart, Tolan & Vann’s Cinderella Acts
During OU’s NCAA Tournament opening wins (89-59 vs. Idaho, 77-71 vs. Michigan State), three bench players stood out: freshman Brooklyn Stewart delivered eight points, four rebounds and a steal in nine first-half minutes; Emma Tolan knocked down a clutch 3-pointer in garbage time against Idaho; and sophomore point guard Zya Vann dished six assists, scored 12 points and grabbed five boards while showcasing her quiet efficiency.
Move over starters—here come the bench brigade ready to crash the party with all the stealth of a boombox in a library. Stewart’s energy could power a small town (or at least a rowdy student section), Tolan’s spot-up trey was so unexpected it probably set off an alarm in South Carolina’s locker room, and Vann’s assists had more precision than a Swiss watch factory. These unsung heroes are the basketball equivalent of that one friend who always brings snacks but never wants credit. In March Madness, they’re the plot twist you didn’t see coming—and that’s exactly why you tune in.
OU’s Weight Room Overhaul: From Schmidt’s Legacy to Dobson’s Dawn
Jerry Schmidt moved from director of sports enhancement to “elite performance liaison” in Oklahoma’s front office, mentoring replacement James Dobson. Schmidt’s 23-year tenure under Bob Stoops, Lincoln Riley and Jimbo Fisher set standards in football conditioning. Dobson—OU staff since 2022—continues the rigorous program, helping true freshmen adapt quickly and maintaining “cleanest” weight room vibes. New assistants Jason Witten, Deland McCullough and LaMar Morgan join support staff additions like Matthew Manninger to preserve and evolve OU’s culture.
If weight rooms had red carpets, Schmidt would roll it out every morning with a kettlebell flourish. Now he’s traded bench presses for board meetings, while Dobson tries not to drop a dumbbell on his predecessor’s shoes. The Sooners’ strategy: maintain a lifting utopia where freshmen emerge from lockers looking like Greek gods—minus the chiseled abs for a week, give or take some protein shakes. And let’s not forget the new scrawny hopefuls who think Jason Witten checks their deadlift numbers for fun. Oklahoma’s offseason is basically the gym equivalent of a Hollywood reboot—same star power, fresh plot twists, hopefully zero box-office bombs.
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