2009 OU Rowing Guide

Page 1

ROWING

Sooners

MEDIA INFORMATION

Dear prospective student-athlete,

Table of Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Facility Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Rowing History and Terminology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Viewer’s Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Quick Facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Leeanne Crain

As the first head coach of the rowing program at the University of Oklahoma, it is a great privilege to invite you to take a closer look at what OU has to offer! As a recruited prospect, it is important that you find a university and athletics program that suits your needs and desires.

Participation in intercollegiate athletics will provide you with the discipline and skills required for success in the classroom and in the workplace beyond college. As a student-athlete at OU, there are many resources available to assist you throughout your collegiate career. You will have access to tutoring, academic advising, computer labs, and psychological and nutritional counseling. You will receive excellent coaching, and be treated by one of the finest sports medicine teams in the country. And, of course, you will train and compete in state-of-the-art facilities.

Come be a part of building a great rowing tradition at the University of Oklahoma!

GUIDE DESIGN

This season’s media guide was designed and produced by the OU Athletics Department in Norman, Okla., using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.

Jennifer Van Tuyl and Mitch Heckart

The guide was printed by Transcript Press at no cost to the taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution. (March 2009)

Scott Matthews

WRITTEN AND COMPILED BY Jennifer Van Tuyl

COVER DESIGN

Student-Athlete Bios. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

BOOMER SOONER

Debbie Copp with assistance from Cassie Gage

25

University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Academics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Athletics Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Tradition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Community Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Media Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 Strength and Conditioning. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Big 12 Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Norman and Oklahoma City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 University President David L. Boren . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Athletics Director Joe Castiglione . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 SoonerSports.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Athletics Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 OU Head Coaches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Sooner Oar Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Pocock Racing Shells . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photos were supplied by Ty Russell, Shivani Parmer, Jerry Laizure, Lisa Hall, Jason Matheson, Shevaun Williams & Associates, the Chesapeake Boathouse organization and University of Oklahoma Athletics Media Relations files. Cover photo provided by Jon Ramsey.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

EDITED BY

17

Chesapeake Boathouse for information provided about the HighPerformance Training Center.

B O O ME R S O O NER

2009 WOMEN’S ROWING MEDIA GUIDE

STUDENT-ATHLETES

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

The mission of the University of Oklahoma Department of Athletics is to “inspire champions today and prepare leaders for tomorrow by providing an excellent environment to enable student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal aspirations. Our individual talents and collective efforts create our competitive advantage.” Our core values include respect, accountability for self and others, a passion for comprehensive excellence, a commitment to continuous improvement, a celebration of diversity, and integrity in all of our affairs.

Head Coach Leeanne Crain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Assistant Coach Andy Derrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Assistant Coach Kris Muhl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Graduate Assistant Megan Mitchell . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Volunteer Assistant Lindsey von Kaenal . . . . . . . . 14 Support Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

9

COAC H I N G S TA F F

OU is one of the most successful Division I athletics programs in the nation. Sooner teams have captured 26 national championships and regularly field teams ranking in the top 20 nationally. The University of Oklahoma is regarded as one of the finest academic institutions in the country, and with its rich tradition of athletics excellence, your experience as a student-athlete here will be exceptional.

COACHING STAFF

1

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

WELCOME FROM HEAD COACH

CONTRIBUTORS

2

Kenny Mossman, Debbie Copp, Scott Matthews

The University of Oklahoma

1

ROWING

Sooners

Facility Information

Chesapeake Boathouse The following information is courtesy of the Chesapeake Boathouse web site, located at www.ChesapeakeBoathouse.org. The Chesapeake Boathouse is an Oklahoma Centennial Project and is the first structure to grace the banks of the newly revitalized Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City. Hailed by many as a landmark presence along the river, the design is the vision of Oklahoma City architect Rand Elliott with primary funding for the project provided by Chesapeake Energy Corporation. The design of the Chesapeake Boathouse represents a sleek rowing shell with translucent polycarbonate walls providing a dramatic nighttime image of the building “floating” above the river. Sixteen columns of light representing oars highlight the reflecting pool at the “bow” of the building. Features of the $3.5 million facility include: r r r r r

Deck, lobby, and event room for receptions and meetings Boat bays to store up to 124 rowing shells A panoramic 24-foot wall of glass overlooking the deck, river, and reflecting pool Event room with a 62-foot window revealing the boat bays Fully-equipped fitness/training room overlooking the river

Following the establishment of the Oklahoma Association for Rowing (OAR), its membership grew as did its need for space. A building that previously housed a cafe’ was converted into a boathouse, and rowers had a new home at Lake Overholser. As the planned redevelopment of the North Canadian/Oklahoma River near downtown became a reality, the founders of OAR could see the future of rowing - and it was downtown. Sharing this vision with city officials, OAR received permission to begin with a fund-raising drive for a boathouse to be built on the Oklahoma River at the Byers Street Bridge. Enthusiastic about rowing from the beginning, the City also purchased a championship rowing course which transformed the new waterway into a one-mile long athletics venue.

As the boathouse effort was taking shape, Oklahoma City University began to consider adding rowing as a varsity sport. In 2003, the program was established and in 2004, in celebration of its centennial anniversary, OCU staged the first Head of the Oklahoma, attracting more than 400 rowers and 15,000 spectators to the banks of the Oklahoma River. The Oklahoma women’s rowing team, established in 2008, will use the Chesapeake Boathouse as the primary training facility, until a new facility is complete. Today, the Chesapeake Boathouse is the center of activity for rowing in Oklahoma City with an array of programs for rowers of all ages and at all skill levels. OAR merged its resources with the Chesapeake Boathouse and rowers now row as part of enjoying the meandering North Canadian/Oklahoma River as it winds through the Stinchcomb nature preserve. Oklahoma City University has plans to build a second boathouse on the Oklahoma River, and the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond is building a boathouse on nearby Lake Arcadia.

On September 21, 2002, thousands of spectators watched as 250 rowers from surrounding states helped christen the newly re-named river during the first Sooner State Games rowing competition. As the grassroots effort to build a boathouse moved ahead, Oklahoma City businessman Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake Energy Corporation heard about the venture. Intrigued, he began exploring the opportunities and was soon the primary supporter of the boathouse drive. Calling on archtitect Rand Elliot, Elliot + Associates, to create a design as unique as the sport, the Chesapeake Boathouse was conceived. Working in tandem with another Oklahoma City business leader, Clay Bennett, the two set about to secure funding for the multimillion dollar boathouse with the promise of creating an historic, landmark presence for Oklahoma City.

2

2

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

Facility Information High-Peformance Training Facility

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

Rowing is certainly becoming a popular sport in Oklahoma with the addition of the first women’s rowing team at OU and the new home of the US Rowing National High-Performance Center. US Rowing is partnering with the Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation and Oklahoma City University to launch a US Rowing National High Performance Center on the Oklahoma River. The National High-Performance Center will be the first of its kind for US Rowing. The center will focus on training the next generation of world-class rowers with an emphasis on under-23 athletes. Oklahoma City also will be developed as a national center for coaching education for US Rowing. The High-Performance Center began operations in November at the Chesapeake Boathouse and will eventuually be headquartered in the new Devon Boathouse, future home of OCU rowing, scheduled to open in May,y, 2010. High-Performance Center programming will be incorporated throughout all of the new boathouses slated for construction on the Oklahoma River.

Aerial A i l view i off C Chesapeake h k Boathouse B h

The program will also be working with the Oklahoma City business community to provide job and internship opportunities for athletes, and the Chesapeake Boathouse will have coaching positions available. The under-23 program is expected to begin with 8-12 athletes in residence by August, 2009, with projected growth to more than 20 athletes over the next two years.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

The US Rowing High Performance Center will include a year-round residency program for male and female under-23 athletes. As part of the program, OCU will provide housing for the athletes and scholarships for those wanting to complete an undergraduate or graduate degree while pursuing their Olympic aspirations.

The High-Performance Center will incorporate all aspects of elite athlete training with intensive coaching, sports nutrition, strength and cardiovascular conditioning, sports psychology and sports medicine, including sport-specific biometrics, injury prevention and rehabilitation.

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

In addition to the under-23 program, the High-Performance Center will host senior and junior national team selection camps, elite training camps and trainingg opportunities for international athletes. pp

B O O ME R S O O NER

2

3 The University of Oklahoma

3

ROWING

Sooners

New Facilty Information

OU’s Boathouse In 2007, Oklahoma City business leader Aubrey McClendon made the lead gift of $1 million toward the construction of a $4 million boathouse to be constructed along the banks of the Oklahoma River near downtown Oklahoma City. Private donors are contributing ntributing another another $1 million toward the the project. project. The The remaining remaining cost cost will be paid by the athletics department. The facility is being designed esigned by the visionary Oklahoma City architec architect ct Rand Elliott, of Ellio Elliott o and Associates. OU’s new boathouse plans to feature boat locker room, ature three boa at bays, a repair bay, eerg rg room, locke er room, event room m sports medicine facilities and coaches’ offices. The he proposed location loocation will be to the ea east ast of the Che Chesapeake esapeake Boathouse Boathouss along the south shore. The Sooners will utilize ze the Chesapeake Boathouse until the OU boathou boathouse use is completed.

On-Campus Intercollegiate ercollegiaate Rowing Rowing Center Ceenteer The University of Oklahoma hom ma will be renovating and adding on to thee existing Huston Huffman Huffm Recreational Center, which is open to the general general student student body and employees of thee university. There are plans plan to add 100,000 square feet of new space with 11,000 000 squaree feet feet dedicated to the interc intercollegiate collegiate women’s womenn’s rowing team. tea The new intercollegiate te rowing center centter will will be located at at the north end of the Huston Huffman Huffm Center, just across the street from Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Staddium m. The building w will ill include a rowingg tank, erg room room, locker rooms, sports medicine, hydrotherapy, py, equipment room, team team room, and a coach’s office.

4

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

History

Rowing in Oklahoma

While most people have only begun to be aware of rowing in Oklahoma, it’s been around for longer than you might think. The first Oklahoma City rowing club was established in the 1970s. Both the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University have club crews, and the University of Tulsa has had a varsity women’s team since 1996. The Tulsa Rowing Club has been rowing since 1983 with both juniors and masters programs.

In 1996, the framework for a new community rowing organization began to develop. That spring, former Oklahoma State University rowers Mike and Tempe Knopp began working to help energize the sport in Oklahoma City. After assisting Stroud in renovating the “Stroud House” boathouse, recruitment began and soon rowers could be seen on the North Canadian River.

2008

The University Of Oklahoma Establishes its first women’s rowing team led by Head Coach Leeanne Crain.

The first boat race was held in Australia.

1834

The first college boat club was organized at Oxford University and the first recorded contest for the Head of the River was won by Brasenose.

1852

The first intercollegiate sporting event in the U.S. was a rowing race between Harvard and Yale.

1875

The oldest surviving organized women’s rowing program was established at Wellesley College.

1892

The first U.S. women’s rowing club was established in San Diego, Calif. It was named after four of the founding members - ZLAC.

1903

The American Rowing Association was formed.

1962

The first FISA (Federal Internationale des Societes d’Aviron) world rowing championships were held in Switzerland. The National Women’s Rowing Association (NWRA) was formed.

1972

The passage of Title IX Omnibus Education Act by Congress changed the face of women’s rowing in the United States.

1997

The NCAA holds first Women’s Rowing Championship.

2009

The Big 12 Conference member schools participate in inaugural Big 12 Championship.

The University of Oklahoma

B O O ME R S O O NER

With the development of OAR came the start of a juniors program that helped several rowers earn collegiate athletic scholarships and was the foundation for one young rower, Carly York, who earned a spot on the United States Junior National Team. A strong masters program brought adults together to row recreationally and competitively, winning medals at races across the region. OAR volunteers also developed an at-risk youth program to share rowing’s lessons of teamwork and leadership with disadvantaged children.

1805

The first reference to a regatta appeared in Venetian documentation.

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

Driven by the vision to build a program that could put Oklahoma City on the map as home to a community rowing organization as diverse and competitive as any found on the east and west coasts, local rowers Jan Robb, Robert Wood, Tempe Knopp, Kevin Casey, Jackie Hubbard, Diane Taylor, and Mike Knopp worked together to form a new community-based organization: the Oklahoma Association for Rowing (OAR).

1274

Oared vessels began to be used for transport, commerce, fishing, lifesaving and war, but, while there are occassional references in classical texts to boat racing, rowing primarily for exercise, non-ceremonial recreation or competition was not common before 1800.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Rowing was first introduced to central Oklahoma in the late seventies by Bob Stroud, founder and president of the Oklahoma City Rowing Club. Stroud and the early pioneers of Oklahoma rowing erected a boathouse on land between the North Canadian River and Lake Overholser. During the early eighties, the “Dust Bowl Regatta” was staged annually on the North Canadian River, attracting universities from throughout the Midwest. Olympic-level rowers have even competed in Oklahoma City where they were challenged by the Oklahoma wind during the 1989 U.S. Olympic Festival’s rowing event on Lake Overholser.

BC

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

The following information is courtesy of the Cheasapeake Boathouse website, located at ChesapeakeBoathouse.org.

2 5

ROWING

Sooners Backsplash

Half Pressure

The minor splash that can happen when the rower’s oar blade enters the water at a less than optimum angle; also a sign of inefficient blade work getting other rowers wet.

When rowers are rowing at half pressure, the are only pulling half strength.

Blade

Refers to the task when rowers square their oar blades in the water to bring the boat to a stop as quickly as possible.

The flat surface of the oar, usually painted in team colors. Approximately seven inches across and 24 to 30 inches wide.

Bow & Bowball The bow is the front of the boat and the part that crosses the finish line first. Since rowers are seated backward, the bow of the boat is behind them. Look for the ball on the tip of the bow.

Catch One of the three distinct rowing stroke phrases, the “catch” is the point when a rower’s blade enters the water.

Check

Hold Water

Missing Water A rower’s oar blade isn’t set into the water at an appropriate depth and either partially or completely misses the water.

Oarlock A u-shaped swivel mounted at the end of the rigger that holds the oar in position and serves as the pivot point for the oar.

Port The left side of the boat when facing the bow. Since rowers are seated facing backward, port is on the rower’s right.

The slight amount of hesitation you’ll see in the boat as it’s being rowed. The rowers’ forward slide during the recovery interrupts the momentum of the boat. The rowers’ challenge is to slide forward with such control that the boat never checks.

Power 10

Coxswain

Quad (4x)

Often abbreviated “cox,” this member of the crew sits in a small seat either in the bow or the stern while steering the shell and coaching the rowers during a race.

A four-person sculling shell (each person has two oars). It’s not to be confused with a “four” which refers to a four-person sweep boat (each person has one oar).

Crab

Stroke Rate

The term rowers use when the oar blade gets “caught” in the water. It is caused by a momentary flaw in oar technique and is very common. It may be minor, allowing the rower to quickly recover, or it may be so forceful that the rower is ejected from the boat. Often, crews must cease rowing for the rower to regain control of the oar.

The number of strokes per minute.

Deck

Rigger

The deck of the boat includes the covered portion of the bow and stern.

The metal bracing attached to the side of the boat that holds the oarlock. The oar passes through the oarlock which acts as a pivot point.

Double (2x) A two-person sculling shell (each person has two oars). A pair refers to a two-person sweep boat (each person has one oar).

Drive

When the coxswain calls a Power 10, rowers are to increase the pressure of their stroke, i.e. they pull harder.

Recovery The third phrase of the rowing stroke referring to the point at which the rower holds the oar blades out of the water as they slide forward to the catch.

Scull The proper term for a sculling oar; commonly used as a noun to refer to a boat or a verb referring to the act of rowing with two oars.

One of the three distinct rowing stroke phrases, the “drive” is the point when the rower drives back with his/her legs and pulls the oar through the water, propelling the shell forward.

Seat

Eight

Shell

An eight-person sweep boat (each person has one oar). The eight is the fastest boat on the water and is usually the premier event at most regattas.

Another name for a rowing or sculling boat.

Feathering

A single person in a sculling shell (two oars).

The position of the oar blades as they are turned parallel to the face of the water to cut down on wind resistance during the recover portion of the rowing stroke. Feathering too soon, before the blade has cleared the water, can result in a crab.

Skeg

Finish

The right side of the boat when facing the bow. Since rowers are seated facing backward, starboard is on the rower’s left.

The final part of the rower’s stroke where the blade comes out of the water; also refers to the end of a race, or to the way in which a crew completes a race.

6

Rowing Terminology

The rowers sit on a seat which slides along a rail and are identified by the seat they occupy.

Single (1x)

Short fin on the bottom of the shell that helps it maintain course.

Starboard

Stern

Footstretcher

The back end of the boat.

An adjustable bracket in the bottom of the rowing shell. Shoes are attached to the bracket giving the rower a way to secure his/her feet while rowing.

Stroke

Four

Can refer to one cycle of the oar or the rower sitting nearest the stern who sets the cadence for the boat; all the other rowers follow his or her lead.

A four-person sweep boat (each person has one oar).

Sweep Rowing

Gunwale (Gunnel)

Rowing where each rower has one oar.

The top edge of the shell around the cockpit - the area where the rowers sit. The riggers are secured to the gunwale with bolts.

Way Enough

Rowing Media Guide

Command to stop rowing.

2009

ROWING

Viewer’s Guide To Rowing

Sooners

Athletes are identified by their seat in the boat. The athlete closest to the bow is seat No. 1 seat (or bow). In an eight, the person in front of the bow seat is No. 2, then No. 3, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, and No. 8, a.k.a. the stroke. The stroke of the boat must be a strong rower with excellent technique, since the stroke sets the rhythm and number of strokes per minute the rest of the crew must follow. The Race All events in the spring “sprint� season are 2,000 meters, or approximately 1.25 miles. The race course is divided into six lanes and each 500-meter section is marked with buoys.

Each crew is allowed one false start; two means disqualification. If within the first 100 meters, there is legitimate equipment breakage (e.g., an oar snaps in two), the race will be stopped and restarted with repaired equipment. The stroke rate (the number of strokes per minute that a crew is taking) is high at the start – as high as 40-45 for an eight. Then, the crew will “settle� or shift into the body of the race and drop the rating down to approximately 34-38 strokes per minute. There may be pre-determined “moves� in a crew’s race plan or a crew may challenge or respond to an opponent’s move by elevating the stroke rating for a defined number of strokes. Typically, crews will sprint in the last 250 meters, bringing the stroke rating up again to finish the race.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

The race begins with all boats aligned at the start in the lanes they’ve been assigned. Individuals in each lane hold the stern of each boat steady while an official, known as the aligner, ensures that each boat is even with the others and squarely facing the course.

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

The Events Events are divided into two disciplines: sweep rowing and sculling. Most collegiate programs row only sweep events, including eights, fours, and pairs. In sweep rowing, each athlete has one oar, and is designated as either a port or starboard. Sweep boats typically carry a coxswain (pronounced cox-n) to steer and call commands to the crew. In sculling events, each athlete has two oars. The sculling events include the single, double, and quad. Sculling boats do not carry a coxswain. The eight is the fastest boat on the water.

Unlike canoe/kayak competitions, rowers are allowed to leave their lanes without penalty, so long as they do not interfere with anyone else’s opportunity to win. An official follows the crews to ensure safety and fairness.

r r r

B O O ME R S O O NER

More Race-Watching Tips r 3BDF UJNFT DBO WBSZ DPOTJEFSBCMZ EFQFOEJOH PO UIF DPVSTF BOE XFBUIFS DPOEJUJPOT 5BJMXJOET XJMM JNQSPWF UJNFT XIJMF IFBEXJOET BOE DSPTT winds will hamper them. r *G B DSFX iDBUDIFT B DSBC u JU NFBOT UIF PBS CMBEF IBT FOUFSFE UIF XBUFS BU BO BOHMF JOTUFBE PG QFSQFOEJDVMBSMZ 5IF PBS CMBEF HFUT DBVHIU under the surface and will slow or even stop a shell. r " i1PXFS u JT B DBMM CZ UIF DPYTXBJO GPS UIF DSFX UP UBLF IBSE TUSPLFT VTVBMMZ UP NBLF B DBMDVMBUFE NPWF EVSJOH UIF SBDF

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

Race Watching r 5IF DSFX UIBU T NBLJOH JU MPPLT FBTZ JT NPTU MJLFMZ UIF POF EPJOH UIF CFTU KPC 8IJMF ZPV SF XBUDIJOH MPPL GPS DPOUJOVPVT óVJE NPUJPO PG UIF rowers. The rowing motion shouldn’t have a discernable beginning or ending. r 4ZODISPOJ[BUJPO 3PXFST TUSJWF GPS QFSGFDU TZODISPOJ[BUJPO JO UIF CPBU r $MFBO DBUDIFT PG UIF PBS CMBEF *G ZPV TFF B MPU PG TQMBTI UIF PBS CMBEFT BSFO U FOUFSJOH UIF XBUFS FÎDJFOUMZ r &WFO PBS CMBEF GFBUIFSJOH 8IFO UIF CMBEFT BSF CSPVHIU PVU PG UIF XBUFS UIFZ TIPVME NPWF IPSJ[POUBMMZ DMPTF UP UIF XBUFS BOE BU UIF TBNF height. It’s not easy, especially if the water is rough. r 5IF NPTU DPOTJTUFOU TQFFE 4IFMMT EPO U NPWF MJLF B DBS m UIFZ SF TMPXFTU BU UIF DBUDI RVJDLFTU BU UIF SFMFBTF 5IF HPPE DSFXT UJNF UIF DBUDI at just the right moment to maintain the speed of the shell. r 3PXJOH MPPLT HSBDFGVM FMFHBOU BOE TPNFUJNFT FíPSUMFTT XIFO JU T EPOF XFMM %PO U CF GPPMFE " NFUFS SBDF EFNBOET WJSUVBMMZ FWFSZ thing a human being can bring to an athletic competition – aerobic ability, power, technical proficiency, exceptional mental discipline, ability to utilize oxygen efficiently and in huge quantities, balance, and pain tolerance from the build-up of lactic acid in the muscles.

$SFXT BSF JEFOUJĂąFE CZ UIFJS PBS CMBEF EFTJHOT BOE CZ B CPX OVNCFS PO UIF CPBU

$PYTXBJOT GSPN ĂąSTU QMBDF CPBUT BSF UISPXO JOUP UIF XBUFS CZ UIFJS DSFXT $PYTXBJOT EPO U ZFMM iTUSPLF TUSPLFu 4JNJMBS UP B KPDLFZ UIFJS KPC JT UP JNQMFNFOU UIF DPBDI T TUSBUFHZ EVSJOH UIF SBDF JO BEEJUJPO UP TUFFSJOH and informing the crew of their relative position in a race and providing motivation and technical feedback.

The University of Oklahoma

2 7

ROWING

Sooners

OU Quick Facts

University Information

Oklahoma Staff

Name of School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .University of Oklahoma Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Norman, Okla. Founded . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1890 Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29,721 Nickname . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sooners School Colors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Crimson & Cream School President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David L. Boren Director of Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joe Castiglione School Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.ou.edu Athletics Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SoonerSports.com Conference Web site . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big12sports.com

Head Coach (First Season) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Leeanne Crain Alma Mater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . UCLA (1988) Head Coach E-mail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . l.crain@ou.edu Assistant Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andy Derrick Assistant Coach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kris Muhl Graduate Assistant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Megan Mitchell Volunteer Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey von Kaenel Office Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (405) 325-6961

Facility Information Name of Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chesapeake Boathouse Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oklahoma City, Okla. (Bricktown) Water. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oklahoma River

OU Athletics Media Relations PHILLIP ROGERS

KENNY MOSSMAN

Graduate Assistant | Men’s Golf and Women’s Gymnastics | philliprogers@ou.edu

Senior Associate A.D./Communications | Football | kmossman@ou.edu

MITCH HECKART

MIKE HOUCK

Graduate Assistant | Wrestling | mitch86@ou.edu

Associate Director | Men’s Basketball | mhouck@ou.edu

JARED THOMPSON

MATT WILSON

Associate Director | Women’s Basketball, Football | jaredthompson@ou.edu

Student Intern | Men’s Gymnastics | mwilson75@ou.edu

JASON BODIN

CRAIG MORAN

Student Intern | Men’s Tennis | jason.bodin@ou.edu

Assistant Director | Baseball, Football, Soccer | cmoran@ou.edu

LESLIE KOCH

CASSIE GAGE

Student Intern | Women’s Tennis | lesali@ou.edu

Assistant Director | Softball, Volleyball

STEPHANIE TURNER

DAVID BASSITY

Student Intern | Women’s Golf | stephanieturner@ou.edu

Assistant Director | Track & Field, Football | dbassity@ou.edu

1 JENNIFER VAN TUYL

Student Intern | Women’s Rowing | jenvantuyl@ou.edu

8

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

COAC H I N G S TA F F

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

BO O ME R S O O N ER

ROWING

ROWING

Sooners

HEAD COACH

Head Coach Leeanne Crain Coming to OU: “Building a program from the ground up at a premier Division I institution is a unique opportunity. To be a part of an athletic department with such a rich tradition of excellence is an incredible experience. Once I stepped on campus, I knew I wanted to be a Sooner.” Building a Tradition: “Our primary goal in the first year of the program will be to establish the expectations and culture that will guide us in future years as we strive to develop a winning tradition in our sport. We hope to attract the most talented prospects in the country and internationally so that we can quickly become a national powerhouse in rowing.” Coaching Style: ‘My coaching idol is the legendary John Wooden. I’ve had a lot of great coaches in my time, and I think I’ve learned something from each of them. My own style is pretty laidback, but I’m very competitive. I do my best to draw that competitive nature out in the student-athletes I coach. I believe balance is the key to success, and I see it as my responsibility to educate my teams on the importance of excelling in all areas of their lives – in the classroom, on the water, and in their personal lives. I want them to be prepared and ready for success at all times.”

FIRST SEASON

The University of Oklahoma named Leeanne Crain as the first head coach of its new rowing program. Crain spent four seasons as head coach at the University of Central Florida, following a 10-year stint as head coach at the University of San Diego. Crain’s appointment was announced in February, 2008, by OU Vice President for Sports Programs and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. Oklahoma’s varsity women’s rowing program begins competion in the spring of 2009. “This announcement underlines the importance of rowing as a new varsity sport at OU,” said University President David L. Boren. “Coach Crain has established herself as one of the best rowing coaches in the nation. As the new team is being put together, we will also soon begin construction on the new Aubrey McClendon OU Boathouse along the race course of the Oklahoma River in Oklahoma City.” The new coach appreciates her selection as the inaugural coach, especially in the Oklahoma City market. “I am thrilled to be given this tremendous opportunity as the first head coach of the women’s rowing program at the University of Oklahoma,” Crain said. “There is so much excitement in the rowing community over the revitalization of Oklahoma City’s Bricktown and the rowing venue that is being planned along the riverfront. I am grateful to Joe Castiglione for his trust in my abilities to build a national championship rowing program at OU. I am anxious to get underway.”

At Central Florida, Crain developed the Knights into one of the nation’s premier programs. During her four seasons, UCF rowers earned All-America honors twice and all-region honors seven times. A total of 20 Knights earned Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar-Athlete recognition, including a nation-leading seven honorees in 2006. Her 2006-07 team recorded the best season in UCF history, opening the season with nine consecutive victories and earning the school’s first NCAA Championship berth. The squad also claimed the overall trophy at the Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association (SIRA) Championships and earned UCF’s highest all-time national ranking (No. 9) in the US Rowing/ CRCA Coaches Poll. Crain’s 2005-06 varsity eight team earned the program’s first top-20 ranking in the US Rowing/CRCA Coaches Poll and claimed the team’s ninth Florida Intercollegiate Rowing Association (FIRA) Championship while finishing fourth in its region at the South/Central Regional Championships. The Knights also produced the program’s first All-American in Krystina Sarff. During the 2004-05 season, Crain’s team received its first ranking in the NCAA South Region Poll, won the Petrakis Cup and Metro Cup regattas and won the overall points trophies at the FIRA and SIRA Championships.

Castiglione cited Crain’s credentials and said her hiring to the position speaks well for the newest Sooner team.

1

“Leeanne’s credentials and experience are indeed impressive,” Castiglione said. “Moreover, hiring someone as highly regarded as Leeanne highlights the special opportunities we have to build a championship caliber program here at Oklahoma. We are excited to welcome her to the Sooner family and anxious to work with her at this exciting time in rowing’s history at OU.” Coach Crain instructs the team at practice.

10

Rowing Media Guide

8 2009

ROWING

Sooners

r

UCLA (Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, 1988)

Crain earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA in 1988. She received her Level III US Rowing Coaching Certification in 2001.

COAC H I N G STA F F

EDUCATION

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

In her first season at the helm, UCF’s varsity eight team earned the silver medal at recognition and two were named All-Americans by the National Strength and both the FIRA and SIRA Championships, while the lightweight eight finished third Conditioning Association. at the San Diego Crew Classic and advanced to the finals of the Intercollegiate At USD, Crain coached 2004 Olympic silver medalist Ali Cox, a four-time U.S. Rowing Association (IRA) Championship. National Team member who competed in the women’s eight at the 2004 Olympic Not only were Crain’s team successful in the competitive realm, they were strong Games in Athens, Greece. academically, too. Women’s rowing had the highest grade point average of all 17 Crain began her coaching career in 1990 as an assistant coach at UCLA, helping teams at UCF in 2006 (3.31 avg.). In the fall of 2007, five of the team members carried 4.0 GPAs,14 were on the Dean’s List and 33 of the 44 listed on the varsity the Bruins to a Pac-10 title. She joined the UCLA coaching staff after an outstanding career as a member of the Bruins’ varsity team from 1985-88. As a senior, roster made Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. Crain was named team captain and was selected to the Pac-10 All-Conference team. A two-time member of the U.S. National Team, she won a gold medal in Prior to her arrival at Central Florida, Crain spent 10 seasons as head coach at the University of San Diego where she was named West Coast Conference (WCC) the women’s four at the 1988 Cadbury International Regatta in Australia and was Coach of the Year in 1997 and 2003. While at USD, she coached two All-Americans a grand finalist in the women’s pair at the 1990 World Championship Trials. Crain narrowly missed a spot in the U.S. Women’s eight that went on to win a silver and had two rowers named to the CRCA All-Region team. medal at the 1990 World Championships in Tasmania, Australia. Her student-athletes accounted for 15 All-WCC honors and six Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association (WIRA) all-conference honors. In addition, 16 earned An active member of the rowing community, Crain served on the NCAA Rowing Committee from 2001-05, and has been chair of both the NCAA West (2001-03) WCC All-Academic distinction, 13 received CRCA National Scholar-Athlete and South (2003-05) Regional Advisory committees. She also served as vice president of the FIRA from 2003-04, the WIRA Board of Stewards from 2002-03, The Crain File and the SIRA Board of Directors from 2003-07.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2008-present, Oklahoma Head Coach 2003-08, Central Florida Head Coach 1993-2003, San Diego Head Coach 1990-91, UCLA Assistant Coach

S T U D E N T - AT H L E T E S

r r r r

ROWING EXPERIENCE r r

1988, 1990 U.S. National Team 1985-88, UCLA

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

r r r r r r r

2007 NCAA Championship Appearance (UCF) 2002 No. 2 NCAA Regional Ranking - I Eight (UCF) Seven Division I All-Region Selections (UCF) Two Division I All-Americans (UCF) 2005-07, Southern Intercollegiate Rowing Association Team Champion (UCF) 20 National Scholar-Athletes (UCF) 1997, 2003 West Coach Conference Coach of the Year (USD) 15 WCC All-Conference Selections (USD) Two Division I All-Region Selections (USD) One Division I All-American (USD) 13 National Scholar-Athletes (USD) 16 WCC All-Academic Selections (USD)

BO O ME R SO O NE R

r r r r r

Coach Crain at practice with the Sooners

2 The University of Oklahoma

11

ROWING

Sooners

Assistant Coaches

ASSISTANT COACH ANDY DERRICK FIRST SEASON “I am thrilled to join the OU staff and welcome the opportunity to work with Coach (Leeanne) Crain again.Everything from a departmental and academic standpoint is in place to have tremendous success here at OU. The facilities and staff are truly first rate, and I am excited about filling our team with great student-athletes, which is the only piece of the puzzle still missing. I know we have the very real potential to become a national powerhouse, and I think recruits who come to visit will see that, too.”

COACHING EXPERIENCE

r r r r

2008- Present: Oklahoma Assistant Coach 2006-08: University of Central Florida Lightweight, Novice Coach 2004: Cincinnati Jr Rowing Club US Rowing Level III Certification

ROWING EXPERIENCE

r r r r

2000-04: University of Washington 2001: U.S. National Team 1999: Junior National Team 1997-00: Cincinnati Junior Rowing Club

ROWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

r r r r

2004: (Washington V8+) Won California Duel, Pac- 10 All Academic Team, Pac- 10 All Conference Team, Pac- 10 Champion, IRA National Championship Silver Medalist 2003: (Washington V8+) Pac- 10 All Academic Team, Pac- 10 Champion, IRA National Championship Silver Medalist, Henley Royal Regatta Champion. 2002: (Washington, JV8+) San Diego Crew Classic Champion, Won California Duel, Pac-10 All Academic Team, Pac-10 Silver Medalist, IRA National Championship Bronze Medalist, Two time USRowing National Champion (2-). 2001: (Washington, freshman 8+) Undefeated Season, San Diego Crew Classic Champion, Pac- 10 Champion, IRA National Champion, U-23 World Championship Silver Medalist.

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

r r

2008: (UCF, Novice) Had a coaching record of 38-4; won first medal (bronze) in program history at South/Central Regionals 2007: (UCF, Lightweight Varsity) Had highest national ranking, fifth, for lightweight; won Head of the Hooch.

EDUCATION

r r

12

University of Washington (Bachelor’s in History, 2004) University of Washington (Master’s in Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership, 2008)

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners ASSISTANT COACH KRIS MUHL

FIRST SEASON M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

“It is great to be here at Oklahoma and be part of an institution that holds its student-athletes to high academic standards as well as an expectation of athletic excellence! The community has been very welcoming and just about everyone seems to know that OU has added rowing as a varsity sport, not to mention the huge buzz about all that is going on in Oklahoma City with rowing and the Oklahoma City revitalization. I am taken back at all the resources available for the student-athletes. Without a doubt, they are among the most impressive of any institution of higher education in the country. With all the resources available to them, as long as the student-athlete puts in the work, it is likely they will achieve excellence, both in the classroom and on the water. I look forward to seeing the crews go fast, soon. “

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2008-present: Oklahoma Assistant Coach 2007-08: University of Central Florida Lightweight Coach/Assistant Coach 2005-07: University of California Men’s Rowing Assistant Coach/Director of Operations 2004: University of Iowa Men’s Rowing Club Head Coach 1999-04: University of Iowa Men’s Rowing Club Freshman Novice Coach 1997-98: Northwestern University Rowing Club, Head Novice Men’s Coach U.S. Rowing Level I, II, III Coaching Certification

COAC H I N G S TA F F

r r r r r r r

ROWING EXPERIENCE

r

1993-97: University of Iowa

r r r r

2008: (UCF Varsity Lightweight 8+) Dad Vail Champions; defeated No. 3 Radcliffe at Radcliffe; No. 3 national ranking; nominated for Lightweight Coach of the Year 2006: (California) IRA National Championship - V8 & Ten Eyck Team Title; Pac 10 Conference Title 2005: (California) Pac-10 Men’s V8+ Champion; Pac-10 Men’s Frosh Champion; IRA National Champion Men’s Frosh 8+ 1998: (Northwestern) Midwest Sprints - 2nd (Frosh LtWt 8+); Dad Vail - 4th (Frosh 4+)

S T U D E N T  AT H L E T E S

COACHING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

EDUCATION

University of Iowa ( B.A. in Portuguese and Political Science) Loyola University, Chicago (MBA)

BO O ME R S O O N ER

r r

2 The University of Oklahoma

13

ROWING

Sooners

Assistant Coaches

GRADUATE ASSISTANT MEGAN MITCHELL

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT LINDSAY VON KAENEL FIRST SEASON

FIRST SEASON

EDUCATION r r

University of Central Florida (BS in Sports and Fitness) 2007-Present: University of Central Florida and University of Oklahoma (M.Ed. Intercollegiate Athletics Administration)

ROWING EXPERIENCE r r

2004-07, University of Central Florida Varsity Lightweight Team 2003-04, University of Central Florida Novice Team

COACHING EXPERIENCE r r r r

2007-08, University of Central Florida (Graduate Assistant Coach) Summer 2006, Norwalk River Rowing Assocation Juniors and Masters Coach 2005-06, Bishop Moore High School Novice Coach Level III Coaching Certification from U.S. Rowing

ROWING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

r

r

r r

14

2006-07: (UCF) Captain of nationally ranked lightweight crew; first place at Head of the Hooch; first place in varsity four at Metro Cup; third place in varsity eight event at Petrakis Cup; second place at Princeton; first place against LMU at Windermere Classic; fourth place in petite final at IRA Championship 2005-06: (UCF) Rowed two seat for the Varsity Lightweight crew; won the Metro Cup Title; first place at Rollins Invitational; first place at Rollins Tri-Meet Regatta; fifth place in Knecht Cup grand final; first place at Pacific Coast Rowing Championship 2004-05: (UCF) Member of the Varsity Lightweight team; seventh at Head of the Hooch; first place at Rollins Invitational; second place at Rollins Tri-Meet ; first place at the FIRA Championship 2003-04: (UCF) second place FIRA Fall Classic and FIT Invitational; second place FIRA State Championship; second place SIRA Championship

Rowing Media Guide

EDUCATION r

University of San Diego (BA in Psychology)

ROWING EXPERIENCE r r r

2003-07, University of San Diego 1999-03, Washington-Lee High School Varsity

COACHING EXPERIENCE r

Level II Coaching Certification from U.S. Rowing

ACCOMPLISHMENTS r r

2004-05: Second place at San Diego Fall Classic in second Varsity 8 and Berg Cup Champions. 2003-04: First collegiate race was Row for the Cure on San Diego’s Mission Bay; Stroked the Novice 8 to gold medal finish and then double raced as the two seat in thefirst Varsity 8, also finishing in first place; Berg Cup Champions in Varsity 8; City Cup Champions in Varsity 8

2009

ROWING

Support Staff

Sooners

Chris Bader is currently completing his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Sport Psychology at the University of North Texas. At OU, he is responsible for providing counseling, assessment, and sport psychology services to OU student-athletes, teams, and coaches. Bader earned his master’s degree in psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University where he played rugby.

Lori Kemmet is beginning her 14th year as the Sooners’ pom coach and ninth year as the coordinator for all spirit groups at the University of Oklahoma. She was a member and captain of the OU pom squad from 1987-1990. Kemmet holds a BA in Spanish from OU and a MA in Spanish literature from the University of Kansas. In addition to her work as the spirit coordinator, Kemmet is part of the athletics marketing team.

Jennifer Van Tuyl is a junior majoring in public relations. This is her first year as an intern for OU athletics media relations and was previously a student assistant for men’s basketball.

BO O ME R S O O N ER

Desiree Taylor has worked in the athletic department since 2005. She began her career as a graduate assistant and is in her first year as an athletic academic advisor. Taylor works with women’s rowing, women’s soccer and softball. Taylor received her B.S. in chemical engineering and MBA from the University of Oklahoma. Taylor played for the OU women’s basketball team from 1997-2001.

Jennifer Van Tuyl Media Relations

S T U D E N T  AT H L E T E S

Desiree Taylor Academics

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Lori Kemmet Marketing

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

Chris Bader PROS

2 The University of Oklahoma

15

ROWING

Sooners Morgan Donley Trainer Morgan Donley graduated from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with honors in 2005. She earned a bachelor’s degree in athletic training and a minor in allied health administration. In 2006, Donley earned her NATABOC certification and a Oklahoma medical licensure. In August 2007, Donley began a graduate assistantship at OU. She is currently working on dual master’s degrees in intercollegiate athletic administration and human relations.

Angela Walker Equipment Manager Angela Walker is in her second season as a full-time staff member after spending four seasons as a student manager, including serving as head manager during the 2004-05 women’s basketball season, and two seasons as a graduate assistant equipment manager. Walker received two degrees from OU -- a bachelor of science degree in elementary education in 2005 and master’s in adult and higher education/intercollegiate athletics administration in 2007.

Nancy Derrick Strength and Conditioning Nancy Derrick is in her first season at OU and works directly with softball, volleyball and rowing. Previously, she was a assistant strength coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe (2006-08) and a graduate assistant at Auburn (2004-06). Derrick received a bachelor’s in science and health promotion in 2004 and a master’s degree in exercise physiology from Auburn. Derrick was a member of the Auburn women’s basketball team for four years.

16

Rowing Media Guide

Jamie Liles Strength and Conditioning Jamie Liles came to OU as a graduate assistant in January 2009. She works as a strength and conditioning coach with the novice rowers and women’s tennis teams. Liles also assists with the varsity rowers as well as softball, volleyball and soccer. Liles attended the University of Louisiana-Monroe earning a BA psychology and a MS in exercise science. She was a fouryear letterwinner at first base and designated player for the ULM Warhawks’ softball team.

2009

ROWING

Sooners

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

COAC H I N G S TA F F

S T U D E N T  AT H L E T E S

BO O ME R S O O N ER

ROWING

ROWING

Sooners

7('', '<:(5 6(1,25 3257 0((.(5 2./$

Health and exercise science major ... Minoring in German and zoology ... Daughter of Steve and Carol Dwyer ... Member of the National Honor Society, Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, Dean’s Honor Roll ... Rowed for Oklahoma club team from 2005-08 ... Placed third at Head of the Colorado in varsity 4 in fall 2008.

&+(/6($ 0225( 6(1,25 67$5%2$5' 1250$1 2./$ Public relations major with a minor in interdisciplinary perspectives of the environment ... Daughter of Sherry and David Moore ... Member of the Dean’s Honor Roll, and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Rower for Oklahoma crew from 2005-08 ... Sister, Leah Morales, also a member of Oklahoma crew ... Placed third at Head of Colorado in varsity 4 in fall 2008.

&$5$ %2:(56 -81,25 3257 %52.(1 $552: 2./$

Spanish major ... Daughter of Sandy and Walt Bowers ... Participated in gymnastics and diving in high school ... Competed in gymnastics at BYU before transferring to Oklahoma ... Member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

&$52/,1( %5$11,1 -81,25 67$5%2$5' %52.(1 $552: 2./$

Zoology major ... Daughter of Lisa and Graham Brannin ... Participated in softball and basketball in high school ... Placed second at Head of Colorado and fifth at Head of the Hooch in first novice 8+ in fall 2008 ... Also considered Oklahoma State and Tulsa.

021,48( *$,1(6 -81,25 67$5%2$5' 086.2*(( 2./$ Industrial engineering major and Spanish minor ... Daughter of Marvin and Walter Mae Gaines ... Participated in basketball, track and field and fastpitch softball in high school ... Member of Oklahoma Honor Society and National Honor Society ... Named summa cum laude, nominee for National Leadership Forum in medicine ‌ USAA National English Merit Award recipient ... Executive Vice President of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars ... President of Sigma Lamda Gamma ... Member of the Dean’s Leadership Council ... Placed ninth at Head of the Hooch and seventh at Head of Colorado in novice 8+ in fall 2008.

18

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

0($*$1 +$55(// -81,25 67$5%2$5' 125)2/. 9$

.$7+(5,1( 5$%( -81,25 3257 67$5%2$5' %52.(1 $552: 2./$

.(/6(< :,77(1 -81,25 &2;6:$,1 635,1*),(/' 02

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

Journalism major and sociology minor ... Daughter of Dan Witten and Gina Wells ... A seven-time state qualifier in gymnastics ... Editor of Sooner Yearbook ... Placed second at the Head of the Colorado in first novice 8+ in fall 2008 ... Member of National Honor Society and an OU Honor’s Scholar.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Chemistry and biochemistry major ... Daughter of Elizabeth and Peter Rabe ... Participated in debate and played bass in orchestra in high school ... Member of National Honor Society, Oklahoma Honor Society ... Leading Petty Officer of unit in U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps ... Golden Key National Honor fraternity ... Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed ninth at Head of the Hooch and seventh at Head of Colorado in second novice 8+ in fall 2008.

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

Environmental science major ... Recorded four straight wins against Iowa, Kansas State, Duke and Texas in the 2005-06 season as a freshman at Central Florida ... Placed first at the Petrakis Cup, won the second Varsity 8+ at SIRA Championship ... Stroked Varsity 8 at Head of Oklahoma to a fifth place finish before taking mediccal hardship the rest of the year with a wrist injury as a UCF sophomore ... Member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed third at Head of Colorado in varsity 4+ in fall 2008.

B O O M ER S O O NE R

Sooner rowers competing on the Oklahoma River

The University of Oklahoma

2 19

ROWING

Sooners

%5$1', %52:1 623+2025( 67$5%2$5' +$55$+ 2./$ Social studies education major ... Daughter of Tracy and Anthony Brown ... Has competed in jazz, lyrical, ballet and contemporary dance competitions since the age of six ... Graduated in top 10 percent of her high school class and has been on the Dean’s Honor Roll three semesters at OU ... Member of National Collegiate Scholars Society and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed second in third novice 8+ in novice-2 event at Head of Colorado and ninth in second novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008.

$6+/(< '2'' 623+2025( 3257 526:(// *$

Energy management major ... Daughter of Cathryne and Sidney Dodd ... Participated in basketball and volleyball in high school ... Basketball team made it to the state tournament in 2007 ... Member of the Beta Club ... Father Sidney played football at OU

(/(1$ (1*/(6 623+2025( 3257 2./$+20$ &,7<

Zoology and biomedical sciences major with a minor in Spanish ... Daughter of Clara and Charles Engles ... Participated in swimming, cross country and track and field in high school ... Named Cum Laude, AP scholar in 2007 ... Received the President’s Service Award for completing more than 100 hours of community service ... Is part of the Honors program at OU.

6$0$17+$ )$+(' 623+2025( 3257 67$5%2$5' 25/$1'2 )/$ Psychology major ... Daughter of Clara and Sam Fahed ... At UCF placed third in Novice 8+ at South/Central NCAA Regional at UCF ... Dual wins in Novice 8+ over Texas, Oregon State, Stanford and Miami ... Participated in lacrosse and weightlifting in high school ... Member of the Honor Roll all four years of high school.

$//< *5$< 623+2025( 67$5%2$5' 9$/5,&2 )/$ Economics and psychology major ... Daughter of Ellen Toon and Gary Gray ... Was a member of the first novice 8+ all season that went 38-4 at UCF ... Won duals over Texas, Virginia, Michigan State, UCLA, Washington State, Stanford and Miami ... Won a bronze medal at the South/Central NCAA Regionals, becoming the first medaling crew in UCF novice program history ... Member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

20

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

/,1'6$< +(0,1*:$< 623+2025( 3257 .,1*:22' 7(;$6

$0$1'$ +2))0$1 623+2025( &2;6:$,1 '81(',1 )/$

0(/($ 0&&5($5< 623+2025( 3257 6$1 ',(*2 &$/,)

+($7+(5 0&'21$/' 623+2025( 3257 78/6$ 2./$

Microbiology and pre-PA major with a minor in chemistry and Spanish ... Daughter of Paul and Becky McDonald ... Played soccer for Tulsa National Soccer Club ... Finished second at Head of Colorado and fifth at Head of Hooch in first novice 8+ in fall 2008 ... A National Merit Scholar ... A member of the Dean’s Honor Roll and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

-$1(//( 52&+( 623+2025( 3257 )/2:(5 0281' 7(;$6 Nutritional sciences major ... Daughter of Eileen and Ed Roche ... Participated in basketball and track in high school ... Placed third at Head of Colorado ... A member of National Honor Society and Math Honor Society ... An Achievement Program graduate in 2007 ... Placed second in third novice 8+ in novice-2 event at Head of Colorado in fall 2008 ... Cousin Susan Rowlyk played basketball for Mt. Saint Mary’s University. The University of Oklahoma

B O O MER SO O NE R

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

Communication major ... Daughter of Maria and T McCreary ... An All-American in 2005 and four year all-stater in swimming ... named Patriot District’s Sportswomen of the Year in 2007 ... A junior national qualifier in the backstroke in 2005 ... Was a member of first novice 8+ all season that went 38-4 at UCF ... Won duals over Texas, Virginia, Michigan State, UCLA, Washington State, Stanford and Miami ... Won a bronze medal at the South/Central NCAA Regionals, becoming the first medaling crew UCF novice program history.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Geographic information sciences major with a minor in broadcasting ... Daughter of Christine and Bob Hoffman ... Was a member of first novice 8+ all season that went 38-4 at UCF ... Won duals over Texas, Virginia, Michigan State, UCLA, Washington State, Stanford and Miami ... Won a bronze medal at the South/Central NCAA Regionals, becoming the first medaling crew in UCF novice program history ... Member of Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

Energy management major ... Daughter of Kellie and Larry Hemingway ... Team captain for Genesis Soccer Club ... State champions in 2004 ... National Winner of the Dribble, Pass and Score competition for soccer in 2002 on Nickelodeon Games and Sport ... Member of National Honor Society and Alpha Omicron Pi ... Placed seventh in second novice 8+ at Head of Colorado and fifth in first novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008 ... Twin sister, Sara Hemingway, plays golf at OU and grandfather Mike Monnington played football, basketball, track and baseball at Kearney State.

2 21

ROWING

Sooners

OU rowers practicing on the Oklahoma River

+$/(< %52:1 )5(6+0$1 &2;6:$,1 :,/621 2./$

Communication major ... Daughter of Shelly and Ken Brown ... Participated in softball and korfball during a 10 month exchange in Germany ... A Blue Ribbon Scholar and Bundesty Youth Exchange recipient in 2007 ... A Girl’s State Representative ... Member of Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed seventh in second novice 8+ at Head of Colorado and fifth in first novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008. -(1$9$ %85*8,(5( )5(6+0$1 67$5%2$5' %52.(1 $552: 2./$ Theater and design emphasis major ... Daughter of Cheryl and Ed Burguiere ... A member of the Union Repertory Theater, 2006-08 ... Member of state champion team in Oklahoma One-Act competition ... National Technical Honor Society ... Nominated for Freshman PACE Award ... Member of Dean’s Honor Roll and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed seventh in second novice 8+ at Head of Colorado and fifth in first novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch.

/$85(/ +2/$6(. )5(6+0$1 3257 /(;,1*721 2./$

Elementary education major ... Daughter of Carla and Robert Holasek ... Participated in cheerleading and golf in high school ... State solo vocal senior year and sweepstakes in show choir ... Valedictorian of senior class ... Member of National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta ... Placed seventh in second novice 8+ at Head of Colorado and ninth in second novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch.

22

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

%522.( +20(5 )5(6+0$1 3257 67$5%2$5' 0867$1* 2./$

6$5$+ .(//( )5(6+0$1 67$5%2$5' 321&$ &,7< 2./$

0$85((1 /(:,6 )5(6+0$1 3257 67$5%2$5' (/ 5(12 2./$

/$85$ 0221 )5(6+0$1 3257 $/(; 2./$

Political science major ... Daughter of Deborah and W.R. Moon, Jr. ... Participated in basketball, softball and track in high school ... Member of National Honor Society ... Placed second at Head of Colorado and fifth at Head of Hooch in first novice 8+ ... Accepted and graduated from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics ... Grandfather W.O. Moon, Jr. played basketball at Cameron Univeristy. .,/(< 3233,12 )5(6+0$1 &2;6:$,1 '$//$6 7(;$6

Special education major ‌ Daughter of Shannon and Al Poppino ‌ In 2007, won first place at the St. Louis Sprints and first in the novice mens 8+ ‌ Placed fifth at Head of the Hooch women’s double ‌ Placed third at the U.S. Rowing Youth National Championship in women’s lightweight 4+ .. In 2006, placed second at the Head of the Colorado in women’s junior novice 4+.

The University of Oklahoma

B O O M ER S O O NE R

STUDENT-ATHLE TES

Pre-med major ... Daughter of Rachel and Richard Lewis ... Made all-state tennis in 2008 ... A four-time state qualifier in tennis ... Girl’s State Delegate ... Valedictorian and an Oklahoma Academic Scholar ... Member of National Honor Society and Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed second in third novice 8+ in novice-2 event at Head of Colorado.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Pre-health and exercise science major ... Daughter of Josette and Don Kelle ... Team captain of basketball team in high school ... Honorable mention in Centennial Conference ... Member of Team Oklahoma in Diamond Head Classic ... Placed second in first novice 8+ at Head of Colorado and fifth at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008.

M E D I A I N FOR MATI ON

Pre-health and exercise science major ... Daughter of Whitney Twiehause and Blair Homer ... Cousin Jared Homer played football at Northwestern State University ... Member of Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Placed second in third novice 8+ in novice-2 event at Head of Colorado and ninth in second novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008.

2 23

ROWING

Sooners

/$85(1 35,&( )5(6+0$1 &2;6:$,1 3257/$1' 7(;$6

Biochemistry major with a focus on pre-optometry ... Daughter of Elaine and Scott Price ... Drumline member four years of high school and section leader senior year ... A 2008 National Merit Scholar ... Salutatorian of senior class ... Member of Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll, PACE Award Nominee ... An AP scholar with distinction ... Placed ninth in second novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008 ... Brother Brad plays baseball at UT-Dallas.

0$'(/<1 5$1'2/3+ )5(6+0$1 67$5%2$5' 78/6$ 2./$ Political science and economics major ... Daughter of Grace and John Randolph ... Participated in equestrian ...Top 10 percent in the nation in western riding ... Member of National Honor Society ... Senior class president ... Involved in President’s Leadership Class and Campus Activities Council at OU ... Member of Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll ... Sister Suzanne is a member of the equestrian team at Oklahoma State ... Placed seventh in second novice 8+ at Head of Colorado in fall 2008.

%522.( 6+(33$5' )5(6+0$1 67$5%2$5' /$:721 2./$

International business major ... Daughter of Drs. Cindy and Ernest Sheppard ... Participated in volleyball, swimming, track and field in high school ... A National Merit Scholar Finalist and Academic all-stater ... U.S. Presidential Scholar and Valedictorian ... Placed second at Head of Colorado in first novice 8+and fifth at Head of the Hooch in first novice 8+ in fall 2008 ... Named Outstanding Key Club Lt. Governor ... Father Ernest was a quarterback for Texas Tech ... Uncle Pete Berg played football at Texas A&M ... Aunt Jill Berg played tennis at OU.

(5,1 60,7+ )5(6+0$1 67$5%2$5' 3257 2./$+20$ &,7< Letters major ... Daughter of Julie and Patrick Smith ... Participated in cross country, swimming and track and field ... Member of state championship track team in 2008 and a member of the four-time state champion cross country team ... All-state Academic team ... 2008 National Merit Scholar and AP scholar with distinction ... Placed seventh in second novice 8+ at Head of Colorado and ninth in second novice 8+ at Head of the Hooch in fall 2008 ... Cousins Jessman and Benjamin Smith wrestled for Iowa ... Cousin Melissa Smith rowed for Iowa.

,==< 67(:$57 )5(6+0$1 3257 2./$+20$ &,7< Aviation major ... Daughter of Vicky and Jerry Stewart ... Placed third in girls novice 8+ at Head of the Oklahoma as a rower for Oklahoma Chesapeake Boathouse ... finished first in girls 4x at the 2008 St. Louis Sprints ... Placed second at Head of Colorado in first novice 8+at OU ... A member of Oklahoma City’s Youth Leadership Exchange Program and National Honor Society ... Accepted a full scholarship to attend OU from Air Force ROTC to attend OU.

24

Rowing Media Guide

2009

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON COAC H I N G S TA F F S T U D E N T - AT HL ET ES BO O ME R S O O NE R

ROWING

2008-09 WOMEN’S ROWING MEDIA GUIDE This season’s media guide was designed and produced by the OU Athletics Department in Norman, Okla., using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop.

The Guide was printed by OU Printing Services of Norman at no cost to the taxpayers of the state of Oklahoma. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity employer (October 2008)

25

A PACESETTER FOR PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OU?

“The University of Oklahoma is truly a great university. It is becoming a pacesetter for public higher education in the United States. We must no longer keep the university’s excellence a secret! It’s time for us to let others know about the strengths of our university and our determination to make it even better.�

s/5 RANKS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION AMONG ALL PUBLIC universities in the number of National Merit Scholars enrolled per capita. s4HE Princeton Review ranks OU among the best in the nation in terms of academic excellence and cost for students.

- University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA OVERVIEW Created by the Oklahoma Territorial Legislature in 1890, the University of Oklahoma is a doctoral degree-granting research university serving the educational, cultural, economic and health care needs of the state, region and nation. The Norman campus serves as home to all of the university’s academic programs except health-related ďŹ elds. Both the Norman and Health Sciences Center colleges offer programs at the Schusterman Center, the site of OU-Tulsa. The OU Health Sciences Center, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of only four comprehensive academic health centers in the nation with seven professional colleges. OU enrolls more than 30,000 students, has more than 2,300 full-time faculty members, and has 20 colleges offering 158 majors at the baccalaureate level, 166 majors at the master’s level, 81 majors at the doctoral level, 26 majors at the doctoral professional level, and 24 graduate certiďŹ cates. The university’s annual operating budget is $1.46 billion. The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

s/5 S FRESHMAN CLASS IS THE HIGHEST RANKED freshman class at a public university in state history. s/5 HAS OVER A BILLION IMPACT ON THE STATE S ECONOMY each year. s/5 RANKS lRST IN THE "IG AND AT THE TOP IN THE NATION in international reciprocal exchange agreements with universities around the world. The University has 174 student exchange agreements with universities in 66 countries. More than 1,500 students from almost 100 countries are enrolled on OU’s Norman campus. s/5 PRODUCED ITS TH 2HODES 3CHOLAR LAST YEAR RANKING IT highly among public institutions nationwide in the total NUMBER OF 2HODES 3CHOLARS s/5 IS AMONG THE TOP UNIVERSITIES IN THE NATION IN 'OLDwater Scholarship for math and science winners, with 12 in the past four years. s/5 IS ONE OF THE FEW PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN THE NATION to cap the class size of ďŹ rst-year English composition

courses at no more than 19 students as well as all Honors courses. s4HE *OE # AND #AROLE +ERR -C#LENDON (ONORS #OLLEGE at OU is the largest honors program among public universities in the United States. Almost 2,900 students participate in small Honors seminar classes. s/5 RANKS IN THE TOP IN THE NATION AMONG MOST WIRED colleges, one of only a few universities to achieve the ranking two years in a row. s/5 S BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURSHIP PROGRAM RANKS AMONG the 10 best in the United States. s/5 S #AMPAIGN FOR 3CHOLARSHIPS HAS ALLOWED THE university to double new scholarships for students in just four years. s4HE #AMPAIGN FOR 3CHOLARSHIPS IS CONTINUING AND IN March 2008 surpassed its goal of raising $100 million for endowed scholarships. To date, almost $115 million in scholarship endowments have been donated or pledged. s/5 IS ONE OF ONLY PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN !MERICA WITH an endowment above $1.1 billion and has increased from 100 to 539, the number of endowed faculty positions in the past 13 years, demonstrating a strong commitment to excellence. s/5 CONTINUES TO BREAK PRIVATE FUND RAISING RECORDS with more than $1.4 billion in gifts and pledges since 1994, which has provided funding for dramatic capital

THE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

26

26

Rowing Media Guide

2009

improvements, the growth in faculty endowment and student scholarships. s/5 HAS THE ACADEMICALLY HIGHEST RANKED STUDENT BODY at a public university in Oklahoma.

s4HE /5 (EALTH 3CIENCES #ENTER IN &9 CONTINUED ITS impressive rate of research growth by achieving more than $141 million in federal, state, corporate and nonproďŹ t or foundation grants and contracts. Funding from the National Institutes of Health – considered to be the gold standard for research – was $51 million. s3INCE ALMOST BILLION IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS have been completed, are under way or are forthcoming on OU’s three campuses, the largest of which is the $67 million National Weather Center.

s4HE &RED *ONES *R -USEUM OF !RT S COLLECTIONS TOTAL

s3ET TO OPEN IN THE /5 #ANCER )NSTITUTE IS ON TRACK to become Oklahoma’s ďŹ rst and only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. Achieving this designation, the gold standard for cancer research and care in the United States, means that Oklahomans will no longer need to travel 450 miles out of state for comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care. s4HE 5NIVERSITY OF /KLAHOMA HAS ESTABLISHED A COMPREhensive diabetes center with operations on the OU campuses in Oklahoma City and Tulsa to provide statewide leadership in diabetes treatment, research, prevention, information, education and awareness. The Harold Hamm Oklahoma Diabetes Center provides access to the latest developments in diabetes care and management through the clinical trials hosted by the center. s! MAJOR BEAUTIlCATION CAMPAIGN HAS TRANSFORMED the appearance of the OU Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. The project replaced a divided highway

s/5 HAS STRONG PROGRAMS IN INTERNATIONAL AND AREA studies, with an International Programs Center led by Zach P. Messitte, a foreign policy expert with a doctorate in international politics whose experience includes working for the United Nations and CNN.

s&OR THE OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE .ORMAN CAMPUS — gardens, fountains, sculptures, benches — the University of Oklahoma has won ďŹ rst place in the education category for BeautiďŹ cation and Landscaping in the statewide environmental competition. Gifts of over $3 million have permanently endowed OU’s gardens. s7ITH NEARLY DOCTORS /5 0HYSICIANS IS THE STATE S largest physician group. Our practice encompasses almost every adult and child specialty. Many OU Physicians have expertise in the management of complex conditions that is unavailable anywhere else in the state, region or sometimes even the nation. Some have pioneered surgical procedures or innovations in patient care that are world ďŹ rsts.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

s/5 IS HOME TO ONE OF THE TWO LARGEST NATURAL HISTORY museums in the world associated with a university. The Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History has more than 7 million artifacts and contains 195,000 square feet on 40 acres of land. The museum exhibits include the largest Apatosaurus on display in the world and the oldest work of art ever found in North America — a lightning bolt painted on an extinct bison skull.

s/5 S 7ESTERN (ISTORY #OLLECTION IS ONE OF THE LARGEST collections in the world of documents and photographs, including a rare multivolume portfolio on the Indians of the United States and Alaska by Edward S. Curtis.

through campus with seven tiered gardens featuring traditional OU arches at each end. The pedestrian walkway’s landmarks include an OU Seed Sower sculpture at the west end, a clock tower at the east end, and a 70-foot granite fountain in the center.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

s3INCE RESEARCH AND SPONSORED PROGRAMS EXPENDItures at OU have more than doubled, and OU continues to set new records for funding for externally sponsored research. OU ended FY 2008 with total expenditures of more than $275 million.

more than 10,000 works of art, including OU’s Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionism, the single most important gift of art ever given to a U.S. public university; the Adkins Collection, among the most important private collections in the nation of works by the Taos artists as well as Native American works of art; the former U.S. State Department Embassy art collection; and the Dorothy Dunn collection of Native American art.

s!BOUT OF /5 0HYSICIANS DOCTORS ARE /5 #HILDREN S Physicians. These board-certiďŹ ed pediatric specialists committed their training and, now, their practices to the care of children. Many children with birth defects, critical injuries or serious diseases who can’t be helped elsewhere come to OU Children’s Physicians. Oklahoma

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

27

27

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT OU? doctors and parents rely on OU Children’s Physicians depth of experience, nationally renowned expertise and sensitivity to children’s emotional needs. s4HE 5NIVERSITY OF /KLAHOMA MAINTAINS ONE OF THE THREE most important collections of early manuscripts in the history of science in the United States. It includes Galileo’s own copy of his work, which ďŹ rst used the telescope to support the Copernican theory, with corrections in his own handwriting. s4HE 5NIVERSITY OF /KLAHOMA ,IBRARIES HAS ADDED ITS millionth volume, continuing a commanding lead as the state’s largest research library and claiming one of the top two spots in size among Big 12 libraries. s/5 S *ULIAN 0 +ANTER 0OLITICAL #OMMERCIAL !RCHIVE HOUSES the world’s largest collection of political commercials. With more than 90,000 commercials, the archive includes political advertisements dating back to 1936 for radio and 1950 for television. s4HE HIGHLY ACCLAIMED JOURNAL OF INTERNATIONAL LITERATURE World Literature Today, is published at the University of Oklahoma. s/5 IS HOME TO THE .EUSTADT )NTERNATIONAL 0RIZE FOR Literature, considered to be second in prestige only to the Nobel Prize and often referred to as the “American Nobel.â€? Twenty–six Neustadt laureates, candidates and jurors have won the Nobel Prize in the past 38 years. s4HE /5 #OUSINS PROGRAM MATCHES 5 3 AND INTERNATIONAL

students to share informal and social experiences. Students may volunteer to live on international oors with half of the residents from the United States and half from other countries. s$ANCE -AGAZINE PLACES THE /5 3CHOOL OF $ANCE IN THE top three of all dance programs in the country. s/5 S ACRE 2ESEARCH #AMPUS IS ANCHORED BY THE 3TEPHENSON 2ESEARCH AND 4ECHNOLOGY #ENTER WHERE cutting-edge research into life science ďŹ elds ranging from robotics to genomic studies is taking place, and the National Weather Center, which houses OU’s academic and research programs in meteorology and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Normanbased weather, research and operations programs. s/5 S LARGEST SUPERCOMPUTER DEBUTED AS THE FASTEST IN THE Big 12 and in Oklahoma history and among the top four among U.S. universities (excluding the big three National Science Foundation supercomputing centers). s3INCE ITS CREATION IN /5 S /FlCE OF 4ECHNOLOGY Development has created 36 companies that have generated more than $82 million in capital, more than $10 million in cash and more than $30 million in current estimated equity value for the university. In addition, the companies have created in excess of 150 jobs, which pay on average nearly twice the median household income in Oklahoma. s/5 S DEBATE TEAM MADE HISTORY IN WINNING THE tournaments at Harvard, Northwestern and Wake For-

est, in addition to the National Intercollegiate Debate Championship. s/5 S #OLLEGE OF %DUCATION CONTINUES TO BE RANKED IN THE top 10 percent of all graduate colleges of education by 5 3 .EWS 7ORLD 2EPORT s4HE /5 #OLLEGE OF ,AW ATTRACTS AND ADMITS ONLY THE VERY best students, and continues to set records in bar passage rates with OU graduates scoring the ďŹ fth-highest bar passage rate for ďŹ rst-time takers among all law schools in the nation. s! MAJOR BUILDING PROJECT HAS DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE Law Center, refurbishing classrooms and creating a new library, a cutting-edge courtroom, and expanded student lounge and ofďŹ ce facilities. s/5 0RESIDENT $AVID "OREN A FORMER 5 3 SENATOR AND governor of Oklahoma, teaches an introductory course in political science each semester, and keeps in close touch with students. s/5 HAS ONE OF THE OLDEST COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGES OF ďŹ ne arts in the Great Plains states, with highly regarded schools of Music, Drama, Art and Dance, and programs in opera, musical theater, and sculpture. s/5 HAS WON AWARDS FOR NEW INITIATIVES TO CREATE A SENSE of family and community on campus. OU is one of the very few public universities to twice receive the Templeton Foundation Award as a “Character Building Collegeâ€? for stressing the value of community.

THE CAMPUS EXPERIENCE

28

28

Rowing Media Guide

2009

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES ACADEMIC AFFAIRS Multidisciplinary Studies

COLLEGE OF ATMOSPHERIC AND GEOGRAPHIC SCIENCES Geography Meteorology MICHAEL F. PRICE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS Accounting Economics Energy Management Entrepreneurship & Venture Management Finance (UMAN 2ESOURCES -ANAGEMENT International Business Management

COLLEGE OF CONTINUING EDUCATION Aviation Professional Studies COLLEGE OF EARTH AND ENERGY Environmental Geology Geology Geophysics Paleontology Petroleum Engineering Petroleum Geology COLLEGE OF EDUCATION Early Childhood Education Elementary Education Foreign Language Education Language Arts Education Mathematics Education Science Education Social Studies Education Special Education COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Aerospace Engineering Architectural Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science

Electrical Engineering Engineering Physics Environmental Engineering Environmental Science Industrial Engineering Information Technology Mechanical Engineering WEITZENHOFFER FAMILY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS Art Art History Dance Drama Media - Filmaking, Photography, Video Music Music Education Musical Theatre Performance Studio Arts Theatre Visual Communications GAYLORD COLLEGE OF JOURNALISM AND COMMUNICATION Advertising Broadcasting & Electronic Media *OURNALISM Professional Writing 0UBLIC 2ELATIONS COLLEGE OF LIBERAL STUDIES Liberal Studies

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

COAC H I N G S TA F F

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES African & African-American Studies Anthropology A&S Planned Program Astronomy Astrophysics Biochemistry Botany Chemistry Chinese Classics Communication Economics English %THICS AND 2ELIGION Film and Video Studies French German Health & Exercise Science History (UMAN 2ELATIONS Information Studies International & Area Studies Letters

Management Information Systems Marketing Supply Chain Management

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE Architecture Construction Science Environmental Design Interior Design

Linguistics Mathematics Microbiology Native American Studies Philosophy Physics Political Science Psychology Public Affairs & Administration 2ELIGIOUS 3TUDIES 2USSIAN Social Work Sociology Sociology - Criminology Spanish Women’s Studies Zoology

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

29

29

THE PATH TO GRADUATION PRENTICE GAUTT ACADEMIC CENTER In the 1950s, he came to OU to play football, and, in the process, broke down barriers and crushed stereotypes. Today, OU student-athletes use the Prentice Gautt Academic Center to break another kind of stereotype. The center that today’s student-athletes use everyday now bears the name of the man who left an indelible legacy for Sooner Athletics and helped change a society in the process. The formal dedication of the Prentice Gautt Academic Center was held Friday, Sept. 17, 1999. The proposal to re-name the center was approved by the OU Board of 2EGENTS IN -ARCH “It is appropriate that this center be named after Prentice Gautt,� OU President David L. Boren said.“His personal values and character, along with his leadership as associate commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, continue to bring pride to his alma mater. His personal example of quiet courage, grace under pressure, and dedication to the university helped open the doors of opportunity for countless number of African-American and minority student-athletes who have followed him into collegiate athletics.� The professional consultants of the Prentice Gautt Academic Center help student-athletes with a variety of academic tasks, from learning strategy instruction to any stage of the writing process including preparing for an essay exam and the formal research paper. The goal is to help student-athletes develop the strategies they need to be successful by encouraging

the use of the center for all facets of the learning and writing processes encountered in college. The Prentice Gautt Academic Center provides studentathletes with a state-of-the-art academic support facility. The environment encourages a collaboration between staff members and student-athletes. In addition, it is highly conducive to learning in all areas of students’ academic endeavors and features seven learning centers. Located on the second and third oors in the north end of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the Academic Center houses Academic Counseling ofďŹ ces, and Learning and Skill Development CENTERS INCLUDING THE +ERR &OUNDATION #OMPUTER Center, the Thompson Writing Center and centers for communication, reading, study skills, math and foreign language as well as learning enhancement and study areas.

30

The Career Center is a link with the campus Careers Services OfďŹ ce and offers student-athletes a wide array of effective job hunting skills, training and career services. KERR FOUNDATION COMPUTER CENTER In the 21st century, computers have become an integral part of the learning experience. Students need access TO COMPUTERS AND THEIR RESOURCES ALMOST DAILY 4HE +ERR Foundation Computer Centers are here to meet these technological needs. We provide each student with the equipment and support necessary to succeed. The computer center is housed within the Prentice Gautt Academic Center and houses nearly 200 computers available exclusively to our student-athletes.

LEARNING CENTERS: KERR CAREER CENTER Whether student-athletes are freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors or graduates, they will beneďŹ t from the SERVICES OF THE +ERR #AREER #ENTER )T PROVIDES A SYSTEM OF services that educates and guides students through the career development process.

Students also enjoy a large amount of storage space on our athletic network. Laptop computers are checked out to students when the computer center is unavailable. This allows access to our network and resources 24 hours a day. The laptop program is very important in helping athletes stay on top of their schoolwork when traveling.

The Career Center is dedicated to helping students make the transition from college to career by developing an individualized career plan where they gather information to assist in making a decision about a career; obtain information on the suitable career list; explore classes and publications in the ďŹ eld as well

Group training is provided for all new student-athletes during the ďŹ rst week of supervised study. This helps familiarize each student with our resources and procedures. Individual training sessions are available to each student and lab technicians are always on hand to help.

ACADEMICS

30

as obtain experience; and gain knowledge and skills necessary for rĂŠsumĂŠ writing, job-related letter writing and interviewing techniques.

Rowing Media Guide

2009

4HE +ERR &OUNDATION #OMPUTER #ENTER HAS BEEN A MODEL for other universities around the country. We plan on being a leader in the future as well. Upgrades are scheduled annually and there is a deep commitment from the Athletics Department ensures that the excellence in the computer center will continue for a long time.

KERR FOUNDATION FOREIGN LANGUAGE CENTER To assist you in speaking, listening, reading and writing in OTHER LANGUAGES THE +ERR &OUNDATION &OREIGN ,ANGUAGE Center offers a multimedia environment that provides instruction in all foreign languages and in English as a second language. On an individual basis, students have the option of working with computers, audio-visual equipment and tutors in order to enhance their language experience.

READING/STUDY SKILLS CENTER If students have trouble with assigned textbook readings OR STUDYING THE 2EADING AND 3TUDY 3KILLS #ENTER CAN help. It provides reading and studying techniques and

THE PATH TO GRADUATION Steps For Building “Champions For Life� STEP ONE: Assessment New Student-Athlete Assessment -The academic assessment process begins with an entry-level assessment of all incoming student-athletes. This assessment is designed to help student-athletes know their strengths and weaknesses in content areas such as reading, writing, and mathematics. With this information, we can determine if student-athletes have the skills necessary to succeed in standard entry-level courses. Some results from this initial assessment may require additional testing, enrollment in developmental courses and academic services, or programs recommended based on individual needs. The ultimate purpose of our assessment is to ensure that studentathletes have the appropriate academic support services to achieve academic success.

Study Skills - The Study Skills Center provides studentathletes with assistance in college reading strategies and individual instruction for reading improvement. A learning specialist regularly conducts time management and study skills workshops. The staff’s goal is to help student-athletes become independent writers and learners in the academic environment.

Computer Skills 4HE +ERR &OUNDATION !THLETIC #OMPUTER Center, also located in the Prentice Gautt Academic Center, provides student-athletes with computer knowledge and access. The Computer Center is open six days a week with extended hours offered during peak times. Made possible FROM A +ERR &OUNDATION MATCHING GRANT THE Athletic Computer Center is equipped with more than 200 state-of-the-art computers, including Macintosh and Windows-compatible computers with color monitors, #$ 2/- DRIVES AND MODEMS (IGH SPEED HIGH RESOLUTION laser printers, digital camera, video equipment and a scanner are also available for student-athlete use. Software in use includes all popular word processing programs, spreadsheet programs, presentation programs, databases and desktop publishing/graphic design programs. In addition, computer training courses are provided each semester and portable computers are available to student-athletes who need computer access after 11 p.m. Approximately 100 portables are also available to teams when traveling.

OKLAHOMA REMEMBERS GAUTT Prentice Gautt ushered in a new era for Oklahoma football when he landed a spot on the 1956 team. Former Sooner head coach Bud Wilkinson was pressured against giving Gautt a scholarship. A group of black doctors and pharmacists gave money for Gautt to attend the school. Within a year, Gautt was given a scholarship and the donated amounts were given to another black student. Gautt, considered Oklahoma’s best player in 1958, was a two-time All-Big Eight player and 1959 Orange Bowl MVP. During his senior year, Gautt was named to the academic All-America team and eventually earned master’s and doctorate degrees in psychology.

S T U D E N T - AT HL ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

COAC H I N G S TA F F

MATH CENTER If performing math functions is a problem, the solution is the Math Center. As a supplement to class instruction, the Math Center provides all levels of math computations, concepts and problems to help students review course material. In addition, it offers personal and group tutoring sessions to assist with math assignments.

THOMPSON WRITING CENTER Because learning and writing are essential life long skills which can always be strengthened, the Writing Center offers personalized instruction to student-athletes who seek assistance in refreshing, reviewing, or improving these skills. The Thompson Writing Center offers a dynamic, positive atmosphere to help student-athletes generate ideas and strategies for writing assignments. Consultants help student-athletes organize papers, review grammatical basics, develop proofreading and library research skills, and design rĂŠsumĂŠs.

STEP TWO: Skill Development Tutorial Program - A comprehensive tutoring program of approximately 150 tutors provides one-to-one and small-group instruction. Student-athletes are assisted with study skills, problem-solving techniques and speciďŹ c course material. Athletic Student Life OfďŹ ce counselors may recommend tutors or a student-athlete may request one independently.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

COMMUNICATIONS CENTER This academic center focuses on developing communication and public speaking skills for studentathletes. The state-of-the-art center, coordinated by a broadcast professional, builds strong media relations skills through the use of video equipment.

its staff teach how to make direct applications to current resources. Consultation, computer-assisted instruction, tutoring and independent activities are available.

The academic center for student-athletes at the University of Oklahoma was named in Gautt’s honor in 1999. A special assistant to the commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, Gautt passed away on March 17, 2005.

B O O M ER SO O NE R

“His personal example of quiet courage, grace under pressure, and dedication to the university helped open the doors of opportunity for countless numbers of African-Americans and minority student-athletes who have followed him into collegiate athletics,’’ said University of Oklahoma president David Boren.

2 The University of Oklahoma

31

31

Foreign Language - 4HE +ERR &OUNDATION &OREIGN Language Center was established to assist studentathletes with speaking, listening, reading and writing in different languages. The Center, coordinated by a Modern Languages department instructor, offers a top-notch multimedia environment for all foreign language instruction. Math Skills - 2EALIZING THE INCREASING ROLE MATHEMATICS plays in society today, the Prentice Gautt Academic Center aims to help all student-athletes achieve an understanding of math and related topics in their course work. The Mathematics Center offers regular instruction for student-athletes placed in preparatory mathematics courses and tutorial consultation in all math and statistics courses. Career Preparation - At OU, non-athletic career preparation is enhanced through workshops in rĂŠsumĂŠ development, job search strategies, interviewing skills and graduate school preparation assistance through THE +ERR #AREER #ENTER 4HE 3OONER #AREER 0ROGRAM IS dedicated to educating student-athletes about the world of work and providing a transition from college athletics to their ďŹ rst careers. The program includes the OU Career Fair, career information seminars, opportunities for summer internships in various ďŹ elds, an employment referral service and mentorship opportunities for graduating student-athletes. The Career Center, an exciting learning center, allows studentathletes the opportunity to explore potential careers and majors through a variety of resources. Additionally, student-athletes are able to take personality and career inventories via computer. The Sooner Career Program is

jointly sponsored by the OU Athletics Department, the Sooner Club and the Varsity O Association.

individual or group basis in order to ensure studentathlete success.

Communication Skills - Communicating well is an essential skill in successful personal and professional interaction for OU student-athletes. The OU Communications Center offers training for effective oral communication and media relations. A working media conference room featuring a stage and a modern audio-visual systems is available in a state-of-the-art communications center.

LEARNING ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM Learning specialists are assigned by academic services to designated student-athletes to assist them with study skills, problem solving techniques, and time management. The primary goal of the learning program is to create an environment conducive to student-athlete success in the university academic setting. The staff of the Athletic Student Life ofďŹ ce promote this environment of academic success through several methods. Arriving at a college campus can be very intimidating for both freshmen and transfer students. Our program provides a learning specialists to help familiarize the student-athlete with the academic and social culture at OU, thus helping to ease the transition to the University setting for student-athletes.

SUPERVISED STUDY Supervised study is a monitored study program designed to provide student-athletes with organized study and tutoring time in a exible environment conducive to successful learning. Supervised study is required for all ďŹ rst-semester freshmen, transfer student-athletes, student-athletes with a cumulative GPA below 2.50, and any student-athlete who the coaching staff and the Student Life academic staff believe would beneďŹ t from the experience. Supervised study is exible for all student-athletes. All freshman and transfer studentathletes are required to put in 10 hours a week in their ďŹ rst semester at the University. Any study area or learning center is available for use during these times. ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE AND TUTORING Tutors are available to assist student-athletes in all subject areas. Individual or small group sessions can be arranged with content experts either allocated by academic services or personally requested by the student-athlete. Academic services also provides revision groups, study sessions and weekly instruction on an

ACADEMICS

32

32

Rowing Media Guide

2009

STEP THREE: Counseling Personal Career Counseling - Student-athletes receive caring, professional support from Dr. Gerald Gurney and his staff at all levels. This support may take several forms, including career choice, academic or personal decisions. Academic Counseling and Advisement - Six professional athletic academic counselors are present to help studentathletes through the educational process. Approximately one counselor per 100 student-athletes is available to assist the student-athletes with planning class schedules, choosing degree programs and setting personal and academic goals. Psychological Counseling and Sport Psychology (PROS) The Prentice Gautt Academic Center is staffed with

relationship with the faculty and staff. Faculty members are selected to be guest coaches for the week in all sports throughout the academic year. During that time, the faculty guests are provided with a list of planned activities that are designed to give them an opportunity to experience various aspects of the athletic department’s operations and introduce them to studentathlete lifestyles and expectations.

Academic Monitoring - Course attendance and course performance are checked a minimum of four times per semester for each student-athlete participating in the intercollegiate athletic program.

STEP FIVE: Resident Life Sooner Housing Center - Student-athletes reside in a variety of University housing environments, including the Sooner Housing Center. The Sooner Housing Center, managed by Athletic Student Life staff, is located across the street from the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. It provides a living environment that is conducive to the academic and personal development of student-athletes. The Sooner Housing Center was the winner of the 1998, 2003 and 2005 President’s Trophy for the outstanding housing center on the OU campus and was recognized for its contribution to academic excellence, innovative programming and campus diversity. The Sooner Housing Center was also selected as the President’s Trophy runner-up in 1997, 2000 and 2006.

STEP FOUR: Faculty Relations Faculty Guest Program - The faculty guest program’s purpose is to enhance the athletic department’s

STEP SIX: Life Skills, Academic Recognition, Graduation/Post Eligibility, Community Service and Student-Athlete Leadership Life Skills Program - OU is a member of the NCAA’s Life Skills Program and is dedicated to contributing to the growth and development of student-athletes through academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, community service and career development. The OU Athletics Department offers and maintains a strong

Academics Awards Program - The OU Athletic Student Life program places special emphasis upon recognition of outstanding academic performances by student-athletes. An awards banquet is held in the spring to recognize special award winners and scholar athletes who have achieved a 3.00 GPA or higher. Graduating studentathletes receive recognition prior to OU’s graduation ceremonies in May during a reception. Each is given an “O” ring, representing their athletic participation and graduation from The University of Oklahoma. All scholarship student-athletes who exhaust their eligibility within eight semesters may receive an additional year of financial aid within a six-year period. Student-Athlete Advisory Committee - Student-athlete leaders from each sport comprise the StudentAthlete Advisory Committee, which aims to improve communication with the athletic and University administration regarding student-athletes’ needs and concerns. The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee developed a community outreach partnership with the Oklahoma Youth Center, a local residential facility for physically, mentally and sexually abused children. SAAC also designs programs that encourage excellence in academics and social responsibility and serve to represent student-athletes on campus-wide committees.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Personal Health and Nutritional Counseling - The personal health and nutritional needs of student-athletes are monitored by the OU Sports Medicine staff of physicians and certified athletic trainers. The Wagner Dining Center makes every effort to accommodate the special dietary and nutritional requirements of OU student-athletes. The cafeteria serves all three meals with several healthy entrees to choose from. The menu is designed to meet the nutritional needs of every individual student-athlete by allowing each athlete to choose from a variety of options to accommodate the unique demands of his/her schedule. In addition, a program to promote substance abuse awareness requires student-athletes to enroll in a campus personal health course focusing on substance abuse, human sexuality, nutrition and stress management.

commitment through comprehensive programs to fully develop the student-athletes’ academic and personal potential, while enjoying the highest levels of athletic competition.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

a licensed Counseling Psychologist and several psychological counselors and interns to provide a wide array of counseling and performance enhancing services. Student-athletes may visit the staff psychologist to confidentially discuss anything impacting their academic, athletic or personal lives. OU’s national award-winning program has become a model for other programs to follow.

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

33 33

OU EXPERIENCES ANOTHER YEAR OF ALL-AROUND EXCELLENCE Baseball Head coach Sunny Golloway led the OU baseball team into THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND OF AN .#!! 2EGIONAL FOR THE THIRD time in his four years at the helm. The Sooners advanced to their 31st NCAA Tournament after a strong ďŹ nish to the season which included an appearance in the Big 12 Championship where OU was one game away from playing FOR THE CONFERENCE TITLE )N THE 4EMPE 2EGIONAL /5 DEFEATED No. 22 Vanderbilt twice and was eliminated by the host school and fourth-ranked team in the country, Arizona State. Men’s Basketball Behind a ďŹ rst team All-Big 12 performance from freshman FORWARD "LAKE 'RIFlN HEAD COACH *EFF #APEL S 3OONERS posted a 23-12 overall record, ďŹ nished in fourth place in the conference race and participated in the program’s 21st NCAA Tournament in the past 26 years. GrifďŹ n capped one of the most successful seasons in school history by averaging team highs of 14.7 points and 9.1 rebounds a game. He also ranked third in the Big 12 with his .568 ďŹ eld goal percentage. Women’s Basketball The women’s basketball team ďŹ nished the 2007-08 season with a 22-9 overall record, a No. 19 ranking and a 10th straight postseason appearance. OU reached the NCAA Tournament for the ninth straight year, defeating Illinois State to advance past the ďŹ rst round for the third straight year before falling in an overtime thriller to Notre Dame in the second round. Head coach Sherri Coale earned her 250th win as the Sooners’ head coach while Courtney Paris earned consensus All-America honors for a third straight season, becoming the ďŹ rst Sooner to do so, and was named the Big 12’s Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year. Paris snagged record after record in her junior season, including

becoming the fastest player in school or Big 12 history to score 2,000 career points. Cross Country *ESSICA %LDRIDGE CLOSED OUT HER IMPRESSIVE /5 CROSS COUNTRY career with a fourth consecutive trip to the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Eldridge completed her cross country eligibility as just the sixth woman in OU history to earn All-America honors after ďŹ nishing 18th in the 2006 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Eldridge was named to THE $IVISION ) -IDWEST !LL 2EGION #ROSS #OUNTRY TEAM ALONG WITH SOPHOMORE *ON 'REY AND FRESHMAN +EVIN 3CHWAB after the trio recorded top-25 ďŹ nishes in the NCAA Midwest 2EGIONAL %LDRIDGE AND CLASSMATE #ATHERINE /DELL ALONG WITH SOPHOMORES 2OB 3ORRELL AND #HRIS 3WEENEY RECEIVED lRST team Academic All-Big 12 honors. Football Oklahoma won its sixth Big 12 Football Championship and became the ďŹ rst program to win the crown in three consecutive seasons. Oklahoma raced through the nonconference portion of its schedule claiming victories over Chatanooga, Cincinnati, Washington and TCU. Following a 45-35 loss at Texas, the Sooners went on to win their next six games. OU scored over 60 points in its last ďŹ ve games, setting a FBS record. OU faced No. 2 Florida in the BCS National Championship in Miami, Fla. making its ninth straight bowl appearance, its seventh in the BCS, and its fourth appearance in the BCS title game. The Sooners were edged out by Florida in the fourth quarter, 24-14. Quarterback Sam Bradford became the ďŹ fth Sooner to win the Heisman Trophy and also earned the Davey O’Brien Award. Bradford was also named All-American along with *ERMAINE 'RESHAM 'ERALD -C#OY AND $UKE 2OBINSON

Men’s Golf Nine of the 10 roster spots on the 2007-08 men’s golf squad were ďŹ lled by underclassmen, yet eighth-year head coach *IM 2AGAN LED THE 3OONERS TO NINE TOP lNISHES AND A SPOT IN THE .#!! 7EST 2EGIONAL TO CLOSE THE SEASON ,ONE upperclassman Phillip Bryan paced the team, carrying a 73.71 stroke average for the season and earning Academic All-Big 12 honors for the third consecutive season and a spot ON THE 0).' !LL 2EGION TEAM %RIC $URBIN lRED AN OPENING round 7-under-par 64 at the Scenic City Invitational, the lowest round for an OU golfer since 2001. Women’s Golf When all was said and done, the 2007-08 Sooners had captured three tournament championships and qualiďŹ ed for THE .#!! 7EST 2EGIONAL THEIR lRST APPEARANCE IN THE .#!! 2EGIONAL #HAMPIONSHIPS SINCE +ELLY *ACQUES RECORDED eight top-15 ďŹ nishes in OU’s 11 tournaments in 2007-08 WHILE +ENDALL $YE RECORDED HER lRST CAREER TOURNAMENT victory at the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic. Men’s Gymnastics 2ANKED SECOND HEADING INTO THE .#!! #HAMPIONSHIPS and facing No. 1 Stanford on its home oor in Palo Alto, Calif., the Sooners surged ahead of the Cardinal on the ďŹ nal routine of the night to claim their eighth national CHAMPIONSHIP AND lFTH IN THE LAST SEVEN YEARS *ONATHAN Horton, who won the 2008 Nissen-Emery Award, concluded his career as the most decorated gymnast in OU history by claiming an individual national championship on the still rings and earning All-America honors for his runner-up ďŹ nish in the all-around as well as on rings and parallel bars. The Houston, Texas, native ďŹ nished with six career individual NCAA titles and 18 career All-America honors during his time in Norman.

ATHLETICS EXCELLENCE

NATIONAL TITLE

The OU men’s gymnastics team won the 2008 National Championship, marking the ďŹ fth title in the last seven years. The men have claimed eight titles in program history. The 2008 national gymnast of the year, /5 S *ONATHAN (ORTON REPRESENTED the U.S. in the 2008 Olympics.

34

34

Rowing Media Guide

2009

Softball 4HE 3OONERS ADVANCED TO THEIR THIRD 3UPER 2EGIONAL IN THE LAST four years and ďŹ nished the season with an overall record of 47-14, marking the 15th straight season that the Oklahoma program had notched a 40-win season. The Sooners are the only team in Big 12 Conference history to record 40-win seasons in each of the 13 years since the league has existed Oklahoma was solid in conference action as the Sooners produced a 16-2 record in the Big 12.

Men’s Tennis The Sooners excelled on their home court where they won eight matches, including their lone Big 12 victory. The Sooners irted with a top-30 ranking all season. The inexperience did not work to the Sooners’ favor as the young squad struggled in Big 12 play. Andrei Daescu was the lone Sooner selected to play in the NCAA Championships. The sophomore was defeated in the ďŹ rst round by Clancy Shields of Boise State, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 to ďŹ nish the season with a record of 28-12. Oklahoma’s season came to a close in a Bedlam rematch in the quarterďŹ nals of the Big 12 Championships. The No. 3 seed Cowboys defeated No. 6 seed Sooners 6-1 to end the Sooners’ season. OU ďŹ nished the season with a record of 11-13 and ended Big 12 play with a record of 1-5. Track & Field The Sooners reached the double-digit mark in All-America honors with six coming at the NCAA Outdoor Championships and four at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Two of the All-Americans, Shardae Boutte and Latoya Greaves, recorded a sweep of the Big 12 Conference titles, claiming indoor and outdoor titles in the triple jump and hurdles, respectively. Both the men’s and women’s teams reached their highest national rankings, the men at No. 3 during the indoor season and the women at No. 16 in the outdoor season. The Oklahoma men closed out the indoor season with a 15th-place ďŹ nish at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Eleven student-athletes

were named to the Big 12 Conference’s 2008 Academic All-Big 12 Track and ďŹ eld teams, including Amy Backel and Catherine Odell with perfect 4.0 GPAs. Volleyball Despite losing ďŹ ve seniors, the Oklahoma volleyball team continued to escalate its program in 2007 under the leadership OF FOURTH YEAR COACH 3ANTIAGO 2ESTREPO 2ESTREPO LED THE Sooners to another successful regular season as they ďŹ nished with an overall record of 22-10, including a 13-7 mark in the Big 12. Oklahoma returned just two starters from the 2006 record-breaking squad and was picked to ďŹ nish ninth in the preseason Big 12 poll. Once again, the Sooners were the surprise of the Big 12 as they ďŹ nished fourth in the league and ďŹ nished the regular season ranked No. 21 in the country. Following its fourth-place ďŹ nish in the Big 12, the Sooners ADVANCED TO THEIR SECOND CONSECUTIVE .#!! 2EGIONAL MARKING only the second time in OU history that an OU volleyball team had made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. The 2007 team also became the ďŹ rst squad in OU history to win back-to-back ďŹ rst round matches as Oklahoma defeated &LORIDA ! - IN lRST ROUND ACTION OF THE 'AINESVILLE 2EGIONAL before dropping a close match to the 13th-seeded Florida Gators in the second round.

Wrestling The Sooner wrestling squad completed the 2007-08 regular season with a 14-5 dual record, its most wins since winning 14 in 2004. It also marked the 13th straight season that head COACH *ACK 3PATES HAD LED THE /5 PROGRAM TO AT LEAST WINS Seven of Oklahoma’s victories came against teams that placed in the top 30 at the NCAA Championships (No. 5 OSU, No. 16 Pitt, No. 18 Navy, No. 25 North Carolina, No. 26 Cal Poly, and tied for No. 28 was Michigan State and Arizona State). The OU squad caught ďŹ re midseason by reeling off seven straight victories, beginning with a win over at Central Oklahoma on Dec. 7. Four wrestlers qualiďŹ ed for the NCAA in St. Louis, Mo., by placing in the top three at the Big 12 Championships in Stillwater, Okla.

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Soccer Freshman Whitney Palmer became the third Sooner in program history to be named to the All-Big 12 Newcomer team following a stellar 2007 season. Palmer is the fourth freshman in school history to lead the team in goals (6) and the third to lead in overall points (13). Palmer, a native of Plano, Texas, ranked 10th in the Big 12 Conference in goals scored and was tied for third in game-winning goals (4). The Sooners ďŹ nished the season at 6-10-3 overall and placed ninth in the Big 12 standings with a 2-7-1 mark.

Women’s Tennis The University of Oklahoma women’s tennis team went 11-12 and 4-8 in the Big 12 with a young squad. The Sooners had three true freshmen playing in their top six, including standout Ana-Maria Constantinescu, who was named the ITA #ENTRAL 2EGIONAL 2OOKIE OF THE 9EAR AFTER THE SEASON ENDED Constantinescu led the Sooners at the No. 1 position, earning a 15-5 overall record and a 7-4 Big 12 mark. Combined with HER PLAY IN THE FALL THE 2OMANIA NATIVE WENT DURING HER freshman year.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

Women’s Gymnastics Etching its name in the record books on multiple occasions, the Sooners clinched their ďŹ rst Big 12 title since 2004 in dramatic come-from-behind fashion and placed eighth at the NCAA Championships, tying the ‘07 squad for the best ďŹ nish in program history at the season-ending event. Senior +IARA 2EDMOND CAPPED OFF HER ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER WITH FOUR additional All-America honors to move her career total to nine - the highest number of any gymnast in program history. The ’08 campaign started with 21 straight victories, including all 18 regular-season contests. The Sooners became the only team in the country to post an undefeated regular season. Following OU’s come-from-behind heroics in the conference CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND YEAR HEAD COACH + * +INDLER WAS NAMED THE "IG #OACH OF THE 9EAR WHILE 2EDMOND GARNERED "IG 12 Gymnast of the Year honors.

BIG 12 CHAMPS

B O O M ER SO O NE R

The OU football team, led by Sam Bradford, won its sixth Big 12 Championship in the last nine years with a 62-21 win over Missouri. The 2008 title, made OU the ďŹ rst Big 12 program to win three championships in a row.

2 The University of Oklahoma

35

35

A STORIED AND ACTIVE TRADITION OF ATHLETICS EXCELLENCE The University of Oklahoma athletics program boasts a tradition that few schools can rival. Over the years, Sooner squads have combined for 26 team national championships including eight in men’s gymnastics, seven in football, seven in wrestling, two in baseball, one in men’s golf and one in softball. The Sooner tradition isn’t something buried in the past. It inspires OU’s student-athletes to greater heights every season. In 2004-05, the Sooner football team competed in its second national championship in just four years and, in 2008, the men’s gymnastics team earned its ďŹ fth national title in seven seasons. In 2002, the Sooner men’s and women’s basketball teams carved their spot in history by advancing to the NCAA Final Four -- only the third time in NCAA history a school accomplished the feat with both teams in the same year. The OU women added another ďŹ rst in 2005-06, becoming the ďŹ rst team men’s or women’s, in Big 12 history to go 16-0 in league play. Even more remarkable, during the 2001-02 season, the OU football and men’s and women’s basketball teams combined for 74 wins -- the most ever for those three sports by a Division I school in a single season. Oklahoma went 11-2 in football, 31-5 in men’s basketball and 32-4 in women’s basketball. The University of Oklahoma now stands alone in college sports’ 30-3010 club, created exclusively by OU.

Oklahoma’s student-athletes continue to lead in the classroom and their actions in the community are exemplary. With the Great Expectations campaign, Oklahoma continues to build the ďŹ nest facilities in the nation. Each day, it becomes more evident that the University of Oklahoma has become one of the ďŹ nest comprehensive athletics program in the country. When OU student-athletes raise the trophy of another championship, the hands responsible for hoisting that trophy symbolize thousands of Sooners around the globe. The following represents a closer look at the tradition powering the Oklahoma Sooners: s /KLAHOMA WAS PLAYING FOOTBALL BEFORE IT WAS A STATE It’s only one of two Division I football programs to win seven or more national championships. And OU is the only Division I football program ever to record 47 straight victories. s /KLAHOMA GYMNASTICS GREAT "ART #ONNER WON TWO NCAA all-around crowns and led the Sooners to two NCAA titles in 1977 and 1978. A three-time Olympian (1976, ‘80, ‘84), Conner won two gold medals in 1984. He was instrumental in the foundation of the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

s /KLAHOMA DEFEATED 5#,! IN THE 7OMEN S #OLlege World Series to capture the school’s ďŹ rst softball national championship. The Sooners won 66 games, broke 15 school records, had four All-Americans, the WCWS Most Outstanding Player, three WCWS all-tournament team members, a Big 12 title, a No. 1 ranking and the National Coaching Staff of the Year. The Sooners became just the second non-West Coast team in NCAA history to win a softball national championship. s 4HE /5 MEN S BASKETBALL TEAM HAS COMPETED IN postseason tournaments in the last 27 years. Last season OU produced its 31st winning season in the last 32 years. No other Big 12 team can boast as many winning campaigns in the span. s 3OONER FOOTBALL HAS ACCUMULATED SEVEN NATIONAL championships, 41 conference titles, 24 bowl championships, 144 All-Americans and had 334 players drafted by the NFL, including 37 ďŹ rst-round selections AND THREE .O PICKS ,EE 2OY 3ELMON "ILLY Sims (1980) and Brian Bosworth (1987—supplemental). s /KLAHOMA S STORIED WRESTLING PROGRAM HAS AMASSED 23 conference titles and seven national championships. OU has produced 252 All-Americans and its 65 individual national champions ranks third all-time.

THE SOONER TRADITION UNRIVALED

The Oklahoma athletics department has experienced great success against its ďŹ ercest rivals in recent seasons. OU has claimed six of THE LAST NINE WINS IN THE 2ED 2IVER football rivalry with Texas and has beaten in-state rival Oklahoma State the past six straight seasons.

36

36

Rowing Media Guide

2009

s /KLAHOMA FOOTBALL HAS PLACED FORMER 3OONERS INTO the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, including three head coaches: Bennie Owen in 1951, Bud Wilkinson in 1969 and Barry Switzer in 2001. s 4HE /KLAHOMA MEN S GOLF PROGRAM HAS PRODUCED All-Americans, eight three-time All-Americans, eight individual conference champions, 14 conference titles and the 1989 national championship.

s /5 FOOTBALL HAS PRODUCED lVE (EISMAN 4ROPHY WINNERS halfback Billy Vessels won the award in 1952, tailback Steve Owens won in 1969, halfback Billy Sims won in QUARTERBACK *ASON 7HITE BROUGHT THE TROPHY BACK

s 4HE /KLAHOMA BASEBALL TEAM SWEPT THROUGH ITS REgional tournament and the World Series without a loss to capture the 1994 national championship. The Sooners topped off a 42-17 regular season with the school’s second national baseball title. s /KLAHOMA GOLF S #HARLIE #OE WAS ONE OF THE MOST celebrated amateur players in the history of the game. During his career, Coe captured U.S. amateur crowns in 1949, 1958 and 1959. He also played in 19 straight Masters Tournaments. Coe competed on the Walker Cup teams of 1949, 1951 and 1953. s /KLAHOMA WRESTLING HAS PRODUCED /LYMPIANS WHO have collectively won three gold and two silver medals. Brothers Dave and Mark Schultz both won gold in the 1984 games. s /KLAHOMA BASEBALL WON THE #OLLEGE 7ORLD 3ERIES with a come-from-behind win over Tennessee in the championship game to become the first team in history to claim the title after winning the double-elimination tournament without a defeat.

s /KLAHOMA BASKETBALL GREAT 7AYMAN 4ISDALE WAS A three-time All-American for the Sooners from 1983-85 and is the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in OU history. He was a member of the 1984 gold-medalwinning U.S. Olympic team and was recently named the greatest player ever in the Big Eight Conference by a panel of longtime conference media observers and officials. Tisdale’s No. 23 jersey was retired by Oklahoma in 1997 -- the first jersey ever retired by OU in any sport. s 3OONER BASKETBALL GREAT 3TACEY $ALES GRADUATED AS the most decorated player in the program’s history in 2002. She was the WNBA’s third overall draft pick by the Washington Mystics. In addition to leading OU to the 2002 national championship game, Dales was a twotime consensus All-American, two-time Big 12 Player of the Year, four-time Academic All-Big 12 selection, and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American. s &ORMER /5 LETTERWINNERS -ICHAEL "LACKWOOD TRACK AND lELD *ONATHAN (ORTON MEN S GYMNASTICS AND Danny McFarlane (track and field) represented Oklahoma at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

s /KLAHOMA MEN S BASKETBALL GREAT -OOKIE "LAYLOCK holds the NCAA-single game record for steals in a contest with 13. He accomplished the feat twice in games against Centenary on Dec. 12, 1987, and LoyolaMarymount on Dec. 17, 1988.

to Norman in 2003, and Sam Bradford was the 2008 winner. OU players have captured 34 national player of the year awards and the Sooners have also produced five Outland Trophies, four Walter Camp Trophies, four Butkus Award winners, three Lombardi Awards, three Thorpe Awards, three Davey O’Brien Awards, two Bronko Nagurski Awards, two Maxwell Awards, one Tatupu Award and one Bednarik.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

s 4HE /5 WOMEN S BASKETBALL TEAM BECAME THE lRST team to go a combined 19-0 against league opponents, and was one of only four teams nationally to run the table against their league in 2005-06. Next season, OU enter with a 17-game regular season and a 20-game winning streak against conference foes. The unprecedented run netted the Sherri Coale-led Sooners their fourth regular season Big 12 Championship and their third Big 12 Tournament Championship, both league highs. OU’s 19-game winning streak topped the previous best of 18 set by the 2000-01 team.

s 4HREE TIME /5 !LL !MERICAN !NTHONY +IM WON THE !4 4 .ATIONAL IN EARLY *ULY BECOMING THE lRST American golfer undet the age of 25 to win twice in one year on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods.

ALL-AMERICAN

OU women’s basketball great Stacey Dales (below) graduated as the most decorated player in the program’s history in 2002. In addition to leading OU to the 2002 national championship game, Dales was a two-time consensus All-American and a twotime Big 12 Player of the Year.

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

37

37

SOME OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED TRADITIONS IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS The University of Oklahoma has a long and storied history. The rich tradition has given birth to some of the most recognized pageantry in all of college athletics. Here is a look at the origin of some of the elements that create the wonderful atmosphere so unique to OU:

Boomer Sooner One of the most recognizable college ďŹ ght songs in the country, Boomer Sooner immediately evokes enthusiasm from OU fans and sends chills down the spines of those who dare to oppose them.

Sooners College sports fans are hard-pressed to ďŹ nd a nickname that is as unique and as tied in to a state’s history as a Sooner. The University of Oklahoma is the only school known as Sooners and those who claim that they are Sooners say it with pride.

In 1905, Arthur M. Alden, a student in history and physiology whose father was a Norman jeweler, wrote the lyrics to the ďŹ ght song, borrowing the tune from Yale University’s Boola Boola but improvising the words. A year later, an addition was made to it from North Carolina’s I’m a Tarheel Born and the two combined to form today’s university ďŹ ght song. Though the tune was ďŹ rst made known by Yale, the everlasting success of Sooner squads has taken the melody of Boomer Sooner to national popularity.

4HE /KLAHOMA 4ERRITORY OPENED WITH THE ,AND 2UN OF 1889. Settlers from across the globe, seeking free land, made their way to the prairies of the plains to stake their claim. One of the few rules to claiming a lot of land was that all participants were to start at the same time, on the boom of a cannon. All settlers who started then were labeled as “Boomers� and the ones who went early were called “Sooners.� /5 ATHLETIC TEAMS WERE CALLED EITHER 2OUGH 2IDERS or Boomers for 10 years before the current Sooner nickname emerged in 1908. The university actually derived its name from a pep club called “The Sooner 2OOTERS v 4HE SUCCESS OF 5NIVERSITY OF /KLAHOMA athletics teams over the years has made the nickname synonymous with winning.

Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner Boomer Sooner, Boomer Sooner "OOMER 3OONER /+ 5 Oklahoma, Oklahoma Oklahoma, Oklahoma Oklahoma, Oklahoma /KLAHOMA /+ 5 I’m a Sooner born and Sooner bred and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead 2AH /KLAHOMA 2AH /KLAHOMA 2AH /KLAHOMA /+ 5

38

Rowing Media Guide

During OU football and baseball games from 19151928, Mex the Dog wore a red sweater with a letter “O� on the side. Mex died of old age on April 30, 1928, and he was so popular among students and faculty that the university closed for his funeral and procession on May 2, 1928. In the fall of 2005, the OU Athletics Deparment introduced costumed mascots. The new characters will act as an extension of the Sooner Schooner and its horses to be enjoyed by fans -- especially children -- at all OU athletics contests. The costumes feature traditional collegiate gear as part of their regular uniform, but will don team uniforms for football and men’s and women’s basketball. They were voted “Most Collegiate� by the Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA).

SOONER SPIRIT

38

Mascots The Sooner Schooner is a Conestoga, or covered wagon, reminiscent of the mode of travel used by pioneers who settled Oklahoma. The Schooner is powered by matching white ponies named Boomer and Sooner, and it ventures onto Owen Field in a triumphant victory ride after OU scores. Although the Schooner was introduced in 1964, it did not become the ofďŹ cial mascot until 1980. The Schooner is well-recognized by college athletics fans across the country and makes regular appearances at university functions.

2009

The student body approved with great enthusiasm and immediately pennants, banners, badges and decorations of every description appeared on the streets, in the windows, at chapel, in classrooms, and all public places; however, local merchants could not supply the demand. Even though the school colors have evolved to red and white over the years, you can ask any self-respecting Sooner what the colors are and they will proudly announce “Crimson and Cream.�

In the early years of the 1900s, both townspeople of Norman and students of OU participated in a band THAT PLAYED FOR FOOTBALL GAMES 0ROFESSOR *OHN -ERRILL started the ďŹ rst band in 1901, which was composed mostly of townspeople and disbanded after each football season. Lloyd Curtis, a cornetist, founded the ďŹ rst continuous student band in 1904. Today, the 300-member Pride of Oklahoma has members representing virtually every college and major on campus. The Pride of Oklahoma stands for excellence in musicianship, academics, school spirit, and commitment to our role in the surrounding community. Boomer Sooner rings out at the end of each rehearsal, and that song is the deďŹ ning element of the University of Oklahoma. Maybe that is why Sooner fans love the band so much. Not much can compare to the ďŹ rst “gogoâ€? at a football game when the Pride of Oklahoma marches the interlocking OU down the ďŹ eld playing Boomer Sooner.

OU Chant The OU Chant is a loyalty song that is sung before every home football game, before and after every men’s and women’s basketball games and at the end of many athletic and university functions. Every fan who wears the ofďŹ cial colors, each current student and student-athlete and all OU alumni are encouraged to stand and raise one ďŹ nger in the air during the playing of the Chant -- a symbolic gesture that shows those who do not know what it means to be a Sooner, the greatness of the university and the unity between all Sooners. 4HE #HANT WAS WRITTEN IN BY *ESSIE ,ONE #LARKSON Gilkey, who directed the OU girl’s glee club from 1936 to 1938 and was voted Outstanding Faculty Woman in 1937. / + , ! ( / - ! Our chant rolls on and on! Thousands strong *OIN HEART AND SONG In alma mater’s praise Of campus beautiful by day and night /F COLORS PROUDLY GLEAMING 2ED AND 7HITE ‘Neath a western sky OU’s chant will never die. Live on University!

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

COAC H I N G S TA F F

On gamedays, a sea of crimson rolls through OU’s home venues and all Sooners are urged to wear the ofďŹ cial colors to show the rest of the country what school spirit and Sooner Pride is all about.

Pride of Oklahoma The Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band has been supporting Sooner Spirit for more than a century. Unlike many other college bands, which began as military drill units, the Pride of Oklahoma had its beginnings as a pep band.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

Crimson and Cream In the fall of 1895, Miss May Overstreet, the only woman on the faculty, was asked to chair a committee to select the colors of the university. The committee decided the colors should be crimson and cream and an elaborate display of the colors was draped above a platform before the student body.

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

39

39

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS OU OU lives by a clear and strong motto in dealing with its student-athletes...Inspiring Champions for Today, Preparing Leaders for Tomorrow. To fulfill that promise, the athletics department and student-athletes take an active role in a number of community service projects. Sooner student-athletes are exposed to life outside of sports and school work with opportunities to serve and help others.

Oklahoma’s student-athletes recognize that wearing the Crimson and Cream means representing a popular sports program and themselves as individuals. They are encouraged to respond to a public that adores them, while learning important lessons about making a positive impact in the lives of others and in the community in which they live.

The Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) is a committee made up of studentathletes from all 21 intercollegiate athletic teams at the University of Oklahoma. The group coordinates community service programs for the Sooners each month.

Community service events for OU student-athletes from the past year included:

“Giving back is something that benefits us as much as those we’re helping,” says OU head softball coach Patty Gasso.“It brings us back to reality and makes us realize that there is more to life than collegiate softball. I feel it’s our duty to help out because of the role we’re in as a Division I softball program.” 4HE 5NIVERSITY OF /KLAHOMA MEN S GOLF PROGRAM HOLDS AN ANNUAL #LUBS FOR +IDS event in early May at the Lakeview Golf Course in Ardmore, Okla. Providing clubs and instruction, the event allows more than 1,000 southeastern Oklahoma youth an opportunity to interact with the OU golf team and coaches. Oklahoma women’s basketball teams have been extremely active in the community since head coach Sherri Coale’s arrival in 1996. In addition to projects with the United Way, Coaches vs. Cancer, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity and the Children’s Miracle Network, Coale implemented the Sooner Big Sis Program which places women’s basketball players at elementary schools in Norman to serve as mentors and teachers’ aides. “I want our student-athletes to learn through their experience here,” says Coale, “how important it is to volunteer to be a part of whatever community they decide to reside in when their playing days are over.”

s 7OMEN S BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND COACHES VISITED THE #HILDREN S (OSPITAL IN Oklahoma City and participated in the Sooner Big Sis Program, an event in which each student-athlete selects a Norman elementary school class and visits the class weekly for an hour. s 4HE /KLAHOMA BASEBALL TEAM ANNUALLY ATTENDS 7ILLOW 3PRINGS "OYS 2ANCH TO spend time with children and host a barbeque, in addition to visiting the “Miracle League” in Edmond and working with children at local elementary schools. s 4HE /5 MEN S GYMNASTICS TEAM COORDINATED WITH $ALLAS (IGH 3CHOOL AND PREformed an exhibition. In addition, the squad participated in Adopt-An-Angel, Safe Trick-Or-Treat and volunteered at various elementary schools in the Norman area. s 4HE /5 !THLETICS $EPARTMENT PARTICIPATED IN h4HINK IF 9OU $RINK v A COMMUNITY campaign to help promote safe and responsible drinking among student-athletes and students on campus. s 4HE FOOTBALL PROGRAM PARTICIPATED IN 3PECIAL 3PECTATORS FOR CHILDREN WITH TERMINAL illnesses by visiting and playing with the children. s /5 STUDENT ATHLETES AND COACHES MADE CONTACT WITH MORE THAN .ORMAN Public Schools students in 20 schools as visiting readers, tutors, mentors and other special events including speaking engagements.

COMMUNIT Y SERVICE

40

40

Rowing Media Guide

2009

s 4HE /5 WOMEN S VOLLEYBALL TEAM VISITED 3ANTA &E (IGH 3CHOOL MENTORED CHILDREN during lunch at Norman Lutheran Church, led FCA at Alcott Middle School, refereed and TAUGHT CHILDREN S VOLLEYBALL FOR *UMPING *UNIORS AND THE (OMESCHOOL !SSOCIATION AND spoke to the young adults at Tulsa High School.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

s /KLAHOMA MEN S BASKETBALL HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDing the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts of America, Citizens Caring for Children, Children’s Miracle Network, Food AND 3HELTER FOR &RIENDS 3OONER 2EADING 0ROGRAM THE /KLAHOMA "LOOD )NSTITUTE THE Oklahoma Committee to Prevent Child Abuse and Special Olympics, among others. s "RIDGE "UILDERS THE !FRICAN !MERICAN 3TUDENT !THLETE .ETWORK ORGANIZED STUDENT outreach programs at Marcus Garvey Leadership Charter School and Moon Middle School helping to impart ideas and strategies to young people that will help them be successful in sports as well as life.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

s /KLAHOMA WOMEN S BASKETBALL PLAYERS SUPPORTED THE 3PECIAL /LYMPICS IN .ORMAN AND Noble. The players were honorary hug givers and cheerleaders, encouraging Oklahoma’s special stars. The Sooners also assisted the United Way in its Meals on Wheels program. OU delivered, sacked and decorated bags that contained food items for emergency use during the winter months. s 3OONER FOOTBALL PLAYERS SPENT MORE THAN HOURS INVOLVED IN VARIOUS COMMUNITY PROJECTS DURING THE COURSE OF THE YEAR INCLUDING THE #LINIC FOR +IDS VISITING ELEMENTARY schools and conducting the annual food drive. s /5 STUDENT ATHLETES HOSTED 3AFE 4RICK OR 4REAT AND PROVIDED CANDY GAMES AND SAFE ENtertainment for hundreds of local children and their families at the Lloyd Noble Center.

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

41 41

SHOWCASING THE SOONERS TO A NATIONAL AUDIENCE Oklahoma Athletics is a household name due to the overwhelming media attention that hovers around the Sooners. Writers and broadcasters representing the nation’s most recognized media outlets regularly interact with Sooner players and coaches and routinely spend time in Norman.

s "OTH THE MEN S AND WOMEN S GYMNASTICS TEAMS HAD REGULAR TELEVISION COVERAGE thanks to the hosting duties of their respective conference championships. The nation focused its eyes on Norman in April 2006 when the Sooners hosted the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics National Championships at Lloyd Noble Center.

And when they can’t come to campus, those same observers keep tabs on OU thanks to extensive television coverage. The Sooners are at the very center of the college athletics and everybody is watching.

s 4HE POPULARITY OF THE 3OONERS IS EVIDENT IN THE IMMENSE AMOUNT OF PRODUCTS and apparel purchased by fans. OU ranks eighth in the nation in sales of licensed merchandise.

s )N ALL /KLAHOMA FOOTBALL GAMES APPEARED ON LIVE TELEVISION /5 ENTERS THE 2008 season with a streak of 71 consecutive televised games and has been shown on TV 281 times dating back to the 1953 season.

s 3INCE /KLAHOMA STUDENT ATHLETES HAVE APPEARED ON THE COVER OF Sports Illustrated nine times. Sooner football is one of the most popular subjects for SI with 30 cover appearances.

s $URING THE SEASON THE MEN S BASKETBALL TEAM RECEIVED LIVE TELEVISION coverage of 31 games, including 13 nationally televised contests.

s /VER THE PAST EIGHT YEARS %30. S POPULAR #OLLEGE &OOTBALL 'AMEDAY PRODUCTION HAS broadcast on site from 17 of Oklahoma’s games.

s 4HE WOMEN S BASKETBALL TEAM WAS SEEN LIVE FOR GAMES DURING THE SEASON including national coverage for 10 contests.

s MILLION PEOPLE LOGGED ON TO 3OONER3PORTS COM LAST YEAR MAKING THE OFlCIAL 7EB site of the Oklahoma Athletics Department one of the top collegiate sites in the nation.

s 4HANKS TO THE INTRODUCTION OF %30.5 A CABLE TELEVISION NETWORK DEVOTED SOLELY TO collegiate athletics, the OU baseball team received television coverage for an unprecedented 12 regular-season baseball games in 2005, including two on ESPN’s national coverage.

s -ANY FORMER 3OONERS HAVE GONE ON TO SUCCESSFUL CAREERS AS TALENT FOR THE NATION S top media outlets including ESPN’s Stacy Dales and CBS’ Spencer Tillman. Former OU athletes are often called on to provide color commentary during regional broadcasts due to their championship experience and athletics expertise.

s 4HE 7OMEN S #OLLEGE 7ORLD 3ERIES IS HOSTED IN /KLAHOMA #ITY EACH YEAR WITH ALL games shown live across the nation. s 4HE MEN S GOLF TEAM S HOME TOURNAMENT 4HE -AXWELL )NVITATIONAL IN !RDMORE /KLA is televised live by the local ABC afďŹ liate.

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

IN THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT

42

42 42

Rowing Media Guide

2009

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

COAC H I N G S TA F F

B O O M ER SO O NE R

43 43 43

The University of Oklahoma

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

2

GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND BEYOND ROBIN SIEGFRIED & FAMILY STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COMPLEX Oklahoma’s weight training program is a pioneer in the development of strength and conditioning, and is a vital part of the Sooners’ tradition of success. OU strength and conditioning coaches utilize their expertise along with a wide array of equipment and tests to produce national championship caliber athletes.

The objective of the strength and conditioning program is to ensure each student-athlete in every sport is provided with a sound in-season and offseason program. This program of activity includes strength, conditioning, exibility and nutrition. A strength and conditioning coordinator for each sport is provided to assist athletes in reaching the highest possible training levels.

Evaluation, goal-oriented programs, supervision and state-of-the-art facilities help Oklahoma athletes become bigger, faster, stronger and more exible. The 2OBIN 3IEGFRIED &AMILY 3TRENGTH AND #ONDITIONING Complex, located in the Barry Switzer Center, has 13,000 square feet to facilitate the intensive training OF /5 ATHLETES !N ADDITIONAL FACILITY THE 2OY 7ILLIAMS Strength Training Facility, is available for workouts inside the Everest Training Center. The former Sooner football All-American and current Dallas Cowboy made the center possible through a gift to the University. *ERRY 3CHMIDT DIRECTOR OF SPORTS ENHANCEMENT says the complex is a state-of-the-art facility where athletes work closely with six full-time staff members.“Oklahoma recognizes the importance of conditioning,â€? says Schmidt.“This facility is reective of that commitment.â€?

The OU strength and conditioning staff takes great pride in providing a very intensive program that helps maintain greater overall body strength and conditioning levels during the season. By maintaining strength in the muscles and connective tissues throughout the season, the potential for injuries decreases. The off-season program is also extremely intensive. Speed, strength, power, agility, fundamentals and nutrition are addressed. The OU staff is committed to full compliance with NCAA rules concerning time allocation for student-athletes and voluntary workouts during off-season periods.

OU athletes receive a winning edge with a sound nutrition program. “Our goal is to get the student-athletes in their best condition,â€? says Schmidt.“That condition will give Oklahoma an edge at the end of a game. Top of the line conditioning is what it takes to be a Sooner ATHLETE 2UNNING LIFTING AND GOOD NUTRITION MUST BE kept in a balance. All these components must be in place for an athlete to compete at the highest level.â€? Located at the south end of the Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, the Barry Switzer Center houses administrative ofďŹ ces, the football locker room, THE EQUIPMENT ROOM THE SQUARE FOOT (ENRY * Freede Sports Medicine Facility and the 7,000-squarefoot Touchdown Club Legends Lobby in addition to the Siegfried and Family Strength and Conditioning Complex.

The staff’s interaction with the nutritional consultants on campus is essential. The staff maintains an open channel of communication with the dining staff at the Wagner Dining Center. This interaction enables the strength and conditioning staff to ensure that

TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES

STRENGTH AND MEDICAL TRAINING

44

44

Rowing Media Guide

2009

HENRY J. FREEDE, M.D., SPORTS MEDICINE FACILITY

Complete athletically-related medical services are provided to Oklahoma student-athletes by team physicians and OU’s certiďŹ ed athletic trainers. The University of Oklahoma obtains the services of the best medical consultants available. The base of operation for the Sooners’ medical care IS THE STATE OF THE ART (ENRY * &REEDE - $ 3PORTS Medicine Center in the Barry Switzer Center.

From simple therobands to taping tables, the facility offers everything a school can have or hope to have. The Sooner training room is equipped to perform isokinetic joint evaluation for preventive medicine and for post-injury rehabilitation.

“The addition of space is the greatest beneďŹ t,â€? says Anderson.“This space allows for dedicated rehabilitation and consultation to the athletes. An option with the facility is the water rehabilitation area. The athlete stands in a pool of water that is adjusted to his or her own physical needs. Cameras are then placed where physicians can monitor the progress made by the athlete on his or her road to recovery.â€? A total team effort is the key to OU’s efďŹ ciency in preventing, treating and rehabilitating injuries sustained by student-athletes. These measures keep Sooner athletes at their highest level of performance as they compete for championships. “Sports medicine is a team effort,â€? says Anderson.“The stated goal of athletic training at Oklahoma is, ďŹ rst of all, care for the student-athletes, thereby granting our sports a competitive advantage and ultimately greater esteem for the entire program. “To that end we are blessed with a full complement of self-sacriďŹ cing medical professionals working on a regular basis with our athletic training staff.â€?

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Head athletic trainer Scott Anderson says the addition to the Barry Switzer Center has allowed the university to upgrade to a new edition of rehabilitation equipment that can best beneďŹ t the student-athletes.

The therapy room is supplied with the latest modalities on the market.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

The Oklahoma Athletics Department feels a strong responsibility to help its athletes reach and maintain their optimum health and achieve conditioning goals. For this reason, OU has developed excellent training and conditioning programs to lessen the possibility of injuries. However, should injuries occur, the department is committed to a comprehensive rehabilitation program.

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

45

45

GREAT EXPECTATIONS AND BEYOND With one of the greatest winning traditions in intercollegiate athletics, the University of Oklahoma, its players, coaches and fans understand the meaning of “Great Expectations.” OU hopes for and expects great things from its athletics teams -- and the athletes and coaches expect the same from themselves. Time and time again, the Sooners have delivered on this expectation: 26 national championships, more than 200 conference titles and more than 1,000 All-Americans. The University of Oklahoma’s goal is to provide first-class facilities and resources for all the programs and endeavors sponsored by the institution. OU Athletics captures so much attention and interest that it requires the help and support of all Sooners to continue the tradition that all have enjoyed. With that in mind, OU launched “Great Expectations...The Campaign for Sooner Sports” in 1999. “Great Expectations - The Campaign for Sooner Sports,” a recently completed fund-raising effort, was about the continuation of a proud championship tradition. It was a five-year campaign launched with an eventual goal of $100 million, making possible an extraordinary era in new athletics facilities that has led to unprecedented athletic and academic success for OU student-athletes. Among the accomplishments made possible by Great Expectations’ donors: an expanded, renovated and more beautiful football stadium; two completely new facilities for men’s and women’s basketball at Lloyd Noble Center; new or renovated facilities for baseball, softball, volleyball, wrestling, softball, tennis, soccer and track and field; new strength and

conditioning and sports medicine centers and an indoor training center. Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium The $75 million expansion and renovation of OU’s football stadium, completed in 2004, transformed a towering concrete structure into a beautiful facility featuring the brick and cast stone that characterize OU’s historic buildings. The expansion added 8,000 seats, including 56 suites, on the east side. At the same time, the press box was remodeled and outfitted with several state-of-the-art features. This historical facility is the largest sports arena in the state, and following its recent expansion, now ranks among the 15 largest on-campus facilities in the nation. Everest Training Center Considered one of the premier indoor facilities in the country, the Everest Training Center is a 74,000-square-foot center that includes a full-size playing field, simulated stadium lighting, a complete scoreboard with play clocks, LED 40-yard timing devices and a ceiling that hangs 65 feet above the playing surface to allow for all kicking and throwing drills. McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics While the football gameday facilities in the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium may be more familiar to OU supporters, the north side McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics is one of the most vital areas for OU’s entire athletics program as it is the center of student learning and athletics administration activities.

Robin Siegfried and Family Strength and Conditioning Complex This 13,000-square-foot facility serves more than 500 athletes in OU’s 21 sports. The state-of-the-art facility inside the Barry Switzer Center has been central to OU’s success in recent years and helped develop OU’s reputation as a pioneer in the strength and conditioning field. Barry Switzer Center A special feature is the Barry Switzer Center on the south side of the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where OU’s storied football history is displayed, media conferences are held and recruits are entertained. The center recently experienced a significant upgrade to reflect this success and to fully realize the original vision as an exhibit area focusing on OU’s greatest victories and most successful coaching eras. Henry J. Freede, M.D., Sports Medicine Facility This 8,000-square-foot sports medicine facility within the Barry Switzer Center treats athletes from all 21 sports, ensuring the best possible health for OU student-athletes through preventative medicine and post-injury treatment and rehabilitation. Fred & Mary Eddy Jones Foundation Red Room 4HE 2ED 2OOM IS WHERE /5 FOOTBALL PLAYERS MEET AS A TEAM or offensive/defensive units to watch motivational videos before each game. OU’s offense and defense post their goals for each week, and the Sooner coach holds his post-game press conference in this area.

TOP-NOTCH FACILITIES FAST TRACK

4HE *OHN *ACOBS 4RACK WAS ALTERED and re-surfaced in 2006 to include European Oval turns for a faster track. Other improvements include spectator seating for 2,000; new restrooms and concessions; and the installation of championship lighting.

SHINING STAR

The $75 million expansion and renovation of OU’s football stadium, Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, transformed a towering concrete structure into a beautiful facility featuring the brick and cast stone that characterize OU’s historic buildings.

46

46

Rowing Media Guide

2009

John Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department and the soccer program enjoyed a $4.5 million expansion to the soccer stadium in 2006. In addition to a press box and a permanent GRANDSTAND A MULTI USE BUILDING IS LOCATED BETWEEN *OHN Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex and the Headington Family Tennis Center at the corner of Chautauqua Avenue AND )MHOFF 2OAD 4HE MULTI PURPOSE COMPLEX INCLUDES LOCKER rooms, meeting and video rooms and ofďŹ ces for the studentathletes and coaches.

John Jacobs Track and Field Complex The project, which was completed in spring 2004, included a 25,000-square-foot building connecting the Mosier Indoor Practice Facility with the Everest Training Center. This new building includes track and ďŹ eld locker rooms, a sports MEDICINE ROOM AND A VIDEO TEACHING ROOM 4HE *OHN *ACOBS Track was altered and re-surfaced to include European Oval turns for a faster track and nine 48-inch wide lanes. Other improvements include upgrades of ďŹ eld event areas, placing them directionally north/south and east/west to take advantage of wind conditions; spectator seating for 2,000; new restrooms and concessions; and the installation of championship lighting.

Softball Hitting Facility The OU softball team broke ground on an indoor hitting FACILITY IN *ULY THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION PRIOR TO THE SEASON )N THE 2OBERT % 9OUNG AND &AMILY 3OFTBALL ,OCKER 2OOM WAS ADDED TO THE 3OFTBALL #OMPLEX giving the team a spacious and comfortable gathering place for preparation and relaxation. In 2003, the softball ďŹ eld was named in honor of retired softball coach and SWA Marita Hynes.

Howard McCasland Field House The Field House is one of OU’s most historic buildings. Many OU alumni fondly recall the ďŹ eld house as the home of OU’s basketball program, which it was until Lloyd Noble Center opened in 1975. In 2005, the Field House underwent a $6 million facelift that included a complete interior renovation comprised of a resanded and repainted oor with four

efďŹ cient practice courts and chair-back seating that offers fans more comfort. In addition, the entire facility was repainted and improvements were made to the HVAC system, sound system, lighting and scoreboards. The Sooners have also enjoyed renovations done to the training room as well as an upgrade to both the volleyball and wrestling locker rooms. Wrestling Practice Facility Connected to the McCasland Field House, the Athletics Department launched a $2.4 million project in 2008. The bulk of the construction will include a $1.3 million addition TO THE 0ORT 2OBERTSON 7RESTLING #ENTER 4HE FACILITY SERVES AS the practice venue for the Sooner wrestling team.

Mary Jane Noble Women’s Basketball Center )N THE 3AMUEL 2OBERTS .OBLE &OUNDATION OF !RDMORE made the ďŹ rst million-dollar gift in OU history with its contribution to OU’s campaign to build a multi-purpose arena. In 1999, the foundation made another gift to support the renovation of the original center, adding ďŹ rst-class matching facilities for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Lloyd Noble Center addition includes two new full-sized practice courts for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Baseball Practice Facility With an estimated cost of $1 million, the OU baseball team will have an indoor hitting facility and practice inďŹ eld added to L. Dale Mitchell Park prior to the 2009 season. The 5,160-square-foot facility will contain three full-size hitting/pitching lanes and is air conditioned and heated. Previous renovations to L. Dale Mitchell Park were completed in 2001 when the press box underwent state-of-the-art improvements including four suites and a press area, the -IKE 4REPS -EDIA 2OOM 4HE FACILITY ORIGINALLY OPENED IN 1982.

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

Headington Family Tennis Center Expansion The men’s and women’s tennis teams will compete in one of the ďŹ nest indoor venues in the country in 2009. Highlights of the new, 55,000 square-foot facility include six air-conditioned courts, championship-quality lighting and surface, and approximately 375 chair-back seats for spectators, which are elevated between the courts. The programs opened a 12-court outdoor championship facility in 2001 during the Great Expectations campaign and was particularly notable because it was donations exclusively from tennis letterwinners who made the new courts possible.

Bob and Ann Coleman Men’s Basketball Center The nearly 63,000-square-feet Lloyd Noble Center addition offers a matched set of men’s and women’s facilities, including full-sized practice courts, new team and coaches’ locker rooms, training rooms and steam/spa/sauna rooms. OfďŹ ce facilities and conference rooms provide views of the practice courts as special features and a shared weight TRAINING FACILITY WAS CREATED 4HE +ERR -C'EE #OURTSIDE #LUB gives fans a venue for special events.

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

2ENOVATED BEFORE THE SEASON THE Howard McCasland Fieldhouse, unveiled a $6 million face lift in 2006. The Fieldhouse is one of the oldest buildings on campus and the renovation made dramatic improvements while retaining the historic feel.

The University of Oklahoma

B O O M ER SO O NE R

HISTORIC VENUE

2 47 47

THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE The Big 12 Conference has established a consistent level of national success on the ďŹ eld and in the classroom as it enters its 13th season in 2008-09. Since it began play in 1996-97, the Conference can boast 31 team crowns and over 385 individual NCAA Championships. The success continued during 2007-08 AS +ANSAS CAPTURED THE "IG S lRST NATIONAL TITLE IN men’s basketball, while the league added 31 individual crowns. Over the past four seasons a total of 12 NCAA trophies have been hoisted by Big 12 institutions, with at least one national crown won in all but one year for the Conference, including each of the past 11 seasons. The Big 12 leads all conferences with ďŹ ve appearances in Bowl Championship Series title games. League squads have played for the football national championship ďŹ ve times in the last nine years with berths in 14 BCS games overall, including two in 2007. The Big 12 led all conferences with four teams ranked in the Top 10 in the ďŹ nal national polls a season ago. In addition, an all-time high eight league players earned consensus All-America recognition in 2007, more than any other conference. In basketball, nine men’s and women’s teams have advanced to their respective Final Fours in the past seven seasons as the Big 12 continues its place among the elite intercollegiate athletic conferences. The six

men’s Final Four participants since 2002 is more than any conference. Numerous national honors have been won by basketball student-athletes during the LEAGUE S HISTORY WITH -ICHAEL "EASLEY +ANSAS 3TATE $ * !UGUSTIN 4EXAS AND #OURTNEY 0ARIS /KLAHOMA the most recent to garner accolades as consensus AllAmerica in 2007-08. The Big 12 and its member institutions are committed to a competitive environment where sportsmanship and fair play take center stage. Whether on the ďŹ eld, in the classroom, or within the community the studentathletes, administrators, coaches and game ofďŹ cials of the Big 12 support the highest ideals in sportsmanship. Big 12 student-athletes also do well in garnering national academic recognition. Sarah Pavan (Nebraska) was named Academic All-America of the Year in volleyball the past two seasons by ESPN The Magazine and College Sports Information Directors of America with a 4.0 grade-point average in Biochemistry. She also won the national academic honor presented for all sports in 2006-07 and was named recipient of the prestigious 2006-07 Honda-Broderick Award as Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. She is the ďŹ rst athlete since the Big 12 was formed to earn the accolade. In addition to his athletic accomplishments, Augustin was an Academic All-America First Team choice. In its history, the conference can boast of over 300 academic

honorees, averaging more than 25 each season. The Big 12 can boast of other stories that combine on AND OFF THE lELD SUCCESS 0ATIENCE +NIGHT 4EXAS 4ECH was the recipient of the Honda Inspiration Award in 2008, given to an outstanding female college athlete who overcomes adversity to excel in her sport. She was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in 2007, but rebounded to win All-America honors at the 2008 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Competitive excellence, scholarship and sportsmanship are all equal components of the Big 12 philosophy. All-Big 12 teams and Academic All-Big 12 squads are recognized for each sport at the end of their respective seasons. At the end of each academic year, the Conference honors its top male and female student-athletes with the Big 12 Athlete of the Year and Big 12 Sportsperson of the Year awards. Institutions can also nominate student-athletes for the prestigious Dr. Prentice Gautt Postgraduate Scholarships at the end of each academic year. A total of 201 scholars have received over $1.2 million in postgraduate ďŹ nancial aid through the ďŹ rst 12 years of the program. The Big 12 sponsors 21 sports. Men’s squads include baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor

THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE

48

48

Rowing Media Guide

2009

track & ďŹ eld, outdoor track & ďŹ eld, swimming & diving, tennis and wrestling. Women’s teams are ďŹ elded in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, indoor track & ďŹ eld, outdoor track & ďŹ eld, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.

all sports through contracts with ABC/ESPN, FSN and CBS College Sports. Most recently, the league renewed and expanded its multi-year arrangement with ABC/ ESPN, Inc. The new contract begins in 2008-09.

The conference conducts championships for 20 of its 21 sports. Each championship helps to determine teams and/or individuals that will represent the Conference in national postseason competition. The winner of the Big 12 football championship game earns the league’s berth into the prestigious Bowl Championship Series.

In its ďŹ rst 12 years, the Conference has distributed more than $1 billion to its 12 member institutions. The Big 12 staff administers to over 4,600 studentathletes in 21 sports. The conference is headquartered in Irving, Texas.

In the last several years the Big 12 has increased its bowl agreements and expanded television opportunities for

Coordinator of Football OfďŹ cials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Walt Anderson Associate Director of Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . *ONI *AMES ,EHMANN Assistant Director of Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carmen Branch Assistant Director of Video Services. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Hollister Championships Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blair Beneke Business and Ticket Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tim Frick Executive Assistant to the Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melanie Ellis Administrative Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2EGINA %VERETT Administrative Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tracy Hunt Administrative Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6ALERIE 2OCHA Administrative Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brad Simmons 2ECEPTIONIST !DMINISTRATIVE !SSISTANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Peterson Will Hancock Communications Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felicia Michael Will Hancock Communications Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "ONNIE 2YAN Internet Services Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melanie Weiser

COAC H I N G S TA F F

BIG 12 STAFF Commissioner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Beebe Deputy Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Weiser Senior Associate Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim Allen Senior Associate Commissioner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dru Hancock Associate Commissioner - Men’s Basketball & Game Mgmt.. . . . . *OHN 5NDERWOOD Chief Financial OfďŹ cer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steve Pace Assistant Commissioner - Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Burda !SSISTANT #OMMISSIONER %VENTS (UMAN 2ESOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brad Clements Assistant Commissioner - Governance & Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lori Ebihara Assistant Commissioner - Championships . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dayna Scherf Assistant Commissioner - Football & Student Services . . . . . . . . . . Edward T. Stewart Director of Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +ERI "OYCE Director of Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2OB #AROLLA Director of Football Championship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donnie Duncan Director of Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -AARK +EITH

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

The conference is made up of 12 institutions that have shared many traditional rivalries throughout their histories. Member schools include - Baylor University, University of Colorado, Iowa State University, University OF +ANSAS +ANSAS 3TATE 5NIVERSITY 5NIVERSITY OF Missouri, University of Nebraska, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, University of Texas, Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University.

The institutions created a league that encompasses seven states, over 45 million people and television households in 18 of the top 100 markets within its geographic footprint.

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

49 49

A UNIVERSITY TOWN WITH A CHAMPIONSHIP SPIRIT Norman was recently named by Money Magazine as No. 6 of America’s Best Places to Live among “smallâ€? cities or locations with a population between 50,000 and 300,000. Norman is an ever-changing city of nearly 100,000 residents. Located in the heart of the state, it has grown to become the third largest city in Oklahoma. Despite its continuous growth, it has maintained the spirit and serenity of a small close-knit community. Since the Oklahoma landrush of 1889, Norman has grown into a popular and smart city. The spirit of Norman and its citizens is unwavering and uncompromising. While other towns were clamoring to become the state capital, Norman residents desired to have the ďŹ rst state university. When the ďŹ rst OU president got off the train and saw a prairie, he saw opportunity. As home to the state’s premier educational institution, Norman boasts an excellent quality of life and is a city that thrives on and celebrates the diversity of its community. Legendary University of Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer called Norman “a university town with a championship spirit.â€? Norman continually exhibits its love for sports by hosting numerous local and national athletic events.

In the last ďŹ ve years alone, Norman has served as host of the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championship, an NCAA men’s golf regional, NCAA softball regionals, NCAA men’s and women’s gymnastics regionals, NCAA women’s tennis regionals, NCAA track and ďŹ eld regional and the NCAA women’s basketball regionals. In addition, the Big 12 Conference Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Track and Field, Wrestling, Women’s Golf, and Women’s Gymnastics Championships were held in Norman. Cultural activities are unlimited in Norman, making it the ideal backdrop for the University of Oklahoma. As home to people of all ethnic and educational backgrounds, the city has something to offer everyone. Norman is home to a variety of enriching events and attractions, including the Sooner Theater, which hosts a series of entertaining theatrical performances produced by locally-based talent and touring companies. The city also showcases local and regional artists in its annual May Fair. In addition, through the university’s School of Drama, School of Dance and the School of Music, stage productions are offered year round. The Medieval Fair has become a springtime tradition in Norman as people from around the country converge on the city for one weekend each April to partake in a fascinating look back in time. Each year, an area park is

transformed into a festival of sights, sounds and tastes STRAIGHT FROM THE -IDDLE !GES +NIGHTS JOUST JESTERS entertain and story tellers spin tales of a magical time in history. The $44 million Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, a state-of-the-art facility designed to display a collection of historical and natural science items that trace the southwest’s development since prehistoric times, opened in May 2000. History buffs will also enjoy the Cleveland Country Historical House which holds exhibits relating to the development of this area of the state. &OR ART ENTHUSIASTS THE &RED *ONES *R -EMORIAL !RT Center houses permanent collections, nationally and world-renowned traveling exhibits as well as a yearly student art show. The museum has recently added the Weitzenhoffer Collection of French Impressionist paintings -- the single most important gift of art ever given to a U.S. public university. Maintaining a progressive approach to the future while remembering its history, Norman continues to be a well-balanced community, proud to be the home of the University of Oklahoma.

NORMAN AND OKLAHOMA CIT Y COOL

The average annual temperature in Norman is a cool 70 degrees. The area enjoys a temperate climate with mild winters and four distinct seasons with a warm spring and fall.

100,000

Norman is the third largest city in the state with nearly 100,000 residents. Despite its growth, the city nurtures and maintains its small, college town atmosphere.

RANKED NO. 6

Norman was recently ranked No. 6 of America’s Best Places to Live by Money Magazine among “small� cities� or locations with a population between 50,000 and 300,000.

50

50

Rowing Media Guide

2009

Oklahoma City was born on the afternoon of April 22, 1889, when the central portion of what is now Oklahoma was opened to settlement by presidential proclamation. Thousands crossed the borders of “unassigned landsâ€? at the sound of gunďŹ re at high noon. Never before or since has such a “runâ€? occurred anywhere on the earth.

Oklahoma City has become a haven for exciting sports action. It is home of an NBA team, two semiprofessional sports teams and the host of the NCAA Women College Softball World Series and Big 12 3OFTBALL #HAMPIONSHIP 4HE /KLAHOMA 2ED(AWKS American Association champions (then named the Oklahoma City 89ers), are the Triple-A baseball afďŹ liate OF THE 4EXAS 2ANGERS 4HE TEAM PLAYS IN THE SEAT AT&T Bricktown Ballpark, one of the plushest venues in all of minor league sports. The ballpark served as host to a 2004 NCAA baseball regional and the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 208 Big 12 Baseball Championships. Hockey mania runs rampant with the recent success of the Central Hockey League’s Oklahoma City Blazers. The Blazers won the CHL crown in 1996 and are yearly one of the league’s best teams. In addition, the city has hosted numerous PGA and Senior PGA Tour events.

Tulsa Tulsa, the state’s second largest city, is located 100 miles to the northeast of Norman in the heart of Oklahoma’s Green Country. Ask people to describe Tulsa, and you’ll likely get many different answers. It was a city forever changed by the discovery of oil in 1901. It is home to art deco treasures and nationally renowned museums. Its African-American heritage left its mark, in both the business and music worlds. And it’s a city of nostalgia and special memories for countless Americans due to ITS LOCATION ON HISTORIC 2OUTE

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

Oklahoma City Oklahoma City, the capital of Oklahoma, is located just 18 miles from the Norman campus. It was the ďŹ rst city SETTLED IN THE ,AND 2UN OF BECAUSE OF ITS POSITION as the center of the state. It is because of this central location that Oklahoma City has become known as the home of America’s Western heritage. Whether adventure, history, culture or sports, Oklahoma City offers a variety of attractions and activities different from any other place in the country.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

Tulsa is a cosmopolitan town that appeals to both young families and retirees. National touring exhibitions can be seen at the Philbrook Museum of Art, which was recently featured on the television program America’s Castles. For great western art, check out the Gilcrease Museum, and music legends are commemorated at /KLAHOMA S *AZZ (ALL OF &AME /THER UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS worth a stop include the Elsing Museum, Ida Dennie Willis Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys, Tulsa Air and 3PACE #ENTER AND THE &ENSTER -USEUM OF *EWISH !RT

By the time the dust had settled on that historic day, many people had staked their claim at “Oklahoma Station,â€? an area which was destined to become Oklahoma City, a leading city in America. In 1911, Oklahoma City ofďŹ cially became the capital after a statewide election moved the state seal from Guthrie.

18 MILES

Located just 18 miles north of Norman, the state’s capital, Oklahoma City, offers all the trappings of a large metropolitan area within an easy drive.

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

THE UNIVERSIT Y OF OKLAHOMA SOONERS

B O O M ER SO O NE R

NBA IN OKC

Oklahoma City was recently awarded the NBA’s Seattle franchise and games will be played in the Ford Center downtown for the 2008-09 season.

2 The University of Oklahoma

51 51

UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT DAVID L. BOREN David L. Boren, who has served Oklahoma as governor and U.S. senator, became the 13th president of the University of Oklahoma in November 1994. He is the ďŹ rst person in state history to have served in all three positions. Boren is widely respected for his academic credentials, his longtime support of education, and for his distinguished political career as a reformer of the American political system. A graduate of Yale University in 1963, Boren majored in American history, graduated in THE TOP ONE PERCENT OF HIS CLASS AND WAS ELECTED 0HI "ETA +APPA (E WAS SELECTED AS A 2HODES 3CHOLAR AND EARNED A MASTER S DEGREE IN politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University, England, in 1965. In 1968, he received a law degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, where he was on the Law Review, elected to the Order of the Coif, and won the Bledsoe Prize as the outstanding graduate by a vote of the faculty. As Oklahoma’s governor from 1974 through 1978, Boren promoted key educational initiatives that have had an enduring impact on Oklahoma. Established during his tenure were: the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, the Scholar-Leadership Enrichment Program, and the Oklahoma Physicians Manpower Training Program, which provides scholarships for medical students and medical personnel who commit to practice in underserved rural areas. Also, the ďŹ rst state funding for Gifted and Talented classes was provided in 1976 and, from 1976 through 1978, Oklahoma ranked ďŹ rst among all states in the percentage increases of funding for higher education. One of Boren’s most far-reaching projects in promoting quality education at all levels is the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence, which he founded in 1985. The foundation recognizes outstanding public school students and teachers and helps establish private local foundations to help give academic endowment grants to local public schools. As a senator, he was the author of the National Security Education Act in 1992, which provides scholarships for study abroad and for learning additional languages, as well as legislation to restore the tax deductibility of gifts of appreciated property to universities in 1993.

Boren, also a former state legislator, spent nearly three decades in elective politics before becoming the president of the University of Oklahoma. Boren was the youngest governor in the nation when he SERVED FROM TO +NOWN AS A REFORMER "OREN CAMPAIGNED with a broom as his symbol. During his term, he instituted many progressive programs, including conict-of-interest rules, campaignďŹ nancing disclosure, stronger open meeting laws for public bodies, and more competitive bidding on state government contracts. During his time in the U.S. Senate -- from 1979 to 1994 -- Boren served on the Senate Finance and Agriculture Committees and was the longest-serving chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. From his days as a state legislator and governor of Oklahoma to Washington, Boren carried a commitment to reform, leading numerous efforts to make government work better for American citizens. As chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, he strengthened oversight of secret government programs and reformed the procedures for Presidential notice of such programs to Congress. For more than 10 years, he led the ďŹ ght for congressional campaign ďŹ nance reform and for legislation discouraging administration and congressional staff from cashing in on government experience and contacts by becoming lobbyists. In addition, he introduced legislation seeking to limit gifts and travel subsidies that government workers, including members of Congress, can receive from lobbyists. Boren also CHAIRED THE SPECIAL *OINT #OMMITTEE ON THE /RGANIZATION OF Congress, which produced proposals to make Congress more efďŹ cient and responsive by streamlining congressional bureaucracy, reducing staff sizes and reforming procedures to end legislative gridlock. Boren left the U.S. Senate in 1994 with an approval rating of 9l percent after being reelected with 83 percent of the vote in 1990, the highest percentage in the nation in a U.S. Senate contest in that election year. Boren served from 1988 to 1997 as a member of the Yale University Board of Trustees. His university experience also includes four years on the faculty of Oklahoma Baptist University, where he was chairman of the Department of Political Science and chairman of the Division of Social Sciences. In 1993, the American Association of University Professors presented Boren with the Henry Yost Award as Education

DAVID L. BOREN

52

52

Rowing Media Guide

2009

Advocate of the Year. In April 2004, Boren received the Mory’s Cup from the Mory’s Association at Yale University. In making the presentation to Boren it was noted that he was the ďŹ rst Yale graduate in the university’s history extending over three centuries to have served as a Governor, U.S. Senator and President of a major university. The number of new facilities started or completed on the campus during the Boren years has matched the explosion in new programs. Since 1994, almost $1 billion in construction projects have been completed or are under way on OU’s three campuses. Among the largest of the current projects are the $18.7 million renovation and expansion of historic Holmberg Hall, home of music and dance programs; the $67 million National Weather Center; the $19 million addition to the Michael F. Price College of Business; the $17 million Gaylord Hall for journalism and mass communication; the $27 million 3TEPHENSON 2ESEARCH AND 4ECHNOLOGY #ENTER AND THE MILLION stadium project. The Health Sciences Center has a new Student Union, AND THE NEW MILLION 3TANTON , 9OUNG "IOMEDICAL 2ESEARCH #ENTER Above all, the Boren years have been marked by an emphasis on putting students ďŹ rst.There is not a university president in the country who is more committed to students as his number one priority. He teaches a freshman-level course in political science each semester and is one of the few presidents of major universities to teach. Boren is married to Molly Shi Boren, a former judge and English teacher. Molly Boren has two degrees from the University of /KLAHOMA A MASTER S DEGREE IN %NGLISH AND A *URIS $OCTOR DEGREE FROM the OU College of Law. A native of Seminole, Boren has two children, Carrie Christine Boren, an Episcopal minister, and David Daniel Boren, a member of the United States Congress from Oklahoma. Devoting much of his life to public service, Boren drew from the example of his parents, the late Congressman Lyle H. Boren and Christine Boren.

DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JOE CASTIGLIONE Principle Centered Leader ‌Visionary ... Passionate Advocate for StudentAthletes ... Establishes Standards of Excellence & Cultural Values ... Builder of Championship Programs

*OE #ASTIGLIONE HAS ESTABLISHED A PATTERN OF EXCELLENCE THAT FEW IN HIS PROFESSION can match. In an environment where every decision is made reecting the department’s mission statement “Inspiring champions today ‌ Preparing leaders for tomorrow,â€? forming the background, Castiglione is leading the department that has written one of the most successful eras in school history. Quick to give credit to the student-athletes and coaches, the staff and the university administration, the donors and the fans, Castiglione was the one who implemented the changes that led to success. When he was hired in 1998, the search committee believed they had found a rising star in the ďŹ eld of intercollegiate athletics administration. Everything that has happened since his arrival at OU has cemented that reputation.

His commitment to the success of student-athletes led NCAA President Dr. Myles "RAND TO APPOINT HIM AS CHAIR OF THE &OOTBALL !CADEMIC 0ROGRESS 2ATE !02 7ORKING 'ROUP IN *UNE OF 4HIS GROUP WHICH INCLUDES PRESIDENTS CHANCELLORS conference commissioners, faculty athletics representatives, athletics directors AND HEAD FOOTBALL COACHES HAS BEEN GIVEN THE CHARGE TO REVIEW THE !02 AS IT pertains to Division I football student-athletes. When the study is complete, the group will report back to Dr. Brand and the NCAA Board of Directors with their ďŹ ndings, evaluations and recommendations for improvement. His peers have honored him for the department’s achievements as well. In

The 11th director of athletics at the University of Oklahoma has celebrated seven national team championships and over 40 conference team titles; record numbers of graduating student-athletes and record-setting grade point averages for Sooner teams; dramatically increased donor giving; huge increases in ticket sales for all sports; major facility improvements, and development and construction of new facilities. And, as aggressive as the push to improve, expand and excel has been, he has produced a balanced budget in every year of his tenure, a ďŹ rst since the early 1980s. Credited with energizing OU’s fund-raising efforts, Castiglione was instrumental in the athletics department’s major campaign, Great Expectations: The Campaign For Sooner Sports. The campaign ended in November of 2003 with more than $125 million raised. The ďŹ gure has grown to almost $200 million since then as the department continues its approach, and largest fund-raising effort in OU athletics history including projects that impact each of OU’s nearly 500 student-athletes. It has become a national model for intercollegiate athletics. Castiglione has cultivated over 20 multi-million dollar gifts, including the largest capital gifts in history for athletics at OU, and some of the largest ever for the university as a whole. He has driven dramatic facilities projects, including a $70 million renovation and expansion of Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Others include a $17.2 million renovation of Lloyd Noble #ENTER PHASE ) OF 4HE (EADINGTON &AMILY 4ENNIS #OMPLEX *OHN *ACOBS 4RACK AND Field Complex; the Everest Training Facility, one of the largest indoor practice areas in the country; and construction of the Gregg & Betsy Wadley Indoor Tennis Center. Other projects completed in his tenure have included the redesign of the 3OONER FOOTBALL PRACTICE lELDS THE 0ORT 2OBERTSON 7RESTLING &ACILITY PHASE ) ))

Castiglione was hired on April 30, 1998, after serving as athletics director at Missouri. In his 17-year career with the Tigers, Castiglione, who was named director of athletics at Missouri on Dec. 15, 1993, was credited with rebuilding sports programs, hiring outstanding coaches, implementing an innovative master plan for facilities, inspiring record-setting increases in fund-raising and balancing the budget in each of his ďŹ ve years as athletics director. A 1979 Maryland graduate, Castiglione received the University’s Distinguished Alumnus Award in April 2007. He began his career as the sports promotions DIRECTOR AT 2ICE (E THEN WORKED A YEAR AS DIRECTOR OF ATHLETIC FUND RAISING AT Georgetown before being hired in 1981 at Missouri as director of communications and marketing. Active on the national and conference level, he is currently serving on the Gatorade Collegiate Advisory Board and the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame Board of Directors. He served two terms as chair of the Big 12 Board of Athletics Directors and is a past president of the Division I-A Athletic Directors Association and NACDA. He served a four-year term on the NCAA Championship/Competition Cabinet and the NCAA Baseball Committee and is a past member of the NCAA Football Special Events CertiďŹ cation Committee. He recently agreed to serve on the NCAA Diversity Leadership Strategic Planning Committee and the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Discussion Group. In 2007, he was named to the Phi Delta Theta Foundation Board of Trustees. He is a highly requested speaker at annual conventions and continuing education institutes.

COAC H I N G S TA F F

The accomplishments of the department and its student-athletes, coaches and staff have earned national recognition for the university and the department. 2ECOGNIZED AS THE 02)3- !WARD WINNER BY THE 3CHOOL OF 3PORTS Management at the University of Massachusetts, OU was just the second Division I winner and all of the programs recognized by the selection panel were started UNDER #ASTIGLIONE S LEADERSHIP 4HE 02)3- !WARD ANNUALLY RECOGNIZES ONE $IVISION I intercollegiate athletics department that demonstrates industry-leading excellence and innovation in sports management.

Perhaps his most unique achievement over the last 10 years for Castiglione, though, came when he received his master’s of education degree from OU in May 2007. To understand the need for education and lifelong learning, OU’s studentathletes just have to look at their AD who started and completed his master’s degree while running the department and maintaining his priorities to his family. He quickly put his experience to use as an adjunct professor in the College of Education teaching a graduate class in Marketing & Development.

of the Sooner Soccer Complex, expansion of the Viersen Gymnastics Pavilion as well as additional renovations to the McCasland Field House; L. Dale Mitchell Park, the Charlie Coe Golf Learning Center, the OU Softball Complex and Barry Switzer Center. His administrative work, which has seen signiďŹ cant reorganization and the hiring of 12 head coaches, also included the negotiation of multi-million dollar multi-media rights contract that produces more than $8 million in annual revenue for the athletics department. His leadership was instrumental as well as the Sooners added their 21st athletics team to the OU family, women’s rowing (which will begin competition in the fall of 2008) and the design and construction OF THE NEW -C#LENDON "OATHOUSE ON THE /KLAHOMA 2IVER

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

Each of those characteristics, standing alone, describes the 11th director of athletics in University of Oklahoma history. However, just as he has brought together different groups who are committed to one goal, you must combine those traits to get the complete picture of the person who has led the OU athletics department since 1998.

October 2004, the Bobby Dodd Foundation named him Athletics Director of the Year. In 2003, he was inducted into the National Association of Collegiate -ARKETING !DMINISTRATORS (ALL OF &AME )N *UNE HE RECEIVED THE 'ENERAL 2OBERT 2 .EYLAND !THLETIC $IRECTOR !WARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT FROM THE !LL American Football Foundation. The National Association of Collegiate Directors of !THLETICS .!#$! NAMED HIM #ENTRAL 2EGION !$ OF THE 9EAR IN

! NATIVE OF &ORT ,AUDERDALE &LA #ASTIGLIONE IS MARRIED TO THE FORMER +RISTEN Bartel, a 1990 graduate of the University of Missouri. They are the parents of two SONS *OSEPH 2OBERT *R AND *ONATHAN %DMUND

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

JOE CASTIGLIONE

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2 The University of Oklahoma

53

53

ROWING

Sooners

SoonerSports.com

OKLAHOMA ATHLETICS ON THE WEB SoonerSports.com, the ofďŹ cial site of the OU Athletics Department, supplies Oklahoma fans across the country and around the world with the latest news and features on Oklahoma athletics direct from Norman. The site provides the latest press releases, rosters, bios, interactive depth charts, schedules, team statistics, game notes, quotes, player journals, photo galleries, audio and video available to Sooner fans and the media. The premium content O-Zone at SoonerSports.com provides even greater access to the Sooners for OU fans. SoonerSports.com also provides coach and player quotes, photos, video and AUDIO CLIPS AND THE LATEST WEEKLY NOTES FROM /5 !THLETICS -EDIA 2ELATIONS in advance of the game. On game day, live statistics and Sooner Network radio broadcasts are available online with recaps, statistics, notes, quotes and photos following shortly after the game. SOONERSPORTSMEDIA.COM The OU Athletics Department provides an innovative service for media covering the Sooners. Log on to SoonerSportsMedia.com and download high-resolution action photos, mug shots, ofďŹ cial OU logos, online credentials and more. Visit the site to request an account for access.

54

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners

Athletics Administration LUTHER LEE

Executive Associate Athletics Director

Assistant AD for Business

DR. GERALD GURNEY

DR. NICKI MOORE

Senior Associate AD for Academics and Student Life

Assistant AD for Psychological Services

JASON LEONARD

MATT ROBERTS

Executive Director of Compliance

Assistant AD for Development

CHARLIE TAYLOR

Senior Associate AD for Communications

Assistant AD for Marketing

GLORIA NEVAREZ

GREG TIPTON

Senior Associate AD/SWA

GREG PHILLIPS

Assistant AD for Equipment

JOE WASHINGTON

Senior Associate AD/Chief Financial Officer

Executive Director, Varsity O Association/Special Assistant to the Athletics Director

BILLY RAY JOHNSON

CONNIE DILLON &ACULTY !THLETICS 2EPRESENTATIVE

OU ATHLETICS PHONE DIRECTORY -EDIA 2ELATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8231 Medical Training. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8332 O-Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8224 Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8367 2OWING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6961 Soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8296 Softball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8361 SoonerSports.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4274 Sooner Sports Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2148 SoonerVision. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8261 Spirit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8366 Strength & Conditioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8330 Tennis, Men’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8362 Tennis, Women’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8325 Ticket Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2424 Toll Free. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (800) 456-4668 Track & Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8361 Volleyball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8364 Wrestling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8209

B O O M ER SO O NE R

Unless otherwise noted, numbers are (405) 325 + four-digit extension Academics & Student Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8265 Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8200 Baseball. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8354 Basketball, Men’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4732 Basketball, Women’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8322 Business & Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8440 Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8561 24 Hour Hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6479 Development & Sooner Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8000 Toll Free. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (866) 766-6372 Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8379 Events & Operations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8235 Facilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8290 Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2345 Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8223 Golf, Men’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8342 Golf, Women’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8343 Gymnastics, Men’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8341 Gymnastics, Women’s. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8333 Marketing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7811

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

Associate AD for Ticket Operations

COAC H I N G S TA F F

KENNY MOSSMAN

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

LARRY NAIFEH

2 The University of Oklahoma

55

ROWING

Sooners

Oklahoma Head Coaches

SUNNY GOLLOWAY

JEFF CAPEL

Baseball - Fifth Year

Men’s Basketball - Third Year

SHERRI COALE

MARTIN SMITH

Women’s Basketball - 13th Year

Cross Country/Track & Field - Fourth Year

BOB STOOPS

JIM RAGAN

Football - 10th Year

Men’s Golf - Ninth Year

CAROL LUDVIGSON

MARK WILLIAMS

Women’s Golf - 24th Year

Men’s Gymnastics - 10th Year

K.J. KINDLER

LEEANNE CRAIN

Women’s Gymnastics - Third Year

7OMEN S 2OWING &IRST 9EAR

NICOLE NELSON

PATTY GASSO

Soccer - First Year

Softball - 15th Year

PAUL LOCKWOOD

DAVID MULLINS

Men’s Tennis - 22nd Year

Women’s Tennis - First Year

SANTIAGO RESTREPO

JACK SPATES Wrestling - 16th Year

Volleyball - Fifth Year

Philosophy The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department promotes excellence in athletics without comThe mission of the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department is to inspire cham- promising excellence in academics or integrity in its commitment to rules or conduct. Studentpions today and prepare leaders for tomorrow by providing an excellent environment athletes are encouraged by the coaching and administrative staff to maintain a balance between to enable student-athletes to achieve their highest academic, athletic and personal athletics, academics, and the social aspects of college. aspirations.

OU ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT

Core Values s 2ESPECT s !CCOUNTABILITY FOR 3ELF /THERS s 0ASSION FOR #OMPREHENSIVE %XCELLENCE s #OMMITMENT TO #ONTINUOUS )MPROVEMENT s #ELEBRATION OF $IVERSITY s )NTEGRITY IN !LL OF /UR !FFAIRS

It is believed that athletic participation gives an added dimension to the student’s overall college experience and provides an opportunity for social, moral, emotional, and cultural growth and development. The athletic programs strive to create traits that once acquired will carry over and benefit studentathletes in their personal and professional endeavors. The University of Oklahoma maintains a tradition of excellence in intercollegiate sports. The Athletics Department continues to uphold this tradition by striving to make each athletic team and individual of championship caliber. Its staff members work to instill in student-athletes an appreciation for hard work, perseverance, and pride in accomplishment. It is believed these attributes will be utilized throughout the student-athlete’s life.

56

Rowing Media Guide

2009

ROWING

Sooners Sooner Oar Society

M E D I A I N FOR M ATI ON

COAC H I N G S TA F F

S T U D E N T - AT H L ET ES

B O O M ER SO O NE R

2

57

The University of Oklahoma

POCOCK RACING SHELLS PROUD SPONSOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA ROWING PROGRAM

58

Rowing Media Guide

2009

Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.