19th Street Magazine September 2019

Improvements on the Way

Old Town Made New

Veteran of the Month

Gary Monks

Westmoore’s New AD

Coming Home

September | CONTENTS 2019

08 by Kaylee Campbell

Old Town Made New

Old Town revitalization effort beginning to take shape.

12 by Bill Moakley

No Time to Celebrate

Vietnam vet recalls birthdays, Christmas in new light.

16 by Roxanne Avery

No-Cost Shopping

After decades of helping in OKC, Sharing Tree sets roots in Moore.

20 by Sharla Bardin

Success Story

Disability coordinator honored for work with students.

24 by Tegan Burkhard

Hot Commodity

Fast-growing Volcano Sushi opens new location in Norman.

28 by Steve Marshall

ISSUE 9 - VOLUME 2 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Doescher

MANAGING EDITOR

Chip Minty

SENIOR EDITOR

Lindsay Cuomo

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mark Doescher

CONTRIBUTORS

Roxanne Avery | Sharla Bardin Tegan Burkhard | Kaylee Campbell Lindsay Cuomo | Steve Marshall Chip Minty | Bill Moakley Chris Plank

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PUBLISHER Randy Laffoon

Coming Home

Moore High grad takes reins as Westmoore’s new AD.

32by Chip Minty

Ride the Armadillo Rotary Road Rally celebrates bikes, flat armadillos to benefit Norman schools.

38 by Chris Plank

Center of Attention Humphrey anchors rebuilt offensive line.

44 by Lindsay Cuomo

Sooner than Later

Norman Regional staffs medical clinic inside stadium.

4 | September 2019

SportsTalk Media 2020 E. Alameda Norman, Oklahoma 73071 Phone: (405) 321-1400 E-mail: editor@boydstreet.com Copyright © SportsTalk Media Any articles, artwork or graphics created by SportsTalk Media or its contributors are sole property of SportsTalk Media and cannot be reproduced for any reason without permission. Any opinions expressed in SportsTalk are not necessarily that of SportsTalk management.

COM M U N I T Y

BY: KAYLEE CAMPBELL

Old Town Made New

Old Town Revitalization Effort Beginning to Take Shape

F

or decades, Moore’s Old Town district has been a sleepy part of the city, but now the community is breathing new life into the area with a long-term revitalization plan that addresses infrastructural woes and aims to attract new businesses, housing, dining and entertainment venues.

The city received input from area residents and businesses, including voter approval for a tax to help fund the creation of a new park in Old Town.

The park is being designed with adult visitors in mind, said Kahley Gilbert, project-grants manager for the City of Moore.

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Elizabeth Weitman, community development director for the City of Moore.

“We want it to be a different kind of park,” she said. “This park is really focused on the adult population.”

“Old Town is not a very big area, but it’s very important because it’s our downtown area,” Weitman said. “It’s the living room of the town.”

Located at the intersection of Old Town’s Main Street and the railroad tracks, the park will be a nod to the railroad’s historical importance to the area and will include a replica of the original 1895 train depot that once sat at the site.

Revitalization efforts are already underway, Weitman says. However, infrastructure improvements to drainage and transportation systems as well as updates to zoning codes may take a few years to complete.

Transportation improvements in the area will include increased on-street parking. They also will include new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and bike routes to connect Old Town with other areas of the city, Weitman said.

8 | September 2019

Half of the depot will be a creator’s studio space where the city’s new artist in residence, Maria Chaverri, can share her work with visitors. The other half of the building could be used as a business incubator or event space, Gilbert and Weitman said.

The city hopes to finish construction on the park and depot by the end of April 2020, Gilbert said. – 19SM

Art Talk

City of Moore Selects Artist-in-Residence

An ex-fashion designer turned photographer and educator, Maria Chaverri lives in Oklahoma City and will be the City of Moore’s first artist-in-residence.

Chaverri is an active, full-time artist, said Kahley Gilbert, project-grants manager for the City of Moore. When the Old Town Depot and maker’s space open in late spring 2020, she will hold visitor’s hours that will allow time for discussions with the public.

Chaverri began her career as a photographer during a five-year adventure that took her to Japan to teach English as a second language, Gilbert said.

While living in Japan, she spent much of her free time traveling around Asia, documenting her travels in powerful photos. Chaverri’s work has been showcased in solo and group shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and in Japan.

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COM M U N I T Y

BY: BILL MOAKLEY

No Time to Celebrate

Vietnam Vet Recalls Birthdays, Christmas in New Light

PRESENTED BY

Y

ou can bet Gary Monks will never forget Christmas Eve 1969. He’ll also never have trouble recalling what he was doing on his brother’s birthday in 1970. Don’t fault him if those memories aren’t exactly what might be called fond.

A native of El Reno, Monks was barely out of high school in 1969, and just months into his job as an aluminum welder with American Trailer in Oklahoma City, when he arrived at his parents’ house on Christmas Eve and immediately recognized the letter that had arrived that day.

“It was my draft notice,” he recalled. “It was the worst Christmas I ever had in my life, as one can imagine.”

By the second week of 1970, Monks was on his way to Fort Polk, La., where he trained as a member of an armored reconnaissance personnel unit. He would end up on an armored personnel carrier in Vietnam with a 60-mm machine gun, perched on the swivel chair with a small shield as his only protection.

“We’d go out and scout ahead of the infantry,” Monks explained. “We’d search for land mines. We searched by running over them and blowing them up. That’s how they did it back then. It would throw you off the vehicle and you’d end up in a ditch.”

After three months each with both the 199th Infantry and the 25th Infantry, Monks volunteered as what he thought 12 | September 2019

was a door gunner on helicopter flights for high-ranking officers.

“Never volunteer in the Army is the old saying,” Monks laughed.

He wound up as a gunner with an M60 in a helicopter, six inches from a pilot who also had a mini-gun. The pair would buzz tree lines in battles. Their job? Draw fire from the Viet Cong, allowing helicopters and troops following to distinguish enemy troop positions.

On Feb. 26, 1971, his brother’s birthday, Monks and his pilot would realize their greatest fear. As part of an offensive across the border into Laos, they were shot down. Both suffered broken backs.

Miraculously, both survived.

“I crawled out of one of the small windows,” Monks said.

Monks recalled having a vision of himself standing on the helicopter, as if to guard the two. He snapped back to reality when the pilot crawled from the wreckage. The two dropped a purple flare as a rescue alert.

“It just so happened they got us out,” Monks said. “We were in an area with 30,000 enemy troops. It was a miracle. It wasn’t my time to go yet.”

Monks would spend time in a field hospital in Vietnam, recuperating from his injuries. For his valor, he received the Purple Heart, awarded to members of the military wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy.

Talking about his experience in Vietnam and recalling his own trauma and battle with post-traumatic stress disorder, Monks quietly relayed an oath he made shortly after being shot down.

“I swore an oath to my fallen comrades,” he solemnly explained. “I said, ‘if I get through this alive and get back to the world, I will not commit suicide.’ This life is too precious. I saw so much death while I was over there, but I’m still here.”

And, it’s a good bet Christmas Eves and birthdays since his return have been much happier. - 19SM

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No-Cost Shopping

After Decades of Helping in OKC, Sharing Tree Sets Roots in Moore

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or almost 40 years, Sharing Tree has helped families in Central Oklahoma who are in need with a dignified, no-cost shopping experience.

enrolled in Oklahoma City Public Schools come from households that are at the poverty level and qualify for free or reduced lunches, Narvaiz said.

“Our set-up is similar to a small department store like T.J. Max,” said Tabitha Narvaiz, executive director. “Most items are donated by the community, but rather than a hand out, the client can come in and shop based on their needs and preferences. When you offer that experience you are adding a sense of dignity to their lives, which is our mission.”

“We work directly with schools with our referral form and they send parents our way. They make an appointment and come in with their kids and try on the uniform sets, so we make sure they fit. For a lot of kids, this is the first time they’ve owned a new piece of clothing.

They come out of the fitting rooms with a big smile and they get to go to school and fit in.”

The four programs at Sharing Tree are Christmas Connection, Classroom Connection, Community Connection and Crisis Connection. Christmas Connection is the founding program where parents come in without their kids and shop for winter coats, clothing and toys so they can go home and wrap them for Christmas.

The Classroom Connection program provides two full uniforms to kids in Oklahoma City. Eighty three percent of students 16 | September 2019

The Community Connection program offers clothing, shoes and sanitary items and families can come in with changes of seasons.

The Crisis Connection program is for people who have lost their home due to fire or tornado and are provided with clothing and household items like dishes and sheet sets, towels and small appliances.

“We serve 4,000 individuals a year,” Narvaiz said. “We just moved to Moore in September after being in south Oklahoma City for 37 years, so we are excited to put our roots down in the Moore community and really invest here.”

With a staff of only two, the Sharing Tree relies on about 900 volunteers a year.

“We need anyone who has a couple of hours here or there,” Narvaiz said.

“Whatever skill set or interest a volunteer has, can be utilized including working with clients, working behind the scenes, mowing the lawn, pulling weeds. Anything you can think of can be used to help out.”

Donations of gently used items are always needed as the Sharing Tree serves infants as well as older people.

“We just don’t take furniture,” Narvaiz said. “We take everything else. Everything that is donated to our store goes directly into the hands of families that need it.”

To volunteer or donate, call the Sharing Tree at 634-2006, stop by their office at 825 NW 24th Street in Moore or visit www.sharingtreeok.org. – 19SM

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COM M U N I T Y

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Success Stor y

Disability Coordinator Honored for Work with Students

B

arbara Rice remembers a poster displayed in her classroom during her days of teaching middle school. The poster read, “Everyone has gifts. We all just open them up at different times.”

It’s a message that still motivates her today in her work at the Moore Norman Technology Center. Rice is the disability coordinator and said she’s long had a passion for helping students who may need extra resources and support.

“God knew this was where I needed to be,” Rice said. “It’s a good fit.”

She also was recently honored for her work at the center. In August, Rice received the Kaleidoscope Award from the Oklahoma Association of Career & Technology Education.

The award recognizes a commitment to developing, improving and promoting awareness of multiculturalism and gender equity as well as physical disabili20 | September 2019

ties. The program promotes career and technology education programs.

Rice said she’s humbled by the honor and proud to work at the center.

“I would’ve never dreamed 40 years ago when I went to college that I would work at a wonderful place with wonderful colleagues and do what I do.”

Rice’s job includes facilitating accommodations for students with disabilities. She organizes meetings about students’ Individualized Educational Plans, and she discusses plans with the students, parents and school staff. The plans give students with disabilities equal access to education, such as specialized instruction and related services and accommodations.

Rice monitors the plans for students and checks their grades and progress and talks with instructors to review the needs of students in their classes.

She also coordinates a Transition Fair with the center’s partner schools in Norman and Moore. The event is intended to familiarize students about community resources and opportunities available at the center as they transition to high school, college or a career field.

“I’ve seen her work with students for years until they find success. She never gives up on a student,” said Slayton.

In addition, Rice conducts tours for students, who are interested in enrolling at the center or shadowing opportunities for specific programs. Rice said she sees herself as an extra advocate − an “extra someone in their corner.”

“She is relentless in making sure that all of our students are receiving the help and the support they need and deserve,” he said.

She faced a learning disability when she was in school and was inspired by a teacher who took extra time to help her improve her vocabulary skills. That experience motivated Rice to make the extra effort to help other students succeed.

Rice’s dedication to students and her “unbelievable passion for excellence” are some of the qualities that stand out to Bonner Slayton, a longtime friend and a literacy specialist and instructional coach at the center.

Slayton also said that Rice has set the standard for what a disability coordinator should be at the center.

Rice, who is in her 38th year as an educator, said it’s rewarding to help students find their gifts and watch them flourish and to work alongside colleagues at the center who share that vision.

“When their goals and dreams are reached, when they’re successful, I feel like we’re successful and that’s what I enjoy most,” she said. – 19SM *Information from the websites, www.miusa.org and www.washington.edu, contributed to this article.

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B U S I N E SS

BY: TEGAN BURKHARD

Hot Commodity

Fast-Growing Volcano Sushi Opens New Location in Norman

D

ine in at Volcano Sushi Bar & Hibachi, and expect mouthwatering sushi rolls, fresh-off-the-grill hibachi and staff members who treat customers like family.

“It makes me feel happy, the ties I have made in all the communities the stores are in,” says owner Henry Chen. “New friends, many of whom have also become family.”

With the intention of providing a better life for his immediate and extended family, Chen opened the first Volcano Sushi Bar & Hibachi location in Moore in 2012. The beauty of Japan’s Mount Fuji inspired his business name, and after considering the Tinker Air Force Base lunch crowd, Volcano expanded to Del City in 2016.

Specialty rolls like the Lucky Lady draw in a vast fanbase of sushi lovers and daily lunch specials keep customers coming back for more.

“You get that creaminess from the avocado, the richness from the cream cheese and then the crunch from the 24 | September 2019

shrimp tempura,” says Ha Le, the Del City general manager.

When people began learning about Volcano’s delicious steak teriyaki, Hibachi grilled scallop, vegetable rolls and chicken sushi specialties, Chen created an Oklahoma City restaurant in 2017 to decrease wait times in Moore. To combat the surge of lunch and dinner rushes following Volcano’s rising popularity, Chen then opened a Norman location in June of this year.

Although Chen maintains four locations, their proximity makes it easy to continue close connections with customers at each restaurant.

He says that forging a strong team of employees that work well together came as a challenge at first, but now, a core group continues to grow into leadership roles as new locations open.

Now at Volcano, this core value of connectivity carries over to staff members, who help foster a friendly, welcoming environment at each location.

“I like to talk to people,” Ha Le says. “I

learn people’s names. I enjoy hearing their story, too...They know me. I know them.”

The friendly waitstaff also customizes the dining experience for each customer. Ha Le, in particular, enjoys breaking people out of their sushi comfort zones so they can discover surprising new favorites.

“Some people are just comfortable with what they know, and they don’t want to branch out because they’re scared,” Ha Le says. “But if you have the right person guiding you, it’s good. If you have the wrong person, then they can traumatize you too.”

Ha Le aims to slowly level up customers’ sushi orders. First-time sushi eaters can share food dislikes and likes with Ha Le, who will steer them toward sushi rolls that best align with their taste buds.

From there, she will suggest half-raw, half-cooked seafood to prepare customers for the full raw sashimi experience.

Whether sampling your first-ever sushi roll, sticking with hibachi grill favorites or braving new tastes, entrust Volcano Sushi Bar & Hibachi with the task of delivering a relaxing dining experience centered on fresh food, friendly service and fellow regulars.

Locations include: Moore: 2727 S I-35 Service Rd; Del City, 5301 Main St, Ste 103; Oklahoma City, 1609 Penn Park Blvd, Ste 10 and Norman, 3700 W Robinson St, Ste 164. For more information, go to Volcanook.com. – 19SM

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S P O RT S

BY: STEVE MARSHALL

Coming Home

PRESENTED BY

Moore High Grad Takes Reins as Westmoore’s New AD

The 1995 graduate was an all-state soccer player at Moore and played basketball as well.

“I was more of a jack-of-all trades, master-of-none type of player,” Bice said.

“I loved athletics and understood the importance of putting in the work to be able to get on the field.”

Bice and his wife Lori started a family and Bice coached some club and local soccer teams, when he, according to Bice, “just kind of stumbled into a college soccer coaching job at Mid-American Christian University.”

Bice started the women’s soccer program at MACU and coached the men’s team, helping guide both into the NAIA. He then coached both men and women’s soccer for the next 13 years and was also the assistant athletic director for the last several years.

28 | September 2019

While coaching at MACU, both of Bice’s kids, Kenzi and Brantley, played soccer at Southmoore. By taking the job at Westmoore, the Bice family will complete the Moore schools’ circle, having attended or coached at all three high schools.

Drawing from his background, Bice now knows the differences between being an assistant athletic director at a small college and a large high school like Westmoore.

“Right now, it’s like running nonstop all the time,” he said. “But it’s been great.”

“At Westmoore, we have 20 different sports throughout the year, and we have a million things going on right now, football, fast-pitch softball, volleyball and such,” Bice said. “Early on, it’s just been getting a good feel for the job, getting to meet people and getting to know how things roll.”

“You get a little bit of an idea of what to expect as a coach because a coach’s job never ends. An athletic director’s job never ends either. It’s a good time, because we’ve got such an incredible

Photo by: Mark Doescher

Z

ack Bice is no stranger to Moore public schools, and the Moore High School graduate is getting ready to become a whole lot more familiar in his new role as Westmoore High School’s new athletic director.

group of people here at Westmoore. It makes it a pretty special place to be.”

Bice says his experience as a coach and assistant athletic director at MACU will be beneficial in his approach to the athletic director’s position at Westmoore.

“I think there’s a good bit of value of having recently been a coach and an assistant athletic director,” Bice said.

“Having three or four years of extensive leadership training while at MACU will also prove very helpful. I just want to be there to care for these coaches and help build them up as leaders. I’ve got a little bit of a different viewpoint and experience, which I think is good, because we have such great leadership here.

They’ll be able to pour into me from the high school side of things.”

Like Bice, the Jaguars’ recently retired athletic director John Burruss also went to Moore High School.

“John Burruss is a legend!” Bice said.

“One of the first days I was walking around with him we came across a lady that had been at Westmoore for a while, I said to her, ‘Well I’ve got big shoes to fill,’ and she looked at me and said, ‘You just can’t fill his shoes’.”

“I have so much admiration for him.

The thing I really learned the most from him was the way he genuinely cared for people and was so good with people,” Bice said. “Hopefully, I can implement much of what I learned from him. He’s been so supportive of me and wants to see me succeed here. I am very blessed to have such a great resource and supportive friend going forward here at Westmoore.” – 19SM

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R id e the Ar m a d i l lo Rotary Road Rally Celebrates Bikes, Flat Armadillos to Benefit Norman Schools

S

cores of bike riders and armadillo lovers will converge at Norman’s Reaves Park on Sept. 21 for the third-annual Rotary Road Rally & Flat Armadillo Festival, an event created to benefit Norman Public Schools.

“I’ve never heard of a flat armadillo festival, so we’ve started something here that could be unique to Norman, which is even more reason to come out,” said Craig Heaton, former Norman Rotary Club president and ride co-founder.

“We’re just out to have fun and celebrate the coming of fall. The Sooners don’t play football on Sept. 21, so, whether you like to ride bikes or not, the event is a great opportunity to get out and be active.”

As always, the Rotary Road Rally will include rides that are 34- and 54-miles.

The longest ride goes as far as Flat Armadillo Road in the southern reaches of Cleveland County. There is also a short, family ride in town. The long rides begin at 8 a.m. and the family ride starts at 10 a.m.

For families and kids who aren’t into long distances and big hills, the fivemile Campus District Tour will pass some of the University of Oklahoma’s most iconic landmarks, such as Campus Corner and Heisman Park, Heaton said.

“A Norman bicycle patrol officer will lead the family ride, and it’s guaranteed to be family friendly and flat.”

The longer 34-mile tour will go into the Slaughterville area, where riders will reach the Midway Rest Stop.

32 | September 2019

Hosted by Midway Deli, the pullover will include food, drink, cheering fans and, of course, rock-and-roll music.

In addition to the Midway Stop, riders on the 54-mile route will visit the Armadillo Rest Stop, where they’ll find food and drink as well as music and other color, such as a dancing leprechaun from O’Connell’s Irish Pub and Grill.

Whoever’s strong enough to reach the Armadillo Rest Stop will get a coupon for a free beer at O’Connell’s and something else that’s flat, but riders must get to Flat Armadillo Road to find out what it is, Heaton said.

There’s more to the event than cycling, though. Heaton said the festivities start on Friday, Sept. 20, when O’Connell’s will be hosting a packet pick-up event, where participants can pick up their t-shirts and ride packets, then enjoy a free beer and pasta dinner.

On Saturday, all the rides end back at Reaves Park, 2501 Jenkins Ave., where the Flat Armadillo Festival will be in full swing with music and free lunch from the Midway Deli food truck. There also will be inflatables, giveaways, face painting for the kids and a TV tent with college football.

“Flat Armadillo Road is a great name that everyone seems to enjoy. We named our festival to celebrate the quirky road as well as the riders who make it all the way out there,” Heaton said.

“We just wanted to create a fun atmosphere for people to enjoy,” Heaton said.

“Even people who don’t ride should sign up. For $35, they get a great t-shirt with

a cool logo, they get dinner and a beer at O’Connell’s and they can have lunch at Reaves from Midway Deli while they enjoy the festival.”

The Rotary Road Rally was established in 2017 to help raise money for the Norman club’s Rotary Success Cycle program, which provides bicycles to elementary school students as an incentive for excellent attendance.

The effort is aimed at nearly a dozen Norman elementary schools where student attendance is an ongoing concern.

Under the Success Cycle program, district officials have said schools are seeing significant improvement.

Through the Rotary Success Cycle, the Norman Rotary Club purchases nearly 80 bicycles at cost from sponsor Al’s Bicycles of Edmond. After every nine weeks, two bikes are given away at each school. One bike goes to a boy, and one goes to a girl. The students win the bicycles with raffle tickets they earn with each week of perfect attendance.

The district believes that school atten-

dance is critical for elementary school children, Heaton said. Basic reading and math skills are developing at that age, and students who miss school can fall behind, which erodes proficiency as they grow older and face more challenging academic demands.

Norman Public School Superintendent Nick Migliorino called the Norman Rotary Club an incredible partner for the district.

“The Success Cycle program has contributed to higher attendance in several schools, which leads to improved performance in the classroom. We appreciate everyone who supports the ongoing success of the program.”

The preregistration cost is $35 for adults and $45 for families, which pays for the ride, dinner at the packet pickup, a t-shirt, lunch and a $20 gift card from Schlegel’s Bicycles in Oklahoma City.

Registration on the day of the event is $40 for adults and $50 for families. For more information and preregistration, go to www.normanrotary.org. – 19SM

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Center of Attention

Humphrey Anchors Rebuilt Offensive Line

The Shawnee, Oklahoma product now takes on the new role of experienced leader on the offensive line and he is not only ready to lead, but may already be the apple of many in the NFL’s eye.

“I have always set a high standard,’’ Humphrey said, of his football career. “The expectations from Coach (Bill) Bedenbaugh is another thing. He expects us to be the best offensive line in the country. We will do whatever we can to fulfill that. It’s tough to do, but you always want to do it.’’

High expectations and a high level of excellence are nothing new for Humphrey.

Prior to choosing the Sooners as his collegiate destination, Humphrey was the top offensive line prospect in the state, and the third best center prospect in the country. His stellar high school career at Shawnee led him to be named as an US Army 38 | September 2019

All-American and his play and physicality caught the attention of just about every college in the country.

“His work ethic is unbelievable. He worked out twice a day all summer — once with us and once by himself,” Shawnee head football coach Bill Brown said, when talking about the commitment of Humphrey during high school.

His character also stood out to Brown.

“As a coach, you know one thing about Creed,” he said. “You don’t have to worry about him because you know he’s going to do his job. You can worry about someone else.”

However, Humphrey was more than just a standout on the gridiron. He carried a 4.0 GPA in high school and was ranked second in his class. In fact, Humphrey had not recorded anything but an A since almost 5th grade. He was also a standout high school wrestler, but that is something that was engrained in his DNA. His father was a three-time All-American wrestler at the University of Central Oklahoma, and his older brother was allstate in high school.

Just about every college in the country was pursuing Humphrey to play football. De-

Photos by: Mark Doescher

C

reed Humphrey was born to be an offensive lineman and, good news for the University of Oklahoma, he was also born to be a Sooner. Coming off a breakout, redshirt freshman season, the Sooner born and bred offensive lineman is the only returning starter from an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award as the top offensive line in college football last season.

spite being a life-long Sooner, Humphrey originally committed to play his collegiate football in College Station with Texas A&M.

That all changed in early August 2016, Humphrey de-committed from A&M and pledged his allegiance to the Sooner Nation.

In fact, Humphrey ended up enrolling early at OU and immediately caught the eye of his teammates and offensive line coach.

“He’s country-fed, corn-fed,” former Sooner center Jonathan Alvarez said at the time of Creed’s arrival on campus. “It’s that big, natural strength. In the weight room and on the field, he does stuff that I probably couldn’t do my freshman year.

To see him do it, I’m like, ‘Wow, I wonder what he ate growing up?’”

“He’s as good, at this point, as anyone I’ve ever coached physically,” Bedenbaugh said. “He was when he walked in.”

For Humphrey, it was a dream come true.

“I grew up watching Adrian Peterson dominate. That was something I loved watching. I never thought I would be the next AD, but I knew I wanted to be here. I wanted to be a Sooner,” Humphrey said.

Despite the excitement of finally being a Sooner and the praise from his new teammates and coach, the Sooners had a returning starter at center, heading into the 2017 season. Humphrey redshirted and made the most of the season, watching and learning.

“The redshirt year was huge for me,’’ he said. “I learned the offense. I learned how to read defenses better. That helped me so much.’’

He also learned from his fellow offensive linemen.

“They helped me with the different communication skills and how to play the game,’’ Humphrey said. “All four of those guys were so tough — they always wanted to put people on the ground every play. That’s the way the game is supposed to be played. They played it so well.’’

Humphrey also had to learn everything.

Bedenbaugh demands his offensive lineman understand every position along the line. Humphrey embraced the challenge… understanding the why has always been a passion for the Sooner.

19th STREET MAGAZINE | 39

Hawaii set in 2006. Additionally, the 2018 Sooners are the only team in the country with at least 40 rushing touchdowns and at least 40 passing TDs.

The Sooner offensive line was rewarded with the Joe Moore Award, which is presented to be the best offensive line in the country. Humphrey was a main reason why the Sooner trophy case now includes the 350-pound trophy.

“In high school, I took pride in knowing everything. There is always a reason why you have to do something and I always want to know the why,” Humphrey said.

“I’ve always grown up going over formations with our quarterback. I’ve always been detail oriented. Growing up my mom and dad were always detail oriented. They made sure I did everything right. When I was doing something, I always took great pride in what I was doing. That’s carried over my whole life.”

After a redshirt season of growth and development, Humphrey was finally ready to step on the field. Despite not starting the first two games of the season, Humphrey played in every remaining game and started the final 12 games.

“The first game getting to play and get on the field against Florida Atlantic was huge,” Humphrey said of his first action as a Sooner. “The first start against UCLA, I had goose pumps the whole day just waiting. The first Red River Rivalry was insane and I was fired up. There is nothing better than the Cotton Bowl. Bedlam was huge for me. The Big 12 Championship and the Orange bowl, it was surreal.”

Humphrey was a key figure for an offense that led the nation with 11.6 yards per pass attempt, and was ranked second for yards per rush, averaging 6.7 yards.

No FBS team since 1994 has finished in the top two nationally in both categories in the same year. The Sooners finished the season averaging 8.4 yards per snap, falling just short of the record of 8.6 by 40 | September 2019

“He has extreme talent,” Riley said. “He’s a pretty rare talent for the position with combined competitiveness, toughness and a really good mind for the game.

There are not many qualities for a center that he doesn’t have. Now, with all that being said, before we anoint him the greatest football player ever, he’s still got a lot that he can get better at.”

The improvement will have to come quickly for Humphrey. As he looks around the offensive line room, he is now the only returning starter. Starting guards Ben Powers and Dru Samia both exhausted their college eligibility, while starting tackles Bobby Evans Jr. and Cody Ford left early for the NFL Draft.

“It is a weird feeling,” Humphrey said.

“But the guys I’m around right now, I went recruiting with most of them. I’m excited. It is going to be a good group.

Coming in this year, it is a step for me to be a leader but I like to be a leader.”

There is some familiarity on the offensive line, but not when it comes to on-the-field experience. Adrian Ealy, a likely starter at one tackle position, has been on campus for three years, as has potential starting guard Marquis Hayes. Eric Swenson is entering his fourth year on campus, and the redshirt junior has been penciled in by many as the starter at left tackle. But, none of those three have seen extensive playing time.

Outside of Humphrey, Virginia transfer RJ Proctor has the most in-game experience having played in 24 games while starting eight with the Cavaliers. Solid recruiting classes have also helped bolster the overall talent on the offensive line as well.

“There isn’t a lot of experience but the talent is there,” Humphrey said. “We recruited really good players and they have that same mentality we had last year. People are saying we’re not going to be as good

this year having to replace so many guys, but they are ready to prove people wrong.’’

For Bedenbaugh, the next step for Humphrey is to continue to develop away from the field.

“He’s naturally a leader, especially on the field, getting people fired up. And when things aren’t going well, he’ll get on people,” Bedenbaugh said. “It has to carry to off the field which is more important. Getting these guys together on their own, that is what the previous groups have done so well. The whole offensive line watching tape together. If they just come in here and meet when we meet, they will never be any good. They have to be motivated to do things on their own off the field. He has to be the guy that leads all the time.”

Riley sees Humphrey’s contagious personality as a key to continuing his improvement as a leader off the field.

“He’s a funny guy, great personality, clever,” Riley said. “Tends to get along with everyone which for a leader is important.

He’s got a great personality to go along with his skills.”

As Humphrey continues to rack up

awards and accolades, the NFL Draft world has already taken note of his impressive nature. TheDraftNetwork.com credited Humphrey with the most impressive tape of all five offensive linemen from 2018. Athlon Sports has Humphrey listed as one of the top draft prospects, while Pro Football Network listed Humphrey as the best prospect for the Sooners heading into the 2020 draft.

“I’m not a guy who is looking to get praised,’’ Humphrey said. “I’m just doing my job. The offensive line position is a lot more difficult than people realize. It’s a lot more mentally demanding what you have to go through. Once the ball is snapped, you better go. If you’re not physically demanding and your mentality is not to put someone on the ground all the time, you’re not going to be very good.’’

While he likely has a decision to make after the season… the only decision in the short term is to be the best leader and offensive lineman he can be at Oklahoma. As the NFL waits, Humphrey may just be the key piece in the Oklahoma Sooners claiming its 8th national championship.– 19SM

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BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

Sooner than Later

Norman Regional Staffs Medical Clinic Inside Stadium

S

ooner game days are a highly charged environment. Extreme heat combined with excitement of the game can lead some Sooner fans to health problems. To serve the community and to help ensure the health and safety of thousands of fans, Norman Regional Health System collaborates with the University of Oklahoma to staff the Gomer Jones Medical Facility inside Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

The facility has been in operation, meeting the health needs of Sooner fans free of charge, for many years.

“The clinic is one piece of a larger emergency care puzzle. We are an extension of the emergency department under the stadium,” said Dr. Patrick Cody, medical director for the clinic.

“On a busy game day, when it’s hot out and people have been drinking alcohol, we have seen up to 60 patients in our clinic. Those are patients that would have likely ended up in the ER. This helps address that increase and makes sure patients receive timely care.”

The clinic, located at the north end of the stadium, helps meet the needs of Sooner fans, quickly and efficiently, with the hope of returning them to the stands to enjoy the rest of the game, Cody said.

44 | September 2019

The medial team provides all levels of care for problems that range from dehydration to chest pains, said Stephanie Gehrke, nursing supervisor for the clinic.

“If someone needs a band-aid, has a headache or forgets their glucometer, we are able to take care of them… and they don’t have to leave the game.”

For more serious situations, the clinic is fully staffed with an extensive response team, including paramedic bike teams, volunteer stretcher teams and medic carts, as well as an ambulance stationed outside the stadium.

“The bikes, stretchers and medic carts increase the speed of care. We are able to respond to patients wherever they are in the stadium,” Cody said. “Our teams go through a bike instruction course, so they know how to quickly navigate the ramps and stairs and are fully equipped to start care immediately for cardiac patients.”

The clinic requires a lot of preparation on game days, and the staff arrives hours before game time to make sure the clinic is ready to serve. The 8-bed unit is manned by one physician, four to six emergency trained registered nurses and paramedics. The doctors and nurses volunteer their time.

“We arrive three and half hours before the game to get ready,” Gehrke said. “The clinic opens an hour and half before the game, and we stay through the end of the game.”

While the schedule can be grueling, Gehrke and Cody say the staff at Norman Regional enjoy the opportunity to serve the community.

“It is a privilege to serve your community outside your normal workplace,” Gehrke said. “I usually have to turn people away.

I had over 100 volunteers, and we only staff four to six nurses a game.”

They also coordinate cooling stations during the early season games when temperatures can soar to dangerous levels.

“We run six cooling stations around the stadium,” Gehrke said. “People that are getting a little over heated can cool down before it becomes too much.”

While the clinic staff enjoys engaging with Sooner fans, Cody shares a few bits of advice.

“We meet some really neat people in the clinic. They travel from all over to go to the games,” Cody said. “People really need to take good care of themselves on game day.

Stay hydrated and alcohol does not count.

Eat well and know your limits.”

“Prepare for the long walk to the stadium and remember to drink water even before you go to the game, and take frequent breaks in the shade,” Gehrke added.

The clinic, which just underwent renovations, including new floors, new paint, new cabinetry and upgraded equipment, will be open at all home games. The services are offered free of charge, but donations are accepted. – 19SM

#SOONERFEVER When Sooner Fever becomes an actual fever, Norman Regional’s team of experts are here for you.

With three emergency departments in Norman and Moore and a network of primary and specialty care physicians, we have your healthcare needs covered.

Norman Regional is also proud to sponsor and staff the Gomer Jones Medical Facility inside Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Experiencing Sooner Fever? Share it with the hashtag #SoonerFever.

NormanRegional.com