Wednesday, October 5, 2011

W e d n e s d a Y, o c T o B e R 5 , 2 0 1 1

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n o. 11 L o n G Ho Rn s

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red river rivALrY 

S I X - PA G E S P E C I A L S E C T I O N , PA G E B1

Advising

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reseArcH

set a date with oZone Colleges gearing up to help students with spring advisement JAKe MoRgAn staff Reporter

Just as orange, earthy tones announced the arrival of fall, the bustle around college offices has signaled the time for students to see their advisers for next semester’s enrollment.

Students’ advising starts at their home colleges, said Joyce Allman, associate provost for academic advising.

“If you’re a student of University College, you’ll go to [them] for your advising, [and] if you belong to the College of Arts and Sciences, you’ll go to them,” Allman said.

Each college advises by its own guidelines, which can vary from college to college, Allman said. For example, the College of Fine Arts does its advising through the faculty, while the College of Arts and Sciences relays its advising to the respective departments. “[These offices] do the degree checks ... and answer all the questions,” she said. “They’re really the bottom line on degree requirements because they have to make sure the student meets the university requirements, the state regents’ [and] the department requirements.”

Allman said students should prepare a trial schedule before advisement with the degree checksheets and Degree Navigator, an online audit system that helps students plan their next semester by labeling completed courses with a checkmark, uncompleted courses with an X and currently enrolled see ADVISING paGe a2

astrUd reed/tHe daiLy

Laura Brunson, a doctoral student in the school of civil engineering and environmental science, runs water samples to determine their fluoride content in her carson engineering lab on monday. Brunson recently received a research fellowship from the environmental Protection agency for her work in water purification.

Grad student strives for clean water Woman’s work for Ethiopia earns EPA research fellowship KATHleen eVAnS campus Reporter

Research by an OU graduate student that helps reduce the fluoride levels in water, which causes bone deformations after prolonged drinking exposure, won a fellowship with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Environmental science graduate student

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Classifieds ..................

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NOW ON

mULTimediA Professor of the week continues art history instructor bridges gap between art and life. (oUdaily.com)

professor because these are expenses he would have had to cover.”

Brunson’s research looks at ways to remove fluoride from water in developing countries, primarily Ethiopia because of connections formed with professors there in the summer of 2009, Brunson said. She is currently working with them to locate a specific area with specific needs to test her filtration methods.

“Our philosophy is that you can’t just walk see FELLOW paGe a3

AcAdemics

OU master’s programs add options, not costs No thesis required from new degree candidates HollY DAVIS WAlKeR staff Reporter

After two years, the OU Graduate College’s effort to increase the number of degrees available to students without spending more money has

LiFe & ArTs VOL. 97, NO. 35

Laura Brunson received the EPA Science to Achieve Results fellowship, which offers an approximate $120,000 stipend over three years for living and research, according to a press release.

“I didn’t really expect to win. You know, you set out to write a good application and try the best you can, but it’s really competitive and there are lots of people all around the country doing really awesome research,” Brunson said. “So, I was pretty excited. It’s good for me to know I can pay my rent, but it also helps my

walking through dallas’ west end

finally paid off.

The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education approved two new degree programs in September, making OU the first college in the state to offer a professional master’s degrees in science and a professional master’s degree in art.

The degrees require 32 hours of graduate credit, including 12 to 15

hours of core courses of graduatelevel coursework and a professional internship, according to the degree plan provided to the board of regents.

While no thesis is required, candidates for either degree will write and present a project report that serves as the comprehensive exam, according to background information

OU hopes to stay strong with win against Tigers

see what the historic downtown district has to offer this weekend.

(Page A6)

nAsA needs more funding, attention The federal government must reorganize its priorities. (Page A4)

sPorTs stoops enjoys ou-Texas environment. (Page B2)

aUstin VaUGHn/tHe daiLy

seniors carlee Roethlisberger (7) and Brianne Barker (1) signal before a play during a game earlier this season. The sooners host missouri at 7 tonight at mccasland field House. (oUdaily.com)

see DEGREES paGe a2

sTATe BrieF ou-TeXas

Perry not betting on rivalry game

oPinion

Atmosphere adds intensity, coach says

in regents’ June agenda.

The program is structured to retain the academic standards traditional for advanced degrees, Graduate College dean T.H. Lee Williams said, but still allows departments and students the flexibility to

Texas Gov. Rick Perr y isn’t ready to ante up for Saturday’s installment of the Red River Rivalry.

O klahoma G ov. Mar y Fallin made the offer of a friendly wager for Saturday’s football game in Dallas, but Perry’s office never accepted, Fallin’s spokesman Alex Weintz said.

“We can only assume they’re running scared,” Weintz said.

No bets were made, but the two states will continue the annual Governor’s Cup

rivalry.

The cup is traditionally exchanged by the governors of Texas and Oklahoma following the Red River Rivalry, but this year the exchange will be handled by the schools’ alumni associations.

The tradition began when Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe donated the trophy in 1973, and each year it is transported from the office of the previous year’s winning governor to Dallas.

Fallin is scheduled be at the game Saturday, ready to return the cup to Oklahoma, but Weintz said they do not expect Perry to attend.

Annelise Russell, News Editor

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• Wednesday, October 5, 2011

news

Chase Cook, managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

Advising: Keep checking for times, officials say Continued from page A1

scheduling is available. The information is available in a newsletter.

“In that newsletter, called a Newsflash, it says that we are now taking appointments for advising,” Allman s a i d . “ It d o e s n o t s a y , ‘You call and schedule an appointment.’”

OU advisers are working to find better ways to work with students and their schedules.

Several OU advisers are currently learning how to better advise students in the National Academic Association Conference in Denver, Allman said.

Above all, Allman praised OU for its excellence in advising.

“I can tell you one of the things we find when we go to [the Denver conference]: We hear stories ... from all over the country that we are doing a great job here at the

oudaily.coM Link: Sign up for an advising session Link: View the degree checksheets and Degree Navigator

to plan out their schedules, so the need for advisement may depend on the student.

Skye Singleton, University College freshman, said her first experience with advisement was simple.

“It was really easy. All I had to do was go online and click on my desired appointment time,” Singleton said.

“Although I only had a choice between Intro to Logic and Pre-calculus because of my major requirements, I found the website helpful to make sure I take the right classes.”

Allman said there are no major improvements planned for advising but she is always open to student input.

Students can make suggestions on the advising website by clicking on the ‘Contact Us’ button on the left-hand side of the page.

Enrollment for spring 2012 begins Oct. 28.

A seminar on test-taking strategies will take place from to 3 p.m. in Adams Center’s Housing Learning Center. The event is part of the Student Success Series.

courses with a “squiggly” line.

In addition to creating a trial schedule, students should get to know their faculty before making course decisions, Allman said.

“These [people] are the ones who do the recommendations for you,” she said.

“Though you may not see a faculty adviser for advising, you still need to know your faculty.”

In regard to scheduling an advisement appointment through iAdvise, Allman explained that University College opens its appointments in two-week blocks, and students should keep checking if no appointments are initially available.

Allman said students are responsible for knowing when advisement

A lecture titled “Civic Branding: Form Follows Culture-Lecture” will be presented

by Bennett Peji from 4 to 6 p.m. at Gould Hall in the Joe & Jane Bushkuhl Gallery.

Degrees: Programs will be self-supporting

Today around campus The collaborative art exhibit titled “Satan’s Camaro” is on display in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Lightwell Gallery. The exhibit will be on display until Oct. 21.

OU Softball will play against Seminole State at 6 p.m. at the OU Softball Complex.

OU Volleyball will face off against Big 12 foe Missouri at 7 p.m. in McCasland Field House.

Thursday, Oct. 6 A workshop on modern languages, literatures and linguistics will be presented by OU graduate Grant Moak from 8 to 10 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Sharp Concert Hall. Moak will discuss how to use French language skills will be useful in the following areas: French Honorary Consul in Oklahoma, in the field of law and in a work or study abroad program in France.

The OU jazz bands will perform from 8 to 10 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Sharp Concert Hall. The concert is part of the Sutton Concert Series. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for students, OU faculty/staff and senior adults.

Friday, Oct. 7 No school. OU-Texas weekend begins.

Saturday, Oct. 8 The collaborative art exhibit titled “Satan’s Camaro” is on display in the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art’s Lightwell Gallery. The exhibit will be on display until Oct. 21.

Sunday, Oct. 9 A recital by the Marvin Murphee Mosaic Vocal Ensemble will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Pitman Recital Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited.

A flute performance by professor Valerie Watts will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Pitman Recital Hall. The performance is part of the Sutton Artist Series.

Seating is limited.

Monday, Oct. 10 A workshop on the music of North India will take place from 5 to 6 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Pitman Recital Hall. The workshop will demonstrate the drumming patterns of the folk music of North India.

A concert of the Himalayan Folk Music of North India will take place from 8 to 10 p.m. in Catlett Music Center’s Sharp Concert Hall. Tickets are $9 adults, $5 students, senior adults and OU faculty/staff.

Corrections The Oklahoma Daily has a commitment to serve readers with accurate coverage and analysis.

Readers should bring errors to The Daily’s attention by emailing dailynews@ou.edu.

On Monday’s opinion page, Clarke Stroud’s name was misspelled.

In Monday’s photo of sophomore Tom Wort scoring a touchdown, the photo was incorrectly attributed. Evin Morrison took the photo.

In Tuesday’s page 1 story about OU’s licensing contract, Renata Hays’ name was misspelled.

Continued from page A1 pursue their interests.

“We want [students] to have a good graduate experience, but we also want them to have a good career opportunity,” he said.

The regents also approved two graduate certificates: Helping Skills in Human R e l a t i o n s, a n d Hu m a n Resource Diversity and Development.

According to the state regents’ agenda for the Sept.

8 meeting, most courses required for the degrees and certificates already exist on OU’s campus.

University of Oklahoma,” Allman said.

Some OU students have mixed feelings about advising.

Improvements could be made to the system, said Katie Knutter, political science and women’s and gender studies senior.

“I’m still forced to meet with my political science adviser even though I only have my women and gender studies classes left to take,” Knutter said.

Knutter said some students already take the time

“We want [students] to have a good graduate experience, but we also want them to have a good career opportunity.”

T.H. Lee Williams, Graduate college dean

Based on projected enrollment provided with the data, all four proposed programs are self-supporting, though some state funds will be used.

OU has received those funds and will reallocate them to the new programs, according to the agenda.

Tuition will cover the expenses otherwise.

Williams said such professional degrees are garnering

national attention, but OU’s professional master’s program is unique because it draws ideas from interdisciplinary degrees, another program within the Graduate College.

Williams said interdisciplinary degrees have a history of suspicion, but today, interdisciplinary degrees are more widely accepted.

Degrees that cross boundaries prepare graduates for

work that spans different industries, including art and Chinese studies, he said.

“People are more flexible now, and the professional science master’s will fit into it well,” he said.

Williams said the new degree programs would serve more students without requiring more money.

“Higher education is a great value, but we need to make sure it’s the best value,” Williams said.

Students may officially enroll in the program as early as this semester, but those interested must have their programs approved by the Graduate Council, he said.

NEWS

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 •

Local Film

Student makes a splash Water conservation film wins $6K in national contest Angela To

Campus Reporter

One student videographer ’s project on water conservation is winning national acclaim.

Film and video junior Jall Cowasji’s film w on $6,000 with the Green I n d u s t r y Aw a r d i n t h e “Intelligent Use of Water� film competition.

C owa s j i’s f i l m, t i t l e d “Water Ways,� was one of six finalists.

He and his sister were flown out to Beverly Hills, Calif., to accept the award, he said. Rain Bird, a manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and ser vices, sponsored the competition.

The competition’s goal is to further the case for responsible outdoor water use, according the contest website.

Cowasji, a former Daily photographer, shot his film last summer when visiting his home in Mhow, India.

The five-minute video focuses on Cowasji’s grandfather, Phiroze Illava, a water conservationist. The video focuses on many of Illava’s techniques for conserving water he uses around his home and garden. “He goes around town, and he implements these sort of water habits that are implemented in people’s houses,� Cowasji said. “He also actively participates in establishing security fixtures to save water.�

Cowasji first became interested in film when he was 8 years old. His grandmother had just purchased a video camera for herself and soon gave it to him after she couldn’t figure out how to use it.

Cowasji did not use a video camcorder for this film, instead using a digital single lens reflective camera, Canon 7D. “Now, one of the major features of digital SLRs is that they have fantastic video features. They’re becoming more known for their video features than their photographic features� he said. “It’s a whole revolution called DSLR filmmaking which has opened up a bunch of avenues for independent filmmakers who really don’t have a budget, but they can buy this camera at a small budget and make full highdefinition videos.�

Because his grandfather currently lives in India, Cowasji said he thought it would be a great idea to help his grandfather spread his message to other parts of the world. “My main motivation to apply for [the competition] is that my grandfather really wants to get his message of the importance of water conservation out to as many people as possible,� Cowasji said, “And because he’s limited in his

Kingsley Burns/The Daily

Top: Jall Cowasji, film and media studies junior, sits at his desk next to his Canon 7D, which he used to film his project.

PHOTO PROVIDED

“A lot of people came up to me asking me for [my grandfather’s] personal contact, asking me further details about how they can actually implement what I have shown about.�

Jall Cowasji, film and media studies junior

own technical ability with things such as social media or YouTube, he doesn’t know how to use any of that, so he is also really limited in terms of the audience he can reach.�

A f t e r C o w a s j i ’s f i l m screening, the audience was intrigued with the methods

Be

of water conservation his grandfather demonstrated in the video, he said. “A lot of people came up to me asking me for his personal contact, asking me further details about how they can actually implement what I have shown a b o u t ,� C o w a s j i s a i d .

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into a country and say, ‘Let’s go find a rural village for this project,’� Brunson said. “You really need to work with people living and working in Ethiopia and who know a community that needs help and would be good to work in.�

She also returned to Ethiopia in summer 2011 to work with the professors on locating a village, she said.

About 200 million people in the world, including 14 million in Ethiopia, drink water with high levels of fluoride, she said. It is also prevalent in China, India, the Rift Valley region of Africa and even parts of oudaily.coM the U.S. Link: Learn more Too much fluoride can cause about water techbone deformities and darkened nologies at the OU teeth, Brunson said. These Water Technologies physical conditions can limits for Emerging Regions people’s marriage options, as Center’s website well as their success in finding public jobs. Bone deformities also can cause pain and limit physical labor. “What we’re trying to do is come up with less expensive technologies that can be produced locally rather than be manufactured and then shipped,â€? she said. “There are a couple of techniques that some communities are using, but there’s something wrong with all of them – they produce a lot of waste or only remove fluoride up to a certain concentration ‌ or it’s difficult to get the chemicals needed.â€?

Brunson tests new methods in her lab, particularly a filtration system using an aluminum coating, she said. She also experiments with filtration columns, both in Ethiopia over the summer and in the lab right now. By doing this, she can see if lab results are consistent with actual community results and whether her methods are indeed viable ones. “It’s not a perfect system, but it’s a good method of estimating without having to build a 1000-liter system that would be incredibly expensive and would require lots and lots of water to test,� Brunson said.

Brunson was a business undergraduate at OU and now teaches a class in social entrepreneurship with the business college, she said. She earned her Master’s in environmental science from OU as well.

When applying to graduate programs, Brunson had a vague idea that she wanted to work with water but did not know in what specific area, she said. She consulted with professor David Sabatini, who was creating the OU Water Technologies for Emerging Regions Center at the time, and realized water sanitation was something she could be passionate about. “This award recognizes Laura’s unique abilities, contributions to date and future potential as an international leader in her field,� Sabatini said in a statement. “We are so fortunate to have her as part of the WaTER Center team where she is making significant contributions to improve on lives of those living in poverty in Ethiopia.�

The center was founded in 2006 by Sabatini to find methods for providing clean drinking water around the world, according to its website.

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“People actually came up to me and said, ‘We want to try this’ and ‘We want more details as possible.’�

This is not the first time Cowasji has won a film festival.

Last year, he submitted a film entry to a bigstar.tv competition, and ended up winning $1,000.

Cowasji said he is now planning to apply for other film competitions in the U.S. such as the Dead Center Film Festival.

Fellow: Water draws research student

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Left: Cowasji accepts the prize check of $6,000 for his film “Water Ways.� The short film highlighted his grandfather’s water conservation work in India.

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Comment of the day on OUDaily.com ››

• Wednesday, October 5, 2011

OPINION

“we live in a shallow society. what are you gonna do? we pay more attention to crap like mtv’s jersey shore than fighting crime, taxation, health care, etc..” (kdbp1213, Re: COLUMN: Electorate deserves coverage of issues, not controversy)

EDITORIAL

Extend space race for future Our View: Space exploration should continue to be a priority to lay the groundwork for future innovations.

AT A GLANCE Products made by, for NASA • smoke detectors • Velcro • wireless power tools • satellite TV • digital medical imaging

• polarized sunglasses • scratch-resistant lenses • complex robotics • better sports safety equipment

OUr Earth president Rebecca Wood, interdisciplinary perspectives on the environment and Source: NASA English junior, was named a NASA earth ambassador and will attend a program on climate change starting next week. This award, while a Associated Press — an irony not lost on members prestigious opportunity for Wood to contribute to climate change research, illustrates the current of the “space race” generation.

The U.S. is facing many difficult decisions about danger facing NASA’s space program.

With the government focused so firmly on defi- how to fight the national deficit, and it is understandable that some would look to a program like cit reduction and budget cuts, NASA is on the NASA to bear the brunt of that burden. But this chopping block. The White House asked agenviewpoint is harmful and misinformed. cies to submit 2013 budget proposals 10 Let’s put aside for a moment that percent below this year’s, which means The Our View NASA’s budget was only 1.5 percent of at least a $1.85 billion cut to NASA’s usual is the majority the estimated federal budget in 2010. The $18 billion budget, according to its webopinion of new technology made possible by space site. And it’s obvious from the climate in The Daily’s exploration continues to revolutionWashington that the agency is at risk for 10-member many more cuts. Congress has focused editorial board ize our lives. Recent innovations from the agency have resulted in hydroponits cuts on the space program, funneling ics technology allowing food producmore money to earth science research. tion without proper soil, tiny medical cameras, Green initiatives are incredibly important, but bacteria-based oil-spill cleanup and even nanospace exploration is also essential. Missions to technology-improved hairstyling products. Not look at obscure phenomenon or peer back to to mention the hundreds of important everyday the beginnings of the universe may be expentechnologies that would not exist without the sive investments that take many years to pay off, space program. Satellites, anyone? but they will pay off. And now we must invest in John F. Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the our future scientific understanding, laying the groundwork for important research that will lead moon ... not because [it is] easy, but because [it is] hard.” That hasn’t changed; the U.S. is facing its to the next revolutionary technology.

On July 8, after 30 years and 135 flights, the last share of hard choices where NASA is concerned.

We can only urge politicians to think beyond of NASA’s space shuttles launched for the final the present and make the right decisions for the time. Now, when American astronauts go to the future.

International Space Station, the U.S. will have to pay the Russians an estimated $55.8 million Comment on this at OUDaily.com for a ride on their spacecraft, according to the

COLUMN

Presidents’ names need respect

L

et me begin with OPINION COLUMNIST stating that I was not, and am not, a fan of former President George W. Bush.

Indeed, I feel his excessive use of signing statements marks a significant power grab on the part of Tom Taylor the executive branch. tomtaylor.home@gmail.com I also believe the decision by his administration to circumvent federal and international laws by reinterpreting those laws was not only illegal but could be grounds for an international war crimes tribunal.

With that being said, I must also point out that I have never referred to our former president as anything other than “President Bush,” “George W. Bush,” “Bush” or some other derivation. As the president of the United States, he deserved a modicum of respect based on title alone, and I endeavored to give him this much. President Barack Obama deserves the same courtesy.

If I hear someone refer to Obama as “Barry,” I

immediately classify the person as disrespectful. After all, liberals rarely called Bush “Georgy.”

If I hear someone refer to our president as “Barack Hussein Obama,” I classify the person as an ignorant Islamophobe. I cannot recall the public ever referring to Bush as “George Walker Bush.” The inclusion of Obama’s middle name is done only to incite mistrust, as it reminds people instinctively of Saddam and Islam even though in this case it has no connection.

If I hear someone refer to Obama as “Barry Soetoro,” I classify the person as a disrespectful, ignorant Islamophobe. Can anyone recall President Bill Clinton ever being called “William Jefferson Blythe” by the public? The use of Obama’s stepfather’s last name is done for the purpose of creating mistrust, reminding people that he grew up in another country.

To deny the president a simple courtesy of referring to him in a respectful manner is not only disrespectful to the president but to the country he represents. People need to remember that they are Americans no matter who is in office.

Tom Taylor is a political science graduate student.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Save Medicare with proposed change Re: “Reform system, not elderly,” Tuesday’s editorial Tuesday’s editorial painted an inaccurate picture of a plan I offered with Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., to strengthen and fix Medicare.

As a physician, I understand the importance of ensuring quality care for seniors and those who are most vulnerable in our society. Yet, the fact is Medicare is unsustainable.

Today, the average senior gets $360,000 out of Medicare while only putting in $110,000. As Lieberman says, “We can’t save Medicare as we know it. We can only save Medicare if we change it.”

Medicare as it is structured today won’t exist in five years. We simply will not be able to even borrow the money to pay promised benefits. The Medicare Actuary says the Medicare program could be insolvent as soon as 2016. We have to act now to save Medicare. Every year we wait makes the inevitable task of structural reform more difficult.

You are right to note that Medicare fraud is a major problem, which the Lieberman-Coburn plan addresses. Nearly

$100 billion is lost to Medicare and Medicaid waste, fraud and abuse each year. Each dollar lost to fraud or waste is a dollar not available to seniors.

Finally, the only way to truly reform health care is reconnect doctors and patients, and reconnect the purchase of health care with the purchaser. Today, third-parties — government and health care bureaucrats — have severed the doctor-patient relationship and undermined the very market forces that can make health care affordable and accessible.

I would encourage your readers to also look over the Patients’ Choice Act, I offered last year with House Budget Committee chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis. Our plan uses a consumer-directed approach, rather than a government or insurance company-directed approach, to reform health care.

Doing nothing to reform Medicare and health care is the surest way to harm seniors, today’s college students and future generations to follow.

Tom Coburn, U.S. senator

?

Mary Stanfield, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

» Poll question of the day Should the U.S. government continue cutting NASA funds?

To cast your vote, visit COLUMN

Recent trials question all media facts

A

fter being OPINION COLUMNIST charged with the murder of her roommate in 2007 and spending four years in an Italian prison, Amanda Knox is finally a free woman.

Knox and her British Lindsey Morrison roommate, Meredith lindseymorrison@ou.edu Kercher, were both part of an exchange student program that allowed them to study at the University of Perugia in Italy. The two girls shared a flat and had two other Italian roommates. On Nov. 1, 2007, Kercher was found dead in her room and Knox became an instant suspect.

Knox was arrested Nov. 6, 2007, five days after Kercher was found. In December 2009, Knox was found guilty of murder and sentenced to 26 years in prison, which would be served in Italy. In April 2010, her defense team filed an appeal in hopes that the Italian jurisdiction would be overruled.

One constant thread in the commentary about the case is the lack of evidence. Prosecutors had to throw out evidence that was contaminated or that was not applicable to the case. Contradicting testimonies from witnesses caused some to question why Knox was even being accused. However, the Italian court still found her guilty of murder.

After a lengthy appeals process, Knox’s conviction was overturned and she was allowed to return to the U.S. “So why did with only a charge of slander we paint Casey against her former boss.

Anthony as this This whole case is causing a lot of media sources to queshorrible person tion the integrity of the Italian and Amanda Knox judicial system — something as a wronged girl? we are far too familiar with America after the Casey It’s all about how in Anthony not-guilty verdict media cover it.” in July. What’s funny is that Americans are saying Italy was wrong to sentence Knox in the first place because of limited evidence, while they believe the U.S. was wrong not to sentence Anthony even though there was similarly limited evidence.

The jury concluded Anthony was not guilty based on a lack of DNA evidence that linked Anthony to the death of her daughter, Caylee. When the verdict was released, my Twitter and Facebook feeds were filled with outrage. Everyone still believes that she really is guilty of murdering her daughter.

Now look at Knox’s story. She’s found guilty in an Italian court with limited and contaminated evidence.

After her conviction was overturned, my Twitter and Facebook were filled with things like “Amanda Knox is free!” and “So happy that she can return home.”

So why did we paint Anthony as this horrible person and Knox as a wronged girl? It’s all about how media cover it. They showed Anthony as this mother who partied while her daughter was missing. Instead of proving how she killed her daughter, we watched her get torn apart for being a terrible mother and a liar. This automatically made people assume she was guilty.

Knox was smeared and defamed in Italian media from the very beginning of her trial. In videos released from the court room, Knox is crying while giving her statements in Italian. American stories always seemed to say how somber and upset she looked throughout both the first trial and the appeals case.

This painted a picture in our heads that she really was innocent and was being tortured by having to serve her time in Italy and not being allowed to come home.

Now, I’m not saying I believe Anthony is innocent or Knox is guilty, or vice versa. But as media consumers, we need to make sure we know the facts before we make assumptions about people.

No one reading this article was in either of those court rooms hearing those trials. We don’t know everything that went on, and while the media does their best to give us that information, it is always tainted with a bit of bias.

Lindsey Morrison is a public relations sophomore.

The Oklahoma Daily is a public forum and OU’s independent student voice.

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Letters should concentrate on issues, not personalities, and must be fewer than 250 words, typed, double spaced and signed by the author(s). Letters will be edited for accuracy, space and style. Students must list their major and classification. To submit letters, email dailyopinion@ou.edu. Letters also can be submitted in person Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall.

Guest columns are accepted and printed at the editor’s discretion.

Columnists’ and cartoonists’ opinions are their own and not necessarily the opinions of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board.

Our View is the voice of The Oklahoma Daily Editorial Board, which consists of the editorial staff. The board meets at 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday in 160 Copeland Hall. Board meetings are open to the public.

One free copy of The Daily is available to members of the University of Oklahoma community. Because of high production costs, additional copies may be purchased for 25 cents by contacting The Daily business office.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 •

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COLLEGE SKI & BOARD WEEK

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The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution.

* Tickets can be purchased at Student Media or The Office of Corporate Engagement in Three Partners Place

HOROSCOPE

By Bernice Bede Osol

Copyright 2011, Newspaper Enterprise Assn.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 5, 2011 Certain groups or individuals who have never been lucky for you previously might prove to be so in coming months, in more ways than one. Treat everyone with consideration, because you never know who will be doing you a favor.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- If you haven’t been getting the exercise you know you need, take a little time to do so. You don’t have to do anything exhausting; merely walking the dog could help a lot.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- Timing is always important, so you should pace yourself well when it comes to handling matters that depend upon the work of others. Only then can you bring all your forces into play.

Previous Solution

Monday- Very Easy Tuesday-Easy Wednesday- Easy Thursday- Medium Friday - Hard

Instructions: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. That means that no number is repeated in any row, column or box.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- You’ll operate best when you’re able to just coast along, until you’re required to bring the full brunt of your imagination and ingenuity to bear. Timing can be everything.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- If you’re splitting responsibilities with your spouse, make sure you get finances on your side of the ledger. Your ideas on getting fiscal are likely to be much more resourceful and clever.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- There could be a mystique about you that will fascinate almost everyone you deal with. This appeal makes it easier to gain the acceptance of others.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -Although it was never your intention to make others feel indebted to you, someone you recently did a favor for wants to reciprocate your kindness. Be a gracious receiver.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- You’re full of bright ideas to begin with, but you might have far more than usual.

Unless you jot them down the moment you conceive them, they’ll vanish into the ether.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- The only way you are likely to get anything done is to zero in on your objectives. If you don’t, your head could wander all over the place, causing you to easily get sidetracked.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- Your ability to absorb and retain new knowledge is remarkable, especially if you’re passing it on to those who need it but don’t have the means to get it.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- For good reason, people trust you and feel that it’s safe to tell you things that they wouldn’t tell others. This should make you proud, and inspire you to live up to their estimation of you.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Instead of seeing only the faults or weaknesses in the ideas of others, look for what is good and praiseworthy. You’ll be amazed at how fast you’ll gain others’ support when you do so.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- The secret of gaining a few strides on your rivals is to put their needs on par with your own requirements. When you look for solutions for others, you’ll find your own.

Universal Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker October 5, 2011 ACROSS 1 Atkins Diet no-no 5 “Homo,� for humans 10 Alphabetize, e.g.

14 Lot measurement 15 “J’Accuse� author Zola 16 “Hey, what’s the big ___?�

17 Thing sent to Santa 18 Passover month 19 Toss of the dice 20 Classic Salinger novel (with “The�)

23 ___ Royal Highness 24 Lithium ___ battery 25 “Ah, I see!�

28 Fashionable Yves Saint 32 Word with “sheet� or “music�

35 “Antiques Roadshow� item, sometimes 37 Beyond dry 38 Brine-cured Greek cheese 39 It may surround a charged particle 42 Hand-lotion additive 43 “The Dukes of Hazzard� deputy sheriff 44 Direct attention (to) 45 Words on many park signs 46 “X-Men� character 10/5

48 “Come ___ About Me�

(Supremes hit) 49 A sniggler snares it 50 Where Mary and Joseph sought refuge 52 Call it quits 61 Tries to win the affection of 62 Ellipsoid flattened at the poles 63 Creep like lava 64 “Climactic� intro 65 Dumb bunny 66 “... ___ lender be�

67 Spotted 68 Base stealer’s tactic 69 Stylish elegance DOWN 1 Advanced math course, briefly 2 “Carmen� solo 3 Seventh-day activity 4 Cookie quantity 5 Plural of 5-Across 6 Ruler in Abu Dhabi 7 Decree ___ (legal term) 8 ___ Bator (Mongolian capital) 9 Soldier on guard duty 10 Warning wailer 11 What wavy lines signify in the comics 12 Depend (on)

13 Story that may be tall 21 Feudal slave 22 Scorching 25 The Atlantic, e.g.

26 Brit’s greeting 27 Triple-layer cookies 29 “That’s ___ your head!�

30 Military drone’s job, for short 31 Answering machine button 32 Coral assemblies 33 Noted seed salesman W. ___ Burpee 34 Southern California ballplayer 36 Bartender’s “rocks�

38 “Fee, ___, foe, fum�

40 Gets back to true 41 Disguise for illegal activi-

ties 46 Cat cry 47 Decorate fabric, ‘60s-style 49 Rose-red substance 51 “... tree falls in the forest and ___ ...�

52 “Jabberwocky� beginning 53 Apply to a whetstone 54 Mechanical learning method 55 “Chapter Two� playwright Simon 56 “Beloved� author Morrison 57 Buck’s mate 58 Blanket choice 59 Old Testament book before Nehemiah 60 Without much fat

PREVIOUS PUZZLE ANSWER

10/4

Š 2011 Universal Uclick www.upuzzles.com

PLAYING SECOND BASE By Kevin Carr

A6

• Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Life&arts

Tomorrow ›› Prepare for the Texas State Fair with The Daily’s don’t-miss list of fair foods and attractions.

Katherine Borgerding, life & arts editor dailyent@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-5189

West End story 1

Dallas serves up entertainment, food for visiting Sooners

T

he month of October: a time when the cardigans and hoodies no longer collect dust in the back of a closet, when decorating your home in orange with Halloween jack-o’-lanterns is acceptable in the “Sooner Nation” and when our fall break revolves around the religion of football.

That’s right, OU-Texas weekend is approaching.

Norman is a ghost town on OU-Texas weekend.

Either students go back home to visit with their families, or they drive south down crowded Interstate-35, with lanes filled with vehicles flying OU flags on their cars and embellished with OU decals and upside-down longhorns.

Even though Dallas is flooded with OU students going to the game, many students simply enjoy being around the exciting atmosphere. That’s where I can help. Even though half of this university seems to be from the state of Texas (seriously every other vehicle in Norman has a Texas license plate), sometimes people don’t know where the fun restaurants in downtown Dallas are located, preferably in the West End area where the OU-Texas students gather.

If you’re looking for a

2

life & Arts columnist

3

Lauren Duff laurenduff@ou.edu

fine-dining meal, you may need to resort to another area; West End is where the sports bars and fun restaurants are located.

If you can take the verbalabuse from servers and are not afraid to throw it back, Dick’s Last Resort is the perfect choice.

Located on Lamar Street, Dick’s Last Resort is set up with rows of picnic tables with humorous signs and T-shirts decorating the walls. It’s a fun environment, and the servers purposely act like “dicks” to their customers.

The food is great, the customers are always laughing and it gives you a chance to speak your mind if you’re feeling up to it. Now promise me one thing if you go: make sure to try the fried alligator bites. It’s good to branch out sometimes.

Right across the street from Dick’s Last Resort is the House of Blues, a venue that holds various concerts throughout the year, also serves Cajun-like cuisine.

3

5 6

1 House of Blues 2 Dick’s Last Resort 3 Hard Rock Cafe 4 Fatal End Haunted House 2200 N. Lamar St. 2211 N. Lamar St.

2211 N. Houston St. 603 Munger Ave.

The catfish po-boy is something worth ordering (FYI: Get a dessert too; the key lime pie is decadent but Sooner-worthy in my book).

If you don’t have tickets

Must be 21 to drink.

7

Adopt - An - Area Area Ratings For This Week

Air Force R.O.T.C.

Delta Upsilon

Phi Gamma Delta

Alpha Chi Omega

Gamma Phi Beta

Phi Kappa Psi

Alpha Gamma Delta

Engineers Without Borders

Phi Kappa Sigma

Alpha Kappa Alpha

Hispanic American Student Association

Pi Beta Phi

Alpha Omicron Pi

Iota Phi Theta

Alpha Phi

Kappa Alpha

Alpha Phi Alpha Alpha Phi Omega Alpha Tau Omega Beta Theta Pi Catholic Student Assoc.

Chi Omega

Kappa Alpha Psi Kappa Alpha Theta Kappa Delta Chi Kappa Kappa Gamma Kappa Kappa Psi Lambda Chi Alpha

Delta Chi

Omega Delta Phi

Delta Delta Delta

Omega Psi Phi

Delta Epsilon Psi

Our Earth

Delta Gamma

Phi Beta Sigma

Delta Phi Omega Delta Sigma Theta Delta Tau Delta

International Leadership Class

Way To Go!

Phi Delta Alpha Phi Delta Theta

7 illustration by Katherine Borgerding /The daily

Draft/ Enjoy while supplies last! $ .25 Bottle Pitcher

Alpha Kappa Delta Phi

8

4

These are ‘Small Batch’ Brews for Oktoberfest.

$

Take the tour: Dallas’ West End

Pi Kappa Alpha President’s Community Scholars President’s Leadership Class RUF/NEK Lil Sis Sigma Alpha Epsilon Sigma Chi Sigma Gamma Rho Sigma Lambda Beta Sigma Lambda Gamma Sigma Phi Epsilon Zeta Phi Beta Adams Cate Couch Walker

Keep Up the Good Work!

Volunteer � Programs leadandvolunteer.ou.edu Strengthening Our Traditions through Service to State and Society

The University of Oklahoma is an Equal Opportunity Institution. For accommodations on the basis of disability, call 325-2340

5 The Spaghetti Warehouse 6 Gator’s Croc-N-Roc 7 West End Pub 8 Dallas World Aquarium 1815 N. Market St. 1714 N. Market St. 1801 N. Lamar St.

1810 N. Griffin St.

to the game, West End Pub, also located on North Lamar Street, offers a

friendly environment and a great place to kick back and watch the OU-Texas game

in the air-conditioning.

Other attractions in West End include Dallas World Aquarium, if you need a break from the heat or the screaming football fans; and Fatal End Haunted House, a perfect way to get into the Halloween spirit.

So who is excited for OUTexas weekend? It’s going to be a great break filled with football and fun. BOOMER! Lauren Duff is a journalism senior.

| WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2011

RED RIVER RIVALRY S O O N E R S vs. L O N G H O R N S - - T H E 1 0 6

TH

MATCHUP

THE COTTON BOWL F R E S H FACE S

11 A.M. S AT U R DAY DA L L A S, T X

SEASONED VETERANS

DOMINIQUE

LANDRY

BLAKE

WHALEY

JONES

“THE WALK-ON WONDER”

JUNIOR QUARTERBACK

vs.

GIDEON SENIOR SAFETY

vs.

MALCOLM

BROWN “THE HOTSHOT RECRUIT”



MAIN EVENT



OU TEXAS vs.

FA M I L I A R FOE S

BOB

STOOPS vs.

MACK

BROWN O K L A H O M A ’ S E X P E R I E N C E vs. T E X A S ’ Y O U N G G U N S



PLUS



U N DE F E ATE D S HOW DOW N

COLLEGE GA M E DAY PICK S

OKLAHOMA SOONERS

SCHOONER

RANKED 3RD

vs.

4-0 (1-0 BIG 12)

BEVO

vs.

TEXAS LONGHORNS

RANKED 11TH 4-0 (1-0 BIG 12)

RECEIVER RUMBLE THE SENIOR & HIS

THE FRESHMAN & HIS

LAST HURRAH vs. FIRST ATTEMPT RYAN “BEEN HERE BEFORE” BROYLES

JAXON “I’M NOT JORDAN” SHIPLEY

B2

• Wednesday, October 5, 2011

SPORTS

Tomorrow ›› Don’t miss the editorial boards of The Daily and The Daily Texan take shots at each other’s schools in their annual letter exchange.

James Corley, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666

Also on OUDaily.com | VOLLEYBALL: Sooners hope to continue success against Missouri | SOFTBALL: OU opens fall schedule with Seminole State

FOOTBALL

Stoops talks Red River Rivalry Football coach says atmosphere adds intensity to game

QUOTE BOARD Sooners sound off on the game “Growing up, you hear about this game every year.

Being an Oklahoma kid and getting to play in this game, it’s really an honor and a privilege.”

— Javon Harris, safety

Zack Hedrick Sports Reporter

It will be the 106th time OU and Texas meet for the Red River Rivalry this Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

And for the 25th time, both programs have undefeated records. It sets up what is sure to be another electric and intense shootout between the Sooners and Longhorns.

For the L onghorns, a win means it continues on its rebound path after last year’s dismal season. For the Sooners, a win means it solidifies itself as a national championship contender.

“I could sense it in the locker room right after the [Ball State] game, our players were already anxious about [OUTexas] and anticipating it,” Stoops said. “Now, it’s down to doing the work during the week to prepare for it.”

The players have said as much this week, as well.

“I’m real pumped. It’s an exciting game and always is,” junior defensive end Ronnell Lewis said. “We just been practicing real hard and looking forward to it. There’s a lot of excitement with the team, coaches and fans.”

Texas comes in with some new faces but familiar names to go against the Sooners.

The resurrection of the McCoy-Shipley connection has given the Longhorns new life and helped them to the undefeated record they now posses.

Stoops said Texas has new schemes offensively and defensively. The Longhorns are currently rolling up 206 yards rushing per game, ranked 25th in the country, compared to OU’s 177 yards rushing per game — 44th in the nation.

The undefeated records of the two teams bring augmented national attention.

Not that the Red River Rivalry doesn’t get national attention every year, but

“You just see your fans praising you and holding up the No. 1. And, then you’ll see Texas fans throwing up the Horns to you. Some people might flip you off. It’s a great atmosphere, though, driving into that place.”

— Landry Jones, quarterback “I didn’t realize how the split fans was going to be. That was a new feeling because I hadn’t ever played in a bowl game where the fans were split that much. So, it was a different experience. But, once you start playing, it’s just back to football.”

— Trey Millard, fullback “You put 90,000 people and split it down the middle and half of them don’t like each other, it’s going to be loud and it’s going to be rowdy. So, we know what we’re getting into.”

— Gabe Ikard, center

Sooners sound off on the ’Horns Kingsley Burns/The Daily

OU coach Bob Stoops reacts on the sidelines during the OU-Ball State game Saturday at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Sooners won, 62-6. Oklahoma faces Texas on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for the 106th meeting of the teams.

AT A GLANCE The coaches When OU coach Bob Stoops and Texas coach Mack Brown face off Saturday, it will be their 13th year to play. Stoops has the advantage over Brown with a 7-5 lead.

the game gets significantly more when both teams are unblemished and high in the polls — like the opportunity to host ESPN’s “College GameDay.” And with OU’s recent slips in the AP poll, Texas coach

Mack Brown said more pressure is on Oklahoma.

“If there is pressure on us, I welcome it,” Stoops said when asked about Brown’s comments. “We are more than capable of handling it.

There’s pressure on them, too. But coming into this game, that’s what you want.

We both complement each other really well.”

Stoops reflects Despite it being Texas week with all the added pressure and hype, Stoops was relaxed and loose when he met with reporters for his weekly press conference Tuesday.

He recalled his favorite

memories of past OU-Texas games and joked with sportswriters about the rivalry’s atmosphere.

Stoops said he has many fond memories from past Red River Rivalry games — like Roy Williams’ play in 2001 and Brandon Everage’s sack of Vince Young in 2004.

“It goes on and on,” Stoops said. “There’s a bunch of [memories] when you’ve been in 12 of them.”

When asked if he ever pays attention to jeers or gestures from Texas fans, Stoops said he gets all kinds of things pointed at him when he is on the bus going to the stadium. Despite all ill will from

Longhorn fans, Stoops said he plays ignorant.

“I don’t pay attention. It goes right past me,” Stoops said. “I can’t say that I remember anything.”

Though he hasn’t been mooned — he said he would have remembered that. He also laughed about the fans who feel the need to yell at the team bus.

“I truly marvel at people,” Stoops said. “I’m on a bus — it’s not like I can hear you.”

But Stoops said the bad blood and animosity are exciting parts of the rivalry.

“Without it, it would not have the same intensity year in and year out,” he said.

Investigate BEFORE you invest • Learn how to spot investment fraud • Verify the registration of a broker-dealer or investment advisor with the Oklahoma Securities Commission before investing at securities.ok.gov • Download your free investor protection kit at investedok.org

The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution.

“Texas’ new defense is pretty complex. They bring a lot of different looks and a lot of different fronts so we’re just going to have to stay in the field room watch a lot of extra film and just study for these guys because they throw some janky looks at you.”

— Ikard “(David) Ash has been doing a lot of the same things (Case) McCoy does.

So, it used to be early on they kind of had packages for each and now you see the blend of both and what they’re asking them to do.

So, you see them kind of together more now.”

— Bob Stoops, OU coach Compiled by Greg Fewell

SPORTS

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 •

B3

Running to win Ground game has been key in recent OU-Texas matchups JORDAN JENSON Sports Reporter

W

AT A GLANCE Big rushing performers

hen OU matches up with Texas on Saturday, it will be the first top-10 meeting in the Red River Rivalry since 2008, going by the coaches poll rankings.

Oklahoma lost that matchup, 45-35, despite leading with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter. In the game, OU quarterback Sam Bradford threw for 387 yards and five touchdowns — production that typically leads to a win. However, OU only ran the football for 48 yards.

And in the Red River Rivalry, that may be the most important offensive statistic.

In the 12 meetings since Bob Stoops took the headcoaching job at Oklahoma, he is 7-5 against Texas. In 11 of those 12 contests, the team that outrushed the other won. The lone exception came in 2006, when OU and Texas both rushed for 124 yards, and Texas won, 28-10.

While it may seem obvious the team who gains more yards will win the game, there is a disparity between OU’s rushing yards in their wins and losses against Texas. In seven wins under Stoops, OU averaged 194 yards a game. In the Sooners’ five losses, they have rushed for a meager 49.6 yards a game.

Coming off of a game against Ball State where OU had five running backs carry the ball, the Sooners have the potential to get production from more than just one player.

Junior Dominique Whaley is the closest thing to a feature running back with 70 carries for 379 yards and seven touchdowns through the first four games of the season. The walk-on has been the most effective back on the roster, showing toughness when running through the hole and great hands as a receiver.

Sophomore Brennan Clay has been the other primary back this season and has shown glimpses of being an every-down back. But after suffering an injury against Ball State, his health could be in question for Saturday, meaning sophomore Roy Finch and true freshman Brandon Williams may see increased carries.

And that may not be a bad thing for the Sooners.

Finch missed a portion of last season due to injury, but when he finally stepped on the field, he showed he had the capability to create big plays when he touched the football. While Finch’s role has been diminished this season, he still has displayed that ability, which he showed on a 47-yard reception against Ball State.

Williams was in danger of not playing this season, but instead of redshirting him, OU gave him a chance to state his case for why he should get more carries. As a highly touted recruit out of Texas, Williams made the most of his time against Ball State, showing off speed and agility.

The biggest concern coming into the season for OU was its rushing attack. With the emergence of Whaley, that question mark has turned into a big part of the Sooner offense. If history is any indication, the Red River Rivalry should come down to which team is able to run the ball more effectively.

If Oklahoma is to score a win at the Cotton Bowl, the Sooners will need to do just that — something their running backs have proved they are more than capable of doing.

2002 QUENTIN GRIFFIN

The shifty, 5-foot-7-inch back ran for 248 yards in his final year at Oklahoma, though he failed to match his school-record six touchdowns he scored against Texas in 2000.

2003 VINCE YOUNG

Young, who was still a backup to Chance Mock, had to compensate for his performance of 135 passing yards and two interceptions with 127 rushing yards and a touchdown.

2004 ADRIAN PETERSON

In his fifth straight game with 100 or more rushing yards to start his freshman campaign, Peterson totaled 225 against Texas.

2005 CHRIS O’MEARA/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

JAMAAL CHARLES

Junior running back Dominique Whaley (8) has rushed for 379 yards and seven touchdowns through OU’s first four games. The Sooners will rely on Whaley and the rest of their running backs to help control the ground game against Texas on Saturday.

In his first OU-Texas game, the future NFL back rushed nine times for 116 and a touchdown for the Longhorns.

2007 DEMARCO MURRAY

As a freshman, he rushed 17 times for 128 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown that changed the complexion of the game.

2008 CHRIS OGBONNAYA Though his thunder was stolen away by Cody Johnson, who scored all three Texas rushing touchdowns, Ogbonnaya amassed 127 yards.

BY THE NUMBERS OU-Texas rushing yards

BY THE NUMBERS Averages in wins, losses

In every Red River Rivalry since coach Bob Stoops came to Oklahoma in 1999, the team that has gained the fewest amount of rushing yards has lost the game (with the exception of 2006, when each team rushed for 124 yards, but Texas won).

When OU wins: 194 yards per game

When Texas wins: 171 yards per game

When OU loses: 49.6 yards per game

When Texas loses: 80.9 yards per game

301

300 266 245

250

225 189

200

203 171

170

154

161 142

150

124 124

100

77

63 50 15 0

1999

124

61

53

107

48

27 -16

-7

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

GRAPH BY CHRIS LUSK/THE DAILY

Welcome Sooners

OU - Texas Weekend begins in Fort Worth at Billy Bob’s Texas!

Friday, Oct. 7th

DAVID ALLAN COE $2 off with your student ID

Saturday, Oct. 8th

LUCINDA WILLIAMS $15 General Admission

Concerts • Dancing • Real Bull Riding • Families Welcome

Coming Up: Jamey Johnson Billy Currington Uncle Kracker Jake Owen Kevin Fowler and more!

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B4

Sports

• Wednesday, October 5, 2011

COLUMN

Two quarterbacks, similar outcomes T

SPORTS COLUMNIST he Texas Longhorns are a far better team without Garrett Gilbert at quarterback.

Ironic, isn’t it, that the guy who almost redeemed Texas when it most needed it was the guy holding the Longhorns back from being James Corley all they can be? jcorley@ou.edu Such is the tale of Gilbert, the former starting quarterback for the burnt orange.

When Colt McCoy went down in the national championship against Alabama in 2009, Gilbert was called on to rally the troops. Considerably more pressure than Landry Jones had in OU’s season-opener against BYU that season, wouldn’t you say? He came up short, and Texas lost, but Gilbert gave Longhorn fans hope for a future without McCoy. However, Gilbert’s moment of greatness was as shortlived as his career at UT will be. In his sophomore campaign in 2010, Gilbert threw 17 interceptions to only 10 touchdowns and completed a horrifically-low 59 percent of his passes — hardly the 27 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions and 71-percent completion percentage of Gilbert’s predecessor, the older McCoy, in 2009.

And the Longhorns suffered Gilbert’s incompetence with a 5-7 (2-6 Big 12) record that season, missing bowl season for the first time since 1997.

That was then, before Gilbert was forced to bow out of Texas’ 2011 campaign and give way a pair of explosive underclassmen.

After a closer-than-ideal season opener against Rice, Texas coach Mack Brown benched Gilbert to try his hand with two unproven quarterbacks waiting in the wing. Since then, sophomore Case McCoy — the younger brother of Colt — and freshman David Ash have split time. Both played in the Longhorns’ game against BYU, McCoy took over the UCLA game and Ash was given his shot against Iowa State.

So what is Brown getting at with this quarterback tandem? Who’s going to start against OU on Saturday? Who will have a bigger impact on the game? Which one is closer friends with Jordan Shipley’s little brother, freshman wide receiver Jaxon?

Both quarterbacks bring a lot to the table for Texas, and Brown knows that. Maybe the constant switcheroo of field generals is a mental game he’s playing with OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables and the Sooner D. It’s harder to prepare for two quarterbacks than one, which only increases Oklahoma’s prep work before the marquee rivalry game.

So let’s play a little game of “What if� with the pair.

Charlie Neibergall/The Associated Press

Texas quarterback Case McCoy (6) throws a pass against Iowa State on Saturday in Ames, Iowa. The sophomore quarterback has shown he can direct the Longhorn’s passing attack, but he is less of a running threat than his counterpart — freshman David Ash.

against the Bruins to complement Texas’ running game, which took off in that game.

Additionally, McCoy is a sophomore, so he’s got a maturity advantage over his freshman counterpart. Though they are level in experience, an extra year in the system gives McCoy a decisive leg up. I’d also venture a guess that he watched a little more Longhorn football than Ash because his older brother was the starting quarterback for four years.

However, McCoy is less of a dual threat than Ash. Though he can use his legs to keep plays alive outside the pocket, he hasn’t shown the same ability to turn a broken play into positive yards that Ash has demonstrated. But, as plenty of OU fans would tell you, having a smart and accurate pocket passer is perfectly acceptable if you have a potent ground What if... Case McCoy starts? attack like Texas does.

The younger McCoy is hardly living in his brother’s shadResult: If McCoy starts, Texas will try to air it out ow; if anything, he’s picked up the torch and is carrying whenever possible, and the sophomore is talented on the McCoy legacy in Austin. The two are definitely cut enough to find the holes in OU’s secondary for big gains from the same fabric. McCoy loves a bubble-screen pass as like the Sooners’ first three opponents did. Oklahoma will much as the next guy, and his ability to move around in the still triumph at the Cotton Bowl, though, but not by as pocket to avoid pressure must be a family trait. much as it hopes.

He can throw downfield, too. McCoy opened the scoring Prediction: OU 38, Texas 24 in the UCLA game with a 45-yard touchdown to junior tight end D.J. Grant. He finished 12-of-15 for 168 yards and a pair What if... David Ash starts? of touchdowns.

In hindsight, though, McCoy showed he can spread the The true freshman showed early he has some wheels. In ball around. Grant and sophomore wide receiver Mike split time with McCoy against BYU, Ash was in for Texas’ Davis led the Longhorns with 77 yards each, followed by run-heavy plays while McCoy handled the passing plays.

Shipley with 46. McCoy completed passes to five receivers But don’t jump to conclusions and unfairly pidgeon-hole Ash as a run-first-throw-later quarterback. His arm is just as good as his legs.

Against Iowa State on Saturday, Ash hardly rushed at all and passed for 145 yards and two touchdowns against the collegeboots.com Cyclones. Though the threat of him taking off for a big gain is always there, he feels comfortable in the pocket as well.

However, his weaknesses outweigh his positives, for the OFFICIALLY LICENSED most part. As a freshman, he’s much less experienced than PRODUCTS McCoy, despite taking an equal number of snaps with the first team. A year with the scout team does a quarterback good to learn the system and become comfortable with his teammates, and Ash’s lack of preparation time could have contributed to Brown putting him in more rushing than passing plays early on. Though he might be getting more familiar with Texas’ offense, he’s still a full year behind McCoy. He also showed a dangerous dependence on Shipley in his start against the Cyclones. Whereas McCoy spread the ball around to several players, Ash zeroed in on Shipley for

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Freshman quarterback David Ash (14) got the start for the Longhorns against Iowa State on Saturday in Ames, Iowa. Ash was initially used in Texas’ run-oriented schemes, but has received more playing time

141 yards. Davis was second with 72 followed by a sharp drop off to Grant with only a 19-yard catch.

His chemistry with Shipley works for Texas when Shipley can get open, but what about when the Longhorns play a secondary with much more experience and talent than Iowa State’s like, say, Oklahoma’s?

Ash’s rushing numbers against the Cyclones also tell an interesting story. After rushing for 36 yards against BYU, Ash was held to -17 against ISU. He wasn’t running like he had against the Cougars, but he also didn’t seem as comfortable in the pocket as McCoy. His running ability works in Texas’ favor when it’s a design play or the Longhorns need a first down, but he hasn’t yet translated his rushing skill to avoiding pressure.

Result: If Ash starts, Texas will probably exploit OU’s weakness at defending running quarterbacks. Ash could find success sustaining drives with his legs, but the Sooners’ front line will gobble him up in the pocket if he doesn’t take off quickly or find an open receiver fast enough.

Outcome: OU 42, Texas 23 James Corley is a journalism senior. You can follow him on Twitter at @jamesfcorley.

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SPORTS

Wednesday, October 5, 2011 •

B5

Games compete with OU-Texas Volleyball

Soccer

Sooners shut out of rivalry game Team supports fellow athletes from a distance Seniors have never been to OU-Texas as student-athletes

Luke McConnell Sports Reporter

Ever y year Oklahoma and Texas fans from all over head to the Texas State Fair to enjoy one of the greatest rivalries in sports by watching one of the great games of the college football season.

Students of both schools pencil this weekend in as one of utmost importance in terms of attending and experiencing during their college careers.

Unfortunately, the Oklahoma volleyball team doesn’t have the luxury of experiencing the classic matchup.

“It just sucks,” senior setter Brianne Barker said.

Since football season and volleyball season coincide, the volleyball team very seldom gets to attend football games at all because matches are played primarily on Saturdays and Wednesdays.

During the season, if the football team is at home, chances are the volleyball team is out on the road and vice versa.

For the normal, run-ofthe-mill football game, this wouldn’t be a problem.

However, OU-Texas is anything but a normal game.

For the seniors, they’ve missed out on a weekend that is a must to complete the OU student experience.

“This is the one thing that an OU student thinks about,” senior right side Suzy Boulavsky said. “It’s a week-long event, and what a lot of people don’t realize is not only are we not going, but we’re in Norman, and we’re Norman’s population for that weekend.”

Barker said in the midst of coming to OU, other things occupied her mind, and she didn’t even consider the possibility of not attending at least once.

“I never imagined I would never get to go in my four years here,” Barker said “I never thought about that coming in. “ The thing that sucks about it even worse is that every year on Friday, when no one has school, we’re practicing,” Barker said.

“It’s like a ghost town here.

Nobody is here, and we’re practicing.”

A native of Poth, Texas, freshman outside hitter Tara Dunn grew up going to Texas games in Austin because her dad is a UT alumnus.

She said it never worked out for her family to go to the OU-Texas game, so she wasn’t extremely disappointed upon realizing she wouldn’t be able to go as an OU student, either.

Throw in the fact that both games OU plays this week will be tough, and you have a recipe for disaster if

Sooners have day off after Friday match, plan to watch OU-Texas game together Tobi Neidy

Sports Reporter

Kingsley Burns/The Daily

Right side Suzy Boulavsky celebrates during OU’s 3-2 win against Texas on Sept. 28. Boulavsky is one of four seniors who have missed every OU-Texas football game of their careers because they’ve had games.

AT A GLANCE Missing OU-Texas 2008: The Sooner volleyball team lost to No. 16 Kansas State, 3-2, in Norman.

2010: OU volleyball downed Baylor, 3-1, on the road in Waco.

2009: Oklahoma toppled No. 19 Baylor in five sets, 3-2, at McCasland Field House.

2011: The Sooners travel to Ames to take on No. 16 Iowa State.

Source: OU athletic department

the team is unable to focus on the task at hand.

“I wish I could be at the game to support the guys, but I know that we have business that we need to do here, so that’s a little bit more important to us,” Dunn said.

Dunn said supporting the other athletes is a good thing to do, but ultimately, she and the rest of the team have to remember what they’re trying to do.

“We have a responsibility to our own team and to our own players,” Dunn said, “and I think that’s a little bit more important for us- to be mentally prepared and be ready for our games but not focused on other team’s

games.”

Boulavsky said at the end of the day, football means nothing compared to what the team is looking to accomplish this weekend. “ This weekend, we’re p l a y i n g I o w a S t a t e ,” Boulavsky said. “I’m sorry, this game is going to be one of the biggest games for us.

I’ve never beaten Iowa State at Iowa State. Unfortunately, (watching) this football game is minuscule.”

As a player who has experienced the disappointment of missing OU-Texas weekend the past three years, Barker said it’s important for her and the other seniors to set the example for the younger players by focusing

mentally even in the midst of a huge football game.

“I think it’s a huge deal for the upperclassmen to show that leadership,” Barker said. “I think in past years, the upperclassmen have done a really good job, and that’s something I’ll have to do this year with Kylie (Cowan), Suzy and Caitlin (Higgins).”

The team won’t be enjoying any fried Oreos or taking their picture in front of Big Tex this weekend, but they’re far from a sounding board of disappointment about it.

No, they’ll be trying to do something else they’ve never done: win a Big 12 championship and, in the process, beat Iowa State in Ames for the first time since 2006.

Yeah, football will be the last thing on these women’s minds this weekend.

OU-Texas weekend may be a prime time for OU students to take a break from classes and make a trip down I-35 for the big game in Dallas. But members of the Oklahoma soccer program find themselves in the middle of their season’s schedule, and attending the game at the Cotton Bowl is a rare opportunity.

“I’ve never been to the game even before I came to school here because I was with a very competitive club team that was always traveling that weekend,” junior forward Dria Hampton said.

Hampton spent most of her prep career with Edmond S.C. and also has was a member of the U.S. national team from the time she was 14 years old. But continuous travel and training with different teams has benefited the Piedmont native, who leads the Sooners with four goals and 12 points this season.

Spending time away from Norman is something the OU soccer team typically deals with during the rivalry weekend.

Last season, the Sooners found themselves in a doubleheader on the road against Iowa State and Missouri.

This year, the OU soccer team also will take to the road for a matchup — ironically down in Austin against the Longhorns — for their own series in the Red River Rivalry before returning home to take the rest of the weekend off from conference action.

While the Sooners talked about taking this week seriously in training and preparation against a solid Texas opponent following last weekend‘s losses in Norman, members of the team are looking forward to take advantage of the opportunity to watch the game.

“Hopefully, we’ll all get together and watch the game when we get back,” junior forward Caitlin Mooney said.

Mooney, who transferred from Maryland to play with the Sooners last season, has already made plans to attend the Cotton Bowl game when she graduates, commenting that traveling reasons also were the Edmond native’s reason for never attending the game.

Mooney also played with the U.S. national team in the Under-17 and Under-18 divisions and spent most of her prep time as a four-year starter at Edmond Santa Fe High School.

Apart from being off Sunday, this weekend’s travel itinerary also gives the soccer team an even better opportunity to watch the game when the team returns to Norman after one night‘s stay in Longhorn land.

“We fly back early Saturday morning, and we’ll probably watch it as a team in our team room,” Hampton said. “We hope we can start the weekend off right on Friday night and then hope our football team does something big on Saturday.

“It’s cool to get together and support them at a distance.

Everyone will be screaming at the TV.”

OUDAILY.COM Jeffcoat twins on opposite sides of Red River Rivalry While OU-Texas rivalry week brings a gala of school allegiance, spirit traditions and Facebook status smack talk for the avid fans of the two schools, sophomore Jacqueline Jeffcoat feels the pivotal rivalry has brought her closer to her twin brother, Jackson.

“I used to not like football because it took time away from me hanging out with my brother and my dad,” Jacqueline said. “Now I’m JACQUELINE embracing it because I see how much passion JEFFCOAT my brother has for it.”

Jacqueline, a 6-foot-2-inch forward for OU’s women’s basketball program, welcomes the crimson-burnt orange pandemonium each year because it culminates into another opportunity to see her brother, who is a sophomore defensive end for the Texas Longhorns’ football team.

VISIT OUDAILY.COM TO READ THE FULL STORY

B6

SPORTS

• Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Keys to a win in Dallas The Sooners will win if they...

1

Key in on special teams. The one area where the Sooners have lacked big plays this year is on special teams. OU has an average of 18 yards per kickoff return and only 4.4 yards per punt return. Thus far, the lack of production has not affected OU. However, in a game this big, field position could be key. OU needs its special teams unit to provide the offense good field position.

2

Junior quarterback Landry Jones will likely face heavy pressure from the Texas defense.

Protect Landry Jones. The one area where Jones has struggled this season is making plays under pressure. Texas will blitz and the Oklahoma offensive line knows that. Sophomore center Gabe Ikard called the Texas defense “junky,” saying the Longhorns throw a ton of different looks at offenses.

The offensive line has to hold up long enough to allow Jones to go through his reads for the offense to be as productive as it has thus far.

3

Get multiple receivers involved. If sophomore receivers Jaz Reynolds and Trey Franks can step up like they have the last two weeks, it would be huge for OU. Texas will try to make Ryan Broyles a non-factor just like every other team OU will play. That used to mean that sophomore Kenny Stills became the go-to-guy. If OU has multiple legitimate deep threats in this year’s Red River Rivalry, Texas will have a hard time shutting down the Sooners down through the air.

KINGSLEY BURNS/THE DAILY

The Longhorns will win if they...

1

Keep the OU defense off balance. The OU defense has proven it can keep opposing offenses out of the end zone. Oklahoma’s opponents are averaging less than 16 points per game thus far.

However, Texas will change things up on offense, using both sophomore Case McCoy (shown right) and freshman David Ash at quarterback. The Longhorns will look to get them both involved, and if they do so effectively, they might find a chink in OU’s armor.

2

Get pressure on Landry Jones. Texas’ bread and butter this year has been applying pressure in the backfield. The Longhorns like to blitz early and often. Jones has made some mistakes under pressure at times, but if the ’Horns don’t get to him fast enough on the blitz, he is likely to find an easy dump-off to an open receiver. The key for the Longhorns will be bringing the heat and getting to Jones before he has a chance to go through his reads.

3

Score early. Missouri competed with OU for four quarters.

That was primarily due to the fact that the Tigers came out hot and put points on the board early. If this young Texas team can do the same, and build some confidence in the process, good things could happen.

Sophomore quarterback Case McCoy will make his first appearance in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday.

LAWRENCE PEART/THE DAILY TEXAN

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FOOTBALL

Return game has been key to wins in past matchups Special teams working to improve blocking for returners before OU-Texas GREG FEWELL

Assistant Sports Editor

While the Oklahoma offense and defense have made their fair share of plays this season, the Sooner special teams are an area OU is focused on improving.

The Sooners are averaging only 18 yards per kick return and 4.4 yards per punt return. While coach Bob Stoops has expressed satisfaction with every other part of special teams, the lack of production from the return teams means the offense has not had much help with field PLAYER TO WATCH position.

Stoops said the Sooners Ryan Broyles are close to where they Year: need to be, but their blockSenior ing needs to be cleaner Position: to give the returners a Receiver chance. Sophomore fullHometown: back Trey Millard echoed Norman his coach’s thoughts.

Career stats: “We’ve just made small As a punt mistakes,” Millard said. returner, “We have to focus on our Broyles has fielded 93 punts assignments and just for 1,016 yards. come in focused.”

While special teams unit may seem like a small part of the game, statistics show it could play a difference in the Red River Rivalry.

In last year’s matchup, OU deep snapper James Winchester sealed an eight-point victory by recovering a fumble on a punt. In 2008, Texas receiver Jordan Shipley returned a kickoff 96 yards to spark the Longhorn’s to the win.

OU senior receiver Ryan Broyles has shown the ability to help the Sooners win the field-position battle with his punt-return skills.

Sophomore center Gabe Ikard said if the other players can make blocks, Broyles can make good things happen.

“Somehow, he’s always opened,” Ikard said. “He has an unbelievable sense for space. The way he reads coverages and is able to get open and find space on the field is just unbelievable.”

Millard said the Sooners are aware of the impact special teams have on a game.

“It’s huge,” Millard said. “We split the game into special teams, offense and defense, and we always make sure that we try to win two of those. Usually, if you win two of those, you win the game.”