December 7-9, 2017

W E E K E N D E D I T I O N | D E C E M B E R 7- 9, 2 0 17 | T W I C E W E E K LY I N P R I N T | O U D A I LY. C O M

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Food And Shelter volunteer Matthew Cole Allen stands in the Food and Shelter kitchen Nov. 20. Allen credits mental health treatment for keeping him alive.

BRYCE MCELHANEY/THE DAILY

Norman’s homeless population faces uncertainty under looming mental health budget cut

T

wenty-eight-year-old Matthew Cole Allen was homeless for around 4 1/2 years before finding solace in mental health care.

Allen, who has borderline personality disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder, said his path to recovery began when he was taken in by Transition House, a Norman organization that provides temporary housing and community outreach programs for homeless clients with mental health needs.

Now, Allen can be found in the kitchen of Food and Shelter, where he socializes and serves dishes for his fellow patrons of the shelter. Without help, Allen said he wouldn’t have survived.

“There are people that would never get treatment if they never had the opportunity to sober up.

I wouldn’t be sober without my medication either. I was addicted to heroin and meth — I would not be alive,” Allen said.

Transition House and services like it face growing uncertainty as a $21.5 million funding

SIERRA RAINS • @SIERRARAINS gap looms over the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

Without a clear solution from the Oklahoma Legislature, the department’s only option may be to cut outpatient services across the state. Cuts would have an especially dire impact on Norman’s homeless.

This has meant many sleepless nights for Transition House executive director Bonnie Peruttzi.

Transition House receives 65 percent of its funding from the department. If that went away, it could be at risk of shutting down as the Legislature struggles to find a solution, Peruttzi said.

Across the state, 189,000 patients could lose care, and the effects for homeless people could be devastating. The executive director of Norman Food and Shelter, April Heiple, said nearly all of the people the shelter helps off the streets need mental health care.

Mental health treatment services provide homeless people

the opportunity to recover and become a part of the community again, said Teresa Collado, executive director of the Virtue Center. Without that chance to start over, Collado said she fears the worst for Norman’s homeless population.

“Without substance abuse treatment, a homeless client

“Our efforts to end homelessness and take every person off the streets is really dependent on their ability to access those services, and without them, there is just no way that we can either end homelessness or even stop it from getting greater or growing.”

APRIL HEIPLE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF NORMAN FOOD AND SHELTER

isn’t going to have an opportunity to find a home, find work and get healthy again, so I would predict that those folks would die,” Collado said.

Thirty-two-year-old Alisha Chase finds shelter among several others in the warming station at Food and Shelter when the temperature gets too cold.

Chase receives a monthly supply of medication from the shelter’s mental health office for post-traumatic stress disorder, paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

“I hear and see things if I don’t get my meds — I can’t tell reality from fantasy,” Chase said.

“When I’m off my meds, I don’t know how this place deals with me, but they deal with me … If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to afford any meds.”

During her two years on the streets, Chase said she self-medicated with meth, alcohol and marijuana.

“It’s hard finding your footing, especially when you have no education, two felonies and mental

health problems,” Chase said. “I probably wouldn’t have the felonies if I would’ve been on mental health meds back then, because we all self-medicate.”

L t . C a r y B r y a n t , No r m a n Police Department community outreach coordinator, works with Norman’s homeless on a regular basis and said the only way homeless mental health care clients will be able to avoid consequences like declining health or death is through services that are already too full to properly accommodate them.

“If they don’t continue to receive treatment, then they are going to decompensate, they’re going to get worse, and the only way they’re going to get treatment is with the inpatient services that are already overloaded,” Bryant said.

He i p l e s a i d ma n y p e o p l e who live in homes on the brink of poverty and who are dealing w ith mental health and see HOMELESS page 2

Norman police investigate running back Woman files for emergency protective order after alleged rape KELLI STACY @AstacyKelli

O n Monday, an emergency protective order was issued against sophomore running back Rodney Anderson for alleged rape, according to court records.

According to the victim’s statement, she met Anderson while out drinking at a bar Nov. 16.

After going to a second bar with Anderson and his friends, the victim said she planned to call an Uber to take her home. At this time, the victim said Anderson’s friends were adamant he take her home instead.

The victim said the next day she remembered kissing Anderson the previous night, as well as vomiting. The weekend of Dec. 2, the victim said she began

to remember more of the night of Nov. 16. She said she remembered Anderson forcing himself on her and attempts to get away and put on clothes.

Anderson’s attorney released a statement Tuesday calling the accusations “patently false,” and saying they don’t know the victim’s “motives in seeking a civil protective order, her claims only surfaced after Mr. Anderson did not reciprocate a desire to pursue a relationship with (the victim).”

The victim filed a police report Dec. 4, which says the Norman Police Department is investigating rape by instrumentation.

Charges have yet to be filed against Anderson, and the investigation is still ongoing.

The university released a statement Monday saying it is aware of the allegations.

“The university is aware of the situation and is following our protocols in coordinating with the Norman Police Department,

which is currently handling the inquiry,” Matt Epting, press secretary and special assistant to the president, said in an email to The Daily. “The university takes seriously all allegations of misconduct and is continuing to collect information in this matter.”

The football program and athletic department have yet to release a statement regarding the allegations against Anderson and have given no indication if Anderson will face suspension from the team.

Anderson is one of several Oklahoma football players in recent years who have been accused of violence against women, either before or during their time on campus, including former running back Joe Mixon and former linebacker Frank Shannon.

The hearing for the emergency protective order is set for Dec. 18.

Kelli Stacy

kelliastacy@ou.edu

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Sophomore running back Rodney Anderson runs with the ball in the game against TCU Dec. 2. An emergency protective order was filed against Anderson Monday.

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• December 7-9, 2017

NEWS

Emma Keith, news managing editor dailynews@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com • Twitter: @OUDaily

Art exhibition showcases variety of artists, mediums at Art Walk Friday

ABBY HUCKELBURY/THE DAILY

Food and Shelter volunteer Matthew Cole Allen prepares pies in the Food and Shelter kitchen Nov. 20.

HOMELESS: Continued from page 1

substance abuse issues may also face a decline in physical health, possibly sending them into homelessness. This could increase homelessness in general and further hinder their ability to accommodate them, Heiple said.

“Our efforts to end homelessness and take every person off the streets is really dependent on their ability to access those services, and without them, there is just no way that we can either end homelessness or even stop it from getting greater or growing,” Heiple said.

Collado said the Virtue Center partners with Food and Shelter to help provide services for its homeless clients. However, Food and Shelter has already reached

such a high capacity of residents that it cannot add any more to its waiting list, Heiple said. “ The need is so great now, I can’t even imagine if more people become homeless. The ser vices aren’t available now, and so if the homelessness increases, that’s really going to have an impact on our community,” Collado said.

With a trend in funding gaps for mental health services in Oklahoma, Collado said she cannot grasp how the state allowed itself to sink to this level.

“Mental health services have always been underf u n d e d — w e ’v e e x p e rienced cuts ever y year in the last 10 years, and Oklahoma ranks in one of the bottom five in terms of mental health,” Collado said. “I’m not sure what needs to happen other than more people dying, more families being torn apart.

It’s really a situation that I don’t understand.”

Both Collado and Heiple said their passion for their w o r k c o m e s f r o m p e rsonal experience, seeing their loved ones struggle with mental illness and sometimes homelessness.

Heiple said she hopes those in the legislature take action to help the homeless population.

“I really believe that we have got to, as a people, begin investing in people again. We have turned our back on people so often and so many times — we can’t toss away people anymore,” Heiple said.

“Whether we agree with them or not, they are humans who deserve the love and care that all of us would want for ourselves.”

Without places like Transition House and Food and Shelter to provide help to homeless people, Allen said he may have never

The Rebel Rebel Art Exhibition, which shows how art can take multiple forms, is taking place at the Resonator on Friday during Art Walk.

Rebel Rebel showcases the work of 30 different artists from across the country. There will be a wide range of artwork including prints, sculptures, live performances, fashion and even skateboarding.

In addition to the artwork, there will be several different vendors.

AnnaVittoria Conner, a printmaking graduate student at OU, is one of the curators of the exhibition. She said the name of the event, taken from a David Bowie song, was chosen to show how the artwork doesn’t have anything in common.

Conner also said the exhibition seeks to highlight the differences not only in the artwork but also in the artists.

“We just wanted to have something that celebrated the different age groups, the different genders, the different races, just a little bit of everything,” said Conner.

Rebel Rebel will have free drinks and live music, the event is open to the public and is family friendly.

Resonator is located at 1010 N. University Ave. in Norman.

The Rebel Rebel Art Exhibition is one day only from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m this Friday, Dec. 8.

Sam Tonkins, @samanthatonkins

been able to recover — that’s a problem that many could face if mental health Trumpet professor receives annual services are cut.

OU award for teaching excellence “This program was inA trumpet professor in the OU School of Music has strumental in me getting been awarded the annual Irene and Julian J. Rothbaum off the street and getting into my own place, which I Presidential Professorship of Excellence in the College of am now at here at Food and Fine Arts.

Karl Sievers received the award last week in recognition Shelter,” Allen said.

Sierra Rains

sierra.m.rains@gmail.com

THE VIRTUE CENTER Where: 215 West Linn Norman, OK 73070 Phone Number: 405-321-0022 Source: www.naichelp.org

for his work teaching trumpet lessons at OU and serving on several committees within the School of Music.

In addition to teaching trumpet at OU, Sievers also served on the board of directors for the International Trumpet Guild and on the advisory board for the International Trumpet Competition. He also performs as principal trumpet with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic and with the OU Faculty Brass Quintet as a soloist.

The Rothbaum award has been awarded to professors from the College of Fine Arts since 1995 to recognize leadership in arts education and individual achievement.

Winners keep the title “Professor of Excellence” for the rest of their careers and receive a temporary salary bonus.

Sievers expects little about his work or his teaching to change. He attributes this in part to his education at Indiana University, the University of Missouri-Kansas City and his primary instruction from members of the Louisville Orchestra while he was still in high school.

“I’ve always set high standards for myself because of the teachers I had,” he said. “I do what I do out of integrity to them, and that’s not going to change.”

Tim Hatton, @nottahmit

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December 7-9, 2017 •

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PAXSON HAWS/THE DAILY

Members of the OU ROTC march around the parking lot of the Lloyd Noble Center Nov. 30.

ROTC instills perseverance Students practice valuable skills, responsibility NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg

Sitting outside in the courtyard of the Oklahoma Memorial Union Nov. 30, Colton Fisher looks up upon hearing a plane’s engine whir overhead. He follows it with his eyes until it moves out of sight past a cloud.

“I think it was some sort of RV plane,” Fisher says with a smile. His interest is piqued because of his dream to one day serve in the U.S. Air Force as a pilot himself.

But there’s a lot of work between Fisher and his ultimate goal.

“All we hear about pilot training is it’s stressful,” Fisher said. “You’re studying 16 hours a day, you’re flying maybe three times a day. All these crazy stresses. We won’t know how that is until we’re there.”

Fisher, an industrial engineering senior, has an opportunity to pursue this dream thanks to the Reserve Officer Training Corps, a collegiate training program offered around the country and at OU to prepare students for prospective military careers.

“ROTC has helped me keep things in perspective,” Fisher said. “Six days a week we look like regular college students and then one day a week we wear the uniform.”

Computer engineering

senior Ryan Curtis, a member of the Air Force ROTC, said among the lessons he’s learned from the program, discipline was one of the most important.

“You wake up at 6 a.m. and think ‘I have to go do a workout.’ And you don’t want to, but it’s discipline,” Curtis said.

“The discipline you build from ROTC is part of every aspect of your life. Through ROTC, I can definitely tell it’s a lot easier to sit down and study or go work out when I don’t want to because of that discipline.”

Curtis said balancing student life and life in ROTC can sometimes be challenging — especially because he most enjoys his training, but his superiors emphasize grades first.

Alyson Goolsby, a captain in the Air Force and instructor with OU’s ROTC, said students are required to devote five hours per week to the ROTC, but often go above and beyond to dedicate more of their time to events within the program. Goolsby said mandatory participation comes in the form of physical training sessions, marching practice and classes over military history.

“It’s the hardest thing to balance everything. As I said in the beginning, mandatory is five hours of additional stuff,” Goolsby said. “I know some of these cadets are putting in twenty hours of ROTCrelated stuff. Grades are my number one priority: you cannot go into the military unless

you pass your classes.”

Goolsby said there are ROTC programs at OU for the Naval, Marine and Army branches of the military as well, and that the program can be very challenging for some students, but that’s where the most important aspect of the program comes into play — camaraderie among students.

Cassidy Rosenberg, a journalism freshman, said the Air Force ROTC is like a family.

“The discipline you build from ROTC is part of every aspect of your life. Through ROTC, I can definitely tell it’s a lot easier to sit down and study or go work out when I don’t want to because of that discipline.”

RYAN CURTIS, AIR FORCE ROTC MEMBER

“It’s kind of like a sorority or a fraternity because it’s like your home. It’s nice because you learn to become disciplined,” Rosenberg said.

“Some people come in pretty chiseled and they really help you out. It’s such a family. It is your group and you are accepted into it — and they are loving. It’s super fun.”

Fisher said the upperclassmen are tougher on freshmen students because they have to learn the ins and outs of the program, but this hasn’t

dissuaded Rosenberg, who said she is eager to prove herself early.

“As a freshman, you really have to try to prove yourself, because I mean you’re a freshman. You’re a fresh fish,” Rosenberg said. “You can’t just lollygag and let other people carry you. If you feel compelled to be a leader in society even, this is what you should do and we’re going to help you get there. Because we’re a family — we’re a team.”

Curtis said the transition into the first year of ROTC was made easier by the fact that his fellow students were experiencing that strenuous first year as well, furthering that camaraderie. Goolsby said the group is extremely tightknit, and spends a majority of their time together.

“This is their sports team.

Some of the cadets — they live, breath, eat, sleep ROTC stuff. They’re always here,” Goolsby said. “They love it, they love getting involved with military events. They’re just around each other and everybody here has the same mindset.”

For members of this program, the history of what they’re involved with is in the back of their minds, Curtis said. He points to an insignia on his uniform’s hat called the “Prop and Wings” which Air Force ROTC students receive after the Field Training they undergo between their sophomore and junior years.

Curtis said those who have worn the Prop and Wings before him are constantly on his

mind.

“You look at those pictures and see the Prop and Wings have been around since the beginning of the Air Force,” Curtis said. “Seeing all the other people that had them — like seeing General Olds or the Tuskegee Airmen wearing them — you think to yourself, wow, I have one of those that I’ve earned and you’re part of that family now.”

For Rosenberg, she couldn’t be more proud to be part of this program and hopes it will help her towards her dream of becoming a foreign correspondent. When on campus, she always tries to remember she is representing the U.S. Air Force.

“I try to express positivity, because a lot of people think the military is rough and gruff — which it kind of is — but I really think people need to understand that we’re people. We’re not drones, we’re not robots,” Rosenberg said.

“We’re actually people underneath this uniform. I’m still going to class, I’m still going to my everyday activities. I’m just representing what I believe in.”

Nick Hazelrigg

hazelriggn@gmail.com

ROTC PROGRAMS There are ROTC programs at OU for Naval, Marine, Air Force and Army branches.

Trump declaration receives criticism Students respond to relocation of US Embassy in Israel HANNAH PIKE @h_pike_

Students and faculty members walked up and down the South Oval Dec. 6 to protest President Donald Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

As the OU protest was occurring in the afternoon, Trump officially declared Jerusalem the capital during a speech at the White House, according to The New York Times. This will move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, which Palestine also claims as its capital.

The protest was initially organized by OU group Students for Justice in Palestine, but since student groups are not allowed to host events during dead week, they held the protest as a group of “concerned students” instead, chemical biosciences sophomore Nazha Diwan said.

Protestors walked up and down the South Oval several times, handed out flyers, chanted and held signs and flags.

ABBY HUCKELBURY/THE DAILY

Students gather on the South Oval Dec. 6 to protest President Trump’s recent decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

Emad Ramadan, a chemical engineering senior who grew up in Palestine, said Jerusalem is sacred for Christians, Jews and Muslims, and moving the U.S. Embassy there will lead to segregation.

He said while he wished more students would have attended the protest, he was thankful for those who did. A little more than a dozen joined the protest.

“At least we helped spread the word — that’s the most important thing,” Ramadan said.

Alan Levenson, director

of OU’s Schusterman Center for Judaic and Israel Studies, said from an Israeli point of view, Jerusalem is already Israel’s capital, but that does not mean Israelis are necessarily pleased with Trump’s announcement. He said that increased agitation in the region is a “definite possibility” after Trump’s decision.

However, Levenson said he has problems with Students for Justice in Palestine’s history and national website because he thinks it is inflammatory and lacks context. He said he thinks the protest is

counterproductive.

“I think people would be better served to listening to a lecture on the subject from somebody who really knows what they’re talking about,” Levenson said. “... In my opinion, that’s the kind of thing that is the core mission of the university, is to treat these manners in an academically well-balanced action. And the people most of all capable of doing that are the people who teach here.”

Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital received praise from

both Oklahoma senators. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) announced his support in a press release Dec. 6.

“Israel is not the problem in the Middle East, it is part of the solution,” Lankford said. “Nothing about today’s announcement will impact America’s commitment to honor any solution which brings about peace resulting from direct talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.”

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) also said in a press release he applauds Trump’s announcement, which he said was prompted by legislation that he co-sponsored.

“For over two decades, presidents of both parties have delayed the implementation of the 1995 Jerusalem Embassy Act, leading to confusion about U.S. policy and preventing meaningful progress to forming a lasting peace,” Inhofe said. “With his clear commitment to Israel, President Trump is once again showing the world he’s prepared to take decisive action and restore the United States to being the undisputed leader of the free world.”

Hannah Pike

hmaepike@gmail.com

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NEWS

• December 7-9, 2017

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Then-Student Government Association presidential candidate Yaseen Shurbaji speaks at the SGA debate in Meacham Auditorium Oct. 23. Shurbaji’s inauguration has been delayed due to an appeal of an election board decision to not disqualify Shurbaji for campaign violations.

SGA inauguration on CLASSIFIEDS hold amid complaints Election board to evaluate Shurbaji campaign violations NICK HAZELRIGG @nickhazelrigg

The swearing in of the next Student Government Association president will be delayed further after a former presidential candidate appealed the election board’s decision regarding election violations.

The SGA Superior Court will meet to determine if the election board will have to vote again on disqualifying Yaseen Shurbaji’s campaign after Dan Williams appealed the election board’s previous decision not to disqualify Shurbaji.

Williams, social sciences representative in the Undergraduate Student Congress and a candidate during the 2017 SGA presidential election, said he believes Shurbaji should be disqualified for the violations committed during the campaign.

“I should be clear, if I win this appeal I do not win the presidency,” Williams said.

“We’ve rewritten the election rules time and time again, but apparently the standard is if you break the rules in the right way, and get enough votes, the rules do not apply to you.”

Shurbaji overwhelmingly led the vote in both the general and the runoff elections in November, while Williams lost in the general, garnering 8.23 percent of the vote. Shurbaji said he does not believe the violations altered the course of

the election.

The majority of Shurbaji’s violations came from the use of OU insignias in campaign photos and students advocating for his campaign in group messages, he said.

“I don’t think our actions encourage a culture of rule breaking,” Shurbaji said. “I think the broadness and ambiguity of the SGA code allows people to unrestrainedly file grievances. That is of greater concern for future campus elections.”

Shurbaji said he believes the election rules within the SGA code need to be altered, as the current code uses language that is “very dangerous” and allows his campaign to be held accountable for the actions of people he can’t control.

The phrasing he references says his campaign could be held accountable for any “volunteer” who breaks the SGA rules, which Shurbaji said was too broad and meant any supporter who broke an SGA election rule while supporting his campaign could unknowingly cause his campaign to commit a violation.

“It’s language that the election board, the superior court and our campaign agree should be changed,” Shurbaji said. “And it will be changing. Because it basically holds you accountable for people you don’t even know, which opens a loophole for cheating because I could have one of my supporters post in a GroupMe supporting another candidate’s camp a i g n , s c re e n s h o t t hat

and get my opponent a grievance.”

Williams said he doesn’t believe Shurbaji’s margin of victory should be taken into account and he believes the SGA rules clearly show Shurbaji should be disqualified.

“We’re doing this because we believe the rules should be followed.”

DAN WILLIAMS, UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVE

“A lot of my fellow members in congress have told me to stop,” Williams said. “ The cur rent president has said I need to quit this.

Yaseen has told me I need to stop. Nobody is saying ‘go Dan go.’ We’re doing this because we believe the rules should be followed.”

Shurbaji said the continuation of the issue hinders his campaign’s ability to prepare his administration, as he will be unable to prepare his cabinet like previous incoming presidents have done by this time in December. Shurbaji said he and his team will nonetheless continue preparing to take office, as he believes t h e su p e r i o r c ou r t w i l l concur with the election board’s decision.

“We strongly believe candidates should not make the process the primary focus,” Shurbaji said. “The primar y focus of candidates should be the students. And I do think, unfortunately, during this election cycle, that hasn’t quite been the case.”

Nick Hazelrigg

hazelriggn@gmail.com

City of Norman Parks & Recreation/Recreation Division Sports Supervisor Applicant must be at least 18 years of age. High School diploma or equivalent and two years of progressively responsible sports experience. Supervisory experience preferred. Reasonable knowledge of organized sports and rules; knowledge of emergency procedures. Ability to deal effectively and cooperatively with people of all ages. Ability to collaborate with game officials, and to communicate with coaches and scorekeepers. Ability to interact with the public and have good decision making skills. Selected applicants must pass background investigation and drug screen. Application Deadline: Open Recruitment. A complete job announcement and application are available on our website at www. normanok.gov/hr/hr-job-postings or call (405) 366-5482, or visit us at 201-C West Gray, Human Resources Dept., City of Norman. EOE

$570/mo! Walk to OU! 2bd, 2 blocks from Sarkey’s Energy Center. Carpet, blinds, NEW CH/A, appliances, W/D DW: Call 203-3493

December 7-9, 2017•

SPORTS

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Kelli Stacy, sports editor dailysports@ou.edu • phone: 405-325-3666 oudaily.com/sports • Twitter: @OUDailySports

OU works on presence, focus Sooners prepare for upcoming game against Los Angeles

JADYN WATSON-FISHER @ jwatsonfisher

Oklahoma (6-1) faces USC in Los Angeles on Friday as part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic, and it has to be prepared for a team that likes to play inside the paint.

Here are three takeaways from Oklahoma’s practice: DOING THINGS DELIBERATELY The Sooners made it a priority to be deliberate about their movements and where they need to be on the court. They want to defend better — get rebounds and force turnovers — especially against a USC team effective at scoring inside. If a player didn’t get to where he needed to be, coach Lon Kruger and company would make it known and have the group on the court run the drill again.

Oklahoma has preached communication since the start of practice, but it hasn’t always translated to game day. This is something they’re still hoping to change by specifically talking through passes and player

movement.

The desire for intentionality doesn’t stop on the defensive end. The Sooners are also trying to be selective with their shot selection, taking the best ones, at the best places on the floor and at the best time.

FINDING FOCUS Obviously, Oklahoma hasn’t figured everything out yet, but there have been glimpses of what kind of ceiling the team could have when everything works together — freshman guard Trae Young scoring upwards of 30 points, the Sooners finishing with more than 15 assists, players recording new career highs in shooting and rebounding.

Part of the success doesn’t appear on the stat sheet, however, and Kruger has noticed what sophomore forward Matt Freeman brings to the floor.

“He’s got good focus ... The more guys you’ve got doing that, the more likely the other guys are to jump on board,” Kruger said. “That’s what leadership is all about. When the older guys are doing it, the younger guys start doing it.”

Freeman said his focus, and the encouragement he tries to bring, is his way of keeping his goals — for

Sophomore forward Matt Freeman prepares for a rebound in the game against Ball State Nov. 15.

himself and the team — at the center of what he does.

“I see us as a team that can go far this year, and that’s why I know I have to be focused.

As long as I keep doing that, I’m going to keep growing as a player and that’s going to help us grow as a team.”

of the other Sooners, and they might only play 15 to 20 minutes per game, but that doesn’t negate their growing presence on the floor. Their development has been crucial for Oklahoma.

McNeace put up a career-high 15 points against UTSA Monday night to help A LOW-KEY PRESENCE push Oklahoma to another Freeman and junior center win. Freeman has hit some Jamuni McNeace don’t get shots from three-point range as much attention as some and usually pulls down a few

rebounds. He said it’s about knowing his role and being there when his team needs it. “(Freeman’s) done a good job moving the ball,” Kruger said. “He’s done a good job making shots when the opportunity’s been there, (and his) position defensively is very good.”

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

OU VS. USC When: 9:30 p.m. Friday Dec. 8 Where: Staples Center; Los Angeles, CA How to Watch: FSOK Source: soonersports.com

Jaydn Watson-Fisher jwatsonfisher@ou.edu

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SPORTS

• December 7-9, 2017

Senior quarterback Baker Mayfield looks to pass in the game against Tulane Sept. 16. Mayfield is a Heisman finalist for the second consecutive year.

CAITLYN EPES/THE DAILY

Mayfield named Heisman finalist Quarterback considered frontrunner for trophy

KELLI STACY @ AstacyKelli

Senior quarterback Baker Mayfield is a finalist for the Heisman, the award given to the top player in college football.

Mayfield joins 2016 Heisman winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville and

St a n f o rd r u n n i n g b a c k Bryce Love as finalists.

Currently the favorite to win the coveted trophy, Mayfield has completed 262-of-369 passes for 4,340 yards, 41 touchdowns and five interceptions. He’s also rushed for 310 yards and five touchdowns.

For comparison, Jackson has completed 241-of-399 passes for 3,489 yards, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions. He’s recorded 1,433 rushing yards for 17 touchdowns. Lastly, Love

accrued 1,937 rushing yards for 17 touchdowns and 33 receiving yards.

This is the second year Mayfield’s been a finalist and the third year he’s received votes. In 2015, Mayfield’s first year with the Sooners, he finished fourth in voting. Last year, he finished third r ight, above teammate Dede Westbrook.

The senior quarterback has led the No. 2 Sooners to a one-loss season and a spot in the College Football

Playoff, where they will play Georgia in the Rose Bowl.

Mayfield’s also helped Oklahoma become the No. 1 offense in the country, while leading the nation in multiple categories himself. He’s first in passing efficiency rating, completion percentage, yards per pass attempt, yards per completion and pass plays of 20-plus yards. He’s also second in passing touchdowns, third in total offense and fourth in passing

yards.

If Mayfield were to win he would become the sixth Heisman Trophy winner in Oklahoma history, joining running backs Billy Vessels, Steve Owens and Billy Sims and quarterbacks Jason White and Sam Bradford.

Th e He i s ma n T ro p hy winner will be announced at 7 p.m. CT Saturday on ESPN. Kelli Stacy

kelliastacy@ou.edu

PAST HEISMAN WINNERS 2016- Lamar Jackson 2015- Derrick Henry 2014- Marcus Mariota 2013-Jameis Winston 2012- Johnny Manziel 2011- Robert Griffin III 2010- Cameron Newton Source:nationalchamps.net