Monday, April 13, 2020

m o n day, a p r i l 1 3 , 2 0 2 0

Do you feel a draft?

Draft experts weigh in on Tylan Wallace’s decision to return to OSU

C OV E R S T O RY

What does Tylan Wallace’s ACL tear mean for his draft stock?

S ud e ep Tum m a As si stan t S p ort s Edi tor @asktumma

Explosive, juicy, gaudy — all words used to describe Oklahoma State’s All-American wide receiver.

For the second straight season, Tylan Wallace was in the Biletnikoff Award conversation with his stellar play and premium production.

Then devastation occurred.

The star receiver suffered a non-contact knee injury in October, later confirmed as a torn ACL, which halted his junior season on a sour note.

Rather than jump to the NFL, where he was a projected Day Two pick prior to the injury, he opted to return to OSU for another season.

Was that a wise move?

The simple answer is yes.

Benjamin Solak, a senior draft analyst for The Draft Network has been following Wallace’s draft stock before and after the injury.

“I remember speaking with guys who said, ‘Yeah we feel comfortable with him going somewhere between 30-50, 30-60, so Round 2,’” Solak said.

“But No. 1, the class gets better across the course of time, we know this is a pretty historic wide receiver class, and then obviously Tylan has the injury and we’re viewing him now as a third, possibly a fourth.”

It would have been difficult to evaluate Wallace’s stock had he declared

for the 2020 draft. While the wide receiver class improved and deepened, Wallace’s ACL tear would keep him from working out at the NFL combine or at OSU’s Pro Day, further clouding perceptions.

And the questions run deeper than that.

Wallace’s twin brother, Tracin, had three ACL tears in three years before retiring from football. Not just a brother, but Tylan’s twin brother, bringing another level of genetics into the mix. And that may have been another red flag for NFL evaluators who are tasked to look for weaknesses in a player as much as they do strengths.

So, for Wallace, and his decision to go or stay, it was complicated.

Any time an NFL prospect tears his ACL, teams do their due diligence.

Solak said teams will thoroughly check out any prospect with such a serious knee injury to be sure the doctors like what they see.

By postponing his leap to the pros, Wallace now has the advantage of time.

Solak said he believes OSU isn’t going to push Wallace, and that the school will allow him to rehab on his own timeline, which should allow Wallace to get back to full form — an advantage some athletes don’t enjoy.

“He’s doing good,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said after the team’s first spring practice. “Guys that are as athletic as Tylan and some of these other guys are ahead of schedule, so

Logan Biggins/O’Colly

Oklahoma State’s Tylan Wallace completes the catch before being forced out of bounds during the Oklahoma State vs.

Kansas State game on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at Boone Pickens Stadium.

now he just needs to stay on course and try not to do too much, and he’ll be fine. He’ll be up and going before long, but we just don’t want him to get too far ahead of himself.”

That comes with a caveat, though. There’s no guarantee Wallace will return to form or stay healthy.

“Everybody, once they tear their ACL once, is more likely to tear it again,” Solak said. “You really get concerned with the brother’s background if when you check out Tylan at the combine next year, he has some weakness in that knee, has some structural damage. Then you start to wonder how much his (Tylan’s) past is mirroring (Tracin’s) traits.

“I think if you start to

get some questions about Tylan’s stability, Tracin’s history really starts to concern you.”

That’s the key — Wallace’s knee will need to heal fully, or it will open up a pandora’s box of consequences pertaining to his draft stock. Again.

Brian Johannes, NFL Draft Geek lead analyst, said he thinks Wallace’s decision to return to school will ultimately pay dividends next season.

“I think he has the potential to get in the back of the first round,” Johannes said. “I may grade him as a second-round pick, but just depending on the class – we’ve had some years where the draft class, the receivers were not the greatest – so you have guys get drafted a little higher

than they normally would.”

Johannes compares Wallace to Chicago Bears star wide receiver Allen Robinson for Wallace’s ability to high-point balls while using leverage and body control to make plays, despite a lack of top-tier athleticism.

While Robinson was taken late in the second round with athleticism concerns, he’s had a successful NFL career to this point. Wallace is more or less in the same boat — if his knee fully recovers.

While all signs point to Wallace’s return being the right decision, there are some risks for Wallace staying an extra year.

“Any time an NFL draft prospect puts off his decision by a year, it’s always tough to say that’s the right

call, because money now versus money later, money later is not a sure thing,” Solak said. “Especially with recovering from an ACL injury, if you never come back to full explosiveness, you’re not going in Round 4 anymore, now you’re going in Round 5 or Round 7.”

There are clearly some risks. And it’s tough to project what will happen until he navigates a successful season. Still, Wallace may have something going for him.

“With Tylan it’s very easy to draw and detail out the past by which he returns to national prominence pretty quickly,” Solak said. “He’s an ubertalented dude. If he’s back and healthy, he’s the best receiver in the Big 12.”

N E WS

OSU students submit COVID questions to Italian reporter K ay la Dun n E d i tor in C h ief @K aylaJ_Du n n

Quarantined in her home on the outskirts of Rome, VOA Journalist Sabina Castelfranco Skyped O’Colly Editor in Chief Kayla Dunn to shed light on how the COVID pandemic is affecting Italy and could subsequently affect the United States.

This Q&A is part two of two, answering questions submit by Oklahoma State University students.

Do Italians need to pay for COVID treatment?

No. Italy has an incredible national health system that nobody has to pay for. Whatever you get sick with, you go to your local health authority and you can get treatment. This is how it is for anybody that as resident.

In the north of the country, the health system is fantastic—one of the best in Europe.

Has society’s feeling about the national health system changed at all due to COVID? Are people more or less confident in it?

I think it made people realize that an epidemic can happen. Things shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Although the health system was really good in the north, a lot of elderly people died. Why were the affected so much?

Because they had other ailments. Italy has the second highest elderly population in the world

after Japan. People realize that there can always be improvement to the health system, but we have a pretty good health system in this country.

The problem is if there is an epidemic and the numbers are such… then you are no longer prepared, simply because you don’t have so many beds.

Does population density have a lot to do with the places that have been affected the worst in Italy?

The first [COVID] cases were in some smaller towns, not even 30,000 [people]. The initial lockdown towns were 11,000 [people] in the Lombardi and Veneto region in the north. The town that was locked down in the Vento region was 3,300 people—all of them locked down for three weeks.

This incredible virologist decided that he would test every single person…

He discovered that of the entire town, 3% were positive. That doesn’t seem like very much, but of the 3%, 50% had no symptoms. So that was very interesting. Basically, of those who were positive, half of them showed no symptoms and were going around giving it to other people. He isolated those with and without symptoms, and he was able to bring the percentage down to 0.3%, so tenfold.

Are refugees that are currently in Italy on the current health care system?

courtesy of Sabina Castelfranco

Castelfranco poses in Matera, Italy before the COVID outbreak forced the country into quarantine.

This is a really very good question. I think that if someone is suffering, they would probably let them in. I haven’t heard much about this in Italy; we’re too busy dealing with what’s going on. But I did hear yesterday that a country like Portugal decided that they would allow everybody that’s not a citizen, like immigrants, would get health care. I’m not sure if this is happening in Italy, but I have heard places are giving healthcare to people that aren’t citizens.

Has Italy noticed any specific COVID developments in regards to people that have chronic illness?

What they noticed was that people that already have illnesses were the ones affected most.

People already suffering from blood pressure issues and other things… they were the ones that lost their lives.

How are hospitals coping with accommodating people that are there for chronic issues and people that are there now for COVID? Well they’re not coping very well. The influx of people with symptoms has been so high they’ve had to build other hospitals literally overnight. At the fair in Milan, they set up a hospital… they’ve had to really rush to create makeshift hospitals

with intensive care units because they didn’t have the space. A lot of what is happening in the U.S. now.

Should counties count asymptomatic people in their COVID count?

Yes. I think that what this virologist says, is that everybody should get tested. And then get tested again. And then there’s another test to see if you’ve been through it and are no longer a problem to others. Because if you know someone has become immune to it, you can send that person back to work without any problems because they’re not going to be passing the virus on to someone else.

What will the progression of loosening the restrictions in Italy look like?

They’ve just told us that we’ll have another two weeks of lockdown for the whole nation.

Then the idea is that we’ll slowly start sending people back to their working lives. I don’t know how they going to do that, but they’re going to have to test people.

What could the U.S. learn from Italy that we should implement now?

All states should get prepared. A problem in Italy that I wouldn’t like to see in the U.S. is that doctors weren’t prepared with protective equipment, so they got sick. The health workers need to be put in a position where they can assist patients without getting sick themselves.

Otherwise you’re back to square one.

How was the average citizen helped?

There has been huge solidarity. There are WhatsApp groups—I’m in one where I can go shopping for people. The city council has created similar ones. There are lots of volunteers and solidarity. In the country, there are people who are more well off than others, and they’re providing help. They help when people are in need, taking them medicine and things. Networks have sprung up to help people do that.

lifestyle

For your information: Prevention Megan H ays L i fe s ty l e E di to r @ megth e re p o rte r

Sara Kurfeß/Unsplash

Nintendo released the new addition to the Animal Crossing series “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” providing a sense of normalcy to players.

“Animal Crossing: New Horizons” offers escape during global pandemic Rya n N ovoz in s k y D i g i tal Ed itor @ryan n ovo6 2

No, Nintendo’s addition to the Animal Crossing series it doesn’t grant immunity to the user, nor does it provide any sort of scientific insight-- except when you’re exploring Blathers’ museum-- but it does offer a chance to go back to a serene environment, which everyone could use right now.

Nintendo released “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” on the Nintendo Switch in late March and it’s already the hottest selling game on the platform and an internet sensation. But for a game where there’s no real campaign mode, no storyline and the only real objective being daily chores, why is this so popular?

The answer is simple: it gives people a newfound purpose.

With COVID-19 reaching near peak levels, it’s hard to even go outside anymore without feeling a heightened

sense of anxiety. “Animal Crossing” gives you an outdoors environment that you will fall in love with.

It hooks you in with an immersive, blank-canvas island, fun villagers to interact with and charm that I’ve yet to see in any game before.

These things will give you the drive to want to make yourself-- and the villagers around you-- succeed.

And you succeed by putting in work.

This game has no true storyline. You can make your own “plot” by getting tasks done such as pulling weeds, catching fish and building up your home.

Don’t get me wrong, the last thing I want to do in real life is pull weeds, chop down trees and keep my fencing in check, but “Animal Crossing” gives me motivation to do so. It’s gotten to the point where I almost feel guilty when I don’t take care of my chores.

And that’s where this game sticks out from the rest.

To me, most “sandbox”

games get old after a while.

Having a multitude of resources at my hand is fun for a few hours but then I get bored. “Animal Crossing” is different because it makes you care. You want to impress the Happy Home Academy, you love to have new islanders come live on your land, you want your friends to come see a structure you’re working on.

These are the things that people want to see in reality again.

Pandemic or not, “Animal Crossing” was destined to be a hit because it’s been a popular game series since 2001. But the way life is going right now, people need an outlet to come back to normalcy. “Animal Crossing” lets your friends come over, lets you see new places and brings you back to work.

The reason people are obsessed with it is that it’s bringing us back to that sweet, underrated stage of life: normalcy.

People have been highly encouraged to practice preventative hygiene like washing hands for 20 seconds, wear a mask if possible and stand six feet away from people. But this might be a case of people doing it but might not understand why they’re doing it. That’s where the friendly science major journalist comes in.

Here is why the Center of Disease Control is strongly advising everyday people to practice these measures.

Why do we have to wash our hands for 20 seconds?

Let’s first talk soap because just rinsing your hands with water for 20 seconds won’t do much but get your hands wet. Soap is an example of a Jeckal and Hyde molecule, on one end, it’s greasy like oil on the other it’s more attractive to water (a very non-greasy molecule). This double-sidedness allows for soap to do what it does. In the molecular world, like is attracted to like. The greasy strand of the soap is attracted to the other greasy stuff like cooking fat or a fatty envelope of a virus. The other end of the soap causes the oily combination of things to go down the drain with the water from the faucet.

As for the 20 seconds, there have been several scientific studies done to determine the optimum time for handwashing. According to the CDC, the studies only looked at the overall number of microbes, not just the disease causing ones and

Kate Trifo/Unsplash

As COVID-19 keeps spreading, the CDC and local governments have issued preventative measures with science behind them.

the time needed changes on a lot of factors. The best range found in those studies was 15 to 30 seconds. 20 seconds is an easy middle ground that pairs great with an easy to remember musical timer of “Happy Birthday” twice.

Why should people wear masks?

The homemade cloth masks the CDC is recommending are actually not meant to keep you from getting sick, but from getting others sick. With more information coming to light everyday, an important piece of that being that many people who later develop COVID-19 were asymptomatic (no symptoms). This means that without being aware, you could be spreading the virus without knowing. The mask catches the saliva droplets we produce when we speak or cough and contains them.

This protects others but if a sick individual coughed directly onto your mask, the cloth would absorb those droplets which you can accidentally breathe in. This is

why keeping your distance is important.

Why do we need to stand six feet apart?

To forever make you paranoid, it’s because the droplets from a cough can travel that far. An assistant professor in chemical engineering at OSU, Yu Feng, is actually working with the Global Healthcare Industry to investigate the aerosol transmission of COVID-19.

With the help of computer models, Feng’s team has been able to simulate different conditions from standing face to face to someone running behind another. In still air, the six feet apart rule is fine but even a slight breeze can cause the droplets to travel further and possibly infect you. So maybe just stay as far away from people as you can.

There is scientific reason behind these hygienic measures the CDC and the government are strongly encouraging you and everyone else to practice. Now you know why.

FOR RELEASE APRIL 13, 2020

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Houses For Rent

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

ACROSS 1 Time gone by 5 Wedding VIPs with playlists 8 Shot of liquor 14 Do recon at, as an enemy camp 16 Collection of beehives 17 Colorful Top 10 Beatles hit 19 Apple mobile platform 20 “When is a door not a door?,” e.g.

21 Colorful Top 10 Prince hit 26 GPS suggestions 27 Bad picnic omen 28 Treasure container 33 Vienna’s land: Abbr.

34 Delhi dress 36 Hamm’s “Mad Men” role 37 Colorful Top 10 Lemon Pipers hit 40 Open, as a present 41 “Jeopardy!” first name 42 Moon lander, for short 43 English county on the North Sea 44 Absorbed, as a cost 45 A bit, in music 46 Colorful Top 10 Rolling Stones hit 49 __ of Liberty 53 Granola kernel 54 Colorful Top 10 Santana hit 60 Portable HP, say 61 All tangled up 62 Dwell constantly (on) 63 Home of MLB’s Cardinals 64 A few

600+ Rental Units Available Full Listings @ Stillwaterpm. com Stillwater Property 633 N. Husband 405-743-2126

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2020

Your Classified Ad or Business Square could be here! $10/Week Published online 3 times a week.

Email ads@ocolly.com or lori@ocolly.com Advertise your business specials, online or remote church activities, houses and apartments for rent, help wanted ads, or any other special your business is offering.

By Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Level 1

2

3

4

4/13/20

By Kurt Krauss

7 Guy’s name spelled with an alphabet sequence 8 Pack very tightly 9 Apple tablet 10 Encircle with a belt 11 O’Grady of “NYPD Blue” 12 Sea eagle 13 Corned beef on __ 15 Home Depot purchase 18 Petrol pumper 21 Czech Republic capital 22 About-faces 23 Adjusts, as a hem 24 __ avis 25 Lively, in music 28 Central idea DOWN 29 Kramden laugh 1 College maj. for a syllable 30 Literary wrap-up future therapist 31 Five Nations 2 Trick taker, tribe usually 32 Aftershock 3 Note after fa 34 Munchies, in 4 Dutch floral adspeak export 5 Search for water 35 Novak Djokovic’s org.

6 Gravy, on menus

Daily Horoscope

c las s if ieds

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

4/13/20

Solution to Saturday’s puzzle

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

36 Anonymous John 38 Before, old-style 39 Huffed and puffed 44 Length times width, for a rectangle 45 Hoaxes 46 Dirt road irregularities 47 Diet-friendly 48 Carpentry tools 49 Concrete section

4/13/20

50 Lights-out music 51 Part of un drame 52 Bout enders, briefly 54 Rain-__ gum 55 PX patrons 56 Bad result for a QB 57 Cultural Revolution chairman 58 Branch 59 Phillies’ div.

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit sudoku.org.uk

© 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

Today’s Birthday (04/13/20). You’re a rising star this year. Rely on disciplined coordination between talented friends. Summer exploration deviations lead to a domestic bliss phase. Adapt to changes in your industry or market. Communicate through a challenge next winter, leading to an inspiring long-distance connection. Expand horizons.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Discover a hidden tangle with a professional project. Adapt to breaking news as you unravel details. If something goes against your grain, turn it down.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) -- Today is a 7 -- Slow the pace. A barrier requires a deviation, detour or delay. Wait for developments. Adapt plans. Study the situation and share your discoveries.

Gemini (May 21-June 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Regenerate positive balances in shared accounts. Collaborate through a kink. Keep communication open despite challenges. Consider long-term benefits.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Provide a stabilizing influence. Conditions seem unsettled. Support each other through a challenging plot twist.

Focus on short-term objectives. Get enough sleep and eat well.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Help others see the big picture, especially when they’re demanding your immediate attention. Distractions and mistakes abound. Slow around sharp curves. Focus for best performance.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Today is an 8 -- Romantic ideals could fade into a duller reality. Work could interfere with playtime. Misunderstandings and delay could thwart intentions. Make lemonade with unexpected lemons.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) -- Today is a 7 -- Your attention turns to family matters.

Stop the action to listen. Adjust to suit the youngest ones. Resolve a way around an obstacle.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) -- Today is a 7 -- Practice extra patience, especially with misunderstandings. Talk is cheap; don’t believe everything you hear. Double-check reservations. Pad the schedule for potential delays. Revise and edit.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) -- Today is a 9 -- You won’t need to defer gratification forever. Practicing frugality treads lightly upon the Earth. You can get what’s needed. Patiently resolve a cash flow kink.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- Today is a 7 -- Stay sensitive to other perspectives. Tempers may be short. Don’t antagonize your elders. Abandon preconceived notions and let misunderstandings go. Try a different power tactic.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) -- Today is a 7 -- Meditate on the current situation.

Old assumptions get challenged. Discover new opportunities. Decreasing stress is good for your health. Make plans for what’s ahead.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) -- Today is an 8 -- Work together to handle urgencies.

Let disagreement or discord flow off you like water from a duck’s back. Avoid risky propositions. Do your part.