OU Daily sports editors Colton Sulley and Jason Batacao answer your questions regarding the Sooners’ 20-6 win over Cincinnati and more.
Got multiple questions about the band, if they were there and why it was so quiet from an OU standpoint.
The Pride of Oklahoma was not in Cincinnati on Saturday.
This was the case on long road trips last season as well. The band will of course travel to the Cotton Bowl for OU-Texas and to whatever bowl the Sooners make, but I wouldn’t expect them to travel to Provo, Utah, for the BYU game in late November either.
This explains why on TV you didn’t hear Boomer Sooner playing loudly after every OU score.
Instead, postgame junior defensive lineman Ethan Downs led the team for its alma mater.
— Colton
Junior defensive back Ethan Downs leads the Sooners in the OU Chant after the game against Cincinnati on Sept. 23.
How’s Kanak doing?
Sophomore linebacker Jaren Kanak suffered a scary injury against the Bearcats.
Head coach Brent Venables said postgame Kanak took a hit to the chest and underwent tests that “checked out OK.” He also said Kanak, who was carted off the field into an ambulance, was released from the hospital immediately following the game and traveled back to Norman with the team.
Junior linebacker Danny Stutsman said postgame Kanak will “be alright.”
After taking the hit, Kanak had trouble breathing and was coughing up blood, according to multiple reports.
Jaren Kanak being carted to the lockerroom. Looks like he was spitting up blood. pic.twitter.com/7o440CV77k
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) September 23, 2023
It’s unclear if Kanak will miss any time, but OU better hope not as he’s quickly become one of the Sooners’ best defensive players. Before leaving the game on Saturday, Kanak finished with seven tackles and a quarterback hurry.
— Colton
Why is Jeff Lebby not utilizing tight ends more in the offense?
Austin Stogner is just not that good of a receiving option in comparison to Brayden Willis, who had 998 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in his time at Oklahoma.
I think Stogner’s production showcases just that, as he only has three receptions for 18 yards this season. OU offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby just doesn't have a reliable threat at the tight end position this season, which is why they went out and got a guy like Davon Mitchell, who is a four-star tight end, in the 2024 recruiting class.
Stogner is primarily a blocking tight end at this point in his career, not a receiving threat and his production the past two seasons is indicative of that.
— Jason
Is the offense a train wreck or is Cincy actually good?
Honestly, it’s a toss up at this point.
The offense doesn’t have an identity, which is why Oklahoma can’t seem to figure out what it’s doing on that end of the ball.
OU’s running back room is disjointed, as they’ve played an assortment of four guys — Jovantae Barnes, Tawee Walker, Gavin Sawchuk and Marcus Major — to start the season. None of those players have had a consistent role game in and game out.
The play calling has been up and down. One half Lebby will choose to pass the ball, much like he did on Saturday, and then he’ll switch it up in the second half.
If you’re not confused, I surely am. That likely explains the assortment of issues that come with the “train wreck,” as you described.
— Jason
When is homecoming?
Oct. 21 vs. UCF. Be there or be square.
However, the parade has been moved to Friday, Oct. 20, and will take place on the North Oval.
— Colton
When are the next softball games? (Lol)
OU softball announced its fall schedule last Thursday, actually.
The reigning three-time national champion Sooners will play eight fall games, which begin on Oct. 4.
If you mean actual games that mean something, you’ll have to wait for 2024. While you wait, OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione offered an update on Love’s Field the other day.
"We are really excited about the entire project,” Castiglione said. “ ... We're actually looking to put sod down here in the next several weeks."
— Colton
