Friday, July 7, 2023
Extreme Weather Threatens Communities in Southern Plains Jessica Pearce Staff Reporter
Courtesy of OSU The LaunchPad Center will include state-of-the-art research and development laboratory assets in the HRC, emphasizing the campus’ strategic location, educational connections and industry partnerships.
The next level of Oklahoma’s aerospace and aviation Lauren King Staff Reporter
innovation, but we know our success is shared success,” said OSU President Kayse Shrum. “This is why we are so excited about our strategic partnerships with NASA, Oklahoma State UniversityTulsa’s Helmerich Research Center Tulsa Innovation Labs, and Osage LLC, an Osage Nation enterprise. (HRC) hosted a ribbon-cutting at Additionally, the U.S. Economic the LaunchPad Center for AdDevelopment Administration vanced Air Mobility on Friday, recognizes that taking Oklahoma’s where OSU and partners – Tulsa Innovation Labs and the Osage Na- aerospace and aviation to the next level has national benefits, and we tion – attended the celebration. appreciate the agency’s critical The LaunchPad Center will support the research and entrepre- support.” The LaunchPad Center will neurship of advanced air mobility include state-of-the-art research (AAM). The LaunchPad Center and development laboratory assets will help with development of in the HRC, emphasizing the camaviation technologies including unmanned aerial systems and new pus’ strategic location, educational connections and industry partnerair transportation. ships. “A key pillar of Oklahoma “Aviation is entering its third State University’s strategy is ‘golden age’ and the LaunchPad leading in aerospace and aviation Center for Advanced Air Mobil-
ity is on the cusp of translating research into significant industry advancements,” said Jamey Jacob, executive director of the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE), director of the Counter-UAS Center of Excellence and professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at OSU. “OAIRE and the creation of the LaunchPad Center under the OAIRE umbrella will bridge the gap between early stage research and applied technology, deploying developments to improve industry, the economy and to move the research tied to aviation and space forward.” Jennifer Hankins, deputy managing director of Tulsa Innovation Labs, said the company was excited for the introduction of LaunchPad. See Aerospace on 6
Houston focused on wins in Big 12 Parker Gerl Staff Reporter This is part of The O’Colly’s series on the four new members of the Big 12 Conference. On July 1, four schools officially joined the Big 12 as the conference prepares for the exits of Texas and Oklahoma. Among the four additions -- BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF -- Houston is bringing some more Texas flare, contributing to the conference in different ways than other schools in the Lone Star State. As for where Houston’s athletics programs are at, there’s no talking about the Cougars without mentioning men’s basketball. Since taking the reins in 2014, coach Kelvin Sampson has positioned Houston as one of the top programs in the nation with his recruiting and hard-nosed, defense-first style of coaching. In nine seasons with Sampson, the Cougars are 232-74 (.758), having reached the Sweet 16 four times and the Final Four in 2021. Sampson has continuously done well in March throughout his time at Houston. Sampson himself is familiar with the conference, too. He coached Oklahoma from 19942006 and was named National Coach of the Year in 1995. “You know, self-esteem and self-confidence are so important in athletics,” Sampson said. “And now that we’re in the Big 12, I think it gives our fans and our alumni and our boosters the chance to stick their chest out and look at the Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M (and) Texas fans in this state and say, ‘You know, we’re back. We’re back with you.’ So, it’s big for our university and obviously going to
File Photo Houston basketball coach Kelvin Sampson is no stranger to the Big 12 or OSU. He coached the Oklahoma Sooners from 1994-2006 and has now led the Cougars to four Sweet 16s and a Final Four in the last nine seasons.
be great for our city.” With all that the Cougars have accomplished on the court in recent seasons, the Big 12 bolstered its basketball status with the addition of Houston. What Houston will bring on the gridiron is where it becomes uncertain. Aside from finishing with a 12-2 record and a No. 17 ranking in the AP Poll in 2021, the Cougars have struggled. Last season they finished 8-5 with a win against Louisiana in the Independence Bowl. Prior to that, they finished 3-5 in 2020 and 4-8 in 2019. At the helm for Houston
football is Dana Holgorsen, who between several stints in the Big 12, was the offensive coordinator at Houston from 2008-09. Holgorsen spent 2000-07 as an assistant in multiple positions at Texas Tech, then joined OSU as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Mike Gundy’s staff in 2010 after the UH gig. Most recently, Holgorsen coached at West Virginia from 2011-18, when he also led the Mountaineers into the Big 12, just as he will do for Houston. He rejoined the Cougars in 2019. See Houston on 4
and raises costs for consumers— especially when these resources are already limited, as they are through much of the southern plains: The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state’s power grid, urged users to limit their energy consumption in the face of record-breaking demand on June 20; severe storms in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana caused wide-spread power outages, leaving residents to face sweltering temperatures without air conditioning for several days; meanwhile, 41% of the southern plains region is still under drought conditions, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System.
Since late June, southern regions of the United States have faced record-breaking high temperatures that have challenged infrastructure and threatened lives. Affected regions, spanning from Oklahoma and Texas to the East Coast, have seen significantly above-average heat indexes and will remain under heat advisories or warnings for another week, according to the National Weather Service. During prolonged heat waves, increased demand for water and electricity across residential, commercial and agricultural sectors strains existing infrastructure See Weather on 6
Cincinnati brings loaded defensive line into Big 12
Davis Cordova Staff Reporter
All three return to the line and will be among the best in the conference. No. 4: Oklahoma The Sooners returned an all-conference performer while adding an in-state rival. Lineman Ethan Downs was selected to last year’s second team with 4.5 sacks and 38 total tackles. Defensive lineman Trace Ford transfers in from OSU. Ford has seen a lot of success in his career but has spent the majority of the last two seasons dealing with injuries. No. 5: Texas Tech Tyree Wilson went in the first round of the NFL Draft but left with the line still full. Lineman Tony Bradford Jr. had the most pressures by an interior lineman in the Big 12 a season ago with 35. Jaylon Hutchins was rated as the third-best interior lineman in the conference by Pro Football Focus in 2022. No. 6: Kansas State A guy like first-round pick Felix Anudike-Uzomah is nearly irreplaceable, but the Wildcats will make-do in 2023. Khalid Duke is expected to make the switch from linebacker to defensive end this season following 40 tackles last year in a backup role. Interior lineman Brendan Mott will continue to be a force while Uso Seumalo and Desmond Purnell are expected to fill the remaining starting spots.
Football season is creeping up, and the Big 12 welcomes four new teams. The O’Colly will rank position groups in the conference each week. Previously, quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, offensive lines and special teams were ranked. This time, it’s the defensive line. No. 1: Cincinnati The Bearcats’ line features two of the best in the Big 12. Linemen Dontay Corleone and Jowon Briggs return to the line after both receiving All-AAC first team in 2022. Corleone and Briggs combined for more than 100 tackles and six sacks for the Bearcats. No. 2: Texas The Longhorns return both interior defensive linemen to help lead the way. T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II were selected as honorable mentions for the conference’s All-Big 12 team last season. The line also includes backups from a season ago in Barryn Sorrell and Ethan Burke. No. 3: UCF The Knights boast two first-team All-AAC players on the line. Tre’Mon Morris-Bush and Ricky Barber were both all-conference selections last year, and Josh Celiscar was an honorable mention. See Cincinnati on 2