Hunter

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@gkketch Praying for your family, may God give you all peace love and comfort and may you all meet again someday.

[TouchdownOklahoma @TouchdownOkla]

In December 1985, my dad wrote Barry Switzer about Oklahoma’s upcoming national championship game against Penn State. Weeks later, after OU won the title, Barry quoted my dad’s statistics in the Orange Bowl locker room.

That letter began a friendship that has now lasted 40 years.

I was 13 when Dad came excitedly into my room one evening.

“You have to come look at this!”

On the living room coffee table were two or three OU media guides and notebook paper covered in his handwriting.

This was years before Wikipedia and Sports Reference. Dad was doing the research by hand.

He wanted to compare Barry Switzer’s record through his first 153 games with Bud Wilkinson’s record through the same number. What he discovered excited him so much that he knew Coach Switzer had to hear about it.

Today, he could post the statistics on X and tag @BarrySwitzer and @OU_Football

In 1985, you wrote a letter.

So Dad took his research to the office, typed it up and mailed it to the University of Oklahoma, care of Coach Barry Switzer.

The original letter is included here for you to read. Dad, always the creative force, presented it in a way only he could: a two-page, 614-word letter filled with statistics, historical parallels and even a Sooner-themed poem.

He REALLY wanted Barry’s attention.

He mailed it 21 days before the Orange Bowl, when Oklahoma would play for its sixth national championship.

Then we waited.

Three weeks passed. We had no idea whether Coach Switzer, or anyone at OU, had seen it.

Oklahoma beat Penn State, 25-10, and won the national championship.

The next day, we were watching the Oklahoma Playback show when it cut to the celebration inside the Orange Bowl locker room.

Coach Switzer quieted the room and began reciting Bud Wilkinson’s record through 154 games, comparing it with his own.

We couldn’t believe it.

“WE DID IT!”

The letter had reached the King himself.

That was victory enough for Dad. We celebrated again, as if Oklahoma had just won a second national championship.

Three months later, Dad came barreling into my room again. Think of the father in “A Christmas Story” learning he had won a major award. That is the only comparison I can make.

Barry had written back.

Dad read the letter aloud, beaming. He now had Barry’s autograph, which, for you kids, used to mean more than a selfie. The envelope also contained letters from Barry’s uncle Billy and OU Sports Information Director Mike Treps.

Dad was 34 years old, and he was overjoyed.

But the story wasn’t finished.

Seven months later, through his business, Dad attended an event and was seated at Barry Switzer’s table. That was their first meeting.

That night, I received a telephone call.

It wasn’t from my dad.

It was Barry Switzer.

The date was October 5, 1986, Barry’s 49th birthday and one day after my 14th. Barry told me it was his birthday, then wished me a happy birthday.

A few years later, Dad moved to Norman. His business led to a partnership with Heisman Trophy winner Steve Owens, and that first letter grew into a friendship with Barry that continues today.

But my dad is not the same man he was then.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, an aggressive form of dementia that attacks language and speech.

Today, my 75-year-old dad is completely nonverbal. He is battling several other serious health problems, bravely fighting for his life and still cheering for his Sooners.

He has attended every OU-Texas game since 1990.

This week, he’ll have to watch from his bed in Norman.

I’ll be there, Dad.

And I’ll do my best to bring you home one more Red River victory.

Happy birthday, Coach Switzer.

Thank you for reading a letter from my dad 40 years ago.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@OUBarstool That’s the right attitude. They can turn the whole season around. OU has the culture to do it. This game is a pivot point, it’s going to be tough but OU 17 GA 16 let’s go

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

What a courageous guy

[The Forgotten War @ForgottenWarPic]

His carbine was blown right out of his hands, and he was already wounded. Robert McGovern kept attacking the bunker anyway, alone, firing his pistol and catching enemy grenades to throw them back, killing seven of the enemy before they finally killed him.

McGovern was an Army first lieutenant from Washington, D.C., twenty three years old, leading his platoon in an attack near Kamyangjan-ni on January 30, 1951. Their objective was a hill crowned with an enemy bunker, a pillbox with connecting trenches, and as the platoon climbed the slope, that bunker opened up on them with machine gun and rifle fire from about seventy five yards away, pinning the men down.

In the very first burst, McGovern was wounded. But he told his men he could keep going, and he urged them forward, and then he went out ahead of them, alone, to take the bunker himself.

As he pressed his lone attack up the fire swept slope, it got worse. He was severely wounded, and then an enemy round struck his carbine and blew it right out of his hands. Now he was badly hurt, weaponless except for a pistol, one man in the open in front of a machine gun bunker. Any reasonable person stops there.

McGovern did not stop. He drew his pistol and kept coming. When the enemy threw grenades at him, he caught them and hurled them back before they went off. He fought his way right up to the position, pistol and grenades against a machine gun bunker, and he killed seven of the enemy in that final, one man assault before he was killed at the bunker itself.

His attack broke the position for his platoon. Robert McGovern was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor and lies at Arlington now. And there is a heartbreaking coda. His brother, Second Lieutenant Francis McGovern, was also killed in action in Korea, just eleven days later. Two brothers, gone within two weeks of each other, on the far side of the world.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@jdpickell @jdpickell OU running backs only got 13 carries. They ran the ball well and went away from it. Strange strategy. Probably win the game if they keep running it & Mateer just manages the game instead of dropping back to throw 40 times (33 attempts, 40ish counting scrambles & sacks

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@mvp30_curry He’s not accounting for Oklahoma playing with a QB with a broken thumb last year and a revamped offense.

[Mayor David Holt @davidfholt]

Today, the OU Football team (@OU_Football ) took the time to learn about the Oklahoma City Bombing. Led by General Manager Jim Nagy and Head Coach Brent Venables, they started by viewing a portion of ESPN’s “The Oklahoma Standard.” Then, I spent some time talking to the team about what the Bombing and our community’s response means to us as Oklahomans, its lessons of resilience, and what it should mean to them as Americans. From there, the team journeyed to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. I’m so grateful to Jim Nagy and Coach Venables that they made time for this meaningful day.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@OU_Football @BarstoolGruden I’m currently very motivated after this

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@LibertyLockPod Thank you for this @LibertyLockPod it needed to be said.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@GunswayTV @scotthortonshow It seems our higher ups didn’t think we had to do an invasion ie blockade & air superiority. Either side of it there is no logical reason we couldn’t have dropped a nuke or two in the forest or military area & used that as a show of power & leverage before bombing civilian areas

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@KREFsports It really doesn’t matter much, but I’d say thats just right. I believe this team has the potential to win it all if things go right so hopefully they outplayed their ranking.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@ForePlayPod I would literally call a rules official over every single shot as long as it’s not effecting my playing partner

[Governor Kevin Stitt @GovStitt]

Oklahoma will always remember and celebrate the legacy of Toby Keith.

Today, July 8th, we recognize Toby Keith Day in Oklahoma and honor a true Oklahoma icon whose music, patriotism, and generosity touched millions of lives. I was proud to sign a proclamation recognizing this day and celebrating the lasting impact Toby made on our state and our nation.

Toby never forgot where he came from. From his Oklahoma roots to stages around the world, he represented our state with pride and carried the values we hold dear everywhere he went.

His legacy will continue to inspire generations of Oklahomans, and we will always be grateful for the mark he left on the Sooner State and beyond.

[OU Football Radio Crew @OURadioCrew]

Happy Birthday, America. It's the 4th of July 🇺🇸

[Holy Bible @Holy__Bible1]

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for Your love, mercy, and faithfulness. Please guide me today with Your wisdom, fill my heart with Your peace, and strengthen my faith. Give me courage to face every challenge, protect my family and me, and bless the work of my hands. Help me to trust You in every situation and to walk in Your ways.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@ClassicLearner it was a kilt

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@OU_Football @John_Mateer4 That’s a lot of weight for front squat, nice! Very impressive for anyone, let alone a QB. Hope he has a great season. #BoomerSooner

[SoonerScoop.com @SoonerScoop]

Welcome back, @bakermayfield

[Brian Simmons @BrianWSimmons]

There is nothing wrong with you that the love of God cannot fix.

[Hunter @Hunterokie1]

@KylePorterNS These real genuine thoughts are the kind of answers that people like. Hope the best for him.