In this week’s Bill Haisten Podcast, there is a little talk about OU’s need for better and more physical blocking as it prepares for its move to the SEC. There is a brief look at this weekend’s start of the Big 12 basketball schedule. The star of this podcast, however, is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Through the first 33 games of the NBA season, the Thunder occupies second place in the Western Conference and seems to be a real threat in the postseason. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has solidified his position as one of the five best players in the world. Related Bill Haisten: Way ahead of schedule – SGA and the young, red-hot Thunder 2023 in Review: OU-Texas and Bedlam, ORU's great year, and, of course, Bixby Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Subscribe to this podcast on: Apple | Google | SpotifySupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In advance of Saturday’s Oklahoma State-Texas clash in the Big 12 Championship game, Bill Haisten talks with longtime media associate/friend Shawn Clynch. Before returning to his hometown of Austin for a television job and coverage of Texas football, Clynch covered several of Mike Gundy’s OSU teams for an Oklahoma City TV station. Subscribe to this podcast on: Apple | Google | Spotify Related Bill Haisten: Unfortunately for OSU, this Texas is a better version of Texas Bill Haisten: For these 5,000-to-1 Cowboys, every imaginable possibility is on the table Bill Haisten: For the Presleys, a fun ride at OSU and a baffling season at TU Bill Haisten: This should happen at OSU – Mike Gundy Field at Boone Pickens Stadium Bill Haisten: The Cowboy mission – avoiding another ‘yeah, but . . . ’ football finish Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Subscribe to this podcast on: Apple | Google | SpotifySupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's Bill Haisten Podcast guest is former University of Tulsa All-American Jerry Ostroski, who spent nine seasons on the Buffalo Bills' offensive line and now is the father of TU defensive end Owen Ostroski. Jerry and Bill discuss their picks on Person of the Year in the NFL and in college football. Also discussed: TU freshman QB Kirk Francis' stunning, 345-yard passing performance. Subscribe to this podcast on: Apple | Google | Spotify Related From June 2002: Livin' large From November 1991: TU's Ostroski blocks way onto All-American squad From June 2004: Ostroski gives TU strength From February 2009: 'Jerry-O': From player to fan to Hall of Fame From December 2013: Former TU, Bills lineman talks cold-weather impact From November 2017: Bill Haisten: For the Ostroskis, a once-in-a-lifetime season at Holland Hall From July 2018: Bill Haisten: Recovering from a big surgery, Jerry Ostroski has ‘absolutely no regrets’ From September 2018: Bill Haisten: A stunning Tuesday for Jerry Ostroski, whose TU jersey will be retired From April 2019: Former Hurricane All-American Jerry Ostroski gets job at TU From September 2020: Bill Haisten: His dad is synonymous with Tulsa football, but Army commit Owen Ostroski wasn’t recruited by TU From January 2021: Holland Hall defensive end Owen Ostroski commits to TU From January 2022: Jerry Ostroski lends pain, perspective to Buffalo's heartbreak in Kansas City as only an ex-Bill can Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories Subscribe to this podcast on: Apple | Google | SpotifySupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s Bill Haisten Podcast centers on two huge football games – Bixby-Jenks and Bedlam in Stillwater. Haisten explains why he’s predicting a 38-34 OU victory. Related Bill Haisten: OU has an undeniable edge on luck, and the pick is 38-34 Sooners Bill Haisten: Bedlam defined by heroes like Josh Fields and Adrian Peterson Bill Haisten: A disgustingly damaging and avoidable setback for the Sooners Bill Haisten: For Hudson Ball and the Jenks Trojans, the most important stretch of the season Bill Haisten: Bixby watches from the top during a big two weeks for possible contenders Bill Haisten: How Bixby built a football machine and the state’s No. 1 program with eight state titles in nine years Bill Haisten: Revisiting Jenks’ streak-ending, mind-blowing conquest of Bixby Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his storiesSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tulsa World columnist Bill Haisten discusses last week’s OU-Texas classic and contends that it was the Sooner program’s first real statement win since the 2017 flag-plant victory at Ohio State. Related Oklahoma 34, Texas 30: See our complete coverage OU football midseason report card: Dillon Gabriel, Sooners' receivers and defense receive high marks Daniel Akinkunmi, 3-star offensive lineman from England, commits to OU football OU's Danny Stutsman keeps everyone guessing about his 'Horns Down' tattoo OU reigns supreme in Big 12 power poll; OSU steadily moves up the ladder 'You can't get complacent': How OU is attacking bye week, staying hungry after beating Texas Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his storiesSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, Tulsa World sports columnist Bill Haisten is at the Cotton Bowl for his 20th OU-Texas football game. Haisten reflects on his personal history of having covered or attended 19 chapters of one of college football's classic rivalries. Related Bill Haisten: OU-Texas never fails to deliver OU football: Brent Venables gets A-plus for restoring belief  Will stingy defenses equal defensive slugfest?  OU notebook: Last season left 'bad taste' in Sooners' mouths  Quarterback poise may mean rivalry success for OU or Texas Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his storiesSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a difficult season so far for the Oklahoma State Cowboys. But Mike Gundy's future is secure. Bill Haisten explains why in this week's episode. Even if things get worse this season, Gundy will be back for a 20th season at OSU in 2024, if he wants to return, Bill says. Interesting fact: At 56, Gundy is the same age as Bob Stoops when Stoops stepped down as OU's coach. The timing is bad for OSU to have a disappointing season in football. Bill explains why. Also, Bill reveals which former Cowboys player he feels should succeed Gundy at OSU when the time comes.  Related Did Oklahoma State go stride for stride in the transfer portal? Revisiting the Cowboys' offseason moves As Oklahoma State hits the bye week, what areas need to be improved? Bill Haisten: Only two years after a 12-win triumph, OSU is on pace for 81 punts Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his stories  Support the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 36 years in the Tulsa Police Department, and after having become a central figure in A&E’s “First 48” series on real-life homicide investigations, Dave Walker retired in 2018. A St. Louis native and former three-sport high school athlete who loves baseball and the Cardinals, Walker reflects on a lifetime in law enforcement. Related Tulsan of the Year Dave Walker attempts to crack one more important case in retirement 'The First 48' helped Tulsans 'see us as people,' retiring lead homicide detective says Bill Haisten: Fifty weeks later, a Friday night of ‘glorious’ normalcy for McLain Bill Haisten: For Kevin Wilson and TU, intelligent aggression is a must against OU Bill Haisten: As Texas scores a statement win, OU has a critical need for more big plays Bill Haisten: For the Cowboys, a 2-0 start but still no obvious definition at QB Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his storiesSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Booker T. Washington football coach Jonathan Brown reflects on an unsettling opening-night experience and his time at Tennessee with Peyton Manning. Also, Brown looks ahead at OU’s switch to the Southeastern Conference.  Related Bill Haisten: How Hudson Ball, a soon-to-be hot football recruit, wound up at Jenks BTW-Del City game moved up after last Friday's gun incidents Bill Haisten: For wholesome Oklahoma prep football, a shocking first Friday The building of a powerhouse: How Loren Montgomery built Bixby into the gold standard in Oklahoma prep football Bill Haisten: A 42-16 reminder that Bixby still is the gold standard in Class 6AI Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his storiesSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When high school teams are matched in a college stadium, it’s a big-event game or a championship game. During Thursday's Battle of the 'Burbs, in a rematch of the 2022 Class 6AI title contest, Bill Blankenship’s third-ranked Owasso Rams clash with the top-ranked, defending champion Bixby Spartans. For the 16th time, and in the opener of his 40th season of coaching, Blankenship is involved in a high school game played at TU’s H.A. Chapman Stadium. Related 8 Tulsa-area public school football coaches make more than $100,000 in compensation Bill Haisten: Bill Blankenship – fired by Tulsa in 2014 and now a Kevin Wilson resource Barry Lewis' top games: Battle of the 'Burbs, Holland Hall-Lincoln Christian highlight Week 0 lineup Bixby has question marks, but Spartans are still the favorite | 6AI breakdown Contact us Sports Columnist Bill Haisten: Email | Twitter | Follow his storiesSupport the show: https://tulsaworld.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.