More upgrades planned for stadium, including Wi-Fi capability
In addition to its vote to allow alcohol sales at select University of Oklahoma athletic venues, the OU Board of Regents on Wednesday approved $14.9 million for the next phase of upgrades to Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
This phase will not be as dramatic as the last few — rounds that have enclosed the stadium on the south end, revamped the team facilities and created a plaza outside that end of the stadium, or upgraded the video board on the north end.
This phase will include the addition of Wi-Fi infrastructure throughout the stadium, additional handicapped-accessible seating and amenity areas in the north end zone.
It also will include handicapped-accessible seating on the west side of the stadium, additional handrails and intermediate steps as well as the re-cladding of bench seating throughout the stadium and preventative maintenance on the structure.
The moves will also standardize the seat size throughout the stadium at 18 inches. Currently, many seats are less than 18 inches.
The changes will have an affect on the venue’s capacity — lowering it
— but it’s one that was expected when the series of projects was undertaken several years ago.
Athletic director Joe Castiglione said that many ticket-holders affected by the loss of seats in those areas already have been accommodated.
Work will begin after the end of Oklahoma’s season. It won’t affect the ability for the stadium to host the annual spring football game or commencement activities, but some seating areas may be unavailable at those events as work continues.
Powers tones down talk on Kansas State
At Big 12 Media Days in July, Oklahoma guard Ben Powers didn’t hold back about his home state schools not pursuing him out of Wichita’s Kapaun Mount Carmel High.
“(K-State) didn’t even want me to walk on,” Powers said.
When the Wildcats came calling after a standout freshman season at Butler Community College, Powers shut the door.
“I did not want anything to do with them,” Powers said. “If they didn’t want me four months previously, why would they want me now? Look, you go from August to when I got to Butler, and you go to December, what changed? Not much. Not a whole lot.”
Powers was much more circumspect this week as he prepared to play his final game against the Wildcats as a Sooner (2:30 p.m., Fox).
“This week is just about us,” Powers said, though he couldn’t help but throw in a little jab when asked how many Wildcats he knew. “They don’t pick up a lot
of Kansas guys so I don’t know a whole lot of them.”
OU QB commit suspended
Oklahoma quarterback commit Spencer Rattler's senior season is over.
Rattler was suspended for the rest of the season after violating a district code of conduct policy, Rattler’s father told azcentral sports Tuesday.
"We can't say anything more on that," Mike Rattler told the site when asked what the violation was.
Spencer Rattler recently became the first quarterback to pass 11,000 passing yards during a high school career.
Rattler, a five-star prospect according to Rivals, committed to the Sooners in late June 2017.
Rattler's Phoenix Pinnacle team is 8-1 entering this week's regular-season finale.