Why Lincoln Riley always carries a special gift from fan
NORMAN — Lincoln Riley opened the letter and immediately noticed the small substantial disc affixed to the bottom. He immediately knew what it was, too. “Holy cow,” he said. In his hands, the Oklahoma football coach held a Purple Heart coin. The man who sent it is a Sooner fan, a veteran of the Army and the Air Force, and yes, a recipient of the Purple Heart. Riley decided carry the coin in his pocket during games this season. It has been on the road and all over Owen Field. It was there last week when the Sooners went to TCU, and it will be there Saturday when Kansas State comes to town. It is a symbol of strength for Riley. “I know what that coin represents,” hesaid. “A guy that never quit, never gave up and fought through anything for the things that mean the most. “That’s certainly what he did.” Meet Lt. Col. Steven Fisher, the man behind the coin. Fisher is a product of the Midwest— “I consider myself a northern Iowan/southern Minnesotan,” he said with a chuckle — but growing up in the 70s and 80s, he was drawn to OU football. He watched whenever the Sooners were on TV. Two decades later while in the Air Force, Fisher had a chance to get a master’s degree through OU. Classes would be done on base, so he jumped at the chance to have an OU degree. That further tightened his bond to the Sooners, whom he kept tabs on even as he deployed all over the world. He went on his 10th deployment to Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. Stationed
in the southern part of the country, Fisher was Chief Nurse and officer in charge of the trauma bay and intensive care unit at Camp Holland.
In the wee morning hours of October 17, 2011, Fisher was outside retrieving water when a rocket was fired into the base.
“I was never for sure what they shot in,” he said, “but it got me.”
Itstruck within 30 feet of Fisher, knocking him to the ground. He was hit with shrapnel, the worst of it embedding in his mouth. His face was bleeding, and hisback was injured.
Medical staff advised he be flown to nearby Kandahar for treatment. Fisher declined.
The Air Force would later say in a statement, “Fisher made the selfless decision to remain in place in order to fulfill his duties ... placing the care of others above concerns for himself. After treating his own wounds, he continued to execute his duties, ensuring there would be no significant hardship to his team through the completion of his deployment.”
Five years later, Fisher received the Purple Heart.
His heroism has not been without difficulty, including dozens of surgeries. Shortly after receiving the Purple Heart in 2016, he retired from the military because of his medical issues.
Not long after, Fisher received a football signed by Lincoln Riley. The coach had heard about the fan who received a Purple Heart, and the gift floored Fisher.
“I don’t think I could stop smiling when I received that,” he said.
Fisher planned to write a thank you, but with surgeries and recoveries and appointments, weeks became months. Finally, Fisher mustered the energy to write, but he felt it inadequate.
“I wanted to do so much more,” he said. “(Riley) did this thing. He didn’t even know me. I wanted to do something very nice for him, and I thought, ‘Gosh, I really don’t have anything.’”
Money has been a tight since retiring, but Fisher had a Purple Heart coin that went to every doctor’s appointment andhospital visit. It gave him comfort and encouragement.
He sent it to Riley. “I definitely thought he deserved it,” Fisher said.
Riley said, “I was blown away.”
Riley sent Fisher another letter, letting him know the coin would beon the Sooner sideline throughout the season.
And it has been with one exception. The coin got misplaced in the team’s game-day laundry after going to Baylor, and it wasn’t found in time for the next game. Texas.
“I’m not losing it again,” Riley said.
Lt. Col. Steven Fisher has never attended an OU game. He was hoping that would changethis season, but with another surgery scheduled for late November, neither the timing nor the finances will allow it.
Still, part of him is at every game.
His heart.