Author: Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D.

As a family physician, I explore the HEART of HEALTH in my work, recreation, community, and through writing. My blog, Watercress Words, informs and inspires us to live in health. I believe we can turn our health challenges into healthy opportunities. When we do, we can share the HEART of health with our families, communities, and the world. Come explore and share with me.

“Play like a champion today”

The OU Sooners football program has won 7 national championships and 7 players have received Heisman trophies. More importantly, the team never fails to show their fans exciting, hard-fought games. Even when they lose, they do so with plays that keep us guessing what’s going to happen next and wondering how such talented athletes can end up with the losing score.

The University of Oklahoma Sooners

updated August 14, 2025

The Players

From the Big 8, to the Big 12, and now the SEC, the University of Oklahoma football and other sports teams set and maintain a high standard of excellence, on and off the field.

In Oklahoma, September means football season from youth to college.

We don’t have a pro football team in the state but many of our schools’ alumni play professionally, like Heisman trophy winner Baker Mayfield.

Almost everyone here either follows college football or lives with someone who does. In my home, both my husband and I avidly support our alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, also known as OU.

The OU Sooners football program has won 7 national championships and 7 players have received Heisman trophies.

More importantly, the team consistently delivers exciting, hard-fought games to its fans. Even when they lose, they do so with plays that keep us guessing what’s going to happen next and wondering how such talented athletes can end up with the losing score. No wonder their motto is “Boomer Sooner”.

The Place-Norman, Oklahoma

The OU campus in Norman Oklahoma has a state-of-the-art stadium and houses the Barry Switzer Center. The center was named after OU’s all-time winningest head football coach, who led his Sooner teams to three national championships, 12 Big Eight Conference championships and eight bowl wins in 13 appearances. ( He went on to coach the Dallas Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl championship. )

At the center is the Legends Lobby, a museum of OU football memorabilia. If you visit the center in Norman Oklahoma, here are a few things you will see. (Due to an NCAA regulation, the center is not open on game days.)

a mural of football coaches at the University of Oklahoma
a life-size mural depicting the past and current coaches of the OU Sooners
(my husband posing for my photo)
a mural with football team of the University of Oklahoma
1974 national college football championship trophy
1974 championship trophy

And a visit to Norman would not be complete without eating at Ray’s BBQ owned by former OU player and New York Jet Darrol Ray.

Eat at Ray's and tell them I sent you.
Eat at Ray’s and tell them we sent you.
Darrol Ray talked about school in an interview-

“Stay in your books. If you have even a glimmer of a dream of what you want to do later in life, don’t be afraid … if you want to do X, don’t let somebody tell you you should do A, B and C,”

Darrol Ray, retired professional football player

The Coaches

Brent Venables now coaches the Sooner football team, but his predecessors Barry Switzer and Bob Stoops left him a legacy to follow.

Bootlegger’s Boy

Barry Switzer’s autobiography is an interesting read.

What It Means To Be A Sooner

” Taking a decade-by-decade approach to the University of Oklahoma football tradition, this collection brings together over 40 stories from the most outstanding voices of the program.

The spirit of Sooners football is not captured by just one phrase, one season, or one particular game; instead, the student-athletes and coaches who made the magic happen over the decades blend their experiences to capture the true essence of their beloved school.

Sooners fans will relish the intimate stories told by the figures they have come to cherish.” Amazon

If you buy at these links, with our thanks, this blog can earn a small commission for support.

The University

The University of Oklahoma is not just about sports. The school excels in the fine arts and has a first-class medical school, among other disciplines. See more of what the campus offers –

statue of a dancing lady
“The Dance” statue at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma

where my medical journey began- Tuesday Travels

University of Oklahoma campus library
plaque in front of the Bizzell Library, at the University of Oklahoma

Exploring the HEART of health

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And please, always

PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY
This sign once hung in the OU football locker room. I think it’s good advice for anyone.
Dr. Aletha

RoboForm Password Manager

a sketch of various electronic devices
RoboForm Everywhere to manage your passwords

Watercress Words Bookstore

Bookshop.org is an online bookstore that financially supports local, independent bookstores.

We believe bookstores are essential to a healthy culture and they are dedicated to the common good.

Bookshop.org donates a portion of every sale to independent bookstores.

More ways to win over depression

Sheila Walsh an accomplished singer when she became co-host of The 700 Club. She seemed to be at the peak of her career publicly but privately she was careening downward. One evening she left the studio on the verge of suicide and checked into a mental hospital .

In another post I told you about depression from the viewpoint of blogger Darren Rowse of ProBlogger.com. He shared how he dealt with depression, steps that I endorse and recommend to my patients. In this post I talk about another public person who has depression and uses her insights to help others.

Sheila Walsh-singer, speaker, author

Sheila was an accomplished singer when she became co-host of The 700 Club. She seemed to be at the peak of her career publicly but privately she was careening downward. One evening she left the studio on the verge of suicide and checked into a mental hospital .

Since then she has lived with depression but not under the weight of depressive feelings.

” After entering the hospital, Sheila went through therapy and evaluation. Along the way, she discovered things about herself that were harmful. For example, when she was unable or unwilling to deal with what was true about her life, she buried it.

“You can try for years to deny the things that are tearing at your soul, but they will not go away. They thrive in the shadowlands, and if you don’t deal with them, they will one day deal with you.”

Sheila

Her doctor determined that she was severely clinically depressed. She had all the classic signs:

  • insomnia,
  • loss of memory,
  • loss of appetite,
  • overwhelming feelings of hopelessness,
  • loss of emotional control, and
  • an unbearable sadness.

Sheila’s doctor helped her understand that mental illness is a reality, a treatable reality, and there is no shame there. Through prayer, reading the Bible, therapy, and medication Sheila began to manage her depression. At the end of thirty days, Sheila left the hospital and returned to CBN to say goodbye. ”

from CBN.com

Sheila’s top 4 tips

In a radio interview with Jenny Dean Schmidt of Channel Mom, Sheila lists 4 things that help her deal with depression.

  • walking her dogs
  • listening to worship music
  • sleeping well
  • staying in touch with trusted friends who “know all about me”

“a kind supportive boss”

In this interview with her former boss, Pat Robertson, Sheila explains how his kind and caring support, medication, and her faith helped her overcome depression .

These are all similar to things Darren mentioned in his article- exercise (walking), getting a dog, telling friends and family, medication, and prayer/meditation.

How Sheila was “Loved Back to Life”

In this book, Sheila tells her story of her recovery from depression.

Sheila’s “Unexpected Grace”

I enjoyed Sheila’s story about supporting her mother-in-law through a cancer diagnosis.

“Unexpected Grace is a tender account of the relationship between a mother and daughter-in-law and how they discovered extravagant grace in the midst of what could have been the most tragic experience of their lives. Their story will encourage you and help you see how God can bring good out of even the bleakest circumstances. “

Sheila Walsh

books available on Kindle Unlimited and Audible

If you haven’t read it already, please read my post about how Darren Rowse manages to control his depression.

How to relieve depression in 11 simple steps

Not everyone needs antidepressant medication, but when they do, it can make a dramatic difference. Medication needs adequate time and dosage to be effective, and once that is reached should be continued long enough for the depression to stay in remission.

If you are depressed and thinking about or planning suicide, please stop and call this number now-988

exploring the HEART of freedom from depression

Dr. Aletha