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Oklahoma Senator Proposes Desolate 'Lincoln Riley Highway' on Western Edge of Panhandle

A Republican senator from Ponca City proposes the "tiniest section" of a remote road on the way out of Oklahoma to "honor" the former OU coach.
John E. Hoover|
Oklahoma Senator Proposes Desolate 'Lincoln Riley Highway' on Western Edge of Panhandle
Oklahoma Senator Proposes Desolate 'Lincoln Riley Highway' on Western Edge of Panhandle

Lincoln Riley’s not having a great week.

Monday, the former Oklahoma head coach appeared on a USC promotional video — or something — that would make Public Access TV proud.

The awkwardness is palpable.

Then Tuesday, an Oklahoma senator introduced a bill that would “honor” Riley’s stay at OU with a remote, three-inch stretch of Oklahoma Highway 325 — the westbound lane only, just before it crosses the border into New Mexico — in the Panhandle.

“I felt the state of Oklahoma needed an appropriate goodbye to this former head coach whose sudden departure left many in shock, including a team of young, dedicated college players,” wrote Sen. Bill Coleman. “I found the tiniest section of our most desolate of highways to pay tribute to Coach Riley’s exit from Oklahoma football and the state. This is only fitting as this is the last three inches one sees before leaving our great state heading west.”

The Ponca City Republican senator will pay for the signage himself, with no apparent cost to Oklahoma taxpayers.

“While we are all free to pursue employment elsewhere, there is a level of professionalism that is expected to be adhered to,” Colman said. “From all indications, professionalism was pretty much absent in how this departure was executed.”

The next legislative session convenes on Feb. 7, and could be passed into law then.

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John E. Hoover
JOHN E. HOOVER

John is an award-winning journalist whose work spans five decades in Oklahoma, with multiple state, regional and national awards as a sportswriter at various newspapers. During his newspaper career, John covered the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, the Arkansas Razorbacks and much more. In 2016, John changed careers, migrating into radio and launching a YouTube channel, and has built a successful independent media company, DanCam Media. From there, John has written under the banners of Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Fan Nation and a handful of local and national magazines while hosting daily sports talk radio shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa and statewide. John has also spoken on Capitol Hill in Oklahoma City in a successful effort to put more certified athletic trainers in Oklahoma public high schools. Among the dozens of awards he has won, John most cherishes his national "Beat Writer of the Year" from the Associated Press Sports Editors, Oklahoma's "Best Sports Column" from the Society of Professional Journalists, and Two "Excellence in Sports Medicine Reporting" Awards from the National Athletic Trainers Association. John holds a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications from East Central University in Ada, OK. Born and raised in North Pole, Alaska, John played football and wrote for the school paper at Ada High School in Ada, OK. He enjoys books, movies and travel, and lives in Broken Arrow, OK, with his wife and two kids.

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