Dillon Gabriel Joins Sam Mayes In the Trenches

Oct 28, 2023

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Following what might be the most thrilling OU victory in the Red River Rivalry’s storied history, Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel joined Sam Mayes for a special episode of “In the Trenches with Sam Mayes” sponsored by Fields & Futures.

Sam has long supported Fields & Futures and is an outspoken advocate for giving kids access to sports. A few years ago, we had the privilege of working with Sam during our Why We Care campaign and learning why he’s so passionate about removing accessibility and financial barriers for athletes in underresourced communities.

Coincidentally, Dillon Gabriel is also a champion for equal opportunities and resources in youth sports. The OU signal-caller has used a portion of his NIL money to provide young athletes with uniforms and experiences they wouldn’t usually get.

Despite suiting up for intrastate rivals—Mayes was an All-American offensive lineman at Oklahoma State University from 2000-2003—Sam and Dillon teamed up in the trenches to discuss OU’s late-game heroics, why “pressure is a privilege,” and the importance of giving kids opportunities to play sports.

Watch more episodes of “In the Trenches with Sam Mayes” on the Sellout Crowd Network.

Coaching Culture: Agents of Hope

Oklahoma City Public Schools has a storied history of producing some of the state’s best athletes and teams. But when resources dwindled and facilities suffered from decades of neglect, the district's once-thriving sports culture declined. Today, Fields & Futures and OKCPS are committed once again to fostering a coaching culture that attracts and retains agents of hope who want to impact lives on and off the field.

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The Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame recognized six OKCPS student-athletes for their remarkable athletic achievements and academic excellence during the 2023-2024 school year at the 40th annual All-Sports & Scholar Athlete Awards Ceremony. Daryen Jefferson, James Allen, Chloe Threatt, Luisa Talavera, and Jailyn Ramirez were named Jim Thorpe High School Players of the Year for their respective sports, while Cameron Pearson received the Virgil Milliron Wrestling Scholarship Award.

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