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  • Published on

    Celebrate Our Fourth Birthday

    the-oil-blog
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    OklahomIraqis.com went live in March 2010. It's hard to believe that was four years ago. The site has grown quite a bit since then. We've added two more URLs* that are (hopefully) easier to remember, and we've joined Fox Sports's Yardbarker Network of sports blogs. We've expanded to three other Web sites and three other leagues. We have our own traveling trophy with its own unique Web page.

    What started as a single Web page is now a full Web site that attracted over 85,000 unique visitors in the past year. We've been featured on Uni-Watch.com and USA Today's The Big Lead. Over 400 visitors found our Web site on Google this month alone.

    It's important to note that this site may have never happened without the help of Chris Trovillo. He is the manager who found and signed up for Weebly, our site's host and Web builder. And the site wouldn't be what it is today without the influence of Adam Duffy and Josh Hastings. 

    So, thank you to everyone who has visited this site in the last four years. I hope you've enjoyed it half as much as I have. 

    The Commish.


    *TheOIL.org and okiraqi.org

  • Published on

    Donate to Help Iraqi Children

    the-oil-blog
    Through Amazon Smile, I found this charity that strikes a chord with me: the Sponsor Iraqi Children Foundation. You can donate on their site or below:
  • Published on

    Update on OIL History Project

    the-oil-blog
    For the past couple months, we've been compiling conversations with members of the OIL and the SECFOR mission that started it in an attempt to create an oral history of both the league and the 2005-2006 Iraq mission. 
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    Sample page of OIL history project.

    What started out as a plan to document the first 10 years of the OIL became more and more an effort to collect the memories of our year in Iraq together. I've reached out to a local publisher for advice as well as the University of Oklahoma Press. When the section on the SECFOR mission is complete, I'll provide a way for those interested to order a printed copy. We plan on continuing this oral history project for each season of the OIL until the close of the 2014 season. Then, at the 2015 draft party, everyone will receive a copy of the Book of OIL chronicling the first 10 years of the league.

    Our little history project includes contributions from LTC Allen J. Bentley; MAJ Charles Neely; CPT Mark Fitzgerald; 1SG Mark Braley; and SGM John Jenson, as well as numerous members of the OIL and those on the SECFOR mission. 

    Before I can hit "publish" on the first chapter (covering Desert Storm to the end of the 2006 mission and fantasy football season), I need more information from just a few guys. To see how far along this project is, click on this link to view a "secret" draft through our Web site builder.

    Right now, the first section is about 75 standard 8.5" x 11" pages long. When converted to the standard paperback size of 6" x 9" it is 140 pages long. Future chapters (covering each succeeding season of the OIL) will not be nearly as lengthy, but it's important to chronicle everything. I hope you agree.