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Seth Littrell Lands Job
Former Oklahoma running back Seth Littrell was named Texas Tech's running backs coach, Red Raider head coach Mike Leach announced today. Littrell spent the previous season at the University of Kansas as an offensive graduate assistant. Littrell fills the position previously held by Bill Bedenbaugh, who moved over to coach the Red Raider offensive line following Robert Anae's departure to BYU earlier this month.

"I think Seth will be a tremendous asset to our coaching staff and team," Leach said. "With his experience in playing running back and knowledge of our offensive philosophy, we are looking forward to having him on our side." A four-year letterwinner with the Sooners, Littrell was a team captain on OU's 2000 National Championship team and played under Leach during the 1999 season, when Leach was the Sooners' offensive coordinator. The Muskogee, Okla., native graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in communications. (NCAA)

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Peterson ESPN Photo Shoot
SoonerSports.com reports A camera crew from ESPN the Magazine was in Norman this weekend to conduct a photo shoot with Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. The national publication has an upcoming issue entitled "Next" where it will feature prominent athletes expected to make an impact in 2005. Peterson will be featured on the cover. The photo shoot was held on the second floor of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Peterson posed with an OU football, his helmet, his jersey and various other props including a crimson OU flag draped around his shoulders.

Sooner Spring Practice Schedule
ead Coach Bob Stoops announced the tentative spring football practice schedule for 2005. Fans are reminded that all dates are subject to change. The Sooners will open spring ball on Monday, March 21, with additional practices that week on Wednesday and Thursday. The next three weeks will follow a Monday-Wednesday-Friday practice schedule with scrimmages on Saturdays. The 2005 spring game is slated for April 16 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. (SoonerSports)

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Dvoracek Back with Sooners: Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops announced today that he has reinstated defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek to the Sooner football team. Dvoracek was dismissed from the squad last September for violating team rules. “When Dusty was removed from the team he looked for ways to overcome the difficulties he was having,” said OU head coach Bob Stoops. “A number of outstanding people worked with him for several months and continue to do so now. I am satisfied, as are they, that he has earned another opportunity with our program. He paid a penalty in missing most of last season and has impressed me with the way he approached and is approaching his self-improvement.

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Safety heads for Draft: Oklahoma free safety Brodney Pool signed with an agent Wednesday, solidifying his status as an early entry into the NFL draft. Pool had until Wednesday to pull his name out of the draft, but instead signed with agent Ben Dogra of St. Louis-based SFX. He will skip his senior season to take part in the draft, which begins April 23 in New York. "He seems to be a legitimate contender for the No. 1 free safety spot in the 2005 NFL draft," Dogra told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "I believe that he is the best free safety in the country." (ESPN)

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Surgery for Both stars: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson will miss spring practice after having surgery on his left shoulder Monday. The procedure was successful, the Sooners sports information department confirmed to ESPN. Peterson, the Heisman runner-up, dislocated the shoulder in fall practice and again during the Sooners' game against Texas A&M on Nov. 6. "It's a common surgery in football and a number of players have had the procedure done and returned to perform at a very high level," Oklahoma trainer Scott Anderson said. Starting cornerback Marcus Walker, another freshman, had similar reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder. (ESPN)

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UPDATED Heupel heads to Arizona: Former Oklahoma quarterback and current Sooner graduate assistant Josh Heupel has been hired as a full-time assistant at Arizona. Heupel confirmed the hiring in an interview with the Tulsa World, Arizona head coach Mike Stoops, a former OU defensive coordinator, will formally announce the hiring soon. Heupel said he will coach tight ends and either offensive tackles or fullbacks. "The opportunity at Arizona is a unique one," Heupel said, "and one I'm excited about. It's a place where I'll be able to go in and look for some more ideas offensively with an upstart program." (Sooner Sports) Heupel to Arizona? The search for a UA tight ends coach to replace Steve Spurrier Jr. will end tomorrow, Stoops said, without giving specifics. Josh Heupel, a former Oklahoma quarterback and current Sooner graduate assistant coach, seems to be under strong consideration. Heupel, the 2000 runner-up to Florida State's Chris Weinke for the Heisman Trophy, is known in Oklahoma as a bright young coach. (Tucson Citizen)

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Orange Bowl is hours away
Checkout some of the articles, links, news about tonight's championship. Between defending national champions University of Southern California and Oklahoma Sooners.

Notes:
BUSH Starting Role: ESPN Radio is reporting Reggie Bush will start as runningback in tonight's game.

Leinart a Near Sooner: ALMOST A SOONER Quarterback Matt Leinart said he "wasn't sure I was going to go to USC anymore" when former coach Paul Hackett was fired during the recruiting process. He took an official visit to Oklahoma, which was "a close second." But Leinart, a California native, wasn't ready to leave home for what would have been "a tough change" in Norman, Okla."It was pretty empty, just an empty town ... obviously, a college town," Leinart said, laughing. "I'm sure during the season and all that it's just a great atmosphere, but I just couldn't picture myself out there for four or five years. ... It was close. I don't think I was going to go far away, but if I were to leave, that's probably where I was going to go." (Sun-Sentinel.com)

Articles:
First Look at Tuesday Papers:
Peterson almost became Bush's teammate at USC - San Diego Union Tribune, CA - Adrian Peterson hung out with USC quarterback Matt Leinart and tailback Reggie Bush in New York last month in the days surrounding the Heisman Trophy ceremony. "It was fun," he said. "They're great guys." They were almost teammates. "It came down to the last day," Peterson said. "It was really tough." Last February, Peterson decided to go to Oklahoma instead of USC, choosing a place he considered more like his hometown of Palestine, Texas, than was the inner city of Los Angeles.

Under the radar - Miami Herald (subscription), FL - On an offense filled with stars, sometimes Mark Clayton gets overlooked. But at Oklahoma, the Sooners know they probably wouldn't be playing for another national title if not for their senior wide receiver. Clayton used to joke that the former Dolphins receiver with the same name was his uncle despite the two not being related. But at OU, this Mark Clayton has made a name for himself. Lightly recruited out of high school, Clayton now holds every one of the Sooners' major receiving records, and he leads the team with 62 catches for 855 yards this season.

Trojans, Sooners are ready to put on a show
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL
Trophy hunters seek out White
Sun-Sentinel.com, FL
SCOUTING THE ORANGE BOWL
Detroit Free Press, MI
Five things to watch
San Diego Union Tribune, CA
Mythical title settled upon grassy knoll?
San Diego Union Tribune, CA
White thing to do is
New York Daily News, NY
Sooners-Trojans clash one for history book
Denver Post, CO
David Flores: Madison graduate biding time with Sooners
San Antonio Express (subscription), TX
Peterson goes distance with dad off field
MSNBC
Proven winners
Miami Herald (subscription), FL
Simpson Will Attend Orange Bowl
Los Angeles Times (subscription), CA
It's about the best you can do with BCS
Boston Globe, MA
College Football: It's Sooners now, USC later
Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA
Orange Bowl looks like classic
Indianapolis Star, IN
Heisman Winners Meet in Orange Bowl
Xposed.com (subscription)
Like it is: OU has every reason to win championship
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, AR
Classic matchup Premier programs clash
Waterbury Republican American, CT
Breaking Down The Orange Bowl
New York Sun (subscription), NY

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Countdown to the Orange Bowl less than 1 day:
New York Post - Stoops a Giant Move?
Bob Stoops stood in the Florida sun at Pro Player Stadium yesterday, looking like life couldn't get any better for a 44-year-old human being. For the third time in four years, his Oklahoma Sooners are playing for a national championship, this one against top-ranked USC in an Orange Bowl being billed as the "Game of the Century."

This time in 2006 the Tom Coughlin era could be in complete collapse. It's easier to see that happening than a trip to the Super Bowl. That's why Giants GM Ernie Accorsi should be formulating prospects to be Coughlin's replacement. Stoops should be at the top of that list. Clearly, he is interested. "At this point I don't think there's any question I'm a college coach," Stoops said during yesterday's media session. "But who's to say that somewhere down the line that doesn't change. I don't know."

When the time is right and Stoops needs a letter of recommendation, he can get one from USC coach Pete Carroll. "Coach Stoops said the other day he'd be interested, somewhere down the road, in checking (the NFL) out, and that makes sense to me," Carroll said. (NEW YORK POST)

Early Edition of Oklahoma Sooner articles around the nation and globe -
Sooners ready for anything in Orange Bowl
Boca Raton News, FL
One day and counting. That is all that remains for the Oklahoma Sooners and college football’s national championship. Tuesday night the Sooners will tangle with the University of Southern California Trojans in Miami’s Pro Player Stadium in the 2005 Orange Bowl. To a man, the Sooners say they are prepared to play football and redeem themselves after last year’s 21-14 loss to LSU in the Sugar Bowl. That win gave LSU a share of the national championship.

Oklahoma Notes
Fort Worth Star Telegram (subscription), TX
Oklahoma freshman kicker Garrett Hartley was one of millions watching Saturday when Texas' Dusty Mangum kicked a game-ending 37-yard field goal that gave the Longhorns a 38-37 victory over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. "I wanted Texas to win because they represent the Big 12," Hartley said Sunday. "It was a big kick for him. Congrats to Texas and to Dusty."

Peterson Leads Okla. Bid for Nat'l Title
Tahlequah Daily Press, OK
Adrian Peterson was 7 years old when he started pumping iron and preparing his game. "My dad used to go to the YMCA all the time and lift weights and I used to lift weights with him," Oklahoma's freshman sensation said. "When I first started we used go out and work on plays, just try to get myself better. I guess that's how I developed a love for the sport."

Mitchell switches loyalties to Oklahoma
Penn Live, PA
If not for a technicality, Oklahoma linebacker Lance Mitchell might've been lining up against the Sooners in the Orange Bowl instead of for them. Mitchell, the team's second-leading tackler, was ready to sign with Southern California in 2001 after USC recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron came to a game at City College of San Francisco and was impressed by what he saw. "We loved Big Lance," Orgeron said. "I went and watched him play. We would have loved to have him. He would have been a great player."

Oklahoma's Hartley has Stoops' confidence
Times Picayune, LA
There have been 14 Orange Bowls decided by three points or fewer, and many people believe this year's Oklahoma-Southern California matchup will be a classic that may come down to a late kick. If that's the case, Sooners coach Bob Stoops insists he won't be worried — even though his kicker has never tried a field goal in college. Freshman Garrett Hartley replaced Trey DiCarlo in Oklahoma's regular-season finale against Baylor, and already has Stoops' complete confidence.

Heisman paradise lost on White
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
Carroll: 'Time to get serious'
Los Angeles Daily News, CA
USC's secret weapon really not secret
Akron Beacon Journal (subscription), OH
Birdine not about to keep mouth shut
Chicago Tribune (subscription), IL
White would sooner win title than Heisman
philly.com (subscription), PA - 24 minutes ago
He's not your typical kid of 19
San Jose Mercury News (subscription), CA

More to Come later this afternoon.

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Media Day at Pro Player Stadium:
Sunday at Pro Player Stadium meant Orange Bowl Media Day:

USC, Oklahoma Get Look at Orange Bowl Site
ABC News

Here's some articles, photos and links.

Oklahoma back Adrian Peterson talks to the media during media day. (AP Photo/J.
Pat Carter)



The Oklahoma Sooners football team pose for the official Orange Bowl game photo
during media day. (A P Photo/J. Pat Carter)



A grounds crew worker adds the finishing touches to the Orange Bowl logo in the
middle of the football field at Pro Player Stadium Sunday. (AP Photo/J. Pat
Carter)

Orange Bowl Media Quotes:
Bob Stoops:
On a match-up versus USC
“It’s incredible when you look at the tradition and history and all the undefeated teams. It’s exciting as a young kid even never being on the west coast, just watching SC and all their traditions just as I did with Oklahoma. As a kid in Ohio, you just always remember the great players that were there and the great plays they would make. It’s exciting to be in this situation.”

Adrian Peterson:
On his recruiting trip to USC and choosing OU
“I had a little too much fun. I went to the clubs, had the opportunity to meet Leonardo DiCaprio. I just made the best decision for me. Either way I would have won considering we are both playing for the National Championship. My parents never pressured me during the decision.”

More at Scout

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Happy New Year to everyone. Hope everyone has a great New Year with many more years to come. Sooner Fans three more days, till the Orange Bowl.

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