May 31, 2006

(5/31) Oklahoma Sooner Football Predictions

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Peterson gets early Heisman vote: AJC - writer, Mark Bradley has went out on a limb and predicted the Oklahoma, RB, Adrian Peterson will win this year's Heisman. He edges both Auburn's Irons and Irish's Quinn. Hmm... who's second?

Two Sooners among top 7 Big XII prospects: Daily Tribune's Dave Matter, in his early Big XII 2007 top 12 NFL draft prospects, ranks two Sooners among the top 7. No surprise, star running back Adrian Peterson is tabbed #1, Oklahoma's SR. leading linebacker Rufus Alexander at 7th.

Ranking causes fan optimism: The Oklahoman

May 30, 2006

(5/30) Quarterback Rhett Bomar Pleads Guilty

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Bomar pleads guilty to misdemeanor charge: Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge of being a minor in possession of alcohol. Municipal Judge M. Fred Austin sentenced Bomar, 20, to six months of probation. He'll also be required to pay court costs and an administrative fee. "We do that routinely with young people, especially 20-year-olds who are caught drinking beer before they are 21," Assistant Municipal Counselor Laura Yates said after a hearing in Oklahoma City Municipal Court. In seeking the sentence, Yates said she took into consideration that Bomar was a first-time offender with no prior convictions. She said she recommended similar sentences to several people in comparable circumstances last week. Bomar's probation requires him to avoid being arrested again or receiving any traffic tickets. Prosecutors in Norman dismissed a minor in possession of alcohol charge against Bomar in January due to a lack of evidence. Bomar is also scheduled to be arraigned July 13 in Norman on a misdemeanor citation for hosting a nuisance party. Oklahoma spokesman Kenny Mossman said any discipline would be handled internally and coach Bob Stoops would not have any comment. (AP/SI.com)

(5/30) Sooner Football NC Odds, Former TU Coach, and more..

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Former Union Coach looked at Sooner options: When Bill Blankenship gambled as Union High School's head football coach, it usually resulted in a first down or a touchdown. In December, only three days after coaching the Redskins to their third Class 6A state title in four years, he rolled the dice on his career. Intending to make himself more marketable as a candidate for major-college assistant jobs, he left what many prep football observers would consider the best job in Oklahoma. The 49-year-old Blankenship has accepted a job with Coaches Outreach, a Dallas-based Christian organization that provides marriage counseling to coaches, but he remains committed to becoming a college assistant. Blankenship declined an offer from Louisiana Monroe, coached by former Oklahoma State quarterback Charlie Weatherbie. "It just wasn't the right fit," said Blankenship, who also had conversations with the head coaches at Oklahoma, Rice, Texas A&M and Tulsa (his alma mater). At OU, Blankenship said, "I really thought we were close. . . . I had some visits with coach (Bob) Stoops, even when he was looking for a quarterback coach after (offensive coordinator) Chuck Long left. It was a no-brainer for coach Stoops to bring Josh Heupel back (as the QB coach). I kept thinking that OU might want to hire a tight end coach, and I would be able to do that. But Kevin (Sooner offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson) wanted to coach tight ends and hire an offensive line coach. So, that dynamic worked against me." (In part from and much more at TulsaWorld)

Early '07 NC Odds: Early betters are putting their money on the Oklahoma Sooner Football team, with early odds on the 2007 FIESTA Bowl National Championship game. InsiderVegas College Football future odds has the Sooners at 10:1 odds, fourth behind Irish with 5:1, Buckeyes 6:1, and USC Trojans third with 8:1. WorldSportsExchange tabs the Sooners in 3rd, with 13:2 compared to Irish 5:1 odds, Ohio State stands second 11:2 odds. VIP Sports puts the Sooners odds at 8:1, Texas 12:1.

Another Top 2 Ranking: WalkerSports Blog, early Top 25 puts the Sooners second, only behind the Ohio State Buckeyes. Irish trail the Sooners in third, followed by West Virginia and Auburn rounding out top 5.

May 26, 2006

(5/26) Sooners #1 In Preseason Poll and more..

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles/Notes

Athlon magazine tabs Oklahoma #1 in Preseason Poll: Flying in under the radar come the Oklahoma Sooners. After an uncharacteristically sub-par season, it's out of sight, out of mind -- but not for long. Due in large part to a ruinous rash of injuries in 2005, there are 22 players back who drew at least one starting assignment last fall, compared to only 17 with starting experience going into last season. OU won six of its last seven games, including a 17--14 victory over sixth-ranked Oregon in the Holiday Bowl. In addition, the 2006 Sooners welcome back their top passer, rusher, receiver, tackler and sack man from '05. (Full Preview at AthlonSports.com) Notre Dame followed in second, followed by Southern Cal, Ohio State and Florida rounding out the top five.

Sooner Video Podcast available: The OU Athletics Department is releasing one intro video from past football seasons each week throughout the summer. To download every one of the 15 videos from the 2000-2005 seasons, subscribe to the official OU Athletics podcast. This week, the first of the 2000 season intro videos is available. These videos welcomed the Sooners to Owen Field as the team went on to win Oklahoma's seventh national championship. You'll hear Norman native James Garner as he introduces the history of Sooner fooftball and then watch highlights of the 2000 team. Garner rolls through a list of OU's national championships but no one knew then that the year 2000 would be one for the ages. (SoonerSports.com)

EX-OU QB White sets focus on his new career: Tulsa World

May 15, 2006

May 12, 2006

(5/12) Cotton Bowl Bond, A.D., Rufus SportingNews Preseason Favorite.

Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles/Notes

Cotton Bowl Bond Improvements details to be released: Dallas City Manager Mary Suhm will include $30 million in Cotton Bowl improvements within her 2006 bond program proposal, according to a document circulated among Park and Recreation Board members Thursday. And interviews this week with City Council members indicate most of them support spending that much to renovate the 76-year-old stadium -- especially after the University of Texas and University of Oklahoma agreed last week to continue their annual football showdown at the Cotton Bowl through at least 2010. Ms. Suhm plans to release complete details of her bond proposal today or Saturday. "The Cotton Bowl is to Dallas what the Rose Bowl is to Southern California," said council member Leo Chaney, whose district includes Fair Park, where the stadium stands. "What would Dallas be without the Cotton Bowl?" Mr. Chaney, Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia and council members Pauline Medrano, Maxine Thornton-Reese, Gary Griffith, Bill Blaydes, Linda Koop and Ron Natinsky each said they support including the $30 million in renovations in the bond program. "We'll get practically a brand-new stadium for a lot less than it would cost to build a brand-new stadium," Mr. Natinsky said. "We need to move forward on it. We'll have a facility that we can be proud of." Council member Steve Salazar said he would support including the $30 million if the city commissions a study to update Fair Park's master plan. Council member Angela Hunt said she supports stadium renovations but wants more information before backing a specific dollar amount. Council member Mitchell Rasansky said he needs to research the issue more before deciding whether to back the proposed bond item. "You know, $30 million for a few games is a lot of money," he said. "Texas-OU is a great tradition. The other games are great traditions. We have to decide how much is a tradition worth?"(In part from Dallas Morning News)

SportingNews ranks OU highly in Preseason: Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and Rufus Alexander have been tabbed
The Sporting News Preseason Big 12 Players of the Year for offense and defense, respectively. TSN's preseason publication will be available in June. (SoonerSports.com)

May 11, 2006

(5/11) Stoops, Former Idol Takes Flight.. Loses Consciousness

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles/Notes

Coach Stoops on Flying with Blue Angels: Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops went up with the Navy's Blue Angels Wednesday afternoon. Stoops took off from the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth, Texas. The hour-long flight began at 2:30 p.m., and was piloted by Kevin Davis, a 31-year-old Connecticut native. Here is a statement from Stoops that describes his ride:

On the flight...
"It was awesome. What an experience. The force and power in the jet and the precision and skill of the pilot are overwhelming. Kevin Davis was great to me. What an amazing guy." On maneuvers... "We started with a straight vertical climb up to 7,000 feet, and then we went out over what appeared to be some rural areas. We started doing some maneuvers flying upside down, getting right to the edge of mach speed and doing some loops. "Then we did the cork screw vertical climb and nosedived into some turns. It was just amazing. The first few heavy G forces came during the Immelmann Turn. We were pulling 7.5 and 7.6, then we went into an MRT (minimal radius turn) and we pulled 7.8. He lost me there. You just black out for a second or two. "(The pilot) was talking me through it the entire time. Of course, it doesn't faze them a bit. At one point, we were flying upside down at about 1,000 feet just hanging by our straps." On the Navy Blue Angels..."I already appreciated our military, but being involved with something like this is more than you can describe. These people are incredible. Everything was so impressive. It's a special experience to spend time with the men and women in our military." On his stomach... "I didn't have any problems, but I didn't think I would. I haven't had any trouble with my stomach over the years. I ate a club sandwich a couple hours before we went up." (Sooner Sports Relase)

Former Idol Kelly Clarkson, joined Stoops:
In their matching flight suits, Oklahoma coach Stoops and Burleson's Clarkson, the original American Idol who now sells millions of records worldwide, were an odd pair Wednesday before each took a thrill ride most people will never experience. Both were passengers in an F/A-18 Hornet jet from the Navy's legendary precision flight team, the Blue Angels, as part of the lead-up to this weekend's Texas Thunder 2006 Air Show at Naval Air Station Fort Worth.Stoops' and Clarkson's pilot, Lt. Kevin Davis, said about 65 percent of his passengers get sick. At least momentarily, about 95 percent black out, mostly on minimum-radius turns. On those, the jet flips 90 degrees and completes a wickedly sharp right or left turn. Stoops' stomach survived that move and Davis' dizzying vertical maneuvers. Clarkson, a Texas fan who mercilessly needled Stoops in the pre-flight briefing, did need an air-sick bag. "I have a little bit of a fear of small planes," Clarkson said. "I was trying to overcome that today. I felt so bad, because they had to clean up the plane." (Star-Telegram)

Stoops passes out while flying with Blue Angels: ESPN.com

Stoops keeps lunch down, enjoys flight: The Oklahoman

Soaring Stoops survives, and enjoys, trip: Tulsa World

Stoops takes flight with Blue Angels: Norman Transcript

May 9, 2006

(5/9) ESPN.com Oklahoma Big XII South Preview, Sooner notes and more.

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles/Notes

ESPN.com's Big XII South Preview OU or Texas? The Skinny, So it turns out this Adrian Peterson is a pretty good little back. You might have heard of him. The kid from the Lone Star State who piles up yards by the hash mark when healthy. Well, Big 12 fans, here's a scary thought: That Peterson guy is once again at 100 percent -- and looking better than ever. He's lighter on his feet and was even more evasive than usual this spring. Avoid injury and he can go ahead and book a trip to the Big Apple.... Based on proven talent, one could make a strong case the Sooners' defensive ends are the best in the country. In fact, let's just go ahead and say it. Larry Birdine and John Williams were in line for huge seasons in 2005 before devastating injuries hit. Their absence only cleared the way for C.J. Ah You, who was named Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year, and Calvin Thibodeaux, who led OU with 10 sacks. (More of Oklahoma Sooners preview, and rest of Big XII South at ESPN.com)

SoonerSports.com podcasting now available: The OU Athletics Department is podcasting. Oklahoma launched and tested the service last week. The feed is now available on iTunes and other popular podcasting directories. If you've never heard of the term or are just becoming familiar with the exploding popularity of podcasts, never fear. We've provided detailed instructions, answers to frequently asked questions and links to free software so that you can take advantage of the new technology immediately. "We are always exploring new ways to bring our fans closer to our program," said SoonerSports.com director Jason Matheson. "This technology allows Sooner fans to choose when and where they want to listen. For example, you can subscribe to our podcast and listen to an interview with an OU coach on your iPod as you go for a morning jog." Podcasts are audio shows that you can listen to on a computer or an MP3 player. Unlike radio shows, however, podcasts can be listened to anywhere, anytime. Podcasts can be downloaded to your computer or MP3 player, listened to and saved, or a series can be subscribed to and new episodes will automatically be downloaded, as they are published, to a "podcatcher" on your computer."We're podcasting segments of the popular Sooner Sports Talk radio show now," said Matheson. "Today's segment features Associate A.D. Rick Hart on understanding the Sooner Club's priority point system for tickets. Yesterday, our segment featured OU football offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson on the NFL Draft and the future of the offensive line. (SoonerSports release)


OU can still claim stellar recruiting class: The Oklahoman

OU coach Stoops is set to fly with the Blue Angels: Tulsa World

Clayton ready for 2006 season: SoonerSports.com


Ravens' Cody in line to return: Baltimore Sun

May 8, 2006

May 6, 2006

(5/6) Stoops to fly with Blue Angels and Sooner Articles

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles/Notes

Coach Stoops to get in Cockpit with Blue Angels: University of Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops has been selected to fly with the Blue Angels, the Navy's exclusive flight demonstration team, on Wednesday, May 10, at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas. Stoops has been OU's head coach since 1999, leading the Sooners to a record of 75-16 with the 2000 national championship, two other appearances in the national title game and three Big 12 crowns. The Blue Angels VIP rider program is by invitation only and is used by the Navy to generate national media attention to bolster recruiting and retention efforts. The Blue Angels, based in Pensacola, Fla., are the main attraction at the Texas Thunder 2006 Air Show, which will be held at NAS JRB Fort Worth May 13 and 14. Stoops' VIP flight is not open to the public. For more air show information, call (817) 782-3094 or visit the website www.best-airshows.com. (SoonerSports Release) And to find more about the Blue Angels visit their Official Website.

Ex-Sooner displays the finishing touch: The Oklahoman

May 5, 2006

(5/5) More on OU-Texas Agreement, Q&A and more.

Oklahoma Sooners Articles/Notes

Oklahoma-Texas extends agreement:
Athletic Directors of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas have agreed in principal with the State Fair of Texas on a new five-year contract that will keep the AT&T Red River Rivalry football game in Dallas through 2010. The new deal adds two years to the previous contract that ran through 2008. The agreement does not require that structural improvements be made to the 75-year-old Cotton Bowl. Any renovations made to the stadium would be a City of Dallas or State Fair decision. Texas and Oklahoma will meet this season for the 101st time on Oct. 7. The AT&T Red River Rivalry has been played on a neutral field in Dallas each year since 1929. The first time the two teams played in that city was 1912. "The OU-Texas game represents one of the great traditions of college football, largely because of its location in Dallas, a neutral location for both universities, and the unique atmosphere that exists at the State Fair. "It is also unique in that both universities are allowed an equal number of seats for their fans which adds to the excitement of the event," said OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. Coach Stoops on Agreement, "This is good news. Hopefully all parties involved will find a way to keep the game in Dallas and work towards a solution that might allow us to play there for a long time. This is a long-standing and great tradition in college football and it means a lot to so many players, coaches and fans." (SoonerSports Release)

UT Ahtletic Director DeLose Dodds Q&A on Cotton Bowl with DMN: Q: What about the timing of this right now?
Dodds: We were told we needed to get something to them by May, and that's what we've done. They wanted some information for their bond election, so that's what we've done.
Q: Talk about how this agreement has nothing to do with whether the Cotton Bowl gets renovated?
Dodds: Texas and Oklahoma make decisions about the game, and Dallas has the stadium, so Dallas makes decisions about the stadium. And that's the way it should be. That's where I was at the beginning and that's where I'll always be. I don't want someone from Dallas telling me what we have to do to our stadium in Austin. It's a Texas-Oklahoma game and that's what we had control over, and that's all we should make decisions about.
Q: Why extend the contract only two years?
Dodds: I think it's a comfortable length of time. It's long enough that everyone should feel good about it because five years is a long time, and it's a big commitment on our part and on Oklahoma's part.
Q: Is there an opt-out clause?
Dodds: My recommendation is there would be no opt-out clause.
Q: Was it a tough thing to get Oklahoma to commit to five years?
Dodds: The people at Oklahoma were fine. And I've had a good conversation with Pete Schenkel. He is a wonderful man. Write that. Be sure to write that. He and Errol McKoy have been absolutely wonderful to work with.
Q: If the Cotton Bowl game leaves the Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Jan. 1, 2010 game, it would be gone before Texas and OU leave the stadium for its final game in October of 2010.
Dodds: And that's not our decision, either. That's a Cotton Bowl game decision.
(More Q&A at Dallas Morning News with Deloss Dodds)

Oregon/Oklahoma Gametime set: Oklahoma's game at Oregon Sept. 16 has been picked up by ABC with a kickoff set for 2:30 p.m. (NewsOK.com)

Pro teams introduce drafted Sooners: SoonerSports.com


OU-Texas game to stay in Dallas through 2010: The Oklahoman

OU-Texas to stay put for 5 years: Dallas Morning News

Deal only delays the inevitable: Dallas Morning News


Shootout to stay at Cotton Bowl: Tulsa World

OU-UT stays, for now: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Deal gives Cotton Bowl a tough hand: Austin American-Sta
tesman

One of college football's best traditions to stay at neutral site: Austin American-Statesman

May 4, 2006

(5/04) OU-Texas to Stay Put in Cotton Bowl Until 2010

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles/Notes

OU-Texas reach Cotton Bowl agreement: Texas-OU is staying in DallaTexas and Oklahoma officials have agreed to a new five-year contract that will keep their football series at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas until 2010, said Pete Schenkel, vice chairman of the State Fair of Texas and member of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic executive committee. "I'm glad we got five years," Mr. Schenkel said. "I would have liked to get 10 or 20 years. But we stand a good chance to have ongoing discussions for a long-term agreement if we can get the stadium in shape." Today's deal, which would trump a current agreement that had the schools playing their game through 2008, is the culmination to months of negotiations between State Fair, Dallas City Hall and university officials. And it comes about a week before City Hall officials are planning to release details of a 2006 bond program, in which leaders are hoping to include about $50 million worth of renovations to the 76-year-old Cotton Bowl in Dallas' Fair Park. Game supporters and city officials had feared that after 2008, UT might end the generations-old game in favor of a home-and-home series with OU. (Dallas Morning News)

May 3, 2006

(5/03) OU Fullback Arrested

Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles/Notes

Fullback Zaslaw arrested on misdemeanor charges: Oklahoma fullback Dane Zaslaw has been arrested on two misdemeanor charges after an incident at a Norman club. Zaslaw, 21, was arrested at 1:50 a.m. Friday and booked into the Cleveland County jail on counts of public intoxication and disturbing the peace, police Lt. Leonard Judy said. Police arrested two other men outside the club and reported witnessing Zaslaw in the doorway to the club "punching his fists in the air as if challenging others to fight," Judy said. (ESPN.com)

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