Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Media concerns focus on offense: The Oklahoman

Chad Roark leaves OU to play Football with brother at Nebraska: Ada Evening News

Brian Simmons inspiration -Part II: SoonerSports.com

Latest Edition of Mossman Prophecies: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Fiesta Bowl trophy seen in OU's future: The Oklahoman

Stoops sends message to Sooners: The Oklahoman

Offense has intrigue, but defense has OU pumped: Norman Transcript

Beating attitudes coach's top gal: Tulsa World

Scumbags, sleazeballs bug Sooners' Stoops: Tulsa World

Stoops seems sure Sooners will be solid: Wichita Eagle

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Dallas Cowboys' Official talks about Red River Shootout in new stadium: The AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic isn't the only game Cowboys officials are looking at for their new stadium, scheduled to open in 2009. Stephen Jones, the Cowboys' executive vice president who sits on the Cotton Bowl board, said he also would like to have the Red River Shootout in Arlington. "At the end of the day, we think we will have one of, if not the very best facility for major events," Jones said Friday afternoon from Cowboys training camp. "So we'd love to have [the Texas-Oklahoma game]. We respect the history of the Cotton Bowl and Fair Park. At the same time, our opinion would be rather than not have these events in the metroplex, you would want to certainly keep these events in the metroplex." The Texas-OU contract at the Cotton Bowl runs through 2010, but there's a belief the schools could play the annual game on their respective campuses in the future or at another site. (Dallas Morning News)

Former OU lineman bids to start for Bucs: Tulsa World

Don't win a national title while I'm in Spain: Oklahoma Daily

'Tis the season: Oklahoma Daily

The inspiration of Brian Simmons: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

ABC Announces Crew for WA., Oregon Games: ABC has set its broadcast crew for the network's first two telecasts of Oklahoma football this fall. ABC will televise the matchups against Washington on Sept. 9 and Oregon on Sept. 16. The same crew will do both games with Brad Nessler, Bob Griese and Paul Maguire in the booth and Bonnie Bernstein reporting from the sidelines. Both games begin at 2:30 central time.. The Sooners' opener against Alabama-Birmingham is set for a 6 p.m., CT kickoff. TBS has the telecast of that game with a broadcast crew of Ron Thulin and Charles Davis in the booth and Craig Sager on the sideline. The last 43 OU football games have been on television. (SoonerSports Release)

Peterson on ESPN2's Cold Pizza Heisman Contenders July 31: Adrian Peterson is back in the spotlight. Just a day after his appearance at the Big 12 media days in Kansas City, Peterson taped a segment yesterday for ESPN-2's morning show, Cold Pizza. The taping occurred in the football locker rooms at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The program is featuring Heisman Trophy contenders for the upcoming 2006 season. Peterson's segment is tentatively scheduled to air on Monday, July 31st. (AP/KOTV)

Linebacker attributes success to unexpected source: The Oklahoman

Spread offenses engulfing Big 12: Norman Transcript

College Football Preview: Big 12 Conference: The SportsNetwork

2003 Intro Video No. 2 on Podcast: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Where would you rank Adrian Peterson in the Heisman Trophy race?
Steven Wieberg, USA Today:

He's probably the front-runner going in. Typically this goes to the best player on one of the best teams. Probably the top three, in some order, are Ohio State, Notre Dame and OU. Each of those teams has at least one player people will be keeping an eye on throughout the season.

Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star:

Second behind Brady Quinn. Last year is what counts most, not two years ago. Brady Quinn had a better season last year. He has more momentum going into this year.

Adrian Peterson:

What? Rank myself? That's hard to say. I haven't been thinking about that much. That's the people's choice.

Find More of the Question of the Day, Where would you rank Adrian Peterson in the Heisman Trophy race? at NewsOK.com

Frontpage media guide: The cover of Oklahoma's 2006 media guide, underneath action photos of five senior defenders and Peterson, is a hologram of the end of Adrian Peterson's 41-yard touchdown run against Tulsa last season. (Tulsa World)

Peterson now comfortable with media attention: The Oklahoman

Oklahoma notes: Tulsa World

Peterson begins another year filled with hype and intrigue: Tulsa World

Stoops won't settle for 2005 demeanor: Tulsa World

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Peterson eyes set on record-breaking season: The Heisman runner-up as a freshman in 2004, Peterson disclosed Wednesday that he has a number in mind that he'd like to surpass for his rushing total this season: 2,200 yards. "My dad told me to reach for the moon. If you fall short, you'll still be amongst the stars. That's what I do. I set my goals high," Peterson said on the final day of the Big 12's annual media days. "I'm going after it. If I fall short, hopefully I'll still be in that range among the stars. That's how I look at it." Peterson burst onto the scene two years ago, when he ran for an NCAA freshman record 1,925 yards on 339 carries, the most in the nation. He had 1,108 yards as a sophomore last season, when he missed two games and was limited in two others because of injuries. Despite those humble answers, Peterson still made clear his desire to earn a spot among college football's elite. Only two players have ever eclipsed 2,200 yards in a single season -- Barry Sanders had 2,628 for Oklahoma State in 1988 and Marcus Allen had 2,342 for Southern California in 1981. LaDainian Tomlinson came close in 2000, when he piled up 2,158 yards with TCU. And Troy Davis had 2,185 in 1996 for Iowa State. Those numbers may seem small to Peterson, who ran for 2,960 yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior in high school. (AP/SoonerSports)

Peterson on Texas winning NC: When Peterson chose OU over Texas one of the biggest reasons he cited was he thought he had a better chance of winning a national championship with the Sooners. Since Texas won the national championship last season, he was asked if he had any regrets. "No regrets at all," he said. "If I could go back and change things, I wouldn't do it. Things happen for a reason. When we play Texas this year we're going to find out who is the better team." Peterson even admitted having a rooting interest in last year's Rose Bowl. "I watched it and I was rooting for (Texas)," he said. "I have a lot of friends that play at Texas." (Norman Transcript)

Oklahoma and Big 12 Strength Challenge Texas: New York Times

OU looking for toughness: Norman Transcript

Peterson has high expectations: Norman Transcript

Oklahoma's Peterson seeks place among college football's best: KOTV

Peterson, OU are set to strut their stuff: Dallas Morning News

OU wants different start: Dallas Morning News

Sooners look for faster start in '06: Fort Worth Star Telegram

Down year didn't lower expectations for loaded Sooners: Waco Tribune Herald

Big 12 local spotlight: Jacob Gutierrez: San Antonio Express

Big 12 notebook: Sooners happy for Horns' victory: Austin Statesman

Sooners' offense ready to catch on: Austin Statesman

OU tailback Peterson is a threat to rush for 2,000 yards: Houston Chronicle

Time to turn him loose: Kansas City Star

OU’s Adrian Peterson has his sights set on big numbers: Lawrence Journal-Record

Peterson has big plans for Sooners: Wichita Eagle

Sooners rushing to 'get it done': Rocky Mountain News

OU's Peterson set for big season: Daily Camera

Sooners look to build on ’06 success: Gazette Times

Peterson Sets Goals for 2006 Season: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Articles and Notes

Peterson draws a crowd: OU junior running back Adrian Peterson drew by far the week's largest interview gathering during his one-on-one breakout session with print media. Sooners linebacker Rufus Alexander was surrounded by 19 reporters. Stoops drew 26 people. But Peterson's high-water mark was 43 print reporters. (NewsOK.com Blog)

Oklahoma Sooners at Big XII Media Day Audio, and Quotes via Big12Sports.com

Stoops Meets Media in Kansas City: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooner Caravan to OC Aug. 3: Reservations are still being accepted for the Ninth Annual Sooner Caravan stop in Oklahoma City. The event will be held Thursday, August 3 at 6:30 p.m., in the National Cowboy and Western History Museum. Athletics director Joe Castiglione, head football coach Bob Stoops, women's basketball coach Sherri Coale and new men's basketball coach Jeff Capel all will be in attendance along with several OU student-athletes. The master of ceremonies will be former Sooner running back Spencer Tillman, who is now a college football commentator with CBS. Tickets for the event are $25 for adults, $12 for children ages 12 and younger. The admission price includes dinner and the program. To make reservations contact the Sooner Club at (405) 325-8000. (SoonerSports.com)

Oklahoma at Big XII Media Day: The Big 12 Conference continues its annual football media days Wednesday in Kansas City, Mo., to kick off the 2006 season. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, senior defensive end C.J. Ah You, senior linebacker Rufus Alexander and junior running back Adrian Peterson will represent the Sooners. The OU contingent will meet with the media on Wednesday. Iowa State, Missouri and Texas A&M join Oklahoma in the final day of the event on Wednesday. SoonerSports.com will provide quotes and additional coverage of the 2006 Big 12 football media days throughout the week. (SoonerSports) In addition, listen to live coverage from Big XII media day via WWLS 104.9 The Sports Animal or at thesportsanimal.com via streaming audio.

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners/Irish top Vegas odds: Notre Dame, Oklahoma and Ohio State are considered the top three contenders to win this season's BCS championship game and college football's national title, according to Las Vegas odds. The Hilton sports book has Notre Dame a 9-2 favorite followed by Oklahoma at 5-1 and Ohio State at 6-1. Every other team on the board is 8-1 or higher to win the championship game. Their "Big 3" status is also reflected in the season-win over / unders recently posted at the Hilton and in the Week 1 college football lines now available at the Stratosphere. Of the 30 teams on the board at the Hilton, Notre Dame and Oklahoma have the highest totals attached to them, at 10 1/2 victories. In each case, bettors pay a premium to play the "under:" minus-150 (risk $1.50 to win $1) on the Sooners, minus-200 on the Irish. (Las Vegas Sun)

Sooners, Huskers may renew rivalry in Big 12 title game: Tulsa World

Latest edition of Mossman prophecies: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Two Sooners honored: KWTV Via NewsOK.com Video

Strength coaches invaluable: The Oklahoman

OU sweeps Big 12 honors: Tulsa World

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners ahead of Longhorns in South Preseason Poll: With 13 starters back from an 8-4 team, Oklahoma was voted the 2006 preseason pick to win the Big 12's south division in a poll of media members. The Sooners received 23 first-place votes -- 18 more than defending national champion Texas -- and 163 total points in the poll that was released by the conference Thursday. The Longhorns, with 144 points, were picked second in the South. Nebraska was the choice in the North with 160 points and 21 first-place votes. Iowa State (5) and Colorado (2) also received first-place votes in the North. (NewsOK.com)

Pair of Sooners tabbed Preseason Player of the Year: Adrian Peterson (Oklahoma) was named Preseason Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and Rufus Alexander (Oklahoma) was selected Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in a Big 12 Conference media poll. Peterson is a two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection and was 2004 Big 12 Offensive Newcomer and Freshman of the Year. The 6-2, 210, junior running back finished second in the league in rushing last season and led all running backs with 1,108 yards and a 100.7 yard per game average despite missing nearly four games with an ankle injury. Alexander was also an All-Big 12 First Team selection in 2005 after leading the Sooners in total (102), unassisted (56) and assisted (46) tackles. The 6-1, 231, senior linebacker also had 14.5 (-51) tackles for loss, five (-36) sacks, nine pass breakups and nine quarterback hurries last season. He was seventh in the Big 12 in tackles per game (8.5). (SoonerSports Release)

OU, UT 1-2 in South: Dallas Morning News

Oklahoma favored to win South: Tulsa World

OU tops UT in preseason poll: Star-Telegram

Media poll picks Oklahoma over Texas: Austin American-Statesman

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Single Game Tickets Available: The 71,000 season tickets have been sold, but with all six opponents scheduled to visit Norman this season returning tickets, there is still some availability for University of Oklahoma football games this fall. The sale of single game football tickets begins on Tuesday, August 1 at 8 a.m. Athletics department officials anticipate that a limited number of tickets will be available for each of the six 2006 home games. Purchases will be available online at SoonerSports.com, on the phone at 1-800-456-GoOU or from the Athletics Department Ticket Office located at the base of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility in Norman. A high volume of phone calls are expected and fans are encouraged to make their purchases online. The tickets, which range in price from $57-$67, will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. (SoonerSports.com)

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Deep snapping carries Shaw to OU as walk-on: Tulsa World

Does OU success rest on defense?: The Oklahoman

How they'll finish in the Big 12 South: Houston Chronicle

The Mossman Prophecies: SoonerSports.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Bedlam Tickets to cost $100: If you want to buy a ticket to this year's Bedlam football game at Boone Pickens Stadium it will cost you $100. That's not scalper price. That's the price on the ticket. And that's if there are any tickets available on Sept. 18 when individual game tickets go on sale. OSU officials currently are selling only season tickets. Next week, fans can purchase a $160 three-game mini-pack that includes tickets to Missouri State, Baylor and Oklahoma. The $100 ticket is the most expensive in Bedlam history. Tickets to the OU-Texas game last year at the Cotton Bowl cost $85. OSU's previous highest ticket was $75 for OU two years ago. The Bedlam ticket last year in Norman was $72. OSU's record also will be broken for the Oct. 28 Nebraska game ($85). (NewsOK.com)

College Football: Oklahoma Sooners offer great value at 7 to 1 odds: Sports 911

2003 Intro Video No. 1 on Podcast: SoonerSports.com

Peterson will finally play in front of Dad: Yahoo! Sports

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Peterson ready for more: Norman Transcript

Sims sits atop list, but it could be Peterson after this season: The Oklahoman

Wilson not man for Northwestern this time: The Oklahoman

OU historians list top 10 running backs: The Oklahoman

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Four Sooners on Sportsline's All-Decade team: CBSSportsline.com has released their Preseason All-Decade team, and four former Oklahoma Sooners made the first team. Former OL., Jamal Brown, LB., Rocky Calmus, DB., Roy Williams, and Punt Returner Antonio Perkins. Four other Sooneres were selected second-team former, QB., Jason White, DT., Tommie Harris, DB., Derrick Strait, and Coach Bob Stoops second team head coach. For Full Summary visit Sportsline.com

For some, getting head start wasn't worth it: Tulsa World

Stoops won't be embracing prognostications: Norman Transcript

Peterson's ready to roll: CSTV.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Bears sign 3rd round Sooner Draft pick: The Bears on Wednesday agreed to terms with their two remaining unsigned draft picks, safety Danieal Manning and defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, on four-year contracts. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. The two players were drafted by Chicago with picks acquired in a trade with Buffalo. The Bears dealt the 26th overall selection to Buffalo in exchange for a second-round pick (42nd overall) they spent on Manning and a third-round choice (73rd) they used to take Dvoracek. Dvoracek is a strong, physical and aggressive tackle who can collapse the pocket. A blue-collar worker with tenacity and toughness, he plays with power and lower body explosion. The 6-3, 305-pounder lined up alongside Bears Pro Bowl tackle Tommie Harris for three seasons at Oklahoma and likely will challenge Ian Scott and Alfonso Boone for playing time. (In part from Chicago Bears Official Site)

Is it football season yet? Peterson contender for Heisman: The Standard

Prediction; Sooners and Seminole's a top final poll: realfootball365.com

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

No Bobble-heads, statistics speak for itself: When Adrian Peterson spoke to nearly 50 members of the media Thursday in a national conference call, it was actually step one in the Oklahoma running back's Heisman Trophy campaign. Actually, OU's method of campaigning is really to not campaign. In Bob Stoops' seven seasons at the Sooner helm, Josh Heupel, Roy Williams, Jason White and Peterson have all been serious Heisman contenders. However, Stoops has always maintained that the program’s tradition and the national attention the team receives is sufficient promotion. OU media relations director Kenny Mossman has overseen all but Heupel's campaign. Mossman said Peterson's conference call was as good of a way to reach Heisman voters as anything at this point in the summer. More conference calls during the season might be utilized to handle all the media requests for Peterson. Mossman said he would mail postcards to media outlets with Peterson's statistical data, but little more was planned. In other words, no AD bobble-heads or any other trinkets. (NewsOK.com)

Peterson #2, Bomar # 27 in Heisman top 100: FOXSports.com

Sizing up the schedule: The Oklahoman

Sooner's atop Goldsheet's Top 25: GoldSheet via Inside Player

Peterson back on center stage: Austin American-Statesman

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Coordinator Wilson possible successor to Walker at Northwestern? Northwestern athletic director Mark Murphy wasn't talking about Randy Walker's possible successor Friday, but with football training camp starting in a month, the Wildcats will have to move quickly to find a replacement. Possible assistants with NU ties include Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson and California offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar. Wilson, who was Walker's first offensive coordinator at NU, left for Oklahoma in 2002. "He would be a logical choice,'' Lemming (CSTV Analyst) said. "He is a fantastic recruiter and a Randy Walker clone. They are similar in style, substance and personality. He's a head coach in waiting.'' (Chicago Sun Times)

No comment from Wilson: Shockwaves from the death of Northwestern football coach Randy Walker have hit Oklahoma. "I'm doing what I do because of Coach Walker," said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who served with Walker on staffs at Northwestern, Miami (Ohio) and North Carolina for 15 years prior to joining the Sooners in 2001 and who played under Walker as a Tar Heel offensive lineman from 1980-83. "I am who I am, to a large extent, because of Coach Walker. He was one of the biggest influences on my life." Out of that respect, Wilson refused to comment when asked about the possibility he'd make a logical successor to Walker, who died Thursday of an apparent heart attack. Wilson kept his comments personal when reached Friday. (Tulsa World)

Bowls and BCS for Big 12 Teams: SoonerSports.com

Northwestern coach dies: The Oklahoman

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