Saturday, March 31, 2007

(3/31) Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners held Friday's practice indoors: Undaunted by heavy rain and booming thunder, the Oklahoma football team rolled through its eighth workout of the spring at the Everest Indoor Practice Facility Friday afternoon. The Sooners entertained an audience of high school coaches from across the country, in town for a weekend clinic hosted by the OU football staff. Weather permitting, Oklahoma is scheduled to hold an open scrimmage at Owen Field on Saturday at 11 a.m. (SoonerSports.com)

Switzer deserves praise for his actions on and off field: SI.com

OU to challenge 'failure to monitor' findings: The Oklahoman

Gresham loves to compete: The Oklahoman

OU football notebook: The Oklahoman

OU to NCAA -- Players conspired in scandal: Tulsa World

OU responds to NCAA: Norman Transcript

OU disagrees with NCAA allegation: Dallas Morning News

(3/31) OU 'Strongly Disagrees' With NCAA Allegations

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

University of Oklahoma disputes NCAA allegations: The Associated Press reports.. Oklahoma "strongly disagrees" with the NCAA's allegation that the university failed to adequately monitor the employment of dismissed starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and other athletes at a Norman car dealership, according to documents released by the university Friday. "We ... assert that the University met, if not exceeded, industry standards regarding our student-athlete employment monitoring," university president David Boren said in a letter dated March 7, which was obtained by The Associated Press through an open records request. "There were no other reasonable additional steps we could have taken that would have prevented these violations or detected them any sooner," Boren said in the letter. The NCAA has claimed that Oklahoma violated its own guidelines by failing to collect earnings statements from 12 football players who worked at the dealership, and as a result did not detect NCAA rules violations. (AP/ESPN.com)

Bradford, Halzle, Nichol competing in OU's QB race: ESPN.com

Friday, March 30, 2007

Adrian Peterson ESPN.com Conversation

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Adrian Peterson ESPN.com Conversation: Former Oklahoma superstar running back, Adrian Peterson sits down with ESPN.com's Graham Bensinger.

Bensinger: Let's go back to your early days with the Sooners. It's rare that true freshmen have the level of success that you enjoyed. At 19 years old, you rushed for an NCAA-record 1,925 yards. What was that like?
Peterson: It was just a kid coming in, having a dream, and being determined. It was an outstanding season. (laughs) I sit back and think about it sometimes and am just wowed by it. It all came from hard work and being dedicated.

(3/30) Stoops Kicksoff Blood Drive, Class of '08 Quarterback, and More!

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops to kickoff Fourth Annual OU Ahletics Department Blood Drive: If It's spring, it must be time for the Fourth Annual OU Athletics Department American Red Cross Blood Drive. The drive, sponsored by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, will be held April 2-3 from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Locations will be the North End of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Lobby, and a bus parked near the University bookstore. OU Football Coach Bob Stoops is scheduled to be the kickoff donor. Each donor will receive a commemorative centennial t-shirt, the opportunity to win autographed OU memorabilia including a signed OU visor and official OU apparel. In addition, each donor will also receive a coupon for 20% off any apparel item from the University Bookstore and a coupon for $5 off from Louie's. "Our student-athletes are looking forward to working for this worthy cause," said Annette Moran, Academic Advisor and Blood Drive Coordinator. (SoonerSports PR) To donate blood, you need to be 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds and be in good health. The Red Cross reminds donors to bring a picture ID when coming to give blood.

Sooners snag NM prep quarterback: And the quarterback, Landry Jones of Artesia (N.M.), wasted little time making his collegiate aspirations clear. "I want to go into Oklahoma and win the starting job," said Jones, rated the No. 36 overall prospect by ESPN.com. "They have a lot of good, young quarterbacks there. If I'm going to get the starting job, it's not going to be granted to me. But I'm going to work hard." (NewsOK.com)

Reminder OU Scrimmage tomorrow morning: Sooner fans have the opportunity to watch the 2007 football team in action this weekend. Saturday's scrimmage will take place at 11 a.m., in Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The event is open to the public and no admission will be charged. (Sooner Sports PR)

Regents approve OU video board and scoreboord: The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents gave the official OK to for OU to purchase its new video displays and scoreboards, but the school isn't stopping its game-day improvements at equipment. Plans presented by OU President David Boren and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione for scoreboard and message board upgrades were approved by the Board of Regents during their meeting Thursday in Oklahoma City. (NewsOK.com)

Thursday, March 29, 2007

(3/29) Ryan Reynolds Injured, and Oklahoma Articles

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Reynolds Injured during Practice: Oklahoma linebacker Ryan Reynolds found himself in a familiar position Wednesday -- watching from the sideline. The sophomore from Las Vegas said he suffered a partially torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee during Wednesday's practice. Reynolds tore the ACL in his left knee last summer and missed the 2006 season, but the LCL injury is expected to keep Reynolds out just four to six weeks. "It's really frustrating, just coming back and being able to hit again, then having this happen and being out for the rest of spring ball," Reynolds said. "I was really starting to take on that Will (weakside) linebacker position." (NewsOK.com)

Go inside spring practice No. 7: SoonerSports.com

Madu's ready for his shot: Norman Transcript

Video boards have become big recruiting tool: The Oklahoman

OU plans to upgrade its video boards: The Oklahoman

Murray, Madu to get their shot: The Oklahoman

Redshirt pays off for Sooner: Tulsa World

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

OU Venue Upgrades In Store, State Schools Lowering the Bar?

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to receive new Video Board/Scoreboard: The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents are expected to approve plan this week that will allocate $10.1 million for new video boards and a new sound system at the school's football and basketball facilities. According to the regents' agenda, OU president David Boren will recommend the board award a contract not to exceed $10.3 million to Daktronics, Inc. Athletic director Joe Castiglione could not be immediately reached for comment. Approximately $2.16 million is earmarked for upgrades in the north end zone of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before the start of the 2007 season. A new LED video board and scoreboard ribbons will be installed. (Dallas Morning News) Phase 3 will be complete by 2008 football season.

Note of Interest: From Wizard of Odds, is Oklahoma State lowering the bar? A dramatic increase in the number of alternative admissions given to student-athletics at the university has caught the attention of officials. Oklahoma State's alternative admissions program "allows a certain percentage (currently 8%) of each new freshman class to attend OSU without meeting all the regular admissions requirements, but who meet minimum criteria and show potential for success," according to the university's website. In 2001-02, athletics accounted for 6.7% of all students enrolled through alternative means. This year, 11.2% of Oklahoma State's alternative admissions were student-athletes. (More about OSU lowering the bar)

University of Oklahoma stance: Alternative admissions standards were a key topic at the Knight Commission's meeting Jan. 22 in Washington D.C. There, Joe Castiglione, athletic director at the University of Oklahoma, told the commission that alternative admissions are a simple reality in college athletics."You cannot compete if you are the only ones not to have special admits," Castiglione said. "It's nothing to run from or make fun of. It's just true. "Transcripts of his presentation show Castiglione told the commission that 25 percent of OU's student-athletes struggle with their classes -- particularly members of the Sooners' football and men's basketball teams. (Daily O'Collegian)

Sooners seek upgrades for sports venues: Tulsa World

(3/28) The Sooners and Greshman Back to Practice

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners back to practice: With 12 days since OU's last session (a scrimmage on March 14), Oklahoma worked in full pads for two and one-half hours. Although Monday's scheduled practice was postponed due to rain, the team got its complete practice in under partly cloudy skies on Tuesday. OU will practice again Wednesday and Friday before holding a scrimmage on Saturday. (SoonerSports.com)

Gresham returns to spring practices: Walking off Owen Field after Tuesday's practice, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops turned and shouted in the direction of a few reporters huddled around sophomore Jermaine Gresham. "The big dog!" Stoops hollered. "He's loose again." Stoops was obviously glad to have his 6-foot-7 tight end back on the practice field. Gresham missed the five practices before spring break because of a minor injury. The Ardmore product says he's in good physical shape right now, but the missed time has him playing catch-up on the mental part of the game. "I wasn't in there doing it and wasn't getting the reps at it," he said. (NewsOK.com)

Oklahoma Notes, Quotes: FOX Sports.com

Oklahoma Inside Slant: FOX Sports.com

Oklahoma Strategy and Personnel: FOX Sports.com

McCoy has used his redshirt year wisely: The Oklahoman

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

(3/27) Stoops Happy with Bedlam Thanksgiving Game

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops pleased with schedule change; Now with 12 game season: Coach Bob Stoops on the rescheduled Bedlam Thankgiving weekend game. From SoonerSports.com

"Now that we're back to the 12-game schedule, it's important to get a bye week somewhere during the regular season," Stoops said. "Before we made this change, we didn't have a bye for this year so this one may come at a pretty good time for us. "I've been in favor of having an open week just before the Big 12 Championship game, but I've looked over our history and have adjusted my thinking a little bit. We've played in five of those games during our eight years here and the only one we didn't win had an open week before we went to play. Of the four we've won three went directly from our last regular season game to the championship game. If that's what works best for us, I'm all for it."

Oklahoma State on the change, from ESPN.com/AP.

"I like playing our instate rival the final weekend of the season," Oklahoma State athletic director Mike Holder said. "The game is always well attended but this particular date gives us a better opportunity for national television coverage."
A tip of the hat to Oklahoma Sooners Fan, Good Ol'J.R.: Last night, it was announced WWE and Oklahoma's own Jim Ross will be inducted into WWE Hall of Fame Saturday night. Ross truly among the greats in broadcasting, has served nearly 30 years. The native Oklahoman can be spotted on the sideline of every Oklahoma game and of course, every Monday on cable television's #1 show, WWE Raw. Ross is set to call WrestleMania 24 this Sunday live from Ford Field, Detroit. More about Jim Ross and his Family Bar-B-Q at JRSBARBQ.com. (When watching J.R. makes me wanna grab some fruity skittles!!!)

You gotta love skittles! Congrats J.R. for nearly 30 years and many more to come!

Monday, March 26, 2007

Bedlam Moved to November 24th

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Bedlam Football moved to Thanksgiving weekend: The Big 12 Conference announced today the 2007 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma football game, scheduled for Saturday, October 27, has been moved to Saturday, November 24. It is anticipated the game time will determined sometime around the beginning of November. The date change was a cooperative effort between the two institutions, the conference office and the league's television partners. (SooonerSports PR)

(3/26) Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles and Notes

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Kelly on the cover of Athlon Preseason Magazine: Malcolm Kelly is spending his spring on the sidelines after offseason knee surgery, but that's not keeping him out of the eye of the national media. Later this week, the 6-foot-4 junior wide receiver will pose for photos that will appear on the cover of Athlon magazine's preseason publication. (NewsOK.com)

OU looks for trust at linebacker: The Oklahoman

Sunday, March 25, 2007

(3/25) Former OU Fullback Great Dies

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Former Fullback Heath passes away: Leon Heath, a 1950 Oklahoma football All-American and perhaps the greatest fullback in Sooner history, died Friday night in Oklahoma City after a long illness. "To me, he was the best fullback we ever had," said OU football historian Mike Treps, who as a high school senior in Dallas saw Heath play in 1950. "I've never seen anybody who could hit the hole harder. He was an unbelievable blocker. Just tough as nails." Heath came to OU in 1947 from Hollis High School and was dubbed "The Mule Train." Heath was voted the outstanding player of the 1950 Sugar Bowl, rushing for 170 yards, including TD runs of 86 and 34 yards. (NewsOK.com)

Friday, March 23, 2007

(3/23) White Joins Oklahoma Coaching Staff

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Dave White joins Sooners Coaching Staff: Bishop Gorman High School on Thursday announced the resignation of football coach Dave White. White, who coached the Gaels for four seasons, is leaving to take a job as an offensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma. White said he would initially work with the offensive line and could eventually spend more time coaching the tight ends. White was a tight end at UNLV. White said he is looking forward to the opportunity to work under Sooners head coach Bob Stoops. "I've said all along I'm either here (at Gorman) or I'm going to Oklahoma," White said. "He offered me the position two years ago and I turned it down. Now this is a time in my life and the opportunity is there again. Bob sees something in me, and I've got to take advantage of it." Gorman has had several players go on to play in college during White's time as head coach, including Ryan Reynolds and DeMarco Murray, who both are at Oklahoma. (Las Vegas Journal) White posted a 30-12 record at Gorman High School in his four year tenure.

Thursday, March 22, 2007

(3/22) Sooners Enjoying Time Off

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners have a couple days off: Often times, the breaks and holidays set in place for a college campus are lost on the student-athletes. For instance, Oklahoma's women's basketball team isn't getting a spring break this season, unless you count trips to Austin, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. The same cannot be said of the football team, which is getting a spring break in 2007. The Sooners last practiced March 14 in an open scrimmage. Oklahoma's team returns to the practice field Monday, March 26. (SoonerSports.com)

AD's Nike photo shoot: Former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson and seven other college football stars who are expected to go high in the NFL draft were sweating it out for Nike on Wednesday. The players ran agility drills on a 50-yard practice field before lining up for hours of pictures for a Nike photo shoot. The pictures will be used for magazine and billboard ads. Nike wouldn't say how much the athletes were paid. (NewsOK.com)

OU has several candidates for left tackle slot: The Oklahoman

Spring look around the Big 12: ESPN.com

Monday, March 19, 2007

(3/19) Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles and Notes

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

A good spring break to everyone!

Highly touted McCoy impressses during scrimmage: Gerald McCoy, the 2005 USA Today National Defensive Player of the Year at Oklahoma City Southeast, started Wednesday's scrimmage at defensive tackle. He made five tackles and was an occasional presence in the opposing offense's backfield. It was a sign of the growth the Sooners had in mind when they decided to redshirt McCoy last fall. "Gerald's doing really well," coach Bob Stoops said. "He's jumping the ball well and continues to make really good improvement. We're happy with him." (Tulsa World)

Bobby Jack Wright would like to alternate corners: [Reggie] Smith and Marcus Walker are slotted as the starters this spring, with Lendy Holmes and once-ostracized D.J. Wolfe in backup roles. Among them, only Smith has started fewer than 11 games at cornerback during his career. "Our plan will be now, during the course of a ballgame, will be able to alternate by every two or three series," said OU secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright. "Then you've always got fresh corners out there. And good corners. "It's not like there's nobody over there anymore." (NewsOK.com)

Quote of the week, Stoops on defense: "We need to improve," Stoops said. "But the potential is there to be really good." (Tulsa World)

OU's aim for Nichol -- Build confidence: The Oklahoman

OU Football Notebook: The Oklahoman

Strong safety a big question mark: The Oklahoman

The collected wisdom of Kevin Wilson: The Oklahoman

Back to work for OU football: Yahoo! Sports

3 QBs vie for Sooners starting job: Yahoo! Sports

Orange, Cotton bowls in similar straits: Dallas Morning News

Thursday, March 15, 2007

(3/15) Oklahoma's First Scrimmage, Defense and DeMarco Murray

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops not impressed with defense: Bob Stoops' initial impression of his team's first open scrimmage of the spring was displeasure, mostly because of what he called sloppy tackling by the defense. "I wasn't very pleased," Stoops said after the 2½-hour workout on Owen Field. "I didn't expect it to be, in five days, execution-wise what it needs to be, but I wasn't pleased, maybe, with our overall intensity in the way we came out here." Stoops was most unhappy with his linebackers and secondary. "I saw sloppy tackling, which hopefully is just rust," he said. "We have some guys who are trying to get on the field who are showing you've either got to make tackles or you're gonna have a hard time playing." (NewsOK.com)

DeMarco Murray highlights scrimmage: Running back DeMarco Murray made his first Oklahoma a scrimmage a memorable one Wednesday afternoon at Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The redshirt freshman logged 129 all purpose yards and scored two touchdowns to highlight the offense's performance. For OU head coach Bob Stoops, Murray's performance was one of the few bright spots. Stoops said the enthusiasm that had been present through some of the early spring drills was largely absent in the scrimmage. Junior Joey Halzle completed 6-of-11 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown. He was intercepted twice. Redshirt freshman Sam Bradford was good on 8-of-14 attempts for 117 yards with one touchdown and one interception. True freshman Keith Nichol was 6-of-8 for 40 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Murray's scoring runs came on a 65-yard sprint and a physical four-yard burst. He carried the ball nine times for 92 yards, while also catching three passes for 37. (SoonerSports.com)

Murray on his day: Telling the Norman Transcript.. "I was nervous at the beginning," Murray said. "(Running backs coach coach Cale) Gundy told me to relax and I started to and just played football."

Injury update: Several key players were not available to participate in the scrimmage. Some, such as receiver Malcolm Kelly and offensive guard Brandon Walker, are being held out of spring practice to rehabilitate injuries suffered last season. Both Kelly and Walker had offseason knee surgery. Others, like running backs Allen Patrick (bruised leg) and Mossis Madu (concussion), did not participate because of minor injuries suffered during the first four practices of the spring. (NewsOK.com)

Quarterbacks get mixed reviews early: The Oklahoman

OU quarterback breakdown: The Oklahoman

OU scrimmage report: Tulsa World

Reynolds looks to continue Sooners' LB tradition: Sporting News

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

(3/14) Peterson Draft Status, and OU's First Spring Scrimmage Today

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Peterson on NFL Draft broad status: "Right now, there are a lot of things going on with trades and players jumping teams. Right now, I'm just trying to make everything less stressful on me and just relax." Peterson said. (Dallas Morning News)

First spring scrimmage today: Oklahoma Sooners football team is scheduled for the first of two open scrimmages today at 3:45, at the stadium. Gates 7 and 12 will open at approx. 2:45 -- more information on Sooners Spring Football.

Showing off: Norman Transcript

Browns GM among those who get up-close look at Peterson: The Oklahoman

Has Stoops become too conservative?: The Oklahoman

Peterson shows skills: Tulsa World

2007 Spring Preview - Analyzing the Big 12: College Football News

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Oklahoma Pro Day, and OU Recruiting Class 2008

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

OU Pro Day, Peterson takes part in one drill: Seventeen National Football League teams were represented Tuesday at Oklahoma's annual Pro Day. Ten former Sooner players took part in the drills at the Everest Center. The players tested in seven areas ranging from jumping to speed to agility to strength. They also were put through drills specific to their position by scouts that were on hand for the event. RB Adrian Peterson took part in only one test, the 60-yard shuttle. He turned in a time of 11.78, the fastest among the five Sooners that participated in that particular test. Other bests included DB Jason Carter in the vertical jump (37-0), Paul Thompson in the broad jump (10-2), Carter and Thompson in the 40 (4.64), Thompson in the 20-yard shuttle (4.25), Carter and Thompson in the three-cone shuttle (7.02) and Rufus Alexander in the bench press (26 reps of 225 pounds). (More Pro Day numbers at SoonerSports.com) (Video available at SoonerSports.com)

Sooners quick to sign 2008 recruits: USA Today highlights the Sooners early commitments of 2008, a class whom OU has landed top prospects already.. Of Oklahoma's six commitments, four -- all from Texas -- are members of the Rivals100 to watch. The latest came Saturday afternoon from Van, Texas, running back Jermie Calhoun. The 6-foot, 210-pound running back from East Texas had scholarship offers from all over the country. Alabama, Florida, Kansas State, LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, and Texas A&M were just a few of them. "I knew I had stuff ahead of me," Calhoun said. "I felt a lot of pressure from other schools and coaches trying to get in touch with me. I wanted to get it out of the way and focus on my schoolwork." Calhoun said his relationship with Oklahoma recruiter Cale Gundy and the rest of the staff in Norman was a big reason why he committed. (USAToday.com)

(3/13) OU Pro Day and Oklahoma Practice #4

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Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles and Notes

OU Pro Day today: Former University of Oklahoma and NFL draft prospects will conduct Oklahoma Pro Day, today before NFL scouts on the campus. Adrian Peterson is expected to partcipate. The Sooners football team is off, before tomorrow's scheduled scrimmage.

Practice #4 in the books: The two-hour, 15-minute closed in an 11-of-11 drill with the offense working extensively on both the rushing and pass attacks. "I continue to be pleased with the way our offensive players are taking care of the ball," said Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. "We have been able to keep mistakes to a minimum and that is encouraging to us as a staff." (SoonerSports.com)

Monday, March 12, 2007

Further Cotton Bowl Poll Numbers, and Oklahoma's Second Scrimmage

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Second poll shows further opposition to Cotton Bowl upgrades: Fifty-six percent of respondents to a new poll say the city of Dallas should abandon its $50 million plan to renovate the historic Cotton Bowl in Fair Park. Thirty percent of respondents said the renovations should proceed, while the remainder offered other suggestions. There were 682 responses to the poll, which was conducted online March 1-7 by the Dallas Business Journal after the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic announced it would leave the Cotton Bowl for Arlington in 2010. The results were similar to a Dallas Morning News telephone poll of 601 Dallas residents disclosed March 11. (Dallas Business Journal)

Second scrimmage information; Free and Open to the public: Oklahoma's March 31 football scrimmage will take place at 11 a.m., in Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The event is open to the public and no admission will be charged. The workout will be the final major scrimmage before the April 7 Red/White Spring Game. Oklahoma's other open scrimmage will take place this Wednesday, March 14 at 3:45 p.m., at the stadium. (SoonerSports PR)

Dallas Residents Oppose Cotton Bowl Upgrades

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Poll: Dallas Citizens oppose Cotton Bowl renovations: Almost half of Dallas residents say the city should pull the plug on a planned $50 million face-lift for the Cotton Bowl, according to a Dallas Morning News poll. Even though the City Council strongly supports the renovation, 48 percent of those polled last week said the investment doesn't make sense now that the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic, the January collegiate bowl game, has announced that it's leaving in 2010. Forty percent said the city should go ahead with the improvements anyway. The remaining 12 percent weren't sure or had no opinion. Six in 10 people said local officials should have tried harder to lure the Cowboys back to Dallas in 2004, when the team announced that it was in the market for a new home. Told of the poll's findings, Dallas Mayor Laura Miller said she still supports further investment in the Cotton Bowl. She noted that local officials are working to lure other collegiate teams. "I feel confident that we will have at least one new football game announcement for the Cotton Bowl before I leave office," said the mayor, whose term expires in June." (In part and more at Dallas Morning News) Note: The poll, conducted for the The News by Blum & Weprin Associates Inc. of New York, was based on telephone interviews with 601 Dallas residents this past Monday through Wednesday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

Interestingly Dallas voters approved proposition 3, including Cotton Bowl bond by a 81-19% margin in November 2006 election.

(3/12) OU Spring Football Articles and Notes

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Coach Stoops on practice #3: "We had a lot of good on good today," Stoops said. "I felt like we got in a lot of good work and again the enthusiasm was very good. "The offense took good care of the ball today and I was really happy to see that. Just like the day before, all three quarterbacks played extensively. At running back, Allen Patrick got several reps early, then gave way to Chris Brown, Jacob Gutierrez, Mossis Madu and DeMarco Murray, who garnered most of the snaps for the remainder of the afternoon. Both Murray and Madu also got some work in the slot and excelled in pass-catching situations. (SoonerSports.com)

Sooners out for the spring; Kelly, Williams and Walker: Along with wide receiver Malcolm Kelly and Darien Williams, offensive lineman Brandon Walker won't practice this spring. All had minor knee surgeries after last season. Tight end Jermaine Gresham and defensive end Alonzo Dotson will be limited early, before joining full workouts after spring break. Offensive lineman Branndon Braxton, who suffered a broken leg in the Colorado game, was cleared for full activity and is practicing. (NewsOK.com)

Secondary opportunities: With free safety Darien Williams skipping spring to rehab from offseason knee surgery, several young players are getting an opportunity to make an impression. Sophomore Quinton Carter gets first shot, with sophomore Brian Jackson and freshman Dominique Franks moving over from cornerback to provide depth. With the corner spots two-deep with players who have started, co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright said a move seemed logical. "We're moving those guys to help them get on the field,” Wright said. (NewsOK.com)

Younger Sooners could see more playing: The Oklahoman

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Oklahoma Sooners Continue Spring Practices

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

All three quarterbacks see snaps in practice #2: The stadium portion of the practice was highlighted by the team drill featuring the offense against the defense. That session lasted approximately 40 minutes. All three quarterbacks vying for the starting job -- Joey Halzle, Sam Bradford and Keith Nichol -- got snaps. "We're still giving those guys a lot to think through and they're playing against a good defense, but they're handling it well and making good progress," Stoops said. "This is a learning time for them, especially in the first few practices." The Sooners will don pads for the first time this spring when they practice Saturday. (SoonerSports.com)

Spring focus will be on quarterback: The Oklahoman

QB starter to be put on hold: Tulsa World

Looking for the next quarterback: Norman Transcript

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Sooners Start Spring Football Practices

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Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles and Notes

Sooners first practice today: Head coach Bob Stoops held a press conference Wednesday morning in advance of Oklahoma's first spring practice of the 2007 season. (SoonerSports.com) Information on purchasing OU Red-White game tickets in the OU spring football section.

A few Bob Stoops' Quotes
On the quarterbacks: (The quarterbacks) are a great group of guys. I've really loved the way the have worked through the winter. All of them -- Joey Halzle, Sam Bradford and Keith Nichol -- they work together really well which is fun to see as a coach. They are pushing each other, helping each other. We're just anxious to get them all out there, get them snaps, repetitions. They are all talented guys and we expect a lot out of them."

On starting early spring practices: "We're getting started a little earlier than usual. We want to be able to finish our Spring Game and spring a little earlier in case you get any kind of major injury there's a chance to recover more fully. "

On the running backs: "We've got strong and quality guys (at running back) and some young guys we're going to continue to develop. We're excited about that. They, like the quarterbacks, need to continue to get more snaps."

(3/7) Stoops on Oklahoma's Next Quarterback

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Oklahoma Sooners Football Articles and Notes

Stoops not expected to name starter at QB anytime soon: Oklahoma fans can forget an answer as to who the next Sooners quarterback is until next season's opening game approaches, coach Bob Stoops said. "This is not do-or-die for anybody," Stoops said of the spring workouts that begin today. "Everybody wants to have the answer [immediately], but we hope [the three candidates] will work together to make each other better, and make it a stronger position." Expectations center on freshman Keith Nichol, a standout from the state of Michigan who, because of a coaching change at Michigan State, signed with the Sooners and enrolled for the spring semester. But Stoops won't anoint anyone until he gets a thorough look at Nichol, seldom-used transfer Joey Halzle and redshirt freshman Sam Bradford, who caught the attention of coaches in the fall while running the scout team, in spring practices and on into August drills. "Keith comes in with a lot of promise," Stoops said. "He's shown to be a great worker and a tough kid who the players enjoy being around." (Star-Telegram)

OU Football's new flagship station in Tulsa Effective with the start of the 2007 football season, Oklahoma will have new radio home in the Tulsa market. For football and some men's basketball broadcasts, OU is moving from KFAQ am1170 to KMOD fm97.5. Some of the OU men's basketball broadcasts, along with as many as 15 OU women's basketball broadcasts, will be carried by KTBZ am1430. (Tulsa World)

Choosing sides: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

OU football players tackle roles in 'Caesar' opera: The Oklahoman

Tuesday, March 6, 2007

(3/6) Grambling-Prairie View May Follow Cotton Bowl Lead

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Grambling-Prairie View following the Cotton Bowl to Arlington? Grambling would never follow the Cotton Bowl game in abandoning this legendary south Dallas venue, right? Well, there are other emotions at play. The Dallas City Council saw to that a couple of seasons ago when it approved $250,000 in game incentives for GSU and Prairie View through 2009 -- while giving $625,000 apiece to Texas and Oklahoma, who play the following weekend in the same venue. Get [Al] Wash [Promoter of the State Fair Classic], and many Grambling fans, talking about that deal and, well, you can forget another mention of cotton candy and ferris wheels. It gets serious."I don't understand why the State Fair and the city have never seen the fact that we need dollars worse than Texas-Oklahoma need dollars," Wash said this week. "It's a business, and a business decision will be made." (News Star Blog) OU-TEXAS Implications: It would be hard to believe the Dallas City Council would invest bond money (as stated before Dallas isn't obligated to spend bond money, says Dallas CFO), without guarantees past 2009 from GSU-PV and 2010 OU-TEXAS. When all four schools are waiting for improvements passed by the Dallas voters. At the same time, Dallas recruiting LSU, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, Texas Tech to play at the Cotton Bowl stadium, could delay any renovations passed by Dallas voters. "It's absolutely worth significant upgrades to the facility to get four weeks of college football," Dallas Mayor, Ms. Miller.

Monday, March 5, 2007

(3/5) OU Among Offers of NM Prep QB and Oklahoma Articles

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

NM. Prep QB Jones has Oklahoma among schools? With just three scholarship quarterbacks on campus, the position will be a focus of next year's recruiting class. An early name to watch: Landry Jones out of Artesia, N.M. Jones is a 6-foot-5, 215-pound prospect with a big arm. He passed for 3,433 yards and 45 touchdowns. He completed 68 percent of his passes with just nine interceptions in 310 attempts. The Sooners are among the teams Jones is talking about, but there's plenty of competition. He already holds scholarship offers from UCLA, Arizona, Wisconsin, Colorado, Oregon, Virginia, New Mexico and New Mexico State. (NewsOK.com)

New home for OU-Texas?: The Oklahoman

Spring is important for: Tulsa World

OU-TU would hurt prep gate: Enid News & Eagle

(3/5) Dallas Candidates Split on Cotton Bowl Money, and NCAA Football '08

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Dallas' bond money to stadium uncertain: Now that the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic is primed to leave the Fair Park stadium, Dallas mayoral candidates are divided on what to do with a public fortune earmarked for Cotton Bowl stadium renovations. Some say the $30 million in municipal bonds that voters approved in November as part of a $1.35 billion bond program must remain slotted for the 76-year-old facility. About $20 million in city- and State Fair of Texas-funded Cotton Bowl improvements already are under way, including installation of new seating and a massive video scoreboard. "That money is to be used to bring that stadium up to par. It's imperative that it be used that way, otherwise, the existing stadium will not be viable," former state representative and airline executive Sam Coats said. "I have no qualms spending the money. You have to keep the faith with the voters, period," said Darrell Jordan, a lawyer and 1995 Dallas mayoral election runner-up. "This is a good investment. We have to fight to keep these games," District 3 council member Ed Oakley said. (More at Dallas Morning News)

Boise States' Zabransky on the cover of NCAA '08: Ask any college football fan what sets their chosen sport apart from their professional brothers and odds are most of them will come up with the same answer -- unpredictability. Specifically they'll tell you about this year's Fiesta Bowl where no-name Quarterback Jared Zabransky led his even less known Boise State Cowboys to a thrilling 43-42 overtime victory over the goliath like Oklahoma Sooners. It's that leadership that led EA Sports to choose Zabransky over other household names like Brady Quinn and Troy Smith as their cover-boy for NCAA Football 2008. EA is hoping that Zabransky will be the perfect fit for the game's newest feature, Team Leadership. (MyGamer) Adrian Peterson was widely speculated to grab the cover, as NCAA Football '08 is expected for release summer 2007 for Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2 and PS3.

Sunday, March 4, 2007

(3/4) Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles

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Saturday, March 3, 2007

Thursday, March 1, 2007

(3/1) Dallas Cotton Bowl Bond Money, Texas Tech and OU? and a OU Prospect

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Dallas Official: Dallas isn't obligated to spend bond money: The city of Dallas isn't obligated to spend $30 million in bond funds on the Cotton Bowl, said David Cook, the city's chief financial officer. His statement came in response to the Dallas Business Journal query: "What legal options does the city of Dallas have to make the (Cotton Bowl) renovations, if its leaders no longer see the need to spend that money on the project?" Dallas City Councilman Mitchell Rasansky has been skeptical about spending money renovating the Cotton Bowl, in light of the construction of the Cowboys' new stadium, which is estimated at costing more than $1 billion. "The voters have authorized the city to issue bonds for particular purposes, but the voters haven't mandated that that be done," Cook said, in response to a query from the Business Journal. "From a legal view, the city council doesn't have to issue those bonds and do those improvements. They are authorized to do so. It technically wouldn't take a special vote of the citizens to deauthorize," he said. (Dallas Business Journal)

Live Chat Transcript via Dallas Morning News with Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker:

Q: From e-mail: Isn't it true that the city of Dallas failed by not giving a $325 million investment for a $1 billion complex that would have replaced the Cotton Bowl?

A: Rick Baker: We are not in the blame game. We just had to make a decision based on the facts laid out before us. The city of Dallas has been a great partner for 71 years and we will continue to need their world-class hotels and infrastructure to be able to produce a premier bowl experience.

Sooners' prospect instead playing Pro Baseball: The bigger question with [Mike] Wilson is why he is a [Seattle] Mariner at all. He grew up in the heart of football country, Tulsa, Okla., and had accepted a full ride to the University of Oklahoma as a linebacker when Seattle came calling. The running joke around camp is the Sooners might have offered more than Seattle did to secure Wilson's services. To be sure, Wilson will always be a fan of Oklahoma football. What Oklahoma couldn't match was the hold baseball had on Wilson's heart. "I played football, and I liked it," he said. "But I always was a baseball player. That was the sport I loved. So when I got drafted in the second round, it wasn't that hard of a decision. "I sat down with my mother and we talked it over. It didn't take long. The average career in football is four or five years. The average career in baseball is longer. And I was hurting; my knees were tired from all the hitting I was doing playing football." (Seattle Post)

Cotton Bowl Offers Texas Tech a free venue to play? A&M? OU?: We speak extensively [News Radio 1420] with the man who is trying to convince Texas Tech and Texas A&M to play their rivalry game in Dallas rather than Lubbock and College Station. His name is Errol McCoy. He is the state fair president. One of his responsibilities is to fill the cotton bowl with high impact football games. Now that the Cotton Bowl game will no longer played in the Cotton Bowl stadium McCoy will renew his efforts to sweet talk Texas Tech. McCoy says the City of Dallas will pay Texas Tech's travel expenses, and he says the state fair will waive the stadium rental. "So, basically the Universities have zero cost in coming to Dallas to play in a neutral site, with the tremendous upside. And in the case of Texas Tech I think they could improve their overall financial situation for the athletic department by $2 million per year; each year!" Of course the average fan says 'Yeah but that's our big rivalry game.' It doesn't get any bigger than Red Raider verses Aggies. We can't give that up! Right? So News Radio 1420 asked Errol McCoy: does it have to be THAT game? What about Tech verses Oklahoma? What about Tech verses ANY other Big 12 team? How about trying to build a brand new rivalry from scratch; say, Texas Tech verses LSU? Here's McCoy's answer. "So it can be any combination; I think any combination of those you just mentioned probably would work and work well." (Newsradio1420)

Cotton Bowl marriage may soon be tested: Dallas Morning News

Change aids chances: Star Telegram

Peterson dynamite player, but few tailbacks carry teams to titles: MSNBC.com

Cotton Bowl finds new home to build legends: Yahoo! Sports