June 29, 2007

Update: Ryan Reynolds' Injury Rehabilitation

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Reynolds Injured during Practice: As posted March 29 Ryan Reynolds Injured.. 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) (3.29.07) UPDATE: Rehab going well: The gray skies of this Oklahoma summer contradict the mood surrounding Ryan Reynolds' recovery from knee surgery. The Oklahoma linebacker says, "It doesn't even feel like I injured it," and Jim Hillis, OU's Coordinator of Rehabilitation says, "The surgery went extremely well and right now he’s as good as he could possibly be." Reynolds said the LCL tear actually hurt a lot more than the ACL, even though the latter is a more severe injury. "The LCL is a very repairable injury," Hillis pointed out. "It's not common, but it's easier to repair (than an ACL tear)." Beginning the week of July 1, Reynolds, who has been working in the weight room and running straight-line drills, will get the green light to run laterally and make cuts. In recovery from knee surgery, that is the last hurdle. "I feel like I am way ahead of schedule," he said. "The ACL recovery was a lot more difficult. This is night and day. I feel like I will be just as fast as I was before, but I'm not in shape yet. That will take about a month." (More at SoonerSports.com) (6.29.07)

June 27, 2007

(6/27) Bob Stoops Extended Through 2013, 50k Increase

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

 Bob Stoops signed through 2013; In addition 50k Annual Raise: Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione and five of the Sooners' head coaches -- including football coach Bob Stoops and basketball coaches Sherri Coale and Jeff Capel -- had raises approved Wednesday by the university's Board of Regents. Stoops, already one of the nation's highest-paid coaches, received a $50,000 annual raise, increasing his guaranteed annual income to $2.55 million, and had his contract extended by two years to December 2013. Stoops, who guided the Sooners to the Big 12 Conference title last season, is eligible to receive a "stay bonus" of $3 million following the 2008 season if he remains at Oklahoma. His contract also is laden with incentives, including $150,000 if Oklahoma wins the national title. Oklahoma also increased the annual guaranteed money received by Brent Venables, Stoops' defensive coordinator, by $50,000 to $315,000. (AP/ESPN.com)

Sooners AD gets new title, raise, extension: The Oklahoman

June 26, 2007

(6/26) Kelly, Patrick on Maxwell Watch List, and '08 Sooner Recruits

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Four Sooner Commitments invited to play ESPN's All-American Game: National recruiting analysts and talent evaluators from ESPN Scouts, Inc., will select players for both team rosters from among The ESPN 150, a nationwide ranking of top prep football prospects. A total of 80-84 players will be invited, with all players having the opportunity to also participate in a multi-faceted skills competition, which will be televised Friday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2. ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will provide extensive coverage of the event throughout the week, including team practice sessions. (ESPN PR)

List of players scheduled/confirmed to play..
  • Dwayne Allen TE Fayetteville, NC
  • Blake Ayles TE Orange, Calif.
  • Jonathan Baldwin WR Aliquippa, Pa.
  • Brandon Barnes ATH Louisburg, N.C.
  • Xavier Brewer CB Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Ramon Buchanan OLB Melbourne, Fla.
  • Jermie Calhoun RB Van, Texas
  • Nigel Carr OLB Jacksonville, Fla.
  • Braxston Cave OC Granger, Ind.
  • Taylor Cook QB Eagle Lake, Texas
  • Keanon Cooper OLB Dallas, Texas
  • Aundre Dean RB Katy, Texas
  • Vaughn Dotsy OG Ventura, Calif.
  • Dee Finley FS Auburn, Ala.
  • Daniel Franklin LB Clarkesville, Ga.
  • A.J. Green WR Ridgeville, S.C.
  • Braden Hanson QB Charlotte, N.C.
  • Brandon Harris CB Miami, Fla.
  • Antoine Hicks ATH Arlington, Texas
  • Will Hill ATH West Orange, N.J.
  • Jarvis Humphrey DT Cedar Hill, Texas
  • Julio Jones WR Foley, Ala.
  • Landry Jones QB Artesia, N.M.
  • Neiko Lipscomb DB Tucker, Ga.
  • Tyler Love OT Birmingham, Ala.
  • Jon Major OLB Parker, Colo.
  • E.J. Manuel QB Virginia Beach, Va.
  • Michael Matt FB Jeanette, Pa.
  • # Antoine McClain OT Anniston, Ala.
  • Terrance Parks DB Fairborn, Ga.
  • Burton Scott WR Prichard, Ala.
  • Jamoris Slaughter FS Stone Mountain, Ga.
  • Kye Staley RB Guthrie, Okla.
  • Andrew Sweat LB Washington, Pa.
  • Carlton Thomas RB Frostproof, Fla.
  • Chase Thomas DE Atlanta, Ga.
  • Brandon Thompson DT Thomasville, Ga.
  • Courtney Upshaw DE Eufaula, Ala.
  • Deion Walker WR Christchurch, Va.
  • Charles Whitlock ATH Chester, S.C.
  • Christian Wilson LB McKees Rock, Pa.
  • R.J. Washington DE Fort Worth, Texas
  • E.J. Woods FS Culver City, Calif.
Players verbally committed to the Sooners in 2008.

 Sooners on Maxwell watch list: Two players from Oklahoma and one from Oklahoma State are among those receiving consideration for this year's Maxwell Award. Sooners running back Allen Patrick and wide receiver Malcolm Kelly join Oklahoma State wide receiver Adarius Bowman on the list of 65 players on the watch list for the award given to the college football player of the year. (AP/KOTV)

After 40 years, Jimerson is ready to retire ... again : The Oklahoman

June 24, 2007

(6/24) Coach Stoops Doesn't Mind '07 QB Race

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

 Stoops familiar with QB competition: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on OU's 2007 quarterback race.. "This isn't the NFL, where you have a guy for 12 years, Joe Montana,” Stoops said. "This is natural, it's college football. Guys come and guys go. It's always been that way and always will be. "I don't look at it as an issue. It's not like we haven't had this issue in eight years. We've had it many times and we've managed it fairly well.” Stoops is proud of his quarterback record at OU. His QB/championship ratio is impressive. In the last seven years, Stoops' Sooners have won four Big 12 titles with a different quarterback for each trophy. (NewsOK.com) As Stoops said earlier this month, it all comes down to how much the players around the quarterback have improved.

Landry Jones could put Sooners back in title hunt : Tulsa World

June 22, 2007

Adrian Peterson Day Set For Saturday

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Adrian Peterson day celebrated in Palestine: Peterson, a Palestine High School graduate and Heisman Trophy runner-up at Oklahoma, recently was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the seventh overall pick in the NFL Draft."Adrian is our light, he's our sunshine here," event organizer Carol Pegues said. "We are just honoring him because he's brought some real joy to our city. We watched him from high school, college and now professionally."The event will include a 10 a.m. parade beginning at the Anderson County Courthouse and ending in Old Town Palestine, and a presentation at Wildcat Stadium.Peterson will be given a proxy to the city at the presentation, during which June 23 will be declared "Adrian Peterson Day.""(Adrian) has really put Palestine on the map," Pegues said. "Everybody is really excited about it. Adrian has pulled Palestine together."Expected to attend the event are former Palestine head coach Jeff Harrell and representatives from Oklahoma and the Vikings, Pegues said. (TylerPaper.com)

City's Best: Minneapolis' Top Five Athletes: AOL FanHouse

June 21, 2007

(6/21) Big 12 Names Interim Commissioner

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Big 12 official: Dan Beebe named interim commissioner: The Big 12 Conference Board of Directors have named Dan Beebe as interim commissioner. Beebe has served as senior associate commissioner and chief operating officer since joining the Big 12 in 2003, following a 14-year stint as commissioner of the Ohio Valley Conference. Kevin Weiberg is stepping down as head of the conference on July 15 to take a position with the Big Ten Network. Beebe will assume the role of interim commissioner when Weiberg departs the Big 12. (NewsOK.com)

 Bob Stoops Is An Analog Coach In A Digital World: The Feed
*updated

June 20, 2007

(6/20) Stoops Invested in Program for Music, Only Recruited a Few

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops explains he invested in BurnLounge for music downloads: University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops said he didn't invest in a controversial digital music business to make money and he only recruited a handful of other investors to the company -- none of them players. "I did not see this as a money-making opportunity," Stoops said of BurnLounge, a New York City-based business. "I invested because it was a way for my family and me to download music." "I may have made back my original $450, but I'm not even sure about that," he said in a statement released late Tuesday by OU. "In total, I think I helped five or six other people sign up, all of whom are close personal friends or family members," he said. "As far as I know the business is legitimate and I am not a founder, developer or owner of the company, but simply a person who bought in to have the ability to download music." Kenny Mossman, OU associate athletics director, said Stoops told him none of the individuals he brought in as investors were players. (NewsOK.com)

 Weiberg's silence left OU hanging: Tulsa World

Vikings Sign Former OU LB Alexander

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Rufus Alexander signs with Minnesota: The Minnesota Vikings have signed 6th-round pick (#176 overall) LB Rufus Alexander. He becomes the 3rd of the Vikings' 8 selections from the 2007 NFL Draft to sign, joining 7th-round selections QB Tyler Thigpen and WR Chandler Williams. Alexander was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Oklahoma in 2006 and was a 2-time All-Big 12 selection. He was a teammate of 1st-round selection RB Adrian Peterson with the Sooners. (Vikings.com) Details are not available at post time. Former Oklahoma running back and first round selection, Adrian Peterson remains unsigned with Minnesota.

 For OU AD, Big 12 chief's suit could be a perfect fit: Muskogee Phoenix

June 19, 2007

Stoops Responds to Pyramid Scheme Involvement

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

As I continue to follow the Bob Stoops involvement in the BurnLounge pyramid scheme.. GNEXTINC.com is the ONLY Oklahoma Sooners website to report involvement, as of 1:40 am Tuesday.

As now Stoops responds to involvement of BurnLounge: University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops confirmed Monday he invested in an online digital music business that federal regulators now allege is an illegal pyramid scheme. "Even though this investment was less than $500, like all others I make, it was reviewed by a trusted and experienced group of legal and financial advisers," Stoops said Monday in a statement released by OU. "I have been and remain comfortable with the direction they have provided for many years." Kenny Mossman, OU associate athletics director, said Stoops did not say how much money he made off the investment or whether he recruited other coaches or players to participate. Stoops declined to comment on Spurrier's remarks (in Sunday's South Carolina The State newspaper), referring questions to Mossman. BurnLounge was not promoted on OU Web sites, Stoops and Mossman said. (More at NewsOK.com) It would be interesting to know, the time line in which Stoops recommended BurnLounge to Spurrier, Jr. (the only confirmed individual recruited by Stoops) in reference to BurnLounge's June 2006 questionable business practices being raised.. Also, any other coaches and athletes he may of enrolled in the BurnLounge program.

June 18, 2007

BurnLounge Pyramid Scheme, Includes Former OSU Coach Les Miles Involvement

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

More on BurnLounge Scheme, Former OSU Coach Miles involved: University of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and former Oklahoma State coach Les Miles are among those involved in a illegal pyramid scheme. Stoops is joined by a host of other celebs and athletes, including Shaquille O'Neil, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Carson Daly, former UT Coach Fred Akers are among those highlighted on the company's website. The scheme centers around BurnLounge, a October 2005 start-up digital media company based on a multi-level marketing system, according to the company's press kit. The company describes each membership sold and site as, "essentially a digital store franchise.... Regardless of operator, each store has the same look and feel, and all carry the BurnLounge brand." Federal Trade Commission alleged BurnLounge in a June 6 complaint filed, "...has a compensation program based primarily on providing payments to participants for the recruitment of new participants, not on the retail sale of products or services, thereby resulting in a substantial percentage of participants losing money," the complaint states. Though the company describes its, "initial challenge is to convince users it is not a pyramid scheme. No investment is required for inventory, a typical feature of such pyramid programs. But there are costs involved-from $30 per year to a $215 up front setup fee and $15 per month - all for access to various levels of music and team management software," according to its press kit.. As The State reported, Stoops introduced the program to Steve Spurrier, Jr. in 2006. And, who knows who else? Point being, who better to push your program (some may say, 'scheme'), than big time athletes and in Stoops' case, one of the most successful college football coaches? The stars that participate as VIP retailers and that are top-tier, cash in thousands monthly by enrolling others.. Others that particate in the program say, "its way hard to make money off of downloads at only 2 cents per download - youd have to sell over 500 songs a month just to make back your monthly fees," said BlueFishTShirts.com.. Others have been questioning the company's business practices since June 2006. Burnlounge: Behind the Music and BurnLounge Sells Digital Music Snakeoil..

 FTC picks on Stoops and Switzer: Okie Doke

 WHEN THE SEC MEETS THE SEC: With Leather
*Updated

(6/18) Stoops Involved in a Pyramid Scheme?

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

FTC investigates a company Stoops' allegedly invested in and recruited others in: Before making enemies with the Federal Trade Commission, Rob DeBoer tried to make as many friends as he could. The ex-USC running back now living in Irmo claimed in training videos to have a hand in recruiting 30,000 people to BurnLounge, an online music retailer sued by the FTC this month accused of being a pyramid scheme. DeBoer, who was sued for allegedly misrepresenting earnings from BurnLounge, promoted the New York-based company with ex-USC quarterback and Gamecock football announcer Todd Ellis -- helping turn Columbia into ground zero for BurnLounge. They hosted events in Columbia nightspots and living rooms to market BurnLounge franchises -- customizable Web pages that rewarded buyers with free music or cash for selling songs or additional franchises priced between $30 and $430. Besides ex-athletes, several coaches tried to make extra money in BurnLounge. Gamecocks receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. invested in BurnLounge a year ago after Oklahoma coach Stoops introduced him to the concept. "When Bob Stoops got me, he said, 'I've spoken to a lawyer about this. I've spoken to my agent. I've spoken to some people to find out if this is a legitimate thing. And everything they told me, this is a legitimate (business). Put your name on it and go do it,'" said Spurrier Jr., a member of Stoops' Sooners staff from 1999 to 2001. An Oklahoma spokesman said last week that Stoops was on vacation and unavailable for comment. (In part and much more at The State)

 Is Joe C the next commish? Norman Transcript

 Reporting of secondary violations can be positive: The Oklahoman

June 15, 2007

(6/15) Big 12 Official: Functioning Compliance Departments Discover Secondary Violations

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Secondary self-reported violations expected: As Big 12 Conference senior associate commissioner / chief operating officer Dan Beebe said in a statement Wednesday: "NCAA and Big 12 Conference rules require that member institutions self-report violations of NCAA legislation. It is common and expected that institutional athletics compliance programs that are functioning effectively will discover secondary violations from time to time." [Kenny] Mossman said "the NCAA is concerned if you don't have a number of secondary violations to report. They know the complexity of the rulebook, and they know that member institutions are going to misstep. (Secondary violations) are not a phenomenon unique to OU." (Tulsa World)

Oklahoma Statement on the NCAA Secondary Infraction and Supplement Error: From University of Oklahoma athletic department press release..

* The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department's compliance staff, as part of routine checks, recently uncovered NCAA rules infractions that were self-reported by the University and deemed to be secondary violations by the NCAA.

* The most recent self-report from OU to the NCAA included the distribution of ready-to-drink health supplements Cytomax and Endurox R4.

* CytoSport, the maker of Cytomax, acknowledged its error in a formal letter and subsequently sent the correct product.

* Products were returned in shipment April 17, 2007.

* Both are permissible substances for NCAA student-athletes to ingest, although it is impermissible for NCAA members to provide the products to student-athletes.


Castiglione should stay with Sooners: The Oklahoman

 Big 12 may seek more dynamic leader: Dallas Morning News

 Weiberg leaving Big 12 for job with Big Ten network: USA Today

OU explains violations: Norman Transcript

June 14, 2007

Supplements Distributed By Oklahoma Identified

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Report: Oklahoma distributed Cytomax and Endurox R4 to players: The University of Oklahoma identified two drinks containing amino acids as the impermissible nutritional supplements it provided to football players last season, resulting in a secondary violation of NCAA rules. In a fact sheet released Thursday night, the university said it gave players Cytomax and Endurox R4, which it identified as "ready-to-drink health supplements." Oklahoma said both supplements "are permissible substances for NCAA student-athletes to ingest, although it is impermissible for NCAA members to provide the products to student-athletes." NCAA bylaws allow schools to provide "only nonmuscle-building nutritional supplements" that give athletes additional calories or electrolytes. Schools aren't allowed to give athletes products containing amino acids. California-based CytoSport makes several products under the Cytomax name, including the sports drink that it sent to Oklahoma. The university said it ordered the correct product, but instead received one that contained amino acids. (AP/Yahoo!)

Big 12 Commish Weiberg Resigns

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Big 12 Commissioner Weiberg resigns for Big Ten position: Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg is stepping down effective July 15 to take a position with the newly formed Big Ten Network. Weiberg's announcement was met with shock across the Big 12 Conference. Weiberg, 50, who had three years remaining on his contract with the Big 12, released a statement and was scheduled to address reporters on a 2 p.m. teleconference. "I am proud of the growth and progress of the Big 12 over the last nine years," Weiberg said in a statement. "By working together our members have excelled competitively, significantly grown revenues, and established a strong national presence and leadership position among the major conferences." Weiberg wrapped up his ninth year as commissioner of the Big 12 by helping to negotiate a new television package with ESPN/ABC for football and basketball over the next eight years. (Dallas Morning News)

Selmon opens seventh restaurant: Former Oklahoma Sooner Lee Roy Selmon recently opened his seventh restaurant -- Lee Roy Selmon's All-American Grill -- in Fort Myers, Fla. All of Selmon's restaurants are in Florida, but if his game plan works out he might expand to other areas, according to the Fort Myers News Press. (NewsOK.com)

(6/14) Oklahoma Picks Up 14th Commitment

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Mitchell commitments to Oklahoma: Oklahoma continued its string of recent commitments, landing Spring (Texas) Westfield safety Herman Mitchell late Wednesday. The three-star prospect amassed 121 tackles during his junior season in which he was named to the All-Texas team. He holds offers from several other Big 12 schools. Mitchell's announcement marks the 14th commitment for the Sooners this recruiting season, doubling the number of commitments Bob Stoops had garnered by this time last summer. (NewsOK.com) Oklahoma Sooners recruiting commitments..

Why Oklahoma has recently lost its luster and more: SI.com

June 13, 2007

(6/13) Oklahoma Reports to NCAA of Using Banned Supplements

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

University of Oklahoma reports violations, distributing banned supplements: Football players at Oklahoma were given two nutritional supplements banned by the NCAA before the school's compliance department detected the error and stopped the practice. According to documents obtained Tuesday through an open records request by The Associated Press, Oklahoma self-reported to the Big 12 Conference that it committed a secondary violation of NCAA bylaws last fall by providing "two nutritional supplements that contained impermissible substances." Oklahoma blamed one violation on a nutritional company inadvertently shipping a banned substance it identified as "an identical product bearing the same name" as a legal product that had been ordered by the university. In the second instance, Oklahoma reported the football program's strength and conditioning staff failed to review the ingredients of a new nutritional supplement. Both supplements were given to athletes before the mistakes were detected during a routine check by compliance staff. The remainder of the supplements were returned to the company that provided them. (AP/ESPN.com)

OU also reports improper contact: Oklahoma also reported that it committed a secondary violation when co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin called a football prospect the same week coach Bob Stoops had telephoned him and another when three prospects were shown lockers with jerseys featuring the numbers they wore in high school. (AP/ESPN.com)

Sooners land two more Texas recruits: Bob Stoops and Oklahoma just keep getting commitments out of Texas. The Sooners landed two more recruits from the state -- both from the Dallas/Fort Worth area - getting oral commitments from Garland defensive tackle Casey Walker (6-2, 290) and South Garland safety Joseph Ibiloye (6-3, 195). Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day a recruit in the class of 2008 can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 6. Walker chose the Sooners over Wisconsin, Boise State, Colorado and Ole Miss. Ibiloye went with the Sooners over Miami, Fla., Southern Cal and Texas A&M. (Dallas Morning News)

Reggie Smith on Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list: Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith has been named to watch list for the 2007 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, awarded annually to the best defensive player in college football by the Football Writers Association of America. Smith is one of 49 players on the initial list. A junior, Smith was a first-team All-Big 12 selection by the Associated Press and a second-team pick by league coaches. (NewsOK.com)

June 11, 2007

(6/11) Adrian Peterson Status, and OU Football Articles

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Peterson expects to arrive at camp on time: Adrian Peterson recently discussed the status of his contract, and arriving on time at camp.: "I feel like I'll be in camp on time. My agent, Ben Dogra, he does a great job. I hope there's no problem. I don't see any problem coming," Peterson said. "It's very important for me to go out and help my team. And help us reach our goals." (KSTP.com)

 Warm welcome: The Oklahoman

2006 Big 12 banner especially gratifying for Stoops: The Oklahoman

Taylor chooses baseball over OU, will sign with Tigers: The Oklahoman

Countdown to college football under way: Ada Evening News

 Vian's Taylor Signs Deal With Tigers: Times Record

COLUMN: Vian star signs, slows down before taking off to the pros: Muskogee Phoenix

 OU pilfers Lone Star State: Tulsa World

June 9, 2007

(6/9) Taylor Opts For Baseball

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners '07 signee Londell Taylor opts to play baseball: Londell Taylor had his mind made up even before the phone rang Friday. When it did and the Detroit Tigers were on the other end, the Vian High School standout athlete said yes in deciding to forego his Oklahoma Sooners football scholarship and pursue a major league baseball career. "I knew if I was going to get drafted, I was going to play baseball," Taylor said. "I had a lot of people in my town that wanted me to go to OU. But it's my decision and I like baseball more than football." The Tigers chose Taylor in the 13th round as the 421st overall pick. (Muskogee Phoenix)

June 8, 2007

(6/8) '08 Prospect Hanna Verbally Committed to Oklahoma

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Sooners add '08 tight end commitment: Three-star tight end James Hanna committed after attending Stoops' football camp in Norman this week. "I was actually talking with an old friend the other day and we remembered how we used to pretend that we would be playing for OU,” Hanna told Scout.com. The Flower Mound (Texas) prospect earned second-team all-district honors after catching 20 passes for 350 yards and two scores as a junior. Hanna also holds offers from Arizona, Louisville, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. Hanna's major selling point is his speed. His 4.53-second time in the 40-yard dash impressed coaches at the Scout.com Combine in Dallas earlier this spring, especially considering his size: 6-foot-5, 216. (NewsOK.com) Hanna is among three 2008 prospects that verbally committed to Oklahoma this week.

 Stoops finds he's no celebrity in Europe: The Oklahoman

 Oklahoma adds 150 ESPN Watch List WR Miller: ESPN.com

 DT Walker chooses the Sooners: ESPN.com

June 7, 2007

OU Game Times Announced, Sooners Pickup Pair of Commitments

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma announces kickoff times, OU-North Texas 6:00 FSN, OU-Utah State 2:30 TBD: Two more game times have been set for University of Oklahoma football games in 2007. Currently, four starting times have been set for the season. The Sooners' Sept. 1 season opener with North Texas has been picked up by FOX Sports Net and will begin at 6 p.m. OU's third game, a Sept. 15th contest against Utah State, has been set for 2:30 p.m. Television details for that game are yet to be completed. The Utah State game is still available for network pick-up. If the game is not selected, it is likely to be televised on a pay-per-view basis. (SoonerSports PR)

Adrian Peterson day June 23, in Palestine, TX: Former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson will have another day in the sun. Palestine, Texas, mayor Caroline Salter announced June 23 as "Adrian Peterson Day.” A parade through Peterson's hometown is planned. The City of Palestine will have a presentation ceremony at Wildcat Stadium, where Peterson starred as a high school player and attracted recruiters from the elite college football programs in the country. He spent three years at OU, then was the Minnesota Vikings' No. 1 draft choice in April. "We're excited about Adrian Peterson returning to his hometown to receive recognition from the city,” Salter told the Palestine Herald-Press. "We look forward to him having a wonderful career in the National Football League and seeing his career reflect in a positive way on his hometown.” The Palestine Herald-Press said Peterson will attend the celebration. (NewsOK.com)

Sooners pick up pair of 2008 commitments: Just moments ago on RivalsRadio Metuchen, N.J. four-star wide receiver Dejuan Miller made the choice between his long-time top three, Oklahoma, Penn State, and in-state Rutgers. The 6-foot-6, 207-pound receiver has made repeated trips to each of his top three over the last few months and on Thursday was finally ready to announce a public decision. "A couple weeks ago, I talked to Coach Stoops and Coach Sumlin and I made my decision and I am officially going to be a Sooner," Miller said on RivalsRadio with Bill King... Casey Walker: One of the rising prospects in the Lone Star State this spring has been Garland, Texas defensive tackle Casey Walker. After attending a camp this past weekend, he came home, discussed things over wit his family, and made his decision. The 6-foot-2, 303-pounder had picked up offers from schools such as Arizona, Boise State, Colorado, Ole Miss, TCU, and Wisconsin among others. After heading to Oklahoma's camp this weekend, he decided to get the process out of the way before the summer. "I just did," Walker said about his commitment. "I'm going to Oklahoma. I committed this morning. I went to their junior day, I went to their camp last year, and then I was down there on Monday for their one-day camp. I came home, talked it over with my family and did it. (In part and more at Fox23.com)

Stoops still rolls with punches: Tulsa World

June 6, 2007

(6/6) '08 Prospect to Visit Norman, Sooner Caravan in Tulsa Tonight

  /     /  
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Neb. recruit making unofficial visit to Norman: Millard North coach Fred Petito by now is used to the way visiting college football coaches look at [LB] Sean Fisher. They want to know if he's really 6-foot-5. They could be more obvious only if they pulled out a measuring tape. "They all want to take a good look at him," Petito said. "I knew with Oklahoma for sure they had to come up to see if he was that big. That's all they needed to do."Brent Venables, the Sooners' defensive coordinator and associate head coach, recently joined the parade through Millard North to see Fisher. Satisfied that the Mustangs' safety indeed was 6-5 and a solid 210 pounds, OU made a scholarship offer to Fisher before leaving. "I was talking with Venables and he point-blank said, 'We need to come out. Kids today tack an inch or two on to look good on paper. We need to come up and verify.' Obviously, I don't have a problem with it. I am 6-5, so it doesn't bother me." Fisher is making a swing through Norman and Fayetteville next weekend to unofficially visit OU and Arkansas. To get a better feel for the staffs at Nebraska and Iowa State, he might spend a day at those schools' camps later in June. (In part and more at Omaha World Herald)

Sooner Caravan in Tulsa Tonight: The 2007 Sooner Caravan hosts its third stop of the year on Wednesday, June 6, in Tulsa. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. on the grounds of the Schusterman Center at OU-Tulsa (4502 E. 41st ). OU coaches, including head football coach Bob Stoops, head women's basketball coach Sherri Coale and head men's basketball coach Jeff Capel, will participate in an autograph session as well as address the group on their respective programs. Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione and Oklahoma student-athletes will also address the Sooner fans in attendance. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in a live auction featuring OU signed memorabilia. The Caravan is designed as a thank you to loyal Sooner fans like you! Please call the Sooner Club toll-free at (866) Sooner Club (866-766-6372) for reservations and more information. (SoonerSports PR)

June 4, 2007

(6/4) The Next Big Thing: '08 Recruit?

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

 Wichita Recruit the best since Barry Sanders; Over 50 offers, OU the front-runner? At Wichita East High School on May 16, 30 coaches converged to watch the 16-year-old middle linebacker Arthur Brown Jr. participate in a 90-minute instructional camp. Brown, a 6-foot-1, 225-pounder who is nicknamed Fireman and can run a 40-yard dash in 4.47 seconds, is regarded by many college coaches as the top player in the class of 2008 and is rated as such by at least one recruiting service. Last season, he registered 158 tackles, 8 sacks and an interception. As the chiseled Brown sprinted in a cone drill, he was flanked on his right by Florida Coach Urban Meyer and Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, and Southern California Coach Pete Carroll stood to his left. Other coaches in attendance included Kansas' Mark Mangino and Colorado's Dan Hawkins. The first linebacker to be rated by scout.com as the nation's best since Ernie Sims in 2003, Brown already has more than 50 scholarship offers. He plans to whittle that list to 10 universities by the second week of September and make his college choice by Dec. 1, his trainer, Brian Butler said. Brown is also considering the possibility of enrolling early at the university he selects so he can be on campus in spring 2008. "Pete Carroll said he's the best linebacker that he's seen in seven years," Butler said. "Bob Stoops said he's going to win the Butkus Award two times." Brown, a 3.0 student, said that he intended to make unofficial visits to Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Louisiana State, Mississippi and Oklahoma State this summer. He has made unofficial visits to Kansas State and Oklahoma. He said that the Sooners were recruiting him the most. Many recruiting experts believe Oklahoma is at the top of his list. (In part & much more at New York Times' A Linebacker's Legend Is Growing in Kansas)

No time to waste: The Oklahoman

OU Caravan coming to Tulsa on Wednesday: Tulsa World

June 3, 2007

(6/3) Stoops on OU's Quarterbacks

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops on Oklahoma's Quarterback performance: Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, told the Tulsa World: "The biggest factor for them (quarterbacks) will be how much the players around them have improved from a year ago," Stoops said. "Every position around them ought to be better and stronger than they were a year ago." (Tulsa World)

Viking Adrian Peterson Talks NCAA Football and Madden: Sports Gamer

 Brand might favor fifth year eligibility if redshirting were eliminated: ESPN.com

June 2, 2007

Its On: OU-Miami 11:00 am Kickoff

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

ESPN on ABC to televise Oklahoma-Miami 11:00 am/CT: ABC has picked up Oklahoma's 2007 home football game with Miami (Fla.) and the network has slotted the contest for an 11 a.m., kickoff. The game, the second of the season for both squads, will be played Sept. 8 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman. The broadcast crew for the game is yet to be announced. (SoonerSports.com)

Oklahoma scene: The Oklahoman

June 1, 2007

(6/1) Oklahoma Football Articles and Notes

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Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Quote of the Week: Say what? If [J.C.] Watts played quarterback in this era "he would be a guy that would be drafted and would play in the NFL, I promise you," former OU and Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said. (Friday's Tulsa World) Us younger kids, here's highlights featuring J.C. Watts, Oklahoma vs Florida State 1980.

 A lost appeal for politics: Tulsa World

 Pendleton named Big 12 Sportsperson of Year: The Oklahoman

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