Cowboys defeat Sooners in Bedlam non-conference game: Oklahoma’s eight-game winning streak came to a crashing halt on Tuesday with a 6-1 loss to Oklahoma State at Reynolds Stadium. The loss, which didn’t count in the Big 12 Conference standings, was the Sooners’ first since April 7. It was night with polar opposites on the mound. Sooner starting pitcher Damien Magnifico routinely topped 95 miles per hour on the radar gun. OSU pitcher Kyle Ottoson fastball topped out in the mid-80s. Velocity clearly isn’t everything when it comes to pitching. Ottoson (3-5) held OU to five hits over 8 1/3 innings. The lefthander held OU scoreless over the final eight innings and struck out four. All night he mixed in breaking pitches with an occasional fastball. “It shouldn’t be that tough to adjust to. We’ve seen thumbers (breaking ball pitchers) from the left side all year — you get that a lot from lefties,” OU shortstop Caleb Bushyhead said.(More at Norman Transcript)
April 25, 2012
April 21, 2012
Three OU Gymnasts Compete For National Titles
Three Oklahoma women gymnast will compete in NCAA Individual Finals: Three OU gymnasts will compete for individual national titles during the 2012 NCAA Individual Event Finals, Sunday, April 22 at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga., at noon CT. Megan Ferguson, Brie Olson and Sara Stone will battle for national championships after earning first team All-America honors during Friday’s semifinal competition. The gymnasts that finished in the top four during semifinals earned first team All-America status and advanced to Sunday’s event finals. Gymnasts that placed fifth-eighth earned second team All-America. OU tied its second highest number of All-Americans with seven total distinctions. The Sooners also had seven All-Americans in 2010. Ferguson qualified for event finals on both floor and beam. The senior finished first outright on beam with a 9.95 during the first semifinal Friday and tied for first on floor with a 9.9. With the two All-America honors, Ferguson will finish her career at OU as a seven-time All-American, tying Kelly Garrison for the second-most All-America awards. Kiara Redmond holds the program-best with nine All-America distinctions. Ferguson has qualified for event finals in three of her four years with the Sooners. The Olathe, Kan., native competed beam in 2009, beam and bars in 2011 and now beam and floor in 2012. Ferguson is currently ranked No. 1 on both events. Olson will compete for the uneven bars national title after posting a 9.9 Friday to finish in second place. This will be Olson’s first appearance in event finals, the junior earned second team All-America on bars in 2011. Olson also earned second team in the all-around Friday during semifinals after finishing fifth in the first session. (SoonerSports PR)
OU Gymnast Jake Dalton Wins NCAA All-Around Title
Oklahoma Gymnast Jake Dalton takes NCAA all-around title: Oklahoma gymnast Jake Dalton was given his opening when Michigan gymnast and 2012 Olympic hopeful Sam Mikulak slipped during his pommel horse routine. He allowed Dalton to pull within range for the NCAA men's gymnastics all-around crown Friday at Lloyd Noble Center with a vault score of 15.55. Mikulak is the 2011 all-around champion, and he was cruising in first place until that moment. Dalton edged out Mikulak to win the first all-around title of his career. “It was just coming down to the end of the set, and I just started thinking too much,” Mikulak said. “I just rushed my dismount a little too much.” Mikulak defeated Dalton earlier this season when Michigan came to Norman by just three tenths of a point. (The Oklahoman)
Illinois Wins NCAA Championship, Sooners Finish Second
Illinois captures men's gymnastics championship; OU finishes runner-up: Illinois and Oklahoma represent two different and distinct styles. While the Fighting Illini focus on the high-risk, high-reward theory, the Sooners are all about low risk, but flawless execution. In the final round of the NCAA men’s gymnastics championship, it was the Illini who proved to have the better philosophy on the day. They won their first NCAA championship since 1989 by edging out the Sooners 358.85 to 357.45 Friday at Lloyd Noble Center. “I said it all along: it’s going to be the team that stays mentally and physically tough,” Illinois coach Justin Spring said. “It’s been our time for too long. Since I was a freshman we made Super Six. We’ve been a top-three team. We always had the talent. But it was the mental commitment to make those sacrifices.” (Norman Transcript)
Scores
Scores
| FX | PH | SR | V | PB | HB | Total | |
| Illinois | 60.00 | 60.75 | 59.45 | 60.10 | 59.80 | 58.75 | 358.85 |
| Oklahoma | 60.95 | 58.35 | 60.20 | 61.20 | 59.60 | 57.15 | 357.45 |
| Penn State | 59.95 | 59.00 | 60.60 | 59.55 | 57.80 | 57.90 | 354.80 |
| California | 59.70 | 60.00 | 57.90 | 59.25 | 57.80 | 58.35 | 353.00 |
| Stanford | 61.25 | 58.90 | 57.60 | 60.10 | 56.60 | 58.20 | 352.65 |
| Michigan | 59.80 | 57.10 | 57.15 | 59.40 | 59.10 | 58.50 | 351.05 |
April 20, 2012
Sooners Aid in Disaster Relief
Find shirts at on SoonerSports.com.
Men's 2012 Relief T-Shirt | Women's 2012 Relief T-Shirt | Long-Sleeve 2012 Relief T-Shirt
NCAA Denies Former Sooner Justin McCay's Request
NCAA denies McCay eligibility waiver request: The Kansas football program received some bad news on Friday, as sophomore receiver Justin McCay had his eligibility waiver request denied by the NCAA. KU plans to appeal the decision. McCay, a graduate of Bishop Miege, had appealed for a hardship waiver that would have allowed him to be immediately eligible for the 2012 season after transferring from Oklahoma in January. According to KU, the NCAA informed the school that it could not approve KU’s request for a waiver based on the guidelines the staff is required to follow. However, the NCAA recommended that KU go to the subcommittee for legislative relief for an appeal. The subcommittee is comprised of representatives from conferences and universities from around the country and has the authority to ignore certain waiver guidelines. “We are disappointed in the NCAA staff’s decision,” KU coach Charlie Weis said in a statement. (More at Kansas City Star)
Find more about Justin McCay.
Find more about Justin McCay.
April 19, 2012
OU Men's Gymnastics Team Seeks 9th National Championship
No. 1 ranked Oklahoma host NCAA Championship: Looking at No. 1 Oklahoma’s roster, the first thing you notice is the youth. Of the 18 members on the men’s gymnastics team, more than half are freshmen. Oklahoma coach Mark Williams said he may have had younger teams, but not one that features as many first-year gymnasts like the collection he has today. As the Sooners prepare to host the 2012 NCAA Championships today through Saturday at the Lloyd Noble Center, Williams is looking forward to see how that youth responds on the biggest stage. “I had a pretty young group in 2006,” Williams said, “but this is the most new guys as part of my team in the last 13 years. That makes it interesting that this will be their first national championship. Lots of things can happen with those new guys. (We) find out a lot about their character." (More at Norman Transcript)
Follow the action online with live scoring and video at SoonerSports.com.
Follow the action online with live scoring and video at SoonerSports.com.
Sherri Coale Reacts to Pat Summitt's Retirement Announcement
Tennessee's Pat Summitt announces retirement; Sherri Coale reaction: The world of women's basketball was changed forever Wednesday when Pat Summitt stepped down as coach of the University of Tennessee. OU women's basketball coach Sherri Coale — like so many others — said she was deeply touched in her life by Summitt, and the Sooner coach could not overstate Summitt's influence on her, her colleagues and her sport. "Pat (Summitt) is one of those rare individuals whose influence crosses all boundary lines,” Coale said. “Literally thousands of coaches in a vast array of sports abide by her tenets, passing them on as gospel to their players. Her name is synonymous with the sport of women's basketball, and yet, I believe it is her leadership style — her way of achieving, if you will, that will be her most dominant legacy. " Under Summitt, the Lady Volunteers won eight national championships and 1098 victories — the highest total in college basketball, men or women. (Oklahoma Daily)
April 18, 2012
Sooners DE Geneo Grissom Recovering From Another Injury
Grissom suffers another foot stress fracture: Sophomore defensive end Geneo Grissom is a potential rotation candidate but once again is battling a foot stress fracture. He redshirted his freshman year with the injury. This time it's his other foot. “He must have a little bit of a genetic defect or weakness,” said coach Bob Stoops. “We knew he had it in the winter. We were hoping just to get through spring and then fix it. We were doing some drills and it just popped on him.” A four-star recruit out of Hutchinson, Kan., Grissom appeared in six games last season. “It's just a shame,” said defensive ends coach Bobby Jack Wright. “This was a time you would think Geneo would jump forward and make a big jump. I thought he would. He had a really good winter." (The Oklahoman)
Sooners Earn Back-to-Back Big 12 Male Athletes of the Week Honors
Sooners earn their second ever back-to-back Big 12 Male Athletes of the Week: University of Oklahoma senior discus thrower Luke Bryant(Clearwater, Kan.) has been named the Big 12 Male Athlete of the Week the conference office announced this afternoon. Bryant shares the honor with Texas A&M’s Deon Lendore. Bryant is the second Sooner to be honored this year as Bill Kogel earned the honor last week. It marks the first time OU has had back-to-back Big 12 Male Athletes of the Week since Kevin Bookout and DaBryan Blanton on April 21 and April 27, 2003. Bryant was the top collegiate finisher in both competitions he competed in last week, facing stout competition from several Olympic hopefuls. Bryant finished third in the USATF sanctioned Old Style Discus Classic on April 12 in Norman with a collegiate-best throw of 203 feet. The mark is the second best in program history as he’s only the second Sooner to eclipse the 200-feet mark in the event. India’s Vikas Gowda won that event, while Russ Winger of Asics finished second. On April 14 at the John Jacobs Invitational, he finished fourth overall (202-4). Saturday’s competitors included Gowda, who won the event, Ian Waltz of the NYAC (second) and Winger who finished third. The collegiate performance gives him the top throw in the NCAA and Big 12 this year. The USATF event mark is the 19th best in the world this year and fourth best by an American. Bryant is back in action this weekend at the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif. (SoonerSports.com)
OU Football Signee Granted Medical Hardship
Sooners TE Laith Harlow granted hardship: Oklahoma Sooners tight end signee Laith Harlow's college football career is over before it could even begin. Harlow, who suffered a back injury during his senior season at Godby High School in Tallahassee, Fla., that resulted in nerve damage, was told by Oklahoma coaches on Wednesday evening they would honor his scholarship and place him on a medical hardship. Harlow had hoped to rehabilitate from his injury and play again, even if he had to redshirt in 2012. "I talked to coach [Bob] Stoops and coach [Bruce] Kittle this afternoon, and it meant a lot to hear from those guys," Harlow said. "There is no nice way of saying that your dream is being taken away." (ESPN.com)
OU Tennis Attempts to Clinch Big 12 Regular Season Title
The Sooners cemented themselves at least a share of the Big 12 regular season title after OU downed Texas Tech, 5-2, last Sunday, April 15. The Big 12 title is a first for the program and is OU's first conference title since 1992.
Oklahoma (15-3, 4-0 Big 12) has won nine straight matches that includes wins over five teams ranked in the top 30, while Oklahoma State is 7-12 on the year and 0-4 in Big 12 competition. They are coming off of a 4-3 loss to No. 27 Baylor
Following the Bedlam showdown OU travels to College Station, Texas, to compete in the Big 12 Championships from April 27-29.
Find More at SoonerSports.com
April 14, 2012
Spring Game Moved to 1:30
Red-White game moved to 1:30 due to weather: Kickoff for Oklahoma football's annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 14, has been moved up to 1:30 p.m., 30 minutes earlier than previously scheduled. Stadium gates will open at 12:00 p.m. (University PR)
SEE MORE:
OU Adjusts Saturday Schedule Due to Weather
Sooners Have Contingency Plan For Severe Weather
SEE MORE:
OU Adjusts Saturday Schedule Due to Weather
Sooners Have Contingency Plan For Severe Weather
Baseball: Sooners defeat Tigers, 6-5
Sooners notch win No. 20 this season against Missouri Tigers: OU faced the rain, the wind, a tornado and even a trio of late-inning errors. All will be remembered as part of a character-building, 6-5 victory over Missouri on Friday at L. Dale Mitchell Park. The victory lifted the Sooners to 20-14 overall and 5-8 in the Big 12 Conference and came in a game that started at 3:07 p.m., but didn’t end until nearly seven hours later. There was a 3-hour, 39-minute delay caused by the tornado that rolled over Norman earlier in the afternoon. “It was a long day,” said Sooner designated hitter Evan Mistich, who drove in three runs, including the game-tying run in the 10th inning. “It’s a lot better when it ends like this.” (Norman Transcript)
April 13, 2012
OU Adjusts Saturday Schedule Due to Weather
Per University of Oklahoma Athletics Department
SEE ALSO: OU Spring Game: Sooners Have Contingency Plan For Severe Weather
The schedule for the inaugural Big Boomer BBQ has been adjusted slightly. Saturday's festivities will now begin at 10:30 a.m. immediately north of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. At that time, live music from Banana Seat, kids' amusement rides and the OU Spring Merchandise Sale will all commence.
The Autograph Zone of the Big Boomer BBQ has been removed from Saturday's itinerary, but a free, 45-minute post-game autograph session with OU football players remains on the schedule. The autograph session will be available only to those fans who attend the game. No post-game-only access will be permitted.Find more at SoonerSports.com.
SEE ALSO: OU Spring Game: Sooners Have Contingency Plan For Severe Weather
Coach Mike Stoops Interview on KREF
Dallas City Council Approves Upgrades for Cotton Bowl Stadium
Dallas City Council OKs Cotton Bowl upgrades: The Dallas City Council voted Wednesday to spend $25.5 million to upgrade Cotton Bowl stadium, a move intended to secure the city's hold on the annual Red River Rivalry game between Oklahoma and Texas, the Bond Buyer newspaper reported. Dallas voters have approved $51.5 million for renovating the Fair Park stadium in bond elections in 1995, 2003 and 2006. The council chose to issue the debt voted on Wednesday as certificates of obligation rather than bonds, which would have required voter approval, because of time constraints. Work on the stadium can't begin until 2014, and must be completed before the State Fair of Texas opens in late September of that year, the newspaper reported. (The Oklahoman)
Find past Cotton Bowl news here.... Cotton Bowl
Find past Cotton Bowl news here.... Cotton Bowl
Stoops Changes Spring Game Scoring System
Coach Stoops changes OU's spring game scoring system: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced the scoring system, which he said he is borrowing from an old nemesis, for Saturday's Spring Game. The offense's scoring will be standard. Defense will get six points and an extra-point attempt for touchdowns, but will also get three points for fourth-down stops, missed field goals and turnovers, and will be awarded two points for sacks. “I stole the scoring system from Coach (Chris) Petersen at Boise,” Stoops said. “He and I were talking the other day about how we do it. (The Oklahoman)
April 12, 2012
OU Spring Game: Sooners Have Contingency Plan For Severe Weather
Spring game will be moved to Monday if can't be played on Saturday: With reports of possible severe weather, including talk of tornadoes, Stoops was asked about any contingency plans for Saturday's Spring Game. “You see how often those guys are wrong?” Stoops asked, referring to meteorologists. “Not to offend anybody ... If I had the same percentage they've got, I wouldn't have a job.” Stoops said if the weather does become too severe to play, the Spring Game would be canceled and the team would probably hold a private scrimmage Monday. “(We'll play) as long as it's reasonable,” Stoops said. “We're not going to endanger kids or fans if it's anything that's bad, but otherwise we'll go at it." (The Oklahoman)
