June 29, 2013

Defensive Lineman Chuka Ndulue Arrested on DUI Charge

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Oklahoma junior defensive lineman Chuka Ndulue was arrested early Saturday morning on a complaint of driving under the influence, according to OU Police Lt. Bruce Chan.

Campus police pulled Ndulue over around 2:46 a.m. at the intersection of E. Lindsey Street and McKinley Avenue, Chan said.

June 28, 2013

Track and Field: Bennett Named a Capital One Academic All-American

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Senior Jacy Bennett became OU's latest first-team Capital One Academic All-America, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), honoree on Thursday. For Bennett, it was the second consecutive year to earn the award as she was named to the third team in 2012.

The Academic All-America honor recognizes the nation's top-student-athletes for their combined performances athletically and in the classroom.

Orlando Magic Draft Romero Osby in 2nd Round

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Former University of Oklahoma men's basketball player Romero Osby was selected by the Orlando Magic in the second round of Thursday night's NBA Draft held in Brooklyn, N.Y. Osby was the No. 51 overall pick and became the fourth Sooner in the last five years to be drafted.

Osby, who led OU to a 20-12 record this past season and to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, was the Sooners' first first-team All-Big 12 selection since Blake Griffin the same year. The forward from Meridian, Miss., led head coach Lon Kruger's squad in scoring (16.0 ppg), rebounding (7.0 rpg), blocked shots (0.8 bpg) and field goal percentage (.526) this season, while also averaging 1.3 assists in 28.7 minutes a game. Projected to 40 minutes a contest, Osby averaged 22.2 points and 9.8 rebounds.

June 27, 2013

Baseball: Oklahoma Hires Pete Hughes as Head Coach

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Proven winner, master motivator, tireless recruiter and charismatic leader - it was those qualities that led the University of Oklahoma to name Pete Hughes as the ninth head baseball coach in program history. Joe Castiglione, vice president and director of athletics, made the announcement today.

Twice named both the New England Coach of the Year and the BIG EAST Coach of the Year, as well as the 2000 American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year, Hughes owns a well-deserved reputation for setting new standards of excellence at every stop during his 17-year coaching career.

Oklahoma Finishes Seventh in Learfield Directors' Cup Standings

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The University of Oklahoma earned its best showing ever in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup by finishing seventh for the 2012-13 academic year with a score of 1,078.25 points. The mark surpasses the previous record of a 10th-place finish in the 2010-11 Learfield Sports Directors' Cup. The Sooners have now placed in the top 15 for four consecutive years.

The Directors' Cup is presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA), Learfield Sports and USA Today to the best overall collegiate athletics programs in the country.

June 26, 2013

Softball: OU Coaches Named National Staff of the Year

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With a national title in hand, the Oklahoma softball coaching staff has been selected by the National Fastpitch Association as the 2013 NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year, it was announced Wednesday.

Head coach Patty Gasso, associate head coach Melyssa Lombardi, assistant coach Tripp MacKay and director of operations Sharon Bell took home the honor after guiding the Sooners to a 57-4 record and the second national championship in program history.

Gasso’s staff, which included Lombardi, was also tabbed the nation’s best in 2000 after the Sooners won the first national title in school history.

June 25, 2013

Former Sooner Lane Johnson Earns High Praise From Eagles

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Eagles new offensive coordinator and coaching prodigal son Pat Shurmur recently sat down with members of the media to give his thoughts on the progress of the offense as we head into the dead period of the NFL calendar.

He had a lot to say about a bunch of different players, but we'll start with with first round pick and former Oklahoma lineman Lane Johnson.

Keilani Ricketts Named Top Female Collegiate Athlete

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Keilani Ricketts capped her remarkable career at the University of Oklahoma on Monday night as she was named the winner of the 2013 Honda Cup, given to the nation's top female collegiate athlete by the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards.

“I would like to thank Honda for sponsoring and for the CWSA to appreciate us as collegiate athletes,” Ricketts said. “We really do feel appreciated. I’ve had a blast so far. Congratulations to all of the recipients because all of them have had amazing seasons. It’s awesome to be able to experience this with them.

"My teammates helped me stay determined. Winning the Honda Cup has been great to represent my school and my state. I wouldn’t be here without the people of Oklahoma. They have motivated me to be prideful to use softball to represent them well.”

June 24, 2013

Keilani Ricketts Wins Honda Sports Award for Softball

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Keilani Ricketts added to her already stellar resume on June 13 by winning the Honda Sports Award for softball for the second year in a row. Now, Ricketts vies to win the Honda Cup tonight at 7 p.m. CT on ESPNU.

The award is the top honor given out by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards and goes to the nation's top female collegiate athlete. Monday night's ceremony will take place at the USC Galen Center Founders Room in Los Angeles.

The 12 Honda Sports Award finalists from around the nation will be joined by the NCAA Div. II and Div. III Collegiate Women Athletes of the Year, and the 2013 Honda Inspiration Award winner for the hour-long live telecast on ESPNU.

Suspect Charged in Stoops Home Burglary

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Corey McCarty has been charged with burglary in the first degree, possession of stolen property, unlawful use of a credit card gran larceny of an automobile in connection to the burglary of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops' home the morning of June 22, according to a probable cause affidavit.

No information has been given about the second suspect in custody because of the person's juvenile status.

June 23, 2013

Track and Field: Coach Smith Departs OU for ISU

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ISU lured Martin Smith, one of the nation’s most accomplished coaches, away from conference foe Oklahoma. The 61-year-old Smith will oversee the ISU men’s and women’s cross-country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field teams.

“He has been as successful as any coach in the country, managing and overseeing combined programs,” Pollard said Saturday night. “I worked with him at Wisconsin. There’s not a person that will recruit harder in this sport.

June 22, 2013

June 21, 2013

Photos: Adrian Peterson Unveils New Nike Shoe

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In March, former Oklahoma and current Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson signed a shoe endorsement with Nike. This past week, Peterson unveiled his new shoe (non-cleat) at Mall of America in-front an audience of high school athletes.

Close up of Adrian Peterson's new shoe

AD holding his newly unveiled shoe.

Golf: Tanguay Keeps Rolling in WAPL in Norman

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Only eight competitors remain at the 156-player U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, and OU's Anne-Catherine Tanguay is one of them. Tanguay won a pair of matches Thursday at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman to reach the quarterfinals, which begin Friday.

Sooner teammate Chirapat Jao-Javanil beat Robynn Ree of Redondo Beach, Calif., 4 and 3 in Thursday morning's round of 32, but lost 2 and 1 to Raychelle Santos of La Quinta, Calif., in the afternoon's round of 16.

Tanguay will meet USC's Doris Chen in a battle of third-team All-Americans Friday morning at 7:50. Chen shot a two-round 136 (-8) Monday and Tuesday in stroke play qualifying, tied for the lowest score in the field. The winner of the match will move on to the 12:30 p.m. semifinals against either Karen Chung of Livingston, N.J., or Julie Yang of Stillwater, Okla. Yang attends Oklahoma State University.

Tanguay, from Quebec City, Quebec, won handily in her morning match over Chaewon Park of San Pedro, Calif. The rising OU senior never trailed and took the lead for good on the eighth hole en route to a 5 and 3 victory. She only lost two of the 15 holes played.

Former Oklahoma Defensive End Ronnell Lewis Seeks "Favorable Resolution" to Court Case

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Former Oklahoma and current Detroit Lions defensive end Ronnell Lewis had his arraignment on three misdemeanor charges continued until July during a court appearance on Wednesday.

A bar fight in April left Lewis and the person he allegedly punched both charged with disturbing the peace, public intoxication and interference with an official process.

June 20, 2013

34 Sooners Named to Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team

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Thirty-four University of Oklahoma student-athletes have been named to the inaugural Academic All-Big 12 Rookie Team, the conference announced today.

The team, which totals 383 Big 12 student-athletes, honors conference competitors who were new, incoming freshman at their respective institutions during the 2012-13 season. Student-athletes must have participated in at least one competition this year and earned at least a 3.00 GPA.

Track and Field: Eight Sooners at USA Championships

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Members of the Oklahoma track & field team will compete this weekend at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Drake Stadium this weekend, June 20-23 for the right to represent the United States in international meets later this year.

In the senior division, Sooner Tia Brooks will compete in the women's shot put on Saturday. Brooks is coming off back-to-back national championships in both the indoor and the outdoor shot put. In 2012, Brooks qualified for the London Olympics where she finished 19th.

Also in the senior division, the men's 1,500 meters will see a trio of OU runners, including Patrick Casey, Frezer Legesse and Riley Masters.

Former OU Running Back De'Mond Parker Accused of Drug-Trafficking

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A former University of Oklahoma and Booker T. Washington High School running back was arrested Wednesday night on drug-trafficking allegations.

De’Mond Keith Parker, 36, is being held in the Tulsa Jail on complaints of trafficking crack base and possession of marijuana.

June 19, 2013

UPDATED: Bob Stoops' Home Hit By Burglars

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The home of University of Oklahoma football head coach, Bob Stoops, was hit by burglars early Wednesday morning at the family's north Norman residence, according to a local television report.

The Stoops' residence was occupied by family members at the time.

The burglars made off with several items including a vehicle belonging to Stoops'. No word if any suspects have been caught.  

UPDATED at 2:37 a.m.

The burglary was reported about 8:30 a.m., but it is thought to have occurred between 3:30 and 4:10 a.m., Lehenbauer said.

Several members of the Stoops family were home during the burglary, but no one was hurt, Norman police Lt. Eric Lehenbauer said.

Police did not release the names of who was home at the time of the burglary. (The Oklahoman)

UPDATED: 4:01 p.m

The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department released this statement: "Coach Stoops and Carol appreciate the concern expressed for their family and appreciate the efforts of local authorities who are handling this matter."  /// PR

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Ryan Broyles Expects to be Ready for Week 1

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Former Oklahoma and current Detroit Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles is giving Adrian Peterson a run for his money in advancing the anterior cruciate ligament recovery timetable.

Just more than a year removed from tearing his left ACL at Oklahoma, Broyles underwent right ACL surgery in December. Not long after the latter injury, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew predicted Broyles would be limited in training camp and unreliable until the middle of the 2013 season.

Broyles already has shattered Mayhew's expectations, returning to full participation in last week's mandatory minicamp.

Tia Brooks Named The Bowerman Semifinalist

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University of Oklahoma senior Tia Brooks has been named a The Bowerman Award semifinalist for the second-straight season, The Bowerman Watch List Committee announced Tuesday.

The 2012 Olympian is one of 10 nominees for the award, which is presented annually by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) to the most outstanding male and female collegiate track & field athletes in the nation. Brooks was also a semifinalist for the award in 2012.

2013 Oklahoma Sooners Football Schedule

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2013 University of Oklahoma Football Schedule


Date Game Location Time (CT) Media
8/31 Louisana-Monroe Norman 6:00 PPV
9/7 West Virginia Norman 6:00 FOX
9/14 Tulsa Norman 11:00 ABC, ESPN
or ESPN2
9/28 Notre Dame South Bend, Indiana 2:30 NBC
10/5 TCU Norman TBA TBA
10/12 Texas Dallas, Texas TBA TBA
10/19 Kansas Lawrence, Kansas TBA TBA
10/26 Texas Tech Norman TBA TBA
11/7 Baylor Waco, Texas 6:30 FOX Sports1
11/16 Iowa State Norman TBA TBA
11/23 Kansas State Manhatten, Kansas TBA TBA
12/7 Oklahoma State Stillwater, Oklahoma TBA TBA

Subject to change

Golf: Three Sooners Advance to WAPL Match Play

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All three members of the University of Oklahoma women's golf team who are competing in this week's U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship (WAPL) have advanced to the match play portion of the tournament after finishing in the top 64 through two rounds of stroke play at the Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club in Norman.

Sooner All-Americans Anne-Catherine Tanguay and Chirapat Jao-Javanil tied for seventh and 17th place, respectively, out of 156 competitors, while Taylor Schmidt tied for 51st. Tanguay finished with a two-round 144 (E), Jao-Javanil shot a 3-over 147 and Taylor Schmidt carded an 8-over 152.

USC golfers Doris Chen and Annie Park each shot a 68 (-4) for the second straight day on Tuesday to share first-place honors at 8 under par.

The round-of-64 matches will begin Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. Jao-Javanil will start at 8:57 a.m. against Madison Opfer (151) of Plant City, Fla. Schmidt will meet Grace Na (145) of Alameda, Calif., starting at 10:36 a.m. Tanguay will square off against Chonlada Chayanun (152) of Thailand at 11:30 a.m.

June 14, 2013

GOLLOWAY BAILS OUT; Sunny Accepts Auburn Job

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Sunny Golloway was announced as Auburn's coach Friday night, ending his nearly nine-year run at Oklahoma.

“I'm really excited about this opportunity because I've always held the Auburn baseball program in very high regard,” Golloway said in a release. “The history of the Auburn program was a huge factor in making this decision.”

Auburn has appeared in four College World Series without a title. Oklahoma has appeared in the CWS 10 times, winning twice.

Softball: Three Sooners Will Represent Team USA

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No school will be more represented this summer on the 2013 USA Softball Women’s National Team than Oklahoma as Lauren Chamberlain, Destinee Martinez and Keilani Ricketts were all selected for the squad.

The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America and USA Softball announced the 18-player squad on Friday after a three-day selection camp earlier in the week.

The National Team will take part in three competitions this summer, beginning with the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, July 11-14.

June 13, 2013

Former Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray Says Hamstring is Better

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After sitting out most of the offseason with a hamstring injury, running back DeMarco Murray has declared himself ready to go as the Dallas Cowboys finished up minicamp Thursday.

Murray missed the first few organized team activities in May because of a slightly strained hamstring, but he's been getting more reps during the Cowboys' mandatory minicamp this week.

Rockies Sign Pitcher Jonathan Gray

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Jonathan Gray, selected third overall last week out of Oklahoma, arrived in Denver on Tuesday and the sides completed the contract a day later. He attended a news conference at the ballpark before Colorado played the Washington Nationals, shook hands with star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and in the middle of the third inning was introduced to the crowd on the video board, answering a rousing welcome with a smile and a wave.

“Pretty crazy,” Gray said. “It still hasn't hit me yet.”

June 12, 2013

Softball: Tennessee Impressed by Oklahoma Fans and Hospitality

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This week, Tennessee co-coach Ralph Weekly and his National Player of the Year finalist, Raven Chavanne, praised Oklahoma fans for their class and sportsmanship.

Weekly has coached a lot of games against a lot of opponents. In fact, he's won a lot (13 gold medals in international play) and lost a lot (His Lady Vols have been runner-up or the third-place finisher in five of the last six WCWS). Then last week, Tennessee's dreams of winning a national title were crushed when Oklahoma swept the finals.

Oklahoma Athletics Score High in APR

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The NCAA released 2011-12 Academic Progress Rate results for member institutions on Tuesday. The University of Oklahoma once again ranked among the top schools in the nation in terms of academic performance.

The APR scale serves as a real-time measure of student-athlete academic progress, retention and timely graduation of all NCAA Division I institutions. All sport programs at OU earned a multi-year (four-year average) APR score above the minimum 930 after the 2011-12 academic year.

The OU women's indoor and outdoor track programs earned a perfect 1,000 multi-year APR, an achievement that puts those programs among the top 10 percent nationally.

June 11, 2013

Softball: Michelle Gascoigne Reaches Deal with Chicago Bandits

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Oklahoma pitcher Michelle Gascoigne has signed a contract with the Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League, it was announced Saturday. Her signing marks the second in as many days for an OU senior as catcher Jessica Shults agreed to terms with the USSSA Pride on Friday.

"I'm excited to join the Bandits family," Gascoigne said. "It's a great organization, and I am thankful to be a part of it. I look forward to contributing to this great pitching staff."

Softball: Brianna Turang Signs with Akron Racers

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Brianna Turang became the third member of Oklahoma’s senior class to join the National Pro Fastpitch ranks this week as she agreed to terms with the Akron Racers, it was announced Tuesday.

Turang joins Jessica Shults and Michelle Gascoigne in signing a deal with an NPF team as Shults recently became a member of the USSSA Pride and Gascoigne debuted with the Chicago Bandits. The fourth member of OU’s senior class, Keilani Ricketts, is currently in Oklahoma City as she takes part in the 2013 USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp.

“I couldn’t be more excited to play for the Racers and I am eager to get to Akron as soon as possible to begin my career as a pro,” Turang said.

Texas Coach Mack Brown Applauds Bob Stoops For Taking Up for Big 12

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Last month, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops pointed to Southeastern Conference “propaganda” and suggested the bottom half of the SEC hadn’t done much to justify the league’s lofty image.

At Texas, Mack Brown has Stoops’ back.

“Obviously, the SEC has won a lot of championships and gained the recognition that they have gotten,” Brown said. “I don’t think the Big 12 has gotten proper recognition for all we’ve accomplished in this league. I applaud Bob for standing up and taking up for our league. I think our league needs more and better attention.”

June 10, 2013

Sam Bradford to Improve Passing Game at "Camp Bradford" in Oklahoma

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For Rams veterans, next week marks the end of the spring practice period with the players getting a nice, long break before the start of training camp in late July.

But for the skill position players, particularly the wide receivers and tight ends, they’re not totally off the hook. Once again, they will be asked to participate in “Camp Bradford” at the request of quarterback Sam Bradford. These are informal workouts run by Bradford back home in Oklahoma.

OU Catcher Jessica Shults Signs With USSSA Pride

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Days after helping the Oklahoma softball team win the second national championship in program history, senior catcher Jessica Shults has chosen to continue her professional softball career by signing a two-year contract with the USSSA Pride of the National Pro Fastpitch League.

A native of Valencia, Calif., Shults was drafted with the first pick of the second round (fifth overall) in the 2013 NPF Draft on April 1 by the Pride.

"USSSA is not only getting a national champion in Jessica Shults, but they are getting a phenomenal leader, a great person and someone who can be a face for their program," Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso said.

Tennis: Sooners Named All-Americans

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University of Oklahoma women’s tennis juniors Hermon Brhane and Whitney Ritchie were named All-Americans by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA).

Brhane and Ritchie finished the 2013 season as the ninth-ranked doubles team and reached the round of 16 at the NCAA Doubles Championship in May.

Ex-OU Star Mookie Blaylock Out of Hospital, In Jail

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Former University of Oklahoma and NBA All-Star Daron "Mookie" Blaylock is out of the hospital and in jail, charged with vehicular homicide in a car crash south of Atlanta.

Blaylock is also charged with driving on a suspended license, making an improper lane change and crossing the median in the head-on crash that killed a 43-year-old woman in Jonesboro on May 31. Blaylock surrendered Monday and is being held without bond.

Report: OU Football Signee Cody Thomas Won't Sign MLB Contract

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Oklahoma quarterback signee Cody Thomas, who was selected in the 30th round of last week’s MLB Draft by the New York Yankees, won’t sign a professional contract, a source close to Thomas confirmed to The Oklahoman.

Thomas, a two-sport standout at Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High School, had been considered a top MLB prospect. Entering the draft, Baseball America ranked him as the draft’s 165th-best prospect, which would’ve placed him in the fifth round.

OU Soccer Releases 2013 Schedule

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Head coach Matt Potter and University of Oklahoma Vice President/Athletics Director Joe Castiglione announced the 2013 soccer schedule.

The Sooners' 2013 slate includes eight contests against teams that qualified for the NCAA Tournament last season, including road games against Final Four competitor Florida State (20-4) and Elite Eight contender BYU (20-2-2). Other opponents from last season's championship include Baylor (19-1-5), Florida (19-5-1), North Texas (16-5-2), Tennessee (14-5-3), Texas Tech (16-6-1) and West Virginia (11-5-4).

Softball: Sooners Celebrate National Championship with Fans

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The Oklahoma softball team joined fans in celebration of its second national championship Friday night at Marita Hynes Field.

A standing-room only crowd came out to see the Sooners one last time and were treated to a highlight video, fireworks and the unveiling of the 2013 National Champions banner on the left-centerfield wall.

"I'm here, just like of all you, honored to join in the celebration of one of the best -- if not the very best team -- in college softball history," Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione said in welcoming the crowd. "It truly is a team for the ages."

June 9, 2013

OU's Tia Brooks Crowned Shot Put National Champion

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Redshirt senior Tia Brooks wrapped up a dominating OU career as she repeated as the shot put national champion Saturday at the 2013 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.

Brooks, who also won both the indoor and outdoor titles last season and the indoor national title again this year, recorded a 62-0.5 on her final attempt of the competitions to win the event by nearly four feet. Her dominance in the shot put was apparent as her first attempt of the competition, 59-0.75, would have won by nearly six inches.

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