July 31, 2013

Castiglione: Upgrades to OU Facilities Are On The Way

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Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione hinted at some of those improvements at Wednesday's Sooner Caravan stop at the Cox Convention Center.

Castiglione didn't give any specifics about upgrading Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium but said improvements were on the way.

Single-Game Football Tickets on Sale at Midnight

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A limited number of single-game tickets for OU home football games go on sale Thursday, Aug. 1, the University of Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office announced today. These seats became available based on returned inventory from opposing team allotments.

Non-conference games against Louisiana-Monroe and Tulsa, as well as Big 12 contests against West Virginia, Texas Tech and Iowa State all have tickets available. The Oct. 5 matchup against TCU only has only scattered single seats remaining.

Former OU Football Commit Killed in Auto Accident

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Former Oklahoma commit Polo Manukainiu, who redshirted last year at Texas A&M and was expected to be in the Aggies’ defensive rotation, was killed in a car accident in New Mexico on Monday.

Manukainiu, who graduated from Euless (Texas) Trinity was traveling back to Texas from Utah. Gaius Vaenuku, who was set to play for Utah this fall, was also killed in the crash, as was Andrew Uhatafe. Vaenuku and Uhatafe were also from Euless.

Adrian Peterson Says He'll Break Emmitt Smith's Rushing Record in 2017

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Former Oklahoma and current Minnesota Viking running back Adrian Peterson has his sights on Emmitt Smith's NFL career rushing record and said he expects to break the mark in 2017, even circling a date on the NFL calendar as to when he'll accomplish the feat.

Peterson, 28, finished just eight yards shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record (2,105) last season, when he rushed for 2,097 yards. Peterson has said his goal is to reach 2,500 yards in 2013.

July 29, 2013

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Agree to Extend to 2020

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University of Oklahoma President David L. Boren announced that the contract of head football coach Bob Stoops will be extended through the 2020 season.

Boren will recommend that the OU Board of Regents take formal action at their September meeting.

"We took this action to express the University's deep appreciation for Bob Stoops' work," Boren said. "In my opinion, he ranks among the very best nationally in the way he combines his ability as a coach with high ethical standards. I greatly value and enjoy my association with Bob and feel extremely fortunate that at the University of Oklahoma we have the longest continuous tenure of the current head football coach, athletics director and president.

July 24, 2013

MBB: OU Announces Pre-European Tour Open Practices

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University of Oklahoma head men's basketball coach Lon Kruger announced today that his team's practices in advance of its August exhibition tour to Belgium and France will be open to the public.

Starting this Sunday (July 21), the Sooners will hold 10 practices prior to leaving for Europe on Aug. 6. Practices (schedule below) will be held in the OU men's practice gym on the southeast corner of Lloyd Noble Center. Fans should enter via the south ramp and take a right once inside.

July 23, 2013

Adrian Peterson on DeMarco Murray: 'Dallas hasn't seen the best out of him'

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Former Oklahoma and current Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was in town Friday, hosting a two-day football camp at Liberty High School.

While the 2012 NFL MVP and former Oklahoma standout answered questions about bouncing back from major knee surgery to have one of the greatest rushing seasons in NFL history, he also discussed his friend, Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, and facing the Cowboys in Week 9.

July 22, 2013

Oklahoma Receivers Saunders, Metoyer Named to 2013 Biletnikoff Award Watch List

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Oklahoma’s Jalen Saunders and Trey Metoyer landed on the watch list for the 2013 Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to college football’s best receiver.

USC junior Marqise Lee, who won the award last season, is also on the 75-man watch list, which was released Tuesday morning.

Saints Place Former OU Receiver Kenny Stills on NFI List

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The Saints have placed [former Oklahoma] wide receiver Kenny Stills and linebackers Rufus Johnson and Eric Martin on the active / non-football injury list, Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reported Saturday.

However, Saints beat writer Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported that Stills, Johnson and Martin are expected to be available to practice once training camp starts on Friday, July 26.

Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Agree to Contract

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The Philadelphia Eagles announced Saturday Lane Johnson agreed to terms on a four-year contract.

NFL.com's Albert Breer reported that Johnson's deal is worth $19.853 million, including a $12.818 million signing bonus up front, according to a source involved with the negotiations. The deal came just hours after No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan signed a contract as his Miami Dolphins teammates reported for training camp.

July 21, 2013

July 19, 2013

Oklahoma St. Picked to Win Conference, Sooners Voted Runner Up

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Oklahoma State has been picked to win its second Conference championship in the 2013 Big 12 Football Preseason Poll, voted on by media representatives who cover the Conference.

Six teams received first-place votes, but the Cowboys had the most with 15 for a total of 365 points. OSU won its inaugural Big 12 title in 2011. Eight-time league champion Oklahoma tallied eight top votes and 355 points to finish second in the preseason rankings. The Sooners and Kansas State shared the 2012 Conference title.

Running Back Damien Williams Named to Doak Walker Watch List

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Oklahoma senior Damien Williams was named to the 2013 Doak Walker Award watch list Thursday. The award is presented annually to the college football’s best running back.

Williams rushed for 946 yards and 11 touchdowns last season on 176 carries after becoming the Sooners’ primary ball carrier in the fifth game of the year.

Oklahoma Defensive Back Everett Cited After Auto Accident

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A car driven by Oklahoma senior defensive back Kass Everett collided with a motorcycle police officer Friday afternoon, sending the officer to the hospital, according to a news release from the Norman Police Department.

The collision was on Jenkins Ave. south of Brooks St., adjacent to OU’s football stadium.

July 18, 2013

Softball: Sooners Add Kelsey Stevens to Roster

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Kelsey Stevens, who recently completed her freshman season at Stanford University, has transferred to the University of Oklahoma, Sooners head coach Patty Gasso announced Tuesday. A pitcher, Stevens will have three years of eligibility remaining beginning in the spring of 2014.

“We’ve watched Kelsey since she was in high school and were impressed with her skills,” Gasso said. “She refined those skills at Stanford and was very tough against us when we faced her last season. We look forward to her joining our pitching staff.

“She will be a great addition and gives us experience in the circle, which we will need. We return a strong offense next season, and I believe that will help enable Kelsey to thrive and have great success with our program.”

July 17, 2013

Limited Number of Tickets Available for OKC Caravan Stop

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WHAT:  All University of Oklahoma fans are welcome to attend this year's final caravan stop in Oklahoma City on July 31. A limited number of tickets are still available for this event.  

WHO: Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione, Bob Stoops (football), Lon Kruger (men's basketball) and Sherri Coale (women's basketball) are currently scheduled to appear at the event along with selected student-athletes.

Aaron Colvin, Gabe Ikard on Media Preseason All-Big 12 Squad

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University of Oklahoma cornerback Aaron Colvin and center Gabe Ikard were both selected to the Media Preseason All-Big 12 Team on Wednesday. Both players are well-represented on preseason watch lists. Most notably, Colvin is on the Jim Thorpe and Lott IMPACT Award Watch Lists, while Ikard is on the Rimington Trophy Watch List.

Oklahoma's Meet the Sooners Day Set for August 3

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One of the most popular traditions surrounding the OU football program, Meet the Sooners Day, will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3, at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

This annual, free event kicks off preseason practice and gives University of Oklahoma fans a unique opportunity to interact with their favorite players and coaches.

July 11, 2013

Bosworth: OU Football Has 'lost a lot of our bite'

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Brian Bosworth will be in Tulsa on Saturday night for the premiere of his new movie “Revelation Road 2: The Sea of Glass and Fire,” an independent, faith-based film that will be shown at Starworld 20.

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After talking about the film for a Sunday Tulsa World story, Bosworth took time for a question-and-answer session regarding Oklahoma football. He spoke about his days as “The Boz” under Barry Switzer, the “loss of bite” of the current OU program and not being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame despite an All-America career at Oklahoma.

Stoops Burglary Suspect Attempts to Escape From Jail

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A juvenile suspect accused of breaking into the mansion of OU football coach Bob Stoops tried to escape from a detention center, according to deputies and court documents.

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office says the teen's girlfriend, 20-year-old Paige Nicole Maurey, orchestrated the breakout attempt. Police say Maurey recruited four juveniles to help her free the suspect from the A.J. Couch Center at 1650 W. Tecumseh Rd. in Norman.

July 10, 2013

Former Oklahoma Star Blake Griffin Says He's Not Soft

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Blake Griffin said in an interview with ESPN that he's not worried if he is being labeled as soft around the NBA and is willing to prove that he's not to his detractors in the league -- off the court.

"I've never really worried about being called soft or people thinking I'm soft," the Los Angeles Clippers' star power forward said. "If anybody wants to step and take that challenge I'm more than happy -- off the court -- because I don't want to get suspended. It's not something that I dwell on. I've never really had a problem with being soft."

Keilani Ricketts Leaves Team USA

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Keilani Ricketts, the two-time National Collegiate Player of the Year, informed the USA Softball Women’s National Team that she will not be a part of the team.

Ricketts is sitting out the World Cup due to a contractual obligation with a Japanese League softball team, although that team does not begin playing until September. Before signing with a team in Japan, Ricketts said she turned down a two-year deal to become the face of the Amateur Softball Association.

July 9, 2013

OU's Aaryn Ellenberg Scores 11 as USA Routs Mali

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Oklahoma's Aaryn Ellenberg was one of six Americans to score in double figures and Sherri Coale earned her first win as a head coach of a USA Basketball team Monday at the World University Games.

Ellenberg scored 11 points in 14 minutes as Team USA defeated Mali 120-32 in the opening round of pool play at the world's second-largest international athletics competition, hosted in Kazan, Russia.

Ellenberg made four of nine field goals, including one 3-pointer, and two free throws as the United States routed the West African country. The Sooner senior-to-be also recorded one rebound and one steal.

OU Head Coach Pete Hughes Names Baseball Coaching Staff

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Pete Hughes, who was named the University of Oklahoma baseball coach on June 27, has announced his OU coaching staff. Hughes brings in Mike Anderson, formerly the head coach at Nebraska, and retains pitching coach Jack Giese and coordinator of baseball operations Ryan Gaines.

Anderson coached the Huskers for nine seasons from 2003-11, leading them to a College World Series appearance in 2005. He owns a 337-196-2 career record and led Nebraska to a 125-116-1 record in the Big 12 Conference, including regular season championships in 2003 and 2005 as well as Big 12 Coach of the Year awards in those two seasons. The Huskers added a Big 12 Tournament Championship at the conclusion of 2005.

"Mike is one of the most accomplished head coaches in the profession," stated Hughes. "He has recruited players to teams that have gone on to Omaha. He is truly a first class human being."

July 8, 2013

Blake Bell Named to Maxwell Watch List

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Blake Bell is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the college player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club.

Bell has scored 24 touchdowns over the past two season from the “Belldozer” package but it expected to be OU’s starting quarterback this season after the graduation of Landry Jones.

Track and Field: Jim VanHootegem Named Head Coach

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Team championships, individual All-Americans, national recruiting prowess and a record of academic achievement have followed Jim VanHootegem (pronounced van-OTT-eh-ghem) at virtually every stop of his coaching career. University of Oklahoma Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Joe Castiglione named VanHootegem to lead the OU Track and Field and OU Cross Country programs Monday.

Regarded as one of the nation's most versatile track coaches, VanHootegem has been a part of 12 NCAA Division I team championships and 27 conference championships during his collegiate career. He joins the Sooners after serving as an assistant coach at Texas A&M where he played an integral role in building one of the nation's most dominant track and field programs working with head coach Pat Henry. The Aggies won seven team NCAA championships, 14 conference championships and produced 22 individual NCAA champions during his time in College Station.

July 6, 2013

OU Softball Nominated for Two ESPY Awards

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The season may have ended weeks ago, but the accolades and honors continue to roll in for the Oklahoma softball team. Just this week Keilani Ricketts won the Honda Cup, while the coaches were named the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year.

Now the Sooners will compete against the rest of the sports world with two ESPY Award nominations. Oklahoma is nominated for Best Team, while Ricketts is up for Best Female College Athlete.

The 21st annual ESPY Awards are scheduled to air live on ESPN at 8 p.m. CT on July 17 with actor Jon Hamm serving as host.

Running Back Adrian Peterson Recalls Serious Health Scare

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Adrian Peterson discovered his Kryptonite during Minnesota Vikings training camp last summer when a little shrimp buckled the ultra-tough 2012 league MVP the way no hulking defender ever has.

"I thought I was Superman until I experienced that life-changing anaphylactic shock,'' Peterson told USA TODAY Sports about his life-threatening allergic scare. "I was eating lunch and gobbled down a couple of bowls of gumbo.

"Then, 15 minutes later, I'm in my dorm room resting up. My eyes started itching and my throat was swelling up.

ESPN's Ron Jaworski Criticizes Sam Bradford's Decision Making

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Ron Jaworski has been studying 2012 game tape ahead of the 2013 season and diagnosing quarterbacks weaknesses and strengths ahead of the season. Earlier he predicted that Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill will make a big leap in 2013. Now he is criticizing former Oklahoma and current St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, or zeroing in on the area he needs to improve.

“Too many interceptions,” Jaworski said, via ESPN. “And it’s a red zone game. You can’t be a high-level quarterback if you can’t execute there.”

July 2, 2013

Jonathan Gray Named Pitcher of the Year

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Former University of Oklahoma baseball pitcher Jonathan Gray was awarded the Pitcher of the Year award from the College Baseball Hall of Fame at its Night of Champions held this past Saturday.

Gray, who is set to make his professional debut with the Grand Junction Rockies of the Pioneer League this week, was the third overall pick in the Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by Colorado in June.

REPORT: OU Baseball Hires Mike Anderson as Assistant Coach

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Mike Anderson will become assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma, under new Sooners coach Pete Hughes, according to Regis' athletic director.

"I just talked to Mike this morning," Regis AD Kelly Doherty said. "He's been hired by OU. He's a good buddy of their new coach. It's tough to turn down that job."

Texas Prospect Tay Evans Commits to Oklahoma

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Oklahoma picked up its first linebacker commit for the 2014 class Tuesday when Tay Evans of Allen, Texas, committed during a visit to Norman.

He announced his commitment on Twitter, posting “So ... just committed to the University of Oklahoma.” He followed that up with “Boomer” hashtag.


Sam Bradford Hosts Charity Event for St. Jude's Children's Hospital

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A former Sooner standout and current St. Louis Rams quarterback is back in his hometown to help raise money for children dealing with deadly diseases.

Sam Bradford stopped by the Oak Tree National in Edmond to host a charity golf event that raised money for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tenn.

Man Who Threatened OU Student-Athletes Sentenced to Prison

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An Ohio man who threatened the lives of at least two former University of Oklahoma student-athletes has been sentenced to five years in state prison and a year in Cleveland County jail.

Naasik Ferdous, who briefly attended OU before he was expelled in January 2011 after he was accused of stalking female athletes and lying on his application, has been jailed in Norman since his arrest in the fall.

July 1, 2013

Unnamed NFL Player Thinks Adrian Peterson is Juicing

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Former Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson has received all sorts of compliments, awards and honors since coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament to win the NFL MVP award and top 2,000 rushing yards with the Minnesota Vikings last year.

And Peterson added another honor when he was named the No. 1 player of the "Top 100 Players of 2013" on Thursday night.

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