(8/17) Final open scrimmage, practice, Keith update, Cotton Bowl and more.

Oklahoma Sooner's Notes and Articles

Sooner practice again indoors: The Oklahoma football team held its third consecutive practice inside the Everest Training Center east of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Tuesday evening. OU held both morning and evening sessions on Monday in the facility. Intermittent rain in the Norman area prompted the move inside from the rugby fields. The Sooners worked on a number of aspects and finished in its two-minute drill. In addition, Oklahoma practiced several special teams situations including punt coverage and kick-offs. Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops was extremely pleased with the OU defense following practice. (SoonerSports.com)

Red River Shootout home and home series? The issue surfaced last week when both schools announced a new sponsorship agreement with SBC Communications Inc. for their annual October clash, a State Fair staple since 1929. The length of the contract with SBC – three years – coincides with a clause Texas and OU have to opt out of their agreement with the city of Dallas to play at Fair Park. The deal runs through the 2008 game but with a chance to opt out after the 2007 game. "The decision whether to opt out after the 2007 game would probably need to be made about a year in advance," Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said. Oklahoma athletic director "Joe Castiglione and I are having conversations with our staffs about it and trying to decide where Dallas is with our game and what the Cotton Bowl stadium is going to look like in 2008." Several factors will determine whether Texas-OU remains a tradition at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair. Foremost is whether the 75-year-old stadium will be improved. No interest in Arlington Mr. Dodds has said that if improvements aren't made to the Cotton Bowl, he would favor going to a home-and-home series. Mr. Dodds said he wouldn't favor moving the game to the Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington – expected to be ready for the 2009 season – because the State Fair is the basis of the game's tradition and the reason for playing it in Dallas. Robert Black, a spokesman for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, said the governor would leave the decision up to school and Dallas officials. "Wherever the game is, the governor believes the great rivalry that has been going on for almost 80 years will continue," Mr. Black said. (In part from Dallas Morning News)

Lofton moves to 1st team: Freshman linebacker Curtis Lofton spent most of Tuesday’s practice working with the first team. Lofton was at middle linebacker while Zach Latimer rested some nagging injuries. It’s clear the blue chip recruit from Kingfisher has made a favorable impression. “He looked really good. He’s a guy that has a natural feel in there. You always say linebackers that you have to tell too much what to do usually struggle,” Stoops said. “He’s one of those guys that you just have to get him lined up. After that, you don’t have to tell him a whole lot. He feels the game and executes. He has a chance to be a really good player.” Lofton and fellow freshman Ryan Reynolds have already moved up to second-team linebacker spots and co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables expects both to play. (Norman Transcipt)

Injury updates: Sophomore linebacker Demarrio Pleasant has returned to practice, several days after suffering a compound fracture of a finger on his left hand. Pleasant went through the workout wearing a cast. Sophomore cornerback Marcus Walker was withheld from most drills Tuesday. Coach Bob Stoops said he "tweaked" his left shoulder, which had been dislocated earlier in camp, on Monday. Freshman receiver Malcolm Kelly was in pads but didn't participate in the majority of workout drills. Kelly continues to nurse a hamstring injury. (NewsOK.com)

Brandon Keith Update: The door may not have closed on AWOL offensive lineman Brandon Keith's OU career. Co-offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Keith, who left camp after two practices and hasn't been back, might still return. Wilson, who coaches the offensive line, said his contact with Keith has been indirect. But he said he's hopeful the lineman will return. "I think he's just trying to work through some things I guess he's dealing with," Wilson said. "Is he going to stay or not? We're hoping he does. We're trying to make it work. "But all we can do is communicate to his family or (through) leaving him messages: 'Hey, we'd like to see you stay here and have success off the field, and we think you can have success as a player.' " (NEWSOK.com)

Final open scrimmage and practice today: The Sooners will conduct the third and final scrimmage of the preseason on Wednesday at the stadium. Practice is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. with the team moving to Owen Field at approximately 6 p.m. The scrimmage will mark the Sooners' final practice of the season that will be open to the public. "I want us to continue to make strides and hopefully eliminate some of the foolish penalties in tomorrow's scrimmage," Stoops said. "I want to see guys excecute on both sides of the ball and see who is going to make plays." (SoonerSports.com)

Gutierrez makes up for hieight with heart: The Oklahoman

Focus remains behind center: Norman Transcript

Record freshman season increases expectations for Peterson: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Stoops, Sooners more than rebuilding: SoonerSports.com