(8/18) Another Scrimmage? Poll shows most prefer new Radio Voice.. and more.

Oklahoma Sooner's Notes and Articles

Another Scrimmage Next Week? Indeed, Wednesday’s scrimmage at Owen Field, the alleged last scrimmage of the preseason until OU coach Bob Stoops announced moments after its conclusion they might do it again the next Wednesday — you know, maybe 50 or 60 plays; might even let the fans come back — told us next to nothing about the state of Sooner football. (Norman Transcript)

According to poll fans favor a new radio voice: The readers have spoken, and by a huge majority, they would prefer a new radio voice for the University of Oklahoma. Of 167 people who responded to a request for their opinion on whether Bob Barry Sr. should continue as the voice of the OU football and basketball teams, 69 percent (115) said they thought Barry should retire. The remaining 31 percent (52) said he should continue in that role. Among possible replacements for Barry mentioned by readers were Chuck Cooperstein, Mark Rodgers, Brian Brinkley, Bob Barry Jr. and Bob Carpenter. OU athletic director Joe Castiglione, citing Barry's long service to the university and strong following, said Barry had a right to determine the timing of when to retire. OU President David Boren, who sources said overturned Castiglione's decision to replace Barry after the 2000 season, is hospitalized from back surgery and could not be reached. (NewsOK.com)

Long getting the feel of the Game: OU offensive coordinator Chuck Long has always called plays from the pressbox and figures to do so again this year. However, Long is a hands-on coach and he places plenty of emphasis on what he calls the "feel of the game." With two inexperienced quarterback candidates, Long was asked if he might move down to the field in order to better communicate and read the QBs. "I prefer to be in the box, but we do have some new and young quarterbacks, and I want to see how they handle things," Long said. "I'll probably start the season off in the box, but that doesn't mean if I feel like I need to come down at some point just to get around them more -- because they're new to this -- I will do that. I'd prefer to be up top, but I'll think of those guys first." (NewsOK.com)

Long on Quarterbacks, and timetable: (Chuck) Long said a big part of the quarterbacks' grades would be based on their ability to handle the defensive pressure in the scrimmage "Sometimes as a young quarterback, if you get sacked, you feel like you've got to make a play the next time when actually you've got to take what they give you," Long said. Long said Thompson's maturity showed in his willingness to dump the ball off instead of forcing a risky pass. However, he did have some criticism. "A couple times, we want to get that go route up or that bomb, and we need to hit that as well," Long said. Long said Oklahoma's goal is to have a quarterback chosen before the season opener against Texas Christian on Sept. 3, and preferably 10 days ahead of time. However, he said he was still open to entering the season with both quarterbacks still in the mix. (SoonerSports.com)

Thompson, Bomar have little time to throw on Sooner defense: The Oklahoman

No. 1 question for Sooners is in the backfield: The Oklahoman

Cotton Bowl or bust? Game not in flux yet: The Oklahoman

Not so fast: Norman Transcript