Oklahoma Sooners Football Blog: (8/26) Big Red Rally Today, OU names Thompson Starter and much more.

Oklahoma Football Notes and Articles

Big Red Rally Today:The Big Red Rally, the annual kickoff event for University of Oklahoma students, is set for Friday, Aug. 26. The gates to Gaylord Family -- Oklahoma Memorial Stadium open at 3:45 p.m. Practice that day, which is open to the public, begins at that same time on fields near the south grandstand. The practice concludes at 6:15 p.m., when the Big Red Rally begins in the stadium. Festivities include the showing of highlight videos on the stadium video board, spirit squad performances, introduction of the Boomer and Sooner Mascots, remarks from OU head coach Bob Stoops and team captains and the giveaway of a football trip to Kansas City. At 7:30 p.m., the Little Red Rally, an event aimed at children, begins on the Brooks Mall north of the stadium. That event will include a movie at 9 p.m. (SoonerSports.com)

Thompson will start for Sooners: Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops closed the preseason portion of football practice on Thursday evening with the highly anticipated announcement of a starting quarterback. Junior Paul Thompson was given the starting nod, although Stoops emphasized that redshirt-freshman Rhett Bomar will play early and often. "We decided as a staff that we are going to start Paul Thompson," said OU head coach Bob Stoops. "We feel that he has earned it to this point. The way they have both competed and been supportive of each other and the team is a real positive in the eyes of the coaching staff. "We do believe that Rhett has performed well enough and is close enough (to Thompson) that we intend to give him snaps early in games, as well as late in games.” Thompson was Jason White's backup in 2003, when the Sooner alum won the Heisman Trophy. Last season Thompson redshirted, along with Bomar, while recently departed Tommy Grady served as the backup. "I am just excited and ready to get on the field and make some plays," said Thompson, who has completed 66 percent of his career passes (31-for-47) and tossed four TDs compared to two INTs. (SoonerSports.com)

More on QB Race, from Noramn Transcript: Thompson and Bomar have battled for the position since spring practice began in March. The competition continued throughout the summer and into preseason practice. In the end, the coaching staff felt Thompson had been the more consistent performer. Offensive coordinator Chuck Long said he used eight scrimmages dating back to the spring to determine the starter. “Everything was laid out to them today and we showed them that entire body of work,” Long said. “Paul earned the right to be the starting quarterback against TCU and we’ll go from there.” In the Sooners’ three open scrimmages, Thompson was 41-for-73 for 453 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Bomar was 30-for-61 for 359 yards and two touchdowns, along with five interceptions. Thompson and Bomar were informed in separate meetings earlier in the day. The team was informed at the end of practice. The decision left the two quarterbacks in different moods. In the Sooners' three open scrimmages, Thompson was 41-for-73 for 453 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Bomar was 30-for-61 for 359 yards with two touchdowns, but also five interceptions.

Sooners miss practice: Senior center Chris Bush and sophomore defenive back Tony Cade missed practice Thursday, but neither is injured. Bush had family business to attend to and Cade apparently had car troubles in Moore. "Hopefully it's OK, and he got it towed home," Stoops said with a laugh. (NEWSOK.com)

Texas Monthly Cover: A smile crept across coach Bob Stoops' face Thursday when he was shown the cover of the latest Texas Monthly magazine, which features Texas coach Mack Brown and a headline that says, "Let's go kick some O.U. butt." "You're not going to get me to comment on a magazine cover," Stoops said. "Well, we'll get off the bus." (Dallas Morning News)

Limited number OU-TCU tickets available: The University of Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office has received a limited number of returns from TCU for the Sept. 3 season opener. Tickets will be available to the public online at SoonerSports.com beginning at 5 p.m., on Friday, August 26. Tickets are $52.00 each and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. If tickets remain on Monday, they will be available in-person at the Asp Avenue Ticket Office and over the phone at (405) 325-2424 or (800) 456-GoOU beginning at 8 a.m. For tickets and more log on to www.SoonerSports.com

Hawkins says Stoops crossed the line: Former Sooner Micheal Hawkins, trying to make the Green Bay Packers despite playing only one college football season, put Mike Stoops in a bad light. Hawkins told the Dallas Morning News that one reason he left OU after the 2002 season was because Mike Stoops, then the Sooner defensive coordinator and now Arizona's head coach, got too personal. Hawkins said Stoops once told him "I'm going to go back to Dallas and be like my mom," whom Hawkins admits has been a drug addict. Stoops, a fiery and demanding coach, denied the charge and said such a comment was inappropriate. But Hawkins told the Morning News, "When you cross boundaries, when you say certain things, then that's when I'm going to get into you, coach or no coach," Hawkins said. "You don't respect me, I don't respect you." (NEWSOK.com)

Johnson Recovering from heat: True freshman receiver Manuel Johnson, who passed out due to heat related symptoms at the conclusion of Wednesday's practice, attended part of Thursday's practice and is in good health. Johnson stayed in the hospital overnight Wednesday for precautionary reasons. An ambulance was sent to Owen Field Wednesday after Johnson was carted off the game field by team trainers, but Johnson did not leave in the ambulance. "He was fine and good last night," said Stoops. "They kept him up there, just precautionary reasons. I spoke with him. He sounded like he always does." Johnson did not participate in any drills Thursday. (NEWSOK.com)

OU names Thompson starting quarterback: The Oklahoman

The decision isn't final word -- For QBs, the show must go on: The Oklahoman

Bomar just waiting for a chance: The Oklahoman

It will start with Wilson & Rankins: Norman Transcript

Oklahoma Daily: Oklahoma daily

Sooners name starting QB: Dallas Morning News

Thompson wins Sooners' QB battle: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram