(8/31) 27 Freshmen and Soph. on 1st and 2nd team, Bomar to have snaps in first half and more.

Oklahoma Football Notes and Articles

27 Freshmen and Sophomores listed on first and second teams: As kickoff approaches -- OU hosts TCU at 11 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field -- 27 freshmen or sophomores are listed on the first or second teams. And that has prompted many to downgrade expectations for the Sooners a notch, from elite to something like "very good." Which, in turn, has prompted coach Bob Stoops to find a favorable comparison. In 2000, Stoops has noted over and again, 23 freshmen or sophomores inhabited OU's depth chart. And we all know how that season turned out. "I think it's very similar to then,"Stoops said. “Our guys are capable just like then. Hopefully, they'll play like those guys did." Tuesday, Stoops was asked which true freshmen would play this season. He started listing players. And kept going. "Reggie Smith, Nic Harris, Curtis Lofton, Ryan Reynolds," he said. "Offensively, Malcolm Kelly, Manuel Johnson, Juaquin Iglesias. Matt Clapp, possibly. In all likelihood, Duke Robinson, Branndon Braxton. Jon Cooper, in all likelihood. "In what capacity? We'll see. But all those guys are coming in ready to play at some point.” (NewsOK.com)

Players and Coaches on TCU: Oklahoma coaches and players met with the media on Tuesday at the weekly football press conference in Norman. The Sooners kick off the 2005 season against the TCU Horned Frogs on Saturday at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. OU coaches & player quotes

Bomar to play 1st half: Offensive coordinator Chuck Long insists quarterback Rhett Bomar will get to play in the first half Saturday against TCU. The redshirt freshman from Grand Prairie was concerned that he would not get to play unless the score got out of hand. Junior Paul Thompson won the starting job but admits that the competition will continue. (Dallas Morning News)

Limited Tulsa tickets available: A limited number of tickets are available for OU's Sept. 10 game against Tulsa at Owen Field. The tickets are $52 each and available online at www.soonersports.com, by phone at 1-800-456-4668 or at the OU ticket office located in the Asp Avenue Parking Facility.

Jones Up to speed: RB Kejuan Jones has been practicing full speed and appears to be over a foot injury. Coach Bob Stoops said Jones will back up Adrian Peterson. (Dallas Morning News)

OU notebook: The Oklahoman

Reading the defense: OU's fate rests with D, not QB: The Oklahoman

Character counts with Thompson: Norman Transcript

Season of the question mark: Norman Transcript

Game on, University (Football Preview): Oklahoma Daily

Thompson's taking lead: Oklahoma Daily

Thompson anxious to start for Sooners: SoonerSports.com