GNEXTINC.com: Oklahoma Sooners Football

Oklahoma Football Notes and Articles

Dvoracek day to day Injury: It hasn't been determined yet whether Oklahoma defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek will be able to play with an injured foot Saturday at Texas Tech. The senior injured the foot in the first half of the Texas A&M game and did not return. "It's another one of those situations in which we have to see how he does through the week," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "He has a sprain, so we need to see what he can tolerate. It will just go from day-to-day to see how much more weight and pressure he can put on it." (NewsOK.com)

Venables a candidate for KSU's head job: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops acknowledged Tuesday that defensive coordinator Brent Venables could become a candidate to replace legendary Bill Snyder at Kansas State. "Absolutely. He'd be a great fit," Stoops said. "No question." Snyder, 66, announced Tuesday that he is retiring after Saturday's game against Missouri. Several coaches have worked for Snyder in Manhattan, Kan., but Venables also played for the Wildcats and then started his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1993. Venables, a Salina, Kan., native, was KSU's linebackers coach from 1996 to 1998 and then came to Oklahoma as a co-defensive coordinator in 1999. "That's something that will be talked about and discussed," Stoops said. "Brent's an excellent coach, so if that's something that goes in a positive direction, I'm all for it." (Dallas Morning News)

Stoops defends offensive coordinator Long: Stoops was asked Tuesday if fan criticism of OU offensive coordinator Chuck Long was off-base. "To say he's not creative, I don't believe at all is being fair," Stoops said. "We (had) a 2,000-yard rusher in Quentin Griffin in the shotgun who never took a snap out of the I. We come back two years later and have a 2,000-yard freshman (Adrian Peterson) from the I who doesn't take one out of the shotgun. You know what I mean? What do you want? I could go on and on. It's just people's shortsightedness who want to pick on one game or this particular season.” Stoops, who was a teammate of Long's at Iowa, was also asked whether hiring coaches who are also friends is a slippery slope. That question drew chuckles from the Sooner coach. "I've always said I've got a lot more friends I would never hire than friends I would." Stoops said. "So, that had nothing to do with it." (NewsOK.com)

Taking a look for the past: Stoops said he recently looked at a journal of preparation for Kentucky when Leach was there and Stoops was defensive co-coordinator at Florida. "I pull it out every year and look at it," Stoops said. "A few variations and wrinkles, but, for the most part, the body of [Leach's offense] is still there. Mike knows what he's doing, and they do it over and over, and they do it on everybody. That's the beauty of what he does." Stoops added one caveat. "I'm not being cocky," he said, "but we've been pretty successful against everybody, right? So I don't know that [going 0-5] would be a knock on them." (Star-Telegram)

Cooper likely to start: Freshman Jon Cooper will probably be OU's starting center Saturday, because Chris Bush and Chris Chester are still wearing casts on their hands to protect injuries. (Dallas Morning News)

Now Oklahoma Football Columns and Articles

OU coordinator could be next for Kansas State: The Oklahoman

Venables is ready for job: The Oklahoman

Rice anonymously making a name: Oklahoma Daily

Bob's Breakdown -- Special teams is solid: Oklahoma Daily

Stoops -- Venables fits Kansas State program: Oklahoma Daily

Venables or Long?: Norman Transcript

They're No. ?: Norman Transcript

Long wanted to play it safe, Stoops didn't: Dallas Morning News

Peterson back to being Sooners' workhorse: Dallas Morning News

Red Raiders' offense looks to solve Oklahoma: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Tech-OU matchup: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal