(12/9) Sooners practice for Holiday Bowl

Oklahoma Football Notes and Articles

Sooners practice for Holiday Bowl: Rhett Bomar knows exactly how important Oklahoma's bowl practices can be for the young players on the team. A year ago, Bomar was finishing up his redshirt year, just waiting for an opportunity to play behind a Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback and an experienced backup. ``This was my whole part of the year when I actually did something,'' Bomar said Thursday. ``It kind of helped me for the spring because at the end of the season, I just sat there and learned mostly.'' Bomar got some work in as the Sooners prepared to play in the Orange Bowl, and in the spring he found himself in a quarterback competition with Paul Thompson. He eventually emerged as the starter in Week 2. Now, this year's freshmen are following in Bomar's shoes. Oklahoma (7-4) on Thursday held its first practice since learning it would play No. 6 Oregon (10-1) in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 29. ``These young guys get to jump in there these first few weeks while we're finishing up school and before we start our game plan,'' Bomar said. ``Last year, I was in that same situation - learning the offense good and just getting used to the speed. It helped me out in spring ball.'' Some of the youngest Sooners are in a different position from Bomar. Six first-year players started for the Sooners, and six others earned playing time. On the offense, receivers Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias earned starts, as did linemen Jon Cooper and Branndon Braxton. Receiver Manuel Johnson and lineman George ``Duke'' Robinson also got into games. (NCAA Football)

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