GNEXTINC.com: Oklahoma Sooners Football

Board approves Cotton Bowl negotiations: The Oklahoma board of regents gave school officials permission Wednesday to begin contract negotiations with Cotton Bowl officials about keeping the Sooners' annual game against Texas in Dallas. The board of regents' decision was somewhat of a formality. For months, OU officials have expressed their desire to keep the game in Dallas. But athletic director Joe Castiglione said he can now enter into what he called "serious dialogue" about lengthening the current contract beyond 2008. Texas and OU can opt out of the current deal after the 2007 season. "It will take some time," Castiglione said. "We're not ready to peg a specific timetable to those negotiations." Both schools have pressed the city of Dallas to renovate the aging stadium. City officials have proposed a $50 million renovation that would push capacity beyond 90,000. Those improvements are tied to a major bond package that could go before voters in the fall. (Dallas Morning News)

Sooners in Senior Bowl: Four Oklahoma Sooners are set to play in this weekend's Senior Bowl at Mobile, Ala. Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, linebacker Clint Ingram, offensive lineman Davin Joseph and receiver Travis Wilson are all members of the North roster, which will be coached by the Tennessee Titans' staff. The game kicks off at 3 p.m., Saturday, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. It will be televised by ESPN. The Senior Bowl players will have one practice session per day during the week - January 23-27 -- capped off by the 57th annual Senior Bowl game on Saturday, January 28. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. and the contest will be nationally-televised by ESPN. The contest is also a complete sellout in 40,646-seat Ladd-Peebles Stadium. ESPN and the NFL Network are also televising Senior Bowl practices this year with over 11 hours of coverage during the week. Remaining ESPN practice telecasts will air from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday of the week, while remaining NFL Network shows will air from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, as well as a 30-minute wrap-up show later that evening. The Senior Bowl is the nation's premier pre-draft showcase, annually featuring the top senior NFL draft prospects on teams coached by the entire coaching staffs of two National Football League teams. (SoonerSports Release)

OU closer to negotiating Cotton Bowl accord: The Oklahoman

Improved special teams could help change Sooners' fortunes in '06: The Oklahoman