(9/20) Stoops Moving On, Peterson's Heisman Run, and Sooner Notes
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
Sooners 'not pointing fingers' and Stoops moving on: Coach Bob Stoops said he would address the controversial finish at Oregon for the last time Tuesday at his news conference. Normally, the weekly Q&A lasts 30 minutes. But Stoops spent the first 25 minutes of a 36-minute session talking about the loss. "First, we take accountability for what we could have done that changed that game," Stoops told reporters. "Anyone who's sitting there thinking that we're just pointing fingers and not looking at ourselves, that's not true." But he went on to say, "I'm proud of a football team who was an underdog on the road against a ranked football team in a sold-out, packed stadium that you all talked about was so difficult to play [in] and put themselves in position to win. "It's undeniable that the results of the officiating mistakes changed the football game." (Dallas Morning News)
Ref former high school friend of Bellotti: David Cutaia, the Pac-10 Conference referee who called Saturday's Oklahoma game at Oregon -- and who was leader of the crew that was suspended Monday by the Pac-10 for one game for officiating errors on the field -- is a longtime associate of Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti. The Tulsa World received an anonymous fax on Tuesday offering details about their relationship, which dates back to the late 1960s at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concorde, Calif. David Cutaia is also a police chief in Martinez, Calif. Phone messages left at his office were not returned. An employee at Ygnacio Valley confirmed that Cutaia graduated from the school in 1968, and Robert Michael Bellotti graduated in 1969. "I had no idea about that," said Pac-10 associate commissioner of communications Jim Muldoon. Muldoon said the Pac-10 has no policy in place that would preclude Cutaia from presiding over the officiating crew at an Oregon game. "We don't have any rules against officials working games at their alma maters like some conferences do," Muldoon said. "We do believe in the integrity of out people.(Tulsa World)
Peterson's Heisman run: Stoops was asked what he thought of the suggestion in the national media that OU tailback Adrian Peterson has fallen in the running for the Heisman Trophy. "How can that be?" Stoops asked. "Other than that a game was taken away from us, if that's how they look at it, the fact that there's a loss in the column, then you've got to be undefeated to win the Heisman." Peterson finished with 211 rushing yards against Oregon, including 145 in the fourth quarter. He now has 515 rushing yards and six total touchdowns for the season. (NewsOK.com)
Stoops receives calls: Stoops said he's received numerous phone calls from coaches over the last few days about the Oregon finish. One came from a total stranger -- Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo -- and another from Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti. Stoops said Bellotti apologized for the way the game ended. "I'd rather be in his position," Stoops said. (Dallas Morning News)
Sooners rethink Washington visit in 2008: If the Pac-10 Conference doesn't change its policy of using its own referees for home nonconference games -- as OU president David Boren suggested Monday in a letter to the Big 12 -- then OU might cancel its 2008 game scheduled at Washington. "I think there's no question that (athletic director) Joe Castiglione and I or President Boren will, if that rule is not changed, that we may reconsider that game," coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "I think it's justified that we look into that, and that may change." The Sooners played UW in Norman on Sept. 9, and are contracted to return the game in two years. Castiglione declined comment on the possibility of canceling the game. "I know it's the heat of the moment, and while people want answers to those kinds of questions in the heat of the moment, decisions like those are better made when people can be more rational," Castiglione said during an interview prior to Stoops' comments. "Keep in mind, the University of Washington didn't do anything wrong here." The Pac-10 has a policy that all nonconference home games be officiated by Pac-10 crews. (Tulsa World)
M. Walker to start Saturday: Stoops verified Tuesday that junior Marcus Walker will start Saturday at cornerback. Walker will be the third player to start opposite Reggie Smith at cornerback. D.J. Wolfe started the first two games and Lendy Holmes started last week. "We're going to continue to work in the secondary to get better play," Stoops said. (NewsOK.com)
Peterson to get more returns: Adrian Peterson made his debut as a kick returner against Oregon. The All-American running back will continue his role on special teams Saturday against Middle Tennessee. "He just needs to see it more," Stoops said. "We need to keep getting him more practice with it. Sure, we intend to continue with it." (Norman Transcript)
Unamity sans from one Saturday: SoonerSports.com
Sooners in the Pros Week 2: SoonerSports.com
Stoops strikes right pose: Norman Transcript
Sooners read to move on: Norman Transcript
Stoops' mantra will serve him well: The Oklahoman
OU's loss to Oregon just won't go away: The Oklahoman
We're all the angles covered?: The Oklahoman
Stoops threatens pullout if policy stays: The Oklahoman
Oklahomans must be themselves and forgive: Tulsa World
Bellotti's comments: Tulsa World
Coach says he and team are through talking about Oregon flap: Tulsa World
Instant replay isn't perfect, but coaches prefer it: Dallas Morning News
Stoops says OU may cancel Pac-10 return: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
OU gotta see his rings: Murfreesboro Daily News
MTSU's Franklin to miss Oklahoma game: Murfreesboro Daily News
Sooners 'not pointing fingers' and Stoops moving on: Coach Bob Stoops said he would address the controversial finish at Oregon for the last time Tuesday at his news conference. Normally, the weekly Q&A lasts 30 minutes. But Stoops spent the first 25 minutes of a 36-minute session talking about the loss. "First, we take accountability for what we could have done that changed that game," Stoops told reporters. "Anyone who's sitting there thinking that we're just pointing fingers and not looking at ourselves, that's not true." But he went on to say, "I'm proud of a football team who was an underdog on the road against a ranked football team in a sold-out, packed stadium that you all talked about was so difficult to play [in] and put themselves in position to win. "It's undeniable that the results of the officiating mistakes changed the football game." (Dallas Morning News)
Ref former high school friend of Bellotti: David Cutaia, the Pac-10 Conference referee who called Saturday's Oklahoma game at Oregon -- and who was leader of the crew that was suspended Monday by the Pac-10 for one game for officiating errors on the field -- is a longtime associate of Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti. The Tulsa World received an anonymous fax on Tuesday offering details about their relationship, which dates back to the late 1960s at Ygnacio Valley High School in Concorde, Calif. David Cutaia is also a police chief in Martinez, Calif. Phone messages left at his office were not returned. An employee at Ygnacio Valley confirmed that Cutaia graduated from the school in 1968, and Robert Michael Bellotti graduated in 1969. "I had no idea about that," said Pac-10 associate commissioner of communications Jim Muldoon. Muldoon said the Pac-10 has no policy in place that would preclude Cutaia from presiding over the officiating crew at an Oregon game. "We don't have any rules against officials working games at their alma maters like some conferences do," Muldoon said. "We do believe in the integrity of out people.(Tulsa World)
Peterson's Heisman run: Stoops was asked what he thought of the suggestion in the national media that OU tailback Adrian Peterson has fallen in the running for the Heisman Trophy. "How can that be?" Stoops asked. "Other than that a game was taken away from us, if that's how they look at it, the fact that there's a loss in the column, then you've got to be undefeated to win the Heisman." Peterson finished with 211 rushing yards against Oregon, including 145 in the fourth quarter. He now has 515 rushing yards and six total touchdowns for the season. (NewsOK.com)
Stoops receives calls: Stoops said he's received numerous phone calls from coaches over the last few days about the Oregon finish. One came from a total stranger -- Michigan State men's basketball coach Tom Izzo -- and another from Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti. Stoops said Bellotti apologized for the way the game ended. "I'd rather be in his position," Stoops said. (Dallas Morning News)
Sooners rethink Washington visit in 2008: If the Pac-10 Conference doesn't change its policy of using its own referees for home nonconference games -- as OU president David Boren suggested Monday in a letter to the Big 12 -- then OU might cancel its 2008 game scheduled at Washington. "I think there's no question that (athletic director) Joe Castiglione and I or President Boren will, if that rule is not changed, that we may reconsider that game," coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "I think it's justified that we look into that, and that may change." The Sooners played UW in Norman on Sept. 9, and are contracted to return the game in two years. Castiglione declined comment on the possibility of canceling the game. "I know it's the heat of the moment, and while people want answers to those kinds of questions in the heat of the moment, decisions like those are better made when people can be more rational," Castiglione said during an interview prior to Stoops' comments. "Keep in mind, the University of Washington didn't do anything wrong here." The Pac-10 has a policy that all nonconference home games be officiated by Pac-10 crews. (Tulsa World)
M. Walker to start Saturday: Stoops verified Tuesday that junior Marcus Walker will start Saturday at cornerback. Walker will be the third player to start opposite Reggie Smith at cornerback. D.J. Wolfe started the first two games and Lendy Holmes started last week. "We're going to continue to work in the secondary to get better play," Stoops said. (NewsOK.com)
Peterson to get more returns: Adrian Peterson made his debut as a kick returner against Oregon. The All-American running back will continue his role on special teams Saturday against Middle Tennessee. "He just needs to see it more," Stoops said. "We need to keep getting him more practice with it. Sure, we intend to continue with it." (Norman Transcript)
Unamity sans from one Saturday: SoonerSports.com
Sooners in the Pros Week 2: SoonerSports.com
Stoops strikes right pose: Norman Transcript
Sooners read to move on: Norman Transcript
Stoops' mantra will serve him well: The Oklahoman
OU's loss to Oregon just won't go away: The Oklahoman
We're all the angles covered?: The Oklahoman
Stoops threatens pullout if policy stays: The Oklahoman
Oklahomans must be themselves and forgive: Tulsa World
Bellotti's comments: Tulsa World
Coach says he and team are through talking about Oregon flap: Tulsa World
Instant replay isn't perfect, but coaches prefer it: Dallas Morning News
Stoops says OU may cancel Pac-10 return: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
OU gotta see his rings: Murfreesboro Daily News
MTSU's Franklin to miss Oklahoma game: Murfreesboro Daily News
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