(11/30) Rufus Named First Team All-American, Its Cotton or Fiesta and Oklahoma Articles
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
Alexander named First Team All-American: Wednesday, a day after being named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Alexander was named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He's the 142nd All-American in OU's history. With early issues at cornerback and defensive tackle, the Sooners didn't blitz as much defensively this season, so Alexander didn't have as many game-changing plays as he did in his previous two seasons. But he still led the team with 95 tackles going into Saturday's Big 12 championship game against Nebraska, and posted a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss. He also had a hand in six turnovers and had two quarterback sacks. "Usually, these awards go to teams that have won a lot of games," OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "We're No. 1 or No. 2 (in the Big 12) in almost all defensive categories, so I'm sure that Rufus, one of our better players, I think he reaps the rewards from the sum of everybody." (Tulsa World)
Its Cotton or Fiesta for Sooners: It's the Fiesta or Cotton Bowl for Oklahoma depending on the outcome of Saturday's title game. The Big 12 Conference announced two bowl matchups on Wednesday. The AT&T Cotton Bowl indicated its desire to host one of the Conference’s divisional champions and will select the runner-up of Saturday’s Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game to face an SEC opponent on January 1. The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl will match Texas A&M against the University of California on December 28. The winner of the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game automatically qualifies for the Bowl Championship Series, and will appear in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 1. (SoonerSports.com)
Cooper's Nebraska history: Sooner center Jon Cooper's dad, Tom Cooper, played at Missouri from 1972-75, experiencing his own rivalry with Nebraska. Growing up in Colorado, where CU is a latter-day rival of the Big Red, imposed a double dose of dislike for all things Husker on the OU sophomore. "I've kind of grown up hating Nebraska my fair share," Cooper said. "It's a pretty big deal for me." For Cooper, this week is somewhat like OU-Texas for his teammates. "A little bit, yeah," Cooper said. "My dad hated them, so he passed that on to me. And everybody from CU hated them, so I was surrounded, because nobody liked them in Colorado, certainly not in my house." "I definitely respect them, because they've won championships. Oklahoma's won championships. When I was recruited, my dad made sure to tell me how much of a good rivalry this is, especially back when they played every year." (NewsOK.com)
Stoops indifferent on Big XII title site: The forecast for Kansas City on Saturday night calls for below-freezing temperatures, making weather a factor. That could be avoided if the game were played in a domed stadium or warmer climate. "I'm kind of mixed on that," Stoops said. "You see pro teams out there in the middle of that weather all the time. It's part of the game you've got to manage. "Some of these (alternative championship venues) aren't really Big 12 towns, aren't maybe as exciting, so the atmosphere isn't going to be as great. I think the venue up there has been incredibly exciting." (Tulsa World)
Alexander named Big 12's top defender: Norman Transcript
Sooners' bowl choices down to two: Norman Transcript
Latimer recalls Cornhuskers' big rivalry — with Colorado: The Oklahoman
It's BCS or Cotton for Sooners: The Oklahoman
Taylor story is familiar: The Oklahoman
Reggie-go-round: Tulsa World
Blake connects to recruits: Tulsa World
Memorable moments -- OU vs. Nebraska: Tulsa World
Memorable moments -- OU versus Nebraska: Tulsa World
Sooners' bowl options limited: Tulsa World
Weather is a factor in title game: Tulsa World
Sooners QB now has believers: Dallas Morning News
Cotton Bowl will host Big 12 runner up: Dallas Morning News
Huskers golden in red zone: Lincoln Journal-Star
Breaking down the Sooners: Lincoln Journal-Star
Elmassian says Oklahoma offense 'tenacious': Lincoln Journal-Star
Huskers QB points to younger sisiter to keep him grounded: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Big 12 on hold by Gator: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Coach has Huskers back on top: Kansas City Star
Sooners have few weaknesses: Columbus Telegram
Sooners' Patrick, Brown show there's not reason for Peterson to rush return: San Antonio Express-News
Title game revives Sooners-Huskers rivalry: Yahoo! Sports
Fan primer for Big 12 Championship: SoonerSports.com
Alexander named First Team All-American: Wednesday, a day after being named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Alexander was named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He's the 142nd All-American in OU's history. With early issues at cornerback and defensive tackle, the Sooners didn't blitz as much defensively this season, so Alexander didn't have as many game-changing plays as he did in his previous two seasons. But he still led the team with 95 tackles going into Saturday's Big 12 championship game against Nebraska, and posted a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss. He also had a hand in six turnovers and had two quarterback sacks. "Usually, these awards go to teams that have won a lot of games," OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "We're No. 1 or No. 2 (in the Big 12) in almost all defensive categories, so I'm sure that Rufus, one of our better players, I think he reaps the rewards from the sum of everybody." (Tulsa World)
Its Cotton or Fiesta for Sooners: It's the Fiesta or Cotton Bowl for Oklahoma depending on the outcome of Saturday's title game. The Big 12 Conference announced two bowl matchups on Wednesday. The AT&T Cotton Bowl indicated its desire to host one of the Conference’s divisional champions and will select the runner-up of Saturday’s Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game to face an SEC opponent on January 1. The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl will match Texas A&M against the University of California on December 28. The winner of the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game automatically qualifies for the Bowl Championship Series, and will appear in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 1. (SoonerSports.com)
Cooper's Nebraska history: Sooner center Jon Cooper's dad, Tom Cooper, played at Missouri from 1972-75, experiencing his own rivalry with Nebraska. Growing up in Colorado, where CU is a latter-day rival of the Big Red, imposed a double dose of dislike for all things Husker on the OU sophomore. "I've kind of grown up hating Nebraska my fair share," Cooper said. "It's a pretty big deal for me." For Cooper, this week is somewhat like OU-Texas for his teammates. "A little bit, yeah," Cooper said. "My dad hated them, so he passed that on to me. And everybody from CU hated them, so I was surrounded, because nobody liked them in Colorado, certainly not in my house." "I definitely respect them, because they've won championships. Oklahoma's won championships. When I was recruited, my dad made sure to tell me how much of a good rivalry this is, especially back when they played every year." (NewsOK.com)
Stoops indifferent on Big XII title site: The forecast for Kansas City on Saturday night calls for below-freezing temperatures, making weather a factor. That could be avoided if the game were played in a domed stadium or warmer climate. "I'm kind of mixed on that," Stoops said. "You see pro teams out there in the middle of that weather all the time. It's part of the game you've got to manage. "Some of these (alternative championship venues) aren't really Big 12 towns, aren't maybe as exciting, so the atmosphere isn't going to be as great. I think the venue up there has been incredibly exciting." (Tulsa World)
Alexander named Big 12's top defender: Norman Transcript
Sooners' bowl choices down to two: Norman Transcript
Latimer recalls Cornhuskers' big rivalry — with Colorado: The Oklahoman
It's BCS or Cotton for Sooners: The Oklahoman
Taylor story is familiar: The Oklahoman
Reggie-go-round: Tulsa World
Blake connects to recruits: Tulsa World
Memorable moments -- OU vs. Nebraska: Tulsa World
Memorable moments -- OU versus Nebraska: Tulsa World
Sooners' bowl options limited: Tulsa World
Weather is a factor in title game: Tulsa World
Sooners QB now has believers: Dallas Morning News
Cotton Bowl will host Big 12 runner up: Dallas Morning News
Huskers golden in red zone: Lincoln Journal-Star
Breaking down the Sooners: Lincoln Journal-Star
Elmassian says Oklahoma offense 'tenacious': Lincoln Journal-Star
Huskers QB points to younger sisiter to keep him grounded: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Big 12 on hold by Gator: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Coach has Huskers back on top: Kansas City Star
Sooners have few weaknesses: Columbus Telegram
Sooners' Patrick, Brown show there's not reason for Peterson to rush return: San Antonio Express-News
Title game revives Sooners-Huskers rivalry: Yahoo! Sports
Fan primer for Big 12 Championship: SoonerSports.com
Labels: All-American, Award, Bob Stoops, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Jon Cooper, Rufus Alexander
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