Cotton Bowl reps to be in attendance in College Station: AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic representatives will attend this weekend's Oklahoma-Texas A&M, Missouri-Nebraska and Oklahoma State-Texas games, bowl president Rick Baker said. "These are certainly games we watch a little closer than we would if they were in September or October," Baker said. The OU-A&M and Missouri-Nebraska games are of particular interest. The Aggies (8-1, 4-1 Big 12) and the Sooners (6-2, 3-1) have the second and third best conference records. The Tigers (7-2, 3-2) and Cornhuskers (6-3, 3-2) are tied for first place in the North division. "[Those] are certainly two games that have folks that certainly you'd expect to be on your radar screen at the end of November," Baker said. (Dallas Morning News)
Limited Oklahoma-Texas A&M tickets available: From the Texas A&M Athletics Website... As of 4 p.m. Monday, approximately 3,000 tickets still remain for Saturday night's showdown with 18th-ranked Oklahoma. Call 888-99-AGGIE to purchase.
Stoops wants to eliminate Big XII North-South format: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops rekindled an old debate Monday by saying he'd be in favor of scrapping the Big 12's divisional format and opting instead for a nine-game conference schedule. Stoops said the Big 12 would then become like the Big Ten and Pacific-10, conferences that do not have a championship game. The Big 12 athletic directors were so against the idea of eliminating the division format that they didn't even vote on a proposal at their league meetings in May. (Dallas Morning News)
Lawsuit filed against University of Oklahoma: The University of Oklahoma is being sued by the Dallas Morning News and information advocacy group Freedom Of Information Oklahoma under claims that the school's release of documentation regarding football players' employment at a Norman car dealer had too much information blacked out. In a story published Sunday in the campus newspaper, the Oklahoma Daily, OU cites federal privacy laws that require when "information is provided under the Open Records Act, that 'identifiable student information' not be released." Toni Nguyen, assistant general counsel for Belo Corp., parent company of the Morning News, was quoted by the Oklahoma Daily in an e-mail as saying, "We need access to relevant documents in OU's possession to uncover the truth about the events leading up to the removal of Rhett Bomar and J.D. Quinn from the OU football team. . . . The documents that OU has publicly produced have been so substantially redacted that they're useless to us." (Tulsa World)
Kelly's late decision: OU receiver Malcolm Kelly went through a difficult time last week due to the death of his grandfather, Alphonso Smith. Kelly left Norman Thursday to be with his family in Longview, Texas, and planned to miss the Missouri game to attend the funeral. "I talked to my grandma and she told me how he was looking forward to watching me play in that game," Kelly said. Kelly was OU's leading receiver with four catches for 40 yards, but didn’t do much celebrating afterwards. (Norman Transcript)
Sooners-A&M gets GameDay Visit: For the 16th time in the last seven years, ESPN's College GameDay is coming to an Oklahoma game. The cable network's pregame show will be broadcast Saturday from College Station, Texas. The show, which features hosts Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso, will air from 9-11 a.m. OU plays Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on ABC. The last regular-season OU game visited by College GameDay was the 2004 Bedlam game in Stillwater. (NewsOK.com)
Change in statistics: The Missouri statistics crew mistakenly gave Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick one of Jacob Gutierrez's 5-yard carries Saturday. The new numbers should therefore read: Patrick 35 carries for 157 yards, and Gutierrez 11 rushes for 46. Patrick's yardage total still represents a career high, but the 35 carries only equals the 35 carries he had against Colorado on Oct. 21. The OU camp sang Patrick's praises all the same Sunday. "He's done a fantastic job just seeing the seams and hitting the creases and running hard," coach Bob Stoops said. (Tulsa World)
Adding the option to the playbook: Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said the staff installed option plays to exploit Missouri's goal-line defense. Paul Thompson scored a 3-yard TD on an option keeper. (Dallas Morning News)
Wilson on the Oklahoma passing game: "We have a lot we can build on, but we still need to keep striving to be as good as it can be," Wilson said. "We're a long way away from where it can be." (Norman Transcript)
Oklahoma awaits Texas Tech start time: It's another wait and see for an Oklahoma football starting time. ABC has chosen its third and final six-day selection for the 2006 season. That means Sooner fans will not know until Saturday or Sunday the starting time for the final home game of the season, the Nov. 11 clash with Texas Tech. The game has three potential starting times at this point. If ABC selects the game, it will begin at either 2:30 p.m., or 7 p.m. If ABC passes on the game, it will be picked up by FSN, which will show it at 6 p.m. ABC will choose between the OU/Tech game and the Texas A&M/Nebraska game. Whichever game is not selected by ABC will go to FSN. (SoonerSports PR)
Sooners get past Tigers: A swarming Oklahoma defense made life difficult on Chase Daniel and No. 23 Missouri, leading to a road win for the Sooners. Paul Thompson threw two touchdown passes, Allen Patrick rushed for 162 yards and No. 19 Oklahoma scored all of its points off Missouri's mistakes in a 26-10 victory Saturday. ''Opportunistic, I guess,'' Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. ''I don't know that this should be a surprise because we've been playing this way for several weeks now.'' The Sooners (6-2, 3-1 Big 12) won for the first time this season away from Norman, Okla., and snapped Missouri's eight-game home winning streak. After a 6-0 start, the Tigers (7-2, 3-2) have lost two of three. (AP/SoonerSports.com)
Kelly fastest to 1,000 receiving yards: Passed the 1,000-yard benchmark in career receiving yards in his 19th career game, quicker than any other OU player in history (Antwone Savage, 21). Kelly entered the game with 995 career receiving yards and finished with 1,035. He sits 18th on OU's all-time list in the category, five yards behind Jarrail Jackson. It took Kelly 13 games to reach 500 receiving yards, but just six to double that figure. (Oklahoma Notes) Oklahoma-Texas A&M set for 7:00 Kickoff: ABC announced Saturday night that the Oklahoma at Texas A&M game scheduled for next Saturday, Nov. 4, will kickoff at 7 p.m. The network said last week that it would choose between a morning and evening starting time. It eventually settled on the latter. This will mark the second straight week that OU has appeared on ABC. The Sooners will take a three-game winning streak to College Station, Texas. The most recent of those victories came Saturday at Missouri when OU prevailed over the No. 23 Tigers, 26-10. It was MU's first loss at home this season. (SoonerSports PR)
Peterson visits MO. youth team: Injured running back Adrian Peterson visited with a youth football team from St. Charles, Mo., before the game, and the 10- and 11-year-olds were starstruck. As the Sooners stretched, Peterson and running backs coach Cale Gundy walked to the north end zone to greet the Mid River Eagles, who are coached by former Missouri player Derrick Miller. Peterson shook hands and told the kids to stay focused and mind their studies. Gundy extolled Peterson to the Eagles as the Sooners' hardest worker. When he walked away, the Eagles' quarterback smiled and shouted, "Remember the Eagles!" "That was really cool of him to come down here and do that," said Miller. (Tulsa World)
Stoops pleased despite fumble: Coach Bob Stoops had high praise for his offense on a drive that resulted in no points. After Lendy Holmes smothered a pass on fourth-and-goal, OU took over at the 1 with 44 seconds left in the third quarter. The Sooners drove 68 yards in 10 plays and ate 4:43 off the clock. The drive ended when Thompson fumbled at the OU 42. "I was pumping them up on the sideline," Stoops said. "That's a heck of a drive and a big part of the game." (Dallas Morning News)
This one is for him: A memorable moment for the Sooners came with 5:02 left in the third quarter Saturday, when Quentin Chaney caught a 15-yard touchdown pass. "I ran the route, saw the ball coming, caught it and just made sure I stayed low," said Chaney, the sophomore from Booker T. Washington. "I felt a man on my back and pushed and got in that end zone." After the catch, Chaney found Malcolm Kelly, the receiver he replaced on the play. "The touchdown, I dedicated it to Malcolm," Chaney said. "His grandfather passed away earlier this week. He's kind of having a rough time. (Tulsa World)
Where's the Mizzou fans? Saturday's paid attendance was announced at 62,045. Despite the hype produced the weekend's only game between two teams ranked in the Associated Press top 25, the crowd still fell short of Faurot Field's 68,349 capacity. Nearly 1,600 more fans showed up last week when Missouri hosted Kansas State in the rain. (NewsOK.com)
Former Sooner Overstreet son to play against OU: Last Friday night, Missouri safety David Overstreet finally laid his eyes on something he's waited 20 years to see. The production staff for MU Coach Gary Pinkel's weekly TV show tracked down Oklahoma game film from almost 30 years ago, back when the Sooners had a running back named David Overstreet. It was the first time Missouri's Overstreet had seen video footage of his late father in action. MU's senior co-captain had just turned 1 when his namesake crashed his Mercedes and died in a fiery accident June 24, 1984, just 6 miles from his hometown of Big Sandy, Texas. The elder Overstreet had just finished a promising rookie season with the Miami Dolphins after a collegiate career at Oklahoma where he shared the ball with Heisman Trophy winner Billy Sims. The younger Overstreet grew up knowing of his father’s playing career only through photos and stories. Last week, the memories came alive on the TV screen. "That was probably the best thing I've ever experienced in my life," the reigning Big 12 defensive player of the week said after Tuesday’s practice. "I was smiling the whole time like a little kid. I've watched" the footage "about five times since. (More at Columbia Daily Tribune)
Pendleton leaving the Sooners football team after the season: Sooner defensive tackle Carl Pendleton will leave the OU football team after the season to spend more time caring for his adopted brother. (Complete story at Tulsa World)
Missouri-Oklahoma connections: Missouri has had more success in recent years plucking Oklahoma high school players than any other out-of-state school. Six Oklahoma products are listed on the Tigers' current roster. Missouri grabbed a pair of Ardmore players who were teammates of OU tight end Jermaine Gresham last season in linebacker Marquis Booker and offensive lineman Jesse Hernandez. Jason Ray from Broken Arrow is a junior wide receiver. Marietta's Trenile Washington is a sophomore defensive back. Defensive lineman Lorenzo Williams is from Midwest City, as is offensive lineman Dain Wise, who played at Carl Albert. (NewsOK.com)
Venables sees progress in defense: OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables can see his defense progressing. It's visible in the statistics, as well as the game tape. "If you go back and watch (the Oregon game), it's obvious to see the growth we've had, the improvement that guys have made at a lot of the little things," Venables said. "We learned a great deal as a staff and as a defense, with how we let that game slip away. "Unfortunately, we have a loss under our belt because of it, but we learned from it." (NewsOK.com)
AD on Maxwell Semifinalist: His time on the field may be decreasing, but there is no dip in respect for Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson. Acknowledging the broken collarbone that has sidelined Peterson, the Maxwell Football Club has tabbed the Sooner standout as one of 15 semifinalists for the 70th Maxwell Award. The honor is presented annually to the nation’s top collegiate player. "While we recognize that Adrian is unable to play at this time, we felt that he was deserving of being on this list as one of the top players in college football, " said Mark Wolpert, Maxwell Club Senior Vice President for Collegiate Awards. Peterson suffered the injury on Oct. 14 during a 53-yard touchdown run against Iowa State. It capped a day in which the junior carried 26 times for 183 yards and a pair of TDs. On the season, Peterson has 168 carries for 935 yards and 10 touchdowns. He still ranks No. 3 nationally in rushing with 155.8 yards per game. He is No. 1 in all purpose yards at 204 per game and No. 4 in scoring at 11 points per game. He will remain in the national rankings until his percentage of games played drops below 75%. (SoonerSports Release) Smith expected to play Saturday: Oklahoma defensive back Reggie Smith said Tuesday the results of an MRI performed on his sore left knee showed cracks in the upper portion of his tibia bone, but he doesn't expect to miss any playing time. "It's kind of painful," he said, "but, you know, you've got to go through some pain sometimes." Smith, the Sooners' starter at strong safety, has been one of the defense's most consistent players. He's also established himself as one of the Big 12 Conference's most explosive punt returners. With 19th-ranked OU visiting No. 23 Missouri and the Tigers high-powered offense this weekend, the Sooners could hardly do without him. But, he said, they won't have to. "They said if it was offseason, it'd be two weeks on crutches and I'd be good as new. But since I'm going through it, by the end of next week I shouldn't feel it. Every day it's getting better. I'm not feeling it near as much as I was in the past." Smith gets around campus on crutches to reduce wear and tear on the injury and facilitate healing. (Tulsa World)
Former Sooner Onyenegecha Cited: Former Oklahoma defensive back Chijioke Onyenegecha early Saturday morning was cited by Norman police after an accusation of vandalism. Norman police Capt. Leonard Judysaid a 21-year-old woman told police Onyenegecha smashed a car's front passenger window and dented a door, possibly with a crutch, after an argument. He was issued a citation on suspicion of vandalism and destruction of private property. Onyenegecha, 23, played football at OU in 2004 and 2005. (NewsOK.com)
Scott impressed with Oklahoma visit: The Oklahoma Sooners hosted several top visitors this past weekend, none more highly regarded than four-star safety Christian Scott. Scott, hailing from Dallas Skyline High School, made his first official visit to Norman, Okla., this past weekend. Though this was his second trip to Oklahoma, this time he got to see the atmosphere on game day. Overall, he was impressed. "Everything went really well," Scott said. "I was just impressed because they were behind the Sooners to the fullest. That was the thing that stood out to me; the fans. So many fans are there and behind the team." Scott says that he also got to hang out with players like Demarcus Granger and Lendy Holmes. Holmes and Granger are both originally from the Dallas area. (USA Today)
Williams replacing Braxton, practicing well: The Sooners suffered their own loss on Saturday, with right offensive tackle Branndon Braxton going out with a broken bone in his lower leg. Braxton underwent surgery Sunday and is lost for the season. True freshman Trent Williams, who replaced Braxton Saturday night, will take over at right tackle. Impressive in practice, Williams had been getting some meaningful minutes. "We think Trent's pretty good," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "He's played very well. We have a lot of confidence in Trent's ability. That's why we've been playing him." (NewsOK.com)
Smith back to practice: Head coach Bob Stoops said strong safety Reggie Smith practiced Monday after a bruised knee kept him out of practice last week and limited him to passing downs against Colorado. (Tulsa World) Sooners will turn to freshman on line: Norman Transcript
R. Smith expected back to practice: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops indicated Sunday that strong safety Reggie Smith is expected to return to practice this week in anticipation of the Sooners' game at Missouri this weekend. Smith was limited in practice last week due to a sore leg and knee, prompting OU to start Nic Harris at strong safety Saturday against Colorado. Smith played deep safety in the Sooners' five- and six-defensive back packages and was not credited with any tackles. He did collide with Colorado quarterback Bernard Jackson in the fourth quarter, and limped off the field as a result. (Tulsa World)
No worries going on the road:Coach Bob Stoops said he's not worried about playing four of the next five games on the road. (Dallas Morning News)
Oklahoma-Texas A&M to be televised: ABC has notified Big 12 Conference officials that it will televise the Oklahoma at Texas A&M football game on Nov. 4. What the network has not yet decided is what time the game will start. That decision will come Sunday when ABC will choose between 11 a.m., and 7 p.m. The network has selected two Big 12 games for the Nov. 4 date. The other is Missouri at Nebraska. Both games are certain to be televised. Only the starting times remain in question. This week, Oklahoma plays at Missouri. That game, also on ABC, will kickoff at 11 a.m. Brent Musburger, Bob Davie and Lisa Salters will have the call on the 51st consecutive OU game to be on television. (SoonerSports Release)
First-teams back to facing each other: Sooners' first-team offense now matches up with their first-team D. Brent Venables says he doesn't recall exactly when he did it. But he knows without a doubt what happened when he did. At some point during the past month or so, Venables, coordinator of the Oklahoma defense, along with his defensive staff and head coach Bob Stoops, decided that some things needed fixing. The best way to begin repairs was to have the first-string defense increase its practice repetitions against the Sooners' first-string offense. It's called good-on-good. Every team does it some. OU always has. But this season, they needed to do it more. "There's no question it's made us better in the basics of the game," Venables said Sunday, a day after his defense tied up and dragged Colorado up and down Owen Field in a 24-3 triumph. (Tulsa World)
Peterson coaches along Patrick: The man they call "All Day" became All Coach. "He kept coming up to me and telling me certain things I needed to do, things he saw that I couldn't see," starting tailback Allen Patrick said. "Like, I was trying to cut the ball inside and he said, 'Go outside, it's there, it's there.' So we started working towards that, going outside, and things started happening. He's a good guy and I appreciate the things he do for me." Patrick had 35 carries for 110 yards in Peterson's place. (NewsOK.com)
Right Tackle Braxton Injury: Right tackle Branndon Braxton broke a bone in his leg with about six minutes remaining in the third quarter and had to be carted off the field. Coach Bob Stoops said Braxton was probably out for the rest of the season. Braxton was replaced by freshman Trent Williams, who has gotten a fair amount of playing time recently as a reserve. Braxton's injury is the second major one along the offensive line this season. Center Jon Cooper missed the Middle Tennessee game with an injured ankle. (Dallas Morning News)
Brown sees some playing time: True freshman running back Chris Brown was brought out of redshirt Saturday night to help fill the void of Peterson. Kevin Wilson said Brown earned the playing time with a strong week of practice. "Some of the coaches will tell you (true freshman) Mossis Madu is playing as well as any freshman, but Chris Brown had the best week of practice," Wilson said. "We just had a little more confidence with him." Brown's first appearance came midway through the fourth quarter, though he didn't get a carry until the final two minutes. (NewsOK.com)
Smith sees little playing time: Sophomore Reggie Smith saw his workload lightened because of a bruised knee suffered against Iowa State. Nic Harris started at safety and Smith came in as a deep safety in passing situations. That got Smith onto the field, but he was purposely kept far from the action. (Dallas Morning News)
Lofton gets first start: Sophomore Curtis Lofton earned his first start at strongside linebacker. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables has been saying for weeks he wants to give Lofton more time. When strongside starter Demarrio Pleasant injured his finger recently, Lofton finally got his chance. (Tulsa World)
Honoring the past, Prentice Gautt: The University of Oklahoma Athletics Department has created a new endowed scholarship in the name of the late Prentice Gautt. OU President David L. Boren and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione made the announcement Saturday. Special recognition of Gautt, the first black football player at Oklahoma, his family and the 1956 squad occurred at halftime of the OU-Colorado football game here. The '56 team, the first at the university to include Gautt, won the school's third of seven national championships in football. "Prentice Gautt, through his personal integrity and moral courage, has left a lasting impact on the University of Oklahoma. His example will continue to inspire the University family for years to come." Castiglione agreed that Gautt's contributions are undying. "Prentice made it possible for us to celebrate diversity as a 'strength' of our program," Castiglione said. "He is our Jackie Robinson, if you will. He had uncompromising character, dignity, faith, and a certain elegance that was only overshadowed by his humility. It is critically important that we remind ourselves and future generations about his contributions to a quality of life we now enjoy." Gautt's jersey No. 38 was not issued this year as part of the 50th anniversary since his first season with the Sooners. OU players are wearing a No. 38 decal on their helmets and for Saturday's game, the 38-yardline at each end of the field was striped in crimson. The scholarship in Gautt's name will be presented for the first time prior to the 2007 football season. The recipient is yet to be determined. (SoonerSports.com)
Don't be surprised by the Buffalo motion and movement: Don't bother trying to keep track of the Colorado offense at the line of scrimmage tonight. It will make you dizzy. "They do more moving, motioning, shifting in pre-snap than anybody we've played in eight years," OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "Nobody's remotely close. They do it for obvious reasons, to create confusion and get you out of gaps, to get you thinking and to temper your aggressiveness. We'll really need to be sharp mentally as well as physically." Venables said all that movement has keyed Colorado tailback Hugh Charles' 119-yard effort against Texas Tech. (Tulsa World)
Smith expected to play: Oklahoma strong safety Reggie Smith is expected to play today, although his playing time might be limited due to a bruised knee. Smith took a shot to his left knee during a punt return against Iowa State a week ago. He returned to play in that game but was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday, which he spent on crutches. (NewsOK.com)
No curse here: Stoops dismissed talk of any OU curse this week, despite a run of unfortunate events that includes the loss of quarterback Rhett Bomar, a controversial loss at Oregon and now Adrian Peterson's injury. "I like to say you play the hand you're dealt," Stoops said. "I like to play cards. And you don't fold or throw them in when you get one not as pretty as another." Such hard times have usually seen the Sooners respond under Stoops. "I think because we're capable of it," Stoops said. "I feel we're a lot stronger maybe than people give us credit for. Everybody likes to throw out the doom and gloom, to play on all the fans emotions, when in the end, it doesn't have to be that way. (NewsOK.com)
R. Smith status questionable: Strong safety Reggie Smith, who injured his left knee on a punt return on Saturday against Iowa State, didn't practice Monday or Tuesday. OU sports information director Kenny Mossman said Smith did practice on Wednesday, as coach Bob Stoops anticipated he would. The Sooners go through a light practice on Thursdays. Smith spent the first two days of the week on crutches, resting what an MRI exam determined was a knee bruise. Smith's status is still unclear for Saturday's homecoming game against Colorado. If he is available to play, it's likely he would do so only on defense. (Tulsa World)
Runners Step Up: On their last turn on the OU center stage, both Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez lost crucial fumbles. Patrick fumbled twice in the second half of this year's 59-0 victory over Middle Tennessee, including on the goal line that would have been a sure touchdown. Gutierrez capped off last year's 173-yard effort against Baylor with a fumble that the Bears turned into a quick touchdown that forced overtime. "If we put the ball in your hands, we're entrusting you to be smart and take care of this ball," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "Those players at running back and every player on offense need to continue to grow and realize that is the key thing to winning and losing." Wilson said he's been disappointed "that we've been as immature with the ball as we've been." (Tulsa World)
Thompson not taking Colorado lightly: Any game played the week after Adrian Peterson gets hurt is going to be a challenge, but Oklahoma has a few other hurdles to clear while trying to define its offense without its star. Colorado comes to Norman a week after its first win of the season, which could have the Buffaloes on an emotional high. The pressure to move the ball likely falls on senior quarterback Paul Thompson, who has warned his team about being fooled by Colorado's 1-6 record. "They're real close to having some wins," Thompson said of Colorado, which lost 14-13 to a then-highly ranked Georgia team. "If we sit there and look at their record, then we'll get beat. They're a good team." (NewsOK.com)
Gutierrez opts to stay a Sooner: Stoops said Tuesday that his brother, former defensive coordinator-turned-Arizona head coach Mike Stoops, asked him two years ago if Gutierrez might be interested in transferring. Mike Stoops had helped recruit Gutierrez and knew his talent, and also knew Peterson would be ahead of him for two years. Bob Stoops asked Gutierrez, and Gutierrez didn't take long to mull it over. "I said, 'Listen, by no means am I wanting this, but I at least want you to know for yourself if it's better for you, that it's there,' " Bob Stoops said. "He said, 'No, coach. I'm a Sooner. I'm going to contribute any way I can.' He's been a great team leader." (Tulsa World)
Gutierrez studies Q: Diminutive running back Jacob Gutierrez (5-7) said he's studied game tapes to learn former OU standout Quentin Griffin's moves. Griffin excelled at running from the shotgun formation. That extra space gave plays time to develop and Griffin could find the running lanes easier. Griffin had 3,938 yards from 1999 to 2002. (Dallas Morning News)
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes Peterson expects to return 4-6 weeks: Adrian Peterson says, if healthy expect him to return for Oklahoma's bowl appearance, if not before. Peterson was asked, if he heals fast, "you can kinda say," Peterson said. The junior running back remained positive saying this won't affect the Sooners, "one man doesn't make a team." Peterson said time table for his return 4-6 weeks, also note AD wasn't asked if he had played his final game in the Crimson and Cream. (See AD time table at Oklahoma FanHouse)
Peterson Press Conference: Via Oklahoma FanHouse writes Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson will be a holding a press conference at 2:30/1:30 CT. Unsure what the press conference concerns, most likely his future at the University of Oklahoma and the collarbone injury. Peterson will address the media from Norman, Oklahoma. Live Video 1:25 CT via SoonerSports.com
Oklahoma to honor Gautt: Each 38-yard-line at Owen Field Saturday will be painted crimson as the Oklahoma football team honors its first black player, Prentice Gautt. OU had to receive permission from the NCAA to mark the yard lines. The Sooners already are honoring Gautt, who died in March 2005, with a No. 38 decal on each player's helmet. Gautt first played for the Sooners on the national championship team of 1956. Members of Gautt's family will be at the game, and 34 members of the 1956 team are scheduled to attend in remembrance of Gautt and in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their national title. (NewsOK.com)
Reduced work load: OU coach Bob Stoops said Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez will have their special teams roles reduced now that they will become bigger parts of the offense. Both are Sooners' special teams captains and play on nearly every unit. Stoops said fear of injuries isn't the reason for the switch."We don't go out there fearing injuries, it's more the conditioning and trying to keep their legs fresh," he said. (Norman Transcript)
Holmes to play hoops for Capel: Cornerback Lendy Holmes said he wouldn't mind joining Jeff Capel's basketball team after football season ends. Holmes, who was recruited in both football and basketball out of Dallas' South Oak Cliff High School, showed up at a walk-on tryout for the Sooners last Sunday night. Holmes had not talked to Stoops about going to the tryout, and he was not allowed to participate. But he said Stoops once brought up the idea of Holmes playing basketball. "He mentioned it to me once during two-adays," Holmes said. (NewsOK.com)
The Boz's wife files for divorce: The Boz, Brian Bosworth best known for his wild hairstyles, and being arrogant was the face of the defense in latter Barry Switzer days. Bosworth winner of two Butkus awards as the nation's top collegiate linebacker was upended by his wife of 12 years, Katherine Bosworth. Katherine filed for a divorce in the Los Angeles Superior Court, as the couple separated July '06. (More at Oklahoma Fanhouse)
Gundy: "I felt we got beat": OU running backs coach Cale Gundy, who worked daily with Adrian Peterson and played a key role in recruiting him to Norman, said he struggled all Saturday night with his star's injury. "It was hard," Gundy said. "Saturday after the game, I went home with my family. I watched some games on TV, played a little football with my son. We just kind of hung out. It was just kind of a rough feeling. "Even in the middle of the night, I woke up a couple of times. And when I woke up Sunday morning, I felt like we got beat." (NewsOK.com)
Smith undergoes MRI: Strong safety / punt returner Reggie Smith missed practice Monday because of a sprained left knee sustained in Saturday's 34-9 victory over Iowa State. OU coach Bob Stoops said Smith had an MRI performed Monday and was on crutches as a precaution. "They've looked at it and think it should heal up here fairly soon," Stoops said. "We're looking to hopefully practice him on Wednesday." (Tulsa World)
No further discipline for Alexander in incident, expected to play: Stoops said Monday that he was comfortable enough with the explanation concerning Rufus Alexander's early morning arrest Sunday that no further discipline would be necessary. "From what we understand today, no," Stoops said, "other than internally we'll work with him in some ways." Norman police captain J.D. Younger told the paper he believed [James] Wheeler instigated the confrontation. (In part NewsOK.com)
Bad break for the Peterson's:After Peterson broke his collarbone diving into the end zone against Iowa State, possibly ending his college career, his family went ahead with postgame plans for a reunion; just a little get together to pick up everyone's spirits. But during the reunion, while shooting hoops at a nearby basketball court, Adrian's mother, Bonita Jackson, came down wrong and broke both bones in her lower leg. "It was a bad day," said Peterson's father, Nelson, who earlier in the day watched his son play football in person for the first time in more than eight years. "She went in for a layup and I think she stepped on somebody's foot. Broke it in two places. I was like, 'Man, son's collarbone is broke, his mother broke her leg in two places. I guess it's time for Daddy to sit down, take it easy, watch football and make sure nothing else happens.' " Jackson, reached by telephone at her home in Purcell, said she's on pain medication and will be at home for a while. (Tulsa World)
Sooners have two Texas recruits coming to visit: Tatum (Texas) teammates Lennon Creer and Darnius Moore are heading to Norman, Okla., this weekend for official visits with the Oklahoma Sooners. Creer, a four-star running back, has already piled up more than 1,000 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns this season. Moore is a receiver prospect who's also being looked at as a possible corner by some schools. The two players, though looking at several different schools, are excited to take their visit together this weekend. Moore even knows quite a few current players on the Sooners' roster. "I know Malcolm Kelly, Manuel Johnson, and Adrian Peterson," Moore said. "I played against Manuel and then had track meets with Adrian when he was at Palestine." Oklahoma is a school in the top three for Creer --along with Tennessee and Texas. The closeness to home is a big reason he's interested in visiting officially, but not the only reason. "Also, it's a lot of tradition -- and they win every year," Creer said about the Sooners. "They might have an off year, but they come back and do it again the next." (USA Today)
Elridge steps up at fullback: Among the four players to line up at fullback for the Sooners this season -- Matt Clapp , Ian Pleasant, Dane Zaslaw and Brody Eldridge -- offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson says Eldridge, who also plays tight end, has been the best. "He doesn't even practice (fullback) a lot," Wilson said. "When he gets on the field, he's the best blocker. "He actually performs at fullback better than the fullbacks." (NewsOK.com)
Wilson: Perfect scenario four weeks: Six weeks from Saturday is Nov. 25. Oklahoma visits Oklahoma State on that date in the regular-season finale. Peterson, a fast healer from injuries to his shoulder (in 2004) and ankle (in 2005), rushed for 249 and 237 yards in his two previous games against the Cowboys. "I've been told it can be a four-week deal, but that's a perfect scenario," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "Typically it's 6-8 weeks. Time will tell as he heals and progresses." (Tulsa World)
Sooners climb in the polls: The Oklahoma Sooners moved up three spots to #20 in the Associated Press college football poll. OU beat unranked Iowa State 34-9 on Saturday. The Sooners are 1-1 in the Big 12 and 4-2 overall. Meanwhile, the Sooners climbed 2 spots to #20 in the USA Today college football coaches' poll released today. (KOTV)
Spread Offense in 2007? So Wilson will miss Peterson, the player and the leader. But like the general who refuses to retreat, despite word that his front-line troops have just been taken out, Wilson seems to be relishing that next move. And he was instantly spinning forward on Saturday. "I'd look at it more as a challenge and an opportunity, 'Here's where we're going,'" Wilson said. "Not that, 'It's a problem,' and, 'It's an issue.'" So where is Wilson going? Probably headed toward OU's offense for 2007, which judging by his personnel, minus Peterson, means Colorado coaches are likely scrambling to get their hands on some of the spread attack tapes from Wilson's days at Northwestern. Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez might prove otherwise, but the Sooners' top offensive option no longer resides at running back. Options, yes, but the ball might now be better off with Malcolm Kelly and a cast of skilled receivers that runs deep through wideouts and tight ends. "I think the receivers," said Kelly, "there's more pressure on us now." Don't dismiss the running game. Wilson won't. It's too rooted in his past, even in the spread. Remember, at Northwestern, Damian Anderson ran for a Big Ten-record 193.6 yards a game out of Wilson's spread in 2000. (More at NewsOK.com)
Oklahoma-Missouri game time set: The Oct. 28 Oklahoma at Missouri football game has been set for an 11 a.m., kickoff. The contest will be televised by ABC. This week, Oklahoma hosts Colorado for a 6 p.m., kickoff in Norman. It will mark the 50th consecutive Sooner game to be televised.There are a limited number of tickets remaining for the OU-CU game. They sell for $67 each and are available online at SoonerSports.com, over the phone at 1-800-456-GoOU or in person at the ticket office west of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. (SoonerSports Release)
Linebacker, Team Captain Alexander Arrested: Linebacker Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading tackler, was arrested after a confrontation with police. Alexander said he was trying to stop a fight early Sunday. He was charged with disturbing the peace and interfering with official process -- both misdemeanors -- and was released after posting bail. Coach Bob Stoops was aware of what happened but had no immediate comment, school spokesman Kenny Mossman said Monday. Alexander, a team captain and an NFL prospect, told The Oklahoma Daily he was in his car with a friend, Jared Scelfo, when James Wheeler stepped in front of the vehicle. A disturbance followed and police arrived. "My friend got out of the car and I was stopping him before he did something stupid," Alexander told the student newspaper. Scelfo was arrested on the same charges as Alexander. Wheeler was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace, interfering with an official process and public intoxication. (AP/ESPN.com)
Wilson expects Peterson to go Pro: Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson told ESPN on Saturday evening that he expects Adrian Peterson will be among the top four picks in the next NFL draft. "I have always thought that this was Adrian's last year," Wilson said. "And why wouldn't it be? He stands to make a boatload of money. He has done everything we've ever asked of him here." Wilson said Oklahoma "will not put Adrian's health in jeopardy" by playing him in a bowl game before he is ready. (More at ESPN.com)
Peterson likely out six-eight weeks: According to Dr. Scott Rahhal, an orthopedic surgeon at Eastern Oklahoma Orthopedic Center, even if someone is a particularly fast healer, "it's still six to eight weeks" recovery time. Rahhal said he couldn't comment on the specifics of Peterson's injury, because he hadn't seen the X-rays. But Rahhal spoke in general terms about broken clavicles and said even with aggressive treatments, the prognosis is unchanged. Rahhal said there are usually no long-term effects of a broken collarbone. OU coach Bob Stoops said Peterson's injury would not need surgery and it was possible Peterson could return for a bowl game. (Tulsa World)
More Changes in Secondary: Oklahoma made another switch in its starting defensive backfield, inserting Lendy Holmes in place of D.J. Wolfe at the boundary cornerback position Saturday. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said Holmes earned the start with his performance in practice. "What you do in practice shows," Holmes said. "Coach (Venables) will give you a fair chance if you show him what you've got in practice and that's what I did this week." Wolfe played all of last week's game at the position, despite allowing a 33-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter against Texas. Coaches spoke well of Wolfe's performance in that game, outside of the TD. (NewsOK.com)
No returns for Peterson: [Adrian] Peterson did not return kickoffs for the first time in three games. Juaquin Iglesias, who returned them before Peterson got the call, joined Reggie Smith instead. (Tulsa World)
Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson suffered a season ending injury in the fourth quarter, in the 34-9 victory Saturday over Iowa State. Peterson on the last scoring drive, ran for a 53 yard td run appeared to be injured after diving into the endzone (while getting tripped up), test later showed a broken collarbone. At best, Peterson may return for the bowl game... more to come.
Is Oklahoma moving on? OU defensive tackle Carl Pendleton says the team has already moved on from the Texas loss, something that doesn't seem as easy for some fans. "I think the fan base somehow invests a little more in it emotionally," Pendleton said. "To lose at Texas is one of those things that OU fans just hate. We hate it, too, but we still realize that we still have another game to play. I think fans sometimes forget that there's another one and another one after that. They just kind of focus on Texas." (NewsOK.com)
Peterson to NFL after junior year "is common sense," Wilson, says: Most observers assume Adrian Peterson's departure to the NFL is a foregone conclusion after his junior season. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson even figured as much on Tuesday while assessing quarterback recruiting. Asked to elaborate on Peterson, he said the running back's declaration for the NFL after this season is "common sense. "He'd be surrounded by a great college team coming back," Wilson said. "But the money that's being thrown out there, if he continues to play -- I'm sure coach (Bob Stoops) will get with him and the NFL people to see what his true stock value is, and if it's in the high end, I don't know any of us that will say, 'You should come back and not go be one of the top three or four guys picked.' "If you're going that high, you look at this year, those guys are getting 60 million bucks out the gate. It's hard to come back and go to study hall. Nothing against study hall." (Tulsa World)
Sooners ready to chase ISU's Meyer: OU defensive end Larry Birdine said he's tired of chasing guys and would prefer a drop-back passer. He asked: "Where's all the Drew Bledsoes at?" (Dallas Morning News)
No decision yet on McCoy redshirt: Gerald McCoy is becoming a better football player. Oklahoma coaches have said so. His teammates have said so. That doesn't mean McCoy, the Sooners' true freshman defensive tackle from Southeast High School, will play this season. Nor does it mean he won't. It simply means he's getting better, and his mother said McCoy is OK with that. "He's handling it well," Pat McCoy said of her son. "He feels like maybe it's for his betterment to learn and sit back and be an apprentice." Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday no final determination has been made as to whether McCoy will redshirt. (NewsOK.com)
Both Adrian and Nelson excited about Saturday: His is the face of a 43-year-old grandfather, a man who once had designs on the NBA, a man who made millions instead dealing crack cocaine, a man who served almost eight years in federal prison. His is the face of Nelson Peterson, and on Saturday -- when 23rd-ranked Oklahoma kicks off at 11:30 a.m. against Iowa State -- for the first time in a long time, that face will be in the stands to watch his son play a football game. "It's very exciting. Been waiting on this moment for eight years," he said. "I finally get an opportunity to see Adrian play in person." "My dad's an emotional guy," Adrian Peterson said. "I feel like I'm the same way. I'm tough, don't get me wrong. But I'm human, too. When different stuff hurts, when you're emotional, it's good to let it out. You don't want to hold stuff like that in." (In part Tulsa World)
M. Johnson sees playing time: Receiver Manuel Johnson suffered a right knee injury in early August and just couldn't get past the nagging pain. The sophomore from Gilmer, Texas, finally felt healthy against Texas, and it showed in his production. Johnson had four catches for 55 yards. He had four catches combined in the three previous games. "It was just a coincidence that I felt good for that game," Johnson said. "When they called my number, I just made the plays." (Dallas Morning News)
Smith's infection kept him off the field on offense: Strong safety Reggie Smith was kept from making his usual cameo appearance at wide receiver Saturday. But that doesn't mean he's done for the year. "(The emergence of wideout Manuel Johnson) really didn't have anything to do with it; he just didn't practice much," receivers coach Kevin Sumlin said, referring to the infection on Smith's lower leg which hampered him last week. (Tulsa World)
OU-Colorado Homecoming Kickoff time set: Oklahoma's Oct. 21 Homecoming game against Colorado has been set for a 6 p.m., kick off. The game will be televised live by FOX Sports Network. It will be a special event as recognition of Prentice Gautt and the 1956 National Championship team will take place during the evening. FSN also has this week's game agaisnt Iowa State. The network announced Monday that the game will be carried in High Definition. (SoonerSports Release)
Stoops defends Peterson on lateral play: Whether Paul Thompson's fourth-quarter swing pass to Adrian Peterson on Saturday against Texas was a lateral or not, many football observers feel Peterson cost his team when he didn't chase after the football. The whistle didn't blow, and Texas' Aaron Ross said he's always been coached to never quit on a play, so he scooped and scored. But OU coach Bob Stoops took umbrage with the perception that Peterson didn't hustle. "Oh, come on. Are you kidding me?" Stoops said. "Nobody plays harder than that guy. He touched the ball and deflects it backwards and that's what he felt. He felt it was an incompletion. C'mon, nobody goes harder than he does." (Tulsa World)
Oklahoma Football tickets still available: Just 334 yards stand between Adrian Peterson and OU history, and today the Athletics Department Ticket Office announced availability for the next three games.Peterson is 334 yards shy of breaking Billy Sims' career rushing mark at Oklahoma and even those Sooner fans not currently holding tickets for upcoming games may now have a chance to see the OU running back as he pursues history. The University of Oklahoma Athletics Ticket Office has received a limited number of returns for this weekend's Iowa State game and the October 21 Colorado game. Tickets are currently available 24 hours a day online at SoonerSports.com, by calling the Athletics Ticket Office at 800-456-4668 or 405-325-2424 during regular business hours Monday-Friday between 8 a.m.- 5 pm or in person at the Athletics Ticket Office on the west side of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Tickets for both games are $67. OU also has a limited number of tickets for the Missouri game to be played at Columbia, Mo., on Oct. 28. Tickets are $55 each. (SoonerSports Release)
Lofton to see more playing time: Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said he must get reserve linebacker Curtis Lofton into games earlier because "he's earned it." Lofton was ranked the eighth-best linebacker in the nation coming out high school in Kingfisher, Okla. He's played mostly special teams at OU, though. The sophomore has nine tackles and one forced fumble this season. (Dallas Morning News)Dad will get to watch Peterson play: The Oklahoman
OU- Iowa State game time set for 11:30 FSN: Oklahoma and Iowa State will kickoff at 11:30 a.m., when the two collide in Norman, Saturday. The game will be televised live by Fox Sports Network. It is the Big 12 home opener for the Sooners. Oklahoma and Iowa State have not played since the 2003 season when the Sooners rolled to a 53-7 victory at Ames, Iowa. The Cyclones' last trip to Norman 2002) resulted in a 49-3 OU triumph. This is the first of two straight home games for OU, which will entertain Colorado the following week. (SoonerSports Release)
Mistakes cost Sooners' offensive: Kevin Wilson calls it an S.I.W. Self-inflicted wounds. False starts, fumbles, sacks, dropped passes. Plays where the offense stops itself, rather than the defense stopping it. The Sooners fumbled six times, losing three, and were flagged for moving before the snap five times. "We had 63 plays as an offense, and we're looking at about 15 to 18 of those being negatives," Wilson said Sunday. "We'll have this outcome again if we don't learn from those mistakes." (NewsOK.com)
McCoy escape allows UT touchdown: Both Stoops and defensive coordinator Brent Venables reviewed Sunday a costly play the OU defense failed to make during Texas' first touchdown drive. On third-and-10 from the Sooners' 37, Colt McCoy rolled left to elude the rush of both safety Nic Harris and linebacker Zach Latimer, then found Quan Cosby for 16 yards. "We've got a blitz on and come free and let him escape us," Stoops said. Instead of punting, the Longhorns ran two more plays before Selvin Young's 15-yard touchdown run. (Tulsa World)
More playing time for younger players: OU offensive tackle Chris Messner wasn't hurt when he left Saturday's game in the final minutes. Wilson said he was simply trying to get one of his younger players, true freshman Trent Williams, some playing time. Williams played guard, and Branndon Braxton moved out to tackle. (NewsOK.com)
Peterson says, "We've just got to see" if its the final OU-Texas: Three years ago, Adrian Peterson said he signed with Oklahoma rather than Texas because the Sooners had a better opportunity to win national championships. On Saturday, he exited the Cotton Bowl with 109 yards rushing and a touchdown, but with his second straight loss to the Longhorns. "I was pumped up, ready to play Texas," said Peterson, moments after getting some consoling words from Longhorns coach Mack Brown. "Any year, anybody would be ready to play this game." If Peterson, a junior, decides to enter the NFL draft after this season, he'll look back at Saturday as the defeat that guaranteed his leaving Oklahoma without a national title. If he goes pro, he'll also conclude his OU career with a 1-2 record against Texas. "We've just got to see, man," he said. "We've got a long season to go." (Dallas Morning News)
Sooners' D-Line overmatched by Texas' OL? One perceived mismatch entering the game was Texas' offensive line over OU's defensive line. The perception held true early as the Longhorns compiled nearly half (56) of their 127 total rushing yards in the first quarter. Defensive end Larry Birdine says the Sooners weren't caught off guard by much of what Texas did on the offensive line. "Their running backs were able to make plays and their linemen were staying on blocks." (NewsOK.com)
Peterson praises UT's kick coverage: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson praised the directional kickoffs of Texas' Greg Johnson. After Texas' first touchdown, Peterson returned the kickoff a career-long 59 yards, although an OU penalty negated 15 yards of it. But on his ensuing three returns, Peterson totaled 35 yards. "Every time I caught it, they were almost there in my face," he said. (Dallas Morning News)
Kelly disappointed with execution: OU receiver Malcolm Kelly was frustrated, but not by the fact that Texas limited him to two receptions for 31 yards. "Our execution was poor," he said. "I'm disappointed because no one really knows our potential like I feel our team does, and we definitely didn't show it." (Star-Telegram)
Lack of pressure costly to Sooners defensive: OU defensive end C.J. Ah You had a team-high eight tackles against UT, and Calvin Thibodeaux had three tackles for loss. But defensive end Larry Birdine said the line didn't put enough pressure on quarterback Colt McCoy, and when OU blitzed, the secondary became vulnerable. "I'm very disappointed, especially since I was a non-factor in the second half," said Birdine, who had only one tackle. (Dallas Morning News)
Sooners' fall to Longhorns 28-10: Colt McCoy probably doesn't realize how quickly things have changed in the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry. Not long ago, the No. 7 Longhorns were the ones getting outhustled, outcoached and flat-out beat. Now, it's the No. 13 Sooners who are finding ways to lose -- like having their best player give up on a loose ball near his end zone with the game still on the line in the fourth quarter. Adrian Peterson thought the ball bouncing off his hands meant an incomplete pass, not a fumbled lateral. Texas cornerback Aaron Ross wasn't sure, but scooped it up and scored just in case, and wound up with the touchdown that sealed a 28-10 victory Saturday in the 101st edition of the Red River rivalry. (USA Today - Stats)
OU-Texas Rivalry Highlights: Checkout limited Oklahoma-Texas highlight videos, from the past including Roy Williams 'Leap' and other video clips on the Oklahoma Sooners Video page.
Nessler expects same OU-Texas Game: ABC play-by-play announcer Brad Nessler doesn't believe Saturday's nationally televised OU-Texas game has lost its luster, despite each team having one loss. "I kind of get a kick out of everyone saying it's lost its luster," Nessler said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "I said to Mack (Brown) and Bob Stoops (Wednesday), lost its luster? Let me see. One team lost to the No. 1 team in the country and one team lost a game that they got robbed in. So what's bad about that? "You take away that, and they're both top 10. Even at this stage, Mack can't believe that Oklahoma is not ranked in the top 10. "That game at Oregon (OU's 34-33 loss on a disputed onside kick call) -- we just thought we were making progress with instant replay and that game set it back five years, if you ask me." (NewsOK.com)
Sooners confident with off-week: The Sooners have been asked repeatedly if having an atypical two weeks to prepare for Texas -- the first time that has happened since 1984 -- would affect their emotional readiness. "If you look back, our record when we've had extra time has been pretty good," Stoops said at one point. Indeed, the Sooners are 10-0 when coming off bye weeks during the regular season under Stoops. (Tulsa World)
First-year coach Patton ready for OU-Texas: First-year OU offensive line coach James Patton said he's excited about his first OU-Texas experience. This game was first mentioned to him by fans soon after he was hired. "Shoot, it was probably the first day I took the job," Patton said. "Everybody talks about that game. I've been in some good venues in the Big 10, but it sounds like this will be the best ever. "The Cotton Bowl and that environment, with the state fair and everything, I see it on tape from last year and you see outside the stadium and everything going on out there. It just looks like a real fun atmosphere." (NewsOK.com)
AD Joe Castiglione plans to keep game at Cotton Bowl and same time: The future of the Red River Rivalry in Dallas might be a topic of considerable debate. Any thought of moving the kickoff to night, however, apparently isn't up for discussion. ABC pushed to move this year's game to its prime-time slot, only to find both schools opposed. "Quite candidly, I don't see a day when we'll agree to play this game at night," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "There are just too many characteristics that are important to the fans. And too many issues for us to address to have that game at night. "I believe the fans like it just where it is. And they have been a big part of making this game what it is. ... We feel like it's placed just perfectly -- 2:30 in the afternoon." (NewsOK.com)
Friendly wager between Oklahoma-Texas Governors: As per tradition, the governors of Texas and Oklahoma have made a friendly wager on the game. The governor whose team is on the losing end will donate a basket of goods made in his state to a charity selected by the winning governor. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who was a yell leader at Texas A&M, issued this statement: "I have no doubt that Coach (Mack) Brown and the Longhorns will make it two in a row over the Sooners this Saturday in Dallas. Fortunately, OU's trip across the Red River won't be for nothing. They can get a look at the Longhorns' national championship trophy while they are in Texas." Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry made this prediction: "I have unwavering confidence that Coach Stoops and our Sooners will make Saturday a triumphant one for the crimson and cream." (Austin American-Statesman)
R. Smith back to practice: OU sophomore Reggie Smith returned to practice Wednesday. The starting strong safety missed two days of practice when a cut on his leg became infected. The cut was a turf burn suffered Sept. 16 at Oregon. The injury is not expected to affect Smith’s availability Saturday against Texas. (NewsOK.com)
Smith sits out practice, plans to play Saturday: Sophomore strong safety Reggie Smith missed his second straight day of practice Tuesday with an infection on his left shin, but said there is "no way" he'd miss the game with No. 7 Texas on Saturday. Smith said he sustained a turf burn in the game at Oregon on Sept. 16 and contracted an infection Saturday. "I guess I wasn't cleaning it good enough," Smith said. "They cut it open and let all the fluids drain out, and hopefully I'll be ready to go by tomorrow." Head coach Bob Stoops said earlier Tuesday that Smith would play against the Longhorns. "I'm missing physical reps, but mentally, I'm still in there," Smith said. (Tulsa World)
Bomar apologizes saying it was 'very bad mistake': In a letter sent to the NCAA, former Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar apologized, saying he didn't use proper judgment and "got caught up in the limelight" as reasons why he took money from a booster. In a letter dated Aug. 24, Bomar wrote that he wasn't blaming anyone and he was truly sorry. Bomar said he had embarrassed himself, his family and OU for the negative publicity. "I know the difference between right and wrong," Bomar wrote. "I had no intention of taking money for not working. I got caught up in a situation and listened to the wrong person. I made a very bad mistake." The News received the letter Tuesday as part of an open records request from Bomar's new school, Sam Houston State. The document did not mention how much money Bomar received from Big Red Sports/Imports, a Norman, Okla., car dealership, for work he did not perform. (Dallas Morning News)
Iowa State-Oklahoma Tickets Available: Oklahoma fans have been filling Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to overflowing this season and now another opportunity is availing itself. Iowa State has returned 350 tickets for the Oct. 14 game featuring the Sooners and the Cyclones. The tickets are on sale now. The cost of the tickets is $67 each. They may be purchased online at SoonerSports.com, on the phone at 1-800-456-GoOU or in person at the office located on the west side of the stadium. The kickoff time for the Sooners and Cyclones is yet to be announced. (SoonerSports PR)
No ESPN Game Day in Dallas: ESPN's "College Game Day" won't be at the State Fair of Texas Saturday. ESPN decided to send host Chris Fowler and analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso to Gainesville, Fla., Saturday for the Florida-LSU game. Stoops was asked if he was going to miss the hysteria Corso creates with his pregame prediction. "I'm sure he'll have his pick regardless of where he's at," the coach said. "Hey, it's going to be an exciting atmosphere regardless. There's been plenty of games where they haven't been there." (Norman Transcript)
OU-Texas fans to flip endzones after Saturday: To keep the Texas-Oklahoma series in Dallas through 2010, OU officials had to make a major concession during negotiations. OU will give up its seats in the Cotton Bowl's south end zone next year and end a decades-long tradition of Sooners fans sitting over the tunnel entrance, which enables them to cheer their team and harass their rivals. UT fans normally sit on the north end of the stadium, but school officials asked OU to flip sides last year as part of a gentleman's agreement. OU balked at that idea. Now, it's written into the five-year contract extension that the home team will choose its side, athletic directors at both schools said. "We didn't have to agree to anything," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "Let's make it loud and clear to everybody, there are always choices. Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds said it was the fair thing to do, and he praised Castiglione for agreeing to include the new seating option. Castiglione said officials thought the decision through. (Dallas Morning News)
AD has no regrets: Adrian Peterson never imagined that he would be in this position, never thought he would be asked about regrets. When Peterson, the consensus national high school player of the year in 2003 elected to cross the border, from Palestine High School into Oklahoma for college, he offered a practical reason. Oklahoma, the gifted running back suggested, had a better chance to win national championships than the Longhorns. Did he ever believe that Texas would win that race against Oklahoma? "No," Peterson said on Monday. Even so, Peterson said he has not second-guessed himself. "No regrets at all," he said. Peterson said he knows a few of the Longhorns, particularly defensive tackle Frank Okam. They met after their senior seasons in high school at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl game. "I talk to Frank every now and then," Peterson said. "He likes showing that (championship) ring off." (Austin American-Statesman)
OU expects eight-nine men in the box: It's expected Texas, thinking their defensive backs are good enough to cover OU's receivers one-on-one, will put eight and nine defenders near the line to stop Peterson. "I'm pretty sure they'll find out that if they put nine guys in the box," Peterson said, "we've got guys that are pretty good receivers out there that can make plays." (Tulsa World)
Texas' Robison plans to play: Texas defensive end Brian Robison, who didn't play last week against Sam Houston State because of a knee injury, said Monday he will play against Oklahoma Saturday in Dallas. Texas officials don't disclose specific injury information. Robison was injured when he was leg-whipped by an Iowa State offensive lineman Sept. 23. But Robison said he was about 75 percent healthy last Saturday and could have played. "We just decided it would probably be safer if we didn't," Robison said. Robison said he expects a decision to be made by Wednesday or Thursday as to how much he will play against OU. (NewsOK.com)
Peterson's father waits to see son play: Peterson said his father, Nelson Peterson -- remanded to an Oklahoma City halfway house after seven years in a federal penitentiary -- can't attend Saturday's OU-Texas game. Nelson will be allowed to attend next week's Iowa State game, the first time he's seen his son play live since seventh grade. "It's been tough," Nelson Peterson said. "You know, you're 20 minutes up the road and you can't come down and see your son play." (Tulsa World)
Crossing the Stateline: Finley said that crossing the Red River to play football at Oklahoma hasn't sat well with some of his friends back home. His family doesn't care, though. Finley's brother Clint played at Nebraska. The Huskers and Sooners both have rivalries with the Longhorns. "Every time we go home," Finley said, "somebody always gives it to you that you're a traitor for going over the state line." Finley saw limited action (about 15 plays) in last season's game against Texas. He missed a key block on third down that allowed Michael Huff to race through and smash quarterback Rhett Bomar. (Dallas Morning News)
Sooners' watch Ohio State-Texas BUT: Don't expect the Sooners to pull many pages from the Buckeyes' playbook and try to fit them into their offense. "We watch what everybody does against (Texas), not just Ohio State," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "If somebody runs the triple option against them and it works, it doesn't mean you do. We’ll do what we feel fits our players and our schemes." (NewsOK.com)
