Sooners begin two-a-days: Heavy rain greeted the Sooners Monday morning as two-a-day practices commenced. The team worked inside the Everest Training Facility for the second time this preseason beginning at 9 a.m. Oklahoma will alternate between two-a-day and single practices this week with Monday, Wednesday and Friday scheduled as the double days. The team's second scrimmage will be Saturday at the stadium. The August 18th practices will be open to the public but all other practices and scrimmages are closed. (More at SoonerSports.com)
English still recovering: Starting defensive ends Auston English and Jeremy Beal continue their recovery from ailments. English says he is still a week from returning full-go from his appendectomy. "I'm just lifting, conditioning, trying to maintain what I have, gradually getting into some non-contact drills, footwork, things like that," he said. "It's really frustrating because you see those guys making strides and really meshing as a D-line. You want to be in the mix and get that cohesion with the rest of the group." (Tulsa World)
Jarboe to choose a college this week? In a T-shirt, shorts and trademark dreads, Jarboe strolled the buggy Cedar Grove practice field last week while his old team worked out in the heat. He talked to coaches, gave tips to players, answered calls on his cellphone. Coaches say a string of schools have called -- from Big Ten and SEC programs to historically black colleges. He's eligible to play this season and could choose a new school this week. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
OU football practice pushed back again due to heat: For the second straight day Oklahoma moved its football practice back due to excessive heat in the Norman area. The Sooners will begin the workout at 5:45 p.m., on the OU Rugby Fields. Again on Tuesday forecasters are looking for temperatures to top the 100-degree mark. With winds hovering in the 5-10 miles per hour range, the heat index is projected at 106 degrees and could climb higher. The team will be on the field for approximately two hours.(SoonerSports PR)
New comers receive their numbers; Jermie Calhoun #23: Newcomers officially wore their OU numbers for the first time on the practice field including junior transfer Mike Balogun (10) at linebacker, freshman running back Jermie Calhoun (23) and freshman Stephen Good (77) at offensive line. SoonerSports.com released an updated printable roster to assist fans in learning the new jersey numbers. (SoonerSports.com)
Coach Stoops on Oklahoma's first fall practice: "We worked on just about everthing, every part of the game," said Stoops. "I saw a lot of good things. There was excellent carry over from spring practice and that's always something you look for in your early August workouts. The guys really looked good. "We got a chance to look at a lot of young guys. We would like to play every one of them this season if that's the way it work outs. "We worked on the no-huddle some. I was pleased. "The heat was no factor at all. They've worked out in this heat for a lot of the summer. "I thought our specialists looked good. We've got a couple new long snappers (James Winchester, Ben Hampton) and both of them were impressive."
Defense Coordinator Brent Venables: "I think we found some players. We've had a few question marks, but I was pleased with the development. Now we're pretty simplistic right now and we'll put more in every day, so we'll see how much we progress, but overall I was pretty happy."
Offense Coordinator Kevin Wilson: "All eight of the freshmen played with the two's. They have the skill level to be on the field. We need to see how they hold up and how much they learn. Our job is to get them up to speed."
Sooner begin 2008 fall workouts: Oklahoma's football team, ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/Coaches preseason poll, arrived in Norman Sunday to begin preparations for the 2008 season. The squad went through a lengthy orientation session during afternoon in the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club. Dinner was served at 6 p.m., and the players dispersed for the evening. Monday, the first day of practice, begins with conditioning and a weight lifting test at 7:30 a.m., before breakfast is served at 8:45 a.m. A series of meetings begins at 11:30 a.m., before a 4:30 p.m., practice. The workout is scheduled to conclude at 6:30 p.m.(SoonerSports PR)
David Sims expected to report late: Safety David Sims is not expected to be around for Oklahoma's first practice today. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said he didn't know when the junior-college transfer would report, but that it should be some time before OU's Sept. 30 [editors note: correct date is Aug. 30] opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga. Sims, out of Oroville, Calif., is still trying to complete his academic work at Butte Community College, which he must do before coming to Norman. Venables was counting on Sims competing for OU's nickelback position, which is usually played by the team's third safety.(The Oklahoman) Walk-on Allgood career over: Sophomore walk-on tight end Ryan Allgood will no longer being playing football after doctors recently discovered two degenerating discs in his lower back. Allgood, who attended Grove High School, saw time last season in wins over North Texas and Utah State. (The Oklahoman)