Minnesota no longer interested in Heupel: The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports that Gophers head coach Tim Brewster has denied an Internet report that he offered Heupel the job, and the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Heupel is no longer a candidate. Heupel on Tuesday replied to a Tulsa World text message query by saying, "turned down opportunity." (Tulsa World)
Bradford back wearing a cast: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford is again wearing a cast on his injured left thumb. Bradford suffered torn ligaments in the thumb and underwent surgery before the BCS championship game. (AP/KFSM)
Heupel offered offense coordinator job? Minn. coach denies offer: SoonerScoop.com has reported Heupel has been offered the job, though Gophers coach Tim Brewster said no offer has been made. One source with knowledge of the situation said Heupel was at least high on the Gophers' wish list and could interview for the position in person by the end of the weekend. Published reports from Texas indicate that Texas running backs coach Major Applewhite and Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgerson were contacted by the U. Both chose to stay with their current teams. Whether Heupel would take the job is unclear. Brewster said Heupel has not been offered the job, but he wouldn't comment further, saying only that he was thinking of a number of potential candidates. (Star Tribune)
Former UCLA Offensive Coordinator Norvell hired: Jay Norvell has joined Oklahoma's football staff as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach. OU head coach Bob Stoops made the announcement today. Technically it's the second tour of duty for Norvell with Oklahoma. He had been announced in a similar position prior to the 2002 season, but then opted to join the staff of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. Norvell left the Oakland Raiders in February of 2004 for a three-year stint at Nebraska. In 2007, he was the offensive coordinator at UCLA. "Jay has a varied and impressive background of coaching both college and professional football and we are excited that he is coming to Oklahoma," Stoops said. "He brings with him expertise in both coaching and recruiting and we feel there are significant contributions that he can make to our program." Norvell said that the positives of the Oklahoma program are overwhelming. "I'm so excited to work with Bob and the staff there," he said. "I have so much respect for that program. The talent of the team, the quality of the staff and the tremendous support all mean so much to me. I've worked at a lot of schools and I know that this is a special situation. "I've known Bob for a long time and he is tops. Several of the assistant coaches are good friends to so there are just so many positive aspects to this move." The new Sooner assistant said his background should benefit the OU program. (SoonerSports PR)
Norvell to join Oklahoma coaching staff: Oklahoma has found its new wide receivers, according to comments to the Lincoln (Neb.) Journal-Star. Jay Norvell, who had been offensive coordinator at Nebraska from 2004-06 and spent last season in the same position at UCLA, indicated he had accepted the position in a text message. "I had some other pretty good opportunities," Norvell's message said. "It was just too appealing to be at Oklahoma with all of the talent it has returning. It's a hell of a group. There were some other coordinator positions I looked at, but there wasn't the right combination of talent and (institutional) support." OU officials couldn't confirm the report. (Norman Transcript)
Sumlin hires graduate assistant: Sumlin is taking OU defensive graduate assistant Zac Spavital with him to coach the cornerbacks at Houston. (The Oklahoman)
No other staff changes expected: Stoops said that other than Sumlin and Spavital leaving for Houston, he expects there to be no other coaching changes. "No, I don't believe there will be anymore,” Stoops said. "I believe they will be the only changes.”(The Oklahoman)
Vacancy after Glenn heads to Wyoming: Former OU graduate assistant Casey Glenn has been hired as Wyoming's director of football operations. Glenn is the son of Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn. At Oklahoma, Casey Glenn assisted in coaching the offensive line the last two seasons. Sooners coach Bob Stoops has not yet determined who will fill Glenn's vacant grad assistant spot. (NewsOK.com)
Props to the O-Line: Runnning back DeMarco Murray on the offensive line, "The offensive line did a great job blocking," the redshirt freshman said.
Also, to note.. Today is Oklahoma's final spring practice of 2007.
Dave White joins Sooners Coaching Staff: Bishop Gorman High School on Thursday announced the resignation of football coach Dave White. White, who coached the Gaels for four seasons, is leaving to take a job as an offensive graduate assistant at Oklahoma. White said he would initially work with the offensive line and could eventually spend more time coaching the tight ends. White was a tight end at UNLV. White said he is looking forward to the opportunity to work under Sooners head coach Bob Stoops. "I've said all along I'm either here (at Gorman) or I'm going to Oklahoma," White said. "He offered me the position two years ago and I turned it down. Now this is a time in my life and the opportunity is there again. Bob sees something in me, and I've got to take advantage of it." Gorman has had several players go on to play in college during White's time as head coach, including Ryan Reynolds and DeMarco Murray, who both are at Oklahoma. (Las Vegas Journal) White posted a 30-12 record at Gorman High School in his four year tenure.
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes Bob Stoops on the list of Cowboys' candidates: After two weeks of speculation by outsiders, Parcells -- the sixth head coach in Dallas Cowboys history -- announced that he was finished with football, ending a 20-year NFL career that included three Super Bowls, two of which he won. Media outlets and those close to the Cowboys organization have already discussed several familiar names as possible successors. University of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and former Cowboys offensive coordinator Norv Turner are considered instant candidates. Other possible replacements include New Orleans coach Sean Payton, Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Arkansas coach Houston Nutt. (Austin American Statesman)
Might Jerry Jones prefer NFL experience? You want to know who the next head coach is going to be. Well, if you have listened to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, then you can probably rule out any college head coach lacking NFL experience. That probably means no Bob Stoops, no Tommy Tuberville, no Houston Nutt, no Les Myles, no Mack Brown. Jones thinks the learning curve is not conducive to picking up where Parcells has left off. (DallasCowboys.com Blogger)
Stoops high on Falcons head coaching list: Last week, ESPN's NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, reported it on ESPN NFL Sunday Countdown.. Now FOXSports is reporting it.. NFL on FOX Insider John Czarnecki reported that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops supposedly is high on Atlanta's wish list.
