Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

ESPN College GameDay to broadcast live from Stillwater: It became official late Sunday morning that ESPN College Football Gameday will broadcast its show from outside Boone Pickens Stadium Saturday before the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma game. GameDay, hosted by Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Lee Corso and Desmond Howard, will set up on the library lawn for shows on Friday and Saturday. (The Oklahoman)

Labels: Bedlam, College GameDay, Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

College Game Day live from Norman: ESPN College GameDay is headed to Norman. The weekly college football show will broadcast live from OU's campus on Saturday, Nov. 22, as the No. 5 Sooners host No. 2 Texas Tech at Owen Field. The show goes live at 9 a.m. CT on Saturday. The set will be located inside the track at the John Jacobs Track & Field Complex immediately east of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The site is the same location as the last broadcast in Norman on Oct. 13, 2007, when the Sooners defeated Missouri. It will be the 20th time the show has been on hand for an Oklahoma game and the sixth time the program has televised live from Norman. (SoonerSports PR)

Notebook -- Gameday coming to Norman: The Oklahoman

Leach left legacy at OU: The Oklahoman

Breaking down Tech: The Oklahoman

Tech's skill -- avoiding negative plays: The Oklahoman

Sooners hold steady at No. 5: The Oklahoman

OU Notebook: Tulsa World

Know the Foe: Tulsa World

Sooners a long way from 1998: Tulsa World

Sooners drop in coaches poll: Tulsa World

For OU, style points have become very important: The Oklahoma Daily

Expect controversy if OU beats Tech: San Antonio Express-News

Tech gets chance to disappoint doubters again: Dallas Morning News

Tech trying to maintain focus for Oklahoma: Star-Telegram

No need to talk about national title yet: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Sooners have second chance for BCS title shot: Fox Sports.com

High stakes for Tech, Oklahoma as showdown looms: USA Today

Labels: College GameDay, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Tech

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

ESPN College GameDay at Cotton Bowl: ESPN's College GameDay will be at the OU-Texas football game this week at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The show starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, two hours before kickoff between OU and Texas. The Sooners' game against the Longhorns will be televised on ABC HD. College GameDay will be on ESPN HD. GameDay is hosted by Chris Fowler, with analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. According to a press release from ESPN, the first hour of the show will originate from outside the Cotton Bowl. The second hour will originate from the field inside the stadium. (Tulsa World)

Injury update; Granger, McCoy expected to play: After practice on Monday, coach Bob Stoops raised the hopes of Sooner fans everywhere. "Everyone practiced to some degree today," Stoops said. "And right now our trainers are pretty optimistic and feel that everyone will be ready to play. Now, I'm not going to detail it all week on who is where, what percentage — I don't know how to do any of that. It's their feeling today that everyone's expected to play. If I know at one point that someone isn't going to play, then I'll say so." The question marks surrounded a pair of captains in defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and center Jon Cooper, and defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, a former starter who hasn't played since a foot injury at Washington. (Tulsa World)

The real McCoy? Texas QB regains form: The Oklahoman

Red River win won't change recruiting: The Oklahoman

OU Notebook -- Clayton earns co-defensive player honors: The Oklahoman

OU staff optimistic on injured players: The Oklahoman

This year, OU-Texas is how it should be: OU Daily

Dallas showdown could make or break Sooners’ season: OU Daily

Stoops kicks up the confidence: Tulsa World

Ex-Sooners, 'Horns honor hero: Tulsa World

Stoops discusses OU-Texas game in teleconference: Tulsa World

Stoops thrives in OU-Texas week: Tulsa World

Oklahoma emphasizes being victorious visitors: Dallas Morning News

Texas hopes to get to Oklahoma's Bradford: Dallas Morning News

Lines could decide Red River Rivalry: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Defensive coordinator bleeds energy into Texas defense: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

RB Chris Ogbonnaya to start against OU: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Stoops is transformed by Red River Rivalry hope: ESPN.com

Healthy Oklahoma defensive front adds to Texas' woes: ESPN.com

Power Rankings -- Sooners, Tide then who?: ESPN.com

Matchup -- The receivers: Austin American-Statesman

Scouting Oklahoma: Austin American-Statesman

Notebook -- Ogbonnaya gets start, UT still seeks answers: Austin American-Statesman

When Texas-OU play, turnovers are key: Austin American-Statesman

Questions and answers on UT-OU matchup: Austin American-Statesman

McCoy has made name for himself among Sooners: Austin American-Statesman

OU's Reynolds took tough road to perfection: San Antonio Express-News

Lewis goes from running back to OU's leading tackler: San Antonio Express-News

Stakes keep getting bigger for Stoops, Brown: San Antonio Express-News

Running game still a puzzle for UT: San Antonio Express-News

Red River Rivalry -- Gunning for No. 1: San Antonio Express-News

No. 1 Sooners could be healed in time for Texas: Associated Press/Google News

Texas-OU Notes -- Third downs an issue for 'Horns: Houston Chronicle

It's a fitting time for Red River Shootout: Fox Sports.com

Labels: College GameDay, DeMarcus Granger, Gerald McCoy

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

ESPN's Mel Kiper praises Sam Bradford: From ESPN SportsNation chat, NFL Draft guru, Mel Kiper talks about Sam Bradford's potential.

Q: Rob (Omaha, NE): Better QBs: Big 12 or NFC West?
Mel Kiper: Oh boy... in the NFC West, you have (Matt) Hasselbeck, Trent Green, JT O'Sullivan and Kurt Warner. But you can't compare the two. The Big 12 has some great college QBs. The best is Sam Bradford. By far. It's not even close when you project to the NFL. He's tremendously accurate. Unbelieveable smarts and intelligence. He's tall. Makes great decisions. Excellent talent around him. He's going to have a decision to make in January. (Missouri's) Chase Daniel could win the Heisman, but he's not going to project highly in the NFL. (More at ESPN.com)

More Bradford & ESPN...

ESPN College GameDay to feature Sam Bradford: ESPN College Gameday's Desmond Howard was in Norman Wednesday filming a piece on Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford against the backdrop of Bradford's favorite hobby, golf. The two talked while hitting putts and sand shots at the Charlie Coe Golf Center on the University of Oklahoma campus. During the interview, which lasted 45 minutes, Howard asked Bradford about the similarities of golf and football, and a myriad of other topics. The segment will air this Saturday during the Gameday show. ESPN College Gameday runs from 9-11 a.m. CT. (SoonerSports PR)

Could Big 12 champ be left out of title game: The Oklahoman

OU's Lewis successfully moves to linebacker: The Oklahoman

OU football notebook: The Oklahoman

Last time TCU visited Norman...: Norman Transcript

How does DeMarcus Granger's injury affect the Sooners?: Tulsa World

TCU coach's 'spying' ploy may backfire: Tulsa World

Up close with Lendy Holmes: Tulsa World

Know the foe -- TCU: Tulsa World

Notebook: Tulsa World

What they're writing: Tulsa World

TCU defense, OU offense to collide in Norman: Houston Chronicle

Horned Frogs don't need extra motivation against Oklahoma: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Big 12 predictions: Oklahoma to dominate TCU: ESPN.com CFB Blog

Labels: College GameDay, NFL Draft, Oklahoma Sooners, Sam Bradford

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Coaches on Bradford's performance: Quarterback Sam Bradford passed another test with his first win over Texas. His performance was hardly a fluke, said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "We had a pretty good blitz period Wednesday and he made some great plays, and (passing game coordinator) Kevin Sumlin said to him, 'That's a good blitz period,' and he said, 'We're going to do that Saturday,' " Wilson recalled. "He was just very assertive about it. I think he's a prideful kid. We didn't play well the previous game, and I think he took that personally as well. He had a great week of practice." (Tulsa World)

ESPN GameDay location: ESPN's College GameDay will originate from Norman this weekend and University of Oklahoma officials have announced logistics for fans wanting to be part of the event. The location for the set will be the infield of John Jacobs Track, which is immediately east of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Fans may enter from gates that will be open only on the southwest corner of the track facility. Officials are stressing that the track itself will be closed and all pedestrians should restrict themselves to the grass infield or bleachers on the south side of the track. The first time that ESPN will originate from Norman is Friday at 4 p.m. Gates will be open to fans at 3:00 p.m. The Saturday morning show originates at 9 a.m. ESPN has requested that fans be in place by 8 a.m., and gates will be open at 7 a.m. The parking lots adjacent to the track will be controlled on Friday and Saturday as they are on all game weekends. Those attending GameDay functions will need to make alternate parking plans. (SoonerSports PR)

Oklahoma's D-Line doing fine: SoonerSports.com

Herbstreit facing a light Saturday: The Oklahoman

Sooner captain learned lessons in discipline from older sibling: The Oklahoman

OU was interested in Keller: The Oklahoman

OU Notebook: The Oklahoman

Coach cultivated Murray's moves: Tulsa World

OU -- The List: Tulsa World

Breakout performance: Norman Transcript

Backup TEs to play more at OU: Dallas Morning News

Sooners will test Mizzou's D: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri receiver getting involved in the action: Columbia Tribune

Bradford is a star in his home state: Kansas City Star

Missouri's defense gains confidence after Nebraska win: Kansas City Star

Labels: College GameDay, Oklahoma Sooners, Sam Bradford

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

ESPN College GameDay Live! from Norman: ESPN College GameDay is headed for Norman again. Officials with the weekly college football show contacted the Oklahoma Athletics Department Sunday morning with the word that the network had selected this week's homecoming game with the Missouri Tigers. It will be the 14th time the show has been on hand for an Oklahoma game, including last year's game at Texas A&M. GameDay's last visit to Norman was for the 2003 Oklahoma State game. Other trips to Norman included the 2000 Nebraska game, the 2001 Kansas State game and the 1995 Colorado game. The exact location for the GameDay set will be determined later this week. GameDay features host Chris Fowler and analysts Lee Corso, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard, who spend two hours each Saturday morning providing in-depth coverage of college football. (SoonerSports PR)

Brown returned with eight carries: Chris Brown, who took a blow to the head at Tulsa and carried just once at Colorado last week, rejoined OU's tailback rotation. He carried eight times for just 24 yards, but converted on third-and-short during two touchdown drives. (Tulsa World)

Peterson on the OU sideline: Former OU star running back Adrian Peterson cheered the Sooners from the sidelines Saturday. His new team, the Minnesota Vikings, is off this week. "It felt like he was still one of us," junior wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. "After every play, he was hitting you and saying congratulations. He was one of those great players, and I still feel like he's part of this team." (Dallas Morning News)

Harris celebrates 21st birthday with eight tackles: Oklahoma free safety Nic Harris couldn't have envisioned a much better 21st birthday. The Alexandria, La., native turned 21 Saturday and celebrated with the first victory over Texas in his three seasons at OU. Harris had a team-high eight tackles and one quarterback sack. (NewsOK.com)

Play of the Game? With the score tied 14-14 at halftime, Texas came out firing to start the second half. The Longhorns marched 64 yards in seven plays to set up first-and-goal from the Oklahoma 8. A delay of game penalty pushed the ball back to the 13. Texas running back Jamaal Charles rushed over left tackle and was headed toward the end zone when OU linebacker Curtis Lofton grabbed him from behind and used his right hand to slap the football from Charles' grasp. Stoops called it the "play of the game." OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy recovered the fumble at the OU 4-yard line. (Dallas Morning News)

Gerald McCoy returned to starting lineup: Oklahoma redshirt freshman Gerald McCoy returned to the starting lineup at defensive tackle for the first time since the second week of the season. McCoy broke a bone in his right hand against Miami and sat out the following week. McCoy has played the last two games as a backup, with his hand in a cast. (Dallas Morning News)

OU's Championship goal intact: The Oklahoman

No more doubt about it -- Bradford and Murray are real deals: The Oklahoman

Rain before and after, but it's clear during game: The Oklahoman

OU back in the national title picture: The Oklahoman

Making Finley disappea: The Oklahoman

Lofton forces key fumble by Texas' Charles: The Oklahoman

Texas coach offers curious responses: The Oklahoman

Sooner victory cements boomer pride: The Oklahoman

OU-Texas by the Numbers: The Oklahoman

Big win in Big D: Tulsa World

OU defense pulls plug on UT's Finley: Tulsa World

Murray's big day draws rave reviews: Tulsa World

OU's Kelly doesn't stay down long: Tulsa World

OU Two Minute Drill: Tulsa World

OU fountain of youth led by green Bradford: Tulsa World

Last week's lessons aid OU: Tulsa World

Sooners edge Longhorns in closest game in decade: Austin American-Statesman

Longhorns played well, but moral victories don't count: Austin American-Statesman

OU win keeps Big 12 in national title hunt: Austin American-Statesman

Longhorns lament Charles' fumble: Austin American-Statesman

DeMarco Murray earns a place in OU-Texas lore: Austin American-Statesman

OU freshman RB Murray stars: Dallas Morning News

A true game of inches: Dallas Morning News

Charles' miscue costly: Dallas Morning News

Red River Rivalry -- 5 Key Moments: Dallas Morning News

Sooners freshmen display verteran moxie to upend 'Horns:Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Down days are becoming all too familiar for Texas football fans: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Familiar woes surface as Texas falls just short: Houston Chronicle

Youthful Bradford shows verteran's poise: Houston Chronicle

Magnificent Murray breathes life into Sooners: CBS Sportsline.com

Bradford's steady play steers Sooners past Horns: ESPN.com

Labels: Adrian Peterson, Chris Brown, College GameDay, Gerald McCoy, Oklahoma Sooners, OU-Texas

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Hartley among Groza Semifinalist: Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley has been named a semifinalist for the 2006 Lou Groza Award by the Palm Beach County Sports Institute and Sports Commission. The honor is presented annually to the nation's top placekicker. Twenty players have advanced to the semifinal round. The winner will be announced Dec. 7 during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Hartley, a junior from Southlake, Texas, has been brilliant through the first eight games. He has made 14-of-15 field goals and all 29 of his point after touchdown kicks. His lone miss came at Oregon when, after kicking a career-high four field goals, his final attempt of the game was blocked. Hartley ranks No. 4 in nationally in field goals made per game at 1.75 and No. 14 in scoring with 8.88 points per game. His field goals made percentage of .933 ranks first among kickers with more than 10 makes. A group of head coaches, sports writers and sportscasters, conference representatives, professional kickers and previous Groza Award finalists vote on the honor. (SoonerSports PR)

More Brown to Come: Both Stoops and offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson anticipate the reappearance of tailback Chris Brown, the true freshman who carried four times late against Colorado two weeks ago, but did not get in the game at Missouri. "It wasn't like he had a bad week or anyone was upset with him," Wilson said. "I think we just got into a deal where on the road, in a close game, ball security (was an issue). Us as coaches were being a little cautious." Wilson said running backs coach Cale Gundy determines game-day reps for the tailbacks. "I was surprised probably like a lot of people that Chris Brown wasn't in," Wilson said. "But at the same time, the way it worked out, we didn't need him." (Tulsa World)

College GameDay from College Station FYI: The show will be carried from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fans are encouraged to be at the site as early as 6 a.m. and will be allowed into the area at 7 a.m. No tents or alcohol are permitted, and signs will be inspected.

Sooners set for tilt with Texas A&M: SoonerSports.com

OU Football Notebook: The Oklahoman

Herbstreit will call the OU-Texas A&M game : The Oklahoman

Q&A with Kirk Herbstreit: The Oklahoman

Aggies' Kyle Field a source of weakness for OU: The Oklahoman

The Kyle Field factor: The Oklahoman

OU's Patrick a pleasant surprise: Dallas Morning News

Are Aggies good after all?: Waco Tribune

Turnaround for Texas A&M: USA Today

A&M finds late better than never on defense: San Antonio Express-News

Aggies should have just enough to down OU: San Antonio Express-News

Labels: Chris Brown, College GameDay, ESPN, Garrett Hartley, Semi Finalist

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

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)

Sooner defenders confident heading to Dallas: Norman Transcript

Stoops has the swagger that reminds of better days: Norman Transcript

OU football notebook: The Oklahoman

End of winning streak doesn't change Stoops' approach: The Oklahoman

Thompson was close to being a Longhorn: The Oklahoman

'Big Game Bob' needs a win: The Oklahoman

QB's defining moment came early: The Oklahoman

OB McCoy leads potent UT offense: Tulsa World

Stoops seems confident in team, as usual: Tulsa World

Thompson as QB? UT couldn't grasp it: Dallas Morning News

Trophy hunters often grab big game: Dallas Morning News

Oklahoma QB answers critics: Daily Texan

Texas faces challenge of slowing Peterson: Austin American-Statesman

Sooners love bye weeks: Austin American-Statesman

Brown says UT's fortitude will be tested: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Red River Rivalry Key Matchup: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Cotton Bowl is a tradition, but also a relic: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

OU defense to gauge progress with Texas: Ft. Worth Star Telegram

OU's Stoops keys on here, now: San Antonio Express-News

Horns hope to halt Heisman hopes: San Antonio Express-News

Mack leaves need to act in the past: San Antonio Express-News

Thompson hit the jackpot at Oklahoma by changing positions: Houston Chronicle

Labels: College GameDay, Endzone, ESPN, Iowa State, Reggie Smith, Rhett Bomar, Tickets