Limited editions posters available: Sooner fans attending the 2008 Red/White Game on Saturday have an opportunity to pick up a limited edition poster celebrating Oklahoma's championship run in the 2000s. Rings and trophies accompany six team photos on the poster honoring Oklahoma's five Big 12 Conference titles and the 2000 National Championship. On Saturday, kiosks located inside the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium lower concourse will provide a limited number of the free posters in addition to 2008 OU football schedule magnets. Kickoff for the Red/White Game is set for 1 p.m., and the contest will not be televised or webcast. The only place to see the game will be from a seat at the stadium. This is the last week to purchase half-price tickets. Through Friday, tickets are $5 each. On game day, that price doubles to $10. (SoonerSports PR)
Lofton spends time at The Children's Center: Former OU linebacker Curtis Lofton hasn't been spending all his time preparing for the NFL since declaring for the draft back in January. Last week, Lofton visited The Children's Center in Bethany and met with several of the kids staying there. "This was really emotional, seeing all these little kids and how they are going through so many things,” Lofton said. "I'll complain about being tired or about my back hurting, but this puts it all into perspective.” (The Oklahoman)
LB Curtis Lofton runs 4.77 40-yard dash: Former Sooner linebacker Curtis Lofton needed a breakout performance at the NFL Scouting Combine to enter serious discussions about emerging as a first-round selection. Now it seems NFL franchises will have to overlook his combine performance for that to be possible Monday, Lofton ran a 4.77 40-yard dash time, which didn't rank inside the top 10 for inside linebackers (already as a whole being termed a "slow group”). Lofton was hoping to run somewhere in the 4.6 range. (The Oklahoman)
Curtis Lofton to enter NFL Draft: Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton has decided to enter his name in the National Football League Draft. He becomes the second Sooner junior this year to do so. Junior receiver Malcolm Kelly made a similar announcement last Thursday. "Curtis made a lot of big plays during his time here," said OU head coach Bob Stoops. "We wish him all the best in the NFL." Lofton said he reached the decision Sunday. "I'll definitely miss my coaches and teammates," he said. "I came in with my class three years ago and those guys are like brothers to me. And I'll miss playing in front of those 85,000 fans." Lofton said the atmosphere at Oklahoma readied him for the next step. (SoonerSports PR)
Lofton named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week: Oklahoma linebacker Curtis Lofton has been named the Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Week. The junior earned the honor for his effort against No. 11-ranked Missouri last Saturday. Lofton had a career-high 18 tackles and a 12-yard fumble return for a touchdown at a critical juncture in the contest. OU had just re-taken the lead at 29-24 early in the fourth quarter when Lofton scooped up the loose ball and gave his team an 11-point bulge. OU led by at least 10 points for the remainder of the game. The Kingfisher, Okla., native now has 82 tackles on the season. That figure leads Oklahoma and more than doubles the career total of 40 he amassed during his first two seasons in the program. Last week, Reggie Smith won the Big 12 defensive honor for his work in the win over Texas. It was a repeat for Smith, who also won the award after Oklahoma's win over Miami. (SoonerSports PR)
No changes planned at kicker: Kicker Garrett Hartley missed a PAT and had another blocked against Missouri. Hartley, a senior, is 40-for-46 on PAT attempts and 5-for-7 from field-goal range. Despite the struggles, OU football coach Bob Stoops said there are no plans to change kickers. He said the PAT was missed was due to a bad hold by Hays McEachern and the line was to blame for the block. Nonetheless, the gaffes have been and will continue to be addressed. “We have to get that unit sharper and we will,” he said. (Norman Transcript)
Bradford seventh on CSTV Heisman List: 7. Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma (9) -- has beaten both Texas and Missouri, and could get a New York invite if the Sooners win out. (Complete list at CSTV)
Wolfe suffers strained quadriceps: OU co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright said Wednesday that senior strong safety D.J. Wolfe should not be limited Friday by a mild quadriceps strain that has bothered him this week. But just in case, Wright has gotten extra work for a few other players at the strong safety position this week, namely senior Darien Williams and freshman Dominique Franks. "If an emergency came up, we've got guys that are ready to go,” Wright said. (NewsOK.com)
Lofton plays sick against Utah State: Curtis Lofton's effort against Utah State last week -- a career-high 12 tackles and his first career interception, which he returned 45 yards for TD -- was strong enough on its own merit. Then came defensive coordinator Brent Venables' disclosure Monday. "He was sick before the game, threw up all over the linebacker drills," Venables said. "There were noodles on the 26-yard line." Still sick, Lofton took several intravenous fluids Monday. (Tulsa World)
Oklahoma HS ADs and Coaches not in favor of Friday night college games: Lawton athletic director Steve Cothren said his district draws 70 percent of its annual revenue through football ticket sales. "The decision these three Oklahoma universities made to play on Friday was based on the revenue they will gain from the TV broadcast with a total disregard for the revenue Oklahoma high school athletic departments will lose," Cothren said. "I am not saying that because of these two football games we will not be able to fund athletics in Lawton. I am saying that the actions of these three universities are disappointing and show us that we are not important to them." (NewsOK.com)
Stoops: Lofton compares to great OU LBs in awhile: Bob Stoops speaking to the media on Curtis Lofton told them.. "He's playing as well as anyone we've had,” he ( Stoops) said. "Really, Ryan is, too." (NewsOK.com)
Patrick hopes to dominate Tulsa: “I expect us to go out and here and dominate,” running back Allen Patrick said. “That’s what we work on and that’s our goal, to go out and just dominate teams."(Tulsa World) OU begins short week for Tulsa: SoonerSports.com
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)
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
