DeMarcus Granger denied medical hardship waiver: The NCAA has denied a request for a medical hardship that would allow Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger to play another season for the Sooners. "It's very unfortunate for DeMarcus," OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday at his weekly news conference. "He has fought through that back, and he has part of a nerve that hasn't quite fully come back yet. They believe it will, it just hasn't over time to where he's not able to fire the one leg as strong or quick as he needs to. "It's been frustrating. He's been a great teammate. He's been out there working, up until the last week, trying to help. He's just not able to quite do it." Granger has been sidelined all season, his fifth at OU, after undergoing back surgery last December. (Tulsa World)
DeMarcus Granger to miss BCS Championship: Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger will miss Oklahoma's upcoming BCS title game appearance after undergoing back surgery, OU head coach Bob Stoops said Wednesday. "Our doctors and training staff have worked extensively with DeMarcus and it was finally determined that surgery was necessary," Stoops said. "We're disappointed for DeMarcus and are certainly anxious to do everything we can to assist his recovery." Granger, a junior from Dallas, played in 11 games during the 2008 season, all in a back-up role. He had 20 tackles and 2 fumble recoveries. (Dallas Morning News) In addition, Oklahoma announced earlier this week, DeMarco Murrary will miss the BCS Championship.
Kansas-OU set for 2:30 kickoff on ABC: ABC has announced that it will televise the Oklahoma-Kansas football game from Norman this Saturday. The network has set the kickoff time for 2:30 p.m. Oklahoma is ranked No. 4 in the Associated Press poll released today, while the Jayhawks, who own Big wins over Iowa State and Colorado, are No. 16. (SoonerSports.com)
OU-Texas 2nd highest rated CFB game of '08: From Sports Media Watch...The Longhorns' 45-35 victory over the Sooners drew a 6.3 overnight rating on ABC Saturday, marking the second best overnight of the season, behind only an 8.4 for Ohio State/USC in September. The 6.3 overnight is the best for a Noon regular season college football game since Ohio State/Michigan drew a 6.4 in 2007.
Box to replace Reynolds? Bob Stoops indicated Sunday that having Box play the middle is "probably what we'll do, but we're going to work through that." "Austin is not ready to be declared the guy," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "You have to go out there and earn it. It will be whoever is most consistent and whoever can make the plays that position requires you to make." (Tulsa World)
Venables on DeMarcus Granger recovery: "We hope and expect that he continues to get better and get a steady number of more snaps every week," defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "We'll just see how that all works."(Norman Transcript)
DT Granger in uniform and warming up:Dallas Morning News' Brandon George writes... Don't know if he'll play or not, but Oklahoma junior defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger of Kimball is in uniform and warming up on the field with the team right now alongside Gerald McCoy. Granger appears to be good to go.
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)
Granger may return to practice Monday? Injured defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger (foot) may be ready to return to practice next week in preparation for Texas. "The reports to this point are positive," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "There is good speculation that he could practice Monday. So we'll see." (The Oklahoman)
Robinson benched due to disciplinary? Stoops said left guard Duke Robinson's absence from the lineup throughout the TCU game was not injury related and was "more of a disciplinary issue" that was "not related to a few weeks ago" when Robinson was benched for the Tennessee-Chattanooga game. (Tulsa World)
Alexander to return soon? Stoops also said injured redshirt freshman defensive end Frank Alexander could return to practice Monday as well. Alexander has missed OU's last three games and isn't expected to play against Baylor on Saturday. Alexander is still recovering from a stab wound he suffered at a Norman nightclub. (Dallas Morning News)
Johnson disputes holding call: Oklahoma slot receiver Manny Johnson politely disputed the flag he received for holding on a play that wiped out an apparent 66-yard touchdown catch by tight end Jermaine Gresham in the first quarter against TCU on Saturday. "I'd tell you if I was holding him," Johnson said Tuesday. "I don't think it was a hold. It was a good block." Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson seemed to back Johnson. "If the [official] wants to call that," Wilson said, "I guess he calls it. In my eyes, it was hard to give [Johnson] a minus."(Star-Telegram)
DeMarcus Granger opts for rehabilitation on foot: Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said that Sooner defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger has elected to rehabilitate his injured left foot rather than undergo potentially season-ending surgery. Granger incurred the injury during the Sept. 13 game at Washington. Stoops added that Granger should be out of action three-four weeks, "and then we'll just see from there." (SoonerSports PR)
Crowder Football Scholarship fund: Sooner fans wishing to send contributions to the Eddie Crowder Football Scholarship fund are being asked to send checks payable to the OU Foundation to OU Athletics, 180 W. Brooks St., Norman, OK, 73019. Crowder, who played quarterback at OU in the 1950s, died Sept. 9 in a Lafayette, Colo., hospital from complications of leukemia. He was 77. (The Oklahoman)
Stoops on Granger injury: Coach Bob Stoop on DeMarcus Granger injury... "There's something in the tendon and the bone and they (OU physicians) are experimenting on whether to let it heal or take four weeks and see if DeMarcus can come back, or the other thing is to possibly do surgery and pin it," OU coach Bob Stoops said following Wednesday's practice. "DeMarcus and the doctors are uncertain. I know it's been reported that he's done for the year. That isn't the case yet. If he gets it pinned, he obviously will be. If he doesn't, he could be out four or five weeks. We'll just see." (Norman Transcript)
OU's practice schedule: With an idle Saturday, the Sooners altered their practice schedule slightly this week. "Our Tuesday and Wednesday as we go through the week are usually pretty heavy," Stoops said. "They go against each other a lot on inside drill and team sessions. We try to keep each other sharp. Blitz periods, we come after each other. We'll do that Tuesday and Wednesday and probably part of Thursday." (Tulsa World)
Moore to see more action: The Sooners plan to keep their four-man rotation at defensive tackle with or without Granger. Junior Cordero Moore will move up to Granger's spot. "I think he'll do a good job," defensive tackles coach Jackie Shipp said of Moore. "We'll keep working at it and we'll get him ready." Moore saw his first action of the season in the Washington game. He made one tackle. (Norman Transcript)
DeMarcus Granger out at least 4 weeks: Oklahoma junior defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger of Kimball will be out at least a month and could miss the rest of the season because of a left foot injury he suffered Saturday in a win at Washington, Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Wednesday. Stoops said that Granger and team physicians are considering two treatment options. One option is to allow the foot to heal, which Stoops said could take four to five weeks. The other is to undergo surgery and have a pin inserted into his foot, which would cause Granger to miss the remainder of the season. Stoops said he would make an announcement on the choice that is made once a decision on the treatment has been reached. (Dallas Morning News)
DeMarcus Granger suffering from a sprained left foot: Oklahoma junior defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger of Kimball suffered a sprained left foot late in the first half Saturday against Washington on a play in which Huskies' players appeared to rough him up. "There looked to be some of that," OU coach Bob Stoops said Monday. "Unfortunate any time any of that happens. There is always a lot of rough and tough play inside. Nobody here's whining about it." (Dallas Morning News)
Stoops thanks many others for 100th win: "There's been a ton of people responsible for it," Coach Bob Stoops said. "My great administration, great assistant coaches who have been fabulous to work with, a bunch of great young men we get to see who work so hard. "I feel fortunate every day, believe me, to be at such a quality place with such good people. Blessed and fortunate."
Granger suffers leg injury: The Sooners' only problem of the night came during the final drive of the first half, when DeMarcus Granger went down with a left leg injury. The junior defensive tackle, among OU's four-man rotation at defensive tackle, returned to the sideline in the second half on crutches and with a black boot around his lower leg. (Tulsa World)
Kickoff coverage changes: OU made two personnel changes on its kickoff coverage Saturday night. Backup linebacker Austin Box and fullback Matt Clapp replaced backup linebackers Mike Balogun and J.R. Bryant on the unit. (Norman Transcript)
Coach Stoops wins 100th career win at OU: The Oklahoman takes a look at previous OU head coaches record at 100th career win.
Coach (Overall record), Record at 100, Winning Pct. Bud Wilkinson (145-29-4), 100-8-3, .926 Barry Switzer (157-29-4), 100-18-3, .849 Bob Stoops (100-22), 100-22, .819 Bennie Owen (122-54-16), 100-33-9, .760
Bradford confident with OU's receivers: "I heard that comment (that Kelly's departure would hurt) all spring, and it really didn't make sense to me," Sam Bradford said. "We've got so many wide receivers that can make plays, and they proved it tonight." (Tulsa World)
Loadholt and Broyles suspended one game: [Phil] Loadholt's suspension may have stemmed from a June arrest for suspicion of DUI. OU coach Bob Stoops said Loadholt and Broyles were suspended for one game for "team reasons" and would be available to play Saturday against Cincinnati. (The Oklahoman)
Williams to play in '08? Defensive end John Williams also missed Saturday night's game, as he tries to determine if he's going to play the '08 season. Williams was awarded a sixth season of eligibility after the '07 season, much of which he missed after tearing his Achilles' tendon at Tulsa. (Tulsa World)
Granger dropped to No. 2 on depth chart due to back injury? Defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger did not start but played in the first quarter. Granger was sent home from the Fiesta Bowl after being charged with misdemeanor theft. Stoops, however, had said Granger's drop to No. 2 on the depth chart was related to a sore back that hampered him during August drills. Adrian Taylor started at tackle. (The Oklahoman)
Box likely to return against Cincinnati but where? Enid's Austin Box, who sat out Oklahoma's 57-2 rout of Chattanooga Saturday after having knee surgery earlier this month, should play this week against Cincinnati. "I anticipate he will," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Whether Box will return to his starting weakside linebacker spot is uncertain. Travis Lewis, who started in Box's place Saturday, led the Sooner defensive charge with four solo and two assisted tackles. "He's got to go back there and earn it," Venables said of Box. "We'll see how it goes." (Enid News and Eagle)
Second longest game in Sooner football history: Saturday's game, which spanned four hours and nine minutes, will go down as the second-longest in program history. The 2005 Baylor game, which went 4:12 through two overtimes, ranks as the longest. There have been five 4-hour games in OU history. The others: at Texas Tech in 2007 (4:03), Kansas State in 2000 (4:03) and Texas-El Paso in 2002 (4:00). (The Oklahoman)
Granger, Harris, English named to Nagurski watch list: Oklahoma football players Auston English, DeMarcus Granger and Nic Harris are among 88 players selected for the preseason Bronko Nagurski watch list for defensive player of the year. English, a junior defensive end from Canadian, Texas, led the Big 12 in quarterback sacks last season despite missing three games with a fractured ankle. Granger, a junior defensive tackle from Dallas, had 35 tackles last season, his first as a starter, and had 3.5 quarterback sacks in 13 games before a shoplifting arrest two days before the Fiesta Bowl got him suspended for the game. Harris, a senior safety from Alexandria, La., was All-Big 12 last season, when he had 74 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. He is recovering from offseason knee surgery and missed all of spring practice. The Sooners have had two previous Nagurski winners: Roy Williams in 2001 and Derrick Strait in 2003. (Tulsa World)
DeMarcus Granger pre-trial moved to April: OU defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger was supposed to have his pre-trial hearing with a Tempe, Ariz., prosecutor earlier this month. But his attorney, Jess Lorona, filed a motion to continue Granger's pre-trial hearing on April 8, where Granger or his attorney will meet with a prosecutor or plead to the court. Granger was arrested back in January, accused of misdemeanor theft just before the Fiesta Bowl. (The Oklahoman)
Injuries create opportunities on defense: At outside linebacker, that should include converted safety Keenan Clayton as well as redshirt freshmen Austin Box and Travis Lewis. Both Clayton and Box strong impressions during winter workouts. "Keenan Clayton, he and Austin Box have had great winters," Stoops said. "Keenan has been around here for several years now and we've been using him at that weak-side position. We're hoping Keenan can really make a difference. He has the ability to." (The Oklahoman)
OU's kicker to be determined: The Sooners also are looking to replace kicker Garrett Hartley. Redshirt freshmen Jimmy Stevens and Matthew Moreland will handle the chores in the coming weeks. Incoming freshman Tress Way will join the battle in the fall. (Norman Transcript)
Granger and Holmes to participate in spring practice: Despite being held out of the Fiesta Bowl for different reasons, defensive back Lendy Holmes and defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger will both participate in spring drills. Holmes didn't make the trip to Arizona after failing to stay academically eligible. But he has since made himself eligible to practice with the team again. Granger was arrested in Tempe, Ariz., accused of shoplifting. He was sent home the next day. (The Oklahoman)
Reminder Red/White tickets on sale today: The game is set for April 12 with a tentative kickoff time of 1 p.m. The tickets are $5 in advance or $10 the day of the game and will be available online, in person at the Athletics Ticket Office on the plaza level of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility or by phone at 405-325-2424 or 800-456-GoOU.
Stoops on former LB Mike Reed: Stoops commented Tuesday on linebacker Mike Reed no longer being on the team. "I'm never specific on things that aren't positive," Stoops said. "In the end, there are too many team-related and academic-related activities that are not being met. So therefore, he is not going to be with us during the spring and he will seek other opportunities at the end of the semester." Last season, Reed struggled financially to support his wife and kids, while playing football and attending classes all at the same time. When his wife was hospitalized last October, Reed began missing practice and workouts to care for her and their two children. Reed has not yet commented on what his plans might be. (The Oklahoman)
DeMarcus Granger pre-trial hearing set for March 3rd: A warrant out for Oklahoma sophomore defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger was quashed Friday by a Tempe Municipal Court judge after Granger's attorney filed the motion by fax, according to acting deputy Jeanette Wiesenhofer of the Tempe (Ariz.) Municipal Court criminal division. A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for March 3 when Granger or his attorney, Jess Lorona of Phoenix, will meet with a Tempe prosecutor or plea to the court. A warrant in the amount of $1,000 was issued for Granger last week after he failed to appear for his scheduled arraignment in Tempe. (The Oklahoman)
Tempe arrest warrant issued for DeMarcus Granger: DeMarcus Granger is still on the Oklahoma football team. But he's not yet out of legal trouble in the desert. A warrant is expected to be issued for the Sooner sophomore defensive tackle, who did not show up for his scheduled arraignment, according to the Tempe (Ariz.) Municipal Court offices. Granger, 21, was supposed to stand before judge Michelle O'Hair-Schattenberg about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday after being arrested Dec. 29, accused of shoplifting. According to the Tempe court, O'Hair-Schattenberg has already signed the order for Granger's warrant. (NewsOK.com)
Stoops: Granger to remain with team: Coach Bob Stoops said Friday morning that suspended sophomore defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger is likely to remain with the team. "I expect him back,” Stoops said. "We'll see what else we can do with him. I'm sure they'll be some other disciplinary action.” Granger did not play in the Fiesta Bowl after being arrested last Saturday night, accused of shoplifting. According to police, Granger attempted to steal a jacket from a Burlington Coat Factory inside Arizona Mills Mall. (The Oklahoman)
Granger suspended and sent home: Oklahoma defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger was sent home Sunday and will not play in Wednesday’s Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia. Granger, a sophomore, was arrested at 10:20 p.m. Saturday for shoplifting at the Burlington Coat Factory located in Arizona Mills Mall in Tempe, Ariz. According to a statement released by the Tempe Police Department spokesman Mike Horn Monday, “Granger removed an anti-theft devise from a jacket and then concealed the jacket in a bag. He walked past the cash registers without paying for the packet. Granger was stopped by store security, who then contacted Tempe police.” Granger, 21, made admissions to the offense and was booked into Tempe City Jail for one count of shoplifting, a class 1 misdemeanor. He later bonded out of jail. OU coach Bob Stoops confirmed Granger had been sent home to due disciplinary reasons Monday morning at the team’s media at University of Phoenix Stadium. “He’s been sent home and won’t play. We’ll deal with his situation when we get back,” Stoops said. “If there’s anything further we’ll see.” (Norman Transcript)
