Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and NotesOU-UW broadcast on ESPN nationally: The Sooners' September 13 matchup against the University of Washington will kickoff at 6:45 p.m. (CST) and will be televised nationally on ESPN.OU-Washington to be on ESPN: The OklahomanLabels: ESPN, Oklahoma Sooners, Television
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
Rhett Bomar sits down with ESPN: ESPN.com's Joe Schad sits down with former OU quarterback Rhett Bomar.. Rhett Bomar is standing in his bedroom, a room so small that it barely contains his bed and two dressers. On one wood dresser rests the most valuable player trophy he claimed while quarterbacking Oklahoma to victory at the Holiday Bowl two seasons ago. "I'm proud of my time there," Bomar explains. "I'm not going to throw it away or anything like that." Bomar says when he arrived at Oklahoma at a true freshman in the summer of 2004, a school administrator mentioned the dealership as an employment opportunity... How often did he go to Big Red? "There were certain times we were not there," Bomar said. "The majority of the time we were there. It started out, we went there all the time, and things like that, and then one thing leads to another, you know, and you get in trouble." Why did this happen? Did Bomar, who was raised in suburban Dallas, the son of two schoolteachers, need the money? "You don't have time for a job," Bomar said. "Football is basically a full-time job at big-time schools and everything like that. Things happen. And things are easy. And you do it. Ultimately, it was my decision. And I got caught up in it. My actions, you know, are there. They are clear what happened. And so, I mean, I'll take full blame." (Much more, plus video at ESPN.com)Labels: ESPN, NCAA Investigation, Rhett Bomar
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
Official Oklahoma release on the scheduled Friday Tulsa game: I missed it the first time, Thanks, Jeff for the e-mail and link.. From OU Athletics Site.. Oklahoma's upcoming football game with Tulsa has been moved up one day from Sept. 22 to Friday, Sept. 21 to accommodate an ESPN2 request. OU Athletics Director Joe Castiglione said that he agreed to the move only after consulting with the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association. "Ultimately, this is Tulsa's home game and the contract with ESPN exists through Tulsa's affiliation with this game," Castiglione said. "A date change, which in this case came about at the suggestion of the rights holder, typically requires the approval of both institutions. We did not want to give that approval until we had the opportunity to speak with the secondary school activities association. "We wanted to assure them that we do support high school football and its traditional night of competition and that we have no plans to conflict with them on a regular basis. "We appreciate the willingness of the association to review this matter with us and to give us the approval to move forward. It allows us to showcase our program and since there are so many Oklahomans on our roster, we hope we can showcase the association and many of the young people it has produced as well." The Tulsa game is the fourth on the 2007 OU schedule. It will be played at Skelly Stadium on the TU campus. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. (SoonerSports PR)Labels: ESPN, Oklahoma Sooners, Television, Tulsa Football
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and NotesOklahoma-Tulsa Agree to a FRIDAY Night ESPN 2 Game in 2007: The University of Tulsa's football schedule for the 2007 season was announced today by TU's Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham. Tulsa's six-game home schedule features contests against two teams that completed the 2006 campaign ranked among the nation's top-25, including No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 16 Brigham Young, The Hurricane has two games televised on ESPN2 and will play a total of four teams that appeared in Bowl games in 2006. "This is a great schedule and a challenging one. The best thing about it is that it's an incredible home schedule with BYU, Oklahoma, UAB, Marshall, SMU and Houston," said Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham. "We're excited about the opportunity to play this demanding type of schedule." (Tulsa Athletic Site) The game is schedule for Friday, Sept. 21 7:00 CT on ESPN2, previously scheduled for Sept. 22. Personally, who schedules a Friday Night College Football game on the duece?!? Someone please e-mail, why would the University of Oklahoma football program agree to such terms? Nonetheless its set, mark it down.Labels: ESPN, Oklahoma Sooners, Television, Tulsa Football
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
ESPN to televise Red-White game: For the second straight year, ESPN will televise Oklahoma's Red/White Spring Game live. The game is set for 1 p.m., on Saturday, April 7. The cable network is yet to assign the announcers for the game. The visit marks the third overall for ESPN to the OU spring game. In 2003, the College GameDay crew of Chris Fowler, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit included the Sooners during their spring tour for SportsCenter. Oklahoma is on a roll when it comes to football on television. The last 56 OU games have been televised. Over the history of the program 249 Sooner games have been televised, including 144 that were shown to national audiences. (SoonerSports PR)
Pac-10 Official Riese Fired: As the Pacific-10 Conference discusses improvements to its instant replay equipment for 2007, one decision already has been made: Gordon Riese will not be using it. Riese, the embattled instant replay official who was in the booth during the Oklahoma-Oregon game Sept. 16 in Eugene, got a call from the conference last week with official confirmation. "I was told I was not wanted in the replay booth," said Riese, who said he received death threats after the Ducks' 34-33 win after a botched ruling on an onside kickoff snatched a victory away from the Sooners. (The Oregonian)
Taylor commits to OU: [Londell] Taylor committed to Oklahoma on Monday, after receiving an offer from coach Bob Stoops. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound wideout picked OU over North Carolina, which began the recruiting push for Taylor six days ago. "Butch Davis and John Blake came through last week and picked up a tape," said Vian coach Brandon Tyler. "They watched him play basketball and talked to him. They wanted to fly Londell to Chapel Hill for a visit." Taylor visited North Carolina last Friday. He received an offer but didn't commit, opting to think it through. "Stoops called on Friday," said Tyler, who sent OU a highlight tape of Taylor early in January. "They'd seen his highlight film. He went to their camp this summer, so they knew who he was and what he was capable of." Tyler said Taylor's decision was a no-brainer. (NewsOK.com)
OU or UNC? Taylor narrows schools to two: Muskogee Phoenix DMN's Todd Wills on football recruiting: Dallas Morning NewsLabels: ESPN, Gordon Riese, Londell Taylor, Oklahoma Sooners, Pac 10 Official, Recruiting, Television
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
Peterson on Kiper Big Board: Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson is listed at #6 on Mel Kiper's revised Draft Big Board. The #1 ranked player is Georgia Tech's, WR Calvin Johnson, #2 Wisconsin's, DT Joe Thomas, #3 Notre Dame's, QB Brady Quinn, #4 LSU's, QB JaMarcus Russell, followed by #5 Arkansas', DT Jamaal Anderson (ESPN)
Adrian Peterson is also, ranked #6 on Scout Inc's Top 32
Stoops calls Adrian Peterson reports, FALSE: As word of Adrian Peterson's jump to the NFL hit the news Wednesday night, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops called it premature speculation and "false." Stoops, in refuting the reports, said he met with Peterson on Wednesday to discuss the player's future, but insisted no decision had been made. "It's all inaccurate," Stoops said. "It's false. People have been reporting irresponsibly without all the facts. "While it's true we did meet today, it was just to talk about his future with his mom and dad. That's all we did." Peterson has been interviewing potential agents, on recommendation by Stoops. (NewsOK.com)Labels: Adrian Peterson, Bob Stoops, Draft, ESPN, Mock Draft, NFL
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and NotesStoops provides some "Coffee Talk" on playoff system: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops provided water-cooler chatter Tuesday, saying the idea of a playoff system is growing on him. The coach said he isn't lobbying to junk the Bowl Championship Series for a straight playoff, but he understands where it could be beneficial. "You see, more and more, some of the valid reasons why maybe it would be good," he said. "I'm not saying I'm for it. I'm on the fence right now." The Sooners (7-2, 4-1 Big 12) face an uphill battle to reach a fifth BCS bowl in seven years. They're ranked 17th in the BCS standings and would need a lot of help to receive an at-large berth. Oklahoma, which started the season ranked No. 10, fell as far as No. 23 after its loss to Texas. Its only other loss was a controversial one at Oregon. Pac-10 officials ruled after the game that a late onside kick should have been awarded to the Sooners, who would have been able to run out the clock and win. Stoops doesn't believe pollsters have ignored that loss. "In the end, everything is slotted by wins and losses. End of story," he said. "I knew when it happened that that's how it was going to be. In the end, you are not given any credit for playing a tough schedule or winning in a tight game." (Star-Telegram) More Brown this week? Bob Stoops on Chris Brown: "He's getting more and more (work) in practice, closer and closer. We anticipate playing him this week and in the coming weeks," Stoops said. "You manage the games as they come. You don't have a set number (of carries) that they're going to get. I'm not second-guessing the way we played him one bit." Brown may be the only choice this week. Allen Patrick sprained his ankle at A&M, and may not be 100 percent for Texas Tech. (Tulsa World)Patrick Injury update, held out of Practice: Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick suffered a sprained ankle last Saturday against Texas A&M and was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday. Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson expects him to play Saturday against Texas Tech. However, he's concerned Patrick won’t be at full speed. "My concern is how efficient will he be Saturday," he said. "I think you play well when you practice well. It will be interesting to see how much we can get him as the week goes on." Patrick has rushed for 440 yards over the last three games while starter Adrian Peterson waits for a broken collarbone to heal. (Norman Transcript)Nothing new on Peterson: Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was asked to provide an Adrian Peterson update Tuesday. "I hear what you guys hear when they ask him on the replay of the TV (broadcast)," Wilson said. "He acts like he feels good. He was running down the field when (Patrick) had his knees up (on his nullified 78-yard touchdown at A&M), sprinting down the sideline. "He says he's doing some things for range of motion and strengthening. But I don't have an idea if it looks like for sure he's going to be back, or if it looks like for sure he's not going to be. We'll see where he is in the weeks to come." (Tulsa World)Pendleton in SI on newsstands now: OU defensive tackle Carl Pendleton and his 10-year-old adopted brother, Kierstan, will be featured in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated. Carl Pendleton recently received an $18,000 scholarship grant from the National Football Foundation, which will allow him to continue with school and care for Kierstan, who lives with him in Norman, while Carl's parents are going through a divorce. The magazine is available at newsstands today. (NewsOK.com)Birdine on Texas Tech win last year: Some Oklahoma players chose not to discuss what happened in last year's 23-21 loss at Texas Tech. Not Larry Birdine. "I was watching from the house, and I had front-row seats," said Birdine, a senior defensive end who was injured last season. "We got screwed. Everybody knew we got screwed. So many e-mails that we got showed clearly that it was short. "But I'm not the one to cry over spilled milk." (Dallas Morning News)Stoops' A&M call Coaches Call of the Week by ESPN's Pat Forde: Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (38) going for fourth-and-inches at his own 29 with 90 seconds to play, up one on Texas A&M. It worked, of course, and the Sooners are 7-2. (ESPN.com)
Sooners hyped for Red Raider visit: SoonerSports.com
OU defense focused on Texas Tech: SoonerSports.com OU still irked: The Oklahoman
Stoops warming up to playoff system?: The Oklahoman
Sooners still want to pass: Norman Transcript
Stoops needs to get off the fence: Norman Transcript
Sooners ramp up rushing yardage without Peterson: Tulsa World
Incidents pad Stoops' playoff philosophy: Tulsa World
Patrick expected to play: Tulsa World
Birdine has a theory: Tulsa World
Patrick keeps Sooners' rushing attack moving along: Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
Around the Big 12: USA Today
Labels: Adrian Peterson, Allen Patrick, Bob Stoops, Chris Brown, ESPN, Injuries, Injury, Larry Birdine, Playoff System, Sports Illustrated
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-NewsLabels: Chris Brown, College GameDay, ESPN, Garrett Hartley, Semi Finalist
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes
Sooners-A&M gets GameDay Visit: For the 16th time in the last seven years, ESPN's College GameDay is coming to an Oklahoma game. The cable network's pregame show will be broadcast Saturday from College Station, Texas. The show, which features hosts Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso, will air from 9-11 a.m. OU plays Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on ABC. The last regular-season OU game visited by College GameDay was the 2004 Bedlam game in Stillwater. (NewsOK.com)Change in statistics: The Missouri statistics crew mistakenly gave Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick one of Jacob Gutierrez's 5-yard carries Saturday. The new numbers should therefore read: Patrick 35 carries for 157 yards, and Gutierrez 11 rushes for 46. Patrick's yardage total still represents a career high, but the 35 carries only equals the 35 carries he had against Colorado on Oct. 21. The OU camp sang Patrick's praises all the same Sunday. "He's done a fantastic job just seeing the seams and hitting the creases and running hard," coach Bob Stoops said. (Tulsa World)Adding the option to the playbook: Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said the staff installed option plays to exploit Missouri's goal-line defense. Paul Thompson scored a 3-yard TD on an option keeper. (Dallas Morning News)Wilson on the Oklahoma passing game: "We have a lot we can build on, but we still need to keep striving to be as good as it can be," Wilson said. "We're a long way away from where it can be." (Norman Transcript)Oklahoma awaits Texas Tech start time: It's another wait and see for an Oklahoma football starting time. ABC has chosen its third and final six-day selection for the 2006 season. That means Sooner fans will not know until Saturday or Sunday the starting time for the final home game of the season, the Nov. 11 clash with Texas Tech. The game has three potential starting times at this point. If ABC selects the game, it will begin at either 2:30 p.m., or 7 p.m. If ABC passes on the game, it will be picked up by FSN, which will show it at 6 p.m. ABC will choose between the OU/Tech game and the Texas A&M/Nebraska game. Whichever game is not selected by ABC will go to FSN. (SoonerSports PR)
OU Notebook: The Oklahoman
Questions and answers: The Oklahoman
OU's RB of the future: The Oklahoman
Texas A&M at a glance: The Oklahoman
Sooners maturing with win: Tulsa World
OU three questions: Tulsa World
OU Scouting Report -- Texas A&M Aggies: Tulsa World
A&M offense helping out defense: Bryan-College Station Eagle Labels: Allen Patrick, ESPN, Option Playbook, Texas Tech
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and NotesSmith 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 TranscriptStoops has the swagger that reminds of better days: Norman TranscriptOU football notebook: The OklahomanEnd of winning streak doesn't change Stoops' approach: The OklahomanThompson was close to being a Longhorn: The Oklahoman'Big Game Bob' needs a win: The OklahomanQB's defining moment came early: The OklahomanOB McCoy leads potent UT offense: Tulsa WorldStoops seems confident in team, as usual: Tulsa WorldThompson as QB? UT couldn't grasp it: Dallas Morning NewsTrophy hunters often grab big game: Dallas Morning NewsOklahoma QB answers critics: Daily TexanTexas faces challenge of slowing Peterson: Austin American-StatesmanSooners love bye weeks: Austin American-StatesmanBrown says UT's fortitude will be tested: Ft. Worth Star-TelegramRed River Rivalry Key Matchup: Ft. Worth Star-TelegramCotton Bowl is a tradition, but also a relic: Ft. Worth Star-TelegramOU defense to gauge progress with Texas: Ft. Worth Star TelegramOU's Stoops keys on here, now: San Antonio Express-NewsHorns hope to halt Heisman hopes: San Antonio Express-NewsMack leaves need to act in the past: San Antonio Express-NewsThompson hit the jackpot at Oklahoma by changing positions: Houston ChronicleLabels: College GameDay, Endzone, ESPN, Iowa State, Reggie Smith, Rhett Bomar, Tickets
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