OU stretched thin: The Sooners were without Malcolm Kelly for all but three plays Wednesday night, and lost Juaquin Iglesias for one play early in the second quarter when the junior wide receiver appeared to turn his ankle. Quentin Chaney was able to help plug Kelly's absence with a career-high 129 receiving yards on four catches. When Iglesias left, however, OU was forced to insert walk-on Garrett Bothun. Sam Bradford scrambled for 8 yards on Bothun's one play. (Tulsa World)
Pair of Sooners get their first start: Oklahoma started redshirt freshmen Jeremy Beal of Carrollton Creekview at defensive end and Adrian Taylor of Mansfield at defensive tackle. Beal started in place of sophomore Auston English, the Big 12 sacks leader with 9 ½ , who has been battling the flu all week and is still recovering from an injured right ankle. It was Beal's second start this season. English saw limited playing time. Taylor started in place of sophomore DeMarcus Granger (Kimball), who was arrested late Saturday night on a charge of shoplifting and was sent home. (Dallas Morning News)
Stoops Coaching rumors: There are rumors that Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is a candidate for the NFL job with the Baltimore Ravens, who fired Brian Billick on Monday. Stoops was also mentioned as a possibility for Michigan, which eventually hired Rich Rodriguez from West Virginia. (The Arizona Republic)
Mountaineers run past the Sooners: Pat White guided West Virginia to a stunningly easy romp over No. 3 Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl. Then, the option quarterback made his biggest pitch of the night. White ran for 150 yards and threw for 176 and two touchdowns in a 48-28 victory. After it was over, he endorsed Mountaineers interim coach Bill Stewart to become the permanent successor to Rich Rodriguez, who bolted for Michigan last month. ''He deserves it,'' White said. ''A great man. A great coach. All the players respect him and all the players love him. You couldn't ask for a better man to lead us to victory today.'' An emotional Stewart wouldn't lobby for the job. But he relished what he called ''a colossal win for our program. ''I never had a Gatorade bath,'' said Stewart, a native West Virginian who has been an assistant for most of his career. ''It was special.'' (SoonerSports.com - Stats)
Notes and Tidbits - From SoonerSports.com Sam Bradford's 242 passing yards marked the fourth best by a Sooner in bowl game history. Josh Heupel owns the top mark with 390 passing yards in the 1999 Independence Bowl.
Quentin Chaney's 129 total receiving yards also marked the fourth best by any Sooner in a bowl game.
Allen Patrick recorded a career-high 73-yard kickoff return in the first quarter. Patrick is the fourth different Oklahoma player this season to have a kickoff return of 35 yards or more.
Defensive play likely key for OU: Stoops said playing good defense will be the key to winning the Fiesta Bowl. "Great defense is a major factor in these games,” Stoops said. "What always jumps out at me is defense. I think (West Virginia) has played really good defense through the season.” Despite being known for offense, the Mountaineers have the seventh-best scoring defense in the country. (The Oklahoman)
Dominique Franks to start at cornerback: Redshirt freshman Dominique Franks will make his first start at cornerback today, OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. Franks is replacing injured starter Reggie Smith, who is out with a broken toe he suffered in the Big 12 championship game. Franks will also replace Smith as punt returner. Franks has played sparingly in 12 games and has only three tackles. (Dallas Morning News)
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)
Fiesta Bowl swag: The rundown of gifts received by the OU football players from the Fiesta Bowl and the university: A $300 Best Buy gift card, a 20-inch flat-screen TV, Oakley sunglasses with built-in MP3 player, Fiesta Bowl watches, loads of OU and Fiesta Bowl apparel. And that's not all. "Oh, and the per diem out here, too. Pick up some cash, have a little bit of fun," said kicker Garrett Hartley. "We got $200 the other night. I don't know when we get our next." (Tulsa World)
English sidelined with a cold: Oklahoma defensive end Auston English is recovering from an ankle injury, Sooners coach Bob Stoops said, but wasn't at practice Thursday for another reason. "The ankle is fine, but he's got a little bit of a cold," said Stoops, who expects the 6-foot-3, 257-pound sophomore to play. (Arizona Republic)
DeMarco Murray fine after surgery: OU running back DeMarco Murray, who had knee surgery a few weeks ago to repair a dislocated kneecap, said Thursday he's doing better. "I feel good, just rehabbing right now,” said Murray, who is still walking with a noticeable limp. Murray suffered the injury against Texas Tech while trying to recover an onside kick. (NewsOK.com)
West Virginia's White impressed with OU: White said third-ranked Oklahoma is playing at a national-championship level right now, even if the Sooners have to wait until next season to fulfill their promise. "I think they're the best team in the country," White said. "Their athleticism is far beyond any other team we've played. "They make plays. That says Oklahoma to me," he said. (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review)
Franks and Jackson competing for starting CB role: Brian Jackson and Dominique Franks are both competing to replace Reggie Smith as starting cornerback. Both, Stoops said, "are doing a nice job, so we'll see. Very confident and pleased with the way the two of them are working, so we'll work it out during the week. More than likely, they'll both play." (Tulsa World)
Sooners arrive in Arizona: The Sooners arrived in Phoenix at approximately 6:14 p.m. Wednesday to a ceremony of about 100 boisterous Fiesta Bowl officials and family members along with members of the media. Also there to greet the Sooners was a six-piece mariachi band that also played for the arriving players from West Virginia and Oklahoma State earlier in the day. The OU buses were escorted to their hotel by a motorcade comprised of at least 11 police motorcycles. (The Oklahoman)
Stoops confirms Holmes ineligible for Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops confirmed Wednesday night that junior defensive back Lendy Holmes of South Oak Cliff didn't make the trip and won’t play in the Fiesta Bowl against West Virginia on Jan. 2. Holmes' father, Lendy Holmes Sr., told The Dallas Morning News on Saturday that his son is academically ineligible and wouldn't play in the Fiesta Bowl. "He won't be here," Stoops said during the Sooners' arrival press conference at Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport. “I thought that was talked about a couple days ago." Stoops said redshirt freshman Dominique Franks or sophomore Brian Jackson of DeSoto would start at cornerback in place of Holmes. (Dallas Morning News)
Reggie Smith to miss Fiesta Bowl: Cornerback Reggie Smith will not play because of broken toe suffered in the Big 12 championship game. Holmes, a junior safety this season, was expected to start at Smith's spot. Now, redshirt freshman Dominique Franks, who only has three tackles on the year, or sophomore Brian Jackson is expected to start. (Arizona Republic)
West Virginia returns 7,500 tickets: West Virginia University has returned 7,500 tickets to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the likely fallout from a fan base that already had made reservations in New Orleans for the BCS national championship game. Fiesta Bowl President John Junker called it a "Christmas miracle" that West Virginia accounted for 10,000 tickets, considering recent developments within the football program. Just more than two weeks after losing its final regular-season contest to Pittsburgh - a loss that likely kept the Mountaineers out of the title game - West Virginia lost popular coach Rich Rodriguez, who resigned and became coach at Michigan. (Arizona Republic)
Coach Wilson excited about defensive line future: OU's defense suffered late in the season without English, who missed the final three games of the regular season with an ankle fracture. But in some ways, English's injury benefited freshman defensive end Jeremy Beal, who was thrown into the starting lineup in place of English. "We've been calling that a blessing in disguise,” defensive ends coach Chris Wilson said. "That forced us to give Jeremy more opportunities. And he's really grown the latter part of the season.” (NewsOK.com)
Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes Peterson's collarbone wasn't healed for the Fiesta Bowl? Peterson's father, Nelson, told the World in a phone interview Thursday the injury was a matter of semantics. "I wouldn't say reinjured," Nelson Peterson said. "I would just say it wasn't healed like it should have. And it's still in the healing process. "The way I look at that situation is that Adrian really shouldn't have played in that bowl game. But he wanted to play." (Tulsa World) Before they were stars: Rufus Alexander: Yahoo! Sports Dodds: Tradition kept Texas -OU in Dallas: Austin-American Statesman
Fiesta Bowl Replay: FSN Southwest will replay the Fiesta Bowl and BCS Championship Game as condensed one-hour "Best Damn Instant Bowl Classics.”The Fiesta Bowl will air at 4 p.m. today, 9 and 11 p.m. Monday and 12:30 a.m. Tuesday. The BCS final will air at 3 p.m. today. (NewsOK.com) Thats COX Ch. 37 in OKC, DirecTV Channel 642.
Sooners '08 commitment to take other visits: Junior defensive end R.J. Washington made an early commitment to Oklahoma, but it looks like there are still plenty of events that will take place before he signs next year. Washington, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound prospect in the class of 2008, says that he remains committed to the Sooners. On the other hand, he said he is not done with official visits. The schools that have caught his attention are Texas, Texas Tech, LSU, Louisville and Florida. "I'm pretty sure I'm still going to take official visits," Washington said. "Nothing's 100% because you never know what might happen. I'm still looking (at schools)." One reason for his new interest in taking visits is that his coach had been holding back on giving him all his mail so he could focus on the season. (USA Today) Yo Adrian, I'm sitting on the fence with you: Muskogee Phoenix
Boise State's Fiesta Bowl win preserved in US Congress: Boise State University's victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl has now been preserved for history in another national forum: the United States Congress, Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today introduced a Congressional Record Statement applauding the Bronco's efforts, singling out team members, Coach Chris Peterson and President Robert Kustra. Crapo noted how the team's effort has been mirrored by Boise being named as one of the most inventive cities in the nation over the past year. Crapo visited the Boise State campus in 2003 to present a previous Congressional statement regarding the team's undefeated season. For the full text of Senator Crapo statement visit Kootenai Valley Press.
OU commitments playing in the Army All-American Bowl: [Austin] Box has given a verbal commitment to play at the University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State has two commitments on the roster in Floresville, Texas, offensive lineman Nick Martinez and Dallas defensive end Richetti Jones (who is injured and won't play). OU is hopeful at least three players announce their commitments at the game: Romine, Dallas defensive back Christian Scott and West Monroe, La., defensive end Luther Davis. (More at the Tulsa World)
If you missed it last night, then check it out the Fiesta Bowl Overtime between Oklahoma-Boise State... First Oklahoma scores, followed by Boise State.
Coach Stoops meets with the Media Tuesday morning: OU head coach Bob Stoops met with the media one final time at the team hotel Tuesday morning before the Sooners departed for Oklahoma City. Boise State defeated the Sooners, 43-42, in overtime in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 in Glendale. Poolside at the team headquarters at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Resort, Stoops discussed the events of the game, the upcoming decision for running back Adrian Peterson, and the future for the Oklahoma football program. (More at SoonerSports.com)
Stoops' failed challenge: OU coach Bob Stoops tried to stop the Broncos' early momentum by challenging the spot after Derek Schouman's 6-yard catch on third-and-5. Schouman bobbled the ball initially before securing the catch, and officials ruled that his forward progress was enough for a first down. Stoops lost his only coach's challenge with 9:25 remaining in the first. The replay officials' decision was huge. On the next play, James caught a 49-yard touchdown. (Dallas Morning News)
Eyes on Peterson: There were two interested parties watching running back Adrian Peterson's every move in pregame warmups Monday night. One was Peterson's father, Nelson, who stood in the stands wearing a white T-shirt with a picture of his then-7-year-old son on the front, wearing a powder blue No. 32 jersey as he posed for a youth football shot. The words "Beginning Of" and "All Day" framed the picture. Down on the field as Peterson loosened up and ran through receiving drills, Cleveland Browns scout Kevin Kelly stood about 25 feet away, scribbling in an orange notebook. (Tulsa World)
More on Malcolm Kelly Injury status: Malcolm Kelly, the Sooners' leading receiver coming in, went without a catch for the first time in 22 games, dating back to OU's loss to Texas on Oct. 8, 2005. The reason, according to reports by OU's radio network and Fox Sports, was a concussion sustained in the first quarter. Kelly took a hard fall going for a deep post in the end zone between Boise State defensive backs Marty Tadman and Orlando Scandrick late in the first quarter. He stayed in the game another seven plays before giving way to Quentin Chaney the last three quarters. (Tulsa World)
Practice scare closes the roof? The decision was made when a pregame parachute drop was canceled. The drop was canceled after an accident occurred during practices last week at Arizona State's Sun Devil Stadium. One of the parachutists landed in the stands. The decision was made because of the tighter confines of the roof at University of Phoenix Stadium. "For safety reasons, we decided not to do it,” Fiesta Bowl vice president Shawn Schoeffler said. (NewsOK.com)
Smoky Start: Officials shot off fireworks during pregame introductions, and the smoke filled the stadium during the first half. The retractable roof remained closed, however, and players had to fight through it. OU's Marcus Walker dropped a possible interception in the second quarter after losing track of the ball in the air. (Dallas Morning News) Just think if Al Michaels were there, the rant we could of heard fireworks are just "stupid!"
Boise State pulls of a thrilling win in OT 43-42: Boise State pulled more rabbits out of its underdog helmet than Houdini on Monday. The old hook-and-ladder. A touchdown pass from a wide receiver. And don't forget the Broncos' version of the Statue of Liberty play. It all added up to an improbable 43-42 overtime victory against Oklahoma in one of the wildest finishes in the 36-year history of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The boys from Boise, champs of the Western Athletic Conference, their presence in this game questioned because of their schedule, turned into BCS-busting men, but only after blowing a 28-10 lead built in the first 3½ quarters of their first Bowl Championship Series game.That lead turned into a 35-28 deficit when the No. 8 Sooners (11-3) roared back, taking command with 25 unanswered points -- 15 in the final 1:26 of regulation. But the No. 9 Broncos answered with a miracle of their own -- three, in fact -- to cap a 13-0 season. (USA Today - Stats)
Stoops a candidate for NFL Falcons job? ESPN's NFL Insider Chris Mortensen, reported on Sunday NFL Countdown that Oklahoma's Bob Stoops is among the three candidates the Falcons owner, Arthur Blank is looking to replace current head coach Jim Mora. Remember in 2003, Stoops was also rumored for the job. We'll see...
Closing the roof: The retractable roof at the University of Phoenix Stadium will be put to use Monday. The roof will be open for parachutists to descend through the opening shortly before kickoff, then close for the game. "We're doing it for fan comfort," said Shawn Schoeffler, Fiesta Bowl media relations liaison. "The game will kick off at 6:50 (7:50 central) and probably won't be over until after 10."(NewsOK.com)
OU's Ah You Continues Fiesta Bowl Family Tradition: C.J. Ah You is carrying along a family tradition he didn’t even know about. The Oklahoma defensive end will be the third member of his family to play in the Fiesta Bowl. His uncle, Junior, won defensive MVP in the inaugural Fiesta Bowl in 1971 playing for Arizona State. His father, Charles, was a backup running back for BYU in the 1974 Fiesta Bowl. (East Valley Tribune)
Birdine keeping it closed too: The last time Oklahoma defensive end Larry Birdine spoke out before a BCS game, he gave USC several bulletin boards worth of material. Two years later, he revisited reporters in the University of Phoenix Stadium stands as part of Fiesta Bowl media day Saturday. "I don't want another Orange Bowl incident happening," Birdine said. "Let's just say it wasn't pretty." (Tulsa World)
Stoops: Same schedule, Different days: OU has tried to keep its practice routine like it would for a normal game during Fiesta Bowl preparations. OU coach Bob Stoops said doing that can cause some confusion. Saturday, he wasn't even sure what day of the week it was. "I look at it as Thursday," he said. "You kind of go through your game week, getting prepared for the game, what you emphasize in practice. Today for us is like a Thursday practice. It's kind of how you mentally go into it." (Norman Transcript)
Switzer and Johnson reunite: Former Sooners coach Barry Switzer will be one of Fox's Fiesta Bowl analysts during the game and will sit on a sideline studio platform next to Jimmy Johnson for pregame, halftime and postgame analysis. Switzer, who was an assistant coach at Arkansas when Johnson played there, and Johnson are old rivals, including Johnson's days at Oklahoma State (he lost every game to Switzer's Sooners) and Miami (he was 3-0 against OU). But their rivalry heated up even more when Switzer replaced Johnson as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. "I've seen him every once in a while through the years," Switzer said. "We've had a couple conversations." (Tulsa World)
Something they like to have: Oklahoma players took a liking to the Fiesta Bowl trophy, taking turns shooting photos of teammates posing beside it. Some might consider the trophy gaudy, with diamonds and gold and even a stained-glass window effect on a dome that serves as the base to a football topper. Not the Sooners. "We gotta have it," said offensive lineman George "Duke" Robinson. (NewsOK.com)
Relatively warm to BSU: Locals in the Phoenix area have been lamenting the unseasonably cool weather. Not Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky. "Just really enjoying the weather," he said. "When bad weather around here is 55 degrees and a little drizzle, that's not too bad." (NewsOK.com)
Speed makes up for it: So how do the Broncos compensate for their relative light weight? "A lot of speed," OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "We're not the biggest team that walks onto the field a lot of weeks. But there's a lot of activity. That's the way they play. They're very active." (Tulsa World)
Boise State's practices improving: The Broncos say Wednesday's sloppy practice served its purpose -- knocking off the rust.Execution improved Thursday, they said. The Broncos held a closed practice Friday."You look at (Thursday's) practice compared to the first practice, 100 percent turnaround," tailback Ian Johnson said. "The heart and the energy were there the first day, but it just wasn't as crisp as (Thursday). It was a good, physical practice. You can just count on us getting better each practice and peaking for the game." (Idaho Statesman) Sooners clicking as game draws near: SoonerSports.com
Peterson shows no rust: OU running back Adrian Peterson has gotten most of the workload in practice to make sure he's not rusty next Monday, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. Still, Wilson said Peterson, Allen Patrick and Chris Brown will all see action. "I've knocked all the rust off and [am] back to 100 percent," Peterson said. (Dallas Morning News)
Wilson unsure on how good Boise State is: Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Thursday he's still trying to figure out how good Boise State is.He has watched BSU opponents San Jose State, Utah and Hawaii play in bowl games -- TiVo remote in hand -- to get a gauge."You're playing a team that looks awfully good who in some ways you know little about," Wilson said, "and you're trying to get a feel for that." (Idaho Statesman)
Sumlin Interviewed at La. Tech? OU receivers coach Kevin Sumlin said he met with representatives of Louisiana Tech about their head coaching vacancy, but the talks never got serious. Reports in Miami also linked Sumlin to the offensive coordinator position under new Hurricanes coach Randy Shannon. Sumlin said it was all media speculation, though, and that he has not spoken with anyone at Miami. (Dallas Morning News)
OU's and BSU's Alexanders related: Boise State safety Gerald Alexander hasn't been able to catch up with Oklahoma linebacker Rufus Alexander, a distant relative. The two are planning to get together at some point during bowl week.Gerald learned during the Christmas break that his great grandfather and Rufus' great-grandfather are cousins."My family is coming. I don't know how much of his Oklahoma family is coming, but we're all family and I'm sure we'll meet together," Gerald said. (Idaho Statesman)
A. Peterson to make decision after Fiesta Bowl: With speculation running wild, Adrian Peterson remains coy about his future. The junior running back is 151 yards away from breaking Billy Sims' Oklahoma career rushing record of 4,118 yards. Peterson is expected to be an early first-round pick if he jumps to the NFL next year. "It's a big decision, but I'm waiting until after the game to finalize that," Peterson said. (Eastern Valley Tribune)
Fiesta Bowl practice visitors: Practice visitors included former OU head coach Chuck Fairbanks, who resides in the Phoenix area. He watched much of the practice along side Oklahoma athletics director Joe Castiglione. (Oklahoma Practice Notes)
Home Team: The Sooners are the home team and will wear their crimson-colored jerseys. (Dallas Morning News)
Mike Stoops visit the Sooners: OU coach Bob Stoops got a visit from younger brother and former co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops on Wednesday. Mike Stoops, now head coach at Arizona (100 miles due south in Tucson), got to reunite with his brother, several staff members and a dozen or so players. "It's fun. I love seeing him," said Bob Stoops, who added that another brother, Mark -- Mike's defensive coordinator at Arizona -- would be arriving Thursday. Mike Stoops also coached defensive backs when he was at OU from 1999-2003. "I still have a connection with some guys," Mike Stoops said. "There isn't many guys left, but there's still about 10 or 12, maybe 15 guys that were playing when I was still here." (Tulsa World)
Boise State hits the practice field: Boise State practiced Wednesday at Scottsdale Community College for the first time since breaking for Christmas on Saturday.The Broncos will practice today, Friday and Saturday at Scottsdale CC, then hold a walk-through at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday. Scottsdale CC has one full practice field and two half fields.The Broncos seemed to have good energy in the 15 minutes of practice the media were allowed to watch. They met with some local children after practice. (Idaho Statesman)
A Boys and Girls Clubs TD Salute? When Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly spoke to a group of kids from Phoenix-area Boys and Girls Clubs after practice Wednesday, he received an interesting request. If he scores a touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl, he was asked, would he be willing to clasp his hands -- fingertips to wrists, palms together -- like the Boys and Girls Club symbol? "Yeah,” Kelly said, nodding, "I can do that.” (NewsOK.com)
Stoops visits with former Coach Alvarez: Bob Stoops had another reunion Wednesday when retired Wisconsin head coach (and now athletic director) Barry Alvarez showed up. Alvarez was Iowa's linebackers coach when Stoops was a Hawkeye safety and is part of the Fox Sports broadcast crew assigned to the Fiesta Bowl. He spent Wednesday getting tips on the Sooners from Stoops. "You know how that is, a player-coach relationship," Stoops said. (Tulsa World)
Baressi travels with team to AZ, future unclear: A lost season for Ben Baressi at least ends with some reward. Baressi is with the Sooners in Arizona, after missing the season due to an undisclosed medical condition. The offensive lineman's future with the team is uncertain. (NewsOK.com)
Oklahoma practice time spent: the team worked considerably on all facets of the game. Garrett Hartley had a second straight solid day of kicking field goals. The defense spent most of the practice on the practice field adjacent to the main game field at Pinnacle High School. The offense did extensive work on its passing game. (SoonerSports.com)
Wager between State Governors: Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry and Idaho Gov. James Risch have made a friendly wager on the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl. The governor whose team comes up short will donate a basket of goods made in his home state to a charitable organization of the winning governor's choice. The University of Oklahoma and Boise State University will meet on New Year's Day in the annual game. ``I have unwavering confidence that Coach (Bob) Stoops and our Sooners will make Monday a triumphant one for the Crimson and Cream,'' Henry said. ``Boise State is an excellent team, but I plan to kick off the New Year with another OU victory.'' (KOTV.com)
NFL draft expert on Adrian Peterson: Gil Brandt, the former Cowboys personnel director, is now a senior analyst for NFL.com. He said each case must be looked at individually before determining whether a player should go pro. "The big thing with Peterson is what it his collarbone going to be like," Brandt said. "That's where you have to go and get a good doctors' report on it. Or, have your doctor call the Oklahoma doctor and have them send you X-rays and so forth. "I hope the guy stays in school. I would say there isn't much chance that he will stay in school." (Dallas Morning News)
Sooners hold first practice in AZ: The No. 7 University of Oklahoma football team completed its first practice Tuesday at Pinnacle High School in preparation for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Sooners practiced in full pads for two and one-half hours under the Arizona sun, working out the kinks of a holiday layoff in sunny, low 70-degree weather. "We (coaches), we're really pleased," OU head coach Bob Stoops said. "In full pads, we got after it in a physical way. The guys looked good. "I love it (in Arizona). Great area; beautiful weather -- we're excited about being here. Pinnacle High School has a beautiful practice field and game field area. The locker room area is perfect. It's wonderful." (SoonerSports.com Coverage)
Mike Stoops to pay a visit: During post-practice interviews, Sooner head coach Bob Stoops said Mike, his brother and the head coach at the University of Arizona, will be in town Wednesday. (Oklahoma Practice Notes)
UM looking at Sumlin? In Sunday's Miami Herald, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kevin Sumlin was mentioned as a possible hire by new Miami coach Randy Shannon. Tuesday, Sumlin seemed surprised. "I don't know anything about it," Sumlin said. "There's speculation everywhere this time of year. It doesn't affect me at all. That's the first I've heard of it. There's just no story there." (Tulsa World) Team to attend Insight.com bowl: Stoops also said his squad may attend the Insight.com Bowl, featuring Texas Tech and Minnesota on Dec. 27 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. Tech is coached by former OU offensive coordinator Mike Leach. (Oklahoma Practice Notes)
Boise State focused on more than one Sooner: Broncos coach Chris Petersen said he's focused on more than one Sooners star. "I think the one thing that jumps out is that everyone wants to talk about their offense and Adrian Peterson," Petersen said. "You don't win championships, and certainly the championships that Oklahoma has won, without great defense. "I think everybody loves to talk about offense and scoring points. It takes nothing away from their offense, but they have a lot of guys that play on defense. They don't miss a beat when they put other guys in. It will be a great challenge for our guys." (NewsOK.com) BCS bowl big time for Boise: Tulsa World
Oklahoma arrives in Arizona: OU scored first in Arizona. The Sooners touched down at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport Monday night to begin bowl preparations one day prior to Boise State. A long line of Fiesta Bowl dignitaries, unmistakable in canary yellow blazers, met the team on the tarmac. OU's players were off the 757 first. Dressed in matching crimson warm-ups, seniors Rufus Alexander, Larry Birdine and Chris Messner led the team into the crowd. Coaches, staff and families followed. The bowl welcome included dignitaries waving crimson shakers and Oklahoma signs while pasting the OU contingent with Fiesta Bowl stickers. Approximately 30 players flew with the team party which included coaches and staff on the charter from Oklahoma City. The balance of the team made their way to Arizona from hometowns across the country. (SoonerSports.com)
Stoops on Arriving to Arizona: "We were anxious to get here. Our team is incredibly excited to be here and spend time in Glendale and Phoenix." Oklahoma Coach, Bob Stoops said Monday Night.
Former OU Back Rolle Passes away: Former OU running back David Rolle died Sunday in Denton, Texas. He was 69. After growing up in Poteau, Rolle lettered at Oklahoma for three years in the late 1950s. He was a part of the Sooners' record 47-game win streak and two national championships. Rolle played for one year in the AFL with the Denver Broncos. In that season, he had more than 500 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns. (NewsOK.com)
Bowl Practice Today: OU begins bowl practices promptly on Tuesday at Pinnacle High School. The Sooners work in full pads beginning at 11:40 a.m. local time. Phoenix is one hour behind Central.
Sooners arrive in AZ: The Sooners arrive in Arizona today to begin Fiesta Bowl preparations. The Sooners will make their way to Phoenix from various locales, after many players returned home for a few days off following Wednesday's practice. Players had the option of leaving with an official travel party from Norman or traveling on their own. OU practices for the first time Tuesday at 11:40 a.m. at Pinnacle High School. (NewsOK.com)
Practice like game week: Stoops has his team practicing as if this were a game week, hoping to hone in the players' focus after two weeks of lighter workouts. "We had a very physical, good practice (Tuesday) in full pads, much like we have through the year on Tuesdays, working, of course, against Boise State's schemes," Stoops said. "I feel like we're making very good progress. "Our game plan is progressing. We just have to finish it up this week and polish it when we get out there." Today will be the Sooners' final workout before the players begin their holiday break. (NewsOK.com)
Players get Fiesta Bowl treats: Sooners players received video iPods from the Fiesta Bowl along with clothing. The school is also allowed to provide a gift for reaching the game. Oklahoma chose to hand out 20-inch televisions to the players. "The best part of it is if you win it you get a ring," tight end Joe Jon Finley said. "That's really what we're trying for." (Star-Telegram)
Reggie at WR in the Fiesta Bowl? The Sooners' early season experiment of occasionally playing sophomore defensive back Reggie Smith at wide receiver didn't last long. Smith got only a few snaps at receiver and none after the fourth game of the year. But could the experiment be reborn, possibly for the Fiesta Bowl? "We'll see," Smith said. "I've been talking to (receivers coach Kevin) Sumlin, trying to get me in there. We'll see what happens." (NewsOK.com)
Peterson not worried about Fiesta Bowl Injury: Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson may be risking millions of dollars by playing in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl against No. 9 Boise State. But the junior said Wednesday he isn't worried about injuring his collarbone again and wants to break the school's all-time rushing record. "I've been playing the game since I was 7," Peterson said. "A lot of guys speculate and say that I'm not coming back or why should he play? But I love the game. That's why I play. I love the game, I love the guys that I play with. "God's decided for me to be back out there, so I'm just ready to get back in the groove and play." (Dallas Morning News)
Stoops finishes third in AP Coach of the Year award: Jim Grobe held Wake Forest together after a couple of potentially devastating injuries, refused to let his players feel sorry for themselves and turned the perennially downtrodden Demon Deacons into champions. For orchestrating one of the most surprising turnarounds in college football - and the best season in Wake Forest's 105-year football history - Grobe was honored as The Associated Press Coach of the Year on Wednesday. Rutgers coach Greg Schiano, who took the once-laughable Scarlet Knights within a victory of the Bowl Championship Series, finished second with 12 votes. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops was third with six votes. Ohio State's Jim Tressel received three votes. Arkansas' Houston Nutt got two votes. Boise State's Chris Petersen, Louisville's Bobby Petrino and first-year Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema each received one vote. (Charlotte Observer)
Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl billboards: Sooner fans got an early gift on Tuesday, courtesy of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The bowl committee placed six billboards in the Oklahoma City metro area to welcome OU to the bowl game on New Year's Day. The signs display a Tostitos Fiesta Bowl logo and an action shot of running back Adrian Peterson in addition to the welcome message: "Congratulations, Oklahoma - Big 12 Conference Champions. See you in Glendale on Jan. 1." No. 7 Oklahoma (11-2) departs on Christmas Day for Arizona. The game is slated for New Year's Day at 7:30 p.m. (CT) and will be televised nationally by FOX. (SoonerSports.com)
Future OU Football Big XII Schedule: The Big 12 Conference has announced its conference schedule for 2008-2015. Adjustments are still possible for any number of reasons, but for the most part the games should remain as scheduled and are released now to assist various entities for planning purposes. Complete Oklahoma Football Big XII Future Schedule. (SoonerSports PR)
2008 October 4 -- at Baylor October 11 -- Texas October 18 -- Kansas October 25 -- at Kansas State November 1 -- Nebraska November 8 -- at Texas A&M November 15 -- Texas Tech November 22 - Open November 28/29 -- at Oklahoma St.
2009 October 10 -- Baylor October 17 -- at Texas October 24 -- at Kansas October 31 -- Kansas State November 7 -- at Nebraska November 14 -- Texas A&M November 21 -- at Texas Tech November 27/28 -- Oklahoma State
Boise State sells remaining Fiesta Bowl tickets slowly: Ty Palmer got to Bronco Stadium at 6 p.m. Wednesday and spent the night dozing at the front of the line to get tickets to the Fiesta Bowl.John Hardy -- the last person in line -- strolled into the Varsity Center on the Boise State campus Thursday morning and had his ticket 20 minutes later.The line Palmer began more than 15 hours earlier was gone half an hour after the ticket office opened Thursday at 9 a.m. Rain and expectations of long lines were blamed for keeping more fans from queuing up to buy what were said to have been BSU's last 200 tickets for the Jan. 1 game against Oklahoma.However, approximately 200 additional tickets not claimed by season ticket holders also were released Thursday morning and were still available Thursday afternoon. (Idaho Statesman)
Places to find Fiesta Bowl Tickets: Craigslist.org, Ebay.com, Orbitz.com, Scout's Ticket Exchange(Use Common Sense, Buy From Trusted Sellers via PayPal or Google Checkout)
We haven't seen nothing yet, maybe? With only the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State remaining, the Sooners' fifth-year senior quarterback hopes they can pull it together in his final game. "Being the competitor that I am, it doesn't seem like I've had a good practice in the five years I've been here," Thompson said. "There's always something we can improve on. There's always maybe a turnover or something and a lot of times we come away with a win, but there might be one or two things where we didn't achieve our goals." (NewsOK.com)
Sooners travel to NFL's top rated stadium: Oklahoma's players, coaches and fans will enjoy a state-of-the-art facility for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day. OU will meet Boise State on the field inside University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. Home of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, the stadium was completed in 2006 at a cost of approximately $450 million. The facility was named the best in the NFL by Street & Smith's and Sportsbusiness JournalSportsbusiness Daily and one of the 10 best stadiums in the world by BusinessWeek. (Facts and notes at SoonerSports.com) G Note: University of Phoenix Stadium is truly a world-class facility, among Texas Motor Speedway, and the new Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Pendleton FCA finalist: Oklahoma defensive tackle Carl Pendleton is a finalist for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Bobby Bowden Award. Pendleton will travel to attend the presentation ceremony in Phoenix, Ariz., on Jan. 6. In 2004, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes presented the first of what is now a yearly award. Named for the current Florida State coach, the award honors one college football player for their achievements on the field and in the classroom and for their conduct as a faith model in the community. Nominees must have a 3.0 GPA or better and must also have the backing of his school's athletic director and head football coach. The award is presented each year prior to the Bowl Championship Series' national title game. Pendleton, a junior and a three-year starter, has decided to forgo his senior year of eligibility - but not to turn pro. Instead, Pendleton, who will graduate in December, will continue his education and focus on caring for his 11-year-old brother, Kierstan. He became Kierstan's legal guardian recently. (SoonerSports PR)
Oklahoma video: Checkout Google Video (video.google.com) Includes full length games, highlight reels and more, including the Oklahoma Sooners, Oklahoma HS football highlights. Upload, and share yours today. (thanks, Google for the heads up)
Oklahoma allotment SOLD-OUT: The OU ticket office announced Monday that it had sold out of its allotment of 17,500 Fiesta Bowl tickets. OU officials reported Saturday that the ticket office had just 200 tickets remaining. The game, at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., is expected to be a sellout. (NewsOK.com)
Limited Fiesta Bowl tickets remain: A limited supply of tickets remain for Oklahoma's matchup with Boise State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz., on New Year's Day. As of close of business Tuesday, the OU Athletics Ticket Office still had tickets for the Jan. 1 bowl game remaining. Ticket sales for the event are now available only through the OU Athletics Ticket Office and continue online at SoonerSports.com until all are sold. The price is $135 per ticket and all sales are now first-come, first-served. If tickets do not sell out overnight through the online system, the OU Ticket Office reopens for business Wednesday at 8 a.m. and any remaining tickets may be bought online or buy calling or visiting the ticket office. Call the OU Athletics Ticket Office toll-free at (800) 456-GoOU (4668). (Sooner Sports PR)
Where the Coaches rank the Sooners: The final top 25 coaches' poll was released Sunday, and Oklahoma was ranked No. 8. Fifty-five of the 62 voters had Oklahoma ranked from sixth to 10th. But there were some notable exceptions. One voter ranked OU below 15th -- Florida Atlantic's Howard Schnellenberger, a former Sooner head coach. And only three voters ranked OU higher than fifth -- OU's Bob Stoops, South Carolina's Steve Spurrier and Texas Tech's Mike Leach. Stoops was an assistant coach under Spurrier at Florida. And Leach is a former Stoops assistant. (Tulsa World)
Callahan takes the blame for Oklahoma Loss: From HuskerExtra.com
"I was disappointed with everything I did," Callahan told reporters during a Big 12 coaches' bowl teleconference. "I just could've done a better job. I just didn't do enough."
"I'm really, really upset. I'm really upset for that performance, and it all falls on my shoulders. I'm pretty aggravated, to say the least."
Oklahoma Alumni Association and the Fiesta Bowl: When the Oklahoma Sooners head to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, you can join the OU Alumni Association and the Sooner Club on New Years Day in Glendale, Arizona. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be played on Monday, Jan. 1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:45 p.m. CST. Boise State was announced as OU's opponent in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl as part of Sunday night's BCS announcement show on Fox. When you travel with other Sooner fans on this Official OU Alumni Fiesta Bowl Tour, you can forget about all the hassle. You'll stay at a deluxe hotel, rally at the famed Boomer Bash Pre-Game, enjoy all the amenities and privileges from traveling on the Official Tour, and so much more. The Official OU Alumni Fiesta Bowl tour does NOT include a game ticket. If you need tickets for the game, call the OU Ticket Office direct at 405-325-2424. The Athletics Ticket Office has special office hours on Sunday from 2-5 p.m. for walk-up and phone sales. Tickets for the Fiesta Bowl are $135. (More at SoonerSports.com)
Fiesta Bowl Tidbits, OU Designated home team, Sooners arrive Dec. 26: Oklahoma has been allocated 17,000 tickets for the Fiesta Bowl matchup against Boise State. For the time being, they are available to season-ticket holders only. Ticket-related information can be found on soonersports.com. The Fiesta Bowl, along with the BCS National Championship the following week, will be played in the Arizona Cardinals' new 72,886-seat stadium in the Phoenix suburb of Glendale. The Sooners have been designated the home team and will wear crimson jerseys. They are expected to arrive in the Phoenix area Dec. 26. (Tulsa World)
Boise States's Peterson on facing OU: From the Norman Transcript, "This is something we've been scratching and clawing for the last five or six years," Boise State coach Chris Peterson said. "For us to get a chance to even compete on the same field with Oklahoma is going to be an awesome challenge and hopefully a lot of fun as well."
Oklahoma Bowl Game Ticket information: After winning the Big 12 Championship game on Saturday, the University of Oklahoma football team earned the conference's automatic bid into the Bowl Championship Series and a trip to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be played on Monday, Jan. 1 at the University of Phoenix Stadium, with kickoff set for 7:45 p.m. CST. The opponent in Tostitos Fiesta Bowl will be announced as part of Sunday night's BCS announcement show on Fox at 7 p.m. Although the season ticket holder deadline has passed, those season ticket holders that have not already placed their order for Oklahoma's bowl game will have one more opportunity to do so beginning Sunday at noon on Soonersports.com. The Athletics Ticket Office will also have special office hours Sunday from 2-5 p.m. for walk-up and phone sales. Tickets for the Fiesta Bowl are $135. Seat locations will be determined at a later date and will be assigned based upon priority within giving levels. All orders will be assessed a processing fee and will be shipped via UPS mail in mid-December. (SoonerSports PR)
Alexander named First Team All-American: Wednesday, a day after being named Big 12 Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Alexander was named first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association. He's the 142nd All-American in OU's history. With early issues at cornerback and defensive tackle, the Sooners didn't blitz as much defensively this season, so Alexander didn't have as many game-changing plays as he did in his previous two seasons. But he still led the team with 95 tackles going into Saturday's Big 12 championship game against Nebraska, and posted a team-high 10.5 tackles for loss. He also had a hand in six turnovers and had two quarterback sacks. "Usually, these awards go to teams that have won a lot of games," OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. "We're No. 1 or No. 2 (in the Big 12) in almost all defensive categories, so I'm sure that Rufus, one of our better players, I think he reaps the rewards from the sum of everybody." (Tulsa World)
Its Cotton or Fiesta for Sooners: It's the Fiesta or Cotton Bowl for Oklahoma depending on the outcome of Saturday's title game. The Big 12 Conference announced two bowl matchups on Wednesday. The AT&T Cotton Bowl indicated its desire to host one of the Conference’s divisional champions and will select the runner-up of Saturday’s Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game to face an SEC opponent on January 1. The Pacific Life Holiday Bowl will match Texas A&M against the University of California on December 28. The winner of the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game automatically qualifies for the Bowl Championship Series, and will appear in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 1. (SoonerSports.com)
Cooper's Nebraska history: Sooner center Jon Cooper's dad, Tom Cooper, played at Missouri from 1972-75, experiencing his own rivalry with Nebraska. Growing up in Colorado, where CU is a latter-day rival of the Big Red, imposed a double dose of dislike for all things Husker on the OU sophomore. "I've kind of grown up hating Nebraska my fair share," Cooper said. "It's a pretty big deal for me." For Cooper, this week is somewhat like OU-Texas for his teammates. "A little bit, yeah," Cooper said. "My dad hated them, so he passed that on to me. And everybody from CU hated them, so I was surrounded, because nobody liked them in Colorado, certainly not in my house." "I definitely respect them, because they've won championships. Oklahoma's won championships. When I was recruited, my dad made sure to tell me how much of a good rivalry this is, especially back when they played every year." (NewsOK.com)
Stoops indifferent on Big XII title site: The forecast for Kansas City on Saturday night calls for below-freezing temperatures, making weather a factor. That could be avoided if the game were played in a domed stadium or warmer climate. "I'm kind of mixed on that," Stoops said. "You see pro teams out there in the middle of that weather all the time. It's part of the game you've got to manage. "Some of these (alternative championship venues) aren't really Big 12 towns, aren't maybe as exciting, so the atmosphere isn't going to be as great. I think the venue up there has been incredibly exciting." (Tulsa World)
