Special teams nearly perfect against Miami: Although the offense sputtered for most of the game without its three best playmakers, the special teams units nearly proved the difference. Kicker Jimmy Stevens was perfect on the evening, nailing a pair of field goals and a pair of extra points. Freshman punter Tress Way averaged more than 50 yards per punt. And junior Dominique Franks set up Oklahoma's final scoring drive with a winding return after fielding the ball on his own 1-yard line. "There were a lot of areas that were very good," said coach Bob Stoops. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma kicker up for top award: Oklahoma kicker Jimmy Stevens has been named to the preseason watch list for the Lou Groza Award. The honor is presented annually to the top placekicker in college football. This will be the 18th season for the award. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission sponsors the Lou Groza Award. In 2008, Stevens, a sophomore from Oklahoma City, was an All-Big 12 Academic first teammember. He converted 8-of-11 field goals and 92-of-97 extra points, while setting OU program records for most extra points made and attempted. He tallied a total of 116 points on the season, ranking No. 2 at OU for the most ever kicking points in a season. He converted two field goals, the longest a 30-yarder, in the Big 12 Championship against Missouri and booted season-long field goal of 42 yards against Texas A&M. (SoonerSports PR)
Stoops denies message board rumors: Some fans used Oklahoma's bye week to circulate a message board rumor that the Sooners would have a new kicker by Saturday night's game against No. 2 Texas Tech. Not true, according to coach Bob Stoops. "Same guys," he said Tuesday. "Hopefully they'll be better." That goes for kicker — Jimmy Stevens is 4-of-7 on field goals and has missed four extra points -- and a kickoff coverage unit that has allowed three returns for touchdowns despite constant personnel adjustments. "We've worked it every day for the last two weeks," Stoops said of the kick coverage. "It sure looks good in practice." (Tulsa World)
OU's home field advantage: Stoops has lost two games at Owen Field in 10 seasons. But he got the attention of the Oklahoma media when he suggested that the fans could contribute more decibels. He noted that opponents seldom resort to silent counts in Norman. "I really do hope our people take an interest in not just cheering when we're going into the end zone but actively cheering and making noise when they're trying to communicate and get something going and to hopefully take away from something that they're doing," Stoops said. (Dallas Morning News)
OU vs. Texas Tech tickets in demand: Purchasing a ticket to Saturday's game between No. 2 Texas Tech and No. 5 Oklahoma isn't cheap. Tickets are going for a minimum of $150 on the ticket-selling Web site StubHub.com. Lower level seats are up to $1,500 apiece. The game is also the best-selling OU home game in StubHub history based on dollar volume, according to company spokeswoman Joellen Ferrer. (The Oklahoman)
Couple players suspended for Saturday's game? [Bob] Stoops suggested that the Sooners could be without some players Saturday. Just who, he was not saying. "I'm not much for announcing suspensions," Stoops said, "because then they get their pictures in the paper and everyone talks about it. "Like everybody, there will be some guys for various reasons, from academics to other issues that we may hold. We'll see when we get to the game." (The Oklahoman)
Moreland and Stevens earns kicking duties: Stoops said Matt Moreland, a walk-on redshirt freshman from Bishop Kelley, has won the kickoff job. Jimmy Stevens will handle field goals, although it is possible the Sooners will use Moreland or Union freshman Tress Way for longer kicks. Or Way may redshirt. "Tress Way is doing a great job punting and kicking and is going to be really good for us," Stoops said. "Whether we use him ... I don't know if it would be right to use his year." (Tulsa World)
Mocs to 450k playing OU: Tennessee-Chattanooga will be making $375,000 guaranteed from Oklahoma plus a travel expense of $100,000 for playing in Norman on Saturday, athletic director Joe Castiglione said Tuesday. While that may seem like a lot, $475k is actually just a little above the norm for playing Football Championship Subdivision schools. (The Oklahoman)
Limited tickets remain for UTC and Cincinnati: Opportunities to see the Sooner football team in action this season are going fast with tickets remaining for only two games. The Oklahoma football season-opener vs. Tennessee-Chattanooga on Aug. 30 is nearing a sellout with only approximately 100 tickets returned from UTC Mocs still available for purchase. Tickets for the game are $49 each. Kickoff is set for 6:10 p.m. There are a limited number of tickets returned from Cincinnati available for their Sept. 6 contest with the Sooners as well. Tickets are on sale for $62 each. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. (SoonerSports.com)
Sam Bradford named to Walter Camp watch list: Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has been named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Camp Award, which is presented annually to the top player in college football. Bradford already had been named to watch lists for the watch lists for the Maxwell (top player) and O'Brien (top quarterback) awards. Last season, as a redshirt freshman, Bradford set an NCAA freshman record with 36 touchdown passes. He tossed just eight interceptions. Bradford is trying to become the fifth OU player to win the Camp Award. The most recent do so was Bradford's position coach, Josh Heupel, who received the honor in 2000. The watch list will be narrowed to 15 semi-finalists in early November. (SoonerSports PR)
English anxious about return: It had been so long since Auston English hit somebody, the junior defensive end found himself getting antsy Sunday night. "I was real anxious," English said. "Last night, I went to bed kind of feeling like I was getting ready for a game because it's been a while since I've taken snaps like that. "You want to get out there and not lose a step." English, joining full contact drills for the first time this preseason, at least looked comfortable Monday morning when the Sooners began their final week of preseason work. (The Oklahoman)
Update on kicker competition: Jimmy Stevens continues to lead in the race to replace kicker Garrett Hartley, but he is being pushed by Tulsans Tress Way and Matthew Moreland. "Jimmy Stevens was good on everything," Stoops said. "His deepest (field goal) was 50. He only had one shot at it and made it. He missed one at 53, but he made everything else from 50 on in. The other guys each missed one. Tress Way made one at 53. Matt Moreland missed one at 53. I'm really pleased with those guys." (Tulsa World)
Sooner Fans ESPN The Magazine needs you: ESPN The Magazine has a new series "A Season in the Stands" featuring college football's top four programs and their fans! Oklahoma is among the four featured with USC, Georgia and Ohio State. ESPN The Magazine is looking for University of Oklahoma students and fans to document their 2008 college football season in the stands. For more information visit ESPNTheMag.com.
Lendy Holmes moves back to free safety: After spending the first two weeks of preseason practice at cornerback, Lendy Holmes was moved back to free safety this week, clearing the way for Dominique Franks to move back into the starting lineup at field cornerback. "It's been good having Lendy over there working with Dom, and in all honesty Dom's had a pretty good camp," secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright said Thursday. "He's gotten much better the last couple of days. At the moment, Franks and Brian Jackson are OU's starting cornerbacks, with Holmes and Nic Harris starting at the safety spots. Redshirt freshman Sam Proctor has shifted into a backup role behind Harris at strong safety. "The competition is really the thing that keeps everybody on edge, keeps everybody focused, keeps everybody working to get better," Wright said. (The Oklahoman)
Jimmy Stevens ahead of competition? While one former Union Redskin, Franks, has made a move up the depth chart, another, Tress Way, appears to have slipped. Addressing his kicking game after practice Thursday, OU coach Bob Stoops said, "Jimmy might be a little bit ahead of them. He's got the lead." That's Jimmy Stevens, the Oklahoma City Heritage Hall redshirt freshman fighting Way to take over for Garrett Hartley as kicker. Stoops reported Stevens hit a field goal to close out an end-of-game two-minute drill at practice on Thursday. (Tulsa World)
