So far - Five total commitments for class of 2011: The OU football team hosted its first junior day at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday and received several commits for the class of 2011. Arlington wide receiver Kameel Jackson and Moore quarterback Kendal Thompson were among the high school juniors at the event. Both committed in the fall of 2009 to kick off the class with two highly touted verbal commitments. Jackson and Moore were soon joined by Euless-Trinity tight end Chris Barnett. The 6-6 245 pound athlete was the first of three to give a verbal on Saturday and has been on many programs’ watch lists after recording running the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds. The next two verbals came shortly after the day was over from two high school teammates. Stony Brook linebacker P.L. Lindley and defensive tackle Jordan Wade rounded out the day, leaving the Sooners with five total for the future Sooner class. (OUDaily.com)
Former Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford to attend NFL Combine but will not workout: Former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah at MoveTheSticks.com is reporting, representatives for Sam Bradford (Tom Condon and Ben Dogra of CAA Sports) sent an email to all 32 teams informing them that Bradford will fully participate in the medical examinations, interview process and wonderlic testing at the combine. Based on the advice of Dr. James Andrews, he will not participate in any football drills or physical activities in Indianapolis. Bradford will have his own pro day workout on March 25th at the University of Oklahoma. He will not be in attendance for the Sooners pro day on March 9th. (Movingthesticks.com)
After playing the nation's second-most difficult schedule last season, Oklahoma will again embark on a challenging slate for the upcoming campaign. Nine teams that played in bowls, including two that participated in BCS match-ups, comprise Oklahoma's 12-game football schedule for 2010.
Those 12 opponents combined for a record of 90-64 in 2009.
"We have assembled a schedule that is representative of our tradition," said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. "It features intriguing intersectional games as well as the always rigorous Big 12."
"We're also excited about the visit from the Air Force Academy. With Tinker Air Force Base located just a few miles north of our stadium, we anticipate heightened interest in that game. Certainly we are privileged to host the Cadets in Norman."
Oklahoma will play six games at home, five on the road and one, the annual match-up with Texas, on a neutral field.
OU enters the season with a record of 799-302-53 and will become just the eighth program to reach 800 wins when it wins its next game. Each of the schools ranked higher on that list have played at least 33 more games than Oklahoma.
The Sooners open with three straight home games. The first takes place Sept. 4 against Utah State prior to a Sept. 11 visit from Florida State and its new defensive coordinator Mark Stoops, the brother of OU Head Coach Bob Stoops.
It is the first of two meetings between Oklahoma and Florida State with the return game taking place in Tallahassee during the 2011 season.
That FSU game will be the 70th for Stoops at the OU helm and if Sooner fans sell out that game and the Utah State game before it, there will be a new school record for consecutive sellouts at 70.
Air Force will follow Florida State into Norman in the completion of a contract that began at Colorado Springs in 2001. The Falcons were 8-5 last season including a 47-20 win over Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Oklahoma's first road game of the season opens a stretch of back-to-back contests against 2009 BCS participants, both away from Norman. The Sept. 25 game is against Cincinnati in Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, to be followed by the annual Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Oct. 2.
The lone open week for OU falls on Oct. 9 before the Sooners alternate home and road games over the next six weeks. They open that stretch with Iowa State in Norman on Oct. 16, then travel to Missouri (Oct. 23), play at home to Colorado (Oct. 30), go to Texas A&M (Nov. 6), host Texas Tech (Nov. 13) then venture to Baylor (Nov. 20).
The regular season finale is Nov. 27 at Oklahoma State.
None of the starting times have been announced pending selections by television networks.
Box arrested in Bricktown for disorderly conduct: Sophomore linebacker Austin Box was arrested for disorderly conduct this weekend in Oklahoma City. Police saw Box urinating outside Skky Bar at about 2 a.m. Saturday and he was taken into custody, according to a police report. The arrest marks the second incident in less than a year for Box, as the Enid native was cited last spring by Norman police for outraging public decency outside Fat Sandwich Company. (OUDaily.com)
Adrian Peterson to host charity event at Riverwind: Former Sooners great and current Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be back in Oklahoma Feb. 27 for his annual charity dinner at Riverwind Casino. "Dinner with Adrian Peterson” begins at 7 p.m. and will benefit Peterson’s All Day Foundation. Individual tickets are $350. Tables of eight can also be purchased for either $2,500 or $5,000. The $2,500 tables include a signed Vikings jersey for the table sponsor, while the $5,000 tables come with an autographed Vikings helmet for the sponsor, signed picture for each person at the table and a photo-op for the group. For more information, call Bill Horn at (405) 409-2223, or email him at bill@inspiremgmtco.com. (The Oklahoman)
Malcolm Kelly, former Sooner wide receiver (2005-07) and current Washington Redskin, gave his thoughts to WaPo on his former quarterback Sam Bradford. In the interview, Kelly praised Bradford's personality, skills and felt Bradford will 'adjust' to the NFL.
Bradford has good arm strength and plays with confidence, Kelly said, "but the biggest thing is that Sam makes good decisions, man. First and foremost, he's real accurate. His accuracy is well above average and he makes smart decisions. He's not going to force too many things.
"I think he will be able to adjust" to the higher NFL skill level, he said. "The better the players are that are around Sam, the better he will be able to do. You get a group of guys around him who are professionals, that will help him out a whole lot. Hopefully, whoever ends up drafting him, if they just give him time to get adjusted, it'll be the same thing for him."
In one of many power rankings in spring football, Oklahoma Sooners are ranked 3rd in Big 12 pre-spring power rankings by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin.
Griffin, ESPN.com Big 12 blogger, says in formulating his Big 12 rankings he took into account returning players, transfers, arriving freshmen and a teams’ schedules.
Listed below... ESPN.com's Big 12 pre-spring power rankings.
Texas
Nebraska
Oklahoma - Landry Jones will be infinitely better in his second season as a starter and Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray may be the best one-two receiving/running back combination in the conference. Bob Stoops will be facing a big renovation on defense where key players like Gerald McCoy and Dominique Franks left early for the NFL draft.
Sooners lose Lake and gain Nelson: Jenks athlete Jarrett Lake orally committed to the Sooners in July and provided little evidence that his eligibility issues would prevent him from signing. Corey Nelson, one of the nation's top linebackers, reaffirmed his oral commitment to Texas A&M last week. But on signing day on Wednesday, it was Nelson who pledged a commitment to Oklahoma, while Lake looked elsewhere, landing at Arkansas. Tuesday evening, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables received an oral commitment from Nelson. (The Oklahoman)
On Wednesday, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced OU football's recruiting class of 2010. The class, which ranks among the nations best according to Scout.com and ESPN, signed five 5-star prospects according to Scout.com, including Blake Bell, Brennan Clay, Justin McCay, Corey Nelson and Kenny Stills.
Stoops felt confident on Wednesday, saying he believes the Sooners have addressed the needs on both sides of the ball with this year's class of signees.
"I felt first, we met every one of our needs by position the way we needed to with the number of guys, the number of signees at each of those positions, and addressed some (needs), just with graduation and guys departing through the year. I felt we really got great talent at all those positions," Stoops said.
Oklahoma hires Wiilie Martinez as secondary coach: Willie Martinez has been named the new defensive backs coach at Oklahoma. OU Head Coach Bob Stoops made the announcement today and the move is pending approval of the university's board of regents.
As part of the move, assistant head coach Bobby Jack Wright, who has been on the Sooner staff since 1999, will move from the secondary to coaching OU's defensive ends. He previously coached the defensive ends from 1999-2004 when the program produced five All-Big 12 players at the position.
Martinez was defensive backs coach at Georgia from 2000-09, and was the defensive coordinator from 2005-09.
"Willie is an outstanding coach and someone with a tremendous background in our profession," Stoops said. "His experience is very impressive and he will contribute a lot of very good things to our program. And not only is he fine secondary coach, he's a good recruiter with ties in Florida and a number of other places."
Stoops said past visits with Georgia's staff familiarized him with Martinez.
"Our staffs had been together exchanging ideas and I was impressed with Willie," Stoops said. "In those meetings you not only get a feel for how well someone knows the game, but their ability to communicate and interact with other people, and Willie was a guy that represented himself and his school very well."
The admiration is mutual from Martinez.
"Bob has won so many games and so many championships there that I am just very humbled to be part of that staff," Martinez said. "I was there in 1985 with Miami so I've experienced it myself. I love history and tradition and I go back to my childhood and that Oklahoma name was just always the tops. And it still is thanks to what Bob and his staff have done.
"I've known Bob back to his K-State days and I've known all of those guys on the defensive side of the ball. It's an outstanding group of men and that's what makes this such an attractive job."
The big-play potential and the responsibility of the secondary are the aspects of secondary coaching that most appeal to Martinez.
"We're the last line of defense and you've got to have a good group of athletes who can handle that pressure," he said. "You're going to have a direct impact on every play. You have to have some swagger and the ability to shake off the bad play. I know that a game is almost always going to come down to who plays the best in the secondary and I like that."
Martinez doesn't mind either that the head coach, Stoops, has a background of coaching defensive backs.
"Bob's experience with defensive backs is something that I really like and I want him being around us in practice," he said. "His input is invaluable, but his presence also is a sign to our players that there is a good emphasis on our position."
Before going to Georgia, Martinez served three years as secondary coach and one as assistant head coach at Central Michigan.
During his nine years at UGA, he was part of a staff that led Georgia to 90 victories, two SEC championships, three SEC Eastern Division titles, seven bowl victories, and six top ten finishes in the final national polls including No. 2 in 2007 and No. 3 in 2002. (SoonerSports.com)
Sooners hire former Georgia coordinator Martinez: Former Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez will fill the vacant assistant coaching spot at OU, Tom Dienhart of Rivals.com is reporting. Martinez, who was fired by Georgia coach Mark Richt in December after the Bulldog defense struggled in back-to-back seasons, reportedly was hired over the weekend to be Jim Harbaugh's defensive backs coach at Stanford. But Dienhart is now saying, according to a Stanford source, that Martinez is taking the assistant's job at OU, which came open when former Sooner defensive ends coach Chris Wilson left to become the co-defensive coordinator/defensive line coach at Mississippi State. (The Oklahoman)
5-star prospect picks Texas over OU: The defensive end prospect from West High School in Plano, Texas, and the son of former Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills defensive end Jim Jeffcoat, chose Texas over Oklahoma and Houston Friday during an announcement ceremony from his high school gymnasium. At the start of the ceremony, with his father seated to his left and his mother to his right, Jeffcoat put on a burnt orange Texas hat, then took questions from the press. "I felt most comfortable at Texas," he said. "But I definitely felt comfortable at Houston, and I definitely felt comfortable at Oklahoma." (Tulsa World)
5-star DE Jeffcoats considering OU, Texas and Houston: The nation's No. 2 prospect Jackson Jeffcoat (Plano, Texas/West) is down to three schools after dropping Arizona State from consideration. The 6-foot-4, 233-pound five-star defensive end will decide between Texas, Oklahoma and Houston in the coming days, but an announcement time has not been set as of Tuesday night.
Jeffcoat made his final official visit last weekend to Oklahoma, which was followed by an in-home visit by Sooners coaches Bob Stoops, Jackie Shipp, Brent Venables and Josh Heuple on Monday night. (ESPN.com)
Texas' prospect Eddrick Loften opts for Tennessee: Eddrick Loften, a safety from Irving, Texas, who was once orally committed to Oklahoma, pledged to the Volunteers over the weekend. "I like (new Tennessee coach Derek) Dooley a lot," Loften told the Chattanooga Times Free Press. "He's a cool guy … a real straightforward kind of guy. He wants to really change the program and turn it around, and he wants guys like me to help him do it. "I really liked what he was talking about." The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Loften committed to OU last February, but he decommitted in December as Loften and OU mutually parted ways. (The Oklahoman)
Wilson in-consideration for ECU job: Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson had an interesting day Wednesday. In the morning, the Internet was ablaze that Wilson was virtually first in line for the head coaching vacancy at Louisiana Tech. By midday, word had gotten around that Tech was indeed planning on announcing its new coach. Early in the afternoon, Wilson replied to a text message query that it wasn't him. Then, Louisiana Tech hired Arizona assistant Sonny Dykes. Then, for Wilson, it started all over again with East Carolina. Wilson didn't respond to another inquiry Wednesday night about his apparent candidacy for the ECU post, but the Daily Reflector, a newspaper in Greenville, N.C., that covers East Carolina sports, identified Wilson as one of four prime candidates for the job from which Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill withdrew his name on Tuesday. A North Carolina television station also reported that Wilson would interview either Wednesday night or Thursday. (Tulsa World)
Heupel interviews for Minnesota job? Tulsa World is also reporting... A source also confirmed that OU quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel flew to St. Paul on Wednesday to interview for the offensive coordinator job at Minnesota. Heupel didn't reply to a text message. (Tulsa World)
Grissom picks OU over KU: Geneo Grissom's cellular phone was active on Wednesday, which is hardly a revelation. Translation: His cell phone is his life - or, more appropriately, his lifeline. But one text message stood out above the dozens of others. It featured four simple words that made Grissom smile. "Is this the Sooner?" The author was Blake Bell, who rejoiced in Grissom's Tuesday-night decision to attend the University of Oklahoma because it means he'll never again find himself in the defensive end's crosshairs. Bell, Grissom and Bishop Miege receiver Justin McCay are considered the three best high school football players in the state of Kansas. On Wednesday, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables flew into town to meet with Grissom and complete the Sooners' trifecta. (Hutchinson News)
Bradford, Franks, Gresham and McCoy granted eligibility for NFL Draft: Four Oklahoma underclassmen have been granted special eligibility for the 2010 NFL Draft. The NFL released the names of 53 college players who meet the league's three-year eligibility rule and who have submitted written applications to renounce their remaining college eligibility. Among them are four Oklahoma players and none are surprises -- quarterback Sam Bradford, tight end Jermaine Gresham, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and defensive back Dominique Franks. (KTUL)
Beal, Murray decide to return for senior season: Defensive end Jeremy Beal and running back DeMarco Murray each expressed prior to the 4 p.m. deadline that they were staying because they felt like they had more to do at OU. "Even though it was a good year, I've still got a lot of stuff to improve on becoming a better player," Beal told the Tulsa World in a telephone interview from his family home in Carrollton, Texas. "I look at it as a building block for another level I have to get to." Murray told ESPN, "I felt I wasn't done here. I still had some more things I wanted to get accomplished with my teammates and become a better player as well." (Tulsa World)
Sooners begin search for Wilson replacement: Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops will begin a search for a new assistant coach after defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator Chris Wilson accepted an offer Saturday to become the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Mississippi State University. "This is a good opportunity for Chris and we appreciate everything he did for our program," said Stoops. "I do not have a time table for hiring a new coach. There are a number of different avenues I can take and I will take all of them into consideration." Wilson’s replacement will inherit a group of defensive ends that returns two players with starting experience in two-time All-Big 12 defensive end Jeremy Beal and Frank Alexander. Beal led the Sooners in 2009 with 19 tackles for loss and 11 sacks while Alexander was fifth on the team with seven tackles for loss after starting the final four games of the season. Wilson spent the past five seasons coaching defensive ends at Oklahoma. The Sooners finished 2009 ranked eighth nationally against the run and also tied for sixth in sacks per game. The Oklahoma defense has finished in the top 10 nationally in rushing defense three times during Wilson’s five years on staff. "Chris has taught some of the best defensive lines in the Big 12 at Colorado and Oklahoma, and brings a knowledge of the OU defensive system that is one of the best in the nation," Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen said. (SoonerSports.com)
Oklahoma assistant Chris Wilson likely leaving OU for Miss. State: Oklahoma defensive ends coach Chris Wilson says he anticipates taking a job as co-defensive coordinator at Mississippi State. According to the Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Mississippi, Wilson said he had been offered the job and would speak with his family and Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops about the opportunity before making a decision. (KTUL)
4-Star recruit Geneo Grissom to choose between Oklahoma, Kansas: The highly sought after Hutchinson High senior defensive end has narrowed his choice to the University of Kansas or Oklahoma. Grissom, who gave a verbal commitment to the Jayhawks last June before re-evaluating his options in the wake of Mark Mangino's tumultuous resignation, will take an official visit to Lawrence this weekend, Hutchinson coach Randy Dreiling said Wednesday. Dreiling's football office at Hutch High has been a busy place. It has hosted numerous coaches from KU, OU and LSU in the recent weeks, including a pair of national championship-winning coaches in LSU's Les Miles and OU's Bob Stoops. (Hutchinson News)
Sooner WR Jameel Owens transfers to Tulsa: According to published reports, Oklahoma wide receiver Jameel Owens has enrolled at Tulsa, completing his transfer. Owens, who redshirted last season for the Sooners, wanted to closer wanted to be closer to his family in Muskogee.
Five Sooners invited to NFL Combine: Five Oklahoma Sooners and four Oklahoma State Cowboys have been invited to the NFL Scouting Combine, according to Sporting News. Running back Chris Brown, tight end Brody Eldridge, tight end Jermaine Gresham, cornerback Brian Jackson and offensive tackle Trent Williams were invited from OU. The event takes place Feb. 24-March 2 in downtown Indianapolis. (Tulsa World)
Chris Brown, Trent Williams selected to play in Senior Bowl: A pair of Sooner seniors will be representing the University of Oklahoma later this month in the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl. Offensive tackle Trent Williams and running back Chris Brown have both accepted invitations to the 2010 game, officials announced today. Kickoff for the January 30th event is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CT) and the game and all practices will be televised by the NFL Network. Oklahoma has supplied 97 players for the Senior Bowl since the game's inception in 1950. Williams was named a first team All-American by the AFCA, AP and Walter Camp Football Foundation in 2009. The 6-5, 318 pound left tackle was also a first team All-Big 12 selection and honorable mention Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. He made 37 starts over his career and led the Sooners with 97 knockdowns his senior season. Brown was a Big 12 honorable mention selection by the league's coaches this season. The Alexandria, Louisiana native rushed for 749 yards and seven touchdowns in 2009 and added another 131 receiving yards and a score. He ranks fourth on the school's all-time list with 45 career touchdowns and 42 rushing touchdowns. Brown is also tenth in Oklahoma history with 2,877 rushing yards and fifth with 615 rushing attempts. Brown's biggest year came in 2008 when he became just the 20th player in school history to break 1,000 yards in a season (1,220). "Trent and Chris are both outstanding football players and we are excited to add them to our North roster," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "We are confident that they will both do a fine job of representing the University of Oklahoma." (SoonerSports PR)
Carl Albert's Porter receives scholarship offer from OU: Carl Albert's Tre Porter, a Texas Tech commit, recently received an offer from OU. The offer, though, is different from the others Porter holds. The Sooners want to bring Porter in as a wide receiver. His other offers are to play in the secondary. "That definitely makes it tempting," Porter said. (The Oklahoman)
Humphrey: Oklahoma just felt right: Parish Episcopal's Eric Humphrey had a busy month ahead of him. With scheduled recruiting visits to Arkansas, Baylor, Wake Forest and Southern California in January, the defensive tackle was on track to be courted and wooed like a superstar for the next four weeks. Change of plans though. Humphrey sat down with his parents on Wednesday, made a pro-con list of playing at Oklahoma and decided the Sooners were the best fit. So it's official -- Humphrey has committed to play football at Oklahoma. "Oklahoma just felt right," he said. "I felt at home." Humphrey insisted Oklahoma's coaches, including defensive line coach Jackie Shipp, didn’t pressure him to make a decision or change his upcoming plans. (Dallas Morning News)
Oklahoma's Dominique Franks to enter 2010 NFL Draft: Oklahoma junior cornerback Dominique Franks announced Tuesday he will enter the upcoming NFL Draft. Franks, at 6-foot-1 and 196 pounds, had two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and 47 tackles for the Sooners while earning All-Big 12 honors for the second season in a row. "We wish Dom all the best and I hope at some point that he'll also be back to complete his degree," OU coach Bob Stoops said in a news release. (The Oklahoman)
Five-Star recruit picks Texas over OU: A five-star wide receiver recruit has chosen Texas over both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Darius White, ranked by many services as the top wide receiver recruit in the nation, announced his decision during today's Under Armour High School All-America Game. Also in the running for White's services were LSU and Florida. (KTUL)
Granger returns after back surgery: Defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, who missed the regular season after undergoing back surgery, volunteered to play some goal-line defense during OU's bowl practices. Then Taylor got hurt and he wound up joining McCoy, Jamarkus McFarland and Cordero Moore in the Sooners' multiple-tackle formations. "To see him out there throwing all of that juice around," Venables said, "I can't say enough of how proud I am." (Tulsa World)
Oklahoma defeats Stanford, 31-27: After a possession-trading second half that saw Oklahoma fight back from a 24-17 deficit to take a 31-27 lead, the Sooners finally closed the door on Stanford with their defense, and emerged with a victory in the 76th annual Brut Sun Bowl on Thursday. A missed 37-yard Oklahoma field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter gave the Cardinal the ball at their own 20-yard line with one more chance to erase Oklahoma's four-point lead. But the Sooner defense pressured quarterback Tavita Pritchard and forced an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 from the Stanford 28-yard line with just over two minutes remaining. (El Paso Times - Stats)
Jackson, Carter both questionable for Sun Bowl: The Oklahoma Sooners could be without two of their starting defensive backs for today’s Sun Bowl against Stanford. Cornerback Brian Jackson suffered a concussion this week in practice and is doubtful to play, while free safety Quinton Carter is ill. (The Oklahoman) UPDATE: CB Brian Jackson (concussion), S Quinton Carter (illness) are both dressed and doing warm ups.
Cam Newton expected to pick between Auburn or Mississippi State: The top junior college prospect in the nation--QB Cam Newton--is expected to announce his school decision on Thursday. As a December junior college graduate, he will also sign a letter of intent and will immediately enroll in classes at his chosen school, ESPN.com reported Monday. The Blinn College (Brenham, Texas) quarterback is expected to pick either Auburn or Mississippi State. (Sporting News)
DeMarcus Granger to attempt to play in Sun Bowl: Senior defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, who has missed the entire season recovering from back surgery, has resumed practicing with the team and is hoping to play in Thursday's Sun Bowl. "He's going to try and give it a shot," said defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. "That man never gives up." Granger, a former All-Big 12 player, underwent back surgery last December a few weeks before the BCS National Championship. After an extensive off-season rehabilitation, he practiced with the team during the preseason and had hopes of working his way back into rotation. (The Oklahoman)
Landry Jones on Trent Williams: He's doing well: One of the keys for Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl will be how Trent Williams adjusts to snapping the ball from center. So far, so good, said freshman quarterback Landry Jones. "He's actually doing really well," Jones said. "I'm actually surprised how well he's done. Usually it takes a guy a couple days to get the snaps down. But first day, he came in popping those snaps up great." (The Oklahoman)
Sun Bowl tickets still available:Despite tickets no longer being available in El Paso, fans of the Oklahoma Sooners can still get tickets in the OU sections directly from the University of Oklahoma Athletic Department. The tickets are available by going to soonersports.com or calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office at (405) 325?2424 or toll-free at (800) 456?GoOU. The ticket office is closed December 24th through 28th, but will be open noon to 4 p.m. on both the 29th and 30th. Tickets have to be picked up at the Will Call location at the north end of Sun Bowl Stadium on game day in El Paso. The OU will call will open at 9 a.m. Mountain Time and will continue operating until halftime. The ticket holder on record must pick up the tickets and provide a photo ID.(PR)
Ryan Reynolds loses NCAA medical hardship appeal: Coach Bob Stoops confirmed Monday that senior middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds has lost his appeal to the NCAA for a hardship waiver that would have given him an extra year of eligibility because of injuries. Instead, Reynolds, who overcame three major knee injuries while in college, will play his final game as a Sooner in the Sun Bowl. Reynolds missed OU’s regular-season finale against Oklahoma State with a strained hamstring. Stoops, however, said Reynolds has been practicing and should be fine for the bowl game. (The Oklahoman)
OL Jeff Vinson no longer with team, plans to transfer: Stoops announced junior offensive linemen Jeff Vinson has decided to transfer and is no longer with the team. Vinson, a junior college transfer, did not play this season. "He's had some injury and feels he has a better opportunity somewhere else to be able to handle his injury and still play," Stoops said. (Norman Transcript)
Brian Lepak injured during practice: Ten days before Oklahoma faces Stanford in the Brut Sun Bowl, coach Bob Stoops said Monday that center Brian Lepak could miss the bowl game with a sprained knee, putting the Sooners in position to start a fourth player at center this season. "He just got rolled up. We were in our inside drill, and somebody -- we have knee braces on and all -- just rolled into him," Stoops said. "It's a sprain, unsure of the degree. We'll just have to see." (AP/ESPN.com)
Oklahma coach Bob Stoops met with the media to preview the Sooners' upcoming bowl game against Stanford.
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
Bob Stoops... On Trent Williams playing center:
"I don't know if it's fair to say it's easy. He has worked there through the year just for depth purposes. He is an excellent football player. I know it will give us a major presence wherever he is at, so hopefully it will work."
On Stanford player Chase Beeler:
"He's an excellent young man. He is a great student-athlete in that he does a great job with his academic work. He worked hard here, always had a good attitude coming to practice, technically was sound in how he played, he was still young for us, so he hadn’t fully matured yet but knew he would have a strong future."
On Landry making strides during bowl practices:
"He has done a nice job. He has come on. I feel he has done that through the year. In the end, the extra work with him and the receivers together have made some strides."
On defending Stanford running back Toby Gerhart:
"It isn't just defending Toby Gerhart, its defending the whole package. They do such a great job of moving their formations and their tight ends around, and trying to create seams in space. He has great patience and vision to wait for those seams, and then he has the power and quickness when he does see it to gain yards and break tackles. They do an excellent job. He, in particular, also does a great job running the ball with his size and strength, protecting his legs and gaining yards when they aren’t there."
On Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray's final game together:
"It has been really neat to see just the two of them palling around together. Not just the friendship they have, but how they work together, they push each other. They are genuinely excited to see the other do well. I think it's fair that between the two of them, they have really complemented each other really well. You look a year ago and they are 2,000 yard rushers. That doesn’t happen a lot and its pretty special."
Three Oklahoma commitments to play in all-star games: OU fans will get a glimpse of the future, as oral commitments Blake Bell, Tony Jefferson and Justin McCay will participate in all-star games in the coming weeks. Bell will quarterback the White in the Under Armour All-American Game, which will be played Jan. 2 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Fla., and televised by ESPN. Jefferson, a safety, who made his commitment to OU over the weekend, will star for the West in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, which will be held Jan. 9 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, and shown on NBC. McCay, a linebacker out of Shawnee, Kan., will also play for the West. (The Oklahoman)
Chris Mortenson suggests Jerry Jones could be interested in Bob Stoops: ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen says Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops could receive a phone call from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones if the Cowboys part ways with current head coach Wade Phillips. On ESPN Radio, Mortensen said Jones would have Stoops in mind if he decides to fire Phillips, who is under fire despite coaching the Cowboys to a 30-13 record over the past three seasons. Mortensen is not saying Stoops would go if called. He says the interest would purely be on Jones' side at this point. (KTUL)
Jefferson, Stills commits to OU: The University of Oklahoma has added two more elite high school football players from the region in La Costa Canyon wide receiver Kenny Stills Jr. and Eastlake safety Tony Jefferson. With Scripps Ranch running back Brennan Clay accepting a scholarship offer from the Sooners before the season started, the three players represent a stunning recruiting haul by the Big 12 Conference school. For a national program to nab three high-caliber athletes in one season from the San Diego area is virtually unheard of, especially a school like Oklahoma with no players from California on its current roster and only a handful west of Texas. "It's pretty weird the way it all worked out, and it doesn't happen very often," Jefferson said this week before he and Stills made an official announcement last night. "It's definitely going to be something that will go down in history. They don't really get guys from California. This is a huge step for them and for (San Diego football)." Stills said Oklahoma just felt right. "I came home and I was able to sit down and go through a few days without any stress," Stills said. "I was never really worried. I just let things come to me. Tony and I talked about it and thought it would be really cool to do this together." (San Deigo Union-Tribune)
Running back DeMarco Murray still considering foregoing senior year: Don't count on DeMarco Murray's return to Oklahoma just yet. The junior running back, who previously said he was "pretty sure" he would return for his senior season, said Wednesday he hadn’t made up his mind. "I feel like I've got to take the opportunity to at least think about it, not put a stamp on it and say I'm going to come back next year," said Murray, the Sooners' second-leading rusher and receiver heading into their Dec. 31 Sun Bowl game against Stanford. "I haven"t made any decisions yet. I’m still thinking about it. At the end of the day I’ve got to make the best decision for myself. "If I do want to come back, I've got to come back for the right reasons. I want to help this team win a national championship. But in the position I am, I think I at least need to take this shot and think about it and see where it goes after the bowl game." A month ago, Murray said: "I like it here. I don't want to end my career at OU with an 8-4 record or whatever, so I'm just trying to get better. And I just enjoy being here. I'm part of a great team here. I love the coaching staff. I love the camaraderie with my teammates." Monday after practice, he said: "Whenever I said that, I was just in the moment and felt I need to come back. But after talking to coaches and things like that, they agree with me that I need to look at both sides and figure out what I'm going to do." (More at Tulsa World)
Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy picks up another All-American honor: The Sporting News slotted Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy next to Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh as first-team defensive tackles on their 2009 All-America team Tuesday. It's McCoy's third All-America honor for the 2009 season after earlier being named to the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Football Writers Association of America teams. McCoy is the 37th Sooner player to earn All-America honors in more than one season. He was named to All-America teams by The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated after the 2008 season. (SoonerSports PR)
Jameel Owens plans to seek hardship: Jameel Owens' college football path looks like it is returning to northeastern Oklahoma. Owens told the Muskogee Phoenix on Tuesday that he has been granted his release after two years at Oklahoma. He plans to enroll at Tulsa. Owens didn't return text messages or calls from the Tulsa World. Owens caught four passes for 44 yards in limited action as a true freshman. His 2009 season was a redshirt year, but included a one-game suspension for missing practices and meetings. Later, he was placed on the scout team. "I've got to do what's right for me," Owens told his hometown newspaper. "It wasn't working out like it should for me this was a move I needed to make." (Tulsa World)
OU's Trent Williams Named an All-American by the Associated Press: Oklahoma offensive tackle Trent Williams earned first-team All-America honors from the Associated Press on Tuesday. The AP honor marks the third All-American team for Williams for the 2009 season. The senior from Longview, Texas, had earlier been named to the American Football Coaches Association and Walter Camp Football Foundation teams. Williams missed the regular season finale 27-0 victory over Oklahoma State with an injury, but still led OU this year with 885 plays and 102 knockdown blocks. He has been a three-year starter for the Sooners. This marks the sixth time in the past seven seasons that an OU offensive lineman has earned All-America status (Trent Williams, 2009; Duke Robinson, 2008; Duke Robinson, 2007; Jammal Brown, 2004; Vince Carter, 2004; Jammal Brown, 2003). (SoonerSports PR)
Cam Newton visits OU: Quarterback Cam Newton, who was once the heir-apparent to Tim Tebow at Florida, visited Norman over the weekend. He is strongly considering OU after leading Blinn College (Texas) to the National Junior College Athletic Association championship. The 6-foot-6, 248-pound Newton is rated the No. 1 junior-college player in the country by Rivals. Coming out of high school in 2007, Newton was among the top quarterback prospects in the country. Early on, he was pegged as Tebow’s eventual replacement and won the backup job as a true freshman. (The Oklahoman)
Jameel Owens likely to transfer after semester: OU wide receiver Jameel Owens is expected to transfer after the semester. The former Muskogee standout came to OU with much fanfare. But after playing some as a true freshman, Owens fell out of favor with the coaching staff and eventually was demoted to the scout team this season. (The Oklahoman)
McCoway named an All-American by FWAA: For the second time this week, Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was named an All-American, this time by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA). On Thursday, McCoy was named to the Walter Camp Foundation All-American team. The junior from Oklahoma City is the 37th Sooner player to earn All-America honors in more than one season. He was named to All-America teams by The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated after the 2008 season. McCoy was the target of frequent double-team blocking schemes during the 2009 season but still tallied 31 tackles, including 14.5 for losses. He also registered five sacks and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries. (SoonerSports PR)
Recruit Blake Bell not expected to enroll early at OU: Blake Bell will not enroll early at OU, according to Bell’s coach, Alan Schuckman, of Bishop Carroll High School in Wichita, Kan. Bell will enroll for the 2010 fall semester. Bell did not return messages left by The Oklahoman. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma linebacker Gus Jones to transfer: Oklahoma is losing freshman linebacker Gus Jones from Wagoner, who says he's leaving the Sooners' football program. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables says Jones plans to transfer at the end of the semester. Jones signed with the Sooners after helping lead Wagoner to the second round of the 2008 Class 4A playoffs before losing to eventual champion Glenpool. (KTUL)
Oklahoma's total number of football All-Americans moved up to 150 when it was announced that Gerald McCoy and Trent Williams appeared on the 120th Walter Camp Foundation team released Thursday night. Williams, an offensive tackle, had been named an All-American earlier this month as part of the American Football Coaches Association team. He is now joined by McCoy, the school's 150th All-America selection. Both were named to the first team. McCoy also became the 37th Sooner player to earn All-America honors in more than one season. He was named to All-America teams by The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated after the 2008 season. The junior defensive tackle from Oklahoma City, was the target of frequent double-team blocking schemes during the 2009 season, but still tallied 31 tackles, including 14.5 for losses. He also registered five sacks and a team-high 10 quarterback hurries. McCoy broke up two passes, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble. During the season he broke the school record for most consecutive starts by a defensive lineman. That total now stands at 38. The Walter Camp All-America team is selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools and certified by UHY Advisors, a New Haven, Conn.--based accounting firm. (SoonerSports PR)
OU's Dominique Franks to return in 2010: Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks said Wednesday he will not explore an early departure to the NFL. The Union product said he had submitted the paperwork to the NFL's underclassmen advisory committee "just to get a grade" but said he would play at OU in 2010 even if it returned a projected grade of first round. "I'm not worried about it at all," Franks said. "I'm coming back." (Tulsa World)
Adrian Taylor plans to return for senior season: Defensive tackle Adrian Taylor says he'll return to Oklahoma next season instead of entering the NFL draft. Taylor told The Associated Press on Sunday that he and his father discussed his future after the end of the regular season and decided he should come back for a fifth year at Oklahoma. (AP/SI.com)
Stoops is hopeful to get injured trio back for Sun Bowl: Coach Bob Stoops is hopeful that left tackle Trent Williams (concussion), middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds (hamstring) and wide receiver Brandon Caleb (knee) will all be able to return for OU's bowl game. Williams and Reynolds both missed the Sooners' 27-0 win against Oklahoma State, while Caleb suffered a hyperextended knee just before halftime. Caleb had also been dealing with a sprained ankle. (The Oklahoman)
The University of Oklahoma and Stanford University have both accepted invitations to play in the 76th annual Brut Sun Bowl , announced Sun Bowl Association football committee chairman John H. Folmer. The game will pit the Sooners and the No. 19 Cardinal on Thursday, Dec. 31 at noon (MT) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
"We are excited to invite Stanford University, which has one of the hottest head coaches in the nation in Jim Harbaugh and one of the leading candidates for the Heisman Trophy in Toby Gerhart," said Folmer. "On the other side, how can you ever go wrong with Oklahoma? Everybody in college football would die for an opportunity to have a dynamic head coach like Bob Stoops and Oklahoma play in their bowl game.
Stanford (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10) finished tied for second in the Pac-10 Conference and is the only school to beat league champion Oregon. This is Stanford's third appearance in El Paso, after winning the 1977 and 1996 Sun Bowls.
"Our players, coaches and staff are truly honored to accept the Sun Bowl Committee's invitation," said Harbaugh. "Stanford football is privileged to join the proud tradition of the Sun Bowl and the wonderful people of El Paso. We move forward with humble hearts, unwavering focus and relentless preparation."
Oklahoma (7-5, 5-3 Big 12) finished tied for third in the Big 12 Conference South Division after upending intrastate rival Oklahoma State, 27-0, in the annual Bedlam Game. This is Oklahoma's third appearance in the Sun Bowl, after winning the 1981 and 1993 Sun Bowls.
"We appreciate the invitation from the Brut Sun Bowl and are anxious to make the trip to El Paso. We look forward to a number of our fans being there as well," said Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. "In Stanford we are facing a fine program. Like many others, we have been impressed by the job Coach Harbaugh and his team have done this season and we understand the quality of the opponent we'll be facing."
The 2009 Brut Sun Bowl will mark the fifth time these two teams have meet, but the first time in 25 years. Oklahoma holds a 3-1 lead in the all-time series that spanned from 1978 to 1984.
"We are excited about the matchup and what it means to El Paso," said Bernie Olivas, executive director of the Sun Bowl Association. "Stanford has really caught the nation's attention and Oklahoma is one the nation's premier programs. This should make for an exciting matchup."
Stanford is led by senior running back Toby Gerhart, who leads the nation in total rushing yards with 1,736 yards and scoring with 26 rushing touchdowns. Gerhart is the ninth national rushing yardage leader to participate in the Brut Sun Bowl. Others include LaDainian Tomlinson (TCU), Barry Sanders (Oklahoma State), Tony Dorsett (Pittsburgh), Bob Gaiters (New Mexico State), Pervis Atkins (New Mexico State), Jim Crawford (Wyoming), Fred Wendt (UTEP) and Rudy "Little Doc" Mobley (Hardin-Simmons).
Stanford's offense is averaging 441.4 yards per game, which ranks 13th nationally. The Cardinal offense is paced by freshman quarterback Andrew Luck, a native of Houston, who is averaging 244.1 yards per game of total offense. Luck's primary targets are Ryan Whalen and Chris Owusu.
"Stanford University is very proud to be representing the Pacific-10 Conference in the Brut Sun Bowl," said Stanford athletic director Bob Bowlsby. "This bowl has a rich tradition and I have personally enjoyed several visits to El Paso and the Sun Bowl. We are very excited to be participating in the game with Oklahoma. Coach Stoops and his staff do an exceptional job with their football program and we look forward to the competition. I want to offer my congratulations to Coach Harbaugh, his staff and our football team, especially our seniors, on completing an excellent season. They have all worked hard and are truly deserving of playing in this prestigious bowl game."
Oklahoma is led by freshman quarterback Landry Jones, a native of Artesia, N.M., who is averaging 244.5 yards per game of total offense. The Sooners rank 28th nationally in total offense, averaging 419.4 yards per game. Oklahoma is paced on the ground by the running back tandem of DeMarco Murray (61.6 yards per game) and Chris Brown (58.6 yards per game). Ryan Broyles paces the Sooner receiving corps with 87.6 yards per game, while racking up 142.3 all-purpose yards an outing.
The Sooner defense ranks seventh nationally in total defense (273.5 yards), scoring defense (13.5 points) and rushing defense (88.58). Linebacker Travis Lewis has anchored the defense this year with 100 tackles, while Jeremy Beal has 11 sacks and 18 tackles for a loss this season.
"The Sun Bowl is a game rich in tradition and we appreciate the opportunity to play there. It is known for its first-class treatment of fans and teams. The renovated Sun Bowl Stadium is a scenic place to watch. The setting is picturesque and something our fans will enjoy," said Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione. "Stanford had an outstanding season and we appreciate the quality of their program."
Stanford will be making its 22nd bowl appearance and its first since 2001. The Cardinal are 9-10-1 (.452) in bowl games. This is Oklahoma's 43rd overall bowl appearance and 11th straight under Stoops. The Sooners are 24-17-1 (.600) in bowl games.
The 76th Annual Brut Sun Bowl is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 31 at noon (MST). CBS Sports will broadcast the game for the 42nd consecutive year, which is the longest running partnership between a network and a bowl game. Ticket prices for the game are $15, $20, $30, $40, $50 and $60. (SoonerSports PR)
Sooners' lineman Trent Williams named AFCA All-American: Offensive tackle Trent Williams has become Oklahoma's 149th football All-American. He achieved that honor today when he was named to the American Football Coaches' Association 2009 All-America Team. The Longview, Texas, native led Oklahoma this season with 102 knockdown blocks and 885 plays despite missing the regular season finale due to injury. Despite a rash of injuries that claimed two All-Americans for the season, OU's offense still ranked among the top 30 nationally in passing, total yards and scoring. QB Landry Jones led all freshman quarterbacks with 23 touchdown passes, partly because the Sooners allowed just 1.25 sacks per game. Williams, a senior, was the lone holdover from the 2008 offensive line that became the first in the modern era of college football to block for an offense that scored more than 700 points in one season (716) and tallied 60 or more points in five consecutive games. This marks the fifth time in the last six seasons that an Oklahoma offensive lineman has achieved All-America status. Oklahoma began playing football in 1895. With 149 All-Americans over that 115-year period, much of which did not include the selection of All-America teams, the program has averaged more than one per year. (SoonerSports PR)
OU's Beal among seven finalist for Hendricks Award: Oklahoma defensive end Jeremy Beal has been named one of seven finalists for this year's Hendricks Award. The honor is presented annually to the nation's top defensive end. The list of seven was pared down from 25. Beal is the second Sooner to be named an award finalist in 2009. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is one of four finalists for the Rotary Lombardi Award. Beal, a junior from Carrollton, TX, leads the Sooners in sacks (11) for the second straight season. He finished the regular season with 65 tackles, 18 for loss and an interception. His sack total ties for 4th-best in Oklahoma history and his tackles for loss total ranks 11th. Nationally, Beal ranks T-10th in sacks and T-12th in tackles for loss. His highlight game this season came against Texas, when he recorded 12 tackles. Also during the campaign, he became the first player in OU history to record three sacks in back-to-back games (Tulsa, Miami). The final vote for this year's Hendricks Award will be concluded Dec. 8, with the winner announced the following day. (SoonerSports PR)
18 total Sooners named first, second or honorable mention All-Big 12: A total of 18 Oklahoma players, including four first-team selections, were named to the All-Big 12 Football Team that was announced today. The team was chosen by the league's coaches. "The number of players recognized is probably the thing that pleases me the most," said OU Head Coach Bob Stoops. "We had some adversity this year, but our players never lost sight of the need for individual excellence and accountability, and how those things contribute to a strong team atmosphere." Offensive tackle Trent Williams, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, linebacker Travis Lewis and cornerback Dominique Franks all made the first team. Both Williams and McCoy are repeat first-team selections. They become the 81st and 82nd Sooner players to earn all-league honors in two seasons.Second team selections from OU included running back DeMarco Murray, receiver Ryan Broyles, offensive lineman Brody Eldridge, defensive end Jeremy Beal, safety Quinton Carter, cornerback Brian Jackson and punter Tress Way. Oklahoma's honorable mention picks were running back Chris Brown, Broyles as a return specialist, linebacker Keenan Clayton, defensive end Auston English, defensive back Jonathan Nelson, linebacker Ryan Reynolds and defensive tackle Adrian Taylor. Several Sooners also received honorable mention for the league's individual awards. Those players included Jeremy Beal for defensive player of the year, Landry Jones as freshman offensive player of the year, Gerald McCoy as both defensive lineman and defensive player of the year and Trent Williams as offensive lineman of the year. With the addition of four this season, Oklahoma currently stands at 443 first-team all-conference players over its 95 years of league memberships (4.7 per year). OU's first season of affiliation was in 1915 as a member of the Southwest Conference. (SoonerSports PR)
Sooner fans take a sigh of breath, a deep sigh. Bob Stoops will remain University of Oklahoma's football coach.
After rampant rumors of him taking over Notre Dame's head coaching position, Stoops, Oklahoma head coach, publicly addressed the rumors of him becoming Notre Dame's next coach on Monday.
And, Stoops re-affirmed his commitment to the Sooners.
"I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year," Stoops said. "If Joe (Castiglione) will have me and President (David) Boren, that's what I intend to do."
And Stoops, wasn't done. After an on-air report by ESPN's Adam Schefter, saying "Notre Dame is interested in Bob Stoops and the interest is mutual." Bob Stoops quickly shot down that report, "I stand by the comments that I made earlier today. I will be at Oklahoma. Any reporting to the contrary is completely unfounded," Stoops said in a statement.
Sources close to both Stoops and the University of Oklahoma confirmed to GNEXTINC.com his intentions to stay with Oklahoma.
One source close to Bob Stoops confirmed to GNEXTINC.com, negotiations between Stoops and Notre Dame broke off after word of talks leaked publicly. Another source, close to University of Oklahoma, said Stoops assured the University he'd remain Oklahoma's coach.
According to both sources, Stoops and ND talks were held through third parties and never really matured.
Stoops, who grew up as a Midwestern Catholic in Youngstown, Ohio, has long been rumored to Notre Dame's job, even, before Charlie Weis' hiring in 2004.
However, Stoops has turned down numerous jobs, since then, including New York Giants, Alabama Crimson Tide and Florida Gators.
But this time the Irish came strong and fully loaded with millions to offer Stoops and desperate for wins. Notre Dame's faithful and school officials had Stoops atop their wish list and fully willing to offer the house. Though aggressively pursued, Stoops rejected Notre Dame, again.
The Irish will likely turn their head coaching search to TCU's Gary Patterson, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh or Cincinatti's Brian Kelly.
Within hours after Notre Dame's official firing of Charlie Weis.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops offered another denial saying he won't coach the Irish, and he'll be coaching Oklahoma next year, after television reports on Monday evening continued to say Stoops would be named Notre Dame's next head coach.
Early Monday evening, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on-air, one NFL source told him, Stoops would be Notre Dame's next head coach. "One NFL source," Schefter reported, "goes so far as to say he believes an agreement is all but a formality, with some details, likely including the Oklahoma contract, still to be resolved."
However, late Monday evening, Bob Stoops denied the report.
"I stand by the comments that I made earlier today. I will be at Oklahoma. Any reporting to the contrary is completely unfounded," Stoops said in a statement.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops vehemently denied he's interested in Notre Dame's head coaching job, he told reporters on Monday, after rumors swirled Stoops would meet with Notre Dame school officials.
"I'm going to be at Oklahoma next year," he said. "If Joe (Castiglione) will have me and President (David) Boren, that's what I intend to do." Stoops, added: "I can't be at two places at once."
However, Stoops did not confirm nor deny he had any contact with Notre Dame officials. "I will never confirm or deny whether I talk or not talk to anybody, and I won't be interviewing for any jobs," he said.
On Monday, Notre Dame fired head coach Charlie Weis after five seasons with the Irish. The school named Rob Ianello, wide receivers coach, as interim head coach for Notre Dame's bowl game.
With Weis fired -- Notre Dame will reportedly target Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops. On Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times, citing an unnamed source, reported "A university source has Oklahoma's Bob Stoops at the very top of ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick's wish list."
Stoops signed a contract in June, through 2015, reportedly valued over $30 million dollars. However, Notre Dame will reportedly buyout Weis' contract worth $16-20 million dollars, while the school reportedly has an endowment of over $5 billion dollars.
On Monday evening, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, one NFL source with close Notre Dame ties believed it's all but a formality that Stoops would be named Notre Dame's next head coach with only details in the Oklahoma contract to be resolved.
Report: Rumors of Stoops being interested in talking to ND are untrue: OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, who was out Sunday recruiting with Stoops, told The Oklahoman Sunday night he didn't think there was anything to the Notre Dame rumors, though admitted "Bob doesn't talk about that stuff." Another source close to the program told The Oklahoman reports that Stoops is interested in talking about the Notre Dame job are untrue. (The Oklahoman)
Oklahoma Sooners ended their regular season (7-5) Saturday shuting out No. 12 Oklahoma State, 27-0, in Norman. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops and OU defense forced Oklahoma State's first shutout since 2005.
Shortly, following Oklahoma's Bedlam win, silly season rumors ratched up with rumors of Stoops flying to South Bend to meet with Irish officials on Sunday, to rumors of, Notre Dame officials were in Norman to observe Saturday's game.
Speculation was fueled when Tony Barnhart, CBS Sports analyst, cited unnamed sources saying Stoops would fly to Notre Dame "as early as tomorrow" to have a sit-down with school officials.
However, late Saturday, the rumor of Stoops and Irish holding conversations about the replacement of current ND head coach Charlie Weis was dismissed by Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame Athletics Director.
"Any version of anything you hear in the contact with a coach are absolutely false," Swarbrick said before Saturday night's Notre Dame-Stanford game. "We haven't talked to anybody. We haven't authorized anybody to talk to anybody. It's simply not true.
"We'll engage in the evaluation in earnest following this game, then we'll go from there."
ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit said on ABC's Saturday night football telecast of ND-Stanford, he spoke with Stoops following Saturday's Bedlam game. Stoops assured Herbstreit, he or his agent hasn't spoke with Notre Dame officials.
In addition, Stoops explicitly denied the CBS report in a text message to Tulsa World. According to Tulsa World, Stoops replied in a text that, "On the record, I'm not interviewing. This is the first I've hear of this (rumor)."
On Friday, there was a published report that Stoops was atop Notre Dame's coaching wishlist. The Chicago Sun-Times, citing an unnamed source, reported "A university source has Oklahoma's Bob Stoops at the very top of ND athletic director Jack Swarbrick's wish list."
Among the coaches, who are thought, to be on ND's wishlist are Brian Kelly, Gary Patterson, Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer.
Notre Dame lost to Stanford 45-38, in likely Weis' last game as Notre Dame's head coach.
Sooners defeat Cowboys, 27-0: Ryan Broyles totaled over 300 all-purpose yards and returned a punt for a touchdown, as Oklahoma smothered 11th-ranked Oklahoma State, 27-0. Broyles finished with 209 yards on punt returns, caught nine passes for 103 yards and had four yards on two carries. Landry Jones completed 20-of-37 passes for 224 yards for the Sooners (7-5, 5-3 Big 12), who won two of their last three games to end a disappointing regular season. Back under center after missing one game with a shoulder injury, Zac Robinson struggled for the Cowboys (9-3, 6-2), throwing for just 44 yards and one interception on 9-of-21 attempts. (SportsNetwork)
Report: Trent Williams to miss Bedlam: Oklahoma senior tackle Trent Williams said Tuesday he wanted to "go out with some type of legacy." Unfortunately for him, that legacy could be missing his final home game. Oklahoma City television station KFOR reported Friday night that Williams sustained a concussion in practice and would miss Saturday's season finale against Oklahoma State. Team sources did not return text messages seeking confirmation, but multiple Web sites, citing team sources, reported that Williams' absence from the 11:30 a.m. game was only a possibility and that Williams would be examined further before the game.(Tulsa World) Confirmed: OL Trent Williams is in street clothes, TE Eric Mensik likely to see playing time on offensive line. (twitter.com/oklafootball)
