Sooner fans can take a deep sigh, University of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday, the school is not exploring more neutral site games that may take games away from the campus in Norman, Oklahoma.

The Sooners open their 2009 season on the road (only second time in Bob Stoops era) in Arlington, Texas at Dallas Cowboys Stadium against BYU, the game was proposed by ESPN executives. Some Sooner fans have voiced concerned that the school is taking home games to neutral-sites in exchange for a payout or television exposure.

Bob Stoops addressed the issue at his weekly news conference

"I don't think anybody's looking to take games away from Norman, Okla., very often," Stoops said Tuesday. "I know (athletic director) Joe (Castiglione) is very sensitive to that. I don't know what the numbers are but in this community, for our university, for the whole community and the town, you don't want to see it very much. We're not looking to do it very much at all."

The University will get a $2.25 million payout for playing BYU at Cowboys Stadium.

Labels: BYU, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma vs. Idaho State set for 6:0o p.m. on PPV: The University of Oklahoma announced today that its home opener against Idaho State will begin at 6 p.m., on Sept. 12. The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis in partnership with Fox Sports Southwest and details of that telecast will be announced later. Oklahoma opens its season on Sept. 5 against BYU at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The match with Idaho State will be the first between the two schools. (SoonerSports PR)

Related:
2009 Oklahoma Sooners Schedule

Labels: Idaho State, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Big 12 announces kickoff times for BYU, Tulsa and Texas: Oklahoma and Brigham Young will kickoff at 6 p.m. Sept. 5 on ESPN while the Red River Shootout will begin at 11 a.m. Oct. 17 and be televised by ABC, the Big 12 Conference announced Monday. The Sooners' Sept. 19 home game with Tulsa also will begin at 2:30 p.m. and be broadcast by Fox Sports Net (The Oklahoman) Note: Big 12 and their television partners (ABC and FSN) will announce start times for other Oklahoma games at a later date.

RELATED:
2009 Oklahoma Football Schedule

RELATED POST:
Report: OU-Texas Kickoff Set For 11 A.M.

Bronson Irwin life long Sooner fan: The Oklahoman

Sooner Legend Steve Owens: BleacherReport.com

Labels: Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and notes

NBC Sports ranks 20 most important games of 2009: Oklahoma has three games among the 20 ranked. Including, No. 1 OU vs. Texas (10/17); No. 8 Oklahoma St. vs Oklahoma (11/28); No. 13 Oklahoma vs Miami (10/3). Complete ranking at NBCSports.com.

Poll Question:

Labels: Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma releases 2009 football schedule: Oklahoma and Miami, whose original football date in 2009 was lost to a facility conflict at Dolphin Stadium, have rescheduled the game to Oct. 3 and the Sooner program has completed its schedule for next season. OU's non-conference slate will now include the Sept. 5 opener against BYU in Arlington, Texas, Sept. 12 vs. Idaho State in Norman, Sept. 19 vs. Tulsa in Norman and Oct. 3 at Miami. "Working in concert with our coach, Bob Stoops, we are pleased with the quality of our non-conference schedule and feel fortunate to adhere to our core scheduling philosophy in preparing our team for a rigorous conference slate," said OU Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. "It took a considerable amount of cooperation between Oklahoma and Miami to maintain that game, but the two schools were able to work together to keep it on the schedule," he added. (SoonerSports PR) Checkout the 2009 OU Football Schedule

Ex-OU quarterback Bomar sets sights on NFL: The Oklahoman

Former OU quarterback added to OKC YardDawgz roster: The Oklahoman

Labels: Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma-UT Chattanooga season opener available on pay-per-view: The University of Oklahoma's season-opening football game against Tennessee-Chattanooga will be available on a pay-per-view basis through FOX SportsNet. The kickoff has been set for 6 p.m., on Aug. 30. Details pertaining to subscriptions and available viewing areas will be coming in the next few weeks according to OU Vice President and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione. He indicated that the format for the game will be similar to other FOX-OU pay-per-view ventures that have aired in recent seasons. (SoonerSports.com)

Labels: Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops likes the schedule change: From the Tulsa World.. OU took playing in the Big 12 championship game into consideration when it agreed to play Texas Tech the week before the Nov. 29 Bedlam Series shootout at OSU. "Having been in that many Big 12 Championship games, we count that in our schedule," said Stoops about planning for 13 instead of the normal 12 regular-season games. "We feel it (open-date change) spaces the games out in a positive way." The Nov. 15 bye would come after a challenging seven-week run of games that includes four matchups against what should be Big 12 contenders in Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and Texas A&M. "It breaks up that stretch and gives you time to work on Texas Tech and Oklahoma State in the off week," Stoops said. "It gives you a chance to regroup, and then here comes the stretch run. "And when you get to that late in the year, I like the rhythm of playing every week." (Tulsa World)

Labels: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule, Texas Tech

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma-Texas Tech rescheduled for Nov. 22 from Nov. 15: The 2008 Oklahoma-Texas Tech football game has been re-scheduled for Nov. 22 as part of several games that were moved as part of the Big 12 Conference's television package. The contest was originally slated for Nov. 15. The Nov. 22 date was originally scheduled an on open date for the Sooners. That bye week will now shift to Nov. 15. OU has two open dates during the 2008 season. The other is Sept. 20. (SoonerSports PR)

Labels: Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule, Texas Tech

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma-Ohio State Series; Oklahoma Finalizes '08 Schedule: Perennial college football powerhouses Oklahoma and Ohio State will begin a two-game series in 2016. That announcement came today when OU also announced the completion of its 2008 schedule. Tennessee-Chattanooga is the opponent for the final open date that was remaining on the slate for the upcoming season. The Ohio State games will rekindle a series that has been dormant since 1983 when the Buckeyes notched a 24-14 win in Norman. In the previous matchups both Oklahoma and Ohio State brought top-10 rankings into the game. The first game of the new series will take place Sept. 17, 2016 in Norman. It will be followed by a Sept. 16, 2017 game at Columbus. (SoonerSports PR)

OU quiet about published report: Citing unnamed sources, The Sporting News on Monday reported that Jay Norvell will be named co-offensive coordinator / passing game coordinator at Oklahoma. But Kenny Mossman, OU's athletic media relations director, said he has spoken numerous times with head coach Bob Stoops about wide receivers coach Kevin Sumlin's replacement, and Stoops hasn't told him that a hiring is imminent. "I saw that report, and I've heard about that report, but I cannot corroborate that report," Mossman said. (Tulsa World)

Lofton enters NFL Draft: Tulsa World

Recruit ready to decide: Tulsa World

Lofton leaving early: Norman Transcript

Lofton latest to leave Oklahoma for NFL: Norman Transcript

Sooners' Lofton to enter NFL Draft: The Oklahoman

Defections could hurt OU, Texas title hopes: The Oklahoman

Labels: Future Schedule, Oklahoma Sooners, Report, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

J. White and Billy Sims Statues to join Heisman Park: The two statues will join statues of OU's other Heisman Trophy winners, Steve Owens and Billy Vessels, already in place east of Owen Field. The Sims statue will be unveiled at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 1, before OU plays North Texas at 6 p.m. The White statue will be unveiled at 9 a.m. Sept. 8, before OU faces Miami at 11 a.m. (Dallas Morning News)

OU Athletic pledge to become an annual event: Sunday night, almost 500 Oklahoma student-athletes will recite the Sooner Oath, a new pledge written by members of the student-athlete advisory council. The idea for the Sooner Oath came a year ago from athletic director Joe Castiglione, who asked then-advisory council president Brittney Koncak-Schumann, a former gymnast, and the rest of the council to write a pledge that would remind students of their responsibilities as Sooner athletes. Jaclyn Stelzer, who plays on the women's golf team and serves as the advisory council president, will lead the students through the oath in a ceremony at the Carl B. Anderson All-American Plaza, just east of the Switzer Center. OU president David Boren and former Sooner football coach Barry Switzer are scheduled to speak at the event, which will begin at 6 p.m. (NewsOK.com)

Oklahoma ranked 59th in strength of schedule: CBSSportsline.com has published their toughest/easiest NCAA Football schedules of the 119 Division 1-A teams. Washington Huskies topped the list, followed by LSU, and Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi State tied at third. The Big 12 conference overall finished 5th, trailing Big 10, Pac 10, Big East, and SEC atop the conference strength. Checkout CBSSportsline to see how their formula is figured.

Big 12 Strength of Schedule
26 Nebraska
30 Baylor
45 (t) Kansas State
45 (t) Texas
45 (t) Oklahoma St.
50 (t) Iowa State
50 (t) Texas A&M
50 (t) Texas Tech
59 (t) Colorado
59 (t) Oklahoma
65 (t) Kansas
65 (t) Missouri

Labels: Heisman Statue, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

A. Peterson leaves practice with injury: Minnesota Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson left Thursday's practice with an injury after taking an elbow to his hip while catching a pass in a drill, but he said it wasn't serious. "It's not a big deal at all," said Peterson, who called the injury a minor hip pointer.Peterson missed the first five practices of training camp before signing on Sunday a five-year, $40.5 million contract that includes $17 million guaranteed. His status is day to day, but he's unlikely to participate in weekend scrimmages against the Kansas City Chiefs.(AP/MSNBC.com) Update: Adrian Peterson suffered a hip pointer injury in practice.

Sooners 2007 Practice Schedule
Wednesday: Players report
Thursday: Conditioning test, practice (helmets only)
Friday: Media Day, Fans Meet the Sooners, practice (helmets only)
Saturday: Practice, 5-7:30 p.m.
Sunday: Practice, 4:30 p.m. (Memorial Stadium)
Monday: Practice, 5-7:30 p.m. (full pads)
Tuesday: Practice, 9-11 a.m., 6-8:10 p.m.
Wednesday: Practice, 5-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 9: Practice, 9-11 a.m., 6-8:10 p.m.
Aug. 10: Off
Aug. 11: Scrimmage, 11 a.m. (Memorial Stadium)
Aug. 12: Off
Aug. 13: Practice, 9-11 a.m., 6-8:10 p.m.
Aug. 14: Practice, 5-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 15: Practice, 9-11 a.m., 6-8:10 p.m.
Aug. 16: Practice, 5-7:30 p.m.
Aug. 17: Practice, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Aug. 18: Scrimmage, 6 p.m. (Memorial Stadium)
Aug. 19: Off
Aug. 20: First day of class (normal practice schedule begins)
Aug. 22: Scrimmage, 6 p.m. (Memorial Stadium)

Sooner caravan in OKC Thursday: SoonerSports.com

OU football update: Tulsa World

Earning respect a big part in QB decision: The Oklahoman

Sooner, Cowboy faithful can expect to endure long lines: The Oklahoman

Peterson starts full tilt: The Sporting News

Labels: Adrian Peterson, Former Sooner, Oklahoma Sooners, Practice, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

OU-ND home-and-home series set for 2012 and 2013: The University of Oklahoma and Notre Dame are planning for two football games, one in Norman in 2012 and one in South Bend, Ind., in 2013. Kenny Mossman, Oklahoma's sports information director, said the two schools are in discussions but have not signed a contract, while Notre Dame sports information director John Heisler said his school "has reached a deal with OU" to play the two contests. Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White previously announced that Oklahoma would replace Michigan for two years after the current contract between Notre Dame and Michigan expires in 2011. White said the goal was to play in different parts of the country in an attempt to return Notre Dame to its independent roots. Heisler said his school has wanted to play the Sooners again ever since the two teams met in 1999 in South Bend. Notre Dame won that game 34-30. It was the first time the two schools had played in 31 years. "We've been talking about this for a long time," Heisler said. "It was just complicated." (AP/ESPN.com)

Football's Dirtiest Programs: #2, Oklahoma: AOL FanHouse

Labels: Future Schedule, Notre Dame, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Big East future non-conference schedule slates OU vs UC: According to the future non-conference schedules released by the Big East. Oklahoma will host the University of Cincinnati in 2008, with Oklahoma traveling to Cincinnati in 2010. Both University websites do not announce or note the future games. Though, an official announcement is expected at a later date.

Meet the Sooners Set for Aug. 3: The annual Meet the Sooners Day presented by Alltel has been set for Aug. 3 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The event, which is highlighted by Oklahoma football coaches and players signing autographs, draws thousands of OU fans to Norman each year. Details pertaining to this year's event, including information on parking, gate openings, exact location, etc., will be made available at a later time. Gates will open at a yet to be determined time and the signings are slated to begin at 10 a.m. (SoonerSports PR)

Labels: Big East, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Bedlam Football moved to Thanksgiving weekend: The Big 12 Conference announced today the 2007 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma football game, scheduled for Saturday, October 27, has been moved to Saturday, November 24. It is anticipated the game time will determined sometime around the beginning of November. The date change was a cooperative effort between the two institutions, the conference office and the league's television partners. (SooonerSports PR)

Labels: Bedlam, Oklahoma Sooners, OSU, Schedule

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

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

Don't give up on Bradford yet: The Oklahoman

Your guide to the bowls: The Oklahoman

Opportunity Knocks: The Oklahoman

OU seniors bowl savvy: Tulsa World

OU prepares for undefeated Broncos: SoonerSports.com

All Day, All-Access: SoonerSports.com

Labels: Fiesta Bowl, Oklahoma Sooners, Schedule