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)
Dominique Franks and Ryan Broyles to handle special team duties: OU special teams coordinator Chris Wilson says Dominique Franks and Ryan Broyles will be returning kicks this year. Franks returned just six punts a year ago, while Broyles brought back 23 for 223 yards, including a 68-yarder for a touchdown at Kansas State. He says Matt Moreland continues to battle Tress Way for kickoff duty. And he continues to tout the improvement of OU's kickoff coverage, which was woeful last season. "Like I've said before, I believe we had good guys on (the coverage team) a year ago," Wilson said. (Tulsa World)
Stoops not concerned with video board: Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops said recently, he's not concerned with the height of the massive Dallas Cowboys video board and sees it as 'a plus' if one of the Sooner punters were able to hit the board at Cowboys Stadium. The 60-yard long board which hangs 90-foot (NFL league policy is 85-foot) above the field has been an obstacle for at least one punter.
Stoops told reporters that it would be "a plus" if one of his Sooners hit the massive scoreboard.
Stoops said that if Tress Way was able to hit the scoreboard -- as Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso did in the opening game in the stadium's history last week -- it would mean he was "hitting it like you want to," Stoops said.
NFL commissioner to rule on Cowboys' video board: Dallas Morning News is reporting, A league spokesman confirmed that the committee forwarded its recommendations to NFL staff on how to address the issue. Those recommendations have been passed along to Roger Goodell. The commissioner has the power to rule on the matter since the season is under way, and he does not have to run his resolution by the league's Board of Governors. A decision or statement is likely to be rendered before the Cowboys host the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday night. Jerry Jones, meanwhile, went on the offensive Tuesday. "I think the key is that in a competitive situation, we're gonna be fine," Jones said in the interview. "I'm not saying the ball won't hit sometimes up there, but it should be fine."(Dallas Morning News)
Florida Gator LB Spikes claims OU is a dirty team: Seven months after the national title game, LB Brandon Spikes is still thinking about Oklahoma. When asked about the dirtiest players on the team, Spikes segued straight to Florida's opponent in last season’s Bowl Championship Series national title game. "Compared to Oklahoma, you won't find anyone (as dirty)," Spikes said. With Florida's expectations as a national title favorite, the Gators and Sooners could meet in Pasadena for a second straight title game. "That's going to be fun if we play them," DE Carlos Dunlap said. (Orlando Sentinel)
Coker visits Sooners practice: Former Miami coach Larry Coker, now head coach at Texas-San Antonio, attended Monday’s practice. "I'm trying to learn some football from the best," said Coker, a native of Okemah who was the offensive coordinator at OU in the early 1990s. (The Oklahoman)
Way steps up at practice: Tress Way Oklahoma's competition at punter, if there ever was one, appears to be over. Tress Way, a redshirt freshman from Union, put on a kicking exhibition during an hour-long open session of practice at the OU rugby fields. Way has been competing with junior college transfer Cameron Kenney, who also plays wide receiver. Way's time spent working solely at punter and placekicker may have allowed him to pull away from Kenney. With a slight breeze at their backs and some 700 fans watching from just beyond the sideline, Way averaged 49 yards on his first seven punts, while Kenney averaged 43. (Tulsa World)
Cameron Kenney impresses OU coaching staff on special teams: After Oklahoma's opening practice last week, junior college transfer Cameron Kenney showed coaches why he was named his conference's special teams player of the year two years ago. "Cameron, I saw for the first time (Thursday) punting and kicking. What a talented guy," coach Bob Stoops said. "He was bombing some of those punts." While Kenney's primary focus will remain at wide receiver, he should be a huge all-around addition to OU's special teams, which weren't always special last season. "He's a guy that can really run with it; he's a guy that can give you something extra if you snap it to him, he can pull it down and run with it," Stoops said, referring to Kenney's potential as a fake punt or field goal option. "He's got a good leg, so we'll keep working him, probably with punting more than anything." (The Oklahoman)
Moreland working on kicking game: OU freshman Matt Moreland struggled again with his kickoffs last week. He failed to reach the end zone on all six kicks, and has earned just three touchbacks in four games. Asked if there was something Moreland could do to improve the situation, OU coach Bob Stoops replied: "Yeah, kick it farther. Matt's got a big leg. I do see it more in practice than I've been able to see it in games. It's just continuing to work the technique." The Sooners are about willing to try anything. "We were talking the other day, you have a set of balls that are just game balls that we need to work with more in practice," Stoops said. "It's like hitting a bad golf ball. You hit a good one, it reacts differently. We'll see if that doesn't help a little bit." (Tulsa World)
Granger suffers leg injury: The Sooners' only problem of the night came during the final drive of the first half, when DeMarcus Granger went down with a left leg injury. The junior defensive tackle, among OU's four-man rotation at defensive tackle, returned to the sideline in the second half on crutches and with a black boot around his lower leg. (Tulsa World)
Kickoff coverage changes: OU made two personnel changes on its kickoff coverage Saturday night. Backup linebacker Austin Box and fullback Matt Clapp replaced backup linebackers Mike Balogun and J.R. Bryant on the unit. (Norman Transcript)
Coach Stoops wins 100th career win at OU: The Oklahoman takes a look at previous OU head coaches record at 100th career win.
Coach (Overall record), Record at 100, Winning Pct. Bud Wilkinson (145-29-4), 100-8-3, .926 Barry Switzer (157-29-4), 100-18-3, .849 Bob Stoops (100-22), 100-22, .819 Bennie Owen (122-54-16), 100-33-9, .760
Injuries create opportunities on defense: At outside linebacker, that should include converted safety Keenan Clayton as well as redshirt freshmen Austin Box and Travis Lewis. Both Clayton and Box strong impressions during winter workouts. "Keenan Clayton, he and Austin Box have had great winters," Stoops said. "Keenan has been around here for several years now and we've been using him at that weak-side position. We're hoping Keenan can really make a difference. He has the ability to." (The Oklahoman)
OU's kicker to be determined: The Sooners also are looking to replace kicker Garrett Hartley. Redshirt freshmen Jimmy Stevens and Matthew Moreland will handle the chores in the coming weeks. Incoming freshman Tress Way will join the battle in the fall. (Norman Transcript)
Granger and Holmes to participate in spring practice: Despite being held out of the Fiesta Bowl for different reasons, defensive back Lendy Holmes and defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger will both participate in spring drills. Holmes didn't make the trip to Arizona after failing to stay academically eligible. But he has since made himself eligible to practice with the team again. Granger was arrested in Tempe, Ariz., accused of shoplifting. He was sent home the next day. (The Oklahoman)
Reminder Red/White tickets on sale today: The game is set for April 12 with a tentative kickoff time of 1 p.m. The tickets are $5 in advance or $10 the day of the game and will be available online, in person at the Athletics Ticket Office on the plaza level of the Asp Avenue Parking Facility or by phone at 405-325-2424 or 800-456-GoOU.
Stoops on former LB Mike Reed: Stoops commented Tuesday on linebacker Mike Reed no longer being on the team. "I'm never specific on things that aren't positive," Stoops said. "In the end, there are too many team-related and academic-related activities that are not being met. So therefore, he is not going to be with us during the spring and he will seek other opportunities at the end of the semester." Last season, Reed struggled financially to support his wife and kids, while playing football and attending classes all at the same time. When his wife was hospitalized last October, Reed began missing practice and workouts to care for her and their two children. Reed has not yet commented on what his plans might be. (The Oklahoman)
Stoops not happy with kickoff coverage: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops won't accept the blanket statement that his special teams have struggled this season. "Some of them have been outstanding," he said Tuesday. But Stoops recognizes where they've had problems, too. "Kickoff coverage is the issue," Stoops said. "I thought our kickoff coverage was again poor (against Texas)." (NewsOK.com)
