Law enforcement to crack down on unlicensed merchandise: University of Oklahoma officials and local law enforcement agencies plan to crack down on the sale of unlicensed merchandise with university logos. OU held a seminar Wednesday with officers from Norman and university police departments. OU athletic department director of licensing Renata Hays says upcoming sweeps will target stores and those who come to Norman on football game days to sell counterfeit products. She says first-time violators would receive warnings, along with demands to remove the items in question. (AP/The Oklahoman)

Stadium officials to reemphasize bag limitations: University of Oklahoma officials announced today that football game management staff will reemphasize limitations on bags allowed into the stadium beginning with this Saturday's game against Baylor, including implementing an airline-type container model for measuring allowable purses. (More at KFOR.com)

Losing the close games: The Oklahoman

Cameron Kenney could be just what Sooners need: The Oklahoman

Up close: Cameron Kenney: Tulsa World

Critics of Oklahoma Sooners' offense quick to forget: Fort Worth Star Telegram

Labels: Merchandise, Oklahoma Sooners, Stadium, University of Oklahoma

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.

Labels: BYU, Oklahoma Sooners, Special Teams, Stadium

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

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)

Video board preview: SoonerSports.com takes a look at finishing touches taking place on OU's new video board.

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)

Thursday morning practice coverage: SoonerSports.com

Broyles seems to have all the right moves: The Oklahoman

Broyles a hot topic once again: Norman Transcript

Holmes back at safety: Norman Transcript

Franks making progress: Tulsa World

Labels: Defense, Jimmy Stevens, Lendy Holmes, Oklahoma Sooners, Stadium

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Stoops to kickoff Fourth Annual OU Ahletics Department Blood Drive: If It's spring, it must be time for the Fourth Annual OU Athletics Department American Red Cross Blood Drive. The drive, sponsored by the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, will be held April 2-3 from 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. Locations will be the North End of the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Lobby, and a bus parked near the University bookstore. OU Football Coach Bob Stoops is scheduled to be the kickoff donor. Each donor will receive a commemorative centennial t-shirt, the opportunity to win autographed OU memorabilia including a signed OU visor and official OU apparel. In addition, each donor will also receive a coupon for 20% off any apparel item from the University Bookstore and a coupon for $5 off from Louie's. "Our student-athletes are looking forward to working for this worthy cause," said Annette Moran, Academic Advisor and Blood Drive Coordinator. (SoonerSports PR) To donate blood, you need to be 17 years of age, weigh 110 pounds and be in good health. The Red Cross reminds donors to bring a picture ID when coming to give blood.

Sooners snag NM prep quarterback: And the quarterback, Landry Jones of Artesia (N.M.), wasted little time making his collegiate aspirations clear. "I want to go into Oklahoma and win the starting job," said Jones, rated the No. 36 overall prospect by ESPN.com. "They have a lot of good, young quarterbacks there. If I'm going to get the starting job, it's not going to be granted to me. But I'm going to work hard." (NewsOK.com)

Reminder OU Scrimmage tomorrow morning: Sooner fans have the opportunity to watch the 2007 football team in action this weekend. Saturday's scrimmage will take place at 11 a.m., in Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The event is open to the public and no admission will be charged. (Sooner Sports PR)

Regents approve OU video board and scoreboord: The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents gave the official OK to for OU to purchase its new video displays and scoreboards, but the school isn't stopping its game-day improvements at equipment. Plans presented by OU President David Boren and Athletics Director Joe Castiglione for scoreboard and message board upgrades were approved by the Board of Regents during their meeting Thursday in Oklahoma City. (NewsOK.com)

Labels: Bob Stoops, Oklahoma Sooners, Recruiting, Stadium, University of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to receive new Video Board/Scoreboard: The University of Oklahoma Board of Regents are expected to approve plan this week that will allocate $10.1 million for new video boards and a new sound system at the school's football and basketball facilities. According to the regents' agenda, OU president David Boren will recommend the board award a contract not to exceed $10.3 million to Daktronics, Inc. Athletic director Joe Castiglione could not be immediately reached for comment. Approximately $2.16 million is earmarked for upgrades in the north end zone of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before the start of the 2007 season. A new LED video board and scoreboard ribbons will be installed. (Dallas Morning News) Phase 3 will be complete by 2008 football season.

Note of Interest: From Wizard of Odds, is Oklahoma State lowering the bar? A dramatic increase in the number of alternative admissions given to student-athletics at the university has caught the attention of officials. Oklahoma State's alternative admissions program "allows a certain percentage (currently 8%) of each new freshman class to attend OSU without meeting all the regular admissions requirements, but who meet minimum criteria and show potential for success," according to the university's website. In 2001-02, athletics accounted for 6.7% of all students enrolled through alternative means. This year, 11.2% of Oklahoma State's alternative admissions were student-athletes. (More about OSU lowering the bar)

University of Oklahoma stance: Alternative admissions standards were a key topic at the Knight Commission's meeting Jan. 22 in Washington D.C. There, Joe Castiglione, athletic director at the University of Oklahoma, told the commission that alternative admissions are a simple reality in college athletics."You cannot compete if you are the only ones not to have special admits," Castiglione said. "It's nothing to run from or make fun of. It's just true. "Transcripts of his presentation show Castiglione told the commission that 25 percent of OU's student-athletes struggle with their classes -- particularly members of the Sooners' football and men's basketball teams. (Daily O'Collegian)

Sooners seek upgrades for sports venues: Tulsa World

Labels: Keeping them Honest, Oklahoma Sooners, Stadium

Oklahoma Sooner Football Articles and Notes

Gaylord - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium improvements: The latest set of improvements to Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium will greet fans when they return in September for the 2007 season. Work began this week on upgrades to the restrooms and concessions on the north and west sides of the facility. Fencing went up along the interior walkways on Monday. Workers then began removing wooden concession stands under the stadium that had served fans for the past 50 years. Once this renovation is completed, all fan areas of Memorial Stadium will have undergone major improvements over the last five years. This $12 million project also includes updates of the football offices in the Barry Switzer Center and SoonerVision production facilities. The brick and iron gating surrounding the stadium will be extended to enclose the football practice fields on the south side of the facility. (SoonerSports.com)

Bosworth car up for sale on eBay: From the Seattle Fanhouse: I realize Seahawks fans are mostly thinking about the Bears this week, but let me take your attention away from the game on the field for a moment to tell you about this eBay auction. The item up for bid is a 2004 Range Rover, but the key selling point is this:Only one owner that happens to the famous Brian Bosworth football star / Actor More at the Seattle FanHouse

BCS system does its job: The Oklahoman

Time for Stoops to fret passing game: Tulsa World

Peterson going pro?: Norman Transcript

Labels: Brian Bosworth, Oklahoma Sooners, Stadium