Sooners Prepare For Clash With Notre Dame

Sept. 27, 1999

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. (CST)

Records & Rankings: Oklahoma (3-0 overall, 23rd (AP)/25th (ESPN), Notre Dame (1-3 overall)

Site: Notre Dame Stadium (80,012)

TV: Live nationally on NBC with Dick Enberg (play-by-play) and Pat Haden (color). This will be OU's first appearance on NBC since the 1987 Orange Bowl against Miami.

Quickly: OU enters this game riding a five game winning streak dating back to last season...OU's 3-0 start is the best since beginning the 1995 season 3-0...This is the second of three straight games away from Norman for OU, while the Irish are in the about halfway through a five-game homestand...The Sooners won't play at home again until Oct. 23 versus Texas A&M...This will be the ninth meeting ever between OU and ND, but the first since 1968.

A Long Time Coming

The Oklahoma Sooners finish their non-conference slate this weekend with a classic showdown against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. This marks the first meeting between these two programs in 31 years.

The contest, which is slated to kickoff at 1:38 p.m. (CDT) inside Notre Dame Stadium, will feature two programs that have combined for 14 national championships, 10 Heisman Trophy winners, seven Outland Trophy winners and 120 consensus All-Americans.

The Sooners enter this contest 3-0 overall and nationally ranked (23rd AP/25th ESPN/USA Today) for the first time since 1995. OU's amazing season continued last weekend as the Sooners posted an impressive 42-21 victory at Louisville.

For the third-straight game, the Sooner offense was paced by the strong left arm of quarterback Josh Heupel. For the day, the junior college transfer set single-game school records for passing yards (429) and total offense (410). He also tied the school record (which he set two weeks ago) for TD passes with five.

Heupel, who was honored as the Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week the last two weeks, is the first OU quarterback and just the eighth Big 12 player to ever throw for more than 400 yards in a single game. His 429 yards marked the fourth-most yards ever collected by a league quarterback.

As impressive as Heupel and the Sooner offense was, the OU defense did something very few teams have -- stop Louisville quarterback Chris Redman. For the afternoon, Redman collected 292 yards passes, however 215 of that total came in the first half. Following intermission, Uof L could manage just 85 yards of total offense, 78 of which came on the Cardinals first possession of the third quarter.

An Eye On The Irish

Notre Dame comes into this contest fresh off a weekend of thinking about its 1-3 start, which equals the worst start (done twice before) of any Irish squad since 1986. However, a quick glance at the schedule would reveal how such a start is possible. After beating Kansas, ND has lost to fourth-ranked Michigan, 11th-ranked Purdue and 14th-ranked Michigan State. Those three games were decided by a total of 19 points.

Offensively, Notre Dame is paced by quarterback Jarious Jackson, who has been averaging 246.8 yards of total offense a game so far. As a passer, Jackson has connected on 60.4 percent of his attempts (64-of-106) for 903 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions.

His main target through four games has been flanker Raki Nelson, who has 19 catches on the season for 300 yards (15.8 ypc). In his last outing against Michigan State, Nelson had six receptions for 117 yards.

Defensively, Irish free safety A'Jani Sanders has posted 10 or more tackles in each of the last three games.

Some Early Looks at the Notre Dame Series

Oklahoma still holds the NCAA record for consecutive victories at 47 straight between 1953-57. That streak began after a loss to Notre Dame and ended with a defeat by the Irish.

The first game of this series came in 1952 as the fourth-ranked Sooners ventured to South Bend riding a 13-game unbeaten streak. OU lost the game 27-21 thanks to six turnovers which resulted in 13 Irish points in the fourth quarter.

In the 1952 contest, OU running back Billy Vessels showed why he would win the Heisman Trophy later that year when he rushed for 195 yards and three touchdowns. He had scoring runs of 63 and 47 yards.

With the on-field temperature well over 100 degrees, Notre Dame rolled into Norman for the first time ever and left with a 28-21 win in 1953. The loss, which snapped OU's 23-game home winning streak, was the last for OU until the 1957 meeting with Notre Dame.

Oklahoma took advantage of numerous Notre Dame injuries and breezed to a 40-0 win in 1956. While the win propelled the Sooners to their second straight national championship, Irish quarterback Paul Hornung became the first (and still only) player to win the Heisman Trophy from a team with a losing record.

The 40-0 victory margin from 1956 still stands as the worst home loss in Notre Dame history.

The Sooners entered the 1957 meeting with Notre Dame as 19-point favorites, averaging 300 yards rushing and holding a perfect 7-0 record. The Irish were 4-2 overall and coming off blowout losses to Navy and Michigan State. When the dust cleared on this defensive battle, Notre Dame had the 7-0 win and chance to say that it broke the longest winning streak in NCAA history.

The 1957 shutout also broke the Sooners' 123-game scoring streak.

Sooner Bests Versus Notre Dame

Top Rushing Performances

Players	Att.	Yds	TD
1. Billy Vessels, '52	17	195	2
2. Steve Owens, '68	17	68	0
3. Clendon Thomas, '56	11	60	1
4. Tommy McDonald, '56	13	56	1
5. Phil Lohmann, '61	11	49	0

Top Passing Performances

Players	Totals
1. Bobby Warmack, '68	10-26, 172 yards
2. Buddy Leake, '53	2-7, 79 yards
3. Bobby Warmack, '66	6-15, 76 yards
4. Bill VanBurkleo, '61	6-8, 71 yards
5. Eddie Crowder, '52	5-7, 44 yards

Top Receiving Performances

Players	Rec.	Yards
1. Eddie Hinton, '68	6	123
2. Ben Hart, '66	8	99
3. Robert Allison, '53	2	79
4. Mike McCellan, 61	3	50
5. Steve Zabel, 68	3	49

Going Against The Fighting Irish

When the Sooners and Notre Dame go head-to-head this weekend, it will mark only the ninth meeting ever between these two schools on the football field.

Oklahoma enters this contest just 1-7 against the Irish, including a 1-3 mark in South Bend. The Sooners will be attempting to break their five-game losing streak to Notre Dame.

The Previous Meetings

Year	Site	Winner	Score
1952	South Bend	Notre Dame	27-21
1953	Norman	Notre Dame	28-21
1956	South Bend	Oklahoma	40-0
1957	Norman	Notre Dame	7-0
1961	South Bend	Notre Dame	19-6
1962	Norman	Notre Dame	13-7
1966	Norman	Notre Dame	38-0
1968	South Bend	Notre Dame	45-21

Still Standing After All These Years

Despite an overall record of 51-41-2 in the decade of the 90s, the Oklahoma Sooners rank among the winningest programs in college football history.

By percentage, OU stands seventh all-time with a winning percentage of .706 (685-273-53), just head of Penn State (.698), Tennessee (.697) and Southern Cal (.697). Here is how the Top 10 stands at the beginning of the week:

Team	Record	Pct.
Notre Dame	763-234-42	.757
Michigan	790-257-36	.745
Alabama	727-266-43	.722
Ohio State	713-278-53	.708
Texas	730-295-33	.705
Nebraska	735-296-40	.704
Oklahoma	685-273-53	.703
Penn State	729-302-41	.698
Tennessee	692-286-52	.697
USC	670-275-54	.697

OU-Louisville Final Notes With 544 yards of total offense against the Cardinals, the Sooners have topped the 500-yard mark for total offense in three straight games for the first time since 1985. That season, OU gained 643 yards versus Iowa St., 525 versus Kansas and 509 yards one week later against Missouri.
The 42 points against Louisville gave the Sooners their first three consecutive 40-plus point performances since 1987 when they logged 59 against Kansas State, 44 versus Texas and 56 at Iowa State.
Sooner receivers Brandon Daniels (eight catches, 79 yards), Damian Mackey (four catches, 48 yards, two TDs), Jarrail Jackson (three catches, 93 yards, two TDs) and Antwone Savage (four catches, 97 yards) had career-best performances at Louisville.
After averaging 14 points a game in the first quarter this season, the Sooners failed to hit paydirt in the first stanza against Louisville. On the other hand, Louisville also failed to score in the opening quarter and extended OU's streak of holding its opponents scoreless in the first quarter to three.
OU's defense held Louisville quarterback Chris Redman to his lowest passing total of the season (24 or 49 for 292 yards, two interceptions, two TDs). He was just 8 of 20 for 77 yards in the second half.
The Sooner defense held Cardinal running back Frank Moreau, who was ranked fifth nationally in rushing (169.3 ypg), to only 94 yards on 21 carries. OU has now gone three games this season without allowing a 100-yard rusher.

The Sooners' Head Coach

Bob Stoops is beginning his first season as the Sooners' head coach after building a reputation as one of the top defensive coaches on the college level.

Stoops was named as the Sooners' 21st head football coach on December 1 after playing a key role in the nationally ranked football programs at Kansas State and Florida. During his time as defensive coordinator at both schools, the defense ranked among the best in the nation and was instrumental in Florida winning the national championship in 1996.

Stoops, who turned 39 on Sept. 9, spent the previous three seasons as the assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Florida. During his tenure with the Gators, Stoops helped Florida to a combined 30-5 record, a national championship, one SEC championship and three bowl games. In each of his three seasons, the Gators ranked among the nation's top 15 teams in total defense and top 20 in rush defense.

Prior to Florida, Stoops spent seven seasons (1989-95) at Kansas State University assisting in one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football history. During his final four seasons in Manhattan, KSU posted a 35-12 record and played in three bowl games.

His 1995 defensive unit led the nation in total defense, ranked second in scoring and had all four defensive backs named to the All-Big Eight Team.

The New Guys On The Block

Here is how the 21 OU head coaches have fared in their first seasons in Norman:

Year	Coach	Record
1895	John Harts	0-1
1897	V.L. Parrington	2-0
1901	Fred Roberts	3-2
1902	Mark McMahon	6-3
1904	Fred Ewing	4-3-1
1905	Bennie Owen	7-2
1927	Adrian Linsey	3-3-2
1932	Lewie Hardage	4-4-1
1935	Biff Jones	6-3
1937	Tom Stidham	5-2-2
1941	Dewey Luster	6-3
1946	Jim Tatum	8-3
1947	Bub Wilkinson	7-2-1
1964	Gomer Jones	6-4-1
1966	Jim Mackenzie	6-4
1967	Chuck Fairbanks	10-1
1973	Barry Switzer	10-0-1
1989	Gary Gibbs	7-4
1995	H. Schnellenberger	5-5-1
1996	John Blake	3-8
1999	Bob Stoops	3-0

More On The New Guys

Before leaving the subject, here are a few more tidbits about first-year head coaches at OU:

Only three Oklahoma head coaches have made bowl appearances in their first season. Jim Tatum (1947 Gator), Gomer Jones (1965 Gator) and Chuck Fairbanks (1968 Orange) are members of this elite group.

Stoops became the 10th OU head coach to log a shutout in his debut contest. There has only been one OU head coach on the receiving end of the goose egg -- John Harts (1895, 34-0 loss to Oklahoma City).

The 132 points registered by Stoops' '99 team in its first three games are the most ever by an OU first-year head coach.

Bob Stoops joins Howard Schnellenberger (1995) and Jim Mackenize (1966) as the only Sooner head coaches to start their first season 3-0. Only Mackenize has begun his first season 4-0.

The longest winning streak posted by a first-year Sooner coach was nine by Barry Switzer in 1973. After a 7-7 tie at Southern California in the second game of the season, Switzer's Sooners rolled to nine straight wins and the Big Eight Championship.

Changing Of The Guard

Since 1990, OU has worked hard to rebuild its football program. Part of the rebuilding process is finding the perfect match of coaches who can move the program in a successful direction.

During the last nine seasons, OU faithful have seen four different head coaches and nine different coordinators walking the Sooner sidelines. This year, four new names have been added to the list -- Bob Stoops, Mike Leach (offensive coordinator), Mike Stoops and Brent Venables (co-defensive coordinators).

Past Offensive Coordinators

1990-92	Larry Coker
1993-94	Watson Brown
1995	Gary Nord
1996-97	Dick Winder
1998	Joe Dickinson
1999	Mike Leach

Past Defensive Coordinators

1990	Charlie Sadler
1991-94	Tom Hayes
1995	Kurt Van Valkenburg
1996-97	Bill Young
1998	Rex Ryan
1999	Mike Stoops/Brent Venables

The Rookie Receivers

The Sooners' offense features several receivers and tight ends who are playing in their first collegiate season. Through the first three outings of the year, eight first-year players have combined for 40 (of 99 receptions) for 505 yards and five touchdowns.

Here's a look at the first-year receivers and their progress this season.

Player	Pos.	No.	Yards	TD
Antwone Savage	WR	9	135	0
Damian Mackey	WR	9	106	2
Curtis Fagan	WR	7	82	0
Andre Woolfolk	WR	5	61	1
Trent Smith	TE	5	46	0
Julius McMillan	WR	3	33	1
Ryan Daniel	WR	1	33	1
Michael Jackson	WR	1	9	0
Totals		40	505	5

In the second half against Louisville, the trio of Fagan, Mackey and Savage combined for 10 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns.
The most catches in a single season by an OU first-year player was 26 by Eddie Hinton in 1966 (his sophomore season since freshmen were not eligible at that time).

Let The Heupel Hype Begin

Just when you think it's safe to rewrite the OU record book, quarterback Josh Heupel does himself one better.

For the third straight week, Heupel set school single-game standards for passing yards (429) and total offense (410). He also tied the school record (which he already owned) for touchdown passes in a game with five.

Through three games, Heupel has set single-game school marks for completions (37), passing attempts (54), passing yards (429) and total offense (410). He also owns school marks for touchdown passes in a single game (5), back-to-back games (8) and three games (13). His 13 touchdowns places him just one shy of the Sooners' season record of 14.

Here are some single-season lists that we'll need to keep track of this year as Josh does some climbing:

Attempts
Player (Season)	Att.
1. Garrick McGee ('94)	284
2. Cale Gundy ('93)	243
3. Cale Gundy ('92)	227
4. Eric Moore ('95)	200
5. Justin Fuente ('96)	196
6. Bobby Warmack ('68)	189
7. Jack Mildren ('69)	172
Cale Gundy ('91)	172
9. Bobby Warmack ('67)	151
10. Danny Bradley ('83)	143
11. Josh Heupel ('99)	136

Completions
Player (Season)	Comp.
1. Garrick McGee ('94)	149
2. Cale Gundy ('93)	144
3. Cale Gundy ('92)	131
4. Bobby Warmack ('68)	106
5. Josh Heupel ('99)	97

TD Passes
Player (Season)	TD
1. Cale Gundy ('93)	14
2. Claude Arnold ('50)	13
Josh Heupel ('99)	13

Completion Percentage
Player (Season)	Pct.
1. Josh Heupel ('99)	.713
2. Hugh McCullough ('38)	.642
3. Cale Gundy ('93)	.593
4. Monte Deere ('62)	.585
5. Eddie Crowder ('52)	.577

Yardage
Player (Season)	Yards
1. Cale Gundy ('93)	2,096
2. Cale Gundy ('92)	1,914
3. Garrick McGee ('94)	1,909
4. Bobby Warmack ('68)	1,548
5. Eric Moore ('95)	1,375
6. Jack Mildren ('69)	1,319
7. Justin Fuente ('96)	1,271
8. Cale Gundy ('91)	1,228
9. Josh Heupel ('99)	1,190

Total Offense
Player (Season)	Yards
1. Cale Gundy ('93)	2,291
2. Jack Mildren ('71)	2,018
3. Garrick McGee ('94)	2,014
4. Cale Gundy ('92)	1,888
5. Steve Davis ('73)	1,821
25. Billy Vessels ('52)	1,271
Danny Bradley ('84)	1,271
30. Josh Heupel ('99)	1,151

First-Year Signal Callers

Because of OU's history as a running program, passing quarterbacks have found recent success moving quickly up any passing charts in the record books.

There are very few first-year quarterbacks listed throughout the OU record section under passing, however at his current pace, it won't take Josh Heupel long to move past those that are there.

The following is a list of the best seasons compiled by first-year quarterbacks at OU:

Attempts
Player (Season)	Class	Att.
1. Garrick McGee ('94)	Jr.	284
2. Eric Moore ('95)	Fr.	200
3. Justin Fuente ('96)	Fr.	196
4. Josh Heupel ('99)	Jr.	136

Completions
Player (Season)	Class	Comp.
1. Garrick McGee ('94)	Jr.	149
2. Josh Heupel ('99)	Jr.	97

TD Passes
Player (Season)	Class	TD
1. Josh Heupel ('99)	Jr.	13
2. Justin Fuente ('95)	Fr.	8

Passing Yards
Player (Season)	Class	Yards
1. Garrick McGee ('94)	Jr.	1,909
2. Eric Moore ('95)	Fr.	1,375
3. Jack Mildren ('70)	So.	1,319
4. Justin Fuente ('96)	Fr.	1,271
5. Josh Heupel ('99)	Jr.	1,190

Total Offense
Player (Season)	Class	Yards
1. Garrick McGee ('94)	Jr.	2,014
2. Steve Davis ('73)	So.	1,821
3. Eric Moore ('95)	Fr.	1,606
4. Derald Lebow	Fr.	1,405
5. Jamelle Holieway ('85)	Fr.	1,378
6. Josh Heupel ('99)	Jr.	1,151

Spreading The Wealth

After back-to-back weekends with 13 different Sooners catching at least one pass in a game, eight players hauled in a pass against Louisville. So far this season, nine receivers, four running backs and three tight ends have caught passes.

Not only does Josh Heupel spread his passes around, but the Sooner receivers have made the most of their opportunities with 604 yards after the catch (YAC) this season. Here is a list of the OU receivers and the yards they've earned this year following the catch:

Player	Pos.	Rec.	YAC
Antwone Savage	WR	9	83
Josh Norman	RB	3	70
Brandon Daniels	WR	11	59
Michael Thornton	RB	6	59
Damien Mackey	WR	9	54
Curtis Fagan	WR	7	50
Chris Hammons	TE	11	46
Jarrail Jackson	WR	7	42
Matt Anderson	TE	8	32
Andre Woolfolk	WR	5	30
Trent Smith	TE	5	27
Seth Littrell	RB	4	18
Johnnie Balous	RB	2	17
Julius McMillan	WR	3	11
Michael Jackson	WR	1	5
Ryan Daniel	WR	1	1

A Close Eye On The Defense

OU head coach Bob Stoops knows what makes a great defense, so do defensive coordinators Mike Stoops and Brent Venables. While at Florida and Kansas State, the three Sooner coaches built and led defensive units considered the best in the college ranks the last five seasons.

Under their guidance, this Sooner defensive unit is quickly coming together and proving it will be a force to be dealt with. Check out these facts: Against the run-happy, wishbone-option Sycamores of Indiana State, OU held ISU to just 195 yards of offense overall. Of the 195 yards, the Sooners allowed just 45 in the second half.
Baylor recorded 202 yards of total offense, but 83 of those came on the Bears' fourth quarter scoring drive.
The OU defenders allowed the BU offense minus three yards (on just six plays) during the third quarter.
After allowing Louisville to record 249 yards of total offense in the first half, the Sooners defense held the Cardinals to 137 yards in the second half, including 78 on their second drive of the third quarter.
Through three games, OU's opponents have run 199 plays and 79 of those (39.7%) have resulted in zero or minus yardage.
The Sooner defense has recorded minus yardage 30 times this season, including seven times against Louisville last Saturday.
Of the 199 plays run against OU this season, only 26 have been for 10 or more yards.

Stronger As We Go

Back by popular demand is a look at the Sooner defense as the game wears on. Early indications are that the '99 OU defensive unit is capable of taking control of a game as it goes on. Last year, OU allowed just over 1,000 yards, 13 TDs and five field goals in the first half, and just over 1,400 yards, 10 TDs and six field goals in the second half throughout the year.
Against Indiana State, Baylor and Louisville, the Sooners have kept the pressure on and proved that the defense gets stronger as the game rolls on.
The Sooner defense has allowed their opponents just 16 points (one TD), 25 first downs in the first half this season, and 15 points (two touchdowns), 14 first downs in the second half this season.

The Long And Winding Road Ahead

While it can't be compared to the schedule that Notre Dame is playing this season, the Sooners are playing a stretch of games that include teams that held a national ranking (or received votes) at one time or another last year, and played in a bowl game.

Besides Louisville and Notre Dame, OU will be facing league opponents Texas, Texas A&M, Colorado, Missouri and Texas Tech during this stretch.

The Sooners' remaining '99 opponents have an overall cumulative record of 17-8. Here is a look at the records for the teams left on OU's slate on '99:

Texas	4-1 (vs. Kansas State)
Texas A&M	3-0 (at Texas Tech)
Colorado	2-2 (Idle)
Missouri	2-1 (at Memphis)
Iowa State	3-1 (Idle)
Texas Tech	1-2 (vs. Texas A&M)
Oklahoma St.	2-1 (at Nebraska)

Charting The Red Zone

After hitting paydirt about 75 percent of the time but scoring just 10 touchdowns a year ago, the Sooners are hoping to improve those numbers this season.

Here is the complete breakdown for the '99 season:

	OU	Opp.
Possessions	18	7
Touchdowns	14	2
Field Goals	2	3
Success Rate	.889	.714
Missed FG	0	2
Turnovers	2	0
Lost On Downs	0	0

The Final Word

With 99 completions through three games, the Sooners have already surpassed the season completion total from 40 of the past 46 years...The 99 completions are also more than the Sooners completed in each of their national championship seasons...The completion total by the Sooners this season currently ranks as the seventh best in the history of the program...The school record for passing yards per game is 201.3 by the 1992 squad and OU is currently averaging 399.7 yards an outing...The school record for passing attempts per game is 28.0 by the 1996 Sooners and OU is currently averaging 47 passing attempts a game...Oklahoma scored 184 points through 11 games last year and already has 132 this season...With an interception in the end zone last weekend, strong safety Rodney Rideau has four interceptions in his last six games dating back to last season...While the OU offense has leaned heavily toward the passing side through three games (141 passes/85 runs), the Sooners have outrushed their opponents, 467-371...The 132 points scored by OU through the first three games this season are the most since the Sooners recorded 138 points in the first three games of the 1990 season...Pee Wee Woods' interception in the fourth quarter against Louisville was his second of the season. Coming into this season, Woods had two career interceptions...Tight end Chris Hammons and defensive lineman Bary Holleyman made their first career starts as Sooners last weekend against Louisville...Josh Norman, who is the roommate of OU quarterback Josh Heupel, has a touchdown catch in each game this year...OU has yet to have a 100-yard receiver despite throwing for 1,199 yards.

Sooner Fans Can Watch Their Team Via The Internet

University of Oklahoma football fans will be able to watch the Sooners via the Internet and PRAJA ActionSnaps! Designed to allow sport fans the choice of how and when to review a game, PRAJA ActionSnaps! features audio, video, and game statistic highlights via the football page on the University of Oklahoma's web site -- SoonerSports.com.

Beginning Wednesday morning, PRAJA ActionSnaps! will let viewers decide: to watch highlights from the entire game, focus on scoring plays, review the performance of a given player, or even replay the game-winning drive.

Fans will have four ways to call up plays and review game action, complete with audio, video, and image annotations from mulitple replay angles:

Search for key plays of interest from the highlight list
Review each drive, down by down
Select from play-by-play list
Focus on downs involving a favorite player

PRAJA ActionSnaps! will allow fans, sports writers and analysts to feel closer to the game and get the information they want, when they want it.

Also, you can now receive instant game statistics when the Sooners are playing inside Memorial Stadium. Just log on to SoonerSports.com and click on the Live Stats link button. Stats are updated as the game goes on.

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