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University of Oklahoma Athletics
2003 Football Season Preview
August 04, 2003 | Football
Over the next two weeks, SoonerSports.com will present a position-by-position preview of the 2003 Sooners complete with analysis and photo galleries. Oklahoma will open the season ranked No. 1 but will face a challenging non-conference schedule including a trip to Tuscaloosa to battle Alabama and a home date with UCLA.
The daunting conference schedule includes trips to Colorado and Texas Tech while Missouri and Texas A&M come to Norman. The Sooners tangle with the Longhorns in Dallas on Oct. 11 and host Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Game on Nov. 1.
The Big 12 title game is slated for Dec. 6 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City -- the same venue the Sooners rolled through en route to the national championship in 2000. This year, the national championship will be decided in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4, 2004.
Season Outlook
Over the last couple years, Oklahoma has proved itself pretty good at the art of re-tooling.
Despite the departures of several notables, including national award winners Rocky Calmus, Josh Heupel and Roy Williams, the Sooners have consistently remained one of the top five teams in the nation. Although it never happens by chance, success does beget success.
In 2003, particularly on offense, OU looks to again reach into its deep talent pool to fill key positions. The defense and special teams are almost carbon copies of last year's squad. The offense, which said goodbye to its top passer, top rusher and top receiver, will look different, at least from a personnel standpoint.
Fortunately for the Sooners, many of the names that may now be cast in more substantial roles are at least somewhat familiar.
Jason White may be the best known four-game starter in college football. Knee injuries have sidelined him each of the last two years, but he is the only OU quarterback with previous starting experience. He has worked vigorously to rehabilitate again and will enter the season as the starter.
Running back Kejuan Jones, a backup last season who saw most of his action in short-yardage situations, still managed 613 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is far from green. The same can be said of Renaldo Works.
The daunting conference schedule includes trips to Colorado and Texas Tech while Missouri and Texas A&M come to Norman. The Sooners tangle with the Longhorns in Dallas on Oct. 11 and host Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Game on Nov. 1.
The Big 12 title game is slated for Dec. 6 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City -- the same venue the Sooners rolled through en route to the national championship in 2000. This year, the national championship will be decided in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4, 2004.
Season Outlook
Over the last couple years, Oklahoma has proved itself pretty good at the art of re-tooling.
Despite the departures of several notables, including national award winners Rocky Calmus, Josh Heupel and Roy Williams, the Sooners have consistently remained one of the top five teams in the nation. Although it never happens by chance, success does beget success.
In 2003, particularly on offense, OU looks to again reach into its deep talent pool to fill key positions. The defense and special teams are almost carbon copies of last year's squad. The offense, which said goodbye to its top passer, top rusher and top receiver, will look different, at least from a personnel standpoint.
Fortunately for the Sooners, many of the names that may now be cast in more substantial roles are at least somewhat familiar.
Jason White may be the best known four-game starter in college football. Knee injuries have sidelined him each of the last two years, but he is the only OU quarterback with previous starting experience. He has worked vigorously to rehabilitate again and will enter the season as the starter.
Running back Kejuan Jones, a backup last season who saw most of his action in short-yardage situations, still managed 613 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is far from green. The same can be said of Renaldo Works.
In the area of pass catching, it's rare when one school graduates its top four career receivers in one year (only two were wideouts), but that is precisely what occurred at Oklahoma. Still, the Sooners return players who spent last season combining for 95 receptions and 13 touchdowns. Moreover, behind returning starters Mark Clayton and Will Peoples, the young talent at receiver is thought to be among the best on the team.
On defense, nine starters return, including Lombardi and Bednarik finalist Tommie Harris at tackle, Butkus finalist Teddy Lehman at linebacker, Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year Lance Mitchell at linebacker and Thorpe semifinalists Brandon Everage and Derrick Strait in the secondary. The Sooner defense, perhaps more than any of its peers, combines quality with experience. It could be a special year for that unit.
The special teams feature game-breaking return specialist Antonio Perkins and returning performers at placekicker and punter in Trey DiCarlo and Blake Ferguson, respectively.
Next: Quarterbacks
| 2003 Football Preview | - |
| Monday, Aug. 4 | Season Outlook |
| Tuesday, Aug. 5 | Quarterbacks |
| Wednesday, Aug. 6 | Running Backs |
| Thursday, Aug. 7 | Receivers |
| Friday, Aug. 8 | Offensive Line |
| Monday, Aug. 11 | Defensive Line |
| Tuesday, Aug. 12 | Defensive Ends |
| Wednesday, Aug. 13 | Defensive Backs |
| Thursday, Aug. 14 | Linebackers |
| Friday, Aug. 15 | Special Teams |
Wednesday, July 08
Thursday, June 25
Monday, June 22
Monday, May 18
