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University of Oklahoma Athletics
2004 Oklahoma Football Season Preview
August 26, 2004 | Football
2004 Season Preview
The trophy case is a liar, or so it appears. Just five years into Bob Stoops' stint at Oklahoma, the hardware has accumulated at such a rate as to suggest a much longer tenure.
Three bowl championships, two conference crowns, a national championship and the cavalcade of individual awards those accomplishments attract have left the Switzer Center shelves sagging under the weight of significant success. And, yes, it all came about in just five seasons. The 2003 season yielded more of the same. It offered up 12 victories, 15 weeks at No. 1, the Big 12 Conference South title and another trip to the national championship game.
From that team, a long list of players returns, especially on offense, where OU will have more experience than at any time since the current head coach arrived. Defensively, a few marquee names must be replaced, but seven starters return. They'll be bolstered by a group of younger players produced by recent recruiting success. Like the offense, the special teams, particularly in the skill positions, will be manned by familiar names.
The 2004 season has the makings of another banner campaign at Oklahoma, the kind that could add to the disproportinately successful story being told in that trophy case.
The trophy case is a liar, or so it appears. Just five years into Bob Stoops' stint at Oklahoma, the hardware has accumulated at such a rate as to suggest a much longer tenure.
Three bowl championships, two conference crowns, a national championship and the cavalcade of individual awards those accomplishments attract have left the Switzer Center shelves sagging under the weight of significant success. And, yes, it all came about in just five seasons. The 2003 season yielded more of the same. It offered up 12 victories, 15 weeks at No. 1, the Big 12 Conference South title and another trip to the national championship game.
From that team, a long list of players returns, especially on offense, where OU will have more experience than at any time since the current head coach arrived. Defensively, a few marquee names must be replaced, but seven starters return. They'll be bolstered by a group of younger players produced by recent recruiting success. Like the offense, the special teams, particularly in the skill positions, will be manned by familiar names.
The 2004 season has the makings of another banner campaign at Oklahoma, the kind that could add to the disproportinately successful story being told in that trophy case.
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Quarterbacks Stories don't come much better than that of Jason White. Two reconstructive knee surgeries and a Heisman Trophy all in the span of three years is the stuff of legend. And now a curtain call? |
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Running Backs Two years ago, Kejuan Jones was OU's short-yardage back. Last season, while sharing time with Renaldo Works, he evolved into a more typical role. Works' graduation leaves Jones... |
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Receivers Speed, elusiveness, strength ... they all reside at Oklahoma's receiver position. In fact, the only commodity that may be in better supply is experience. The Sooner receiving corps will be a strength... |
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Tight Ends This coaching staff has produced three players who are now tight ends on NFL rosters. Their appreciation for the position is well-documented. The productivity dropped somewhat last year as... |
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Offensive Line All five starters return. Three of the five have been starters for three seasons and all five have been starters for all or part of two seasons. The group owns 133 combined starting assignments... |
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Defensive Line Dusty Dvoracek is not the biggest defensive tackle in college football, but few are better at getting from point A to point B. And point B is usually in the opposing backfield. Dvoracek is a playmaker... |
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Defensive Ends The unvarnished truth is that the defensive end position will likely be one of the strongest on the team. Dan Cody and Jonathan Jackson have played in a combined 70 games at Oklahoma... |
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Linebackers If there is such a thing as a blessing in disguise, the blessing's name is Lance Mitchell. OU's physically imposing middle linebacker went down with a torn ACL in the third game of the 2003 season... |
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Secondary It took a mighty big spotlight to capture Oklahoma's secondary last season. Cornerback Derrick Strait was nailing down the Nagurski and Thorpe Awards, while former All-American Brandon Everage... |
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Special Teams With the exception of holder Matt McCoy, anyone who handled the ball on Oklahoma's special teams last season is back. Replacements for McCoy's job will be auditioned. Otherwise, it's the same cast... |
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