Oklahoma-Bowling Green Game Preview

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma (0-0) begins its 110th season of intercollegiate football competition when it hosts the Bowling Green Falcons (0-0). This ends a string of three straight August openers for the Sooners.

OU is beginning a season at home for the fifth time in six years under head coach Bob Stoops. This will be Oklahoma's 32nd consecutive sellout (every game of the Stoops era).

THE POLLS
OU is No. 2 in the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today Coaches polls. BGSU is unranked.

THE SERIES
This is the first meeting between these two schools. In fact, it marks the first time Oklahoma has ever played a school from the Mid-American Conference.

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THE COACHES
Oklahoma: Bob Stoops (Iowa 78), now in his sixth season with the Sooners, is 55-11 overall. He is 3-2 in bowls, 3-1 in January bowls, 2-1 in BCS games, 34-7 vs. the Big 12, 20-5 vs. the Big 12 South, 15-3 vs. the Big 12 North, 2-1 in the Big 12 title game, 21-3 vs. non-confererence foes, 30-1 at home, 16-6 on the road, 9-4 on neutral fields and 18-4 vs. ranked opponents. Bowling Green: Gregg Brandon (Northern Colorado 78) is in his second season at BGSU. He is 11-3 with the Falcons.

SPECIAL EVENTS
Pre-game: Olympic salute highlighting Sooners' participation in Athens and the 20-year anniversary of Gold Medals won by Bart Conner, Wayman Tisdale and Mark Schultz.
Halftime: Recognition of OU graduate Todd Hamilton, the reigning British Open champion.
Giveaways: 10,000 OU trucker-style hats to students, hand-held fans to the first 70,000.
Sooner Fan Fest: The event opens three hours prior to kickoff. Highlights include inflatable interactive games, an autograph tent featuring OU teams and Sooner greats and food vendors among other attractions. This week, Todd Hamilton's Claret Jug will be on display. Admission to Fan Fest is free.
Other: The purchase of the game program includes a poster of OU's 2003 award winners. It will be distributed following the game to fans who present a coupon that is part of the program.

OKLAHOMA ... ONE OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S ELITE PROGRAMS
Oklahoma's football program owns a remarkable list of accomplishments ...
Seven national championships (1950, 1955, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000), 38 conference titles and 37 bowl appearances, 23 of which resulted in a Sooner victory.
Oklahoma ranks No. 8 in all-time victories (737-284-53), No. 1 in victories since WWII (493) and No. 1 in victories since 2000 (48).
Oklahoma's all-time winning percentage of .711 ranks No. 4 nationally. The Sooners' .888 percentage since 2000 ranks No. 2 during that period.
Oklahoma ranks No. 7 in bowl appearances with 37 and No. 3 in bowl victories with 23.
The Sooners have produced 138 All-Americans (average of more than one per season over a 110-year history) and 51 national award winners, including four Heisman Trophy recipients. No school has produced more Butkus Award (four), Thorpe Award (three) or Nagurski Award (two) winners. Only Notre Dame (7) and Ohio State (6) have produced more Heisman winners (OU is tied with USC at four).

ABOUT THE OPPONENT
Bowling Green is tabbed for third in the Mid-American Conference's Western Division. Toledo is picked for the top spot followed by Northern Illinois.
Bowling Green was 11-3 last season and knocked off Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl, 28-24. It was one of two wins for the Falcons over Big Ten foes last season. BGSU knocked off Purdue at West Lafayette, Ind., 27-26, in week two. In week four, the Falcons lost at Ohio State, 24-17.
Bowling Green is 4-5-0 vs. the Big 12 and owns a two-game winning streak over the league. Those most recent victories came on successive weeks in 2002. The first was a 51-28 home win over Missouri, while the second was a 39-16 triumph at Kansas. BGSU's last loss to a Big 12 team came in the 2001 season opener, a 20-13 setback at Missouri.
This is BGSU's second trip to Oklahoma. In 1984, the Falcons lost at Oklahoma State, 31-14.
Bowling Green has won its last three season openers.

TIES WITH THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT
Head Coach Bob Stoops hails from Youngstown, Ohio, as does co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Bo Pelini. Both played at Cardinal Mooney HS. Stoops played collegiately at Iowa, but Pelini went on to Ohio State where he played free safety from 1987-90. The four-year letterwinner was a Buckeye captain in his senior season.
Stoops' first full-time coaching assignment was at Kent State, where he was the defensive backs coach in 1988. Kent hosted Bowling Green that season and won 31-19.
OU co-offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was an assistant coach at Miami (O.) from 1990-98. Miami was 2-6-1 vs. BGSU during that time.
The Sooners are 1-1 against team from Ohio -- both games vs. Ohio State (1977 and 1983).
BGSU Athletics Director Paul Krebs began his career as OU's assistant ticket manager in 1981. In 1983, he became ticket manager, a spot until 1985 when he left for Ohio State.
Bowling Green head coach Gregg Brandon was on Colorado's staff in 1999 and 2000. The Sooners and Buffaloes did not play during that time.
Bowling Green offensive coordinator Greg Studrawa was the offensive line coach at Arkansas State from 1998-2000, and was with the Trojan team that dropped a 45-7 decision at Oklahoma in 2000. The same can be said for defensive ends coach and recruiting coordinator Troy Rothenbuhler, who was on the ASU staff as tight ends and receivers coach from 1997-01.
BGSU cornerbacks coach Vance Joseph was on the Colorado staff in 2002 and 2003. OU was 3-0 vs. CU in those two seasons, including a win in the 2002 Big 12 title game in Houston.

FOR OPENERS
Oklahoma is 83-20-6 in season openers, including a 50-8-5 record in Norman.
The Sooners have won six straight season openers dating back to a 24-0 loss to Northwestern at Chicago's Soldier Field in 1997. OU hasn't lost an opener at home since 1996 when TCU prevailed on Owen Field, 20-7.
Bob Stoops is 5-0 in openers, including a 4-0 mark on Owen Field. Oklahoma has won the five openers under its current head coach by an average score of 44-9.
OU is 42-7-5 when playing its opener at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

STOOPS OPENERS NEVER DULL
1999: Josh Heupel set school records with five touchdown passes and 31 completions in Bob Stoops' first game, a 49-0 win over Indiana State.
2000: The highest recorded temperature ever for an OU football game hit 106 degrees. Renaldo Works scored the first three touchdowns of his career in a 55-14 win over UTEP.
2001: A game dominated by big plays included an 88-yard kickoff return by Antwone Savage, a 47-yard interception return by Derrick Strait and a 12-yard fumble return by Rocky Calmus, all for touchdowns, as OU whipped North Carolina, 41-27.
2002: Antonio Perkins, in his first game as punt returner, logged the third-longest return in OU history with a 91-yarder for a TD in a 37-0 win at Tulsa. Trey DiCarlo made a 44-yard FG, the longest by a Sooner in a debut, and Quentin Griffin ran for a then-career-high 237 yards.
2003: The first-game in the expanded stadium was also the first for Jason White after his second reconstructive knee surgery. Jejuan Rankins became the second player in school history to score a touchdown on his first career reception. The Sooners thrashed North Texas, 37-3.

STADIUM STUFF
For the second straight season, the season opener represents an unveiling of sorts. Phase II was completed in the off-season. The $7 million project has centered in three areas -- fan amenities on the upper levels of the west side, remodeling of the Santee Lounge and bricking the north, south and center portions of the west side. Also, the facing of the press box was re-designed with new images and a listing of the football program's accomplishments.
The capacity of the stadium is up from 81,207 last season to 82,072 this season. The largest crowd ever to see an OU opener was last year's total of 83,073.
The stadium can seat 2.3% of the state's population. Doesn't sound like much? Of the 27 states with at least three million residents, none can house a greater percentage of the state's population in a college football venue.
The playing surface was completely replaced over the off-season, as well. Here are the facts on that change ... grass type: Tiff-Sport (Bermuda sod grown in San Antonio, Texas), square footage: 79,000, quantity of sand: 2,500 tons.

POLL TOLL
Oklahoma is ranked No. 2 in both polls ...
Oklahoma is 51-12 when carrying the No. 2 ranking, including a 20-3 mark at home. The Sooners are 34-4 vs. unranked opponents when listed at No. 2. Ranked OU teams are 306-27-3 against unranked teams all-time.
Oklahoma has the third-longest active streak in terms of consecutive weeks in the Associated Press' rankings. Michigan tops that list at 94 followed by Miami at 72 and Oklahoma at 70.
The AP poll debuted in 1936. OU and Notre Dame are tied for the most weeks spent at No. 1 with 95 each. Ohio State is next at 74 followed by Miami at 69 and Florida State at 61.
Oklahoma has been ranked among the AP's top 10 in every week but one since Oct. 6, 2000. That one exception saw the Sooners dip to No. 11 prior to defeating Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl at the end of the 2001 season. That win vaulted them back into the top 10.

HOME FIELD HONCHOS
Oklahoma is 30-1 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium under Bob Stoops. The Sooners have won their last 13 home games, including five over ranked opponents. The longest home winning streak under Stoops was 17. During the current streak, OU has ...
averaged 48.0 points per game to just 11.5 for the opponents.
won every game by double digits.
eclipsed 50 points six times, 60 points three times and 70 points once.
notched two shutouts and another three games in which the opponent did not score a TD.

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER
Oklahoma is 16-0 during the month of September under Bob Stoops. Over the last 25 seasons, the Sooners have had a losing record just twice in September -- 1996 and 1982.

NON-CONS
Oklahoma has won its last 15 regular season games against non-conference opponents. Bob Stoops is 20-3 vs. non-league foes, 17-1 in regular season non-league games and 14-0 in non-conference home games.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT
OU could start 15 seniors this season. If so, it will be a school record of sorts. The 1972 and 1964 both started 14 seniors. This team has 280 starts among the senior class alone.

GREAT SLATE
Oklahoma's 11-game schedule includes nine opponents who were in bowls last season. The foes were 87-57 (.604) in 03. The non-conference foes were 26-14 (.650). That rates as the nation's 12th-toughest non-league slate. Four OU opponents won 10 or more games last year.

A HIGH FIVE ... THE SOONERS IN BOB STOOPS' FIVE SEASONS
OU won the 2000 national championship, three Big 12 South crowns and two Big 12 titles.
Oklahoma has spent 22 weeks at No. 1.
The Sooners had two of the longest winning streaks in school history - a 20-game streak from 2000-01 and a 14-game streak from 2002-03.
OU has set or tied 62 school records, not including bowl records or records specific to a position (i.e., receptions by a RB).
Oklahoma has played in five bowl games. Never before had an OU coach taken even his first three teams to bowls. Prior to Stoops' arrival, OU had gone four straight years without a bowl. The Sooners had not played in one of what is now a BCS game since the 1988 Orange Bowl (1987 season) until Stoops, in his second season at Oklahoma, led his team to the 2001 Orange Bowl (2000 season).
OU has had a double-digit lead in 56 of 66 games.
OU has 33 of its 41 Big 12 victories under Stoops and just seven of its 23 losses.
An OU player has finished among the top seven in the Heisman voting three times -- Jason White No. 1 in 2003, Roy Williams No. 7 in 2001 and Josh Heupel No. 2 in 2000.
Stoops has produced 16 All-Americans, two AP Players of the Year (Heupel, White), two Nagurski Award winners (Williams, Derrick Strait), two Thorpe Award winners (Williams, Strait), two Butkus Award winners (Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman), one Bednarik Award winner (Lehman), one Lombardi Award winner (Tommie Harris) and one Tatupu Award winner (J.T. Thatcher). OU has had a Butkus finalist in each of the last four years and a Lombardi finalist in the last three.

JASON'S RETURN
Oklahoma's Heisman-winning quarterback Jason White, listed as a senior last year, received a ruling from the NCAA that allows him another year on the college level. White is the second Heisman winner since OU's Billy Sims in 1978 to return for an additional season. BYU's Ty Detmer, who won the award in 1990 as a junior, was the other.

THE OFFENSE IN BRIEF
Oklahoma scored a school record 601 points last season. It also accomplished a first in OU history by exceeding 50 points in four consecutive games. School bests also were established in passing yards (4,109), first downs (314), interception avoidance (0.22), turnovers (17/tied), turnovers per game (1.2/tied) and touchdown passes (43).
Other spots claimed by the 2003 Sooners on various school record lists ... No. 2 in completions (349), No. 2 in plays (1,018), No. 9 in yards per play (6.0), No. 2 in total yards (6,152), No. 8 in yards per game (439.4), No. 4 in points per game (42.9), No. 4 in completions per game (21.3), No. 4 in passing attempts (480), No. 4 in pass attempts per game (34.3), No. 4 in passing yards per game (293.5) and No. 3 in completion percentage (62.3).
Under Stoops, OU has produced its career leader in passing and receiving, while also turning out the fourth leading rusher in school history.
OU has scored at least one TD in 68 consecutive games dating back to Nov. 7, 1998.
In Stoops' five seasons, OU has rushed for 200 yards in 15 games, including 10 over the last three seasons. The Sooners eclipsed 100 rushing yards in eight of their last 14 games.
OU completed at least 50% of its passes in 12 of 14 games last season.
Under Stoops, Oklahoma has 71 touchdowns of 25 yards or longer and 180 scoring drives that lasted less than two minutes.
The Sooners scored on their first possession in 11 of 14 games last season. In two of the three in which they did not, they scored on the second.

THE DEFENSE IN BRIEF
Oklahoma has forced at least one turnover in 59 of the last 66 games (Stoops' tenure) and has at least one interception in 46 of the last 54 contests. OU has had multiple interceptions in 15 of the last 26 games.
Sooner opponents have completed 50% of their passes just 28 times in the last 66 games.
Foes have scored less than 14 points in 40 of Stoops' 66 games.
Under Stoops, the Sooners have six shutouts. Opponents failed to score more than seven points in 20 of the 66 games.
The NCAA charts five major defensive categories -- scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, passing defense and pass efficiency defense. OU has been top 25 in all five for four consecutive seasons.
Oklahoma has had at least 20 interceptions in four straight years (a total of 88 during that span). Never before had OU strung together three seasons with 20 picks.

THE SPECIAL TEAMS IN BRIEF
A look at special teams notes from Bob Stoops' era as OU's head coach ...
There have been 20 special teams touchdowns, including 13 in the last 35 regular season games. Those 13 came via five different kinds of plays -- eight punt returns, two faked field goals, a blocked punt, a kickoff return and a faked punt. The special teams also own one safety.
OU has returned five kickoffs and 11 punts for touchdowns.
The Sooners have blocked 17 kicks.
OU has recovered its only onside kick attempt last season (at Colorado).

MANY HAPPY RETURNS
During the Stoops era ...
Kickoff Returns -- There have been 28 returns of 25 yards or more with five touchdowns.
Punt Returns -- There have been 32 returns of 15 or more yards with 11 touchdowns.
Interceptions -- There have been 45 returns of 10 or more yards with 11 touchdowns.
Fumbles -- Three returns of 15 or more yards with three touchdowns.

HOME OPENER TIMES FOUR
Oklahoma is playing its first four games at home for just the third time in its history. The other two seasons in which that happened were the 2000 National Championship year and 1995, Howard Schellenberger's lone campaign with the Sooners. As a matter of fact, those are the only other instances in which OU played four straight home games during the same season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL'S MOST PROLIFIC SCORING PROGRAM
No college program has scored more total points than Oklahoma. The Sooners have 27,981. In addition, OU's total margin of victory, 15,078, ranks No. 2 behind Michigan. Oklahoma is 102nd (out of 117) in points surrendered at 12,903. Not bad for a team that ranks No. 26 in games played at 1,074.

OH CAPTAIN, MY CAPTAIN
The Oklahoma team captains, as selected in a vote by team members, for the 2004 season ... C Vince Carter, WR Mark Clayton, DE Dan Cody, DT Dusty Dvoracek, LB Lance Mitchell, QB Jason White.

DID YOU KNOW?
Oklahoma had the highest graduation rate among the eight schools that played in last year's BCS games (65%).
LB Gayron Allen: Returning starter on the weakside.

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CB Eric Bassey: Started as the team's SS in 2002, then was a back-up corner last season ... one of the team's fastest players, he had a 34-yard interception for touchdown against UCLA last season and a 45-yard fumble return for TD vs. Alabama in 2002.

DE Larry Birdine: Big back-up, who got a start last season at Colorado.

WR Mark Bradley: Big, dangerous athlete, who will also be in his first year as the holder for placements ... son of former OU QB Danny Bradley, he threw a touchdown pass last season.

OT Jammal Brown: The right tackle had the top grade on the line last season ... a bright pro prospect ... ranks fourth on the team with 28 career starts.

OL Chris Bush: One of the team's most versatile linemen, he could see significant snaps at
center and guard ... has four career starts.

C Vince Carter: Was a finalist for the Rimington Award last season.

WR Mark Clayton: Of the three finalists for last year's Biletnikoff Award, he is the only one returning (other two were Larry Fitzgerald and Mike Williams) ... already holds seven OU receiving records and needs just 15 catches to set the mark for most in a career ... has 23 career touchdown catches and 23 career starts.

DE Dan Cody: Was one of six finalists for last season's Hendricks Award.

K Trey DiCarlo: Set NCAA record with 74 PAT last season ... owns a string of 55 straight PAT makes, the seventh-longest streak in the nation ... has made 35-of-44 career FG ... one of three finalists for last year's Groza Award.

DT Dusty Dvoracek: Consensus All-Big 12 last season ... led last year's OU defensive linemen, including first-round pick Tommie Harris, with seven sacks ... had a great off-season in the weight room and is playing at 300 pounds for the first time ... OU's nominee for the National Football Foundation's Scholar-Athlete Award.

P Blake Ferguson: Brother of former OU punter Jeff Ferguson, he owns a career average of 40.2 yards with 31 kicks of 50+ yards and 35 inside the 20 in two seasons (126 punts).

RB Donta Hickson: Reserve back who had 131 of his 306 career rushing yards in last season's win over Texas A&M.

LB Clint Ingram: One of the team's most physical players, something he proved on special teams over the last couple seasons, he could start at strong side linebacker.

Jonathan Jackson: Team leader in quarterback hurries over the last two seasons with 26 in 03 and 18 in 02 ... nearly one-fourth of his career tackles have been for loss.

WR Brandon Jones: Tied with Mark Clayton among current receivers for the best yards-per-catch average -- 15.3 yards ... forty-six of his 55 career catches came last season.

RB Kejuan Jones: Strong, darting back who led OU with 925 rushing yards last season ... played behind Quentin Griffin in 02 and was the team's very effective short yardage back.

OG Davin Joseph: Gifted and experienced lineman who was one of the nation's top wrestlers back in his high school days.
LB Zach Latimer: A defensive end earlier in his career, he is emerging as a strong candidate for playing time at linebacker.

DT Lynn McGruder: Figures to join the starting line-up in the spot previously held by Tommie Harris ... Co-Big 12 Sportsman of the Year with Mark Clayton for his role in assisting victims in a serious automobile accident in the summer of 03.

MLB Lance Mitchell: Played in three games last season before going down with a season-ending knee injury ... was the team's top tackler in 2002 with 124.

TE Bubba Moses: Hoping to get the starting nod at the competitive tight end spot ... most experienced of those vying for the job.

SS Donte Nicholson: Top returning tackler after posting 90 last season as the Big 12's Defensive Newcomer of the Year.

WR Will Peoples: Has 14 career starts at receiver ... needs 130 receiving yards to reach 1,000 for his career.

CB/RS: Antonio Perkins: Has seven career punt returns for touchdowns, just one shy of the NCAA record ... already owns OU career mark for punt return yards with 1,285 ... graduated in May with a degree in criminology/sociology and is presently attending graduate school.

LB Demarrio Pleasant: Will play a lot of snaps after redshirting last season ... impressive in August workouts.

FS Brodney Pool: Led the team with interceptions last year with seven.

CB Jowahn Poteat: In the battle for the corner job opposite Antonio Perkins.

WR Jejuan Rankins: Reminds many of teammate Mark Clayton ... caught 33 balls last season in his first year on the field for OU.

LS Jacob Rice: No errant snaps in 315 career tries.

TE Willie Roberts: At 6-7, he is tied for team honors (with Tommy Grady) as the team's tallest player. In the fray for the starting TE job.

FB J.D. Runnels: Rock steady player who is assignment strong ... also a good receiver as evidenced by 17 career receptions.

DB Brandon Shelby: Per snaps played, he is one of the most effective players on the team. Made All-Big 12 HM in 2002 with no starts ... has three career blocked kicks.

OT Wes Sims: A fixture on the left side with 34 career starts.

QB Paul Thompson: Ran a 4.4 40 in fall testing and brings multiplicity to the quarterback position.

QB Jason White: 2003 winner of the Heisman and O'Brien Awards ... needs 283 passing yards to reach 5,000 for his career ... will graduate in December with a degree in sociology.

WR Travis Wilson: Perhaps the team's most physical receiver, he caught four touchdown passes last season.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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