Sooners Celebrate Christmas in California

SAN DIEGO -- Oklahoma celebrated Christmas Day with its third bowl practice on the campus of San Diego State University and a special holiday dinner Sunday evening at the team hotel.

The Sooners began the morning with a church service and brunch. Many players took advantage of the late morning start to call family back home.

"I talked to my parents and sister in Weatherford," said senior fullback Russell Dennison. "Normally we do everything Christmas Eve. We go to candlelight worship and have a big dinner -- always chili. Then, we open presents. We have a big lunch on Christmas Day. We're going to do everything when I get back."

"Everyone called me this morning," laughed senior defensive end Calvin Thibodeaux. "They must have forgot about the time zones because it was real early! But, I want to wish all my family and everyone back home in Houston, Texas, a merry Christmas."

Photos - Third Day in Shells for Sooners

Senior offensive guard Kelvin Chaisson headed off early calls by making calls of his own this morning. "I gave them all a call," explained Chaisson. "We normally go to a movie on Christmas Day so I'll be missing that. But, everything is going fine out here."

After position meetings in the various hotel meeting rooms, the team boarded a trio of buses for the familiar trek to San Diego State. Practicing in shells for the third consecutive day, OU worked for two hours before finishing with some light conditioning.

Former offensive coordinator Chuck Long was at practice attired in a San Diego State t-shirt and watched as new quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel tossed passes to the OU receivers.

Bowl Practice No. 3 Video Highlights
  Coach Stoops on Christmas Day Practice
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  Players, Coaches & Staff Have Christmas Dinner

Get in the O-Zone | More Information & Sample Videos

OU athletics department administration organized a team dinner in the hotel ballroom for Sunday evening. The players, coaches and staff enjoyed a buffet dinner complete with Christmas decorations and live entertainment.

Santa Claus dropped in for a visit and had the backbone to handle Duke Robinson, Davin Joseph, J.D. Runnels and Rhett Bomar sit on his lap and share their Christmas wish lists.

The players then received their bowl gifts and retired for the evening.

The local San Diego Union-Tribune ran an article on the return of Sooner running back Adrian Peterson today in its sports section:
Sooners' Peterson Back in Heisman Candidate Form.

Sports Illustrated recently posted a feature on the 12 greatest dynasties in college football history. Oklahoma made the list three times -- and took the No. 1 spot: 12 Greatest College Football Dynasties

Continuing the mentions, ESPN.com ran a series with analysts offering opinions on the bowl season. The Sooners checked in on comments about the team most likely to be motivated.

Also, congratulations to the Kansas Jayhwaks and head coach Mark Mangino for their win against Houston in the Ft. Worth Bowl to give the Big 12 an early 1-0 mark in bowl games.

The Sooners depart at 9:30 a.m. on Monday for practice and are scheduled to visit the famous San Diego Zoo in the afternoon. The weather is a bit unpredictable out here. Yesterday, it was too warm for long sleeves. Today, the sun was out again but the breeze was chilly.

At least the weather felt a little more like Christmas. Palm trees wrapped in lights and 24 hours of The Christmas Story on the hotel TVs also helped to spread the cheer. Boomer Sooner and Merry Christmas to everyone back home!

- Jason

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SoonerSports.com director Jason Matheson will post daily reports from San Diego as the team prepares for the 2005 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl. Follow the Sooners with exclusive reports, interviews, photo galleries, audio and video features here at SoonerSports.com

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Sooners Celebrate Christmas in California

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