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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Final Practice for Seniors, Sooners
December 30, 2006 | Football
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- No. 7 Oklahoma completed its fifth and final practice of bowl week Saturday afternoon at Scottsdale's Pinnacle High School in preparation for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
The BCS matchup between OU and Boise State kicks off on New Year's Day at 7:30 p.m. Central. FOX has the national telecast.
The Sooners could be forgiven for doubting the validity of the "Valley of the Sun" earlier in the week but clear skies and warmer temperatures greeted the team on Saturday.
It was a bittersweet final practice for Oklahoma's nine seniors. C.J. Ah You, Rufus Alexander, Larry Birdine, Jason Carter, John Dailey, Zach Latimer, Chris Messner, Calvin Thibodeaux and Paul Thompson displayed their best dance moves one last time during OU's pre-practice stretch.
Junior Carl Pendleton, who decided to skip his senior season to focus on graduate school, joined the seniors in one final shimmy.
The group represents the smallest senior class in head coach Bob Stoops' eights seasons in Norman.
"Our seniors have been outstanding leaders on this team," Stoops said. "They're great players, but most importantly great young men who will be missed tremendously.
"They have all been great role models and will continue to be successful as they move on to the next phase of their lives."
The team will conduct a walkthrough at Pinnacle High School on Sunday.
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FRONT AND CENTER
The Fiesta Bowl media staff placed four players flanking head coach Bob Stoops on the field during Saturday's session. Senior Paul Thompson, senior defensive end C.J. Ah You, senior linebacker Rufus Alexander and junior Adrian Peterson sat on risers in front of backdrops personalized with their names and positions.
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Joe Jon Finley, Jon Cooper, Zach Latimer, Juaquin Iglesias, Chris Messner, Lendy Holmes, Allen Patrick, Marcus Walker, Carl Pendleton and Calvin Thibodeaux were selected to sit in designated areas of the stands for media access.
For quotes, video and photos of media day, please click here.
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COLORS CLASHING
An influx of OU and Boise State fans was noticable on Saturday. After going much of the week with few sightings, crimson-clad members of the Sooner nation were spotted with Boise State fans in bright blue at the In-N-Out Burger near Oklahoma's practice facility.
The two schools are nearly equidistant to the stadium. According to MapQuest.com, Norman is 1,021 miles to the east while Boise is 1,034 miles to the north.
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OU BOWLING
Oklahoma is playing in its 40th bowl game which ranks seventh nationally. With 24 bowl victories, the Sooners rank No. 3 nationally. OU's overall bowl record is 24-14-1.
Oklahoma is playing in its eighth consecutive bowl game which ties the school record set from 1975-82. This is OU's third trip to the Fiesta Bowl, one of 12 different bowl games in which the Sooners have participated. It's the seventh different bowl game for OU in Stoops' eight seasons.
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DAILY COVERAGE
OU Athletics Internet Services Director, Jason Matheson, will post daily reports, video, photo galleries and features from location in Arizona.
Associate A.D. for Communications Kenny Mossman and Assistant Media Relations Director Jared Thompson will also provide coverage of the Sooners during bowl week. SoonerVision director Dan Cavanaugh will post additional video features.
Follow the Sooners all week leading up to the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at SoonerSports.com -- information direct from the source: Daily Coverage.
Friday, July 10
Wednesday, July 08
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Monday, June 22
