Archives: March 2009

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Tuesday, March 31

We'll be back on the practice field with the Sooners this afternoon as OU holds its ninth session of spring ball. We've interviewed 26 players so far (watch the video links posted to the right) and we've updated all player and coaching staff bios for 2009. Check them out:

OU Coaching Staff Bios | OU Player Bios & Video Links

Tom Dienhart of Rivals provides his ranking of Big 12 coaches and it's no surprise that Stoops is at the top of the list. Dienhart rates OU as the top program in the Big 12 and perhaps the best in the land:

Dienhart: Stoops, Oklahoma Enjoy Consistent Success

A reminder that advance tickets are now on sale for OU's annual spring game slated for Saturday, April 11 (kickoff set for 1:15 p.m.) Purchase before April 7 and get your tickets at a 50% discount:

April 11th Spring Game Ticket Information

Monday, March 30

Oklahoma is scheduled to return to the practice field on Tuesday as the Sooners roll through spring ball in Norman. Go inside practice with exclusive highlights, features and player interviews at 2009 Spring Football Central only at SoonerSports.com.

OU Football Video Library

NFL on Hold: Fun Times for Gerald McCoy - The Oklahoman

Six Names That Could Blossom - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Life's Journey Testing Travis Wilson - Tulsa World

Friday, March 27

We've updated all individual bios for the Sooner football players with the latest information and added video links. Now, when we do a feature on a player, direct links will appear at the top of the player's bio page. Just another way for Sooner fans to learn more about the 2009 team as we continue to roll through spring practice.

2009 Player Bios & Video Links | 2009 Spring Football Central

We also released the 2009 Sooner NFL Draft Central this afternoon to compile the latest news and information on Sooner prospects leading up to the Draft on April 25-26 in New York City.

2009 Sooner NFL Draft Central | OU All-Time Draft History

Sam Bradford is featured in the latest article by Tim Griffin of ESPN: "I think the people outside the program are making more of a deal out of it than it really is," Bradford said about the transformation this spring. "And I like that people are doing that. It's great. The more people that sleep on us, the better." Despite a disappointing loss to Florida in the BCS title game, Bradford said the team has come back with a different attitude than in previous seasons.

Tuesday, March 24

The OU Athletics Department released highlight DVDs of the 2008 football season plus each of the 12 regular-season games in the official multimedia store. Want to re-live the dramatic home wins against Nebraska and Texas Tech or the road victories at K-State and the Bedlam Game in Stillwater? Now's your chance:

2008 Season DVD | Game DVDs | Big 12 Championship DVD

OU also announced a kickoff time of 1:15 p.m. for the 2009 Spring Game on Saturday, April 11. Purchase your tickets online, by phone or at the ticket office early and enjoy a 50% discount:

April 11th Spring Game Ticket Information

Thursday, March 18

• While the eyes of the nation turn their attention to the NCAA Tournament this weekend, Tulsa World columnist Dave Sittler offered a fine compliment linking the coaches of Oklahoma's two highest-profile sports: "Capel's track record says he's the best thing that's happened to OU since Bob Stoops."

• Mike Huguenin of Rivals.com also ties football into the NCAA Tournament by provides a number of facts and figures regarding schools that have had success in both sports: "This is the fifth time this decade that the national football champion has not made the next NCAA tournament. The teams that did both: Oklahoma in the '01 tournament, Miami in '02, Texas in '06 and Florida in '07."

• Andy Staples of SI.com gives his take on what to watch for in the Big 12 during spring ball: "In 2008, the Big 12 gave us exactly what we've come to expect from the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision: three months of thrills followed by a wholly unsatisfying finish."

Monday, March 16

The Sooners have the week off for spring break and will return to the practice field on Wednesday, March 25. In the meantime, you can review complete exclusive coverage from OU's first five practices:

2009 OU Spring Football Central: Highlights, Interviews & Photos

A reminder that advance tickets are on sale for Oklahoma's annual spring game slated for Saturday, April 11 (kickoff a tentative 1 p.m.) Purchase early and get your tickets at a 50% discount:

April 11th Spring Game Ticket Information

• From the Oklahoman: "On paper, OU returns nine starters defensively. But according to secondary coach Bobby Jack Wright, that number is actually 10. "We've got a lot of veterans back, and if you count Quinton Carter as a starter, then we've got 10 starters back, and I do."

• Jake Trotter from the Oklahoman: "Carries will be hard to come by in the Oklahoma backfield next season for anyone besides DeMarco Murray, Chris Brown and Mossis Madu. But freshman running back Jermie Calhoun might make it hard for coaches not to get him on the field with the plays he's made so far this spring."

Friday, March 13

In the final action before spring break, the Oklahoma football team escaped from the cold temps in Norman with a scrimmage inside the Everest Training Facility on Thursday afternoon. The Sooners aren't slated to return to the field again until Wednesday, March 25.

We talked with several key players following practice including senior linebacker Mike Balogun, junior safety Quinton Carter, junior running back Mossis Madu and, for the first time, with junior offensive lineman Jarvis Jones. Jones sat out last season after he transferred from LSU but the big man has featured prominently at right tackle during the first two weeks of spring ball:

2009 OU Spring Football Central: Highlights, Interviews & Photos

• Tim Griffin of ESPN: "Considering all of the key receivers that left Oklahoma's team after last season, it's understandable why some aren't sold on the Sooners' returning talent at the position. Leading returning receiver Ryan Broyles doesn't mind that at all. In fact, Broyles actually likes that many are considering..."

• Tim Griffin of ESPN: "That has meant heavy use of redshirt freshman Jermie Calhoun and Justin Johnson in the Sooners' early spring work. Calhoun, a bullish 210-pounder from Van, Texas, is hoping to emerge after his redshirt season. He was ranked as the No. 1 running back nationally..."

Tuesday, March 10

• Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated: "In Norman, where the returns of quarterback and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, tight end Jermaine Gresham and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy guarantee stability, the priorities are finding new starters along the offensive line, at receiver and safety..."

• From ESPN: "The study shows that markets such as Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Austin, where college sports have been predominant for many years, carry that appeal when conference rivals are playing for national championships. One other number might make the marketers for Oklahoma..."

The Sooners return to the practice field on Tuesday, March 10, for session No. 4. Stay tuned to SoonerSports.com as we continue exclusive coverage of spring ball 2009 direct from Norman.

OU Spring Football Central | OU Launches New Online Store

Monday, March 9

Stay tuned to SoonerSports.com as we continue exclusive coverage of spring ball 2009 direct from Norman. The Sooners return to the practice field on Tuesday, March 10, for session No. 4.

OU Spring Football Central | OU Launches New Online Store

Advance tickets are on sale now for Oklahoma's annual spring game slated for Saturday, April 11 (kickoff a tentative 1 p.m.) Purchase early and get your tickets at a 50% discount:

April 11th Spring Game Ticket Information

Finally, be sure to check out John Helsley's feature on Coach Stoops from the winter edition of the OU Foundation's Sooner Magazine. It details a service Coach Stoops performs without seeking publicity but we can't help but share with the Sooner faithful:

OU Foundation's Sooner Magazine: The Other Bob Stoops

Friday, March 6

• From College Football News: "The offensive line will get the bulk of the attention, and rightly so, but the receiving corps also loses some top-flight talents. The OU passing game is a machine, and there can't be a part that doesn't know what it's doing. That'll be a problem with so much youth taking over..."

• From the OU Athletics Department: "Tickets for the University of Oklahoma's Red/White Spring Football Game go on sale Friday, March 6, at 8 a.m. The game is set for Saturday, April 11, with a tentative kickoff time of 1 p.m. Tickets are available for $5 each through the end of the day on Tuesday, April 7..."

Thursday, March 5

• From NBC Sports: "Here's where spring practice comes in, as the Sooners and Longhorns feverishly prepare their units to go head-to-head in Dallas on Oct. 17. Each team has five games to play before the Red River Rivalry, but make no mistake, they are already sizing each other up. Oklahoma's situation..."

• From the Oklahoman: ""It's one thing to recruit a kid like Sam, but it's another to develop him," Long said. "You have to give credit to Josh Heupel. He coached him up and developed him within Kevin Wilson's system. That, of course, being under Bob Stoops' winning umbrella." But from afar..."

• From CFFI: "And only at Oklahoma can it take this long to mention backs as talented as Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray. Each is incredibly explosive, and even with the Bob Stoops running back job share program firmly in place, both should emerge as top national backs. Bob Stoops has..."

• John Hoover of the Tulsa World: "Oklahoma's Trent Williams and Gerald McCoy are among 48 players named to the preliminary watch list for the 2009 Rotary Lombardi Award. McCoy, an Oklahoma City native who made All-Big 12 at defensive tackle last season, will be a junior in 2009. Williams..."

Wednesday, March 4

The footballs were flying again in Norman yesterday as the Sooners began spring practice at the Everest Indoor Training Facility.

2009 OU Spring Football Central | 2009 Spring Roster (PDF)

• John Shinn of the Norman Transcript: "The message has been received. What changes remains a work in progress. Williams is the one the Sooners will try to rebuild around as he makes the switch to left tackle for next season. He's started at right tackle the previous two years. Simmons is next..."

• Jake Trotter of the Oklahoman: "Rising senior guard Brian Simmons, one of only two returning linemen with significant playing experience, called the criticism fair after the Sooners' first spring practice Tuesday. "I do understand completely what he is saying," Simmons said..."

• John Hoover of the Tulsa World: ""A lot of the young receivers have made good improvement," Stoops said. "I think overall, that group being a big question mark coming into the winter was really pleasing to see how, I mean, they've really had a good winter. So that tells you their maturity..."

• Jon Greco of the OU Daily: "It's that time of year when Sooner fans' nostrils flare up in anticipation as the scent of the first day of spring football fills the air. Head coach Bob Stoops held a pre-spring practice press conference Tuesday and said the players and staff are looking forward to..."

• Charles Ward of the Oklahoma City Examiner: "Bob Stoops delivered the first big hit of the spring football practice season before his Oklahoma Sooners even hit the turf at the Everett Indoor Training Facility Tuesday, as the head coach laid into his offensive linemen for a less-than-stellar winter conditioning regimen."

• From the AP: "Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard of Michigan and Oklahoma linebacker Brian Bosworth are among 13 players eligible for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame for the first time. The National Football Foundation announced Tuesday the 76 players and six coaches..."

• John Hoover of the Tulsa World: "Stoops' "weak link" assessment, Patton suggested, should serve as its own motivation. "You've got a bunch of great players around us," Patton said. "You've got a Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback. You've got two or three great tailbacks. You've got great tight ends..."

Tuesday, March 3

The OU Athletics Department released an official updated 2009 spring football roster in a one-page PDF suitable for printing.

2009 Oklahoma Spring Football Roster (PDF)

Head Coach Bob Stoops met with the media at a press conference at noon on Tuesday to kick off spring practice. View complete quotes and a video archive of the press conference here:

Coach Stoops Press Conference Quotes | Watch Video

We'll bring you plenty of coverage including daily updates, video features and photo galleries. Be sure to check out the latest football items in the online auction including a full-size helmet signed by all three Selmon brothers, a "47" jersey (for the win streak) signed by Jerry Tubbs and a print signed by Coach Barry Switzer.

2009 OU Spring Football Central | Football Auction Items

Oklahoma lawmakers lauded head coach Bob Stoops and representatives of the OU football team with brief ceremonies at the state capitol Monday afternoon in Oklahoma City. View video here:

Stoops, Bradford, Sooners Honored at State Capitol

• From Rivals: "OU always has national championship aspirations. Some seasons, they are more realistic than others. The 2009 hopes are realistic. Any team featuring four likely first-round picks has to be taken seriously, and OU has at least that many. Though Oklahoma lost to Florida in last year's..."

• John Hoover of the Tulsa World: "One of the first things Kevin Wilson said when he was promoted to offensive coordinator four years ago was something to the effect of, "You're only as good as what your line can block." For Oklahoma football fans all jazzed up over the start of spring practice..."

• Julie Bisbee of the Oklahoman: "By his own account, not much intimidates University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops. But standing before the full state Senate on Monday was a little daunting, he said. It was a good thing the Senate gallery was full of fans and senators who couldn't wait to..."

• Jimmy Burch of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "By winning last year's Heisman Trophy and bypassing an opportunity to enter April's NFL Draft, Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford looms as the face of the Sooners' football program for the 2009 season. That's especially true on offense..."

• Dave Curtis of the Sporting News: "If tackle Trent Williams doesn't leap on the winter's back-to-school bandwagon and shun a potential top 50 spot in the draft, the Sooners would need five new starters up front. Williams and veteran backup Brian Simmons, last year's No. 6 offensive lineman..."

Monday, March 2

Spring football kicks off on Tuesday for Oklahoma and we'll get you in the huddle. Watch for complete coverage including daily updates, video features and interviews plus photo galleries direct from Norman as the Sooners strap on the pads for spring ball 2009.

2009 Oklahoma Spring Football Central

Be sure to check out the latest football items in the online auction at SoonerSports.com including a full-size, authentic OU helmet signed by all three Selmon brothers, a "47" jersey (for the win streak) signed by Jerry Tubbs and a print signed by Coach Switzer.

Selmon Brothers, Jerry Tubbs and Barry Switzer Auction Items

• Charles Ward of the Oklahoma City Examiner: "As the other spring sport, spring football, begins in Norman on Tuesday, Oklahoma will primarily be looking for the men that will reload three positions: Offensive line, wide receiver and both safety slots. Offensive line: Four of Oklahoma's starters..."

• Dennis Dodd of CBS: "Six-foot-seven LSU transfer Jarvis Jones should slide into the right tackle spot. Jones played on the 2007 LSU national championship team but was dismissed for a violation of team rules. Trent Williams, considered by the staff to be the best overall offensive lineman last year..."

• From Rivals: "Last season, Oklahoma averaged 4.8 yards per rush to rank 20th in the country. Even more impressive, the Sooners ranked third in sacks allowed and the teams ahead of them - Air Force and Navy - attempted less than half as many passes as the Sooners did..."

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