Archives: May 2009

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Friday, May 29

Tim Griffin of ESPN: "The Sooners go two-deep in talent in the defensive line and linebackers. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy anchors the defensive front and is an Outland Trophy candidate. Adrian Taylor and Cordero Moore also are capable players. The Sooners have the best collection of defensive ends in college..."

Oklahoma's Defense Loaded Up Front - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Where Does Stoops Rank Nationally? - Tulsa World

Sooner Star McNabb Dies at 85 - The Oklahoman

Former Sooner Norman McNabb Passes - Tulsa World

Critical Schedule Points for Big 12 Teams - ESPN

Secrecy for Coaches With Agendas - The Oklahoman

Top 10 Returning Running Backs - Sporting News

Thursday, May 28

From Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World: "It's a safe bet that Oklahoma coordinators Brent Venables and Kevin Wilson will once again find their names in the mix for head coaching positions next December, when the regular season winds down and pink slips start flying. Both assistants are more than ready for their first go at running their own program, and Bob Stoops is fortunate both have stuck around..."

Is Coach Norvell Next in Line? - Tulsa World

OU Football Headlines

Bradford No. 4 in TD Responsibility - ESPN

Coaches Decide to be Anonymous - Tulsa World

Coaches to Keep Final Poll a Secret - The Oklahoman

Poll Decision Latest Act of Foolishness - Tulsa World

Heavy Price for Ballot Secrecy - ESPN

Oklahoma Stays Popular - Omaha World-Herald

Knights of Columbus to Honor Switzer - Tulsa World

Milestone's Gauge Program's Success - Rivals

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Wednesday, May 27

Bill Haisten of the Tulsa World recently interviewed former Sooner All-American tight end Keith Jackson: "When OU fans reminisce about your college career, is your 88-yard touchdown run against Nebraska in 1985 most frequently recounted? That game ended up being a blowout, but the fans love that run. It was such an unusual play (a tight end reverse). I made plays that were probably more important, but people remember the 88-yard run..."

Q&A With Former Sooner Keith Jackson - Tulsa World

OU Football Headlines

Analyzing Big 12's Cross-Divison Schedules - ESPN

O-Line Remains Sore Spot for Stoops - Tulsa World

Coaches' Poll Votes No Longer Public - USA Today

Keith Jackson Reaches Out to Youths - Tulsa World

How Big 12 Teams Rank in Revenue Sharing - ESPN

Two unique Sooner football items are about to go to the highest bidder on the online auction at SoonerSports.com: a Switzer Center mural poster signed by Coach Switzer himself and an authentic OU helmet signed by former players who participated in the Legends' game prior to this year's spring game including Lydell Carr, Stephen Alexander, Tony Casillas, Charles Thompson and Tim Lashar.

Auction: Switzer Poster & Legends' Autographed Helmet

Tuesday, May 26

Jake Trotter of the Oklahoman: "With Ryan Reynolds and Austin Box still on the mend, Balogun started the spring game at middle linebacker; Bryant replaced a hobbled Keenan Clayton on the outside. Both Balogun and Bryant, whose athleticism has never been questioned, flew all over the field, each recording a game-high six tackles. Bryant also displayed his playmaking abilities by picking up a fumble and returning it for a touchdown..."

Duo Continue Oklahoma Tradition - The Oklahoman

OU Football Headlines

Peterson's Parents Trying to Make Difference - Tulsa World

Big 12 Football: Opening Week - The Oklahoman

Four Programs on the Rise... and Decline - Sporting News

OU No. 2 in This Preseason Top 10 - Sports New York

Monday, May 25

Have a happy and safe Memorial Day. This holiday is an opportunity to remember those who have served and sacrificed to protect our freedom. Today is the perfect opportunity to acquaint yourself with Sooner Bob Kalsu who was the focus of a feature in the July 23, 2001, edition of Sports Illustrated: "As a college senior, in the fall of 1967, the 6'3", 220-pound Kalsu had been an All-America tackle for Oklahoma, a team of over-achievers that went 10-1, beating Tennessee in the Orange Bowl..."

Bob Kalsu: A Name on the Wall - Sports Illustrated

OU Football Headlines

Bruce Feldman: OU-Texas is No. 1 Game - ESPN

OU Consistently Top Program - Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Robinson Making a Difference After All - SoonerScoop

Sunday, May 24

From Tim Griffin of ESPN: "After losing starters Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes, safety was the only position without returning starters for the Sooners on defense. Quinton Carter nailed down one starting position and Sam Proctor and Joseph Ibiloye are poised to fight for the other job beside him. Emmanuel Jones and Desmond Jackson also had strong spring efforts to challenge for playing time."

Big 12 Positions That Received Most Help - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Murray Factor Widely Overlooked - Tulsa World

Big 12 Conference to Distribute $130 Million - ESPN

Caleb, Tennell Primed for Breakouts - The Oklahoman

Disgusted K-State Donors: No More - Associated Press

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Dallas Cowboys Reveal HD Board - Dallas Morning News

Thursday, May 21

Ivan Maisel of ESPN: "OU's defense is very good. It should be in that conversation with Va Tech, Florida, Alabama and TCU. But the Sooners have one experienced offensive lineman. I don't see them contending for a national championship for that reason..."

Chat Wrap on OU, College Football - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Big 12 ADs Pass on Tiebreaker - Austin American-Statesman

How Early? Preseason Polls - College Football News

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Secret Deal Puts K-State on Hook - Sports Illustrated

Texans Release Free Agent Walker - The Oklahoma

Aggies Thwart Texas, Again - Austin American-Statesman

Wednesday, May 20

ESPN's Tim Griffin on OU linebacker Travis Lewis: "If he improves and remains for three seasons, it's not out of the question that Lewis could develop into one of the best linebackers in Oklahoma history. He already had one of the best freshman seasons."

How Good is OU Linebacker Travis Lewis? - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

OU-Texas Likely an 11 a.m. Kickoff - Tulsa World

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Money-Saving Idea on Right Track - Tulsa World

Big 12 Football Spring Analysis - Sporting News

Tuesday, May 19

"Unlike the Longhorns, though, Oklahoma is probably in position to sustain a respectable loss in the first half of the season -- just like last year -- because the Sooners should have the non-conference pelts on the wall to salvage another strong strength of schedule..."

Bradford is Oklahoma's Meal Ticket - Yahoo Sports

OU Football Headlines

Five Early Questions for Big 12 Teams - ESPN

Tom Wort a Big 12 Name to Remember - ESPN

OU No. 3 in Sports News Poll - Kansas City Star

Frank Alexander Should Emerge This Season - ESPN

Big 12 Team-by-Team Analysis - Sporting News

Workout Warriors: Coaches Edition - ESPN

OU No. 6 in This Preseason Poll - Detroit News

Big 12 Teams Facing Summer Work - ESPN

Monday, May 18

Dave Sittler of the Tulsa World: "Even a coach decked out in crimson and cream can sometimes talk until he is blue in the face without getting through to his players. That's why Bob Stoops recruited a former Sooner this spring to address a subject Stoops has stressed repeatedly in the decade he has been in charge of Oklahoma's football program. The player: Dan Cody. The topic: graduating..."

Messages and Degrees Are Received - Tulsa World

OU Football Headlines

OU No. 3 in This Preseason Ranking - ESPN

WR Ryan Broyles Moving Into Spotlight - Rivals

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Who Will Catch the Ball at Oklahoma? - Newsday

Chat Wrap With Mark Schlabach - ESPN

The Ultimate Big 12 Football Road Trip - ESPN

Friday, May 15

OU football SID Kenny Mossman writes about Jammal Brown and his determination for a degree: "When Jammal Brown completed his football eligibility in 2004, he left the Oklahoma campus as the Outland Trophy winner, an All-American, a first-round draft pick ... and 15 credit hours shy of a promise...."

Brown Fulfills Promise to Mom - SoonerSports.com

OU Football Headlines

What We Learned in the Big 12 This Spring - ESPN

OU Football Schedule Full of Landmines - The Oklahoman

OU vs. BYU: Early Advantage, Sooners - Tulsa World

Bradford to Gresham, Draft First Round, etc. - Rivals

Big 12 Football Chat Wrapup with Tim Griffin - ESPN

Previewing Opponents: Tulsa - College Football News

Thursday, May 14

Interesting story on OU's scheduling and willingness to take on quality non-conference opponents from Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports: "...after the bowl games, Oklahoma's opposition had the highest collective winning percentage of any set of opponents in the country. The Sooners (in 2009) reach down to the mid-majors for a couple games that could be good to them..."

Oklahoma Should Love Its Opponents - Yahoo Sports

OU Football Headlines

Mossman Dealt Hand of Candidates - Tulsa World

What We Learned About BYU - ESPN

Special Olympics Special for Switzer - Tulsa World

Sooners Sport Three Reps at Top of Position - Rivals

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Wednesday, May 13

Olin Buchanon of Rivals: "Offensive lines are like electricity: They're largely taken for granted and not fully appreciated until they're not working well. Running backs and quarterbacks may be described as electrifying, but it's the line that empowers them. Running backs have fast feet; linemen get fast food. Quarterbacks (Heath Shuler, J.C. Watts, Jack Kemp) run for Congress; linemen run out for pizza..."

OU's Season Hinges on Offensive Line - Rivals

OU Football Headlines

Another Three-Way Tie Unlikely - The Oklahoman

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Tuesday, May 12

We've asked Sooner fans in the past to provide us with recommendations on expanding our online football history and tradition section. We appreciate the great response. If you have the opportunity, take a look at the latest information and feel free to email us if you see anything we should add or amend.

OU Football History & Tradition | OU Football Quick Facts

OU Football Headlines

Big 12 Spring Football Review - Omaha World-Herald

Mike Leach Proposes Playoff System - Sporting News

Looking Ahead: Best of the 2010 Draft - USA Today

Look Who's Working for the BCS - Tulsa World

Best Bets for the 2010 NFL Draft - Chicago Tribune

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Monday, May 11

Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World: "I wrote the OU-as-Big 12-dynasty story anyhow, figuring I didn't need a quote to do so. The facts, and numbers, were indisputable, even before the Sooners' 63-21 clotheslining of Missouri. Five months later, ESPN.com Big 12 blogger Tim Griffin has dished out some of those same numbers in an analysis of Big 12 coaching records. One in particular continues to blow the mind. Stoops is the only Big 12 coach to have captured more than one league championship..."

Stoops, Oklahoma a Conference Dynasty? - Tulsa World

OU Football Headlines

BYU Opener in Arlington Anticipated - Deseret News

Best College Football Rivalries - NBC Sports

Sooners Top Big 12 APR Rate - The Oklahoman

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Heupel Hosting Day of Champions Camp - The Oklahoman

Friday, May 8

The OU Athletics Department is also offering fans the opportunity to bid on authentic game-worn Sooner football jerseys. Each jersey has unique imperfections and markings inherent with game-worn items and is accompanied by a notarized certificate of authenticity.

Bid Now on Game-Worn OU Football Jerseys

OU Football Headlines

Oklahoma Tops Big 12 APR Numbers - ESPN

Dennis Dodd's Post-Spring Top 25 - CBS Sports

Olin Buchanon Mailbag - Rivals

OU-Idaho State Already a Joke - Tulsa World

Who Has Greatest Shot at National Title? - The OU Daily

Thursday, May 7

Big 12 coaches have rejected a proposal to change the controversial tiebreaker that gave Oklahoma the nod over Texas in the three-way tie in the Big 12 South last season. "The tiebreaker system we had was felt, by the majority of coaches, to be appropriate to what we want to accomplish," Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said.

Big 12 Coaches Vote to Keep Tiebreaker - USA Today

OU Football Headlines

Judging Big 12 Coaches by Conference Record - ESPN

Who Will Texas Fans Blame Now? - Tulsa World

Coaches Support BCS Tiebreaker Rule - The Oklahoman

Coaches Like Tiebreaker - Austin American-Statesman

Games in Cowboys' Stadium Not Cheap - Sporting News

How Many Positions Will Iglesias Learn? - Chicago Bears

Coaches Mull Change in USA Today Poll - NBC Sports

Loadholt Answers Tough Questions - Pioneer Press

Johnson, Rookie Impressions - Dallas Morning News

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Was Duke Robinson a Steal for Panthers? - Shelby Star

Iglesias Eager to Work with Cutler - Chicago Daily Herald

Chicago Coach Sings Praises of Iglesias - ESPN

Wednesday, May 6

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford sits down with Kirk Herbstreit in Norman for a conversation about winning the Heisman, returning to Oklahoma and the future of the Sooner program:

Video: Herbstreit Sits Down with Sam Bradford - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Football Stadium is Waldorf-Astoria - The Oklahoman

OU-Texas Most Important Game - NBC Sports

Nic Harris Already a Success Story - BuffaloBills.com

Big 12 Coaches to Discuss Tiebreaker - CBS Sports

No Review Necessary in Big 12 - The Oklahoman

Big 12 Defenses Better in 2009 - Kansas City Star

BYU Linebacker Ah You to Transfer - Sports Illustrated

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Oklahoma vs. Miami, BYU Intriguing - NBC Sports

What If 2000 Season Had a Playoff? - Tulsa World

Tuesday, May 5

Scanning headlines on Tuesday, several current and former Sooners received mentions in national news outlets. Offensive lineman Cory Brandon and receiver Adron Tennell were cited for strong performances during spring football while former Sooner running back Allen Patrick made an impression in a New York Jets minicamp.

OU Football Headlines

Allen Patrick Makes Splash in New York - Tulsa World

Cory Brandon Solidifies Sooner O-Line - ESPN

WR Adron Tennell on All-Spring Team - Rivals

Big 12 Sharing Profits, Losses - Austin American-Statesman

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Post-Spring Football Observations - CBS Sports

OU vs. Ohio State in Rose Bowl? - College Football News

Spring Scoop: Teams Prep for 2009 - USA Today

Monday, May 4

Tim Griffin of ESPN: "After counting down the Big 12's best over the last 39 days, is there any real question who the conference's ultimate player is? Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford's career has been memorable over his first two seasons. He's already become the only player in Big 12 history to lead his team to back-to-back championships. After winning the Heisman Trophy last season, most draft observers thought he would declare for the draft, collect his millions in a pro contract and leave college behind."

Why Sam Bradford is No. 1 in the Big 12 - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Big 12 South Most Exciting Conference Race - Rivals

Is Bradford the Top Player? - Lawrence Journal-World

Hartley: Confidence Key for Kickers - The Oklahoman

Focus on Big 12 Football - Kansas City Star

Braxton Signs Contract with Browns - The Oklahoman

Stoops in Hearts of Florida Writers - Tulsa World

Big 12 Still Loaded After Draft - Waco Tribune-Herald

Post Office in Miami Named for Owens? - The Oklahoman

Friday, May 1

Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 with an active blog for ESPN where he recently ranked OU's quarterbacks under Stoops: "Bradford will obviously have a chance to become the first back-to-back Heisman Trophy winner since Archie Griffin in 1974 and '75. But he'll also be able to become the first player in recent memory to quarterback a team that won three-straight conference championships..."

Ranking OU Quarterbacks Under Stoops - ESPN

We received an email this morning from the Minnesota Vikings. They'll be hosting a live chat with recently-drafted offensive tackle Phil Loadholt on their official site between 4 and 5 p.m. (CT). Drop in, give a Boomer Sooner! to Phil and wish him luck as he trades his crimson and cream for purple and gold:

Live Chat on Vikings.com with Phil Loadholt

For the first time, the Oklahoma Athletics Department is offering fans the opportunity to bid on authentic game-worn Sooner football jerseys. In conjunction with the 2009 NFL Draft, three road white jerseys worn during the 2006 season are now available in the official OU Athletics Online Auction. Each jersey has unique imperfections and markings inherent with game-worn items and is accompanied by a notarized certificate of authenticity.

Game-Worn Football Jerseys from the 2006 Season

OU Football Headlines

Wilkinson's Son Talks About Life, Father - The Oklahoman

Scout Teamer Gove Cherishes Time at OU - Tulsa World

Big 12 Conference News and Notes - ESPN

Mock Drafts Full of Locals - Tulsa World

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