Notes Archive: January 2010

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Friday, January 29

To understand Oklahoma football, one must first understand what it means to Sooner fans. The OU Athletics Department is inviting fans to submit their favorite memories of Sooner football in 100 words or less. The top six fan memories will be immortalized on Oklahoma's football tickets and exclusive poster series for the 2010 season:

Sooner Memories: Six Fans Help Design 2010 Tickets

OU FANS REMEMBER VON SCHAMANN
Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman: "Von Schamann worked with Hartley in the off-season and was pulling for his protégé. "I was really proud of the way he came through," von Schamann said. "I could tell he was real confident. His demeanor, the way he stepped up. It was a sweet kick, like one of those perfect swings..."

OU Fans Still Love Uwe von Schamann - The Oklahoman

OU Football Headlines

OU's Gresham Makes All-2006 Class Team - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Thursday, January 28

From Rivals: "OU now has to replace both starting corners, and that will be a position to watch during spring drills. Senior Jonathan Nelson, who played some at safety this past season, and sophomore Demontre Hurst would seem to be the leading contenders for the starting job. Sophomore Marcus Trice and..."

Replacing Bradford, Franks, Gresham, McCoy - Rivals

OU Football Headlines

Sooners Back to Top 10 in 2010? - Athlon Sports

Chris Brown Sits Out of Senior Bowl Drills - Tulsa World

Big 12 Led in Scoring But Production Was Down - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Wednesday, January 27

John Hoover of the Tulsa World: "College football recruiting is a funny business. There are a few can't-miss prospects like Adrian Peterson or Tim Tebow or Vince Young or Reggie Bush. Then there's everyone else. For instance, at Oklahoma, who knew when Sam Bradford was knocking down birdie putts at Putnam City..."

How the Stars Impacted Oklahoma Football - Tulsa World

OU Football Headlines

Big 12 Offensive Production Dipped in 2009 - ESPN

It's a Big Week for Chris Brown - Tulsa World

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Tuesday, January 26

From Yahoo Sports: "Some guys are content to get a catch or a first down. I'm not satisfied. I want to score. That's the ultimate goal and I believe I can score on any play. I want to be the best receiver in the nation. I've heard talk about my being the best receiver coming back in the Big 12. That motivates me." Broyles..."

Broyles Leads List of Explosive Returnees - Yahoo Sports

OU Football Headlines

Sittler: Stoops Shows Sooner Pride - Tulsa World

NFL Game a Tale of Two Sooners - The OU Daily

Could Big 12 Play Part in Arizona Position? - ESPN

Suh, McCoy Two Most Valuable Available - Michigan Live

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

FOOTBALL AUCTION ITEMS
One day remains on three unique football items in the official OU online auction at SoonerSports.com including a complete set of 2000 OU National Championship commemorative trading cards, an authentic OU helmet signed by 1971 and 1972 All-American Tom Brahaney and a game-used white No. 5 Oklahoma jersey:

Sooner Football Items on Official OU Online Auction

Monday, January 25

During Senior Bowl weigh-in on Monday in Mobile, Ala., Oklahoma running back Chris Brown was measured at 5'10" and 202 pounds with an arm length of 28 inches and hand width of 8 7/8 inches. Initially listed on the Senior Bowl roster, offensive tackle Trent Williams will not participate in the event.

Latest Senior Bowl News - Mobile Press-Register

MOSSMAN: HARTLEY'S SOONER CAREER
It always seemed to me that Garrett Hartley was one of the more underrated Oklahoma players so when he split the uprights with that kick that sent New Orleans to the Super Bowl, I pulled out the old Sooner stat sheets. The numbers verify that indeed the Southlake, Texas, native should be held in higher regard...

Mossman: Hartley's Sooner Career | Archives

HARTLEY BOOTS GAME-WINNER
Guerin Emig of the Tulsa World: "Every kicker/punter I have covered as an Oklahoma beat writer has been friendly, goofy and extremely quotable. Hartley, a laid-back Owen Wilson lookalike at OU from 2004-07, was certainly all of those. He was also very, very good, making 47 of his 58 field goal attempts to become..."

Hartley Upstages Old Teammate Peterson - Tulsa World

OU Football Headlines

Hartley Exorcises Ghost of von Schamann - The Oklahoman

Ending Was Perfect for Hartley - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Griffin: My Big 12 Conference All-Decade Team - ESPN

Maybe This Wasn't Bradford's Year - FOX Sports

Notebook: Williams, Brown, Jackson - The Oklahoman

Griffin: Big Changes for Big 12 in Upcoming Decade - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Friday, January 22

Ivan Maisel of ESPN: "Bob Stoops left Steve Spurrier's staff at Florida, and with his mixture of toughness, discipline and pragmatism, he swept Oklahoma to the Big 12 and the national championship in 2000, only his second season in Norman. The Sooners went on to win five more conference titles and finished..."

Maisel: OU Among Top Three Programs of 2000s - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Top 10 Teams With Biggest Holes to Fill - FOX Sports

Wilson Staying a Big Break for Sooners - Tulsa World

Big 12 Erred on OU-Nebraska Series - Yahoo Sports

Maisel: Stoops Among Top Coaches of Decade - ESPN

McNeill, Not Wilson, to be ECU's Coach - The Oklahoman

Would Mike Stoops Raid Brother's Staff? - Tulsa World

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Thursday, January 21

ESPN's Mel Kiper projected Gerald McCoy as the No. 2 pick to Detroit, Sam Bradford as the No. 4 pick to Washington, Trent Williams as the 13th pick to San Francisco and Jermaine Gresham as the 25th pick to the Baltimore Ravens. Oklahoma has never had four players selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.

Mel Kiper's First Mock Draft for 2010 | Sooner Draft History

STOOPS DECADE'S BEST BIG 12 COACH
Tim Griffin of ESPN: " Stoops and Brown have the same number of victories (110) during the decade. Texas actually has a better winning percentage. But Stoops gets the nod because of his consistent coaching excellence with six Big 12 titles over the decade, a national championship in 2000 and an unprecedented..."

Stoops Tops List of Big 12's Best Coaches - ESPN

OU Football Headlines

Report: ECU Eyeing Kevin Wilson - Tulsa World

Brian Jackson Evaluated at Shrine Game - Sporting News

Griffin Selects Oklahoma's All-Decade Team - ESPN

Wilson, Heupel and the Coaching Circus - Tulsa World

Wilson a Finalist for East Carolina Job - The Oklahoman

Three Sooners in Top Seven of Mock Draft - Sporting News

2000 Oklahoma on List of Decade's Best Teams - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Wednesday, January 20

To understand Oklahoma football, one must first understand what it means to Sooner fans. The OU Athletics Department is inviting fans to submit their favorite memories of Sooner football in 100 words or less. The top six memories will be immortalized on OU's football tickets and exclusive poster series for the 2010 season.

Enter Your Sooner Memories: 100 Words or Less

BRADFORD MOST EFFICIENT
From Yahoo Sports: "Oklahoma's Sam Bradford leaves college as the NCAA's career leader in passing efficiency, at 175.62 points. Former Boise State QB Ryan Dinwiddie (2000-03) had held the record at 168.9 points. Florida's Tim Tebow, at 170.79, also bettered Dinwiddie's mark. Bradford also leaves with the..."

Bradford Leaves as Most Efficient - Yahoo Sports

OU Football Headlines

Sooners Prominent in Big 12 Moments of the Decade - ESPN

Sooners Set Spring Football Practice Dates - Tulsa World

OU Lands Four on Top-10 List of Big 12's Best - ESPN

Never Too Early to Forecast 2010 - FOX Sports

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Tuesday, January 19

Coach Stoops released the tentative spring practice dates for the Sooners. OU will begin drills on March 9 with the Spring Game set for April 17. SoonerSports.com will provide exclusive coverage of every practice of spring football direct from Norman:

March: 9, 11, 22, 24, 26, 27, 30
April: 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 15
Spring Game: April 17

SOONERS WEATHER EARLY DEPARTURES
From Yahoo Sports: "The Sooners are in better position than most teams to weather their big departures on offense, because they played virtually all of 2009 without stars Sam Bradford and Jermaine Gresham, anyway. The problem: Compared to the '08 juggernaut, scoring decreased by 20 points per game last year..."

Assessing the Early Departure Damage - Yahoo Sports

OU Football Headlines

Scratch Jeffcoat But What About Leavitt? - Tulsa World

Suh, McCoy Top Two in Draft Projections - Scout

Jim Jeffcoat Says He's Staying at Houston - The Oklahoman

Big 12 Flourishes During First Full Decade - ESPN

Mixed Bag for OU on Early Departures - Sports Illustrated

Throwing Around Names for DE Coach - The Oklahoman

Dodd: Early Top 25 for 2010 Season - CBS Sports

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Monday, January 18

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson was named to the Pro Football Weekly/Professional Football Writers of America 2009 All-NFL team. Vikings offensive tackle Phil Loadholt earned a spot on the 2009 All-Rookie team. View complete info here.

2010 DEPTH CHART COMING INTO FOCUS
Jake Trotter of the Oklahoman: "No news was good news last week for Oklahoma football. Defensive end Jeremy Beal, slot receiver Ryan Broyles, linebacker Travis Lewis and running back DeMarco Murray decided to return for another season instead of entering the NFL Draft. Now, with their return, combined with..."

2010 Depth Chart Coming Into Focus - The Oklahoman

OU Football Headlines

Stoops Wishes Chris Wilson the Best - Norman Transcript

Finally Some Good News for Oklahoma - USA Today

Bradford Eager to Return to Football - Tulsa World

Winners, Losers in Early Departures - NBC Sports

OU Assistant Wilson Hired Away - Tulsa World

Murray, Beal Have More to Do as Sooners - Tulsa World

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Saturday, January 16

Coach Stoops will begin a search for a new assistant coach after defensive ends coach and special teams coordinator Chris Wilson accepted an offer Saturday to become the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach at Mississippi State University.

Stoops Begins Search for Wilson Replacement

Friday, January 15

Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman: "Bryan never sought the spotlight, and the spotlight never really found him, even though he twice was named all-American at OU. Bryan was nothing about the glitter and all about the grit. When he left pro football, Bryan returned to his hometown of Coweta and ran a 1,000-acre cattle farm. Hard..."

Bryan in Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame - The Oklahoman

OU Football Headlines

Brown, Jackson in East-West Shrine Game - ESPN

Sooners Help Sun Bowl Up TV Ratings 50% - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Thursday, January 14

Herbstreit: Oklahoma Back in Top 5 in 2010 - ESPN

Bradford: "No Doubt I Made Right Decision" - Tulsa World

Griffin: Final 2009 Power Rankings for Big 12 Teams - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Wednesday, January 13

A few quick notes on OU football in college football history now that the 2009 season is complete for the Sooners:

• Oklahoma now has the best winning percentage (.74703) in major college football over the past 75 years (1935-2009). Ohio State is second (.74497).

• OU's next win makes Oklahoma the eighth program in major college football history to reach 800 wins all-time. OU's current record is 799-302-53.

• No school in the history of college football has produced more unanimous All-Americans (31). No school has more consensus All-Americans (72) in the modern era (since 1945).

• OU has placed at least one all-conference player on the first team every year since 1926 (84 seasons). In fact, OU has only had one season when playing in a conference without first-team honors (1925). That's 94 of 95 seasons.

• Oklahoma remains the program with the most 10-win seasons at 31. Alabama now has 30 all-time. OU also has the most seasons (19) with 11 or more wins.

• OU has scored more points (30,987) than any program in major college football history. Michigan is second (29,940) despite playing 61 more games than the Sooners.

• Oklahoma remains the only program to have four head coaches (Owens, Wilkinson, Switzer and Stoops) with more than 100 wins. USC has three and Pete Carroll almost made four, but he leaves the Trojans with a 97-19 record.

• Only four schools have more bowl wins than the Sooners (25). They are Alabama (32), USC (32), Penn State (27) and Georgia (26).

OU Football Headlines

Could Big 12 Change Direction? - Fort Worth Star-Telegram

McFarland, Lewis to Live Up to Hype? - Sports Illustrated

"The Future's Bright" for Sooners in 2010 - ESPN

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog

Tuesday, January 12

The Sporting News released a list of players invited to the NFL Combine: "Seniors invited to participate in the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine, Feb. 24-March 2 at Indianapolis (underclassmen and some seniors will be added later):"

Five Sooners Invited to NFL Combine - Sporting News

OU Football Headlines

Brown, Williams to Play in Senior Bowl - Tulsa World

Williams, Brown Senior Bowl Bound - Norman Transcript

Sooners Finish Tough Season on High Note - Rivals

Dr. Saturday College Football Blog - Yahoo Sports

Tim Griffin's Big 12 Conference Blog - ESPN

Monday, January 11

A pair of Sooner seniors will be representing the University of Oklahoma later this month in the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl. Offensive tackle Trent Williams and running back Chris Brown have both accepted invitations to the 2010 game...

Williams, Brown Make 97 Sooners in Senior Bowl

JONES-GILBERT ERA EARLY
Jake Trotter of the Oklahoman: "After taking over for Bradford in the opener, and then again in the Texas game, Jones was solid at times, and shaky at others. But he closed with his best performance of the season, throwing for 418 yards and three touchdowns to lead OU over Stanford in the Sun Bowl. Gilbert..."

Latest Boomer Bytes

Friday, January 8

Three new items are now up for bid in OU's official online auction. Get your hands on a rare 2000 National Champions commemorative trading card set, an authentic OU helmet signed by Sooner legend Tom Brahaney, or an authentic No. 5 Oklahoma game jersey.

Bid Today in the OU Athletics Online Auction

WAY A FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICAN
Oklahoma punter Tress Way has been named a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America. Way punted 61 times for an average of 45.7 yards, which ranked No. 1 in the Big 12 Conference and No. 3 nationally.

Tress Way Named Freshman All-American

Thursday, January 7

A quick look at some of the individual and team statistics that jump out from the 2009 Oklahoma football season:

• Ryan Broyles became the first receiver in the 72 years that Oklahoma has tracked football statistics to lead the Sooners in scoring. The sophomore wide receiver, on the strength of 17 touchdowns, scored 102 points, 30 more than the 72 posted by running back DeMarco Murray.

• Oklahoma played the nation's second-most difficult schedule. Sooner opponents are 82-51 heading into tonight's national championship game.

• OU finished the season at 8-5 against a schedule that included six teams that were ranked at the time of the game and two others, Nebraska and Texas Tech, that may be ranked in the final poll. Over the last two seasons, the Sooners played 13 of their 27 games against teams that were ranked at the time of the game. The 2010 non-conference slate features Utah State, Air Force, Florida State and at Cincinnati.

• Landry Jones broke Sam Bradford's Oklahoma record for passing yards by a freshman. With 418 yards in the Sun Bowl, Jones moved to 3,198 to eclipse Bradford's total of 3,121. Jones also led the nation's freshmen in touchdown passes (26) and passing yards this season.

• Oklahoma's defense played eight of the top 50 teams in both scoring and total offense, yet ranked No. 7 nationally in scoring defense and No. 8 in total defense.

• Over its last two games, both wins over ranked opponents, Oklahoma's defense held its opponents to a combined 1-of-26 on third down.

• Freshman punter Tress Way ranked No. 3 nationally in punting average at 45.7 yards. That's the second-highest averaging in school history, the best among punters with at least 35 attempts. OU opponents had just 30 net yards on 17 punt returns.

Wednesday, January 6

Wednesday's headlines center around Dom Franks' decision to enter the NFL Draft. "The Sooner defense in 2009 was superb for two reasons: dominant defensive line and shutdown cornerbacks. The D-line still will be good in 2010, but G.K. McCoy's absence will make it less dominant. But now both corners will be gone.

Latest Boomer Bytes

Tuesday, January 5

Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks has notified Sooner coaches that he plans to forgo his senior season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft. OU Head Coach Bob Stoops made the announcement today.

Dominique Franks Opts for NFL Draft

Friday, January 1

Berry Tramel of the Oklahoman: "Landry Jones' and Ryan Broyles' pitch-and-catch chemistry set records. Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart was so beaten up, his biceps were redder than his Cardinal jersey. A batch of guys who you never thought would play in a pivotal game -- David King and Jaz Reynolds and Eric Mensik..."

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