Coach Stoops Quotes on 2010 NFL Draft

Head Coach Bob Stoops

General Quotes on First Round
"I am so happy for these guys mostly because of the way they represent themselves. They are a credit to our university and our football program. I could not be more pleased for them. This accomplishment is the result of hard work and dedication that these guys have put forth since they day they arrived on our campus. They have earned their way to this level.

"I also want to recognize our coaching staff, both the position coaches and the strength and conditioning staff. They have done an incredible job of developing our players and positioning them to have this kind of success on draft day. When you combine players and coaches who are dedicated toward the common goal of getting better every day, players realize their lifelong dreams.

"This was historic night, a statement for our program. Everyone associated with our program should be proud of what was accomplished in this draft. I am just overwhelmed and feel privileged to have had the opportunity to get to know these guys and coach them. To think that four guys who came in as members of the same recruiting class went in the first 21 picks is amazing.

"I also want to salute these guys for staying in school. I don't know how you could look at this draft and think that these players did anything but improve themselves by staying for another year. And each of them also has a degree or is very close to having one. We tell them to `have their cake and eat it too,' and these four guys did that very thing. They had a fulfilling college career, athletically and academically, and now have an opportunity to play in the NFL."

On Sam Bradford
"Sam is special. He is blessed with all of the attributes you like in a quarterback. He's athletic, smart and mature. We throw words like those around pretty easily, but he possesses all of those qualities at an extremely high level. There is great comfort for a team and coaching staff with someone like that directing the offense. Leadership manifests itself in a number of ways, but first and foremost, a leader must have the respect of the team for the way he prepares, plays and conducts himself. Sam earned that kind of respect very early in his career here. From a playing perspective, I always appreciated his pinpoint accuracy. It was uncanny, and part of the reason he was so accurate was that he understood how to read defenses and find the best throw."

On Gerald McCoy
"Gerald was one of the most complete student-athletes I have ever coached. Obviously, he made tremendous contributions to our program on the field, but he was just as valuable to our campus and community. From a football perspective, Gerald combines outstanding quickness with a great feel for the game. Those two qualities made him a disruptive force that elevated the center of our defense to one of the most reliable facets of our team."

On Trent Williams
"I have a great appreciation for Trent because of what he was willing to do for our program. I think he played every line position during his career here, and in his senior season, when I am sure he would have preferred to concentrate on the tackle position, he actually played some center because it was best for our team. That kind of unselfishness from very gifted players is something that coaches never forget. Trent has great feet and strength and he's a solid technician. We've had a number of good linemen here lately and he's as good as any of them. He will be a valuable contributor in the NFL."

On Jermaine Gresham
"Jermaine is that combination of speed, size and strength that we see very rarely. He also has an extremely competitive attitude which contributed to him being such a dominant player. He was a walking mismatch. But even though he accomplished so much, I've always felt that he has a great focus on the sport of football and the concept of getting better every day. He has already proven himself as an outstanding player, but you get the sense that he is far from satisfied. His standards are very high and he will do everything in his power to reach them."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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