Sooner Report: Almost Game Day

Almost Game Day

The Sooner players, coaches and staff have now been in the Sunshine State for nearly a week preparing for the showdown with Clemson. In less than 24 hours the Sooners and Tigers will finally take the field at the newly renovated Citrus Bowl Stadium for the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl, which starts at 4:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Final preparations have been made by coaches, and the team traveled to the Citrus Bowl this afternoon for its pregame walk-through that lasted nearly an hour before returning to the hotel for the team dinner.

Coach Stoops Press Conference

OU head coach Bob Stoops took to the podium Sunday for the official Russell Athletic Bowl press conference. The 16-year OU coach began by praising the Russell Athletic Bowl for the great week the team has enjoyed while being in Orlando.

“I just want to really commend Russell Athletic,” Stoops said. “Everybody involved with the Russell Athletic Bowl ought to really be proud of the bowl game that they've put on and sponsored. It's been an incredible week. Could not have been better in regard to accommodations, practice fields.

"So, again, I just want to thank all of them for a great experience. Our players have really enjoyed the experience, and it's been first class in every way. Everybody's gone out of their way to really make it special for us. So thank you.”

Stoops has also been happy with the way his team has gone about its business throughout the week, both on and off the practice field.

“I want to say I've been really pleased with our team, the way we've gone through meetings, practices, the way players have conducted themselves off the field; everything we've done,” Stoops said. “The players have really done a great job.”

To watch the entire press conference, click here and to read the entire transcript click here.

Bowl Kickoff Luncheon

The team boarded buses this morning at 11:30 a.m. and headed over to a local convention center for the Russell Athletic Bowl Kickoff Luncheon. The event hosted both teams and coaching staffs from both Oklahoma and Clemson.

The luncheon consisted of a meal, live entertainment and comments from Bob Stoops and Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney. Both the Sooners and the Tigers supplied one musical number, as the trio of offensive guard Nila Kasitati, punter Jed Barnett and linebacker Geneo Grissom played a cover of Maroon 5's hit “Sunday Morning.” Kasitati provided the vocals, while Barnett strummed the ukulele and Grissom kept the beat on the drums. The event's emcee was ESPN's Jeannine Edwards, who will serve as the sideline reporter for Monday's game.

Up Next

The Sooners will head to the movies tonight to relax before taking the field against Clemson tomorrow afternoon to conclude the 2014 season. After the game the team will return to Norman on Tuesday morning.

Almost Game Day

Coach Stoops Press Conference

Bowl Kickoff Luncheon

Up Next

Players Mentioned

Jed Barnett

Geneo Grissom

Nila Kasitati

Sponsors

University of Oklahoma Athletics