Upcoming Event: Football versus UTEP on September 4, 2026 at 7 p.m. CT
7 p.m. CT
Football
vs UTEP
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooner Report: It?s Game Week!
August 26, 2014 | Football
Evans Could Be a Hometown Hero
Entering Saturday's season opener against Louisiana Tech, Norman North High School alum Jordan Evans currently sits atop the depth chart at Oklahoma's at the club's left inside linebacker position. The son of three-time All-Big 8 Oklahoma defensive tackle, Scott Evans, the younger Evans could play a prominent role in the Sooners' defense this season. His freshman campaign got off to a strong start before an ankle injury sidelined him after playing in eight contests.
“Jordan (Evans) has looked really good,” said head coach Bob Stoops. “He was held out early just because of an illness, but once he was over that he was stronger. He is up to about 220 now. He's big.
“He made a few plays in our Friday, it wasn't a scrimmage but we simulated a game, and he made some nice plays. The offensive coaches have commented on his length in the middle. He's hard to get the ball over, so he's been really solid. He's a guy who played some a year ago, so he's ready for it.”
Breaking Out the Belldozer?
During Monday's season-opening luncheon and press conference, head coach Bob Stoops acknowledged that the “Belldozer” package is in the playbook for another season. The frequency it is used is yet to be determined.
“We do (have it available),” said Stoops. “That is something that we always think has a certain number of plays we can go to. If you do that it is taking some hits away from Trevor (Knight). There are some bigger spots inside that maybe you get bigger piles you don't want him in.
“There is a place for it, but how much maybe depends on how successful we are with other things that we are doing.”?
When asked if he sees it as a form of a Wildcat package Stoops thinks it is different than the typical Wildcat because of Bell's years of experience as a quarterback and the threat of a polished thrower.
“In the end it wouldn't be a wildcat package because he can throw pretty well,” said Stoops. “Those running backs they put back there usually couldn't throw a grenade in a tub. Blake doesn't have that problem if we wanted to give him a shot at something. Say it's third-and-one and you know you are going to go for it on fourth down, you might see what he could do. That is just a scenario you might do.”
Bell combined to run for 24 touchdowns during his first two seasons on the field with the Sooners, with a majority coming out of the Belldozer offensive package.
Castiglione “Tackles” Oklahoma Drill, Joins Switzer, Keith for Ice Bucket Challenge
Take a 50-something athletics administrator, put him in preseason All-American linebacker Eric Striker's jersey, equip him in full pads, buckle his chinstrap and let him participate in the Oklahoma Drill? Sounds like just another normal day on Owen Field. Oh, did we mention that the last time University of Oklahoma Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione actually suited up for any kind of “live” football action was at the 1993 University of Maryland alumni game?
While Castiglione may have been a walk-on for the Terps, he didn't show any signs of rust as he adeptly shed a blocker and “tackled” one of Oklahoma's current football walk-ons. Sure, it was just for fun as a prelude to another round of the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” craze, but catch OU's players by surprise to see their AD strutting around in No. 19 like he just recorded a sack in the Sugar Bowl. Of course, it doesn't hurt when you're being coached up by Barry Switzer and country music icon Toby Keith.
“It was funny, we were going out there and all of a sudden I see No. 19 come out and tackle and I thought it was Eric Striker for a second,” said tight end Blake Bell. “It was fun seeing him come out there and do that. With all the guys we were laughing and having fun with it.”
After head coach Bob Stoops, OU President David Boren and assistant coaches took the ALS plunge after practice last week, Stoops called out Castiglione,? Switzer and Keith.
On Monday the three individuals called out accepted the challenge at football practice on the field of Gaylord Family ? Oklahoma Memorial Stadium to help raise money and awareness for the fight against the disease.
Each of the three participants from Monday continued the fundraiser by nominating others to take part in the challenge. Switzer called out Cowboys' owner Jerry Jones and former Cowboys' head coach Jimmy Johnson. Keith called out a number of former MLB stars in Greg Maddux and Roger Clemens and Castiglione challenged the ESPN College GameDay crew to take the challenge on set together.
The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge originated earlier this summer when former Boston College baseball player Pete Frates, who is diagnosed with the disease, challenged some friends to donate $10 and pour a bucket of ice water over their heads or donate $100 instead. Frates' coach at Boston College was current OU head coach Pete Hughes, who has brought his 19 Ways program to Norman to help benefit ALS.
As of Tuesday, August 26, the Ice Bucket Challenge has raised over $88.5 million to the fight against ALS. If you would like to donate go to alsa.org.
Two-Headed Monster in the Backfield?
With the hours ticking down to the first game of the season, both Keith Ford and Alex Ross could see significant playing time Louisiana Tech. Regardless of which player opens the game, both seem destined to play a large role in the Sooners' offense in 2014.
“Alex Ross and Keith Ford are very close,” said Stoops. “It's something you're going to want to see in the early games. Is anybody ahead of the other assignment-wise, protection-wise, ball security-wise, is anyone better than the other? Who is making the plays that are there and who is making the plays that are extra in that he shouldn't have got 30 and he got 30? So those are things when you snap the ball hopefully 80 times, you get a chance to see all of that.”
Under Stoops, OU has had numerous instances in which multiple running back systems have formed a potent attack. Just last season Brennan Clay and Damien Williams combined to rush for over 1,500 yards, forming the second-best rushing unit in the Big 12.
The best running back tandem for Oklahoma during the Stoops' era was the duo of Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray during the 2008 season. Both rushers broke the 1,000-yard barrier and combined to score 34 rushing touchdowns. Brown and Murray ran for over 100 yards apiece in the same game four different times in 2008.
Ford has enjoyed the competition with Ross throughout camp and believes it has made the backfield stronger.
“It's fun to work with each other,” said Ford. “We compete every day and we try to get each other better. That's the bond and the friendship that we have. We are just competing to get each other better.”
Stoops to Appear on Mike & Mike
Head coach Bob Stoops will be a guest on ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike Show on Wednesday morning to preview the Sooners and the upcoming college football season. Coach Stoops will be on at 8:30 a.m. CT via phone. The segment can be heard by listening to the show on ESPN Radio or by watching live on ESPN2.
Tiffany Byrd in Sports Illustrated Article
Sports Illustrated Senior Writer Andy Staples launched his new weekly column Punt, Pass & Pork this Sunday on Si.com. In it he highlighted OU's nutritionist Tiffany Byrd and how she and her staff have adjusted to the new NCAA rules of unlimited food offerings to student-athletes.
In the article Byrd notes that the new rules make her job both easier and harder. The dietitian no longer has to worry about what she is and is not allowed to provide the players but that also means there is a whole lot more work for her to do.
Byrd's contributions to the program since she joined the OU staff in 2013 have not gone unnoticed. Coach Stoops has remarked on how during the end of the 2013 season he noticed his players were able to maintain their strength and weight better than years past.
Staples' column can be found here. Each week the writer will have analysis on all of the most important things that happened over the past weekend of college football. Staples will also highlight some of his favorite things he tried in the world of food over the past week as well.
Stoops Ranks No. 15 Among Active FBS Coaches Based on Playing Career
Tony Moss, senior editor for cbssports.com, ranked the current FBS college football coaches from 1-128 based on their achievements as a player. OU's Bob Stoops placed 15th on the list due to his accomplishments as a player at Iowa from 1979-82.
Moss notes that Stoops was a four-year starter on defense and captured All-Big Ten honors as a senior. Stoops was the highest ranking coach who played a defensive back position in college. Topping the list was Stoops' coaching mentor Steve Spurrier, who is the only current coach to have won the Heisman Trophy.
Check out the complete rankings by clicking here.
Louisiana Tech Head Coach Skip Holtz Impressed by Sooners
As Louisiana Tech head coach Skip Holtz gets ready for his team's season opener against Oklahoma, the head coach was quick to heap praise on OU at his weekly press conference.
“I don't know that the teleconference is long enough for me to talk about everything that impresses me about them, but there's a reason they?re No. 3 in the country, preseason,” said Holtz. “When you look at what they did, when you look at the number of returning starters and the way that they were playing at the end of the year, they're one of the better teams in the country.”
The second-year coach with the Bulldogs also went on to comment on the success of the job Stoops has done during his time with the Sooners.
“Coach Stoops is a great football coach,” said Holtz. “He's done a fantastic job with this Oklahoma program with the consistency that he's built there year in and year out, with the recruiting. I believe this is ear 15 (16) for him. I just think there's great stability in that program. You can see what they want to do and they're doing it.”
Saturday will mark the first head coaching matchup between Holtz and Stoops in their careers.
DirecTV and Dish Network Pick Up Pay-Per-View Game
Major television providers DirecTV and Dish Network announced Tuesday that they will both carry Oklahoma's 2014 opener against Louisiana Tech on their programming as a pay-per-view option. The game is slated for Saturday, August 30 with a kickoff time set for 6 p.m. CT.
The two providers are the latest in a number of television companies to pick up Saturday's game. For more information on the pay-per-view details please click here. ?
Fans Invited to Participate in new “Walk of Champions”
Starting next Saturday, Sooner fans will have a chance to welcome the football team to Gaylord Family ? Oklahoma Memorial Stadium by participating in the “Walk of Champions.”
Two hours before each home game, head coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners will disembark from the team buses at the intersections of Lindsey St. and Jenkins Ave. A pep rally, conducted by OU Spirit and OU football alumni, will be held 15 minutes prior to the team's arrival.
Fans are encouraged to cheer on the team upon arrival and watch as Coach Stoops, the squad and past Oklahoma letterwinners walk the final yards to the Switzer Center. Fans may begin lining up on Jenkins Ave. starting three hours prior to kickoff.
Stadium Policy Reminders
Fans attending University of Oklahoma Football home contests should begin planning now to ensure they are fully prepared for stadium policies, which will remain the same as 2013. There have been no additional changes to the policies this season. To see a full list of allowable and non-allowable personal items, click here.
Plan Ahead For Season Opener vs. Louisiana Tech
The Main Street exit off I-35 is now open, but fans are still encouraged to allow themselves plenty of time to get to Gaylord Family ? Oklahoma Memorial Stadium next Saturday for the opening game of the 2014 season. Fans should plan for an alternate route in case of traffic delays and have multiple potential parking options.
Up Next
Oklahoma will gradually pare back on contact in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before conducting it's normal in-season Friday practice. The season kicks off on Saturday with the home opener against Louisiana Tech at 6 p.m. CT. For the latest details on the pay-per-view telecast, click http://www.soonersports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=209609473.?
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballThursday, July 23
Tuesday, July 21
Thursday, July 16
Tuesday, July 14
