Stoops says he's not a candidate for Broncos job
BY DAVE SITTLER, GUERIN EMIG AND JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writers
Saturday, January 03, 2009
1/04/09 at 9:42 AM
MIAMI, Fla. — University of Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops says he isn't a candidate for the vacant Denver Broncos position and said he wasn't even aware that his name was being circulated in connection with the job.
"That's a rumor that I hadn't heard," Stoops said today after his team's practice for the national championship game Thursday against Florida. "No one has talked to me about that. So I don't know anything about it. We're preparing for a national championship, and that's all my focus and concentration is on. So obviously, I'm not a candidate. Someone might have told me that other than you (media) guys if I was."
The Broncos head-coaching job opened this week, when Mike Shanahan was fired. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is an OU graduate, and Denver newspapers reported this week that the Broncos had contacted Stoops' representatives.
When asked if the Broncos might have contacted his agent, Stoops said: "Not that I know of. That's not something I'm concerned with whatsoever."
Stoops went on to repeat that he wasn't a candidate now, and he wouldn't be a candidate after OU's national championship game.
"No," Stoops said. "That's not a story. There's nothing there. Don't ask me to comment on things that aren't there. I don't know how to say it any clearer."
Stoops said he met Bowlen last summer while Sooner coaches visited the Broncos' coaching staff. It's common for college football coaching staffs to visit NFL teams.
"Great organization, but I'm not a candidate," Stoops said.
One of Stoops' players — Colorado native and starting center Jon Cooper — was asked this morning about the possibility of the coach going to Denver. Cooper said he didn't think Stoops would leave OU.
“I think he’s happy in Oklahoma,” said Cooper, who's from Fort Collins, Colo. “His kids are the age that you don’t want to move. I’ve had people from home ask me about it. I (tell them) I’d be really surprised if he went anywhere. He seems very happy here, his family seems happy.
“I love Colorado, but I don’t know if that’s for him.”
In the meantime, the Broncos reportedly have scheduled interviews with three NFL assistants — New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Associated Images:
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops talks to the media after the Sooners arrived in Miami on Friday. AP
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