OU Notebook: Quick start
BY JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Sunday, August 09, 2009
8/09/09 at 6:14 AM
Related story: Wilson tackles his recovery.
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says his team never overlooks anyone. But he did acknowledge that a ramped-up intensity exists over starting the season against BYU, a 10-win team last season.
"The advantage, I guess, is it certainly has your players' attention right away, through the summer and starting off in our practices," Stoops said. "We need to be on top of our game right out of the chute playing such a good opponent and a tradition-rich program and a team that wants to come down there and beat us.
"The disadvantage is, if you're not successful it hurts you right off the bat. But hey, Joe (Castiglione) and (my) philosophy has always been to have a difficult schedule. I believe if you're a top 10 type of team, you play that type of schedule. Hopefully we can continue to manage it like we have in the past. We've handled it for the most part pretty well."
Stoops is 9-1 in openers and 29-8 versus ranked teams in the regular season.
Transfer pass: Sophomore guard Stephen Good and redshirt freshman center Ben Habern are virtual newcomers, junior tackle Cory Brandon hasn't played, senior guard Brian Williams is a first-year starter and senior tackle Trent Williams is playing a new position. But almost lost in all the discussion about OU's offensive line candidates are junior college transfers Jeff Vinson and Tavaris Jeffries.
Vinson (6-foot-8, 350 pounds) played at Lackawanna (Pa.) Community College and arrived in Norman this week. Jeffries (6-5, 320) was a late find at Coahoma (Miss.) Community College and arrived in time for summer workouts.
"They're in our second unit right now," said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "They look to have the size and skill level that you want. But where are they mentally with our way of doing things, their conditioning level with our way of doing things, you know, time will tell with that. You like what you see. You've got something really good to work with."
Clean cut: Quarterback Sam Bradford showed up to Media Day on Friday with a look few have seen from him since last August: a short haircut.
"Yeah, I knew someone was gonna ask that," he said with a chuckle. "It's kind of a tradition. I always cut it right before the season, and then let it grow throughout the year. Win or lose, no haircut the rest of the year."
2009 schedule
Sept. 5: BYU (Arlington, Texas)
ESPN-25 6 p.m.
Sept. 12: Idaho State TBA
Sept. 19: Tulsa
FSOK-27
2:30 p.m.
Oct. 3: at Miami, Fla. TBA
Oct. 10: Baylor TBA
Oct. 17: Texas (at Dallas)
KTUL-8
11 a.m.
Oct. 24: at Kansas TBA
Oct. 31: Kansas State TBA
Nov. 7: at Nebraska TBA
Nov. 14: Texas A&M TBA
Nov. 21: at Texas Tech TBA
Nov. 28: Oklahoma State TBA
Dec. 5: Big 12 Championship
KTUL-8
7 p.m.
Associated Images:
OU's Sam Bradford signs a young fan's shirt at Meet the Sooners Day on Friday in Norman. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
|
