OU football notebook: Mark Stoops continues family tradition
BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
11/28/12 at 2:44 AM
Mark Stoops was named head coach at the University of Kentucky on Tuesday, making him the third member of the Stoops family to be named a Division I coach.
"I'm excited for Mark, happy for him and proud of him. He's earned it," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said following Tuesday's practice. "He's done really well everywhere he's been. I know he's really prepared for the job.
"I believe that Kentucky, as he does, has a lot of potential, a lot of resources to build, so I know he's excited about the opportunity."
Mark Stoops had spent the past three years as Florida State's defensive coordinator. The Seminoles currently have the No. 2-ranked defense and allow just 249.4 yards per game.
Bob Stoops has been Oklahoma's coach since 1999. Mike Stoops was OU's defensive coordinator between 1999-2003 and spent the next eight seasons as Arizona's head coach. Mike Stoops returned to Oklahoma this season as defensive coordinator.
What advice will Bob share with Mark?
"Trust your instincts," the OU head coach said. "When you get one of those positions, everybody wants to tell you what to do. That's how it was for me.
"I didn't let anyone hurry me. I took it at my own pace, trusted my gut and my instincts on what I wanted to do, and fortunately it worked out."
Shifting things: Oklahoma's offensive line made up for the loss of Daryl Williams during the Oklahoma State game.
Tyrus Thompson took over at right tackle for the injured Williams, joining Lane Johnson (LT), Adam Shead (LG), Gabe Ikard (C) and Bronson Irwin (RG).
"Both tackles were excellent (against OSU). They have the biggest stress," Stoops said. "I thought Lane and Tyrus, you know, Lane moving back over to left, and Tyrus from left back to right, they did a great job. Gabe Ikard, inside, was really good."
Williams, who has a sprained MCL, could return in time for a bowl game.
Sooners pick up commitment: Jed Barnett, a punter from Oakland Laney College, indicated late Monday via Twitter that he has committed to Oklahoma.
The former Cal walk-on transferred to Laney, where he averaged 40 yards on 65 punts.
Making adjustments: Stoops was asked about TCU's mid-season change at quarterback, when Trevone Boykin took over for Casey Pachall on Oct. 6.
"I think as much as anything, everybody tries to play to your quarterback's strengths. What does he do well? What does he like? I'm sure play-calling, that's a factor, and design of the offense has a lot to do with what you're asking him to do and making sure he's comfortable with it, and they've done it really well," Stoops said.
In eight games, Boykin has become the first quarterback in TCU history to have back-to-back games with four TD passes. He's thrown for a career-high 332 yards (Texas Tech).
