Two years ago, school officials announced a plan to eventually convert to natural grass. On Thursday, athletic director Mike Holder said that idea has been scrapped.

Holder says OSU's $2 million Football Pro artificial surface -- manufactured in Belgium and installed in 2005 -- is "better than grass."

The original plan was to play on the current turf until OSU completes construction on its indoor practice facility (probably in 2010). The turf would have been moved to the indoor facility, and grass would have been planted on the Boone Pickens Stadium field.

In anticipation of having grass, OSU installed an irrigation system. It doesn't matter now.

"We're very pleased with the turf we have now," Holder said. "We're not going to grass. Because of the shade patterns in our stadium, it would be very difficult to grow quality grass. What we have now drains well and it's more forgiving than grass. The impact isn't as punishing on the players.

"The projections are that we can get about 10 years out of this surface. I don't know if it will last that long, but I do know this -- when we pull this turf off, we'll put another surface down just like it."

New Sooner coach: Before signing with Oklahoma and emerging this spring as a running back with star qualities, DeMarco Murray was a member of the Bishop Gorman High School football team in Las Vegas. His head coach was David White, who in three seasons had a 30-12 record (20-2 in conference play).

White recently resigned in order to accept a position, as an offensive graduate assistant, on the Sooner staff. White's talents apparently are not limited to coaching football. He has been a stand-up comedian and a motivational speaker. He once had a speaking engagement at Oklahoma State University.

White probably would be an interesting feature subject, but OU coach Bob Stoops said no to an interview request.

Spring football: Oklahoma high schools are allowed two weeks of spring football practice, in full pads, but the workouts were not supposed to begin until all spring-sports state championships had been decided.

But because rain has made a mess of the state baseball schedules, the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association has relaxed its rule and will allow all football programs to begin practice on Monday.

Last year, football teams were limited by the OSSAA to one hour of practice per day. This year, teams get two hours.

"That extra hour was lobbied for by a lot of coaches," Jenks' Allan Trimble said. "By the second week, we hope to get a pretty good scrimmage."

Defending state champion Jenks begins its quest for a ninth 6A title in 12 years. Trimble's squad is loaded again (10 offensive players and seven defenders have starting experience).

The 3-pointer: The NCAA plans, beginning with the 2008-09 basketball season, to increase the distance on the college men's 3-point shot (from 19 feet, 9 inches to 20 feet, 9 inches).

Oklahoma high school teams launch 3-pointers from the 19-9 stripe. A change to 20-9 won't occur, OSSAA executive secretary Danny Rennels said, unless the National Federation of State High School Associations mandates the move. In basketball, the OSSAA is loyal to the national federation's rules. If there is a change in Oklahoma, it won't occur before the 2008-09 season. For the 2007-08 season, the 3-point distance will remain 19-9.

Funny family: Rick Hader's "Myron Noodleman" character entertains at Drillers Stadium and minor league ballparks throughout the country. Hader is a Tulsan. His nephew, Bill Hader, a second-year Saturday Night Live cast member, is a Tulsa native. Bill Hader has scored roles in three developing feature films.

Derby numbers: At the Fair Meadows Racing and Sports Bar simulcast facility, the handle on Kentucky Derby Saturday amounted to $434,000 (down from last year's $467,000). For the 2006 Derby, attendance was 2,008. Last week, it was 1,605.