Tulsa World: OSU Notebook

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OSU Notebook

By MATT DOYLE, World sports writer
Published: 9/5/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 9/5/2008 3:17 AM

Where to park: Construction around the campus leaves limited parking options.

If you do not have Posse Club parking access, expect to pay at least $20 to park around the Boone Pickens Stadium area. Fans looking for free parking can park in downtown Stillwater and ride a free shuttle bus at Seventh Street and Lewis.

The shuttle will run about every 15 minutes before the game starting three hours before kickoff and will run every 30 minutes after the game depending on traffic. Posse parking lots will open at noon Saturday. There will be no access to Knoblock Street between Hall of Fame Avenue & McElroy Street on game days.

Making the adjustment: Kevin Sumlin will not proclaim he is a veteran head coach. Just one game into his head coaching tenure, the former Oklahoma assistant is pleased that his career at Houston is off to a good start.

The Cougars won Sumlin's coaching debut, 55-3 against Southern last week.

Sumlin knows the journey will get tougher, starting Saturday at OSU. That's why he continues to apply the lessons he learned under Bob Stoops at OU, R.C. Slocum at Texas A&M and Joe Tiller at Purdue.

"There is no manual for this job. Things come at you fast and you draw on your experiences as an assistant coach. Fortunately, I have been around some very fine head coaches," Sumlin said. "I've been in contact with those guys when things come up. But at the end of the day, you have to make your own decisions and be your own person."

Sumlin's

staff: Sumlin put together a coaching staff mixed with grizzled veterans and eager youngsters. Sumlin hired his own college coach at Purdue, Leon Burtnett, to coach linebackers. Former Dallas Cowboys player Jim Jeffcoat is in his first season as a college assistant working with Houston's defensive line.

Sumlin's coordinators have Big 12 ties. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen spent the last eight seasons coaching receivers at Texas Tech. Defensive coordinator John Skladany was Iowa State's coordinator from 1996-2006.

The youngest member of Sumlin's staff is Union graduate Zac Spavital, who coaches cornerbacks. Spavital, 26, spent the previous three seasons as a graduate assistant at OU working with the Sooners' secondary.

Spavital's time at OU made a positive impression on Sumlin, who hired Spavital in January.

"That was invaluable experience," Sumlin said. "He's a son of a coach (dad Steve is Broken Arrow High School's defensive coordinator) and has been around football all his life.

"We have a great defensive staff and he has brought a lot of energy to our program. Nobody enjoys practice or games more than Zac. I think the players feed off that."

Perfect start: Houston quarterback Case Keenum opened last week's victory against Southern completing his first 14 passes. How can he improve on that?

"He can go 20-for-20," Sumlin laughed. "Case is a real steady guy. He doesn't get too high or too low. You look at him and he's the biggest or strongest guy. But he's accurate. There's a lot to be said about a guy who can do those things."

Remember when: Saturday's game is the first time OSU has played Houston in Stillwater in 22 years. On Sept. 20, 1986, the Cougars won 28-12.

The game marked Mike Gundy's debut as OSU quarterback. Gundy replaced an ineffective Ronnie Williams to start the second half. Gundy went 12-of-22 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown. By MATT DOYLE, World sports writer

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