Tulsa World: OU Football Notebook

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OU Football Notebook

The Sooners are on the cover of this week's Sports Illustrated after beating Texas Tech over the weekend. Courtesy

By JOHN E. HOOVER, World sports writer
Published: 11/26/2008 2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/26/2008 3:47 AM

Smart guys: Twelve Sooners are among 137 student-athletes named to the Big 12 All-Academic Team on Tuesday. First-team members have a GPA of 3.20 or better; those on the second team have a GPA of 3.00 to 3.19.

Quarterback Sam Bradford, running back Derek Gove, linebacker Travis Lewis, running back DeMarco Murray, safety Sam Proctor and kicker Jimmy Stevens were named first-team. Wide receiver Ryan Broyles, wide receiver Brandon Caleb, defensive end Auston English, defensive back Desmond Jackson, defensive tackle Adrian Taylor and holder/wide receiver Carter Whitson were second team.

DeMarco the man: DeMarco Murray was named U.S. Army All-American College Player of the Week. Murray rushed for 125 yards and two TDs and caught four passes for 71 yards in OU's 65-21 win over Texas Tech.

The award honors an alumnus of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl who had the top performance of a given week. Murray played for the 2007 U.S. Army All-American Bowl West Team.

Sooners feted: OU's victory over Tech earned the Sooners this week's Fiesta Bowl national team of the week honors, awarded by the Football Writers Association of America. It was the most points allowed by a Texas Tech team and the second-largest margin of victory against a team ranked No. 2 in the AP poll. The FWAA has awarded a team of the week since 2002.

Going Long: Bob Stoops said he was disappointed that old pal Chuck Long had been fired as head coach at San Diego State. Long was hired there in 2005 after coordinating OU's offense and coaching Sooner quarterbacks for six seasons.

"He did a fabulous job for us running the offense and developing quarterbacks," Stoops said. "Great person. A great man in how he handles his character and all that. We all feel bad for him and wish that hadn't happened. But I also know that some jobs are more difficult than others and take more time than others.

"But I'm sure Chuck will have a great number of opportunities. I know here we would always welcome him. In the right situation. We don't have anything now, of course but no one has more respect for Chuck than I do."

Kicking it I: Stoops said he alerted his kickoff return team on Saturday to be ready for an onsides kick when the Sooners led Tech by 35 points at halftime.

"Yes, I understood (Tech coach Mike Leach's) personality," Stoops said. "Heck, being down 42-7, opening kickoff, he's not willing to give us the ball right off the bat. Figured he was willing to take a chance and try to steal a possession."

Kicking it II: Conversely, Stoops said Matt Moreland's hard squib kick that bounced off an upman on the Tech return team — anything to overcome short kickoffs and poor coverage — was purely accidental. The Sooners nearly recovered the loose ball.

"We did it in practice twice, and he did the same thing, hit the guy twice. We can't even get it down the field," Stoops said with a laugh. "Now, it would have been a great idea had we recovered it. It sure would have looked good. Then I would have told you it was intentional."

Teacher's back: Stoops was asked if he was surprised that Bill Snyder has returned to Kansas State after three seasons away from the game.

"Yes and no," he said. "I thought he was comfortable when he was retired and was ready to be out of it. But then it doesn't surprise me that, hey, that's what he loves to do. I don't blame him, and I'm excited for him. He always has done just a great job. I wish him the best — outside of one game, anyway."

Playoff politics: When told of comments that Texas coach Mack Brown made on Monday regarding the Big 12 tiebreaker scenario and how "the whole thing screams for a playoff," Stoops agreed. He said having to stand at the podium and remind everyone how great his team is is unfortunate.

"No one likes to do it," he said. "I think that's why more and more of us say, 'Hey, let's find a way to get a playoff in place so you don't have to do that.' There's a grouping, there's a big body of schools that have an opportunity for it."

Daddy Duke: Just two days after a dominating performance against Texas Tech's challenging defensive line, OU guard Duke Robinson was announced as a Lombardi finalist. Big deal.

"Duke just had a little daughter a week ago," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "Wasn't even at practice last Monday. He went home (to Georgia) Sunday and had a child Monday and came back Tuesday morning. That was a big week for him." By JOHN E. HOOVER, World sports writer

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