Jones to decide live on Signing Day
By Blake Jackson
Hold on to your hats, Sooner fans.
Oklahoma’s top recruiting target will wait until Signing Day on Feb. 6 to announce his college decision. And he’ll do it live on ESPNU.
Five-star wideout Julio Jones’ commitment and signing will be part of the ESPN daughter network’s seven-hour coverage of National Signing Day, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. next Wednesday. America’s top quarterback Terrelle Pryor and tailback Darrell Scott are also expected to announce their college choices during the event.
Jones, from Foley, Ala., visited Norman over the weekend with teammate Robert Lester — a four-star safety. He recently narrowed his college choices to OU, Alabama, Florida, Florida State and Texas Tech.
It seems the Sooners and Crimson Tide are in the lead to land Jones’ services. But with a kid like this — who rarely if ever speaks with the media — it’s hard to pin down what to expect. We’ll keep you posted.
Football: Want to watch Bedlam? Buy an OSU season ticket
By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
STILLWATER — A ticket for Bedlam football this season will cost $419.
Technically speaking.
And you thought a $100 face value ticket to watch Oklahoma State host Oklahoma two years ago was expensive.
OSU officials announced season ticket prices on Tuesday. The interesting twist is they will not sell individual tickets for the OU game.
Fans wanting to watch the Cowboys and Sooners play Nov. 29 at Boone Pickens Stadium must purchase a $419 season ticket or one of OSU’s other season ticket options.
OSU athletic director Mike Holder said the decision was based on Iowa State implementing an identical plan last season for its rival game against Iowa. Iowa State’s season ticket sales increased 30 percent, jumping from 30,000 to 36,000.
“Our decision to eliminate single game tickets for Bedlam is based upon our desire to grow our season ticket sales,” Holder said in a press statement. “Our ability to compete for championships, in all sports, is dependent upon our fans’ commitment to buying season tickets in football and basketball on an annual basis.
“Frankly, this decision is all about the long-term success of OSU athletics. Based on solid results at Iowa State, we believe this decision can produce a positive result at OSU.”
Sometime this fall single game tickets will be sold for OSU’s other six home games. Single game tickets will cost $60 for non-conference opponents (Houston, Missouri State and Tory), $85 for non-OU conference games (Texas A&M, Baylor and Iowa State).
The irony is the Bedlam game is all but assured of being OSU’s lowest attendance of the season. Two years ago, OSU sold three-game packages for $160 that included tickets for Missouri State, Baylor and OU. This year there will be no packages.
The unique marketing strategy should give OSU a legitimate shot at selling 40,000 or more season tickets for the first time. The irony is more fans probably will attend the Missouri State game than when the Sooners are in town.
OSU’s record for season tickets is 38,674 set in 2004, which included a record 11,500 student tickets. OSU sold 9,000 student tickets last year.
As expected, OSU did not raise season ticket or donor prices for the first time in three years. The $419 season ticket is higher than last year ($359) but the Cowboys have seven home games instead of six.
“The addition of 16,000 new seats in the west end zone, we believe the decision to hold prices for 2008 is the right one,” Holder said. “The new seats give us opportunities to expand our fan base though new promotions and generate new revenue to support the entire athletic program.”
With the return of the renovated west end zone, OSU gains 16,000 additional seats. Boone Pickens Stadium capacity increases to 60,000, the sixth largest venue in the Big 12.
More Family Fun Zone tickets will be available. For a price of $980 a family can purchase four season tickets (two adult, two youth), $245 a person.
Other season ticket prices include: a Discount Zone and O-Club options ($294) and new graduate rate of $245 for anyone within five years of their graduation date. Faculty and staff season tickets will be $336.
“We strive for balance between affordability, value and revenue considerations when it comes to setting ticket and donor seating prices,” said Craig Clemons, associate athletic director for external affairs and development.
To attract more students, All Sports Ticket prices are expected to be reduced but AST prices won’t be announced until a later date. Last year an AST cost $150 which gets students into every OSU sporting event other than men’s basketball.
Football: John Williams gets sixth year
By Scott Wright
Oklahoma defensive end John Williams has received a hardship waiver from the NCAA and has been granted a sixth season of athletics eligibility.
The 6-5, 249-pound Williams started three games of the 2007 season, but suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in the fourth game at Tulsa and missed the remainder of the campaign.
This is decent news for OU, considering Williams is an experienced player who understands the defense and can provide depth.
But unfortunately for Williams, it will be tough for him to get on the field much.
Women’s hoops: Robinson again Big 12′s top rookie
Following wins against Texas Tech and nationally-ranked Georgia, Oklahoma’s Danielle Robinson was named Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week by the league Monday.
It was Robinson’s fourth time to earn the honor. Courtney Paris holds the record for most Rookie of the Week honors with nine in 2005-06.
Robinson averaged 12 points, 6.5 assists and three steals in the Sooners two wins last week – a 78-39 beating of Texas Tech and 65-57 defeat of No. 17/14 Georgia.
The freshman guard’s quick start versus the Red Raiders set the tone of the rout as she scored 10 of her 12 points in the first half on 4-of-5 field goal shooting and a 2-of-2 performance at the free throw line. Robinson totaled six assists to one turnover, three rebound and two steals in just 19 minutes on the court.
Against Georgia, Robinson jumped out to another quick start by scoring eight of her 12 points before the half and had a career high seven assists to go with a brilliant defensive performance. Robinson had four steals and shut down Georgia point guard Ashley Houts, who had entered the contest scoring 13.3 points per game, to a 1-for-6 field goal shooting effort.
With 42 steals in 17 games, Robinson is on pace to break Oklahoma’s single-season freshman record of 74 steals, set by LaNeisha Caufield in 1998-99.
Kansas State junior forward Marlies Gipson was named the conference’s player of the week.
Women’s hoop: Bedlam II sold out
Tickets for the Bedlam women’s basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 23, have sold out.
Only restricted admission tickets remain for those who wish to see No. 21 Oklahoma State visit No. 11 Oklahoma at the Lloyd Noble Center. Restricted admission seats are sold on the day of the game and will begin when doors open at 11:30 a.m.
All restricted admission tickets are $8 per person. Restricted admission grants the ticket holder access to the arena but does not guarantee a seat. After tip-off, restricted admission ticket holders may be permitted to take available seats in the general admission sections if seating remains.
The game will tip at 1 p.m.
A state record crowd for a women’s basketball game of 13,611 watched the first Bedlam battle of the year in Stillwater. The second largest crowd in Lloyd Noble Center history of 12,090 viewed last year’s OU-OSU tilt in Norman.
The Sooners have not lost to the Cowgirls on their home court since 1998.
Men’s hoops: Bracketology talk
By Scott Wright
The Sooner hoopsters gained 24 points in the Associated Press poll today, though they’ve still got some work to do before we see them in the rankings. They came in as the 10th team among “others receiving votes” today.
However, in other respects, the challenge doesn’t appear so great. OU’s RPI — a key factor used by the selection committee in determining NCAA Tournament teams — is at 24. If OU can maintain that type of RPI throughout the rest of the season, it will be in good shape.
In his projected bracket, Jerry Palm of CollegeRPI.com has the Sooners as a No. 6 seed playing South Alabama in Little Rock, Ark., which would be the ideal location for Sooner fans. There are a few other centrally located first-round destinations, but none as close as Little Rock. Others are Houston, Denver, Birmingham, Phoenix and Detroit. After that, you’re headed to one of the coasts.
Gymnastics: OU women ranked 6th
The OU women’s gymnastics squad jumped to sixth in the latest GymInfo rankings, released Monday. The Sooners cruised past host West Virginia, George Washington and William & Mary in Morgantown, W. Va., on Sunday after posting a season-high team score of 196.550.
Men’s basketball: Bedlam game notes
GAME NOTES: OU vs. OSU
Teams: Oklahoma (14-5, 2-2) vs. Oklahoma State (10-9, 1-4)
Date: Monday, Jan. 28
Site: Norman, Okla. (Lloyd Noble Center)
Tip: 8:05 p.m. CST
Radio: Sooner Radio Network (KOKC 1520-AM in OKC; KMOD 97.5-FM in Tulsa; Sirius 114)
TV: ESPN
Series: Oklahoma leads 122-88
Gymnastics: OU beats No. 2 Michigan
In a top-five showdown at the McCasland Field House Saturday night, the fifth-ranked Oklahoma men’s gymnastics team opened its home season in style, defeating No. 2 Michigan 351.400-347.000. Freshman Steven Legendre claimed his third straight all-around title with an 85.850 and OU scored team season highs on rings (60.000), vault (63.000) and parallel bars (58.550) to earn a thrilling come-from-behind victory.
Track: OU team breaks school record
The University of Oklahoma men’s distance medley relay broke the school record in the event with a time of 9:42.35, breaking the previous record of 9:42.88 in the first day of competition at the Razorback Invitational Friday at the Arkansas’ Randal Tyson Complex. (more…)
