Wrestling: Hazewinkel wins world title
Former Oklahoma standout Sam Hazewinkel added another title to his wrestling career after winning the gold medal at the University World Championships this past weekend in Greece.
The four-time Sooner All-American downed Kazakhstan’s Yemar Ramazanov 1-2, 5-0, 5-0 in the 55 kg/121 pound finals.
Monday morning links
Back from vacation with many, many links
* Here is one blog’s opinion on how the conferences will shake out. They pick OU to win the Big 12.
* Funny. The Big 12 as attractive women here.
* Adrian Peterson, blocking back?
* Best college coaches matchups of the 2008 season.
* Assorted OU football facts from a Michigan blogger.
* Washington football fans getting ready for the Sooners.
* This blog has OU ranked No. 5 in the preseason.
Golf: Sooner named All-American scholar
Former Oklahoma golfer and current Sooner men’s golf assistant coach Phillip Bryan was named to the Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar Team by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Football: Meet the Sooners Day is August 6
The annual Meet the Sooners Day presented by Alltel has been set for Aug. 6 at the rugby fields west of the Lloyd Noble Center.
The event, which is highlighted by Oklahoma football coaches and players signing autographs, draws thousands of fans to Norman each year.
More details pertaining to this year’s event will be made available at a later date.
Members of the OG&E Sooner Kids Club are admitted to Meet the Sooners Day 30 minutes before the general public. Sooner Kids Club members will have exclusive access to autographs from 10:30-11 a.m., at which time the lines will open to all fans. One parent per Sooner Kids Club member is allowed in the early line and fans are allowed one item per person to be autographed.
Information on the OG&E Sooner Kids Club is available SoonerSports.com/kids.html. Members may register online or print an application to submit by fax or mail.
Sooner Kids Club applications must be received by Monday, August 4 at 5 p.m., for processing prior to Meet the Sooners Day. Members may also register on-site at Meet the Sooners Day. members may pick up their membership cards at this time.
Football: Nic Harris on Thorpe list
Oklahoma safety Nic Harris has been named to the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award.
Harris was a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season after recording 74 tackles and two interceptions. He also tied for second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss.
The Jim Thorpe Award Watch List is determined by analysis of the pre-season All-America teams listed in at least six pre-season annual magazines. Four points are awarded for First Team, three points for second team, two points for third and one point for fourth teams and honorable mentions. This procedure determines approximately 40 players on the pre-season watch list.
This list is not final and players who have outstanding seasons are added as the season progresses.
A screening committee of Jim Thorpe Association members follows these players throughout the season, watching games and researching sources to grade candidates on the basis of performance on the field, athletic ability and character. The committee meets on the first Monday in November to narrow the field to 10 or 12 semi-finalists.
Formal presentation of the Jim Thorpe Award takes place at ceremonies in Oklahoma City on the first Tuesday in February following the national signing date for college football recruits.
Harris is trying to become the fourth OU player to win the Thorpe Award. Rickey Dixon won it in 1987, Roy Williams in 2001 and Derrick Strait in 2003.
Women’s basketball: OU in preseason NIT
The Oklahoma Sooners headline the 16-team field for the 2008 Preseason Women’s National Invitation Tournament.
Oklahoma will host UC Riverside at the Lloyd Noble Center in the first round of the tournament Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. Central. The game falls on a bye week for OU football.
“Our participation in the Preseason WNIT affords our fans the opportunity to experience competitive women’s basketball at the highest level,” OU head women’s basketball coach Sherri Coale said.
Football: Five players on Bednarik watch list
Five Oklahoma Sooners are on the 2008 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List. The honor is presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club to college football’s outstanding defensive player.
The five OU players on the list are DE Auston English, DT DeMarcus Granger, S Nic Harris, DT Gerald McCoy and LB Ryan Reynolds.
English was a consensus All-Big 12 pick last season and an honorable mention All-American by Sports Illustrated. He ranked No. 15 nationally with 9.5 sacks, which he accumulated in just 11 games. The junior also led OU in tackles for loss with 13.
Granger was a starter in 11 games and was second-team All-Big 12. He had 35 tackles, including 8.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks. McCoy was the Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and a Sporting News Freshman All-American after racking up 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
Reynolds worked out outside linebacker last season when he registered 60 tackles and one interception. This season, the junior moves to the middle linebacker position.
The Chuck Bednarik Award has been presented since 1995 and is named in honor of Chuck Bednarik, a former University of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Eagle great. Mr. Bednarik is a member of both the College Football Hall of Fame 69’ and the NFL Hall of Fame 67’.
Oklahoma produced one previous winner of the Bednarik and that was Teddy Lehman in 2003.
Soccer: OU begins schedule Aug. 15.
The women’s soccer season for Oklahoma and first-year head coach Nicole Nelson kicks off on Friday, August 22 at Colorado College.
OU will host Stephen F. Austin on Aug. 15 in the only exhibition game on the schedule.
The 19-game slate is highlighted by 10 contests at the Sooners’ home John Crain Field at the OU Soccer Complex, including the Ford Bedlam Series on Oct. 31 against Oklahoma State.
Another Desert Holiday?
So it’s early. And college football practices remain a month away from making much sense.
Still, we’re suckers for preseason predictions, even six months in advance.
So when ESPN throws its first bowl projections up on its website, we click and scroll and react, like it means something, when, of course, it doesn’t.
So make what you will of the worldwide leader’s postseason destination for the Sooners: a third straight Fiesta Bowl.
And make what you will of the opponent: BYU.
That would mean a third straight less-than-enticing matchup, even if the Sooners haven’t been able to handle Boise State and West Virginia the previous two Januarys.
That would mean two BCS busters, Boise and BYU, who would have crashed the party on the strength of unbeaten records built on soft schedules. And even more references to the great game (Boise 43-42, OT) that just won’t stop grating on the nerves of OU fans.
It would mean something good, too, as in another Big 12 championship. But the Sooners dream bigger in 2008, with a national championship in their sights. Not the scenario here.
ESPN has Georgia and Ohio State playing for it all in the title game.
Therein lies hope.
The Buckeyes are due to lose at USC Sept. 13. The Dawgs play one of the nation’s toughest slates and frankly never seem to rise to expectations.
So click and scroll and even react, just don’t blow a gasket.
– By John Helsley
