Three Sooners not suited up…
Defensive end John Williams, offensive tackle Phil Loadholt and wide receiver Ryan Broyles have not been spotted on the field warming up with the rest of the team.
What does this mean?
Who knows. But Bob Stoops said earlier in the week that he would be handing out suspensions.
On that note, defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, who was suspended for the Fiesta Bowl after getting arrested in Arizona, is in uniform and warming up with the rest of the defensive line.
-By Jake Trotter
Sooners hold Vegas’ respect
Scanning ESPN’s college football coverage, found this interesting stat from a Pat Forde piece:
Oklahoma has been favored in 20 straight games.
Only LSU under Les Miles holds a longer streak with the boys in Vegas, with the Tigers tapped as the favorite in 21 straight.
For the record, the Sooners went 16-4 in the role, the Tigers 19-2.
But barring a key injury to, say, Sam Bradford, OU figures to fly on by LSU in the role of streaking favorite this fall. The Sooners will be giving points in every game this season, only coming in question perhaps in a bowl game.
LSU, the defending national champion, remains a formidable force even after significant losses to the NFL and the insertion of a Harvard-transfer at quarterback. But at some point, perhaps soon – with Sept. 20 at Auburn a possibility – the Tigers will find themselves as underdogs. If not at Auburn, then maybe at Florda on Oct. 11, or home against Georgia Oct. 25.
So what’s the significance?
Hey, they’re not painting the back side of OU’s fancy new video board with news of the favorite’s streak. It’s a line in newspaper’s small print, or the picks box that runs in the paper now each Thursday.
But it’s also a sign of ultimate respect. The Big 12 is a bugger of a league and these are volatile times in college football. To be favored 20 straight weeks, at home and on the road speaks of respect.
Respect among the people whose job it is to know.
– By John Helsley
Boone Pickens
T. Boone Pickens was just on MSNBC with Tom Brokaw, live from the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Pickens is there to promote his wind energy plan.
While introducing him, Brokaw said, “Having T. Boone Pickens at the Democratic National Convention is like having an Oklahoma State Cowboy at an Oklahoma Sooner homecoming.”
By Jake Trotter
Game day info
From OU Sports Info:
NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma opens its 2008 football season this Saturday when the Sooners host Tennessee-Chattanooga. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m., in Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
As more than 80,000 descend on Norman, officials in the OU Athletics Department encourage individuals to plan ahead. The official web site for Oklahoma Athletics, SoonerSports.com, contains most of what any fan might need in the way of information. It is similar to the information presented here …
Mocs raking in the dough
For those who are wondering, Tennessee-Chattanooga will be making $375,000 guaranteed from Oklahoma plus a travel expense of $100,000 for playing in Norman on Saturday, athletic director Joe Castiglione said Tuesday.
While that may seem like a lot, $475k is actually just a little above the norm for playing Football Championship Subdivision schools.
The Sooners got locked into playing TC when Middle Tennessee backed out of a verbal agreement to play in Norman. MT got a better deal from Mississippi State, which agreed to play a home and home.
By Jake Trotter
Tuesday’s OU links
* Kansas City Star ranks OU No. 5.
* Coach Stoops talks after Monday’s practice.
* Someone is predicting an unbeaten OU season and a national title.
* This just in – you must draft Adrian Peterson.
* Crimson and Creme Machine breaks down the OU offensive line – and the dictionary.
OU photo of the day
Thought we’d share some good photos from the archive from time to time.
He’s one of Adrian Peterson from OU’s trip to the Holiday Bowl a few years back.
Howard Schnellenberger’s comments on video
First, he was quoted as calling Texas soft by the campus newspaper.
Then, he said those weren’t his comments. Finally, this crazy story can be put to rest. Here’s a link to what Florida Atlantic coach Howard Schnellenberger actually said. Thanks to the Palm Beach Post:
By the way, Texas opens up with FAU this weekend.
By Jake Trotter
Check out the “Herbie’s”
From ESPN.com, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit’s annual “Herbie Awards:”
DeMarco Murray, Jermaine Gresham, Duke Robinson, Ryan Reynolds, Sam Bradford, Auston English, DeMarcus Granger, Chris Brown, Kevin Wilson all hitting the board (Did I leave anyone out?)
Enjoy.
By Jake Trotter
Catching up with Big Moe
Former Sooner Moe Dampeer has resurfaced again, this time at Northwest Missouri State.
From the Maryville (Mo.) Daily Forum, discussing the team’s new players:
There’s also Lawrence “Moe” Dampeer. Dampeer saw significant playing time on the defensive line for the Oklahoma Sooners as a freshman. The problem is that was four years and a lot of pounds ago.
Dampeer hasn’t played ball for a few years, last playing for Joliet Junior College in 2005. Although listed at 375, Dampeer is likely much closer to 450 and isn’t ready to play a complete game.
Still, he’s already shown amazing foot speed and lateral movement for a guy his size. Once he’s ready to go, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with and will surely demand double, if not triple teams.
“Moe (Lawrence Dampeer) is a conditioning thing,” Tjeerdsma said. “He’ll make a few plays, but he can’t sustain anything right now.
“That’s why you scrimmage. That’s why you do these things.”
By Jake Trotter
