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The story is well known.

Bob Stoops was visiting Las Vegas to recruit linebacker Ryan Reynolds at Bishop Gorman High School. While there, Stoops saw DeMarco Murray perform an amazing, acrobatic dunk in the school’s gym.

Stoops, reportedly, then and there, told Gorman coach David White (now a graduate assistant at OU) that Murray had a scholarship.

What is not widely known is what kind of dunk Murray performed that dazzled everyone so much.

According to Reynolds, who disclosed the dunk Tuesday, Murray threw the ball over the backboard and bounced it back off the wall underneath the backboard, essentially alley ooping the ball to himself before jamming it home.

“It was pretty cool,” Reynolds said. “(Coach Stoops) had a surprised look on his face.”

By Jake Trotter

Backup offensive tackle Branndon Braxton missed practice Monday with an undisclosed injury, but is expected to be back on the field Tuesday coach Bob Stoops said.

Obviously, Jon Nelson, DeMarcus Granger and Eric Mensik are out for the foreseeable future.

But otherwise, the Sooners seem to be relatively healthy heading into Big 12 play.

By Jake Trotter

For the second time this season, quarterback Sam Bradford is one of four nominees for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week. The players were selected by ESPN based on their performances over the weekend.

Bradford threw for a career high 411 yards and 4 TDs, making it his third straight game with a career-high in passing yards.

Fans can text message VOTE to 51234 on their wireless phones to opt in for the chance to vote. Fans have until 10:59 p.m. on Wednesday to submit their votes. The winner will be announced during Thursday’s ESPN College Football Primetime Presentation.

By Jake Trotter

The inevitable became official Sunday morning: The Sooners are No. 1 for the first time since the final week of the 2003 regular season.

It’s a status much deserved. Hang it on the right arm of Sam Bradford, who makes quarterbacking look so simple, making himself look more and more capable of a Heisman pose with each passing week.

Bradford threw for 411 yards against an attacking, gambling TCU defense Saturday night, producing the third-best passing day in OU history. He had 202 in the first quarter - a Sooner record - to quickly blow open a game that was supposed to be a test.

The only test remaining late Sunday night was for the voters associated with the two major polls, which were anything but unanimous.

The Sooners emerged No. 1 in both polls, but the 2-4 slots were shuffled.

The coaches were bigger believers in OU, granting the Sooners 57 of 61 first-place votes. Defending national champion LSU rolled in second, followed by Missouri and Alabama, with Texas No. 5.

AP voters were more impressed with Alabama’s decisive road win at Georgia, vaulting the Tide up six spots to No. 2, with LSU third, followed by Missouri and Texas.

Can we get to that Nov. 8, Tigers-Tide, Les Miles-Nick Saban, Bama on the Bayou game quick enough? Too rich.

Along with the Sooners, the Big 12 broke through as the big Week 5 winner, getting four teams in the top seven and six in the Top 25, as Oklahoma State entered the rankings for the first time.

Officially, it’s OU No. 1, Missouri No. 3/4, Texas No. 5, Texas Tech No. 7/8, Kansas No. 16 and OSU No. 21/22.

The Sooners play them all, except Missouri, which is likely to be waiting in the Big 12 title game.

The gunslinger’s aim will be tested. Or so we’re told.

– By John Helsley

You heard right.  

TCU student Connor Boyd is one of quarterback Sam Bradford’s best friends from Putnam City North High School. The two grew up together before starring for the Panther football team.

Boyd, an OU fan, is having to keep a low profile in Forth Worth this week.

“I have to be careful about what I say,” Boyd said. “But I will be wearing my Bradford jersey at the game.”

By Jake Trotter

Third-string tight end Eric Mensik has a broken ankle and will be out for at least a month, Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Tuesday.Mensik suffered the injury in practice during the Sooners’ open week when a teammate fell on his ankle during a blocking drill.The sophomore from Rosenberg, Texas, saw significant action in a 55-14 victory over Washington two weeks ago.Freshmen James Hanna and Trent Ratterree are expected to see more playing time during Mensik’s absence, but only in multiple tight end formations.The Sooners already have two standout tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and Brody Eldridge.“It was a bad deal. We thought Eric played well at Washington,” Wilson said. “It’s unfortunate for him, but luckily we have a little depth there.”By Jake Trotter

Defensive end Frank Alexander is not expected to play this weekend against TCU. Alexander was stabbed in the arm during a party after the Chattanooga game. He’s getting closer to being back on the practice field, but it may be at least another week. 

By Jake Trotter

I’m not a doctor and I prefer the Marriott brand, so not even the Holiday Inn Express gig works for me here. Still, I’ll take a shot at the odds of DeMarcus Granger making it back on the field this season.

Slim.

Actually, slim would be Granger’s best bet in this instance. But the big fella is, well, a big fella, 302 pounds of big on a 6-foot-2 frame. And that’s a lot of heft weighing down on that sore foot that in deciphering Bob Stoops’ description has a tendon detached from bone.

So while Granger surely wants to return and wants to hold out hope and options — and who could blame him? — chances are we’ll hear that Granger has instead opted for surgery, which is a blow to this team.

The Sooners still have three quality defensive tackles in Gerald McCoy, Adrian Taylor and Cory Bennett. But Granger was a rock inside, a hard-to-budge run stopper who clogged running lanes and occupied two blockers.

Cordero Moore now moves into the rotation, but is likely to only get a small share of Granger’s lost snaps.

The Sooners will rely more on a three-man rotation going forward.

– By John Helsley