Highlights from Stoops ESPN tour
OU coach Bob Stoops flew to Bristol, Conn., conducting 14 interviews Thursday over a four-hour period on television, radio and the internet. Highlights from Stoops’ ESPN tour:
Alabama’s Nick Saban is prohibiting NFL scouts from attending practice: “We’re considering it,” Stoops said. “Something has to change. Not everybody, but sometimes agents are getting their information on young players from somebody, usually from scouts. In the end it’s being used against you. Hopefully we’ll get some cooperation through the NFL. There needs to be sanctions against these agents and players even after they’ve left college.”
Why not install a playoff system: “I’ve been on the fence where a playoff would be better. But in the end it’s not as feasible or as easy as everybody wants to make it sound. I saw the poll. The players still like the bowls. If the playoffs come the bowls will go away. It’s very naive to think they can coexist. That will not happen. In the end I don’t see it happening, the time restraints, travel issues. Let’s face it. What’s wrong with college football right now? The attendance doesn’t say so. It’s never been better. Maybe outside of the NFL it’s the leading sport.”
Controlling illegal activities: “People are naive if they think you know everything that is going on. It’s impossible (to know everything), especially if anyone is intentionally going to be deceitful or is hiding something. We do a lot of educating, not just Oklahoma but around the country… But if someone chooses to do something wrong there’s no way a coach can know.”
Playing a tough schedule: “Four games in a row we have Florida State, Air Force, which is coming off a big bowl win, go to Cincinnati, then Texas. That’s really tough. It’s really challenging. I always say it’s great as long as you win and you don’t get your quarterback hurt. Anything other than that everyone ends up saying, ‘Well you shouldn’t have played it’ or you’re penalized (by losing). It’s tough. It’s challenging. It is what it is. We’ll go play it.”
Criticism at a high profile program: “You’re going to have your times it isn’t the best or somebody has something to say that’s not very flattering or is hurtful. In the end you have to be thick skinned and understand that comes with the territory. I’m OK with that. Heck, we’ve been criticized for the way we win, let alone when we lose.”
Talk of moving to the Pac 16: “When it seemed inevitable it was going to happen I was fairly excited about it thinking of West Coast opportunities to recruit. Great traditions and schools out West. But as it settled down, we are a 10-team league, that’s OK, too. In the end the Pac 10 and Big Ten have been operating for 100 years with 10 teams. Look at us and Texas over the last 10 years we’ve played in the national championship game multiple times. We still have a strong product and it will be an exciting league.”
Have modern day kids changed?: “In some ways they haven’t. In other ways, they sometimes feel a little more entitled and sometimes expect too much to be given to them instead of earning it.”
Following ex players in the NFL: “You do the best you can,” Stoops said. “Different people fill you in on how well someone did. You don’t get to see many games because of all our preparation. But we’ll be paying attention to Sam Bradford and all these guys. It’s unusual when they’re playing against each other. You really can’t root for one or the other. You just want to see your guys do well.”
Two-minute drill
Stoops said defensive tackle Adrian Taylor “hopefully” will be 100 percent by the third or fourth game… The secondary and offensive line “are both a concern but I feel good and positive the direction they’ve been going.”
On a picture of Stoops wearing a boot, Stoops said: “I’m getting old. I’ve got a bad Achilles. Just protecting it.”… Asked if he has a lucky visor, Stoops said: “I have a different one, different years. I’m not superstitious.”… Stoops prefers charcoal over propane.
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