Courtney Gardner: The many travels of a JUCO standout the Sooners swiped from Arkansas
News that California junior college wide receiver Courtney Gardner signed with Oklahoma can’t be sitting too well with Arkansas. First the Hogs lost out on the nation’s top prep receiver (Dorial Green-Beckham) to Missouri. Then, in Gardner, they lost the nati0n’s top JUCO pass catcher to the Sooners.
But its cause to celebrate in the Sooner coaching offices. Co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell has restocked his receiving corps quite well.
Here’s the receivers on the OU roster before classes were in session: Kenny Stills, Jaz Reynolds, Trey Franks and Kameel Jackson. That’s it.
Here’s the receiving corps Norvell and the Sooners since have signed:
– Trey Metoyer, perhaps the nation’s top receiving recruiting last year, returns to Norman from Hargrave Military Academy as the top prep school recruit. The five-star recruit probably has a different perspective on campus life now, having worn a military uniform to class last fall.
– Duron Neal of St. Louis spent his prep career playing in DGB shadow and comes to Norman with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, looking to prove he’s underrated — hence the Twitter handle @UnderratedNeal. Norvell calls him a student of Sooner football history and one of the favorite kids he’s ever recruited.
– Those of us who have watched Sterling Shepard’s career and know his background wonder if Norvell wasn’t actually talking about the Heritage Hall star, who signed Wednesday. Norvell made it clear in his segment on OU’s signing day webcast that he was looking for ways to the ball in the hands of late Sooner receiver Derrick Shepard soon.
– Derrick Woods of Inglewood, Calif. grew up just blocks from the Fabulous Forum, former home of the Los Angeles Lakers. Norvell enjoyed talking about Woods’ Los Angeles roots, and holding off a late charge from USC to sign him.
– And then there’s Gardner, who along with fellow juco standout Damien Williams (a running back from Arizona Western) provided the Sooners with a couple pleasant signing day surprises.
Norvell said when he was in the NFL for six years as an assistant he spent time looking for receivers like Gardner, a 6-foot-3, 215-pounder with speed. The guy was a state champion in the long jump (25-7) and triple jump (48-6). Other measurables: 10.67 100 meters, 21.4 200 meters, 315 bench, 425 squats.
You can watch him in action in the video above.
And after watching him and seeing Norvell’s words its natural to wonder what a guy like that is doing at Roseville (Calif.) Sierra Community College. Academic eligibility issues usually play a role for juco standouts. In Gardner’s case, the impact of Hurricane Katrina can’t be dismissed in his travels, which took him from Louisiana, to Reno, Nev., to prep school in North Carolina to the northwest outskirts of Sacramento and now, apparently, to Norman, Oklahoma.
Beyond signing day, this is the kind of story we like to tell in The Oklahoman and on NewsOK. Looking forward to learning more about Courtney Gardner.
Dorial Green-Beckham signs with Missouri
Not even the most optimistic Sooner fan started today thinking OU had any chance of signing Dorial Green-Beckham today. And it’s only worth mentioning here because there was a time a month ago when it looked like OU was running strong in the race for the nation’s top receiving recruit.
But the son of Springfield, Mo., has decided to stay close to home, picking Missouri over Arkansas, Texas — and yes, Oklahoma. He made his announcement this morning at his high school.
Apparently, the “MIZ-DGB” chants worked.
Game notes from OU’s 58-17 win at K-State
Oklahoma Sooners' Landry Jones (12) throws the ball during the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Kansas State University Wildcats (KSU) at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011. in Manhattan, Kan. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman.
Thought we’d share the University of Oklahoma’s sports information department’s game notes from the Sooners’ 58-17 victory at Kansas State:
GAME NOTES
• Oklahoma leads the series, 71-14-4, including a 35-10 advantage in games played in Manhattan. The Sooners own a five-game winning streak in the series, which includes three games in Manhattan.
• OU has 23 sacks in last four games and today’s seven marked the sixth straight road or neutral game that OU had at least three sacks in a game. The Sooners finished with 10 tackles for loss, the third time this season to have double-digit tackles for loss. In addition, OU did not allow a sack for the third straight game.
• Today’s 58-point performance marked the 35th time (third this season) that the Sooners have scored 50 or more points under head coach Bob Stoops. It also marked the third highest score recorded by OU in Manhattan (59 in 1987 and 75 in 1971). It marks the most points scored on the road by the Sooners since the 61-41 victory at Oklahoma State in 2008.
• OU racked up a season-high 690 yards of total offense, the fourth time this season to eclipse 600.
• Ryan Broyles (171 yards) and Kenny Stills (101 yards) gave OU its second game this season with two receivers over 100 yards (Broyles and Jaz Reynolds vs. Ball State). OU has duplicated the feat 11 times in school history, nine under head coach Bob Stoops.
LANDRY JONES
• Jones finished with 505 yards passing, a school record and record by an opposing player at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. It surpassed the record held by Jones (468 versus Oklahoma State in 2010) and Sam Bradford (468 versus Kansas in 2008). It marked the fourth time this season and eighth in his career that he surpassed 400 yards passing, both marks are OU records.
• With five passing touchdowns today, Landry Jones has 90 in his career and broke Sam Bradford’s (2007-09) school record of 88. Jones already owned the school marks for passing yards and completions in a career.
• It marked Jones’ sixth straight game with three or more passing touchdowns. He has 24 in that six-game span. It was the sixth game of his career with five or more TDs and third this season.
RYAN BROYLES
• Ryan Broyles broke the Big 12 record for career receiving yards with 171 yards today, passing the previous record of 4,414 yards set by Oklahoma State’s Rashaun Woods (2000-03). Broyles has 4,499 yards in his career and he had previously set the Big 12 career records for receptions and receiving touchdowns along with his NCAA career receptions record. The total ranks third all-time in the FBS history behind Wyoming’s Marcus Harris with 4,518 yards (1993-96) and the 5,005 yards by Nevada’sTrevor Insley (1996-99).
• With 171 receiving yards today, Broyles posted the 23rd game of his career (sixth this season) with 100 or more yards. Broyles has 100-plus yards receiving in 19 of his last 25 games.
• The 14 catches also marked the 13th game with double-digit receptions (fourth this season).
• Broyles moved into second all-time in all-purpose yards with 5,891 moving past Joe Washington (5,881) and behind DeMarco Murray’s (6,718).
DEJUAN MILLER
• Dejuan Miller hauled in his second career touchdown reception in Saturday’s game. Miller’s other touchdown also came against Kansas State in 2009.
JAZ REYNOLDS
• Jaz Reynolds had his second straight game with a receiving touchdown with two on Saturday. It was the first multi-TD of his career. Reynolds has four career touchdowns, all recorded in 2011.
MICHAEL HUNNICUTT
• Michael Hunnicutt’s 53-yard field goal to end the first half was a career high and the longest by a Sooner since Garrett Hartley’s 53-yarder in 2007 against Utah State. It marks the longest under head coach Bob Stoops and the seventh longest in school history. Hunnicutt’s kick was also the 22nd field goal in OU history of 50 or more yards. His previous best was a 44-yard field goal against Ball State.
KENNY STILLS
• Kenny Stills finished with his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and his career.
BY THE NUMBERS
55,004
The game’s attendance at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
505
Landry Jones finished with 505 yards passing, a school record and record by an opposing player at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
61
Trey Millard had a 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter was a career long. His previous best was a 14-yard rush against Missouri this season.
23
The Sooners have 23 of their 34 sacks on the season in the last four games. OU has recorded a sack in all but one game this season (Ball State).
19
The Sooners have scored in double digits in 19 of the 32 quarters played this year (59 percent).
12
Junior DT Stacy Mcgee wore the No. 12 jersey in honor of Austin Box.
8
Today’s game marked the eighth time that OU and KSU were both ranked.
2
Tom Wort and Corey Nelson each had a career-high two sacks.
1
Redshirt freshman QB Blake Bell scored the first touchdown of his career on a one-yard rush in the first quarter.
—————————————
CRAIG MORAN
University of Oklahoma | Assistant Director Athletics Communications
Baseball & soccer contact
McClendon Center for Intercollegiate Athletics
180 W. Brooks Street, Suite 2525 | Norman, OK 73019
O: 405-325-6449 | F: 405-325-7623
cmoran@ou.edu | SoonerSports.com
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The Bob Stoops face: The picture that’s worth three points and 1,000 words
The look on Bob Stoops' face as Jimmy Stevens kicked a line-drive that gave OU a 23-13 lead late in its victory over Florida State.
What were you thinking when Oklahoma kicker Jimmy Stevens booted that clinching field goal in the Sooners’ 23-13 win at Florida State? Look at Bob Stoops’ face and tell me what you think he was thinking.
Mike Sherman
Sports Editor
email: msherman@opubco.com
Twitter: @MikeSherman
Survey: OU fans root for OSU, too; Apparently he’s not in the 45 percent
Alex Williams, 12, of Norman throws a football before the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tulsa University Hurricanes (TU) at the Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
Remember that survey that showed 45 percent of Oklahoma Sooners fans root for Oklahoma State, too? Remember, the phone survey was of 650 ADULTS. Apparently whomever bought this lad the shirt was not among them.
I got some flack for being surprised by that statistic, but not from all corners. A couple OU Gameday veterans estimated 60 percent of the crowd routinely cheers when a score update with OSU trailing or losing is announced. Our man Berry Tramel insists that’s overstated, saying they may be louder by they’re not more numerous.
– Mike Sherman, Sports Editor
Twitter: @MikeSherman
email: msherman@opubco.com
College football’s best headwear: Schooner or Hog hat
Cade Kimzey, 12, left, Luke Peters, 8, and Max Peters, 11, of Tulsa wait in line at the Fan Fest before the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Tulsa University Hurricanes (TU) at the Gaylord Family-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman ORG XMIT: KOD
I’m going with the Hog hat, just not this one (see below).
Bill Clinton, in better days?
– Mike Sherman, Sports Editor
Twitter: @MikeSherman
Email: msherman@opubco.com
OU football tallies impact of 75 consecutive home sellouts
Fans shout at the end of the national anthem before the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners ( OU) and the Air Force Falcons at the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
Kenny Mossman, OU’s head of sports information, has tallied the impact of the streak and put it into some historical context:
* A total of 6,026,578 have attended the first 74 games in the streak.
* The average number of fans to attend the games during the streak is 81,444.
* The largest crowd to see a game was 85,646 for the 2008 OU-Texas Tech contest.
* OU is 72-2 at home during the streak, and has won its last 36 in a row.
* As of Saturday, 73 of the 75 games will have been played against FBS competition.
* The streak mirrors Bob Stoops’ tenure, which began with a 49-0 win over Indiana State on Sept. 11, 1999.
* During that time, the stadium’s capacity has grown from 72,726 to 82,112 (+9,386).
* Average attendance has grown from 74,664 in 1999 to 84,738 last season.
When the Streak Began in 1999 …
* Bill Clinton was president.
* Frank Keating was governor of Oklahoma.
* The Euro was just being introduced.
* The population of Norman was 87,750. Today it’s close to 111,000.
* The Dow Jones Industrial average closed at more than 11,000 for the first time ever.
* National unemployment was at 5.8 percent.
* The national debt was around $4 trillion.
* Oklahoma had recently endured the most powerful tornado ever measured (May 3).
* The Space Shuttle Discovery completed the first docking with the International Space Station.
* The Y2K scare was in full swing.
* Cell phones included internet browsing for the first time (the public knew nothing of Iphone, Ipod or Ipad).
* Anheuser-Busch introduced the “Whassup” commercial.
* “Shakespeare in Love” won the Oscar for best movie, but “Fight Club” was the top grossing film.
* “Who wants to be a Millionaire” was the top-rated television show.
* The six billionth human was born.
* Michael Jordan announced his first retirement from basketball.
* The Spurs beat the Knicks, 4-1, in the NBA finals.
* Andre Aggasi won the US Open in men’s tennis.
* The top pop hit was “All Star” by Smash Mouth.
* The top country hit was “Man, I Feel Like a Woman” by Shania Twain.
* The average national price for a gallon of gas was $1.17.
Are the OU Sooners a big tease?
Are the Oklahoma Sooners setting their fans up for another big disappointment? ESPN’s Pat Forde seems to think so. He’s labeled OU one of college football’s biggest tease.
“Yeah, I said it. Oklahoma hasn’t lived up to national contender status in recent years,” Forde writes. “It wouldn’t know how to go through life tethered to an underdog’s leash. The Sooners are accustomed to being favored in at least 11 games a year — and this season they could definitely be favored in all of them. But they always seem to lose a big game somewhere along the line, usually on the road.”
Apparently, Forde thinks the OU-Florida State game on Sept. 17 is the Tease Bowl. Check out who else Forde thinks is is a tease.
Lon Kruger’s first non-conference schedule as OU basketball coach
Here it is, folks: Oklahoma’s non-conference basketball schedule. Not a lot to be excited about, though the dates with Cincinnati and at the Anaheim tournament could produce something worth watching.
2011 OU Men’s Basketball Non-Conference Schedule
Tuesday Nov. 1 Northeastern State (Okla.) [Exhibition]
Sunday Nov. 6 Washburn [Exhibition]
Friday Nov. 11 Idaho State
Friday Nov. 18 Coppin State
Thursday Nov. 24 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.)
Friday Nov. 25 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.)
Sunday Nov. 27 76 Classic (Anaheim, Calif.)
Friday Dec. 2 Sacramento State
Thursday Dec. 8 Oral Roberts
Saturday Dec. 10 Arkansas
Saturday Dec. 17 vs. Houston (All-College Classic; Oklahoma City)
Wednesday Dec. 21 South Carolina State
Thursday Dec. 29 at Cincinnati (at U.S. Bank Arena)
Saturday Dec. 31 Northwestern State (La.)
More to come on this.
OU athletes to perform in Sooners Got Talent Show
OU's James Winchester (86) celebrates after recovering a fumbled punt return by Aaron Williams (4) of Texas late in the fourth quarter by during the Red River Rivalry college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Texas Longhorns (UT) at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, in Dallas, Texas. OU won, 28-20. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman.
Apparently recovering fumbles isn’t Oklahoma deep snapper James Winchester’s only hidden talent. Winchester, a senior-to-be walkon from Washington, will be among the OU student-athletes who will perform in the Sooners Got Talent Show at 7 p.m. Monday, April 18 at the Reynolds Performing Arts Center on the OU Campus.
Winchester’s dance performance is among the scheduled acts that also include women’s golfer Mariah Montoya, who will sing and play the guitar. A dance-off between the men’s and women’s tennis teams and a dance performance by the wrestling team is also secheduled.
A special performance will be presented by former Sooner football player Brian Lepak, who brought down the house last year with his rendition of Billy Paul’s hit, Me and Mrs. Jones. Last year’s winner was men’s golfer Chris Wilson, who performed a piano solo.
Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased in advance from the OU Athletics Ticket Office on the west side of Gaylord Family–Oklahoma Memorial Stadium or the night of the event. OU students with a current university ID and children ages 5 and younger will be admitted free.
Proceeds from the Sooners Got Talent will benefit the Children’s Hospital at the OU Medical Center.
– Mike Sherman
