Bob Stoops is looking forward to his 9th season as coach of Oklahoma and after last year’s debacles, is probably ready to get this thing started. The losses of Rhett Bomar, Adrian Peterson and against Oregon and Boise State made every fan find last year forgettable despite being the Big 12 champion. It also made them drunk - very drunk.
While Stoops’ appeal to ban trick plays has been denied, he still has much to look forward to this year. He leads a talented team versus a favorable schedule. Miami, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, and Missouri all come to Norman. But they still have the stigma of faltering in their bowl games. The Sooners have had their fair share of shit sandwiches the past 4 years and I heard from a good source “they are tired of eating shit.”
Team: University of Oklahoma Sooners
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Stadium: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium at Owen Field Capacity – 82, 112
Coach: Bob Stoops
2006 Record/Finish: 11-3 Big 12 Champions. Lost to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.
2007 H2DN Prediction: Texas game is a tossup, OU should win every other game.
Top Returners: Malcolm Kelly (WR) and Allen Patrick (RB)
A great WR and an even better freestyler.
Biggest Losses: Paul Thompson, Adrian Peterson and Rufus Alexander.
ESPN Incessant Talking Point: The Sooners headed into the off-season with no clear cut QB – and it looks like nothing will be decided until the start of the season. Early enrollee Keith Nichol has the strongest arm and the best running ability but is still very young and was working with a limited playbook. Sam Bradford (RS Freshman) has shown some ability in the spring. Junior college transfer Joey Halzle (Junior) was recruited to serve as a backup will now be thrust into the competition. Regardless of who wins it, their job will be to not lose the game as there are proven players all across both sides of the ball.
Key Off-season Event: For the pessimist: The NCAA, in their typical swift and timely manner, handed out the punishment to Oklahoma for failure to monitor. Rhett Bomar and JD Quinn received improper benefits making them ineligible for the 2005 season. As a result, the wins from 2005 are vacated (nor forfeited), probation extended 2 years until 2010, and a loss of a couple scholarships.
For the optimist: Demarco Murray (RS Freshman) had a major spring after he was straddled with turf toe for the majority of last year. He rushed for 327 yards on 29 carries (11.3 YPC) in the spring scrimmages. He has great quickness and will get some looks in the slot due to his natural receiving ability.
Additional Notes: 18 starters return this year including last year’s Lou Graza Finalist Garrett Hartley. Hartley was 19-20
Malcolm Kelly leads a WR group returning the top 5 pass catchers from last year. Last year he caught 62 passes for 993 yards (16.0 YPC) but suffered an injury early in the Fiesta Bowl. He has missed most of the off-season but this injury should not slow him down. Jermaine Gresham (Sophomore) had some huge catches last year and is making fans give sacrifices to the TE God in order he receive more touches.
5 players who all shared some starting time return from a very good offensive line unit. Although two of last years starters may not end up on the line due to the depth that Oklahoma finally has, as other players have emerged. Namely junior college behemoth Phil Loadholdt.. Depth nor talent will not be a problem for the first time in several years.
The secondary also returns in its entirety although changes will be made. Reggie Smith started at SS last year but is being moved to his more natural position, CB. In the time when Reggie played CB last year, he looked like the lockdown corner he has always been projected as. FS Darrien Williams is going to miss the first part of the season but standout NB starter last year Nic Harris looks to be a viable, if not better, replacement. The SS safety will be DJ Wolfe’s who started out as a RB before moving to CB for 2 years.
Fun Facts: Projected starting LB Ryan Reynolds 5-time National Judo champion.
Boise is a city, not a state.
