After being off for a week due to Spring Break, the Sooners are back on the practice field. They will have their second team scrimmage this coming Saturday, following the three practices this week. Friday’s practice will mark the 9th practice out the 15 they are allotted.

Coach Stoops was on KREF Sportstalk 1400 yesterday with Dusty Dvoracek and Teddy Lehman, discussing progress of team. He mentioned that Stacy McGee has missed a few practices and in typical Stoops fashion, did not mention why. He also got to drop one of his favorite words, “special” when mentioning Trey Metoyer, saying he is very impressed with how well and how quickly he has found his place. He praised his brother Mike’s return and saying the transition back into Norman has gone very well, obviously.

He also said that Coach Kish is fitting in well, and the players are taking to him nicely. He mentioned Corey Nelson and Aaron Franklin as possible leaders to take over with Travis Lewis’ departure. On replacing Ryan Broyles, he said he doesn’t necessarily think they will have a go-to guy, but will be utilizing everyone more often. As Teddy and Dusty mentioned, it is a very positive thing to hear Stoops praise the younger guys and hearing that they are stepping up in effort.

In related news, Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium may be getting a face-lift in the near future. The University of Oklahoma board of regents is scheduled to vote on an improvement plan Thursday morning, which would include improvements to East side suites, the Kerr McGee Stadium Club and the Santee Lounge. No word on whether or not they are ever going to close off the South endzone side; which would be logical. If the improvements are approved, which they are expected to be without question, they will be completed between the 2012-2013 seasons.

For all those that are football deprived, the Sooners kicked off Spring Ball Monday. And as always Stoops held his press conference to give his two-cents on the way things will go down.

Stoops’ Presser Tidbits:

Casey Walker, Aaron Colvin, Tom Wort and Ben Habern are out of Spring practices to continue to heal from on-going injuries. Dom Whaley has made progress and is healing well, he will be out all of Spring ball as well. Jaz Reynolds has been cleared for a couple weeks and is back to full strength.

When the running game improves, will not be using the Belldozer package as much. Is very confident and has faith in Blake Bell’s ability to throw the ball. (What about Landry’s?)

Lane Johnson will be moving to left tackle, and Darryl Williams will be moving over to the right. He is really impressed over kicker Michael Hunicutt’s improvement over the off-season. He is also very impressed with R.J. Washington and is ready for him to take on a leadership role with the Sooners defense.

Stoops’ is hoping the Sooners and the Big XII night games are allocated more evenly, the prime time schedule wore him out. (Me too)

Joking about Mike, “I’m feeling a little insecure, his picture was in the paper the other day, and mine wasn’t.”

Stoops is a fan of the possibility that the BCS will turn to a four-team playoff system. “As long as everyone knows the rules going in.”

As always, Stoops was candid and seems to be excited to be back at it. He did mention (jokingly) that if coaching didn’t work out, he would take up golf. He had a great time playing in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The Spring schedule is as follows:

The Sooners will take the field later on Monday afternoon. Spring is in the air, and so is football.

Coach Bob Stoops and Former Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez at Spring Practice

It was football day in Norman yesterday. Beautiful weather, wonderful scenery and of course the Sooners playing football.

There are still a lot of questions to be answered about who will rightfully own which position come Fall, but there were quite a few stand-outs.

I don’t know if it was the picture perfect Spring weather or not, but the crowd yesterday was somewhat lethargic. That is until a surprise breakout run from a walk-on running back.

Yes a walk on. Dom Whaley wowed the crowd with a 40 yard run yesterday. I know I was asking myself who the heck this kid was. Whaley had 10 carries and a total of 65 yards. More than any of the other running backs I was anxious to see. The RB spot is wide open at this point, though I still feel it will fall into the hands of Roy Finch, who did well behind DeMarco Murray last season.

» Continue reading “Spring Game, the Aftermath”