OU Spring Football

[TulsaWorld]

It's already that time of year, and Lincoln Riley had his spring preview press conference Thursday.

Lincoln Riley’s list of “firsts” as a head coach is finally drawing to a close.

Oklahoma’s football coach will guide the program through spring football beginning Saturday and culminating with the April 14 spring game.

Riley, who was promoted last June, said there won’t be a major overhaul from the Bob Stoops era on how spring football is organized.

“I would say a lot of base core values of the program were in a great place and were things that I believe in myself and were part of the way coach Stoops had it set up,” Riley said. “Probably more subtle changes. In everything, you find things where we’re going to do it a little different here for this reason or that reason. That’s what we think this program needs right now. We haven’t been shy about changing those things. Our players would probably tell you there’s a lot and it probably feels like a lot to them.”

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More notes from the presser on injuries, depth chart, etc. here

 

[TulsaWorld]

If you can't wait till Thursday's basketball game, here some spring football content to tide you over:

OU football: Austin Kendall won't make quarterback competition bigger than it is'

OU football notebook: Lincoln Riley says newcomers 'didn't look like high school players'

OU football: Bill Bedenbaugh offers some perspective on Orlando Brown’s rough NFL combine

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Thank you!

:OU-logo:

 

[TulsaWorld]

Thank you!

:OU-logo:

You're welcome... how bout a few more?

OU football: Rodney Anderson's focus? "Trying to help my team win a national championship"

OU Football: Here are the 19 players participating in Oklahoma's Pro Day

OU football: Lincoln Riley "very interested" to see what redshirt freshman Levi Draper does this spring

 

[TulsaWorld]

Both Eric Bailey and Cody Stavenhagen were very active on Twitter today between the OU Pro Day in Norman and NCAA tournament practice in Pittsburgh. Highly recommend following them both, or at least seeing the videos/photos/quotes they tweeted out from the events today.

Here's the latest spring football headlines:
OU football: Mike Stoops hopes youth movement on defense sparks improvement

OU football notebook: Linebacker Caleb Kelly played final 11 games of 2017 with pain from torn labrum

 

[TulsaWorld]

OU football: On the mend after shoulder surgery, Caleb Kelly embracing switch to weakside linebacker

“Playing the WILL full time, I’d like that for sure,” said Kelly, who is missing spring drills following offseason shoulder surgery. “Coming off the field when we were in nickel, I hated doing that even though I felt at times I needed that rest. I feel like sometimes I had it going and I want to continue playing. I’m excited about it.”

 

[TulsaWorld]

Oklahoma has found a new home for statues of its legendary coaches.

OU announced that statues of Bennie Owen, Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer will be plotted south of Memorial Stadium. It’s expected that Bob Stoops’ statue will be unveiled during events surrounding the April 14 spring football game.

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

What defensive coordinator held Sooners to lowest home scoring output in 12 years? Bob Diaco, OU's new defensive analyst:

“You can tell the kids are always in the right position and rarely make mental mistakes and play hard,” Riley said following Monday’s practice. “His guys did that at Notre Dame. They were outright dominant defensively for several years. He always caught my eye that way. And then we had some mutual friends in the business. But actually, we had never met until this thing came around. We might have met in pregame before (an East Carolina-UConn game in 2014) quickly. But we knew he had a great reputation.”

How good were Diaco’s defenses at Notre Dame? The Irish handcuffed OU in a 30-13 win at Memorial Stadium in the 2012 season. It’s the Sooners’ lowest scoring output at home in the past dozen years. OU did gain revenge by winning 35-21 at Notre Dame in 2013.

Diaco, 45, can’t make off-campus recruiting visits or coach on the field, but he’ll provide valuable insight for the Sooners.

“(Defensive analysts) do a lot of work behind the scenes. Everyone uses them different ways. Some people use them as go-fers, some people use them as guys to input data and get the busy work ready,” Riley said. “Guys like him who have more experience you’ll use him for more big-picture ideas. Out here he can’t do as much, but in our staff room he’ll be like another full-time coach in there.”

 

[TulsaWorld]

NORMAN – Oklahoma revealed its plans for the April 14 spring football game on Tuesday afternoon.

It will be a look at the program’s possible future (numerous recruits will be visiting) with a nod toward the past (a morning dedication of the Bob Stoops’ statue). There will also be a pregame concert by country music performer Trace Adkins.

Lincoln Riley has been pointed to the spring game for weeks now with a goal of a capacity stadium. Following Monday’s practice, Riley told the Tulsa World just how important this day is for the program’s future.

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

OWASSO – Aaron Colvin described how strong college football allegiances are in NFL locker rooms.

“It’s crazy. Everybody is huge fans of their schools. There’s a lot of arguing, a lot of fighting, a lot of betting,” Colvin said, adding a laugh. “It’s all good. It’s all for the love of college football. There’s nothing like college football.”

Colvin returned to his hometown on Wednesday morning to speak to Owasso eighth graders in conjunction with Junior Achievement. He’ll also speak to Tulsa Public Schools students during the afternoon.

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

Former Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops went back to school Tuesday.

The former Sooner boss was seen at the University of Iowa practice facility.

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

Guerin Emig: NFL star Aaron Colvin helps lift Tulsa-area junior high schoolers 'out of the mud'

Aaron Colvin, who just signed a $32 million contract to play football for the Houston Texans, looked at the auditorium full of Will Rogers seventh and eighth graders Wednesday morning and told them: “Guys, we literally have to get it out of the mud. You guys that grow up here in the 918? That are from here? We got to get it out of the mud. We have to literally push our way through.”

Colvin knows. He’s from Tulsa, the 918. Resources and conditions in our schools weren’t too clean when he moved here from Nashville 14 years ago. They are muddier now.

The lives of seventh and eighth graders, with their hormones, cliques and insecurities, are even muddier. Colvin is 26, but he knows. He remembers.

 

[TulsaWorld]

OU Football: What's led to Calvin Thibodeaux's recruiting success? Text, Twitter, FaceTime and a savvy head coach

NORMAN - Oklahoma’s Calvin Thibodeaux was named one of Rivals’ top 25 recruiters nationally during the 2018 cycle.

Thibodeaux was credited by Rivals for nabbing key recruits Michael Thompson, Ron Tatum, Ronnie Perkins, Jalen Redmond and Jordan Kelley.

OU’s defensive ends coach was humble when asked about the honor.

 

[TulsaWorld]

Creating a new standard is main goal for Sooners defensive line

NORMAN — Amani Bledsoe says Oklahoma’s defense had plenty of meetings between the Rose Bowl loss to Georgia and the start of spring football.

The College Football Playoff semifinal setback left a bruise. The Bulldogs rushed for 317 yards (averaging 9.3 yards per carry) en route to a 54-48 double-overtime win.

The Bulldogs owned the point of attack and left lingering questions entering the offseason.

 

[TulsaWorld]

Quarterback competition has much different feel than 2015's Mayfield-Knight-Thomas race

NORMAN — Oklahoma’s current quarterback competition is much different than 2015.

Lincoln Riley’s reign as offensive coordinator was just weeks old when Baker Mayfield, Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas battled for the vacant position.

“At that point, they were so hungry to learn it was like having a bunch of piranhas in the meeting room. They just wanted to soak up as much as they could learn as fast as they could,” Riley said of the race, which was won by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Mayfield.

Lincoln Riley praises defense in spring scrimmage (and admits his field goal video took more than one try)

The most interesting thing to come out of Saturday might have involved the OU defense.

“There was some back and forth early,” Riley said. “Defense, certainly in the second half of it, dominated the scrimmage. I thought we did some good things on that side of the ball. We have been creating some different turnovers, which has been good to see. We had a few more playmakers over there right now, maybe. We have some guys that are just creating some havoc and making things tough for offense. And when they get the opportunity to make some plays … it feels like more offensively when our guys make a mistake, they are paying for it, which is what good defenses do.”

Riley said a little true competition has already made a difference in practice.

 

[TulsaWorld]

Also, there's some friendly student competitions going on at the Spring Game...

OU posted on social media Monday advertising the chance to race Sooners receiver Marquise Brown.

Per the post, the race will be 50 yards, and competitors will get a 10-yard head start.

The prize is “an OU gear swag bag,” and OU students can register at the student tailgate from 10:30-12:30 on Wagner Lawn.

Link

The Oklahoma Football Facebook account, on Friday, showed a video of Riley (a former quarterback) lining up a 20-yard field goal and then kicking a ball (straight on, not soccer style) which carried inside the right upright. (There were no hints on how many takes it took).

Riley said after the south end zone kick: “OU students, it’s that easy. Make this kick on April 14 and next semester’s tuition is on me. Be there. Boomer Sooner.”

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

Ready for the spring game this Saturday? Here's a schedule:

Oklahoma spring game

Saturday

Schedule of events

7:30 a.m.: Spring Sale (McCasland Field House; vendors will sell OU gear)

9:30 a.m.: Food Trucks & Fan Fest (NW corner of Jenkins & Brooks; food trucks, music, sponsor interactives, GoVision Jumbotron)

10 a.m.: Bob Stoops statue dedication (Switzer Center, south lawn; ceremony is free and open to the public)

11 a.m.: Stadium gates open

12:30 p.m.: Trace Adkins concert

1:15 p.m.: Kickoff

Ticket information

Season-ticket holders can purchase tickets ($5) via season ticket log-in account or calling the OU Athletics Ticket Office (405-325-2424)

Non season-ticket holders can purchase tickets ($10) via online purchase. Online orders are subject to nominal convenience fee.

Campus parking lots will be open and free of charge for fans.

Here's our latest coverage of the team:

OU football: What four-letter word did Jay Boulware use to describe the Sooners' special teams in 2017?

OU football: Who is on Team Peterson's team? What about Team Williams? OU announces spring game rosters

OU Football: Which cornerback reminds Mike Stoops of a young Aaron Colvin?

OU football: ‘Country-fed’ Creed Humphrey keeps impressing as he contends for starting job at center

OU football: Austin Seibert within reach of Sooners' all-time scoring record

OU football: Two Sooners legends to take over honorary coach duties in spring game

OU football: Brendan Radley-Hiles could be getting ready for prom. Instead, he’s upping the competition for OU’s defensive backs.

If you only have time for a few, highly recommend Creed and Bookie (Brendan Radley-Hiles) features.

 

[TulsaWorld]

Kendall is locked in a quarterback competition against Kyler Murray at Oklahoma this spring. While many are already plotting Murray as Heisman Trophy winner Baker Mayfield’s heir apparent, don’t expect the redshirt sophomore from North Carolina to give up at any point.

It’s an attitude that he’s had since his arrival on campus in January 2016. It’s a competition that he knew was brewing since receiving a phone call from then-offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley just a few weeks before he enrolled at OU, after he was informed that Murray was transferring in from Texas A&M.

“Austin’s just motivated to come compete,” Riley said before spring drills began. “I actually met with him the other day and I said, ‘Hey, this is why you came all the way from North Carolina to come to Oklahoma, (to get) a chance to be the guy here. This is a great opportunity.”

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

Oklahoma is switching up its branding.

OU’s athletic department announced Friday it has completed working with Nike’s Graphic Identity Group to create new “official marks” as OU prepares for its move to Jordan Brand in football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Link

Oklahoma’s big recruiting weekend started with a bang.

The Sooners got commitments from elite wide receiver prospects Arjei Henderson and Theo Wease Jr. on Friday afternoon.

Henderson committed to OU in February 2017 but decommitted a few months later. Henderson committed to Oregon, but changed his mind again in December. Now it seems as if he’s set on becoming a Sooner.

Link

 

[TulsaWorld]

Here's our headlines/coverage/etc from the weekend...

OU Football: What we learned from Saturday's spring football game (and the weekend's best quote came from Carol Stoops)

As the Stoops family took the stage, Bob Stoops asked his wife to say a few words. “There is no statue if not for you,” Carol Stoops said while looking at the former players. “It happens to look like Bobby, but it’s you.”

OU Football: Sooners gain DL commitment from Notre Dame graduate transfer, will be immediately eligible

Hayes attended OU’s spring game on Saturday and is the program’s sixth commitment in three days.

OU football: Kyler Murray’s big day foreshadows an even bigger decision — QB or MLB?

At 1:37 p.m. Saturday, Murray stepped on to Owen Field wearing a blue quarterback jersey, leading the White Team in OU’s spring game.

...

It was 4:06 p.m. when Murray stood in OU’s Red Room in front of a crimson backdrop, answering questions about his day, what he had to eat, what he had to do next.

...

Murray said he made a brief trip home, but by 6 p.m., he was in the cage at L. Dale Mitchell Park taking batting practice.

David Boren expected to make full recovery from Saturday's minor stroke, OU says

During Bob Stoops’ statue ceremony as part of the spring game activities on Saturday, Boren experienced discomfort and dizziness after giving a 15-minute speech to an estimated 3,000 fans. He had trouble lifting his leg to get to his seat and had to be aided to sit down.

OU football: Best player? Best play? See the superlatives from OU's spring game

OU football: Trey Sermon’s injury puts another damper on OU’s spring game hopes

OU football spring game: Check out all the coverage from Saturday

Also, here's a link to our gallery with 60+ photos from the game.