Stoops reflects

By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

December 02, 2008 01:02 am

— Monday was the 10th anniversary of the hiring of Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops. He became the Sooners’ 21st head coach on Dec. 1, 1998.
“I was thinking about that when I had lunch today,” Stoops said following Monday’s practice. “Hard to believe 10 years ago I was standing right here talking to the team for the first time.”
In the decade since the Sooners are 107-23, won the 2000 national championship, played in the national title game two more times and will be playing for their sixth Big 12 championship Saturday night against Missouri.

English at practice
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said defensive end Auston English went through a full practice Monday and should be able to play in the Big 12 championship game Saturday. English missed the last three games with a knee sprain.
Wilson up
for Broyles Award
OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was named a finalist for the Broyles Award. The award is presented by the Rotary Club of Little Rock, Ark., to the best assistant coach in college football.
“Everyone should understand why,” Stoops said. “You look at what we’ve done offensively and it’s just incredible. Who knows what some of those games could have been if Sam would have stayed in.
“Kevin’s a sharp guy who’s done a great job developing this offense and using all the pieces he has to work with and motivating them. He’s been everything and more.”
Wilson joined Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, Utah defensive coordinator Gary Anderson, TCU defensive coordinator Gary Bumpas and Ball State offensive coordinator Stan Parrish as finalists.
It is the second time Wilson has been a finalist for the award. He was included in 2000 when he was offensive coordinator at Northwestern.
Wilson is the third OU assistant to be named a finalist for the award. Mark Mangino won it as the Sooners’ offensive coordinator in 2000. Chuck Long was a finalist for the award in 2004 and Brent Venables was a finalist in 2006.

Should have
called timeout
Stoops said he should have called timeout after a blown fumble call on the second play of second half of OU’s victory over Oklahoma State last Saturday.
Replays showed OSU running back Kendall Hunter fumbled the ball with some help from Sooner defensive end Jeremy Beal. The ball was clearly recovered by safety Nic Harris.
“They tell me they review all plays, but obviously that one wasn’t,” Stoops said. “I haven’t heard back from them (the Big 12 Conference) on that one.”
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com