Published: August 27, 2008 01:13 am            

Suspended?

John Shinn's Oklahoma Football Notepad

Without getting specific, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said a “couple” players will be suspended for Saturday’s season opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga.

“Well, I’m not one for announcing the names of those guys,” he said. “But, whether it be for academics or team rules there may be a couple that don’t play on Saturday.”

The most obvious player who is likely to get the night off is offensive tackle Phil Loadholt. The senior was charged with driving under the influence over the summer.



Democratic process?

Stoops said there was no tampering with the ballots for team captain this season. The players voted center Jon Cooper, defensive back Nic Harris, tight end Brody Eldridge, quarterback Sam Bradford and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy captains.

Stoops said he hasn’t had to veto a captains vote during his nine previous seasons at OU. But he will if he feels like he has to.

“Now, if there is a guy who gets a lot of votes and I sure don’t feel he deserves them, then I will pull him,” he said. “But, for the most part it is just like how the guys vote.”



Pay-per-view update

Several cable television systems in Oklahoma and Texas and nationwide satellite TV services DirecTV and Dish Network will offer OU’s against Tennessee-Chattanooga at 6 p.m. Saturday on pay-per-view.

Suggested retail price is $29.95. A one-hour pregame show beginning at 5 p.m., will commemorate coach Bob Stoops’ 10th season at Oklahoma and will feature interviews with former Sooner players and celebrities in attendance to talk about the impact Stoops has had on the OU program in the last decade.

The game is being televised on pay-per-view because it wasn’t selected for over-the-air broadcast or cable television coverage. Under conference TV rules, games not picked up for regular television distribution can only be televised live on pay-per-view.

The game will be shown on Cox Cable channel 610. Cox subscribers must have digital cable to order the telecast.



What’s he thinking?

Keenan Clayton will make his first start at linebacker Saturday night and his first start since playing safety early in the 2006 season.

He’s playing strongside linebacker and the nickel safety spot this season. The junior said the mindset he has depends on where he lines up.

“I have started to think like a linebacker in some aspects,” Clayton said. “But when you are covering a player you have to think like a safety and then whenever I have to play in the box and go against linemen I have to think like a linebacker. So, it’s OK to have both mindsets.”

John Shinn

366-3536

jshinn@normantranscript.com

        

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