The Norman Transcript
September 21, 2005 01:19 am
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Oklahoma thought it created two turnovers against UCLA, yet both were taken away by the officials.
One was a fumbled snap linebacker Rufus Alexander appeared to recover and the other was a pass interference call that overturned an interception by linebacker Demarrio Pleasant.
OU coach Bob Stoops was still miffed at the calls Tuesday.
“Any turnover, regardless of where they are, are game-changing plays and we had two that didn’t get counted,” Stoops said.
Usually, officials from the road team’s conference are used in non-conference games like the one between OU and UCLA. A Pacific 10 Conference crew worked Saturday and the Big 12 supplied the officials when the two teams met at Owen Field in 2003.
From now on, when OU goes on the road Stoops wants Big 12 officials to go with him.
“I believe there’s more pressure here for them to make calls like that with 85,000 people sitting here saying, ‘Wait a second, that isn’t what we saw,’” Stoops said. “I would definitely not want that to be the case ever again.”
Snap problems
Quarterback Rhett Bomar fumbled the snap three times against UCLA. Stoops said two were Bomar’s fault and the other was on center Chris Chester.
Both will spend more time working on them this week.
“We’re getting a million of them in practice and hopefully it comes with experience in doing it over and over,” Stoops said. “Heck, I’m watching NFL games and I see them doing it. It should be that easy, but it happens.
“But it needs to stop happening. We need to get it done.”
Not yet
Fielding punts has been a problem in OU’s last two games while Jejuan Rankins has been nursing an ankle injury.
Lendy Holmes handled the duties against Tulsa, but he muffed one that turned into a costly turnover against UCLA.
Stoops was asked if strong safety Reggie Smith, who has been returning kickoffs, might get a shot at the job.
“I’m going to have a guy back there that I see catch the ball all the time in practice,” Stoops said. “Lendy demonstrated that all throughout practice, but hasn’t done it in the games. Jejuan Rankins does it, but he’s had a bad ankle.
“Reggie needs to do it better in practice before I put him back there in a game. That’s the bottom line. Not until I see it over and over and over that the ball’s secure. That’s what needs to happen.”
Get down Bomar
Bomar rushed for 28 yards against UCLA and had several big runs. OU’s coaches are concerned that he’s acting more like a running back than a quarterback.
“There’s no question we don’t want him taking the hits that he took,” Stoops said. “I think that’s part of the experience as well as learning how to get out of the way.”
It’s enough of an issue that Bomar will watch game film of Texas quarterback Vince Young and Missouri quarterback Brad Smith to see how they avoid taking big hits.
Tennessee series set
Oklahoma finalized another major home-and-home series to its future schedules Tuesday.
The Sooners will meet Tennessee in 2014 and 2015. The Volunteers will come to Owen Field Sept. 13, 2014. OU will travel to Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Sept. 2, 2015.
“We’re very excited to announce this agreement with Tennessee,” athletics director Joe Castiglione said. “We embrace intersectional match-ups that bring together programs rich in tradition. Games of this kind are significant to fans from both schools, but also for college football in general.”
Despite each program’s standing among the nations elite, Tennessee and Oklahoma have met only twice, with both games taking place at the Orange Bowl. The Volunteers shut out the Sooners 17-0 in 1939. OU posted a 26-24 victory in 1968.
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