Sooners up for honors

By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

November 25, 2008 12:48 am

— Oklahoma’s chances to win any team titles rest on what happens Saturday night at No. 12 Oklahoma State. Individually, several Sooners could also have a lot riding on the game.
Monday, OU quarterback Sam Bradford, tight end Jermaine Gresham and offensive lineman Duke Robinson were all named finalists for individual awards.
Bradford joined Texas’ Colt McCoy and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell as the three finalists for the O’Brien Award. It goes to college football’s best quarterback. It was all part of the trend with Big 12 Conference players filling up all the finalist spots for national awards.
“On offense this year, they ought to double the All-Big 12 team,” Stoops said. “That’s how many guys that deserve it. There’s so many excellent players.
Gresham made the final cut for the Mackey Award, which goes to college football’s top tight end. It was another clean sweep for the conference with Gresham joining Missouri’s Chase Coffman and Oklahoma State’s Brandon Pettigrew as the final three.
The Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best receiver, will choose from Texas Tech’s Jeremy Crabtree, Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin and Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant.
Robinson remained in the running for the Outland Trophy, which is presented to the game’s best interior lineman. Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith and Mississippi offensive tackle Michael Oher also made the final cut.
The biggest surprise of the day was that Bradford wasn’t named a finalist for the Maxwell Award, which goes the game best player. It narrowed its list to three quarterbacks — Harrell, McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow.
The award winners will be announced Dec. 11 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards at Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
English still out
Defensive end Auston English is expected to miss Saturday’s Bedlam game. The junior suffered a knee injury against Nebraska. The original time frame for his return was this week, but Stoops said it’s unlikely.
“He’s progressing well but we don’t expect him to play,” Stoops said.
Following Monday night’s practice, English said he was able to do some running, but still hasn’t been cleared for contact. His status is expected to be re-evaluated this week.
Welcome back
Stoops said he was pleased to see his former boss Bill Snyder get back into coaching. Monday, Kansas State announced Snyder will reclaim the reins of the program he helped take from obscurity to a Big 12 championship in 2003. Snyder will once again be the Wildcats head coach.
“Excited for coach Snyder. If that’s what he wants to do, then I’m happy for him,” Stoops said. “I expect he’ll do an excellent job like he always has.”
OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables, who played and coached under Snyder before coming to OU also said he’s happy to see Snyder get back in the game.
“I know the (Big 12) North is going to get a lot tougher,” he said.
Game Ball?
Stoops said he would like to give the whole crowd from Saturday night’s victory over Texas Tech a gameball. But don’t expect one in the mail.
“We got one in the Switzer Center they can all come rub,” Stoops said. “I don’t think we can send out 86,000 of them. I appreciate it, though. That’s what I always hoped our stadium would be like. That’s the best environment I’ve ever competed in.”
Sooners sweep
Bradford and linebacker Travis Lewis were the Big 12’s offensive and defensive players of the week Monday. Bradford threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns in the Sooners’ 65-21 rout of Texas Tech. Lewis had a game-high 13 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Both turnovers set up touchdowns.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com