TABLE OF ContEnts WritErs Media Information The Sooners Kenny Mossman, David Bassity Media Information . 2 Player Profiles . 38 Spring Calendar . 3 Fall Newcomers . 67 GuiDE DEsign Sooners at a Glance . 4 David Bassity 2008 Preseason 2007 Season Review COVER DEsign Team Statistics . 70 Scott Matthews Sooner Notes . 6 Scoring Statistics . 72 Sooner Offense Notes . 7 Defensive Statistics . 73 EDITor Sooner Defense Notes . 8 Individual Game-by-Game Statistics . 74 Debbie Copp Special Teams Notes . 9 Starting Lineups . 75 ContriButors Outlook . 10 Player Participation . 76 Brian Dude, Matt Montgomery, Craig Moran, Rosters / Pronunciation Guide . 14 Situational Statistics . 77 Phillip Rogers, Danny Sexton 2007 Honors . 16 Season Superlatives . 78 Game-by-Game Comparisons . 79 RESEarch AssistancE Coaches & Staff Scoring Drives . 80 Mike Brooks Game Recaps . 82 Bob Stoops . 17 Big 12 Statistics . 89 Brent Venables . 21 PhotographY Bobby Jack Wright . 22 Lisa Hall, Mark Kraus, Jackson Laizure, Jerry Kevin Wilson . 23 University of Oklahoma Laizure, Ty Russell, Shevaun Williams and Cale Gundy . 24 Associates, John Williamson and OU Athletics Jay Norvell . 25 Overview . 92 Media Relations Archives . University President David L . Boren . 94 Josh Heupel . 26 Special thanks goes to the OU Touchdown Club for its help in paying for this James Patton . 27 Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione . 95 publication . Jackie Shipp . 28 SoonerSports .com . 96 Chris Wilson . 29 Jerry Schmidt . 30 Nike is the official footwear, Matt McMillen . 31 apparel supplier and sponsor Merv Johnson . 32 of Oklahoma Football. Greg Tipton . 33 Scott Anderson . 34 athletics The 2008 Oklahoma Spring Football Guide was printed at no cost to the taxpayers Support Staff . 35 of the state of Oklahoma . The University of Oklahoma is an equal opportunity institution . (February 2008) 1950 * 1955 * 1956 * 1974 * 1975 * 1985 * 2000 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS MEDia INFormation RS KEnnY Mossman E 1 chattanooga Senior Associate Athletics Director for Communications 08.30.08 GAYlorD FamilY - Oklahoma MEmorial StaDium (82,112) O: (405) 325-8231 | M: (405) 249-5891 | kmossman@ou .edu WINN D MikE Houck 2 cincinnati Associate Media Relations Director 09.06.01 GAYlorD FamilY - Oklahoma MEmorial StaDium (82,112) O: (405) 325-8231 | M: (405) 447-2731 | mhouck@ou .edu 3 washington JARED THOMPSON 09.13.08 HuskY StaDium (72,500) • SEattlE, wash. Associate Media Relations Director O: (405) 325-8314 | M: (405) 834-2984 | jaredthompson@ou .edu 4 TCU Craig Moran 09.27.08 GAYlorD FamilY - Oklahoma MEmorial StaDium (82,112) Assistant Media Relations Director O: (405) 325-8231 | M: (405) 249-8264 | cmoran@ou .edu 5 BAYLOR RICANS 64 NATIONAL AWAR 10.04.08 FloYD casEY staDium (50,000) • WACO, TEXAS E JEssica SummErs Assistant Media Relations Director 6 TEXAS O: (405) 325-8372 | M: (405) 213-6735 | jlsummers@ou .edu 10.11.08 Cotton Bowl (75,452) • Dallas, TExas DAVID BASSITY 7 KANSAS Assistant Media Relations Director 10.18.08 GAYlorD FamilY - Oklahoma MEmorial StaDium (82,112) O: (405) 325-8571 | M: (405) 274-1455 | dbassity@ou .edu Scott MatthEws 8 KANSAS statE Director of Graphic Design 10.25.08 Bill snYDER FamilY StaDium (50,000) • manhattan, kan. O: (405) 325-8223 | M: (405) 664-0844 | smatthews@ou .edu 9 NEBRASKA DEBBIE Copp 11.01.08 GAYlorD FamilY - Oklahoma MEmorial StaDium (82,112) OWL CHAMPIONSHIPS 144 ALL-AM Director of Publications B O: (405) 325-8231 | M: (405) 329-6799 | dcopp@ou .edu 10 TEXAS A&M Jason MathEson 11.08.08 KYLE FIELD (82,600) • collEGE station, TExas Director of Internet Services O: (405) 325-4274 | M: (918) 691-3886 | jmatheson@ou .edu 11 TEXAS TECH 11.22.08 GAYlorD FamilY - Oklahoma MEmorial StaDium (82,112) TORY KUKOWSKI Assistant Director of Internet Services 12 OKLAHOMA statE O: (405) 325-4274 | M: (612) 812-4182 | tkukowski@ou .edu CHAMPIONSHIPS 24 11.29.08 BoonE pickEns StaDium (44,700) • StillwatER, okla. E NC E R OU Athletics Media Relations FE Media Relations Main Phone . (405) 325-8231 Media Relations Fax . (405) 325-7623 University of Oklahoma Athletics Media Relations Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Suite 2525, 180 W . Brooks St, Norman, OK 73019 SoonerSports.com The latest, official information on 2008 Oklahoma football is available at SoonerSports.com. Log on for complete media services including statistics, rosters, bios, schedules, press conferences, quotes and more. 7 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS 41 CON 2 2008 OKLAHOMA SPRING FOOTBALL GUIDE * SOONERSPORTS.COM MEDia INFormation COVEring PracticE PracticE Location Spring practices are closed except for scrimmages . On days that the workouts Weather permitting, most practices will be held on the grass practice fields south are open, designated viewing areas will be marked . of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium . 2008 S COVEring thE RED/WhitE Spring GamE In the event of inclement weather, workouts will be moved to the Everest Center, E Credentials are required for media covering the game as there is an admission one block east of the stadium . If a practice is forced indoors, OU staff will ASON charge for the public . All requests for credentials must be entered by sports determine if the sideline space at the indoor facility is sufficient to hold the public editors/directors online . The online application is available by logging on to that is in attendance . If it is, the practice will remain open . SoonerSportsMedia .com . Parking passes are not available for the spring game . Scrimmages will likely be held inside the stadium . The deadline for requesting spring game credentials is April 1 . A link to the credentials site will be emailed to media that regularly cover OU football . SoonERSports.com The official web site for the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department is IntERVIEws SoonerSports .com . Head coach Bob Stoops will meet with media after each practice beginning with COACHING STA the March 5 workout . Other members of the coaching staff and the players also A media-only site, which includes photo downloads and other information helpful will be available upon request after practice (no pre-practice interviews) . in covering the team, also is available . To access the media-only site, contact Jason Matheson, director of internet services, at jmatheson@ou .edu . Numerous players are enrolled in evening classes and may be unable to participate in interviews on specific days. Requests for players received at least Only accredited employees of recognized media outlets are eligible to receive a 24 hours in advance are appreciated . user name and password . FF PhotographErs/ViDEographErs UPDatES Cameras are permitted only during interview sessions . Policies pertaining to Daily updates on the spring workouts will be provided to media via e-mail blast cameras at open workouts will be announced prior to those specific events. and on the department’s official web site. PracticE DatES/TimES Audio updates, including interviews with Oklahoma coaches and players, also Dates and times are subject to change on short notice . The OU Athletics Media will be available on the site . TH Relations staff will alert media to changes, but media are encouraged to confirm E practice information before attending . SOON E Spring Football Calendar (March 5-April 12) RS SunDAY MonDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY ThursDAY FriDAY SaturDAY Practice Practice S E 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ASON R Practice Practice No Practice EV March 13-23 I E 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 W Practice Practice Practice Practice (Scrimmage) UNI 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 VE Practice Practice Practice Practice RSIT (Scrimmage) 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 Y Practice Practice Spring Game (Final Practice April 10) 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 3 1950 * 1955 * 1956 * 1974 * 1975 * 1985 * 2000 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS AT A glancE RS E Oklahoma Quick Facts What Returns in 2008 ... Location: Norman, Okla . Founded: 1890 OFFENSIVE LETTERMEN RETURNING (22) WINN QB Sam Bradford, OT Branndon Braxton, RB Chris Brown, WR Brandon Caleb, D Nickname: Sooners WR Quentin Chaney, FB Matt Clapp, C Jon Cooper, TE Brody Eldridge, TE Colors: Crimson (PMS 201) and Cream Jermaine Gresham, QB Joey Halzle, WR Juaquin Iglesias, WR Manuel Johnson, Conference: Big 12 OT Phil Loadholt, RB Mossis Madu, TE Eric Mensik, RB DeMarco Murray, QB Enrollment: 29,721 Keith Nichol, OG George Robinson, OG Brian Simmons, WR Adron Tennell, OG Stadium: Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Natural Grass/82,112) Brandon Walker, OT Trent Williams President: David L . Boren Director of Athletics: Joe Castiglione DEFENSIVE LETTERMEN RETURNING (18) Sr. Associate Athletics Director/Communications: Kenny Mossman DE Jeremy Beal, DT Cory Bennett, DB Quinton Carter, LB Keenan Clayton, DT Office Phone: 405 .325 .8231 Mobile: 405 .249 .5891 Steven Coleman, LB Brandon Crow, DE Alan Davis, DE Auston English, CB Website: www .SoonerSports .com Dominque Franks, DT DeMarcus Granger, DB Nic Harris, DB Lendy Holmes, DB Brian Jackson, DT Gerald McCoy, LB Ryan Reynolds, LB Lamont Robinson, DT FOOTBALL INFORMATION Adrian Taylor, DE John Williams RICANS 64 NATIONAL AWAR Offensive Formation: Multiple E Defensive Formation: Multiple SPECIAL TEAMS LETTERMEN RETURNING (2) 2007 Overall Record: 11-3 P Mike Knall, S Derek Shaw 2007 Conference Record (Standing): 6-2 (first, Big 12 South Division) Final Ranking: No . 8 (AP, USA Today Coaches) LETTERMEN LOST (21) LB Lewis Baker, WR Garrett Bothun, P Michael Cohen, DT Steven Coleman, DE Alonzo Dotson, TE Joe Jon Finley, RB Jacob Gutierrez, K Garrett Hartley, C Coaching staFF Noah Hughey, WR Malcolm Kelly, LB Curtis Lofton, QB/H Hays McEachern, OL Name (Alma Mater, Year) Title Sherrone Moore, RB Allen Patrick, LB Demarrio Pleasant, FB Ian Pleasant, CB Bob Stoops (Iowa, 1983) . .Head Coach Reggie Smith, CB Marcus Walker, FS Darien Williams, SS D .J . Wolfe, FB Dane Brent Venables (Kansas State, 1992) . .Associate Head Coach/ Zaslaw Defensive Coordinator/LB Bobby Jack Wright (SW Texas State, 1973) . Assistant Head Coach/ PLAYERS REDSHIRTED last SEason (24) Asst .