OU head coach Bob Stoops met with the news media on Tuesday as part of Big 12 Media Days in Dallas and the unofficial kickoff to the 2015 college football season.
Stoops was joined in the media session by several of the Sooner players – center Ty Darlington, quarterback Trevor Knight, wide receiver Sterling Shepard and linebacker Eric Striker – who he described in his introductory comments as “great guys, great representatives of the University of Oklahoma, great workers and great leaders on our team.”
The Sooner head coach acknowledged that 2014 was a very disappointing year. When you’re used to winning 10 or more games in 12 of the previous 14 years, he said, then you go 8-5, it’s not up to Oklahoma’s traditional standards and expectations as a program, for sure.
Sep 13, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Sterling Shepard (3) runs with the ball during the first half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
“You can look at it different ways,” Stoops said in referring to the fact that in at least three of the Sooners’ losses a year ago, were it not for a single ill-fated play in each, a loss could just as easily turned out to be an OU win, which would have given Oklahoma another 10-win season.
Specifically, the Sooner coach is talking about an interception returned for a touchdown (in a 4-point loss to TCU), a missed field goal from very makeable distance (in a 1-point loss to Kansas State) and re-kick of a punt (returned for a touchdown on the second try) because, in Stoops’ own words, “you have a poor decision by a coach.” That punt return by Oklahoma State tied the game with just 45 seconds remaining in regulation, and the Sooners went on to lose in overtime.
Stoops talked about the new offensive system that new offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley is putting in and the new coaching additions on his staff, including Riley, as well as new wide-receiver coach Dennis Simmons, secondary coach Kerry Cooks and defensive line coach Diron Reynolds.
The transition with all the new coaching assistants has been relatively seamless, Stoops said, and “the players have really taken to the new offensive system.” It especially helps, he said, that Riley, Simmons and offensive line coach Bill Bedenbaugh all worked together under Mike Leach at Texas Tech. Leach, of course, was Stoops’ first offensive coordinator when he took over the Sooner head coaching job in 1999.
Stoops pre-empted the big question that was on the mind of most of the media representatives who were in attendance at the Omni Dallas Hotel for the annual two-day press event with all 10 Big 12 football coaches and select players: Who would be the OU starter at quarterback?
Nov 8, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Trevor Knight (9) throws a pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
In his opening comments, the Oklahoma head coach of 16 years said:
“I know its popular for everyone (in the media) to act like a certain guy has already got the job. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Baker Mayfield and Trevor Knight are in a tight battle, and Cody Thomas is right on their heels.
“Whoever can make the most consistent plays, be the most consistent in moving the ball and can avoid the really bad play…and protect the ball the best…will be the guy that’s on the field and leading us.”
Here are several excerpts from Stoops’ session on Tuesday with the Big 12 media:
Q: Bob, is the program where you want it right now? And, if so, what gives you optimism?
Stoops: Well, a lot gives me optimism, a 17-year background. We’re just a year removed from being in the top 10 and winning the Sugar Bowl. And then prior to that, there’s been a lot of success and a great track record of success, not only from myself, from our administration, from the way we direct the program…And I look at a track record of 12 of the last 15 years we’ve had 10 or more wins. I don’t think anyone else has done that in the country with that kind of consistency, and that doesn’t dissipate in a year.
Q: I just want to go back, Coach, to your decision to bring in Lincoln Riley to run the offense. If my memory serves correctly, you had Mike Leach. You sort of started this whole trend (“air raid” offenses) in the big 12 way back when. It’s almost like you’ve got to plat catch-up right now. Is it reminiscent of what you remember with Mike Leach? Is it what you’ve seen trying to defend this each and every week?
Stoops: Yes, you know, it is. My primary reason is I believe in the offense. It’s what we started with. As you said, we kind of made it popular when I hired Mike from Kentucky (for the 1999 season).
As I was looking to hire somebody, I looked at what are the top total offenses in the country. And six of the top 13 were from (the) family of Hal Mumme (the head coach at Kentucky when Leach was the OC) and Mike Leach, however you want to put it, from this family of offense. I looked back and thought, well, here we are. I made it popular 17 years ago, and it worked, and here 17 years later I’m the only one not doing it.
I just felt that it will give us more opportunity – hopefully, again – to stay on the field longer, eat up more yards, gain field position and score points. But we’ve yet to do that. Lincoln’s had a great track record in running this offense. and I believe we’ve got good personnel to go with this style of offense.
Nov 22, 2014; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine (32) runs for a touchdown past Kansas Jayhawks linebacker Courtney Arnick (28) during the first half at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Q: Could you talk about that first year with Samaje Perine
Stoops: Samaje, it’s hard to improve on where he was, but I believe he will. He’s such a great, great worker, very humble guy that’s always hungry. He’s really trimmed up a bit. He probably lost five pounds, but he’s faster and still has the same strength, and maybe more strength, with another year in the weight room.
Q: Asking another question about Samaje, do you see yourselves with somebody that talented and others running the ball a lot more than other teams and running more than you used to?
Stoops: It would be hard to run more than we were used to. Samaje is going to get the football. We’re very aware of the quality of player that he is, but, again, I think we’ll have a good mix. I don’t worry that you’re ever 50-50. I just worry that you’re productive.
If we’re productive throwing the football, generally it’s going to help you run the ball. If you’re productive running the football, generally you’re going to be able to throw it a little easier. We just want to have good balance to it.
In addition to Bob Stoops, the head coaches from Baylor (Art Briles), Iowa State (Paul Rhoads), Oklahoma State (Mike Gundy) and Texas (Charlie Strong) also met with the media on the second day of Big 12 Media Days. The other five teams were scheduled on Day 1.