Oklahoma football: Spring game will have a new look
By Chip Rouse
The annual Oklahoma football spring game is getting a facelift and an overall makeover to go along with it.
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In other words, head coach Lincoln Riley is making a number of changes to the format and look of the game, which serves as the highlight of the spring practice season and gives fans a glimpse of what they can look forward to when the new season kicks off in the fall.
This is the fourth spring game that Riley has been a part of at Oklahoma, but it is the first one he will preside over as head coach. Even though Riley was the OU head coach in the 2017 season and led the Sooners to a 12-2 record and a place in the College Football Playoff, Bob Stoops was still in charge last spring before announcing his retirement a couple of months afterward.
To begin with, the format of the intrasquad scrimmage will be more of a traditional game format. Unlike the way the game was structured when Stoops was the head coach, the squad will be divided into two relatively evenly balanced teams featuring both offensive and defensive players, who will compete against each other under regular scoring and game rules.
This will be in contrast to the structure of the spring game under Stoops, which featured the No. 1 and 2 offense going up against the No. 1 and 2 defensive units, with a creative scoring system built in to reward scoring plays as well as specific offensive and defensive accomplishments.
Oklahoma Sooners Football
Another new concept this year is that former Sooner stars will serve as honorary coaches. Adrian Peterson, who played for the Arizona Cardinals last season and is currently an NFL free agent, will coach the White team in the spring game, while Trent Williams, an offensive lineman with the Washington Redskins will coach the Red team.
There’s a great tradition of outstanding players here, Riley said. Our former players are so gracious about coming back that we wanted to include them in the game, he added.
Assisting Peterson will be former Oklahoma safety Tony Jefferson of the Baltimore Ravens. Offensive tackle Lane Johnson ,a 2013 first-round NFL pick from OU, will work with Williams in coaching the Red squad.
“We’re trying to stoke up the whole experience, and this is just part of it,” Riley told the media on Monday, including Ryan Aber, the OU beat writer for the Oklahoma City Oklahoman.
"“It’s going to make the game competitive, create some really cool situational football that will be really fun for the fans and good for our players."
Redshirt junior Kyler Murray will quarterback Peterson’s White team. Redshirt sophomore Austin Kendall will be the field general for the Red team under Williams.
The way the two teams have been divided, Peterson’s squad will have more returning defensive starters than on offense, but Murray will still have a lot of firepower around him with Marquise “Hollywood” Brown as a pass receiving threat and sophomore running back Trey Sermon freshman newcomer T.J. Pledger.
Redshirt junior Rodney Anderson, who became the Sooners lead running back a year ago with 1,161 net rushing yards and 6.2 yards per carry, is assigned to the Red team offense, as is returning starting wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
For the complete rosters for Team Peterson and Team Williams and the Oklahoma spring game, click here.
The annual spring football game will be held Saturday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for approximately 1:15 p.m. Tickets are $5 for season ticket holders and $10 to the general public. Several pre-game activities are also scheduled, including a concert by country star Trace Adkins and a Bob Stoops statue dedication at 10 a.m. on the Switzer Center south lawn.