History:
One of the most honored programs in NCAA football, the Oklahoma Sooners have won 7 National Championships, 43 Conference Championships, have had 45 bowl appearances and 153 All-Americans. Legendary coaches Bud Wilkinson, Barry Switzer and now Bob Stoops make up a fraternity of excellence over several decades of NCAA play. OU has played football since 1895 and has won 10 or more games more than any other team in NCAA history.
2011 Season:
The 2010 season started with all the promise in the world. Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Landry Jones, the soon-to-be NCAA all-time leader in receptions Ryan Broyles and a number of savvy veterans, Oklahoma was a National Championship favorite. They rolled off wins over Florida State and Missouri, then blasted rival Texas in the Cotton Bowl. All was going according to plan. However, the season slowly began to unravel. There were injuries to Broyle and starting runningback Dominique Whaley, an end to the home winning streak at the hands of Texas Tech and, eventually, a blowout loss to Oklahoma State.
Then came tough road losses at Missouri and A&M before the team rebounded to win 5 straight, including topping Nebraska in the final Big 12 Championship game. Even better, the BCS bowl loss streak was broken against Connecticut in the Fiesta Bowl.
Location:
The Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman ranks as the 15 largest on-campus facility in the NCAA. Official capacity is noted at 82,112, and the stadium features 63 suites, lounge and concessions.
Get a detailed map with driving directions to the stadium.
Get a detailed map with driving directions to the stadium.
Tickets:
Tickets for OU home football games are not easy to come by. Season tickets are typically sold out long in advance but are available by waiting list (call (800) 456-GoOU) or for donors (call (405) 325-8000). Single game tickets are available for some dates and are typically priced between $60-80. Call (800) 456-GoOU for details or buy online.
Primary Coach Staff:
Head Coach: Bob Stoops - since 1999
Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator: Mike Stoops - since 2011
Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator: Bobby Jack Wright - since 2005
Co-Offensive Coordinator: Josh Heupel - On staff since 2005
Co-Offensive Coordinator: Jay Norvell - On staff since 2008
Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator: Mike Stoops - since 2011
Assistant Head Coach / Special Teams Coordinator: Bobby Jack Wright - since 2005
Co-Offensive Coordinator: Josh Heupel - On staff since 2005
Co-Offensive Coordinator: Jay Norvell - On staff since 2008
2012 Schedule:
* = Home Game
Sat, Sep 01 UTEP
Sat, Sep 08 *Florida A&M
Sat, Sep 22 *Kansas State
Sat, Oct 06 Texas Tech
Sat, Oct 13 *Texas (in Dallas)
Sat, Oct 20 *Kansas
Sat, Oct 27 *Notre Dame
Sat, Nov 03 Iowa State
Sat, Nov 10 *Baylor
Sat, Nov 17 West Virginia
Sat, Nov 24 *Oklahoma State: the Bedlam Series
Sat, Dec 01 TCU
2012 Outlook:
Like many years for the Oklahoma Sooners, 2012 appears to be one marked by high expectation, yet with plenty of question marks. Most preseason polls have OU ranked in the top 5, not just a contender for yet another Big 12 Championship but also for the National Championship.
Beginning the list of positives is the return of Landry Jones. Surely a high first round draft pick had he declared for the NFL following 2011, Jones opted to come back for his senior season. He is one of the elite talents at the position in college football. Helping him out is a host of talent at the skill positions. Dominique Whaley returns from injury at running back, there is experience on the offensive line, and the receiving corps, while young, includes several playmakers.
Defensively, Oklahoma brought back Mike Stoops to run things, bidding farewell to longtime assistant Brent Venables. Fans hope Stoops brings greater consistency to a unit that has, at times, given up big plays. Gone are standouts Travis Lewis, Ronnell Lewis, Frank Alexander and Jamell Fleming, but plenty of experience remains. Linebacker Tom Wort, safety Tony Jefferson, and corners Demontre Hurst and Aaron Colvin will anchor a unit that can be, at the very least, quite solid.
As with any season, though, certain things have to come together. Who will replace Broyles as Jones' go-to guy? Can the ends duplicate the pass-rush generated last year by Alexander and Lewis? Can the offensive line, thinning now due to preseason injuries, be a consistent force?
The schedule is also quite a tricky one... Oklahoma likely will be undefeated when heading to Texas Tech on October 6th, but that's a place they've lost the last three times there. There is the annual Red River Rivalry game and a late October home game against Notre Dame, undoubtedly a tough ticket to get. Even if all of that goes well, the finish will be tough. The Sooners will be favored over in-state rival Oklahoma State, the Cowboys breaking in a true freshman at quarterback, but road trips to the two new Big 12 members, West Virginia and TCU, may just decide the conference champion.
Beginning the list of positives is the return of Landry Jones. Surely a high first round draft pick had he declared for the NFL following 2011, Jones opted to come back for his senior season. He is one of the elite talents at the position in college football. Helping him out is a host of talent at the skill positions. Dominique Whaley returns from injury at running back, there is experience on the offensive line, and the receiving corps, while young, includes several playmakers.
Defensively, Oklahoma brought back Mike Stoops to run things, bidding farewell to longtime assistant Brent Venables. Fans hope Stoops brings greater consistency to a unit that has, at times, given up big plays. Gone are standouts Travis Lewis, Ronnell Lewis, Frank Alexander and Jamell Fleming, but plenty of experience remains. Linebacker Tom Wort, safety Tony Jefferson, and corners Demontre Hurst and Aaron Colvin will anchor a unit that can be, at the very least, quite solid.
As with any season, though, certain things have to come together. Who will replace Broyles as Jones' go-to guy? Can the ends duplicate the pass-rush generated last year by Alexander and Lewis? Can the offensive line, thinning now due to preseason injuries, be a consistent force?
The schedule is also quite a tricky one... Oklahoma likely will be undefeated when heading to Texas Tech on October 6th, but that's a place they've lost the last three times there. There is the annual Red River Rivalry game and a late October home game against Notre Dame, undoubtedly a tough ticket to get. Even if all of that goes well, the finish will be tough. The Sooners will be favored over in-state rival Oklahoma State, the Cowboys breaking in a true freshman at quarterback, but road trips to the two new Big 12 members, West Virginia and TCU, may just decide the conference champion.
