Oklahoma Sooners

TEMPE, Ariz. -- In the history of the AP poll, no preseason No. 1 has finished the year out of the Top 25. Lose to Iowa tonight in the Insight Bowl, and Oklahoma could be come the first to do it. Lose tonight, and it will cap the single most disappointing season of the Bob Stoops era.

"The most disappointing thing is that we felt like we had that team,” defensive captain Travis Lewis said this week. “We had all the pieces in place this year and, you know, we didn't meet expectations."

There’s no doubt the Sooners failed to meet expectations. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be gained tonight.

Sure, OU will lose key defensive starters like Lewis, end Frank Alexander and cornerback Jamell Fleming off tonight’s team. But the bulk of the team returns on both sides of the ball:

* On defense, back seven playmakers Corey Nelson, Tom Wort, Demontre Hurst, Aaron Colvin and Tony Jefferson.

* Four offensive line starters, not including up-and-coming run-blocking guard Adam Shead.

* A host of experienced skill players at running back and wide receiver, including the two leading rushers in Roy Finch and Dominique Whaley and second and third leading receivers in Kenny Stills and Jaz Reynolds (assuming both Whaley and Reynolds make full recoveries from their injuries).

* Quite possibly the best fullback in college football in Trey Millard.

* And, if Landry Jones chooses to stay, a four-year starter at quarterback who would have the chance to become the winningest QB in OU history.

Stoops was asked this week if there was nothing to be gained by beating Iowa. Truth is, the Sooners could set the stage for another run at the title next season.

“It helps,” Stoops answered, when asked what a win would do for next season. “In the end, there is more positive energy. … So it helps to a degree.”

No question, OU must improve its off-the-field antics before even thinking about contending for a national championship.

Failed drug tests, missed classes, tardiness to meetings severely hampered the development of this team. But Stoops says he has already weeded out several players who were taking up “90 percent” of his time. More could be on the way out, too. As a result, Stoops said he’s already seen a collective change in attitude. And he pointed out that several younger players are beginning to seize their roles as leaders.

“I think they always sense when you get in these bowl games that some of the practices leading up, that the seniors are out a little quicker, and they are getting more opportunities, more snaps,” Stoops said. “And they are further along than they were in the fall. I think they already start to sense their role coming up, that they are going to have more of a role and more opportunities and they start to realize these guys are going to be gone here in a few weeks. ‘I’m now in that position where I can be a leader, or I should be if I’m doing the right things.’”

The Sooners thought they had the team this season. They didn’t. But next year? Who knows? A ton of talent returns. And a win tonight would be a nice first step.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Sooners have a chance to become the first preseason No. 1 to finish a season unranked. But they also have a chance to still win 10 games and build momentum for 2012.

Here are five storylines to follow for the Insight Bowl against Iowa:

Coming to play
This was not the bowl game the Sooners envisioned they’d be in before the season. Bob Stoops said he’s not worried about his team being motivated to play the Hawkeyes. But considering the numerous defections since the end of the regular season, you have to wonder where the mindset of this team is. Will they collectively come to play? If not, the Sooners could be in serious trouble against a team they should beat going away.

Where are the wide receivers?
In earnest, the Sooners are down to just four wide receivers, which is a problem for an offense that prefers to spread the field. Kenny Stills needs to have a big game, while Kameel Jackson, Trey Franks and Dejuan Miller need to play their roles. It will be interesting to see if deep-snapper James Winchester and cornerback Joe Powell, who was converted back to wideout this month, can provide some relief.

Where are the running backs?
The only position thinner than receiver is running back, where the Sooners are down to just Roy Finch and Brennan Clay. Neither of those backs is built to withstand workhorse touches, which means fullback Trey Millard should get a lion’s share of carries.

Travis Lewis’ farewell
In many ways this has been a disappointing season for OU’s defensive captain, who in August called this season “national championship or bust.” But Lewis says he’s finally recovered from a preseason broken toe injury. With a big final performance, he could become the only player to lead the Sooners in tackling in four seasons.

Landry Jones’ farewell?
This could be the final game for OU’s quarterback, too. Jones has said he’s gone back and forth on his decision to stay or leave so many times that he’s tried to just put it out of his mind for now. Jones had one of the worst games of his career at Oklahoma State. If he struggles again, and then leaves, he’ll be leaving sour feelings in the minds of OU fans. Whether it’s to build momentum for his senior season, or ending his college career on a better note, Jones needs to have a big game.

Oklahoma 28, Iowa 24
Iowa gives OU everything it wants, but the Sooners and Landry Jones make enough plays offensively in the fourth quarter to hold on, giving Bob Stoops another 10-win season.

Pick to click: Playing back safety, Tony Jefferson forces a couple of turnovers and makes a couple of big hits, setting up what could be an All-American season in 2012.
- Jake Trotter

Oklahoma 35, Iowa 17
Roy Finch brings needed balance to the Sooner offense with a 100-yard rushing game. The sophomore has two big runs to help open up passing lanes for Jones who finishes with a 300-yard game and two touchdown passes. OU's speed on defense is overwhelming for the Hawkeyes who get one of their touchdowns after a Sooners turnover but struggle to consistently move the football.

Pick to click: Roy Finch shows why he needs to be a core member of the Sooners offense for the remainder of his career with 121 rushing yards, 54 receiving yards and one touchdown in the win.
- Brandon Chatmon

Oklahoma 27, Iowa 16
It might take a while for the offense to gel, but quarterback Jones will be determined to make sure his Bedlam performance is a distant memory. The Hawkeyes don't have the offensive firepower to get in a shootout, and though not the goal at the start of this season, OU does notch another 10-win campaign to its ledger.

Pick to click: It's going to be a wide receiver, so I'm going with Kenny Stills. The last month had to have done wonders for Stills, Kameel Jackson and Trey Franks in building chemistry with Jones. Stills shows what the future can bring with a touchdown and a 125-yard receiving game.
- Bob Przybylo

Oklahoma and Iowa will go head-to-head Friday night in the Insight Bowl at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN. Here are three things Oklahoma has to do to avoid a Hawkeye upset.

1. Help Landry Jones out. His receivers -- sans Ryan Broyles -- have suddenly come down with a case of the dropsies late in the season. Jones will be throwing to lots of new faces without Broyles and Jaz Reynolds, and Kenny Stills hasn't looked like a No. 1 receiver in the Big 12 this year. Guys like Kameel Jackson, Trey Franks and James Winchester will get reps at receiver. The Sooners can't afford drops in what looks like it'll be a low-scoring game.

2. Don't get fancy in the red zone. Oklahoma tried this against Iowa State, and Blake Bell threw an interception. The Sooners have had a ton of success with the Belldozer -- a Tim Tebow-like formation that allows the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder to burrow through the offensive line -- in the red zone, scoring 10 touchdowns in the past five weeks. Baylor couldn't stop it. Iowa may not be able to, either. But the Sooners have looked shaky in the gadget plays out of this formation. Just let Bell do what he does and make the defense stop it.

3. Win the turnover battle. It sounds simple and obvious, perhaps, but it needs to be said. Oklahoma's offense isn't as explosive as it was when the season began, and if you're a heavily favored team, this is the best way to lose these types of games. It lost the turnover battle in spectacular fashion to Oklahoma State, 5-1. The result? The Sooners lost that game by 34 points. Oklahoma lost the battle 3-0 to Baylor and lost to the Bears for the first time in school history. Oklahoma has to take care of the ball.

Mel Kiper Jr. discusses Oklahoma QB Landry Jones' NFL draft prospects.

Oklahoma has come a long way during its first season under Lon Kruger.

And the Sooners still have a ways to go.

OU squandered a double-digit lead in the final eight minutes, losing to Cincinnati, 56-56, at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Thursday night. OU led 47-35 before being outscored 21-8 in the final 7:50 of regulation.

After dominating the beginning of the second half, Oklahoma struggled on offense and defense down the stretch, turning the ball over and allowing defensive breakdowns that resulted in two layups by Bearcat guard Cashmere Wright in the final minute, including the game-winning basket.

Player of the Game: Andrew Fitzgerald. The junior forward led OU with 18 points and nine rebounds. He was 7 of 13 shooting from the field and had five offensive rebounds. Fitz provided the presence and inside scoring that the Sooners will need if they hope to succeed in Big 12 play.

Unsung Hero: Romero Osby. He finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds including a clutch jumper and a layup in the final minute. Osby was clutch and did everything he could to help the Sooners escape with a W.

Key Stat: 11. The Sooners lost this game because of turnovers and Sam Grooms and Steven Pledger combined for 11 of OU’s 17 turnovers. Grooms, OU’s starting point guard, looked uncharacteristically unsure with the ball and Pledger never got comfortable handling the ball against Cincinnati’s pressure.

Key Stat, Part II: 9. Grooms will likely lament his five turnovers but the junior did finish with nine assists including a terrific drive and dish to give OU a one-point lead with 20 seconds left.

Up Next: The Sooners will host Northwestern State at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

Last week, a couple of the OU players singled out linebacker Franklin Shannon, safety Quentin Hayes and wide receiver Kameel Jackson as players who impressed in the bowl practices.

Tuesday, coach Bob Stoops brought up all three when asked if anyone had caught his eye the last couple of weeks.

“I think Franklin Shannon, a young linebacker we have been really impressed with,” Stoops answered. “Quentin Hayes in the secondary has really, I thought, shown a lot in the last several days -- or last few weeks. Kameel Jackson I think continues to really show, and hopefully he is going to play more, can really do some things in this game. Those are just a few that just pop out.”

Jackson is expected to start the Insight Bowl. Hayes will have a chance to play a significant role, too, as the Sooners attempt to reconfigure a secondary that was suspect at times this season.

Once again, Bob Stoops was asked Thursday if he had any insight about where his brother, Mike, might land.

“No. I think he has opportunities,” Bob Stoops said. “Both (as a head coach or a defensive coordinator). I think there is a legitimate chance for each of those.”

For weeks, Mike Stoops has been rumored as a possibility to join his brother’s staff at OU. The Sooners, however, don’t have a vacancy at the moment.

Mike Stoops was fired as head coach at Arizona midway through this past season.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Travis Lewis said Wednesday that Bob Stoops “put his foot down” with several players after the 44-10 loss to Oklahoma State.

Thursday, the Oklahoma coach explained why.

"Some of them have been told they need to transfer because I'm not renewing their scholarship," Stoops said a day before his team takes on Iowa in the Insight Bowl. "And for a variety of reasons, whether it be continual and habitual skipping class, not being eligible to play or suspended from practice for these kind of academic reasons or for drug testing reasons or for walking out or skipping out on a weight workout, you are here to go to school and to be a heck of a football player, or at least try to be.

"We've had more players academically suspended or missing practice than I've had at any time here."

Stoops has declined to confirm which players have been asked to transfer. But wide receivers Justin McCay and Sheldon McClain, defensive tackles Torrea Peterson, Josh Aladenoye and Eric Humphrey and safety James Haynes did not make the trip with the team to Arizona. Stoops also disclosed recently that tight end Austin Haywood would not be allowed to rejoin the team after quitting midseason.

"If you are not doing -- living up to those obligations, you are not earning your way, and you are bringing the team down," Stoops said. "You need to find a place to go because ... you haven't played, you don't go to class, you skip workouts -- what are you here for?

"Every year at this time of year players understand, 'Hey, have I been doing what's necessary to be here or not, and if I'm not, maybe I need to go somewhere where the demands aren't so much. I can skip class. I don't have to go to workouts. I can walk into class 30 minutes late. I can skip a practice once in a while.' If you go to some of these smaller east handkerchief U's. Maybe you can do that. But not here."

Stoops agreed that the attitude of the team already has improved since the departures.

"Yeah, you know why? Because that 2 percent of my team isn't eating up 90 percent of my time," Stoops said. "And it sends a message to other players. They get it, usually. We'll see. We'll see where it goes from here."

SoonerNation has released the latest edition of the Sooner Intel, a sneak peek inside Oklahoma Sooners football recruiting for SoonerNation subscribers only.

As with any good piece of intelligence, everything that is reported in Sooner Intel stays on the There’s Only One forum. Sometimes some of the information is so sensitive and for Sooner fans’ eyes only, that it simply doesn’t need to be passed on beyond this thread.

Some things discussed:

• More on Taylor McNamara's commitment to Oklahoma and how he became a Sooner.
• OU commits are put on their recruits hats at the high school all-star games.
• Could the Sooners be interested in a fourth tight end for 2012?
• Are the Sooners still after defensive tackle Javonte Magee?
• A 2013 QB target talks about his options.

Check out the Sooner Intel here.

Oklahoma Sooners junior center Ben Habern interviews his teammates about what they think of the Iowa Hawkeyes and their time in Arizona.

The early success of the Oklahoma men’s basketball team has been a testament to the attitude of first-year coach Lon Kruger.

And the good news could keep coming as the Sooners might get another key contributor to their lineup as the conference season is about to begin.

Small forward Jarion Henry (Dallas/La Jolla Prep) signed with OU in November and hoped to be able to join the team and play in January.

That hope still remains.

“We don’t have a ruling from the NCAA yet,” said Skeeter Henry, Jarion’s father. “We should know here in the coming days. Eventually he’s going to be at Oklahoma, one way or another.”

Skeeter Henry is a Sooners legend and said he is excited about his son getting a chance to play at his alma mater. For that reason, the Henry family has stayed pretty calm about the process because they know Jarion will get to play for the Sooners. They just don’t know if it will be in January or in the 2012-13 season.

“He’s going to be at OU, and we’re so happy about that,” Skeeter Henry said. “It’s getting closer and closer to happening so this hasn’t been real stressful to us.”

Skeeter Henry said he hopes the decision will come in the upcoming days but said he is not exactly sure when everything will be decided. Jarion Henry is home in Dallas for the holidays after spending the semester at La Jolla Prep in California. Classes for the spring semester at Oklahoma start on Jan. 17.

Skeeter Henry said the family is ready to accept whatever decision is made and is ready for the next step.

Jarion Henry, 6-foot-8 and 200 pounds, graduated from Dallas Kimball and originally signed with New Mexico but didn’t qualify academically. Jarion said he would never make that mistake again when he signed with the Sooners in November.