OU notebook

Published: March 28, 2007

Walking off Owen Field after Tuesday's practice, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops turned and shouted in the direction of a few reporters huddled around sophomore Jermaine Gresham.

"The big dog!” Stoops hollered. "He's loose again.”

Stoops was obviously glad to have his 6-foot-7 tight end back on the practice field. Gresham missed the five practices before spring break because of a minor injury.

The Ardmore product says he's in good physical shape right now, but the missed time has him playing catch-up on the mental part of the game.

"I wasn't in there doing it and wasn't getting the reps at it,” he said.

Defensive end Alonzo Dotson was also back in action after missing the first five practices. Offensive lineman Phil Loadholt, the 6-8, 350-pound junior-college transfer, was wearing a walking boot on his left foot and was held out Tuesday.

•QB chat: Though he didn't get into specifics about his three quarterbacks, Joey Halzle, Sam Bradford and Keith Nichol, after Tuesday's practice, Stoops said he remains pleased with their work this spring.

"They're doing a nice job,” he said. "They're all making good progress.”

•More about Bedlam: Stoops reiterated his feelings about the benefit of moving the Bedlam game to Thanksgiving weekend, again pointing to the need for a bye week in the middle of a 12-game schedule. "But you can't knock the times we didn't play it (on Thanksgiving weekend),” Stoops said with a smile. "ESPN Gameday, I think, was at those, right? ESPN Gameday hasn't been there on Thanksgiving.”

By Scott Wright