OU football notebook

Published: August 8, 2007

This Saturday, Oklahoma fans can catch their first glimpse of the Sooner quarterbacks and the rest of the squad since last April's Red-White game.

An 11 a.m. scrimmage will be open to the public at Owen Field.

•OU-Cincy deal signed: The agreement between OU and Cincinnati to play each other in football in 2008 and 2010 became official Tuesday when the schools finalized the signing of a contract.

The Sooners will host the Bearcats on Sept. 6, 2008, then return the game on Sept. 25, 2010, at the 65,535-seat Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals.

"Cincinnati's program is moving in a positive direction, and we know that these will be competitive games,” OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione said.

The Sooners and Bearcats have never met in football.

•More Oklahoma Drill: A tradition for the first practice in full pads, the Sooners on Monday went through the Oklahoma Drill, which was designed by former OU coach Bud Wilkinson and has long been used in camps across the country.

In the drill, an offensive player must block a defensive player of similar size while a running back goes through a narrow gap trying to avoid the tackle attempt of the defender.

It's always a favorite of the offensive and defensive linemen. But unlike most years, Monday's practice won't be the only time the Sooners do the drill.

"We're gonna keep doing it,” left guard Duke Robinson said. "Coach (Bob) Stoops told us he's gonna put it in here and there during two-a-days just to keep the intensity, keep it competitive with the defense and offense.”

•Do-it-all: With all the discussion about the varying talents of OU's stable of running backs, freshman DeMarco Murray wants to warn everyone against pigeonholing him as one certain style of runner.

"I'm a patient runner, a speed runner,” the redshirt freshman said. "Also, I can be a power back when it comes time to. Whatever is necessary for me to do. Whatever Coach wants me to do, I'll do it.”

By Scott Wright

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