Oklahoma football: Bob Stoops still defensive about Landry Jones

OU coach Bob Stoops celebrates with Landry Jones after a touchdown during the first half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Air Force (AF) at the Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010, in Norman, Okla. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

Bob Stoops still has touchy moments about Landry Jones. Still doesn’t like to hear about his quarterback getting the short straw in public opinion or media coverage or anything else.

Last week, sitting around with a group of writers talking about the spring game format, Stoops talked about the absurdity of producing some kind of scoring system, and he piggy-backed that with the possible use of the Belldozer.

For instance, if Blake Bell was in the spring game and threw an interception that was returned near the goal line, would Bell just stay on the field and run the ‘Dozer?

In a spring-game scoring system, should the offense get credit for such an ensuing touchdown, Stoops asked? I piped up and said it would probably win Bell the MVP award. Which made Stoops laugh – and bristle, remembering the Insight Bowl, when ESPN broadcasters named Bell the MVP of a 31-14 victory over Iowa. Bell carried 10 times for 51 yards and scored three touchdowns out of the short-yardage situation.