OU Sports

Oklahoma junior guard Steven Pledger has been named the Big 12 Player of the Week after scoring 30 points in a 63-60 win at then No. 22 ranked Kansas State. For the week, Pledger averaged 23.5 points and 5.5 rebounds, including a loss to No. 6 Baylor. Pledger, among the league scoring...

CAMPUS CORNER — Some good stuff in this story about Austin Haywood from the Norman Transcript. Of particular interest to me, though you had to read a ways to find it, was Haywood accepting blame for how things turned out at OU. “The main reason was I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to...

Power Lunch Chat with OU writer Mike Baldwin

CAMPUS CORNER — Oklahoma has tentatively set its spring football dates. The Sooners will begin March 5 and conclude April 14 with the annual spring game. OU will take a respite for spring break, which is March 19-23. Pro Day will take place March 14 at 9 a.m. inside the Everest Center.

CAMPUS CORNER — Incoming freshman tight end Taylor McNamara told me last week he was hopeful the NCAA would clear him by Monday, at the latest. Took until Wednesday, but the Californian tweeted “CLEARED!” this afternoon. Guess that means he’s in. Some sort of class credit required...

CAMPUS CORNER — Was already working on a short story saying Tim Kish could soon officially become Oklahoma’s choice to replace Brent Venables and coach the team’s linebackers when a reporter from Phoenix spoke with Kish. Here’s the short story I have filed. — By TRAVIS...

  CAMPUS CORNER — Let’s just start over. I cited a report earlier today that said Mike Stoops would make $245,000 a year as OU’s new defensive coordinator. It seemed way low, but I thought it might have had something to do with his Arizona buyout. It didn’t. Turns out...

CAMPUS CORNER — Here’s how Clemson released its hiring of Brent Venables. News conference is set for 3:30 CT. Thought it was interesting that my former colleague Travis Sawchik said Venables is now the third-highest-paid assistant in the country. His deal is believed to be worth...

Power Lunch Chat with OU writer Mike Baldwin

CAMPUS CORNER — Well, it’s over. The temblor that was set off by Mike Stoops‘ return has resulted in Brent Venables‘ departure. Venables texted me about 90 minutes ago to say he had taken the job to be Clemson’s defensive coordinator. I’d obviously written quite a bit about this,...

Transcript of new Clemson and former Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables interview with Toby Rowland on Sports Talk 1400 AM The REF. You can listen to the interview here. Toby Rowland: Joined now by Brent Venables. Coach, how are you doing? Brent Venables: Good, Toby. How are you?...

(Update, 6:13 p.m.: Just heard back from Venables, via text. “Working through details…” is what he said. So, there’s that. Take it as you will.) CAMPUS CORNER — Well, it’s been a strange hour or so in the Brent Venables sweepstakes. First he was going. Then he wasn’t. Now we...

CAMPUS CORNER — Lots of questions today on my live chat about Brent Venables and what he’s going to do. Short answer is, I don’t know yet. I spoke for a while with a friend of mine in Clemson, and it’s likely one of two prevailing theories during this holding pattern – and...

Power Lunch Chat with OU writer Travis Haney

CAMPUS CORNER — Posting here a Brent Venables update I just sent in for the website. Heard bits and pieces last night about Venables being in Clemson. The fact that he’s still there — and speaking with recruits — would seem to indicate he’s serious about the Tigers. And they like...

CAMPUS CORNER — It’s finally official. Mike Stoops is in. Willie Martinez is out. Brent Venables is in, for now. Here’s the release from OU. I find it interesting that Martinez leaving is, for some reason, played up and Mike Stoops’ coming  on board is kind of pushed down the...

(Update: Yes. Thank you, Douglas. Calhoun went to San Angelo, in Texas.) CAMPUS CORNER — As he said he would months ago on Twitter, former Oklahoma running back Jonathon Miller has enrolled at Illinois State. Now that we’re fairly sure it’s “Jonathon” and not “Jonathan,” as OU...

CAMPUS CORNER — Hop on the Oklahoma coaching carousel. We’re all spinning, spinning. We still don’t have (official) resolution with Mike Stoops‘ hiring or Willie Martinez‘s exit – nor do we know what Brent Venables‘ plan is – but a former Sooners star is ready to...

CAMPUS CORNER — A fluid day and week around here, to say the least. Mike Stoops has confirmed his return, says he’s on his way to town – but still nothing official has been put out by the university. Stoops said just before noon that “some formalities” remain. The clock has...

  CAMPUS CORNER — Still waiting for resolution in the Mike Stoops sweepstakes, but the story is at least inching forward today. A few minutes ago, ESPN reported that the deposed Arizona coach would return to Oklahoma as a co-defensive coordinator, along with Brent Venables....