NORMAN — On Monday, Texas coach Mack Brown said players who flash the inverted Texas’ hook ‘em sign should receive penalties.
“The horns down is disrespectful,” Brown said at his weekly press conference on Monday. “We ought to talk about that as a league.”
Texas receiver Mike Davis received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty last Saturday against Texas Tech for mocking the Red Raiders’ guns-up sign.
Brown made the comments after Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops’ press conference on Monday. OU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops weighed in after Monday’s practice.
“I’ve never done it, but I’m not going to hold it against my players. I think if I did it it would be a little immature and foolish,” the defensive coordinator said. “They’re just having fun. I don’t think they’re trying to disrespect anybody.”
OU defensive end R.J. Washington was less diplomatic.
“Sounds like Texas is whining like they’re always whining,” he said.
Tulsa Washington defender commits to OU: Tulsa Washington standout Dominique Alexander confirmed to several media outlets on Monday night that he has committed to OU.
Alexander, who is Rivals.com’s No. 4 player in the state, is projected as an outside linebacker/safety. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior had previously committed to Arkansas.
The Sooners now have 12 commitments for the 2013 class. All oral commitments are non-binding. Players cannot officially sign until Feb. 6.
Playing both ways: Bob Stoops said Geneo Grissom is working at both tight end and defensive end this season, but his future will be as a defensive end.
“He just moved back. We thought it was really gonna come together, and it just hasn’t,” Stoops said.
Grissom was used as backup defensive end against Iowa State. He spent the summer, preseason and first seven games working as tight end.
Stoops said he’ll continue to be tight end Brannon Green’s backup in OU’s short-yardage offense. Stoops also admitted the tight end spot is not a big part of OU’s offense right now. Fullbacks are being used instead.
“Right now, our tight end position is Trey Millard and Aaron Ripkowski and Jayden Bird. Until these guys can develop and get further along ... as you guys know, I love the tight ends. We’ve just got to bring them along and get them to where these other guys are. “
No monuments yet?: OU’s football offices are named after Barry Switzer. Its athletic dorms honor Bud Wilkinson. Bob Stoops said he has no idea if anything will be named after him, but it will have to wait until he’s through coaching. He doesn’t even want a statue of himself next to the ones of Switzer, Wilkinson and Bennie Owen until his career is complete.
“ They’ve asked and have it ready to go, “ Stoops said. “ I don’t want that at all. It would be weird to me. Not until I’m done. Who knows when that will be?”
A reporter joked on Monday that naming the press box at Owen Field in Stoops’ honor might be fitting.
“That’s good, “ Stoops laughed. “ That would be ironic, wouldn’t it? “
OU-West Virginia time set: The Big 12 Conference announced on Monday that Oklahoma’s Nov. 17 game at West Virginia will kickoff at 6 p.m., and will be televised nationally by FOX.
Gus Johnson will handle the play-by-play duties with analysis from Charles Davis.
The Sooners are 2-2 all-time vs. the Mountaineers. The initial Big 12 meeting between the two squads will also mark OU’s first-ever contest at West Virginia. The teams most recently met in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl with the Mountaineers claiming a 48-28 victory. OU hasn’t faced West Virginia in a regular season contest since 1982 when the two teams squared off in Norman.
John ShinnFollow me @john_shinnjshinn@normantranscript.com
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