By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
Paul Thompson had his chance against Texas Christian. Now, it’s Rhett Bomar’s turn.
Monday, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced Bomar will be the starting quarterback when OU faces Tulsa at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field. The statement came after the Sooners’ first practice since Saturday’s 17-10 loss to the Horned Frogs.
“We’re going to give Rhett Bomar a chance to start and see where he takes it,” Stoops said.
“By no means am I sitting here saying that Paul Thompson is responsible for the way we played Saturday. That’s not the case. We had a lot of guys, mostly older guys, play as poorly as I have seen them play. We feel Rhett deserves an opportunity.”
Thompson was under center for most of the TCU game and OU’s offense struggled. Thompson was 11-for-25 on his passing attempts.
He also threw an interception and had two fumbles.
Offensive coordinator Chuck Long said the decision wasn’t based strictly on Thompson’s play.
The coaching staff entered the game planning to play Bomar, a redshirt freshman, more. He played late in the second quarter and early in the fourth. But was under center for only 11 plays.
“He was very limited in the game and we felt like he deserves a better chance,” Long said. “So, we’re going to start him in this game and go from there. We’ll keep it open-ended and see what happens in the football game.”
The reactions of the quarterbacks was very similar to Aug. 25, when OU announced Thompson would be the starter.
Bomar, who completed 2-of-5 passes against TCU, was elated to get his chance to run the offense.
“This is the kind of opportunity I’ve been working for my whole life,” Bomar said. “I thought I could have played better, but I think I did all right as a whole. You need a continued number of reps to really get into a rhythm. This will be my first time to get significant playing time.”
Thompson was disappointed he will have to spend some time on the bench.
“We have to go with the decision that’s been made and they’re going to give him a shot,” Thompson said. “I definitely want to get back out there and do what they expect me to do.”
The quarterback competition is far from over.
Both were neck-and-neck for the starting job throughout the preseason. Production in games was the unknown factor.
Stoops said the coaching staff still doesn’t know what Bomar can do under the gun.
That was the biggest reason for shuffling the quarterbacks.
“He only threw five balls and didn’t have nearly the number of snaps in preparation coming into the game,” Stoops said.
“He’s had the fewest number of snaps overall when you look at his time here, and he’s been that close all along. We feel like if he gets more snaps maybe he can do something with it. We’ll see.”
If Bomar plays well, it could bring to an end the quarterback question OU has been trying to answer since March.
However, Thompson thinks he will get another opportunity, and, more importantly, so does the offensive coordinator.
“It’s nothing against Paul,” Long said. “We’re going to need Paul.
“Paul’s worked extremely hard and has shown excellent play in practice and in scrimmages. Paul will probably get that opportunity at another time.”
But that will come at a later date. This Saturday is going to be Bomar’s chance to show what he can do.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Related Photos
-
Jackson Laizure
Discussion
Bomar's turn
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners did not show up to play
Texas had something to play for. So there’s that. If the Longhorns are to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, this was just the kind of game they absolutely had to win....
-
With W.V. set free by Big East, Big 12 schedule’s out and it’s backloaded for Sooners
With West Virginia finally receiving its release from the Big East Conference on Tuesday, the Big 12 Conference was finally able to release its conference football schedule for the 2012 season....
-
Red River rut
The rut Oklahoma has been trying to escape for the last two weeks continued to grow deeper with a 69-58 loss to Texas Tuesday night at Lloyd Noble Center....
-
OU gearing up for Texas’ Brown
If Oklahoma guard Steven Pledger had his way, tonight’s meeting with Texas will come down to two players: himself and Longhorn guard J’Covan Brown....
-
Sooners will have a dramatically new look up and down the order, on the mound
The clubhouse at L. Dale Mitchell Park hasn’t changed over the last year. Just about everything else has since the 2011 baseball season ended. The locker stalls have 20 new nameplates. The coaches’ locker room has two new ones as well. ...
-
Despite hard fight, UConn wins big
By its own standards, the Connecticut team that took the floor Monday night at Lloyd Noble Center was not in the same class as its previous incarnations. But a down year for the seven-time national champions is still better than just ...
-
Believe it or not, OU women are progressing
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma appeared plenty willing to embarrass Oklahoma for a third time in seven games....
-
OU reeling from stunning loss to Texas Tech
As Oklahoma’s players headed toward the exit at United Spirit Arena on Saturday night, most had dazed looks on their faces. The 65-47 loss to Texas Tech was something they didn’t see coming....
-
Husky challenge
No time might seem like a good time to face Connecticut. The Huskies are always terrific and this season will enter Lloyd Noble Center likely ranked No. 2 following Notre Dame’s Sunday loss to West Virginia....
-
Sooners put finishing touches on perfect opener
Oklahoma capped off a perfect opening weekend of softball on Sunday with an 11-1 victory over Kent State. The Sooners were led by another strong outing from pitcher Keilani Rickets and an offensive explosion by Allee Allen....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners did not show up to play
