John Shinn
• Big 12 commish says he still likes instant replay
Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg said he still favors the conference’s replay system despite the controversy it created in Oklahoma’s 23-21 loss to Texas Tech.
Monday, Weiberg participated in the football coaches teleconference to address numerous officiating questions involving the game.
“Obviously, we never want to see a game come down to a disputed call or controversial situation,” he said. “Fortunately, it has happened only rarely.”
Three plays were reviewed in the final 31 seconds of the game and most Sooner fans were unhappy neither a critical fourth-down play nor Taurean Henderson’s 2-yard touchdown run on the game’s final play were overturned.
The play was reviewed to see if Henderson’s knee was down before the ball crossed the line. Television replays from multiple angles didn’t provide enough evidence to overturn the ruling. There apparently wasn’t a shot from the side of the field where the official was.
Weiberg said the replay system is limited by the number of camera’s used at the game. He thought Fox Sports, which televised the game, was using seven to 10 cameras during the broadcast.
“No question, the quality of video is an important issue,” Weiberg said. “The replay official is limited to what he has available to him.”
OU coach Bob Stoops said after Monday’s practice that he had spoken with conference officials since the game. But he did not want to reveal what was said in the conversation.
Weiberg said all three plays should have been reviewed under league guidelines.
Wilson has surgery
Senior receiver Travis Wilson has undergone surgery to repair a stress fracture to his right foot.
Stoops thought the procedure would take place Monday, but Wilson actually went under the knife Sunday.
“It happened sooner than I thought it would,” he said. “It’s about a three-week recovery and hopefully whatever bowl game we are in, we’ll have him back.”
Freshman center Jon Cooper will wait a week before having surgery to repair a dislocated and fractured right ankle.
Stoops said the doctors were waiting for the swelling to go down before performing the surgery.
Dvoracek getting better
Senior defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek did not practice Monday, but is expected to play Saturday against Oklahoma State.
The injury kept Dvoracek from practicing last week, but he still played against Texas Tech and had one sack.
“He’s just sore from playing on the turf and all the activity,” Stoops said. “He should be at full speed by the end of the week or awfully close to it.”
Bedlam tickets still available
Oklahoma expects to have 400 tickets returned by OSU for Saturday’s game at Owen Field. The tickets cost $72 each and will be available beginning at 5 p.m. today on the OU athletics Web site, SoonerSports.com.
If tickets remain Wednesday, they will go on sale for phone or over-the-counter purchase at 8 a.m. The ticket office will be closed on Thursday and Friday in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.
The OU ticket office, located in the Asp Avenue Parking Facility just west of Owen Field, can be reached by phone at 1-800-456-GoOU or at 405-325-2424.
Food drive set
The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Josh Heupel’s 14 Foundation and the OU football team are again sponsoring their annual Holiday Food Drive. The collection day for this year is Saturday prior to the Bedlam game.
Fans are encouraged to make a contribution of $1 in lieu of a food donation. Volunteers will be accepting donations from fans outside the stadium gates.
