Michael Cohen and Mike Knall will share punting chores Saturday night against Alabama-Birmingham.
OU coach Bob Stoops said Cohen will handle the long punts, while Knall will take care of the pooch kicks.
“Both have competed hard and both deserve an opportunity to play,” he said. “We’ll stick with this setup as long as we feel it’s working for us.”
Cohen, a junior, arrived at OU this summer after spending two seasons at Kilgore (Texas) College. As a sophomore, he averaged 43 yards per kick.
Knall, a sophomore, was in the Sooner program last season, but did not see game action. He spent his freshman season at Scottsdale Community College, where he averaged 43.9 yards per kick.
Peterson a candidate
The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum announced the candidates for the 2006 Doak Walker Award, presented annually to the nation’s top college running back Thursday.
OU’s Adrian Peterson, who in 2004 was the first freshman ever to be a finalist for the award is on the preseason watch list.
Peterson, who is also on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, which is presented to the top player in college football, enters this season with 3,033 career rushing yards. He is chasing the coveted OU career mark of 4,118 yards held set by Billy Sims from 1975-79.
Last season, Peterson gained 1,108 yards despite missing all or more than half of four games due to injury.
The Guaranty Bank SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists on Nov. 15, and the Doak Walker Award National Selection Committee will vote to determine the finalists on Nov. 16. The committee will cast a second vote on Nov. 27 to determine the recipient. The National Selection Committee consists of former NFL All-Pro and college All-America running backs, media members and selected special representatives.
Brown’s concerns
OU closed almost all of its preseason practices. UAB coach Watson Brown was one of many who noticed.
“It is obviously a concern,” he said. “Oklahoma closed practice to everyone, so no one knows what they are doing.”
Of course Brown didn’t seem like he was totally in the dark. Despite having only seen previous teams, he’s pretty impressed with the Sooners’ defense.
“Oklahoma’s defense may be the best defense I have played in the 12 years that I have been here,” he said.
Getting synchronized
One of OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson’s goals Saturday night will be getting quarterback Paul Thompson off to a hot start.
Wilson said Thompson has been riding streaks throughout the preseason.
“Watching practice, I don’t want to say he’s a streaky guy but he does get through periods,” Wilson said. “And maybe it’s just the luck of those plays right now. So until you get in games, I think we’re always too fast to judge a guy and say he is this is or isn’t.
“But he does get where sometimes there’s five, six, seven, eight throws in a row in 7-on-7 and in team, it’s like, wow! Then all of the sudden we’re a little out of sync. Whether he starts fast or not, we’ll try and get him in the flow.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
John Shinn's Oklahoma Football Notepad
Sooners find a punter (or two)
- OU Sports
-
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
It’s a recipe for success
