John Shinn
It’s been a few years since the coaching rumor mill included Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, but as the Sooners were heading to Miami for their Jan. 8 meeting with Florida for the BCS national championship, interest in Stoops went well beyond the game.
The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News both reported the Denver Broncos are making overtures to see if Stoops is interested in making the jump to the NFL.
Citing NFL sources, both newspapers said the Broncos have attempted to gauge Stoops’ interest through third parties.
Broncos owner Pat Bowlen is an OU alum and the Sooner coaching staff has visited Denver’s training camp in the past.
It’s very unlikely Stoops will have any official contact with the Broncos until after the BCS title game. There’s also a chance there won’t be a job to offer by then.
Both newspapers reported Bowlen and the organization’s chief operating officer Joe Ellis, will interview New York Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo today and an interview with Tampa Bay defensive assistant Raheem Morris is scheduled for Sunday.
The Broncos have also received permission to interview New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett.
Stoops has five years remaining on his current contract that will pay him around $3 million annually.
Ready to go
The Sooners arrived in Miami Friday afternoon and Stoops said OU’s preparations for the BCS title game have progressed well.
“We had good work back at home and we’re just hoping to continue that here this week. They were good,” he said at a press conference at Miami International Airport. “I thought our guys really have done a nice job of getting ready. So I’ve been pleased with them.”
No one’s business
Prior to leaving for Miami, many OU players said they would like to see an earlier curfew for the bowl trip than in past years.
If they received one, Stoops wasn’t willing to say what it was.
“Our team policies are ours. It’s always been that way. We don’t discuss them with anybody,” he said.
Minus one
One Sooner player did not make the trip. Reserve defensive back Desmond Jackson was left in Norman for “disciplinary reasons.”
Jackson played in nine games this season. He made eight tackles and broke up one pass.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
