The Sooner offense got a boost this week with the return of Brian Simmons to the lineup for Saturday's game at Texas Tech.
Sooner coach Bob Stoops said after Wednesday's practice that wide receiver Brandon Caleb and guard Tyler Evans have both showed improvement from ankle injuries.
"They're all set to play," he said
Simmons will be playing for the first time since suffering a knee injury against Texas. Caleb has been out since the first quarter of the Kansas State game with an ankle injury. Evans started against Texas A--M, but aggravated an ankle injury he's dealt with most of the season.
Miller out
Freshman running back Jonathan Miller won't play the rest of the regular season and could miss the bowl game due to a damaged knee cartilage he suffered against Texas A--M.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said Miller will have surgery this week and could miss a couple weeks, which would bring him back in time for a bowl game. Or he could be out for a couple months and maybe miss spring practice.
Bring on Arizona
Stoops has always said he has no interest in facing his brother, Mike, in a game unless it's for championship. Most assumed he meant something like a national championship. The OU coach clarified this week that going against family in a bowl game would be fine with him.
"We'd go play Arizona," the Sooner coach said.
Mike Stoops, who was OU's defensive coordinator from 1999-2003, has guided the Wildcats to one of their best season's in years and has them in contention to win the Pac-10. If they don't, one bowl scenario could have Arizona facing OU in the Holiday Bowl.
"Once the season's over, in a bowl game, then someone's got to win," Bob Stoops said. "I'd rather it be some type of championship game. But in the end, nobody knows that right now."
Earlier the better
Most fans hate early kickoffs. Coaches and players don't, especially when they're on the road. Wilson said he had no issues with the 11:30 a.m. for Saturday's game at Texas Tech.
"Everybody is excited when we come to town to play. That 11:30 kick I'm sure helps a little bit," he said. "It gets the tailgate going in our favor."
John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com
