Claremore Daily Progress

Sports

September 4, 2012

Stoops get defensive about Finch's playing time

JOHN SHINN CNHI News Services

NORMAN — Junior running back/slot receiver Roy Finch only played on special teams against UTEP. Many fans were wondering why the junior, who was OU’s second leading rusher (605 yards) and fourth leading receiver (34 catches), didn’t seem to have a place in the offense.



“We play who we feel is set to play the best for us right now,” OU coach Bob Stoops said at his weekly press conference on Monday. “You want to ask why another 90 guys didn’t play? I mean, we play who we feel is set to play. There’s no specific reason from today through the end of the year. Guys play who we feel are in the best position to play at the time. So I’ll repeat that answer from here until the end of time.”



The Sooners didn’t have a problem running the ball against UTEP. They rushed for 205 yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. The lack of an offensive punch throwing seemed to be where Finch could have helped. Slot receiver Kenny Stills was the only receiver with a reception longer than 18 yards. Finch averaged 8.7 yards per catch last season.



Saunders will sit out



Junior wide receiver Jalen Saunders will have to sit out this season. Saunders, who transferred to OU in January after two seasons at Fresno State, had petitioned the NCAA to become eligible this season instead of having to sit out two semesters before being allowed to play.



The NCAA denied the request. Saunders will redshirt and have two years of eligibility remaining.



Petterson out



Defensive tackle Torrea Peterson won’t play until he gets an “academic issue” solved, according to Stoops.



“Torrea is with us,” Stoops said. “We’re still working through it with Torrea.”



In shape



One positive OU can take away from the UTEP game is that it made it through a game played on a hot summer night with no cramping issues.



“Yeah, that was our main focus this summer. I don’t know how hot it gets there, but it was pretty humid Saturday night. We were prepared for it,” safety Tony Jefferson said. “This summer we focused on being in condition so we wouldn’t have to substitute as much. Our guys did pretty good at that. Our D-line grinded it out.”



No idea



Oklahoma fans took to Twitter on Saturday and Sunday and jumped on talk radio on Monday to voice their frustration after the Sooners’ 24-7 victory over UTEP. Most were expecting a more lopsided score.



Wide receiver Kenny Stills hadn’t noticed the fanbase’s ire.



“I haven’t been on Twitter. I quit going on Twitter for a week or so. I really don’t know what the panic was,” he said. “I would guess people were disappointed that we didn’t put up all the points in the world. UTEP isn’t a bad team. They prepared well and knew what we were going to do and they stopped us. We can’t downplay that.”

 

Text Only
Sports
  • Practice_051web.jpg ‘All-State Brace’

    All the hours and hard work of keeping the Claremore Zebra athletes injury-free in order to reach their dreams at the highest level helped graduate Averey Brace fulfill a huge accomplishment in her athletic training career.
    Brace, a recent 2013 graduate of Claremore High School, received All-State honors from the Oklahoma Coaches Association earlier this month for her three-year commitment to the Claremore High School athletic training program.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sign up now for OSU Baseball Camp

    Oklahoma State Baseball will be holding a pair of camps in June for players in grades 1-8, and registration is now open.
     
    Session I of the camp is June 17-19, with Session II set for June 24-26, and cost for each camp is $200. Camp runs from 9 a.m.-noon each day.

    May 17, 2013

  • Lady Zebra volleyball camp set for May 20

    The Claremore Lady Zebra volleyball camp will take place on May 20-23 at the Claremore High School gymnasium.
    Under the direction of Lady Zebra head coach Lindsey Renfroe, campers will receive instruction in fundamentals — passing, setting, hitting and serving.

    May 17, 2013

  • Green Country All-Star Games start May 23 in Catoosa

    Area senior all-star athletes from 21 schools in northeastern Oklahoma will lace up their high tops, hoist their bats and dust off their pom-poms in preparation for the 2013 Green Country All-Star Games held May 23-24 in Catoosa.

    May 17, 2013

  • SEC BASEBALL: Auburn blanks No. 13 Arkansas, 3-0

    Conner Kendrick and Terrance Dedrick combined on a five-hit shutout as Auburn defeated No. 13 Arkansas, 3-0, in the series opener on Thursday night at Plainsman Park.

    Arkansas drops to 34-18 overall and 17-10 in Southeastern Conference play, while Auburn is now 32-21 and 12-16 in league play.

    May 17, 2013

  • GOLF: Bradley gets course-record 60 at Byron Nelson

    Keegan Bradley had no thoughts of a course record, or the possibility of a 59, after consecutive bogeys in the middle of his opening round at the Byron Nelson Championship.

    Until his 136-yard wedge shot on his final hole Thursday.

    “It was going right at it. (A 59) crossed my mind for a second, and it would be unbelievable if I buried this,” Bradley said. “But I had 3 feet to shoot 60. I was actually very nervous, uncomfortable over it and thank God I made it.”

    May 17, 2013

  • Cowboys rock Mountaineers, 7-4

    Oklahoma State showcased its offensive ability in its series opener against West Virginia on Thursday at Allie P. Reynolds Stadium.

    Whether it’s small ball or the long ball — both of which came into effect — the 16th-ranked Cowboys are proving they can find a way to win here late in the season with a 7-4 mauling of the Mountaineers.

    May 17, 2013

  • OU baseball closes out regular season play at K-State

    Moods were light as Oklahoma boarded a bus for Manhattan, Kan., Thursday afternoon. What they’ll be like by Sunday depends on what transpires over the next three games.

    The Sooners’ season hinges on the outcome.

    May 17, 2013

  • Westbrook's injury hinders Thunder's playoff run

    The way Kevin Martin describes it, the Oklahoma City Thunder lost the “vision” of a potential championship run the morning they learned All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook would be out for the rest of the postseason.

    May 17, 2013

  • NSU women's golf in 8th place at NCAA Division II Championship

    The Northeastern State women’s golf team sits in eighth place after Thursday’s second round of the 2013 NCAA Division II Championships on the par-72, 6,228-yard Legends Course at LPGA International.

    May 17, 2013