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Sat August 26, 2006

Oklahoma football notebook

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  • Fullback found: Sooners offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson announced Friday that sophomore Matt Clapp has won the fullback job.



    Clapp had been in a battle with Dane Zaslaw and transplanted linebacker Ian Pleasant.

    “In this last week and a half, Matt has been settling in and has by far been our best fullback,” Wilson said. “Is he tremendously great? No. But shoot, he’s a second-year guy.

    “And he’s 240 and he’ playing hard and he’s gaining confidence.”

    Clapp realizes he’s following a fullback who sets the standard in J.D. Runnels, now with the Chicago Bears.

    “I thought I had a pretty good preseason camp,” Clapp said. “I worked my butt off all summer, actually from winter to summer and this preseason. I’m just glad to be in this position and take over a spot from a great guy who had it for four years.”

  • One snap away: OU’s quarterback position is securely in the control of Paul Thompson.

    Of course, one untimely hit or misstep could alter fate with injury.

    Can the Sooners move forward if forced to turn to backup Joey Halzle?

    “He’s getting more and more ready,” said OU coach Bob Stoops. “The guy, to his defense, was with us only 15 practices in the spring. It takes time to learn a system and feel the speed at this level. He’s doing a really good job and making progress out there.”

    Stoops assessed Halzle’s strengths and weaknesses.

    “He has a good feel out there for what to do with the ball,” Stoops said. “The only thing early on is I felt he took a few too many chances. He’s got to be a little wiser in those situations.”

    Then there’s the worst-case scenario - at least in terms of experience - true freshman Sam Bradford standing two snaps away from his Sooner debut.

    Consider it a sign of the times at the quarterback position, where players are less likely to be patient in their quest for the starting job.

    “Who isn’t that way?” Stoops asked. “We’re not that different from anybody else out there. I don’t know too many who have four upperclassmen ready to go.”

  • Game on: After four weeks of rugged practices in almost-regular 100-degree heat, the Sooners are finally nearing game day.

    The intensity will soon rise.

    “It will on Monday,” Stoops said. “It’s into game week. You can start to sense it and feel it coming.”

  • Keep kicking: Closing in on game week, Stoops is content to let the battle for the team’s punting chores carry on.

    And he considers that a good development, with the competition between Mike Knall and Michael Cohen marked tight.

    “Both those guys have been very good,” Stoops said Friday. “Today may have been the best I’ve seen them. They were both over 45 (yards average) with good hang time and hitting it well. So I’m pleased with it.”

    By John Helsley

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