OU notebook

Statue ceremony Saturday
OU will unveil a heroic-size statue honoring 1969 Heisman Trophy winner Steve Owens before Saturday's game against UAB.

The ceremony, open to the public, is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in Heisman Park on the east side of Memorial Stadium.

"The Oklahoma Centennial Commission is pleased to pay tribute to Steve Owens and the many great Oklahomans who have shaped our state's history and make all of us proud to call Oklahoma our home state," said Blake Wade, executive director of the Oklahoma Centennial Commission.

The bronze statue of Owens is the second of four planned for Heisman Park, a joint effort of OU and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission. The first, of 1952 Heisman winner Billy Vessels, was unveiled in September 2005. Statues of the school's other Heisman winners, Billy Sims and Jason White, will be dedicated in 2007.

Heisman Park is one of the many projects occurring across the state in celebration of Oklahoma's first 100 years.

Dual punters: Sooners coach Bob Stoops announced Wednesday that he'll go with a two-punter approach to start the season.

Michael Cohen will handle situations that call for longer punts, while Mike Knall will be used on pooch-style punts. Stoops also said that the competition isn't over.

"I've really liked the way they've made each other better," Stoops said. "They've worked with each other in drills really good.

"I've watched them kick a ton of balls here for a month and are really pleased with both of them."

Scouting report: The UAB depth chart lists, in order, Chris Williams, Sam Hunt and Joseph Webb at quarterback.

And after a close preseason battle between the three, that is the order -- for now.

"No one won out," Blazers coach Watson Brown said. "Chris is going to be there first, but there is not a starter. The reason that I am sending Chris out there first is because he has been there before. It will play out from here on in."

Williams is a senior with a reputation for not being easily rattled, a trait that could come in handy before 80,000-plus Saturday. Hunt is a junior transfer from Middle Tennessee, where he played in six games in 2004.

Webb, a redshirt freshman, might be the most talented and figures to be the Blazers quarterback of the future.

Blocking back: Having won the starting fullback job, Matt Clapp isn't developing any illusions of becoming a big ground gainer.

Clapp said he relishes his role: knocking heads and clearing paths for Adrian Peterson.

"That's fun," Clapp said. "That is very fun because he's the big boss man back there. So I'm all for making some holes for him, doing what I can do to get him some big runs and some touchdowns."

By John Helsley