Oklahoma's Bob Stoops was named a finalist for the Paul "Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award, it was announced Wednesday by the Houston division of the American Heart Association, which oversees the award.
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Also on Wednesday, Stoops finished third in the Associated Press voting for National Coach of the Year, an honor that went to Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe.
Stoops' counterpart in the Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl, Boise State coach Chris Petersen, is also a finalist for the Bryant Award.
The other finalists are Wisconsin's Bret Bielema, Michigan's Lloyd Carr, and Greg Schiano of Rutgers.
The winner will be announced Jan. 11.
•Practice as usual: Stoops has his team practicing as if this were a game week, hoping to hone in the players' focus after two weeks of lighter workouts.
"We had a very physical, good practice (Tuesday) in full pads, much like we have through the year on Tuesdays, working, of course, against Boise State's schemes,” Stoops said. "I feel like we're making very good progress.
"Our game plan is progressing. We just have to finish it up this week and polish it when we get out there.”
Today will be the Sooners' final workout before the players begin their holiday break.
The team will gather Monday for the trip to Glendale, Ariz.
Quarterback Paul Thompson noticed a rise in the team's energy this week.
"Practice (Tuesday) was full pads,” he said. "We weren't going to the ground, but the intensity was up and we were popping some pads.
"Everyone's mental focus is gonna keep us focused for this game.”
•Reggie at receiver?: The Sooners' early season experiment of occasionally playing sophomore defensive back Reggie Smith at wide receiver didn't last long.
Smith got only a few snaps at receiver and none after the fourth game of the year.
But could the experiment be reborn, possibly for the Fiesta Bowl?
"We'll see,” Smith said. "I've been talking to (receivers coach Kevin) Sumlin, trying to get me in there. We'll see what happens.”
•Last-minute shopping: If any OU fans are still searching for gift ideas for Thompson, the senior quarterback has a suggestion.
"I need some more tickets to this game,” Thompson said of the Fiesta Bowl. "I don't know that I'm gonna get that, though.”
The players recently received their bowl gift package, which included a 20-inch television and an iPod.
"We got iPods last year at the Holiday Bowl,” Thompson said. "So, anybody want to buy an iPod?”
Though Thompson was joking about trying to sell the iPod, there's a chance someone in his family might receive it as a Christmas gift.
"I'll tell them I saved up for it,” Thompson said with a laugh. "I've got two younger brothers, so they usually enjoy a lot of the electronic-type stuff.”
•Duplicate numbers: Boise State is one of a dwindling group of teams that doesn't allow two players to share a jersey number.
Well, almost.
This season, the Broncos had two No. 64s. Jeff and Pete Cavender shared the jersey number as Jeff's tribute to his twin brother, who suffered a season-ending Achilles injury before the season.
The past two seasons, Jeff wore No. 54, but switched to No. 64 for the Broncos' first game without telling Pete.
By Scott Wright
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