When Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly spoke to a group of kids from Phoenix-area Boys and Girls Clubs after practice Wednesday, he received an interesting request.
Advertisement
If he scores a touchdown in the Fiesta Bowl, he was asked, would he be willing to clasp his hands — fingertips to wrists, palms together — like the Boys and Girls Club symbol?
"Yeah,” Kelly said, nodding, "I can do that.”
The sophomore wideout has caught a touchdown pass in seven of the Sooners' 13 games.
Kelly, linebacker Zach Latimer and coach Bob Stoops each shared a special message with the kids, who attended as part of the Fiesta Bowl's Youth Gridiron Day.
The youngsters talked to players, collected autographs and even tossed the football with several Sooners.
•Seen and heard: The Sooners' practice brought out more than the kids and the media.
Former Sooners assistant and current Arizona head coach Mike Stoops hung around, as did former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez.
Mike Stoops would prefer to be putting his own team through practices right now, but the Wildcats missed the postseason, despite improving to 6-6 in Stoops' fourth season.
It's been a busy offseason for the Arizona coach, who has shuffled his staff with an emphasis on a more dynamic offense.
He replaced former offensive coordinator Mike Canales with Sonny Dykes, who has been co-offensive coordinator with Mike Leach at Texas Tech.
"We have 18 starters back, so I'm really excited about the team next year,” Mike Stoops said. "If we can get this offense implemented to half of what Tech does, that will be exciting. I think our kids are excited about the change.”
•What do you know? Boise State safety Gerald Alexander knows a thing or two about Oklahoma football.
"Everybody knows Oklahoma has been a successful program traditionally,” he said Wednesday after the Broncos' first practice since the team arrived in Phoenix. "The team that they have now has kept it going with that tradition.”
But wait, there's more.
"Obviously, everybody looks forward to the Red River Shootout,” Alexander said.
He chuckled.
"I know my football, now. The Bedlam game, I know about that one, too.”
•Familiar face: A lost season for Ben Baressi at least ends with some reward.
Baressi is with the Sooners in Arizona, after missing the season due to an undisclosed medical condition.
The offensive lineman's future with the team is uncertain.
By John Helsley and Jenni Carlson
Mike Stoops visits OU practice, says he's proud of... 12/28/2006 PHOENIX — Bob Stoops can point to Gordon Riese for costing Oklahoma another win and perhaps a claim for playing in the BCS title game. Mike Stoops has a...
0
