It was pure Bedlam at Heritage Hall School on Wednesday as two teammates officially parted ways to become rivals.
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Jimmy Stevens, a Parade All-America kicker who set the national high school record for career field goals, signed with Oklahoma. Defensive tackle Quinton Prince signed with Oklahoma State.
As both youngsters sat at a table in the upper school at Heritage Hall, Prince, decked out in OSU orange, and Stevens, donning OU crimson, signed letters of intent.
"I think they're both going where they need to go and will still be friends,” Heritage Hall football coach Andy Bogart said. "I'm sure they'll be ribbing each other a little, though.”
The two signed their letters separately to allow for photos. Prince signed first, and immediately began shaking his hands like pistols in the Cowboy tradition. After Stevens signed, he took a shot at the Sooners' other rival with an upside down Hook'em Horns hand sign. Stevens also showed his Parade All-American plaque at the signing.
Both players said there will be some jokes thrown toward each other.
"We will throw little punches at each other every now and then,” Prince said.
Stevens said: "In the hall, when we pass each other, we'll make little comments to each other about OU vs. OSU. We are still good friends. It'll be fun playing against each other.”
•Cooper dealing with media crush: Josh Cooper stared into the TV camera and answered question after question on signing day. The Oklahoma State-bound Mustang receiver looked as though he'd rather be sitting in Trigonometry class or taking a slobber knocker from a strong safety.
"I don't like interviews that much, but I guess it's all right,” Cooper said. "I'll have to get used to it.”
Cooper isn't the flashy recruit who wants to keep everyone in suspense with his college choice. He got that over with in November when he committed to the Cowboys. It was an easy choice.
"I always wanted to go to OSU, and when they called me, I had my mind made up already so it was a pretty easy decision,” he said.
The decision was easier than talking about it with the media.
Cooper has made a name for himself over the past two seasons. As a junior, he led the state with 95 receptions for 1,748 yards and 18 touchdowns. Mustang advanced to the Class 6A finals, losing to Tulsa Union. With Mustang breaking in a new quarterback this season, Cooper still caught 75 passes for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Mustang coach Ty Prestidge said the 6-foot, 175-pound Cooper is advanced when it comes to his technical skills.
"Sometimes you have guys who are great speed or possession guys that don't run great routes,” Prestidge said. "Josh is one of those guys who has great speed and is a very good possession receiver. He's conscious about running good routes and doing things right.”
•Picking Irish has Romine smiling: As far as Matt Romine was concerned, he couldn't lose Wednesday, when he signed a national letter of intent to play college football.
At a signing ceremony in the Union High School practice gym, Romine signed with Notre Dame. He picked the Fighting Irish after also making official visits to Oklahoma, Florida, Miami (Fla.) and Michigan.
"All five of those schools are great with the top programs in the nation,” Romine said. "A lot of people told me that any choice would be a good choice.
"But I couldn't pass up Notre Dame, with the reputation and the football program Coach (Charlie) Weis is building there.”
The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Romine is rated as the No. 1 offensive lineman in Oklahoma, and Rivals.com rates him as the No. 3 offensive tackle recruit in the nation.
Romine, one of three Oklahomans picked to play in the Army All-American Bowl high school all-star game Jan. 6 in San Antonio, committed to Notre Dame at that time.
"It just felt like the right place for me,” Romine said. "I took a long time in making my decision, so it felt good when I finally committed.”
•Better late than never for Vian's Taylor: Little more than a week ago, Vian wide receiver/defensive back Londell Taylor was trying to decide between Northern Iowa and Central Arkansas.
Wednesday, the 6-2, 215-pound Taylor signed with Oklahoma, picking the Sooners over Butch Davis and North Carolina.
"It was crazy how it all came together,” Taylor said.
Sooners coach Bob Stoops called Vian coach Brandon Tyler about Taylor on Friday, when the player was in Chapel Hill, N.C., visiting the Tar Heels. By Monday, he had an offer. By later that evening, he'd committed to Oklahoma.
"It all came down to family,” Taylor said.
"It came down to how many times they would be able to come down and watch me play.”
The lure of playing for a team he grew up watching was a big draw as well.
Despite his relative anonymity throughout the process, Taylor insists it won't be long until he's contributing at OU.
"As soon as I get there,” Taylor said when asked how quickly he'd be able to compete for playing time.
Even Taylor's recruitment by the Tar Heels was a fast development.
Davis and assistant coach John Blake stopped at Vian last week to pick up some tape and watch Taylor play basketball.
UNC made a strong push Wednesday to draw Taylor, calling five times before he made it official by faxing his letter to the Sooners.
As a senior, Taylor had 46 catches for 1,171 yards and 16 touchdowns. On defense, he intercepted seven passes, returning four for scores.
"I know everyone talks about him not being as fast as some people,” Tyler said. "But he never got caught from behind.
"I'm sure when he gets up there and gets to working with OU's strength and conditioning people, he'll improve quickly.”
Taylor is happy to have the process over.
"It's been a hectic, crazy week,” he said.
Taylor is Vian's first Division I signee since Kenyatta Wright signed with Oklahoma State in 1995.
•Kansas signee Hoge happy for Stevens: Putnam City North kicker Stephen Hoge isn't going to begrudge Heritage Hall's Stevens all the attention he's gotten in the last year.
Stevens has the national attention (Parade All-American, national field-goal record) and the local big-time college commitment (Oklahoma), while Hoge did nothing flashy but consistently hit his kicks.
The pair are close friends, and Wednesday, when Hoge signed with Kansas, Hoge said it was difficult at times coming along at the same time as Stevens.
"It is hard,” Hoge said. "But he deserved the attention, breaking the record and everything else he's done. I'm just trying to do my thing.”
As a senior, Hoge hit 12 of 16 field goals while kicking from the ground.
"Kicking from the ground was a big deal for me,” Hoge said.
"That'll make the transition to college that much easier.”
He picked Kansas over Western Michigan. Hoge said he hopes to contribute immediately for the Jayhawks but is also willing to be patient.
"I'll do whatever it takes,” he said.
Hoge already is targeting Oct. 18, 2008, when the Jayhawks play Stevens and the Sooners in Norman.
"I'm definitely looking forward to that one,” Hoge said.
•Lewis picks Kansas over Cyclones: Muskogee's Rell Lewis also signed with Kansas on Wednesday.
In December, Lewis appeared headed to Iowa State.
Lewis mainly played quarterback for the Roughers but will likely be a receiver at KU.
"Because of my height, I don't think some people think I can play receiver at this level,” Lewis said. "But I think I'll fit into that offense well.”
Lewis did play some receiver as a sophomore.
He suffered a knee injury during the regular season, tearing his medial collateral ligament, but Lewis said he's close to 100 percent.
"It's doing great,” Lewis said. "I'm ready to go.”
By Jason Kersey, Bob Hersom, Matt Patterson and Ryan Aber
