The 2008 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the 114th season of Sooner football. The team was led by two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award winner, Bob Stoops, in his 10th season as head coach. They played their homes games at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. They were a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.
Conference play began with a win over the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas on October 4, and ended with a win over the Missouri Tigers in the Big 12 Championship Game on December 9. The Sooners finished the regular season with a 12–1 record (7–1 in Big 12) while winning their sixth Big 12 title and their 42nd conference title overall. They were invited to the BCS National Championship Game, where they lost to the Florida Gators, 24–14. Oklahoma scored 716 points during the course of their entire season, setting an NCAA Division I record (later broken by Florida State in 2013) for most points scored in a single season. This is Oklahoma's most recent appearance in a national championship game to date.
The Sooners were led on offense by sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford, who became the fifth Oklahoma player to win the Heisman Trophy, distinguishing him as the best player in college football. Bradford led the nation in passing touchdowns (50) and passer efficiency rating (180.8). Bradford squared off against 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow in the BCS National Championship Game, which was the second time in history that two Heisman winners played each other in a game, after Matt Leinart and Jason White met in the 2005 Orange Bowl.
Following the season, Phil Loadholt was selected in the 2nd round of the 2009 NFL draft, Juaquin Iglesias was drafted in the 3rd, Nic Harris and Duke Robinson were chosen in the 5th, and Manuel Johnson in the 7th.
Recruits
On March 6, 2008, 4-star wide receiver Joshua Jarboe, who was deemed to be one of the recruits who could start playing immediately in the fall, was arrested for receiving stolen property and possessing a weapon at his DeKalb County high school. Jarboe could have faced expulsion under school policy for these felony charges, but did not. Already on thin ice for the weapons possession, he was kicked off the team in June for making a violent rap video on YouTube that described him carrying and using a gun.
Schedule
Roster
(as of 30 July 2007)Wide receivers 1 Manuel Johnson – Senior 4 Jameel Owens – Freshman 8 Brandon Caleb – Junior 9 Juaquin Iglesias – Senior 10 Tyler Stradford – Freshman 11 Corey Wilson – Freshman 20 Zac Givens – Sophomore 24 Dejuan Miller – Freshman 27 Steven Cobb – Freshman 39 Rashad Hutchins – Freshman 80 Adron Tennell – Junior 81 Carter Whitson – Junior 84 Quentin Chaney – Senior 85 Ryan Broyles – Freshman 87 T.J. Hamilton – Junior
Offensive line 50 Jon Cooper – Senior 51 Brian Lepak – Sophomore 54 Jason Hannan- Freshman 58 Nick Taylor- Freshman 59 Donald Stephenson – Freshman 61 Ben Habern – Freshman 64 Kody Cooke- Freshman 70 Cory Brandon – Sophomore 71 Trent Williams – Junior 72 Duke Robinson – Senior 73 Brandon Walker – Senior 74 Brian Simmons – Junior 75 Jarvis Jones – Sophomore 76 Branndon Braxton – Senior 77 Stephen Good – Freshman 78 Alex Williams – Freshman 79 Phil Loadholt – Senior
Tight ends 18 Jermaine Gresham – Junior 41 Josh New – Sophomore 47 Trent Ratterree – Freshman 49 James Toms – Freshman 82 James Hanna – Freshman 83 Brody Eldridge – Junior 88 Eric Mensik – Sophomore 89 Kolby Smith – Senior
Fullbacks 34 Matt Clapp – Junior 40 Buck Buchanan – Freshman 42 Jacob Ellison – Sophomore Quarterbacks 5 John Nimmo – Sophomore 6 Ben Sherrard – Freshman 12 Landry Jones – Freshman 14 Sam Bradford – Sophomore 15 Joey Halzle – Senior
Running backs 7 DeMarco Murray – Sophomore 17 Mossis Madu – Sophomore 23 Jermie Calhoun – Freshman 25 Justin Johnson – Freshman 29 Chris Brown – Junior 35 Derek Gove – Senior
Defensive line 33 Auston English – Junior 44 Jeremy Beal – Sophomore 53 Casey Walker – Freshman 62 Tola Jimoh – Junior 84 Frank Alexander – Freshman 86 Adrian Taylor – Sophomore 89 Cordero Moore – Junior 90 David King – Freshman 91 R. J. Washington – Freshman 92 Stacy McGee – Freshman 93 Gerald McCoy – Sophomore 94 Pryce Macon – Sophomore 95 Alan Davis – Senior 96 DeMarcus Granger – Junior 97 Cory Bennett – Senior 99 Jonte Bumpus – Freshman Linebackers 8 Ryan Reynolds – Junior 10 Mike Balogun – Junior 12 Austin Box – Freshman 21 J.R. Bryant – Junior 22 Keenan Clayton – Sophomore 28 Travis Lewis – Freshman 30 Lamont Robinson – Junior 31 Daniel Franklin – Freshman 45 Turner Troup – Freshman 48 Brandon Crow – Sophomore 49 John Marr – Freshman 57 Dylan Hughey – Freshman
Defensive backs 2 Brian Jackson – Junior 3 Jonathan Nelson – Sophomore 5 Nic Harris – Senior 6 Desmond Jackson – Freshman 11 Lendy Holmes – Senior 13 Michael Hayes – Sophomore 14 Sean Edwards – Freshman 15 Dominique Franks – Sophomore 16 David Sims – Junior 18 Cortney Carter – Senior 19 Lamar Harris – Freshman 20 Quinton Carter – Sophomore 25 Emmanuel Jones – Junior 26 Brett Bowers – Junior 27 Sam Proctor – Freshman 32 Jamell Fleming – Freshman 36 Zach Brown – Sophomore 39 Eli Ferguson – Sophomore 41 Joseph Ibiloye – Freshman 42 Colby Gibson – Junior 43 Marloe Prince – Junior
Punters 13 Mike Knall – Senior 43 Adam Schneberger – Freshman
Kickers 17 Jimmy Stevens – Freshman 36 Tress Way – Freshman 37 Matthew Moreland – Freshman
Deep Snapper 46 James Winchester – Freshman 52 Derek Shaw – Junior 55 Kyle Johnson – Senior 63 Ben Hampton – Junior
Coaching staff Prior to the season, several changes were made to the Oklahoma coaching staff.
Co-offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin took the head coaching position at the University of Houston.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables was mentioned as a candidate for the opening at the University of Arkansas before it ultimately went to Bobby Petrino.Baxter Bulletin - www.baxterbulletin.com
Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson interviewed and was considered a finalist for the opening at the University of Southern Mississippi. That opening ended up going to Wilson's counterpart at Oklahoma State University, Larry Fedora.
Name Position Yearsat OU Bob Stoops Head coach 10 Brent Venables Associate head coachDefensive coordinator Linebackers 10 Bobby Jack Wright Assistant head coachCo-defensive coordinator Defensive backs 10 Kevin Wilson Offensive coordinatorTight ends/fullbacks 7 Jay Norvell Asst. Offensive Coord.Wide receivers 1 Cale Gundy Recruiting coordinatorRunning backs 10 Josh Heupel Quarterbacks 5 James Patton Offensive line 3 Jackie Shipp Defensive line 10 Chris Wilson Defensive ends 4
Game summaries
Chattanooga
Oklahoma came into the season ranked No. 4 in both the Coaches' and AP Poll. In the first game between Chattanooga and Oklahoma, Sam Bradford threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns, and RB Chris Brown ran for three scores. Only an hour-long rainstorm could slow down the Sooners in a 57–2 victory against Chattanooga. The Sooners converted their first seven possessions into touchdowns and led 50–0 before a thunderstorm caused a lightning delay that extended halftime by 1 hour and 12 minutes. UTC, which would go on to earn only one win in the entire season, scored only 2 points on a safety from an errant snap on a punt play. Chattanooga was held to just two first downs the entire game.
Cincinnati
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Ryan Broyles, playing his first game as a Sooner, had the most productive receiver debut in school history, with seven catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. Oklahoma gave up a kick return for a touchdown in the third quarter that brought the Bearcats within eight, but OU eventually pulled away from Cincinnati, winning 52–26.
Washington
On Oklahoma's first drive, QB Sam Bradford threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Juaquin Iglesias. Oklahoma dominated from then on. Washington scored only twice in the game, losing 55–14. Bradford went 18 of 21 while throwing for 304 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. Oklahoma never turned the ball over while Washington fumbled it three times, Oklahoma recovering all three times.
TCU
TCU had beaten Oklahoma the last two times they had met, the most recent being in 2005, where a #7 ranked Oklahoma was upset by an unranked TCU in the season opener, 10–17.
The game started with Sam Bradford throwing two touchdown passes in the first quarter, one to Juaquin Iglesias and the other Manuel Johnson. Johnson ended the game with three touchdowns (all of which were 50+ yard receptions) and 206 receiving yards on just five receptions, becoming the first Oklahoma player to have 200+ receiving yards in a game. This incredible 41.2 yards per catch is still the Sooner YPC game record for players with at least four catches.
Baylor
After three rushing touchdowns by Oklahoma and one through the air put them up 28–0 at the end of the first quarter, Baylor never came within 21. Sooners win, 49–17.
Texas (Red River Rivalry)
This game marked the 103rd meeting of the Red River Rivalry, which has been called one of the greatest sports rivalries. It's the longest active rivalry for the Longhorns, and the second longest for the Sooners, behind only the Bedlam Series. Since 1929, the game has been held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, typically in mid-October with the State Fair of Texas occurring adjacent to the stadium.
In a high-scoring shootout, Texas upset the Sooners, 45–35. Colt McCoy performed brilliantly in the fourth quarter, leading his team to 15 unanswered points. It was the highest scoring event in the history of rivalry, and it had the highest attendance, a record 92,182.
Kansas
Sam Bradford had 468 yards and three TDs passing in an offensive matchup. After a score of 24–17 at halftime, Oklahoma began to pull away in the third quarter, eventually winning 45–31 in Norman.
Kansas State
Oklahoma traveled to Manhattan, Kansas to take on a struggling Kansas State team just coming off a tough road loss to Colorado. The Sooners and Wildcats played a wild first half that saw the two teams combine to score 83 points. The Sooners’ 55 first half points set a school record for most points ever scored before halftime. Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford played what would end up being his worst game of the season, completing only 40 percent of his passes (13–32) for 255 yards. Kansas State QB Josh Freeman had a career-best 478 yards passing, but was sacked twice and had three interceptions against the Sooner defense.
Nebraska
When Nebraska walked out under the lights at Memorial Stadium, the Cornhuskers were still in the race for the Big 12 North title, but after the Oklahoma Sooners completed their first drive for a touchdown, intercepted Husker quarterback Joe Ganz's first pass and took it back for an 18-yard touchdown return, then tacked on three more scores, Nebraska's expectations for its bowl season had been lowered considerably. The second quarter went better for the Cornhuskers, backup tailback Roy Helu getting a touchdown and racking up 157 yards on the day, but the Sooner lead proved insurmountable. The Sooners' Sam Bradford stayed in Heisman-race form, throwing for 311 yards and five touchdowns. DeMarco Murray caught a 25-yard scoring pass from Bradford, and ran twice for touchdowns, finishing with 57 rushing yards. Despite the impressive win, the Sooners slipped from 4th to 6th in the BCS rankings.
Texas A&M