January 1, 2022 Issue, Page 4 of 8

Page Text

4 January 1, 2022 Sports ‘[He’s] a phenomenal player’: Oregon coach Bryan McClendon praises Sooners’ Caleb Williams Jesse Crittenden, The Nor- to the Sooners. Williams was terim coach Bob Stoops, who liams’ first postseason game through this year... he’s still here, leading our program. The man Transcript an active participant in both said the freshman has all of the and his first matchup with a got so much room to grow as a passion is going to infect ev- of the Sooners’ open practices qualities to be a great quarter- non-conference opponent. He football player and as a person. erybody in a positive way. I re- SAN ANTONIO, Texas — this week, and he’ll be the one back. started six games for the Soon- He’s so very, very talented, but ally believe he has a chance to While Oklahoma had four under center when they take “As much as anything, [a ers and appeared in nine total, there’s still so much to learn bring us to another level.” players opt out of the Alamo the field against the Ducks. quarterback needs] great com- throwing for 1674 yards and being out there as a young guy —Confidence in Gundy: Bowl against Oregon Wednes- During the press conference, petitiveness and toughness 18 touchdowns while adding that every day that goes by and Though the longtime assis- day, Ducks’ interim coach Bry- McClendon spoke at length mixed with the poise,” Stoops 406 yards and six touchdowns the more reps and the more an McClendon would’ve liked about the challenge of defend- said. “He can’t run around like on the ground. practices you get, you’re going tant coach has never called to see one specific player added ing Williams. a linebacker, but he can have Cale Gundy, who will serve to get better. He’s heading in plays, Stoops said Gundy’s to that list. “I feel like they probably the same kind of fire as a line- as the team’s offensive play that direction.” experience should be a huge “I’m not too upset about have the best playmaker in the backer. [He needs] toughness, caller against Oregon, is im- —Observe and report: help with leading the offense that, about those decisions, to country [at] quarterback,” Mc- a guy that players want to work pressed with Williams’ growth Stoops said new OU coach against Oregon. be honest with you. I wish the Clendon said. “Regardless of with and work for. He [needs this season and believes he’ll Brent Venables arrived in San “Even though he hasn’t been quarterback [Caleb Williams] how old or young he is, the guy to be] a leader and a worker. only get better. Antonio on Monday after the the one that’s been coming made the same one,” McClen- is a phenomenal player. You “Caleb is all of those things. “I don’t think none of us team’s practice and watched out, he’s been the one helping don said during the coaches’ see instantly what he does to The players love him. He prac- really truly know what Caleb the team’s practice on Tuesday. the guy directly that is calling press conference Tuesday. everybody on the field. I mean, tices every day with energy. has to go through or any start- However, Venables and his the plays,” Stoops said. “Cale He was joking, of course, but he truly makes you play the en- Always ready to go, always ing quarterback at a college new staff hires will not coach has been with us forever. He’ll it did illustrate the respect that tire snap of football. got a bright, happy demeanor football program or NFL or in the Alamo Bowl. Stoops said Oregon and its coaching staff “Whether it’s on rhythm, he about him. He’s got the char- wherever,” Gundy said Mon- the plan is for Venables to ob- do a good job. I’m confident of has for the Sooners’ true fresh- can make the play. Whether acteristics and the talent. I’m day. “We can think we know or serve the team before fully tak- that.” man quarterback. it’s off rhythm, he has to cre- just hopeful as he continues speculate how somebody feels, ing over after the bowl game. Jesse Crittenden is the While there was concern that ate some stuff, he can do that to progress, he’ll continue to but there’s a lot on that young “They’ve been awesome,” sports editor of The Transcript Williams could enter the trans- as well.” evolve as one of those great man’s shoulders. Stoops said. “I can’t say it and covers OU athletics. Reach fer portal earlier this month, Williams has also made an quarterbacks.” “Just to see how Caleb enough how excited I am that him at jesse@normantran- he has remained committed impression on Sooners’ in- The Alamo Bowl will be Wil- has continued to get better Brent Venables is going to be script.com or at 405-366-3580 Cowboy defense discusses play calling, position coaches Jason Elmquist, Stillwater that that’s their specific job. Knowles a “blank check” prior — Kansas State — and has Stillwater High football team The change in play caller for NewsPress He’s not going to overreach to the departure to Ohio State churned out NFL talent along who recently committed to Oklahoma State’s defense will his responsibilities and try to — went to bat for his position the defensive line. walking on at Oklahoma State obviously be a wrinkle that SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Joe do something that he doesn’t coach as the potential succes- And while he has had many — continuing a long list of re- Notre Dame will not be pre- Bob Clements was tabbed to need to.” sor to Knowles. offers to become a defensive cent Pioneers to join the Cow- pared for. be the voice of the Oklahoma A day earlier, Cowboy coach “He could easily do it. I’m coordinator for the first time boy program as walk-ons. State defense during Tuesday’s Mike Gundy said he hadn’t ze- not going to come out and say in his career, he said Tuesday Clements also has a daugh- However, Tommy Rees — first coordinator media avail- roed in on the defensive play that Gundy should hire him. I that a lot of things factor into ter who plays volleyball at Em- Notre Dame’s offensive coordi- ability for the Fiesta Bowl in caller — and even mentioned mean, ultimately, that’s a (ath- potentially taking that next poria (Kansas) State, a younger nator — doesn’t think it will be Arizona, and it may be for good it could be a pair of position letic director Chad) Weiberg step, whether it be at Oklaho- daughter who plays volleyball all that different from what the reason. coaches combining to make and Gundy decision at the end ma State or elsewhere. for the Stillwater High squad Fighting Irish have seen from When defensive players took the calls. of the day,” Martin said. “I got “With me and my family, and a younger son. Oklahoma State while dissect- to the microphone, Brock Mar- And according to other de- some flack for the blank check we’ve always based any deci- As for the game at hand, ing 13 games of film. tin made a statement that may fensive players, all of the posi- thing with Knowles. Gundy sion I make professionally, whoever is calling the plays for have shed some light on who tion coaches have been instru- hasn’t let that one go yet. one, is our family first; what’s the Oklahoma State defense “I was in a similar situation will be calling plays for the mental in preparing for the “I think he (Clements) very going to be best for my wife come Saturday, it appears the a couple of years ago. You have bowl game in the absence of bowl without a defensive coor- well could (do the job). I think and my kids,” Clements said. defensive players are support- an opportunity to call it after departed defensive coordina- dinator on staff. he would do a hell of a job. I “And then, secondly, it’s what’s ive. being a position coach. You are tor Jim Knowles. “I mean, it’s been like how think he’s been offered DC jobs best for me in the profession. “Joe Bob and all them are do- not going to deviate too much “Coach (Joe Bob) Clements Brock said. It’s been (Cle- before. He loves it here, loves Is it a good place? Am I work- ing good jobs,” senior lineback- from who you are for the play- has kind of stepped into the ments) kind of leading, but Stillwater. His kids grew up ing around a lot of good peo- er Devin Harper said. “They’re ers, right?” Rees said. “You play-calling role and he just other guys have put their input here. He’s stayed the path here. ple? And thus far in my career, coming up with great schemes don’t want to start putting kind of lets the position coach- in and we’ve just been going I think he’s more than earned it’s been really good. So I have and great play calling. es coach his players,” Mar- that way,” cornerback Jarrick it.” no anxiety over what may hap- “I think they’ll do a great job too much different in there, tin said. “... He knows all the Bernard-Converse said. Clements has been with pen in the future.” at it, we’ve just got to execute because you want your players other positions, too, but he is Martin — who made waves Oklahoma State for nine years Clements’ elder son, Chance, what they call, and from there to still be able to go out and ex- going to leave it to the guys when he tweeted about giving since leaving his alma mater is a senior linebacker for the it should be good.” ecute at a high level. The Graham Jam COVID Hobbles Thunder as 2021 Ends By Graham Dudley It's been a tough couple of weeks Bazley and Mann, JRE and Wiggins away, as the team has won four of its Oklahoma for Darius Bazley. have been starting recently. Losing past five ballgames. City ran out First, the third-year forward played Poku also will cut into the Thunder's With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and to a big lead his way out of a starting job. Bazley forward depth. Josh Giddey still in the lineup, for now, right out of had been the notable weak link in It's not a struggle unique to Oklahoma City will aim to continue its the gate, and Oklahoma City's starting five this sea- Oklahoma City. Chicago, Brooklyn, winning ways. led by as son, but remained in the lineup due to Miami and many other teams around The Denver victory might have had much as 17 his experience -- and a lack of exciting the league have had players miss time more to do with the Nuggets than with in the first alternatives. But finally, on Dec. 18, with COVID-19, despite the NBA's OKC's own play. After struggling half. The Bazley came off the bench for OKC's robust vaccination record. The league through three quarters, Nuggets head Pelicans Saturday-night contest against the is taking no chances, though vaccinat- coach Michael Malone sat his starters pulled close Clippers. ed players and staffers are unlikely to and never put them back in, including in the third Since his benching, Bazley had develop serious symptoms. reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. quarter, actually been performing well. Most The solution? Hardship contracts. "As a coach, what I really care however, and notably, he scored 17 points and While waiting for its players to get about is when you play and compete, vaulted grabbed 11 rebounds on Dec. 22 healthy, the NBA is loathe to cancel and play the right way," Malone ahead in the Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley goes against the Nuggets, another Thunder games and instead is asking teams to explained after the game. "We didn't fourth. to the basket against Memphis Grizzlies center win. But Bazley's momentum was sign players to short-term "hardship" have that from our starting group A 3- Xavier Tillman during the first half at FedExForum. halted on Dec. 26 when the team or emergency contracts. The results so tonight. Our bench had it. And even p o i n t e r (Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports) announced he had entered health and far have been somewhat wacky and when we cut (the deficit), I wasn't immediately safety protocols due to COVID-19. occasionally delightful. going to put our starters back in. They put the Thunder back on top, though, The Thunder hit the road on Unfortunately, he wasn't the last Seven-time All-Star Joe Johnson, didn't deserve the opportunity." and they stayed there to secure a 117- Tuesday, Dec. 28, for a contest against one. Thunder guard Tre Mann entered for instance, recently reappeared with Fair enough, but it did help the 112 win. SGA put up 31 points in the the Sacramento Kings. Then it's on to protocols right in the middle of the Boston Celtics at age 40. A hard- Thunder steal the ballgame 108-94. ballgame, followed by 24 points from Phoenix on Dec. 29 before a New Oklahoma City's Sunday game against ship contract scored Johnson his first Oklahoma City fell the next night in the surprising two-way player-turned- Year's Eve matchup with the Knicks New Orleans, and three more players - NBA appearance since 2018. Phoenix, which is no surprise given the starter, Wiggins. at the Paycom Center. - Aleksej Pokusevski, Jeremiah It will be interesting to see who the Suns' outstanding season so far. But Unfortunately, as discussed before, Happy New Year, Thunder fans. Robinson-Earl and Aaron Wiggins -- Thunder bring in if they extend any Oklahoma City returned home on Wiggins will be out of commission for May 2022 bring more wins than entered protocols on Monday. hardship contracts. But they'll hope Sunday night, after Christmas, and a while now. And who knows who 2021. That's a huge blow, because unlike any such players can contribute right played a thriller against New Orleans. might be suiting up in his stead? Thunder Up!