PAGE 54E AUGUST,1996
KUED • SPORTS
LAWRENCE JOURNAL-WORLD
'They haven't been put in the fire, put to the test'
Sooners largely 'unproven' group
4
BY ANDREW HARTSOCK
JOURNAL-WORLD SPORTS WRITED
Howard Schnellenberger is gone ... and most of the Oklahoma football starters went with him.
Schnellenberger, who coached the Sooners to a 5-5-1 record in his only year at OU, simply walked away, and in walked John Blake, a former Sooner who left his position as
an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys
FOOTBALL
FOE
to coach his alma mater.
Blake, the third OU head coach in three seasons, walked in on a program in disarray. Infighting broke out under Schnellenberger, and the "Sooner Nation" natives were restless.
Blake inherits a team that returns just three starters on offense and six on defense.
"We've got a lot of unproven guys," Blake said of his Sooners, who were picked No. 9 in the Big 12's preseason media poll. "They haven't been put in the fire, put to the test."
Well, stoke up the grill because the formation of the Big 12 is sure to turn up the heat.
But Blake isn't worried.
"This is truly a building
Schedule
Sept. 7 — Texas Christian
Sept. 21 — at San Diego State
Sept. 28—Tulsa
Oct. 5 - Kansas
Oct. 12 — Texas at Dal-
las
Oct. 19 — at Baylor
Oct. 26 - at Kansas State
State
Nov. 2—Nebraska
Nov. 9 — at Oklahoma State
Nov. 16 - at Texas A&M
Nov. 23 Texas Tech
process," he said. "Deep down inside, I think this football team can win any football game it plays this season."
The Sooners return preseason all-Big 12 tight end Stephen Alexander, erratic QB Eric Moore and tailback James Allen on the offensive side. They'll play behind a brand-new line.
"It was very frustrating at first to have three coaches in three years. But I'm excited now. Coach Blake brings excitement to the program... It has been tough going through three coaches in three seasons. But it's a great situation now."
Stephen Alexander
"The offensive line is a major concern for us," Blake said. "That's a position where they guys have to gel together."
Much of the OU defensive line returns, along with linebackers Tyrell Peters and Broderick Simpson, but the secondary is suspect with only one returning starter in safety Anthony Fogle.
"Our most experienced area is linebacker," Blake said. "But our secondary is a major concern."
The players, though, don't seemed concerned.
Last year, we saw guys who didn't enjoy playing the game. It has been tough going through three coaches in three seasons. But it's a great situation now."
KU has retired just 3 numbers
After more than 100 years of collegiate competition in football, Kansas has retired just three uniform numbers.
Oklahoma will play host to Kansas on Oct. 5 in the Sooners' homecoming game. KU beat the Sooners, 38-17, last fall in Norman.
In 1948, following his senior season, Ray Evans had his No. 42 retired.
John Hadl's No.21 was retired in 1972 in the middle of what was an 18-year pro career.
Evans was KU's first All-American in football and was also a two-time basketball AllAmerican.
Hadl, who suited up for KU from 1959-61, is one of two Jayhawks to earn All-America honors twice.
The other two time All-American is Gale Sayers, who had his jersey No. 48 retired in 1989.
Sayers earned All-America honors in 1963 and '64.
"I think we're going to surprise some people," said Alexander, who caught 43 passes for 580 yards last fall. "I think we're going to step it up."
"It was very frustrating at first to have three coaches in three years. But I'm excited now. Coach Blake brings excitement to the program.
MOVIE MADNESS Rent 2 videos for 2 days Only $595
PRISCILLA'S
Where Fun & Fantasy Meet
Mon.-Sat. 9-midnight 1206 W. 23rd Sun. 12-10 pm Lawrence 842-4266
The Jayhawk Club Card saves you money every day!
1