12:07 p.m.
Want to see what Gabe Ikard, Trey Millard and Kenny Stills were like before they played pivotal roles for the Sooners? Check out some classic footage from their youth as they react:
11:21 a.m.
The guys have been pretty loose and relaxed all week, but just walking around the hotel this morning, you can tell they've switched over to their game faces and appear focused. We're under eight hours to kickoff for the AT&T Cotton Bowl (7 p.m. CT).
8:19 a.m.
You have questions about this evening's AT&T Cotton Bowl? We have answers -- both for fans traveling to watch the game at Cowboys Stadium and for fans following the Sooners from home.
6:58 p.m.
Sooner Sports TV reported live from Cowboys Stadium once again Thursday. Part I (embedded below) provides the latest analysis, Part II catches up with defensive ends coach Bobby Jack Wright, Part III features OU's trip Wednesday to the Children's Medical Center and Part IV looks at Sooners in the NFL and final thoughts.
3:51 p.m.
Our Sooner Pick 'Em series has been plenty of fun this year, and we hope you've enjoyed it. Here's the bowl edition and season finale, which has the Sooners deciding what they'd do with Jerry's jumbotron, their favorite part of Cotton Bowl week and which Sooner would most likely knock someone over in the team hotel, which has plenty of foot traffic:
11:27 a.m.
FOX has done a great job of promoting its coverage of Friday's AT&T Cotton Bowl, including these banners on the front of FOXSports.com.
9:22 a.m.
Players put in plenty of work in the days leading up to the bowl game. After practicing on campus, the teams have tight schedules during the week at the bowl location. After practices, meetings, film study, lifting and official bowl functions, the evenings are usually reserved to give the guys a chance to relax.
The Cotton Bowl player hospitality room here at the team hotel is one of the best, stocked with games, TVs and more. Sooner defensive ends RJ Washington and Rashod Favors take no night off from competition however, and devised their own version of hospitality room Olympics to stay sharp:
7:47 a.m.
What happens when ping-pong gets amped up a notch at the Cotton Bowl? Tress Way and Nila Kasitati welcome you to "sting-pong":
Wednesday, January 2
8:01 p.m.
The Sooners visited the Children's Medical Center here in Dallas this afternoon, truly a moving experience for all involved. We captured the experience as smiles were had for all:
6:54 p.m.
Sooner Sports TV reported live from Cowboys Stadium for the third consecutive day. Part I (embedded below) provides the latest analysis, Part II catches up with co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell, Part III looks at a few Sooners in their young days and Part IV looks at the defense's upcoming challenge with Johnny Manziel.
4:21 p.m.
The Sooners appreciate the work of the officers of the Arlington Police Department who have
been escorting us safely through the Metroplex during our time here for the AT&T Cotton Bowl. They're rolling with the famous interlocking OU on their bikes this week:
3:19 p.m.
The Sooners visited Children's Medical Center in Dallas Wednesday afternoon. Not sure if the kids or the players were more excited to see each other. We've got photos here and video coming.
11:31 a.m.
Full quote transcripts from both Coach Stoops and Coach Sumlin are now available online from the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The team departs the hotel for the children's hospital at 12:30 this afternoon before heading to Cowboys Stadium for practice.
9:39 a.m.
Here's this morning's press conference with Coach Stoops and Texas A&M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin from the media hotel:
8:36 a.m.
Coach Stoops and Texas A&M Head Coach Kevin Sumlin hold the final AT&T Cotton Bowl press conference before the game this morning at the media hotel. Sumlin was on OU's staff under Stoops. Here's a cool pic of them catching up behind the scenes:
Tuesday, January 1
11:38 p.m.
Another full day for the Sooner football team draws to a close in Grapevine, Texas. Tomorrow, the players visit a children's hospital before conducting their fourth on-site practice at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Watch for full coverage here at SoonerSports.com.
This evening, we taped a brutal ping-pong match between punter Tress Way and OL Nila Kasitati plus a five-round Hospitality Room Olympics between defensive ends R.J. Washington and Rashod Favors. Pride was on the line and the competition was just as fierce off the football field between these athletes. Watch for those and more features from bowl headquarters tomorrow.
7:53 p.m.
Sooner Sports TV reported live from Cowboys Stadium for the second consecutive day. Part I (embedded below) provides the latest analysis, Part II catches up with defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, Part III goes inside the player hospitality room and Part IV goes inside the film room with Tony Casillas.
5:52 p.m.
What happens when the guys who always have to field questions from reporters gain control of the mic? Quarterbacks Blake Bell and Drew Allen show you following OU's Cotton Bowl practice:
4:41 p.m.
We're back at the team hotel as the Sooners wrapped up practice three and have a light schedule the rest of the day. Make sure you check out the latest in Tuesday's Sooner Report, featuring the motivation of all the Johnny Manziel talk, his dangerous wide receivers and OU's time to prepare for the A&M offense.
2:07 p.m.
The Sooners are holding their third bowl practice on-site at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. View our photos by clicking the pic of Blake Bell making his entrance below. Good to see DeMarco Murray on the Sooner sideline again. Just had a brief break in practice and Coach Gundy checked quickly to see how his brother's Cowboys were doing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Coach Stoops and the coordinators also met briefly with the FOX crew of Gus Johnson and Charles Davis who will call the game Friday.
1:16 p.m.
We're live from Cowboys Stadium for on-site practice number three and we'll have photo coverage as well as a fresh Sooner Report shortly. In the mean time, check out newly-posted photos of OU's media availability the past two mornings:
12:02 p.m.
Linebacker Tom Wort (below) was one of four OU defensive players to meet with the media Tuesday morning. Check out the links to all interviews in the sidebar on the right.
11:33 a.m.
The Sooners wrap up special teams and position meetings here at the hotel
before boarding the bus convoy to Cowboys Stadium for OU's first practice of 2013. We'll have video and photos later this afternoon but for now, follow senior corner Demontre Hurst into the legendary player hospitality suite here at the Gaylord Texan:
9:28 a.m.
Media availability for the Oklahoma defense has concluded at the Omni and we're currently headed back to team headquarters at the Gaylord Texan. We'll have video interviews shortly with defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, Aaron Colvin, David King, Tony Jefferson and Tom Wort. Stay tuned.
8:01 a.m.
Our own Sooner Sports TV is producing daily shows on-site at Cowboys Stadium, with the week's worth debuting Monday. Our digital clips are broken into four segments. Part I is embedded below, Part II features co-offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, Part III recaps the first few days in Dallas and Part IV includes an interview with junior defensive back Tony Jefferson.
7:52 a.m.
Happy New Year and welcome to 2013! We're wasting no time bringing you exclusive coverage to break in the new year, starting with this morning's 8 a.m. press conference, which will feature OU defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, Aaron Colvin, Tony Jefferson, David King, Jamarkus McFarland and Tom Wort. We'll have video with each Sooner at the conclusion of the event. We're boarding transportation to the Omni and will depart shortly.
Monday, December 31
7:19 p.m.
Linebackers Corey Nelson and Tom Wort stopped by after on-site practice number two at Cowboys Stadium. Rather than ask them the questions, we let them interview each other:
7:08 p.m.
The Sooners completed their final bowl practice of 2012 Monday afternoon at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Offensive tackles Lane Johnson and Tyrus Thompson report from the field in this segment:
2:57 p.m.
Our first on-site Sooner Report has officially hit the web. In Monday's edition, we covered Landry Jones finishing his OU career where it started, the Sooners' early reaction to the Cotton Bowl experience and the importance of getting off to a fast start vs. Texas A&M on Friday. You can find it here.
2:29 p.m.
Be sure to catch the first installment of OU's Cotton Bowl Practice Report at 4 p.m. (CT) on FOX Sports Southwest. The show will provide exclusive insights as Sooner Sports TV feature reporter Jessica Coody follows the team's activities in the Dallas/Fort Worth, studio analyst Tony Casillas breaks down OU's and Texas A&M's game plans, and OU assistant coaches make guest appearances. Subsequent shows will air at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.
1:56 p.m.
Rain on the team's bus ride from the hotel to Cowboys Stadium makes us appreciate this enclosed facility even more. The Sooners are working out in their second bowl practice here in Arlington. We're posting photos and will have player features following practice:
12:41 p.m.
The Sooner buses just rolled into Cowboys Stadium for on-site practice number two. Below is Gabe Ikard's media availability from this morning, while highlights from Justin Brown, Landry Jones, Trey Millard and Kenny Stills can be found in the sidebar links to the right.
11:33 a.m.
Here's a compilation video from SoonerVision that recaps the last few day's events for the Sooner football team:
9:31 a.m.
Media availability for the offensive side of the football is complete at the Omni as we are driving back to team headquarters. SoonerVision scattered around the press conference room and compiled media interviews from offensive coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell, as well as
Justin Brown, Gabe Ikard, Landry Jones, Trey Millard and Kenny Stills:
8:16 a.m.
As we shuttle over to the Omni for media availability, check out this clip from the Sooners' visit to the home of the Dallas Mavericks. Guys like Adam Shead and Dominique Whaley display their finest dance moves to get on the big screen. Shout out to SoonerVision's Jacob Potter for the footage:
7:19 a.m.
It's the final day of 2012 and the Sooners plan to make the most of it, starting bright and early.
Oklahoma offensive coordinators Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell, along with offensive players Justin Brown, Gabe Ikard, Landry Jones, Trey Millard and Kenny Stills will shuttle over to the Omni Mandalay Hotel for media availability at 8 a.m.
The team will practice this afternoon at Cowboys Stadium, before heading to The Main Event, which includes an all-you-can-eat buffet, bowling, laser tag, video games and more. As always, you can find all the coverage here on SoonerSports.com!
Sunday, December 30
9:37 p.m.
Sooner fans can board the bus with the offensive players on the ride from this afternoon's practice to the Lawry's Beef Bowl courtesy junior guard Bronson Irwin who agreed to man the camera. Junior tight end Brannon "Moose" Green shares his love of Six Flags, his visit to Jason Witten's locker and his pre-game playlist with Sooner fans before Irwin takes us inside Lawry's. Of course, we're dealing with an offensive lineman, so the camera is sacrificed for the utensils later in the video...
8:51 p.m.
Sooner running backs Brennan Clay and Damien Williams report live from Cowboys Stadium following Sunday's practice -- OU's first on location in Texas for the AT&T Cotton Bowl. The "Cali" RBs are impressed with the team's hotel, bowl gifts, the stadium and more:
8:31 p.m.
Following OU's first on-site Cotton Bowl practice at Cowboys Stadium, senior cornerback Demontre Hurst interviewed junior DB Aaron Colvin, with topics ranging from practice to all the activities surrounding the week:
7:43 p.m.
From beef to basketball, OU players and coaches are at American Airlines Center to watch the Dallas Mavericks host the San Antonio Spurs, capping an eventful day that saw the Sooners dismantle these delicious helpings for dinner, courtesy of the Lawry's Beef Bowl.
2:31 p.m.
OU is conducting its first bowl practice at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. We've got photos focusing on the linebackers, secondary and special teams. We also took a quick tour of the stadium with a trip up high above the field to check out the view from the press box. The AT&T Cotton Bowl offices are also housed here at the stadium and we caught a glimpse of the bowl trophy:
12:55 p.m.
The Sooners took center stage on the field at Cowboys Stadium Sunday for the official AT&T Cotton Bowl media day. After Coach Stoops spoke at the podium, the players and coaching staff met with the media on the field. OU capped it off with a team photo at midfield. Click here for a full photo gallery:
Landry Jones talks about his favorite part of bowl games (and his jump shot in the player hospitality room), Trey Metoyer talks about the explosive OU offense and other members of the Sooner offense discuss more at AT&T Cotton Bowl. Check out the best snippets from the OU offense:
The Sooner defense talks about the marvel of playing at Cowboys Stadium and more, while senior defensive end R.J. Washington discusses his favorite bowl gifts, including one that correlates with his new upcoming hobby:
10:54 a.m.
The Sooner buses are currently rolling to Cowboys Stadium for media day and practice. Sooner Sports TV will carry OU head coach Bob Stoops' press conference at 11:30 p.m. CT, following Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin (11 a.m.). Head on over to SoonerSports.tv and click the live tab or watch the coverage below at 11:30:
9:13 a.m.
Good morning Sooner Nation! The OU football team has a steady stream of activities in its first full day in Texas for bowl week. After chapel and brunch this morning, position meetings follow here at the team hotel in Grapevine. We depart for Media Day (11:30 at Cowboys Stadium) with full police escort followed by our first practice at the stadium.
The Lawry's Beef Bowl and a trip to see an NBA game (Dallas Mavericks hosting the San Antonio Spurs) highlight the evening. Of course, we'll update throughout the day.
We've already mentioned the legendary hospitality of the AT&T Cotton Bowl, from our hotel accommodations to the events and activities. We've heard from friends in other Athletics Departments voice the opinion that no bowl does it better (including a staffer from K-State
-- the Wildcats were here last year). Coach Merv made a good point last night on our bus ride: "Other bowls may have a beach or warmer weather but the Cotton Bowl strives to give the players and staffs the best postseason experience." In the end, isn't that what a bowl game is all about?
9:49 p.m.
The Sooners received their official welcome with a dinner at Cowboys Stadium Saturday night courtesy the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Check out our photo gallery by clicking here or the photo below:
The OU and Texas A&M players downed a buffet meal (the Aggies on one end of the stadium's concourse and the Sooners on the other), then proceeded to the stands above the 50-yard line to watch a special welcome from Jerry Jones and highlights of both teams' seasons on the stadium's huge video board:
5:02 p.m.
Coach Stoops addressed the full team earlier this afternoon and then each position coach assembled their group for meetings. Next on the itinerary is an official welcome by the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. The team bus convoy departs with police escort for the 30-minute trip to Arlington at 6 p.m. Watch for photos and more we'll post from the stadium later tonight.
4:42 p.m.
The hospitality thus far from the AT&T Cotton Bowl has been fantastic. While the Sooners will be hard at work all week, the fine folks of the Cotton Bowl have a tremendous staff hospitality room set up. We'll have pictures of that and the players' lounge, but for now here is a 360 view of the staff VIP room:
2:31 p.m.
The Sooners are happy to be here in Texas as most of the official party has filtered in. Click here or the picture of Blake Bell below to check out a photo gallery of the team checking in:
1:06 p.m.
The OU football team is currently rolling into the Gaylord Texan, so make sure you check back here for photos and more coverage. Check out our hotel key cards with the Cotton Bowl design.
7:52 a.m.
The OU football team will officially report for bowl week this morning. Players are due to check in at the team's hotel in Grapevine, Texas, prior to a team meeting at 3:15 p.m. Once Coach Stoops has a chance to address the complete team, the players will break into position meetings. The day's official functions end this evening with an AT&T Cotton Bowl welcome at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington.
Follow SoonerSports.com throughout the day and the entire week leading up to Oklahoma's matchup with Texas A&M (Jan. 4, 7 p.m. CT on FOX).
We'll have official coverage from team headquarters with features, photos, video and more.
The Big 12 is now 2-0 in bowls after Texas Tech edged Minnesota, 34-31, on a last-second field goal in the Meineke Car Care Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston last night.
Three teams -- West Virginia, Texas and TCU -- are in action today. You want quality depth? Nine of the league's 10 teams are in the postseason. See the chart below for complete details.
6:30 p.m.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops announced Friday the participation status for two players prior to the upcoming AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. Stacy McGee will not travel to the game nor participate in any activities related to the game. Jalen Saunders will participate in the game.
The information and history in each of the individual matters are unique thus resulting in different participation decisions for this game. If other disciplinary measures are taken, they will be handled internally in keeping with existing policy. Athletics Department and team personnel will have no further comment.
2:29 p.m.
The Big 12 is already 1-0 in bowl games thanks to Baylor's 49-26 thumping of the Pac-12's UCLA last night in the Holiday Bowl.
Next up is Texas Tech tonight at 8 CT (ESPN) against Minnesota in the Meineke Car Car Bowl of Texas at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
Saturday, a league triple-header is on tap with
West Virginia facing Syracuse in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, Texas against Oregon State in the Valero Alamo Bowl and TCU vs. Michigan State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. Here's the complete Big 12 bowl slate:
Heart of Dallas (Dallas)
Oklahoma State vs. Purdue
11 a.m.
ESPNU
01/03
Tostitos Fiesta (Glendale)
Kansas State vs. Oregon
7:30 p.m.
ESPN
01/04
AT&T Cotton (Arlington)
Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M
7 p.m.
FOX
9:34 a.m.
Snow flurries in Norman Friday morning for the start of our official coverage of OU's bowl week on SoonerSports.com. The Oklahoma football team is scheduled to report in Grapevine, Texas, on Saturday at the team's official bowl headquarters (the Gaylord Texan) to begin the final stretch of its bowl preparations. We'll be there to bring you the coaches and players as they arrive.
In the interim, be sure you're following both the official OU Twitter feed and football feed (use #Sooners and #BeatTAMU hashtags), plus join us on our official Facebook page and Instagram feed for more behind-the-scenes coverage of OU football.
As always, our mission is to provide Sooner fans a front-row seat for everything Crimson and Cream during bowl week. Have an idea, a suggestion or a request? Contact OU Athletics Digital Media Director Jason Matheson or Assistant Director Andrew Lentz and we'll get to work at team headquarters in Texas.
8:11 a.m.
A few quick facts and features for Sooners fans as they follow the OU football team during bowl week: The 2013 AT&T Cotton Bowl marks OU's 14th consecutive bowl game and 46th overall. Oklahoma earned its record 34th 10-win season in 2012 -- the most in the nation. The Sooners won a share of their record eighth Big 12 Championship in 2012 and 44th overall. Aaron Colvin, Gabe Ikard, Tony Jefferson and Trey Millard, were All-Big 12 first-team selections. Oklahoma has produced 458 first team all-conference players (at least one every year since 1926). Gabe Ikard earned Academic All-America honors for the second-straight year, OU's 27th selection. Landry Jones and Lane Johnson were selected for the 2013 Senior Bowl (103 Sooners all-time). David King, Landry Jones and Aaron Ripkowski headlined the team awards at the football banquet. Sooner fans voted for the Top-10 Offensive and Top-10 Defensive Plays of 2012. OU Football Quick Facts | Superlatives | History & Tradition
Official Guide
Oklahoma earned a record 34th 10-win season, a share of its 44th conference championship and a berth in the AT&T Cotton Bowl during the 2012 regular season. We're making the official bowl materials from OU Athletics Communications available online:
SoonerSports.com is your official bowl source with daily updates direct from team headquarters in Texas. This marks our 10th consecutive season of sharing OU's bowl experience with Sooner fans across the nation and around the world.
OU Athletics Digital Media Director Jason Matheson and Assistant Director Andrew Lentz will post daily reports, video, photo galleries and features from team headquarters in Texas.
Big 12 co-champion Oklahoma (10-2) meets Texas A&M (10-2) of the SEC in the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on January 4, 2013 (7 p.m. CT, FOX). The game marks OU's 14th consecutive bowl and 46th in the program's history.
