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Stoops shakes up OU staff

03:54 PM CST on Monday, February 6, 2006
By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops hired a new assistant coach Monday and then shook up his entire offensive staff as the Sooners prepare for the 2006 season.

Northwestern offensive line coach James Patton was hired to fill a similar role at OU, the school announced. Patton had been at Northwestern the last five seasons. Last year, the Wildcats allowed just 11 sacks and the offense ranked fourth nationally by averaging 500.3 yards per game.

Patton's arrival means that current offensive line coach Kevin Wilson will now coach tight ends as fullbacks and have more free time in his role as a first-year offensive coordinator.

Also, tight ends coach Kevin Sumlin will now coach the receivers and have the title of co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator.

All of these moves were triggered by the departure of Darrell Wyatt, the receivers coach who left OU for the Minnesota Vikings' staff.

Stoops had said previously that he was in no hurry to hire a new assistant coach. He purposely delayed hiring a new assistant until after national signing day on Feb. 1.

OU releases 2006 schedule
School officials released the 2006 schedule on Monday, and for the sixth straight year, the Sooners will play only Division I-A opponents.

OU will play home games against Alabama-Birmingham (Sept. 2), Washington (Sept. 9) and Middle Tennessee (Sept. 23). The Sooners will play at Oregon, which lost to OU in last season's Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, on Sept. 16.

Sept. 30 will be an open date, and then OU will meet Texas in the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 7.

In addition to its regular Big 12 South schedule, OU will also play Big 12 North teams Iowa State (Oct. 14), Colorado (Oct. 21) and go to Missouri (Oct. 28).

The annual Bedlam Series game against intrastate rival Oklahoma State is scheduled for Nov. 25.