Dean Blevins Sits Down With Bob Stoops

We sat down with OU Head Coach Bob Stoops last week in his office for what has become an extensive, annual preseason interview. Again this year, we waited until his team had gone through enough practices to give him a firm understanding of personnel and strategy.

Stoops indicated last week that even though he and new Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley had not named a starting QB, “We have a real good understanding where we are and where we’re going.” With information I’d gleaned from spring and summer workouts, I took that – added with two other near-identical conversations with the seventeen-year head coach – as confirmation that Baker Mayfield would get the nod over Trevor Knight and Cody Thomas. But with nothing certain, and with the possibility of something unforeseen changing the plan, we did not report on the starter, other than to continue to re-state on radio that I had no doubt Mayfield would be the choice.

Stoops confirmed the Mayfield news today which gives the transfer the opportunity to get maximum reps with the first team before the opener with Akron in twelve days. In the two-part interview attached, Stoops expands on Mayfield’s scrambling ability, fires back at critics and discusses his family, legacy and much more.

We found Stoops to be, well, Bob Stoops: decisive, confident and consistent. Let us know what you think!