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August 4, 2012

Sooners, Cowboys begin fall practice

Aaron Colen, Sports Editor, Aaron.Colen@chickashanews.com The Express-Star

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The Oklahoma and Oklahoma State football teams began practice Friday morning, officially beginning a season which both team are entering with major questions.

The Sooners have been in the news recently with a number of changes to the roster, and some of those questions haven't been answered.

The Cowboys just lost an offensive lineman to a transfer, and are going into 2012 with the ultimate unknown: a true freshman starting quarterback, one year after having the oldest starting quarterback in the FBS.

 

Who will suit up for the Sooners?

 

That may sound like a strange question with the first regular season game less than a month away, but it is one that head coach Bob Stoops has been faced with for a while now.

OU has been dealt a lot of bad news, with a few sprinkles of good news, over the past two weeks or so.

Junior college wide receiver Courtney Gardner and offensive lineman Will Latu did not qualify to play for the Sooners this season, as it was hoped they would.

Senior starting center Ben Habern announced Wednesday that he was quitting football due to a neck injury that has bothered him off and on since high school.

On the (somewhat) good side is the news that wide receivers Trey Franks and Jaz Reynolds were reinstated to the roster, although they will be suspended for "multiple, multiple games" according to Stoops.

And now, there are reports that Penn State wide receiver Justin Brown is considering transferring to OU for his senior season, which would benefit the Sooners and their current extreme lack of depth and experience at that position.

 

From the oldest leader to the youngest

 

The Cowboys were led last season by a quarterback who was almost 30 years old, and that worked out very well for them.

This season, OSU is handing the reigns of one of  the nation's most potent offenses to true freshman Wes Lunt.

While no one expects Lunt to be Brandon Weeden in his first season, whether the Cowboys compete in  the conference or not hinges heavily on whether he can limit his youthful mistakes come game time.

Head coach Mike Gundy said he is going to give Lunt a few days of practice to get comfortable before he really starts watching him closely.

“I thought he looked good," Gunday said. "I can see where he’s already improved some. I had kind of set the fifth, sixth or seventh practice as the time to really start watching him. I want to give him a chance to get back out there and let him get in pads for three or four days."

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