2. I didn't get to see much of Peterson in action Wednesday (he was largely held out of the scrimmage) but I did get to see him without a uniform or pads on afterward, and honestly, it's like someone chiseled him out of stone. After two years of work under renowned strength coach Jerry Schmidt, the 6-foot-2 Peterson has gone from 208 pounds as a freshman to 222, and if there's an ounce of fat on his body, you wouldn't know it. "I think I'm a lot more powerful [than as a freshman]," said Peterson. "I'm healthy and I'm feeling stronger."

After Peterson slipped from 1,925 yards as a freshman to 1,104 during an injury-marred sophomore campaign, most are expecting huge things from the former Heisman runner-up this season -- no one more so than Peterson himself. "One of my goals is to go for 2,500 yards," he said. When told that only one player in Division I-A history, Barry Sanders, has run for that many yards, Peterson smiled and replied, "If you prepare yourself, you know what you're capable of doing."

3. You can tell just how hurt Stoops was by Bomar's deceit in the now-infamous job scam by the way he overtly disses the one-time budding star when talking about Thompson's situation. "What everyone outside the program forgets is that we lost a guy that threw 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions last year. We didn't lose Jason White," said Stoops. "Everyone was enamored with what this guy might have been."

While the Bomar story generated endless coverage across the country, talking to OU players and coaches it's almost as if he's been wiped from their memory (though part of that is due to Thompson's overwhelming popularity). His fellow Texan and classmate, Peterson, did express remorse, however. "I know I miss him," said Peterson. "It hurt me to lose him. But things happen, and you've got to be able to overcome it."

X-factor

The interior offensive line. Besides Thompson, the Sooners' biggest question mark -- and one that will play a direct role in the QB's success -- is the O-line. While starting tackles Chris Messner and Brandon Braxton are proven commodities, the center (sophomore Jon Cooper) and guards (sophomore George "Duke" Robinson and juco guard Brandon Walker) are inexperienced. J.D. Quinn, the other player dismissed with Bomar, would have started at guard, and there's very little depth.

The line has been surprisingly solid during the Sooners' first two scrimmages, allowing just one sack last Saturday against a D-line that includes senior pass-rushers C.J. Ah You, Calvin Thibodeaux and Larry Birdine. "They're holding up the protection well," said Thompson. They appeared to have less success opening up holes in the running game, though it's hard to say whether some of those 3-yard gains wouldn't have turned into 7 or 8 if Peterson was carrying the ball.

Keep an eye on

Freshman tight end Jermaine Gresham. One of the nation's top-ranked tight end recruits last winter, Greshman is currently listed as a backup to sophomore Joe Jon Finley, but that won't last long. The guy is absolutely huge --- 6-6, 250 pounds --- and he uses it to his advantage. At one point Wednesday, he caught a short pass over the middle and stretched it another 10 yards while dragging as many as six white jerseys. "Jermaine Greshman is really a special player," said Stoops. Smith said he's yet to have to tackle the tight end but he's not looking forward to it. "It's hard to believe he's so physically ready," said the cornerback. "He reminds me of [former Maryland star] Vernon Davis."

Factoid that may interest only me

One of the first things one sees upon arriving at the Oklahoma City airport is the "Big 12 Conference" store, which sells merchandise from all 12 league teams. This seems to be part of a growing trend. In my recent travels, I've also seen a Big Ten store at the Columbus, Ohio, airport and an ACC store at the Raleigh-Durham airport.

All three stores had one thing in common when I saw them: An absence of customers. I can see where it would make sense to open a store that sells the local teams' apparel, but I can't imagine the scenario where a random traveler headed to his gate or to baggage claim would stop and think, "Hmm. Maybe I'll buy that Iowa State cap I've had my eye on."

On the menu

Today for lunch I dined on a delectable, airport-concession stand hamburger with ... oh, sorry, wrong postcard.

Camp Confidential

Another promising young player for the Sooners is redshirt freshman DT DeMarcus Granger, who has shown he can be a force inside but still needs to master his responsibilities in the defense. ... Junior safety Darien Williams was the subject of a severe Stoops tongue-lashing after failing to pick up Kelly on a fade pattern down the sideline. "That stinks!" shouted Stoops. "He's 6-4, 220 pounds --- you couldn't see him coming?" ... OU practices on a field adjacent to OU's tennis courts, where someone inexplicably decided to blare a mix of pop and elevator music over the p.a. system throughout practice. Complaints could be heard throughout, but the song that set off near-universal groans was "Unfaithful" by teen star Rhianna. "Did you request this?" Peterson asked a staff member on the sideline. "No, but I heard you have it on your iPod," he replied. ... Finally, you can't miss the now-infamous Big Red Auto/Imports driving down I-35 south to Norman. It has stores on both sides of the road -- and both of them have made sure to post a giant banner out front that reads "Under New Management."

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