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Oklahoma futurama

Sooners unveil new facility, passing offense at spring game

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Posted: Sunday April 25, 1999 06:27 PM

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma quarterbacks Josh Heupel and Patrick Fletcher threw a combined 54 passes for 415 yards Saturday in the debut of the Sooners' new passing-oriented offense during the annual Red-White Game.

Fletcher was 11-20 for 215 yards, one touchdown and an interception as he led the White team to a 17-13 win. Heupel was 19-34 for 202 yards and threw two interceptions.

Both Heupel and Fletcher ran for touchdowns.

"Offensively, we moved the ball well," Heupel said. "We're a couple of right decisions from doing really well."

New head coach Bob Stoops, who implemented the passing offense during spring drills, said he was pleased with his team's progress.

"We have a long way to go," Stoops said. "But we're taking steps to get to where we need to be."

Matt Reeves made a 33-yard field goal for the Red team, and Jeff Ferguson added a 30-yard field goal. Tim Duncan booted a 43-yarder for the White team.

Andre Woolfold led the White team in receiving with four catches for 56 yards. Reggie Skinner ran the ball three tiems for 56 yards, and Michael Thornton carried 13 times for 37 yards.

For the Red team, DaWight Benning had two catches for 96 yards and a touchdown and Michael Jackson caught three passes for 62 yards. Dwight McKissic ran five times for 28 yards.

Before the scrimmage, Oklahoma paid tribute to its fooball past with the dedication of a $6 million football center named after former head coach Barry Switzer, who led the Sooners to three national titles.

Stoops took over as head coach in January, replacing John Blake, who was fired after compiling a 12-22 record in three seasons.

To open Saturday's scrimmage at Memorial Stadium, Stoops and his staff acknowledged Switzer and OU's tradition as a running team by lining up in the wishbone for the first play.

"That was in honor of coach Switzer and the whole system," Stoops said. "Hey, we may use that formation again. Heck, we might even snap it that way."

 

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