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Stoops steamed OU head coach upset about report that White tore ACL
Updated: Wednesday October 31, 2001 8:38 AM
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops didn't wait for the question about injured quarterback Jason White. Instead, he went on the offensive at his weekly news conference. Stoops had said Sunday and again Monday that White sprained his left knee in Saturday's loss to Nebraska and could play next week against Texas A&M. But a newspaper report Monday said White tore his anterior cruciate ligament and his status for the rest of the season was in doubt. "It continues to be a sprained knee, and let me clarify that because there's been a lot of people call me and take issue with my comments," Stoops said. "I want to make sure that you always understand since I've been here, I have never said anything that is not true to the media or to the public," he said. "A sprain, whether it be to an ankle, a shoulder, a knee, is damage to a ligament. That is what a sprain is. "I guess I didn't realize I needed to define what a sprain is, but he has a sprained knee and that's the situation." Stoops said he doesn't get specific when he talks about injuries, because he doesn't want to put his players at a disadvantage against the opposition.
White worked out lightly Monday night but did not wear pads. "From watching Jason throw the ball last night and walk around, rehab, I believe he's got a chance to play next week," Stoops said. "He won't play this week, but he has a chance to play next week and continue through the season. If that is not the case, I'll say so." If White is able to return, he would get the starting job back, Stoops said. Meanwhile the job belongs to Nate Hybl, who started the first six games for the third-ranked Sooners (7-1, 4-1 Big 12). Hybl hurt his nonthrowing shoulder in the fifth game, against Texas, and was removed early in the next game, against Kansas, after four lackluster series. He took over for White in the Nebraska game and Stoops said he played well, although he did have to leave for a few plays after getting knocked woozy. He also took a shot to the head in the Kansas State game. Stoops said he's concerned when any players show effects from blows to the head, but that hasn't happened with Hybl. "Our doctors would never allow him to compete in a game if he didn't check out properly and in the right way, and he has." Hybl said his shoulder is healthy and that he isn't concerned about lingering effects from the hits he has taken. "My biggest concern is how fast can I get up," he said. "That's something you try to do because it hurts the defense when you just bounce up. Sometimes you can't bounce right back up, but it's not something I think about. I'm not concerned at all." Hybl's backup this week is Hunter Wall, a redshirt freshman who has played one snap this season. Next on the list is freshman Brent Rawls, who is being redshirted. Stoops said the only way the Sooners would take Rawls out of his redshirt year is if something happened to the top three.
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