Jay C. Upchurch

Calls at all times of the day and night. Text messages that pile up by the dozens. Letters from coaches, information packages from schools and e-mails from just about every scouting service known to man. The pressure can be immense. SOUGHT-AFTER RECRUITS RINGING PHONE Such is the life of a high-profile high school football prospect […]

Hubert Ausbie has traveled around the world, many times over. He has played to sold-out arenas in dozens of different countries on six different continents. Over the course of his career, he has earned the adoration of generations of fans who number in the thousands. BORN IN CRESCENTPROFESSIONAL HOOPS CAREERTWO OF HIS BIGGEST THRILLS During […]

When Doug Sauter looks into the Ford Center stands on game nights lately, he sees a lot of familiar faces. After all, his Oklahoma City Blazers led the Central Hockey League in both average and overall attendance. That’s nothing unusual for the Blazers, who have built a faithful following since their 1992 reincarnation, thanks mainly […]

A funny thing happened while making my way back from Miami over the weekend: I kept running into Oklahoma fans who weren’t as angry, frustrated or depressed as I might have expected. I’ve come to expect the Internet message board rants and tirades from so-called fans that are almost guaranteed to follow any sort of […]

You know that seemingly endless slate of college football bowl games that has kept you sequestered along with your big screen over the past few weeks? Well, lean forward in your recliner the next time the network flashes a shot of the winner’s hardware, and get a closer look. There probably won’t be a visible […]

As a kid growing up in the football-crazy state of Texas, Rhett Bomar dreamed of making a name for himself in high-stakes January bowl games. As he played out various fictional postseason scenarios in the friendly confines of his back yard, the fledgling young quarterback always found some dramatic path to victory. Such success, he […]

There is still a little over a week left in 2008, and all of the big stuff that can truly be defined as “big stuff” has already unfolded this year, at least where the world of sports is concerned. BEIJING SUMMER GAMESSAM BRADFORD Sure, there are bowl games galore over the next few days, but […]

Only eight days left until Christmas and I’ve finally taken time out of my hectic holiday season schedule to jot down a few items on my annual wish list. It’s been a great 2008 so far, and while I probably fall somewhere in the middle on the whole naughty or nice thing, I’m hoping to […]

There is one longstanding fact everyone knows or needs to know about the University of Oklahoma and athletics: Football is king. Plain and simple. OU is a football school. Always has been, always will be. OFFSETMAINE GAME Legendary basketball coach Billy Tubbs recognized that truth 20 years ago and still does. Recently on a local […]

Oklahoma has made its BCS case by being the hottest team in college football over the last month, and Sooner faithful everywhere have Sam Bradford to thank. OUT OF THIS WORLDTITLE TILT With all of the talent OU runs out on the field every Saturday ” all the big hitters, playmakers and thundering giants ” […]