Oklahoma Sooners to Honor Coach Bob Stoops Amidst Challenging Season

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to honor Bob Stoops, the University’s most successful head coach in football history, during this Saturday’s game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. This tribute comes at a time when the Sooners are experiencing a turbulent season, yet they remain hopeful for an upset victory on home turf, reminiscent of Stoops’ undefeated record against Alabama.

Stoops’ legacy at the University of Oklahoma is monumental. Taking charge in 1999, during a period of instability following former coach Barry Switzer’s resignation, Stoops revitalized the program, leading the Sooners to an undefeated season and a national championship victory in 2000, just his second year as head coach. Over 18 seasons, he guided Oklahoma to 10 Big 12 championships and four national title game appearances.

During his tenure, Stoops was instrumental in cultivating talent, producing two Heisman Trophy winners, and elevating the program to a prominent position in college football. After accumulating more wins than any other coach in the program’s history, Stoops retired in 2017, succeeded by his offensive coordinator, Lincoln Riley.

In 2021, amid Riley’s unexpected departure to the University of Southern California, Stoops returned as the interim head coach, leading the Sooners to victory in the Alamo Bowl against Oregon. Oklahoma’s athletic director, who had initially appointed Stoops in 1998, sought his leadership to stabilize the team during the transition.

Now, Stoops leads the Arlington Renegades in the XFL, where he continues his legacy of success with a championship win in 2023. Meanwhile, his involvement with Oklahoma remains through personal connections, notably with his son’s productive tenure as a Sooner.

Saturday’s game against Alabama will see Stoops as the final coach to be honored in this season’s home games, following previous tributes to other notable figures in Oklahoma’s coaching history. The Sooners aim to commemorate Stoops with a victory, hoping to secure bowl eligibility on the national stage of Owen Field.