2012: August 6th--Practice #4 & August 7th--Practice #5

Monday, August 6th: Monday's practice was one of the hottest so far (although that's not saying much for Oklahoma!) Again, Soonersports was very biased toward the defense, but we do have a few photos of warm-ups. So I guess I can't complain too much.  

Warm-ups

Team huddle 

Soonersports has started a new tradition this preseason called Mic'd up. One player is chosen each practice to wear the mic so fans can get an inside look at what an OU practice is really like. It's very ESPN-ish. Check out Gabe Ikard's version of Mic'd up. Funny stuff. 

OL Gabe Ikard Mic'd Up

Tuesday, August 7th: For the first time in his almost four years at OU Marshall missed a practice due to illness. He suffered through Monday feeling horrible, but sometimes you just have to listen to your body and Tuesday was one of those days.  Thankfully, he has bounced back quickly and is ready to go for practice Wednesday.  His mental and physical toughness never fails to amaze me. 

Unfortunately, the one day Marshall is out of commission is the day Soonersports decides to highlight the offense and the team competes in the Oklahoma drill! Oh well, #32 will get his chance!


Wednesday is the first 2-a-day practice! Keep those boys in your prayers as they prepare for a winning season in record heat!

“It always seems impossible until it's done.” --Nelson Mandela 

2012: August 5th--Practice #3

It's Sunday, but the Sooners know no day of rest during Preseason workouts. Today they suited up with pads for the first time this August and hit the practice field at 10:00. Luckily, a cool front came through this morning and Norman experienced temperatures of hovering in the upper 80s. We almost needed hoodies. 

Photos: 

#32

Workin' on footwork! 

No videos with our Sooner today. Believe me, if I could get a job doing media for the team, I would. Although I'd probably get fired for being biased. Ah well....

Until tomorrow!

2012: August 4th--Pratice #2 and Media/Fan Appreciation Day

If the phrase "The early bird gets the worm" has any truth to it at all, then the 2012 Sooners are in for a successful season. The boys reported bright and early on Saturday for practice #2.  Most (ok pretty much ALL) of the photos and videos from practice featured the defense. But I'm sure the offense will get some love next week. 

Saturday was also Fan Appreciation and Media Day. It's a long title, but it actually encompasses 2 separate events. For Fan Appreciation day, the Sooners line up by position in the concourse under the stadium and fans line up outside waiting to get autographs.  The boys end up spending a couple hours signing memorabilia for fans that have followed the team for decades to grade schoolers with eyes wide in awe. Even though they only sign for a few hours, it's one way the team can say thank you for the unending support of their fans.  

What does Meet the Sooners day look like? See for yourself!

Meet the Sooners

Signing autographs

Marshall's head is clear at the end of this shot! 

Fullbacks and Running backs with Coach Gundy 

 The other part of the day is Media Day. This is where the boys take all their official photos and do their part for the intro video in front of the green screen.

Most of preseason is pretty serious stuff. But leave it to boys to still be...well...boys?
Video Shoot Outtake Reel

2012: August 3rd--Practice #1

Waking up to football! 

The first practice of the 2012 season is already in the record books.  The boys gathered at 4:45 AM for their first helmeted practice in an effort to beat this horrid heat.  Fortunately, there seemed to be a cool breeze and cloud cover this morning (seriously!! I'd almost forgotten that those 2 things even existed...) and the team witnessed the type of sunrise you only get in the central plains.

Check out the running backs doin' what they do this morning:

Video:
RBs hit chute and catch passes

Life is beautiful. 

Don't forget to check out the "Sooner Sports" tab at the top.  This tab will take you straight to Preseason Central on Soonersports.com.

Tomorrow the Sooners line up for Media and Fan Appreciation Day. I absolutely love the seeing the coverage from this day--it's great to see the boys interact with loyal Sooner fans. So be prepared for a

2012: 1st Team Meeting

We're nearly a month away from the first game and the Sooners officially met for the first time as a team for the fall. Norman and Sooner fans are gearing up for their favorite time of year and according to the Coach's Poll, there's some other people that are excited to see our boys play as well.  The Sooners will take the field at #4 in September.

Please keep these boys in your thoughts during the next couple weeks. Oklahoma has been experiencing extreme heat; the last couple days have been around.  And the "feels like" temperature is usually around 115-119.  Even thought they'll be practicing in the morning and evening hours, 2 a days can be tough on a body even in more comfortable conditions.  

I hope you've also noticed that the Football Freelancer has a new look! Check out the different tabs at the top and be prepared for more improvements as the season continues. I'm very excited about keeping the blog new and interesting, so please feel free to give suggestions and tell me what you want to see! Or what you want to hear about! 

It's almost that time: BOOMER! 

Marshall in team meetings 8/2

2012 Spring Practice

As I'm sure many of you have gathered from my lack of posts, Marshall's spring season ended a little earlier than expected this year. In the scrimmage right before Spring Break he was having a fabulous game, but 20 minutes before the end his legs were taken out from under him. Verdict is a partially torn MCL and 4-6 weeks in a brace. As of now, he's 2 weeks in and finally allowed some movement. That first week was pretty painful, in the sense that he was home and couldn't run around with the big boys like he's used to! He couldn't even drive, since it was his right leg. We're all thankful that the injury doesn't involve surgery. With continued rehab and some prayers he'll be good to go come summer work-outs!

But how does such an on-the-go kid spend Spring Break when he's hardly allowed to move? Well, he hits rocks with an old baseball bat with Jerred, lets Chris spin him around for his turn with the pinata, and resorts to skee ball at the go-cart track since he can't work the pedals on the car....  Doesn't sound too bad, right??

Whoops...dents in the bat....

Gettin' good and dizzy! 

Concentration! 

Thanks for checking back, football fans! Marshall and I had such a wonderful time back home for an entire week. We're so thankful for time spent with family, just enjoying the simple things.Send some prayers for a fully healed knee and we'll see everyone back here at the beginning of June!

"They've never drove through Indiana
Met the man who plowed that earth
Planted that seed, busted his ass for you and me
Or caught a harvest moon in Kansas
They'd understand why God made
Those fly over states"

--Jason Aldean

2012 Spring Practice: March 7th, 9th and 10th

The first week of Spring Practice is over and everyone survived! 

March 7th: Wednesday's practice was the 2nd practice with just helmets. Soonersports.com mainly covered defensive positions. 3 years in and I still get upset when they do this! (I'm not biased at all...)

March 9th: Friday was the first practice with pads! Marshall has been super excited about his new helmet this spring, but today he got to put everything together for the first time since December. New helmet, pads, and back in that #32. Life is good. 
Photos: 

Add caption

Out for a pass! 

Hmm...I'd like to see you run some 330 hurdles now, Marsh! 

Video:
RBs FBs Catch Ball 

March 10th: Luckily, the Sooners practiced early in the day and bypassed the rain that moved in in late afternoon. 

Through the chute

This week the Sooners will get in gear on Tuesday and Wednesday for practice. Thursday is their first scrimmage and then it's home free for Spring Break! When they get back they'll only have 8 more practices before the Spring Game on the 14th!

The countdown for the Spring Game is on!
Details:
 April 14, 2012
Norman, OK
Kick-off 2:00

"Never let others define you.  

You define yourself."--Emmitt Smith

2012 Spring Practice: March 5th

It's March, the temperatures are nearing the 70s, and the Sooners are getting out their practice jerseys for another season of spring football. As I'm sure many of you will notice from the photos, our Sooner is officially back at #32! Those few winter months between Bowl Game and March seem to move so slowly! Musil fans are ecstatic to see #32 (and the rest of the Sooners!) back in football gear and on the field. It just means that September is that much closer! Boomer!

Photos: 

Blocking drills 

Catching passes 

Fullback

Is that some calf muscle definition??

Trey and Marshall 

Videos:

Fullback drills during the first spring practice
Gundy with RBs and FBs

Coach Stoops gave his annual press conference before the beginning of Spring Practice and if you listen closely to minutes 11-12 you'll be very happy!
Stoops Interview

The Football Freelancers is back in action for the spring season so keep checking back for updates on our Sooner!

The countdown for the Spring Game is on!
Details:
 April 14, 2012
Norman, OK
Kick-off 2:00

“If your dream ain’t bigger than you, there’s a problem with your dream.”

Deion Sanders

2011 Season: Bowl Game Updates

Since I've fallen so behind, it's already the week of the bowl game and soonersports.com is doing a fabulous job of constantly updating on what is happening in Tempe, AZ with our Sooners. I'll try to give you the quick version here, before I have to go pack! The Musil's hit the road Wednesday afternoon to make their way to Arizona for the 2nd time, and luckily, there is NO snow forecasted this time.

Bowl Central is where you want to be for all the latest pictures and videos straight from Tempe.

Bowl Central on Soonersports.com

Marshall is featured in many of the photos from the practice on 12.26.11


Game Information:
OU vs. Iowa
Friday, December 30th
Tempe, AZ
Kick-off 9:00 CT
Coverage on ESPN

2011 Season: OU vs. Iowa State AND OU vs. OSU (Bedlam)

As everyone knows, I've been extremely late in posting about the last 2 games.
Here's a quick rundown:

OU beats Iowa State 26-6

OU loses to OSU (horribly!) 44-10

As I'm sure many of you have already done, check out Facebook for the photos from these games.