2012: The Last Week of Preseason

Last Week of Preseason: Is it just me, or did the last week of preseason football just fly by? In the midst of being home and then getting back to Norman and in the swing of school, I got behind on the blog. But no worries, here's what you missed that week. The weather was actually tolerable, although it can't really be much worse than it was the first week! And let's face it, tolerable in Oklahoma means a heat wave anywhere else.

Video:
RBs Run Through Chute

RBs Work Blitz Protection 

RBs Through Chute (Again)

RBs vs. LBs Pass Protection 

Photos:

So the 2012 Preseason is officially at an end and just today the team reported for the first practice of the season. Marshall (and the rest of us!) can hardly believe that he's successfully completed four summer and preseason workouts as a Sooner. It's totally cliche, but oh-so-true what they say--time really does fly. We're entering the fourth year in Sooner country and already getting sentimental. Can you imagine what it's going to be like next year? And the year after that? I wonder if a family has ever been institutionalized for depression due to lack of football? :S

Thanks for following during Preseason! I love that I have such a great reason to blog.  Also, don't forget to check back periodically. The season starts is almost 2 weeks!! And...I've got some great new ideas that you don't want to miss :)

OU vs. UTEP is comin' at you September 1st at 9:30 PM from--you guessed it---El Paso.

Until then....BOOMER! 

2012: August 11th--Scrimmage / August 12th--Practice #11

Saturday, August 11th: The Sooners suited up for their first scrimmage of the preseason on Saturday in Norman. Sadly, I wasn't able to attend, but here's a few photos from Soonersports so you can see what a preseason scrimmage is like.  Only family is allowed to attend and it's always a big eerie to see the team on the field, but the stands empty.

Videos:

RBs and WRs before scrimmage

Sunday, August 12th: The Sooners were released early on Saturday and had a much-needed break until noon on Sunday. Practice was short, but they'll be back at it on Monday.  Soonersports featured an album on their website today that focused on each Sooner and this is the picture of Marshall. 

#32

Looking forward to this week, the boys will be working through their last 2-a-days on Monday and Wednesday. 

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."

--Vince Lombardi

2012: August 10th--Practice #9

Friday's practice was the team's second 2-a-day of the preseason and mercifully cooler weather rolled in to make the two practices bearable.

In line

We actually got a few photos of our Sooner from Friday! 

Catching passes

In the background 

Saturday is the first big scrimmage at Owen Field!

2012: August 8th--Practice #6 & #7 / August 9th--Practice #8

In the background, warming-up

Wednesday, August 8th: Wednesday has come and gone and so has the first 2-a-day of the 2012 Preseason. Marshall was back at it and in full pads on for practice Wednesday. Thanks to many prayers and a strong desire to be back out there on the field he bounced back from that flu bug quickly.  Even though he had been so sick, Marshall reports that he was feeling strong and nearly 100% for the two practices.  

Running plays 

Thursday, August 9th: Today the boys had a mini scrimmage.  The main scrimmage will be held this Saturday (which yours truly will miss due to being home in Kansas *sigh* ).


Soonersports mic'd up fellow FB Trey Millard today at practice. It's interesting to hear about practice from on the field.

Video:
Trey Millard Mic'd Up




Keep these boys in your thoughts: Tomorrow is their second 2-a-day practice. Think cool thoughts!

"We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You fumble the football and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts...and then you will run a mile. Perfection. Let's get to work."--Coach Boone

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