Drake Stoops’ big news came on legendary dad’s YouTube channel

Legendary Oklahoma soccer coach Bob Stoops introduced some news on his son Drake Stoops earlier this week, saying the broad receiver would return for one more yr of soccer.

Bob Stoops did so on his personal YouTube channel.

“Yeah, it’s funny. I didn’t even know he had a YouTube channel. That’s a funny way of finding out,” Drake Stoops mentioned following Tuesday’s follow in Orlando.

The Sooners will face Florida State at 4:30 p.m. Thursday within the Cheez-It Bowl. The recreation will likely be broadcast on ESPN.

What led Drake Stoops to return to this system?

“I’ve thought about it for a long time. Being in my fifth year, it’s a lot of school, it’s a lot of being in college and being in the system of everything. I definitely thought about it for quite a while. I had some clarity and I came to a decision after talking to my family and praying about it and talking to my coaches,” he mentioned.

“Coming back in and wanting another year in Coach (Jeff) Lebby’s system, playing under Coach (Brent) Venables, stuff like that. And then also going out on top and attempting that next year. Just leaving a better taste in my mouth when I leave here. It’s also a year that I’ll never get back if I don’t choose to use it. It’s a great opportunity.”

Drake Stoops mentioned he didn’t actually contemplate his future till after the regular-season finale at Texas Tech. He mentioned he didn’t assume it was honest to contemplate his subsequent transfer whereas the season was nonetheless being performed out.

Stoops’ first season was 2018 when he noticed motion in a single recreation. Over his profession, he has 78 catches for 887 yards and 7 landing receptions.

Joe Castiglione (Oklahoma) and Michael Alford (Florida State) will likely be athletic administrators of competing colleges throughout the Cheez-It Bowl recreation.

The good buddies have loved seeing one another this week, however not as a lot as their spouses.

“Our families are close,” Alford instructed the Tulsa World on Tuesday. “Our wives Kristen (Castiglione) and Laura (Alford) are close. Those two were more excited when it was announced.”

Alford was an OU senior affiliate athletics director on Castiglione’s workers from 2012-17. He was Central Michigan’s athletic director from 2017-2020 and was named FSU’s AD on Dec. 9, 2021.

Alford now joins Castiglione in operating some of the highly effective athletic departments amongst schools.

Last yr, Alford introduced FSU workers to Norman, together with soccer coach Mike Norvell.

“He brought Coach Norvell and several staff members and a couple of donors to see our football facility a few years ago when they were designing their new one,” Castiglione mentioned. “It’s kind of fun because he was a person I hired when we were considering the phasing of two major renovations of the football stadium … he was very involved in that from the donor perspective in dealing with all the new seats and premium areas. He did a super job for us.

“I’m excited for him and really impressed with what they’ve done in building their program. Coach Norvell is a first-class human being on top of being a great coach. He’s been building it brick-by-brick, as they say. They’re an excellent football team.

Alford credited Castiglione for helping him get to this position in his career.

“He’s such a mentor to me,” Alford mentioned. “You learn so much under him that a lot of things we do mirrors what OU does in their department. I learned so much under him, just culturally and about sticking to your core values. I learned a lot from a lot of people, but he had a major influence on me.”

Alford oversaw the Sooner Club whereas at Oklahoma, which is the principal fund-raising arm of OU athletics. He additionally performed an necessary function within the $160 million capital marketing campaign for the renovation of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Many talk about teaching timber. Castiglione has a powerful tree of athletic administrators, together with Alford, Derrick Gragg (Northwestern), Kirby Holcutt (Texas Tech), Rick Hart (SMU) and Joe Parker (Colorado State).

Brayden Willis mentioned his last days in Oklahoma’s soccer program have been actually good.

“I thought about this the other day, bowl-games wise, I started my college career in Florida and I’m ending it in Florida,” Willis mentioned, speaking concerning the Sooners’ 2018 season recreation in opposition to Alabama within the Orange Bowl. “Hopefully we can go out with a dub.”

Willis has had a profitable season, tallying profession highs for catches (35), yards (456) and touchdowns (7).

He will soak in his last recreation at OU slightly bit, however the principle focus is remaining within the second.

“I definitely need to be in the moment. My team needs me, leadership-wise and playing-wise,” Willils mentioned. “It’s definitely set in a little bit, but I definitely am like I need to push it to the side and have to worry about being in the now and being where my feet are.”

Thursday’s recreation will likely be broadcast on ESPN.

On the decision for the competition is Bob Wischusen (play-by-play), Dan Orlovsky (analyst) and Kris Budden (sideline).

— Eric Bailey, Tulsa World