Q&A with former Sooners Head Coach, Bob Stoops

As the Oklahoma Sooners prepare to start SEC play, I had the chance to catch up with one of the most successful coaches in OU history.

Bob Stoops coached the Sooners for 18 years and never had a losing season. He won the BCS National Championship in his second year and retired a few months after a Sugar Bowl victory in 2017.

He returned as interim coach in 2021 and guided the team to a win in the Alamo Bowl, marking his 10th bowl victory in a remarkable career.

Stoops is still winning titles. In 2023, he led the Arlington Renegades to an XFL championship.

It's always exciting to catch up with the legendary Bob Stoops.

Craig: I was speaking to Sooners great Tony Casillas a few weeks ago, and he reminded our readers of how dominant of a program OU has been throughout the years and how they'll take a backseat to no one upon the joining of the SEC. Are you personally surprised with how many folks are overlooking Oklahoma this season?

Coach Stoops: I find it humorous that this question continues to circulate. We have a history against a whole number of these SEC teams, and you can look at it. The record even over the past 10-15 years is pretty strong. We've won a bunch of them. I thought we beat Texas a year ago. (laughs) Everyone acts like the Longhorns are ready and we're not. We've beat them seven of the last ten years, but somehow, they're ready and we're not. Give me a break. That just doesn't make any sense.

Craig: Do you worry that the Sooners sacrificed too much in joining the SEC and they'll never face teams like Oklahoma State and continue that rivalry?

Coach Stoops: Life changes. Life has a way of moving on. Nothing stays the same forever. This isn't the first conference realignment. The entire college landscape is different now with paying college athletes and as a result, the whole money system has changed. You have to fill the stadiums and the sky suites; those are the things that matter. We have an 85,000-seat stadium and our program doesn't have a problem filling it right now. The move to the SEC will benefit OU for the next forty to fifty years. It was a wise thing to do. It's going to continue to help us in recruiting as well.

Craig: Speaking of years, can you believe it's been 25 years since you were introduced in Norman as Sooners Head Coach?

Coach Stoops: It went by fast, but yes, it does, I'll tell you that! (laughs)

Craig: The 2000 championship team. Still so iconic all of these years later. The offense was so ahead of its time, so dominant, outscoring opponents by 287 points that season. Do you think we'll ever see dominance like that again?

Coach Stoops: Probably not. USC had some great teams a few years later that put up a ton of points shortly thereafter, but you're right, they don't come around that often.

Craig: It's a team sport obviously, but I think personally Danny Stutsman has a realistic shot of winning the Butkus Award this year. Any thoughts on Danny?

Coach Stoops: I would say the great teams have guys like Danny Stutsman. In fact, the great teams have more than just one of those guys, they have a couple of them. Danny and Billy Bowman are two of the best to ever do it. Those are special types of players that lead by example every day.

Craig: Final question. How proud are you of seeing what your son Drake is doing with the Rams?

Coach Stoops: I'm extremely proud of him, of course. I'm proud of the young man he is first and foremost. He's a student of the game. He was a great teammate. He's in a great system there with Sean Mcvay and the entire Rams staff. It's never easy to make an NFL team, but hopefully he'll have the right opportunities to make it