Stoops responds to walkout
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops supports the state’s teachers as they continue their ongoing walkout.
Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops grew up valuing education.
His father, Ron Stoops, was a longtime high school teacher and coach. His sister, Kathy Drummond, is a teacher in their hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.
Stoops was asked after Wednesday’s practice about the ongoing teacher walkout in the state and the state of education funding.
“Always felt like for how important teaching is for young people, it’s hard to really justify why it’s such a poorly paid position,” he said. “I understand it’s a freedom of choice and people have the right to decide what they want to do with their futures. We need talented people teaching these kids. It seems like there has to be a better way to supplement them before it came to something like this.”
Stoops then reflected on his upbringing.
“We made it,” he said. “It’s hard to believe my family grew up with six kids on a teacher’s salary. My dad had five different jobs. It’s hard but he died at 53. That’s tough. I’m not gonna say that’s what killed him, but if you have to raise six kids on a teacher’s salary you have to do a lot of different things. I’ve always been sensitive to that.”
Stoops was asked about his interactions with high school coaches, talking about the disparity between the large salaries of college football coaches and the relatively small extra-duty stipends given to high school coaches.
“I try to stay out of politics as much as I can,” Stoops said. “But it’s not a lot of money for all the time and effort they have to put in and be away from their families. It’s a tough situation.”
Four-star RB Spiller decommits from Sooners
Oklahoma lost a 2019 commit Wednesday when Isaiah Spiller, a four-star running back who committed in November, announced on Twitter that he was withdrawing his commitment to the school.
“This is a life-changing decision and I just want to be 100 percent sure that I’m making the right choice,” Spiller said in part.
Spiller is from Klein (Texas) Collins.
Texas A&M has been coming after Spiller hard lately. Spiller’s father, Fred Spiller, was a tight end for the Aggies.
The Sooners have several other recruiting targets at the position for the class, including Millwood’s Marcus Major.
Currently, Oklahoma has four commits from the 2019 class — three from Texas plus Arizona high school quarterback Spencer Rattler.
Terry trying to make the most of enhanced opportunity
After missing all of fall camp last season, Jon Michael Terry was never able to find his place in the linebacking corps last season.
But with middle linebacker Kenneth Murray limited in spring practice, Terry has gotten a chance to show off his abilities.
“The biggest thing
I’m most happy about is Jon’s development here,” linebackers coach Tim Kish said. “He was hurt last camp and never really got himself back to 100 percent. This is has been his best part of a practice year that he’s had. It’s going to be critical for us that he’s available to us.
“All of these things give us flexibility to move people around, too, with depth. We’re going to have the four best linebackers on the field. We feel like we have quality people behind him so that’s exciting for us.”
For Terry, the spring season is a chance to get a fresh start after playing catch-up for an entire year.
“It definitely feels good to be healthy,” the rising redshirt sophomore said. “I’m having a good time out here, flying around.”