Ex-OU coach Stoops gets win in XFL return
Stoops gets to coach with college restrictions
ARLINGTON, Texas — For much of the game, Bob Stoops stood stoic on the sideline.
A clap here or a head nod there, but there seemed to be little of the fire that has marked Stoops’ sideline presence since he arrived at OU in 1999.
But a mid-February game in front of 12,000 fans in a converted baseball stadium only faintly bears resemblance to a November packed house of 85,000-plus in Norman.
Late in Saturday’s XFL opener, with Stoops’ Arlington Renegades clinging to a one-point lead, Stoops’ seemingly unemotional demeanor cracked.
As Renegades cornerback De’Vante Bausby, whose football résumé could be mistaken for a verse of “I’ve Been Everywhere,” grabbed an interception and rolled to the end zone for a pick-six, Stoops’ hands shot to the sky inside Choctaw Stadium and then he followed with an exaggerated fist pump.
After the Renegades finished off a 2220 victory over the Vegas Vipers, Stoops threw out his stock answer about enjoying not having to deal with NCAA compliance meetings, keeping track of when players were going to class or recruiting fickle high schoolers.
The XFL is a way for Stoops to scratch his coaching itch without having to commit to the rigors of college coaching. “There’s no babysitting,” Stoops said. He also continued to flash the relaxed nature that’s taken over since he unexpectedly stepped down in June 2017.
“‘The Rock’ called me there with about a couple, minute to go and he said, ‘You let them score that sure would help our TV ratings,’ so we decided to make it interesting,” Stoops said.
Stoops has heaped praise on the XFL’s new ownership group, which includes Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Johnson’s ex-wife and still business partner Dany Garcia and Gerry Cardinale.
“The success they’ve all had speaks for itself,” Stoops said. “If anyone can do it well, it’s those three.”
Before Saturday’s game, Johnson sent the praise back Stoops’ way.
“I love Coach Stoops,” Johnson said. “Big fan of him and the way he coaches.”
Johnson played football at Miami and tried to make a go of professional football, spending time on a practice roster in the Canadian Football League before pursuing professional wrestling.
Johnson never faced the Sooners, but the OU-Miami rivalry still bubbles.
“I have heard nothing but great things from former players who have played for Coach Stoops,” Johnson said, “and every time I’m together with Coach Stoops, we’re always ribbing him about the Miami-Oklahoma days and those Boz (Brian Bosworth) days.
“He’s also been able to share some really cool perspectives and stories coming out of Oklahoma and coach (Barry) Switzer before him.”
Stoops is the only head coach from the league’s 2020 iteration that returned as a head coach for the 2023 version.
“I guess they like me enough,” Stoops said. “I loved it the first time and love it again this time.”
Stoops surrounded himself with familiar faces on his staff, including co-offensive coordinators Jonathan Hayes and Chuck Long and team operations director Matt McMillen.
The Renegades roster also features a pair of former Sooners — running back Keith Ford and wide receiver Jordan Smallwood.
“It’s a blessing,” Ford said of being reunited with Stoops. “It’s not like college, though. This is pro football. He’s a little bit more lenient.”
Both Ford and Smallwood came up with big plays late to help Arlington’s comeback after another former Sooner, Jeff Badet, helped Vegas build a lead with a pair of touchdowns.
“Jeff ’s OU DNA? Mine?” Stoops said when asked if OU DNA was on display. “I’ve got Renegade DNA now.
“I guess both. The other one doesn’t ever leave.”
Not that Stoops’ OU DNA could ever be questioned, but it was solidified when he returned to take over the Sooners for the Alamo Bowl after Lincoln Riley’s departure at the end of the 2021 season.
Saturday’s game was Stoops’ first coaching since his brief OU return.
“It’s fun,” Stoops said. “I enjoy all the challenges, I enjoy games, I enjoy being on the field, and I always did. I don’t notice any of that being a whole lot different.”