Starting kicker to be named Wednesday
Coach Bob Stoops told the media at Tuesday’s press conference that he has decided who will start as place kicker but won’t make the announcement until Wednesday. All he offered was a nameless evaluation.

“This guy (unnamed starter) has been a little more consistent than the other guys,” Stoops said.

Receivers getting there
Stoops said the receiver corps around the undisputed No. 1, Ryan Broyles, is starting to shape up.

“I’ve already been quite pleased in how they’ve responded,” Stoops said. “They’ve been playing more consistent.”

Quarterback Landry Jones said freshman receiver Kenny Stills is working hard to get up to speed.

“It wasn’t a surprise to me how well (Stills) played in the spring game,” Jones said.

Murray will not return kicks Saturday
Stoops said senior running back DeMarco Murray will receive the bulk of the carries this year and, at least for the first couple of games, won’t be returning kicks.

Most of the kick-return work will fall on freshman running back Brennan Clay, freshman receiver Trey Franks and senior receiver Cameron Kenney, Stoops said.

“I don’t know that we’ll use DeMarco (on kick returns) just yet,” he said.

Attitude change
Jones knows his 2009 season wasn’t up to the par set during Stoops’ coaching tenure, and he knows why.

“Last year I didn’t do a good enough job of taking care of the ball,” Jones said.

The Sooners had a mentality last year that all they had to do to win was show up in an OU uniform and that being Sooner player was enough, according to Jones.

However, since the Sooners lost five games last season, Jones said they’ve adjusted their attitudes for 2010.

“We’ve got to prepare like champions if we’re going to be champions,” Jones said.

Comparing Jones and Bradford
On The Dan Patrick Show this morning, Stoops was asked what Jones does better than Sam Bradford did.

Stoops’ response was simple: “Growing mustaches.”

But Stoops also was quick to emphasize the two quarterbacks are very different and he shouldn’t be expected to measure one up against the other.

“Comparing (Jones) to Sam is unfair,” Stoops said.

At Tuesday’s press conference, Jones was asked about Stoops’ radio comment.

“That’s not my goal,” Jones said. “My goal is not to be Sam Bradford. I’m trying to be Landry Jones, the best player I can be.”

The risks don’t equal the rewards
Stoops said he wants wins over highly ranked opponents to count more in the BCS formula.

“I’m no expert on the system or the computers, but I don’t think you’re rewarded for (a difficult strength of schedule) as much as you risk it,” Stoops said. “Why take a chance?”

Chasing 800
OU’s overall football record is 799-302-53. The program is poised to win No. 800 Saturday against Utah State to become just the eighth program to reach the milestone.

“If you look back at our tradition in history and go back decades, there’s not many like it,” Stoops said.