Tag: Temple Owls

University of Oklahoma suspends classes on day of Sooners’ 2024 opener

It just means more: Oklahoma’s season opener being moved to a Friday means classes and campus operations will be suspended on Aug. 30.

There has been all kinds of talk the past few months (and years) on whether the Oklahoma Sooners are “[autotag]SEC[/autotag] ready.”

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has had two years to try to get the program ready for the toughest conference in football. Two years to build a culture and a level of discipline and toughness that deteriorated under the previous head coach.

While I and many others believe the Sooners have the right head coach at the controls, making the program ready for the Southeastern Conference can sometimes extend even beyond Venables’ reach.

The university itself is making an SEC-like move for OU’s first game of the 2024 season.

Oklahoma’s opener against the Temple Owls was moved from Saturday, Aug. 31 to Friday, Aug. 30. In response, the school announced it is suspending normal academic and campus operations that day.

The Oklahoman’s Colton Sulley took to social media to announce the move by the university. Sulley said “there was no way they could hold classes during a game day with the parking/tailgating realities on campus.”

The SEC has been made fun of or even criticized by people in other parts of the country due to the fans of their member schools placing an emphasis on athletics (especially football) above all else over the years. This is one small example from the University of Oklahoma, but it will not seem small when game day comes.

This is an SEC type decision. It allows students to make the atmosphere that much better on that Friday night in Norman, because they will not be busy with classes in the hours leading up to kickoff on that day. This is the game you get into when you decide to join the SEC, like it or not.

It just means more.

As to why the game was moved in the first place, athletic director Joe Castiglione said in a statement: “We were asked to consider moving up the season opener by a day so ESPN could televise our first game as a member of the SEC in a prime-time window.

“It’s a unique and exciting opportunity for us, as it will be our first Friday night game in the history of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and will give our team tremendous visibility nationally. Another major plus is, given the kick time, our players and fans should benefit from a cooler temperature. It’s reasonable to expect that playing in the evening will significantly mitigate some of the heat issues we typically deal with during early season day games. Our first-ever ‘Friday Night Lights’ will undoubtedly be one for the books, and we’re excited to open the season and our first year in the SEC in such a spectacular fashion.”

Oklahoma versus Temple will kick off on Aug. 30 at 6 p.m. CT. The game will take place on ESPN.

Oklahoma Sooners 2024 football schedule

With game times announced, here’s a look at the Oklahoma Sooners full 2024 football schedule.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ full 2024 schedule has been released by the [autotag]SEC[/autotag], which means its time to make those travel arrangements for a full slate of destination games in OU’s first season in the SEC.

In a welcome change from what had been a glaring issue in their final years in the Big 12, the Oklahoma Sooners have only two games scheduled for the early television window. Their home game against South Carolina on Oct. 19 and their road trip to The Grove to face Ole Miss both fall in the early television window with kickoff times slated for 11 a.m. CT or noon. The other 10 games will be late afternoon or prime-time starts for the Sooners.

The SEC and their broadcast partners will utilize flex scheduling for games against Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama and LSU. When the Volunteers return to Norman, it’ll mark the return of national championship-winning quarterback and former offensive coordinator [autotag]Josh Heupel[/autotag]. It will also be Oklahoma’s first SEC conference tilt.

Late-season games against Missouri, Alabama and LSU could have implications for the SEC title game and the College Football Playoff. Each has the potential to be a top-15 matchup.

There’s a potential for Oklahoma to play as many as six night games. Their first two weeks against Temple and Houston are already slated to kick off in the evening.

Oklahoma Sooners 2024 football schedule

Date Opponent TV Time
Aug. 30 Temple ESPN 6 p.m. CT
Sept. 7 Houston SEC Network 6:45 p.m. CT
Sept. 14 Tulane ESPN or ESPN2 2:30 p.m. CT
Sept. 21 Tennessee TBA 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.
Sept. 28 at Auburn TBA 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT
Oct. 5 BYE WEEK —
Oct. 12 vs. Texas (Dallas) ABC or ESPN 2:30 p.m. CT
Oct. 19 South Carolina TBA 11-Noon CT
Oct. 26 at Ole Miss TBA 11-Noon CT
Nov. 2 Maine ESPN+/SECN+ 1:30 p.m. CT
Nov. 9 at Missouri TBA 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 16 BYE WEEK —
Nov. 23 Alabama TBA 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.
Nov. 30 at LSU TBA 2:30-3:30 or 5-7 p.m.
Dec. 7 SEC Championship TBA TBA

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2024 Red River Rivalry and more Sooners kickoff times announced

Several kickoff times were revealed for the Oklahoma Sooners for their first season in the SEC>

As we close out the month of May, we inch closer and closer to the start of the 2024 college football season. Oklahoma has completed its roster, and the team has begun summer workouts ahead of fall camp.

Oklahoma’s arrival to the SEC is official on July 1, when the Division I calendar for the 2024-25 academic season officially starts.

With the season just a few months away, we’ve learned several kickoff times for the fall. The most notable is the change in kickoff time of the Red River Rivalry game. Oklahoma will play the Texas Longhorns at 2:30 p.m. CT this October as opposed to what has traditionally been an 11 a.m. kick.

In many ways, the later kickoff makes a lot of sense. While it’s likely not a popular choice among fans on both sides, it allows the SEC to put the two new members in a marquee SEC time slot. After all, it was an afternoon kick for 23 straight years (1950-1972) per Ross Lovelace of AllSooners on SI.com. It will remain on ABC for the fourth consecutive year.

According to Greg Sankey, both Oklahoma and Texas wanted the game at 2:30 p.m. CT.

In addition, Oklahoma won’t have any 11 a.m. kickoffs to start the season. Their first three games are either night games or afternoon kickoffs. The Sooners will open the season on Friday night against Temple at 6:00 p.m. CT in week one. In week two, the Sooners get another primetime kick against Houston. at 6:45 p.m. CT. Then in week three, they’ll host Tulane for a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff.

Much of the ire with the Big 12 was fueled by the games being so early, and in short order, the SEC helped rectify that. The Sooners start the season with two non-conference night games and an afternoon kickoff at home versus Tulane. And it’s likely those aren’t the only afternoon or primetime kickoffs on the schedule for the Sooners this fall.

The remainder of the schedule, including TV details, will be released later this summer.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Bryant on X @thatmanbryant.

Watch highlights of Commanders rookie LB Jordan Magee

Jordan Magee’s college highlights.

For several years, the Washington Commanders have largely neglected the linebacker position. This was a curious decision, considering the former head coach (Ron Rivera) and defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio) were longtime ex-NFL linebackers.

General manager Adam Peters and new head coach Dan Quinn took one look at the previous linebacker room and knew it needed an overhaul. Jamin Davis is back, but even his role is uncertain.

On the first two days of free agency, the Commanders struck deals with Frankie Luvu (Carolina) and future Hall of Famer Bobby Wagner. Luvu has been named as one of the NFL’s best signings, while Wagner will wear many hats for Washington. In addition to being a terrific player, Wagner’s leadership is exactly what this new regime needs to show a retooled roster.

In the 2024 NFL draft, the Commanders chose a linebacker for the future in Jordan Magee from Temple. Magee was a three-year starter for the Owls, leading the team in tackles during his final two seasons. Magee has average size (6-foot-1, 228) and excellent speed, but his college production and playing style made him an ideal pick for Quinn and Washington.

Remember when new defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said the following:

“The way that we live is not for everybody,” Whitt said. “It’s not. We’re going to run and put our bodies on people in a violent manner.”

That fits Magee to a tee. He can immediately help on special teams and push for a more significant role in the future.

Here are some of Magee’s college highlights.

And more:

Commanders select Temple linebacker Jordan Magee with 139th overall pick

The Commanders selected Temple linebacker Jordan Magee with their first pick on Day 3.

The Washington Commanders selected Temple linebacker Jordan Magee with the No. 139 overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft. Magee was the Commanders’ first selection on Day 3 of the draft.

Magee joins a revamped linebacker corps that features newcomers Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner and the returning Jamin Davis. The 6-foot-1, 228-pound Magee became a starter in 2021 and never left the lineup. Magee led Temple in tackles in each of the last two seasons.

Here is NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s scouting report on Magee:

There are occasions when it can be tough to discern between Magee’s instincts and his willingness to take aggressive tracks downhill at the first sight of an opening. He will void run-fit responsibilities at times but will also make more plays near the line of scrimmage. Magee lacks ideal size but plays with good strength and aggression and is able to bounce off bigger bodies to find his way to tackle tries from challenging angles. He has a good early trigger, but his sideline-to-sideline range is average. Magee needs to prove he can make plays with better discipline in order to become more than a solid backup with special teams value.

 

Oklahoma Sooners moving 2024 season opener to Friday night

“It’s a unique and exciting opportunity for us,” says Joe Castiglione about Oklahoma and ESPN moving the Sooners season opener.

The much anticipated move to the SEC will come one day earlier as the University of Oklahoma announced a date change for their week one matchup with the Temple Owls.

Originally slated to play on Saturday August 31, Joe Castiglione announced Oklahoma and ESPN have agreed to play the season opener on Friday night, August 30 at 6 p.m. CT. The game will take place on ESPN.

“We were asked to consider moving up the season opener by a day so ESPN could televise our first game as a member of the SEC in a primetime window,” Castiglione said in a statement released by the Oklahoma Athletic Department. “It’s a unique and exciting opportunity for us, as it will be our first Friday night game in the history of Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium and will give our team tremendous visibility nationally. Another major plus is, given the kick time, our players and fans should benefit from a cooler temperature. It’s reasonable to expect that playing in the evening will significantly mitigate some of the heat issues we typically deal with during early season day games. Our first-ever ‘Friday Night Lights’ will undoubtedly be one for the books, and we’re excited to open the season and our first year in the SEC in such a spectacular fashion.”

Oklahoma and its fan base has longed to play more primetime games. Under the Fox grant of rights with the Big 12, the Sooners were relegated to a number of 11 a.m. kickoffs, which was Fox Big Noon Kickoff’s No. 1 playing window.

The move to the SEC created hope that Oklahoma would get more opportunities under the lights at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. And the SEC and ESPN are already delivering on that hope.

While Friday’s have regularly been reserved for high school football, the Sooners week one matchup against Temple in primetime on ESPN will provide Oklahoma a national audience to put on display Jackson Arnold, Danny Stutsman, and the Sooners stars that will lead them into 2024 and their SEC future.

More from the University of Oklahoma

Heat indices in Norman for OU’s last three season-opening games reached 93 degrees in 2023, 96 degrees in 2022 and 105 degrees in 2021. Three of the last four years have produced a heat index high of at least 98 degrees on Aug. 31 in Norman.

Added Castiglione, “We recognize this schedule change will impact travel plans for some fans. We ask hotels in our area to work closely with those individuals to accommodate the move from a Saturday game to a Friday night contest.”

The Sooners, who will officially join the SEC on July 1, boast a 60-19-2 (.753) record in Friday games (includes a 2-4 record in bowl games) but have only played five Friday evening regular season contests, all on the road and all victories.

Since World War II, Oklahoma has played 16 regular season Friday games and is 10-6 in those outings. Ten of those 16 games, and the Sooners’ only six losses, were against Nebraska. OU beat NU on Fridays in 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1990, and lost to the Huskers in 1982 and every year from 1991-95. The Sooners’ other Friday wins since 1945 were at Detroit in 1947 (Bud Wilkinson’s first game as OU head coach), at Miami (Fla.) in 1975, at Tulsa in 2002 and 2007, at West Virginia in 2018 and vs. TCU in last year’s regular season finale.

Oklahoma, which is starting its third season under head coach Brent Venables, has won 18 straight home openers.

More: Oklahoma Sooners 2024 Schedule

More: Predicting every game on Oklahoma’s 2024 schedule

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Lions work out LB for special teams at Temple pro day

Lions work out LB Jordan Reese for special teams at Temple pro day

Out on the collegiate pro day circuit, the Detroit Lions continue to check out potential prospects for the team for the 2024 NFL Draft. That includes special teams assets, as the Temple Owls pro day affirmed.

Per Devin Jackson of the Philly Enquirer, the Lions were one of two teams to pull aside Temple LB Jordan Magee after the proceedings to get an extra workout for special teams skills. As a later-round or undrafted prospect, it’s good projective training for Magee.

The Lions do have an opening for a special teams specialist of a linebacker after letting veteran Anthony Pittman depart in free agency. Magee did show good athleticism and some coverage ability for Temple. At 228 pounds, Magee is light for a linebacker and would need to prove himself on kick and punt units to make the Lions.

Former Scarlet Knight Cam’Ron Stewart committed to Temple

On Saturday, former Rutgers defensive end Cam’Ron Stewart committed to Temple University.

On Saturday, former Rutgers defensive end Cam’Ron Stewart committed to Temple.

Stewart entered the transfer portal on December 30 and received multiple FBS offers (Akron and North Texas) before committing to Temple.

While playing with the Scarlet Knights, Stewart appeared in 12 games throughout his three seasons with Rutgers. The Shillington, Pennsylvania native only recorded four tackles from 2021 to 2022.

The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive lineman did not appear in any games in 2023. As a sophomore in 2022, Stewart made nine appearances for the Scarlet Knights and only three the year before. Stewart posted four tackles in the 2021 TaxSlayer Gator Bowl versus No. 20 Wake Forest during his first season with Rutgers football.

[lawrence-related id=33819]

According to 247Sports, he was ranked the No. 22 recruit in Pennsylvania and the No. 80 defensive lineman nationally among his 2021 recruiting class.

Stewart played his high school ball at Governor Mifflin High School, where he helped guide the Mustangs to an 8-1 record and an appearance in the Pennsylvania 5A state semifinals in 2020.He finished his senior season with 39 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. For his efforts during his senior year, Stewart received First Team All-Berks football and Defensive Lineman of the Year by The Reading Eagle. 

 

 

Temple Transfer OL Victor Stoffel has Texas A&M in his top three schools

Temple Owl transfer Victor Stoffel has Texas A&M as one of his top schools to visit

The Mike Elko Era is in full swing and one of the more notable changes is how aggressive they have been in the transfer portal.

Now granted a lot of it has to do with needing to fill spots due to players entering the portal and committing to other schools since the coaching change. Going forward, he might not need to hit the portal as hard as he is now, but it’s still a stark difference from previous years.

One area of the team that could use some experience, depth, and competition is along the offensive line. They have already hosted a few with more coming down the pipeline including the 6’8″ tackle out of Temple, Victor Stoffel. Pete Nakos of On3 confirmed that Stoffel will be visiting Texas A&M along with Cal and UCF.

Stoffel not only would bring size but also a wealth of experience as this will be his sixth season playing college football and spent the last two as the starting right tackle. The Stockholm native closed out his year with the College Football Network Midseason All-AAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, All-American Honorable Mention, and All-ACC Honorable Mention.

If Elko and company can bring him in it will be a huge plus for the depth of the OL and give them a chance to experiment with getting the best five on the field to protect the QB.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on Twitter: @whosnextsports1.

5 takeaways from the Oklahoma Sooners 2024 schedule

Oklahoam received its first schedule as SEC members and here our five takeaways from the daunting slate.

It is here, and it is glorious. Wednesday was a busy day for Oklahoma as a program.

The Sooners landed a commitment from transfer running back Sam Franklin, prepping for the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag] began and recruiting high school and [autotag]transfer portal[/autotag] players was in high gear.

To end the night, the Sooners received a look at what Oklahoma will be going up against in their first year as SEC members. ESPN released the schedules for SEC teams, and Oklahoma now knows when and where it will play in its first SEC season.

Here’s a full look at the 2024 schedule and now we’ve got five instant takeaways from Oklahoma’s first SEC schedule.