Former NFL Player to Help Build House

July 9, 2009
NEWARK -- Jeff Uhlenhake, a former NFL center, will help the Licking County chapter of Habitat for Humanity build a home at 106 Penney Ave. in Newark from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Uhlenhake, a Newark Catholic graduate, went on to star at Ohio State and was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame in 2008. He is a strength coach at Ohio State.

Licking County Habitat for Humanity and Habitat for Humanity International provide affordable housing to those who do not qualify for conventional mortgage financing.

To volunteer to help build houses with Habitat for Humanity or to apply for consideration for a house, call the local chapter at (740) 788-8778.

Shannon Johnson's arrival key to Storm's success

By Steve Kelley

July 10, 2009

After two disappointing, disappearing road losses in a row, the Seattle Storm needed to win this Tuesday matinee against San Antonio.

Needed to win, because the WNBA season, unlike the NBA's, is a sprint and the season already is about one-third gone.

The Storm needed this game because road losses at Los Angeles and Phoenix were 911 calls that had to be answered swiftly.

The Storm came into this game against San Antonio looking to find more offensive threats, looking for the nose-bloodying defense that abandoned it on the trip south.

It had to find more scoring punch. Every game can't be Lauren Jackson-Sue Bird-Swin Cash and little else.

The Storm came into The Key looking for a spark.

Shannon Johnson delivered it.

In the third quarter, with Jackson jammed up by the swarming Silver Stars' defense and the game teetering back and forth, backup point guard Johnson breathed fire into the afternoon.

A skittering, scatback of a guard, the 5-foot-7 Johnson made life uncomfortable for San Antonio's All-Star guard Becky Hammon and she helped the Storm find its offensive rhythm.

"Some of the plays she made in that third quarter really changed the game," said Jackson, who suffered through a 1-for-11 afternoon. "She can jump. She can rebound. She gives us some veteran leadership. And she takes the pressure off Sue at the point and allows Sue to score, because Sue's a natural scorer."

In the game-changing third quarter, Johnson sneaked into the lane, rebounded Jackson's air ball and scored. She drove hard to the basket, drew a foul on Sophia Young and converted both free throws. And, near the end of the quarter, she scored on a six-foot runner in the lane.

After trailing 35-33 early in the quarter, the Storm (7-4) led 49-41 after three, in a game it eventually won 66-53. In 22 minutes, Johnson had eight points, five rebounds, an assist, a steal and was a large part of the reason Hammon finished 3 for 9 from the field.

After the last home game against Los Angeles, Storm coach Brian Agler admitted he needed to get more players involved. He had to use his bench better and more often.
Enter the point guard they call Pee Wee.

"Shannon's just a veteran player in this league," Agler said. "She's got a wealth of experience. She understands the league and the game real well. And she's got some toughness to her."

Johnson, who was signed as a free agent during a rather quiet offseason for Seattle, is the biggest upgrade from last season.

Her ability at the point frees Bird to move to shooting guard for large chunks of the game. Unburdening Bird of some point-guard minutes keeps her fresh for these final two-plus months of the season.

"Pee Wee can score too, but she can run the team and allow me to become more of a scorer, said Bird, who scored 17 points. "Rather than me having to come down and set the offense up, she does that."

Johnson is the Storm's best backup since Tully Bevilaqua played behind Bird on the 2004 WNBA championship team.

"When you're at the two, it's a lot easier just to be a scorer," Bird said. "Somebody's telling you what play to run. You're not thinking about, 'Is everybody in the right setup?' You don't have to worry about those little things. You can just kind of score."

Johnson, who turns 35 next month, is perfect for the job. She is a four-time All-Star and the Storm is her sixth team in 11 years. In 2007, she won a WNBA championship as a backup point for the Detroit Shock. She won Olympic gold playing point guard for the U.S. in Athens in 2004.

And, after eight seasons playing against Bird, she knows Bird's game and knows how and when to get her the ball.

"I'm the point guard who can help Sue and give Sue a break. Let her come off of some screens and let her just put the ball in the hole," Johnson said. "When Sue has the ball, good things happen for us. As a point guard, you have to take care of the ball and get the ball to her when she's ready to take the shot."

One third of the way through the season, just in the nick of time, Agler has found Johnson, another answer to this riddle of a season.

Safety Michael Johnson's New York Giants summer questionnaire

July 2, 2009

By Mike Garafolo



William Perlman/The Star-LedgerSafety Michael Johnson had two interceptions last season, but he's hoping to grab more in 2009.

He came into the NFL two years ago as a seventh-round pick at the back end of a crowded draft class. Now, safety Michael Johnson is a second-year starter and a key member of the Giants' secondary. He's the latest installment of our Giants summer questionnaire series:

What are your plans for the break? "I'll be working out back in Arizona with my strength coach from college. He's a real good trainer. All the exercises I've been introduced to here I'd already done them with him, so I was able to transition into the workouts at this level real well. Everything has been like second nature to me."

What are your individual goals for this upcoming season? "Last year, I was second on the team in tackles. This year, I want to push A.P. (Antonio Pierce) and everybody else and try to lead the team in tackles. Personally, I want to grab more interceptions. I want more than the two I had last year. Basically, I want to up all the stats this year."

Excluding yourself, who's going to be the breakout player on this team this year? "I think it's going to be (Aaron) Ross. His style of play is less by the book. Some breaks he makes or plays he makes, it's unorthodox the way he breaks sometimes. It might look funny, but he gets there. He's a playmaker, and that's what I say."

Stoops brothers give back to area at Camp of Champions

By JOHN VARGO Tribune Chronicle

July 1, 2009



From left, brothers Ron and Bob Stoops talk with Cardinal Mooney athletic director Don Bucci on Monday at Cardinal Mooney's Camp of Champions.

YOUNGSTOWN - Bob Stoops' gait wasn't that fast Monday. He took the time to enjoy the sights and talk to a few friends.

As he approached the Cardinal Mooney High School football practice field, it reminded him that he's a long ways from Oklahoma University.

"I love being back in the Valley seeing family and friends," said the Sooners football coach, who is heading into his 11th season in Norman, Okla. "There's nothing like it - seeing young kids coming out playing football and around Cardinal Mooney."

Bob, Ron and Mark Stoops, all Cardinal Mooney graduates, were at the Cardinals' Camp of Champions, which ended Tuesday.

"It's one big happy family and we enjoy spending some time with each other," said Mark, the defensive coordinator for his brother, Mike, at the University of Arizona.

You could say it's a vacation for Bob and Mark to return back home, but there's a lot of people demanding their time. Ron said their families go to the beach to get away.

"Here, we get spread thin with everybody else," said Ron, a Cardinal Mooney assistant coach.

This week, it was about guiding those young campers.

"You can see the kids are eager and they want to learn," Mark said. "They took the time to come here to camp. So, you want them to take something away to improve a little bit or work a little harder and also have some fun."

Arizona went 8-5 last season and Mark said he's looking forward to the upcoming campaign.

"We feel we have a good team coming in and excited about another year," he said.

Bob's Oklahoma team advanced to the BCS title game but lost to Florida. It was a successful season for the Sooners, nonetheless. He feels Oklahoma football can bring plenty of excitement to those in Norman.

"It's exciting. You wish you could be one game better," Bob said. "That's how it goes though. I'm proud of our players. They played hard throughout the year. Even though the championship game, they had a few more plays than we did and that's how it goes sometimes.

"Still, I'm proud of our players and people in our program to have gotten to that point. Hopefully, we'll get over the top."

Ron, on the other hand, is happy that Bob, one of the nation's high-profile coaches, can find time to come back to the Camp of Champions each year.

"Bob has been fantastic, so helpful to us," Ron said. "I really can't put it into words. I can't say enough to what he's doing, the commitment to the school and the program. He's been extremely generous with his time and resources. He's been a great brother and a great friend. He's been a great supporter for this community."

Meet the 2009 Rookies: Brian Hartline

June 24, 2009

When the Dolphins drafted wide receiver Brian Hartline in the fourth round of April's NFL Draft they not only added size and speed to their receiving corps, but they also reunited two Ohio State Buckeyes in the process.

Third-year wideout Ted Ginn, Jr., who competed against Hartline in high school track and football up in Ohio, had been the only former Ohio State player wearing Miami's aqua and orange and had to stare down second-year quarterback Chad Henne and second-year left tackle Jake Long by himself last year when the two former Michigan Wolverines were rookies. Now he has another Ohio State alum in Hartline to keep him company - and he also has a familiar face running pass patterns with him during practice.

The 22-year-old Hartline is about three inches taller than Ginn at 6-feet-2 inches and a little heavier at 186 pounds compared to Ginn's 180, and while he would be hard pressed to cross the finish line ahead of Ginn in a foot race, he can get behind many a defensive back. At Glen Oak High School in North Canton, Ohio, Hartline captured state titles in the 110-meter and 300-meter hurdles as a senior and used that speed to his advantage as a two-year starter for the Buckeyes before opting to leave school early and declare for the draft. His study habits and athleticism left a lasting impression on the Dolphins receiver he no doubt will most often be compared to – Greg Camarillo – during OTAs and the three-day mini-camp held in the middle of June.

"He's faster than me and he makes some big plays, he's definitely a skilled receiver and I'm excited to see what he can do for us this year," said Camarillo, who is entering his fourth season and coming back from a torn ACL that cut short his 2008 campaign. "He's a smart guy. He picks up everything real quickly and I think he knows that if he asks questions he can learn a lot faster."

Hartline has leaned on Ginn more for the off-the-field stuff as he transitions to life as a professional football player since Ginn went through it under a bigger microscope as the ninth overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft. During the short time he was on the same field and in the same locker room and weight room as the veterans, Hartline stayed close to Camarillo and listened intently to receivers coach Karl Dorrell.

Some of Hartline's most beneficial lessons, however, came inside the practice bubble away from the rest of the team when veteran quarterback Chad Pennington put in some extra work with the receivers. This is something Pennington has done throughout his career, not only with the receivers but with the offensive line as well, and for rookies like Hartline and Patrick Turner, the third-round pick out of USC, these sessions are invaluable.

"I love playing for him. I think he's a guy that's very meticulous and knows what he wants out of his receivers," Hartline said. "Again he's a veteran so he can kind of give you some ideas about running some routes and even kind of coach you up because he's seen so much of it. So to me that's a definite plus playing with Pennington and also playing with Henne."

Prior to his freshman year in high school, Henne played running back and linebacker and has talked about how that background helped him and still helps him on the field because he is aware of the linebackers' tendencies in the passing game and can appreciate how the running backs react as receivers. For Hartline, he can relate – but in reverse as he started out as a quarterback his junior year in high school before switching to wide receiver midway though the season.

Michael Hartline is Brian's younger brother and he evolved at the quarterback position to the point where he is currently the starting quarterback at the University of Kentucky, but Brian credits his experience as a quarterback along with his overall athleticism (he also played baseball and basketball in addition to football and track and field) with preparing him to succeed as a receiver. Head Coach Tony Sparano has liked what he has seen to this point, specifically with how Hartline fits in with the rest of the receivers.

"As of right now, I like the way it is shaping up. I really do. I think we have added a little more speed to our group right now," said Sparano, who hasn't ruled out keeping as many as six receivers on the roster. "When you look at (Anthony) Armstrong, Teddy (Ginn, Jr.), Hartline; these guys from a speed standpoint out there and the way they run (is a plus). We have added a little more size to the group certainly. Hartline is a big guy; Turner is certainly a big guy out there, Brandon London, so we have some size and athleticism.

"I think a couple guys will be interesting competition and might perform the same jobs as we get on in this thing. You have guys like (Davone) Bess, Camarillo, and Hartline, all guys that can play in the slot and do some of those type things as inside receivers, so it will be interesting to watch how the whole thing shakes down. I like the way the group complements each other and however many guys we keep at that position, we will be able find a role for each one of them at the game."

Another role Hartline is comfortable playing is on special teams as a gunner. He has been quoted boasting how he "likes to crack heads," and as a redshirt freshman with the Buckeyes he delivered the Jack Tatum hit of the week against Indiana while on special teams. Sparano and his staff place a lot of emphasis on being able to excel on special teams and will consider a player's prowess on that unit when making the decision on who to play and who not to play.

So far Hartline has said and done all the right things in the eyes of the coaches and his new teammates, and he harkens back to some of the important lessons he learned from his different high school coaches, specifically his hurdles coach at Glen Oak, Chad Palmer. Every coach he has played for has left an imprint on Hartline's development and he is looking forward to gleaning as much as he can from Sparano and Dorrell, as well as offensive coordinator Dan Henning and the other coaches.

"Every trait that Coach Sparano has is a trait that I like to see in a coach," said Hartline, who finished his college career with 90 catches for 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns and earned the Paul Warfield award as the school's outstanding receiver as a sophomore. "He's very meticulous. He knows what he wants and he and Chad Pennington really kind of mirror each other sometimes and I think they have a great correlation that again rubs off on everyone else. He has high expectations, loves competition and again that kind of facilitates the rest of the team."

Hartline's goals and expectations headed into training camp are to continue to improve as a receiver and to show enough to Sparano and the others form a versatility standpoint to warrant a spot on the final 53-man roster. At least if that happens he'll be able to hold up his end of the bargain when the war of words about the Ohio State-Michigan game commence.

Andy Katzenmoyer selected to 2009 Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame

June 23, 2009

The class will be officially inducted in two separate ceremonies September 25 and introduced to the public at halftime of the Ohio State home football game against Illinois September 26.

COLUMBUS -- Twelve members will be inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame the weekend of September 25-26, the Men’s Varsity O Alumni Association and the Women’s Varsity O Alumnae Society announced Tuesday. The class will be officially inducted in two separate ceremonies September 25 and introduced to the public at halftime of the Ohio State home football game against Illinois September 26.

The 2009 class includes: Men - Neal Colzie (football), Robert Gary (cross country/track and field), Bob Hopper (swimming), Andy Katzenmoyer (football), Dick LeBeau (football), Michael Redd (basketball) and Pandel Savic (football); Women - Kaja Fiserova (rowing), Allison Hanna (golf), Vanessa Immordino (field hockey), Emma Laaksonen (ice hockey) and Jim Montrella (swimming coach).

Andy Katzenmoyer Football 1996-98 All-American Andy Katzenmoyer won the Dick Butkus Award in 1997, the first Ohio State middle linebacker to win the award. A three-time First Team All-Big Ten member, Katzenmoyer put up big numbers, ranking in the Top 10 in Ohio State record books for career solo tackles, tackles for loss in a game, season and career, tackles for loss yards in a season and career, quarterback sacks in a game, season and career, quarterback sack yards in a season and career, and career interception returns for touchdowns. A member of the 1997 Rose Bowl champion Buckeyes, Katzenmoyer was selected in the first round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, but suffered a neck injury in his first season that cut his professional career short.

Stoops is college football's $5 million man

Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops speaks during a press conference last January. OU Regents announced Stoops will make almost $5 million in 2011.

By GUERIN EMIG

June 24, 2009

ARDMORE -- Bob Stoops will make nearly $5 million as Oklahoma football coach in 2011, should he remain that long, according to his revised contract approved Wednesday by the OU Board of Regents at their annually scheduled meeting in Ardmore.

The regents also approved raises for OU basketball coaches Jeff Capel — his guaranteed salary increases from $1.05 to $1.5 million — and Sherri Coale, as well as baseball coach Sunny Golloway and softball coach Patty Gasso. Members of Capel’s, Coale’s and Stoops’ staffs were given raises as well.

Stoops’ reworked deal, which was extended two years through Dec. 31, 2015, allows for a current guaranteed $2.975 million. It also calls for a $700,000 annual stay bonus, first payable Oct. 1. Meaning, when Stoops takes the sideline for the next OU-Texas game, he’ll be making $3.675 million.

An additional bonus, termed in the contract an “Additional Stay Benefit,” of $800,000 will be paid following Jan. 1, 2011. Factoring in the $700,000 bonus already in place, as well as the automatic $200,000 annual private-funds bump also built into the contract, Stoops stands to make $4.875 million in 2011. And that’s before performance-based bonuses also included in the deal. Should the Sooners compete for the Big 12 championship and a BCS bowl that season, as is typical under the coach, Stoops would clear the $5 million mark.

All told, his seven-year pact is worth $30.125 million.

“This university is so fortunate to have a terrific leader, an outsanding football coach, a person with impeccable character like Coach Stoops,” OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said after the regents adjourned, “with a proven record of success. With Jeff Capel and Sherri Coale, you see there’s a common thread of characteristics ... We feel just as grateful to have them leading our programs. We’re grateful that our president and our board show the leadership and demonstrate their support for what we’re trying to achieve.”

Capel, who last season coached the OU men to 30 victories and their first Elite Eight appearance since 2003, had his contract extended two years through June 30, 2016. As with Stoops’ contract, there are annual bumps built in — $50,000 through the 2011-12 season, then $70,000 through 2013-14 and $80,000 through 2015-16 — and two tiers of bonus money allowed.

Capel receives a stay bonus of $1.1 million following June 30, 2014, and what is termed a “supplemental” stay bonus of $400,000 following June 30, 2016. Should he remain OU coach through the 13-14 season, Capel is in line to receive $2.84 million. As it stands, his current guarantee of $1.5 million makes him the third-highest paid coach in the Big 12 Conference, behind Kansas’ Bill Self and Texas’ Rick Barnes, whereas before he ranked sixth. It also symbolizes what Castiglione hopes is a preemptive strike against programs who have shown interest in the 34-year-old coach after OU’s past two seasons.

“What he is attempting to build with the program is outstanding,” Castigloine said of Capel. “It’s important for continuity, because people around the country are seeing Oklahoma basketball in a very special way. He and our team have opened people’s eyes, and hopefully made it attractive to be part of this program and its growth and where it’s headed...

“We are very grateful that he has expressed his passion to stay and build this program, and create it as a destination job.”

Coale, who steered the OU women to their first Final Four since 2002 last season, closed in on the $1 million mark Wednesday. Regents approved a $60,000 guaranteed income hike to $900,000, with performance-based bonuses built in as well. Coale’s contract continues through July 1, 2017.

Golloway, whose Sooners bounced back from two straight shaky seasons to win 44 games and host an NCAA regional last year, was given a three-year extension through the 2013 season. He’ll make a guaranteed $201,000 under terms of the new deal.

“You don’t always reflect on one year,” Castiglione said when asked if Golloway’s extension was a result of his ‘09 success, “although it does validate things are being done the right way. I think this year established some momentum in our program that we haven’t had in a while.”

Among OU staffs. Capel assistants Mark Cline, Oronde Taliaferro and Ben Betts all received $12,000 raises in guaranteed income. But the raises issued Stoops’ assistants varied.

Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson was given the highest bump, $100,000, to a guaranteed $385,000. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables was next at $50,000, to $395,000.

Quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel, perhaps cashing in on the success of Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford, received a $44,000 raise, to $200,000.

Other staff raises ranged from $25,000 (Jay Norvell) to $15,000 (Cale Gundy, Jackie Shipp and James Patton) to $10,000 (Bobby Jack Wright and Chris Wilson).

In other action, the regents bumped Gasso’s salary to $133,000 and approved contracts for new coaches Ryan Hybl (men’s golf, $100,000) and John Roddick (men’s tennis, $99,800).

Atlanta's Mike Smith tops NFC South Head Coaches

Ranking the NFC South coaching staffs

June 21, 2009

By Pat Yasinskas

Our final stop in our series of NFC South position rankings is the coaches. This was one of the tougher calls (at least for the top two spots) and it's important to note, we're not just ranking head coaches. We're factoring the entire coaching staffs.

1. Atlanta. Mike Smith worked a miracle in his first year, taking one of the league's worst teams and turning it into a playoff squad. Yes, he's got to do it again to fully prove himself as an elite coach. But I like Smith's chances of doing that. The best thing Smith did was surround himself with an all-star staff. Brian VanGorder will be a head coach before long. Mike Mularkey will get another shot as a head coach. Position coaches like Emmitt Thomas, Paul Boudreau and Bill Musgrave are among the best in the league at what they do.

2. Carolina. There's no question John Fox has the best résumé in the division and that's why I came very close to going with him at No. 1. Fox is the only division coach to have taken his team to the Super Bowl, but he's never had back-to-back winning seasons. He's got a good chance to change that this year. But there were two reasons I gave the nod to Smith. First, I'm still trying to figure out why Fox, with one of the league's best running games, decided to put it all on Jake Delhomme on a rainy night in the playoff loss to Arizona. Don't tell me it was because the Panthers got behind. They weren't using the running game much before that. Second, and this one is bigger, Fox's staff had some major changes in the offseason. Just about the entire defensive staff left voluntarily and that makes you wonder about things like harmony and chemistry. There was a time early in his tenure when Fox had one of the league's best coaching staffs. Maybe the new coaches will work out well, but we have to wait to see.

3. New Orleans. I think there's a very good chance Sean Payton moves up a spot or two this season. But you can't put him in the top two right now because the Saints have underachieved the last two seasons. A lot of that was due to injuries and bad luck, but that's all part of a coach's body of work. There's no doubt Payton is one of the best offensive minds in the game. But defense was the problem last year. That's why Payton went out and got Gregg Williams as the defensive coordinator. Williams has done great things defensively and Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis have given him a lot of good parts to work with. If he can just make the Saints average on defense, they'll be a playoff team and Payton will be a rising star again.

4. Tampa Bay. Raheem Morris has never been a head coach on any level and, at 32, is the league's youngest head coach. He's an unknown, so I have no choice but to rank him last right now. But I think there's tremendous upside with Morris. He relates extremely well to the players and that was an area where predecessor Jon Gruden was lacking. But the best thing I can say about Morris right now is he put together a very good staff. Much like Smith last year, Morris made sure he got experienced coordinators to help him. Jim Bates knows how to run a defense and has some experience as a head coach. Jeff Jagodzinski helped develop Matt Ryan at Boston College and will be in charge of developing rookie quarterback Josh Freeman.

Former Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman signs with Jacksonville

By: Doug Lesmerises

June 18, 2009

Former Buckeye quarterback Todd Boeckman, who was an All-Big Ten pick in 2007 before losing his job to Terrelle Pryor during last season, is getting a shot in the NFL.

He has signed as a free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to his Beachwood-based agent, Neil Cornrich. Boeckman earlier had a tryout with Cincinnati but didn’t sign with the Bengals.

Jacksonville previously signed former Buckeye defensive tackle Nader Abdallah in May after he also went undrafted, but the Jaguars waived Abdallah two weeks ago.

It certainly seems possible to me that Boeckman could hook on as a third quarterback. He has the size, the head and the attitude to handle himself in the NFL.

Boeckman signs NFL contract with Jacksonville

By Eric Frantz

June 18, 2009

According to Neil Cornrich and NC Sports, LLC, former Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman has agreed to terms on a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Contract specifics were not released.

Boeckman, a St. Henry High School graduate, was named to the 2007 All-Big Ten team and was a team captain for the Buckeyes this past season.

He started 17 games during his career at Ohio State.

Only one high school in Ohio State history has produced two starting quarterbacks for the Buckeyes – St. Henry. Former St. Henry grad Bobby Hoying, a member of the OSU Hall of Fame, played QB for the Buckeyes from 1993-95. He too was All-Big Ten. Hoying played in the NFL for Oakland and Philadelphia.

Bob Stoops Coaching Accomplishments

By Boomer Sooner

June 15, 2009

• Stoops is 109-24 overall, 72-14 vs. the Big 12, 39-10 vs. the Big 12 South, 31-4 vs. the Big 12 North, 6-1 in the Big 12 title game, 37-10 vs. non-conference opponents, 60-2 at home, 31-11 on the road, 16-11 on neutral fields, 33-12 vs. ranked opponents, 4-6 in bowls, 3-5 in January bowls and 2-5 in BCS games.

• OU has set or tied more than 180 school records under Stoops, not including bowl bests and marks specific to a particular position (i.e., receptions by a running back). Among those marks under Stoops are passing for a game, season and career; receiving for a game, season and career; and rushing for a season.

• Stoops has authored two of the seven longest winning streaks in Oklahoma history. His 2000 and 2001 teams won 20 straight, while the 2002 and 2003 teams reeled off 14 in a row. Those victories all came against I-A opponents.

• Oklahoma owns the nation’s longest home field winning streak at 24. That’s the second longest streak in school history just one behind a 25-in-a-row string that ended in 1953. Stoops also has fashioned two other streaks of 19 straight.

• OU won the 2000 national championship, played for two more and captured six Big 12 South crowns and six Big 12 titles. Oklahoma has spent 24 weeks at No. 1.

• OU has held a double-digit lead in 112 of Stoops’ 133 games.

• Oklahoma has played in 10 bowl games. Never had an OU coach taken even his first three teams to bowls. Prior to Stoops’ arrival, OU had not played in one of what is now a BCS game since the 1988 Orange Bowl (1987 season). Stoops, in his second season, led OU to the 2001 Orange Bowl (2000 season).

• An OU player has finished among the top seven in the Heisman voting six times on Stoops’ watch: Sam Bradford (No. 1 in 2008), Adrian Peterson (No. 2 in 2004), Jason White (No. 3 in 2004), Jason White (No. 1 in 2003), Roy Williams (No. 7 in 2001) and Josh Heupel (No. 2 in 2000).

• Under Stoops, OU has produced 29 All-Americans; two AP Players of the Year (Heupel, White); two Nagurski Award winners (Williams, Derrick Strait); two Thorpe Award winners (Williams, Strait); two Butkus Award winners (Rocky Calmus, Teddy Lehman); one Bednarik Award winner (Lehman); one Lombardi Award winner (Tommie Harris); one Walter Camp winner (Heupel); three O’Brien Award winners (Sam Bradford and White twice); a Maxwell Award winner (White); a Unitas Award winner (White); an Outland Trophy winner (Jammal Brown) and one Mosi Tatupu Award winner (J.T. Thatcher).

• OU has had a Butkus finalist in four of the last eight years and a Lombardi finalist in three of the last six. The Sooners also have had finalists for the Biletnikoff, Groza, Guy, Hendricks, Mackey and Doak Walker awards.

• In 1996 and 1997, his Florida defense scored eight touchdowns. The 1996 Gators won the national championship.

• During his final four seasons in Manhattan, Kansas State posted a 35-12 record and played in three bowl games.

Johnson still searching for WNBA title

BY LOU BEZJAK

June 5, 2009

Shannon Johnson has accomplished many things during her basketball career.

From winning state championships at Hartsville High to playing in the NCAA tournament at South Carolina and winning a gold medal in the 2004 Olympics, Johnson has done it all.

But one thing has eluded her — a WNBA championship.

That’s one of the driving forces for Johnson, who will begin her 11th WNBA season Saturday when the Seattle Storm face Sacramento.

Johnson’s best shot at a title came in 2007 as a member of the Detroit Shock. The Shock, coached by former Piston Bill Laimbeer, lost to the Phoenix Mercury 3-2 in the WNBA Finals.

“That was a great experience and was fun to be part of and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Johnson said this week. “Hopefully that could happen in Seattle. They are one of the more established teams in the league and competitive every year.”

Johnson is in her first season with Storm. She signed a two-year deal last season to play with the Houston Comets but the team folded after the season, making her a free agent.

Johnson landed in Seattle, mainly because of her relationship with coach Brian Agler. She won two titles playing for Agler in the ABL with Columbus and also played for him in the WNBA for one season when he was an assistant for the San Antonio Silver Stars.

“He is like a father figure to me and a good teacher,” said Johnson, who ranks second all-time in the WNBA with 1,372 assists. “He is a defensively minded coach and I think I fit pretty good in the system. I just want to go out and keep being productive.”

Johnson’s primary role will be to back up guards Sue Bird and Tanisha Parker and also to provide leadership to the team.

“I think she’s going to play real well for us this year,” Agler said in an interview on the team’s Web site. “Whether it’s a role that she plays supplemental coming in behind Sue and Tanisha or there will be times where she’s on the floor with them. She’s experienced. She’s been in both situations. She knows how to be competitive and be prepared.”

Seattle is the latest stop for Johnson in her basketball odyssey, which has spanned two continents during her 13-year professional career.

Johnson has a home in Spain, although she said she doesn’t spend much time there except when she is playing there in the offseason.

This year, she played for Spain’s EBE Ibiza-PDV and averaged 13.8 points and three assists per game.

“I have seen the world playing basketball,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t have thought I would be able to keep playing for this long.

“I have been able to keep myself in good shape by lifting weights and away from injuries. Plus, I love to play the game and it’s still fun for me.”

And the 35-year-old Johnson says she doesn’t have plans of slowing down.

Johnson says she would like to play a few more years then possibly get involved in college coaching. She said a perfect scenario would be to be reunited with her friend and former Olympic teammate Dawn Staley, the women’s coach at South Carolina.

“I would love to give back to the women’s game by coaching. I have been so blessed to be able to play this game,” Johnson said. “That’s definitely something I want to do and would be a good next step in my career.”

JOHNSON FILE
HOMETOWN: Hartsville
YEARS IN WNBA: 11
TEAMS: Six (Orlando/Connecticut, San Antonio, Detroit, Houston and Seattle)
SCORING: 3,417, 10.7 per game
ASSISTS: 1,372, 4.3 per game
HONORS: Four-time WNBA All-Star