NORMAN, Okla. – Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is counting on a heavy dose of familiarity this season to help improve a defense that withered down the stretch a year ago.
Stoops' hopes for improvement start with the return of his younger brother, Mike Stoops, as the defensive coordinator. Stoops led the Sooners' defense that won the 2000 national championship, but he struggled in his first season back at the school last year after being fired as the coach at Arizona.
Oklahoma was next-to-last in the Big 12 in rushing defense last season, allowing 192.2 yards per game.
Stoops hopes his knowledge of the conference, and a defense led by cornerback Aaron Colvin, will lead the way to improvement this season.