Oklahoma Sooners win Alamo Bowl in interim coach Bob Stoops’ return to sideline

SAN ANTONIO — Bob Stoops and Oklahoma had been winners collectively again, just like outdated periods.

Kennedy Brooks ran for 142 yards and 3 touchdowns, Caleb Williams handed for three more scores and the 14th-rated Sooners rode a dominant to start with half to a 47-32 acquire in excess of No. 15 Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday evening.

The victory marked a quick and joyful reunion for the coach and school he led to a nationwide championship and 10 Huge 12 titles from 1999 to 2016. Stoops was identified as off a golfing program to arrive out of retirement to mentor the bowl game following the abrupt departure of Lincoln Riley for Southern California.

“I have been out of it, arrived back,” Stoops claimed. “It was exciting. Extra than everything, I respect the young persons, the men in the application, embraced me, were being all in, and labored tough.”

Stoops attained career acquire No. 191 and boosted his bowl record to 10-9. Finding the latest victory was perhaps the least complicated aspect in all this.

Just as significant ended up the responsibilities of steadying the program in general following Riley’s bolt west turned it upside down. And Stoops had to create a steady bridge to the new era below incoming mentor Brent Venables, his previous Oklahoma assistant who has expended the earlier 9 seasons at Clemson.

“They are receiving a guy with enthusiasm, a man that loves the recreation,” Stoops mentioned. “A winner.”

And the mentor who once earned the nickname Major Sport Bob also turned into Huge Hug Bob when he obtained to embrace son and Sooners receiver Drake Stoops immediately after a next-quarter landing capture. Drake walked on at Oklahoma in 2018 immediately after Bob had retired.

Oklahoma (11-2) raced out to a 30-3 lead as Brooks and Williams sliced up the Oregon defense. Brooks experienced 127 yards on just 10 carries in the to start with half with scoring operates of 16 and 29 yards, and yet another 40-garden run that established up Williams’ initial touchdown go to Drake Stoops.

Williams’ 55-garden TD pass to Marvin Mims Jr. hit the receiver beautifully in stride at the rear of two Ducks defenders who have been two methods late. Brooks then punched in the last score of the half.

The Sooners ended up so dominant at that stage they seemed like some of Stoops’ outdated groups of bulldozing functioning backs, defense and Heisman Trophy-winning…