Not every encounter that the Oklahoma University football team had in West Virginia on Saturday left people with a bad taste in their mouths. In fact, well before the Sooners put a Big 12 beating on West Virginia University by a 56-28 score OU was making friends locally.

 

Shortly after 11 a.m. on Saturday, a group of buses carrying the University of Oklahoma football team arrived at Wayne Jamison Field. The official purpose was to have a walk through, and the group didn’t arrive unannounced.

 

Matt McMillen, the assistant director of athletics who serves as Coach Bob Stoop’s right hand man, contacted Bridgeport High School Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matt DeMotto last week about the possibility of utilizing the field for a morning walk through.

 

“He just wanted to know if it was possible if they could use the field if the weather conditions were feasible,” said DeMotto. “When they got here, the weather wasn’t bad, but it was bad enough that Coach Stoops asked to use the gym.”

 

DeMotto, who already knew the request was going to be possible, obliged. He said he, BHS football Coach Josh Nicewarner and the OU staff talked a little bit about the Indians’ football season.

 

“Coach Stoops was very gracious and respectful and wanted to know how things were going for our football program and it was nice to tell him we’ve been on a bit of a run right now that we hope to continue,” said DeMotto. “He seemed genuinely interested and even laughed when I told him that we would do anything he needed to make his visit accommodating, but that we would be rooting against him that night.”

 

The team and the staff actually got off the buses at Jamison Field and walked to the gym on the backside of the school. DeMotto said they spent 30 to 40 minutes in the gym he said in what appeared to be a session to stay loose as opposed to any strategy.

 

“They weren’t working on plays or anything, but I think they just needed a break in the monotony prior to playing a night game. They may have been in there 30 or 40 minutes,” said DeMotto. “They left (the Wingate Hotel) at 11:15 a.m. and were probably back at a little after 12:15 p.m. and during most of that time they played ‘air’ basketball where they were acting like they were setting picks and shooting coming off of screens. They seemed to have a lot of fun.”

 

DeMotto said they didn’t announce the team was coming in as they wanted to keep a possible crowd from gathering. However, he said OU didn’t ask for any restrictions and interacted with the BHS coaching staff, several student-athletes and others that were in the gym.

 

“You got the impression he didn’t mind taking pictures and actually seemed happy to be there with the players around,” said DeMotto. “Being a hardcore WVU fan was the only thing that seemed out of place. They were wearing red and white so they had the colors correct.”

 

DeMotto said there was zero hesitation on allowing OU to use the gym. In fact, he said the facilities will be available for any visiting Big 12 Conference team that comes into Bridgeport in the future.

 

“We see this as something that helps out the City of Bridgeport and if it helps then we’re going to do it. This provides another reason for those teams playing into Bridgeport and staying at our hotels – and that includes boosters and others – to continue to come back,” he said. “This helps in making everything convenient. We’re aware it probably will only happen for night games, but if it’s needed then we want to make sure we can help.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows Bob Stoops leading his OU troops in a loose walk through inside the BHS gymnasium Saturday, while Indians Coach Josh Nicewarner with his own kids, nieces and nephews are shown with OU quarterback Baker Mayfield. In the bottom picture, you can see just how much fun the Sooners are having during their visit. Photos by Joey Signorelli of SIG's Photography.