Oklahoma Football Rumors Begin

John Blake, defensive line coach of the Dallas Cowboys who played and coached at Oklahoma, was among the first mentioned in speculation about a successor to Howard Schnellenberger as the Sooners’ coach.

But athletic director Donnie Duncan says the committee would not necessarily look for someone with ties to the school to replace Schnellenberger, who abruptly resigned Monday.

The Daily Oklahoman and the Dallas Morning News reported that former coach Barry Switzer reportedly was offered the job last week. Switzer declined to comment on whether university officials contacted him. “I had heard the rumors and there had been speculation, but I have no interest,” he said Monday in Dallas.

Linfield College named 13-year defensive coordinator Jay Locey as its new head football coach.

Locey, 40, succeeds Ed Langsdorf, who resigned in November after four years as head coach.