Over his college career he intercepted 10 passes for 80 yards.
Undrafted in 1983, he went into coaching.
Worked his way up as a graduate assistant (Iowa) all the way to defensive coordinator (Florida 1996-’98).
Took the reins as head coach at Oklahoma at 1999, and restored to the school as a national powerhouse.
Won the National Championship in 2000.
In all 17 seasons at the helm of Oklahoma, Bob took the Sooners to a bowl game.
He finished with a 191-48 college coaching record.
Retired from college coaching in 2017.
Opted to return to football for the XFL in 2020 as one of their flagship coaches leading the Dallas Renegades.
Returned in 2023, after the league reorganized due to COVID, coaching the now Arlington Renegades.
After a difficult start, Bob pulled off a trade for Luis Perez, and led the 4-6 Renegades to upsets over the Roughnecks and Defenders to win the XFL Championship Game.
Returned to the Renegades for the ’24 season, and while the team was competitive in every game, they ultimately finished with a disappointing xx-xx record.
ACCOLADES:
College Football Hall of Fame
AP Coach of the Year 2000
Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant Award 2000
Walter Camp Coach of the Year 2000, ’03
NOTES:
Stoops is technically a member of the Hayden Fry coaching tree. Stoops himself has a growing resume of young and upcoming coaches who served under him.
I think what sticks out to me the most, other than Bob’s excellent and well practiced autograph adorning this card, was his response to my request.
Recently I’ve been sending out note cards, to ask coaches to draw me up a play. I love collecting plays and getting an idea of their ‘coaching DNA’- y’know what’s on their mind.
I asked Bob to draw me up a play, and his response was simple and succinctly written on the note card:
CARD: TNT XFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
Delontae Scott played college ball at SMU from 2016-’19.
DL that had 97 career tackles, 36 TFL, 18.0 sacks, 4 FF, and a blocked FG over college career.
Appeared in 3 games over two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2021-’22.
Then briefly spent roughly a month with the Panthers in late 2022.
2023 4th Round Supplemental Pick of the San Antonio Brahmas of the XFL.
As a tweener, had banner year posting 36 total tackles, and 7.5 sacks.
Signed briefly with the Atlanta Falcons that year.
Then resigned late in January 2024 with the San Antonio Brahmas.
Finished ’24 with 15 total tackles and 3.5 sacks.
ACCOLADES:
All XFL 2023
Birmingham Stallions (8-0) v San Antonio Brahmas (6-2), 5/25/24 DELONTAE SCOTT TAC 2 SAC 1.0
NOTES:
Delontae Scott was the last player I got post game, after the Brahmas upset the previously unbeaten Stallions at the Alamodome. I saw him hugging his kid and talking to his wife, so I rushed around the side to get him. I got his attention when I told him I had cards of him, and he came over curiously and said, “This is pretty cool.” I told him he could have a few for his family and his eyes got pretty big. I then asked for his glove as well as an autograph, and he responded with, “Absolutely!”
After they let the season ticket holders onto the field, Delontae was one of the players who came back out to thank us for sticking with them throughout the last season and this one, as well as making a lot of noise to really frustrate the Stallions offense.
CARD: Upper Deck USFL 2023 ACQUIRED: IP 2024, San Antonio Brahmas v Birmingham Stallions
CAREER SNAPSHOT:
CJ Marable played college ball at Arkansas State in 2016, but after seeing little time on the field, transferred to Coastal Carolina.
In 3 years playing for the Chanticleers, he ran for 2691 yards on 491 carries scoring 29 TDs.
He also was a solid receiving option catching 84 passes for 703 yards and 12 TDs.
Signed as an UDFA by the Bears, he’d be waived at the end of camp.
Selected in the 28th round of the 2022 USFL Draft by the Birmingham Stallions.
Solid debut rushing 102 times for 401 yards and 5 TDs, while catching 20 passes for 161 yards for Birmingham.
After being waived by the Patriots, he’d return to the Stallions for 2023, catching 28 passes for 235 yards and 2 TDs, while rushing for 524 yards on 118 carries (2 TDs).
In his 3rd season with the Stallions, CJ rushed 80 times for 293 yards (4 TD) and caught 10 passes for 45 yards.
Birmingham Stallions (8-0) v San Antonio Brahmas (6-2), 5/25/24 CJ MARABLE R 2 YDS 17 AVG 8.5 TD 0 LG 11 REC 1 YDS 2 AVG 2.0 TD 0 LG 2
ACCOLADES:
USFL Player of the Week 2022 (Week 5)
NOTES:
I didn’t hold out much hope getting any Stallions autographs after the Brahmas game. They had just suffered their first loss in over a year and they looked bushwhacked and tired. Still you have to hand it to them that they are happy to have fans. I was able to waive him over, and he kindly signed 3 cards including this 1/499. The other two I sent to my friends Joe and Mark (Mark’s Signing Bonus). CJ has a great big autograph, and I love it.
I thought I’d push it a bit further and ask him for his glove, to which he responded, “For a true fan, I got you bruh.” Big win. Getting back to basics: This is how a league really courts fans.
Celebrating the game, the players, the cards, and the autographs for over 25 years.
