Junior defensive end Ronnell Lewis was the hot topic of Bob Stoops’ weekly press conference on Tuesday.
Lewis is currently listed as the Sooners’ starting defensive end opposite senior Frank Alexander for the 2011 season opener against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane this weekend.
However, Lewis’ eligibility status remains unknown, OU head football coach Bob Stoops said.
“I’m not going to go into it,” he said. “When I know something definitive, I’ll say something about it.”
Lewis responded to comments about his eligibility status on his Facebook page earlier this month, saying “look im not coming off mean to anyone i love and like my fans but please stop writing on my wall about my grades or some smart ass comments on here or dnt write at all.”
Nevertheless, Stoops would not elaborate on his player’s situation.
“I’m not going to debate it here and broadcast his situation until we know what it is,” he said. “It’s just not fair to him.
“He deserves some privacy, doesn’t he?”
Different rules apply to different people, Stoops said.
“You’re asking me to talk about grades, this, that and the other, but he’s a college student,” he said. “If he was in the NFL, I’d talk about whatever it is. He’s not. He’s a student on top of being a player. He deserves to have that. As many times as you ask that will be the answer.”
If Lewis is ruled ineligible to play on Saturday, junior defensive end David King will start in his place, Stoops said.
“David King, we look at as a starter,” he said. “He and Frank Alexander and Ronnell (Lewis) – to us, you’re splitting hairs between them. To us, we’ll play them all equally.”
Stoops would like to find out Lewis’ eligibility status sooner rather later, though, he realizes he has no choice in the matter, he said.
“I’d like to know the day before we play, but if you know it two weeks ahead, that’s better,” he said. “But if you don’t, you don’t. You just work the other guys, along with them, and you do the best you can.”
Lewis, A 2011 preseason All-Big 12 football team selection, played in 11 games last season. He recorded 37 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one interception.
Injured Travis Lewis making an impact
Senior linebacker Travis Lewis suffered a foot injury during preseason practice August 9. The injury is expected to keep him sidelined for the next five weeks.
However, Lewis has found a way to make an impact on the field, Stoops said.
“Travis (Lewis) has done a great job of being around, being vocal and doing what he’s able to do because – to be honest with you – it is not easy to lead when you’re not playing,” he said. “But he is doing it and doing it well.”
Frank Alexander, Jamell Fleming, Demontre Hurst, Corey Nelson and Tom Wort are all candidates to assume that leadership role, Stoops said.
“It will be a challenge in the huddle, but I believe other guys will step up in the huddle when something has to be said out on the field,” he said.
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