Former OU Football Player Teddy Lehman On Bob Stoops' Retirement

OU legend, national champion and Fort Gibson native, Teddy Lehman weighed in on Bob Stoops’ sudden retirement.

Lehman was at the front end of Stoops' career. In fact, he was there when the team won the 2000 National Championship.

Lehman said Stoops has taught him a lot over the years, many things he still carries with him.

Lehman met Stoops before he'd ever coached a game at Oklahoma.

6/7/2017 Related Story: OU Head Football Coach Bob Stoops Retiring

"You could tell right away that they were going to turn things around," he said.

The summer before his senior year, Lehman was one of many hopeful recruits at an OU football camp.

He said, "He offered me a scholarship and I basically committed right away. I knew I wanted to go play for him. You could tell there was something different about Bob."

Lehman said 18 years later, that hasn’t changed.

"As things changed, and college football changed, and the players changed, he was able to adapt and never miss a beat," Lehman said.

Lehman said that's one of the reasons why Stoops' decision to step down was such a shock.

"The fact that Bob would hand it over at that time and really walk away from a great contract, brand new facilities, a brand-new office they just built for him, says a lot about Bob Stoops," he said.

Lehman said he's leaving new OU head coach, Lincoln Riley, in an excellent position - with an experienced coaching staff, quarterback, and team.

"Typically, you're taking over a program that is beaten down and not living up to the standards," Lehman said. "I think he's done, it seems like that to me, but he's the type of guy that understands college football, can adapt, and if he ever did want to come back he could."

Lehman said Stoops has left behind an incredible legacy and he hopes that's something Riley can build on.