Heupel, Calmus named AP Big 12 players of year

(AP)-Whenever he is asked to cite the reasons for Oklahoma's success this year, coach Bob Stoops mentions one person first: senior quarterback Josh Heupel. <br><br>``What he's done in such a short

Wednesday, November 29th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(AP)-Whenever he is asked to cite the reasons for Oklahoma's success this year, coach Bob Stoops mentions one person first: senior quarterback Josh Heupel.

``What he's done in such a short amount of time here, I don't believe there's anybody in the country that's more valuable to his team than he is to us,'' Stoops said.

Heupel was the unanimous choice Wednesday as the Associated Press Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year. He threw for 3,172 yards and completed 65.8 percent of his passes in leading the top-ranked Sooners to their first 11-0 season since 1987.

Teammate Rocky Calmus was voted defensive player of the year by AP. Calmus, a linebacker who led the Sooners with 113 tackles, received seven votes from sportswriters throughout the conference. Missouri defensive end Justin Smith and Texas tackle Casey Hampton got four each.

The offensive newcomer of the year was Robert Ferguson of Texas A&M, a junior college transfer. Defensive newcomer of the year went to Oklahoma freshman cornerback Derrick Strait.

Heupel, a left-hander, came to Oklahoma last year from Snow Junior College in Utah and immediately began smashing school passing records while directing the Sooners' new offense.

He threw for fewer yards and touchdowns this season, but Oklahoma was more successful, and he was clearly the main reason Oklahoma surged from No. 19 in the preseason to No. 1 after the seventh game.

During a three-game stretch of October victories against Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska, Heupel was 66-of-98 (67 percent) for 849 yards and four touchdowns, with just one interception.

Two of those games were played away from Norman. In another big game, at Texas A&M, Heupel was intercepted twice but was still 28-of-42 for 263 yards and helped rally the Sooners in the fourth quarter.

``To play the schedule we have, to be unfazed through it all, Josh Heupel's been the main reason for that,'' Stoops said. ``I think as coaches we all feel fortunate to be around a guy that plays that way in those big games.''

Heupel's importance to the team goes beyond his ability to read defenses and find open receivers, both of which he does very well.

``When I think of Heupel, I think of a great motivator,'' OU receiver Damian Mackey said. ``He has the same intensity in practice. If people are being lackluster or not doing their best, he picks them up right away.''

Calmus, a junior, is the leader of a defensive unit that has occasionally been overlooked this season but has played a big role in Oklahoma's success.

Calmus has had five games with double-digit tackles this year. His 15 tackles for losses this season gave him 40 for his career, a record for OU linebackers. Three of those tackles for loss came in last week's 12-7 victory over Oklahoma State, when the offense struggled but the defense held OSU to 275 total yards and 13 first downs.

Calmus also has forced two fumbles, has three fumble recoveries, five sacks and an interception for a touchdown.

He has been bothered by a broken thumb this season, but that's nothing new. He played through a broken wrist and a leg fracture last year.

``He's the most instinctual player that I've been around,'' said co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables. ``He makes plays when you don't think he has a chance to make a play. He feels plays before they happen. He anticipates plays extremely well.

``He's very, very tough and he has an extreme passion for the game.''

Texas A&M's Ferguson finished the regular season with 58 catches for 885 yards and six touchdowns. His average of 15.3 yards per catch was second in the conference only to Quincy Morgan of Kansas State.

Strait, a redshirt freshman, started every game at right cornerback. He finished fourth on the team with 60 tackles, had two sacks, two interceptions and 13 passes broken up.