Oklahoma files appeal to reclaim lost victories

Oklahoma has filed its appeal requesting the NCAA overturn an infractions committee ruling that would strip the Sooners of eight wins because of rules violations involving former starting quarterback Rhett Bomar.

“We just got acknowledgment that it’s been received and in process,” university President David Boren said Wednesday following a board of regents meeting.

The university notified the NCAA in July that it intended to appeal the ruling that would take away the Sooners’ wins from an 8-4 season in 2005 that concluded with a victory against Oregon in the Holiday Bowl.

Oklahoma is also appealing a “failure to monitor” violation based on findings that the school failed to track athletes’ employment at a Norman car dealership.

Oklahoma has said it would accept penalties including two additional years of probation and reductions in scholarships and recruiting time, but the university believes it’s excessive to take away the wins.

Maryland gets a chance to avenge last season’s 45-27 loss to West Virginia when the Terrapins play host to the No. 4 Mountaineers tonight at College Park, Md.

The teams will not meet again until 2010, so this will be the Terrapins’ last chance this decade to get even with the Mountaineers (2-0), who lead the series, 22-21-2.