Stoops waves off the annual rumor

Bob Stoops says he loves his coaching job at No. 12 Oklahoma and intends to stay put.

It's become an annual rite for Stoops' name to surface as a potential candidate when football coaching jobs open up across the country. With several high-profile vacancies, Stoops was asked Monday about his name being connected to the opening at Tennessee.

Stoops' response was: ''I like the job I have. I love the job I have and the people I work for, so I'll try and keep it another year.''

The 52-year-old Stoops is in his 14th season coaching the Sooners (9-2, 7-1 Big 12). He suggested he's interested in coaching as long as his former boss, 67-year-old Steve Spurrier.