• Reminder bracelets
• Coins from servicemen
• His 'table of dignitaries'
• Family photo
Reminder braceletsCoins from servicemenHis 'table of dignitaries'Family photo

Stoops has something he calls his "table of dignitaries." On it are photos taken with him and presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush, as well as John Wooden.

"No doubt, in coaching he's as good as there's ever been," Stoops said of the legendary former UCLA basketball coach. "I've read everything he's ever written. I got to introduce him in 2004 at the Iba Awards. To me, that's one of my big thrills, being able to introduce John Wooden."

Chatting with President Clinton and President George W. Bush were also big thrills.

Stoops met Clinton in 1997, when the White House honored Florida's 1996 national championship team. Stoops was then the Gators' defensive coordinator.

"I was amazed at how President Clinton knew I was a D-coordinator and complimented how our defense played the whole second half. And we did really play well the second half of that game. I was like, 'How does this guy know all this?' Because we didn't go [to the White House] until probably three months until after this game. Everyone knows how intelligent he is."

Stoops met George W. Bush while attending a dinner with OU president and former U.S. Senator David Boren and fund manager and OU alum Michael F. Price.

"I go to a real major banquet with President Boren. And they're all there, head of staff, everyone, all kind of people. It's such a banquet where President Boren is only allowed to invite two people. So I went. And Michael Price went. And President Boren says to me, 'Come on, let's go say hello to the President.' I'm like, well, OK, I'm going to do what President Boren says.

"This is right after 9/11. My boys, my twins are probably three or four years old. I tell President Bush this: 'My boys, I have to tell you, when we put them the bed, we ask, 'All right, who do you want to bless tonight?' They usually think of grandma, grandpa, Wally the Dog, whatever. Then one of them, Isaac, blurts out, 'And Coach Bush. God bless Coach Bush.'

"The reason is, when they come to the office, when they see people, it's Coach [Josh] Heupel, it's Coach Mike. When they see men who are older figures, they're coaches to them. So he's been watching this, it's all over the news, President Bush talking about 9/11. And so he calls him 'Coach Bush.'

"I tell President Bush this, and he busts out laughing. He loved it. I have the program for the banquet -- he grabs this program, and writes, 'Dear Drake and Isaac, Thanks for the prayers. -- Coach Bush.' It's in their room now. That's pretty good."