Stoops And Players Answer Questions From Media Following Monday's Practice

Oct. 22, 2001

Audio

HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
On today's practice:
"It was a good solid day of practice. The guys were really focused and we had a great workout today. The guys had a real 'pep' in their step. Our players have a better feel for how to play against Nebraska and they're taking those steps to get ready for this weekend's game."

On Oklahoma being ranked No. 1 in the newly released BCS standings:
"First is better than 10th, that's for sure. It would matter a whole lot more, though, if the season was finished and that's how it ended. Just like last year, the bottom line is that we need to continue to win and play well. That's what really matters. It's not where a poll has you or what anyone says. With our conference and the teams we play, things will take care of themselves."

On potential changes to the BCS system:
"They need to give you points for championship games. If they did, some other teams would be more apt to play in championship games. If the Big East and the ACC champions were to play in a championship game, they could award points to the winner of that game and then they wouldn't have to worry about someone having a bad year. The Pac-10 could play the Big Ten, and if you awarded points in those situations, that would protect teams. We wouldn't have had to hear all year about who was playing in the game. They could have decided it on the field and not talked about it for a month."

"We get no points in the BCS system (in the Big 12 title game). We played Kansas State twice last year, and outside of playing us, they had a great record. You should be awarded points for playing in that (title) game. That might entice everyone to play a game. Wouldn't everyone like to see a championship weekend early in December? A playoff might not be feasible and I'm in total agreement of not taking away from the bowl system, but this would maybe be a one-weekend series of games that would set up the BCS."

SENIOR LINEBACKER ROCKY CALMUS
On whether OU will try to make Nebraska's Eric Crouch into a thrower: "I think if any team does that they're going to be pretty successful and have a good chance at winning the ball game. There's no secret that he's their go-to guy and if he has his yardage week in and week out they're going to be successful.

"He's so quick and elusive that it's hard to contain him. You've got to swarm him. If he gets out into the open field one-on-one, he's going to make people miss."

On where OU's confidence comes from:
"It started when (Coach Stoops) first got here in the spring (of 1999) with our attitudes and our work ethic. That first season we came along and grew a lot as a team. We saw how successful we could have been that first year by eliminating our mistakes. That's something we did last year and are doing this year. That's why we're successful and confident in each other no matter what ball game it is."

On whether it's easy not to get excited about the first BCS poll:
"In my mind, that doesn't mean anything. We still have so many big ball games left that anything can happen. Being ranked No. 1, No. 2 or No. 10 doesn't really mean much until that last ranking comes out. If we take care of business throughout the whole season, then everything will take care of itself."

On whether he thinks he's playing at a higher level this year than last:
"You can't get complacent with yourself or as a team. I just try to play every game at the same level and try to be more of a leader on the field. I try to put it on my shoulders to make the plays, but we have a lot of players who have stepped up and started getting recognition for the way they've been playing and that helps a lot, too."

On what it's like playing without Torrance Marshall this year and who has stepped up in his place:
"Teddy Lehman has replaced Torrance. Torrance is a tough guy to replace with his athletic ability and everything, but Teddy has that potential and has shown it. Being so young, he's done a tremendous job."

On whether OU will defend Nebraska's option like it did Air Force's:
"Air Force runs that triple option that Nebraska does a little bit. It helped to see those options, and it did in the K-State game as well. It helps seeing those teams so you don't go into the (Nebraska) ball game totally out of whack. But Nebraska is Nebraska and they're more dominant in the option than anyone is, so it's a little different."

SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK JASON WHITE
On how much he's studied the OU-Nebraska rivalry and what he knows about it:
"I grew up watching this game on Saturdays with my dad. It seems like every year it's important to the states, to the fans and to the teams. Just watching it on television, it seems like it plays a big part in what people think about Oklahoma. What matters to our team is staying undefeated and moving on to the Big 12 Championship."

On how hard it was to remain patient at the start of the year:
"It was hard to stay with it after I didn't get the job. But, you win some and you lose some. I got put in the second row and I was the backup quarterback. But I got my opportunity and, with a lot of help from my teammates, I won a couple games. Getting a start last week for the first time and having a decent game helped my confidence a lot."

On why OU is so good in big games:
"It seems like, in big games, the team rises to the occasion. Coach Stoops always pushes us to have a good practice the week before a big game. I mean, he pushes us to have a good practice every week, but it seems like everyone answers his call the week of big games."

On what he feels he'll have to do differently this week versus Nebraska:
"I'm going to have to make my reads a lot faster this week, learn to throw the ball away and take a little pressure off the linemen. Those are pretty easy things to correct."

On what he knows about Eric Crouch as a quarterback and leader of their team:
"All I know about him is that he's a great quarterback. I don't know him personally, but from what I see on the field he's a great quarterback and leader."

On whether he thought he'd be in this position a year ago during the OU-Nebraska game:
"I knew I had a chance to be in a position to play. I never really thought about playing just Nebraska, I just wanted to play period. It's a privilege to get to play in a game this big."

On what he'll have to do for OU to come out victorious:
"I have to have a sound game. I'm going to have to make good decisions, take care of the ball and be a good leader on the field."

JUNIOR STRONG SAFETY ROY WILLIAMS
On how Eric Crouch differs from other quarterbacks OU has faced:
"He's a talented player, he has great speed and has good smarts when he has the ball in his hands."

On how he ended up playing strong safety:
"I don't know how I got to be strong safety but I'm happy that I'm here. As long I get to be on the field, I'm happy. If they want me to play strong safety or linebacker or defensive end or nose guard, I'll play it as long as I'm on the field. I think strong safety is a good fit for me because I like to cover and I like to hit, and this way I get to do a little bit of both."

On why OU has been so successful in big games:
"Coach Stoops motivates us well and we know what it takes to win. We get great leadership from our seniors and we're a team that, if we play all four quarters, will have a chance. That's been the case in those games."

On whether overcoming a 14-point deficit last year versus Nebraska helped the team's confidence:

"We knew that we overran some plays and we felt that was the reason why they had 14 points on us (early). We felt that if we calmed down and just played our game we'd have a chance after three quarters."

On whether he thinks OU's preparation has been a reason for its success:
"We know how much it means to get a lot of film work in and that helps out a lot when you prepare."

On how important it is to make Crouch one dimensional and throw the ball:
"That's going to be a challenge for us because everyone knows he's a game-breaker. It'll be tough to make him one dimensional, but that's what we're going to try to do. He's a talented player, he's going to make his plays. We know that we can't miss tackles on him and we can't overrun Crouch. He's a deadly weapon."

On Jason White as OU's quarterback:
"Jason is a great quarterback for us. He stepped up big in the Texas game. I've felt since the beginning of the year that we have a chance to win if you put the ball in Nate's hands or Jason's hands. I know Jason is going to do his job."

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Stoops And Players Answer Questions From Media Following Monday's Practice

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