Cotton Bowl Media Day Press Conference Quotes

Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops:

"We do look to the Cotton Bowl as a home field, going down there every year to play Texas. We love pulling into the State Fair every year and competing in that arena. I'm sure there will be a lot of familiar feelings as we pull up to the stadium. We've been in each dressing room the last few years.

"We've got the opportunity to win 11 games, which has only been done 11 times in (school) history. We recognize Arkansas is a very good football team, in the SEC, a bordering school we've had some tradition with. I've heard a lot about the '78 game (a 31-6 Arkansas win in the Orange Bowl). I wonder why nobody brings up the '87 (Orange Bowl) game. I don't want to elaborate on that, but I think we did win 40-3 (42-8, actually).

"Everyone's gone out of their way to make us feel at home (here). SMU, what a great practice facility. They even painted OU on the field for us."

(On not playing for the national championship)
"We don't plan anything. You earn your way into championship games. We didn't do it. That's the media and fans all schedule you into 'we were supposed to be in the national championship game.' If we had won another football game (instead of ending the season with a 16-13 loss to Oklahoma State), we might have had an opportunity for that. But we still would have had to win another game (Big 12 championship)."

(On facing Arkansas' two quarterbacks)
"Matt Jones is more mobile (than Zak Clark). They seem to run more options with him. He hasn't thrown the ball nearly as much as the other guy. He adds a dimension with his ability to run the ball. We liked him a lot out of high school. They run so much offense, (the bowl) does give you some more time to prepare, see it and understand it. When you go through the Big 12, we've seen about it all."

(On how he is approaching the bowl game)
"It is a reward. We have fun when it's time to have fun and relax. (The players) get treated well in a lot of ways. Our players are smart, having been through this three years in a row, having been in a game of such magnitude a year ago (the 13-2 victory over Florida State in the national championship game), they understand the best part of the bowl game is playing it and winning it."

(On Chuck Long taking over as offensive coordinator)
"We put in some (new wrinkles). Much of that will depend on what the players are able to handle by the end of the week. I think Chuck will do a great job here and continue to develop our offense. He has the ability to end up being a head coach."

(On rebounding from the Oklahoma State loss)
"I'm not much on dwelling on success or failure. After the game, we had a lot of front of us. When you look around the country there's a whole lot of people that aren't going to bowl games, that aren't in this position, that aren't Top Ten teams. Some schools are satisfied with four or five or six wins. At Oklahoma you're only satisfied with championships. Two years ago we would have been doing backflips to be down here in the Cotton Bowl. For five years prior to that they would have done backflips to be in any bowl."

(On turning around the Oklahoma program so quickly)
"As much as anything, it was changing our mindsets. When we walked in three years ago our players were not a very confident group. Their expectations were incredibly low. Their vision was incredibly short. A lot of it was just building them up mentally to realize and understand what they could do. We created a work ethic and work habits to match. You earn the right to expect good things to happen. You earn the right to be confident."

(On the possibility of junior All-American strong safety Roy Williams turning pro after this season)
"We've talked. Roy's decided, along with his family, to wait until after the bowl game. For the next month, when there's very little going on, to really determine what he wants to do. Everybody wants a rush decision. But that's something you really have to research deeply and know what is the right thing to do."

Oklahoma players

Senior guard Howard Duncan:
"I know four of Arkansas' players I played with in junior college (at Butler County Community College in Kansas), Sam Breeden, Jermaine Petty, Corey Harris and Jimarr Gallon. I saw them at one of the gatherings we got hugs and everything.

"The Oklahoma State game is already behind us. To be honest with you, I'll never forget. We've got to make sure we end the year on a high note. We want to show everybody we're a quality team. Try to end up in the Top Ten. Win 11 games.

"I was born in Liberia and lived there until I was about 10. I really didn't know much about football. The only football I knew was soccer. I didn't start until my high school senior year. My Dad was in the Air Force and went over there. He liked it over there so much, he stayed. My Mom's from Liberia. I really didn't want to leave, but there was a war that was going to happen. We came over here in 1990 to Maryland. It was a big difference. My Dad's from Kansas City, so we moved to Kansas City."

True freshman defensive tackle Tommie Harris:
"This year has been a blessing. God put me here for a reason. We're a praying family. God's going to put me in the best position where I can be successful and God put me at Oklahoma. It feels like I have another person out there with me. I was going to go to either Texas or Miami. It came down to the last minute, either Texas or Oklahoma.

"After the first game against North Carolina, after the first play, I knew it would be just like high school. (Before the game) I was real nervous. Butterflies and everything. After that first hit the adrenaline was so high.

"I don't if the other guys think I'm weird, but I don't talk too much in the locker room. It took me a while to open myself up to them. Now I know guys like Roy Williams and Damian Mackey are like brothers. When I hit (Nebraska quarterback) Eric Crouch, I felt like that one little moment would last me forever. 'I just tackled Eric Crouch.' I couldn't believe it. "

Redshirt freshman wide receiver Mark Clayton, from Arlington, a Dallas suburb:
"We kind of tripped one (against Oklahoma State), but we always keep our heads high. Any bowl game is exciting.

"I've been home since (last) Friday and we reported Wednesday. I guess I want to show the people back home how I'm doing and what I can do to help the team. I need about 20-25 tickets. I kind of block everything out (with them in the stands) and focus on what has to be done on the field. My Dad's loud.

(Never attended the Cotton Bowl game before)
"I wasn't really into college football until I was a senior in high school. I went to some Grambling games (at the Cotton Bowl stadium)."

Senior punter Jeff Ferguson:
"It took a couple of days (to get over the Oklahoma State loss). We were expecting to practice the next week and we weren't really doing anything. Once I started watching football again and got back into my old routine, I got over it. I don't even think about it anymore. We're still in a really good bowl game.

"We go out at night in the city and have fun and experience all the things they have here. When it's time to practice we focus in on what we have to do to win the game. I'm hoping to go out with win. I'm glad that (Oklahoma State game) wasn't the last game of my career."

Senior kicker Tim Duncan:
"It's been great. The place we're staying is amazing. (Wyndham Anatole). We're still a team with 10 wins and we've got a lot to play for.

"I saw Arkansas' (seven overtime win over Mississippi). You see a game like that and you gain a lot of respect for a team. They're sitting there with their backs to the wall in the overtimes and they find a way to win. That's the sign of a team that's got good character and good qualities to them. We know we're in for a dogfight."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Cotton Bowl Media Day Press Conference Quotes

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