OU Player Quotes on Texas

Kory Klein, Tommie Harris, Dan Cody, Kejuan Jones and Teddy Lehman answered questions from the media at the weekly football press conference in the east upper deck of Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Tuesday afternoon:

DL Kory Klein

On the importance of the OU-Texas game
It's big in the Big 12 Conference race. Whoever wins this game usually is in the lead. We've been fortunate to win and get that leg up on them and play in the Big 12 title game representing the South. It's a big game just looking at the history between both schools.

Is it bigger being a senior?
I think it will be. But it's not just this game. So far every game has been a little more meaningful for me. This is my fifth year and I'm not going to be able to put on an OU jersey very much longer. It will be a little bit more special and I'll probably take a little more time after the game to think about it.

On walking down the ramp into the stadium
It's intense. If you haven't experienced it, I'd encourage you to do it. To see the stadium split directly in half -- you've got some fans on one side cussing you and fans on the other side telling you how great you are. Walking down that ramp, you know you're about to get after it for 60 minutes against a talented group of guys that are just as competitive as you. It's a great feeling.

On watching the offense and Jason White
We get to watch some from the sideline and on the jumbotron to catch some plays. His play has been outstanding. But it's not just him -- everyone on the offense. Sometimes I think the defense gets talked about a little too much. What they've done up front and running the ball better, the receivers making outstanding catches -- going up and fighting for the ball has been awesome. The yards they've put up has really helped our defense out because it's kept us off the field.

On talk of a legacy against Texas
We really don't pay attention to that. The second you start looking at trying to leave a legacy, someone's going to sneak up and beat you. We're just trying to prepare one game at a time. We're just looking at how Texas is going to try to attack us.

On the temperament of the game
It's a little more hyped up than another Big 12 game but that all goes out the window on the first series. You start trying to execute your game plan. Being hyped up isn't going to help you win. Walking down the tunnel gets you fire up but once everyone settles down, it's time to play football.

On the Texas offensive line
They've got some big guys that are very physical. What surprised me on film is their movement. They move a lot better and they look more athletic.

How crucial is the pass rush?
It's always critical. If you can't get to the quarterback he's going to eventually pick you apart. Our guys on the back end do a great job of covering but they can't cover them forever. It's going to be critical -- like it is each week -- to dominate the line of scrimmage and disrupt some stuff. At the same time, we have to stay in our lanes and don't let both their quarterbacks get some big scrambles.

On preparing for two quarterbacks
Chance Mock and Vince Young can both run the football. Everyone knows Vince is probably a little bit better running the ball. But both can pull down the ball and run. If you're not in your gap and rushing right they'll pull down and gain 20 on you real quick and that will help them drive.

DT Tommis Harris

On playing the Longhorns
This will be my third year playing against Texas. I think we're playing well right now. I think we're just peaking and that's a great sign. Hopefully we'll keep things going.

On the importance of the game
This is one of those games you love. Everyone comes to the University of Oklahoma to play in one of the greatest rivalries in the nation. Just having the bragging rights -- keeping the bragging rights -- is very important. Hopefully we'll go in there and come out with a win.

On choosing between the two programs
The reason I came here is because the atmosphere fits my personality. The coaches work just as hard as the players do and you don't find that at any other University. They have the same hunger. If you see Mike Stoops at the end of the game, he's sweating just like we're sweating. He moves every play and it's just great to have a coaching staff like that. To see a coach take a team and mold it into a winner is just wonderful.

On his personal desire to beat Texas
It means a lot to me. Not because I considered Texas during recruiting but because I live there. After the season is over with I really don't want to have any Texas fans saying anything to me negative. Hopefully we'll come out with a win and I can go back home with a smile on my face.

On the Cotton Bowl experience
It's been great. I wouldn't trade it for the world. One of the main reasons you come to the University of Oklahoma is to play in big games. That's what we're doing.

On the Texas quarterbacks
It really doesn't matter if they switch or not. We know one quarterback is more elusive. Great athlete. We're just looking forward to play those guys and compete.

On forcing the fumble against Iowa State
I've always been taught to run to the ball until the whistle blows. I know I didn't hear the whistle blow and I was going to rush the passer. He threw the ball and I ran down the receiver to try and catch up with him and fortunately I did and made something happen.

On the Sooners in 2003
This is one of the best teams I think we've had since I've been here. We're confident and all the guys have experience. We're comfortable in our positions and places.

DE Dan Cody

Is it difficult to prepare for the Texas quarterbacks?
Not necessarily. We were fortunate to play Iowa State last week and they had a quarterback that could run and throw. I don't think we're going to have to formulate different game plans for both of them. We're just going out there and practicing our plays.

On Vince Young
He's a phenomenal athlete, there's no doubt about that. The guy can straight fly. He's just real smooth out there and he has a lot of confidence. One thing we're blessed with on defense is a lot of speed. It's going to be important that we stay disciplined. We just can't go out there and get into a foot race with this guy. We want to go out there with a good game plan and play serious defense like we always do.

On tackling a big quarterback
I don't know if anyone's tackled him yet. I think he just sort of fell down a time or two. I don't think we tackled well against Iowa State. But I think we'll emphasize that to ourselves this week to make sure we're going to be tackling. It's important. We won't know how good he is until we play him.

RB Kejuan Jones

On setting up the run with the pass
Seems like Iowa State wanted to stop the run in the first quarter. They were putting eight, nine people in the box and we went to the pass. I think we're going to try to get the running game established in this game. We know every defense goes into every game trying to stop the run. If they're stacking the box, we can throw it deep like we've been doing all season.

On confidence in the offense's diversity
We feel confident as an offense that if the defense is going to sit back and let us run the ball -- we feel good as an offensive line and running backs -- that we can punch it right down their throats. We feel good passing and running.

On players having breakout performances against Texas
Q (Quentin Griffin) had a great game against them last year. But me and Renaldo can't look at that. We have to keep doing what we've been doing throughout the season and getting better every week. This is a big game and we know we're going to have to make some plays for this offense. We just have to go in and do our job. That's protecting the quarterback, protecting the ball and running hard.

LB Teddy Lehman

On defending Roy Williams
It's real tough. He's a big guy with great hands that makes plays that he really shouldn't. He goes up and gets the ball even on bad throws. He's always a threat no matter where he is on the field.

On trying to prepare for two quarterbacks
Chance Mock probably doesn't get credit for how well he moves. He moves well too. We're going to keep our eyes on both of them. I usually can't tell who's playing -- when they switch out. There is so many other things to look at.

On defending Roy Williams
It's real tough. He's a big guy with great hands that makes plays that he really shouldn't. He goes up and gets the ball even on bad throws. He's always a threat no matter where he is on the field.

On the rivalry
There's a little bit of hate there but a lot of respect. They respect us and we respect them and that's what makes it a great game every year.

On the atmosphere
It's awesome. We look forward to it all year. It's my favorite game to play in. Seems like it gets crazier every year.

On the opportunity to win four in a row over Texas
It would be nice. There's not a whole lot of teams that have ever beat them four years in a row -- they're such a big program. It would be awesome. I don't really think about it much right now. I just want to win this game right here.

Press Conference Photos | Coach Stoops Video (O-Zone)

Read Texas quotes on Oklahoma here:
Texas Player Quotes | Mack Brown Quotes

For a side-by-side comparison of the two teams, please visit:
Sooner Gameday Central

If you're making the trip to Dallas, you'll need maps, directions and more:
OU-Texas Weekend

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Related News

Related Videos

Sponsors