Football Press Conference: Texas Tech Game

Head Coach Bob Stoops

Reviewing Baylor game
I was very pleased to lock up the Big 12 South and put ourselves in a position to compete for a Big 12 Championship. I also like the way our players prepared and came out during the game. Anytime you take a 24-nothing first quarter lead -- it tells you you're ready to play and your guys came out focused and prepared and really played well.

Some guys that really played great were Jason White -- again with four TD's and 300 yards was exceptional, particularly in the first half. Mark Clayton, again with big catches --two TD catches which puts him with 12 of his 14 touchdowns against Big 12 competition -- which says a lot. Another game over 100 yards, with 120 yards a game against Big 12 competition is far and away the leading receiver in yards per game and TD's. Mark, again was exceptional.

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Brandon Jones also played really well and Davin Joseph on our offensive line. He and Mark Clayton were credited with players of the game on offense.

Defensively, again for the third straight week not allowing a touchdown, another exceptional game defensively as well as the third straight week of keeping our opponent under 200 yards. Just great defense with the structure, the discipline and the tackling, we were also very solid in coverage.

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Two guys that were credited with players of the game by us after we critiqued the tape were Derrick Strait and Teddy Lehman. I seem to say that about every week, but Derrick Strait in our eleven games has been player of the game I believe six times. Just exceptional the year he is having. For four years here he has been a four year starter. I don't know if there is anyone who has played better and more consistently then Derrick Strait has. Again this year he is having an incredible year - along with Teddy who is an MVP, once again had 12 or 13 tackles and had another great day.

On Texas Tech
With that behind us, it puts us in position to go down to Texas Tech, our last regular season game and gives us an opportunity to redefine some goals. This team is truly excited with the realistic possibility to remain undefeated and pursue a National Championship. It is right there in their sights. I really liked their attention yesterday at practice. The excitement, the enthusiasm, the fact that they realize this is a big challenge going to Texas Tech.

They're a team that's averaging over 600 yards of offense every game, well over 40 points in every game, they have really produced in a better way than they have the last three years. So they are playing in a better way offensively when you look at their production. We realize it is a major challenge - our guys are really excited about the opportunity to go down and compete with them and to try and finish this season with one more win before they take a break next week for Thanksgiving.

We like the way it sets up, our players are excited about the challenge. We will need to play an excellent game to go down there and to beat Texas Tech, we understand that. Our guys understand too that they're going to have to work for it during the week. I believe they're intent on doing that.

On the defense
It is pretty close to a prototypical defense. It's what you want, it's what we had hoped for, it is as complete a defense that we have ever had here from front to back, at all position's with guys that can run and make plays. Plus with the experience and overall understanding of what we do -- all of it has come together and everyone has matured in a great way and we are playing in a real strong way.

On Tech's running game
They are running it a bit more and they're running it effectively. People don't realize that they're averaging over a 100 yards a game rushing. Anderson does an excellent job. They still run a lot of the same plays but they have done a good job with it and he is good with it.

On Tech QB B.J. Symmons
He is very good. Mike could probably speak to that better then me, but he is a good quarterback. Each guy has their differences, but I see him as very good and really playing better than Kingsbury last year.

On playing Texas Tech well defensively in the past
It is a number of factors. Guys being in position and understanding where they need to be. When you get there -- being athletic enough to make plays, disrupting their timing and putting pressure on the quarterback - which at times we have been able to do. It all fits together. We also need to cover people and stop the running game. It all kind of fits together. We feel we really match up well with the way they play.

On needing depth to stay up with the Tech offense
Yes and no. You don't need that depth unless you're letting them go up and down the field every series. If you're stopping them then you are rested as long as your offense is working too. It just depends. If you're going to allow them to go up and down the field for 600 yards then, yeah, you need a lot of depth, but of you're not it is not necessarily going to matter.

On time of possession
It is not as important as scoring points. I have never been a guy that looks at time of possession. You guys have known that for quite a while. It is important to move the football and score points. This game and about every will play.

On OU's schedule setting up well for the Big 12 championship
Absolutely, this sets up perfectly. Our players have earned it through playing an entire year in a great way - working hard. They are looking forward to this game and afterwards realize that they get a few day's break. They can spend time with their families, be normal students, go home and enjoy their families and still have plenty of time to prepare for a Big 12 championship game. I think everyone would agree that playing the Oklahoma State game when it really mattered and when everything was on the line was good for everybody. I never heard anyone arguing about it that week.

On Tech being a tough road game
Every place has its differences and unique attributes. I believe about anywhere you go in this conference is difficult. Who is the toughest? I'm not one for comparing; I think they're all difficult.

On how big a lead is safe
No lead is safe. You have to continue and play for four quarters - continue to score, continue to defend. We like to get into all games that way. You never know what going to happen so you always want to constantly play as hard as you can for four quarters. We do our best not to ever pay attention to the score as much as we do the way we're playing.

On Mark Clayton
He is a go-to guy. It is obvious through Big 12 play he has been our go-to guy. He has produced in a huge way, 12 of his 14 touchdowns have been in Big 12 competition. He's made big plays and has been over 100 yards virtually every single game. Mark has just been incredible.

On Trey DiCarlo
Here is a guy that a year ago walked on and now has a chance to break the NCAA scoring record. He has been fabulous on the year - near perfect on all of his field goals, I think he is 19 for 20 on the year and leads all kickers in points. The big knock on him last year was touchbacks. This year he has 30 some touchbacks which are probably more then anyone in the country. He has been fabulous. He has been great.

On DiCarlo walking on
I didn't know a whole lot about him. We were scrapping around trying to get anyone we could to kick it. I believe coach Wright knew about him and Trey came in and I was just glad to see someone kick it end over end. We had a few that were kicking spirals and that wasn't going to cut it. The thing I noticed right away about Trey and if you remember back to the first scrimmage is that he is a lot better when there are a lot of people there to watch. When there is a crowd he starts banging them through the up-rights. He likes the stage -- which helps.

On not letting the players get big heads
I remind them, they know we have lost a couple games the last two years. They know all we can control is us. Let's go out and be as focused and prepared as we can be and let's not put ourselves in a position for that to happen again. I believe unlike the last couple years we are stronger overall - I also believe we are stronger mentally. The way we have prepared we are fresher then in years past, all of that benefits us. We are not taking anything for granted for sure. We are another year more mature at all positions. I sense this team is still on edge and wants to play.

On the reserves playing well
We are getting more depth, more players ready to play. I think that's a combination of a little more maturity. Calvin (Thibodeaux) is a year older has had a year longer to practice. There is pressure with other guys playing well so when he gets in and gets more game experience he has gotten better through it - as well as Gayron (Allen). We were saying the other day that Gayron has a lot of ability. Now what has happened is that he has got so many more practice snaps that it's shown up in games.

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QB Jason White

On Mark Clayton
Mark works so hard regardless of what he is doing. Whether its run blocking or running a route. Anytime he touches the ball he makes something happen. We always talk about how he turns a five yard route into a touchdown. Mark is just a great player for us. He wants the ball when the game is online and we're happy to give it to him

On being the major difference in this year's offense
I didn't do it. You know Coach Wilson came in and turned our offensive line around. That is where it all starts, it all starts up front and they have done a great job this year. Then you got the receivers, and there are the best group of receivers I have seen since I've been here. The running backs are doing a great job - I just think everyone is maturing in the system. We don't have any first year guys playing on offense. I just think it's a matter of us all playing together for awhile within the system.

On B.J. Symmons throwing the ball a lot
All he does is throw. He is doing a great job down there. He does throw a lot; I don't think I could take throwing 60 times a game that takes a lot out of your arm. You know, he and coach Leach are doing a great job down there. Some quarterback's dream about throwing that many times.

On being confident calling plays in the huddle
It is really good when things are working both in the run game and the pass game. You really feel a sense of confidence in the huddle when you call a play from your teammates when things are clicking like they have been. It is really a confidence builder when you get everything working like that.

On what is at stake
There is a lot at stake this weekend. Not only to win the South outright, but to stay undefeated. One thing we really are striving for is to go undefeated. We want a chance at the National Championship and to get there we have to beat Texas Tech and win the Big 12 Championship game.

On Texas Tech's defense
They do a lot of twists and different things up front, but they run a lot of defenses that we have seen before -- played against. They are really sound in what they do. They are usually in the right coverage and don't have many busts in the secondary so it is going to be a tough challenge for our offense.

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WR Travis Wilson

On scoring
We do use ball control, but we want to score. The faster you score I feel it puts fear in the defense's heart.

On OU's defense
Our defense is a great part of our team. We want to be complete as a team and if they do their part and we do ours' that makes us real complete as a team.

On team goals
We want to win the Big 12 South outright and have an undefeated season. That is every team's goal. We also just want to come out and play our best every week which is our ultimate goal. That means we have this week and then hopefully the championship. And whatever bowl game. We just want to come in week in and week out and play great.

On Texas Tech
They are a great team, we have watched a lot of film -- we have gone in and are working hard this week and hopefully we will come off the field with a win.

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PK Trey Dicarlo

On taking all the place kicking duties
I look at it as more of a job. Last year I came in as a field goal specialist I guess, but I came in here from high school as a kickoff guy. My accuracy was not great; I was not that good of a kicker. Hard work and just mental focus and concentration helps you maximize your potential and allows you to do so much more. I'm glad I can come in and do kickoffs now and help the team win.

On kicking touchbacks
It helps the guys out a lot knowing that if I have some wind I can put it out. That takes a lot off of them because that is a 60 yard sprint for them that they really don't need if I can kick it out.

On his training
I think this summer I concentrated a lot on my hips and that kind of thing to make my legs swing faster and smoother. Just tried to improve all around, that is something I lacked last year. I was terrible at kickoffs so I tried to improve on everything.

On the crowd's influence
I really don't focus on any of that. I don't even hear the crowd actually. It is just me and the uprights I guess. Every time I go out there it's amazing that I don't hear anything. I did last year because I have never seen anything like that, but know I guess I have gotten use to it.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Football Press Conference: Texas Tech Game

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