OU Continues Preparations for Wildcats

NORMAN, Okla. -- Revenge isn't the word No. 2 Oklahoma is using this week heading into a rematch against Kansas State. Try preparation.

The Sooners were thoroughly beaten the last time they faced the Wildcats and the loss is still grating on their minds. But don't count on vengeance becoming too big a part of their vocabulary this week.

``I'm never much on that, and I think our players understand that, too,'' Sooners coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. ``There's been a lot of people who want revenge on us or other people. Revenge doesn't do much.

Sooner Gameday Central: Kansas State | OU Quotes | Game Notes

``I think it gets down to execution, your focus, your intensity, your respect for the other team and being prepared to play.''

Oklahoma was cruising along with 12 straight victories and rampant national championship talk as it headed into the Big 12 championship game against the Wildcats last season. Math whizzes had even figured out that a loss wouldn't cost the Sooners a shot at the national title.

That didn't stop K-State from relentlessly attacking a hobbled Jason White and unleashing tailback Darren Sproles for 235 rushing yards, including a 60-yard TD run in a 35-7 victory.

``We flat out got beat,'' White said. ``You can't say much about it. They played better than we did. They made plays. We didn't.''

Perhaps the Sooners could have forgotten about it if they'd gone on to beat LSU and win the national title. Instead, LSU used K-State's formula and sent the Sooners home with two straight losses.

``It's in our guts. We can't lie,'' cornerback Eric Bassey said. ``We're not going to deny that. We didn't feel like we played our best game. We didn't feel like they should have beat us actually. We felt like we had the better team and we didn't play up to our capabilities.''

So instead of celebrating, Oklahoma spent the offseason watching films of the losses and looking for ways to get better.

For Sooners players, those images overshadow the fact that Kansas State (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) has struggled so far this season.

``In the back of your mind, you're thinking about how well they played against us and how poorly we played,'' White said.

But the Sooners (5-0, 2-0) aren't spending too much time looking backward. They're focused on not letting it happen again.

``You can't do nothing but think about it and things you could have done better,'' White said. ``You can't go back and change it. You can only get better from it.''

This year's game will have some similarities, but many differences. Once again, Oklahoma comes in on a roll and the Wildcats have three blemishes on their record. Stoops will again face former mentor Bill Snyder, and White and Sproles return as the most recognizable offensive stars.

But the differences start there. No conference title will be at stake and the game will be in K-State's home stadium instead of a somewhat-neutral Kansas City site.

More importantly, the Sooners now have the country's fourth-leading rusher, Adrian Peterson, at running back and the Wildcats are without departed veteran quarterback Ell Roberson.

Also, the Wildcats haven't had time to rebound from their losses and build momentum heading into the game. They'll instead be looking to turn their season around.

And one last thing: Oklahoma has a really big reason not to overlook the Wildcats this time.

``More than anything, they have our attention and we recognize them as a strong opponent, a team that is very capable and a team that beat us a year ago,'' Stoops said.

``We've got to play better. I look at it more that way than revenge.''

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Continues Preparations for Wildcats

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