Lance Mitchell Online Journal No. 4

NORMAN, Okla. -- Senior linebacker Lance Mitchell scripts his online journal for Sooner fans at SoonerSports.com during the 2004 season. A stalwart on the OU defense, Mitchell shares his experiences with Sooner fans as he anchors the middle linebacker spot.

This is the fourth installment of his online journal. Submit your own questions to Lance by clicking the link at the end of this journal entry.

Lance Mitchell
Journal Entry No. 4 (Oct. 14, 2004)
Good to get back to answering your questions this week. Let's get it going...

Lance, what was your favorite part of the 12-0 shutout of the Longhorns?
- Anthony from Tulsa, Okla.

My favorite part was keeping that score 12-love. That was the best feeling from that game -- we shut their offense out. The previous four weeks they had run all over the place and we held their running back under a hundred yards and their offense to zero points. I don't think they make it inside our twenty.

What was the atmosphere like at the OU-Texas game?
- Sam from Richmond, Va.

It was wild as usual. Hearing the chant from the Texas fans -- I won't repeat it here. That gets you fired up. The people all lined up screaming and yelling as we pulled up in the bus. That's always good. I see all of them -- but I keep my headphones on so I don't hear much coming in. As you get closer, the crowd gets thicker. It gets you ready to play an hour or two before the game actually starts.

I loved the weather we played in: cool, a light mist. Can't complain about that weather. I liked the slight drizzle. It was football weather. Especially for a defense.

You're seem pretty serious on the field. How are you off the field?
- Jenna from Amarillo, Texas

Oh, I have to work on not being so serious. I have to relax -- especially considering the coach that I have (Venables). He can kind of tell if you're in a bad mood and starts picking on you a little bit. On the field, I just want to take care of business. It's just such a release -- I'm just playing football. I want to win every game, every snap. I rely on my teammates to do what they do and they're relying on me.

Who is the biggest comedian of the linebackers?
- Jim from Ponca City, Okla.

That's easy, Clint Ingram. I pick Clint, yes sir. He's the biggest comedian on the team probably. He doesn't really pick on one person too much -- he'll move it around. Every time we go on a road trip or something -- he always has something funny to say. You can count on Clint for that.

Lance, what is the funniest movie you've seen?
- Sarah from Norman, Okla.

That's tough -- I've seen a lot of funny movies. Maybe Meet the Parents or Starsky and Hutch. I haven't seen Zoolander but that's on my list.

Who do you room with? What about on the road?
- Vance from Oklahoma City, Okla.

I live with Chijioke Onyenegecha. I'm just looking out for him. He lived with me his first spring here, then he moved into the dorms and he moved back in with me. We already knew each other -- we were cool from Cali. The way his personality is, he didn't really open up to anybody for awhile. I kind of took him in and let him get his feet wet a little bit.

Well, we've only had one road trip so far this year at Texas and I roomed with Demarrio Pleasant. But we have those double doors where the rooms are connected and Clint (Ingram) and Zach (Latimer) were over there. I didn't get much sleep!

Lance, can you give a few descriptions of the guys that play around you?
- Zack from Lewisville, Texas

Rufus, well the first thing that pops in my mind is that dang chant the fans do after he makes a play. Clint Ingram is a hard hitter. He's a go-getter -- a dog. J.J. is just a great athlete. Cody is a beast. McGruder is a pit bull. Texas just couldn't block him. There wasn't anyone up front tough enough. He just filled up the lanes Benson was used to seeing.

What do you remember from the last time we played Kansas State?
- Dan from Sand Springs, Okla.

I have a million memories from that game. I remember watching Darren Sproles go up and down the field. I remember one of their offensive linemen called me out during pre-game! I remember one of their linebackers intercepted the ball for a touchdown -- he ran around the other side and kind of stared down our whole team. Man, that burned me up. And then, I remember that dang K-S-U chant they kept doing with that Wildcat. That's a few of the things I remember.

(His thoughts on being named a Butkus semi-finalist)

Really? That's a great honor. Considering all the other guys who are on that list -- that's big. There's been a bunch of OU linebackers that have won it. It's just a great honor and I look forward to playing up to our tradition. That's the main thing -- all the awards and accolades will follow. You have to keep your mind set on our goals. We have team goals that I am focused on right now.

OK -- I need to get going. It will be good to get back out on the field Saturday. Our first real away game. Hope to see a bunch of Sooner fans make the trip up to Manhattan and make some noise up there. Boomer Sooner.

- #10 Lance Michell
Lance Mitchell Signature

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