Lance Mitchell Online Journal No. 5

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 fifth 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. 5 (Oct. 29, 2004)
Hello everyone. We're getting ready for the Bedlam Game this week. Let's get to your questions...

How did you feel when you got that fumble return for a TD? That was a big play!
- Sam from Jenks, Okla.

Well, Jonathan Jackson hit the quarterback and caused the fumble. I don't know if you saw it but the ball fell and it hit J.J.'s heel. That's why it rolled out there in front of everybody. I just scooped it up -- I had to go down and get that one. I saw a replay of it once -- that night. But I haven't seen it again because we started right in on OSU game film. Donte Nicholson cleaned out two of the Kansas guys. I made a little move to get past the first guy and I was up the sideline. It was a great feeling -- my first touchdown here. That pretty much jump-started our whole defensive season right there.

I remember back at LBHS you were a great running back, running for like two or three thousand yards in your senior year. Do you ever miss running the ball now that you are just on defense?
- Meno from Los Banos, Calif.

Yep, I do miss it a little bit because it was fun. Over on the offensive side of the ball you don't have to sit and try to guess what the other guys is going to do. It's like you're more in control. But then again, I don't really miss playing running back because that linebacker is doing all the hitting. With the ball, you're the one getting hit.

How were you recruited by Oklahoma? What was that experience like?
- Michael from Tulsa, Okla.

They really needed that middle linebacker spot filled. I guess I was having a pretty good career at San Francisco. They met with me and Pasha (Jackson). They just showed a lot of interest in us.

Lance, do you love contact? What is the best part of a big hit?
Jamorian from Shelbyville, Texas

Yes, I love contact. The best thing about a big hit is when you can hear the guy. He just makes this sound... (laughs). I don't even know how you'd spell that sound. You just look at them and their face is all frowned up -- they take a little while to get up. That's when you can tell you're putting it on 'em.

What would be the perfect dinner for you?
- Theresa from Oklahoma City, Okla.

The perfect dinner for me? That's tough. Oh, I don't know -- I eat anything! It really wouldn't matter. One thing I miss is the Chinese food in San Francisco. I'll eat anything except okra. Fried or boiled. I had a bad experience one time. I had boiled okra when I was like 10 and it just killed me. My brother and I said never again would we ever eat okra.

Lance, do you get to talk with Pasha Jackson and what is he up to these days?
- Jake from Norman, Okla.

Yeah, in fact I talked to Pasha last night. I believe he's doing sports broadcasting -- high school and some stuff out here at OU. He can talk pretty well.

What do you think is important for you as a captain to show your teammates on the field?
- Derek from Biloxi, Miss.

That you want to win more than anything. That you'll do whatever it takes. As a captain, you may not be aware of it all the time but guys look to you to see how you handle certain situations. Stay strong and stay tough -- even in the worst of situations. To stay tough -- to me -- is to stay mad. All that's going to rub off on the rest of the defense. I can't waste too much energy getting all hyped up either. You know what I mean? In the middle -- you're going every play.

Lance, do you have any brothers or sisters? If so, what do they do?
- Ted from Kansas City, Mo.

Yes, I have three brothers and one sister. I have a twin brother, Laurence. As we've gotten older, we've started to look more alike. We sound a lot alike. If you talked to us on the phone, you wouldn't know which one of us it was. I was born first -- 40 minutes before him. He's working and trying to get back into football. He broke his leg really bad. Like three years ago. His first play back on the practice field, he broke it again.

Did you do anything for Halloween when you were little?
- Laura from Bartlesville, Okla

Yep, we did it when I was little. Up until a pastor or something told my Mom it was the Devil's night out or something like that. She just completely cut our Halloween's off. That bummed me out for a long time! It was rough.

I remember last year, I went to a haunted house. That was about a month after my injury so I really couldn't run. We went to the haunted house but I was walking with my group and every time something would jump out -- my group would run off and leave me! Man, I'd hobble off into the bushes and hide. I couldn't run. But I always got away because they'd always chase the group. I'd only come out after the smoke was clear. Hey -- I was smart!

When I was little, I remember dressing up one time. I was a football player. Not real original - huh?

- #10 Lance Michell
Lance Mitchell Signature

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