Coach Stoops Press Conference Quotes

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops met with the press corps at the weekly media luncheon in the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club in Norman on Tuesday afternoon.

Coach Stoops briefly reviewed the 35-0 shutout of Baylor and discussed the upcoming Big 12 Championship Game on December 4 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

The No. 2 Sooners (11-0, 8-0 Big 12) will battle either Colorado or Iowa State in Kansas City. The Cyclones win the North if they defeat Missouri in Ames this weekend. If Iowa State loses and Colorado defeats Nebraska in Lincoln, the Buffaloes will represent the North.

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Head Coach Bob Stoops
Opening Statement:
"Getting back to wrapping up our regular season with the Baylor game last week, it was pleasing to finish out with a strong game against an improved Baylor team. I believe they are doing a strong job down there, but to come out and finish tough against them like we did was pleasing.

"Some guys that really played well that we recognized as players of the game, on offense are Adrian Peterson, James Moses, J.D. Runnels and Kejuan Jones. These guys all really played a great game. Defensively, we recognized Brodney Pool and Larry Birdine as our players of the game.

"Overall a really solid game and puts us in a position to finish up undefeated for the second straight year. Right now the Big 12 Championship is first and that is what we are after. This week we'll look at both Colorado and Iowa State to get a feel of what they look to do. We'll take the weekend off for Thanksgiving. The players are looking forward to spending time with their families and resting a little bit. We'll come back Sunday and get into whoever is representing the North. We're excited about it and our players are looking forward for the opportunity to win a championship and we're anxious to go compete."

On This Year's Defense:
"I feel great about the way our defense is playing. You look through the entire season and we've held seven of our opponents to zero or one touchdown. We'll win a lot of games if we hold people to zero or one touchdown. Everyone wants to look at two games where we gave up a couple of big passes, you go through the course of the season and that is going to happen. To me what magnified it more were the special team's miscues in the same games. We gave up four special teams touchdowns on back-to-back games. Getting Antonio Perkins back really helps us, he is a great cornerback."

On Low Turnover Ratio:
"Our guys have been very responsible with the football. They take care of it and aren't careless with it. We emphasize, but I appreciate the players being responsible with the ball."

On The Pass Rush:
"I've been very pleased with our pass rush. We've had excellent pressure through our entire defensive line. Dan Cody, Jonathan Jackson and Larry Birdine are all leading in sacks and they are great at getting to the quarterback. The guys inside are really getting at it and I know that was a big story early in the year, but Lynn McGruder is having a great season and Carl Pendleton has been more than solid. They help push the pocket. The whole line helps each other. All those guys work well together."

On Garrett Hartley:
"We felt it was necessary. We had been more than patient in the change. We felt that the position that we were in, that points were too critical and championships are out there that we have a legitimate shot to win. We thought it would be a strength for our team and Garrett wanted to do it, so we did it."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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