OU Coach & Player Quotes from Dec. 30 Practice

Bo Pelini - Co-Defensive Coordinator
On Lindell White, USC sophomore running back:
“He is a very physical runner, he runs through a lot of tackles. He is an excellent back. He is as much of a force as all the other weapons they have. He is a good inside runner, has the ability to get outside. He is an excellent football player. He is just different, not as much of a bounce guy... runs through tackles, just a real physical football player.”

On the performance of the team during this week's practice sessions:
“Guys are starting to get a feel of what we want to do. I just see overall improvement from front to back.”

On the warm, humid South Florida weather:
“No, our guys are in great shape so the weather will not affect us. This is actually cold for us.”

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On the success of USC head coach Pete Carroll:
“He is a lot like Coach Stoops, he is the complete package. He has great energy, unbelievable knowledge on both sides of the football. He has an incredible ability of dealing with players and getting them to play hard. He just enjoys what he does and it extends through to his staff and players. He has done a phenomenal job and he is just a really great coach. He has a unique way of dealing with players, he is a people's person so he understands how to push buttons on certain guys and reach guys. I learned that from being in the pros and college. It is a very important thing to have players believe in you and play hard for you. You can have all the X's and O's you want, but if you don't reach guys you can't be a very good football coach. I think he is able to do that. He is really good at what he does and they are fortunate to have him.”

On USC overall:
“They are always going to be very sound in everything they do. They are balanced. They have ways to stop the running game and ways to cheat versus the passing game.”

Coach Stoops Quotes from Orange Bowl Press Conference

On USC head coach Pete Carroll's defensive philosophy:
“He is going to have a lot of change ups. He is very imaginative on both sides of the ball with his pressure package. He is an excellent defensive mind. You know above all that his team is going to be sound in everything they do. They are going to have their gaps covered, they will know what they are doing and they will have their gaps covered. Pete puts his beliefs on his players so they go out and make plays.”

On USC's offense:
“They are going to scheme you a lot. The way their offense is setup, they are even in terms of running and passing the ball. They can hurt you in the running game and they can hurt you with the play action pass, so you have to be sound, you have to be disciplined and you have to read your keys and be right. Otherwise, if your not, they are going to hurt you. It is a very well-thought out offense and it can hurt you at any time. They are very good in what they do. They have a lot of guys that can get down the field and hurt you. It is going to be a very big test for us.”

Garret Hartley - Freshman Kicker
On his most significant kicks:
“In high school there was a couple of course, but that was a little while ago. But right now I'm just looking at this game and not worrying about the past.”

On the Baylor game:
“Coach Wright was talking to coach Stoops, and Coach Wright just looked at me and pointed to me and said I was in, and that's when it all started.”

Thoughts on being the starter:
“It was my first kick in college and I certainly did not want to miss it. I was real focused, real determined and also real excited.”

On having not attempted a college field goal:
“I don't think that's going to be any different because the whole year I have been practicing right behind Trey. I have been getting my reps in, and I'm real excited and I can't wait for the opportunity.”

On possibly kicking game winner with 30 seconds left:
“I hope I have the confidence of the team, and that's what I have been trying to build throughout the year, and especially now since we are getting into the big game. It's nice to have the confidence of the team behind you.”

On his perfect scenario for the game:
“It does not really matter as long as we win. If we happen to win by a couple of touchdowns or if it happens to come down to a last minute kick and we win by two. Any way it's going to be a great experience and a great feeling.”

Mark Clayton - Senior Wide Receiver
On end of his career:
“Yes it has. It seems like yesterday we were out here practicing as freshman on the scout team against those guys on the 2000 team.”

How does it feel to be here compared to last year:
“We feel so much better, were in a better position. We feel good because we have a lot of experience coming in here. We have guys that have been in big games and have played in championships. We feel like we know how to do this.”

On being part of big three offensive players (White, Clayton, Peterson):
“I guess you could say that we are the big three. I think there is a group of five guys and that's the receivers. We have been putting on a great show all year, and were working hard to come out here in this last game and finish strong.”

On match up with USC defensively:
“Its going to be a very good match up overall. They execute their defense really well. Basically it's going to be about making plays. Were going to have to have guys step up and make plays down the field in the pass. Adrian and Kejuan are going to have to make plays in the running game.”

On being put on national stage to promote himself:
“Yes as well as this team, making sure they have something to build on for next year. We want to send them out on that note as well, because that would be great for them.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU Coach & Player Quotes from Dec. 30 Practice

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