J.D. Runnels Online Journal: Week Four

NORMAN, Okla. -- J.D. Runnels records his fourth installment of his player journal to take Sooner fans behind the scenes. This week, J.D. tells us what it was like to play, and not play, in the blowout of Houston, how the Sooner maintain focus in those situations and he answers the best questions from the past seven days. OU quarterback and 2003 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White also makes a special appearance in this week's journal.

There is also a link at the bottom of the page so you can submit questions for J.D. to reply to in his next entry.

J.D. Runnels
Journal Entry No. 4 (Sept. 14, 2004)
Saturday we beat Houston and, honestly, I was getting bored during the game. Going into the game we knew that they were going to run the quick pass offense that they did, so we knew that, on offense, we would have to jump out early and, on defense, would have to tackle very well. We scored on our first six or seven possessions. That was really good.

I like that everyone knows we came out and played hard in the first half and aren't overlooking anybody. In those type of games the things you decide to improve on are coming out in the second half and playing as hard as you can. We try to put things in our minds like the score is still 0-0 and we still have to play hard. We didn't get that lead just to maintain it.

A lot of...

(Just then, Jason White walks into the room and performs an uncanny impression of J.D.)

Jason: Hi, I'm J.D. Runnels. I'm best known for running over people. I don't get the ball that much but I'm not too worried about that. I catch a few passes from my quarterback who puts it right on the money. I block well for the team, I do my job. I'm a team player.

So what's it like when Dan (Townsend) gets one right in the chest and you have to pick it up off the grass?

J.D.: Yeah, what is the deal with that? How do you feel about that J.D.? How do you feel about Pass 27?

Jason (as J.D.): Well, I'm pretty upset about it. We ran it a lot last year and I caught a lot of balls out in the flats and had a couple touchdowns with it. We haven't called it much this year. The first team hasn't run it. Dan's got his fair share of it, but I'll get my bone here.

J.D.: You've got to be glad it's still in the playbook though, you've got to be glad about that, right?

Jason: Yeah, it's the best play in the country and the oldest play in the country.

J.D. (laughing): Get out of here.

That was good.

Another thing is that this is college football and anything can happen. Coach Stoops may get criticized for leaving us in, but my opinion is that he always does things right. He knows when it is a good time for us to come out.

The most fun part of games like that is sitting back and watching the other guys get to play. I enjoy being the starter, but sometimes it's fun to be there waving a towel being a fan again.

The sidelines in those games get to be a lot of fun. We're still serious, but it's not as tense. The funniest guys on the team are Clint Ingram, Mark Bradley and Eric Bassey. For one, they're always talking. They're always trying to crack jokes. They're funny guys they keep it original. Eric Bassey is still rapping. I think his CD, Riding Solo, is coming soon. You'll have to look for it.

J.D., My cousin Kolby is a walk-on right now and he tells me that he has to take your blocks. I know playing football for OU is his dream, how much effect does the scout team have in preparation for the upcoming game?
Jenny from Edmond, Okla.

Well, the scout team has a huge impact on how our preparation goes through the week. For the defense and the offense, the scout team is Bowling Green or Houston or Oregon. They have to prepare us for that team. They have to give us their look, they have to give us every play that they run, and they have to be efficient. You hear people say that a team is only as strong as its weakest link and that's where it really comes into play. A lot of guys start out there and makes plays that catch the coaches' eyes. The harder they play, the harder we play. It shows how you really need everybody to work their hardest to have a successful program. It doesn't matter if you're a starter, a backup or on the scout team you're needed.

If it were up to you, which NFL team would you like to play for?
Jonathan from Tulsa, Okla.

I've always been a fan of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That wouldn't be too bad because they always use their fullback. They've got a pretty good one in Mike Alstott.

Who is your favorite Sooner, past or present?
Lisa from Hot Springs, Ark.

I have to say there is a three-way tie between Mike Gaddis, Mark Clayton and Derrick Strait. Mike, because I'm really close to him, Derrick, because he is the best football player I've ever been around, and Mark Clayton, with the ball in his hands is unstoppable. When I'm in on the plays where Mark will catch a pass, I usually try to go downfield and block for him, but I have no idea where he's going. Sometimes I wish he would just call out who I'm supposed to block because he'll even make me twist and turn.

What's your favorite sport besides football?
Kelly from Norman, Okla.

Basketball. If I couldn't play football, I would definitely have considered a career in basketball. I wasn't too bad in high school, but no, I'm just kidding. Basketball is something I've always loved to play. My brother is a coach at Mount St. Mary's.

I was wondering if you or the team had any game superstitions, like wear the same socks or perform the same routine?
Kate from Bartlesville, Okla.

I don't know about the team, but I try to do the same thing before each game. I'll do the same rotation before each game whether it's putting my shoulder pads on the same way in a certain order or eating the same meal the morning of a game.

With the upset losses by many Big 12 teams this weekend, have the coaches reinforced the “finish” attitude that the team adopted in the offseason?
Reggie from Denver, Colo.

The team emphasizes it more that the coaches do. We always have the reminder of the last two games of last season and it's something we keep deep down inside us. Each game we keep that in our hearts and our minds. We know that finishing is something we have to do.

Dan Townsend got some PT during the blowout of Houston, how would you rate him as a fullback?
Kim from Lawrence, Kan.

I would rate Dan as a pretty good fullback. The only errors he makes are what I would call game speed errors. His only problem is that he just hasn't been in as much as a person like me has and once he gets in more I think he'll become very effective.

What is the hardest aspect of playing fullback?
Kenny from Pauls Valley, Okla.

I would say it is the mental aspect. Playing fullback is really a grind during the game. You have to take a lot of beating. Everyone says you have to take a lot, but I always say I try to give out a lot. You've got to be really prepared for every play of the game whether it is the first or fourth quarter. You're on edge the whole time.

What do the coaches teach you to prepare you for life off the field? They must be pretty good motivators.
Justin from Oklahoma City

I've really learned from them that any problem that comes your way, if you attack it with your best effort, then you will always be successful. Coach Stoops always says to be smart off the field. I'll remember that. The things he disciplines us on makes us better people.

J.D., you are very eloquent in your answers. I enjoy you both on and off the field. What are your plans after you graduate from OU?
Bruce from Memphis, Tenn.

I want to go into sports radio. If I get the opportunity to go to the NFL, I want to. If not, then I'd love to stick around and follow up on high school football and do sports radio. I would also like to own a restaurant on Campus Corner in Norman and just be an OU fan all my life and support Carl Albert.

By the way, Carl Albert 21, Ada 15.

Does everyone on the team get along really well or is there a lot of fighting about who gets to play more?
Sarah from Hooker, Okla.

Everyone on the team get along well. It may seem crazy to say that 100 guys are really getting along, but there's really no room for fighting or bickering. We're one. We're a team and everyone tries their best to get along.

I was wondering what it is like to play for a team with so much history, All-Americans and awards winners. When you're playing for fans that expect you to win each week, how do you balance all of the pressure?
Mark from Conway, Ark.

It's really hard to think about it sometimes. Before we play, Coach Stoops reminds us that no one is bigger than this program. We all know our history and that when we put our uniform on, we represent over 100 years of history. We just do our best to live up to it.

That's all for this week. I appreciate you reading my column and I hope you support us Saturday against Oregon.

-#38 J.D. Runnels

Jammal Brown
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