Lance Mitchell Online Journal No. 2

NORMAN, Okla. -- OU senior linebacker Lance Mitchell scripts his own online journal at SoonerSports.com for the 2004 season. Mitchell shares his experiences with Sooner fans as he anchors the middle of the Sooner defense.

This is the second 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. 2 (Sept. 16, 2004)
It's Wednesday after practice and we're continuing to prepare for Oregon. Thanks for all your questions you sent in and I'll try to get to as many as I can...

What have you learned the most about yourself from playing the game of football?
- Rochelle from Los Banos, Calif.

I would say that I've learned that I'm a disciplined guy -- and committed. Mostly, I'm just a hard worker.

What do you and the rest of the team normally do after a home game?
- Brandon from Tulsa, Okla.

Well, it depends on how we feel and how the game went. If it was a good game, we might try to relax. Maybe go out and celebrate a little bit. It's always nice to just relax after a big game -- just give yourself some down time.

Do you ever feel the defense is overlooked or held to higher expectations than the offense?
- Tierra from Oklahoma City, Okla.

No, no way -- not at this school. Defense is never overlooked at Oklahoma. The tradition is here and everyone knows defense wins championships. Our expectations are high all the time.

I grew up in Oklahoma but have spent the past few years in Washington. Is there a difference between West Coast football and Oklahoma football?
- Quinn from Vancouver, Wash.

Where I played football in California there really wasn't much difference. Everyone was a hard-nosed football player. There's really no difference besides the weather. Out there, you may end up getting some great days during practice. When I was in San Francisco during our two-a-days we had long sleeves and sweats on every day. So, dealing with the weather here would be the biggest difference.

What was the biggest change in the game you experienced coming from junior college to Division 1 ball?
- Brian from Edmond, Okla.

I think the biggest challenge I faced was in learning all the different formations. Plus, you have to focus everything you do on the next team you're going to play. The preparation is a lot tougher at this level. And another big thing -- you also have to get used to the idea that you're going to be going up against guys that are just as good as you athletically.

Lance, what do players do to prepare themselves for the game?
- Jeff from Verdigris, Okla.

Everyone prepares themselves differently. Some players like to get themselves hyped up. Other players like to stay calm. For me, I have to stay focused because I have a lot of things to be responsible for during the game. My whole deal is to stay mentally focused and remember by assignments.

Here, I'll walk you through what I have to do out on the field. As soon as the previous play is over, I have to get up quick and look over at the sideline. I have to read all the personnel and formation calls that the coaches are signalling in. Then, when all the players are out there, we have to line the defense up and then look at the formation the offense is coming out in. I start thinking about all the plays they like to run out of that formation. My job is to predict what they're going to do and get the defense lined up and prepared.

It's a continous thing. If I see their formation like they're going to sprint and the backfield is empty, I have to let the D-line know immediately. If there's an offset back, I have to let them know. I never really get to relax out there. I mean, no player really gets to relax on the field -- but I really have to stay focused and keep evaluating everything. I kind of have to worry about everyone else and then get my own assignment done.

You have to be what I call "tough-minded". Sometimes it's a rough deal.

How many times did you stay and have dinner at Coach Barcellos' house in your home town of LB? I hear he makes a pretty good steak. Any truth to that?
- J. Barcellos from Los Banos, Calif.

(Laughs) Oh, I'd say three or four times a week! He'd have me, my brother and friends over to do homework and eat. I really appreciated that!

What does it mean to you personally to be selected a captain by your teammates?
- Carri from Memphis, Tenn.

Oh, I think it's a great honor. Out of all my year's playing -- besides my second year of JuCo -- I've never been selected a team captain. I just feel it's such a great honor. I don't think it can get any bigger than who the team views as their captains. It's really special, you know? You can look back thirty years from now and think 'I was a team captain'. So, it's a big deal for me personally.

Thanks again for all your questions. Keep them coming by clicking the link below. See you at the Oregon game on Saturday!

Ask Lance a Question | Sooner Online Journals

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