Coach & Player Quotes on Texas Tech

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops, quarterback Jason White, offensive tackle Wes Sims, defensive back Brandon Shelby and defensive tackle Carl Pendleton met with the press corps at the weekly media luncheon in Norman on Tuesday afternoon.

No. 2 Oklahoma (3-0, 0-0) hosts the Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-1, 1-0) in the Sooners' Big 12 Conference opener on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Owen Field. The game will be broadcast by Fox Sports Net.

Tech defeated Kansas last weekend, 31-30, in Lawrence while OU was one of eight conference teams with a bye.

Head Coach Bob Stoops
Opening Statement:
"It's good to get started after an off week. I'm anxious this week to play a very good Texas Tech team off to a 3-1 start. Everyone knows that they've put up over 100 points in the last two weeks. Coach Leach and his staff put together a really strong team each and every year.

Photos | Sooner Gameday Central: Texas Tech | Tech Quotes

This team is like most teams that he has had -- where the offense is really clicking and moving the football. Their quarterback, Sonny Cumbie, has done an excellent job and that should be expected from a guy who has been in their system for a couple of years. Defensively, they are very sound and structured. Their defense really played us well last year.

We see it as a big challenge defensively to hold them down and make plays. On offense, we hope to be productive, hopefully continue the running game and making plays in the passing game. Executing like we are capable of. It will be exciting to open Big 12 play here and we're looking forward to the challenge."

On Texas Tech Offense:
"Their offense is different than the spread offenses that most people run. Coach Leach has a structured offense that he knows and sticks to. You have to admire the fact that he sticks to what he knows and believes in. It really has a lot of similarities from when he was at Kentucky. I could go through my notes from when I was at Florida and the patterns and the principles of the offense are still there. They have a set way that they like to execute their offense. It's different than a lot of people run their spread offenses."

On Running Backs:
"Kejuan is coming around. He did a little bit of work yesterday. We'll see how he does as the week goes on. He feels as if he's improving so we'll see. Our offensive game plan will remain the same. We worked yesterday and Adrian Peterson, D.J. Wolfe and Tashard Choice really shared the snaps and did well."

On Remodeled Switzer Center:
"It's great. I think it's wonderful for the history of the players and coaches. It represents their accomplishments and team history. It is also great for the fans to have a place go to and remember the accomplishments of the past. My favorite part is probably the national championship trophies. They are pretty nice to see. There aren't a lot of them around the country."

Senior QB Jason White
On Adrian Peterson:
"I think Adrian came a long way in those first three games in just learning the offense. Each game he kind of learned a little bit more about playing in big games. Now coming into the Big 12, it is a whole different story about what our goals are about. The Big 12 Conference is a lot tougher than the non-conference."

On Texas Tech:
"In the past they have always been a team that scores a lot of points. Their defense this year has shown they are really clicking. They had a lot of guys return on their defense and that have been in the system so they know what they are doing. It is really going to be a tough test for us."

On Mike Leach:
"Coach Leach was a great coach to play for. He would sit you down and made sure that you understood what he was trying to do. The thing I remember about Coach Leach is that he would tell off-the-wall stories at any given time. He is just a great guy to talk to. With the things he puts in and the way he makes you understand it, it's a great offense to play in."

On Team Intensity:
"I think you feel a lot of different changes when you start Big 12 conference play. The guys are little more motivated and know that this is where it starts to reach our goals. The biggest thing you see is more focus on the practice field and in the film room because they know these are the big games."

Senior DB Brandon Shelby
On the explosive play of Tech's offense:
"They were down against TCU and came back and scored 70 points. Last week they were down and they came back to beat KU, so we definitely cannot relax out there because they have offensive weapons that can score points."

The off-week:
"I definitely think the off-week was good. We were able to rest up and concentrate on the game on Saturday. We will find out on Saturday how good the off-week was for us."

On the Tech running game:
"They can hand the ball off to the running back and run for 80 yards, so [Henderson] is definitely a guy that we have to keep in check and keep from making big plays.

Senior OT Wes Sims
On switching positions at the line:
"It hasn't really been difficult because we have so much strength on our offensive line and have so many guys that can play so many positions. If you know one inside position then you know all three of them. If you know one tackle then you know both of them. It's a little more difficult to go from playing guard to tackle though."

On beginning conference play:
"We want to start off conference play right and have a great season. We feel that we had three good games against some early teams, but now we feel like our season is really starting. We're really focused, everyone worked hard in the off season and when you have many of the same guys back it's hard not to get better."

On the rest of the offense:
"With Jason being as healthy as he is and having Adrian both help a lot."

On Tech's offensive line:
"They use their offensive line the same way we did my freshman year. It's pretty hard to run the ball with that kind of offense, but it's really effective in the passing game."

Redshirt Freshman DT Carl Pendleton
On his first Big 12 game:
"It's totally different, especially with Tech because their offense is so different. Our goal is to win the Big 12."

On Tech running back Taurean Henderson:
"He is very explosive. All he needs is a crease and he's gone. You can't get caught in pass mode because he'll hurt you. Last week Kansas got caught in the pass mode and couldn't recover late in the game. You always have to be aware of the running threat."

On his matchup with the Tech offensive line:
"I'm excited to step on the field anytime, but the thing I like about playing Tech is that there isn't too much threat of a double team. It will be a one-on-one battle with the center, so that's a big help."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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