Video & Quotes on Hosting Colorado

NORMAN, Okla. -- Watch video and read quotes as head coach Bob Stoops, quarterback Paul Thompson, cornerback Darien Williams and running backs Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez meet with the media at the weekly football press conference on Tuesday.

The Sooners host the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday at 6 p.m. Oklahoma's 50th consecutive TV game will be broadcast to the nation on Fox Sports Net.

Please refer to Sooner Gameday Central for complete broadcast options including radio, satellite radio, live internet audio, live stats and O-Zone webcasts.

SoonerSports.com Video

Senior Quarterback Paul Thompson on Colorado Game

Junior Running Back Allen Patrick on Stepping Up for AD

Junior Cornerback Darien Williams on Defense's Responsibilities

Junior Running Jacob Gutierrez on Team's Attitude for CU Game

Sooner Gameday Central - Colorado | The Sooner Experience

HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
“We're really pleased overall (with last Saturday's performance). In so many ways we played very well. I thought, offensively, Paul Thompson's first half was exceptional. The second half we were off just a little bit. We had a couple drops on him that didn't help. A couple of times we just overthrew the ball. We were still close in the second half and doing what we want to do.

"Adrian just had an exceptional day running the football and I was very pleased with our offensive line. The tight ends and fullbacks were all blocking really well, creating seams and creating yardage, as well as protecting well. The receivers made some nice plays once again. Malcolm Kelly had a couple nice touchdown catches.

“Defensively, I was pleased and thought we really played well. We hold them to 70-something yards rushing and 56 came on one play. So we really played the running game well against a quarterback that really took a lot of plays on his own with his feet and throwing. Our secondary's coverage was great. I thought the pressure and all the different ways we brought it really got to them and didn't allow the quarterback to set his feet. Our front-four guys got good pressure even when we didn't blitz.

“Darien Williams had a great day defensively. Brody Eldridge and A.D. (Adrian Peterson) were players of the game, offensively. Garrett Hartley continues to kick it really well.

“Overall, it was a really good, solid day. Anytime you win in this league 34-9 you're doing something really well. Obviously, everybody is disappointed for Adrian personally. With so much in front of himthe records and all the success and what he means to the team, it's disappointing. The way he has worked, to have it come to a stop that way, it is just crushing for him personally. And I say that personally, for us, that is not the case. We all feel for him and he means a great deal to everybody.

"But as a team, we're anxious to see what we're able to do. We feel very confident in the other guys that we haveAllen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez have done it for us in the past. Some young guys will get more snapsChris Brown and Mossis Maduthose guys have been very impressive all the way and leading up to this week. DeMarco Murray is still recovering from a turf toe, a sprain in his toe that has just continued to bother him and nag him the entire way.

“We'll work with those guys and our offense's personality won't change much. I'm still incredibly encouraged because of the way we're blocking up front and the attitude we played with up front. The lines, tight ends and backs are much further along than they were a year ago. The quarterback is much further along as well.

"We feel strongly that we will be able to overcome the loss of Adrian and adapt to it and still continue move the football well. We'll continue to play good, solid defensewe have toand continue to be good in special teams. Nothing we feel has changed for us.

“We're anxious to play this week against a good Colorado team here for Homecoming. Although their record says 1-6, we have seen them and studied them and they're doing a really good job. A tight loss to Georgia at Georgia. You watch their defense the entire year has played really well. Offensively, they have moved the ball on everybody. Their quarterback, (Bernard) Jackson, has made a lot of plays with his feet and scrambling around. They put it all together last week with a really sound win over Texas Tech.

"So we are very aware of that -- that they are a very good football. I am sure they have had some early growing pains with all new coaches that are there for their first year. Our emphasis this week will be on us improving. I noted some areas where I was frustrated, even last week, where I feel where we can be better. We are going to keep pushing. Keep pushing for our focus, intensity, and what we are doing to be better and improve. Hopefully, we will be as we go out this week.”

On advice he gave to Adrian Peterson on his return:
“It is still too early for that. I told A.D., You are going to get advice from all these media guys. You are going to get advice from everybody from newspapers, to TV, to agents, from marketing people, to everybody. I am not going to sit here and give you advice today.'

"When we talked, I said, let's let it (collar bone injury) start to heal, and take care of it. He was in all of our meetings yesterday. He was upbeat. We will sit down and talk. I know Adrian as well as anybody, and he will do what he wants to do.

"He is a strong-willed guy who always follows his heart and does what he wants, and he should. He has already expressed to Coach Gundy and a few other people that he absolutely intends to play as soon as he can play again. But I am not saying that that's definitive. I want to sit and talk with him. Once he has had some time to really reflect on it. I doubt that will change to be honest with you.

"He is a guy that everybody has tried to tell him what to do for three years, and he is a strong willed-guy, which is also how he plays. He is going to do what he wants to do. And you appreciate a guy like that.”

On if the coaches believe backup running backs will bring some diversity to the offense:
“We do. Jacob (Gutierrez) is a guy that is hard to tackle in a phone booth. Allen (Patrick) is a guy that is a little more like Adrian, who is good downhill. But he is also good in the shotgun. He and Chris Brown have really good moves and vision, and can hit some great seams in our practices and scrimmages. So we will see. But they do, and they are great players.”

On if he anticipates all of the backs getting playing time, and how they will manage that:
“We'll see as we go through the week, what we feel we need to do.

“Coach Wilson will get a feel through the week how he wants to do it, or what he feels is the best. As well as he and Coach Gundy and how they are working them. And then I think too, what happens, is you get in games and you find certain formations and looks that are working, or that they may be struggling with. Even if you didn't intend to emphasize them as much, you go back to them more.”

On if the defense is now playing up to expectations:
“We are closer to playing the way I feel are capable and should. I am still upset in some areas the other day that I felt we could be better at. We have to keep pushing for that.”

On why the OU program seems to always bounce back after adversity:
“First of all, I think, because we are capable of it. I feel we are a lot stronger than some people give us credit for. Or, everyone loves to throw out the doom and gloom to play on all of the fans' emotions. In the end, it doesn't have to be that way. People have injuries and teams have unfortunate circumstances every year.

"Every year different teams have them and you fight through. You do the best you can and you play the hand your dealt. I like to play cards. You don't fold or throw it in when it is not as pretty as the others. You play it. I still like the team we have. We have to get better. I would say that I do like the potential we have and how we are starting to play. I still don't feel we have played nearly as clean or as smart as we should.

"Whether it is penalties or turnovers, we have had those issues. The other day I feel we had some mental breakdowns. A dropped catch or two that has nothing to do with the other team and everything to do with us. We have to push for our guys to really have a greater focus in those areas and take it to heart and play in a smarter way. If we do, we will be fine.”

On if opposing teams will play OU differently without Adrian Peterson:
“I don't think so. Everybody makes an issue of that. Coach Wilson and I were talking the other day. Iowa State defended us how they defended everyone else the first five games. It was that way virtually with everybody that we have played. People don't all of a sudden go to a new defense in one week. So in the end, they adapt what they do. Teams play how they like to play and how they are used to playing.”

On if the receivers will have to make more big-plays with the absence of Adrian in the lineup:
“I have been stressing that to them since last year, even with No. 28 in the backfield. We want as many big plays as we can get whether he is in there or not. It is not like now that they want to that they can do it. We are always trying to get more big plays out of those guys.”

On if this situation puts any more emphasis on Paul Thompson's play:
“It makes me more comfortable with the way that Paul has played. I have been comfortable with him. He is really playing well. But Paul doesn't play out there alone. It makes it more important that everybody plays smarter. And that we don't create the problems for ourselves that we have. We all need to play cleaner and in a better way.”

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JUNIOR CB DARIEN WILLIAMS
On Switching Players and Positions...
“I feel like we're making strides every game, even with the switching in and out at corner, end and safety. I feel like we're comfortable with each other all around. I feel like it's not going to hold us back, it's just us doing our assignments. It's not going to be an excuse of switching in and out because we practice everyday with each other no matter who is in there. It'll just be us in the right place doing our assignments.

“There have been mistakes here and there to put me out of position to make plays. Saturday I was where I needed to be.”

On Building Confidence with the Defense...
“We get better and better every game and our confidence builds up every game. It seems like every game we make a couple of mistakes that put us in bad situations and we're trying to eliminate those mistakes right now.

“I feel like we have to get better and better every week regardless of any situation. I feel like we made mistakes last week that we have to change. We need to improve every week regardless (of what's happened.)”

On Playing Colorado....
“We go into every game saying that we're going to shut down the other team. We're not going to question Colorado's ability, as we've seen them beat Texas Tech recently, 30-6. I feel like they're a good team. The quarterback is the center of attention and he's the big playmaker. Our goal is going to be to stop him.”

On Adversity Towards OU's Football Team...
“There's constantly adversity. It's a tough game and it's football. It's something we're going to have to adapt to every week. Honestly you have to laugh and roll with the punches."

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SENIOR QB PAUL THOMPSON
On Overcoming Adrian's Injuries...
“I think a lot of people want to write us off, and I think there have been a lot of reasons throughout the year for why people can write us off week in and week out. So we definitely want to see what this team has and how to respond to what's happened with Adrian and come out strong and be effective.

“I think, as a team, we know we can overcome it. Adrian has proven himself here as to what he can do and he's the biggest part of our offense. It would be more of a challenge to see if we can overcome it, but I think we have guys that can step in and do the job. I think we have guys that can be successful Big 12 running backs. With Adrian we had one of the greatest running backs in a while, which makes other guys look not as good, but the guys that we have on this team are still D-I running backs that came on scholarships, too. So I think we can still be successful. I believe that the team and the running backs have a lot of confidence in themselves.

“It's just another bump; maybe this one is a hill. I think we can get through this though. We're used to things like this, I guess you could say. We're not as shocked about where we're going to go now. We've had bumps in the road before and I think we'll be able to overcome this one as well.

“We've had a lot of unfortunate things happen this year. We're not going to use (Adrian's injury) as any type of excuse or let it affect us. We're going to move through this as any team would when it's faced with obstacles and not make excuses.

“We haven't changed any of the goals and everything that we've had set out in front of us as far as goals are still reachable. We believe we can achieve.

“I believe as a team we all need to pay a little bit more attention to details, step up, and focus. For me, individually, I'm going to continue what I'm doing -- stay relaxed as I have throughout the year, which is how I play the best. By not having not too much pressure on myself and having fun, I think, is how myself and this offense plays best when we're out there having fun and relaxing.”

Emphasis on Improving Focus....
When you lose somebody, everyone else has to step up a little bit harder and focus harder. We can't have the mistakes we've had in the past. It's more an emphasis on having the running backs that haven't had as many repetitions focused and mentally ready. Overall, everyone needs to get mentally more prepared and focused.

On Colorado...
They're real close to having some wins. If you look at their record, you might fool yourself because they had the close game at Georgia and then a lot of other games that were close. So if you sit there looking at their record, we'll get ourselves beat. They've got great athletes and have good-size linebackers. We can't take them lightly or we're going to get ourselves beat if we're not focused. They're a great team and we're looking to get after them.

Feelings about Saturday's Game...
It was kind of up and down. We started off the first half real strong and the second half wasn't as strong as far as offensively. So we're a little down about that. By the end of the game we got the win, but then we got the news. We definitely felt it was a misfortune for our team after the game. But we're still real confident in our team and what we have to do to be successful throughout this season.

On the Multiple Misfortunes this Year and Moving On...
The things that have happened so far, I would have never thought they would have happened. Who knows what will happen next week, maybe something else. We're just going to go in focused and not really worry about what's going to happen. I think that what's happened this past week we're able to stay more focused throughout the week and stay more conscious about details. We're just going to prepare ourselves for a big game and go out there and try to execute our best. Whatever happens, happens.

On Having a Challenge...
I know I'm excited to go out there and see what we'll do. I know I'm not worried about much personally; other guys might be. When I heard the news I was definitely upset and shocked at the same time, but I was like: let's go, we've got half a season over, let's see what we've got this next time. I'm ready to go.

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SOPHOMORE RB ALLEN PATRICK
On earning the starting running back spot:
“It's an honor just to come here and play Oklahoma football. Just to come and have the experience at starting running back at a D-1 college is a big thing for me. That's what I wanted to do coming out of high school.

“It's the best experience you can imagine to come and play for a big university like OU. I'm going to like it.

“I'm not nervous at all. It's a game. And when you get on the field you go into game mode and get that adrenaline rush. To go out there and playing running back with the team on your back, that's a big thing to do. But I'm ready to step up and take that job.”

On his relationship with Adrian Peterson:
“It's like having a brother. You go out there and you play with your brother. Once you see him get hurt, you kind of feel it. I felt it. I'm sorry it happened. I have to go out there and do what he didgo out there and give it my all.

“We go out at practice everyday and we already know what each other can do. After he got hurt, he walked up to me at the end of the game in the locker room and asked me, “Are you ready to go out there and get it?” Those are the words that came out of his mouth. He told me to go get it.

“That's a tragic thing to get hurt on one play, just like that. You can be gone at any time. He came up to me and still expressed his feelings towards the team. It's still there.”

On the offensive strategy:
“It's going to pretty much be the same offense. We're going to keep it balanced. We'll do the same thing we've been doing. We're going go out there and everyone is going to dig a little deeper and play hard ball.”

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JUNIOR RB JACOB GUTIERREZ
On the team's reaction to Adrian's injury:
“We walked in the locker room and everyone was just kind of quiet. It's horrible for that to happen to any player, especially Adrian and where he's at in his career and the things he had in front of him. He's a great leader, so that was devastating for usthe fact that we lose a player and a person like that for the season.”

On the confidence heading into Saturday:
“I do (feel ready). Coach (Gundy) has been doing a great job giving all the running backs reps at practice just in case something happens. We're prepared and we've been in the system long enough to know our assignments and the things we need to do to continue to win games around here.

“We all feel confident coming from a great program like this. With our strength staff training us through the summer and our coaches teaching us throughout the year, this is what we're here forto play if we need to play. And right now we need to play. We've been preparing and we're ready.

“We know the things we need to do. Having a player like Adrian was a luxury. A player like thatyou put him out there and just ride him. The whole team knows that no one person is going to take his spot. We all know we need to contribute more and play better as a unit, not just one person.

On the opportunity to play more often:
“I'm excited to help the team. To be out there and contribute offensively or do whatever I need to do to help the team to win.”

On Allen Patrick:
“We've both been helping each other. He's been around the program long enough. He knows how to play ball and he plays hard every time he's in there.”

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SOPHOMORE DB KENDY HOLMES
On if it feels like they can't catch any breaks this season:
“What happened to Adrian, when he broke his collar bone, it seemed like everybody feels like he is just done. They act like he is dead or something. It is just an injury. He can recover fast. Not that he will be able to come back next game to play. It will just take time to heal.”

On if it felt like they lost on Saturday because of Adrian's injury:
“No. It could have happened to anybody. It just so happened that is happened to Adrian. We have other people that can try to take his place. But he can't ever be replaced.”

On playing his best game at corner against Iowa State:
“I noticed that I was playing a little better because I was in film all week. I really tried to get down and know their formation, and know what they are doing. When Saturday came, I felt really comfortable. It seemed like I knew everything and was just attacking.”

On the competition among the corners for playing time:
“It is a competition. No one wants to be on the bench looking at the game. I know that we all want to be in there and play. Every week I go out there and go hard, that's how I know how I can get on the field.”

On if was more physical at corner this past week:
“I like to be physical. I am a physical corner. Everybody has their own style of play and I know that I like to be physical.”

On how difficult the OU running backs are to bring down as a defensive player:
“They are very difficult. With A.D., he is all power. You aren't going to be able to just bring him down by yourself. You need extra help. With (Jacob Gutierrez) you are going to need the whole team because he is so small and so fast and strong too. Allen Patrick is the same as A.D., just a little smaller.”

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