Upcoming Event: Football versus UTEP on September 4, 2026 at 7 p.m. CT
7 p.m. CT
Football
vs UTEP
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
.png&width=40&height=40&type=webp)
University of Oklahoma Athletics
OU Welcomes Texas Tech to Norman
November 10, 2006 | Football
|
OKLAHOMA vs. TEXAS TECH
Oklahoma plays its final home game of the season when it hosts Texas Tech on Saturday at 6 p.m. FSN will broadcast OU's 53rd consecutive TV game. The Sooners, who will be honoring their 11 senior players, ride a four-game winning streak into this game.
Oklahoma won its last two on the road over ranked opponents. Tech, a winner it two of its last three games, is on the road for the final time this regular season. OU has remaining road tilts at Baylor and Oklahoma State.
|
THE SERIES
Oklahoma leads it, 10-3, and has won the five of the last six meetings and four straight in Norman. Oklahoma has a 5-1 advantage at home.
THE COACHES
Bob Stoops (Iowa 83) is 82-18 in his eighth season with the Sooners. He is 4-3 in bowls, 3-2 in January Bowls, 2-2 in BCS games, 53-11 vs. the Big 12, 28-8 vs. the Big 12 South, 25-3 vs. the Big 12 North, 3-1 in the Big 12 title game, 29-7 vs. non-conference opponents, 46-2 at home, 23-9 on the road, 13-7 on neutral fields and 24-9 vs. ranked opponents. He is 5-2 vs. Texas Tech.
Mike Leach (BYU 83) is 54-32 in his seventh season at Texas Tech.
|
THE PROGRAM
Oklahoma's all-time record is 764-291-53.
The Sooners own seven national championships (1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, 2000).
OU has 39 bowl appearances (No. 7 nationally) with 24 victories (No. 3 nationally).
Oklahoma has won 39 conference titles.
Since WWII, Oklahoma is the most success college football program with 517 victories.
Some 141 All-Americans and four Heisman Trophy winners have come from the Oklahoma program.
|
TIES WITH TEXAS TECH
Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach was Oklahoma's offensive coordinator for the 1999 season.
Tech running backs coach Seth Littrell played was a four-year letterwinner as a fullback at OU and was on the 1999 Independence and 2000 Orange Bowl teams. The latter won the national championship.
Tech DE coach Charlie Sadler was on the OU staff as offensive line coach in 1978 and was back from 1984-90 as defensive line coach and then defensive coordinator (1989-90).
|
OKLAHOMA'S MOST RECENT GAME
In Bob Stoops' 100th game at Oklahoma, the Sooners knocked off Texas A&M in a hard-fought struggle, 17-16. It was the fourth straight win for OU and its fourth in a row over the Aggies. For Stoops, it was win No. 82 against just 18 defeats ...
Stoops made a gutsy call that sealed the outcome. He went for it on a fourth-and-one from his own 29 with just 1:29 remaining in the game. When QB Paul Thompson plunged ahead for the first down, it doomed an A&M team that had exhausted all of its time outs.
Oklahoma never trailed in the game.
RB Allen Patrick went over 100 yards for a third consecutive game, this time with a career-best 173 on 32 carries. He also scored one touchdown. OU ran for 224 yards and Patrick's total represented the most for any Aggie opponent this season.
Oklahoma lost two fumbles, but prevented A&M from converting either into points.
OU had a 10-play, 80 drive that lasted 6:00. By time, that was the team's longest drive this season.
SENIOR SALUTE
Here are the 11 seniors (with anticipated starters underlined) that will be playing their final OU home game this Saturday... DE C.J. Ah You, LB Rufus Alexander, DE Larry Birdine, DB Jason Carter, DB John Dailey, LB Zach Latimer, OL Chris Messner, DE Laenar Nixon, DE Carl Pendleton, DE Calvin Thibodeaux and QB Paul Thompson. It is the smallest senior class of Bob Stoops' tenure.
MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE WINS
Oklahoma's last two victories came on the road over teams that were ranked at kickoff. The Sooners had not accomplished that feat since the 2004 season when they won at No. 20 Oklahoma State (38-35) and at No. 22 Texas A&M (42-35).
WITH THREE GAMES TIED BEHIND HIS BACK
Now that he is under the 75% of games played rule to be included in NCAA statistics, Adrian Peterson no longer appears in the national or Big 12 stats. Interestingly, there is still only one Big 12 rusher with more total yards than Peterson's 935. Kansas' Jon Cornish has 1,120.
TURNOVER TALK
Oklahoma (19) and its opponents (20) have nearly the same number of turnovers, but what happens after those turnovers is markedly different. The Sooners have scored 71 points after their takeaways as opposed to the opponents' 20.
TRENDS
In four games since committing 11 penalties and five turnovers against Texas, the Sooners have committed a total of 18 penalties and five turnovers.
Oklahoma QB Paul Thompson has not thrown an interception in the last four games.
The Sooners have had a 100-yard rusher in every game this season and is the only I-A team to do so. As a team, OU has exceeded 100 rushing yards in 15 consecutive games.
Oklahoma has won the time of possession stat in six of nine games. Six of the nine opponents ran 58 or fewer plays.
Over the last two games, OU's two punters, Micheal Cohen and Mike Knall, have combined to average 44.2 yards on nine kicks.
Over its last three games, OU has given up five field goals, but just two touchdowns.
STREAKING AGAINST THE NORTH
Oklahoma has swept its three regular season games against Big 12 North Division teams in four consecutive seasons. The regular season streak against the North stands at 14 games while the overall streak, including the Big 12 title game stands at nine.
Under Bob Stoops, OU is 24-3 against the North.
Stoops' home mark against the North stands at 13-0. Oklahoma scored more than 30 points in 11 of those games and won 12 by double digits.
HOME FIELD HONCHOS
Oklahoma is 46-2 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium under Bob Stoops and has won its last 10 in a row and 29 of its last 30 in the venue. The two longest home field winning streaks under Stoops were 19 and 17 games.
TRUE FROSH SEEING TIME
Last season, Oklahoma ranked No. 7 nationally by playing 12 true freshmen. Through four games this season, seven true freshman have made it to the field. Those seven are C Chase Beeler (the only one with a start, Middle Tennessee), OT Corey Brandon, WR Brandon Caleb, DB Quinton Carter, TE Jermaine Gresham, WR Adron Tennell and OT Trent Williams.
Twenty of the 51 players (39%) who saw action in last week's game have at least two years of eligibility remaining after this season.
ROSTER WRITINGS
This Sooner team has just 11 seniors, the lowest number of Bob Stoops' tenure. The previous low was 12 by the 2001 squad. Only 10 of the 11 are on scholarships.
There are 24 players on this team with previous experience as a starter for OU. That's up from seven over the same time last season.
Last season, OU ranked No. 7 nationally by playing 12 true freshmen. Through seven games this season, eight true freshmen have made it to the field. The only two with starts are C Chase Beeler (vs. Middle Tennessee) and RT Trent Williams (took over beginning with the Missouri game.)
Twelve of the 22 players that started against A&M have at least two years of eligibility remaining. That also is true of 23 of the 45 players that saw action.
TAKING A DIFFERENT POSITION
During Bob Stoops' tenure 14 players have moved from one position to earn a starting job at another ...
Perhaps most notable of those who changed was OT Jammal Brown who moved from the defensive line. He went on to win the 2004 Outland Trophy and was a first-round draft pick of the New Orleans Saints.
Like Brown, eight of those who have moved went from one side of the ball to the other. This team includes 10 players who have switched positions since arriving at Oklahoma.
OKLAHOMA TACKLES FULL SLATE OF I-A FOES ... AGAIN
For the seventh straight season Oklahoma is playing an all I-A schedule. The Sooners have played exclusive I-A since Bob Stoops' opener in 1999 (a 49-0 win over I-AA Indiana State). This season, OU is the only program in the Big 12 with a full I-A slate.
OU has played four ranked opponents this season, but none in Norman.
HOME FIELD HONCHOS
With the win over Colorado, Oklahoma moved to 46-2 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium under Bob Stoops.
The Sooners have won their last 10 at home and 29 of the last 30. The two longest home field winning streaks under Stoops were 19 and 17 games.
STOOPS ERA ATTENDANCE CLIMBS PAST FOUR MILLION
With 422,053 in attendance for home games thus far in 2006, Oklahoma has drawn 4,072,319 for Bob Stoops' 48 home games (started in 1999). The Sooners crossed the four-million mark in this year's contest against Colorado.
All 48 have been sold out and the mostly crimson-clad throng has seen the Sooners prevail 46 times.
OU has exceeded its listed capacity of 82,112 in 22 consecutive games.
Since Stoops became the head coach, expansion projects at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium have increased the capacity by 9,347 seats.
ABOUT THE OFFENSE
Under Stoops, OU produced its career leader in passing and receiving, while producing the fourth and fifth-ranked rusher in school history and the record-holder for single season rushing.
Oklahoma has scored at least one touchdown in every game dating back to Nov. 7, 1998.
On Stoops' watch, OU has 31, 200-yard rushing games with 25 over the last five years.
Also under their current head coach, the Sooners have 98 touchdowns of 25-plus yards and 216 scoring drives that lasted less than two minutes.
ONLY THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED
Adrian Peterson may be out, but with Allen Patrick rampaging through opposing defenses, the rushing game is still in high gear. If the two could be morphed into one player named, “Oklahoma Starting Running Back,” they'd have these statistics... Nine games, 270 rushing attempts, 1,375 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. Those totals don't include Patrick's numbers from games in which he appeared as a reserve.
Patrick has 508 yards. If he can match his average rushing total as a starter (147.7 yards) over the final three regular season games and the bowl, a goal that probably hinges on Peterson's return, he would finish with 1,099 yards.
If Peterson comes back to play and gets the additional 65 yards he needs to reach 1,000, OU could have two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season for only the fourth time in school history and the first time since 1973 when both Joe Washington and Waymon Clark went for 1,000.
SANS AD
Because of injury, Adrian Peterson (No. 2 in the nation in rushing and all purpose yards and No. 4 in scoring at the time of his injury) was out for all of last year's Baylor game and more than half of games against Kansas State, Texas and Kansas. OU rushed for 232 vs. K-State (Peterson had 51 before spraining an ankle), 77 vs. Texas (Peterson had 10), 95 vs. Kansas (Peterson had -4) and 205 vs. Baylor (Peterson DNP). Peterson missed no games in 2004.
When playing without Peterson, OU is 6-1 and out-rushed each opponent. The Sooners had a 100-yard rusher in four of those seven games.
PT CRUISIN'
Paul Thompson, who moved to WR last season, did not return to the QB role until Aug. 3 ...
His completion rate is 58.9% with 13 TD and five INT. His average/completion is 13.0 yards.
Over the last 45 years, most of which were run-dominated, there have been only four in which a Sooner QB completed 60% of his passes -- two by Jason White and two by Josh Heupel.
He has at least one TD pass in seven of the nine games and multiple scoring throws in five.
Since Peterson's injury, Thompson has rushed 14 times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Prior to the injury, he had 26 rushes for 14 yards.
He has not thrown a pick in six of the last seven games, including the last four in a row.
SUPER SOPHS CATCHING ON
Malcolm Kelly became the fastest OU receiver to 1,000 yards when he did so during the Missouri game, the 19th of his career. The mark was previously held by Antwone Savage, who eclipsed 1,000 yards in his 21st game. He has TD receptions in all but three games. Kelly had his best game for receptions this season against Colorado with seven, one off his career best.
Juaquin Iglesias has 26 catches with four or more grabs in four of the last seven games.
Manuel Johnson got his first career start in the game against Colorado and responded with two catches for 11 yards and one touchdown.
TRENCH TALK
Oklahoma lost four seniors (two were drafted) who gobbled up 41 starts last season in the offensive line, but there are returnees who either started or saw extensive action ...
The offensive line is young by any standard with three sophomore starters and one true freshman, but that is magnified by the fact that none of the four redshirted. Of the nine players who have seen action on the line this year, all but one have at least two years of eligibility remaining.
Two true frosh have starts -- C Chase Beeler (MT) and RT Trent Williams (MU, A&M).
ABOUT THE DEFENSE
Oklahoma has forced at least one turnover in 89 of Bob Stoops' 100 games and has at least one interception in 66 of the last 87. OU has multiple picks in 24 of its last 55 outings.
Opponents completed 50 percent of their passes in less than half of the Stoops-coached games -- 47 times in 100 games.
Oklahoma has nine shutouts under its current head coach. Opponents failed to score more than seven points 27 times and scored less than 14 points 51 times against OU.
With 11 starters in 12 games last season there were 132 combined starting assignments. Ninety-six of those return among the personnel on hand for the 2006 season.
RAISING THE RUF
Linebacker Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading tackler for a second straight season, is etching his name on a prestigious list ... the career tackles chart for OU linebackers. With 255, Alexander is No. 17 on a list that includes four Butkus Award winners. OU has produced more Butkus winners than any other program. Alexander needs 20 more tackles to move ahead of Mike Coats (1990-93) for the No. 16 position.
Alexander is trying to become the first player to lead the Sooners in tackles in consecutive seasons since Rocky Calmus did it three in three straight from 1999-2001.
HANDS-ON DEFENSE
Oklahoma defenders have touched the ball a total of 50 times in the form of 31 pass deflections, 11 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries. Of those 50, 17 (34%) have occurred over the last three games. In those three games, OU has 10 PBU, five interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
RANKINGS REBOUND
It has been a quantam leap forward for the Oklahoma defense during this season to the form that has been common under Bob Stoops' leadership.
After that Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 97 in total defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 14.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 89 in passing defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 13.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 82 in pass efficiency defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 14.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 75 in scoring defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 15.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 94 in rushing defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 46.
RIP AND RUN
Oklahoma has 11 interceptions with a return average of 8.4 yards and one touchdown. Last year, Oklahoma returned its 13 interceptions for 220 yards, an average of 16.9 yards, and three TD. The return average was third-highest in the Stoops era. The 2003 team set the standard with a 21.5-yard average on 24 picks.
ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS
Oklahoma's special teams under Bob Stoops ...
There have been 23 special teams TD, including 16 in the last 51 regular season games. Those 16 came via five different kinds of plays -- 10 punt returns, two faked FG, two blocked punts, a kickoff return and a faked punt. The special teams also own one safety in that span.
In total, OU has returned five kickoffs and 13 punts for TD on Stoops' watch (since 1999).
The Sooners have blocked 20 kicks, including two punts this season by Jason Carter. His block at Missouri resulted in a safety.
Last season OU ran a trick play, blocked a kick or tackled a punter in five of the 12 games.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Information on returns during the Stoops era ...
Kickoff Returns -- 43 returns of 25 yards or more with five touchdowns.
Punt Returns -- 43 returns of 15 or more yards with 14 touchdowns.
Interceptions Returns -- 56 returns of 10 or more yards with 15 touchdowns.
Fumble Returns -- Three returns of 15 or more yards with three touchdowns.
THE 2006 RETURN GAME
Oklahoma is averaging 22.6 yards on kickoff returns and 9.9 on punt returns. Last season, the Sooners averaged 18.2 yards on kickoff returns and 7.4 on punt returns.
Reggie Smith has 24 punt returns for a 9.8-yard average. In the Washington game, he picked up an 82-yard punt and returned it 62 yards. He has two of 25 yards or longer. At Oregon, he had a 55-yard kickoff return. He had a 61-yard return for a touchdown against Middle Tennessee.
Juaquin Iglesias has been an effective kickoff returner with seven for a 23.9-yard average. Four of his returns exceeded 30 yards.
The coverage teams allow just 5.0 yards on punt returns, 18.0 on kickoff returns.
LONG & SHORT OF THE PUNT GAME
Michael Cohen is handling the long punts for OU and Mike Knall the short ...
Cohen has 29 of OU's 38 on the season. He is averaging 40.9 yards with six downed inside the 20 (one at the 1). He kicked a career long 75-yarder against Texas A&M.
Knall has eight punts downed inside the 20 for the season. Used only in short field situations, he has only one touchback in nine kicks.
MCEACHERN GETS A GRIP
Back-up QB Hays McEachern, whose father played at Texas and whose mother was a cheerleader for the Longhorns, is the holder. He is the first QB to hold since Patrick Fletcher in 2000.
CRIMSON SNAPPER
OU lost Jacob Rice to graduation. He was the long snapper for all 52 games of his career. Derek Shaw has taken over the duties. The true freshman is perfect in 72 snaps this season.
SOONERS HAVE HART-LEY
K Garrett Hartley is in his third season in the starter's role. He won the job in the regular season finale of his true freshman season (2004) ...
Hartley is 15-of-16 on field goals and 31-of-31 on PATs this season. His lone miss was a blocked kick. He has kicked off 55 times with 25 touchbacks.
His field goals made percentage of .938 is second in the nation among kickers with more than 10 attempts.
The junior ranks No. 5 nationally with 1.67 field goals made per game and No. 14 in scoring with 8.44 points per game.
He made a career-high four field goals at Oregon.
Hartley has three career makes of 50 yards or longer. His long for this season is 46, which he has done twice.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES
DE C.J. Ah You: Season high six tackles vs. Texas ... his family prepared a Hawaiian BBQ following the spring game.
LB Rufus Alexander: Tops Oklahoma with 75 total tackles and was in double digits in the first two games ... tied school record five TFL vs. Middle Tennessee ... interception vs. Iowa State.
LB Lewis Baker: Recovered a fumble at Oregon ... career-high nine stops at Missouri.
C Chase Beeler: Started for an injured Jon Cooper vs. Middle Tennessee
DT Cory Bennett: Logged a career-high six tackles against UAB.
DE Larry Birdine: Missed the first 11 games last season with a torn left biceps muscle, but came back to play in the Holiday Bowl ... got the first sack Oregon allowed this season.
OT Branndon Braxton: The starter at right tackle before suffering a season-ending broken leg against Colorado ... from the same hometown as Bob Stoops -- Youngstown, Ohio.
DB Jason Carter: Got his third career blocked punt (and second this season) against Missouri ... started at Oregon and recorded a career-best 10 tackles.
SS Keenan Clayton: Started the first two games at strong safety.
DT Steven Coleman: Got first career sack (15 yards) and career-high four tackles vs. Texas.
P Michael Cohen: The long-range punter, he had no attempts vs. Middle Tennessee ... has at least one 50-yard boot in five games.
C Jon Cooper: Started first three games then missed the Middle Tennessee game due to injury ... regained starting role for Texas game.
TE Joe Jon Finley: Has added 41 pounds since coming to OU ... two or more interceptions in four straight games.
DT DeMarcus Granger: Two stops in each of the first three games.
TE Jermaine Gresham: A 22-yard TD reception vs. Middle Tennessee ... a 41-yard reception against Texas.
RB Jacob Gutierrez: Knee injury suffered in the Holiday Bowl kept him out of spring practice ... rushed for 173 yards against Baylor last season.
QB Joey Halzle: Mid-year transfer who has displayed an accurate throwing touch.
DB Nic Harris: Two interceptions at Oregon, the first of the season for the Ducks ... also got a pick against Middle Tennessee ... hit the QB on a pass that was intercepted by OU vs. Colorado.
K Garrett Hartley: See notes elsewhere in this release.
DB Lendy Holmes: Switched from WR to CB in the spring ... first CB start at Oregon ... career high two TFL vs. Iowa State ... three PBU, an interception and forced fumble at Missouri ... season-high eight tackles at A&M.
WR Juaquin Iglesias: Five grabs against Washington for 44 yards ... averaged 33 yards on kickoff returns against UAB and caught two passes for 10 yards ... five catches for 78 yards at Oregon ... four catches for 56 yards and one TD vs. Middle Tennessee ... five for 69 vs. Texas.
WR Manuel Johnson: Missed opener with an ankle injury, then had one grab for six yards vs. Washington ... two catches vs. Middle Tennessee ... career high five catches (69 yards) and first career rush against Texas (9 yards) ... TD grab against Colorado.
WR Malcolm Kelly: Had six grabs for 121 yards vs. Washington ... three for 66 at Oregon with a 31-yard TD ... five receptions for 164 yards and one TD vs. Middle Tennessee -- set OU quarter record with 134 yards (on three catches) in the first ... two TD catches against Iowa State.
LB Zach Latimer: Second on team with 46 tackles ... forced fumble vs. Washington ... had a 22-yard interception return for a TD vs. Middle Tennessee (also had picks against Colorado and Missouri) ... also had two sacks vs. the Blue Raiders.
LB Curtis Lofton: Challenging on the strong side ... first career start vs. Colorado ... career-best seven tackles at A&M.
OL Chris Messner: Starter at left tackle ... played some center vs. Middle Tennessee.
RB Allen Patrick: Became the starter when Peterson was injured ... 35 carries for 110 yards and one touchdown ... another 35 carries for 157 yards at Missouri ... 32 rushes for 173 yards and one TD at A&M.
DT Carl Pendleton: Career-high two TFL vs. Iowa State.
RB Adrian Peterson: See information listed earlier in the release.
LB Demarrio Pleasant: The starter at strong side linebacker ... recovered a fumble against Washington ... missed Colorado game with injury.
FB Ian Pleasant: Not related to Demarrio Pleasant ... first career reception at Oregon when he had two for 13 yards.
OL George Robinson: Soph who could play guard or tackle ... made first start in opener.
CB Reggie Smith: Has started for OU at CB, SS, PR and KR ... started 10 games at SS last season as a true freshman ... had a 62-yard punt return against Washington on a punt that traveled 82 yards ... 55-yard KO return and two PBU at Oregon ... 61-yard punt return for TD vs. Middle Tennessee ... has one reception for 12 yards.
WR Fred Strong: First three catches of career in the opener ... four in first start (Washington).
DE Calvin Thibodeaux: Season-high five tackles vs. Washington and Texas.
QB Paul Thompson: See notes earlier in the release.
CB Marcus Walker: Has battled back from two shoulder surgeries and will be a factor at CB ... he has four career starts there ... career-high four PBU at Oregon ... interceptions at Missouri and A&M (19-yard return vs. the Aggies).
FS Darien Williams: Career-high 13 tackles vs. Washington ... two sacks vs. Iowa State and one interceptions for 35 yards ... forced fumble at Missouri.
CB D.J. Wolfe: Recovered a fumble vs. UAB ... started the first two games, then lost his job only to regain it against Texas.
Tuesday, August 04
Tuesday, August 04
Thursday, July 23
Tuesday, July 21
