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University of Oklahoma Athletics
Oklahoma Readies for Bedlam Game
November 24, 2006 | Football
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OKLAHOMA vs. OKLAHOMA STATE
Oklahoma (9-2 overall, 6-1 Big 12) and Oklahoma State (6-5 overall, 3-4 Big 12) wrap up the regular season with a meeting in Stillwater on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. FSN will broadcast OU's 55th consecutive TV game to the nation. Please view this PDF to check broadcast plans for your local FSN.
The Sooners bring a six-game winning streak into the game, including last week's 36-10 triumph at Baylor. OSU enters this contest off a 30-24 loss at Texas Tech.
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THE SERIES
Oklahoma leads it 77-16-7. It's the most lop-sided series in the nation featuring two teams from the same state. At Stillwater, OU leads it 34-6-5. The Sooners have won the last three games in the series including last year's 42-14 decision in Norman.
THE COACHES
Oklahoma: Bob Stoops (Iowa 83) is 84-18 in his eighth season with the Sooners. He is 4-3 in bowls, 3-2 in January Bowls, 2-2 in BCS games, 55-11 vs. the Big 12, 30-8 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, 47-2 at home, 24-9 on the road, 13-7 on neutral fields and 24-9 vs. ranked opponents. He is 5-2 vs. OSU. Oklahoma State: Mike Gundy is 10-12 in his second season. He is 0-1 vs. Oklahoma.
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THE PROGRAM
Oklahoma's all-time record is 766-291-53.
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 521 victories.
Some 141 All-Americans and four Heisman Trophy winners have come from the Oklahoma program.
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TIES WITH OKLAHOMA STATE
OU running backs coach Cale Gundy and OSU head coach Mike Gundy are brothers. Each played quarterback at his respective school.
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OKLAHOMA'S MOST RECENT GAME
Oklahoma reeled off its sixth straight win overall, and its 16th without a loss in the Baylor series, with a 36-10 triumph at Waco last Saturday ...
The Sooners survived five turnovers, including one, a fumble, that was returned for the Bears' only touchdown.
OU had two big plays in a 42-yard interception return for a touchdown by Reggie Smith and an 88-yard kickoff return for a TD by Juaquin Iglesias.
Chris Brown became the fourth different player to start at running back for OU this season and the third to rush for 100 yards. He picked up 169 yards on 24 tries with one touchdown.
The Oklahoma defense was stifling, registering a season-high five sacks. Those sacks and four other tackles for loss helped the Sooners limit the Bears to -48 yards rushing, the second-best total in OU history.
FOURTH STRINGERS, KEEP YOUR HELMETS HANDY
Twice over the last two seasons Oklahoma's fourth-string running back has been pressed into action only to lead the team in rushing. Two weeks ago against Texas Tech, fourth-stringer Chris Brown (16-84, 2 TD) and Jacob Gutierrez (8-28) picked up the slack by combining for 24 carries, 112 yards and two touchdowns. Gutierrez, third on the depth chart, got the start.
Last year, when Adrian Peterson, Kejuan Jones and Donta Hickson were unavailable for the Baylor game, Gutierrez (30-173, 2 TD), the fourth-team back at that time, and Allen Patrick (15-49), the fifth-teammer then, combined for 45 carries, 222 yards and two touchdowns.
MORE THAN JUST A COUPLE WINS
While playing four of their last five on the road, picked up road wins over ranked opponents (Missouri and Texas A&M) on back-to-back weekends. The Sooners had not accomplished that feat (road wins over ranked foes on successive Saturday's) since the 2004 season when they won at No. 20 Oklahoma State (38-35) and at No. 22 Texas A&M (42-35).
WITH FIVE 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 1,331. Had he maintained his average of just over 155 yards/game, Peterson would currently be at 1,714.
SOONERS KEEP THEIR BALANCE
Oklahoma has 2,026 rushing yards and 2,107 passing yards, a difference of only 81 yards.
OU finished within one yard of perfect balance last season -- 2,130 rushing, 2,131 passing.
TRENDS
OU is 4-1 when it has more turnovers than its opponent, 3-2 when it has more penalties.
In six games since committing 11 penalties against Texas, the Sooners have committed a total of 25.
Oklahoma has won the time of possession stat in eight of 11 games.
When Baylor converted 3-of-16 third downs, the Bears became the seventh team this season to fall under 25% for a game. Iowa State had the lowest figure at 1-of-12 for 8%.
Six of Oklahoma's last eight opponents failed to reach 90 yards rushing.
Oklahoma has averaged at least 5.0 yards per play in all but two games. The Sooner opponents have averaged 5.0 yards per play just three times -- the first three games.
The Sooners' time of possession advantage has bulged to 34:12 for the season -- that's 4:12 more than an entire half. OU has had at least a seven-minute advantage in four games.
OU opponents have launched 45 or more passing attempts in three of the last four games.
The Sooners have logged more than 400 total yards in two straight games.
Oklahoma has rushed for more than 220 yards in three of the last four games.
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.
Last season, OU ranked No. 7 nationally by playing 12 true freshmen. Through 11 games this season, eight true freshmen have made it to the field. The only three with starts are C Chase Beeler and RT Trent Williams and RE Chris Brown.
Twelve of the 22 players that started against Baylor have at least two years of eligibility remaining. That also is true of 25 of the 54 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 47-2 at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium under Bob Stoops.
The Sooners have won their last 11 at home and 30 of the last 31. The two longest home field winning streaks under Stoops were 19 and 17 games.
Oklahoma was perfect at home in 2006 for the sixth time in Bob Stoops' eight seasons.
STOOPS ERA ATTENDANCE BEARING FOUR MILLION
With 507,366 in attendance for home games in 2006, Oklahoma has drawn 3,905,029 for Bob Stoops' 49 home games (started in 1999).
All 49 have been sold out and the Sooners have prevailed 47 times.
This year's average home attendance of 84,561 was the largest in school history, narrowly edging the 2004 average of 84,532. The top seven seasons for OU home attendance have come on Stoops' watch.
The crowd of 85,313 for the Texas Tech game was the largest ever to see a sporting event in the state of Oklahoma.
OU has exceeded its listed capacity of 82,112 in 23 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.
Under this coach, OU has 100 TDs of 25+ yards, 217 scoring drives of less than two minutes.
ONLY THE NAMES HAVE CHANGED
Oklahoma has survived injuries in its running game like few other teams. Adrian Peterson missed the last four games and Allen Patrick was out for the last two. Still, consider the statistics of OU's leading rushers in each of the 11 games so far. If Peterson, Patrick and Chris Brown were one player, they'd have these statistics ... 11 games, 310 rushing attempts, 1,628 rushing yards and 15 TD. That's 148.0 yards per game, 5.3 yards per attempt.
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.
Peterson is one of the greats to play college football, but OU has held up well in his absence this season averaging 171.7 rushing yards per game with him, 201.5 without him.
When playing without Peterson, OU is 8-1 and out-rushed each opponent. The Sooners had a 100-yard rusher in five of those nine 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 61.4% with 17 TD and seven INT.
n 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.
With 2,092 passing yards, he is No. 8 on the OU season list. He is No. 8 on the career list with 2,528. Thompson's 17 TD passes this season rank No. 6, while his 21 career scoring tosses rank No. 8.
He has at least one TD pass in nine of the 11 games and multiple scoring throws in eight.
Since Peterson's injury, Thompson has rushed 28 times for 96 yards and two touchdowns. Prior to the injury, he had 26 rushes for 14 yards.
Had a string of 14 consecutive completions against Texas Tech.
SUPER SOPHS CATCHING ON
Malcolm Kelly became the fastest OU receiver to 1,000 yards when he did so at Missouri, the 19th of his career. He has TD receptions in all but three games. Kelly tied the school record for receptions in a game with 11 against Texas Tech. He ranks No. 4 for a season in receiving yards with 839, No. 9 for a career with 1,310. His 51 receptions rank No. 9 in a season.
Juaquin Iglesias has 32 catches with four or more grabs in four of the last nine games.
Manuel Johnson got his first career start in the game against Colorado. He established career highs with eight catches for 67 yards against Texas Tech. He also had a TD in that game.
DRIVEN
By time, OU has had its longest two drives of the season over the last three games. The Sooners had a 10-play, 80-yard drive that consumed 6:00 at A&M, then reeled off a 14-play march against Tech that ate up 6:57.
TRENCH TALK
OU lost four seniors (two were drafted) who gobbled up 41 starts last season in the offensive line. The current starters include three sophomore and one true freshman, none of whom redshirted. Two true frosh have starts -- C Chase Beeler and RT Trent Williams.
ABOUT THE DEFENSE
Oklahoma has forced at least one turnover in 91 of Bob Stoops' 102 games and has at least one interception in 68 of the last 89. OU has multiple picks in 25 of its last 57 outings.
Opponents completed 50 percent of their passes in less than half of the Stoops-coached games -- 48 times in 102 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 52 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
LB Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma's leading tackler for a second straight season, is climbing the career list for tackles by OU linebackers. With 268, 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 seven 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 68 times in the form of 44 pass deflections, 14 interceptions and nine fumble recoveries. Of those 68, 33 (48.5%) have occurred over the last four games. In those four games, OU has 23 PBU, eight 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. 10.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 89 in passing defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 18.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 82 in pass efficiency defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 8.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 75 in scoring defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 19.
After the Oregon game, Oklahoma ranked No. 94 in rushing defense. Now the Sooners rank No. 20.
RIP AND RUN
Oklahoma has 14 interceptions with a return average of 13.3 yards and two touchdowns. 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 24 special teams TD, including 17 in the last 53 regular season games. Those 17 came via five different kinds of plays -- 10 punt returns, two faked FG, two blocked punts, two kickoff returns and a faked punt. The special teams also own one safety in that span.
In total, OU has returned six 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 -- 45 returns of 25 yards or more with six touchdowns.
Punt Returns -- 43 returns of 15 or more yards with 14 touchdowns.
Interceptions Returns -- 58 returns of 10 or more yards with 16 touchdowns.
Fumble Returns -- Three returns of 15 or more yards with three touchdowns.
THE 2006 RETURN GAME
Oklahoma is averaging 24.3 yards on kickoff returns and 8.6 on punt returns. Last season, the Sooners averaged 18.2 yards on kickoff returns and 7.4 on punt returns.
Reggie Smith has 30 punt returns for an 8.5-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 TD vs. Middle Tennessee.
Juaquin Iglesias has been an effective kickoff returner with nine for a 30.9-yard average. Five of his returns exceeded 30 yards, including an 88-yarder for a TD off a free kick at Baylor.
GOT-R-COVERED
Opposing teams have struggled to return kicks against the Sooners. The kickoff return average for the oppositioin is just 16.7 yards, while the punt return average is a scant 4.5.
Nine times this season an opponent has started a drive inside its own 20 after a kickoff return.
Prior to Stoops' arrival, OU foes had averaged at least 22 yards per kickoff return in five straight seasons. Since he arrived, the best opponent average came in 2001 at 18.9.
If they can maintain their current punt coverage figure, the Sooners will have held their opponents under 5.0 yards for a third straight season.
LONG AND SHORT OF THE PUNTING GAME
Michael Cohen is handling the long punts for OU and Mike Knall the short...
Cohen has 34 of OU's 44 on the season. He is averaging 42.7 yards with six downed inside the 20 (one at the 1). He kicked a career-long 75-yarder against Texas A&M and had a 72-yarder at Baylor.
Knall has eight punts downed inside the 20 for the season. Used only in short field situations, he has only one touchback in 10 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.
SOONERS HAVE HART-LEY
K Garrett Hartley is one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award ...
Hartley is 17-of-18 on field goals and 39-of-39 on PATs this season. His lone miss was a blocked kick. He has kicked off 61 times with 25 touchbacks.
His field goals made percentage of .944 is No. 2 in the nation among kickers with more than 15 makes.
The junior ranks No. 11 nationally with 1.55 field goals made per game and No. 14 in scoring with 8.18 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.
Ranks No. 9 in kick scoring points for a season (90), No. 8 for a career (184). He is No. 4 in field goals in a season (17), No. 7 for a career (32).
HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
History is one tough customer at Oklahoma. The tradition, so rich and so long-standing, is as daunting as it is impressive. To be among the best at Oklahoma is to be among the best in college football.
Such dramatics are lost on Bob Stoops. The Sooner head coach befriended the would-be albatross of OU's successful past from his first day on campus and remains steadfastly focused on tomorrow and the championship it holds.
It falls then to the observers and experts of the game to define Stoops' impact. Rarely have the pundits had it so easy.
Under Stoops, Oklahoma has won 84 games (84-18), spent 69 consecutive weeks in the national rankings, played in seven bowl games, four of the BCS variety, and captured three Big 12 crowns. His 2000 team won the national championship. On a playing field leveled by scholarship limits and parity, this era stares down the Oklahoma standard and does not blink.
The achievement dulls the memory of what Stoops inherited. When he arrived in Norman, the proud Sooner program was five years removed from a winning record, four from bowl play. Those atypical days of angst are so forgotten now that they might as well be mentioned with the land rush and dust bowl.
Stoops has been characterized as a grounded family man, brilliant big-game coach, relentless recruiter, disciplined leader and a person with uncommon perspective. His success emanates from a disciplined style true to his roots in the Steel Valley of Ohio, but he is far from inflexible. The principles to which he holds are the tried and true axioms of the sport ... mixed with cutting edge strategy and an appreciation for the calculated risk.
During his time, OU has produced recordsetting passers and receivers, three 1,000-yard rushers, suffocating defense and special teams units that rank among the most dynamic in the land. Every facet has been impacted.
His players have snagged 16 national awards, including the 2003 Heisman Trophy won by Jason White. There have been 54 academic honorees, 47 All-Big 12 players, 21 All-Americans and 29 NFL draft choices.
Stoops has won a total of 10 national coach of the year awards and has been Big 12 Coach of the year in three of his six campaigns in Norman.
This is one of the finest coaches in the history of one of college football's most storied traditions.
The son of a coach, Stoops was a four-year starter at Iowa. He began his coaching career in 1983 as a volunteer in the Hawkeye program under Hayden Fry. He worked through the ranks until he became co-defensive coordinator at Kansas State (1991-95) during Bill Snyders rein.
With the Wildcats, he played a key role in an impressive turnaround. During his final four seasons there, K-State was 35-12 with three bowl appearances. Eventually, he left for Florida and a three-year stint as Steve Spurrier's defensive coordinator. In 1996, he was part of a national championship team. It was with the Gators that the spotlight found Stoops and made him one of the hottest names in the profession.
Stoops, who was born Sept. 9, 1960, in Youngstown, Ohio, graduated from Iowa in 1983 with a degree in marketing. He and his wife, Carol, have three children: daughter, Mackenzie, and twin sons, Drake and Isaac.
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER NOTES
DE C.J. Ah You: Season high six tackles vs. Texas ... two sacks and four TFL at Baylor.
LB Rufus Alexander: Tops Oklahoma with 82 total tackles ... registered 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 ... his two sacks, including one a Baylor for -15, have resulted in 30 yards in losses.
P Michael Cohen: The long-range punter, he had no attempts vs. Middle Tennessee ... has at least one 50-yard boot in six 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 ... No. 4 on the team and first among the tight ends with 17 catches.
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 ... started against Tech.
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 ... five catches for 78 yards at Oregon ... four catches for 56 yards and one TD vs. Middle Tennessee ... five for 69 vs. Texas ... 88-yard kick return (free kick) for a touchdown vs. Baylor.
WR Manuel Johnson: Missed opener with an ankle injury, then had one grab for six yards vs. Washington ... two catches vs. Middle Tennessee ... five catches (69 yards) and first career rush against Texas (9 yards) ... TD grab against Colorado ... career highs with six receptions for 87 yards vs. Tech ... had a 32-yard TD grab vs. the Red Raiders ... missed Baylor game with injury.
WR Malcolm Kelly: 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 vs. Iowa State ... tied OU record with 11 catches (153 yards, one TD) vs. Texas Tech ... five receptions for 115 yards and one TD at Baylor.
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 ... missed Tech game due to injury.
DT Carl Pendleton: Career-high two TFL vs. Iowa State ... recipient of the NFF Post-Graduate Scholarship ... has become the legal guardian of his 10-year-old brother, Kierstan.
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 ... two interceptions for 94 yards, including one for a 42-yard TD at Baylor ... 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 ... first career interception came vs. Texas Tech.
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.
Friday, August 14
Wednesday, August 12
Wednesday, August 12
Tuesday, August 04
