FB Coaches and Players on Boise St.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops and select assistant coaches and players spoke to the media during a press conference at the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club at the Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium a final time about Fiesta Bowl preparations before breaking for the holiday weekend.

Oklahoma makes its third trip all-time to the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day 2007 to face undefeated Boise State. The game will be played at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl marks Oklahoma's 40th bowl appearance overall and eighth consecutive under head coach Bob Stoops. At 24-14-1 (.628), Oklahoma ranks No. 3 on the all-time bowl victories list.

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Head Coach Bob Stoops
Opening statement:
“We've been practicing in a really good way. Practice over the weekend, we were still just doing a lot of good work against each other and then got into our game planning Monday. We're going through this week exactly like we would a game week. After Thursday's practice, we want to have 90 percent of what we're doing finished and have polishing meetings on Friday. We're going to let our players go home tomorrow until Christmas and we'll meet up in Glendale Christmas night.

“We had a very physical, good practice yesterday in full pads much like we have through the year on Tuesdays and working, of course, against Boise State's schemes. I feel like we're making very good progress. We need to finish to be where we need to be before the break but I feel like we're in really good shape. Our game plan is progressing. We just have to finish it up this week and polish it when we get out there.”

On how post-season practices benefit younger players:
“They're great. We have an advantage with the (Big 12) championship game practicing another full week and keeping your rhythm. Those practices we used intermittently for those two weeks, we used to keep sharp and to keep our timing.

“But also, for the bulk of those practices, we pulled out some seniors and put in a lot of young guys in their place. We got them a ton of repetitions in what we're doing and it's really been fun to watch. In several practices, we've got all our special teams lined up for spring ball already. Guys have already practiced them and who is in what position. We just pull out the seniors and spring ball is already in place. Several guys by position, same thing, competing for spots that were in there, looked good in what we're doing so it gives you a big jump on the spring.

“There's lot of them that are really doing well. You can just see how they've progressed though the fall to now. The more snaps we're giving them and the more plays they're making and the more sure of themselves they are. It helps a great deal.”

On Adrian Peterson's performance in practice:
“He looked really good. He never would wear a blue jersey, but we got him to wear a yellow cap just as a reminder in early practices so no one slammed into him. They've really taken that off the last few practices. He's been going through inside drill teams. He looks great, getting his timing and feet back. He's got fresh legs and he looks awfully fast.”

On Adrian Peterson's health:
“They had another X-ray today and I'm sure it just looks better and better. Everyone forgets, he was cleared to play for the Big 12 Championship game. We erred on the side of caution and he didn't playwe didn't want him to. Now, plenty of time has passed and according to doctors, that break is no different now than any other player. Just like anyone, if you fall on it wrong, he or anyone else could break it.

“I should have said this last week when I was asked about it, why would any senior that is going to the NFL draft play unless it's the national championship game? Brady Quinn is expected to be the very first guy taken in the draft. He's not playing for the national championship, why would he play? My point being: there are a lot of reasons why these guys want to finish their careers and finish their years and play. I'm sure (Peterson) is not the only guy that is going to be drafted if he chooses to go.

“The speculation is, why do you take a chance of being injured? Well, he's not injured now. So why would anyone take a chance of being injured? I think it's fair to say, it's not like we have to have him play. We have gotten plenty used to not having him play. So he knows good and well that there isn't any pressure here from anyone else that he needs to play. We've been more than fine without him. Here's a guy that has worked his heart out for me for three years and I'm going to tell him he can't (play)? That isn't fair.”

On Adrian Peterson's growth since his freshman season:
“He is much more mature in everything he doeshis pace in the line of scrimmage, his understanding of protections and receiving is much different. He is much more schooled in at it and sure of himself that way. He is stronger and faster then he was then.”

On advising players about the NFL draft:
“The whole time I've been here, I've tried to just make sure the players have accurate information. Where I feel players make a mistake is when they listen to people who don't know. Whether it be agents or media, it's just pure speculation of where they are going to be picked. We talk to the people who actually do the drafting and they give you a more accurate projection of what they really think they'll do.

“My point is to them is: I'm not telling you what to do. But if you're going under the assumption that you are going to be a top-10 pick, I'm here to tell you today, you're not going to be in all likelihood from what I understand.

“I spoke to Tommie Harris at his house. I said, Tommie, your reason to come back would to be a top-five pick. You're going to be a mid-first round draft pick. In your mind, your reason to come back needs to be you want another year in school and be a year closer to graduation. And maybe improve your position by eight picks.' Now that's a good reason if you look at the difference in money. At least make an educated decision. I get better information than just speculation out there. People want to say you lose money by staying in school. Not really. Most of the time, if you improve your position, you make a lot of money by staying in school.”

On Boise State's talent:
“They are a talented team across the board. You look at a lot of those seniors that are experienced and have played in a really good way. They are very sure of themselves in the way they have played. You can see they have been well-disciplined and schooled in what their techniques are and how they are expected to play.

“(They have a) very explosive offense. I read in the stats, since 2000, they're the leading scoring team in the country. They have been very productive offensively and that is a big challenge for us.

On Boise State's Ian Johnson:
“He is a very patient runner, and has very good feet and tight positions, so he can create seams and get some space. He's physical when he has to be and makes people miss him. He's got a little bit of all of that. He is just a solid, good running back. As you watch him, you see him make a lot of people miss him and get some extra yards.

In reference to Boise State's Ian Johnson, on ever having heard of a player coming back a week after sustaining a collapsed lung:
“No, it speaks to his competitiveness, will to play and toughness.”

On the keys of defense against Boise State:
“It's very important that we are smart in how we read their offensive formations and how they align and how we get ourselves set before the snap. We are fairly used to that. Nebraska shifted every bit as much. So did Oklahoma State and Colorado. We have been able to see a lot of that from a lot of people. You can watch it in practice now, look how natural it is to our guys now. We used to have to be walking them through it and now they're talking to each other. It's all the experience.”

Junior Running Back Adrian Peterson
On his health:
"My body feels pretty good. It will be fun to just get back out there with the guys and get back in my groove."

On some still questioning whether he will play in the bowl game:
"No questions. I will play."

On getting back to his normal running style:
"That's one of the biggest things, that's what I am keeping my focus on: trying not to think about the collarbone. Just going out there practicing, running hard like normal and not thinking about it."

On questions of why he would return after the injury:
"I have been playing this game since I was 7. A lot of guys want to speculate, say this and say that, he's not coming back and all that. Why should he play? But, I love the game, that's why I play. I love the game. I love the guys that I play with. I'm just ready to get back in the groove and get ready to play. There was no doubt, it was all time how long the process would take, just getting checked up, checking the collarbone and I got cleared, so I'm ready to play.

"The team, the passion we all have for the game. It's a game I love. If I could of played in the Big 12 Championship or the game before that and been cleared, I would of played.

"Just watching the running backs, being able to look from the sidelines, different plays that I normally run. Seeing how the holes open, different cuts, I have learned a lot."

On breaking the career rushing record at OU:
"No, I'm not thinking about it. It's crazy how everything happened. Breaking my collarbone, it was not anything I really thought about. I had eight more games to play and only 151 yards. Now that it's here and it presents itself, it will be nice to go out there and get the record. It's not something that I sit and think about all the time. But it's nice, something that comes along with playing the game. It's a record that has been standing for a long time, so it would be real nice to break it."

On the Boise State matchup:
"Boise State's a good team. You can get beat on any given day. We have been preparing ourselves to go out and play a good game just like each week. Just go out there and take care of business, everything else will take care of itself."

On the decison about turning pro:
"Me and Coach Stoops will set up a meeting to talk, hopefully in the next couple of days. I love the players; I love all my coaches. I wouldn't mind at all coming back. The decision won't come until after the bowl game. All my focus is on that right now."

Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables
On Boise State quarterback Jared Zabransky:
”The guy's got great legs and he finds a way to get out of the pocket, improvise, and make plays on the perimeter with his arm. He's a great athlete, a great threat at running the football. They've got a designed quarterback run game, some draws and the option game and, obviously, they wouldn't have those in their offense if they didn't feel good about him as a runner.”

On Boise State's receivers:
“They've got good speed and good size. They do a good job of distributing the football and using all of their weapons. They're fast guys, like everybody we've played. They have good, quality depth and they do a good job of utilizing those guys in the right ways matching up a big receiver on a smaller DB and throwing up fade routes or maybe using their fast guys in the slot. Anymore, you get a guy that's 4.4 or 4.5 (in the 40-yard dash) and knows how to run routes and they're going to be effective.”

On Boise State running back Ian Johnson:
“He's averaging over six yards per carry. We haven't seen anybody this year who's averaged almost six and a half yards a carry. He breaks a lot of tackles; he's got a great feel for the game; he's a good, patient runner with great lower body strength and can really accelerate that allows them to have great balance in their offense.”

Quarterbacks Coach Josh Heupel:
On coming back to OU:
“I had hoped to be back here one day because I truly believe it is a unique setting for college football and great tradition. To be a part of this staff, obviously the way they coach things and how Coach Stoops has got things going here it was a great opportunity.”

On Paul Thompson:
“I had known Paul, having been here for a year and a half. I had gotten a chance to be around him, knew what kind of player he was and I had a chance to see him grow at wide receiver in the spring and to continue to grow in confidence out there on the field. When he came back and made the switch, we all believed that he was going to be extremely successful and he took the job and ran with it. His composure, his leadership, his confidence they are all things that transform through the huddle and allowed us to go out there and be successful on Saturday afternoons.”

Senior Quarterback Paul Thompson:
On practice:
“It has been real well. Guys are focused. We've got that sense of urgency back that we have going into a game. We are preparing as if we have a game Saturday. We are focused in and guys are getting really excited.”

On Boise State:
“They are a physical team that has got some big guys up front. They have a real athletic quarterback and are overall a good team. With their record, and what they have done these past couple of years and in 2000, they are just a great all-around team.”

On Adrian Peterson's growth over the years:
“He is more patient than when he came in. His legs were all over the place when he was running. It was hard to find out where he was going to be sometimes on handoffs. There is not too much of that now. Pass protection has definitely been one of the things that he has focused on and that he has done really well at.”

On watching the younger quarterbacks in practice:
“It made me feel old because I can remember when Nate Hybl and Jason White were the guys sitting back and watching. Now, I am one of those guys. I definitely enjoy having a little break as well as rest. It is nice to see the young guys develop and see where this team is going.”

On Boise State's focus going into the game:
“I am not going to speak for their team or what their mindset is, but when you are not getting recognized you do get chip on your shoulder. You want to prove something to everyone else. To me, they have proven a lot these last couple of years, again, losing one game last year and one or two in the last three years. People have announced them as underdogs, but to us it is a very quality opponent and one that if we don't prepare for, we could really get beat.”

On Boise's senior quarterbacks and receivers experience playing together:
“That is really big. You see that all over college and in the NFL, a quarterback and receiver get in there. It kind of takes a while but they get in sync. The more and more you play with guys, the more and more you are at that starting position as a quarterback, the more of a leadership role you have. The guys around you follow more and you definitely have a sense of synchronization with all of the players. That is really big. They have played in a lot of games and lot of good games as starters. That is going to play to their advantage.”

On the ideal ending to his career:
“It would end with this win, a Fiesta Bowl Championship. That is how I want it to end, with a Big 12 Championship and a BCS Bowl Championship. That would be a proper way to finish.”

Junior Kicker Garrett Hartley
On the matchup with Boise State:
”There's always a fine line between being confident and being cocky, and that's definitely not what we're about. We respect Boise State and we just have to be confident in ourselves and go out and play the game the way we're capable. It would be nice to end the year on a positive note to wrap things up.”

Calvin Thibideaux
On the best bowl memory during his career:
“Freshman year, I didn't get a chance to participate in the Rose Bowl. Then, we lost the two National Championships. So, the Holiday Bowl last year I actually got a chance to contribute on everything and we got to finish the season up on a good note. That's probably my best memory.”

On his bowl trips:
“We had a lot of fun when we went out to the Rose Bowl on the “Jay Leno Show” and everything. Going to Disneyland and stuff like that, we had a lot of fun out there. The more activities, the more fun.”

On the how special it has been to go to all the BCS bowl games:
“It is really special. There are a lot of people who will never say that they have been to all four BCS bowls, so it is pretty big.”

On Boise's offense:
“They are pretty good. They are really disciplined; they have got great schemes and things like that. We have got to make sure that we are prepared.”

Jon Cooper
On the mentality of going through different running backs:
“We try to keep the same mentality that we want to run the ball no matter who is in the back field. (Offensive line) Coach (James) Patton has kept that going for us.”

On what he hopes for the holidays:
“I've got everything I could ask for. A bowl win for a late New Year's gift would be nice.”

Sophomore Safety Reggie Smith
On the preparations for Boise State:
"Right now we are doing a lot of film, lot's of film studies. Been in there everyday, every morning until about 11. Then from 11 to 12 we have a little time off before coming back and watching some more film right before practice."

On Boise State's talented wide receivers:
"I think it might actually be a good thing. Sometimes you get in there thinking there are only certain series you have to watch, here you have to watch them all. You can't take for granted any play. You have to be all over those receivers at all times. Can't think of his name, but No.4 is a big receiver. You've got to be physical with him otherwise he can catch the ball and make some big plays."

On Boise State Quarterback Jared Zabransky:
"I have seen him play a couple times this year and last year and he makes plays. That's the good thing he does -- makes plays -- knows how to get his team to win. Breaking the pocket and making plays. After he gets out of the pocket, finding his receivers deep or in good routes."

On Boise State's offense:
"Nebraska did the same thing. We have seen it in the past few weeks. OSU did it a little bit. We have gotten used to jump shifts, trades. It makes it a little difficult because you have to know where you need to be when they do move at different times."

On having big game experience in the past:
"I think it will be big. We just need to come out and play our game and thats what we are going to do."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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