Stoops, Sooners on OU-Texas Game

October 2nd Press Conference
   Coach Stoops Weekly Press Conference
   Senior Linebacker Lewis Baker on His Final Texas Game
   Senior Corner Marcus Walker on the Rivalry Game
   Sophomore Tackle Trent Williams on Game in Home State
   Sophomore DE Auston English to Start First OU-Texas Game

Sooner Gameday Central: Oklahoma vs. Texas
Access everything you need to know surrounding Saturday's game at the Cotton Bowl.

NORMAN, Okla. -- Head Coach Bob Stoops previewed Oklahoma's game vs. Texas during his weekly press conference Tuesday in the Kerr-McGee Stadium Club. The Sooners face the Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. (CT). The game will be televised live on ABC.

View video from head coach Bob Stoops, sophomore lineman Trent Williams, sophomore defensive end Auston English, senior linebacker Lewis Baker and senior corner Marcus Walker. Complete transcriptions are available below, courtesy OU Athletics Media Relations.

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OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
Opening comments:
“Last week, I thought we were playing well for a good part of the game. We came into the game and got to the point at halftime where it was 17-7, and in the second half came up with another interception and another score on the first play to make it 24-7. We felt like we were playing well, but everyone realized we had to continue to play well. Overall, we just didn't. I thought we broke down offensively. I think in the next five possessions we go interception, three-and-out, three-and-out, interception and then a muffed punt. When you have that few of opportunities in the second half, our defense ended up being out there too long. We also had some mistackles late.”

“Offensively, we had one play and then an interception, but at that time the score was 24-10 and we had a wide open guy in the seam (Juaquin Iglesias) that nine times out of ten we are going to hit. He is either scoring or in the red zone which makes the whole game flip after that. That is how close it is. The ball was probably not three inches too long, we tip it and they get an interception. From there, we couldn't move the ball offensively and rest the defense and move and change field position.”

“Defensively, we had a couple of opportunities where we were in situations where we had to stop them on fourth down when early in the game we did, but the last two times we didn't. We were just a few inches off on a couple of those plays. That is just the way it goes.”

“Give Colorado credit, they made the big plays late in the game to give them opportunities to win. We need to be able to execute better, make some first downs and makes some stops. Also, not turn the ball over. There are a lot of areas where we could play smarter. We had some foolish penalties that hurt us. That is what we are trying to do this week is address those issues and improving as we go through the year. I think the best teams go through the season and get better, we traditionally have.”

On preparing for Texas:
“We need to have a great week of practice here going into the game at the Cotton Bowl against Texas this week. Everyone knows what a great rivalry it is. It is always a big factor for us and having a chance to win the Big 12 South and the Big 12 Championship. Each year this is where our goals begin, so this is a big game and a big step.”

“Texas always has a good team. They have talented players everywhere and I like how they compete and how the play. We are looking forward to the challenge of it and excited about the opportunity again.”

On the inability to get Malcolm Kelly the ball against Colorado:
“It's a little bit of that and it's a little bit of what we did. We only took 42 snaps offensively in the ball game. We are usually between 70 and 80 and you take away half of those and who knows what else is out there and that is what no one wants to talk about and that part of it. Part of it is that he is double covered a fair amount of time. For instance, on the first touchdown to Juaquin Iglesias we worked all week anticipating different style of coverage where Malcolm is his first read. Malcolm was doubled covered so he was not getting it but Juaquin is wide open. So that it happens to be that way sometimes. Other times Sam had the option to go to him and could have gone to him and chose somebody else. That happened a few times and that is part of it with the few snaps we had.”

On Sam Bradford bouncing back after a loss:
“Sam was the least of our problems and he knows that. He had about four drops on him. He understands everything they are doing whether it is running the ball, throwing it, route selection or what they are playing against us. He understands that he needs to keep on executing like he can. He is fine.”

On the play of the corners versus Colorado:
“They had a bunch of tackles but they also had some other opportunities we felt they could have been a little better at, too. Whether it was missed tackles or closing on the ball and challenging it differently.”

On the run game against Colorado:
“You guys keep forgetting we turned the ball over. We lost three possessions. You don't get that many possessions and on the other one where we went three and out we ran it the first play and got seven yards and then we have Juaquin Iglesias second and three wide open. We ran the ball well and we ran it well with the few opportunities Allen Patrick did have, but we had few opportunities because we turned the ball over and lost possessions. I loved that call on second down. We picked up seven yards, and on second and three he was in the seam like you want. You just have to execute it. The next time we came back we ran the ball for three of four yards, and then on third down we got sacked and busted protection. People act like we had the ball and didn't run it, but we didn't have the ball.”

On the miscues on special teams:
“They weren't nearly as effective as they have been. We had some mistackles right at the point of attack where normally we would have made those tackles. We had some guys blocked at times. They needed to do better, it would have changed field position some.”

On Texas coming into the game this week struggling:
“It is not for me to talk about another team and what may not be going right. They would have to answer that. In the end, I still see a lot of really good players. I think last week they had some very different plays when they gave up two touchdowns in the kicking game and then had an interception for a touchdown. Those don't happen a lot. Those are a lot of points that are kind of out of the ordinary.”

On if Texas back-up quarterback John Chiles present a different aspect:
“Yes, there is just more quarterback run game. So that is the biggest factor. They run some of those plays with (Colt) McCoy as well, so you just have to work those and make sure we are sharp on them. Those plays are fairly common with most team in the shotgun. You just have to be sharp on all of them.”

On some OU players being humbled after the loss:
“Hopefully, it is disappointing if they were paying attention to the rankings. It is such a long year and we haven't done much yet. You have to earn that. Maybe how the first four games went, they were thinking 'this is how we do things,' but it is not that easy to do it, obviously. It doesn't take much for things to go wrong. I think sometimes the general public doesn't get how small of a margin it can take for things not to be executed properly.”

On if he should have called a timeout to ice the Colorado kicker's field goal attempt:
“Yeah, I don't know. I probably should have at the end. It is just one of those things. It didn't work for Florida, I know that.”

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SENIOR LINEBACKER LEWIS BAKER
One the confidence level of the team:
"It's still up there. We don't feel like we should have lost that game there last week. Obviously, all along we didn't play very well and Colorado did. Coach Stoops reminded us that we're still a great team and we can't let this one loss get us down because we still have seven or eight football games left to play.

On what it means to play back in his home state:
"It means a lot and I don't want to lose it. We already lost two and this being my senior year I want to go out with a win against these guys. It is in the middle of the state fair, it's being on national TV and it's just a great experience to be a part of . There's a lot of history and it's fun because a lot of the guys on the other team you went to high school with or played against them once. There's a lot of trash talking going on, but more importantly you have to play for your teammates, your school and the state so it's a fun game."

On emotions during the Colorado game:
"It was really an emotional game. More than anything to come out with a win, emotions just have to be in check. Mentally you have to be ready and physically you have to be ready. Whoever has the most consistency with all three of those will come out with the win every time."

On playing games with emotion:
"You have to keep your emotions in check. You have to play smart because the most physical team wins. You can't just play off of emotions every time. You've got to stay focused. When it's time to start you just have to be ready for it. Coach Stoops reminds us that you have to be emotional during a game, but you have to be able to control it, be smart and play physical. That's mainly what coach stresses."

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SENIOR CORNERBACK MARCUS WALKER
On his biggest concern personally this week:
“Personally, just going out to practice each day and making sure we prepare as well as we can and go out there and play a great game. There aren't that many things you can do on a football field that we haven't seen. We've been playing games for so long, we've seen mostly everything. Everything is a matter of execution now.”

On Texas' offense being similar to OU's:
“I wouldn't say they're a lot alike. From what I've seen on film I'd say there is a lot that's different.”

On the play of the defensive backs last Saturday vs. Colorado:
“I'm not going to speak for Reggie (Smith), but for me personally, I didn't play as well as I should've played. We just need to go out to practice, work hard, and redeem ourselves.”

On how he defends a receiver:
“It just depends on the calls and different things. It depends on how you position yourself and how you line up.”

On defending against a long pass play in the 4th quarter:
“It wasn't how I lined up or the call we were in, I just didn't play it as well as I should have. That's the bottom line.”

On the mindset going into the Texas game:
“The loss just helps wake you up and lets you know that you can be beat. I don't think it's any different mindset. We just have to work on those little things that we did in the other four games that we won.”

On the rankings changing the meaning of the Texas game:
“As one of the older guys I don't pay attention to the rankings. They don't mean anything. Anybody can lose to anybody.”

On what he tells Bradford about the “big game” atmosphere:
“It will be a hostile environment, but then again it's still playing football. It's not a different game, it's still football. He'll be a little excited but he's been a little excited before. He'll be fine.”

On Sam Bradford:
“He is very mature for his age. It's good for a quarterback to be calm in pressure situations. That's the best thing about Sam.”

On the matchup with Texas wide receivers:
“They have a lot of talent over there and so do we. That's what makes it a good rivalry.”

On Texas Quarterback Colt McCoy throwing four interceptions:
“You want to get pressure on the quarterback and Kansas State was able to do that. Colt McCoy is a great quarterback. He's probably one of the best.”

On playing Texas after a challenging game rather than an easy game:
“It would still be a big game; It's the Texas game. That's what Coach (Stoops) preaches all the time. Take one game at a time. All our focus and attention is on this game right here.”

On how this is a desperation game for OU and Texas:
“We are focused on this game, not a National Championship or anything else. The Big 12 Championship, the National Championship and the rankings won't mean anything if we don't win this game right here.”

On his favorite OU-Texas memory:
“I'd say 2004, the last time we won.”

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SOPHOMORE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TRENT WILLIAMS
On if the Texas game has lost luster with both teams coming off losses:
“I wouldn't say that. Really I think it makes it more intense. We are both trying to revive our seasons, so I think that makes everyone play even harder. I think it gives everyone an extra incentive to play hard. We have been practicing real hard to come out and play mistake free.”

On the adjustments made by the offense:
“We did make some proper adjustments, but the execution was just off. We know that everyone is going to have off days, we just couldn't afford to be off.”

On What Colorado did:
“They were real good at using their hands and grabbing you so that you couldn't get up to their linebackers. That is why their linebackers had so many tackles.”

On What He Has Seen in Texas on tapes:
“They have two good tackles. Their ends, No. 36, he is a real good player too.”

On QB Sam Bradford and his leadership abilities:
“From day one he commanded everybody's respect. In the huddle, you have to be looking dead at him when he calls the plays. He makes sure he gets eye contact with every person in the huddle. He earned everybody's respect. He is real mature. You would never know how old he was if you just met him off the field. One time we rolled up on him and he was in McDonald's drinking a cup of coffee and reading the newspaper like an old man. You would really never know how old he is. I think that his maturity gives us a lot of faith in him.”

On how he commands eye contact in the huddle:
“If he sees your eyes wondering off, he may raise his voice a little bit and then give you the eye contact to let you know that he wants you to be looking right at you.”

On OU/Texas game atmosphere:
“He was there last year. He did not get any snaps but he has seen the atmosphere.”

On both teams coming in this game after losses:
“It feels weird. I know everybody was keyed into this game from the beginning of the season expecting us to come into this game undefeated. I think we just have to overcome that. We can't change anything. We just have to better our season by beating Texas. Coach Stoops told everybody to get it out of the way because it's over.”

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SOPHOMORE DEFENSIVE END AUSTON ENGLISH
On what they need to do to bounce back:
“Mainly just moving on. It's time to get things corrected from last weekend and move on. This is a new weekend. We just have to go play. I'm just glad we have another game to play.”

On if the stakes are higher since both teams are coming off a loss:
“Sure. For us we have to win, just like any other game, we have to win.”

On if the team's confidence was shaken:
“Yes you are down for a little bit. We could be down on Sunday, but come Monday, coaches rule. We just have to go and get things back on track and win another football game.”

On Sam Bradford's leadership abilities:
“He has real good leadership skills. He doesn't act like a young guy. He definitely takes charge of what's going on in the huddles and what's going on outside. He doesn't let his age keep him down. He will speak up if he feels like something needs to be said.”

On how much he paid attention to the rivalry growing up and what it means to him:
“I really haven't been around it too much, until I got here and then I learned quickly how big a game it really is.”

On Gerald McCoy:
“The guy is an explosive human being. From the first snap to the end of the game, he gives it all. He has a lot of potential. I really like him, from his work ethic to just his presence. He is a great guy and he wants to get better.”

On the Texas Offense:
“They are pretty much the same offense we face every year. It's definitely their bread and butter. They have run it so long, they know what to do. Defensively, we are going to try to tackle them, but they are good at what they do.”

On Losing John Williams to Injury:
“Any time you lose a player of Jon's caliber it is going to hurt, but you can't dwell on it. We just have to go out there and try to pick up the slack, but you can't over compensate. You can't try to do too much. You still have to do your job and we have guys that can step in and do what needs to be done.”

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Courtesy OU Athletics Media Relations.

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