University of Oklahoma Athletics

Sherman on Playing the Sooners

Stoops on A&M Win, Texas Tech

November 11, 2008 | Football

NORMAN, Okla. -- Head coach Bob Stoops met with the media at Oklahoma's weekly football press conference on Tuesday afternoon. Although the Sooners have a bye on Saturday, OU is preparing to host Texas Tech on November 22 with conference and national title implications on the line.
 
Video Watch Complete Press Conference | OU Football Video Library
 
The visiting Red Raiders are No. 2 in the current BCS standings, while Oklahoma is No. 5. This will mark the first time since 2000 when Nebraska visited that a team ranked in the top five and a team ranked higher than OU played at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Huskers were No. 1 and the Sooners No. 3 heading into that game, which OU won, 31-14.
 
ABC announced that it will televise the game nationally at 7 p.m. The OU-Tech game will mark the 81st consecutive Sooner game on television. Visit Sooner Gameday Central for information on attending the game in Norman plus details on TV, radio and internet coverage for fans following the Sooners across the nation.
 
  Head Coach Bob Stoops

Opening Statement:
"Welcome everyone here on Veterans Day. I'd like to start off by recognizing our veterans and let them know how much we appreciate them. We greatly appreciate their service and sacrifice.

"That being said, looking back as always on last week's game with Texas A&M, it was another sound and good victory going down to College Station. Everyone knows that can be a tough place to play, luckily we played well in all parts of the game. I thought offensively, we were really special, being able to run the ball so well, as well as throw the ball as Sam Bradford always does. He accounted for five touchdowns once again; I think there were four throwing and one rushing.
 
"We had two guys over 100 yards rushing the ball again. DeMarco Murray again had his all-purpose yards right around 240, so that was another special day for him. Some other players of the game, we recognized were our offensive line and Matt Clap, just because of how well we ran the ball and protected the quarterback up there. As well as Ryan Broyles and Juaquin Iglesias had big days. Sam Bradford was also there as usual, and then DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown played great in all parts of the game.

"Defensively, we played great and came up with some big turnovers. We had another touchdown with the four turnovers and were great on third down lead to a good day. The defensive front four were really active limiting them to 20 something yards on the day and getting some good pressure. It was a really good overall performance and to win on the road like that in this conference says a lot.

"That leads into the big game coming up with Texas Tech. We have to make sure that we get a lot of work in this week to be as familiar as we can be with them, while still healing up and get some fresh legs as we go into our last two games."
 
On Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson:
"Kevin has done a fabulous job. It's obvious with the production and the way we have been playing, and really the way we have been able to produce while still burning the clock in the fourth quarter.
 
"He is a great leader, very detailed and smart on how he attacks people, and again, he would want to credit those guys in there with him. They are very detailed on how they want to attack certain schemes and the things they want to do. He knows where our strengths are and makes sure that we are taking advantage of them.
 
"I love that he presents a lot of attitude to our offense that I believe helps make them more physical and demanding of each other and what they expect of themselves. I could go on and on, but it has been pretty obvious that his background in the no huddle has shown."
 
On how he would rate the offensive line so far:
"Ask me in a couple of weeks. They have been one of our better lines thus far though. To me, it's hard to say which line is better than some of our lines in the past, but these guys are certainly up there."
 
On the defensive ends for next week:
"It's going to be the guys we have. We don't get to go out and claim people through free agency. So it'll be those guys along with Pryce Macon and a guy like J.R. Bryant as a stand up D-end and out there on the edge as well."
 
On the difference between this Texas Tech team and those of the past:
"I think it's the overall team. Mike's offense has always been highly productive, their defense has played well, and it's obvious too that their running game has been a big factor as well. I have always felt that that has been a factor that no one really talked about.
 
"The overall success of the whole team has moved them into this position. I have never believed that you are winning on one side of the ball. It is the production of all areas."
 
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