Completed Event: Football versus Illinois State on August 30, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 3
Final
Football
35
vs Illinois State
3
University of Oklahoma Athletics
Sooners Prep for Road Test at Missouri
October 19, 2010 | Football
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View video from the press conference by clicking the links to the right. Quotes are available below.
Two of just 10 remaining unbeaten teams in college football, Oklahoma (6-0, 2-0) and Missouri (6-0, 2-0) square off in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday, Oct. 23. The game kicks off at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be televised by ABC.
For complete coverage throughout the week, details on attending the game and broadcast options for following the Sooners from around the world, visit Sooner Gameday Central.
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Head Coach Bob Stoops |
Opening comments:
"Going back through and reviewing the Iowa State game, as I said after the game, I was really just pleased overall with our players performance and preparation through the week and really focusing and concentrating on us and our part and what we can do to continue to improve and get better as a team. I thought we showed a lot of good steps in doing that. I'm most pleased with what I think was three penalties on the day, maybe an all-time low. Just the execution on both sides of the football was really solid and good.
"Offensively, Donald Stephenson and Ben Habern up front were credited with excellent games and were players of the game along with, of course, Landry Jones, just another huge day with amazing efficiency. And also will all of the tempo on the line, I think we had one time where we didn't have enough guys on the line of scrimmage the whole day. (Jones) is handling all of the calls, the checks, the tempo of the line really just wonderfully and spreading the ball around, throwing great balls. He's just got a great arm and really getting a good feel for everything that he's doing.
"DeMarco Murray, another huge day. Just strong running the football. Setting the touchdown record at Oklahoma is really special, everyone would acknowledge that with all the great, great players we've had here. It shows all that he's brought to this program and his dedication and commitment so we're really proud of DeMarco to have that record. I guess Landry set a record also for passing percentage with at least 25 attempts. And then Ryan Broyles as well with 15 catches, almost 200 yards, just sensational again. The guy just amazes me. I can't even tell you how many times I'll say in a game, 'That guy is absolutely incredible.' Just that way that he goes after the football, his body control, he's got amazing hands. Those guys were really excellent. A bunch of guys around them played well, everyone out there.
"Defensively, a very solid excellent performance anytime you shut someone out. Iowa State has moved the ball on a lot of people. Travis Lewis was the player of the game along with Frank Alexander. A lot of guys up front also played well, Stacy McGee and Adrian Taylor, all of the secondary guys, Tom Wort. Really everyone when you have a shutout. Those guys really did well. All in all, a good solid day.
"It brings us a step closer here, now 6-0 going to Missouri, a team that's also 6-0 and is playing great, coming off of a really excellent win down at A&M. They played really efficiently and strong in all parts of the game. Going up there to play will be a big challenge, but you have to admit a really exciting one at that. I know our players look at it that way. You're going up there with both teams in such a strong, good position. That's what you want. When you go through the year each game is more important the more you win. That's the position you want to be in. I know our players have embraced it, they're excited about it, recognize the challenge that it is. If you're going to have a chance to be a championship team you need to play these kind of games and you have to play them well. It'll take a good effort on our part all through the week on getting a good week of preparation and then go in and play like we're capable of."
On being 6-0 when coaching against Missouri:
"I don't see anything to it. The way I've always looked at games and each year, to me, is every year is different. Just because somebody has done something in the past never guarantees it. We've had some other runs on some other people. I've always said that each year is its own. You have to earn it in its own way in its own right. That's how we look at it. What's passed has passed. All that matters to us is what's coming here in several days."
On Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert:
"I see him operating as efficiently as Chase Daniel did. I know Chase was there for a longer period of time so Blaine is still working on that. What you've seen to this point is a guy, just like (Daniel) was, is just very efficient, smart on where he wants to go with the football. They understand their offense and he executes it well. He throws a good ball, he has good pocket presence, all of those things."
On Missouri's defense:
"They're structurally very sound and disciplined. We've played them in a few championship games the past few years and they've had great defenses coming into the game. They're very structurally sound, disciplined in how they play, they mix it up when they're coming after you and when they're not, they mix up their coverages and how they work it. This isn't unusual for us to see a strong defense by them. You're not in the Big 12 Championship for a few years in a row without playing good defense. So we've seen this and how they play and always respect how they play defense."
On being No. 1 in the BCS standings:
"What's it matter? I don't remember anybody talking about a goal that Oct. 15 we want to be number one in the BCS, that doesn't matter at all. What matters is Missouri. We've played two conference games and our whole focus and attitude is on them. That's it."
On if the No. 1 ranking is a reward for OU's tough schedule:
"Well I guess. I haven't put much thought into it besides beating Missouri, that's the only way you're going to stay there. But I'll say this, we've been in the position before. We've managed it, for the most part pretty well. Keeping our focus on the team in front of us and especially the quality of the opponent that we need to go there and play. It's a big deal."
On if close games away from Norman help prepare OU for playing at Missouri:
"It matters. Those places that we've been to on road and the pressure situations, it has to matter to some degree."
On if Landry Jones is learning from fourth quarter mistakes:
"Well it's just natural progression and experience on the field. Guys learn from experience and Landry is a smart guy. We cannot be more elated with how he's playing and progressing and he's only going to keep getting better."
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Junior DB Jamell Fleming |
On the team's mentality going to Columbia:
"I haven't been up there before so this will be a new adventure for me. I know a lot of the other players haven't been up there either. We're just ready and excited to go up there."
On the defense's improvement over the last few games:
"We just try to get better and be more consistent in every game and on every play. That's what we work on every day in practice."
On if OU's two road games have helped prepare the team for Missouri:
"I think it helped us to be calmer with the fans and the environment. A lot of people had been to Texas so it really wasn't too big of a change but that Cincinnati game I think is going to help us."
On Missouri's offense:
"They have nice size across the board, pretty good skill athletes, they look like a pretty consistent team. They know what they are doing and they look prepared in every game. That's what I see when I watch film."
On Blaine Gabbert:
"He looks like a pretty consistent quarterback. He has nice size and a pretty good arm."
On being ranked No. 1 in the BCS:
"It's not like it's the end of the season when it means we will get to go to a bowl game or the National Championship. In the middle of the season, it's not really that big of a deal. I knew we were going to be ranked pretty high, but I didn't think we were going to be ranked No. 1."
On Bob Stoops being undefeated against Missouri:
"I didn't know that actually, that Coach Stoops has done that since he has been here. You really don't realize it. Confidence really isn't a factor because other teams are confident and other teams think the same things we think. I don't think it's about confidence, I think it's about how you prepare."
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Junior WR Dejuan Miller |
On how the receivers are progressing:
"I think we've realized now that we're at the halfway point of the season. Each game gets bigger and each game means more. So as a receiving core, I think we're developing better focus and well-rounded concentration. We know if we possibly win out, the prize is there and we just have to go get it. This week is a big challenge for us."
On Landry Jones:
"Landry is definitely taking his game to a new level. Just as far as his poise and his accuracy in where he's placing the ball. His overall confidence is definitely stronger over the past two weeks."
On Missouri's defense:
"They're a fast, athletic defense. They fly around to the ball. I saw a little of the [Missouri-Texas A&M] game last week and they looked really good on defense. We're going down to a hornet's nest. It's going to be a tough road game. Missouri is a formidable opponent. They're really good. We have to go down there and make no mistakes. We have to play mistake-free football."
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Junior OL Donald Stephenson |
On the improvement of the offensive line:
"We're playing with a lot more confidence, a lot harder and smarter. You can tell a lot of guys have been watching more film and investing more in that throughout the week. It is a pretty big difference between September and now."
On Missouri's defense:
"They're pretty good. They fly to the quarterback. They make good plays and get turnovers. That's a reason they have a top defense. We just have to invest so we can be prepared for Saturday.
"They've got a lot of speed on defense. We have to work all week to adjust to that speed. They know how to get to the quarterback, we noticed that. We're going to have to find out how to stop that on Saturday."
On why the offensive line has gotten better:
"We weren't playing up to our ability. We were doing good, but not as well as we thought we could. On film, we missed some small things. Working on the small things has been a big part of our improvement over the last few weeks."
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