Stoops, Sooners Preview OU-Texas

NORMAN, Okla. -- Coach Stoops and Oklahoma players met with the media Tuesday in advance of this week's showdown against Texas. The Sooners and Longhorns kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. ESPN's College GameDay will also be on site at the State Fair of Texas.

For complete coverage throughout the week, details on attending the game and broadcast options for following from around the world, visit Sooner Gameday Central and our OU-Texas FAQ page.

Head Coach Bob Stoops

Opening comments:
"Recapping the game last week game against Ball State, I was just pleased with the overall business-like approach we took the whole week. We wanted to come out and play to the levels we were capable of and for the most part I thought we did that.

"Landry Jones was our offensive player of the game. Once again Landry had around 425 yards and five touchdowns. It was just another good night. It's good to see guys like Jaz Reynolds up again and having a big night. Ryan Broyles set the Big 12 record for receptions, so again we are awful proud of Ryan and what he continues to do. He is a special player and had another big night with some big catches. Some guys that really played well up front were Gabe Ikard, Stephen Good and Lane Johnson. Gabe did well first time starting at center for the whole game. I thought he did an excellent job. He is a bright and smart guy. He will continue to do well in this position. Of course having 62 points, a bunch of other guys really played well too.

"Defensively the player of the game was Tony Jefferson with three interceptions in three straight series and almost had a fourth. Ronnell Lewis had a couple of batted balls and played really disruptive in there also, so Ronnell was also a player of the game. Again, holding them to six points meant that our guys were playing really well.

"I thought overall the game was good. The coverage on special teams was good. Tress averaged over 45 yards per punt. Patrick O'Hara hit the ball well. Michael Hunnicutt kicked well. He missed one field goal, but he made a couple of other ones that were good. I thought that was all good.

"That gets us to where we are now with a record of 4-0 going into the OU-Texas game, which everyone is excited about. Texas is also having a great year being 4-0 as well. It's where you want to be. I could sense it in the locker room right after the game, our players were already anxious about it and anticipating it. Now, it's down to doing the work during the week to prepare for it. I know our guys had a good day yesterday in practice and our guys are looking forward to the challenging of going down there and playing them."

On the pressure for this weekend:
"If there is pressure on us I welcome it. We are more than capable of handling it. The pressure is there. Coming into this game, this is what you want. We want to be there getting after it. It's exciting coming into this atmosphere. It's exhilarating. It's something you want to feel. Players are usually more anxious this week in practice. There is more intensity, urgency and anticipation for them to get down there."

On the offensive line:
"They've done really well. I still feel that we are progressively getting better. We are doing well at running the football and we've done fairly well at protecting the quarterback. We had another game with zero sacks, so we have to keep that up. I anticipate us continuing to improve the run game."

On players wearing Austin Box's number:
"It's been a good inspiration. It's been a good way or a proper way, we feel, to remember him and to carry Austin's spirit with us. Especially those young guys that were close to him in the past this has been a really positive for them. Travis has really been the one in charge of choosing who wears No. 12 each week. It's kind of his deal. He is the boss of that. I listen to him on that call."

On Kenny Stills and Ryan Broyles:
"They are probably in that category with Mark Clayton, Brandon Jones and you have to add Mark Bradley to the mix also. Kenny and Ryan are right there with those pro players. Hopefully we keep getting guys like Jaz Reynolds to help these guys like we had back when Clayton, Jones and Bradley were here. Ryan Broyles takes his craft really serious. He is like an artist with how he runs his routes and creates space."

On Tony Jefferson:
"We knew he was really special. Just the plays that Tony makes are impressive. There are things that you just can't coach and he really has a knack for that. The way he plays and the plays he makes could be comparable to Roy Williams. I don't want to put that pressure on him just yet, but it looks like he maybe headed that way."

LB Tony Jefferson

On his recruitment coming out of high school:
"No, they didn't mention him (Roy Williams) when I was being recruited. I wasn't sure if I wanted to play defense or offense. So, I kind of came in as an athlete and then found my place on the defensive side of the ball."

On teammates' reaction to the possibility of the fourth interception playing Ball State:
"The guys were just mad at me the whole day. They were saying that I could've had four, (instead of) tying the record at three. I mean three is cool, but I think I should have four and probably could've took that one back for six. That was just one thing I was pretty frustrated at myself for too. Honestly, the fourth one was the least difficult. I just completely dropped that one."

On the impact of turnovers during games:
"Turnovers are just as big as big gains on offense, or even better. When you get a turnover it's completely towering over the opposing offense's demeanor. It just ends their whole drive whether they're having a good one or a bad drive. Now, you put your offense in a better position with momentum to go down there and score. So, getting turnovers and stopping offenses on third down is pretty good."

On meaning of rivalry now in his second year:
"Last year was more of hearing about it being a big game, but now it's become more of a rivalry to me. It's Texas and now I'm starting to feel all the things that are going on and sense how bad we want to beat each other. Now I know how important the rivalry really is. I just feel the excitement. We're both undefeated and we've got a lot to prove out there. I think it's going to be a real good game."

On history of defensive plays in this rivalry:
"Well, I know all about Roy Williams and his superman move that he did, which is down in history. But I just plan to go out there, make plays, and help our team win. I know how important this is not only to our team, but to our fans and coaches as well. As a whole team, we're looking forward to going out there and playing with our "A" game."

On what this game meant to Austin Box:
"I know this game meant a lot to both him and his family. I was watching highlights of the game back when Austin was playing and you just see the fire when he played. This is just another reason why we need to win. We know Austin is going to be with us, and he really loved the game. I can remember how hyped up he was last year to get out there and play in this rivalry."

DE Ronnell Lewis

On excitement to play Texas this Saturday:
"Oh yeah, I'm real pumped. It's an exciting game and always is. We just been practicing real hard and looking forward to it. There's a lot of excitement with the team, coaches and fans. We're just looking forward to getting out there and playing."

On the game's emphasis after Texas' finish last year:
"We knew that Texas was going to have a grudge and chip on their shoulder coming in this year. We knew that they were going to prepare for us all year and like we normally do. We're going to prepare for every team and perform to the best of our abilities. We know it's going to be a dog fight."

On the win over Ball State getting them back on track:
"We got things on track. We started to get back to practicing and watching film and watching the way we carried ourselves. Leading up to that game, we carried ourselves differently and felt like we were more prepared and just ready to play."

On what they've seen of Texas on film:
"Well, that's not for me to really say. I'm going to leave that more to the coaches to comment on that. But, they're a pretty solid team and we know they're 4-0 in their play so far."

WR Kenny Stills

On how he knew this rivalry was special, even though he is from California:
"Just with my relationship with Coach Norvell before I got here. He talked about being in super bowls and I've been a part of other rivalries such as USC versus UCLA, and I went to Michigan versus Ohio State. I was always told this was the best rivalry and I experienced that last year and I definitely agree."

On what separates this game from other rivalries:
"I just feel like the speed and the tempo are different. We are out there and we are going and running play after play after play. Also, the stadium and how it is split like that, and there are always cheers going on, it is just different. You usually don't hear that at other rivalries and that is what separates this game from the others."

On what he remembers most from last year in his first OU/Texas game:
"Just the excitement and the anticipation build up to the game. It is a whole different feeling and a whole different atmosphere. Like I said, being split down the middle and the cheering after every play … if you mess up, the other team is cheering and if you do well, your crowd is cheering. It is just different and a whole different atmosphere than any other game."

On finally having all of the receivers out on the field:
"Yeah, it is great to have Trey (Franks) back, myself back and Jaz (Reynolds) showing up well. We are excited to get out there and show what we have. We talked about being the best receiving core in the nation and that is what we are striving for. We are excited to get out there and play and having Trey is going to be huge for us."

On the matchups they will be facing on Saturday:
"They have their veteran guys at safety and then have some younger guys at corner. They have been doing a good job, they are undefeated and they are always going to have play makers down there. We are excited to get down there and to work toward that challenge."

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