Stoops, Players Talk Bedlam Tuesday

Coach Stoops |

Ryan Broyles |

Roy Finch |

Ben Habern |

R.J. Washington

NORMAN, Okla. -- Coach Stoops and Oklahoma players met with the media Tuesday in advance of this week's Bedlam game in Stillwater. The Sooners and Cowboys kick off at 7 p.m. (CT) Saturday on ABC.

For complete coverage throughout the week, details on attending the game and broadcast options for following the Sooners from around the world, please visit Sooner Gameday Central.

Head Coach Bob Stoops

Opening comments:
"I was pleased with the overall win, and the conditions that there were. If anyone was at the game, or outside whatsoever, they know what I am talking about. Between the 50-60 mile per hour winds, the drizzle throughout the game, the conditions were just different than any I have ever been in during the 13 years that I have been here. I was just pleased we really ran the football well. We had right around 250 yards rushing, minus 20-30 yards where we missed our snap on the punt. It was really a solid day in that way. I am glad about the improvements we have made.

"Landry (Jones), I thought, managed the wind really pretty well. We had more drops than usual and part of that was due to the conditions, but it still was a good win. Defensively, to keep them to one touchdown for the entire day, and that was set up by the muffed punt, it was a good solid day for them.

"Tom Wort, had his best game maybe since he has been here. He just had a great game. Frank Alexander was again one of our defensive players of the game. He was really disruptive and cause that first fumble to tie the game. We just started the game in a great way. Corey Nelson, playing at the d-end spot, that he hadn't played before at least not in the way that we normally play him, had a great game. Travis Lewis also played well.

"Offensively, our players of the game were Brandon Williams, Dejuan Miller and Tyler Evans. They all had special games, along with a few other players as well. I thought Michael Hunnicutt hit the ball great with the wind conditions. He continues to do really well.

"This gives us the opportunity here coming into this week to go to Stillwater and compete for another championship. I would like to say, I along with I hope almost everybody, continues to keep the families involved in the tragedy there at Oklahoma State in our prayers and thoughts. I know I do with Coach Budke and Serna and their families. The whole thing is just really sad. Even though you are rivals, that is way too close to home. That's just really sad. That's just really difficult.

On playing OSU this week:
"This game is really exciting. Going to Stillwater to play for the championship has really worked out well. Other teams are playing their conference championships that day, and here we are in the same light, so that is really positive. I think that for the conference and the schools to have a chance to win another championship and make it to a BCS Bowl is really special. It will be a tough challenge going back-to-back years in Stillwater against a really good football team. They have had a great year."

On OSU as a team:
"Their production offensively has been special. They throw the ball and run the ball well. Defensively, they are sound. They have caused a ton of turnovers on the year. That has been one of the bigger factors for them this season. It will be important for us to protect the football and not turn it over. Defensively, we need to play soundly. Hopefully we can take away their run game, and get to the quarterback."

On what the secondary needs to do:
"We need to be able to cover people. We need to be in the zones we are supposed to be in. Have some discipline and responsibility on where they are going and where we need to go. They have been good about studying where they would like to be, and hopefully we get pressure on them."

On Frank Alexander's play:
"Frank has had a huge year. Everybody has recognized it. He is playing different than he did a year ago. He is just being disruptive. His pressure, the sacks, batted balls and tackles for losses has improved. The fumble he made for a loss the other day, he has just been very good. He has had a huge year for him and for us."

On if OU winning eight straight against OSU changes his team's mindset:
"Each and every year is its own unique body of work. You have to earn it every single time. You have got to have a good week of practice. You have to do what is necessary in the moment, in crunch time, to make the plays that will make the difference. Does it give you confidence or an attitude that sure we are ready for this? Well, a lot of these guys were just there a year ago and were in that moment where hey, what has to be done and how they have to do it. Sure, it gives them some confidence that we can do it again."

On OSU QB Brandon Weeden:
"I have always thought he has run their offense in a great way. I see him being very smart going through his read progressions and seeing the field. You can tell he is very comfortable in what they are asking him to do. He has had an excellent year."

Senior WR Ryan Broyles

On progress in ACL rehab:
"It's going, and I see improvement every day. I'm off of crutches, so that's a blessing."

On missing the last three games of his senior season:
"I have no regrets at all. I've played a lot of games here and gave my all every time I went out there. It does stink not being able to play the rest of the season, but I think our guys have a good level of perspective on their heads and going into this last game, that's where it helps out."

On leadership role with the team despite his injury:
"Oh yeah, I'm out there every day. I'm still coaching the guys up, and out there at practice doing rehab for the first half and coaching the guys in the second half of practice. I still help them with play calls and want to know when guys mess up. I give them my two cents here and there. They just look to me to get out there on the field and not just talk about football, but having that sideline personality."

On looking back and deciding to return for this season:
"I've played nine games and had fun. I've grown a lot since last season, and really made some big steps in my life. One of those being, I now have a fiancé. I think that if I had gone to the NFL, things would've been thrown at me and I wouldn't have been mature enough. So, I have no regrets at all."

On his trip to Haiti this summer following the earthquake:
"Haiti was a great deal. Just going out there with those kids meant a lot. They live a lot differently than we do. We're more materialistic and they really don't take things for granted like we do. It's more about the people and the relationships and that's what has helped me out throughout the season. It is football, but really just getting to know each other and develop that bond with my teammates."

Sophomore RB Roy Finch

On the run game this year:
"I feel like we are very confident in the run game this year. We have worked at it, and we had Dom (Whaley) go down and I had to step up and some of my other teammates had to step up and make plays. But I feel like, as the year has gone on, we have really made improvements and have been more consistent. Also, having Blake (Bell) come in and helping us on third downs to keep the drive alive, I feel like our running game has gotten a lot better."

On his preparation throughout the year:
"I know what it takes week in and week out to be focused, and to practice well, and I try to do that every week. Also, I try to do the little things that Coach Gundy asks me to do each week. I try to improve each week on little things in my game and I try to do something new every week."

On playing OSU:
"We are pretty excited to play. Any time you have a chance to play and win the Big 12 Championship, and to take that picture in their stadium, and to do it in that fashion is always exciting. It is going to be a good experience and a great atmosphere as it always is. We just have to use that energy to our advantage. All of the negative things that they are going to say to us, we are just going to feed off of and play well."

On if winning the Big 12 Championship or if keeping OSU away from the title is more important:
"I feel like winning the Big 12 championship is better. We want to be at the top of the Big 12 every year and we want to prove that we are the best team in this conference, and that year in and year out we are going to compete and win it."

On still having an opportunity to win the Big 12 championship despite the injuries and losses:
"Yeah, it is a relief but I just feel like it is a testament to our schedule we played this year and the competition we played. Also, it just shows how hard we played and how we battled back even after losing to Baylor and Texas Tech. We never let down and just continued to battle back and listen to the coaches and never let up and just stayed on course. That being said, we have a chance to win the Big 12 Championship and we are very excited about that."

On OSU's defense and OU's offense:
"Their defense is very active and they lead the conference in turnovers; they survive off turnovers. As for us, we just have to be consistent in the running game, control the crowd, control the line of scrimmage and not give them easy touchdowns or easy plays. We just have to play our game, not turn the ball over and protect Landry (Jones) and I feel like we will have a lot of success."

On Brandon Williams' play and them splitting carries recently:
"Brandon and I have a great relationship, he is a funny guy. We are always laughing with each other. He is a great back and one day he will be a starter here at the University of Oklahoma. I just love the way he runs; he runs very physical. He is still learning, and I'm still learning as well. I feel like the two of us, together, complement each other very well."

Junior OL Ben Habern

On level of competition in the Bedlam rivalry:
"I consider a rivalry as two really good teams that are always competing with each other. Kind of like OU-Texas; there are always blowouts here and there, but generally it's a close game. With OSU, you kind of expect it to be close because the players know that it's a rival and know that it's going to be a close game. As you mentioned, the past few meetings have been shootouts. I obviously don't know what to expect going up there. It could be anything, but most likely it's going to be a shootout and probably going to come down to the last few series. But, that's what makes it fun for both teams as we prepare all week to face our rival."

On continual adjustments made on the field with the absence of Ryan Broyles:
"I mean, with a guy like Ryan (Broyles), a defense has to account for him. So with him out, we've got to step up and make adjustments in the pass game and we've obviously put more focus on our run game. We have to be able to run the football, now that Ryan is out. He's been making big plays since he was a freshman here. Overall, I think we've done a good job and our receivers have stepped up. Dejuan (Miller) has made plays, Kenny Stills, Trey Franks, and all of those guys have really played a role."

On running game improvements as season progresses:
"Yeah, and I think we ran the ball well against Iowa State. Honestly, they were a really good defense and their linebackers were really solid players. There defensive line was made up of big strong guys. Overall, I think our schemes were good, we ran the ball well, and I think that was a good game for us to carry over going into Oklahoma State."

Junior DE R.J. Washington

On Bedlam game and its impact:
"It's the most important game we're playing because we're playing this week. It's Bedlam, against OSU, and for the Big 12 Championship. There are a lot of emotions behind it, but emotions are only going to get you about five minutes into the game; from there, your preparation takes over. You really can't get caught up into the hype. That excitement is cool and all, but we still have to go out there and do what needs to be done to win."

On team confidence going into Saturday's game:
"It's the same old, same old. We're just going back to work. We've been here before; we're Oklahoma, so we're used to playing in these big games, playing championship weekend, and used to winning Big 12 Championships. So, it's just back to work as usual."

On facing a rivalry with the expectation of winning:
"I would never say it's an expectation going into these games. I mean, we've found that out all throughout this season letting a couple fall to the wayside. But, you can never expect to win really. You just have to prepare to win and put yourself in a situation to do it. Those situations that come up in the game, in which you've practiced all week for, you make sure you capitalize on them."

On thoughts on Brandon Weeden's play and team's approach in stopping him:
"Being in the Big 12 or any major college football conference, you've got great quarterbacks every week to face. Everybody's got a great quarterback it seems, and as a defense we've faced a lot of them. He's going to make plays and we've got do our best and not ride the wave; just stick it out and play the caliber of defense we know we're capable of."

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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