Sooner defense keeps up with extra conditioning
LOS ANGELES — Facing up-tempo, spread offenses, defense in the Big 12 is a lot different than in most other conferences.
Because the Sooners are used to facing teams like Oklahoma State, which leads the Big 12 with 80 plays per game, the defense often goes through extra running to keep up with the fast pace.
“We condition more than even some of our offensive players,” linebacker Caleb
Kelly said. “As defensive players, we’ll go condition while they’re running routes because everybody is running around. We know we’ve got to be out there doing way more plays than we usually would.
“Even watching SEC film, we’re like, 'Oh, they’re already in the fourth quarter? We’d be at halftime for us.' We just know that we have those extra plays and adjusting to it, you’ve just got to be ready to go at any time. We know our offense can score, and we’ve got to be ready to go. It’s football. You should be ready to play for however long.”
OU averages 70 plays per game, while Georgia averages 65.4.
ESPN Megacast to include Toby Rowland’s radio broadcast
If you didn’t secure a ticket to the Rose Bowl, don’t worry, you might end up with a more dymanic experience from your couch.
ESPN is going all out with its MegaCast of the College Football Playoff semifinal games. In addition to the regular game feed on ESPN, there will be 10 alternate broadcasts of the games — including a feed on ESPN3 synced up with OU radio play-by-play announcer Toby Rowland. There will also be a command center telecast on ESPN2 featuring a split-screen with multiple camera angles displayed simultaneously, a coaches film room on ESPNEWS and a Finebaum Film Room on the SEC Network.
The game will kickoff at 4:15 on Monday.
Bolton bummed to miss hometown game
While California natives like Grant Calcaterra and Kelly are looking forward to playing front of friends and family, linebacker Curtis
Bolton is a little down about the Rose Bowl trip.
Bolton, who underwent season-ending ankle surgery in October, is from the Los Angeles area. Though the redshirt junior isn’t playing, he made the trip with the team.
“That was the first thing he tweeted when we found out we were going to the Rose Bowl,” Kelly said. “He said, ‘First time being able to come back to California and I won’t be playing.’
“I know his feelings were hurt. But he’ll get through it. And he still gets to be out here, so it’s going to be awesome for him.”
Quotable
Fresno, California, native Caleb Kelly on his teammates experiencing Los Angeles for the first time:
“We have those Okie kids that have no idea what it’s like. They think it’s all flashy, all just TV and cameras the whole time, and they get a taste of that because the cameras are around us the whole time that we are here.
“I think that they just think it’s all going to be 70 and sunny the entire time and they don’t think that it gets cold, it snows or rains or anything. It’s funny to hear what they say and what they dream up because all they’ve seen is what is on TV.”
Extra point
Quarterback Baker Mayfield practiced Thursday at the StubHub Center after missing Wednesday’s Disneyland trip.