Hurts avoiding `rat poison' in overlooking South Dakota
You can take the quarterback out of Alabama. You can't take the Alabama out of the quarterback.
Oklahoma quarter back Jalen Hurts recycled a Nick Saban line Tuesday when he was asked about playing FCS South Dakota on Saturday (6:30 p.m., pay-per-view).
“You treat every game the same,” Hurts said. “That's how I talk about rat poison. We will focus on what we need to focus and try to get better each week. Fix our mistakes from last week.”
Hurts' comments recalled what Saban said in 2017 after Hurts' Crimson Tide beat Texas A&M 27-19 to improve to 6-0.
“I'm trying to get our players to listen to me instead of listening to you guys,” Saban said. “All that stuff you write about
how good we are, all that stuff they hear on ESPN, it's like poison. It's like taking poison. “Like rat poison.” Saban said he didn't watch Sunday's Oklahoma win over Houston but was aware of
Hurts' performance.
“I hear he played extremely well, did an outstanding job, and that doesn't surprise me in the least bit,” Saban said. “We're really happy for him, not only in the way that he handled himself throughout this entire process but now that he's having success as well.”
Riley: Mann, Faamatau close to return
Oklahoma defensive lineman Kenneth Mann, who was a captain for the Sooners last season, didn't play Sunday against Houston due to an undisclosed injury.
Coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday that he's “very close” to returning.
The senior started 13 games last season. He recorded 50 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss.
Fellow senior defensive lineman Dillon Faamatau is also nearing a return from injury. Riley expects Fa am at auto return this week, noting that he could have played Sunday. Faamatau recorded 15 tackles in 14 games last season.
Sophomore running back T.J. Pledger underwent hand surgery last week after being injured in practice. Riley expects him to return later this season.
Hurts earns Big 12, Maxwell honors
Hurts' first performance as a Sooner earned him a pair of Big 12 honors.
The Oklahoma quarterback was named Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
He was also named the Maxwell Award Player of the Week nationally.
Hurts accounted for six touchdown sin OU's 49-31 win against Houston.
He completed 20 of 23 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for a career-high 176 yards and three more scores.
TC U linebacker Garret Wallow was named Defensive Player of the Week. TCU kick er Jonathan Song was named Special Teams Player of the Week.