OU `playing smarter' and cutting penalties
NORMAN — In the season's first four games, OU averaged 9.5 penalties for more than 87 yards.
In the past two games, the Sooner shave been flagged for just nine penalties and 80 yards combined.
“We' re just playing smarter,” OU coach Lincoln Riley said .“I think we' re growing. We really try to emphasize how much winning football we put on tape, try to do a good job of illustrating to our guys and the difference that that makes in games.”
But, Riley said, t here's a balance.
“If you're not aggressive, you're not going to beat anybody anyway,” Riley said.
“It's much more difficult to find that fine line for a player
than maybe the casual fan would think. I think our guys have gotten a better feel for it. I think we' re understanding more and more how things are called.
“Understanding still being very physical and aggressive, but understanding the things we absolutely can't have.”
Riley said the penalties the Sooners have been called for the last two games haven't been the “dumb” ones that plagued his team earlier in the season.
Riley: Stokes `questionable' vs. Kansas
Defensive tackle La Ron Stokes missed his first game of the season at Texas Tech.
“Got a little banged up the week before ,” Riley said. “Potentially available this week. I would list him as questionable right now. We'll see how he proceeds.”
Riley didn't offer much an update on wide receiver Trejan Bridges.
Bridges was one of three Sooners suspended for six games following, according to sources, the three testing positive for marijuana ahead of last season's Peach Bowl.
While running back Rh am on dre Stevenson and defensive end Ronnie Perkins returned at Texas Tech, Bridges remains sidelined.
“This process is not quite as cl ear cut or as easy as maybe it could or should be,” Riley said. “Trejan's still in that process right now, so we'll see how that unfolds.”
Game broadcast switched
The cancellation of Saturday' s Wisconsin-Purdue game due to Wisconsin's COVID-19 outbreak, had a ripple effect on the Sooners' game against Kansas on Saturday.
Wisconsin- Purdue was supposed to be televised on ABC, while Houston-Cincinnati on ESPN and Oklahoma-Kansas on ESPN2 — all at 2:30 p.m.
But with the cancellation, Houston-Cincinnati moved to ABC and the Sooners' game will now be broadcast on ESPN.
Miles: `I always respected (OU)'
Les Miles was far from deferential to OU the last time he coached a game in Norman.
Before the 2003 Bedlam game, Miles—then Oklahoma State's coach — Miles said, “Next Saturday, two teams are going to play. One is maybe the best team in college football and the other one is a darn good football team. We're going to play to figure out which one is which.”
Then No. 1 Oklahoma blew out Miles' No. 14 Cowboys 52-9.
This week, t he Kansas coach said he“always respected” the Sooners.
“I think they're a quality football team with quality guys,” Miles said. “I enjoyed Bob Stoops when I would go down there. There was good banter between us.”
Miles also said he enjoyed coaching in Norman, though he noted the crowd noise would be much les sofa factor this year than it has in the past.
“That's a great place. It's a historic field,” Miles said. “It sounds very much like the inside of a jet engine. That crowd's loud.”