OU getting a jump on Bedlam
In preparation for next week’s game in Stillwater, Oklahoma started installing its game plan for Oklahoma State earlier this week instead of waiting for Monday.
“We’re doing it just like a normal week,” Sooners co-offensive coordinator Jay Norvell said. “We’re going our daily preparation just like a normal game week if we were playing this weekend. We’re trying to get a majority of it done and we’ll tweak it next week. We really want to stay on pace like a normal week.”
The Sooners practiced Monday through Wednesday before players were released to go home for the Thanksgiving weekend.
The team will reconvene Sunday night.
SAUNDERS FINISHING STRONG
The college career of Sooners wide receiver Jalen Saunders has just two games left, the Bedlam game next Saturday and the bowl game.
Both Saunders and the Sooners’ coaches are trying to take full advantage of the time they have left.
“He sees the end coming and he is really dialed in to how he can help this team,” Norvell said. “We’re moving him around a little bit more and putting him in different spots. Sometimes, when you are a college football coach, you see the end coming and you want to get as much out of them as you can. He’s a really good player and he’s really tough for a little guy. We’re just trying to use him up here in the last few weeks.”
TAPPER LEARNS LESSONS
After serving a half-game suspension against Iowa State following a secondhalf ejection against Baylor, Sooners defensive end Charles Tapper says he’s learned a lesson.
“Keep my head,” Tapper said. “Stay focused and just play the game and don’t let people get the other side to come out of me.”
Tapper has been one of the most consistent defensive linemen for the Sooners this season and has 41 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
STRIKER REMEMBERS 2011
Sooners linebacker Eric Striker wasn’t part of the team in 2011 when Oklahoma State blew out OU 44-10 in Stillwater.
But that doesn’t mean Striker doesn’t have bad memories of that game.
Striker was committed to the Sooners at the time.
“I was at Hooters, I remember that,” Striker said. “I had my buddies in there. They were like, ‘Oh, look at your team.’ It wasn’t a good day.”