Pretty good day of interviews with the team. I've been working on a number of videos that we'll roll out over the next couple of days. Don't forget to check-out Bob Stoops meeting with the media on Monday, recaps West Virginia contest, talks on injuries and hates penalties
* Obviously good news on the injury front all things considered, although Stanvon Taylor had made quite a few plays special teams this year. It sounds like that would mean good news for Charles Walker.
Normally Taylor's absence wouldn't be that big of an issue, but as we've seen in past years -- and as Texas fans could tell you from experience this year -- special teams are an important aspect to winning games.
They seemingly always play a part in the outcome of a game. See Alex Ross kick return in 2014. See a Texas punt return in 2013.
* Speaking of 2013, that game doesn't seem to be lost on guys like Ty Darlington, Jordan Evans Sterling Shepard who all mentioned the game at some point during their visits with the media Monday. suppose it's easy to draw comparisons in that Texas entered with nothing to lose, while Oklahoma entered the game as a double-digit favorite (run the ball Josh Heupel ... sorry I had to).
* Stoops actually said during the media luncheon it was something that Darlington and him were talking about on Sunday afternoon.
* Jordan Evans shared a pretty funny story about his father's advice on playing in the Cotton Bowl. It goes back to Evans freshman year in 2013 ... throughout the week he had been wondering what the experience would be like. His father, Scott, having played in the game told him it would be one he would never forget. It's hard to put into words, the younger Evans would just have to wait and see. Experience it for himself.
As the story goes Jordan would catch a crackback in the ear hole. One of those blocks he'll remember.
Following the game he got back to the lockerroom and to his phone. He had received a text from his father during the game and it read (referring to the block):
"Welcome to the OU-Texas game ..."
* Could Sterling Shepard deliver a play to remember in the OU-Texas game? Sterling reminded reporters this morning that he scored his first touchdown in the OU-Texas game last season. I guess I found that hard to believe as it seems Shepard seems to have a knack for making big plays in big games.
How special would it be if Shepard were able to add a punt return touchdown to his OU-Texas resume?
* If we know anything about Baker Mayfield ... it will be that he has a special afternoon on Saturday. Mayfield actually admitted last year was his first trip to the State Fair of Texas on gameday. That surprised me a little as I figured he would have had to go at some point in past years.
* Saturday will be Lincoln Riley's first taste of the Red River Rivalry ... Riley said he knew plenty about the game having grown up in the state and that he was excited for the opportunity to coach in 'one of the best rivalries in college football' ...
* Riley feels like they are extremely close in the run game ... than the Average Joe would think ... Offensively there is extreme focus being put on taking care of the football ... Dede Westbrook told reporters he's fumbled more this season than he has in his career ... Westbrook said he along with the rest of the WRs have been staying after practice to get more work in ...
* Shepard, Mayfield both said they have continued to stay in contact with Jay Norvell ... Bob Stoops? Not so much. Perhaps the quote of the night was when Perine was asked if he's stayed in contact with his former coach ... Samaje promptly told reporters, 'he didn't really talk to him while he was here' so it wouldn't be weird seeing him on the opposite sideline wearing burnt orange.
* Perine said he feels like the run game is close as well ... even admitting it's not all on the offensive line as there were times that the blocks were there and the RB hit the wrong hole. Perine was asked about the interest -- or lackthereof-- in the Longhorns coming out of high school ... he said they showed interest late but they were never really a factor.
* Ty Darlington really loves himself some OU-Texas ... he retold the story most of us have heard about falling in love with the game and rivalry as an 8-year old at Cotton Bowl.
* Derek Farniok continues to work at guard, while also working in some time at offensive tackle. Said he's getting more and more comfortable inside.
* Mark Andrews said his second trip to the Cotton Bowl will be a little different. Last year, he traveled with the team and suited out but, of course, didn't play in the game while redshirting.
This year Andrews enters having scored three touchdowns in the last two games. And a centerpiece in the Sooners offensive attack.
If you got any questions, feel free to post 'em in here and we'll get them answered.
* Obviously good news on the injury front all things considered, although Stanvon Taylor had made quite a few plays special teams this year. It sounds like that would mean good news for Charles Walker.
Normally Taylor's absence wouldn't be that big of an issue, but as we've seen in past years -- and as Texas fans could tell you from experience this year -- special teams are an important aspect to winning games.
They seemingly always play a part in the outcome of a game. See Alex Ross kick return in 2014. See a Texas punt return in 2013.
* Speaking of 2013, that game doesn't seem to be lost on guys like Ty Darlington, Jordan Evans Sterling Shepard who all mentioned the game at some point during their visits with the media Monday. suppose it's easy to draw comparisons in that Texas entered with nothing to lose, while Oklahoma entered the game as a double-digit favorite (run the ball Josh Heupel ... sorry I had to).
* Stoops actually said during the media luncheon it was something that Darlington and him were talking about on Sunday afternoon.
* Jordan Evans shared a pretty funny story about his father's advice on playing in the Cotton Bowl. It goes back to Evans freshman year in 2013 ... throughout the week he had been wondering what the experience would be like. His father, Scott, having played in the game told him it would be one he would never forget. It's hard to put into words, the younger Evans would just have to wait and see. Experience it for himself.
As the story goes Jordan would catch a crackback in the ear hole. One of those blocks he'll remember.
Following the game he got back to the lockerroom and to his phone. He had received a text from his father during the game and it read (referring to the block):
"Welcome to the OU-Texas game ..."
* Could Sterling Shepard deliver a play to remember in the OU-Texas game? Sterling reminded reporters this morning that he scored his first touchdown in the OU-Texas game last season. I guess I found that hard to believe as it seems Shepard seems to have a knack for making big plays in big games.
How special would it be if Shepard were able to add a punt return touchdown to his OU-Texas resume?
* If we know anything about Baker Mayfield ... it will be that he has a special afternoon on Saturday. Mayfield actually admitted last year was his first trip to the State Fair of Texas on gameday. That surprised me a little as I figured he would have had to go at some point in past years.
* Saturday will be Lincoln Riley's first taste of the Red River Rivalry ... Riley said he knew plenty about the game having grown up in the state and that he was excited for the opportunity to coach in 'one of the best rivalries in college football' ...
* Riley feels like they are extremely close in the run game ... than the Average Joe would think ... Offensively there is extreme focus being put on taking care of the football ... Dede Westbrook told reporters he's fumbled more this season than he has in his career ... Westbrook said he along with the rest of the WRs have been staying after practice to get more work in ...
* Shepard, Mayfield both said they have continued to stay in contact with Jay Norvell ... Bob Stoops? Not so much. Perhaps the quote of the night was when Perine was asked if he's stayed in contact with his former coach ... Samaje promptly told reporters, 'he didn't really talk to him while he was here' so it wouldn't be weird seeing him on the opposite sideline wearing burnt orange.
* Perine said he feels like the run game is close as well ... even admitting it's not all on the offensive line as there were times that the blocks were there and the RB hit the wrong hole. Perine was asked about the interest -- or lackthereof-- in the Longhorns coming out of high school ... he said they showed interest late but they were never really a factor.
* Ty Darlington really loves himself some OU-Texas ... he retold the story most of us have heard about falling in love with the game and rivalry as an 8-year old at Cotton Bowl.
* Derek Farniok continues to work at guard, while also working in some time at offensive tackle. Said he's getting more and more comfortable inside.
* Mark Andrews said his second trip to the Cotton Bowl will be a little different. Last year, he traveled with the team and suited out but, of course, didn't play in the game while redshirting.
This year Andrews enters having scored three touchdowns in the last two games. And a centerpiece in the Sooners offensive attack.
If you got any questions, feel free to post 'em in here and we'll get them answered.
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