Getting you ready for first road game of the season.
Alex Grinch
You guys don't suck anymore, what's new line of motivation?
It’s a really interesting question. I think one of the things once you’re in the season, you immediately go into one-week evaluations. Really try to stick to that because if you go too much into big picture stuff, you can really start patting yourself on the back in positive situations. You can get yourself into a dark place with the more negative ones. The alarm clock goes off Saturday, and it’s the next opponent, right? The motivation, as much as anything as we go through it, is to achieve the goal of every week to hold your opponent to one less point than what your offense scores. That never goes away. Beyond that, as much as anything, it’s to get your current players to play to their maximum speed and potential. Encourage the behaviors that lead to those type of performances. What that creates is very stressful Tuesdays and Wednesdays in our work week. Been asked before, do you get nervous for games? I absolutely do, but I get more nervous about Tuesday practice because I know how valuable those reps are. Just a constant motivation to maximize this current roster. They deserve that. That’s the expectation and be the best team they can be that coming Saturday, specific to the defense side of the ball.
Handling key moments defensively better this year?
"Yeah, I think, you know, one, I think that it's accurate to say that we've come up in those moments better than we've done in the past, that the film would suggest that. Again, you've got to do it again this week. I think an appreciation for playing four quarters. And I would even dial back to last year, back to week one of the season where, you know, a 60-minute schedule turned into a 30 minute performance for our guys. And so it's constant that way, having an understanding that only your best over a four quarter game is going to be good enough. And I think there's a continued appreciation for that or more of an appreciation as we go to the end for the younger guys. It's a reminder, there was a time in the sport where teams would get championed for winning games different ways. That's not how college football is anymore in terms of how people analyze performances. But but ultimately, every time you take the field, you're charged with trying to get a stop, regardless of what the scoreboard reads and that there's certain times that we managed to do that. Other times we've fallen short of that. But have them understand, I think just that that four quarters and and that three hours, four quarters over three hours -- you say 60 minutes and really, you're only on the field for about 30 of it. But it's over the course of three hours. The focus and refocus that it takes, the lack of emotional reactions that you kind of have to fight back. Not being a fan on the sideline, maybe when you're out of there, not giving in when when things maybe aren't going your way. All of those things are, is everything we talk about over the course of the work week. And I think there's a little bit, again, up until this point, we've got to do it again on Saturday. But a little bit more of an appreciation for how hard that is and willingness to actually go do it."
Cross training?
“I felt like it was a great training last year, but there were a lot to do. No, it is a lot. And we try to be fairly selective in the guys we ask to do those things. As a general rule, the youngest guy in your program, although he may not be the top of depth chart and then you're trying to find a role for him. A lot of times you kind of circle just one role for him, but then you're ready to manipulate the reps for some of the older guys because they have some game experience at a certain spot. And can't try to find one line to have him now, you're not always (going to) have that luxury to do those things. So we continue to cross train. Sometimes it ties into injuries. I think ultimately part of it is trying to get the best guys on the field because they drive the competitiveness switching position groups and ultimately over the eleven across the board on defense. So the answer is yes, we still do it. It's responsible too -- it also gives you the ability to find the best position for that individual, not just in the off season, but as you go through the season. It protects you a little bit from from injuries. But you also got to be careful not -- you can't do whatever, you know, all eleven starters are all twenty two. There's just time on task that you've got to be responsible with."
Justin Broiles? (don't shoot the messenger, ha)
He’s played really well. Hasn’t had a ton of production to go along with it. And sometimes that’s indicative of doing the right thing in the secondary. The ball doesn’t always come your way. That isn’t always the case. In JB’s case, it kind of describe it. He’s played multiple positions for us that we’ve needed him and will continue to need him to do that. In every way, that’s a team-first guy. It also speaks for the positions he’s played in his career here, the cross-training aspect. He’s one of those guys we’ve chosen to do that. He can handle it. But I’ve been very pleased with JB. A guy that played a lot in the Big 12 Championship Game, he’s played in some big-time games. For an older guy, like he’s done, we’ve needed him to step up for us early in the season and we expect him to continue to do just that for us. Like all these guys.
Show last year's film?
We’ll show ‘em some. I can’t stomach it. I should show it more. That’s me. Talk about emotional reaction. That’s a credit to them. They deserved those outcomes.
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Marvin Mims
Playing your first true road game?
Um, honestly, I've been looking forward to more away games than I have home games, just because to have the crowd against you and stuff like that, I think that's a really neat opportunity. Of course from last year, it's gonna be different, but last year, I even thought it was a unique opportunity because it's my first year playing. Especially this year. It's gonna be different. They're gonna be in there roaring, especially since we're Oklahoma. We're gonna get everybody's best when we go there, especially from the fans. They're gonna start saying stuff and we've gotta keep locked in on the field and do what we do.
What do you like about that?
It definitely does fuel me. One of the things I like the most, even from high school playing against other schools is silencing the crowd, silencing other teams' student sections and stuff like that. I just think it's a neat experience whenever you just take the air out of the stadium, like you don't really hear anything, knowing you made a big play and I think it's gonna bring the team closer together because when we get on the road, we're basically all we have.
Sucks not getting the ball, huh?
It's kinda like a mix of both. I mean, it's a little frustrating, if I'm being honest, but at the same time, it's more frustrating because we're not putting up as many points as we're used to. Honestly, physically, it's not really a big mental thing. I go out there and block. I've been perfectly fine. I'll do anything for this team to help us win, whatever Coach Riley calls, I'm behind him 100 percent.
Slot move?
Honestly, I'm liking it. I really like the slot position. I played it in high school a majority of the time toward the end of my high school career, and even right now I'm liking it a lot. Right now, they actually have me playing a little bit of both. Haven't really seen that as much but it's definitely there. I'm really liking the transition, being with Coach Gundy, me and him have a great relationship and it's very smooth.
Having Rattler's back?
To experience it, I would say it was kind of weird because we’re at home, for the most part. I would say at same time, booing and cheering, at the end of the day, to me personally, it doesn’t make that much of a difference. At the end of the day, we’re trying to execute what we’re trying to do on the field. Obviously we were struggling, but at the end of the day we’re going to go over there and pick it up, like we did on that last drive. As far as things to say to Spencer, I didn’t go to say anything. I didn’t feel like I needed to. He’s a mature player. He’s a good player. Everybody knows that. He picked himself up. He was able to lead us during the last drive.
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Kori Roberson
Growth since you first showed up at OU?
Coming in here my freshman year I knew it was going to be a challenge but I’m up for it. There’s a reason why I came here. One of the best schools in the nation. People leaving like Neville Gallimore and Ronnie Perkins, and seeing all those role models that’s come past by, leaving some advice to me. Saying “ball out, do what you got to do. You already know what time it is.” So I mean it’s really great and I’m proud to be a part of this program because this is a wonderful school and a wonderful program and wonderful coaches.
Motivation after back-back losses vs. KSU?
Well uh, you asked me that, I think we kind of take it a little personal because you know losing two years in a row — I mean it only speaks facts. We don’t want that to happen again this weekend. Which I don’t think we are, but I know we’re gonna come out and play and show everybody what we definitely can do.
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Jaden Davis
Remember about 2019 at KSU after Motley got ejected?
"Yeah, you got to grow up fast. But coach Grinch and coach Manning, they prepared me for that moment and they were they were talking about it since recruiting, basically, since they got the job that you have to be ready to play, that you come to OU and speed D to play and be ready at any moment. So they prepared me well, and I felt like I was ready for the moment, and we didn't get the outcome that we wanted but I felt like me personally, I felt like they prepared me."
Mr. McCutchin?
Latrell is really mature. He's really mature for a freshman. I don't know if I came in with that same maturity and he just wants to work every day. He wants to work. He wants to go out there and he wants to be the best. He has that sense of urgency to really be the best and do it the right way. That's what I feel like he's had success in his first four games as a Sooner. And he's going to continue to grow. And I've said it in the media before. Latrell is elite and he's going to continue to get better and better and we're going to be talking about him for a long time."
Jaden in 2021? CB group so far?
"I feel like me personally, I've been trusting the process, I've been trusting with my coaches have been putting in front of me. I feel like I did that in spurts my freshman and sophomore year. But as I've grown, you have to completely accept that you're not always right and you have to completely accept that this is the way to go coach. Coach Grinch has had success in the past. Coach Manning has had success in the past. And those are the main coaches that I deal with, obviously, on the defensive side. So I feel that me completely committing to my technique and committing to Speed D is what has helped me. I feel I get better as a player.
And as a group, I feel like as a group it's the same story. The same story with the development of D.J. Graham. Him being able to go make that play. He wouldn't have been able to make that play if he wasn't fully committed to to straining, straining to the ball straining to play, takeaways equal victory. These are a part of our bottom line as a defense. So with that being said, I feel like as a group, we're just getting better. We're just getting better. And every day committing to our technique, committing to the process. And it's going to continue to climb.”
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Tyrese Robinson
OL assessment after four games?
For one I just feel like our mentality. Going out there in how we approach the game and how we approach practice can change. And we've got to do better on that. We're a new group, you know, we had Adrian and Creed and all them left so it's a new center, new tackle, new right guard, so we're all just trying to learn. Learn each other, get that chemistry up and build off that. But we showed some improvements of certain areas in the game, but we've got a lot of work to do.
Wanya now vs. Wanya in Aug?
Coming in from Tennessee, coming into the Big 12 and playing for us, it was different. Different rushers and stuff like that so he had to work on his technique and stuff a little bit more. But he has improved a lot just learning the playbook and his technique and he'll be a big factor for us going on.
No, seriously, what's wrong? Learning how to lead?
Yeah, kind of. We all came in together with Creed and stuff so we kind of have the same experience besides Creed playing an extra year. But yeah just having Creed out there just kind of made things a little easier I'll say just because he knew the offense and he was the center so you know. We just got to build off that, help Raym out at center because he's new at center and this is a difficult job. And we just help Raym and get Chris right and everything else and you know all the other guys, and we do a better job leading and we're gonna be alright.
Bedenbaugh going nuts yet?
He knows that we haven't been performing how we should be, so he's been a little more harder on us with our technique and our assignments. But like he said every time, we have to be willing to put in the extra time outside of practice and film room and learning more of our assignments, and being prepared when we go into games like the 2018 group did. They all got together, watched film together, they all did everything together. I feel like it's more of a bond that we have to build and a trust that we have to build between all of us to play how we should be.
Hard to develop chemistry when don't know the starting five from game-to-game?
Uh, kinda, but at the end of the day, we're all close outside of football and we can all coach each other on something else. I feel like that's gonna lead us to a better unit. But at the end of the day, we all have to come together and whatever five is out there, we've gotta learn how to channel our mentality and our play.
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Michael Turk (good stuff here)
Why OU?
When I talked to some other schools – thankfully there were some good opportunities that arose – I thank God for that because it was pretty late in the transfer process. Once I had an opportunity from OU and got to talk to Coach Riley, to be honest there was no deterrent. Why would I not want to join an elite program and the coaches were super nice. I didn’t even have to visit. I knew all about OU. My brother played at Notre Dame and he played at a lot of different stadiums and he said the most fun game that he had was playing at OU. It was super loud. It was a no-brainer once I talked to Coach Riley because of how nice he was. Lord willing, I want to be on a team where I can contend for a national championship.
YouTube page?
I just started when I was at ASU. I also like to do live-stream Bible studies. That’s where I first started it. I figured why not try to influence kids who also play football and try to show them good things and good values, show them fun, wholesome entertainment. Of course, I never go too far showing stuff. That’s how it originated. I like photography and stuff like that too. I like to mess around with that too. I have a nice camera that I mess around with. That’s how it started originally – doing live-stream Bible study. I thought why not show, it’s just unique being a college player and showing them my workouts and stuff like that, different training stuff I do as a punter. That’s how it started and it’s been fun. Obviously, I have to focus on what I have to focus on first.
Gabe Brkic personality?
I don’t like talking about people too much but I’m only going to say good things. I don’t think he’ll mind. Gabe, I love him. We’re good friends. He’s a super nice guy and fun to be around. With kickers – and I guess with punters too – some guys are super serious and they are very mechanical about everything. There are some guys who also work on their craft hard and they are laid back. Gabe is the type of guy, when the game’s on the line, you want him. He just knows how to get after it regardless. You can tell when kickers and punters are just having fun and really good at what they do. He’s a super cool guy.
His talent?
I think I noticed that in the weight room too. I know some kickers and punters don’t like to lift that much. I think we realize that as long as you stay flexible, it helps to stay strong. And he’s really strong. He squats a lot. I think he has a lot of God-given talent and he works really hard. I’ve seen him hit a 67-yarder in practice pretty easy. He’s got a leg.
College journey?
Sure, yeah. I’ve had an interesting college career for sure and most people don’t know, I didn’t punt in high school so I had to take a gap year originally. My uncle and my brother have really been a blessing helping me learn how to punt and I took a gap year with Ben in Dallas. He punted at Notre Dame so he helped me a lot so I got a scholarship offer to Lafayette College just off of a YouTube film of me punting. Had a good year there, transferred to ASU and obviously that was a blessing, had a great time there. Now, since I was a graduate and had a grad transfer available and just some things that I decided to transfer. Nothing terrible, but an opportunity arose here at Oklahoma and as we talked about, once I was in the transfer portal to be a grad transfer, it was a no-brainer to come here. And I technically still have two years of eligibility left because of the COVID year didn’t count so I’m happy I’m here for these last two years of eligibility.
Leaving ASU/anti-vax stance?
I mean, I’m sure you all can look online and everyone has their own view on this, but yeah, that was their protocol at ASU and it was in my judgment just to enter the transfer portal after that and thankfully a spot arose here, like I said, at OU. It is what it is, I’m thankful everything worked out and what you said too, how COVID has helped some people get some years of eligibility back, one of my favorite Bible verses, Romans 8:28 says, ‘And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to his purpose,” so that’s just how I live my life. No matter what happens, I know it’s going to turn for my good. I’ve just got to keep the faith and work hard, and so I’m glad after it’s all said and done I’m here at OU.
Why didn't you punt in HS?
I don’t know. I guess I wanted to play football. Of course, punter counts as football, but I wanted to hit people and try, so I played safety. I played a lot of sports growing up and thankfully was blessed being athletic. And then in high school, I had three ACL surgeries, though, so I actually didn’t really get to play at all in high school. It was a big doozy. I didn’t, obviously, get to play that much with those injuries but toward the end of my senior year, I was like, ‘Man, I still really want to play college football but I have no film of me playing safety really and how am I going to do this?’ So I was like, ‘Well, my uncle punted in the NFL for 19 years, my brother punted at Notre Dame, maybe I can give it a try.’ That’s when my brother offered for me to live with him for a gap year, and so every day I punted—some punting coaches would probably say too much. Sometimes I’d punt with my brother in the morning then Uber back to the field and then punt again for hours on end. I started to love it. It was a grind because at first, I couldn’t really be very consistent or have a big leg but the more I worked at it, the more I thought there was a future with it, and I just kept getting after it.
Natural?
Little bit natural. After my third ACL surgery, I had to really—all I did was watch film and do drops. I couldn’t even kick until like six months after the surgery so when I went out, it was obviously a struggle. I don’t think other people around me saw that it was going to lead to much but I didn’t care. I was determined to do it. There was obviously a natural ability there but it was a lot of work honestly. I would sometimes punt until I, like, passed out. I just loved it though. Because I think with punting and kicking, and long snapping—because my other uncle was a long snapper in the NFL for a long time—it’s kind of a craft where you can work on it by yourself so it’s just up to you, if you have the initial frame and God-given ability, it’s up to you how much you can work to get it out of you. So I just loved that aspect of it and kept doing it.
Alex Grinch
You guys don't suck anymore, what's new line of motivation?
It’s a really interesting question. I think one of the things once you’re in the season, you immediately go into one-week evaluations. Really try to stick to that because if you go too much into big picture stuff, you can really start patting yourself on the back in positive situations. You can get yourself into a dark place with the more negative ones. The alarm clock goes off Saturday, and it’s the next opponent, right? The motivation, as much as anything as we go through it, is to achieve the goal of every week to hold your opponent to one less point than what your offense scores. That never goes away. Beyond that, as much as anything, it’s to get your current players to play to their maximum speed and potential. Encourage the behaviors that lead to those type of performances. What that creates is very stressful Tuesdays and Wednesdays in our work week. Been asked before, do you get nervous for games? I absolutely do, but I get more nervous about Tuesday practice because I know how valuable those reps are. Just a constant motivation to maximize this current roster. They deserve that. That’s the expectation and be the best team they can be that coming Saturday, specific to the defense side of the ball.
Handling key moments defensively better this year?
"Yeah, I think, you know, one, I think that it's accurate to say that we've come up in those moments better than we've done in the past, that the film would suggest that. Again, you've got to do it again this week. I think an appreciation for playing four quarters. And I would even dial back to last year, back to week one of the season where, you know, a 60-minute schedule turned into a 30 minute performance for our guys. And so it's constant that way, having an understanding that only your best over a four quarter game is going to be good enough. And I think there's a continued appreciation for that or more of an appreciation as we go to the end for the younger guys. It's a reminder, there was a time in the sport where teams would get championed for winning games different ways. That's not how college football is anymore in terms of how people analyze performances. But but ultimately, every time you take the field, you're charged with trying to get a stop, regardless of what the scoreboard reads and that there's certain times that we managed to do that. Other times we've fallen short of that. But have them understand, I think just that that four quarters and and that three hours, four quarters over three hours -- you say 60 minutes and really, you're only on the field for about 30 of it. But it's over the course of three hours. The focus and refocus that it takes, the lack of emotional reactions that you kind of have to fight back. Not being a fan on the sideline, maybe when you're out of there, not giving in when when things maybe aren't going your way. All of those things are, is everything we talk about over the course of the work week. And I think there's a little bit, again, up until this point, we've got to do it again on Saturday. But a little bit more of an appreciation for how hard that is and willingness to actually go do it."
Cross training?
“I felt like it was a great training last year, but there were a lot to do. No, it is a lot. And we try to be fairly selective in the guys we ask to do those things. As a general rule, the youngest guy in your program, although he may not be the top of depth chart and then you're trying to find a role for him. A lot of times you kind of circle just one role for him, but then you're ready to manipulate the reps for some of the older guys because they have some game experience at a certain spot. And can't try to find one line to have him now, you're not always (going to) have that luxury to do those things. So we continue to cross train. Sometimes it ties into injuries. I think ultimately part of it is trying to get the best guys on the field because they drive the competitiveness switching position groups and ultimately over the eleven across the board on defense. So the answer is yes, we still do it. It's responsible too -- it also gives you the ability to find the best position for that individual, not just in the off season, but as you go through the season. It protects you a little bit from from injuries. But you also got to be careful not -- you can't do whatever, you know, all eleven starters are all twenty two. There's just time on task that you've got to be responsible with."
Justin Broiles? (don't shoot the messenger, ha)
He’s played really well. Hasn’t had a ton of production to go along with it. And sometimes that’s indicative of doing the right thing in the secondary. The ball doesn’t always come your way. That isn’t always the case. In JB’s case, it kind of describe it. He’s played multiple positions for us that we’ve needed him and will continue to need him to do that. In every way, that’s a team-first guy. It also speaks for the positions he’s played in his career here, the cross-training aspect. He’s one of those guys we’ve chosen to do that. He can handle it. But I’ve been very pleased with JB. A guy that played a lot in the Big 12 Championship Game, he’s played in some big-time games. For an older guy, like he’s done, we’ve needed him to step up for us early in the season and we expect him to continue to do just that for us. Like all these guys.
Show last year's film?
We’ll show ‘em some. I can’t stomach it. I should show it more. That’s me. Talk about emotional reaction. That’s a credit to them. They deserved those outcomes.
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Marvin Mims
Playing your first true road game?
Um, honestly, I've been looking forward to more away games than I have home games, just because to have the crowd against you and stuff like that, I think that's a really neat opportunity. Of course from last year, it's gonna be different, but last year, I even thought it was a unique opportunity because it's my first year playing. Especially this year. It's gonna be different. They're gonna be in there roaring, especially since we're Oklahoma. We're gonna get everybody's best when we go there, especially from the fans. They're gonna start saying stuff and we've gotta keep locked in on the field and do what we do.
What do you like about that?
It definitely does fuel me. One of the things I like the most, even from high school playing against other schools is silencing the crowd, silencing other teams' student sections and stuff like that. I just think it's a neat experience whenever you just take the air out of the stadium, like you don't really hear anything, knowing you made a big play and I think it's gonna bring the team closer together because when we get on the road, we're basically all we have.
Sucks not getting the ball, huh?
It's kinda like a mix of both. I mean, it's a little frustrating, if I'm being honest, but at the same time, it's more frustrating because we're not putting up as many points as we're used to. Honestly, physically, it's not really a big mental thing. I go out there and block. I've been perfectly fine. I'll do anything for this team to help us win, whatever Coach Riley calls, I'm behind him 100 percent.
Slot move?
Honestly, I'm liking it. I really like the slot position. I played it in high school a majority of the time toward the end of my high school career, and even right now I'm liking it a lot. Right now, they actually have me playing a little bit of both. Haven't really seen that as much but it's definitely there. I'm really liking the transition, being with Coach Gundy, me and him have a great relationship and it's very smooth.
Having Rattler's back?
To experience it, I would say it was kind of weird because we’re at home, for the most part. I would say at same time, booing and cheering, at the end of the day, to me personally, it doesn’t make that much of a difference. At the end of the day, we’re trying to execute what we’re trying to do on the field. Obviously we were struggling, but at the end of the day we’re going to go over there and pick it up, like we did on that last drive. As far as things to say to Spencer, I didn’t go to say anything. I didn’t feel like I needed to. He’s a mature player. He’s a good player. Everybody knows that. He picked himself up. He was able to lead us during the last drive.
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Kori Roberson
Growth since you first showed up at OU?
Coming in here my freshman year I knew it was going to be a challenge but I’m up for it. There’s a reason why I came here. One of the best schools in the nation. People leaving like Neville Gallimore and Ronnie Perkins, and seeing all those role models that’s come past by, leaving some advice to me. Saying “ball out, do what you got to do. You already know what time it is.” So I mean it’s really great and I’m proud to be a part of this program because this is a wonderful school and a wonderful program and wonderful coaches.
Motivation after back-back losses vs. KSU?
Well uh, you asked me that, I think we kind of take it a little personal because you know losing two years in a row — I mean it only speaks facts. We don’t want that to happen again this weekend. Which I don’t think we are, but I know we’re gonna come out and play and show everybody what we definitely can do.
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Jaden Davis
Remember about 2019 at KSU after Motley got ejected?
"Yeah, you got to grow up fast. But coach Grinch and coach Manning, they prepared me for that moment and they were they were talking about it since recruiting, basically, since they got the job that you have to be ready to play, that you come to OU and speed D to play and be ready at any moment. So they prepared me well, and I felt like I was ready for the moment, and we didn't get the outcome that we wanted but I felt like me personally, I felt like they prepared me."
Mr. McCutchin?
Latrell is really mature. He's really mature for a freshman. I don't know if I came in with that same maturity and he just wants to work every day. He wants to work. He wants to go out there and he wants to be the best. He has that sense of urgency to really be the best and do it the right way. That's what I feel like he's had success in his first four games as a Sooner. And he's going to continue to grow. And I've said it in the media before. Latrell is elite and he's going to continue to get better and better and we're going to be talking about him for a long time."
Jaden in 2021? CB group so far?
"I feel like me personally, I've been trusting the process, I've been trusting with my coaches have been putting in front of me. I feel like I did that in spurts my freshman and sophomore year. But as I've grown, you have to completely accept that you're not always right and you have to completely accept that this is the way to go coach. Coach Grinch has had success in the past. Coach Manning has had success in the past. And those are the main coaches that I deal with, obviously, on the defensive side. So I feel that me completely committing to my technique and committing to Speed D is what has helped me. I feel I get better as a player.
And as a group, I feel like as a group it's the same story. The same story with the development of D.J. Graham. Him being able to go make that play. He wouldn't have been able to make that play if he wasn't fully committed to to straining, straining to the ball straining to play, takeaways equal victory. These are a part of our bottom line as a defense. So with that being said, I feel like as a group, we're just getting better. We're just getting better. And every day committing to our technique, committing to the process. And it's going to continue to climb.”
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Tyrese Robinson
OL assessment after four games?
For one I just feel like our mentality. Going out there in how we approach the game and how we approach practice can change. And we've got to do better on that. We're a new group, you know, we had Adrian and Creed and all them left so it's a new center, new tackle, new right guard, so we're all just trying to learn. Learn each other, get that chemistry up and build off that. But we showed some improvements of certain areas in the game, but we've got a lot of work to do.
Wanya now vs. Wanya in Aug?
Coming in from Tennessee, coming into the Big 12 and playing for us, it was different. Different rushers and stuff like that so he had to work on his technique and stuff a little bit more. But he has improved a lot just learning the playbook and his technique and he'll be a big factor for us going on.
No, seriously, what's wrong? Learning how to lead?
Yeah, kind of. We all came in together with Creed and stuff so we kind of have the same experience besides Creed playing an extra year. But yeah just having Creed out there just kind of made things a little easier I'll say just because he knew the offense and he was the center so you know. We just got to build off that, help Raym out at center because he's new at center and this is a difficult job. And we just help Raym and get Chris right and everything else and you know all the other guys, and we do a better job leading and we're gonna be alright.
Bedenbaugh going nuts yet?
He knows that we haven't been performing how we should be, so he's been a little more harder on us with our technique and our assignments. But like he said every time, we have to be willing to put in the extra time outside of practice and film room and learning more of our assignments, and being prepared when we go into games like the 2018 group did. They all got together, watched film together, they all did everything together. I feel like it's more of a bond that we have to build and a trust that we have to build between all of us to play how we should be.
Hard to develop chemistry when don't know the starting five from game-to-game?
Uh, kinda, but at the end of the day, we're all close outside of football and we can all coach each other on something else. I feel like that's gonna lead us to a better unit. But at the end of the day, we all have to come together and whatever five is out there, we've gotta learn how to channel our mentality and our play.
***
Michael Turk (good stuff here)
Why OU?
When I talked to some other schools – thankfully there were some good opportunities that arose – I thank God for that because it was pretty late in the transfer process. Once I had an opportunity from OU and got to talk to Coach Riley, to be honest there was no deterrent. Why would I not want to join an elite program and the coaches were super nice. I didn’t even have to visit. I knew all about OU. My brother played at Notre Dame and he played at a lot of different stadiums and he said the most fun game that he had was playing at OU. It was super loud. It was a no-brainer once I talked to Coach Riley because of how nice he was. Lord willing, I want to be on a team where I can contend for a national championship.
YouTube page?
I just started when I was at ASU. I also like to do live-stream Bible studies. That’s where I first started it. I figured why not try to influence kids who also play football and try to show them good things and good values, show them fun, wholesome entertainment. Of course, I never go too far showing stuff. That’s how it originated. I like photography and stuff like that too. I like to mess around with that too. I have a nice camera that I mess around with. That’s how it started originally – doing live-stream Bible study. I thought why not show, it’s just unique being a college player and showing them my workouts and stuff like that, different training stuff I do as a punter. That’s how it started and it’s been fun. Obviously, I have to focus on what I have to focus on first.
Gabe Brkic personality?
I don’t like talking about people too much but I’m only going to say good things. I don’t think he’ll mind. Gabe, I love him. We’re good friends. He’s a super nice guy and fun to be around. With kickers – and I guess with punters too – some guys are super serious and they are very mechanical about everything. There are some guys who also work on their craft hard and they are laid back. Gabe is the type of guy, when the game’s on the line, you want him. He just knows how to get after it regardless. You can tell when kickers and punters are just having fun and really good at what they do. He’s a super cool guy.
His talent?
I think I noticed that in the weight room too. I know some kickers and punters don’t like to lift that much. I think we realize that as long as you stay flexible, it helps to stay strong. And he’s really strong. He squats a lot. I think he has a lot of God-given talent and he works really hard. I’ve seen him hit a 67-yarder in practice pretty easy. He’s got a leg.
College journey?
Sure, yeah. I’ve had an interesting college career for sure and most people don’t know, I didn’t punt in high school so I had to take a gap year originally. My uncle and my brother have really been a blessing helping me learn how to punt and I took a gap year with Ben in Dallas. He punted at Notre Dame so he helped me a lot so I got a scholarship offer to Lafayette College just off of a YouTube film of me punting. Had a good year there, transferred to ASU and obviously that was a blessing, had a great time there. Now, since I was a graduate and had a grad transfer available and just some things that I decided to transfer. Nothing terrible, but an opportunity arose here at Oklahoma and as we talked about, once I was in the transfer portal to be a grad transfer, it was a no-brainer to come here. And I technically still have two years of eligibility left because of the COVID year didn’t count so I’m happy I’m here for these last two years of eligibility.
Leaving ASU/anti-vax stance?
I mean, I’m sure you all can look online and everyone has their own view on this, but yeah, that was their protocol at ASU and it was in my judgment just to enter the transfer portal after that and thankfully a spot arose here, like I said, at OU. It is what it is, I’m thankful everything worked out and what you said too, how COVID has helped some people get some years of eligibility back, one of my favorite Bible verses, Romans 8:28 says, ‘And we know that all things work together for the good to those who love the Lord, to those who are called according to his purpose,” so that’s just how I live my life. No matter what happens, I know it’s going to turn for my good. I’ve just got to keep the faith and work hard, and so I’m glad after it’s all said and done I’m here at OU.
Why didn't you punt in HS?
I don’t know. I guess I wanted to play football. Of course, punter counts as football, but I wanted to hit people and try, so I played safety. I played a lot of sports growing up and thankfully was blessed being athletic. And then in high school, I had three ACL surgeries, though, so I actually didn’t really get to play at all in high school. It was a big doozy. I didn’t, obviously, get to play that much with those injuries but toward the end of my senior year, I was like, ‘Man, I still really want to play college football but I have no film of me playing safety really and how am I going to do this?’ So I was like, ‘Well, my uncle punted in the NFL for 19 years, my brother punted at Notre Dame, maybe I can give it a try.’ That’s when my brother offered for me to live with him for a gap year, and so every day I punted—some punting coaches would probably say too much. Sometimes I’d punt with my brother in the morning then Uber back to the field and then punt again for hours on end. I started to love it. It was a grind because at first, I couldn’t really be very consistent or have a big leg but the more I worked at it, the more I thought there was a future with it, and I just kept getting after it.
Natural?
Little bit natural. After my third ACL surgery, I had to really—all I did was watch film and do drops. I couldn’t even kick until like six months after the surgery so when I went out, it was obviously a struggle. I don’t think other people around me saw that it was going to lead to much but I didn’t care. I was determined to do it. There was obviously a natural ability there but it was a lot of work honestly. I would sometimes punt until I, like, passed out. I just loved it though. Because I think with punting and kicking, and long snapping—because my other uncle was a long snapper in the NFL for a long time—it’s kind of a craft where you can work on it by yourself so it’s just up to you, if you have the initial frame and God-given ability, it’s up to you how much you can work to get it out of you. So I just loved that aspect of it and kept doing it.
