Game Day - Nov 3, 2012

The Norman Transcript n Nov. 3, 2012

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Daily Transcript

Mission: Finish strong Oklahoma at Iowa State

The Norman Transcript

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Nov. 3, 2012

GAMEDAY

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THE VIEW

The right stuff?

Today determines if Sooners are who they say they are

P

ick your narrative. n Today is a trap game for Oklahoma.

Out of the national championship race, needing a ton of help to get back into the Big 12 championship race, the Sooners have little to play for today at Iowa State against a pesky bunch of Cyclones with a history of pulling upsets on their home field.

Or this one. n How does Oklahoma get ready and motivated for this game? How can the Sooners possibly do it? A week ago, Owen Field was electric. Today, Jack Trice Stadium will be, well, Jack Trice Stadium. And how good can OU be anyway?

The Sooners have lost twice on their home field and now they have to play a good team on its home field.

I prefer this one. n A heavy favorite away from home, it may look like a trap game, but it’s very

Clay Horning Sports Editor

simple for Oklahoma.

Today will tell us who the Sooners really are. Today will tell us if Bob Stoops has been blowing smoke about how great this team is to coach and how the maturity of this team and its work habits have only risen since the season began. So, are they who they say they are?

I try to think of the ways Iowa State wins today, and every one of them includes a sluggishly-approached, mistake-plagued, penaltyridden and turnover-prone performance from OU. Every one.

Iowa State may come out inspired and that may be • See HORNING Page 14

Oklahoma at Iowa State Time: 11 a.m.

Place: Jack Trice Stadium Series: OU leads 69-5-2 Records: OU 5-2 (3-1 Big 12), Iowa State 5-3 (2-3) Rankings: OU No. 14 Associated Press Top 25; No. 12 USA Today coaches poll; No. 12 BCS standings. Iowa State unranked.

Line: OU minus 11 TV: KOCO-5 (Cox 8) Radio: KOKC-AM 1520, KRXO-FM 107.7

Inside n n n n n n n n n

Complete game needed 4 Breakdown 5 Rosters 6 Two-deeps 7 Poster 8 Stats 10 National Schedule 12 Big 12 Glance 13 Predictions 14

AP Photo

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops shouts instructions against Notre Dame last Saturday. Stoops stuck up for his team this week. Today, it can repay him the favor by beating Iowa State in Ames.

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GAMEDAY

The Norman Transcript

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Nov. 3, 2012

THE BIG STORY: N0 MISTA K ES

Another tight game?

If so, Sooners hope recent experience will be helpful

By John Shinn Transcript Sports Writer

A lot of things can be simulated on a practice field.

Plays and drills can be run until they’re second nature.

Crowd noise is blasted over loud speakers so players can practice hearing only what they must hear. Players train year-round to develop the stamina to get through a 150snap game.

The one thing that can’t be simulated is a razor-tight fourquarter contest, one that can be as mentally draining as it is physical. Those contests, which often come down to end-of-game mistakes, can

only be played on Saturdays.

The 12th-ranked Sooners (5-2, 2-1 Big 12) are out of the national championship race because they came up on the short end of two tight games.

It’s no surprise its losses to No. 3 Kansas State and No. 4 Notre Dame were decided in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats and the Irish have made a habit of winning tight games.

Kansas State has won 18 games since the start of the 2011 season, with the winning margin seven points or less in nine of those games.

Notre Dame’s 8-0 start • See TIGHT Page 9

“Yeah, they know how to win. They’ve been in them. It wasn’t uncomfortable for them. It was probably more uncomfortable for us in that situation … there is something to knowing how to win tight games” Transcript Photo by Jerry Laizure Mike Stoops Oklahoma defensive tackle Casey Walker (53) and cornerback Aaron Colvin OU defensive coordinator

combine to make a tackle against Notre Dame last week. The Sooners need a defensive performance that lasts four quarters today.

The Norman Transcript

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Nov. 3, 2012

GAMEDAY

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OKL A HOMA at IOWA STATE: BRE A K ING DOWN TODAY’S G AME

Stop big play, get Saunders going

By John Shinn

Sooner receiver Jalen Saunders scampers toward the end zone against Kansas two weeks ago.

The transfer receiver is coming off a 15-catch performance against Notre Dame.

Transcript Sports Writer

A

lot of Five emothings to tions were spent watch last SaturJohn Shinn day against Notre Dame. It’s impossible to play a game in that kind of environment without enduring a few small scars.

Nonetheless, the Sooners will walk right into a potential trap at 11 a.m. today at Iowa State’s Jack Trice Stadium.

The Cyclones are always tough at home. It’s easy for OU to forget since it hasn’t played there since 2007, and this will be just the

Transcript Photo by Jerry Laizure

fourth OU-Iowa State game in Ames, Iowa, since Bob Stoops’ tenure as head coach began in 1999.

Here are a few keys sure

to impact whether or not the Sooners will get out of there with a victory.

• See WATCH Page 11

RUNNING GAME

PA S S I N G G A M E

Damien Williams may not play and could be without left tackle Lane Johnson. There’s no doubt OU’s running game will be as limited as it’s been all season. But it still has Dominique Whaley, who is averaging 6.3 yards per carry.

The Sooners still have an edge running the ball, but the injury situation reduces the impact.

n The Cyclones continue to alternate quarterbacks between Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett. However, Jantz seems to have finally secured the job after throwing for five touchdowns last week against Baylor. Doesn’t matter. OU’s Landry Jones has a much deeper pool of receivers to throw to. This could be Jones’ most productive day of the season.

PA S S D E F E N S E

SPECIAL TEAMS

This all comes down to interceptions. When the Sooners get one, they’re 4-0.

When they don’t, they’re 1-2.

The reason OU gets the edge is Iowa State is in the same boat. The Sooners have the ability to apply pressure with their front four and cover with seven. The Cyclones have to gamble more to apply pressure.

n The Sooners have won the special teams battle in every game, Don’t expect anything to change in Ames. OU should win the kicking battle and the return battle. If this game is tight, don’t be surprised if a special teams play allows OU to pull away. Iowa State has been average at best and kicker Edwin Arceo has already missed twice from inside 50 yards.

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RUN DEFENSE

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OU’s run defense took a hit against Notre Dame. It couldn’t get the Fighting Irish off the field in the second half. Iowa State is not Notre Dame, however. Expect the Sooner defense to rebound with a dominant performance against the run. The Cyclones will be reeling from the loss of linebacker Jake Knott, who is their best player on either side of the ball.

I N TA N G I B L E S

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The Sooners have been a good road team this season.

Their two best performances (Texas Tech and Texas) both came away from Owen Field.

Nonetheless, Iowa State has a history of upsetting ranked teams at Jack Trice Stadium.

It nearly did it to Kansas State.

OU could be the Cyclones’ last chance this season.

— John Shinn

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GAMEDAY

The Norman Transcript

OKLAHOMA ROSTER 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 8 9 9 10 10 11 11 12 13 14 14 15 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 28 29 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 37 38

Tony Jefferson Julian Wilson Sterling Shepard Kenny Stills Joseph Ibiloye Demontre Hurst Corey Nelson Dominique Whaley Joe Powell Gabe Lynn Trevor Knight Rashod Favors Blake Bell R.J. Washington Kendal Thompson Landry Jones Durron Neal Jalen Saunders Aaron Colvin Drew Allen Lamar Harris Jaz Reynolds Trey Metoyer Michael Hunnicutt Jalen Saunders Justin Brown Frank Shannon Tom Wort Austin Brown Roy Finch Cortez Johnson Kass Everett Danzel Williams Brennan Clay Trey Franks Aaron Franklin David Smith Zack Sanchez Damien Williams Gary Simon Alex Ross Grant Bothun Quentin Hayes Javon Harris Daniel Franklin Marshall Musil Trey Millard Daniel Brooks Julian Winters Joel Ossom Tress Way Dylan Seibert Brandon Young

DB DB WR WR LB DB LB RB DB DB QB DE QB DE QB QB WR WR DB QB DB WR WR K WR WR LB LB WR RB DB DB RB RB DB LB RB DB RB DB RB WR DB DB LB FB FB RB RB FB P P DB

5-11 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-3 5-10 6-1 5-11 6-0 6-0 6-1 6-1 6-6 6-3 6-1 6-4 5-11 5-9 6-0 6-5 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-0 5-9 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-5 5-7 6-2 5-10 5-8 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-2 6-2 6-2 5-8 5-11 5-9 6-1 6-3 5-10

212 191 188 190 218 183 219 204 173 199 197 250 254 256 184 218 201 160 181 226 186 198 190 173 160 209 230 237 202 175 191 180 189 201 184 212 193 170 208 180 204 183 181 206 224 241 256 163 169 235 215 215 173

Jr. Chula Vista, Calif.

So. Moore Fr. Oklahoma City Jr. Encinitas, Calif.

Sr. Garland, Tx Sr. Lancaster, Tx Jr. Dallas, Tx Sr. Lawton Jr. Dallas Jr. Tulsa Fr. San Antonio So. Fort Worth So. Wichita,Kan. Sr. Fort Worth R-Fr. Oklahoma City Sr. Artesia, N.M. Fr. St. Louis, Mo. Jr. Elk Grove, Calif.

Jr. Owasso Jr. San Antonio Sr. Gilmer, Tx Jr. Houston, Tx Fr. Whitehouse, Tx So. Richardson, Tx Jr. Elk Grove, Calif.

Sr. Wilmington, Del. R-Fr. Dallas Jr. New Braunfels, TX R-Fr. Buffalo, Wyo. Jr. Niceville, Fla. So. NewOrleans, La. Jr. Philadelphia, Pa. R-Fr. Arlington, Tx Jr. San Diego Jr. Orange, Tx So. Marshall, Tx Fr. Midlothian, Ill. Fr. Keller, Tx Jr. San Diego Fr. St. Petersburg, Fla. Fr. Jenks Fr. Rowlett, Tx So. Lancaster, Tx Sr. Lawton Sr. Mount Airy, Ga. Jr. La Crosse, Kan. Jr. Columbia, Mo. Fr. Port Lavaca, Tx So. Sacramento, Calif.

Sr. Denton, Tx Sr. Tulsa R-Fr. Tulsa So. Frisco, Tx

38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 56 59 64 67 68 69 71 72 74 75 77 78 79 80 80 81 81 82 84 84 85 86 87 88 89 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99

Jack Steed K Nick Hodgson K P.L. Lindley LB Eric Striker LB Jesse Paulsen DB Patrick O’Hara K Jaydan Bird LB Caleb Gastelum LB Eric Doughtie DB Alex Christiensen FB Eric Hosek K Aaron Ripkowski FB David Driskill FB Austin Woods OL John-Philip Hughes OL Casey Walker DT Nila Kasitati OL Ty Darlington OL Nathan Hughes OL Gabe Ikard OL Robert Hollis OL Bronson Irwin OL Lane Johnson OL Tyrus Thompson OL Derek Farniok OL Adam Shead OL Tyler Evans OL Marquis Anderson DT Kyle Marrs OL Daryl Williams OL Jordan Phillips DT Derrick Woods WR Sam Grant TE Lacolton Bester WR Brannon Green TE Mike Onuoha DE Don Caudill WR Geneo Grissom TE Brandon Kitchens WR Derrick Bradley WR Taylor McNamara TE Connor Knight TE Chase Buck TE David King DE Charles Tapper DE Stacy McGee DT Jordan Wade DT Torrea Peterson DT Damon Williams DT Mitch Tate DE Jamarkus McFarland DT Chuka Ndulue DE Chaz Nelson DE

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Nov. 3, 2012

IOWA STATE ROSTER 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-3 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-4 6-4 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-7 6-5 6-9 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-1 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-1 6-4 5-11 5-8 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-3 6-2

200 189 240 198 193 192 236 196 197 243 150 260 239 293 250 309 309 266 248 288 333 307 303 303 319 307 315 265 320 299 318 185 234 205 250 235 194 247 161 173 234 212 231 286 265 299 290 277 305 238 288 256 239

Fr. Katy, Tx So. N. Richland Hills, Tx R-Fr. R. Rock, Tx Fr. Seffner, Fla. Sr. Albuquerque, N.M. Sr. Topeka, Kan. Sr. Wichita, Kan. So. Claremore Fr. Sugarland, Tx Fr. Edmond R-Fr. Sherman, Tx So. Dayton, Ohio So. Oklahoma City Jr. Rockwall, Tx R-Fr. Tulsa Sr. Garland, Tx R-Fr. Euless, Tx Fr. Apopka, Fla. R-Fr. Spring, Tx Jr. Oklahoma City R-Fr. Tulsa Jr. Mustang Sr. Groveton, Tx So. Pflugerville, Tx R-Fr. Sioux Falls, S.D. So. Cedar Hill, Tx Sr. Strafford, Mo. R-Fr. Cibolo, Tx Fr. San Antonio, Tx So. Lake Dallas, Tx R-Fr. Towanda, Kan. Fr. Inglewood, Calif.

Fr. North Royalton, Ohio Jr. Scooba, Miss.

Jr. Altamont, Kan. Fr. Edmond Jr. Muldrow So. Hutchinson, Kan. Fr. Jenks Sr. Houston, Tx Fr. San Diego, Calif.

Fr. San Antonio, Jr. Edmond Sr. Houston Fr. Baltimore Sr. Muskogee Fr. Round Rock, Tx So. San Antonio So. Irving, Tx R-Fr. Bartlesville Sr. Lufkin, Tx So. Dallas Jr. Columbus, Ohio

1 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 7 7 8 8 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 15 16 16 17 18 18 19 19 20 20 21 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 31 32 32 33 34 35 35 36 37 38 39 41

Cole Netten PK Jarvis West WR Steele Jantz QB Jansen Watson DB Aaron Horne WR P.J. Harris WR Sam Richardson DB Jeremy Reeves DB Tad Ecby WR Kenneth Lynn DB Jared Barnett QB Cliff Stokes DB Matt Van Dyke WR Brett Bueker QB Matthew Thomas DB James White RB Quenton Bundrage WR Rob Standard RB Jacques Washington DB Charlie Rogers DB Jerome Tiller WR Wes Boyer DB Sam Richardson QB Dondre Daley WR Kirby Van Der Kamp P Jared Brackens DB Grant Rohach QB Ben Durbin DL Brandon Horbach QB Chris Young WR Ben Goaley RB Gage Shaeffer DB Bradley Hagerla LB Albert Gary WR Ryan Gent QB Ben Fisher WR Josh Lenz WR Jake Knott LB DeVondrick Nealy RB Shontrelle Johnson RB Luke Knott DB T.J. Mutcherson DB Darian Cotton DB Durrell Givens DB Kyle Hatton DB Deon Broomfield DB C.J. Morgan LB Kane Seeley LB Rony Nelson DE Cody Ahrendt LB Jeff Woody RB Josh Jahlas DB Drake Ferch DB Vince Ewald TE Levi Peters DB Jace Hawley DB Walker Lee Woods DB Roosevelt Maggitt DE Matt Morton LB Edwin Arceo PK

6-1 5-7 6-3 5-9 5-9 6-0 5-7 5-7 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-9 6-4 5-10 5-8 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-3 5-11 5-11 5-11 6-2 5-10 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-3 5-10 5-9 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-0 5-9 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-6 5-10 5-10 5-11 6-3 6-1 5-9

217 170 225 185 177 162 186 176 198 161 198 176 160 229 167 190 187 191 208 198 204 192 207 187 203 204 208 275 193 197 187 196 208 195 200 200 200 252 185 190 205 192 180 210 170 196 212 221 252 223 239 190 200 231 200 205 192 244 209 191

Fr. Ankeny, Iowa R-So. St. Petersburg, Fla. Sr. Agoura Hills, Calif.

R-Jr. Kissimmee, Fla Sr. Oakland, Calif.

Fr. Groveland, Fla. R-Fr. League City, Texas Sr. Allen, Texas R-Fr. Houston, Texas R-Fr. Dallas R-So. Garland, Texas Jr. Tallahassee, Fla. R-Sr. W. Des Moines R-Sr. Bettendorf, Iowa R-So. Lancaster, Texas R-Jr. Dallas, Texas R-Fr. Palmetto, Fla. R-Fr. St. Louis, Mo. R-Jr. Owasso, Okla.

Fr. Iowa City, Iowa R-Sr. San Antonio R-Jr. Cedar Falls, Iowa R-Fr. Winter Park, Fla. Fr. Tarpon Springs, Fla. Jr. W. Des Moines So. Mesquite, Texas Fr. Moorpark, Calif.

Sr. Gilbert, Iowa R-Fr. Toledo, Iowa R-Sr. Austin, Texas Fr. Des Moines R-So. Eden Prairie, Minn.

R-Fr. Johnston, Iowa R-Jr. Ocala, Fla. R-Jr. Wellman, Iowa R-So. Van Meter, Iowa Sr. Dubuque, Iowa Sr. Waukee, Iowa R-Fr. Monticello, Florida Jr. DeLand, Fla. Fr. Lee's Summit, Mo. Fr. Tampa, Fla. R-Fr. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa R-Sr. Long Beach, Calif.

Fr. Zionsville, Ind. R-Jr. Palm Bay, Fla. R-So. Lake Wales, Fla. Fr. Perry, Iowa R-Sr. Miami, Fla. R-So. Sioux City, Iowa R-Jr. Pleasant Hill, Iowa Fr. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Jr. State Center, Iowa R-Sr. Taylor Ridge, Ill. Fr. Gilmore City, Iowa Sr. Vail, Iowa R-Jr. Waukee,Iowa R-Sr. Riviera, Fla. R-Sr. Henderson, Texas Jr. Muscatine, Iowa

41 42 43 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 61 62 63 64 65 67 69 69 70 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 83 84 85 85 86 87 87 88 88 89 90 90 90 91 92 93 94 95 95 96 98 99

Darius White Luke Sims Jordan Welch A.J. Klein Cory Morrissey Spencer Thornton Willie Scott Tanner Tusha Jeremiah George Anthony Lazard Marcus Benton Jevohn Miller Ben Loth Nick Lande Jared Weaver Nick Beckman Nick Fett Patrick McCaffery Ethan Tuftee Jacob Gannon Sam Tautolo Nick Kron Kyle Lichtenberg Daniel Burton Drew Davis Carter Bykowski Brock Dagel Shaban Dika Tom Farniok Duaron Williams Jamison Lalk Oni Omoile Bob Graham Brayden Burris Justin Coleman Ricky Howard Quan West Derek Hammann Brett Medders Ernst Brun, Jr. Mitchell Harger Devin Lemke Kurt Hammerschmidt Chanse Creekmur David Irving Ja'Quarius Daniels Ben Dinkins Pierce Richardson Mitch Amundson Cleyon Laing Mitchell Meyers Pierre Aka Austin Krick Brandon Jensen Jake McDonough Ben Boesen Walter Woods III Rob Staub Henry Simon Quinton Pompey

LB DS LB LB DE DS DE DS LB LB DE LB OL DS LB OL OL DL OL OL OL DE OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL OL WR TE WR WR WR TE WR DE TE TE DE WR WR TE PK DE DL DE DL DL DL TE DL DL DL DL

6-1 5-10 6-1 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-1 6-6 5-11 6-1 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-6 6-5 6-9 6-8 6-8 6-5 6-4 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-5 6-6 5-11 6-4 6-4 5-8 6-2 6-3 5-10 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-7 6-3 6-1 6-5 6-0 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-0 6-3 6-3 6-3

233 215 225 248 248 240 242 185 225 188 239 245 310 170 220 275 275 252 310 290 300 240 301 290 340 304 290 315 290 298 280 284 285 298 190 263 216 155 211 247 190 230 272 229 280 230 189 248 193 290 259 277 263 287 280 216 308 240 290 310

Fr. Palmetto, Fla. R-Fr. Centennial, Colo.

Fr. Lamoni, Iowa Sr. Kimberly, Wis. So. Ames, Iowa R-So. Marion, Iowa R-Jr. Orlando, Fla. Fr. Clear Lake, Iowa Jr. Clearwater, Fla. Fr. Urbandale, Iowa R-Fr. Van Meter, Iowa So. Brooklyn, Iowa R-So. Chatsworth, Calif.

Fr. Granger, Iowa R-So. Moville, Iowa R-Fr. Iowa City, Iowa Fr. Audubon, Iowa R-Fr. N. Liberty, Iowa R-Jr. Davenport, Iowa R-So. Iowa City, Iowa Sr. Moreno Valley, Calif.

R-Fr. Clive, Iowa R-Jr. Bettendorf, Iowa Fr. Oklahoma City R-Sr. Dubuque, Iowa R-Sr. Eden Prairie, Minn.

R-Fr. Cherokee, Iowa R-So. San Antonio R-So. Sioux Falls, S.D. Fr. Orlando, Fla. R-Fr. Council Bluffs, Iowa R-Fr. Coppell, Texas R-So. Jenks, Okla.

R-Sr. Wichita, Kan. R-Jr. Beatrice, Neb. R-Sr. Hesperia, Calif.

Fr. Willis, Texas Fr. Dyersville, Iowa R-Fr.Westlake Village, Calif.

R-Jr.Stone Mountain, Ga. Fr. Alburnett, Iowa R-Fr. Alden, Iowa R-Sr. Chesterfield, Mo. Jr. Marshalltown, Iowa So. San Jacinto, Calif.

R-Fr. Austin, Texas R-Jr. Hollywood, Fla. R-So.Newport Beach, Calif.

R-So. Sioux City, Iowa R-Sr. Edmonton, Alberta Fr.The Woodlands, Texas Fr. Indianapolis, Ind. R-So. Clinton, Iowa R-So. Ankeny, Iowa R-Sr. Urbandale, Iowa R-Fr. Des Moines R-Jr. Palmdale, Calif.

So. Dracut, Mass.

Sr. Chula Vista, Calif.

R-Fr. Palmetto, Fla.

69, Lane Johnson 71, Tyrus Thompson

FB: When Sooners take receiver off the field 33, Trey Millard 48, Aaron Ripkowski 85, Geneo Grissom 88, Tyler McNamara

TB: 21, Shontrelle Johnson 8, James White

SS:

CB: 6, Demontre Hurst 15, Lamar Harris

7, Corey Nelson 25 Aaron Franklin

21, Tom Wort 20, Frank Shannon

Nov. 3, 2012

WR: 3, Aaron Horne 18, Albert Gary

DE: 53, David King 84, Mike Onuoha

DT: 97, Jamarcus McFarland 53, David King

84, Ernst Brun 81, Ricky Howard

LB:

LB:

NB: 9, Gabe Lynn 2, Julian Wilson

1, Tony Jefferson 42, Jesse Paulsen

TE:

RT: 79, Brayden Burris 76, Jamison Lalik

RG: 69, Kyle Lichtenberg 65, Jacob Gannon

DT: 53, Casey Walker 80, Jordan Phillips

QB: 2, Steele Jantz 7, Jared Barnett

C: 74, Tom Farniok 67, Sam Tautolo

LG: 64, Ethan Tuftee 78, Bob Graham

71, Carter Bykowski 72, Brock Dagel

WHEN OKLAHOMA HAS THE BALL

LT:

FS:

DE: 98, Chuka Ndulue 11, R.J. Washington

CB: 14, Aaron Colvin 27, Gary Simon

CB: 5, Jeremy Reeves 4, Sam Richardson

24, Durrell Givens 14, Jared Brackens

WR: 19, Josh Lenz 11, Jerome Tiller

DT: 90, Cleyon Laing 98, Henry Simon DE: 50, Willie Scott 87, David Irving

SS:

WR: 19, Justin Brown 13, Durron Neal

TE:

RT: 79, Darryl Williams 72, Derek Farniok

26, Deon Broomfield 27, C.J. Morgan

47, A.J. Klein 52, Jeremiah George LB:

LB:

20, Jake Knott 55, Jevohn Miller

LB:

10, Jacques Washington 26, Deon Broomfield

WR: 15, Chris Young 11, Jerome Tiller

TB: 26, Damien Williams 8, Dominique Whaley RG: 68, Bronson Irwin 50, Austin Woods

NG: 94, Jake McDonough 93, Brandon Jensen

QB: 12, Landry Jones 10, Blake Bell

C: 64, Gabe Ikard 56, Ty Darlington

LT:

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LG: 74, Adam Shead 50, Austin Woods

DE: 38, Roosevelt Maggitt 69, Nick Kron

CB: 2, Jansen Watson 5, Jeremy Reeves

FS:

SR: 18, Jalen Saunders 3, Sterling Shepard

WR: 4, Kenny Stills 17, Trey Metoyer

The Norman Transcript GAMEDAY 7

WHEN IOWA STATE HAS THE BALL 30, Javon Harris 9, Gabe Lynn

Photo by Jerry Laizure

Justin Brown (19) & Kenny Stills (4)

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GAMEDAY

The Norman Transcript Opp.

SCHEDULE Sept. 1 at UTEP Sept. 8 Florida A&M Sept. 22 Kansas St. Oct. 6 at Texas Tech Oct. 13 Texas Oct. 20 Kansas Oct. 27 Notre Dame Nov. 3 at Iowa State Nov. 10 Baylor Nov. 17 at W. Virginia Nov. 24 OSU Dec. 1 at TCU

W, 24-7 W, 69-13 L, 24-19 W, 41-20 W, 63-21 W, 52-7 L, 30-13 11 a.m.

TBA TBA TBA TBA

STATS Williams Whaley Clay Millard Bell Finch Stills Team Jones Total

(Seven games) Rushing Att Yds Y/C TD 87 581 6.7 7 38 241 6.3 1 30 215 7.2 3 17 120 7.1 0 36 84 2.3 9 6 61 10.2 1 2 22 11.0 0 1 -19 -19.0 0 10 -92 -9.2 0 227 1213 5.3 21

Lg 95 18 41 20 19 17 13 0 0 95

Y/G 83.0 48.2 30.7 17.1 12.0 8.7 3.1 -6.3 -13.1 173.3

260 1044 4.0 8 71 149.1 Passing Eff C-A-I Pct Yds. TD Jones 139.9 169-264-4 64.0 2009 12 Bell 122.9 8-13-0 61.5 95 0 Total 139.1 177-277-4 63.9 2104 12 Opp. 96.2 108-208-8 51.9 1169 3 Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Lg A/G Stills 45 557 12.4 4 68 79.6 Brown 28 347 12.4 2 46 49.6 Saunders 20 269 13.4 0 35 89.7 Shepard 20 267 13.4 2 31 38.1 Williams 16 172 10.8 0 38 24.6 Millard 15 209 13.9 2 73 29.9 Metoyer 13 108 8.3 1 27 18.0 Clay 6 32 5.3 0 14 4.6 Whaley 4 14 3.5 0 13 2.8 Green 3 45 15.0 1 18 6.4 Bester 3 29 9.7 0 13 4.1 Neal 2 38 19.0 0 25 7.6 Musil 1 12 12.0 0 12 6.0 Finch 1 5 5.0 0 5 0.7 Total 177 2104 11.9 12 73 300.6 Opp. 108 1169 10.8 3 75 167.0 Tackles (leaders) S A T Loss Sack Jefferson 36 23 59 2.0-3 Harris 21 15 36 1.0-4 Colvin 22 12 34 0.5-1 Wort 13 19 32 3.5-19 1.0-11 Nelson 16 16 32 3.5-13 1.0-8 Hurst 21 8 29 1.0-2 1.0-2 Ndulue 13 13 26 3.5-6 2.5-5 Washington11 14 25 1.5-6 Franklin 14 5 19 1.0-8 1.0-8 McFarland 7 10 17 4.0-13 2.0-9 Lynn 12 5 17 1.5-2 Wilson 10 6 16 1.0-2 King 6 10 16 1.5-6 2.0-5 Walker 5 10 15 1.5-5

TE A M NUMBERS SCORING Points per game FIRST DOWNS Rushing Passing Penalty RUSHING YARDAGE Yards gained rushing Yards lost rushing Rushing Attempts Average Per Rush Average Per Game TDs Rushing

OU 281 44.7 168 60 104 4 1213 1373 160 227 5.3 173.3 21

Opp. 122 15.3 112 48 57 7 1044 1165 121 260 4.0 149.1 8

PASSING YARDAGE 2104 1169 C-A-I 177-277-4108-208-8 Average per pass 7.6 5.6 Average per catch 11.9 10.8 Average per game 300.6 167.0 TDs Passing 12 3 TOTAL OFFENSE 3317 2213 Total Plays 504 468 Average per play 6.6 4.7 Average per game 473.9 316.1 3rd-DOWN Conversions 44-92 45-113 Percentage 48% 40% 4th-DOWN Conversions 3-4 1-5 Percentage 75% 20%

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Nov. 3, 2012

Tight: Can Sooners win close?

• Continued from Page 4 includes four wins by a touchdown or less.

“Yeah, they know how to win. They’ve been in them. It wasn’t uncomfortable for them. It was probably more uncomfortable for us in that situation,” Sooner defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. “Again, there is something to knowing how to win tight games, and they certainly have a great formula for that.”

Oklahoma hasn’t found a winning formula. Probably because the Sooners haven’t played many close games.

When the Sooners win, they tend to win big.

OU’s five victories have been by an average margin of 36.2 points.

The Sooners didn’t start blowing people out only this season. OU hasn’t come from behind in the fourth quarter since beating Florida State 2313 last season.

It could become an issue again when the Sooners face Iowa State (5-3, 2-3) at 11 a.m. today at Jack Trice Stadium.

The Cyclones have beaten at least one ranked team at

OU defender Jayden Bird gestures after making a play against Kansas. The Sooners want to play the same kind of defense for four quarters today at Iowa State.

Transcript P hoto by Jerry Laizure

home the last two seasons.

Last year, it was Iowa State’s 37-31 victory over then second-ranked Oklahoma State that threw the BCS into chaos. In 2010, it was the Cyclones’ win over Texas that ultimately sent the Longhorns out of the rankings and spiraling toward a 5-7 season.

OU knows all about the potential trap waiting for it. The way to avoid it is to go out and dominate from the start. The Sooners did that at Texas Tech four Saturdays ago. They did the same thing against Texas at the Cotton Bowl.

Those games were over

early. It’s not OU’s fault it didnt’ face fourth quarter pressure.

OU doesn’t believe it has conditioning issues “There’s few if any teams that are better conditioned than us in the country,” center Gabe Ikard said.

So, what is it?

Experience can’t be discounted.

The Irish lost a bunch of close games last season. It’s in the thick of the national championship race by season by winning them this season.

The national championship hopes OU embraced

in the preseason are gone.

Until the Sooners figure out how to win games in the fourth quarter, there’s no reason to harbor national title aspirations. It can’t be won without winning some tight games.

The Sooners have learned it the hard way.

“More games are lost than won,” fullback Trey Millard said. “We understand that now.”

Today, the Sooners may have to put that lesson to use.

John Shinn Follow me @john_shinn jshinn@normantranscript.com

The Norman Transcript

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Nov. 3, 2012 TEAM Total Opp.

SCHEDULE Sept. 1 Tulsa Sept. 8 at Iowa Sept. 15 W. Illinois Sept. 29 Texas Tech Oct. 6 at TCU Oct. 13 Kansas State Oct. 20 at OSU Oct. 27 Baylor Nov. 3 Oklahoma Nov. 10 at Texas Nov. 17 at Kansas Nov. 23 West Virginia

W, 38-23 W, 9-6 W, 37-3 L, 24-13 W, 37-24 L, 27-21 L, 31-10 W, 35-21 11 a.m.

TBA TBA 2:30 p.m.

STATS (Eight games) Rushing Att Yds Y/C TD Johnson 82 343 4.2 1 White 58 306 5.3 2 Jantz 68 149 2.2 1 Barnett 28 129 4.6 0 Nealy 13 82 6.3 0 Woody 20 51 2.5 1 Horne 2 38 19.0 0 Standard 7 30 4.3 1 Richardson 2 25 12.5 0 Jarvis 4 6 1.5 0

Lg 19 56 21 20 17 11 33 12 14 3

Y/G 42.9 51.0 21.3 21.5 10.2 6.4 4.8 15.0 25.0 0.8

10 -24 -2.4 0 0 -4.0 294 1135 3.9 6 56 141.9 297 1081 3.6 9 77 135.1 Passing Eff C-A-I Pct Yds. TD Jantz 133.5 125-188-8 66.5 1219 12 Barnett 105.7 51-106-4 48.1 586 6 Tiller 0.0 0-1-0 0.0 0 0 Lenz 556.0 1-1-0 100.0 15 1 Total 124.5177-296-12 59.8 1820 19 Opp. 117.7186-319-10 58.3 2139 9 Receiving No. Yds. Avg. TD Lg A/G Horne 34 316 9.3 2 40 39.5 Young 27 293 10.9 2 42 36.6 West 19 188 9.9 3 23 23.5 Lenz 18 279 15.5 4 74 46.5 Brun 18 200 11.1 4 30 25.0 White 16 124 7.8 0 42 20.7 Tiller 12 110 9.2 0 20 13.8 Albert 10 113 11.3 1 36 14.1 Johnson 9 54 6.0 1 13 6.8 Bundrage 8 99 12.4 0 35 12.4 Woody 2 10 5.0 2 8 1.2 Nealy 1 14 14.0 0 14 1.8 Howard 1 12 12.0 0 12 2.0 Hammerschmidt1 9 9.0 0 9 1.1 Bykowski 1 -1 -1.0 0 0 -0.1 Total 177 1820 10.3 19 74 227.5 Opp. 186 2139 11.5 9 74 267.4 Tackles (leaders) S A T Loss Sack Knott 55 24 79 6.0-16 0.5-3 Klein 36 31 67 2.5-6 1.0-5 Durrell 37 15 52 Washington30 21 51 1.0-2 Reeves 35 9 44 1.0-1 Watson 31 8 39 0.5-3 George 23 15 38 2.5-3 Broomfield 18 12 30 1.0-4 Maggitt 16 11 27 6.0-28 2.5-21

TE A M NUMBERS SCORING Points per game FIRST DOWNS Rushing Passing Penalty RUSHING YARDAGE Yards gained rushing Yards lost rushing Rushing Attempts Average Per Rush Average Per Game TDs Rushing

ISU 200 25 162 69 82 11 1135 1309 174 294 3.9 141.9 6

Opp. 158 19.8 160 57 93 10 1081 1261 180 297 3.6 135.1 9

PASSING YARDAGE 1820 1218 C-A-I 177-296-12186-319-0 Average per pass 6.1 6.7 Average per catch 10.3 11.5 Average per game 227.5 267.4 TDs Passing 19 9 TOTAL OFFENSE 2955 3220 Total Plays 590 616 Average per play 5.0 5.2 Average per game 369.4 280.7 3rd-DOWN Conversions 50-125 52-137 Percentage 40% 38% 4th-DOWN Conversions 4-8 7-15 Percentage 50% 47%

GAMEDAY

11

Watch: Colvin needs to respond • Continued from Page 5 Who will carry the running load? Damien Williams’ ankle injury leaves him questionable for today’s game. If he can’t go, OU needs Dom Whaley to be the workhorse.

Whaley showed he can do it in the first half of last season, but he hasn’t had more than 11 carries in a game this season and hasn’t carried the ball once in the last two games.

Whaley should be fresh, but it’s been a while since he had to carry the load.

Will OU’s defense eliminate the big plays? The Sooners rolled past Texas Tech, Texas and Kansas because they made those teams execute long drives to get into fieldgoal range. Against Notre Dame, the game swung on OU giving up a 62-yard touchdown run and 50-yard pass to set up the go-ahead touchdown. Iowa State doesn’t have the Fighting Irish’s bigplay potential, but all it takes is one player falling asleep on one play to light the chunkplay fuse.

Will OU continue to feed Jalen Saunders? In just three games, Saunders has

Sooner wide receiver Sterling Shepard makes a play in the open field against Notre Dame last Saturday.

Transcript P hoto by Jerry Laizure

become the most dynamic player in the Sooners’ offense and shown he can put up huge numbers. He’s also the antidote for defensive schemes that load up to stop the run. There aren’t any linebackers who can cover him.

OU must feed Saunders the ball and force Iowa State to play more than four defensive backs. When that happens, the whole playbook opens.

Can cornerback Aaron Colvin rebound? Notre Dame was the first team that picked on

Colvin and it converted four third downs with receivers beating the Sooners’ stellar cornerback. Iowa State had to take notice. Don’t be surprised if it tests him early.

One of the reasons OU’s pass defense has been so good had been that teams were staying away from Colvin’s side of the field. He needs to remind offensive coordinators why that way of thinking began.

Can OU come out hot? Traditionally, Sooners are one of

the greatest front-runners in the history of the game.

When they play well early, it doesn’t matter what happens late. Go out and score on the opening drive and force the Cyclones to punt and all the bad memories from the Notre Dame game should fade away. Struggle early and the pressure will get bigger and heavier.

John Shinn Follow me @john_shinn jshinn@normantranscript.com

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GAMEDAY

The Norman Transcript

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Nov. 3, 2012

COLLEGE FOOTBALL SATURDAY

A much better defense Still, how can Cowboys begin to slow down Klein and the Wildcats?

Associated Press STILLWATER — Entering the season, an experienced defense was supposed to be Oklahoma State’s strength.

The plan was for the unit to buy time for an offense led by a freshman quarterback.

It’s taken longer than coach Mike Gundy and defensive coordinator Bill Young wanted, but the defense seems to be rounding into form as Oklahoma State (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) heads into arguably its biggest challenge of the season — a trip to the Little Apple to face No. 3 Kansas State (8-0, 5-0) and its Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Collin Klein today.

In starting the season 2-2, the Cowboys surrendered 59 points to Arizona and 41 to Texas, losing both games.

Since then, for the first time in its Big 12 history, Oklahoma State has held three straight league opponents under 20 points in wins over Kansas (20-14), Iowa State (31-10) and TCU (36-14).

“We’ve gotten more pressure on the quarterback from the edges over the last couple of weeks and that helps,” Gundy said. “We’ve had more hurries. Our secondary has increased its ability to play the football while the ball is in the air over the last two or three weeks. We still have a ways to go . but we’re much better now than we were a month ago.”

Young and his players credit several factors for the Cowboys’ defensive resurgence: better attention to detail, improved tackling, allowing fewer big plays and forcing more turnovers.

“Arizona, we flat out played

AP Photo

The Cowboys come on to the field for last week’s victory over TCU. Oklahoma State will have to be even better today against Kansas State. terrible,” defensive end Cooper Bassett said. “Against Texas, our defense played really well for three quarters and in the fourth quarter, for some reason, we kind of imploded. We didn’t make the plays. We weren’t fundamentally sound. Because of that, we lost the games. The biggest thing for us the past

few weeks . is we were able to be fundamentally sound and we were able put a full game together.”

Added cornerback Justin Gilbert: “It’s knowing your job, carrying out your assignments and not trying to do more than what you’re supposed to do and trusting in • See OSU Page 13

Today’s Games EAST Air Force (5-3) at Army (1-7), 11 a.m.

Miami (Ohio) (4-4) at Buffalo (1-7), 11 a.m.

Towson (4-4) at Delaware (5-3), 11 a.m.

William & Mary (2-6) at N. Hampshire (7-2), 11 a.m.

Yale (2-5) at Brown (4-3), 11:30 a.m.

Dartmouth (4-3) at Cornell (4-3), 11:30 a.m.

Lehigh (8-0) at Holy Cross (1-7), 11:30 a.m.

Wagner (5-3) at Albany (NY) (7-1), noon Sacred Heart (2-6) at Bryant (2-6), noon Fordham (5-3) at Bucknell (1-7), noon Lafayette (5-3) at Colgate (5-3), noon Columbia (2-5) at Harvard (6-1), noon CCSU (2-6) at Monmouth (NJ) (4-4), noon Penn (3-4) at Princeton (4-3), noon TCU (5-3) at West Virginia (5-2), 2 p.m.

James Madison (6-2) at Maine (3-5), 2:30 p.m.

FAU (2-6) at Navy (5-3), 2:30 p.m.

San Diego (5-3) at Marist (3-5), 3 p.m.

VMI (2-6) at Stony Brook (8-1), 5 p.m.

SOUTH Houston (4-4) at East Carolina (5-4), 11 a.m.

Missouri (4-4) at Florida (7-1), 11 a.m.

Vanderbilt (4-4) at Kentucky (1-8), 11 a.m.

Temple (3-4) at Louisville (8-0), 11 a.m.

Texas A&M (6-2) at Mississippi St. (7-1), 11 a.m.

Tennessee St. (8-1) at Murray St. (3-5), 11 a.m.

Troy (4-4) at Tennessee (3-5), 11 a.m.

N. Mexico St. (1-7) at Auburn (1-7), 11:30 a.m.

Ga. Tech (3-5) at Maryland (4-4), 11:30 a.m.

Virginia (2-6) at NC State (5-3), 11:30 a.m.

Valparaiso (0-8) at Campbell (1-7), noon Hampton (2-5) at Howard (5-3), noon Davidson (1-7) at Morehead St. (2-6), noon Jacksonville St. (5-3) at UT-Martin (6-2), noon Co. Carolina (4-4) at G.-Webb (2-6), 12:30 p.m.

Florida A&M (3-5) at NC A&T (4-4), 12:30 p.m.

Southern U. (3-5) at Alabama A&M (6-2), 1 p.m.

C.-Stockton (1-8) at Austin Peay (0-8), 1 p.m.

App. St. (6-3) at Georgia Southern (7-1), 1 p.m.

Alcorn St. (3-5) at MVSU (2-6), 1 p.m.

Memphis (1-7) at Marshall (3-5), 1 p.m.

Delaware St. (5-3) at NC Central (5-3), 1 p.m.

Savannah St. (1-7) at Norfolk St. (2-7), 1 p.m.

Elon (3-5) at The Citadel (4-4), 1 p.m.

E. Illinois (5-3) at Tenn. Tech (2-6), 1:30 p.m.

Jackson St. (4-4) at Grambling St. (1-7), 2 p.m.

Wofford (7-1) at Samford (4-3), 2 p.m.

Mississippi (5-3) at Georgia (7-1), 2:30 p.m.

O. Dominion (7-1) at Georgia St. (1-8), 2:30 p.m.

Charleston So. (4-4) at Liberty (3-5), 2:30 p.m.

FIU (1-8) at South Alabama (2-6), 2:30 p.m.

Rice (3-6) at Tulane (2-6), 2:30 p.m.

Chattanooga (4-4) at W. Carolina (1-8), 2:30 p.m.

BC (2-6) at Wake Forest (4-4), 2:30 p.m.

UTSA (5-3) at Louisiana Tech (7-1), 3 p.m.

La-Lafayette (4-3) at La-Monroe (6-2), 3 p.m.

McNeese St. (5-3) at Nicholls St. (1-6), 3 p.m.

Rhode Island (0-8) at Richmond (5-3), 5 p.m.

Clemson (7-1) at Duke (6-3), 6 p.m.

UConn (3-5) at South Florida (2-6), 6 p.m.

SMU (4-4) at UCF (6-2), 6 p.m.

UAB (1-7) at Southern Miss. (0-8), 6:30 p.m.

Alabama (8-0) at LSU (7-1), 7 p.m.

MIDWEST Jacksonville (6-2) at Butler (7-2), 11 a.m.

Syracuse (4-4) at Cincinnati (5-2), 11 a.m.

Oklahoma (5-2) at Iowa St. (5-3), 11 a.m.

Michigan (5-3) at Minnesota (5-3), 11 a.m.

W. Michigan (3-6) at Cent. Michigan (3-5), noon Drake (6-2) at Dayton (4-5), noon Akron (1-8) at Kent St. (7-1), 1 p.m.

N. Dakota St. (7-1) at Missouri St. (3-6), 1 p.m.

E. Kentucky (6-3) at SE Missouri (3-5), 1 p.m.

N. Iowa (2-6) at W. Illinois (3-5), 1 p.m.

South Dakota (1-7) at Y’town St. (4-4), 1 p.m.

Illinois St. (7-2) at Indiana St. (7-2), 1:05 p.m.

S. Utah (4-5) at North Dakota (4-5), 1:05 p.m.

S. Dakota St. (6-2) at S. Illinois (5-4), 2 p.m.

Iowa (4-4) at Indiana (3-5), 2:30 p.m.

Nebraska (6-2) at Michigan St. (5-4), 2:30 p.m.

UMass (0-8) at N. Illinois (8-1), 2:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh (4-4) at Notre Dame (8-0), 2:30 p.m.

Illinois (2-6) at Ohio St. (9-0), 2:30 p.m.

Penn St. (5-3) at Purdue (3-5), 2:30 p.m.

Oklahoma St. (5-2) at Kansas St. (8-0), 7 p.m.

SOUTHWEST Tulsa (7-1) at Arkansas (3-5), 12:21 p.m.

Alabama St. (5-3) at Prairie View (3-5), 1 p.m.

SE Louisiana (3-5) at S. Houston St. (6-2), 2 p.m.

Ark.-P. Bluff (6-2) at Texas So. (2-6), 2 p.m.

Kansas (1-7) at Baylor (3-4), 2:30 p.m.

Texas (6-2) at Texas Tech (6-2), 2:30 p.m.

Arkansas St. (5-3) at North Texas (3-5), 4 p.m.

Lamar (3-6) at Stephen F. Austin (3-5), 6 p.m.

N’western St. (4-4) at C. Arkansas (7-2), 7 p.m.

FAR WEST Stanford (6-2) at Colorado (1-7), 1 p.m.

Washington St. (2-6) at Utah (3-5), 2 p.m.

Texas St. (3-4) at Utah St. (7-2), 2 p.m.

Montana (4-5) at Weber St. (1-7), 2:30 p.m.

New Mexico (4-5) at UNLV (1-8), 3 p.m.

N. Colorado (2-6) at Portland St. (3-5), 3:05 p.m.

Colorado St. (2-6) at Wyoming (1-7), 3:30 p.m.

Cal Poly (7-1) at E. Washington (6-2), 3:35 p.m.

San Jose St. (6-2) at Idaho (1-7), 4 p.m.

N. Arizona (7-1) at Idaho St. (1-7), 5:05 p.m.

Hawaii (1-6) at Fresno St. (6-3), 6 p.m.

Oregon (8-0) at Southern Cal (6-2), 6 p.m.

Montana St. (7-1) at Sac. St. (6-3), 6:05 p.m.

San Diego St. (6-3) at Boise St. (7-1), 9:30 p.m.

Arizona (5-3) at UCLA (6-2), 9:30 p.m.

Arizona St. (5-3) at Oregon St. (6-1), 9:35 p.m.

The Norman Transcript

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Nov. 3, 2012

GAMEDAY

Smith intent on rallying W. Virginia Mountaineer quarterback appears to have the right mindset to come back

By Doug Walp Associated Press

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — There’s no quit in Geno Smith.

The West Virginia quarterback was considered a front-runner in the Heisman Trophy race only a few weeks ago as he led the Mountaineers to a 5-0 start and a Top 5 ranking.

Two losses later, Smith has the task of pulling both himself and No. 23 West Virginia (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) out of a rut at home against TCU (53, 2-3) on Saturday.

Smith had 24 touchdown passes in five games. He’s has just two in back-to-back

losses.

Now that the spotlight isn’t so bright and the Mountaineers have tumbled to sixth in the Big 12 standings, the senior isn’t down on himself.

“The main thing is you have to go into each game with the intent to win every one of them,” Smith said.

“You’ve got to keep things in perspective.

“I remember when I was in the stretch of throwing 24 touchdowns and no interceptions and everyone was raving about it, but I kept saying that’s just how football goes.

I put everything behind me.”

Smith’s coaches say he has an uncanny ability to stay consistent and level-headed

mentally.

It didn’t change when he threw for 656 and eight touchdowns in West Virginia’s Big 12 debut against Baylor, or in recent losses to Texas Tech and Kansas State when the Mountaineers were outscored by a combined 76 points.

“He’s going to treat each game the same, and I think that’s a great attribute to have,” said West Virginia quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital. “He’s always the same guy, regardless. All the kid wants to do is play football and win games. He’s a competitor and he will take each loss hard, but the thing I love about him is that he comes back in even more hungry.”

Coach Dana Holgorsen said that while Smith didn’t have any physical fatigue, a recent bye week came at a good time for the quarterback.

Holgorsen reiterated this week that Smith took too much blame for the 55-14 loss to Kansas State, one of the worst home losses in school history.

“He needs to handle the loss a little bit better,” Holgorsen said. “There are a whole bunch of people that play in the game, and coaches that are involved in the game. So there are a whole lot of people that can accept responsibility for the game, whether it’s good or bad. He’s not responsible for a loss.”

Big 12 Standings Con. Overall Kansas State 5 0 1.000 8 0 1.000 Oklahoma 3 1 .750 5 2 .714 Oklahoma St. 3 1 .750 5 2 .714 Texas 3 2 .600 6 2 .750 Texas Tech 3 2 .600 6 2 .750 West Virginia 2 2 .500 5 2 .714 Iowa State 2 3 .400 5 3 .625 TCU 2 3 .400 3 3 .625 Baylor 0 4 .000 3 4 .428 Kansas 0 5 .000 1 7 .125 Today’s Games Oklahoma at Iowa State, 11 a.m.

TCU at West Virginia, 2 p.m.

Kansas at Baylor, 2:30 p.m.

Texas at Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m.

Oklahoma St. at Kansas St., 7 p.m.

Nov. 10 Baylor at Oklahoma Iowa State at Texas Kansas at Texas Tech Kansas State at TCU West Virginia at Oklahoma State Nov. 17 Oklahoma at West Virginia Kansas State at Baylor Iowa State at Kansas Texas Techa t Oklahoma State

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On the air 11 a.m.

Oklahoma at Iowa State (KOCO-5) Tulsa at Arkansas (KSBI-7) Texas A&M at Miss. State (ESPN) Missouri at Florida (ESPN2) Houston at East Carolina (FSN) Air Force at Army (CBSSN) Towson at Delaware (NBCSN) Vanderbilt at Kentucky (ESPNU) Stanford at Colorado (FX) 2 p.m.

TCU at West Virginia (KOKH-25) 2:30 p.m.

Pitt at Notre Dame (KFOR-4) Texas at Texas Tech (KOCO-5) Ole Miss at Georgia (KWTV-9) Illinois at Ohio State (ESPN) Nebraska at Michigan St. (ESPN2) Kansas at Baylor (FSOK) BC at Wake Forest (FSSW) Florida Atlantic at Navy (CBSSN) Penn State at Purdue (ESPNU) 6 p.m.

Oregon at USC (KOKH-25) Clemson at Duke (ESPN2) SMU at Central Florida (CBSSN) UConn at South Florida (ESPNU) 7 p.m.

Alabama at LSU (KWTV-9) OSU at Kansas State (KOCO-5) 9:30 p.m.

Arizona St. at Oregon St. (ESPN2) San Diego St. at Boise St. (CBSSN)

OSU: Defense much improved, but Collin Klein is hard for anybody to lasso • Continued from Page 12 your teammates and believing they’ll be in the position that they’re supposed to be in.”

Much of Oklahoma State’s early defensive struggles could be traced to a lack of turnovers. After leading the

Bowl Subdivision last season with 44 takeaways, the Cowboys managed only four in their first five games before forcing two against Iowa State and three against TCU. Against TCU, the turnovers proved key as

Oklahoma State held the Horned Frogs without a point on their final 11 possessions after TCU took a 14-0 lead.

Young said the Cowboys want to force a minimum of three turnovers in a game and said his unit’s outing

against TCU was “a little bit better” than it had been previously, but “obviously, we’ve got a lot of room to improve.

We’re not there yet.”

Klein and Kansas State pose a unique challenge, thanks to his ability to run or

throw the football.

He’s tied for the Big 12 lead in touchdowns scored with 12. He ranks fifth in the league in rushing, but also leads the Big 12 in pass efficiency and hasn’t thrown an interception in 106 pass

attempts.

“It looks like to me he’s worked really hard in the offseason on his accuracy on his downfield throws,” Gundy said. “They give him the time and his accuracy is considerably better.”

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GAMEDAY

The Norman Transcript

the intangibles fall into place, especially at a place like OU, where tradition is rich and talent is broad, and the season doesn’t also fall into place.

But that is OU’s tale.

Horrendous mistakes and turnovers cost them their first loss.

OU, though, regrouped.

I wrongly picked Texas Tech to win a month ago.

In that game, the next one and the next one, the Sooners proved to be much more than an intangibly challenged squad like last year’s team.

They showed character.

Notre Dame?

The Irish are just good.

They have it.

In a perfect world, LSU beats Alabama today, Southern Cal beats Oregon and the national championship race becomes a Wildcat-Irish affair.

But the Sooners?

They’re good, too.

They’ve proven it.

If they are who they say they are, it will come through today.

Clay Horning Follow me @clayhorning cfhorning@normantranscript.com

Nov. 3, 2012

THE WAY WE SEE IT

Horning: Who are they?

• Continued from Page 3 enough to make it close.

Somebody we’ve never heard of come out of nowhere for the Cyclones, and that may keep it interesting. Iowa State’s defense may stiffen, and that may serve to keep it a game into the fourth quarter.

Still, if OU fails to win today, there’s just no imagining it without it being more about the Sooners than the Cyclones.

So what if OU’s lost twice.

It’s pretty simple if you believe the Sooners of Lubbock, the Texas State Fair and the day Big Charlie Weis and Kansas visited Owen Field to be the real Sooners.

If you believe the real Sooners are the Sooners of the Sun Bowl and the mistakes no team can ever make against Kansas State, then pick the Cyclones and take the points. Or pick them straight up.

It’s really that simple.

If you’ve been looking and looking and looking at this game, stop.

Who is OU? Let that be your guide.

Rare is the year when all

n

Clay Horning

John Shinn

Corbin Hosler

Michael Kinney

Oklahoma (-11) at Iowa State Pick: Oklahoma 31-13 OSU (+9 1/2) at Kansas State Pick: Kansas State 42-24 Texas (+7 1/2) at Texas Tech Pick: Texas Tech 35-24 TCU (+6 1/2) at West Virginia Pick: West Virginia 42-31 Kansas (+17) at Baylor Pick: Baylor 31-17 Alabama (-9 1/2) at LSU Pick: Alabama 24-13 Oregon (-7 1/2) at USC Pick: USC 31-27 Texas A&M (-6 1/2) at Miss. St. Pick: Miss. St. 28-23 Pitt (+16 1/2) at Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame 24-17 Tulsa (+7 1/2) at Arkansas Pick: Arkansas 31-28 Missouri (+16) at Florida Pick: Florida 31-20 Iowa (+1 1/2) at Indiana Pick: Indiana 31-13

Oklahoma (-11) at Iowa State Pick: Oklahoma 31-17 OSU (+9 1/2) at Kansas State Pick: Kansas State 34-21 Texas (+7 1/2) at Texas Tech Pick: *Texas Tech 41-21 TCU (+6 1/2) at West Virginia Pick: West Virginia 49-38 Kansas (+17) at Baylor Pick: Baylor 41-30 Alabama (-9 1/2) at LSU Pick: Alabama 24-17 Oregon (-7 1/2) at USC Pick: Oregon 35-24 Texas A&M (-6 1/2) at Miss. St. Pick: Texas A&M 34-28 Pitt (+16 1/2) at Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame 24-14 Tulsa (+7 1/2) at Arkansas Pick: Tulsa 31-24 Missouri (+16) at Florida Pick: Florida 27-10 Iowa (+1 1/2) at Indiana Pick: Indiana 37-31

Oklahoma (-11) at Iowa State Pick: Oklahoma 27-14 OSU (+9 1/2) at Kansas State Pick: Kansas State 31-17 Texas (+7 1/2) at Texas Tech Pick: Texas 31-24* TCU (+6 1/2) at West Virginia Pick: TCU 35-24 Kansas (+17) at Baylor Pick: Baylor 42-17 Alabama (-9 1/2) at LSU Pick: Alabama 38-24 Oregon (-7 1/2) at USC Pick: Oregon 42-31 Texas A&M (-6 1/2) at Miss. St. Pick: Miss. St. 28-17 Pitt (+16 1/2) at Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame 31-24 Tulsa (+7 1/2) at Arkansas Pick: Arkansas 38-24 Missouri (+16) at Florida Pick: Florida 31-17 Iowa (+1 1/2) at Indiana Pick: Iowa 35-28

Oklahoma (-11) at Iowa State Pick: Oklahoma 35-17 OSU (+9 1/2) at Kansas State Pick: Kansas State 43-34 Texas (+7 1/2) at Texas Tech Pick: Texas Tech 45-39 TCU (+6 1/2) at West Virginia Pick: West Virginia 28-21 Kansas (+17) at Baylor Pick: Baylor 32-20 Alabama (-9 1/2) at LSU Pick: Alabama 24-21 Oregon (-7 1/2) at USC Pick: Oregon 42-28 Texas A&M (-6 1/2) at Miss. St. Pick: Texas A&M 24-13 Pitt (+16 1/2) at Notre Dame Pick: Notre Dame 27-14 Tulsa (+7 1/2) at Arkansas Pick: Tulsa 46-34* Missouri (+16) at Florida Pick: Florida 24-7 Iowa (+1 1/2) at Indiana Pick: Iowa 21-14

Last week (overall) Straight up: 8-4 (64-20) Spread: 5-7 (47-37) * Lock: 0-1 (4-3)

Last week (overall) Straight up: 7-5 (60-24) Spread: 5-7 (37-47) * Lock: 0-1 (5-2)

Last week (overall) Straight up: 8-4 (57-27) Spread: 4-8 (41-43) * Lock: 1-0 (5-2)

Last week (overall) Straight up: 7-5 (58-26) Spread: 5-7 (38-46) * Lock: 0-1 (2-5)