January 02, 2008 07:56 am
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Turnovers likely will play big role
Oklahoma’s struggles in bowl games can be pinned on turnovers. It’s committed 11 in its last three BCS bowl games.
That could be the biggest statistic in tonight’s game.
The Mountaineers are fourth in the nation in turnovers caused with 23 this season.
“It’s a strong emphasis from our coaching staff,” West Virginia linebacker Marc Magro said. “We devote periods of practice to just work on turnovers.”
The Sooners have struggled at times with turnovers this season, but are coming off a turnover-free performance against Missouri in the Big 12 championship game and enter the Fiesta Bowl 19th in the nation in turnover margin (+0.69 per game.)
“There isn’t a bigger statistic in football than turnovers,” OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. “When we’ve taken care of the ball, we’ve been pretty good.”
Send more home
West Virginia interim head coach had an interesting take on OU sending defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger home due to his arrest for shoplifting.
“I would like for about 10 more to go home and about half their coaches and I would feel real good,” he joked.
Big East dominance
OU will be facing a team currently in the Big East Conference for the 22nd time tonight. The Sooners are 18-2-1 in those games.
Of course, one of those losses came to West Virginia, 41-27, in 1982. The Sooners won their other meetings with the Mountaineers in 1958 and 1987.
English OK
OU defensive end Auston English returned to practice Sunday and will be full go for tonight’s game after battling the flu this week.
“There’s no problems,” English said. “I’m ready.”
No ties
A lot has been made about the ties between the coaching staff. OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson served as a graduate assistant coach under West Virginia interim head coach Bill Stewart more than 20 years ago.
But when you look at the rosters of both OU and West Virginia, it just proves coaches get around a lot more than players.
In more than 100 years of football, the Sooners have never had a player from West Virginia. There are also no Oklahomans on West Virginia’s roster.
Homecoming
Players from Arizona are also hard to find for tonight’s game. West Virginia has none.
The Sooners, however, have two. Fullback Matt Clapp is from Phoenix and punter Mike Knall is from Scottsdale, Ariz.
Clapp, a junior, is redshirting and won’t play tonight. Knall will be a big factor. He took over full-time punting duties from Michael Cohen late in the season and has had a solid year. He averaged 43.1 yards per boot this season.
West Virginia-Michigan trade
The biggest distraction the Mountaineers have faced is their former coach Rich Rodriguez leaving for Michigan after the regular season.
However, one of the reasons West Virginia was able to earn a berth in the Fiesta Bowl was getting a player to transfer from Michigan.
Free safety Ryan Mundy graduated from Michigan last year, but elected to complete his eligibility at West Virginia. The NCAA allows players who received their undergraduate degrees to transfer without sitting out a year.
“I felt a change of scenery was best for me,” he said. “I got a liberal arts degree from Michigan, and now I’m working on my graduate degree at West Virginia.”
Mundy has been a solid player for the Mountaineers with 46 tackles and three interceptions.
He also had nothing bad to say about Rodriguez making the opposite move.
“It’s a great opportunity for him, and I wish him nothing but the best,” Mundy said.
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