Coordinators feeling it

By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

August 29, 2008 02:04 am

— With the season opener just a day away, Oklahoma’s coordinators are experiencing different emotions.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said he can’t wait for the season to arrive.
“I get anxious,” he said this week. “I remember looking forward to watching Adrian (Peterson) play. Last year, I remember being a little tense because we had no idea how Sam (Bradford) was going to play.”
Of course, Wilson is in charge of a unit that has returning starters at every position.
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables comes from a different perspective. He’ll be breaking in some first-year starters against Tennessee-Chattanooga and he doesn’t believe in much until he sees it executed on the playing field.
His anxiousness could be better described as anxiety.
“You always have butterflies because the first time they run that lead, that power or that play-action, that your guys fit it the right way,” Venables said.
In the end, all anyone has to go off of is past experience and what’s gone on in practice. The Sooners have been going at it for a month and according to coaches no reason to panic as arisen.
“Everyone wants to know who does better during practice, the offense or the defense. But every day it’s just a war out there. It’s kill or be killed. It’s a lot of fun,” Wilson said. “I remember 2003 and 2004, we had some great Tuesday and Wednesday practices. This preseason has been like that. I’m excited because we have a pretty good practice team, and that’s a pretty good deal.

Murray on the list
Sophomore running back DeMarco Murray has been named to the preseason watch list for the Doak Walker Award. The honor is presented annually to the top running back in college football.
Murray rushed for 764 yards last season despite missing three games and drawing only one start. He also scored 15 touchdowns, including 13 on the ground, to tie Adrian Peterson’s freshman record at OU.
The SMU Athletic Forum Board of Directors will select the semifinalists Nov. 10, and the award’s selection committee will cast votes to determine the finalists, who will be announced two weeks later.
The committee will cast a second vote beginning Dec. 1 to determine the recipient.

It’s a sellout
OU announced Thursday it has sold all of the tickets for this Saturday’s season opener football game with Tennessee Chattanooga. However, there may still be a chance to see the game in person.
OU’s Athletics Ticket Office personnel expect a few returns and exchanges on the day of the game. Those tickets, which will sell for $49 each, will go on sale at 1 p.m. Saturday, from Gate 5 at Owen Field.
Kickoff for the Sooners and Mocs is slated for 6:10 p.m. The game will be televised on a pay-per-view basis.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com