Oklahoma linebacker Lewis Baker’s fondest memories from the OU-Texas series occurred his freshman season in 2003 and didn’t involve anything that happened on the field.

“Coach Venables wasn’t going to let me go to the game unless I weighed at least 215 pounds and I only weighed 205,” Baker recalled. “I ate the whole week. I was carrying like trash bags full of stuff to class so I could gain weight.”

Baker got up to the 215-pound plateau and played on special teams and played a few snaps at the end of the Sooners’ 65-13 romp over the Longhorns.

Four years later, Baker weighs just 210 pounds and will take his current playing weight over the gorging he did before his first OU-Texas game.

“It wasn’t all good weight,” Baker said. “I kind of remember being sick the night before the game.

Last play jinx

The loss to Colorado continued a trend of late-game misfortunes for the Sooners.

Four of their last five losses 23-21 to Texas Tech in 2005, 34-33 to Oregon in 2006, 43-42 to Boise State in 2006 and 27-24 to the Buffaloes last Saturday) all occurred on the last play of the game.

The last OU loss that didn’t come down to the final play was a 28-10 loss to Texas last season.

Friend vs. Friend

OU offensive tackle Trent Williams will be on the field with former Longview (Texas) High School teammate and Texas running back Vondrell McGee.

“We grew up together. I’ve known him since Day 1. My daddy (Freddie Williams) and his daddy (Victor McGee) played high school football together,” Williams said. “He just decided to go to Texas and I went to OU.”

Williams said the game is tough for the fathers. They are best friends and will even be sitting together at the Cotton Bowl Saturday. Williams said he wasn’t sure whether they’d be sitting on the Oklahoma or Texas side.