Plenty to play for

The Norman Transcript

October 11, 2006 01:08 am

— At 3-2 overall and 0-1 in the Big 12, Oklahoma’s national title hopes are non-existent. But to a player, the Sooners believe they still have a lot to play for.
They don’t understand the belief some hold that seasons end after a loss to Texas.
“We have a lot of big games ahead of us,” quarterback Paul Thompson said. “I’m not going to go into specifics as to what our goals are, but we definitely have big goals set out in front of us and we believe a lot of them are achievable. I think our mindset after yesterday’s practices is good and I think we are going to be pointing in the right direction.”
OU faces Iowa State at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at Owen Field. And the Sooners are 7-0 in post Texas games under coach Bob Stoops.
Fortunes can change in the second half of the season.
“Anything can happen if we win the rest of these games and we’ll only have two losses,” wide receiver Manuel Johnson said. “We can still go to a great bowl game. I don’t think anybody should start panicking right now.”
Bulked up
OU kicker Garrett Hartley leads the Big 12 in field-goal percentage at 90.9 percent (10 of 11) and is second in Division I in field goals made.
The junior said he’s a different player this season because of the muscle he put on in the offseason. He added about 15 pounds to his 5-foot-9 frame.
“I believe it’s made me a better kicker,” he said. “Overall being fit and being in tune to how my muscles work and how to prepare my legs before the game by relaxing, knowing that they’re feeling good and strong.”
Long history
Iowa State coach Dan McCarney and Stoops have a long history together. McCarney was an assistant coach at Iowa when Stoops was a defensive back there from 1979-82. Stoops was also a volunteer assistant there from 1983-87.
The coaches have remained close.
“I have a very close relationship with his family,” Stoops said. “I just talked to his dad last week. In fact. I call him every fall to see how he’s doing, so we’ve got a long history together and a close one.”
But Stoops has also been very successful when facing his former mentor. OU is 5-0 against Iowa State under Stoops.
Can’t get a break
There were several close calls at the Cotton Bowl that went against OU. Going back to the instant replay fiascoes this year against Oregon and last year against Texas Tech, it’s evident OU is in the middle of long string of bad breaks.
“That’s the way it goes,” Stoops said. “You’ve got to keep playing and eventually you do get some. And I’m sure through those other years we’ve had our share of them.
“I’m a positive enough person that I believe by the time the whole thing runs it’s course, we’ll get our share too. Yeah, we’ve been on the opposite side of some tight calls. That’s the way it goes.”
No decision on McCoy
There’s still a chance freshman defensive tackle Gerald McCoy could play this season. McCoy was the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year last season at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City, but hasn’t played. He has been getting some reps with the first and second teams in practice, but that doesn’t mean he’ll see the field this season.
“It’s one thing to look good in certain segments of practice, it’s another thing when things are at the level that we’re playing at,” Stoops said. “Not everybody sees that part of it. We do.
“So Gerald’s closer and closer. We’re bringing him along and if we feel he can make an impact, we’ll play him.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com