Still running

John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

October 22, 2006 01:27 am

— Running the ball has been a part of Oklahoma’s identity since coaches wore suits and Fedoras. The Sooners showed why Saturday night in their 24-3 victory over Colorado.
Even without Adrian Peterson, OU stuck to its guns and simply pushed, pulled and plowed its way to a rugged victory.
Sooner running back Allen Patrick only had one goal for the night.
“I just wanted to let Colorado know who I was and that I was on the field,” he said.
Everyone knew he would be out there, but how he would be used was the question.
Peterson had accounted for 90 percent of the team’s rushing yards through six games.
Some thought the Sooners would go pass heavy and rely on talented wide receivers and quarterback Paul Thompson.
But that was hard to do with temperatures in the low 40s and the wind playing havoc with anything that was airborne.
The Sooners and Buffaloes combined for just 144 passing yards. Just about any ground to be gained came on the ground.
That’s where Allen Patrick and OU’s offensive line took over Saturday night. Patrick, who was making his first career start in place of Peterson, rushed for 110 bruising yards and did it on 35 carries.
“We had planned to have more of a passing game,” Patrick said, “but because of the weather we ended up running a little more.”
Forty-nine times to be exact. Those attempts only resulted in 166 yards, but every one seemed to take a little more energy out of the Buffaloes.
“Allen’s a tough guy. He is a competitor,” Sooner coach Bob Stoops said. “I always love his attitude,” he said.
Jacob Gutierrez added five carries for 18 yards and freshman Chris Brown added 12, including a 4-yard touchdown run.
“I was most proud of the three of them and how physical they were, how hard they ran up in there and how they took care of the football.” Stoops added.
Because no matter who the Sooners have in the backfield, they’re going have to be able to do what they did Saturday night.
That grind-it-out philosophy has been a staple at Owen Field for decades. That won’t change any time soon.