• Main
• Roster
• Coaches
• Schedule
• Statistics
• Archives

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- When Oklahoma offensive lineman Duke Robinson got the rare opportunity to legally catch a pass, he had only one thing in mind.

"It would have been great to get a first down probably or get 20 or 25 yards or something like that, but I wanted to run somebody over," said Robinson, a starting guard.

Robinson's rare opportunity came early in the second quarter Saturday, when one of quarterback Sam Bradford's passes was deflected at the line. That meant Robinson was no longer an ineligible receiver, and he grabbed it out of the air before picking up eight yards.

But instead of heading straight ahead into the open field, he veered off toward two Texas A&M defenders.
 
"That's the best," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. "He could have had a first down if he'd have just ran straight ahead. He turns around and looks for the nearest guy to run into. That's O-linemen for you."

Sooner Gameday Central: OU vs. Baylor | Scouting Report: Baylor Bears | Boomer Bytes  OU & Baylor Game Notes (PDF) | OU Depth Chart | 2007 OU Football Guide

Robinson said teammates who joked that he ran toward defenders because he didn't want to keep running were far from the truth.

"I wasn't tired. I could have took it to the house if I wanted to," Robinson said.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tight end Joe Jon Finley, who'd let his hair grow out and had worn it long since arriving at Oklahoma, now has a new, closely-shaven look.

Finley said he'd been considering getting it cut for a while and finally decided to have his roommate Jacob Gutierrez give him the buzz last Friday in their backyard.

"I've had it short my whole life until I got to college. I had it bald my senior year in football. Everybody back home knows me with short hair and they see me on TV and they're like, "What the heck? What are you doing with long hair?"' Finley said. "Everybody here has never seen me with short hair, so it's a little bit different."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Oklahoma unveiled a new wrinkle in its offense on Saturday when DeMarco Murray lined up in the shotgun, took a direct snap and ran the option with fellow tailback Chris Brown.

While the setup looked similar to Arkansas' "WildHog" offense featuring Darren McFadden taking a shotgun snap, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said the Sooners' approach more closely resembled the zone-read offenses that former Texas quarterback Vince Young or former Missouri Brad Smith ran in college.

"It's just trying to get him a few touches," Wilson said. "Does it get bigger or less? We'll see each week as it goes."

OU Weekly Press Conference Coverage |   OU Video Vault | OU History & Tradition

Wilson said the Sooners were able to install the package during the bye week between the Iowa State and Texas A&M games, and he doesn't want to spend so much time practicing it that the core offense suffers. He said the package incorporated existing blocking schemes.

"We don't want it to be so much that it's a burden for us," Wilson said. "You want it to be where it can make plays for us and gives them other things to prepare for. At the same time, you lose one of the best threats on our football team who's that guy with the ball in his hands and throwing it."

In the formation, quarterback Sam Bradford lines up as a wide receiver.

Wilson said the package does have a buzzword to indicate that two running backs are on the field, but it's top secret for now.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Stoops said he got a chance to talk to Adrian Peterson on the phone after the former Sooners tailback broke the NFL record with 296 yards rushing against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

"He said he woke up (Monday) expecting to feel real sore, and he goes, "Coach, I felt pretty good,"' Stoops said. "That's what happens when you rush for about 300. You're not on the ground a lot."

While at Oklahoma, Peterson set the NCAA freshman record with 1,925 yards rushing in 2004. In only three years in college, he had 4,045 yards rushing.

"I just think naturally he's a young guy leaving here as a junior. He's just naturally going to keep, I believe, maturing, hard as it is to believe, physically," Stoops said. "Those guys, as they get into their mid-20s, they just gain more strength, more power and really physically mature. I don't think he's done. He's just an exceptional talent."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

To take a big step forward in the national title race, the Sooners could sure use some help from Stoops' brother, Arizona coach Mike Stoops.

Oregon, which is No. 3 in the BCS standings this week, plays its next game at Arizona on Nov. 15 and would likely need to lose one of its final games to fall behind Oklahoma, which is fifth in the BCS.

So does the Sooners coach see a chance for an upset?

"They did last year, right?" Bob Stoops said. "I'm sure they realize that and I do believe overall they're a better team this year, though their record may not show it. There's always that chance, for sure."

Arizona won 37-10 at Oregon last season, but got off to a 2-6 start this season before back-to-back wins against UCLA and Washington. The Wildcats will need to win their final two games to match last season's 6-6 record.

"It is fun to see them working their way through it, being down and coming back," Bob Stoops said. "They haven't been far off. It's pleasing to see them win some big games and then come back. I'm sure it's given their team some confidence and more life, and hopefully they just keep improving."