By GUERIN EMIG Sports Writer on Oct 9, 2012, at 12:54 PM Updated on 10/09 at 12:54 PM
OU SPORTS
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Hard as it is to remember because of the 55-17 final score, Texas actually got off to a decent start last October in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns picked up a pair of first downs on their first drive and had advanced from their 17-yard line to their 44.
Then Oklahoma dialed up a blitz. Aaron Colvin and Corey Nelson charged in. Texas quarterback Case McCoy turned away from the heat… right smack into 308-pound tackle Casey Walker. Out popped the ball, and Frank Alexander recovered.
Walker had made the first big defensive play of the day, while establishing a theme for the next three hours – McCoy and David Ash were no match for the wood-bringing, ball-hawking OU defense.
The Sooners need the same kind of impact from Walker one year later. They might get it, considering the senior tackle had his best game of the year last week at Texas Tech. At any rate, they're glad to have him back after his mysterious two-game absence to start the season.
Walker refused to discuss the particulars of his absence after practice Monday night, outside of calling them "personal issues." He said he never considered giving up football, as some speculated was happening at the time.
He did say it hurt to watch teammates play UTEP and Florida A&M without him.
"My brothers were out there by themselves," he said. "I would see Jamarkus (McFarland) and David (King) out there just two deep. Them being out there the whole game without a rotation hurt me because we break out to 'Brothers!' every day. It was like leaving a brother solo — by himself — in a war."
The Sooners are a little better manned for Saturday's rumble in Dallas. Walker, McFarland and King are all good to go, and they'll do what they can to stop Texas' running game. They'd better, since the team with the better run game always wins this one.
"I had a good game last year, but this is a new year," Walker said. "I plan on having a better game than last year."
That happens, the Sooners should be in pretty good shape.
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