Introducing Mike Balogun
Published: 8/29/2008 1:19 PM
Last Modified: 8/29/2008 1:19 PM
There is a lot of curiosity surrounding Oklahoma’s starting weakside linebacker in Saturday's season opener against Chattanooga. For one thing, junior college transfer Mike Balogun hasn’t played a down of Div. I football.
“There’s going to be some rough spots along the way. It just happens,” OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables predicted. “We need other guys around him to play well. But I love his attitude, love his approach. It’s his willingness to work, his appreciation for what he has sitting in front of him.”
That appreciation stems from the two years Balogun spent working construction out of high school to support his daughter. Eventually, he wound up at Lackawanna (Pa.) College before winding up in Norman around the time it became clear Curtis Lofton, OU’s leading tackler last year, was turning pro.
“Sometimes you’ve got to chase these recruits around and beg them. I’m not a whole lot into begging,” Venables said. “But he was like, ‘Hey man, this is Oklahoma. I understand this is a great opportunity.’ He came here and was really in awe of the place. You appreciate that. It’s very refreshing.
“He didn’t big-time you, and he hasn’t big-timed you since he’s been here. He’s let me coach him like I coach all of our guys that just get here. I coach him hard. I’m very demanding of him, and he’s been very respectful of that and of that process. That’s how you become what we all want you to become.”
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
