Tulsa World: Healthy Brown an added threat for OU

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Healthy Brown an added threat for OU

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 8/18/2008 2:06 AM
Last Modified: 8/18/2008 3:23 AM

NORMAN — DeMarco Murray isn't the only reason Oklahoma expects to improve a running game which ranked 30th among NCAA Bowl Subdivision teams last year.

After all, Murray isn't the only OU running back who feels like a new man.

"I feel good. I feel real good," said Chris Brown, the junior expected to carry the ball when Murray doesn't. "Everything's good now."

It wasn't so good last season, when Brown rushed for 611 yards on a sore right knee.

"The whole season, it was bothering me," he revealed. "I could have optioned to get surgery, but I didn't. I knew I was going to have to get surgery as soon as I found out what it was (cartilage damage). But then I would be out for seven months. So I finished the season, but I could feel it."

Brown gutted it out with 121 yards and three touchdowns in OU's Big 12 championship and Fiesta Bowl appearances, then finally consented to the knee repair right after season's end.

"I had microfracture surgery," Brown said. "You know what Amare Stoudamire had? Same thing."

As with Stoudamire, Jason Kidd, Greg Oden and several other NBA players who have undergone the procedure in recent years, the rehabilitation was rigorous.

"I just got cleared last month," Brown said.

Brown went about it like he's gone about his other football duties the past two years.

"He's an extremely hard worker who never says a word, and hardly ever makes a mistake on the field," OU running backs coach Cale Gundy

said. "I know (offensive coordinator) Kevin Wilson talks highly of (tight end) Brody Eldridge. Chris is our Brody Eldridge at running back. We can count on him any time, any down to do what he's supposed to do, and to put us in a winning situation."

With an extra seven or eight pounds of muscle to go with his healed knee, Brown can expect the ball a few more times than Eldridge this season. He may not get it as often as Murray, and he won't be taking it as far as Murray can. But Brown's career totals of 954 yards, 15 touchdowns and countless first-down plunges into third-and-short piles have about as much merit in the Sooner locker room.

"People don't recognize him as much because he doesn't break those 50-yard runs and stuff like that," Murray said. "But Chris Brown, he's a tremendous asset to this team."

That should be as obvious as ever this season, now that he's healthy.

Key dates

Monday: Preseason practice open to the public, OU Rugby Fields, 9 a.m.

2008 schedule

Aug. 30: vs. Chattanooga, 6 p.m.

Sept. 6: vs. Cincinnati, 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 13: at Washington, 6:45 p.m.

Sept. 27: vs. TCU, TBA

Oct. 4: at Baylor, TBA

Oct. 11: vs. Texas, Dallas, 11 a.m.

Oct. 18: vs. Kansas, TBA

Oct. 25: at Kansas State, TBA

Nov. 1: vs. Nebraska, TBA

Nov. 8: at Texas A&M, TBA

Nov. 22: vs. Texas Tech, TBA

Nov. 29: at Oklahoma State, TBA

Guerin Emig, 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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