Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

OU wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias combined with Manuel Johnson for 13 catches for 193 yards on Saturday. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 9/1/2008 2:07 AM
Last Modified: 9/1/2008 3:56 AM

High praise: Tennessee-Chattanooga trailed 50-0 at halftime, and coach Rodney Allison wasn't especially pleased with his team's performance. But he was quick to give OU credit and believes the Sooners are worthy of their No. 4 national ranking — if not higher.

"It wasn't great on our part by any means," Allison said. "It may have been great on their part. They're good. I coached at Clemson for four years and Auburn for six years ... and they look like the real deal to me.

"That might be the best combination defensive and offensive lines in the country. They are good."

Out of nowhere: Something interesting happened last week while media kept asking Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables about Mike Balogun, the Sooners' supposed starting weakside linebacker.

Travis Lewis, a redshirt freshman from San Antonio, passed Balogun on the depth chart.

"The most consistent guy practicing through the week is going to be rewarded. Travis was a little bit more consistent," Venables said. "There's a lot of things to that. But that's the most general way to put it."

Lewis supported Venables' decision, which wasn't made until after practice last Thursday, by making a team-high six tackles in his debut. It impressed coaches and teammates.

"For him to get the notice that late in the week, I felt like he came out and did a great job," said Keenan Clayton, OU's starting strongside linebacker. "I told him, 'Just do your thing out there. Play ball.

Do what the defense is designed for you to do. Don't try to make too many plays. Don't do too much.' "

Lewis' only mishap was a first-quarter ankle injury while covering a kickoff.

"I honestly thought he wasn't going to come back," Clayton said. "But he's a tough kid."

Respect our receivers: Quarterback Sam Bradford wasn't smiling over his 17-of-22 start Saturday night, nor smirking over the effectiveness of OU's no-huddle.

He was, however, very proud of the production of his two senior receivers.

Manuel Johnson and Juaquin Iglesias combined to make 13 catches for 193 yards and two TDs, a decent indicator OU won't suffer much of a post-Malcolm Kelly drop off.

"I heard that comment (that Kelly's departure would hurt) all spring, and it really didn't make sense to me," Bradford said. "We've got so many wide receivers that can make plays, and they proved it tonight. By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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