Tulsa World: Up close: Dominique Franks

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Up close: Dominique Franks

Dominique Franks deflects a pass against Baylor. Franks said he got his athletic ability from his mother. MICHAEL WYKE/Tulsa World file

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 10/16/2008 2:09 AM
Last Modified: 10/16/2008 3:19 AM

NORMAN — However many problems Oklahoma had against Texas last week, Dominique Franks was not one of them.

The cornerback from Union gave up a 25-yard completion to Quan Cosby on Texas' first drive, thanks to Colt McCoy's perfectly thrown fade, and that was it for the next three hours.

"They each gave (Texas) one ball that was of consequence," OU coach Bob Stoops said of Franks and fellow starting corner Brian Jackson. "Overall they covered really well, competed well. They made some plays on their end. Those guys played hard."

That has been the case all season, as Franks and Jackson have provided an upgrade over 2007 starting corners Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker. Hard to believe fans once worried about that transition. Perhaps they should have listened to safety Lendy Holmes the week before the season opener.

"I feel real comfortable with Dom and 'B.J.' back there," Holmes said then. "I feel like they're going to make some big plays. They had a good camp. It wasn't like Coach was chewing them out every day."

The surest thing on the Sooners' defense since has been Franks shutting down the receiver split to the wide side of the formation.

Well, that and Franks' unfailingly polite responses to reporters' questions.

Who taught you to say "Yes, sir" or "No, sir" like you do?

My mother. When I was young. Whenever I could start talking. She started that early.

She had a pretty big influence on you?

Everything.

Just being my best friend, letting me know right from wrong. Instead of being a disciplinarian, being there and showing me my mistakes and talking me through it so I won't make the same mistakes again.

You get your athletic ability from her?

Yes, sir. She was a track star at John Marshall High School. She still holds the state record in the (100-meter) hurdles. She ran at UNLV and also ran here. I'm glad she never got me into it, though.

Why is that?

Track is not for me. I don't like all that running they do.

But don't you run playing football?

It's not as much as they do in track. I couldn't do it. I'm glad I stuck with basketball and football.

Did you consider committing to basketball instead of football?

Yeah, I did. I did a lot. That was my first love. I wanted to go to school to play basketball, but I figured I'd have a better chance to follow my dreams, so I chose football.

Guerin Emig 581-8355
guerin.emig@tulsaworld.com

FRANKS FACTS

Position: Cornerback

Class: Soph.

Height: 5-11

Weight: 183

Hometown: Tulsa

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer

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