Tulsa World: OU Notebook

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OU Notebook

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 11/23/2008 2:23 AM
Last Modified: 11/23/2008 2:33 AM

Loud and clear: If coach Bob Stoops picked a fight with Oklahoma fans last week — he inferred that his team's 59-2 Owen Field record was due to his players' work, not the noise of the crowd — the Sooner fans took it out on Texas Tech on Saturday.

The student section was packed an hour-and-a-half before kickoff, and by the time the first group of Red Raiders walked onto the field, members of OU's secondary warming up near their entrance were barely held back by alert officials.

The frenzy of the crowd only intensified from there, and it made a quick difference in the game. Tech came out for its second series and was promptly penalized for delay of game. The Red Raiders huddled, returned to the line of scrimmage, then drew another flag for a false start.

The most demonstrative display of the night came after the Sooners took a 42-7 lead right before halftime. DeMarco Murray plunged into the end zone, the stadium speakers blared the song "Jump Around" by House of Pain, and nearly every OU fan started bouncing up and down in the stands.

Before long, Sooner players did the same on their jubilant sideline.

Covering Crabtree: Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree came to Owen Field under outside consideration for the Heisman Trophy, and as a favorite to win his second straight Biletnikoff Award. In Saturday's difference-making first half, however, he caught two rather meaningless passes for 28 yards.

Tech split Crabtree to both sides of the field, meaning OU cornerbacks Brian Jackson and Dominique Franks passed him back and forth. Jackson gave up both completions, but he made more plays than he didn't, his best being a fourth-down tipaway on a pass intended for Graham Harrell's favorite target.

The Red Raiders occasionally tried sandwiching Crabtree between two other wideouts, where he'd be picked up by linebacker/safety Keenan Clayton before being passed off to deeper coverage.

What a rush: Before Saturday night, Harrell had been sacked five times all year. The Sooners dropped him on back-to-back plays to end a late-first quarter possession.

First, Tech double-teamed Gerald McCoy, allowing Adrian Taylor, OU's other tackle, to beat guard Brandon Carter and sack Harrell for a loss of 12.

On third-and-22, the Sooners brought defensive ends Jeremy Beal, Frank Alexander and J.R. Bryant. McCoy stunted wide right, beat tackle Rylan Reed and dropped Harrell to force a punt.

Gresham goes off: Tight end Jermaine Gresham was as valuable to the Sooners' first-half eruption as tailbacks DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown (27 carries, 192 yards and four touchdowns).

He caught a 13-yard cross to convert a third-and-3 to set up the first touchdown of the night.

He ran away from middle linebacker Brian Duncan, caught Sam Bradford's play-action pass and rumbled for 42 yards. That set up OU's second score.

Gresham scored himself to make it 21-0 when he broke from the slot and was ignored by Tech's safeties long enough to complete a 19-yard play. Finally, he launched OU's fourth TD drive with a clearing block on Mossis Madu's 11-yard run.

By the half, Gresham had broken Trent Smith's single-season school record for receiving yards by a tight end, his 648 yards surpassing Smith's 603 from 2001.

Key player: OU center Jon Cooper was presented his team's annual Don Key Award at midfield in pregame. The award signifies the courage shown by the former OU offensive lineman whose career was cut short by cancer. By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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