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At home in the middle

Oklahoma linebacker Austin Box intercepts a pass in front of Texas A&M's Jamie McCoy. Box has one interception and 33 tackles this season. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/26/2008  2:23 AM
Last Modified: 11/26/2008  3:28 AM

Listen to Bob Stoops’ press conference from Tuesday, in which he agrees with Texas coach Mack Brown on the need for a playoff in college football.



Box living out his dream as a Sooner linebacker



NORMAN — Oklahoma State broke Austin Box's heart once, Nov. 24, 2001, when Josh Fields found Rashaun Woods to dash Oklahoma's national championship dreams.

"I cried the whole way home," said Box, whose family became OU season-ticket holders when Bob Stoops became coach. "It was devastating."

It is a feeling he doesn't plan on having again Saturday night in Stillwater.

Box has grown up to become the Sooners' starting middle linebacker. He is coming of age, in fact, week by week, settling into the position after Ryan Reynolds blew out his knee Oct. 11 against Texas.

"The more he's played, the better he's gotten," Stoops said of the redshirt freshman from Enid.

"You have to get comfortable before you can let it loose out there," said strongside linebacker Keenan Clayton. "These last few games, Austin has really let it loose."

The Sooners made 10 1/2 tackles for lost yardage against Texas Tech last Saturday. Box was responsible for three of those, including the first, when he ran down a wide receiver screen to Tramain Swindall for a loss of 2 yards to derail the Red Raiders' first series.

"His consistent play, physicalness (against) the run game, recognizing screens and setting the tone that way " OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. "Tech really stresses you mentally play after play, and he never got overwhelmed."

He was hardly the same player who spent his first game Oct. 25 at Kansas State mostly chasing pass-catchers who took advantage of the rookie middle linebacker's coverage mistakes.

"It seems like years ago when I took that first snap at Kansas State," Box said. "I've come a long way."

It's to the point Sooner fans can chuckle over the doomsday scenario they envisioned when Reynolds went down.

"Fans and outside observers, they didn't know what kind of work Austin put in at practice and with film study, all the stuff he did to prepare for whenever something like that happens," Clayton said. "Nobody on this team doubted him. Coming into the season, Austin was the starter at the weakside 'backer until an injury (Box underwent surgery for torn knee cartilage Aug. 12) set him back. All along, we knew Austin was a player.

"It was just getting him comfortable playing the Mike (middle) position."

After Reynolds' injury, Box switched from the weak side and embraced a challenge many considered unachievable for a guy with four career tackles to that point.

"Growing up an Oklahoma kid, I think he immediately latched on to the idea of what a huge responsibility this was," Venables said, "and what an unbelievable opportunity it was."

Box was recruited by Oklahoma State. He had several friends from Enid attend school there. He even went to some basketball games at Gallagher-Iba Arena his junior year of high school.

"They have a great program, but it came down to always wanting to play here," he said. "It really wasn't a tough decision. It's just like a dream come true, being able to play here after growing up sitting in these stands and watching these games."

So Box had a natural desire to excel in Reynolds' absence. And he had some natural qualities that helped the process.

"He's always had a leadership role as a high school quarterback and a safety and just growing up an all-around great athlete," Venables said. "So he's the kind of athlete that really thrives in those situations. He wasn't overwhelmed."

Really, all he needed was time to settle in. He's had four games to do so, enough to prove both his growth and his worth as Bedlam approaches Saturday night.

Box, being that Oklahoma kid, can hardly wait.

"It's just fun being able to play against guys that have a lot of pride when they put on that uniform, just like I do when I put on this one," he said. "It's something I'm looking forward to."



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

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COMMENTS 
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11 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
twatwa, Norman (11/26/2008 7:53:40 AM)
OU 70, Oswhoo cowgirls 12.
Report Comment
maggie, Tulsa (11/26/2008 9:03:00 AM)
Twatwa,

So you are saying the Sooners football team could not score 100 points on a group of cowgirls? Wow, you must hate the Sooners and OU!
Report Comment
Tank, (11/26/2008 9:43:56 AM)
I'm afraid it is going to be much closer than that twatwa. But, I know it is very probable that the Sooners will win this one. Go Sooners!!!!!!!!11!!1
Report Comment
tulsaGuy, (11/26/2008 11:03:31 AM)
Dear Austin, whatever happens, graduate.

The 2008 Graduation Success Rate
OSU: 62%
OU: 46%

The Graduation Success Rate measures how many players earned a four-year degree within a six-year window, accounting for both transfers into the footabll program as well as transfers out of the football program.
Report Comment
zach, (11/26/2008 11:22:38 AM)
Yeah! OSU has a better graduation rate. That's like ugly people saying beauty is what is on the inside. Losers.
Report Comment
tulsaGuy, (11/26/2008 11:28:04 AM)
Zach, nice perspective. Graduate from college yourself?
Report Comment
shoot from the hip, (11/26/2008 6:12:08 PM)
Zach did you even go to college?
Report Comment
Mike2, (11/26/2008 9:35:26 PM)
Congrats A. Box, you get the option of covering the best tight end in america or iso'd against one of the top running backs in america. Thank your de-co for that one. Covering Hunter isnt like playing Demarco "you hit me, I fall down" Murray in practice. Does anyone know if he will be wearing that 10lb albatross of an armbrace agian on saturday?
Report Comment
D.Wade, Tulsa (11/27/2008 1:45:14 AM)
You can always tell when a promising Football season is starting to slip away once again for the Aggies, out comes graduation rates,(did you factor in how many OU players leave early for NFL?) tiddlywink national titles, and which s#it smells worse, horse or cow? As these things are important to OSU fan. By the way, your renovations are beautiful, truly, it's about time, but Cowpokes when it comes to FOOTBALL, you simply cannot polish a t&rd. All that brick and mortar won't be able to hide your football team Saturday night, and your team is still a t&rd.
Report Comment
tulsaGuy, (11/27/2008 8:14:17 PM)
Ummm... D. Wade, I AM an OU fan, not an Aggie. As an OU fan, I'm proud of Box, but not the OU graduation rate. OU can do better.
Report Comment
D.Wade, Tulsa (11/28/2008 12:38:28 PM)
surrrrre you are a Sooner fan Tulsaguy
 

 
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