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Sooners won't have Granger in title game

LIVING WITHOUT GRANGER
DeMarcus Granger: He has missed many games this season with a recurring injury, including the Big 12 championship game. The Sooners are expected to use a rotation of Cordero Moore, Cory Bennett, Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor against Florida on Jan. 8 at Dolphin Stadium.
 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 12/18/2008  2:35 AM
Last Modified: 12/18/2008  2:40 AM

NORMAN — The good karma Oklahoma had built up over the past few weeks, from winning a spot in the BCS National Championship Game to Sam Bradford's Heisman Trophy presentation, is starting to even out.

The Sooners announced Wednesday that DeMarcus Granger, a member of their four-player rotation at defensive tackle, will miss the Jan. 8 championship against Florida after undergoing back surgery Monday. This one day after it was revealed that 2,171-yard contributor DeMarco Murray would also miss the game due to hamstring surgery.

"Our doctors and training staff have worked extensively with DeMarcus and it was finally determined that surgery was necessary," OU coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "We're disappointed for DeMarcus and are certainly anxious to do everything we can to assist his recovery."

As with Murray, Granger's rehabilitation is expected to keep him out of next spring practice.

Granger's absence, in the meantime, shouldn't have quite the impact as Murray's. He hadn't started a game and had totaled 20 tackles, two fumble recovers and no sacks this season. He missed two games after tearing ligaments in his foot at Washington on Sept. 13, and sat for the Big 12 championship victory over Missouri on Dec. 6 with the lower-back issues that have plagued him since he arrived at OU three years ago.

Cordero Moore replaced Granger against the Tigers and in the TCU and Baylor games Granger missed earlier this season. He'll likely join Cory Bennett as backups to starting defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Adrian Taylor against Florida.

That foursome will be a sort of first line of defense against a Gators running game that averages an SEC-leading 230 yards, and that features a 240-pound quarterback, Tim Tebow, who's more like a fullback with the ball in his hands.

In that regard, the Sooners would have liked having the 300-pound Granger available. Instead, they lose him 28 hours after the announcement that Murray, their big-play threat in the run, pass and kick-return games, will be sidelined five months.

It's beginning to sound a lot like the lead-up to last year's Fiesta Bowl. Murray and cornerback Reggie Smith missed OU's 48-28 loss to West Virginia with knee and toe injuries, while injured wide receiver Malcolm Kelly didn't catch a pass in a brief appearance.

The Sooners were also without safety Lendy Holmes, who was suspended from that game for academic reasons. They lost Granger after he was arrested for trying to steal a jacket from a Tempe, Ariz., Burlington Coat Factory four days before the game.




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

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COMMENTS 
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15 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!

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Report Comment
Tulsa World Staff Writer Kelly Hines, Tulsa (12/18/2008 7:49:56 AM)
righton: He played in 11 games, all as a backup.
Report Comment
shaw411, Scottsdale, AZ (12/18/2008 7:55:52 AM)
Righton....but as usual you continue to read the TW.
Report Comment
Jt4OU, mohnton (12/18/2008 8:48:13 AM)
Granger played in 10 or 11 games,and with his injuries really wasn't a factor, but was coming around and getting more and more reps in games, his presence will be missed to an extent IMO, but with the rotation OU uses with their DT's I think they will be ok...

OU needs to bring their "A" game and not the "B" game or it could be a long night

I really hope there is no more bad news
Report Comment
Chiefs, Vian (12/18/2008 9:20:37 AM)
I agree, Jt4OU, the Sooners HAVE to bring the 'A' game. Physically they will be ready, Stoops will take care of that. I hope they collapse the middle and force Tebow outside where speed can negate power. The LB's and Corners are going to play a HUGE part in this game. The DL should be ok.
Report Comment
johnboy51, Tulsa (12/18/2008 9:36:40 AM)
Usually it is Stoops that claims the missing player isn't that good anyway, apparently he doesn't have to say it anymore, the fans now use the excuse themselves. How many days in a row do we have to endure a front page article about OU and their over rated teams. Maybe UT ought to represent the Big 12 in the BCS afterall.
Report Comment
old roper, Sun City (12/18/2008 10:07:41 AM)
johnboy, why don't you go to austin or somewhere that your asinine comments are appreciated. get over it, the longhorns are NOT, repeat, NOT going to be in florida for the BCS, they will be in arizona. somebody draw this guy a picture, apparently he cannot read!
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (12/18/2008 10:25:23 AM)
Johnboy51......sounds like you need a little......oh I don't know......maybe......

BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Comment
pat, Kiefer (12/18/2008 10:41:20 AM)
we also forgot to mention to johnboy51 that Bradford won the Heisman!!! LOL
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Sharkey Hammerhead, owasso (12/18/2008 2:18:08 PM)
Enough about texas Jboy51. Now that the trash has been taken out , we can have a conversation about the injuries. One good thing that Bob did this year was play alot of different players . He learned from last year when Sam went down at Texas tech and the Fiesta bowl where he was without starters. We have dealt with injuries all year long lets see ,R. Reynolds, A. Box,English,like I said a number of players .. We have good RB`s for the game with fresh legs, Madu is a star waiting to happen, Brown is solid .. Def they will work it out .. Remember we are going to score 60 on the Gators ...............
Report Comment
D, (12/18/2008 2:42:10 PM)
OU will lose to Florida..
You heard it here first
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Sharkey Hammerhead, owasso (12/18/2008 4:18:36 PM)
The whole nation seems to be against OU, it makes you wonder sometimes who voted for OU in the polls and why? Well I heard that Florida didn`t want to play Texas so they lobbyed other coaches and media to vote for OU because they think they can beat OU.. That somehow we are an easier team..I believe that the Big 12 is the best conferance and we will show it in the bowl games .. WE play great defense in the big 12 conf its just that our offense`s are that good.. Florida hasn`t played an off like OU`S.. Oh yeah Tebow is good ,but in the NFL he will be moved to Tight end or LB... Sam is the second coming of Tom Brady ,and or Troy Aikman....
Report Comment
Big A, chesapeake (12/19/2008 7:47:48 AM)
Does anybody know if English and Box will be playing in the NC game?
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pat, Kiefer (12/19/2008 8:54:51 AM)
big a...english played in the big 12 championship game so he should likely play in the nc. i heard box is still questionable for nc, but may return. i wish reynolds was healthy!
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Big A, chesapeake (12/19/2008 11:12:15 AM)
Thanks Pat.....I too wish Reynolds was healthy.....i also hope we don't loose anybody else.......
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T Bone, (12/20/2008 11:12:41 AM)
Since this is an inter conference game with the SEC, I'll be rooting for OU. Don't want anymore Boise State defeats that embarrased the Big 12.
 

 
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