Tulsa World: Friendship follows in good, bad times

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Friendship follows in good, bad times

Defensive back Dominique Franks returns an interception of a pass from OSU's Zac Robinson in the Bedlam game. SHANE BEVEL/Tulsa World

By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 1/1/2009 2:24 AM
Last Modified: 1/1/2009 3:29 AM

NORMAN — The night of Jan. 8, a few minutes before trying to keep up with Florida's wing-footed fleet of receivers in the BCS National Championship Game, Oklahoma's Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson will square off at midfield.

The two starting cornerbacks will lag behind the mass of Sooners jogging toward the locker room for final pregame preparations, and spend a few seconds jumping, dancing, slapping and screaming.

"It's like our ritual, making sure we're both ready," said Jackson, starter at boundary corner, placing him on the short side of the field when the ball is on the hashmark. "We can look into each other's eyes and know we're ready."

"We tell each other we're gonna hold it down and just be accountable to our defense," said Franks, who patrols the wide side of the field. "We're not gonna give up any big plays, and we're gonna do whatever it takes to win the game."

Because the duo has given up few big plays, while playing some of the steadiest, stickiest cornerback of the Bob Stoops era, the Sooners have won 12 of 13. A 13th win would bring OU an eighth national championship. But OU must slow an offense that rings up 45 points per game. They have to be ready.

"Like I said before the season even started, I have no doubt that they're gonna come in and do a hell of a job," safety Lendy Holmes said, "which they have done. I have no worries about them playing in this game."

Holmes and the two cornerbacks swore the Sooners would handle the loss of veteran corners Reggie Smith and Marcus Walker just fine.

"All I can say is come Aug. 30 everybody gets the chance to make their own comments," Jackson said around the middle of two-a-days. "Me and Dom, we're really close, especially after that whole Fiesta Bowl ordeal.

"He comes over, gets on a game or we'll just talk a little bit," Franks said. "We're two guys that don't really like to go out too much. We like to stay out of the limelight and stay home. That let us get more conversation in about the games we have upcoming, or how we think the other corners are doing."

There's the occasional game of PlayStation "Call of Duty." Or basketball. And lots of teasing.

"His nickname is 'Snacks.' That's what I call him," Franks said of the player more commonly known as "BJ." "He has all the snacks, candy, cookies. That's why he's so fat."

Expect the horseplay to end over the next few days, if it hasn't already. Another BCS game approaches, and it's much bigger than last year's Fiesta. Florida is much more skilled than West Virginia. But then, Franks and Jackson are much more capable of coping.

"I have as much confidence in them as anybody I've had," Stoops said.

Almost as much confidence as they have in each other.

"It's just us talking to each other, calming our nerves," Franks said, continuing to explain that pregame scene at midfield. "It's us knowing we've got each other's back."

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

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