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OU football: A rousing return
OU defense is glad to have Ryan Reynolds back in the middle.

OU's Ryan Reynolds sacks Tulsa's G.J. Kinne during their Sept. 19 game in Norman. Reynolds will return to the Cotton Bowl this week, where he sustained a season-ending knee injury last season. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World
 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 10/15/2009  2:27 AM
Last Modified: 10/15/2009  6:32 PM

 NORMAN — Oklahoma middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds stood on the Cotton Bowl sideline one year ago with a torn knee ligament, watching Texas score on four consecutive drives to take command of the archrival Sooners.

"It was real painful," he recalled this week. "I was mainly going through my head whether I was going to come back or not."

Not back into the game. That was a lost cause, literally, as OU's defense collapsed without its pillar.

"He called the defense. He made the checks. He told everybody what was coming," weakside linebacker Travis Lewis said of Reynolds. "When he went out, there was really nobody to call the defense. I mean, we were making calls the wrong way. We weren't making the checks that we were supposed to."

Reynolds' future was in question. This was his third serious knee injury in as many years, and many left Dallas wondering if a third comeback was worth it.

"I felt terrible for him," said Brent Venables, OU's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. "I obviously knew it would be really hard. I wanted whatever he wanted, you know what I mean? You just feel horrible for a guy who has to go through that. The pain is mental and physical."

Turns out Reynolds didn't even need 24 hours to set a course. He set up surgery the morning after OU's 45-35 loss to the Longhorns, and was back at practice badgering Venables a day after that. By the Sooners' 2009 opener against BYU, he had replanted himself at middle linebacker.

Asked this week what keeps him at it — he is even asking the NCAA for a medical hardship and a sixth season of eligibility — Reynolds said: "Love of the game. I've played football my whole life. I can't imagine not playing football when I'm able to."

His comeback serves as a source of inspiration heading into Saturday's battle.

"For a guy that's been through what he has, and to bounce back, that's rare," said strongside linebacker Keenan Clayton.

"It gives us a boost on defense," defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "Knowing that somebody like that can keep going, why can't we be just as good?"

Reynolds' return means even more on the field. It's no coincidence that Texas lost 3 yards rushing with him in last year's game, and gained 164 after his injury.

Reynolds was re-setting Venables' grading curve leading up to last year's Longhorns encounter. This year, he has seven fewer tackles, but more sacks and more quarterback pressures. He also has intercepted a pass and forced a fumble.

"He's been very productive, very consistent," Venables said.

He's still snuffing out running plays, tackling receivers in space and telling teammates what to watch for. He'll be doing a lot of that Saturday, much to the Sooners' delight.

"Some people might look at it as bad luck. Like, 'If he hadn't gotten hurt, where would he be now?' " Clayton said. "But things happen. Be happy for what you have. I'm happy that we have Ryan out there."

Said Lewis: "I wouldn't want to play with anybody else."

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

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boomercowboy, sapulpa (10/15/2009 9:19:53 AM)
this is one tough kid
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gba, (10/16/2009 4:30:40 AM)
texas 34 ou 7
most ou's will be driving north on I35
hung over and down again
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nomansland, (10/16/2009 7:09:02 AM)
most ou's will be driving north on I35

Let me guess by the grammer. OSewe grad?
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Steff M, Claremore (10/16/2009 9:36:13 AM)
You can definitely tell all these injuries have taken their toll on his speed. Great instincts and tackling ability but he can't get to the edge or run anyone down from behind anymore or cover backs and TE's very well. Hopefully he can continue to strengthen and improve and stay healthy ehough to help us out and make a little money in the league before he has to break out the walker. It's sad what football does to guys' bodies but most of 'em would probably do it all over again for the competition and the glory.
 

 
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