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Walk-on to make first OU start

Lepak
 
By GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Published: 11/24/2009  2:22 AM
Last Modified: 11/24/2009  2:31 PM

 NORMAN — Brian Lepak is making his first Oklahoma start at center Saturday. If the Sooners beat Oklahoma State, Bob Stoops maintains an 11-year run of winning regular seasons. If they don't, the Cowboys bask in a BCS glow that should just about blind whatever forgettable bowl 6-6 OU qualifies for.

It's a pretty big moment for a guy who chose Colorado State over Tulsa and TCU coming out of Claremore High School, a transfer who the Sooners took as a walk-on a year and a half ago.

"I anticipate him having a great week," said OU offensive line coach James Patton, who plugged Lepak in for center Ben Habern last Saturday at Texas Tech after Habern broke his leg in the second quarter.

"I'm not worried about him," said senior left tackle Trent Williams.

"I have a lot of faith in him, honestly," said senior left guard Brian Simmons.

See, what these guys know that you don't is that Lepak has already excelled in the spotlight since transferring. Literally.

"Last year at our banquet, he sang Sinatra's 'New York, New York' for Sam (Bradford) winning the Heisman," Simmons said. "The spotlight was on him and everything."

Two hundred seventy-five pound ball-snappers typically don't sing Sinatra.

"No, they don't," Williams said, "but Lepak makes it synchronize somehow."

This particular lineman's brain is as big as his biceps.

Lepak was class valedictorian at Claremore, then a 4.0 student at Colorado State. Now, he shows off his smarts for the Sooners.

"He's the brain of the O-line," Williams said. "If anybody has a question or is unsure about something, ask Brian. You'll get some type of educated answer."

Lepak applies that intelligence to his technique — Simmons says he's as sound as any scholarship lineman — and that allows him to help overcome any size/athleticism shortcomings. It is something Lepak will lean on Saturday, but not the only thing.

"I always wanted to be a Sooner, so I figured I'd go after it," Lepak said after deciding to transfer in June of '08. "If that's what I want, I should go do it."

His parents attended OU together. His mother, Linda Lepak, taught business law there from 1981-87. She remembers a few of her students in particular — Brian Bosworth, Spencer Tillman and Keith Jackson.

Lepak's three brothers and sister were all born in Norman, and all earned degrees from OU. Lepak spent a chunk of his childhood moving siblings in and out of dorms and apartments.

The summer before last, Lepak finally moved himself in, after contacting Patton and Kevin Wilson, the offensive coordinator who was OU's O-line coach when Lepak was at Claremore.

"I remember Coach Wilson telling me he wanted me to come over out of high school," Lepak said. "He said he was glad to have me now."

That will certainly be the case Saturday afternoon, given all that has happened to the Sooners' decimated line.

"He works hard. He studies film every week like he's starting," Williams said. "To finally get this opportunity, I'm happy for him."

"I know him growing up in this state, being a Sooner had to be something that was important to him," Simmons said. "It's a very big moment."

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

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COMMENTS 
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27 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
sooners1s, Broken Arrow (11/24/2009 6:12:18 AM)
Good luck Brian..Make the most of it..GO SOONERS !!!
Report Comment
PhoenixIX, Jenks (11/24/2009 6:34:28 AM)
I wish this Kid well ! OU doesn't have much of a chance-but, I hope he does well!
Report Comment
dumbokie, Claremore (11/24/2009 6:36:49 AM)
Know you'll do fine. Good luck,but GO POKES!
Report Comment
The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/24/2009 7:41:43 AM)
10 point favorite, true fan Phoenix. Guess Vegas thinks we have a chance. Good luck to Brian and the boys. Show that Zebra pride!
Report Comment
Cool Tool, roswell (11/24/2009 9:21:40 AM)
Here's hoping that Lepak plays as hard as a Native American trying to get in to see a competent doctor at the Claremore Indian Hospital.

I was there myself many times as a youth, so I know first hand how hard that can be.
Report Comment
SS_Hippy, Tulsa (11/24/2009 9:36:23 AM)
Good Luck. Beat OSU
Report Comment
DieHardSoonerFan82, Out in the sticks (11/24/2009 9:57:50 AM)
Good luck hope we get it done. BOOMER SOONER
Report Comment
I'm Reliable, (11/24/2009 11:27:04 AM)
OU is going to kick some OSU a--!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Comment
I'm Reliable, (11/24/2009 11:27:59 AM)
OSU cant' beat OU!! OU is a better teams!!!
Report Comment
Soonersteve50, Aberdeen (11/24/2009 11:56:33 AM)
Good luck to you Brian.
Make a difference !!!
Report Comment
im4osu, Broken Arrow (11/24/2009 12:07:47 PM)
We have already beat OU...
Report Comment
TK1, (11/24/2009 12:31:08 PM)
I'm Reliable - "OU is a better teams!!!"

Well said, Reliable. Guess we'll see on Saturday.
Report Comment
DieHardSoonerFan82, Out in the sticks (11/24/2009 1:00:20 PM)
Ya you guys beat us like 6 years ago and you havnt since. Hmmmmm i wonder why o i know why. Bc we have better tallent and better coaches
Report Comment
Jules09A, Sapulpa (11/24/2009 1:35:07 PM)
It's really not the fault of anyone at OU that the majority of their fanbase doesn't have any education beyond the sixth grade level. I just hope in a few years when OSU is a perennial contender that we don't have to deal with the same.

PS - Perennial means "annual" or "yearly" for those of you who are OU fans.
Report Comment
richard noggin, claremore (11/24/2009 1:43:01 PM)
Jules09A

You insulted the Sooner Nation. Why ????
Report Comment
hornhater2, (11/24/2009 2:33:42 PM)
Jules09A... What do you mean in a few years when the cowgirls are perennial contenders? They have been trying to belong for nigh on 100 years and haven't gotten close yet. I think you and your cowgirls from Stoolwater can keep on dreaming....
Report Comment
Jules09A, Sapulpa (11/24/2009 3:59:58 PM)
We'll see hornhater2. And thanks for proving my point. ;)
Report Comment
BDavisEyes, Tulsa (11/24/2009 4:49:34 PM)
I'm with richard noggin about Jules09A.....WHY?? And, what point proven??

Did you not READ the article or were you just looking for pictures??.....Mr. Lepak was a SOONER fan BEFORE he BECAME a SOONER and did you notice the numbers 4.0?? 4.0 and Valedictorian....hmmm, let me break that down for you....wait a second, I'm getting the BIG FAT crayons out to make sure you get it....

GPA: a measure of scholastic attainment computed by dividing the total number of grade points received by the total number of credits or hours of course work taken.

VALEDICTORIAN: The student with the HIGHEST academic rank in a class who delivers the valedictory at graduation

So, maybe yOU'd like to rethink yOUr uneducated comments??
Report Comment
ChicagoSooner, (11/24/2009 4:52:42 PM)
Jules--in your case perennial means delusional.
Report Comment
marlin, (11/24/2009 7:37:44 PM)
OL at Center?
Report Comment
The Observer, Broken Arrow, (11/24/2009 7:54:12 PM)
Jules, for your enlightenment see the definition below:

Perennial |p?'rene?l| adjective
lasting or existing for a long or apparently infinite time; enduring

Annual |'anyoo?l|
adjective
occurring once every year :
• (of a plant) living for a year or less, perpetuating itself by seed : annual flowers.
The first definition refers to OU; the second to OSU
Report Comment
Carlos, Tulsa (11/25/2009 12:54:34 AM)
I think perianal actually refers to OU.
Report Comment
AnaBannanna's, east of T town (11/25/2009 2:35:27 AM)
I think OU should look at our boys instate a lil harder.. I mean last time the Sooners won the national title it was with alot of native sons.. Not these supper elite primadona's on everyone's all world list.. I mean it really sort of rubbed me the wrong way against Ttech kept hearing the announcer saying so in so intercepted the ball and came out of Oklahoma city bla bla bla high school ... I mean seriously OU i realize your also known as University of Texas at Norman.. but jeeze bob bring your brother back who has some passion during the games .. and recruit kids like Lepak .. instead of having them go off to timbuck 2 U..
Play well and do your home state proud Brian Lepak.. cause we are of you already ..
Report Comment
The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/25/2009 9:14:11 AM)
Dumb comment, Tool. Way to keep the streak going.
Report Comment
Cool Tool, roswell (11/25/2009 9:27:32 AM)
Tress Way is a local boy! You want more of that on our roster? I think not. He stinks. Paddy O'Hara, from Kansas, is the ONLY bright spot on Special Teams.
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