BIG 12 19
Words from the Big 12 Writers from around the conference weigh in on their teams
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Jones prepared to lead Oklahoma
By Jono Greco The Oklahoma Daily
NORMAN, Okla. — Coach Bob Stoops confirmed what everyone suspected by announcing Monday that Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford would not play against the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks Saturday.
Stoops said a set timetable has not been put in place for when or if he will return.
"He's not going to play this week," Stoops said. "From there the path hasn't been determined, yet."
So, the news means freshman quarterback Landry Jones will be back under center for the Sooners.
Jones went 2-1 during Bradford's first stint on the sidelines because of injury, and completed 91 of 154 passes for 1,111 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.
But this time around the circumstances are a little bit different for Jones.
This time the coaches, players and fans know what they can expect out of the Artesia, N.M. native.
He does not have to answer the outstanding question about whether he can handle the pressure of playing looming over him.
The question that surrounds him during his second stint as starting quarterback is if he can make it his offense with Bradford's 2009 status uncertain.
This shaky offense played poorly
against Texas, only putting up 13 points on numerous opportunities off of Texas turnovers.
Can he step up and take the reins as more than just a temporary solution to a problem?
The answer in the locker room is yes.
Sophomore wide receiver Ryan Broyles said Jones is able to be the leader the offense will need in the huddle between every play.
"We're just going to rally around him," Broyles said. "He's a great player, so this is his coming-out party, his second one."
Despite Jones' confident demeanor both on and off the field, he remains humble and maintains the mindset that Bradford may make a triumphant third return.
"It's kind of the same kind of thing where I knew that I was going to be playing that week." jones said. "I don't really know about Sam right now. I don't know what he's going to be doing, so I can't really say for sure what's going to happen."
If Bradford does not come back either for the end of this season or for a senior season, Jones should treat the offense as one of his prized possessions. He will now be the leader of a struggling OU offense.
Both he and his teammates should see Jones as the new leader of the offense if the Sooners want to salvage the season.
Oklaima quarterback Landry Jones throws the ball against Texas during the second half of their game in Dallas last Saturday. Texas won 16-13.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sooners hope to avoid back-to-back losses
By Jono Greco The Oklahoma Daily
NORMAN, Okla. — Heading into Saturday's matchup between the Sooners and the No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks, both teams have one thing in mind: winning.
Both teams are coming off defeats and will be looking to get back on track with a victory in Lawrence. The Sooners fell 16-13 to the No.3 Longhorns, and the at-time onewin Colorado Buffalooes upset the Jayhawks 34-30.
With both teams being 1-1 during Big 12 play, this game means a lot for each side. Senior defensive end Auston English said it is huge for either team to not put a No.2 in the loss column.
"In years past we've lost to Texas and still managed to find it into the Big 12 Championship somehow," English said. "All we can do is control the next game and what we can do. Right now we're just going to focus on winning the next one and try to put two together."
If the Sooners fall to 1-2 in the Big 12 after this weekend, they can just about kiss their dim Big 12 Championship hopes alive. OU is currently fourth in the Big 12 South, and is playing catch-up with Texas and No.15 Oklahoma State, who are both undefeated in conference play.
Outside of the conference rankings, junior defensive tackle Adrian Taylor said it is a matter of necessity and pride to come back and get a victory.
Taylor said he plans on returning to the form that has made the Sooners the powerhouse they have become in the past decade
"We plan on winning out from here because we know we need to," Taylor said. "It's just a pride thing as far as you know when you come to Oklahoma you come to win games and championships. We know we can't win championships without winning games, and we need to pick it up."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
On the other hand, the game is not entirely life or death for the Jayhawks. Even with a loss, Kansas would be in the thick of the Big 12 North title race. The Jayhawks are second in the North, trailing only Kansas State who is 2-1 in conference play.
"We're going to get back on track and be like the old Oklahoma,"Taylor said.
The odds of the Sooners losing back-to-back games are slim. The last time this happened during the Bob Stoops era was in 2003 when the Sooners lost in the Big 12 Championship game to Kansas State and then in the Bowl Championship Series National Championship against Louisiana State.
A Kansas victory, though, will hand the Sooners their second straight loss, but handling OU that loss will be no easy task.
"You don't want to go down in two in a row," junior defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "You want to be able to bounce back from a loss, not lose, stay down and be worried about the rest of the season. Coming off a loss, we've got to go into this week strong, get us a win, get us some momentum and win out the rest of the season."
THE WAVE OCTOBER 23, 2009