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October 4, 2006

John Shinn's OU Football Notepad

Smith fighting leg infection

Sophomore safety Reggie Smith did not practice Monday or Tuesday due to an infection in his left leg.

He received a “rug burn” during the Oregon game and it did not affect him during the Middle Tennessee game. He also practiced last week.

But the wound took a turn for the worse Monday and OU’s medical staff was forced to do something about it.

“They cut it open Monday to let all the fluids drain out,” Smith said. “I should be back (to practice) tomorrow.”

Smith has 15 tackles through five games. He was a cornerback for the first three games, but was moved to safety — the position he played last season — after the Oregon game.

He’s also averaged 15.9 yards per punt return with one going for a touchdown.

Jason Carter worked with the first team Monday and Tuesday.

But when asked if the infection would keep him out of Saturday’s game against Texas, Smith was emphatic it would not.

“No way,” he said.

Schedule boost

Oklahoma’s non-conference schedule didn’t look daunting to many prior to the season. But it looks a lot tougher now that it’s complete.

The Sooners’ first four foes — Alabama-Birmingham, Washington, Oregon and Middle Tennessee — are a combined 13-7 at this point.

OU coach Bob Stoops believes that should provide more confidence as his team prepares for Texas and the rest of the Big 12 schedule.

“Studying coming into those games, you could tell that they were good, solid football teams that were going to win their share of games,” he said. “And in those games, there was a great part of those games where we played really well.”

Confronting tackling

Missed tackles plagued the Sooner defense throughout September and it’s been on the unit’s mind ever since.

“Every single day we work on tackling,” safety Darien Williams said. “Five to 10 minutes a day individually we practice on that.”

It was an issue in the first three games, but OU seemed to solve the problem in the 59-0 victory over Middle Tennessee.

But one week doesn’t make a season.

“Tackling is fundamental, we have to be perfect in it,” Williams said. “This is what we’re here for — to tackle.”

No ‘Game Day’

ESPN’s “College Game Day” won’t be at the State Fair of Texas Saturday. ESPN decided to send host Chris Fowler and analysts Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso to Gainesville, Fla., Saturday for the Florida-LSU game.

Stoops was asked if he was going to miss the hysteria Corso creates with his pregame prediction.

“I’m sure he’ll have his pick regardless of where he’s at,” the coach said. “Hey, it’s going to be an exciting atmosphere regardless. There’s been plenty of games where they haven’t been there.”

Iowa State tickets

Iowa State returned 350 tickets for its Oct. 14 game against OU at Owen Field. Those seats are now on sale from the OU Athletics Ticket Office.

The cost of the tickets is $67 each. They may be purchased online at SoonerSports.com, on the phone at 1-800-456-GoOU or in person at the office located on the west side of Owen Field.

The kickoff time for the Sooners and Cyclones is yet to be announced.

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