Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick suffered a sprained ankle last Saturday against Texas A&M; and was held out of practice Monday and Tuesday.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson expects him to play Saturday against Texas Tech. However, he’s concerned Patrick won’t be at full speed.
“My concern is how efficient will he be Saturday,” he said. “I think you play well when you practice well. It will be interesting to see how much we can get him as the week goes on.”
Patrick has rushed for 440 yards over the last three games while starter Adrian Peterson waits for a broken collarbone to heal.
Patrick has carried the ball over 30 times in the last three games, but if he isn’t 100 percent, Jacob Gutierrez, Chris Brown and, perhaps, Mossis Madu could see more action.
Gutierrez has rushed for 133 yards this season with 52 coming last Saturday against Texas A&M.; Brown had four carries against Colorado for 12 yards. Madu has yet to play.
Forget finesse
When most think about Texas Tech, hard hitting and physical aren’t words that come to mind. OU quarterback Paul Thompson doesn’t understand why that’s the case.
“Last year they were one of the more physical defenses we played,” he said. “So we expect a lot of the same with them this year, and with their secondary they’re going to come hit you and make plays.”
Texas Tech is actually second in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing 163.5 yards per game. The only team doing any better is the Sooners at 156.4.
Seniors
Saturday’s game is the last one at Owen Field this season and the last for 11 Sooner seniors.
They compose the smallest senior class during Bob Stoops’ tenure. Thompson, who is a senior, was asked what accomplishments they should be remembered for.
“Definitely the adversity of this team and how we’ve been able to handle it is a reflection of our seniors and our leadership we have on this team,” he said.
“It’s been a good group,” Stoops said. “Those guys are all contributing in a lot of different ways. They’ve been good leaders for us here through this year, so I’m really proud of them. Though they’re not a large group, they’re a really quality, good group of guys.”
Holiday Food Drive
For the seventh straight year, OU will take an active role in a local holiday food drive. The main part of that drive is Saturday when $1 donations will be accepted from fans prior to the OU-Texas Tech game.
The project originated with quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel when he was quarterback for the Sooners in 2000. He began helping just a few families and then formed The 14 Foundation to support the project each year.
The Holiday Food Drive has grown into helping hundreds of families in Norman and now includes contributions from the 14 Foundation, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Regional Food Bank and Oklahoma Public Schools.
This year the project has targeted 500 families in seven different communities across Oklahoma. The food provided each family is enough to feed a family of four for a week, in addition to a Thanksgiving meal.
Saturday, volunteers will be stationed near each gate around the stadium prior to kickoff.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Patrick has missed practice
John Shinn's Oklahoma Football Notepad
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