By John Shinn
Allen Patrick could only stand by and watch last Saturday while watching a pair of redshirt freshman running backs run wild against North Texas.
Patrick suffered a sprained ankle early in early August and was sidelined throughout most of preseason practices.
He suited up for the game and was ready to play. The Sooner coaching staff decided to play the first quarter without him and see how things went. When OU jumped out to a 21-0 lead, Patrick knew he was all dressed up for nothing.
“There wasn’t any point in me getting out there and taking that risk,” said Patrick, who will play Saturday when OU faces Miami at 11 a.m. at Owen Field. “I just sat out and tried to build up some more strength.”
In his absence, DeMarco Murray and Mossis Madu both rushed for 87 yards. Murray scored five touchdowns and Madu, who ran for more than 9 yards per carry, added another.
“I wanted to get in there so bad,” he said. “But, hey, the young guys came in there and did a pretty good job. You have to appreciate their hard work and they performed.”
But they’re going to have to share carries with Patrick and Chris Brown, who returns this week after serving a one-game suspension for an undisclosed team rule violation.
“I’m just ready to get out there and finally get some playing time in,” Patrick said.
Seeing eye to eye
The biggest battle on the field Saturday could be between OU left tackle Phil Loadholt and Miami right defensive end Calais Campbell.
Loadholt is the biggest player in OU history at 6-foot-8 and 350 pounds. But he’ll be looking eye-to-eye at Campbell, who is also 6-8.
“This will be the first time it’s ever happened,” Loadholt said. “I’ve gone up against some guys that were maybe 6-6. But I’ve never faced a guy as tall as me.”
Campbell, a junior, is an All-American candidate this season. He recorded 101⁄2 sacks last season and got off to strong start with five tackles in the Hurricanes’ season-opening 31-3 victory over Marshall.
Still, Loadholt said going up against someone as tall might be an advantage.
“Usually everyone has natural leverage on me because they’re shorter,” Loadholt said. “With him being the same height, I won’t have to worry about that.”
Idol worship
OU wide receiver Malcolm Kelly was close to setting up an official visit when he was a high school senior in 2004. It would have made sense. He grew idolizing Dallas Cowboy Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who played at Miami.
“I’ve got a picture with Michael Irvin that I took when I was 8 or 9 years old,” Kelly said. “I still have it in my scrapbook back at home.
“When I used to go out and play catch with my dad, I always had a Michael Irvin jersey on. I looked up to him.”
Saturday’s meeting with the Hurricanes will be the first since the 1988 Orange Bowl. That was also Irvin’s last game at Miami.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
