English getting better

Fiesta Bowl Notepad

By John Shinn

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — While Oklahoma’s players have been practicing and enjoying their time in Arizona, defensive end Auston English hasn’t been one of them.

He’s been battling the flu since the team arrived Wednesday. All he’s been able to do is lay in his hotel bed and watch some game film.

“I caught the bug coming out here. It’s not the greatest thing, but I’m getting better now,” he said Sunday when he spoke to reporters for the first time in Arizona.

Questions about English’s status for games have become routine over the Sooners’ last four games. The sophomore led the Big 12 Conference in sacks with 91⁄2, but suffered a hairline fracture in his right leg Nov. 3. He missed the Baylor, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State games before returning to the lineup in the Big 12 Championship game against Missouri.

A healthy English will be critical Wednesday night against West Virginia. The Mountaineers have only allowed 13 sacks this season and their option game is particularly stressful on defensive ends.

English said Sunday morning he hoped to be able to practice that day. The workout was closed to the media.

“I’m looking forward to getting out here and getting a good jump start,” English said.

Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables said seeing him at the morning press conference was a good sign.

“He doesn’t have any excuses now,” he joked. “He made it to the press conference, right?”

Lofton could

get used to this

OU middle linebacker Curtis Lofton is making his third bowl trip and second to the Fiesta Bowl. Sunday, he said getting spoiled on these trips is something he never gets tired of.

“We got a 20-inch flat screen TV, a $300 Best Buy gift certificate,” he said. “It’s always great to come out here to Arizona and get out of Oklahoma because it was pretty cold out there. There’s tons of things to do out here. There’s not too many times you see mountains and stuff. It’s great out here. I don’t have a problem with being back next year.”

The team that wins the Big 12 championship gets an automatic invite to the Fiesta Bowl. Of course, the Sooners wouldn’t mind missing out on the Fiesta Bowl’s hospitality next season.

The BCS national title game will be played in Miami.

Could be a record

OU has 564 points this season and can set the program’s all-time record for points in a season with at least 38 against the Mountaineers. The 2003 squad holds the record with 601.

This year’s Sooners have already become the fifth OU team to score at least 500 points. Three of those teams (2003, 2004 and this season’s) have come under Bob Stoops.

Hot seat

The coach who will be facing the most heat Wednesday night will be West Virginia offensive coordinator Calvin McGee. Former head coach Rich Rodriguez was the primary play-caller during his seven seasons with the Mountaineers.

He doesn’t expect many changes for Wednesday.

“We’re going to do what we’ve done for seven years. We’re going to do what we need to do to win,” he said. “If that’s running it 80 times, then we’re going to run it 80 times. If that’s throwing it 80 times, we’re going to throw it. That ain’t ever going to change. We’re going to do what it takes to win.”

No decision at

boundary corner

The Sooners will use Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson at the boundary cornerback position that opened up after Reggie Smith suffered a broken bone in his foot and Lendy Holmes was ruled ineligible.

Venables said Sunday a decision on who would start still hasn’t been made, but that decision will be made as early as today.

John Shinn

366-3536

jshinn@normantranscript.com