Demarco Murray was at the scrimmage yesterday.
Spring Football
By GUERIN EMIG, JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writers
4/10/2005
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Under the weather: Before Saturday's scrimmage, Kejuan Jones would just as soon forget his final Oklahoma spring practice.
The senior running back from Jenks had a root canal two weeks ago. Then he got sick from the medicine. Then his allergies kicked in.
"I was sick for about a week and a half," Jones said.
It was enough of an absence to push Jacob Gutierrez and Donta Hickson into the first-team backfield with Jones by Saturday.
"I had a good night's sleep and I came out ready to play," Jones said. "I'm back to 100 percent."
Jones gained 70 yards on nine carries and another 44 on a pair of receptions. He ripped off an 18-yard run to set up his own 5-yard touchdown scamper on the day's first drive. He started right and turned left for a 34-yard pickup three series later. He took a shotgun handoff and zipped up the middle for a third-down gain of 21. And he raced 42 yards with a perfectly-executed screen pass to set up a field goal.
Gutierrez and Hickson combined for 46 yards on 23 carries.
Clint comes on: OU's first-team linebackers were very active for a second straight scrimmage, combining to make 25 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups.
As well as Rufus Alexander and Zach Latimer played, strongsider Clint Ingram was the trio's standout.
His first series, Ingram deflected a pass that Rhett Bomar had ticketed for open tight end Joe Jon Finley in the end zone. His second, Ingram dropped into coverage and made an easy interception of Tommy Grady's pass. This was moments after Ingram dropped and nearly intercepted an out pass intended for Quentin Chaney.
Ingram ended his third series with tight coverage on tight end Bubba Moses, resulting in a third-down incompletion. A few minutes later, he read a Travis Wilson reverse and stopped the play for a loss of two yards.
"After being (on the strong side) for a year and knowing what I've got to do and what type of situations I'm in, I'm more patient," Ingram said.
Progress report: Outside of his quarterbacks' four interceptions, Sooner coach Bob Stoops appreciated Saturday's scrimmage much more than the previous one.
"It was cleaner in terms of penalties, fumbles, snaps and those kinds of things," he said.
With four-year starter Vince Carter having moved on, center snaps had become an adventure. Saturday, however, left guard Chris Bush and center Kelvin Chaisson switched places. Bush has had more experience over the ball and it showed. Both he and second-teamer J.D. Quinn were much more accurate in shotgun situations.
OU's only struggles came during Garrett Hartley's field goal sequence. Four attempts were botched either by low snaps from center Jacob Rice or mishandled holds from Cody Freeby.
Guest of honor: Last week, highly-touted high school defensive back Myron Rolle drew a lot of sideline attention during his recruiting visit. Saturday, it was DeMarco Murray's turn.
The Las Vegas Bishop Gorman running back, who's on many college wish lists heading into his senior year, was glad-handed by several OU coaches after the scrimmage. A potential difference-maker: The Sooners signed Bishop Gorman linebacker Ryan Reynolds last recruiting season.
Q&A
With Junior defensive end Larry Birdine
Oklahoma defensive end Larry Birdine, a junior-to-be from Lawton, made himself famous a month before the Orange Bowl by calling USC a 1 1/2-man team and saying Trojan QB Matt Leinart was overrated. No such bombshells from Birdine during a lighthearted Q&A following OU's scrimmage Saturday.
Q: What was the last good movie you saw at a theater?
A: The last good movie I saw? I'm a movie critic. I'm going to have to say "White Chicks."
Q: When was the last time you were afraid in a movie theater?
A: Hmm. "From Hell." That Jack the Ripper movie.
Q: OK, when's the last time you were scared outside a movie theater?
A: I'd have to say about 2 1/2 months ago. Man, people were acting real crazy. They were shooting at a party. It was crazy.
Q: And did you hang around?
A: No! No, I was gone. I was not playing. Them bullets be hot.
Q: If you were not a football player, what would you be doing today?
A: A broadcaster. Because I've got a good personality. I'd be a radio personality or something like tfvhat."
Q: What's the best meal you've ever eaten?
A: I like spaghetti and cornbread.
Q: OK, that's your favorite food. But can you say, "That was the best meal I ever had"?
A: Yes. Really. I look forward to that.
John E. Hoover 581-8384
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