Sat, Nov 22 2008
|
Published August 30, 2008 12:09 am - Chattanooga at Oklahoma Kickoff: 6 p.m. TV: Contact your pay-per-view carrier Radio: KTFX 101.7 FM, KMOD 97.5 OU hopes to avoid small-school trap NORMAN (AP) — After the shocker that turned college football on its head at the start of last season, No. 4 Oklahoma has an extra reason to be wary when a Championship Subdivision opponent rolls into town to open the season.
While Chattanooga isn’t quite Appalachian State, which was coming off its second straight national title when it upset fifth-ranked Michigan last season, that hasn’t stopped the talk around the Barry Switzer Center this week. “The coaches have said it but they didn’t even need to say it. That’s the first thing we thought about as soon as we knew who we were playing and knew about how drastic if we lost, how that could affect our season,” defensive tackle Cory Bennett said. There are a few similarities between Chattanooga and Appalachian State — mainly that both play in the Southern Conference — but not enough to get the Sooners too scared. Appalachian State has won three straight national titles at college football’s second-highest level, while the Mocs are coming off a 2-9 season, which included a 37-17 loss to Appalachian State, and have had only one winning season in the past decade. Their top running back, Bryan Fitzgerald, and starting center Brian Heflin were injured in the preseason, leaving short-handed a squad that already figured to be outmanned. The Sooners aren’t chalking up their first win just yet, though. “It’s a game. You’ve got to be pumped up for every game or just like last year, it’ll be one of the biggest upsets like in the Michigan-Appalachian State game. You can’t overlook anybody,” said Keenan Clayton, who’s shifting from the secondary to outside linebacker this season. 
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
More from the Sports section
Quarterback showdown brewing in Norman Hornets sting Thunder in return to Oklahoma City Paris gets 100th double-double in OU win Two Bacone runners become school’s first to compete in national meet |
Print this story
E-mail this story
Post to del.icio.us
Discuss this story
 |
 |
 |
|||||||
|
|||||||
 |
|
|
© 2008, The Muskogee Phoenix P.O. Box 1968; Muskogee, OK 74402 (918) 684-2828 Email News tips & feedback |
|
Popular Business directory links - Muskogee Apartments | Muskogee Attorneys | Muskogee Auto Dealers | Muskogee Auto Parts | Muskogee Auto Repair | Muskogee Beauty Salons | Muskogee Car Rental | Muskogee Dentists | Muskogee Doctors | Muskogee Flowers | Muskogee Hotels | Muskogee Insurance | Muskogee Loans | Muskogee Mortgages | Muskogee Movers | Muskogee Pizza | Muskogee Realtors | Muskogee Restaurants | Muskogee Storage | Muskogee Tax Preparation | Muskogee Travel | Muskogee Featured | More...
|
|
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. • CNHI Classified Advertising Network • CNHI News Service |