Notes

Published: September 16, 2007

Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy was limited to onlooker status Saturday with a broken bone in his right hand.

With his absence and an overmatched opponent, the OU coaches took the opportunity to build depth on the defensive line. Tackle Adrian Taylor and end Alan Davis each saw meaningful action early in the game.

"They're getting snaps and playing,” head coach Bob Stoops said. "Everybody learns when they're on the field.”

Asked if he has more players that are capable of playing at the desired level than he ever has, Stoops replied, "Absolutely.”

McCoy suffered the broken hand last week against Miami. Both he and Stoops said earlier in the week that the redshirt freshman from Oklahoma City would play Saturday.

"He could've, but he had the cast on his hand, so we just chose not to,” Stoops said. "He'll play.”

•Nichol runs No. 2: True freshman Keith Nichol, who had been the Sooners' No. 3 quarterback in the previous two games, entered as the second-string signal caller Saturday.

Nichol was 1-of-6 passing for 10 yards. He turned the ball over on a fumbled snap, but also threw a well-placed deep pass that Garrett Bothun could not pull in near the goal line.

Joey Halzle also entered the game late, completing his only pass.

"They're both No. 2,” Stoops said. "They're both doing a really good job and I think it's fair to say we develop the quarterback position in a decent way.

"That position has improved greatly from the spring, through the summer to now. We expressed all along that we need to develop all of them. And that position is a lot stronger today than it was last spring.”

•Hartley still going strong: Garrett Hartley's day was highlighted by his career-long 53-yard field goal — matching the seventh-longest in OU history — in the third quarter, but he continues to be a weapon on kickoffs.

Of nine kicks, two went for touchbacks Saturday and he averaged more than 66 yards per kick.

For the season, he's averaging 67.9 yards per kickoff.

"He was really sensational again,” Stoops said.

•He can block, too: Quarterback Sam Bradford did more than just hand the ball off on Oklahoma's first touchdown. As Juaquin Iglesias came around the end on a double-reverse, Bradford led the way with a block that kept the 35-yard scoring run alive.

By Scott Wright

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