LUBBOCK, Texas — Oklahoma senior safety Javon Harris politely, but repeatedly, reminded reporters this week that the past is the past.
“We know what happened last year; there's nothing we can do about that,” Harris said.
Last October, quarterback Seth Doege led 29-point underdog Texas Tech into Norman and stunned the Sooners in a 41-38 upset.
Saturday, when Doege prepares to take the first snap inside Jones AT&T Stadium — where no OU team has won since 2003 — he'll look across at the same, albeit shuffled, five-man secondary he torched for 441 yards and four touchdowns last October.
“Last year was a different team than this year,” Harris said.
A different team, a different defensive coordinator and different roles for most of OU's starting defensive backs? Yes.
But the players comprising the Sooner secondary?
They're the same five — Harris, Demontre Hurst, Aaron Colvin, Tony Jefferson and Gabe Lynn — who started against the Red Raiders last year.
Hurst, a senior cornerback, is the only one who hasn't since changed positions.
Jefferson moved from nickelback to free safety. Harris from free to strong safety. Colvin from strong safety to cornerback.
And then there's Lynn, the corner-turned-nickel who received the lion's share of blame for last year's Texas Tech debacle.
Lynn started that night for injured corner Jamell Fleming. On one three-play sequence in the third quarter, he gave up a 40-yard pass, was called for a personal foul and then was responsible for a touchdown pass that gave Tech a 31-7 lead.
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