OU notebook

Published: August 20, 2007

During Saturday's scrimmage, running back Allen Patrick was still wearing a protective boot on his injured right leg.

Patrick suffered an ankle sprain on Aug. 8 and has been held of practice since, but he is no longer using crutches to walk.

Coach Bob Stoops said after the scrimmage he hopes to have Patrick back sometime this week.

"It's getting better,” Stoops said. "He's in that boot more for protection.”

In Patrick's place, DeMarco Murray starred as the feature back, rushing for 105 yards on nine carries and scoring two touchdowns.

•Mike in the middle? After an impressive showing in last week's scrimmage, linebacker Mike Reed made less of an impact Saturday. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said the job of second-string middle linebacker is still open after Reed missed a couple of practices last week with a hip flexor injury.

"We've got to find a No. 2 guy,” he said. "Whether or not that's him is yet to be determined. I wish I knew.”

•Miami LB Cook out for season: Miami's top returning linebacker Glenn Cook will miss this season, according to a report on InsidetheU.com.

Cook suffered torn ligaments in his foot in practice earlier this month, and was originally expected to return in 3 to 4 weeks.

But over the weekend, the Web site reported that Cook — projected to be the Hurricanes' starting weak-side linebacker — would need more time.

Miami will face OU in Norman on Sept. 8.

•Moving ahead: With the start of classes today comes the end of two-a-days and the start of regular-season preparations.

"This week, we'll start getting into some more game planning on our early opponents, and focusing on that instead of each other,” Stoops said.

By Jake Trotter and Scott Wright

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