Watch Sooners wide receiver Drake Stoops and cornerback Woodi Washington meet the press after OU's arrival in San Antonio for Thursday's Alamo Bowl.
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00:00 4-4 in a row, 10-plus, Drake Stutes, wide receiver.
00:02 So Drake, what does it mean to you to be back in the Alamo Bowl? What's the atmosphere like?
00:07 I mean, it feels like deja vu. I feel like I was just here, literally, I mean, it was two years ago, but it feels like yesterday.
00:14 Even just seeing the hotel, walking in, and I know the atmosphere since I played in it, so not long ago, and I'm excited.
00:21 I'm excited to play in it again and play a good Arizona team and honestly just see what we're capable of.
00:26 You guys have been through this process a ton of times before, obviously. How do you balance the fun versus the focus on the game?
00:31 Yeah, I think it's easier as you get older, kind of starve the distractions, feed the focus, and kind of just preach that, coach, preach it to the younger guys.
00:39 You know, making sure you're following all the rules, all the curfews, but I mean, I'm really here for business and to perform and help my team win a bowl championship.
00:49 And so, that's my focus and we try and spread that throughout the team.
00:54 How have things changed for Oklahoma since the last time you guys were in this game and the coach was taking over?
00:58 I mean, there's been so much change, to be honest with you. Even from just a culture standpoint, all the things he brought in and the goals of the program.
01:08 The goals to develop us as just young men and I think he found that if you can do that, then winning is just a byproduct of developing people and creating a good culture.
01:17 And I think that's shown from year one to year two and I hope it jumps with me.
01:22 Anything more specific that's led you to fall in these things?
01:26 Yeah, I mean, you look at our rankings throughout the country in terms of last year we were awful in terms of getting on and off the field and third downs on offense and defense.
01:36 So, that wasn't complimentary at all and we were awful in the fourth quarter last year and now never finishing games and now it's completely night and day difference.
01:45 So, this year I think we're a lot better with the details, with the crucial situations, whether it's two minute drills, third downs, getting on and off the field on offense and defense.
01:52 And then special teams playing great and yeah, just the details and the focus.
01:57 How do you think the offense will be different in this game with a new coordinator and a new quarterback as well?
02:01 I don't think it'll be too much different. Jackson's been with us since last winter, so almost a full year now and he knows the system really well.
02:12 And Coach Lachrelle knows the system very well with sprinkling his own creative pieces in there.
02:16 He's been a very experienced play caller offensively throughout his career.
02:20 And so, I think we'll be well prepared and Jackson and Coach Lachrelle and all of us following them behind, we'll be ready to play.
02:27 How has Jackson kind of responded to this new responsibility as a freshman? What have you seen from him in the mental side of the game?
02:32 Yeah, he's embraced it. I mean, he knew his time was coming, whether it was this bowl game or early next year.
02:38 So, he's ready and I think he's probably excited to have a game, you know, a bowl game that he gets to play this year and start in before he gets his feet wet for next year.
02:48 So, I think he's excited and he's a competitor, so he's going to be up to the challenge.
02:52 Anything he does on the field that's different from Dylan Gabriel?
02:55 No, I mean, similar in some ways, obviously. I mean, I'm sure they see the game a little bit differently.
03:02 Dylan being a four-year, you know, playing a lot and him being just a true freshman, I'm sure the experience level comes into play a little bit.
03:09 But, I mean, now that he's getting first team wrestling practice and going against the defense and everything, you can see him walking into the role and growing in his confidence.
03:16 And I think they both have tremendous arm talent and they both can run and Jackson can really run too.
03:21 And so, I think our offense will suit him nicely.
03:30 What does it mean to you to be walking into the Alabama Dome at the Alabama Bowl atmosphere? What's this scene like for you?
03:35 It's great. You know, just enjoying the place and just trying to enjoy San Antonio as much as possible.
03:41 You guys have been through the bowl process a few times now. What does it take to keep focused and locked in on the game with all the fun things you can do as well this year?
03:47 I mean, really, like you said, just try to stay focused and stay locked in.
03:52 Because, you know, we're going to have our meetings and practice and while we're doing that, we've got to make sure that we're doing everything that we need to do in order to win the game.
03:58 Anything you've learned from past bowl trips that helps you now? Things that you've taken, that you bring forward?
04:03 I mean, for me, just being an older guy, just making sure the younger guys are locked in.
04:09 Because, you know, they're going to try to enjoy it as much as possible. Just trying to keep their focus on the game.
04:14 Why is this an important game for Oklahoma to win?
04:17 You know, it's a game to get our 11th win. And, you know, that's a big deal.
04:23 Especially in college football, getting 11 wins. So, I would say that's the most important thing.
04:28 What can you say about the progress this program has made from the last time you guys were in this game?
04:32 What sort of changed over that time?
04:35 I would say the defense has gotten a lot better.
04:38 As a team, as a whole team, we've become more close and more locked in.
04:45 So, you know, the offense is doing a great job this year. I think the defense is coming along.
04:50 How does that translate on the field? What things specifically does the defense do better than it did before?
04:54 I mean, just making tackles and, you know, just executing the calls that the coaches give us week in and week out.
05:03 You guys are four wins better than you were last year.
05:05 Is there anything, you know, beyond what you've already covered that sort of led to that?
05:08 I mean, it seems different from one thing to the next.
05:10 No, not really. I mean, like I said, just think the close games that we've had this year, we found a way to win.
05:16 Last year, you know, we had a lot of close games that we lost by seven or three points.
05:21 And last year, I just think that the guys weren't as locked in to the small things, the details and things of that sort.
05:31 Thank you.
05:32 Thank you.