OU football notebook

"As a child, we didn't have much money," sophomore defensive back Tony Jefferson said before the team split up last week. "As a family, we grouped together and kicked it together, just chilled and watched movies and stuff. That was the greatest gift I could have, just being part of my family.

"Since my sister has been gone to Korea for the Army, this Christmas will be the first time we've been together for four years. I'm excited to go home (to San Diego) and be with family again."

Running thin: Sophomore Roy Finch might start the Insight Bowl against Iowa, though there could be some discipline still awaiting for a police citation Finch got for allegedly vandalizing a computer.

Finch said he was taken aback when freshman Brandon Williams announced his transfer last week.

"When J Mill (Jonathan Miller) and Jermie Calhoun left, I was shocked," Finch said. "When Brandon decided to leave, I looked around the locker room and we only had two true running backs in the locker room, beside Dom (Whaley, who's out with a broken leg). We only have three running backs and we started off with seven or eight.

"Looking around the locker room, I was like, 'Coach, we're thin. We're all we've got right now.' We have to stick together and play as a team and fight through it."

Clay work: If Finch doesn't start, look for sophomore Brennan Clay to regain the starting role he had the first three weeks of the season before Whaley's emergence.

Clay has had a tough stretch since he took a hard hit in Game 4 against Ball State. He rushed for 159 yards (3.9 per carry) in the first three games, but has just 71 (2.8 per carry) in the seven games. He missed two games because of a shoulder/neck injury on the hit by Ball State.

"I don't know, man, it's just nerves. It's not muscle or anything you can take care of with therapy. It just takes time," Clay said.

"We keep banging every day, so it never got a chance to settle. I'm constantly strengthening my neck. It's not so much muscles, it's a nerve. Every time it gets triggered by a big hit, it bothers me."

Still, Clay said he's feeling better than he has in a long time.

"I feel good. I feel 100 percent," he said. "My legs feel good and strong."

Getting reps: One reason teams that go to bowls continue to go to bowls is the invaluable extra practice time players get in December. Most of the first week goes strictly to the young players, backups and redshirts and walk-ons who were unable to get many snaps during the season. Most of the rest of the practice time goes to players on the two-deep.

For someone like right tackle Lane Johnson, who's in his first year as a starter, it's a time for growth, perfecting one's technique through intense coaching and repetition. During the season, much of that gets lost in game-planning.

"Bowl practice is sort of like an extra spring for us," Johnson said. "We'll have 10 here (in Norman) and five when we get to Arizona. It's my first year. I'm always looking to improve and get better on my technique. Next year I'll probably move to left, so I'm working both sides."

Iowa connections: Much has been made of Iowa being the alma mater of OU head coach Bob Stoops (1978-82). But two Sooner assistants also played at Iowa: Jay Norvell (1982-86) and Bruce Kittle (1977-79, '81).

At times, things got a bit weird around the Switzer Center last week.

"They all played together," Johnson said. "I've noticed, they know everybody from Iowa. That's where they grew up. Yeah, I want to go out with a win and let them have some trash talking over their old alma mater."

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/site/articlepath.aspx?articleid=20111226_92_B4_CUTLIN422824&rss_lnk=92

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