No. 1 Sooners could be healed in time for Texas

[October 07, 2008]  NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops expects No. 1 Oklahoma to be at full strength this Saturday when the Sooners face fifth-ranked Texas in the annual Red River Rivalry game.

Although defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and center Jon Cooper sustained minor injuries against Baylor, Stoops said both could return this week to face the Longhorns -- and the Sooners might even have injured defensive linemen Demarcus Granger and Frank Alexander back.

"Everyone practiced to some degree today, and right now our trainers are pretty optimistic and feel that everyone will be ready to play. Now, I'm not going to detail it the whole week on who is where, what percentage. I don't know how to do any of that," Stoops said after practice.

"It's their feeling today that everyone is expected to play."

Stoops said the only two players who are definitely out are third-string tight end Eric Mensik and reserve cornerback Jonathan Nelson.

McCoy, a dominant inside presence who has 1 1/2 sacks this season, was walking gingerly after injuring his toe two days earlier. He's still expected to play against the Longhorns.

"I'm good. I'm always good. You can always count on me being out there," McCoy said, playfully repeating himself to reiterate his point: "I'm good. I'm good, everybody. I'm good."

An Oklahoma City native, McCoy will be playing in his second Red River Rivalry game and said he's been trying to keep himself from looking ahead to the game the last couple weeks.

"There's no way I'll miss it," McCoy said.

He was able to hop off the field on one leg after he was hurt in the second quarter against the Bears.

"My dad always told me, 'G, if you can get up, get up and get off the field. Don't lay there,'" McCoy said.

Granger, a former starter who played in a reserve role at the start of this season, has been out since injuring his left foot against Washington three weeks ago. He was off limits to reporters Monday night.

Alexander, a backup, has been sidelined since he was stabbed in the arm during a melee at a Norman nightclub following the Sooners' season opener against Chattanooga.

[Associated Press; By JEFF LATZKE]

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