Stoops Tones Down SEC Rhetoric Before Vols-Oklahoma Game

   Sooners coach Bob Stoops called out the SEC last year, claiming talk of SEC supremacy over other leagues was propaganda.

Oklahoma backed it up, beating Bama in the Sugar Bowl.

But Stoops is toning down the SEC rhetoric against Tennessee.

Reporter-"A lot of people are going to talk about the Big 12 against the SEC. Do you get into that?"

Said Stoops,"No. That has been overblown. We don’t need to go there again."

Reporter-"Tennessee is from the SEC, but they have really struggled. They’re 21-point underdogs. Your guys will hear all of this. Is there a concern from that standpoint?"

Said Stoops,"No. Because again, we’ve got great respect for the program. Now you can tell watching them on tape in their second year (under Jones) what the schemes that they are playing. You can tell the guys are really playing well. They’re comfortable in what they are doing."

Reporter-"is there any chance I hate to say overlooking, but do you fear that concern?"

Said quarterback Trevor Knight,"I don’t think it’s a concern for us even these past two weeks when we were the favorite as well. We want to start the season off and start each game off knowing that we are going to be Oklahoma. We want to put up a bunch of points. We want to be a high-powered offense."

Said Stoops,"Our focus is always not on the other team. It’s on how are we going to be our best."