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Oklahoma had a tough start to life in the SEC last week following the home loss to Tennessee. The Sooners played their first road game in the conference against Auburn on Saturday, and it seemed the Tigers were ready to make things difficult for their opponents right from the start.
A pregame scene captured by a fan showed an Auburn cheerleader performing a series of backflips. The routine ended dramatically when the cheerleader inadvertently kicked Oklahoma defensive back Makari Vickers in the helmet as the Sooners entered the game.
Both the player and the Auburn cheerleader seemed to be alright following the collision, but the scene added an unexpected twist to the pregame action. The Sooners went on to show superiority over their opponents with a 27-21 win, marking their first victory in the SEC.
Brent Venables proud of his Oklahoma defense
A strong and resilient defensive performance was crucial to Oklahoma securing a comeback win at Auburn on Saturday. The Sooners' defense rose to the occasion in the road game by stopping the Tigers' explosive plays on offense, which mpressed Brent Venables.
“I’m proud of our guys,” Venables said. “They’ve worked hard. They’ve invested a lot. They’re incredibly, deeply invested, not in themselves as much as they are in what Oklahoma stands for on defense. They’ve shown a lot more good than not through the first five games.”
The Sooners have built a strong defensive identity since Venables took over in Norman. The coach built one of the strongest defenses in college football Clemson, crucial to winning two national championships. It's no surprise that Oklahoma has become much stronger in defense.
Brent Venables' reaction to Michael Hawkins' first start
Michael Hawkins got the first start of his college football career against Auburn on Saturday. The freshman quarterback replaced a struggling Jackson Arnold against Tennessee, earning the starting role with his performance. Venables was pleased with his outing at Auburn.
“That’s a pretty strong litmus test right there,” Venables said. … He went right into the Tigers’ den, if you will, and he was fearless. So not perfect, but he did a really nice job of not taking a bunch of sacks. … And what a ball. We’ve been waiting dog years for an explosive play, and finally got one.”
Hawkins completed 10-of-15 passes for 161 yards at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday and also rushed 69 yards and one touchdown in 14 carries. The performance is believed to be good enough for him to keep the starting role.
