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David Stanley Ford

OU's Chris Brown ready to step into DeMarco Murray’s spot

By Jake Trotter    Comments Comment on this article14
Published: December 17, 2008

NORMAN — For most schools, losing a starting running back to injury before a bowl game would be devastating.


Oklahoma’s Chris Brown , left, is part of a deep running back corps for the Sooners. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN

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But if any offense can withstand the blow, it’s Oklahoma.

Tuesday, Sooner coach Bob Stoops announced that starting running back DeMarco Murray will have surgery to repair a partial rupture of his left hamstring tendon and will miss the Jan.8 BCS National Championship game against Florida.

Fortunately for the Sooners, they have another 1,000-yard rusher to insert into the lineup in junior Chris Brown, who will be asked to shoulder the rushing load against one of college football’s top defenses.

Brown has proven more than capable of meeting that challenge.

While he doesn’t possess Murray’s breakaway speed, Brown could probably start for every Big 12 team, except Oklahoma State.

Despite sharing carries with Murray and third-string running back Mossis Madu, Brown is second in the Big 12 with 1,110 rushing yards and leads the league with 20 rushing touchdowns.

After Murray suffered the injury on the opening kickoff of the Big 12 title game, Brown gashed Missouri for 122 rushing yards and three touchdowns as OU rolled to a 62-21 victory.

With Brown’s performance, the Sooners became the first team in NCAA history to have a 4,000-yard passer and two 1,000-yard rushers — Murray and Brown — in the same season.

"I have said this before, there’s no better guy we have than Chris Brown,” Stoops said last week. "He’s outstanding.”

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football, Bowl Championship Series


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I love all 3 of our running backs. They all bring a little something different to the table making it that much harder to defense them.
steve, nicholasville - Dec 18, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Chris Brown will go down as one of my all-time favorite OU tailbacks. Runs hard and NEVER FUMBLES!!!!
Ken, Boise - Dec 18, 2008 at 2:44 pm
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Do we have a running back named Hunter? Did I miss something?
ED, MULESHOE - Dec 18, 2008 at 12:35 pm
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Don't forget Matt Clapp. A little fulback in the mix is always a good thing. I know this was about Chris Brown but I think it is an oversight to neglect to mention the 1st team Big 12 fulback and what he brings to the game.
ED, MULESHOE - Dec 18, 2008 at 12:34 pm
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I hope our running game can move the ball against the Gators! Brown and Madu and Hunter will get it done!
Robert, Denver - Dec 18, 2008 at 7:50 am
Both schools have good running games. OU has had more yardage and running attempts in the second half after the game is already over running out the clock. What if they played all four quarters? What if their passing game wasn't as good? How good could Bradford's numbers be if his runningbacks hadn't had 2600 yards on the ground? OU has a dominate offense because they have talent all around including their OL. The last three teams they played Tech, OSU, Missouri all had over 60 points scored on them (all top 15 rated), and probably could have had more scored! OU is going to put a lot of points on the board - Michael is right - OU's defense will determine the outcome whether it is a shoot-out or a blow-out.
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Dec 17, 2008 at 5:06 pm
And the answer to the question of 2 OU running backs with the same name are .... Patrick Allen and Allen Patrick. Both Halfbacks. Same names. I didn't say the same first or last names exactly. Trick Question
KEITH, North Charleston - Dec 17, 2008 at 4:45 pm
To Coach Stoops and Staff and the Team. Remeber one thing.

SHOW NO MERCY!!!!!!!!!

Treat the Gators the same way you treated the Red Raiders, the Cowboys and the Tigers and there will be no worries. Now go and bring home the 8th National Title back to Norman where it BELONGS! GO SOONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark, Austin - Dec 17, 2008 at 4:17 pm
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Also, keep in mind that Hunter, while he does get most of the carries, he splits attempts between Tosten and Robinson as well.
matt, Moore - Dec 17, 2008 at 11:11 am
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The fact that Hunter has more carries proves my point. He has more carries, but still has a better average yards per carry. OSU, has played the same competition, with less talent on the offensive line as well. I just think Hunter is a little better, not by a huge margin, but a little bit.

Usually, with more carries the average goes down. I can run the ball one time for 20 yards and have a 20 yard average. Carry twice for 20, then 0 and it falls to 10. Carry one more time for no gain and all of a sudden Im at 6.6. Maintaining an average over more carries shows consistency.
matt, Moore - Dec 17, 2008 at 11:08 am
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Matt - Keep in mind, Kendall Hunter has that many more carries than Brown because he splits time with 2 other backs. Hunt does not have to share near as many caries. Madu has played in almost every game this season and has over 500 yrds rushing as well. That's 3 backs that together have rushed for roughly 2600 yrds! OU will miss Murray, there is no doubt, but like the article suggests, it isn't the end of the world and realistically, the onus of this game is more if OU's D can stop Florida. OU will score points on anyone.
Michael, Edmond - Dec 17, 2008 at 10:00 am
Does anyone know that there are 2 OU running backs in past years that have the same name ? Can anyone name them. Both of them started and played at one time or another. Neither one was on the roster at the same time or same year.
KEITH, North Charleston - Dec 17, 2008 at 9:31 am
Jimmy,

I am an OU fan and I love Brown, but he isnt better than Kendall Hunter. The stats show. Kendall Hunter has considerably more carries than Brown but he averages 6.6 per carry to Browns 6.3. He also averages 126 YPG behind a line that isnt as good as OU's.

Not to take anything away from Brown, but the only stats that support your statement are TD's and fumbles.
matt, Moore - Dec 17, 2008 at 9:16 am
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Brown could start for OSU.
jimmy, Aberdeen - Dec 17, 2008 at 2:46 am

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