The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

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August 18, 2010

Good hopes to live up to name

By Bruce Campbell, Staff Writer Enid News &

NORMAN —  —



Stephen Good hopes he can live up to his name in his junior season at the University of Oklahoma.

The Sooner offensive tackle wasn’t too impressed by being named to a preseason All-Big 12 team announced earlier this month.

“I didn’t realize that until my dad sent it to me in an e-mail,’’ Good said. “It’s the preseason. It doesn’t mean anything to anyone.’’

Good knows about preseason hype.

OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson a year ago touted a rebuilt Sooner offensive front as a potentially strong unit.

Thanks in part to injuries, the offensive line was one of the team’s biggest disappointments.

With an ever-changing lineup, the group never seemed in sync. Good played at both left and right tackle, some at guard and practiced some at center.

“It was tough,’’ Good said. “It was a learning experience for everybody because everybody was moving around.’’

Good, at least, probably became qualified to be a line coach some day because of the moving around.

“It was difficult,’’ he said, “but it gave me a better understanding for everybody on the offensive line.’’

Good hasn’t forgotten about the criticism. It motivated him during the off-season and in the spring.

“Hearing all that criticism was pretty tough,’’ he said. “We came into spring with a chip on our shoulder just hearing that.’’

Which was good for Good.

“Coming in with a certain attitude does help make you play better,’’ he said. “As a lineman, mentally you have to have a little anger to you ... a little bad attitude when you come and play.’’

At 6-foot-6 and 299 pounds, Good is about power.

“I don’t have too much finesse to me,’’ he said. “I do try to overpower guys. This offseason I worked a lot on my feet so I couldn’t have to depend just on my strength. I’ve worked a lot on my feet technique.’’

Good sees an OU line  that doesn’t have the injury and depth problems it had a year ago. Unlike last year, positions are set and players don’t have to play musical chairs.

“As a group you can tell we’re working together as a unit,’’ he said. “We’re staying together. This group is a lot more in sync than we were last year. That’s going to help because we’re all trying to achieve the same goal.

“Everybody has a positive attitude. Everybody’s morale is really high. Everybody is staying healthy.’’

The adversity of a year ago brought the unit closer together.

“You have to have each other’s backs,’’ Good said. “You have to have the same goals— opening up holes and protecting the quarterback. You can tell now we have all played together and have experience under our belt.’’

The Paris, Texas, native has another goal in mind, too. He is 0-2 against Texas since coming to OU in 2008 after a stellar high school career.

“It’s still the preseason but you do think about going down to Texas and playing the schools down there,’’ he said. “I like playing the Texas teams, especially Texas.’’

Good was credited with 79 knockout blocks a year ago, including 12 against Kansas. His top grade was a 80 percent against Oklahoma State. He had a season-high grade of 88 percent on passing plays in that game.

Much has been expected out of him since he was selected to play in the 2008 Army All-America game.

“You really don’t pay attention to that kind of hype,’’ Good said, “but I would like to live up to it. I absolutely don’t want to disappoint anyone, especially myself.’’’

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