OU football CB Eli Bowen says Alabama chose Sooners as homecoming game for 'a reason'
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NORMAN — OU football has known Saturday is a potential revenge game for Alabama for a year.
The Sooners spoiled the Crimson Tide’s playoff hopes last season. Now, Alabama is looking to eliminate OU.
“Yeah,” cornerback Eli Bowen said when asked if it being a retaliation game for the Crimson Tide gives the Sooners extra motivation. “Scheduling us as the homecoming, you don’t just randomly schedule it.”
OU dominated Alabama 24-3 at home last season and Bowen played a massive role. He locked down one of the best receivers in the country in Ryan Williams, holding him to two catches for 37 yards.
The Crimson Tide don’t want to have that feeling again this year. Quarterback Ty Simpson called last year’s game in Norman “spooky” over the weekend.
“They chose us as their homecoming for a reason, so we’ve gotta come ready to play,” Bowen said. “We’ve gotta give them our best shot. We take every week serious, so we’ve gotta emphasize the technique and size, eyes and what not and coverage plays and just be confident in how we play.”
Don’t confuse Bowen’s confidence with disrespect. He raved about the Tide’s offense, calling Simpson one of the best quarterbacks OU will face all season.
“They’re very explosive,” Bowen said. “They’re very good at not turning the ball over, taking care of the ball. Very efficient. So we’ve gotta be on our Ps and Qs, gotta get our eyes in the right place. Gotta be able to communicate all over because we’re playing away, so it’s gonna be loud.”
Alabama certainly hasn’t forgotten last season.
“You can’t help but remember the past,” Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer said Monday. “And those questions that you asked just now were also asked a few weeks ago when we played Vanderbilt and so forth. And so, our guys should remember that, because our experiences help us be better the next time around.”
Sooners coach Brent Venables said Monday his team is motivated, but not holding onto last year’s result.
“The motivation for everybody is because of the opportunity that’s sitting in front of us,” Venables said. “It’s a top 10 matchup and there’s a lot that’s on the line. The season for both of us is impacted by the result at the end of the night.
“They’re different, we’re different. Certainly, it’s at their place. But who wouldn’t be excited to play Oklahoma-Alabama? Gonna be on a huge stage.”
Colton Sulley covers the Oklahoma Sooners for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Colton? He can be reached at csulley@oklahoman.com or on X/Twitter at @colton_sulley. Support Colton’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
OU at Alabama
KICKOFF: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama (ABC)
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Alabama chose OU football as homecoming for ‘a reason,’ Eli Bowen says
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