Injury will sideline Sooner during championship

John Shinn
CNHI News Service

Norman, Okla. December 16, 2008 02:30 pm

— Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray will miss the national championship game due to injury.

The sophomore has a partial rupture of his left hamstring, the University of Oklahoma announced Tuesday morning.

“Obviously we’re very disappointed for DeMarco,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “He has been an important part of our success this year, and we will miss his contributions. DeMarco has had an incredible year.”

Murray suffered the injury on the opening kickoff of the Big 12 championship Dec. 6. against MIssouri.

Initially, it was thought he had a bruise, but an MRI several days later revealed the damage to his hamstring. He will have surgery next week and be unable to train for five months, said Oklahoma trainer Scott Anderson.

Oklahoma split running back duties between Murray and Chris Brown throughout the season. With Murray out, sophomore Mossis Madu will play a bigger role against in the BCS national championship game against Florida on Jan. 8 in Miami.

“With Chris Brown and Mossis Madu, we still have two very fine backs. Our team has a lot of confidence in their abilities,” Stoops said.
Murray rushed for 1,002 yards this season. He led the team in all-purpose rushing yards with 2,171. He had 395 yards receiving and another 774 on kickoff returns.

He was second on the team with 18 touchdowns and third in points scored with 108.

As a third-team back, Madu has rushed for 463 yards and six touchdowns. He filled in for Murray in the Big 12 title game, carrying 15 times for 114 yards and three touchdowns.

Brown leads the Sooners with 1,010 yards on the ground this season.

The team's quarterback, Sam Bradford, was wearing a large cast on his left hand as he received the Heisman Trophy in New York last Saturday. He was scheduled to return to Oklahoma Tuesday and will get a smaller cast for his non-throwing hand on Wednesday.

John Shinn writes for The Norman, Okla., Transcript.

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