Yet Stills' thoughts had been in another place as he slowly went that will OU's sideline just seconds after doing the most important capture with his vocation within the biggest online game connected with his career. The sophomore held up just one children's finger on his right hand, two palms upon his left hand, signaling the actual No. 12 with a nation's audience.
In your heat of the moment, Stills given tribute to help ex - teammate Austin Box , who passed away out of the blue in May out of a strong unintentional overdose.
"I felt like that had been regarding him," Stills claimed involving his touchdown pick up this clinched the Sooners' 23-13 enlighten that Seminoles. "As much seeing that people want to say we have been centered on the game, Austin is generally on our minds."
Not every day passes with out Box as being a middle determine while in the Sooners' generate to help winning a BCS nation's championship. His profile is were feeling inside the locker room, with the practice discipline in addition to while in games, in which every Saturday your different Sooners opponent is actually picked to depict Box by way of putting on his No. twelve jersey.
"It's been a fantastic inspiration," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "It's been an effective way or perhaps an appropriate way, we feel that will try to remember your pet and to carry Austin's nature along with us."
Senior linebacker Travis Lewis will be the most important Sooner in charge of picking the particular player each week who'll depict Box. Joining Lewis inside verdict is usually quarterback Landry Jones, that would wear No. twelve upon offense. The a couple make the choice determined by a player's performance on and there are various domain through the week or in previous games.
"Everybody anticipates it. 'Who is going that will dress yourself in No. 12 that week?' " reported safety Javon Harris, that painted No. twelve while in OU's enlighten Missouri.
Lewis, that what food was in the same signing up class in addition to grew to become friends with Box, could wear the No. 12 that end of the week from the Longhorns.
Four defenders so far retained your honor regarding which represents Box this kind of season: Harris, linebacker Tom Wort (Tulsa), shielding end Frank Alexander (Florida State) along with linebacker Corey Nelson (Ball State) have donned this No. 12 jersey, devoid of identify on the back, this season.
"The guys that obtain that will wear No. 12 are generally always stuffed with a little more emotion in comparison with usual," Stills said. "They want to ensure that many people signify him and also his friends and family well."
Representing Box by means of using his selection alterations anything with the OU person given that honor. He normally talks with Box's father, Craig, prior to the particular game, plus reaches direct your staff away on to the field, fully understand most effective for you some sort of overnight this individual is not going to rapidly forget.
"You look like he could be on you playing, your ex being right there, for instance God offered you wings," Harris said. "Being around being aware of you happen to be being looked over definitely not when you, but with regard to him when you get that opportunity, you recognize like a player what you're representing."
Intensity, passion, pleasure in addition to durability will be the phrases teammates most often employ in order to describe Box. He had not been highly vocal, nevertheless he had been well-liked and also honored in the locker room.
That admiration continues.
"It was another type of sense for me," Nelson explained of sporting No. 12. "To have which quantity on delivered back memories connected with Box. It built my home think I have to search 10 times harder and also play along at the largest peak I can.
"I sensed like just about all little brown eyes have been upon me."
As the particular Sooners vacation affordable I-35 to take on Texas this weekend, memories associated with Box tend to be destined to rise to the forefront of these minds. Box was some sort of die-hard Sooner, getting grown up just as one OU supporter with Enid, Okla. The Red River Rivalry held a unique position within their heart.
"I can easily try to remember precisely how exaggerated your dog ended up being recently for getting available as well as have fun with with this rivalry," safety Tony Jefferson said. "I understand this specific online game intended a great deal to help both equally the pup and his family. We recognize Austin will often be together with us, and your dog really adored this game. This is just an additional explanation the reason most people should win."
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