Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Ok you all remember my thing of wanting to try out for the Sooners? Well there I am sitting in my room remembering that guy saying "Well unless you have a special skill like kicking they won't even give you a shot." And my phone rings. I answer it and it's Coach Johnson...the man in charge of recruiting for the Sooners. He starts talking to me and asks me what position I want. I say: "Defensive or Offensive Line." "How big are you son?" "6'4" and about 270 pounds." "Wow........you're at a disadvantage because you've been out of the game for so long but wow...we need lineman and we need guys your size." So he makes me go take a physical and now later this week(at an undetermined date) I am going to go try out for the Sooners! *dances* He told me that as long as I didn't stumble around at the tryout then I'll be invited to spring practice at which point he said he'd work with me and help me get the fundamentals down. He said there they'd make the decision of rather I should be on the scout team, back up, or be a starter, or hell just be cut from the team. But he said that he doesn't want me to remain to optimistic but he also said that I have a good shot b/c of size. I'm getting mixed signals from him though. One minute he'll say "Don't get your hopes up" and the next he'll say "If you do well enough with your size and some weight training you'll be starting next season." I think he's just trying to get me to try my hardest. I figured that even if I don't impress at the tryout if I don't give up and show that I'm willing to learn and that I won't quit that they'll be impressed enough to invite me back. He told me he wants me to do the 40 in under 5.3 since I'm a lineman. He said if it's in between 5.3-5.7 that's ok b/c most lineman do it around 5.3. I practiced....nailed the son bitch in a 5.1. So anyways I made this so you all know that I'm getting close to either being on your TV's next season or remaining here wishing I could play football. I'll update you all after the try out. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ANKLELOCK 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Ive got a tryout with the Spurs this Thursday as well. I will try not to embarrass Duncan to much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Ive got a tryout with the Spurs this Thursday as well. I will try not to embarrass Duncan to much. The Spurs? The San Antonio Spurs? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HarleyQuinn 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 I say keep pushing yourself on the 40, if you can get around 4.9 or so that'd likely impress him a helluva lot and make you more noticeable from the other guys. Also remember, small things count Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ANKLELOCK 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 I'm kidding. The way you described yourself lends me to think you would be a better Line Backer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 They think lineman. I have a really, really big frame. He said that if I get on the weights then I'd be freaking huge...which he wants. Yeah well I will keep pushing myself on the 40 but as of now I don't know if I can improve by .2 in a day and a half. Besides I can't work out at all tomorrow if it's on Thursday(which i'm sure it is) b/c I don't want to be sore. Oh and I saw the most beautiful thing ever while I was there.......the Sears Trophy from when Oklahoma won the National Championship in the 2000 Orange Bowl. There it was in the middle of the trophy case....I had to resist bowing to it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Good luck Damaramu. If I see you on my TV screen, battling it out for the National Championship, then you must at least tell a camera that is looking at you "Flik! Wish you were here for this!" ...I'd seriously cry at that moment... So goodness... ...But if you've gotten it to 5.1 and you are out of shape, I think he'll probably hook you up with the Scout team. He sounds like he really wants you to do your damnest to get there, so bust your ass and you'll most likely get the scout team easily. Perhaps even make the starting team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 I can't go to the Royals tryouts until next February, or maybe longer due to college. So, they'll have to wait until I throw a knuckler sidearm as a southpaw. Yeah. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Yeah he was telling me the scout team is a very real possibility. And he said very few guys my size spend their entire career on the scout team. He said that I could move up. He said though he wishes I would've tried this my freshman year since I now only have 3 years of eligibility left. He said though if I don't make it this year and I spend the next year getting in shape and come back he'll definetly take a look at me again....and he said if I turn out to be a big star he'll be pissed I didn't come to him sooner. Wow....ironic play of words there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ToddRoyal Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Good luck man. Walking on to a near-National Championship level team is a big deal. Hope you do well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Choken One Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Just for the ability to say I knew you back when... What's your actual fucking name again? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Yeah as he put it "We're one of the best, I hope, teams in the country." But he said they need lineman like desperately. He implied that he needed an offensive line that could hold up. And I know that. Go back and watch the Sugar Bowl and the Big XII Title game and watch that offensive line just crumble under the blitz. We have a pocket QB that can't run so he needs protection no matter what. While I was there taking my physical I ran into our new "star" Cornerback Cheoke or however the hell you say it. He's tall but he's skinny. He looks fast as hell though(with a 4.3 in the 40 I'd say so). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Just for the ability to say I knew you back when... What's your actual fucking name again? Jason O'Dell is my name. But I go by J.R. But don't get to excited just yet. I have to make it through the tryout and then through spring practice. My dad told me if I bomb the tryout I should work out like a demon for the next two months. The first day of practice is March 24th. My dad said I should show up before the practice after having worked out and be like "Coach I'm in better shape and I want another try." I think just not quiting and having a ton of heart will get me past the tryout. That and you know.....being physically capable of doing what they want me to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Damn, I gotta admit that your dad hit the nail on not giving up. And don't you do it either J.R. Hey, you are on the Sooners right? ...ok, will soon be. Whatever. Your name is J.R. right? You got by that? You are SO going to get mentioned on Raw, you know that? You play like a demon and what good Ol' J.R. mention your name on Raw. ...just do your best Damaramu! No matter what weirdness I say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Are you working on the screenplay for this story? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Damn, I gotta admit that your dad hit the nail on not giving up. And don't you do it either J.R. Hey, you are on the Sooners right? ...ok, will soon be. Whatever. Your name is J.R. right? You got by that? You are SO going to get mentioned on Raw, you know that? You play like a demon and what good Ol' J.R. mention your name on Raw. ...just do your best Damaramu! No matter what weirdness I say. My name is indeed J.R. I was originally named after my piece of shit father Jack. Well my mom left him when I was a baby so the name just stayed as J.R. Well when I grew to about 9 my parents decided to let me pick my name so I picked Jason Ryan. Well I've gone by J.R. for so long that I just stuck with it. And whoa there Lightining. I didn't make it yet. And it's not a gurantee that I'm on the team. As a matter of fact IMO the odds lean towards me not making it because of the lack of experience and the fact that I'm not in the shape I want to be in right now(though I know I will be by the end of march). I wasn't expecting the try outs to be so soon, I thought they'd be in March. But you know...I just gotta go out there this week and do my best. Pretend like it's just me working out by myself, no pressure and just do it like my life depends on it. Never quit and always tell the coach I'm ready for the next excercise. Even if I'm breathing heavy and can barely stand and the coach says "You don't looks so good. Want a break?" I've got to say "No Coach! I'm fine! What's next!" "I think you should take a break....." "No! Let's go!" And then you know whatever happens....happens. It's all on me though..if I fail it's on me and nobody else. But you can gurantee that if I don't make it I'll be back next year in 10x better shape and they'll be blown away. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Are you working on the screenplay for this story? You know what? The Coach told me to go watch Rudy and get fired up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rob E Dangerously 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 "JR, you're too small to play" "Coach, i'm 6'4" "Oh yeah.. sorry" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest FrigidSoul Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Did you tell him that I've cracked people's ribs before when tackling like I told you to, damnit I wanna get a college scholarship for hurting people. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 The main thing I'm afraid of is weight lifting and the ropes. I mean I did good on the ropes last time I played football but I'm afraid I'll fall on my face this time. I guess I have to just keep em' up and nowhere I'm at. Then on the weights.......well when i go to the gym I do a circuit workout and that doesn't include the bench.....I think I can only bench about 170 pounds. Which I mean I can improve easily. Increasing the amount you bench I've learned over times is one of the easiest things to improve on. I'm just afraid they're going to look at that and go "this guy can't hit hard" which isn't true at all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Have you been working out/training during your down time?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vern Gagne 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Tommie Harris left early. OU needs a new DT. Hit the weights, and next fall you'll be putting Big XII QB's on stretchers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conspiracy_Victim 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 6'4" 270? Damn Damu, didn't know you were that big! I wish I had that size. When I was a senior in HS I was talking to Rice (when they were still kinda decent) and they wanted to recruit me but were concerned since I was undersized for defensive line (only 6'1" 230). Eventually they offered me a walk-on spot but no scholarship since they wanted D-linemen who were 6'4" or taller. That fuckin' close to a D-1 scholarship *sigh*. Anyway, to stop with the self-pitying, good luck on the tryout. If you can, get in the weight room and do toe raises and leg extensions as often as you can. They'll strengthen your calves and hamstrings and help your 40 time. Then do a lot of curls and incline presses. That'll help your arm strength and chest. As for bench, try to get up to doing sets at 225. Many schools simply test your strength by putting on 225 and letting you burn out on it. Getting your muscles used to the repetition will help A LOT. Even at my strongest I only maxxed out my bench at 380. But I burned out 225 at 25 reps, which is pretty damn good for a lot of NFL prospects. It'll take some time at first, but you'll start noticing a difference after a couple weeks when your muscles start rebuilding bigger and stronger. Just my $.02, and again good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Wow, hopefully next year I can go see you play live... .....when my team kicks your ass again Hehehe Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Ghost of bps21 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 What they really need is a QB that doesn't choke when there's something on the line. Anyone like that trying out? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 What they really need is a QB that doesn't choke when there's something on the line. Anyone like that trying out? We have the #1 High School QB in the country committed to us....but he's somewhat of an asshole. And yeah I've been working out and training......and yeah I'm going to do all those things you guys suggested between now and spring practice but I have to get through this tryout later this week though...the one where I can't lift 225 and the one where I can only post a 40 speed of 5.1. I know I'll be burning out on at least 200 in the next 2 months(i've always been fast on the weights) and at least hitting a 5 flat. But I just have to do something that impresses them enough on Thursday or Friday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Wow, hopefully next year I can go see you play live... .....when my team kicks your ass again Hehehe I'll take that challenge and see your team that saw all it's good players leave on the field. Wait is Sproles still there? Ah dammit....I hope I don't have to chase his ass down....but I'll catch the little bastard and break him in two in the process. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Bottled Black Report post Posted January 28, 2004 Good luck man.. Keep us updated but try not to refer to them as Astronomical and Gargantuan Updates. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conspiracy_Victim 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 And yeah I've been working out and training......and yeah I'm going to do all those things you guys suggested between now and spring practice but I have to get through this tryout later this week though...the one where I can't lift 225 and the one where I can only post a 40 speed of 5.1. I know I'll be burning out on at least 200 in the next 2 months(i've always been fast on the weights) and at least hitting a 5 flat. But I just have to do something that impresses them enough on Thursday or Friday. Don't worry. When it comes to walk-ons/tryouts it's all about one thing - POTENTIAL. They probably aren't expecting to find some 350 lb guy who runs a 4.7 at an open tryout, even if it IS OU. Just do your best and if they say something like "Good 40 time" come back with "Yeah, but it'll be better after a couple months of work." Show that you're in it for the long haul and serious about it, the coaches will notice. A 5.1 is pretty damn good for an OL, and if you improve it or maintain it while putting on mass, it's something that will jump out at the coaches. Besides if for some reason it doesn't work out you can still play it off when trying to meet women. "Yeah Stoops wanted me to try out for the team but I was hurting too many people *flex, pose, spit water*." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lightning Flik 0 Report post Posted January 28, 2004 (edited) *flex, pose, spit water*." Dood. That's SO Triple H's... We don't want the ladies to think badly of Damararu. Edited January 28, 2004 by Lightning Flik Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
