Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Griffin
Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said Monday that retaliation might have played a part in the foot injury that was sustained by defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger Saturday against Washington.
Granger sustained a sprained left foot late in the second quarter during apparent retaliatory measures taken by the Washington offensive line after Granger was penalized on the previous play.
"There looked to be some of that," Stoops said, when asked about the chippy play during the Sooners' 55-14 victory. "It's unfortunate anytime some of that happens. There's always a lot of rough and tough play inside. Nobody here is whining about it."
Granger was taken down by three Washington players and injured his ankle in the resulting scrum. While the play was going on, television replays showed that Washington G Jordan White-Frisbee punched Granger while he was pinned on his back.
On the previous play, Granger had shoved Washington G Casey Bulyca to the turf after a false start penalty on the Huskies. Granger was flagged 15 yards for a personal foul on the play, starting a shoving match between the two teams.
Granger was helped off the field by Oklahoma trainers and was later carted to the locker room from the sidelines. He returned to watch the game on crutches in the second half, his injury immobilized by a protective boot.
Stoops said Monday it is too early to determine how long Granger might be out of action. The Sooners return to action Sept. 27 against TCU.
Earlier, television cameras caught Sooners and Huskies pushing and shoving in the tunnel before the game with Oklahoma TE Jermaine Gresham the most obvious instigator.
Tim Griffin joined ESPN.com in February 2008. He has covered the Big 12 since its inception, among a variety of beats during a 24-year career at the San Antonio Express-News. Griffin, a Memphis State University graduate, lives in San Antonio with his wife and son.
