John Blake has just testified that one of his Dlinemen hit the RufNek and not Deleone.
Former OU coach testifies in assault trial
By The Associated Press
NORMAN -- Former Oklahoma head coach John Blake testified Thursday that one of his defensive linemen at Nebraska plowed into an Oklahoma spirit squad member and not an offensive lineman on trial for felony assault.
Blake, who coached the Sooners from 1996 to 1998, testified that defensive end Wali Muhammad accidentally slammed into Adam Merritt, 19, during drills prior to the Cornhuskers' game at Oklahoma on Nov. 13, 2004.
Former Nebraska offensive lineman Darren DeLone is on trial on one felony charge of aggravated assault and battery. He has pleaded innocent.
The charge carries a possible punishment of up to five years in prison.
Blake was on the field coaching at the time of the collision and said he witnessed Muhammad and DeLone participating in a full-speed drill just prior to the game when DeLone shoved Muhammad toward a group of spectators. "He was shoving Wali, and as Wali went flying, that's when I saw the spectators," Blake said.
Blake said DeLone outsized Muhammad by about 60 pounds and commonly was able to push him around.
"I knew Darren was going to throw Wali because he always manhandled Wali."
Blake left the witness stand to demonstrate with DeLone how the drill worked and told jurors that it was DeLone's responsibility to shove Muhammad out of the way if he got outside of him.
Blake said doing this would open a gap for a running back.
As Muhammad headed toward the sideline, Blake said he saw most of the group move out of his way, but Merritt did not.
"I guess the guys in front had moved out of the way in a hurry." Merritt and a dentist who examined him have testified that the Oklahoma freshman lost one of his front teeth and fractured another in the collision.
Blake, who also played for Oklahoma from 1979-82, graduated from the school in 1986 and returned as an assistant coach from 1989-92.
Blake said the stadium had been remodeled since he left OU and he thought spectators were closer to the practice area than he had remembered.
On cross-examination, Cleveland County District Attorney Tim Kuykendall asked if Blake thought about moving the team farther from the spectators.
"I think it's a problem them being that close to us, not us being that close to them." Blake responded.
Blake also spoke about DeLone's personality as he recruited him. "Darren was a guy who never got in a brawl on the football field, never got into a fight ... . I don't remember Darren being in any altercations at all," Blake said.
Two other Nebraska assistants, Dennis Wagner and Angus McClure, and eight Nebraska players are expected to testify. Another Nebraska defender, Adam Carriker, testified earlier this week that it was Muhammad who accidentally slammed into Merritt.
DeLone's attorney, Garvin Isaacs, has claimed that Muhammad accidentally collided with Merritt and DeLone did not.
Four members of the Oklahoma Ruf/Neks -- the spirit squad that accompanies the Sooner Schooner mascot onto the field -- and one cheerleader testified Wednesday that a player wearing jersey No. 67, DeLone's number, was the one that slammed into Merritt.
