OU defensive back keeps head up, regains starting spot

(Norman-AP) -- It would have easy for Oklahoma safety J-T Thatcher to get his head down. <br><br>Seven games into his senior season Thatcher lost his starting job to redshirt freshman Brandon Everage.

Wednesday, December 27th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Norman-AP) -- It would have easy for Oklahoma safety J-T Thatcher to get his head down.

Seven games into his senior season Thatcher lost his starting job to redshirt freshman Brandon Everage.

Thatcher says he knew he'd messed up, but couldn't put his head down.

All he did was improve.

Two games after losing the starting job, he reclaimed it and earned several All-American awards.

Head coach Bob Stoops says Thatcher used the situation to get his focus back and praises the safety for his maturity.

Thatcher is praising Everage for pushing him to become a better player, saying that's the reason he became an All-American.