The Oklahoma Sooners got a key road win on Saturday against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. This marked the Sooners' first road win of the season.
A big reason for the win was a newfound run game. The Sooners rushed for 184 yards, despite averaging 92 yards heading into the game. A big reason for that success was likely the return of star left tackle Michael Fasusi. He has been battling a shoulder injury since this offseason. He played the first game against the University of Texas at El Paso Miners but didn't play the full game because of the injury. Fasusi then missed the next five games.
Despite being out all of those games, Fasusi still dressed out and participated in warmups. He explained that decision after the game.
"It was really just to
energize the guys, you feel me?" Fasusi said via SoonerScoop."Getting to be able to do warm-ups with the guys, I'm trying to get some sweat in too. Y'all can't enjoy this by yourselves. Just being with the guys, energizing my guys up. Oh, and the best part: if I wasn't dressed out, I would have been headbutting the guys, you feel me?"
Fasusi's presence around the team offered Oklahoma another example of the leadership and energy that can make a difference beyond the stat sheet. His return to the lineup could be especially significant for an offense that has struggled to establish a consistent ground game. The Sooners showed what they can do with improved production up front against Mississippi State, and bringing back their starting left tackle could be a building block to carry that momentum forward.
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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Michael Fasusi explains why he suited up this year despite being out
