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Up close: TU's Gabe McGee

by MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer , Tulsa World

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Freshman nose guard Gabe McGee got a rapid introduction to college football . He was part of a goal-line stand in his first University of Tulsa game. McGee helped stop a drive at the 2-yard line in the Hurricane's 37-13 season-opening win at Tulane. "I was a little nervous, but after I got my first couple of snaps in, I was like, 'Oh, it's not that big a difference (from high school football )," he said.

Playing behind senior nose guard Wilson Garrison, McGee has seen action in all but one game. "Gabe's been awesome. He's so powerful," head coach Todd Graham said. "I think he's started realizing how big and powerful he is, and he's coming into his own." McGee was a three-year starter at Duncan, where he earned all-district honors as a senior. He chose TU over Baylor and Colorado State, and also had recruiting interest from Kansas State. What's the toughest adjustment to playing at this level? I would have to say shape and conditioning. I could play a whole game in high school easy, going both ways. Here, it's about three or four snaps, and I'm gassed. That's a big difference, so I've got a lot of work to do conditioning-wise. Are there other differences? It's more technique here. The line play is good. When you face a double-team, it's a true double-team. They're trying to get you up and out of there, and you have to stand your ground. How many plays did you get in the Tulane game? It was a couple of series, actually. Wilson (Garrison) went down with a cramp. We stopped them and got off the field. Were you in on any tackles during the goal-line stand? I probably set some up for our middle linebacker. I probably took on a double-team and held my ground. I plugged the middle. Are most of the fans in your hometown OU Sooner fans? Yes, sir, but a few folks are converting. What was it like playing before 84,803 spectators in OU's Memorial Stadium? It was big. It was loud. But once you get out there, everything's the same. What's your favorite thing to do away from football ? Fishing. Every time I go home, every chance I get, I try to go fishing with my buddies. I really haven't had time during football , but before I came up here, I was fishing every day. Did someone get you interested when you were younger? My grandpa, but I've been going by myself since my freshman or sophomore year. What's the charm? It's that thrill when you have something on the line, trying to bring it in. Plus, I like to eat fish. Describe your best catch. I snuck into this pond in Empire (Okla.), close to my home. I was bouncing the lure off the bottom, and I threw a little swim bait out there and I saw the bass take the bait. It was a pretty big bass. He weighed 5 or 5 1/2 pounds. That was right before I came up here.

FAST FACTS Position: Nose guard

Class: Freshman

Height: 6-1

Weight: 305

Hometown: Duncan

Mike Brown 581-8390 mike.brown@tulsaworld.com

Copyright 2009 The Tulsa World

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