I believe that we will win, however, the WAC is also an inferior conference, and that didn’t matter last year. Also, we have not played well in a Bowl game since the 2003 Rose Bowl – I don’t know why, but it’s true. We win because we bludgeon teams that are one dimensional. We are too strong and to fast for teams that can’t run AND throw the ball. If White uncharasterically throws the ball, we will have major problems. Not having Granger and Smith will be a problem.

Final Score OU 31 West Virginia 21

Ominous first half, why do we come out flat in Bowl games? Our QB’s always seem to play tight – Jason White in 03 and 04, Bomar in 05 and Thompson last year. On a positive note, we seem to play better in the second half – we came back against LSU and had a shot to tie it at the end, USC was too far gone so it didn’t matter, and we all know about last year, even though we lost. I’m hopeful that Bradford settles down and goes through his progression. That last throw to Gresham in the end zone – Bradford just locked in and went through the motions, same with the interception in the first quarter. Is Patrick hurt? He should have been in the game on one of those last three possessions. The next time we go for it on fourth and one – we need to QB sneak over Cooper, forget the hand-off two yards deep in the backfield.

I’ve got a cure for insomnia. How about a six pack of OU bowl game DVD’s? Same s**t, different year.

Unbelievable. Is Oklahoma just totally overrated? Losing 3 starters on D and Kelly and Murray on offense obviously hurt, but do not explain why no name WVU players are dominating both lines of scrimmage. Stoops is a great coach, but I would stop giving him salary increases. The defense has not dominated since Mike left and OU has not shown they can beat a top 5 program since Florida State 2000. His best teams were with Blake’s recruits. After the post-Barry dark period, I guess I should be happy for defeating texASS and winning the Big 12, but realizing we do not have a legitimate top 5 program is becoming more and more difficult to swallow.

Richard White
NYC

Ok, I’ve had to take my Ambien so that I could sleep tonight. I’ve been saying all year, what a joke Venables is and wallah, look what fricken happens? We get cleaned by a team without a head coach and one whd supossedly can’t pass. What a joke! We absolutely stink! It time for Big Dollar Bob to clean house starting with Venable! How many times have I said that this year!! Bob’s getting way to much money to beat up on marginal Big Twelve teams to get shellacked in the bowl games. He alway says that the OU Sooners play for championships. So, what the “frick” have you done for us since 2000???? One miracle season with the big trophy and you let your best assetts go on to other teams. Then, the true “gunslinger” was revealed. Ah, can you say Mike Leach? I’m sick and tire of cheering my rear off for a team I grew up loving and was worthy of the love! This team really should be called chokelahoma from now on! Thanks for nothing again you losers! Not worthy of another bowl appearence with this over rated, over paid staff. We still remember Boise State, and thanks again poor defensive coaching Venables. Someboby please fix this mess!
PS WE SUCK BIG TIME. THANKS FOR RUINING OUR HOLIDAYS SOONER OR SORRY CHOKELAHOMA!!!!

Man, I hate bowl games, but come on people, “let’s get off the Stoops is a bum” rants. I always thought this team was one year away. This year was a bonus – a warm up for next year. I said all along that West Virginia was easily the best team we played all year. They were galvanized by the Rodriguez situation – you could tell it for the last two weeks. They rallied around it – I tip my hat to them, they have a lot of heart to go with their speed and toughness. The on-side kick was the tipping point tonight – I agree, it was a bad call, but it would have worked had the ball gone ten yards – then we would all be hailing Stoops a genious and real gunslinger. One more prediction, book your flight and get your tickets for the BCS Championship next year, because that’s where we will be – and we will win.

Well the ambiene is kicking in thank goodness. I wouldn’t be able to sleep without it. I am so sick and tired of this S$%^$ of OU getting embarrased in a bowl game. Come on, Stoops troups and coaches are tarnishing the wonderful tradition. I don’t care what you do all year long, except beat pokie state. If you get to a legitimate, big dollar bowl, and your getting paid damned near 4 million a year to coach one of the most stroried teams in history, you had better win and win every time! IF not, your getting too much pay! What is this for miracle Bob? 4 lost bowls in a row? That is horrific!!!! Can you say OVER RATEDabout OU’s coaching staff and players? Say it again, OVER RATED, OVER RATED! I’m sick and tired this crap and going to bed!

It’s been obvious for awhile, and tonight was just more evidence, that Bob Stoops has lost the ability to prepare the Sooners for a bowl game. Assistants have come and gone, and the result is the same, so the responsibility has to lie with the head coach. Maybe it’s because he takes a win for granted, and therefore he’s using bowl-prep practices to prepare for next year instead of accomplishing Job One, maybe there’s something else going on, but it’s obvious that something is wrong.

Heck! Even Mack Brown can coach up a team to win a bowl game.

I guess the “Big East is inferior to the other leagues” means that the SEC, ACC, and now Big 12 are now “inferior to the other leagues” because the Big East has beaten the champions of those 3 leagues 3 years in a row after the Always Committing Crimes conference stole 2 of our teams. Just last year the Big East was 5-0 in bowl games, and we will go 3-2 this year, with another BCS win. I have enjoyed your posts, Tramel, but your typical, uninformed Big 12 bias is classic. Give the Mountaineers and the Big East credit. If WVU and OU played 10 times, MAYBE the Sooners would win 2 or 3. It was clear who the better team was, and you know it. I know, it hurts. Deal with it.

OUver-rated.

Well, Berry, I know you don’t like changes to uniforms and you sure don’t like black jerseys but after last night’s game maybe it’s time for black as we mourn for a while.

Ok, I’m awake now. Still the nightmare remains. OU loses another stinking bowl game. It’s time for the powers that be down at OU to wake up and realize that it’s time for change. Bob Stoops is over paid and over rated. He’s always talking about playing for championships. Ok, so he’s won a couple of Big 12 Championships. Big deal. Nobody cares who wins the Big 12, the SEC,etc, they care about winning national championships which big, overpaid Bob hasn’t done in 8 long years. Also, it’s obvious that he doesn’t know how to coach a team to a bowl victory. He has lost what 4 in a row? OU is an embarrassment to “big time” college football. And, I cannot imagine that Bob has the ability to win another National Championship for many years to come. He sure doesn’t have the guts to do what should have been done years ago-FIRE BRENT VENABLES!! Then, right after that, hire the Georgia or West Virginia defensive coach! Then, right after that, cut that outrageous salary for Bob Stoops. He can talk the talk all day long but can’t walk the walk. Time for him to go. Next year, I’m going to Vegas, taking the whole family and will bet the farm on OU losing. It’s a sure thing! Just ask, USC, LSU, O’Boise State, WVirginia and whoever we’ll be playing next year! And to you WVU Rules go back to trolling wherever your sorry self came from. We know OU stinks but hey that is the reality for the last few years. Also, shut your yapper until WVU has won 7 National Championships and produced more Heisman winners than OU. We don’t need your crap on this Oklahoma website. Yea, you beat OU but so what. So, did Boise State!

Berry,

Sooner Gang………

Please listen….and Berry…this time you have to agree, because it happened yet again; this team, this staff does not play big in big games (Big 12 title aside). They are not prepared, have no energy and the moment they get hit in the mouth it is over. They can’t come back.

They beat FSU in 2000 because they were the team that played with a chip on their shoulder, they were hungrier. Since then, the success has gone to this programs head. We have great athletes and great coaches. But you have to play everyday with that chip….everyday like someone is trying to steal from you. It has to be a little more personal.

instead, its oh, we expect to win and everything else takes care of itself. We are Oklahoma afterall, and well, your not. Bull! you make your own breaks. I applaud Coach for gambling a bit……he just mis-timed and miss read things. Why, because he has done so little of that as of late……in the past few years that he doesn’t have the feel for it that he once did. The best time to do this stuff is when you are up or tied. There was still hill to climb. You don’t take chances with your footing as you are climbing. He was gaining momentum….they didn’t have it yet. One more stop and score and then you do it.

His defense did the job and then he put them right back on the field. That is where it was lost. Those guys were undermanned as it was. Why put more pressure on them? Bad timing and overcoaching. Why? Lack of confidence in your approach. Lack of feel for your team.

This team should have been unbeaten this year. They got up for Texas and Misery (Missouri) and thats about it. But you see what happened when they did. The schedule is soft and we do not belong in the top ten with this effort. I am disappointed as I am sure the coaches and players are.

But they really need to change the approach. Enough of this business as usual, we expect to win crap. I want to see a hungry, take no prisoners bunch. I made references before to USC, how they play, their approach. They let it all hang out and you see the results in the past 5 years. We have had great results as well. But against who? Certainly not in the big pressure moments. Yes, we have Big 12 titles…….are ya happy with just that? Are we resting on THAT?

Since 2000 however, the chip has been filled in with all this living on tradition and we expect to win stuff. Really? Because when you get on the field in big games, you all play like scared little boys. Tired of it. Its so darn clear. Even the so-called experts are taking notice.

I was cranked with the penalties, but lets be honest, that was speed and wannabe beating talent that was listless, and freakin lazy. The offensive line was awful. Across the board. They need to take a look into themselves and that effort.

I am proud of this team and my flag is still hanging on the house. But they have to look in the mirror. The effort is not there and the coaches need to figure out why. Yes, they were missing players on defense, but was that a bigger issue then what was going on across the field with that team in the last month? We had enough talent to win. We got out everythinged and that bugs me the most.

Next Year! I am already looking forward to it. I hate Arizona by the way. sick of seeing us there…

I will be better in a few days….just like everyone else. But I am not wrong in what I see with this program. They have to start playing like someone is taking theirs. Until then, We’ll beat North Texas and Utah State and Middle Tennessee like a rented mule……we’ll get full of ourselves (and our numbers) and talk tradition and we will get beat everytime the going gets rough. Our ability and talent is not overrated….. our heart and effort is. We don’t belong in any conversation about great teams right now. As far as I am concerned….Oklahoma needs to prove themselves to this fan and I would assume……the rest of the country.

Jeff from VT…..where it is sunny and……………. -12 degrees.

I was not fooled this year and bet against the Sooners, something seriously wrong with that team come bowl time.

Big 12 fan in Denver

Oklahoma are the Washington Generals of BCS bowl games.

Berry, I can’t wait to see your blog on this game. What a letdown as far as I am concerned.

I said two things to a couple of friends at the beginning of this game. The first was a comment about the OU band, “the best thing about OU”. the second came after the very first offensive series of the game. I told my friend that it look bad for OU because the O-line was not ready to play.

We could blame the coaches but come on now. It’s time to tell these players that they lost the game and played absolutely terrible. No more PC type of crap, tell them how bad they played. Start with Loadholt. The place to fault the coaches is when a player doesn’t perform he should get yanked. Somewhere someone on the team has the desire to play.

What in the world do you have to do to be motivated and psychologically prepared to smack every single team you play.

Great loss you overrated arrogant jerks. Although you let the Big 12 down you brightened the day of many like myself. I really like the way gooner players mouthed and taunted the WVU players during warm-ups. Maybe Mr. GAYlord can buy them all new pacifiers to keep their mouths shut!

Yes, it’s true, I’m a Mountaineer fan. But don’t write me off too soon, I’m not here to gloat, or to patronize, but to give a little encouragement. Truth is, we’ve always had the greatest respect for OU, and still do, and we know how lucky we were that everything came together for us while it was falling apart for you. We also know what it is to feel let down, and not just once, or twice, or three times together, but for years that seemed like eternities. I remember vividly standing around the water cooler when the BCS pairings were announced. The guys were looking at the ground, shuffling their feet and sighing: we knew how tough OU was, is, and will continue to be. So take heart. An institution like Oklahoma doesn’t stay down long. But you also have to remember that the face of college football is changing, and I think you’ll see that each and every year will bring a new scamble for the top as old guards give way to new. Maybe a little humility will help the OU program: I know we’ve had our fair share of it and more, and we’ve become stronger for it. Yes, West Virginia will have its day, and others schools, too, but OU will always be around to remind the upstarts of what a great football tradition is all about. So lick your wounds and get back on the horse and show us what you’re made of because, frankly, I’m getting a little sick and tired of Ohio State kicking everybody’s dog.

Berry,
Your attitude is the same as the OU team and that’s exactly why you keep getting your butts spanked. Oh, we’re playing an inferior conference so we should win. Keep thinking that and you’ll keep getting your Tramel kicked. The Big East was 5-0 in bowl games last year and Rutgers mauled Kansas State – the same team that whipped Texas. Your offensive Line is as slow as I’ve ever seen and not used to the speed of the Big East.

You just don’t get it.

You have to love a guy like Zeke Morris! Thanks Fella! I for one, appreciate the sentiment. It was a good win for WVU and it is the way I would have loved the Sooners to win.

Excitement begins to build for next year. It was a great season all around and I got to another game this year with my son (Mich-Minn for the Little Brown Jug). The season was as good, as entertaining as any I can remember. College Football continues to just get better each year.

My perspective is now restored. Time to move onward and forward. Hoping the past teaches valuable lessons through experiences…and realizing, at the end of the day……they are still young men and it is still just a game.

Go Sooners!

Jeff

“Still, I think they win. West Virginia is talented, and I love this interim coach, Bill Stewart, but the Big East is inferior to the other leagues, and the sooner we all admit it, the better.”

Hahahahahahahahahaha, right on the money again Tramel.

OUch.

Last night was rough for OU fans. I’m a Cowboy fan, but i love Bob Stoops! He is a great coach, but he needs to lose Wilson and Venables. The defense only plays well every other game and the offense only runs at a high level when it completely over matches the defense. Also, where is the intensity? If you hit OU in the mouth they can’t recover. They look stunned until the fourth quarter and then they start playing again. It happened last night, it happened at Texas Tech, and it happened at Colorado except the never recovered! Stoops needs some young, hungry, motivated coordinators to re-energize the team. I think they worry to much about sheer size and speed to win when i great scheme will beat a better team a lot of the time!

Also, Big 12 QBs? WOW! To to bottom the Big 12 will have the best QB play in the nation next year! Daniel, Reesing, Bradford, McCoy and Harrell will all be in the Hiesman conversation next year and Robinson, Freeman, Hawkins and McGee aren’t slouches either! And don’t forget the kid from Nebraska who replaced Keller at the end of the year. I can’t recall his name but i know he played extremely well and made people wonder why Keller started at all. With the exception of Baylor and Iowa State the Big 12 is loaded to throw the ball!

I give it a 40% chance that a Big 12 QB wins the Hiesman next year.

And i need to learn how to proofread! My last post was chocked full of typos! My apologies.

Once again you Choke-lahomans drag the Big 12 down…as long as mister egomaniac Stoops
is there this trend will continue.

Of the Big 12 teams…yours is the only one to embarrass the conference…at least
Colorado and Texas A&M were competitive.

And, of course all the others have won with Kansas to play Va Tech tonight.

In reality this year. The SEC and Pac 10 are the fastest and most athletic conference.
And, then I would say the Big 12 is a close third. However! West Virginia just could be
the fastest team in college football. I thought that was California during the regular season.
But, now I think West Virginia is the speediest team. So, you can’t just judge a team based
on it’s conference. WV is a great team in a weak conference.

They could definitely challenge LSU or OSU.

I just wonder how Pitt stopped them in December. That’s one of the biggest surprises along
with App State beating Michigan, Stanford beating USC and also South Carolina beating Georgia.

Too bad for WV, USC and Georgia that there is no playoff. Too bad for OU that they keep
embarrassing the Big 12 hehe

Hook’em Horns!

why does big shame bob always get a pass and the coordinators get hammered? it’s the same story each year. i have yet to hear of any leaked head-set conversations where venables or wilson override all of big shame’s coaching decisions leading the team straight into bcs disaster. and for pete’s sake, let’s stick to the same tired excuses like officiating, injuries, trick plays, or my personal favorite; it was a meaningless game. i’m sure those who purchased tickets and travel costs feel the same way. oh, and when was the last year there wasn’t a thief, pot head, drunk or illiterate (Q) on the starting 22?

I am astounded by the reaction of many on this blog. Yes – we played poorly last night, yes, there were several bad coaching decisions. Yes, we have played poorly in four of the last five bowl games – all of us Sooner fans are discouraged and disappointed about it. Coach Stoops has owned up to everything.

However, to suggest that Coach Stoops needs to go, that we don’t respond after being hit in the mouth and that we are chokers is utterly ignorant. In the nine years since Coach Stoops has arrived, our record is 95-20, 27-10 against teams in the top 25, we have won 5 Big XII Championships, 1 National Title, we have played in three BCS Championship games, we have beaten Texas six times, and we have produced 23 All-Americans and 1 Heisman Trophy winner. During the Post Switzer and Pre-Stoops era (1989 – 1998), our record was 61-50-3, 6-29-2 against top 25 teams, 0 Big 8/XII Championships, not even a sniff at a National Championship, four straight years without a Bowl appearance (1995-1998), a record of 2-7-1 against Texas, 2 All-Americans and no Heisman Trophy winners. I believe that I have made my point. I’ll stack that up against ANYBODY. Stoops is one of four top tier coaches in America – the others are Pete Carrol, Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer.

I have said all year that this team was a year away, that we would be a very good football team, not a great team. Next year will be our time. As for all of those piling on, we’ll talk next year when you are trying to jump back on the Stoops bandwagon.

Nebraska Sooner: “next year” will never be our time so long as we can’t win a bowl.

Berry:
0-4. yikes.
Please, puh-lease, tell us what it is?? Bad luck? Overconfidence? Poor coaching? A hex? Karma? Can we sacrifice a few virgin squirrels to atone for the sins of Sooners past? Will that bring back the bowl wins? Should we just start deliberately losing the Big 12 title game so we can avoid the BCS and play a nice safe Holiday Bowl against an overrated Pac-10?

I love Stoops. I don’t think you get rid of a guy that gets 11 wins every year. But even so, I think a couple of the calls yesterday, the look of bewilderment on Bob’s face, and the air of utter resignation about the players…all that gives me the impression that he really has lost that edge that once made him a “big game” coach.

Berry never ever reads this post and if he did, he would be an idiot to defend Jenni and her stupid columns.

Truth in disclosure time.

Born in OKC, raised in Omaha.

NU is my fav team, but I root for OU any other time.

Now, folks, calm down.

As a Husker fan I have lived thru the joys of the coaching carrousel and can tell you it ain’t no fun. Stoops is not an idiot. He is a damned good coach. He may have to adjust his staff, but the bottom line is that you do not want to start firing a guy who wins most of his games (ala Frank Solich).

NU has gone thru four years of tradition-shattering angst. The only tradition Callahan did not blow (and I mean the ONLY one) is the stadium sellout record, and that was going to go if he didn’t go.

As an outsider looking in who has nothing but respect for OU, think carefully and think twice about looking for the head of Stoops.

If you’re completely out of luck you may get what you want.

Berry,
The problems at OU are not a result of Bob Stoops’ personality. First of all, Stoops has surrounded himself with old coaching buddies and former OU quarterbacks on his coaching staff. Last I heard former QB Cale Gundy was a running backs coach. Coach Wilson’s offensive playbook apparently consists of no more than 5 or 6 different plays.He runs a 1950′s style offense. Coach Venables has no clue how to adjust his defenses during a game and has on several big time stages proved how inept he really is. He has been with OU for 9 years yet no one calls to see if he is interested in a head coaching job. He has simply been out coached too many times. Giving up 400-500 yards a game is unacceptable. And finally, our QB situation is really not that good. We have a QB who can’t run a lick and in the present era of college football that is a liability. Our offensive co-ordinator is an uinventive stiff who usually plays it plain vanilla for 4 quarters. Our defensive co-ordinator is totally lost against current defenses and we have a about as much game day spirit as my 17 year old dachsund. Bob Stoops must re-evaluate his entire coaching staff and then start recruiting Corvette type QB’s instead of the one dimensional dinosaur type QB’s we have now. Otherwise, the BCS will soon start to ignore the Sooners and will consider the entire football program fraudulent. The last 4 BCS games have started to turn national opinion against the once mighty and feared Oklahoma Sooners. This is not good.