Comments on: Emptying the Fiesta Bowl mailbag http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/ Thoughts from The Oklahoman Sports Columnist Berry Tramel | NewsOK.com Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:59:16 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Chris http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/comment-page-1/#comment-2071 Chris Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:59:23 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/#comment-2071 Being an ex coach, most football coaches use a conversion chart when deciding to go for 1 or 2. Since they were down by 5 the chart says go for 2 to reduce it to a 3 point game (field goal to tie) so that's why you go for 2. The onside kick was executed well by the other 10 players but the kicker just didn't kick it the required 10 yards. In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 the ball seemed to bounce right when Stoops would call a trick play. He was labeled a genus, named Big Game Bob. In almost any sport, when the ball bounces the right way you win, but when it's not bouncing the right way you lose. We forget that many of the teams playing have just about the same amount of playing and coaching talent as OU so everyone much work together as a team. The coaches have to put the players in position to win, and the players have to execute their assignments and hope the other team doesn't execute their assignments. I think the major problems lately in bowl games are: 1. Teams know OU can be beat and go into the game with confidence 2. The players and coaches are aware of their bowl failures and perhaps press too hard 3. The opposing team butter OU up talking about how fast, big and great OU is which cause the players to believe it and come in over confident. As a fan now in my 40's that has witness many greats in all walks of life and professions become bigger life and forget what got them their level of greatness. I buy into believing the talk. Imagine an 18, 19, 20 years old etc. reading and hearing how great you are. I wish the coaches could limit the amount of time players can read the internet, print, listen to the radio watch TV and limit their contact with the outside world. But that's not going away. I think we will be fine. People don't know how hard it is to win championships. There are several of things that must fall into place to make it work. Sometime it's better to be lucky than it is to be good. Ask Les Miles and his LSU Tigers. Being an ex coach, most football coaches use a conversion chart when deciding to go for 1 or 2. Since they were down by 5 the chart says go for 2 to reduce it to a 3 point game (field goal to tie) so that’s why you go for 2. The onside kick was executed well by the other 10 players but the kicker just didn’t kick it the required 10 yards. In 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 the ball seemed to bounce right when Stoops would call a trick play. He was labeled a genus, named Big Game Bob.
In almost any sport, when the ball bounces the right way you win, but when it’s not bouncing the right way you lose. We forget that many of the teams playing have just about the same amount of playing and coaching talent as OU so everyone much work together as a team. The coaches have to put the players in position to win, and the players have to execute their assignments and hope the other team doesn’t execute their assignments.
I think the major problems lately in bowl games are:
1. Teams know OU can be beat and go into the game with confidence
2. The players and coaches are aware of their bowl failures and perhaps press too hard
3. The opposing team butter OU up talking about how fast, big and great OU is which cause the players to believe it and come in over confident. As a fan now in my 40’s that has witness many greats in all walks of life and professions become bigger life and forget what got them their level of greatness. I buy into believing the talk. Imagine an 18, 19, 20 years old etc. reading and hearing how great you are.
I wish the coaches could limit the amount of time players can read the internet, print, listen to the radio watch TV and limit their contact with the outside world. But that’s not going away.
I think we will be fine. People don’t know how hard it is to win championships. There are several of things that must fall into place to make it work. Sometime it’s better to be lucky than it is to be good. Ask Les Miles and his LSU Tigers.

]]> By: DION http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/comment-page-1/#comment-2047 DION Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:03:31 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/#comment-2047 I have been a sooner fan since 1972 and what these fans who criticize Coach Stoops fail to understand is that winning ain't easy! The Media darling Pete Carroll lost at home to Stanford! Last year the Sooners were one injury (Bradford at TT) short of playing for the National Title. Remember it WAS the players who went to sleep during the 4th quarter against Colorado, Stoops was not the one fumbling punts. I have been a sooner fan since 1972 and what these fans who criticize Coach Stoops fail to understand is that winning ain’t easy!

The Media darling Pete Carroll lost at home to Stanford! Last year the Sooners were one injury (Bradford at TT) short of playing for the National Title. Remember it WAS the players who went to sleep during the 4th quarter against Colorado, Stoops was not the one fumbling punts.

]]> By: Ben S http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/comment-page-1/#comment-2038 Ben S Sun, 17 Feb 2008 05:22:47 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/#comment-2038 BOB STOOPS IS A GREAT COACH, BUT HE SEEMS TO HAVE BAD LUCK AT MAJOR BOWL GAMES. HE NEEDS TO FIND HIMSELF A LUCKY CHARM AND CARRY IT WITH HIM TO BOWL GAMES. HE WILL WIN THE BIG GAMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THAT IS A FACT. BOB STOOPS IS A GREAT COACH, BUT HE SEEMS TO HAVE BAD LUCK AT MAJOR BOWL GAMES. HE NEEDS TO FIND HIMSELF A LUCKY CHARM AND CARRY IT WITH HIM TO BOWL GAMES. HE WILL WIN THE BIG GAMES IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND THAT IS A FACT.

]]> By: Shrouded Llama http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/comment-page-1/#comment-2037 Shrouded Llama Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:30:25 +0000 http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2008/02/16/emptying-the-fiesta-bowl-mailbag/#comment-2037 I think the bowl problem is a "Bob Stoops" problem. Not that i think Stoops is a bad coach. You have to be a fool to think that, but something in the bowl prep obviously needs to change. Yeah, they beat Florida State for the National Championship and then lost to LSU mostly because Jason White wasn't mobile enough to avoid a blitzing sloth (and they still only lost by a touchdown!) but other than that who have they beaten in a bowl game since Stoops has been there? Washington State? Oregon? People don't look at those and say wow! Both are quality teams (some years) but beating them doesn't make the public think better of you after getting beat down by USC and then losing to the Li'l Broncos That Could and a WVU team that barely had a coaching staff. Maybe they try too hard to win the Big 12 and the post season doesn't seem that important after they do it. Or maybe if it's not a National Championship game the team feels let down and that effects the level of play. I'm not sure what it is, but after going 0-4 in the last BCS games with 2 of them being blowouts they might start getting passed over like MU did if they don't get the Big 12's automatic bid. Stoops should think long and hard about what the problem is. Look at how Tom Caughlin (thats probably spelled wrong) changed his attitude from slave driver to buddy this year and The Giants ended up winning the Superbowl against one of the greastest teams ever. Some kind of change is needed. I'm rambling........CIAO! I think the bowl problem is a “Bob Stoops” problem. Not that i think Stoops is a bad coach. You have to be a fool to think that, but something in the bowl prep obviously needs to change. Yeah, they beat Florida State for the National Championship and then lost to LSU mostly because Jason White wasn’t mobile enough to avoid a blitzing sloth (and they still only lost by a touchdown!) but other than that who have they beaten in a bowl game since Stoops has been there? Washington State? Oregon? People don’t look at those and say wow! Both are quality teams (some years) but beating them doesn’t make the public think better of you after getting beat down by USC and then losing to the Li’l Broncos That Could and a WVU team that barely had a coaching staff. Maybe they try too hard to win the Big 12 and the post season doesn’t seem that important after they do it. Or maybe if it’s not a National Championship game the team feels let down and that effects the level of play. I’m not sure what it is, but after going 0-4 in the last BCS games with 2 of them being blowouts they might start getting passed over like MU did if they don’t get the Big 12’s automatic bid. Stoops should think long and hard about what the problem is. Look at how Tom Caughlin (thats probably spelled wrong) changed his attitude from slave driver to buddy this year and The Giants ended up winning the Superbowl against one of the greastest teams ever. Some kind of change is needed. I’m rambling……..CIAO!

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