Bedlam before the storm
A few random Bedlam leftovers before we start the wait for the BCS announcement:
1. The biggest plays of the game, I thought, were these: DeMarco Murray’s kickoff return, which gave OU an easy touchdown drive after OSU drew within 37-44, and Keenan Clayton’s first-down sack of Zac Robinson after OU took a 51-41 lead.
OU’s offense, for all its success, still wasn’t gashing the Cowboys easily. Sammy B. was having to work for everything he got, unlike last week against Tech, and the kickoff return gave the Sooners a little breather. Clayton’s sack eventually forced a punt, the first defensive stop by either team since the first quarter.
2. Someone made a great point late in the game. Mike Gundy should have onside-kicked after Perrish Cox’s kickoff return for a touchdown made it 44-41.
And you know what? That’s a good idea. Truth is, OSU might have been better off onsiding after every second-half TD. Whenever Gundy realized that the Cowboys weren’t going to stop the Sooners — maybe he never realized it; he doesn’t watch half the game — a better plan was to steal a possession. What did field position matter? The Sooners were scoring anyway. Of course, like I said, OSU’s defense at least made OU work for it. OU faced 18 third downs Saturday night; that’s a huge number.
3. The 2-point conversion return by Frank Alexander was a momentum swing. OSU had a chance for a 21-21 tie; instead it was 23-19 OU and the Cowboys never again had the ball with the chance to tie or take the lead.
That being said, what an awful rule. Stupid, silly. Sounds like it was made up by fourth-graders playing on a sandlot. How did rulemakers ever allow that one to pass?
4. I don’t know which team has the better tight end. I might take Brandon Pettigrew; better blocker and doesn’t drop near as many balls as Jermaine Gresham does. But I know which team better uses its tight end. Gresham must have had 12 passes thrown his way. I think Pettigrew had two thrown to him.
5. Chris Brown is rising up the list of Bedlam heroes. In three Bedlam games, all as a backup, Brown has 248 yards rushing without a 100-yard game. You know how hard that statistical feat is?
6. For most of the game, Zac Robinson was the best player on the field. In the fourth quarter, Sam Bradford was the best player.
-------------Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel. Visit Berry's website here.
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Comments
eff In Vermont Says:
November 30th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Berry, Sooner Fans,
Good Morning All!
Great Win. Should cement a Big 12 Title and a Heisman.
Dez Bryant is a player!
Bradford deserves the Heisman. But again, media boneheads say things like…well, he has more weapons than other players, so he shouldn’t win. Hey dummies……Tebow…..all the guys around him…….all the speed……..marginal arm, yet throws lots of TD’s and runs for lots. Did he do all of that on his own?
Tired of these arguments. Why play anymore games after the Red River weekend? Why? It seems that people think the conference was settled then. Apparently though, we all had a few more games to play…and they mattered too.
How many games are neutral field? Florida-Georgia (in Florida), Missouri-Kansas (truly neutral)…..OU-Texas (in Texas). What other games really matter? If every BCS eligible team played one…then you could make that argument…but they don’t. So how is this part of the thought process? OSU didn’t lose at home all this year….til last night. Does that matter? Texas struggled with OSU at home….does that matter? Texas needed breaks to beat OU…does that matter?
Tech beat Texas. So if Texas trumps OU then Tech trumps the low upside-down Horns. Wins a win. Regardless of margin.
All of these talking heads try to drive the issue using the media. And how bout good ole Mack Brown……is there a better politician in college football? I think he was even on my local radio station here in VT.
Note to Mack: you played NO ONE in your non-conference schedule. You barely beat OSU at home and you lost to Guns Up! Loss is a loss.
OU Defense and Special teams: please stop pulling at the football and just get the pads on and hit squarely. I can barely take it. You will cause just as many turnovers with big hits. Please…tackle with technique.
Note to Coach Gundy: great job with the program, but you have to either stop tanning or stop using the tanning solution. You look more orange than the uniforms your guys wear. There just isn’t that much sun this time of year, man! Be a Man….had to.
I was impressed with The Boone. However, I have never seen more sky boxes. Priorities…I know.
Still no snow here at my house in beautiful Northwestern VT. Good….I dislike snow.
Go Sooners! On To Arrowhead!
However, my call is, after all the politicing, Texas sneaks in and Gelding wins the Heisman…..because he had less weapons and apparently no offensive line in front of him…..and does it all like Tommy the Pinball Wizard.
4:40….OU is getting worked right now as minds have changed for some puzzling reason…..and so have poll results Nice job Mack! Your wining has done it again.
It is so funny how Florida can vault past everyone for “being hot” but OU can’t. OU is arguably playing better against better teams. Yet, because of the past…..losing a few bowls…..the lowhorns are going to win out.
Jeff in Vermont
tired of this system…..it is the single stupidest thing in sports. Even dumber than Plexico Burress.
I agree with everything you said. Especially the comment about Gundy only watching half a game. OSU did outplay OU for most of the game. OU had some lucky/good breaks. However, even I as an OSU fan I would have to say that OU is the better team, and should beat OSU, no matter where they play the game.
OSU had the same problem they have had all year against other teams, THEY CAN NOT STOP THE THIRD DOWN PLAY!!