OU football: Fans owed a good schedule
This non-conference scheduling debate refuses to go away. Bob Stoops, still smarting from two non-conference defeats last season, again is talking about how a good non-conference schedule doesn’t help you.
The preponderance of evidence the last decade shows that Stoops is wrong, but let’s drift away from the discussion of how non-conference scheduling affects national championship hopes. Way too much debate is wasted on that particular angle.
Here is something much more important to the overall health and wealth of a football program: its fans.
If OU was to disarm and play a weak non-conference schedule, a slate of games with automatic victories, it would pad Stoops’ record and it would make Owen Field a very dull place to be in September. It would make OU’s season ticket worth much less than the face value.
Look at it this way. OU fans generally love the tradition of the OU-Texas game being played in Dallas, but it comes at a cost. The Longhorns never play in Norman. That means the annual biggest game of the year is NEVER played at Owen Field.
So no Texas, and if you gut the non-conference schedule, no decent non-conference foe comes to Norman, either. No Oregon, no Alabama, no UCLA, no TCU, no Miami, no Cincinnati, no Florida State, no Notre Dame, no Ohio State, no Tennessee, no LSU.
Just a series of Utah States and North Texases and Tulsas and Chattanoogas.
Factor in the new order (Nebraska never will return to Owen Field), and you’re talking about a season ticket that will highlight OSU and Texas A&M in odd-numbered years, and Texas Tech and some team from the Big 12 North in even-numbered years.
Good games. Solid games. But when they are the best games year after year, the entertainment value lessens.
OU football has a certain status nationally. With that status comes some responsibility. The Sooners’ schedule is to be commended. The Sooners are holding up their end of the sport. Not all programs are doing that.
A couple of unfortunate losses — which have as much to do with finding a kicker and not jumping off sides as they do with how tough the schedule was — shouldn’t change OU’s commitment to quality football.
OU fans deserve better than to gut the schedule. They have been loyal customers. Don’t forgot the fans when deciding how to schedule football games.
-------------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.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
Good article Berry, however I think saying Nebraska NEVER will return to Owen Field is untrue. Whether it’s 5-10 years, the AD’s will get a home and away series done in the future, there’s too much tradition to just throw it away. Count on it.
On the money as usuall Berry! Bob Stoops cannot be blamed for his desire to not play the stronger schedules when you look at the fact that Texas played absolutely no one last year all the while OU was busy playing a strong schedule and in the end, Texas played for the national title and OU did not. but it has also worked in OU’s favor in the past as well. I can remember a few times when the SOS is what gave OU an edge to be chosen to play for the title when other teams had a similar record…
Excellent column!
And, if OU really wants to start providing the fans some value for money, the Sooner coaches might consider actually preparing the team for its next BCS bowl game.
Agree 100%. I think Bob is frustrated in playing tough schedules when many other BCS schools (UT) frequently do not. Losing Nebraska as a conf game 2 of every 4 yrs is a hit to the schedule also so the non conf schedule becomes even more important. OU playing Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee and LSU in coming years is really exciting – can’t wait to make road trips to South Bend, Knoxville, Columbus etc. Nebraska gone permanently isn’t end of the world if we are playing other great teams every yr. That is one of the things I liked about the idea of joining Pac10 – seeing Arizona, Oregon, Washington, USC come to Norman for conf games. BIG games!
I generally agree, but I see Stoops reason why. OU was barely chosen over UT because they had beaten a top 10 TCU team and a BCS Conference Champ in Cincy. There shouldn’t have even a debate. So OU goes again with a tough OOC schedule last season and loses by 1 pt each despite have some of the best players out. In the meantime UT is playing creampuffs and sitting the starts after halftime while the backups get critical playing time. OU comes into the RRSO limping while UT had only been tested once by TTU early in the season. UT still barely wins. OU was 12 points away from an 11-1 regular season. I think there are arguments for both. I, as a fan, like to see OU play competitive OOC schedules, but if they don’t count for squat then why do them?
Thank You Berry!! I’ve been saying the same thing! If everyone else wants to play weak OOC’s, more power to ‘em! That’s not what we have ever been about, and no reason to start now. We’ve won enough championships to know that to be champion, you beat everyone on your schedule….regardless!