Comments on: Oklahoma football: Readers respond to Bob Stoops’ ‘excuse-making’

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:07:37 +0000

I’ve been watching OU for the last two decades, from greatness to ugliness, to mediocre. In the last two years Ive seen the Offense start in a manic mode and switch to depressive mode. This hurry up offense to a stalling, letting the defenses adjust.
What happened to Dominic Whaley? Roy Finch? Sooners need to go back to their old identity, run option then pass.
Im beginning to think that Stoops just wants to win Texas recruiting and big 12 championships.
My heart goes out to OU fans in the state of Sooner Magic!

By: Rodeo

Rodeo — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 22:06:38 +0000

I guess Coach Stoops is the only one out there who can not speak honestly without being labled a whiner. We DID NOT get the calls in the ND game, period. Those were Big East officials and guess who ND is affiliated with in all sports except football, the Big East!

By: Greg

Greg — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:34:38 +0000

If you are tough on holding calls with one team and allow the other ‘carte blanche’ for doing the same thing, care to take a guess which team will dominate the line of scrimmage? If tear away jerseys were again allowed, OU’s defensive ends, King and Washington, as well has linebackers would have needed about 4 jerseys each minimum to have played the entire game. I only pray the Big XII officials calling next year’s game in South Bend watch ND like hawks circling around an unsuspecting chicken coop. With that scrutiny, ND will get shut out.

By: Don

Don — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 18:25:24 +0000

The college football scene has changed dramatically since Switzerland days, not as many scholarships 85 instead of 115, depth a problem now & astute evaluations of future players is a must in today’s football. Lots of non academic
Players w bad character pervade college football
today!

By: Terry from Blackwell

Terry from Blackwell — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 15:02:10 +0000

Galileo’s comment above captures exactly my feeling on the original and this follow-up article.

Below, my comment (from a message board):

I agree that ND, by dominating the LOS, and not turning the ball over, deserved the win.
We made a couple of errors that cost us dearly, most especially the bad snap on our first possession.

Having said all that, I also thought that Berry was kinda piling on, with his “no excuses” article. Did what Bob said come across that way? Yeah, BUT there is no gainsaying that Stoops had cause to complain about the officiating.
I honestly did not see ONE instance all night long that ND had reason to complain about the officiating, because they received every call or no-call in the game to their benefit. They certainly were guilty of holding on the 50 yard pass play, but no flag.
They were flagged ONCE all night long, and that was for 5 yards, and it was indisputable.

And Berry’s comment, “But the losing team often focuses on the calls. The winning team rarely does.”

Give me a break, Berry! Way to play Captain Obvious!
Duh, there is a reason that the winning team usually does not focus on the calls. They are in the winning circle, why complain???

To paraphrase Lloyd Bentson, “I knew Bill Connors, and Tramel, you’re no Bill Connors”…

Bill Connors, a giant among journalists… I miss his work.

By: Jim Boyer

Jim Boyer — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 13:15:28 +0000

Seems this has just been a outlet for Stoops-Bashers.
Barry, are you saying that when a less talented team has a chance to beat a better team, it is ok for the officials to make bad calls in favor of the better team.

By: Galileo, Houston

Galileo, Houston — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 21:05:20 +0000

Berry, with all due respect, this is piling on. You’re obviously a little insecure about your own public criticism of Stoops, so you must have felt you had to vindicate your position by publishing fans’ letters.

Fact is, the officiating in that game was lopsided. How can Notre Dame not get called for holding all night long? I saw several holding penalties from them that went un-called. Same for their defense. Landry Jones threw 51 passes (!) and not one single pass interference call? Go look it up the last time a team threw 50+ passes and didn’t get a single pass interference penalty. It doesn’t happen. Not saying the penalties cost OU the game, I’m just saying that you need to get your facts straight.

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:25:46 +0000

Stoops is right it was horrible calls. I’m glad he finally let it be known remember the Oregon game a few years ago he handled it with class but called it for what it was it cost them the game then. what is wrong with honesty and that is all it is honesty why not tell it like it is much different than an excuse those bad calls changed the game and possibly cost OU the win.

By: James Phillips

James Phillips — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:19:16 +0000

I enjoy your column and look forward to reading on a regular basis. I do have to disagree with your statement that the calls made saturday did not impact the results especially the interception. Where I sit is 21 rows up from where it happened with birdseye view and both arms of the longhaired linebacker were completely around Saunders and easily seen by the official. It was a terrible mistake that happens with the score 20-13 and the offense moving the ball. Little things always are the difference in these kind of games and Stoops is just stating the facts not excuses.That game had overtime written all over it and it is sad that an officials blatent miss kept us from seeeing one.