Emails in on anthem & OU-Nebraska
The new emails are in, and lots of stuff here. The national anthem. OU’s disastrous football season. My proclamation that every place ought to be like Lincoln, Neb.
Let’s start with The Star-Spangled Banner. Tom: “As a native of Oklahoma and a veteran, I find the shouting at the end of the national anthem rude, disrespectful of the anthem and brings disrespect to the state as well as the university. Maybe those that want to change it should write a new anthem, if Boomer Sooner is not enough for them. But please leave my national anthem alone. Too many people have already paid for it.”
You know, it really doesn’t bother me when they yell ‘Sooners,’ I guess because I’m used to it and I’m sort of settled on the notion that all kinds of numbskulls walk among us. But it really does paint the state in a bad light.
Cindy: “Good for you for taking a reasoned position without using a sledge hammer. Not sure if one of the hundreds of emails you must have gotten have referred to this, but Atlanta Braves fans o this with the anthem, but for obvious reasons have avoided the controversy. They loudly sing home of the BRAVES to finish the song. No one’s ever thought it was disrespectful, even though they’re clearly not referring to the valor of our soldiers.”
I sort of remember home of the Braves. But that was back when I remembered we still played baseball in this country.
David: “It has been a long time since I have taken exception to one of your articles, but this one, I do. No one would sing ‘Sooners’ at an important event like an inauguration (doesn’t matter who; president or company picnic). But at a sports event? Like a college football event? Back in the ”70s a lot of people wouldn’t stand or sing when the anthem was played. Anyone, including you, that is upset over this issue is just too puckery. I am not sure I can define, puckery, but the sound probably conveys the meaning.”
First of all, the goobers yelling “Sooners” would yell it out at their own murder trial. But you’re right, David. It’s a sporting event. I would vote to quit singing the anthem at sporting events. We don’t sing it at movie theaters or school plays. But we sing it at ballgames. And if you’re going to sing it, sing it right.
Keith: “I respectfully disagree with you. The American soldiers are not the only ‘brave’ who live in this great country. A lot of people who love this country have never put on a uniform, but they nonetheless love America and have done acts of bravery. The truth is that America is home of the Sooners. There is nothing wrong with American/Sooners celebrating their country and their team at the same time on a Saturday before a game of football. My suggestion is that everyone lighten up and have some fun.”
You know, that’s not a bad point to make, that this isn’t necessarily a military issue. But just because it’s not doesn’t mean people should do whatever they want with the anthem. Again, let’s be clear. Everyone has the right to redo the words to the anthem or sit on their butt during the song or line dance with their girlfriend. Just accept the consequences, which are these: you look like a gooberhead and make our state look bad.
Jason: “I think it is disrespectful too. I don’t think it’s spit in your face disrespect, but more thoughtless disrespect. Am I surprised that some college-aged people would be thoughtless? No, but it is still wrong and needs to end. On changing the anthem to America the Beautiful, I have to disagree. Not because it is not a magnificent song, but because of how people sing the anthem - only the first verse. How many people know four words from the second verse from The Star-Spangled Banner? How many people even know there are other verses? If we would sing verses two and three of America the Beautiful instead, I could agree. I love that each verse pays homage to God, and each stanza is good or even great. But this country is not great because of the natural beauty mentioned in the first verse. This country is great because of those who have decided the price of freedom was worth putting their lives in harm’s way to defend it, and the Divine Hand of Providence that has guided us despite our imperfections. Whatever part of whatever song we sing to honor our country at events around the nation must remind us of the price that was paid for our freedom on the battlefields of our country and others around the world, and the reliance on God as the only source of that freedom.”
Wait a minute. I didn’t advocate changing anthems. I just suggested singing America the Beautiful instead. There’s no law that says The Star-Spangled Banner has to precede every ballgame. And I would vote to sing verses 1-2-3 of America the Beautiful. It’s a far better song. The only reason we sing only the first verse of the anthem is because it’s two minutes by itself. You can sing all three verses of America the Beautiful in less time than it takes to sing the anthem.
Josh: “This is what I’ll call educated speculation. Kansas City Chiefs fans have a long tradition of replacing ‘brave’ with ‘Chiefs’ at the end of the anthem. I have no idea why and always found it rather juvenile, but that’s neither here nor there. If you go to Arrowhead, pay close attention to the crowd at the end of the anthem. A friend of mine went to the 2000 Big 12 title game there and came back complaining that people had ‘ripped off’ the anthem ending from the Chiefs. Considering I never heard it when I was a student there in ‘97-98, I’m going to randomly guess that some overlapping Chiefs/OU fans thought it funny in Arrowhead that year, and it stuck around with enough Owen Field residents to become a quasi-tradition. Do they do the same thing when the band plays the anthem too?”
This is what is known as grassroots history. Peeling back the onion of how things got to be the way they are. I can buy the Chiefs story. And my man, maybe you’ve stumbled upon another solution for Owen Field. Don’t sing the anthem. Just let the band play the music.
Gene: “Just wanted to mention my two bits. As a long-time attendee to all OU football and basketball games, at first I was also a little annoyed at substituting Sooners for brave. However, it seems to me that before King Boren starts getting after a some fans for doing that, he might suggest to his student athletes that they could at least stand at attention with their hand over their heart rather than chewing gum, picking their noses and checking out the cheerleaders. That jerks my chain more than saying Sooners!”
You know, that reminds me of an old debate. Remember when NBA player Chris Jackson, who changed his name to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, got in trouble for sitting around during the anthem and declining to even stand? He’s a knucklehead, but my point was this. Why is it wrong for Abdul-Rauf to ignore the anthem, but it’s OK for the TV cameraman who focused in on Abdul-Rauf to not stand at attention?
Brian: “After reading your blog about the issue of Oklahoma fans yelling ‘home of the Sooners,’ I was shocked to say the least. How you can talk about how disrespectful it is for fans to yell ‘home of the Sooners)’ (I agree that it is disrespectful) then suggest using a wounded soldier to make a plea against the practice? Then you continue on to say that the veteran should be in a wheelchair or using a cane for effect. Oh the irony. As someone who has seen Iraq firsthand, spent over 16 years in the Army and National Guard and is a lifelong Sooner fan, I am not having a tough time determining which is more offensive. Perhaps it is you who needs to review your priorities. To suggest that this issue is so grave you would support exploiting a wounded soldier to make your point speaks very poorly of your values. I hope that the Sooner fans who bastardize the anthem change their ways, but I also hope the university is smart enough to not follow your lead. If you think that I am overreacting please feel free to contact me and I will gladly arrange for you to stop by Walter Reed Army Medical Center if you ever come out to Washington D.C.”
I’m surrendering on this one. I certainly did not mean to endorse exploiting soldiers and I certainly realize that’s what could be construed from what I wrote.. I was just thinking of the best way to make people realize what they were doing. I’m not trying to be a wisenheimer here, but maybe it’s like the suggestion that I tour Walter Reed. I have no doubts that such a tour would affect me and change me. Which is sort of the effect I had in mind for the stadium. But Brian is right. The idea was in poor taste.
Corky: “Hooray for you, Berry! Is OU listening? Could these same disrespectful fans also learn to salute the flag?”
Oh, I suppose they could. But that leads me to a pet peeve. What I call the patriotic police. People who want to tell you how to show respect. When I was a kid, we put our hand over our heart to say the pledge of allegiance. We stood at attention when the national anthem was played. But some people believe you should place your hand over your heart during The Star-Spangled Banner, too. I got a phone call once from a guy who saw me at a basketball game, without my hand over my heart during the anthem. I think that’s different from rewriting The Star-Spangled Banner for rowdy-schoolboy reasons, but it’s a fine line.
Pam: “It is disrespectful to change the words to the national anthem and I never do it when I attend every home and away game. However, I am just one person in this free country and we don’t have to abide by my personal conduct rules, just as we don’t have to abide by yours. Was it just a slow sports day or were you trying to create controversy? Hard to tell. Now you’ve taken that ‘timeout’ and it’s going to be louder than ever before. I enjoy your sports coverage more than your personal behavior ideas.”
I wonder if she’s right? I wonder if The Oklahoman’s coverage of the issue will make “Sooners” more prevalent or less. We’ll know tonight, I suppose.
OK. Let’s move on to the plight of the Sooners. Shlomo: “Got Blocks? As the O-line gets thinner with each new injury (and it’s not like the original cast was all that good), I think back to the pre-glory days of Jack Mildren. That is, the days when OU expected him to pass and he couldn’t. That was the beginning of the Wishbone, and I will capitalize that because it was and is the greatest darned offense ever run, if you have the people to run it. But I digress. We can’t block anybody, not pass block, not run block. Can’t block, period. Well, given the need to hold the block on both running and passing plays, it might not be a bad idea to tear a page out of that old 1970 playbook and run some option. No, I’m not saying bring back the ‘bone. We don’t really have the personnel. But a modified option that moves the pocket and allows the play to develop without the linemen having to hold their blocks might do wonders for the offense, make the D even more effective and result in some wins. Now, that might seem like a panic move, and perhaps it is. But, unless the coaching staff really thinks that the O-line is going to get better during the final games of the season, there is really nothing to lose. The only question is whether Jones can run and whether he can take hits. If he can, good. Murray would be good in the option and Madu, too. Brown could spell Clapp at FB. The running yards would start to pile up and the passing game would benefit with play action passes; the receivers would be open more and more likely to hold on to what was thrown to them. Is it too late to make such changes? Are we going to beat Texas Tech or Oklahoma State without some drastic changes? The question is whether or not the coaches would buy into something new at this late stage, or whether they are going to dance with the girl that brung ‘em, even when she steps all over their toes.”
I love you, Shlomo, but you’ve got be kidding. Landry Jones running the option? Even if he could run it, who’s his backup for the 25 hits a game he’ll take. Switching offenses in mid-November, to something no one has run and which fits not much of anybody? You said it right. Panic move. The kind of move that would exist only in the movies and on video games.
Bob: “I would agree whole heartedly that recruiting in college football is 85% of the key to sustained success. Coaching then becomes an important 15% mainly to keep focused in a positive direction (the egos and high energy of these mostly) pampered young fellows. It is really satisfying to watch a player in September evolve into a much better player as the season progresses. Many do not. College football is the single most difficult of all team sports because you need about 44 or 45 quality people each year to perform, knowing injuries and competition and grades and social issues will interact with 100 young men over a six month period. Oklahoma finally played a tough pre-league; Miami and BYU are programs with solid mature athletes who will go toe to toe with most opponents. Texas seems to outcoach Oklahoma every year because I always look for the adjustments made in the second half and Texas has been dominant in the last two years in the second half. I look forward to a 16-team playoff, and each league providing a champion plus five at-large. In 2008 the two best football teams were Texas and USC. Now it is a Madison Avenue PR drill. In a bizarre way, I have more respect this year for Oklahoma as losers than the last five years where they are 0-5 in post season play and were portrayed as whiners throughout the national collegiate football scene.”
When was OU ever perceived as whiners? Everyone else seems to whine about OU. And I don’t know what you mean by Oklahoma ‘finally’ playing a tough non-conference schedule. OU played Cincinnati and TCU in 2008. Miami in 2007. Oregon and Washington in 2006. TCU and UCLA in 2005. Oregon and Houston in 2004. Alabama, Fresno State and UCLA in 2003. Alabama and South Florida in 2002. I probably shouldn’t waste my time on somebody this clueless, but as far as outcoaching? I’ll give you 2008. But in 2009, OU lost its Heisman Trophy quarterback on the second series and, still playing with a patchwork offensive line, lost 16-13 to a team everyone is saying is one of the nation’s three best teams. Who outcoached who on that day?
David: “This year has been a combination of many unfortunate events for the Sooner football team. I wouldn’t know how to assign blame between injuries, inexperience, recruiting, coaching or any other factors. Certainly, injuries and inexperience have been major issues. But think about how John Blake would have thought about being the coach of a 5-4 team. Think about how Gary Gibbs would have thought about all the Big 12 championships and just playing for the number of national championships OU has over the past decade. We were a hair away from a national champion last year with the current coaches. Coaching can’t be the major problem. I do wish we had Blake as an line coach. Think about the recruiting and coaching expertise he has. Just don’t let him talk to the media.”
Talking to the media never was Blake’s problem. Talking to his players was where the communication broke down. Not that either side knew it.
Tom: “Good analogy about false starts. Some folks in this part of the pigskin world refer to Flozell Adams as Falsestart Flozell!”
Adams must be one hellacious blocker, to keep playing for as much as he jumps offsides.
Terry: “Do you think Bob Stoops is on the verge of losing the team for the season? I guess we will find out as I expect A&M will come to town ready to play even after their own loss last week. I hate to admit it, but I’m losing my enthusiasm. I can take losing when you play hard and are improving, but last week looked exactly like the team that came out in the second half at Jerry’s World on Sept. 5.”
Well, I see no evidence that Stoops is losing the team. But I see plenty of evidence that Stoops is losing the fan base. Not forever, just for this year. And that’s a sad commentary on the Sooner faithful. Anybody can be a fan when things are great. But jumping ship on a 5-4 team is not indicative of a great fan base.
Sixto: “Disgusting loss against Nebraska. Completely pathetic effort from an offense out of sync from the first snap. I cannot believe that OU’s once potent offense could not even muster one lousy touchdown. Unbelievable. Does OU have any hope for next season, or are we seeing a true step change where OU takes a definite fall downward for the next few years? I thought Landry Jones was going to be all right, but five interception eggs makes all kinds of doubts suddenly creep up.”
Does OU have any hope? You know, this season is just what Sooner fans needed. I’m serious. I think OU fans have forgotten that winning is not a divine right. That winning doesn’t come easy. That championships have to be earned, just like Stoops has been saying for years. So in some ways, this season could be really therapeutic.
Roger: “Your column on Bob Stoops makes perfect sense to me. I agree – football is not a board game or guessing contest. Teams win because of better players who are properly trained and motivated. Not by the coach with better play-calling. Coaches have their share of the blame but not for play-calling. They did a poor job of recruiting receivers this year. I remember that some highly-rated recruits bailed out a few years ago – I suspect because Coach (Kevin) Wilson had intimidated them or ‘worked them too hard.’ Duke Robinson stayed and prospered. I congratulate him. OU no doubt recruited some new top athletes for the 2009 offensive line, but they haven’t shown us much yet. Is it due to poor development or were they just recruiting errors? Are they just lazy? I hope the O-line improves next year, just as the O-line improved from 2007 to 2008. I believe the O-line is second only to the QB in importance to the offense. But if OU had no injuries this year, Wilson would now be viewed as an offensive coaching genius.”
You’re exactly right. If Bradford and especially Gresham were healthy, there would be no criticisms. But the coaches have not done a solid job in developing players on this roster.
Jerry: “Your column about Stoops was right on. You had the guts to say it. He would not admit it, but I’m sure you have Stoops thinking. It appears Weis is going to be fired at Notre Dame. Stoops is definitely on their short list. Doubt that he would leave.”
I can’t see Stoops leaving for a college job. I actually think he’s here for a long time more, but anything that would entice him would not be another college job.
Brian: “I don’t see this season as incredibly unusual. We were due for one of these. What I do see in the past is a flaw in the overall results. We are really, really good, but for whatever reason we never completely finish. How can we lose so many bowl games? What I notice about UT, Bama, Florida is they have no flaws. They are complete football teams. No special team problems, linebacker or kicking problems. Over the last 5-6 years, we have a glaring flaw somewhere, we just aren’t complete. That has basically been our problem. One so called expert thinks it is due to players from all over the country playing on the team. Maybe they are more concerned about themselves and their NFL future than winning each game without breakdowns somewhere. Is this coaching or just a glitch in the system?”
I don’t buy it. I don’t think OU in 2003 or 2004 had a flaw. I would say OU in 2008 is no more flawed than Texas in 2009. I don’t think geography has anything to do with it. All kinds of teams, good and bad, have players from all over the country. All kinds of teams, good and bad, have mostly locals.
Scott: “It’s doubtless true that the Oklahoma media plays softer than, say, Dallas, but I’m not sure fans want a media that is that hyper-critical. Jenni Carlson got lambasted for a tough article on Bobby Reid. That kind of article is common (at least in terms of pros) in larger metro areas. Talk radio in Dallas is brutal, and the papers can be just as bad. And people say they’re easier than the Philly or NY media, but I’ve never paid it that much attention. So, do Oklahomans want a vicious media? The reaction to the Reid article, whether you think it was fair or not, seems to be, no they do not. They may accept it when the player has done wrong off the field, ala Bomar or Chris Collins, but if a player has just performed inadequately, they don’t want that. Interestingly, they do seem to want that for coaches. At least OU fans seem to want you guys to be more aggressive with the OU staff right now. Message boards are full of posts accusing the Oklahoma media of being soft on coaches for any number of reasons. I think it’s very fair to say the play-calling is less of an issue than the recruiting and talent evaluation. It just doesn’t satisfy the mentality out there because, well, you can’t fix anything right now. You can’t go back and recruit better; it is what it is. OU is short on receiving and offensive line talent, the actual problem is that OU isn’t a program that should ever be this short on depth at those positions. They aren’t OSU or Missouri, where that’s more expected. OSU lost pretty much all its receiving talent from a year ago. Dez Bryant, gone. Damian Davis, gone. Bo Bowling, gone. Brandon Pettigrew (and his projected successor), gone. Yet the Cowboys seemed to have capable depth at the position where OU doesn’t (imagine if OSU had gotten Broyles). Talent evaluation just didn’t go right for the Sooners and went pretty well for OSU, although in actuality OSU’s offense is not nearly as good as 2008. It’s just not in the toilet. Anyway, thanks for the good column on what fans should really criticize. They won’t do that for the same reason people hated the Reid article. In Oklahoma, people just don’t like the media taking swipes at the players.”
Never really thought of it that way. And I’m not sure I agree. I don’t think it’s protectionism of the players. I think it’s more of that mentality Scott mentioned, that it’s far easier to blame play-calling. It’s an easier fix.
Mike: “Good column about Coach Stoops. Especially the line about this not being ‘rock, paper, scissors.’ And fair criticism about evaluating recruits. But one point that seems to always get overlooked in recruiting is that it is not some science, either. The NFL certainly tries to make it so, with all their objective criteria in evaluating draft picks. But when it comes to evaluating high schoolers, some of these guys are only 16 and 17 years old when the college coaches are looking at them. There is a lot of growing up (both physically and emotionally) which occurs during this time. So, holding coaches to their recruiting evaluation is kind of like predicting how your kid’s first t-ball team is going to perform (with the exception of the rare Adrian Petersons of the world). By the way, I don’t agree with your statement that you thought he came across looking bad. In fact, I thought it was about as real as I’ve seen Stoops in a long time. Very frank, which is I think one of the points you made in the column. My question is this: Is there a disconnect between Wilson and Stoops? Are they playing good cop/bad cop with the players? Seems like Stoops is really on them sometimes, and Wilson is coming to their defense and taking the blame. I’m wondering how you think that plays with the players themselves, and is this a certain psychological tactic the coaches are doing to get a response from the players? Or am I over-analyzing?”
I think you’re probably overanalyzing. But where’s the fun if we don’t? I don’t think the players get too much involved in coaching politics. But the good-bad cop deal is probably right on.
Jason: “I think Oklahoma would be fine at wide receiver if Josh Jarboe and Julio Jones would have worked out. Maybe ‘knuckleheadedness’ and losing out on a fantastic player like Jones was the bigger issue. How many catches would Jones have had last year and this year combined? Probably more catches than he’s even had thrown his way at Bama. Those two could have changed fortunes of the receiving corps in a very positive way. I know Jarboe has done little at Troy, but I think that whole fiasco he caused has thrown things for a loop for him.”
Jarboe is something like the No. 5 receiver at Troy. But yes, Julio Jones would have made quite the difference. Of course, OU came just as close to not getting Ryan Broyles as it did to getting Jones, so that’s a wash.
Jeff: “I agree that our in-game coaching decisions have not determined the fate of this season. And it amazes me how much we question the offensive coaching after such a run the past few years. And I am generally very critical of our team. I like to think that standards should be high if we want high results. I do feel that is unusual for this staff that our line and some of the receivers have failed to develop this late in the season, with the exception of Dejaun Miller. Almost every year early struggles in any one area are usually corrected by this coaching staff this late in the season. I do feel the coaches are highly disappointed in these offensive players. And the coaches have proven the ability to ‘coach up.’ I would argue these players have much more to prove than the coaches. The Sooner fan base, despite rightful super high expectations, needs to have a bit more perspective. Back to Dejaun Miller. I believe he is playing at a high level and has been since his insertion after Cameron Kenney’s tipped pass at Kansas. Miller is at a much higher level than the rest of the receiving corps and new starters along the line (with the exception of Broyles). Miller should have played earlier and has been solid. “
I agree. I have no idea why Miller hasn’t been playing all year. Very puzzling.
Brad: “Did Stoops address not audibling to a quarterback sneak on that fourth down? I was screaming at my television. You could have gained two yards. How Landry doesn’t see that is beyond me. Isn’t that basic 101? I’ve never played organized football, but my friends say you learn that in peewee football.”
Maybe so, but peewee football doesn’t have defensive tackles like Nebraska’s. The coaches could have audibled but chose not to. Kevin Wilson said NU was baiting OU to run a sneak, that the DTs were slanting in ready to pop Jones. OU is 2-of-7 on QB sneaks this year. Wilson said something like he didn’t think it was wise for his weakness to take on NU’s strength. Made a certain amount of sense, because I wondered how the Huskers could leave the middle so open. The answer probably is, they didn’t.
Greg: “Your comments were very appropriate on whiffing on wide receiver talent EXCEPT with Miller. I know Landry does not intentionally do this, but I have never seen a receiver get so many balls thrown behind him, off the back shoulder, etc. In all of that he has made some very good, acrobatic catches, maintained stride and performed well. I consider Tennell, Caleb (effort, limited talent), Kenney almost totally lost causes. Your assessment of Broyles and being taken at the last minute was so good. Can you imagine how good OSU would be with Ryan Broyles? I think all this flailing away is going to do is to ensure if Broyles has a good season is to possibly entice him to come out THIS YEAR. If you take the injury lesson in watching Bradford’s odyssey, how is Broyles going to improve on his performance or draft standing from this year? Arguably, his performance given the QB play, O-line performance has to be determined to be outstanding. He is playing a position which given its usual priority in the draft, should find him being drafted to a place like New England, Dallas, Vikings, etc. He is a ‘completion’ draft; special teams capable, specialty player a great team can add as an afterthought, like Wes Welker.”
I don’t think Broyles will make it in the NFL. He easily could prove me wrong, but Broyles looks a little spindly for the pros. I don’t think he’s anywhere nearly as stout as Welker always has been. And yes, I thought Welker would make it in the NFL.
Terry: “If someone would have told me this would be what we were looking at nine games in, I would have bet my child into slave labor. I cannot remember a team more snakebit than us this year. Do you? Especially OU? I am even getting ’sorry mans’ from Longhorn fans. That is how bad it is. I so long for the one fingered salute I normally get. It has nothing to do with play calling, the only question I have for the coaches, is how did you not have an O-line ready? This isn’t on the coaches. I wish it were. SNAKEBIT I tell you.”
Child slave labor? Please don’t bet your child into slave labor. But while no one could see this script, no individual loss should be shocking. I said before the year started that OU had seven losable games. Some looked at me like I was crazy. But BYU, Miami, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech and OSU all seemed losable. Not that the Sooners would lose them all, but they could lose any of them. And in those games so far, OU is 1-4.
Brent: “I’ve never seen anything quite like what is currently going on surrounding OU football. We know that Oklahomans are angry. Just angry, generally. They’re not happy with their President. They’re not happy with their economic situation. And now OU football has gone south. It appears to me that if anything major happens with this program, it will be stimulated from the bottom up. In the old days, the pressure came from the top down. But that was before message boards and bloggers. Yesterday was the deadline for applications for bowl tickets. One telling statistic to check out is what the demand for bowl tickets is this year compared to historical demand. I will venture a guess: 50 percent.”
I’ll tell you something to watch for. Empty seats. If someone wants Stoops gone, staying home is the surest way to achieving the goal. Empty seats are what got Gary Gibbs fired. But let me add, if someone wants Stoops gone, they’re certifiable.
Danny: “The fire is gone, get out the pooper scooper. Anyone could see who wanted that OU-Husker game more. I wonder if Sooner fans are ready for a 6-6 season or maybe 5-7 and no bowl? Remember when the Stoops brothers and Brent Venables were always being warned about being on the field. When was the last time we had a sideline penalty? Sorry, but I think we ought to give Coach Stupid or Big Lame Bob another million and that will fix everything.”
Who wanted it more? That’s interesting. That speaks to emotion. And the two places where OU most lost the game - quarterbacking and place-kicking - are the most emotionless positions on the field. Even offensive line is a largely emotionless position.
Ron: “Even though I have lived in the Fort Worth area for about 30 years, I grew up in the Altus area. I lived in Oklahoma for my first 30 years. Have always and will always be an OU fan, through the good, the bad, and the ugly. And yes, this year has been UGLY. And as frustrating as the fans get, I don’t imagine anyone is more frustrated than Stoops. He is still a great football coach. I do think, however, that he needs to take a hard look at the offense after the season. Something is terribly wrong. Too many injuries, too many mistakes, no self-discipline. That has to come back on Kevin Wilson and the offensive staff. Maybe some coaching staff needs to be replaced after the season. The season is not over. There is still some hope. Hey, I can remember when I lived in Oklahoma, driving down the road and looking at the Bury Barry bumperstickers one year.”
Actually, there weren’t any Bury Barry bumperstickers. After seeing what Chuck Fairbanks went through - “Chuck Chuck” - Switzer took out the rights to Bury Barry. But let me get this straight. After a season in which Sam Bradford, Jermaine Gresham, Brian Simmons, Brody Eldridge and Jarvis Jones have been lost for the season, you want Stoops to fire the offensive coaches who last year led a unit that set an NCAA record for points scored?
Tim: “I just read where Coach Stoops was asked if the no-huddle or hurryup offense was causing the penalties. He replied, ‘that’s making excuses for the players,’ and he doesn’t buy into that. Why hasn’t anyone asked him why they had to call four timeouts right after the offense had taken the field and kept looking to the sideline for the play? Seems to me they should already know what they need to do. It’s the offensive coordinator’s responsibility to be ready after the defense has stopped the other team. Does Stoops not buy into that either? A lot of confusion on what the plays are and what to do. I can see why they jump off side or get frustrated. This isn’t the first time this has happened. Sad to say, but Coach Wilson spent his wad last year.”
Well, yes, I would say coordinating an offense that scored 700 points is spending a wad. Firing Wilson is goofy. But there does seem to be communication problems getting in the plays from the sideline. Stoops has admitted as much. That needs to be fixed.
Brad: “I hope I’m wrong, but I am not sold on Landry Jones. We’ve had five great QBs under Stoops (including Paul Thompson), thus we are spoiled. I just don’t think he brings any versatility to the table. Again, I hope I’m wrong. Maybe Allen or Bell will shine.”
Paul Thompson a great quarterback? Hey, I love Tall Paul. Did some radio with him. But he once was 3-of-12 throwing in a game. OU had some wild things back in those days - like a field-goal kicker and a decent offensive line - and somehow still won the game 17-16, but let’s not write off Landry Jones this early. Versatility was not the trademark of Jason White or Sam Bradford.
Patrick: “Having just watched another offensive OU offensive performance, there are a few things that should be considered about this Sooner season. 1. Landry Jones in not a top tier Division I quarterback. 2. Mark Wilson could not fool a 12-year-old trick or treater with his play calling. 3. Christmas comes early to Bo Pelini. Landry Jones cannot move to his left, period. He has started, is it three or four games, and played in two others and has completed more passes to Texas, Miami and Nebraska receivers than those in crimson. His foot work is as atrocious as my writing ability and the lack of faith shown him by the offensive play calling staff is obviously warranted. Mark Wilson is so predictable that my friends refuse to watch games with me because there is no suspense when I tell them every play before it is called. Makes me wonder if it is his fear showing through in Landry’s play or vice versa. Finally, I know that this is a season mired by injuries and was likely a championship caliber team when healthy, but there is never a reason to stoop to throwing a game to help an old friend.”
The name is Kevin. Kevin Wilson. You know what I’d like to do. I’d like to organize all these guys who say they can predict what play is coming, and I’d like to do a wager: $10,000 or so. If they can guess with 50 percent accuracy the play that is coming - which is 30-40 percent below their claims - they win. Otherwise, I win. By the second quarter, they will have predicted two plays out of 25 and I won’t be able to watch the game because my mind will be racing, trying to figure out how to spend $10,000.
Brad: “If OU had Alabama’s kicker, would they be 9-0?”
Great question. I’m going to say no. Bama’s Tiffin is pretty good, but I don’t know that he makes the 54-yarder vs. BYU. And a good kicker would have gotten OU only as far as overtime against Texas.
Elisabeth: “Been wanting to ask this for a while now. Why, pray tell, will Stoops not play the studly kicker they recruited from Norman North? Isn’t he supposed to be really, really good? And is it just me, or is Tress Way’s field goal kicking far worse than Stevens’? Way looked totally lost and uncomfortable.”
Yes, it’s just you. Way’s kicks at least rise. Stevens’ kicks are wounded ducks. Bryce Easley got sick early in the year and lost a bunch of weight and power. Hasn’t really in the mix. And they all are supposed to be really, really good.
Derek: “I was looking through OU’s list of 148 all-Americans. One thing jumps out. OU, since the start of the modern two-platoon era (1965, I believe), has never had an all-America kicker. That’s 148 all-Americans, but no modern kickers. On the Mack Brown-Texas site, they list Jeff Ward (1986), Kris Stockton (2000), Happy Feller (1970), Russell Erxleben (1976-78) and Phil Dawson (1996). As we both know, OU has had some stellar kickers (Uwe and Tim Lashar come immediately to mind), but could Stoops’ record in close games have something to do with the fact that the kicking game is not exactly emphasized in Norman?”
I vote no. Like you said, OU has had some stellar kickers. Heck, Stoops has had some stellar kickers. All-American is a little too subjective to use. Stoops has had one all-American wide receiver (Mark Clayton), but that certainly hasn’t been a problem until this year. Tim Duncan, Garrett Hartley, they were fine. I think OU just blew it on Jimmy Stevens. Gave him a scholarship for reasons I don’t understand. Doesn’t have a booming leg. Didn’t have a great high school field-goal percentage. Recruiting mistake.
Richard: “If someone had told you before the season that OU and USC would be mixing it up in SoCal at the end of the year, you probably would’ve booked your press passes for the Rose Bowl, not the Holiday Bowl, months in advance.”
It’s fun to think about, but I say USC is headed for the Fiesta Bowl.
Mike: “A team and coaching staff in disarray? Kevin Wilson admits that under pressure, i.e. behind on the scoreboard, they fold. Character?”
Is lack of discipline a character issue? If so, then yes. If not, then no.
Tad, a Nebraska fan: “What’s up? I am hoping you can pass on a little tidbit for all the OU fans down there: YOU HAVE THE BEST DAMNED COACH IN THE LEAGUE. Stop bitching about him. He is a proven winner that has dominated for a decade. Be careful what you wish for. Think about our trade of Solich for Callahan. Stoops is a future Hall-of-Fame coach. So what if he is having a down year? You have not been embarrassed once this year. BYU, Miami, Texas, and Nebraska are not exactly lightweights. Nebraska may just have the best defense in the country right now.”
This kind of message won’t appease the mob crowd, but sure works on me.
Enough is enough. Let’s move on to the gratitude of the Huskers. Ott: “Just a note of thanks regarding the great writings about the sportsmanship of Nebraska football fans. I am a native Okie, but several years ago I was transferred to Lincoln, a complete stranger to Nebraska. My job required I work with people living throughout the state. You not only described the football fans there but very close to the state’s total population. With the possible exception of a few soreheads, if you can find them, the Nebraska people are just fine folks. They work hard, play hard and most are well educated. My 16 years in Lincoln were extremely enjoyable as well as a great place to rear our children. I would have retired in Nebraska but for one negative. COLD.”
You were running for governor there for awhile, but now, you’re off the ticket. You said the magic world. Personally, I think Nebraska’s cold is overrated.
Mike: “Long-time friends who live in Oklahoma City sent the original copy of the Nebraska article, the most positive and most complimentary newspaper story I have ever read. Subsequently, local friends found it on the Internet, so it is being shared with many football fans on both sides of the line of scrimmage. I was also thrilled Saturday with the crowd’s response to the halftime introduction of the many Oklahoma stars and Barry Switzer. It all made for the ultimate athletic experience. I am very grateful that you shared our fans’ respect for Oklahoma.”
You know, maybe it’s me that should be running for governor of Nebraska.
William: “I’ve been to several NU-OU games, and through all of those contests, I have learned the two reasons that make this game the greatest rivalry in college football are great football and great fans. I have attended Husker-Sooner games that were the most important games of the week (or even the most important game in November) and some that, like Saturday night, meant little more than bragging rights this time around. Through all my NU-OU experiences, whether the game itself caused me elation or heartache, I have always been treated with courtesy and respect by the Sooner faithful. It doesn’t matter if the game is in Lincoln or Norman, nor whether the game is THE game in college football or if it just means a lot to us. Every time I have been to Norman, I too have felt like a guest as opposed to the enemy; the fans have always been great. Rest assured that there is at least one place like Lincoln to watch a game, and that’s Norman, Oklahoma.”
Well, that’s some mighty high praise. I don’t buy it, of course. I don’t see Sooner fans applauding the Huskers. I don’t see the commitment to sportsmanship that you see in Lincoln. But if some Nebraskans think it so, good for the Sooners, I say. But did you read what William called OU-NU? The best rivalry in college football. Think any Sooner fans say that? I’m telling you, Nebraskans hold this series in high regard.
Tom: “As a die-hard Husker fan, I’ve been to games in Norman several times over the years. I was always treated just as nice as OU fans are in Lincoln. Last time there in a crowded bar, I was offered a chair at a table of OU fans and we had a good laugh and chat. I’ve always considered Norman the friendliest opposing stadium to visit in the Big 12; Colorado and Missouri tie for worst. OU/NU fans are a lot alike and I feel there’s a common sense of respect not found in a lot of other rivalries.”
Personally, I would Texas Tech the worst. Maybe it’s a North-South thing.
Don: “I don’t like the booing other teams, either. I will say there were some rude, obnoxious Nebraska fans as visitors at OU when Callahan was coaching. They were the younger crowd and I was surprised by them. I had never seen that mentality of Nebraska fans before in 30 years attending games. I hope this is not a glimpse of the future when the younger crowd takes over.”
Maybe it’s just a bunch of yahoos without the coverage to try those stunts in Lincoln. Have to do it on the road, away from adult supervision.
David: “You wrote, ‘I’ve always thought Nebraska fans loved the series more than Oklahoma fans, though I don’t really know why. Maybe because the Huskers don’t have a natural rival…’ Suddenly it reminded me of a long-ago column of yours where you said something to the effect that Oklahoma was the mirror through which Nebraskans judged themselves and how they stood, ‘and as any woman will tell you, it’s never good to be without a mirror.’ I believe you wrote that when OU was down in the mid-’90s, explaining how the Huskers actually missed the days when OU was a saber-toothed rival. It was a cool twist on why Nebraska fans love the series maybe even more than we Sooners do.”
I wrote that? Hey, that’s pretty good.
Robb: “I enjoyed your article on Lincoln. I spent seven years there as an undergraduate and law student from 1983 to 1990. I witnessed the self-policing where NU fans would tell one of their own to stop negative things. However, I also witnessed the same great fans when I went to Norman. I went in the ’80s and again last year. Both times, we were treated so well by OU fans. Last year, it was unbelievable how nice every one was. Granted, they did not have much to fear and the outcome of the game was determined early. However, all of the OU fans were encouraging us Husker fans after the game, telling us to be patient, that Bo Pelini was the right guy, and to remember OU’s own dark days in the ’90s. I have never enjoyed a Husker loss as much as last year in Norman.”
Mighty nice of those Sooner fans to preach patience. Let’s see how man of them can still practice it.
Dick: “As a Nebraska alum living in Oklahoma, I was somewhat surprised and at the same time delighted to read your column regarding the behavior of Nebraska fans at Lincoln.”
I’m going to take that as a backhanded compliment.
Dewayne, an OU fan: “What a great story! There is so much negative in today’s sports that it really is nice to see someone recognize another for good sportsmanship. Even moreso when it is not just the players or the team, but an entire culture of upbringing and responsibility among the fans of Nebraska. I think we, as OU fans, should follow suit. I don’t see where we need to trash another team or their fans with insults and trash talk. Just play the game and be satisfied that we were there to compete, win or lose. Over all, our record on the field will say all that needs to be said. We don’t need to make ourselves look like the hillbillies that some have labeled us. Maybe there was some truth to that statement.”
We can’t get the hillbillies to quit yelling “Sooners!” during the anthem. Now you want them to act civilized to the opposing team?
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.
Solutions to OU’s national anthem problem
The Star-Spangled Banner debate rages at OU. Some fans, in the minority but very vocal, end the song by shouting “…and the home of, the SOONERS!” Some claim it’s disrespectful to America and veterans. Others say it’s just school spirit.
Of course it’s disrespectful. Fans absolutely have the right to do it, but it’s disrespectful. Let’s look at similar scenario. You’re in church. The padre is leading the Lord’s Prayer. He nears the conclusion. “…for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the…” when suddenly 30 percent of the congregation yells out “SOONERS.”
Out of place? Not appropriate? Ridiculous? Yes to all three. The antics at Owen Field is not much removed from such irreverence.
We know David Boren doesn’t like it. I haven’t thought to ask Joe Castiglione if he likes it, but I can’t imagine that he does. Bob Stoops probably doesn’t mind, because here in a week when his football program’s is on red alert, we’ve suddenly started talking about the dawn’s early light.
But what exactly should OU do to squelch the tradition, which extends to basketball and is yelled so exuberantly that even in venues like the NCAA basketball tournament, where maybe only 1,000 Sooner fans are in an 18,000-seat arena, the “SOONERS!” cry is well-heard?
Ignoring the problem, which is what OU has been doing, won’t work. The Sooners have been dancing around the issue with pregame announcements about sportsmanship and respect. Against Baylor, the video board even displayed an announcement talking about the word “brave” in the context of the national anthem. Talk about avoiding confrontation.
Anyway, here are a few ideas to end the grating tradition:
1. Sing a different song. Sing “America the Beautiful,” which frankly is a better song anyway and should have been declared the anthem back when Congress decided it was qualified to serve as music critics. I’ve gone through the lyrics of “America the Beautiful,” and Sooner fans would have to really stretch to bastardize the words to their cause.
2. Trot out a wounded soldier for a live request to stop the practice. Somebody recently back from Iraq or Afghanistan. Maybe in a wheelchair or walking with a cane. Put he or she on the big screen but have them standing at midfield, explaining that when Francis Scott Key wrote about bombs bursting in air and the rockets’ red glare, he’s not talking about fireworks. He’s talking about weapons designed to tear off your kneecap and make a widow out of your wife.
3. Up the ante and ask Sam Bradford to address the crowd. Frankly, the video messages of Boren and Castiglione only incite the fans to do the opposite. But put Bradford out at midfield, give him a microphone, put him on the big screen and let him talk. He could say, “listen, I know we’re all just trying to have fun, but this deal is disrespectful to a whole lot of people and makes us look like a bunch of goobers. This yelling ‘SOONERS!’ instead of ‘brave’ at the end of the national anthem is about the only thing that makes me ashamed to be an Oklahoman. Let’s find a different way to have fun.
I don’t know if the latter two would work. But they can’t hurt. What’s the point of having heroes if we don’t put them to good use?
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.
College Football Week 10: Time to talk BCS
BCS; THAT’S RIGHT, BCS
Can Oklahoma State make the Fiesta Bowl by winning out and finishing 10-2? Doubtful, but possible.
The BCS picture actually is pretty simple every year if you look at this way: four at-large slots, seven pools - the six automatic-qualifying conferences, plus mid-majors. Let’s take a look:
Mid-majors: Either TCU or Boise State is virtually guaranteed a spot, but only one. If both win out, they could both get in.
But the mid-majors have waged a PR campaign against the bowls and the BCS, so there might not be much goodwill.
Still, if TCU gets in automatically, which it will by winning out, Boise State would be an attractive team for a bowl.
Want an example? What’s a better Fiesta Bowl nationally: USC-Penn State or USC-Boise State?
Pac-10: USC’s chances of winning the conference are slim. Oregon remains the front-runner to reach the Rose Bowl. But if the Trojans win out and finish 10-2, they almost certainly will get a BCS berth.
Big Ten: Iowa’s loss of quarterback Ricky Stanzi has elevated Ohio State into the driver’s seat. If Ohio State win at home Saturday against the Hawkeyes, the Buckeyes are headed to the Rose Bowl.
Either Iowa or Penn State would have a solid case for a BCS berth at 10-2. But Iowa would be 9-2 after a loss to Ohio State, needing to win at home against Minnesota to stay in the BCS discussion. Without Stanzi, that’s no sure thing. Penn State has a clearer path to 10-2; the 8-2 Nittany Lions host Indiana and go to Michigan State.
SEC: The Alabama-Florida loser is in the BCS, probably the Sugar bowl.
ACC: If Georgia Tech should win out to finish 11-1, then lose the ACC title game, the YellowJackets would be considered. If Miami wins out to finish 10-2 (the Hurricanes finish with North Carolina and South Florida on the road, with a home game against Duke in between), it would be under consideration. But the likelihood is that the ACC will not get an extra spot.
Big East: If Pittsburgh should win out, which would include a victory over Cincinnati, then Pitt would earn a BCS berth and Cincinnati, 11-1 under that scenario, probably would get one, too. Otherwise, the Big East settles for one slot.
Big 12: If Texas loses the Big 12 title game, the ‘Horns almost surely would get a BCS berth, anyway. Otherwise, the Big 12’s only hope is that Oklahoma State wins out, which would include a victory in Norman.
So, let’s review. BCS at-large berths are headed to:
Absolute
* Alabama-Florida loser
* Highest-ranked mid-major
Likely
* USC
* Penn State
Next in line
Boise State or TCU
Oklahoma State (if it wins out)
The Cowboys need some help, and if you’re scoring at home, here are some things to cheer for:
1. Penn State to lose at Michigan State
2. Iowa to beat Ohio State or lose to Minnesota
3. Ohio State to lose to Michigan, if the Buckeyes beat Iowa
4. USC to lose again (the Trojans host Stanford, UCLA and Arizona).
5. Texas and Georgia Tech to win their league title games.
6. TCU to lose to Utah, which would elevate Boise State into the mid-major slot and probably would knock the Horned Frogs from consideration.
7. Cincinnati to beat Pittsburgh
LOVELY LINCOLN
There can’t be 10 nicer places to live in America than Lincoln, Neb.
Lovely, tree-lined city. College town. Well-kept. Good weather most of the year (sure, it gets cold in the winter, but that gets the juices flowing). About the only thing to knock about Lincoln is it’s a state capital, so you’ve got politicians running around, which can screw up most any place, but Nebraska is a unicameral legislature - just one assembly, unlike every other state in the union, which has a state senate and a state house - so the negative effects are limited.
I always have driven through the south part of Lincoln to get to campus on the city’s northwest side. But this time, we drove through the east side of Lincoln and then turned west. Wonderful-looking city.
I love to visit places like Miami and San Diego. But ask me to live somewhere outside Oklahoma, and Lincoln would be high on the list.
TEN BIGGEST LOSERS OF THE WEEK
10. Missouri: The Tigers, two-time defending Big 12 North champs, started off 4-0 and then led Nebraska 12-0 after three quarters. But the Huskers rallied for a 27-12 win, and since then, Mizzou has stumbled to 5-4, 1-4, including the most embarrassing defeat of all, 40-32 at home to Baylor.
9. Penn State: Study the Nittany schedule, and you realize that Joe Paterno really played a two-game season. Home against Iowa, home against Ohio State. Everyone else in the Big Ten is mediocre at best, and Penn State’s non-conference schedule stunk. The Nittanys went 0-2 in their real games, losing to Iowa in September and now losing 24-7 to Ohio State, without putting up much of a fight.
8. Mountain West television: The MWC’s television contract with Versus, while bringing in more money than was offered by ESPN, puts some of the nation’s most interesting teams in the twilight zone. TCU and Utah both won Saturday to set up a huge showdown in Fort Worth, but you’ll only find it on Versus.
7. Jahvid Best: Once considered a Heisman contender, the California tailback has suffered through a struggling, injury-marred season that culminated Saturday when he suffered a high-flying concussion after a touchdown that was Cal’s only hurrah in a 31-14 home loss to Oregon State. Best left the game with 29 yards on nine carries; he’s got 867 yards on 141 carries after gaining 1,580 yards (8.1 per carry) in 2008.
6. Michigan: In Rich Rodriguez’s second year at West Virginia, the Mountaineers improved from 3-8 to 9-4 and laid the groundwork for the juggernaut seasons that would come. But in Rodriguez’s second year at Michigan, such improvement has not repeated. The Wolverines were 3-9 a year ago and now, after back-to-back losses to lowly Illinois and Purdue, are 5-5, with big-underdog games against Wisconsin and Ohio State remaining, and fans are wondering who in the Big Blue blazes have they hired.
5. Mark Mangino: Mangino’s worst nightmare: Bill Snyder regained the state of Kansas in Year 1 of Snyder’s return. Mangino went 1-3 vs. his old boss, 2002-05, but Kansas won all three Sunflower State battles when Ron Prince coached Kansas State. Now Snyder is back and, after a 17-7 victory over KU, on track to win the Big 12 North.
4. Boise State: The Broncos are fighting a losing battle with TCU in the bid to be the highest-ranked mid-major in the BCS. But with a chance to impress on Friday night against Louisiana Tech, the Broncos went stumbled. They won 45-35 but only after letting La-Tech make a game of it in the fourth quarter.
3. Wake Forest: The Deacons had lost 44 straight games to top-10 opponents but had a chance at No. 10 Georgia Tech. Wake led 27-24 in overtime, and the ‘Jackets faced 4th-and-1 from the 5-yard line. But G-Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt ran for the first down, then the touchdown a play later, and Wake Forest (4-6) was stuck with its fifth loss by three points or less.
2. Charlie Weis: Notre Dame lost 23-21 to Navy. Bob Davie went 35-25 in five years (1997-01) at Notre Dame. That’s a winning percentage of .583. He was fired. Tyrone Willingham went 21-15 in three years (2002-04) at Notre Dame. That’s a winning a percentage of .583. He was fired. If Weis loses at Pittsburgh, where the Irish are 7-point underdogs, he will be 35-25. That’s a winning percentage of .583.
1. Iowa: The Hawkeyes seemed on a magical roll, winning games they shouldn’t win, and navigating the landmines that come through a college football season. Then quarterback Ricky Stanzi suffered an ankle injury in the second quarter against Northwestern. The Hawkeyes sputtered without him and lost 17-10. Now it appears there will be no trips to Pasadena for the Hawkeyes, either for the national championship game or the Rose Bowl.
FINE DINING
I’ve written before about Garozzo’s, the Italian joint in the old Columbus Park neighborhood of downtown Kansas City. It’s my favorite restaurant in the world, and we got to go Friday night, since we stayed in KC on the way to Lincoln.
Fabulous, as usual. But what struck me is how many Oklahomans go to Garozzo’s. I’ve seen all kinds of fellow Okies at Garozzo’s. Some OU fans came in Friday night and ate near us; they were on their way to the ballgame the next day. We chatted about everything from OU hoops to high school football.
Anyway, I had a combo: steak modiga and chicken spedini. Can’t wait to get back.
REALITY RANKINGS
1. Alabama
2. Cincinnati
3. Florida
4. TCU
5. Boise State
6. USC
7. Texas
8. Iowa
9. Oregon
10. Pittsburgh
HEARTLAND TOUR
The drive from the Kansas City airport to Lincoln is easy and enjoyable. Probably 170 miles; takes about 21/2 hours and seems like 11/2. You drive I-29 along the Missouri bluffs, then cut through a sliver of Iowa and then go west at Nebraska City, where you cross the Missouri River. You see farmland and countryside and beautiful scenery. Not like the Rockies or anything, but you really get a feel for the American heartland. I enjoy the heck out of it every time.
nd this time, we got some college football radio. We had OSU-Iowa State, Kansas-Kansas State and Missouri-Baylor on the radio. If you remember, I got to listen to both Texas A&M’s and Texas’ crew a couple of weeks back. So I’ve got to listen to eight Big 12 radio crews this season. Here’s how I would rank them.
1. Texas
2. Missouri
3. Kansas State
4. Oklahoma State
5. Kansas
6. Iowa State
7. Texas A&M
8. Oklahoma
TEN BIGGEST WINNERS OF THE WEEK
10. Ron Zook: We all had written off the Illinois coach, but for the second straight week, the Illini produced, beating Minnesota 35-32 a week after thrashing Michigan. Now the Illini has to scare Cincinnati, which Illinois on Nov. 27.
9. Toby Gerhart: Stanford is known for quarterbacks and not going to bowl games. But Gerhart, a tailback, ended all that in a 51-42 upset of Oregon. Gerhart rushed for a school record 223 yards and scored three touchdowns, making Stanford bowl-eligible for the first time since 2001. The Cardinal has been to just seven bowls in the last 31 years.
8. Case Keenum: Another stirring comeback, another victory, which means more Heisman momentum for the Houston gunslinger. Keenum rallied the Cougars to a 46-45 victory over Tulsa, with nine points in the final 30 seconds. Keenum completed 40 of 60 passes for 522 yards and three touchdowns, a week after similar heroics against Southern Miss.
7. C.J. Spiller: The Clemson tailback rushed for a career high 165 yards and scored on a 58-yard pass play, his 20th career TD of at least 50 yards, as the Tigers beat Florida State 40-24. Spiller is starting to get some Heisman talk himself.
6. Heisman favorites: Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow were their usual selves. Texas’ McCoy completed 33 of 42 for 470 yards in a 35-3 rout of Central Florida. Tebow was not as spectacular - 15 of 20, 208 yards, much of it on a 64-yard completion off a tipped pass - in a 27-3 rout of Vanderbilt. But in a year with no one rising up (apologies to Keenum and Spiller), the 2-3 finishers from 2008 look strong in the voting.
5. Nick Florence: Baylor’s third-string quarterback in September delivered just the school’s third Big 12 road win ever. The Bears won at Iowa State in 2005, at Colorado in 2006 and bounced Missouri 40-32 Saturday as Florence completed 32 of 43 passes for 427 yards and three touchdowns.
4. Service academies: Great day for America’s Teams. Navy beat Notre Dame 23-21 for the second time in three years, after 43 straight defeats. And ESPN’s GameDay spent the day in Colorado Springs, saluting the Air Force-Army game, won by the Falcons 35-7.
3. Bo Pelini: Hired to bring defense back to Nebraska, Pelini has done just that. The Huskers had five interceptions in a 10-3 victory over Oklahoma, and while the Nebraska offense is a mess, defense - which historically is harder to fix - has been restored in Lincoln.
2. Brian Kelly: The Cincinnati coach quickly is becoming an offensive wizard. Backup quarterback Zach Collaros completed 29 of 37 passes for 480 yards as the Bearcats stayed unbeaten with a 47-45 survival of Connecticut. Doesn’t seem to matter who Cincinnati plays at quarterback, they produce. Other schools will come calling. Notre Dame, anyone?
1. CBS: The network’s lone foray into college football is the 2:30 p.m. slot for the SEC game of the week. But what a slot that is. CBS got another classic Saturday, when Alabama beat LSU 24-15. Earlier CBS games in that slot were Tennessee-Alabama and Arkansas-Florida, two of the best games we’ve seen all year.
BOWL PROJECTIONS
New Mexico Bowl, Dec. 19, Albuquerque, N.M.
Northern Illinois vs. Fresno State
St. Pete Bowl, Dec. 19, St. Petersburg, Fla.
South Florida vs. East Carolina
New Orleans Bowl, Dec. 20, New Orleans
Southern Miss vs. Troy
Las Vegas Bowl, Dec. 22, Las Vegas
Utah vs. Oregon State
Poinsettia Bowl, Dec. 23, San Diego
BYU vs. Stanford
Hawaii Bowl, Dec. 24, Honolulu
Marshall vs. Boise State
Emerald Bowl, Dec. 26, San Francisco
Nevada vs. UCLA
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, Dec. 26, Detroit
UConn vs. Central Michigan
Meineke Bowl, Dec. 26, Charlotte, N.C.
Boston College vs. Pittsburgh
Music City Bowl, Dec. 27, Nashville, Tenn.
Virginia Tech vs. South Carolina
Independence Bowl, Dec. 28, Shreveport, La.
Texas A&M vs. Tennessee
Champs Sports Bowl, Dec. 29, Orlando, Fla.
North Carolina vs. Minnesota
EagleBank Bowl, Dec. 30, Washington, D.C.
Duke vs. Iowa State
Holiday Bowl, Dec. 30, San Diego
Kansas State vs. Arizona
Humanitarian Bowl, Dec. 30, Boise, Idaho
MWC vs. Idaho
Texas Bowl, Dec. 30, Houston
Missouri vs. Navy
Armed Forces Bowl, Dec. 30, Fort Worth, Texas
Air Force vs. SMU
Sun Bowl, Dec. 31, El Paso, Texas
Oklahoma vs. California
Insight Bowl, Dec. 31, Tempe, Ariz.
Northwestern vs. Nebraska
Chick-fil-A Bowl, Dec. 31, Atlanta
Clemson vs. Georgia
Outback Bowl, Jan. 1, Tampa, Fla.
Wisconsin vs. Auburn
Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1, Orlando, Fla.
Iowa vs. Ole Miss
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1, Jacksonville, Fla.
Miami vs. Notre Dame
Rose Bowl, Jan. 1, Pasadena, Calif.
Oregon vs. Ohio State
Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1, New Orleans
Alabama vs. Cincinnati
Cotton Bowl, Jan. 2, Arlington, Texas
LSU vs. Oklahoma State
Liberty Bowl, Jan. 2, Memphis, Tenn.
Houston vs. Kentucky
International Bowl, Jan. 2, Toronto
Rutgers vs. Temple
PapaJohns.com Bowl, Jan. 2, Birmingham, Ala.
West Virginia vs. Arkansas
Alamo Bowl, Jan. 2, San Antonio
Michigan State vs. Texas Tech
Fiesta Bowl, Jan. 4, Glendale, Ariz.
USC vs. TCU
Orange Bowl, Jan. 5, Miami Gardens, Fla.
Georgia Tech vs. Penn State
GMAC Bowl, Jan. 6, Mobile, Ala.
Middle Tennessee vs. Ohio
Big Bowl, Jan. 7, Pasadena, Calif.
Florida vs. Texas
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.
Video: Don’t go judging Landry Jones just yet
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.
Chat with Berry Tramel at 11 a.m.
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.
Going for two: Hope Stoops was shooting straight
Bob Stoops said he planned to go for two points had OU scored a late touchdown against Nebraska. I hope he’s shooting straight, because that clearly was the right call.
Media and fans don’t really know much about the inner-workings of football. How offenses really attack and how defenses scheme to stop them. Don’t really know why some things work and some things don’t.
But two things we know maybe better than coaches: time management and two-point conversion decisions. The reason is clear. Time management and scoreboard variables are mostly simple concepts that anyone with good understanding of math and an eye on the game can understand. The only stumbling blocks are when your mind is cluttered with other matters, which a football coach’s often is.
Sitting in the stands, or the pressbox, or on the couch, we aren’t bound by other matters. It comes pretty naturally to most football fans when to go for two mathematically or when to use timeouts in the fourth quarter.
But sometimes, a 2-point conversion is a judgment call, depending on events in a game, and no event ever called for a 2-point conversion moreso than OU-Nebraska.
The Sooners trailed 10-3 and had repeated fourth-quarter possessions in Husker territory. The situation cried out for a two-point conversion, had Oklahoma scored a touchdown.
For this reason. Overtime offense consists of two missions: 1) Ability to score when set up at the opponents’ 25-yard line; 2) ability to kick field goals, if the first mission fails.
Against Nebraska, OU had an historically bad night at both. The Sooners basically spent all night getting near the 25-yard line and going no farther. OU had 11 possessions in Husker territory, yet crossed the 20-yard line only once and never crossed the 10. The Sooners had four field goal tries; they made one, from 28 yards, missing three from the 40s.
Meanwhile, Nebraska had no chance of scoring a touchdown but was 1-of-2 on field goals. The Huskers made from 28 yards and missed from 43 yards, which is driving down Tress Way Boulevard, but had yet to establish the futility of the Sooners’ on field goals.
So the correct call was clear. OU’s best chance was to win the game in regulation. One shot from the 3-yard line.
“I had already talked to the coaches about it,” Stoops said. “The way both of our defenses were playing, you would think that we would force a bunch of field goals. And at that point, probably justifiably, I didn’t feel great about getting into a field-goal kicking contest.”
That was solid reasoning. I hope that’s what was going through Stoops’ head on Saturday night and not something that popped in two days later. Lots of coaches are on auto pilot when it comes to conversions. They attempt to deflect responsibility from themselves, when in fact often a 2-point conversion decision is their best chance.
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.
OU’s offense predictable? Think again
Another OU loss — especially a fourth loss in the season — always urges fans to search for reasons why. Some of their findings are solid. Recruiting mistakes. Lack of big-play ability, or at least acumen. Bad luck.
But the most common refrain on any OU defeat in which the score is somewhere south of 45-35, is that the play-calling is too predictable. They said it about Mark Mangino’s offense. They said it about Chuck Long’s. They say it about Kevin Wilson’s.
And they always are wrong. Always. We can say that OU passed too much, and we might be right. We can say that OU ran too much, and we might be right. But anyone who says they can predict what OU is going to do is flat out lying.
We hear it after every defeat, and the example always given is first downs. Usually that they always know when a first-down run is coming. Which is nonsense.
Obviously, in obvious passing situations, you can tell a pass is coming. Obviously, with an empty backfield, you know a pass is coming. But no one knows when a run is coming, especially on first down.
This is always one of my favorite research projects. Go back and study OU’s first-down plays in a game. And it’s always balanced. It is not predictable.
Against Nebraska, OU ran 38 first-down plays (which is a remarkable number in itself). Most of those plays were out of the shotgun, which was OU’s formation most of the game. Of those 38 first-down plays, OU ran 16 times and passed 22.
Some will say that late in the game, OU had to pass on first down, and I’ll grant you that. So toss out OU’s final two possessions, which came in the final six minutes. The Sooners had 33 first-down plays. They ran 16 times and passed 17 times.
The idea that OU is too predictable is just silly.
If you want to bust Kevin Wilson for his game plans, fine. They are not above critique. If you want to bust Wilson for his lack of offensive line development, I say go for it. That’s the No. 1 problem, outside of injuries, for this Sooner squad. If you want to bust Wilson because this offense, unlike others in OU’s recent history, failed to show improvement when November arrived, OK. That’s a valid discussion.
But don’t go telling people that OU’s offense is predictable, that you know what’s coming, that the Sooners always are running on first down. Because they aren’t.
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.
5-4: Sooners & Thunder?
If back in August I had told you that come the nights of Nov. 15 or 16, the Oklahoma football team and the NBA Thunder would have the same record, you would think, wow, the Thunder is the talk of the league.
But it’s a possibility, without every NBA writer trekking to the Ford Center to discover Scott Brooks’ magic touch.
Come Saturday night, if the Thunder-Spurs play fast and OU-A&M stretch out their game, both the Sooners and the Boomers could have nine decisions under their belt. And both could be 5-4.
OU already is at the mediocre spot, after the 10-3 loss to Nebraska on Saturday night.
The Thunder is at 3-3, with a road trip against the Kings and Clippers coming this week, then a Friday night game at San Antonio. I think the Thunder is much better, but I’m not predicting a victory over the Spurs. That means a California sweep at Arco Arena and the Staples Center, which is possible. The Kings and Clippers are off to struggling starts, which.
If the Thunder can sweep in California and get to 5-3, they would fall to 5-4 with a loss in San Antone. Who could ever have imagined that would match the Sooners’?
Even if OU beats A&M to get to 6-4, the Thunder hosts the Clippers on Sunday night and could match that record.
Before the OU season, I said the Sooners had seven losable games: BYU, Miami, Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas Tech and OSU, and I considered Bedlam the easiest of those, since it was at Owen Field. The others were away from home. I didn’t mean OU could go 5-7, but I also didn’t think there was any way the Sooners could lose the majority of those losable games. They already have, and only the most optimistic among us believe the Sooners can escape disaster in Lubbock, the site of many OU downfalls.
After Sunday, the Sooners and Thunder don’t have the chance at the same record. The Thunder starts playing too many games. Alas, the Sooners’ season is about over. Unlike after the early losses to BYU and Miami, OU has no recourse to salvage its season.
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.
OU game plan misfired vs. Nebraska
Remember after the Miami game, how disgusted OU fans were that Kevin Wilson employed such a conservative game plan? That he didn’t open up the playbook and let Landry Jones fire the ball all over the field?
Now you know why. That’s exactly what Jones did Saturday night in Lincoln, and you know the result. Nebraska beat the Sooners 10-3. OU called 60 pass plays and scored only a lone field goal.
This game produced amazing statistical results. The Sooners reached NU territory 11 of its 16 possessions but penetrated the Husker 20-yard line only once and never got inside the 10.
OU ran 47 of its 87 plays in Nebraska territory, yet the Sooners never really came close to scoring a touchdown. No near-miss. No almosts. No what-ifs. The Huskers built a fortress at the 20-yard line and defended it well. Truth is, the Sooners could have played another four quarters and might not have scored a touchdown. Might not have kicked a field goal, either, from longer than 39 yards.
Which gets us back to the game plan. Nebraska’s only touchdown came on a 1-yard scoring drive, following an interception. The Huskers’ field goal came on a 33-yard drive to the OU 11-yard line after an interception, with the help of a 15-yard personal foul penalty against Frank Alexander. Nebraska, too, could have spent all night trying to score a TD, to no avail, without the help of turnovers.
So think about this. What if OU hadn’t passed all night. What if OU had just run the ball all game long. Draws, counters, power, that crossbuck stuff with DeMarco Murray in motion and Chris Brown knifing up the middle. Try to make first downs on the ground, and if not, punt.
It’s kooky, I know. But think about it. How many points would OU have scored? At the worst, three points less than it actually did. How many points would Nebraska have scored? Harder to say, but it’s not a bad guess to say perhaps 10 fewer.
This was a game destined not to be won, but destined to be lost. Whichever team made critical mistakes and let the opponent have easy points in a game when the defenses were not going to allow much of anything. OU made those mistakes, Nebraska didn’t.
Go back to the Miami game. Landry Jones actually played a decent game. But Miami got a gift touchdown when the Hurricane pass rush popped Landry for a sack, causing a fumble at the OU 11-yard line. Final score: Miami 21, OU 20.
Miami gave OU no free points. OU gave Miami seven free points. Saturday night, OU gave Nebraska seven free points and you could argue that it was 10, courtesy of those two interceptions (Jones threw a school record five in all).
This was the perfect example of why coaches sometimes go conservative and why other coaches sometimes should.
Nebraska might have won a punting war with the Sooners, anyway. The Huskers have the better field-goal kicker, obviously, and this might have been a 3-0 final if the Sooners had done what the Huskers did, which was commit to no mistakes on offense and be completely content to punt. Nebraska punted 11 times, which is not a record but is an absurdly high amount in 21st-century football.
I’m not really serious about putting the passing game completely in the can. But I am serious about OU adopting a game plan, at least against these Huskers, in which the Sooners are bound and determined not to commit a turnover and feel perfectly satisfied to punt. That was OU’s best chance to win.
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.
Emails in on OU-Nebraska series
The new emails are in, and lots of talk about OU-Nebraska and my desire for them to play every year.
Michael: “The crossover rival is an interesting idea. Here are two proposals which take that concept one step further by also realigning the two Big 12 divisions, hopefully providing more balance overall for the conference. Proposal one: trade Mizzou and Colorado for A&M and Tech). Then the crossover games would be Oklahoma-Nebraska, A&M-Texas, Mizzou-Kansas, Baylor-Tech, OSU-Kansas State, Colorado-Iowa State. Proposal two: trade Mizzou and Colorado for OU and OSU). Then you would have Texas-OU, Tech-OSU, Colorado-Nebraska, Mizzou-Kansas, A&M-KSU, Baylor-Iowa State. Personally, I prefer the second proposal. It keeps the Texas schools together in one division and reunites OU-Nebraska, while putting OU and OSU on the other side of the line helps to balance the overall strength of each division. The only downside is the potential for an OU-UT rematch every season in the Big 12 Championship game, which is not necessarily a bad thing (for the networks).”
This is certainly a thinker. The whole concept is this: Does the Big 12 have to be split along geographic lines? I think the answer is probably yes. The ACC is divided haphazardly, with no regard to geography, and it’s a mess, from an outsider’s perspective. But it’s fun to discuss. I don’t like being trapped by conventionalism.
Holland: “I’m at work on a slow day and thinking about realignments in the Big 12. The realignment would be to balance the divisions, while also preserving some traditional rivalry games. Each division would have four Big Eight teams and two SWC teams. So, here goes. Division I: Nebraska, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Baylor. Division II:
Colorado, Iowa State, Missouri, Kansas and Texas A&M. In addition, like the SEC and ACC, each team would play a yearly cross-divisional rivalry game while playing five divisional games and three out-of-division games, so in a given year each conference team would play nine conference games, which would eliminate some of the horrible out-of-conference scheduling. This would balance out the divisions because OU and Texas are separated. If Snyder gets KSU rolling like they once were, which will be a tall task, one could argue Division I is a little tougher, but the same can be said for Division II if Sherman gets A&M going again. For the most part, the divisions would be more balanced than now. The cross-divisional games would be OU-Texas, Kansas-KSU, Nebraska-Missouri, Tech-A&M, OSU-Colorado, ISU-Baylor. This would preserve the following rivalries: OU-Nebraska, Texas-A&M, Kansas-Missouri, OU-Texas, KU-KSU, Tech-A&M, OU-OSU, Nebraska-Missouri, Nebraska-KSU. And this would mean OU-Texas could meet again for the Big 12 title, whereas now that isn’t possible. Think about how much better the championship games would have been in recent years had these two met again.”
I love this. I love it when people start thinking in new and different ways. Now, I think this realignment is mostly silly; no way can you split up the four Texas schools, just so OU and Nebraska can satisfy a mutual admiration society. But it’s thinking outside the box, and we need more of that.
Bob: “I have little interest in playing them every year. I like the way it is now with them. We don’t need it, in my opinion.”
Need it? No. OU-Nebraska isn’t needed. College football and the Sooners can live without it. But this series isn’t about need. It’s about enjoyment. It’s about something special. It’s about something extraordinary.
David: “Love the OU-Nebraska stuff. When the Big 12 killed the regular OU-Nebraska series, I remember talking with a friend who said that it was OK because we still had OU-Texas as a rivalry game. I responded that I felt like a kid being told that Christmas would now come only two years out of four, and that I shouldn’t worry about it because I would still get presents on my birthday every year. You know of the kid who would be won over by that argument? It seems to me that the big drawback to the conference schedule-makers of creating a permanent crossover game is how to set up a systematic way of scheduling the other two crossover games amongst five other inter-division schools. There’s no good way to do it. The thing is, the SEC has already answered that with something you didn’t mention — in the SEC each school was, in fact, set up to have TWO non-rotating opponents from the other division. Each school then had four non-permanent rivals, whom they would each play twice over an 8-year rotation. Problem solved! The great thing about this is that you can use the second ‘permanent’ or non-rotating rivalry to even out the other. OU could have Nebraska as a permanent rival and even things out by having Iowa State as its other non-rotating rival, for example. This would also even out for Iowa State having Baylor as its other ‘permanent’ rival under the scenario you suggested. Over the years, the second non-rotating rival could be changed to maintain balance, if necessary. There can be flexibility. Cheers to your suggestion to have Oklahoma-Nebraska restored to the annual rite that OU-Texas has remained. Cheers to having both Christmas AND a birthday every year!”
That original SEC model has its drawbacks, too. For instance, if OU played NU and ISU every year, that means it would play Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Kansas State twice every eight years, which is a whole new can of worms.
Larry, our resident Tech fan: “I’m not much for special accommodations for self-anointed quality. There’s quite enough kowtowing going on in college football already. But I do understand the nostalgia surrounding this rivalry. Let’s face it: unlike the SWC, which was represented in the Cotton Bowl by seven of its nine members during the last 20 years of its existence, the Big Eight was less of a conference than it was simply a game played in November to see who went to the Orange Bowl, with a potential national championship on the line. But couldn’t you accomplish your objective by simply swapping the state of Oklahoma for the state of Kansas? It wouldn’t make much geographic sense, but it would preserve both in-state rivalries while at the same time helping to correct the imbalance of power between the north and the south. Why drastically impact every team in the league just so Oklahoma and Nebraska can resume their annual mutual hiney-rubbing society meetings? If OSU, KSU and KU were to object, just throw them out of the conference. That would solve the problem too. Nine remaining members would then all play one another every year. Most every Sooner I talk football with seem to operate under the impression that throwing schools out of conferences is done all the time, and great fun at that. I don’t know about the done-all-the-time part, but they might just be onto something. If vassals put up a squawk, well off with their heads. What’s the point of being aristocratic if you can’t at least threaten from time to time to cut off a vassal’s head if he don’t do right?”
Can’t swap the Oklahoma and Kansas schools. Then OU-Texas and KU-Missouri aren’t annual series.
Paul: “Your article on the NU-OU rivalry was right on. I grew up in Nebraska and have been a Cornhuskers fan my whole life. Right now, I’m an Air Force master sergeant serving at Camp Victory near Baghdad International Airport, so I’ll be watching the game early Sunday morning on the Armed Forces Television Network. I’m old enough to remember (barely) the Game of the Century, Thanksgiving Day in 1971. I was in the NU student section (though I wasn’t a student there) in 1982. Great times! I was also there two years later when the Sooners broke our hearts, 17-7. I get your take on the lovefest and I think that’s really what makes this rivalry unique and special. Both programs are secure enough in their collective manhood to not belittle their opponents. The schools have staged some of the greatest games in college football history. The hitting was fierce, the blood flowed, the games were incredible, but there was always great respect between the players, coaches and fans. We liked each other. Nebraskans rooted for OU in its bowl and other non-conference games and I’m sure OU fans did the same for NU. Certainly, OU-Texas has a great history, but so has OU-NU. As you mentioned, that was a time (the mid ’90s) when Nebraska was very good and Oklahoma wasn’t, so I’m sure a lot of OU fans shared that writer’s opinion. On a related note, it’s kind of sad; with the exception of the 2000 and ‘01 seasons, the two programs haven’t been great at the same time since 1987. But I think (I hope) that’s about to change. That’s why now would be a great time to change scheduling format and adopt the SEC model you proposed. NU-OU should be played every year. I’d even be in favor of dropping the Big 12 championship game (it’s become a farce) and follow the Pac-10’s lead and schedule nine conference games a year for each school.”
I don’t think the Big 12 title game is going anywhere. Too much money. But Paul’s best phrase was this: Great times! Here’s a guy stationed in Iraq, and memories of OU-Nebraska is helping him get through some of the down time. That’s priceless.
Rob: “I’ve been blaming Donnie Duncan for years for allowing the discontinuation of this historic series. I was fortunate enough to attend the 1976 game in Lincoln and recall the respect and courtesy extended to us before and after the game was unlike anything I have experienced except at College Station (much different than the attitude at the annual Red River rivalry) . The crossover solution you offer seems plausible to me. In addition to the points you raised, it also cost each team an annual Thanksgiving Day game and the accompanying national exposure, which is invaluable to recruiting efforts.”
For the record, the Thanksgiving element of OU-Nebraska is a little bit of a wives tale. In the ’70s and ’80s, OU and Nebraska played on Thanksgiving weekend just nine times. But people remember it as a Thanksgiving tradition, primarily because of 1971.
Don: “You’re right on about the OU-Nebraska game. As you point out, it always seems to bring something that’s sadly missing in our society today. When my daughter was at OU (too many years ago now), we had seats in the north end zone. After one game and while having dinner, we met some folks who had actually been wearing cornheads not far from us at the game. As I recall, we lost by 13 points, that was in the Gibbs era. Anyway, we visited with them and talked about how visitors were probably treated, especially after their team had won. They related how they always loved to come to Norman because everyone treated them so well, win or lose. They said their worst experience was always Colorado.”
My dad talked about Nebraska fans when I was a little kid, how much he enjoyed doing business with them when the Huskers came to town. This is at least a 40-year love affair.
Jeff: “I couldn’t agree more! Thank you, and I assure you the VAST majority of Nebraska fans concur. I am a die-hard Husker fan, but my second favorite football program is Oklahoma. I was able to get a sideline pass to the NU-OU game in Norman the last year Oklahoma won the national championship! It was a great experience. Oklahoma defeated Nebraska. Still a great time. I was also at a Nebraska-Oklahoma game in Norman when I was a college student and sat at the 45-yard line deep in the middle of OU fans. I was treated very well, and on that day Nebraska won in Norman. There is no rivalry that matches OU-NU. None. I hope this is something you and your fellow Oklahoma sports writers will continue to press and encourage the powers that be to get it done.”
I’ve always thought Nebraska fans loved the series more than Oklahoma fans, though I don’t really know why. Maybe because the Huskers don’t have a natural rival, while OU has Texas and Bedlam.
Some general Sooner football stuff. Shlomo: “Which D is going to show up against Nebraska? I suppose Bill Snyder had something to do with last week’s meltdown, but still there needs to be more consistency. To be fair, Texas and Kansas, back to back, creates the inevitable letdown. But OU has had triple back to backs, more than once during championship years, and the letdown never came. Also, our return game/kickoff coverage needs a tuneup.”
Those triple back to backs didn’t come in the 21st century. I wouldn’t be too down on the defense. They played well most of the game, and like you said, Snyder knows what he’s doing. K-State scored 24 and 31 on OU’s 2000 defense, 37 on OU’s 2001 defense and 35 on OU’s 2003 defense.
Greg: “Saturday in Norman, we saw the coming out of Landry Jones, to the point he is where Bradford was the last week of the 2007 season at home game with OSU. Miller and Tennell finally arrived under pressure to complement Broyles. For once, our defense was pressed, the offense kept being pressured to the max by a good team breathing down our necks and our offense delivered. Yes, I would like to see us play Texas NOW. As for Nebraska, short of the weather being below 40 degrees, they will get smoked, likely in the first quarter 14 or 21 points. Their offense is pure, unadulterated crap. They could hold teams to no more than 19 points a game and be a .500 team. I saw the ISU game on ESPN game plan. If there was a team worse in the red zone than OU, it was Nebraska, and their problems are not fixed by experience. They lack talent. KSU will smoke them.”
Maybe so. But let’s not get too carried away with Landry Jones is Sam Bradford II. Bradford in 2007 was a heck of a rookie quarterback. Jones isn’t there yet.
Terry: “I thought I saw a glimpse of Sooner Magic following the 1st-and-45. Was it just me, or did you see it too? If any current player has some of the magic in him, it would be Ryan Broyles. I hate to think where OU would be without him.”
I think our standards have lowered if we’ve started putting that situation into the realm of Sooner Magic. It was a nice recovery. A remarkable recovery. But Sooner Magic pulled victory from certain defeat. Nebraska 1976, 1980, 1986. OSU 1983. TCU 1998. Texas 1996. This wasn’t that.
Jerry: “It looked like Snyder outcoached our entire coaching staff the second half! How about all those empty seats? People were trying to sell all kind of tickets outside and nobody wanted them. Why can’t the coaches make up their minds on their play calling; we had to call timeout each time this happens.”
Snyder is a pretty good coach. He’s outcoached Stoops before and will do it again. Stoops and most everyone else he comes across. Of course, if he outcoached the Sooners in the first half, you’d have to say they outcoached him in the first half. The market for seats is soft.
Now, on to the Thunder. Kelly: “I enjoy reading your articles about the Thunder, but can you please resist the urge to call them the Boomers and leave that nickname to the little league players? I am a huge Thunder fan and love watching the guys play, but the Boomer name is just getting annoying, not only to me, but to other readers as well.”
I sort of like it. When you go and give yourself a singular nickname, you’re inviting an occasional alternative. Just like Yankees and Bombers, Pirates and Bucs, etc.
Herb: “From what you can see, is Kevin Durant in a shooting slump or do you see something in his shot, shot selection or set up that is causing his problems? Thus far, just an average Kevin Durant shooting night has this team at 4-0 right now.
Against the Lakers, I didn’t think shooting was Durant’s problem. I think it was more drive and emotion. He seemed sort of despondent at times on the court. Like he wasn’t part of the offense. That’s a lot more alarming than just missing shots, like he did against Portland.
Sandi: “Ward, you were a little hard on the Beaver. Berry, you were a little hard on our Thunder. I was so pumped at the end of the third quarter, I didn’t care if we lost by 15 points. We are one of the youngest teams in the league and they put on an awesome performance against the Lakers. Our team played like a pro team . I believe we are going to the playoffs. We got game!”
Settle down, June. The Thunder played an interesting game against the Lakers, but they’re not going to the playoffs. That Laker game was the kind of game the Thunder has to start winning to make the playoffs, not just play tough.
Mildred: “Kevin Durant was seen on TV Saturday night supporting Texas. He needs to realize his fan base is Oklahoma. Texas could care less about his basketball career. He probably went out after the game, stayed up all night and played like it last night. We need him to play to
his talent.”
You know what? I think we all ought to get off Durant’s back on this Longhorn thing. He loves his school. Who doesn’t admire that? If Adrian Peterson was with the Dallas Cowboys, would we expect him to tone down his Sooner loyalties? That’s nonsense.
Justin: “Any chance Durant partied a bit hard Saturday with the Longhorn contingent?”
I doubt it. NBA players by nature are night owls. I don’t think the late night at Stillwater caused Durant to go 3-for-21.
Michael: “As fan of Kyle Weaver, why is he not getting any playing time? Is he hurt? As a fan here in Rockford, Ill., it seems he has more upside than Kevin Ollie.”
I think the Thunder has risen above Weaver’s talents. Weaver is no point guard, so it’s a Sefalosha/James Harden issue. Weaver is clearly No. 3 on that list.
Bill wrote about Dez Bryant’s appeal denied: “I agree with Dez’s high school coach that he was made an example of. Having taught in the Texas public schools for many years, I can recognize the spoiled jock so easily. All of his life, people fawned over him, I’m sure, and he got the big head. Meeting with Sanders and lying about it reflects an incredible ego. But it’s good to see the other guys get a chance to catch the ball. Once again a high school kid has used a college as a platform to a pro career. It looks like OSU is snakebit. I like it when they sign the blue chippers, but they seldom pan out. Screw Dez. Let’s just forget about him. It’s the worst possible punishment for a prima donna. They’ll finish with 8 or nine wins and a decent bowl win.”
I don’t like that. I don’t like that “screw Dez.” Dez was punished severely and has made some bad decisions, both before and after. He has no business going to Tampa and leaving school. Dez needs the structure Stillwater could provide, at least until January. I think he’s playing with fire these next two months. But screw Dez? I don’t think so.
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.
