It's gone from "Sic 'em" to "I'm Sick" for Baylor football fans, as starting sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin's season is done because of a knee injury. And to be truthful, I'm sick for them--to a point.
Make no mistake: the 2009 Bears are Griffin's team, and with him going down, the Bears will likely also go down when Big 12 Conference play commences. There's simply nobody else at QB that matches Griffin's combination of athleticism and leadership. I think the Bears bowl hopes just went to the sidelines with Griffin.
And more truth that may hurt Bears fan a little bit more: this should serve notice that one should not brag after the first game of the season. Yes, Baylor fan, I know you're hungry for a winner. I know you're hungrier for a bowl game. And, I know you're even hungrier for BU's legitimacy as an overall athletic program that a successful football program would deliver. But some Baylor fans were showing their lack of experience of following wins when they declared that the Bears had not only arrived after beating Wake Forest on the road to kick off 2009--but some had actually gone so far as to say that BU had carried the Big 12 in that first week of the season. Newsflash, BU fan: it was one game. And, now 2-games later--your star player and leader gets sidelined. That's how fast things can go south in the mighty Big 12 South--and the rest of major college football.
Look, I'm not looking to pile on here on a bad day for Baylor football. Not at all. I'm just reiterating something I've said since I made Central Texas my home 6-years ago: you can't be satisfied with a couple of key victories here and there. Injuries happen. Bad player and/or coaching decisions happen--and all three can ruin a season. Just as the 2005 Bears after "The Terrance Parks Experiment" that in my opinion cost them a shot at a bowl game and ultimately cost then head coach Guy Morriss his job. Stuff happens. And a big "stuff" just blindsided Baylor's bowl hopes for 2009 with the loss of Griffin. And, that's why one doesn't brag after ONE GAME--and that game being the season opener. All that victory did was make you 1-0, not 6-0 and bowl eligible. Leave the bragging until after your program REACHES a bowl game--or better yet, a New Year's Day-or better bowl game (perhaps even a couple of years in a row). That's what the big boys do. And, BU fan, you do want to be one of the big boys, don't you? Well, the big boys don't put bronze statues of coaches who win 53% of their games outside their stadiums, and they're disapppointed when they reach The Holiday Bowl! Sorry, folks--I know that's going to chide some, but don't let the facts get in the way of, well, the facts.
But, to be fair, I know earning big boy status is a process--most of the time years long. I truly felt that BU was in the beginning stages with the hiring of Art Briles and the arrival of Robert Griffin. And, I still feel that it can still continue--just not this season. And that is truly nothing more than tough luck.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
A "Love-Hate" Poem
As an Oklahoma State alumnus, I hate it. As an appreciator of good humor in the form of a poem, I love it. What's to follow is an e-mail my wife got earlier this week, and she was good enough (and snarky enough--she's an OU grad) to send it along to me. And, I'm now sending it to you. And, OSU fans, there's a response after the poem to appease you. Enjoy!
For one week, the streets of Oklahoma were lined with orange and black
With Cowboys and Cowgirls all leading the pack
For one week, it was so glorious to be a Poke
It was finally the Sooners as the butt of the joke
For one week, pistols were firing from Guymon to Meeker
While the outlook in Norman could not have been bleaker
For one week, Crimson and Cream faithful were shedding a tear
As OSU fans proclaimed, "it is finally our year!"
For one week, Stillwater seemed brighter and bolder
While in Norman they worried about Sammy´s sore shoulder
For one week, Zach and Dez were the toast of the town
As poor Kevin Wilson played the role of the clown
For one week, Cowboy Nation had reason to brag
Sports Illustrated even put em´ on the front of their mag
For one week, those fans were boastful and bold
While the air down in Norman got incredibly cold
The problem with one week is it that lasts just seven days
Saturday rolls around and you need to call new plays
The Cowboys went out and they did what they do
They stumbled and bumbled, and fumbled some too
They got behind early as their fans thought "It can´t be!"
"I thought this was our year, where the hell is the D!?"
They had one last chance, but Zach threw a pick
As Coach Gundy had flashbacks to "this makes me sick."
The game had ended and Houston had won
Hope quickly faded from so much to none
Some fans yelled, "This always happens to us Pokes"
"Now we´ll just wait for the heckles and jokes."
"I don´t ask much, one year of glory I seek."
"Why can´t we get there for more than one week?"
For one week it was attention, praise, and some glory
For one week, the Cowboys were a very hot story
Somewhere Boone Pickens gazed up at the sky
And asked the football Gods, "why, oh why?"
"We´ve tried so hard and we´ve done so much"
"A championship trophy I so long to touch"
Boone begged and pleaded, he demanded to know
He wanted more wins for all of his dough
The Gods thought it over and came up with a reply
Boone was so excited he started to cry
"We´ve decided to let you touch football heaven."
"You´ll get one more week....in 2027."
Now, in rebuttal: notice how the author never bothered to mention the Sooners' glorious and hard-fought 64-0 victory over mighty Idaho State. Yep, them's bragging rights for zero-u.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Thursday Joketime, Kind Of
It's been a crappy couple of days for me, but why should you care? Because there's no better way to cure the blues than to send along something funny! That's why. And, once again, this comes from my buddy Rick Pliscott, who I don't always agree with, but I'll gladly send along stuff that tickles the funny bone. Enjoy!
Q. What is an Economic Stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidge.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.
Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely: • If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China.
• If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs
• If you purchase a computer, it will go to India.
• If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.
• If you buy a car, it will go to Japan or Korea.
• If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.
• If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.
Instead, keep the money in America by:
1. spending it at yard sales, or
2. going to ball games, or
3. spending it on prostitutes, or
4. beer or
5. tattoos
(these are the only American businesses still operating in the US)
Suggestion:
Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day!
Q. What is an Economic Stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidge.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China?
A. Shut up.
Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely: • If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China.
• If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs
• If you purchase a computer, it will go to India.
• If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala.
• If you buy a car, it will go to Japan or Korea.
• If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.
• If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.
Instead, keep the money in America by:
1. spending it at yard sales, or
2. going to ball games, or
3. spending it on prostitutes, or
4. beer or
5. tattoos
(these are the only American businesses still operating in the US)
Suggestion:
Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard sale and drink beer all day!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Tools
No, not the kind one uses to fix things--rather, some folks that need to be fixed.
Yes, three instances of "toolery" in the last week that demands a figurative bending-over-the-knee paddling. First, at last week's President Obama congressional address on health care, South Carolina Representative Joe Nelson shouts out "Liar!" at the president during the address. Then, late Saturday, women's tennis star Serena Williams goes on an explative-addled tirade during her loss to Kim Clijsters--where during her outburst Williams told a lineswoman she was lucky that Williams was not "shoving this ball down your throat". And then to top it off on Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West not only interrupts award winner Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, but takes the mike and tells the world that she didn't deserve the award and that Beyonce did--and then just walks off.
Yeah, the triple-threat of classiness (insert sarcasm here). Parents--and I don't care what color you are or what culture you come from--if you wonder why there's a general respect problem in the good 'ol USA, there's three examples front and center for you. Even Rodney Dangerfield got more respect than the president, the lineswoman and Taylor Swift got on the butt end this past week. And, there's no excuse for any of these examples. Self-centered, self-serving, narcississtic and immature all of them. Now to be fair, Rep. Nelson and Williams have apologized. As of this writing, West has not.
And, truth be told, it's West's stunt that bothers me the most--and more to the point, the laughter reaction his toolery incited from several folks. Yes, there were those that actually thought that the look on Taylor Swift's face after getting dissed was hilarious. To those, I addressed last night--and I'll address again--this: would you think that kind of stuff was funny if it happened to you? Or one of your relatives? Or your close friend(s)? Or your crew or posse?
Yeah, that's what I thought. One person I asked last night via Facebook--who said she laughed her @$$ off--all of a sudden got more of a somber tone and said she would have let West ""have it". Another also got serious, and said she just couldn't believe that West would actually amble up there and do what he did. In both instances, when these people thought about it, West's stunt wasn't funny anymore--when they thought about it hitting closer to home. Ergo, thinking beyond one's own eyeballs. Another person countered that Swift should have stuck up for herself--"represent" was the word they used. Well, I say it is West who needs to "represent"! You're a star, Mr. West, and if you're really that good of an artist beyond your niche, you don't need stunts like that to pump up your sales, buck. Another person--who was firmly in West's corner--compared West to boxing legend Muhummad Ali--both known for their bold bravado. I FIRMLY disagree. Ali was a "showman". West is just a "show off". Ali was known as much for him humanitarian efforts both at home (his hometown of Louisville, KY) and abroad as he was for him bravado and controversial views. But even the West supporter I just referred to admitted that West behaves like a dick. In my opinion, supporting behavior like West's is nothing beyond immature, and that's being kind.
But now back to the bigger picture: what do we do about these kind of outbursts of disrespect where disrespect is not deserved? Well, that's up to each individual--and that's the great thing about our country! Folks like West, Serena and Rep. Wilson have the right of free speech, but so do those that can't and won't stand for their respective tripe of the tongue and will lash back. Rep. Wilson, Williams and West showed they could dish it out--now it's time to see if they can take it. And, for those of you who support any of the three said offenders, remember this: they don't lash out, there's no consquential response. They threw the figurative first punch, and if you don't throw that punch, there's no response. What about that do you NOT understand?
Now, on positive notes, Beyonce showed the class that West did not when, after she won her award at the VMAs, gave the stage to Swift so that Swift could have her moment that West deprived her of earlier in the show. Plus, as I mentioned before, both Williams and Rep. Wilson did apologize for their outbursts. Good starts if those apologies are sincere.
But if they're not, it's time to put "tools" in their place. And that's calling them out for the immature and/or self-serving behavior they choose to exhibit.
Yes, three instances of "toolery" in the last week that demands a figurative bending-over-the-knee paddling. First, at last week's President Obama congressional address on health care, South Carolina Representative Joe Nelson shouts out "Liar!" at the president during the address. Then, late Saturday, women's tennis star Serena Williams goes on an explative-addled tirade during her loss to Kim Clijsters--where during her outburst Williams told a lineswoman she was lucky that Williams was not "shoving this ball down your throat". And then to top it off on Sunday night at the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West not only interrupts award winner Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, but takes the mike and tells the world that she didn't deserve the award and that Beyonce did--and then just walks off.
Yeah, the triple-threat of classiness (insert sarcasm here). Parents--and I don't care what color you are or what culture you come from--if you wonder why there's a general respect problem in the good 'ol USA, there's three examples front and center for you. Even Rodney Dangerfield got more respect than the president, the lineswoman and Taylor Swift got on the butt end this past week. And, there's no excuse for any of these examples. Self-centered, self-serving, narcississtic and immature all of them. Now to be fair, Rep. Nelson and Williams have apologized. As of this writing, West has not.
And, truth be told, it's West's stunt that bothers me the most--and more to the point, the laughter reaction his toolery incited from several folks. Yes, there were those that actually thought that the look on Taylor Swift's face after getting dissed was hilarious. To those, I addressed last night--and I'll address again--this: would you think that kind of stuff was funny if it happened to you? Or one of your relatives? Or your close friend(s)? Or your crew or posse?
Yeah, that's what I thought. One person I asked last night via Facebook--who said she laughed her @$$ off--all of a sudden got more of a somber tone and said she would have let West ""have it". Another also got serious, and said she just couldn't believe that West would actually amble up there and do what he did. In both instances, when these people thought about it, West's stunt wasn't funny anymore--when they thought about it hitting closer to home. Ergo, thinking beyond one's own eyeballs. Another person countered that Swift should have stuck up for herself--"represent" was the word they used. Well, I say it is West who needs to "represent"! You're a star, Mr. West, and if you're really that good of an artist beyond your niche, you don't need stunts like that to pump up your sales, buck. Another person--who was firmly in West's corner--compared West to boxing legend Muhummad Ali--both known for their bold bravado. I FIRMLY disagree. Ali was a "showman". West is just a "show off". Ali was known as much for him humanitarian efforts both at home (his hometown of Louisville, KY) and abroad as he was for him bravado and controversial views. But even the West supporter I just referred to admitted that West behaves like a dick. In my opinion, supporting behavior like West's is nothing beyond immature, and that's being kind.
But now back to the bigger picture: what do we do about these kind of outbursts of disrespect where disrespect is not deserved? Well, that's up to each individual--and that's the great thing about our country! Folks like West, Serena and Rep. Wilson have the right of free speech, but so do those that can't and won't stand for their respective tripe of the tongue and will lash back. Rep. Wilson, Williams and West showed they could dish it out--now it's time to see if they can take it. And, for those of you who support any of the three said offenders, remember this: they don't lash out, there's no consquential response. They threw the figurative first punch, and if you don't throw that punch, there's no response. What about that do you NOT understand?
Now, on positive notes, Beyonce showed the class that West did not when, after she won her award at the VMAs, gave the stage to Swift so that Swift could have her moment that West deprived her of earlier in the show. Plus, as I mentioned before, both Williams and Rep. Wilson did apologize for their outbursts. Good starts if those apologies are sincere.
But if they're not, it's time to put "tools" in their place. And that's calling them out for the immature and/or self-serving behavior they choose to exhibit.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
College Football Post-Game Observations
Some "Sunday Evening Quarterback" observations from the weekend of college football:
1) My Oklahoma State Cowboys officially joined the "overrated" ranks. I expected a little bit of a hangover from last week's emotional victory over Georgia, but the Pokes looked like they were still suffering the effects of a full-on bender in the first half against Houston--and then again toward the end in the 45-35 loss at home. In between, we did get to see the quick-strike capabilities of the OSU offense, but the defense looked like orange Swiss cheese almost the entire game. Add it all up and you get a team that's closer to number 15 than number 5.
2) It was a good thing for Longhorn fans that UT got a 2nd-quarter scare at Wyoming--before erupting from there to win 41-10. Both collective feet are firmly planted on the ground for Saturday's Big 12 opener against Texas Tech--and you can bet the 'Horns remember how last season's last-second loss in Lubbock shot their season not only in the foot, but the heart, and with a reminder last Saturday that anybody can beat anybody (at least for 2-quarters) on any given day, you know Mack Brown and staff have the team's undivided attention. Plus, ESPN's "College Gameday" will be front and center on "The 40 Acres" as well.
3) Oklahoma got the expected get-well card courtesy of Idaho State, 64-0. So, as Garfield so elequently put it, "Big fat hairy deal".
4) Kansas State's Bill Snyder used to feast on programs like Louisiana-Lafayette during his heyday in the 90s, but that was last decade, and also at home. In 2009, K-State fell to U-LA-LA and in Lafayette. Don't look for Snyder to make road trips like that one as long has he's head coach at Silo Tech.
5) Almost the K-State fate? Missouri, and at home--before pulling one out late against Bowling Green. See also almost Oklahoma State.
6) Kansas, Texas Tech, and Nebraska all won as expected. See Garfield reference above.
8) Finally, A&M & Baylor enjoyed idle weeks at 1-0. I see a lot of Baylor fans are quite the confident bunch heading into the home opener versus UConn this Saturday. Many of those same fans are already counting six notches in the win column. I can see BU winning that many and perhaps more. But Baylor fan? You better cool your jets--UConn almost upended #19 North Carolina in Chapel Hill last Saturday. Yes, Bears fan, you beat Wake Forest on the road--huge win. But look at what happened at Oklahoma State last Saturday, and what almost happened at Mizzou. With your program's history, you're in no position to take ANYTHING for granted, and your head coach Art Briles would be the first to tell you the same.
Now, if I left your team out, nothing intentional. So, get over it.
1) My Oklahoma State Cowboys officially joined the "overrated" ranks. I expected a little bit of a hangover from last week's emotional victory over Georgia, but the Pokes looked like they were still suffering the effects of a full-on bender in the first half against Houston--and then again toward the end in the 45-35 loss at home. In between, we did get to see the quick-strike capabilities of the OSU offense, but the defense looked like orange Swiss cheese almost the entire game. Add it all up and you get a team that's closer to number 15 than number 5.
2) It was a good thing for Longhorn fans that UT got a 2nd-quarter scare at Wyoming--before erupting from there to win 41-10. Both collective feet are firmly planted on the ground for Saturday's Big 12 opener against Texas Tech--and you can bet the 'Horns remember how last season's last-second loss in Lubbock shot their season not only in the foot, but the heart, and with a reminder last Saturday that anybody can beat anybody (at least for 2-quarters) on any given day, you know Mack Brown and staff have the team's undivided attention. Plus, ESPN's "College Gameday" will be front and center on "The 40 Acres" as well.
3) Oklahoma got the expected get-well card courtesy of Idaho State, 64-0. So, as Garfield so elequently put it, "Big fat hairy deal".
4) Kansas State's Bill Snyder used to feast on programs like Louisiana-Lafayette during his heyday in the 90s, but that was last decade, and also at home. In 2009, K-State fell to U-LA-LA and in Lafayette. Don't look for Snyder to make road trips like that one as long has he's head coach at Silo Tech.
5) Almost the K-State fate? Missouri, and at home--before pulling one out late against Bowling Green. See also almost Oklahoma State.
6) Kansas, Texas Tech, and Nebraska all won as expected. See Garfield reference above.
8) Finally, A&M & Baylor enjoyed idle weeks at 1-0. I see a lot of Baylor fans are quite the confident bunch heading into the home opener versus UConn this Saturday. Many of those same fans are already counting six notches in the win column. I can see BU winning that many and perhaps more. But Baylor fan? You better cool your jets--UConn almost upended #19 North Carolina in Chapel Hill last Saturday. Yes, Bears fan, you beat Wake Forest on the road--huge win. But look at what happened at Oklahoma State last Saturday, and what almost happened at Mizzou. With your program's history, you're in no position to take ANYTHING for granted, and your head coach Art Briles would be the first to tell you the same.
Now, if I left your team out, nothing intentional. So, get over it.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Hope For Sooner Fan & A Few More College FB Observations
Yes, there is hope after arrogance--and that means trading it for a "chip".
After all the chest-puffing talk of not only belting BYU--but easily covering the 22-point spread--the Sooner nation seems to be on the verge of a suicide watch after watching in horror the 14-13 season opening stunning loss to the Cougars. Well, Sooner fan, take a powder--it's not that bad, and you don't have to go back that far in the storied OU football history for some proof. In fact, just go back to the last time OU won the national title.
Yes, the 2000 season. Why? Simple. Going into the that season--Bob Stoops's 2nd at OU--the pollsters picked OU generally between 15th & 20th. Mind you, this was after a decent '99 season that ended with a close loss at the Independence Bowl to Ole Miss on a last second field goal, and that was okay considering the lean years of the John Blake era. And I was there to cover the last two years of the Blake era, as well as the first four of the Stoops era--and that includes the 2000 national title season--so my observations are not from various stuff I read or heard from other people. No, I was there, at the mid-week press conferences, at some of the practices, on the field at the games (both home & away), and the post-game pressers as well. And, after putting in my time as a working media back then, and thinking back on that time right now--barely 15-hours after OU bowed to BYU--I can see a pattern of Stoops's teams that should give Sooner fans a reason for hope to salvage this season. And that has to do with a "chip".
And that chip back in 2000 was firmly on the Josh Heupel-led men in crimson and cream. Do you remember all the talk of that season's "murderer's row" of an October schedule? Texas, Nebraska at home, and K-State on the road--all in successive weeks? OU wasn't favored in any of them. But not only did the Sooners win, they won big. And at K-State, Heupel was throwing with half an arm due to a wrist injury. OU was still earning back the respect it had lost during the 90s, and it seemed to drive both the coaching staff and the players. As we all saw, the Sooners put the clamps on highly favored Florida State and Heisman winner Chris Wienke 13-2 to take the title--firmly placing OU back on the national stage, and in the elite suite at that.
And truth be told, that chip fell off at that point, and a bit of arrogance has taken its place ever since. Just look at it: the loss to OSU in 2001 at home that would have put them back in the Big 12 title game. The BCS title game losses to LSU, USC and Florida. And sorry, I can't leave out the BCS embarrassments against Boise State and West Virginia. And thebn, last night's punch to the gut courtesy of BYU--Sam Bradford's injury not withstanding.
Now, to be fair, I can't leave out OU winning all thoseBig 12 championships, and Stoops's 82% winning percentage during his tenure. No denying he's an elite coach--even though one can't call him "Big Game Bob" right now. But his teams just don't seem to rise to the occasion when they're either heavily favored or evenly matched (when OU's in the top 5).
Well, Sooner fan, here's your hope right now: you're back in the "earning the respect back" stage. Surely, OU will fall out of the top 10. Surely, with a couple of cream puffs then a trip to Miami and the Big 12 opener at home against upstart Baylor, they'll be a serious underdog to what'll probably be an unbeaten and 2nd-ranked Texas team on October 17 in Dallas. But almost as surely--Stoops will run his troops unmercifully for all those penalties against BYU, all while playing the "earn your respect" card that was so effective back in 2000. Plus, by Red River Rivalry time come October 17, Sam Bradford should be back, and fellow injured super star tight end Jermaine Gresham should also be mended enough to play. The arrogance is gone and chip has returned, and sorry Sooner fan--under Stoops, that's been the formula to your biggest success.
And like it or not, you're going to have to deal with it.
OTHER OPENING WEEK OBSERVATIONS AROUND THE BIG 12:
>Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska won big at home, just as they should have. Missouri won big like hardly like anybody expected 37-9 over Illinois on a neutral field.
>Oklahoma State's vaunted offense didn't look great as hyped, but you have to give props to Bill Clay's new defensive scheme--holding the Bulldogs to 257 total yards and one TD on the day. But, to be fair, it was at home, so I'll become a believer if and when the Pokes shut somebody down on the road.
>Another 400+ yard passing gamor Texas Tech--with Taylor Potts rolling up the yardage instead of Graham Harrell. Only the names change in Lubbock.
>I'm not ready to say that the A&M "Wrecking Crew" is back, but the Aggies did hold New Mexico to 21-yards rushing and 231-total yards in its 41-6 victory. They do that against an Oklahoma or a Texas--or even a Baylor? Then I'll give it more creedence.
>K-State's 21-17 win over UMass at home is not going to remind the Wildcat faithful of those Bill Snyder glory days of the past.
After all the chest-puffing talk of not only belting BYU--but easily covering the 22-point spread--the Sooner nation seems to be on the verge of a suicide watch after watching in horror the 14-13 season opening stunning loss to the Cougars. Well, Sooner fan, take a powder--it's not that bad, and you don't have to go back that far in the storied OU football history for some proof. In fact, just go back to the last time OU won the national title.
Yes, the 2000 season. Why? Simple. Going into the that season--Bob Stoops's 2nd at OU--the pollsters picked OU generally between 15th & 20th. Mind you, this was after a decent '99 season that ended with a close loss at the Independence Bowl to Ole Miss on a last second field goal, and that was okay considering the lean years of the John Blake era. And I was there to cover the last two years of the Blake era, as well as the first four of the Stoops era--and that includes the 2000 national title season--so my observations are not from various stuff I read or heard from other people. No, I was there, at the mid-week press conferences, at some of the practices, on the field at the games (both home & away), and the post-game pressers as well. And, after putting in my time as a working media back then, and thinking back on that time right now--barely 15-hours after OU bowed to BYU--I can see a pattern of Stoops's teams that should give Sooner fans a reason for hope to salvage this season. And that has to do with a "chip".
And that chip back in 2000 was firmly on the Josh Heupel-led men in crimson and cream. Do you remember all the talk of that season's "murderer's row" of an October schedule? Texas, Nebraska at home, and K-State on the road--all in successive weeks? OU wasn't favored in any of them. But not only did the Sooners win, they won big. And at K-State, Heupel was throwing with half an arm due to a wrist injury. OU was still earning back the respect it had lost during the 90s, and it seemed to drive both the coaching staff and the players. As we all saw, the Sooners put the clamps on highly favored Florida State and Heisman winner Chris Wienke 13-2 to take the title--firmly placing OU back on the national stage, and in the elite suite at that.
And truth be told, that chip fell off at that point, and a bit of arrogance has taken its place ever since. Just look at it: the loss to OSU in 2001 at home that would have put them back in the Big 12 title game. The BCS title game losses to LSU, USC and Florida. And sorry, I can't leave out the BCS embarrassments against Boise State and West Virginia. And thebn, last night's punch to the gut courtesy of BYU--Sam Bradford's injury not withstanding.
Now, to be fair, I can't leave out OU winning all thoseBig 12 championships, and Stoops's 82% winning percentage during his tenure. No denying he's an elite coach--even though one can't call him "Big Game Bob" right now. But his teams just don't seem to rise to the occasion when they're either heavily favored or evenly matched (when OU's in the top 5).
Well, Sooner fan, here's your hope right now: you're back in the "earning the respect back" stage. Surely, OU will fall out of the top 10. Surely, with a couple of cream puffs then a trip to Miami and the Big 12 opener at home against upstart Baylor, they'll be a serious underdog to what'll probably be an unbeaten and 2nd-ranked Texas team on October 17 in Dallas. But almost as surely--Stoops will run his troops unmercifully for all those penalties against BYU, all while playing the "earn your respect" card that was so effective back in 2000. Plus, by Red River Rivalry time come October 17, Sam Bradford should be back, and fellow injured super star tight end Jermaine Gresham should also be mended enough to play. The arrogance is gone and chip has returned, and sorry Sooner fan--under Stoops, that's been the formula to your biggest success.
And like it or not, you're going to have to deal with it.
OTHER OPENING WEEK OBSERVATIONS AROUND THE BIG 12:
>Texas, Kansas, and Nebraska won big at home, just as they should have. Missouri won big like hardly like anybody expected 37-9 over Illinois on a neutral field.
>Oklahoma State's vaunted offense didn't look great as hyped, but you have to give props to Bill Clay's new defensive scheme--holding the Bulldogs to 257 total yards and one TD on the day. But, to be fair, it was at home, so I'll become a believer if and when the Pokes shut somebody down on the road.
>Another 400+ yard passing gamor Texas Tech--with Taylor Potts rolling up the yardage instead of Graham Harrell. Only the names change in Lubbock.
>I'm not ready to say that the A&M "Wrecking Crew" is back, but the Aggies did hold New Mexico to 21-yards rushing and 231-total yards in its 41-6 victory. They do that against an Oklahoma or a Texas--or even a Baylor? Then I'll give it more creedence.
>K-State's 21-17 win over UMass at home is not going to remind the Wildcat faithful of those Bill Snyder glory days of the past.
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