ONE HELL OF A 'KNIGHT' IN THE BIG EASY & 2014 FORECAST

SUGAR WITH A SIDE OF BOURBON STREET

I'll be honest, even after the comeback win against OSU, the thought of OU going to the Sugar Bowl, or any BCS Bowl for the matter, never crossed my mind. And why would it?  This isn't official, but I'm pretty sure some combination of the following had to occur for the Sooners to end up on Bourbon Street:

OU had to rally to beat OSU in final 1:47 with their 3rd string QB ● Peace had to break out in the Middle East ● Unbeaten Ohio State had to lose to Michigan State ● Democrats had to agree to reduce taxes ● Unbeaten Northern Illinois had to lose to whoever the hell they were playing ● The SEC had to admit that they aren't the best football conference ● Baylor had to beat Texas and the Kardashian’s had to announce they are boycotting publicity.

But sure enough, there is was on ESPN: 

2013-2014 All State Sugar Bowl: 

Alabama vs Oklahoma

Gulp.  Come on....Admit it.  You were thinking the same thing I was.  Mixed emotions...like watching an ex-spouse drive off a cliff in your brand new Porsche 911. 
Yes, it was nice to be in a BCS Bowl, but now there is a pretty good chance we might get our ass kicked in front of the entire nation.  

No one gave us a chance. No one. I didn't and you didn't either.  If you're reading this and saying to yourself...that's not true, I thought OU would beat Alabama! Then please email me as to what kind of meds you were on because I need to get me some of that.  
Your optimism was based on what?  

• Stoops track record in BCS games (3-5 only because you have to count UConn)?  
• OU's recent success against SEC teams in Bowl Games (1-4)? 
• All the experts thought we were going to win?  
• You thought we matched up well with the Tide?  
• Our stable QB situation? 
• You just had a feeling?  
• You have a fortune teller?
• You flew over a corn field in Iowa that formed the word Trevor?

The fact is, not many, if any outside of the OU locker room thought we had an ice cubes chance in hell of winning that game.  
But the players and coaches believed.  When Alabama took the opening kickoff and methodically shoved the ball down our Schooner for a touchdown, nobody on the OU sideline dropped their heads or pouted....like the entire team did when Mark Bradley muffed the punt against USC in the 2004-05 Orange Bowl.  The Sooners went three and out...but still no panic. They KNEW they were going to win.

Obviously, Trevor Knight had one hell of a game.  In my opinion, it was the best performance by a Sooner QB that I've seen in the Stoops era...An era that includes two Heisman Trophy QB's in the last ten years.  Jason White's game in College Station against the Aggies in '04 was very good and maybe great, but still a distant second.  The back to back games that Landry Jones had in 2013 against WVa and OSU were great and worth mentioning, but both of those were against defenses that had more holes than the back end of a shooting gallery.  

I don't think it's a stretch to say that going into the Sugar Bowl, the opinion on who should be the Sooners starting QB was divided.  After a record breaking, MVP Sugar Bowl performance by Trevor Knight: 32 of 44 for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns...that opinion has been united...especially since Thompson is a Utah Ute and Bell is a tight-end.  But don't we need to tap the breaks just a bit on our expectations when it comes to this red-shirt sophomore QB?

Look, I'll admit, there is much to be excited about with Knight.  Yes, the way he played that night was unbelievable, especially when considering who was on the other side of the ball.  Just the confidence he gained from the Sugar Bowl, which is everything for a QB, that alone will make him better in 2014.  He also played well in the KSU game and was holding his own against OSU before he got hurt as well.  It's also the opinion of those considered experts on such, that the largest amount of growth and improvement for QB's occurs in their second year.  Sam Bradford has a Heisman that would give that some validity.

But I'm not going to lie, there's so much optimism that the expectations on Trevor Knight seem a little over the top. FOUR quarters ago, the entire Sooner Nation thought our choices at QB consisted of Larry, Moe or Curley.  Thirty-two completions later and Trevor Knight is being mentioned as a Heisman candidate.  Whoa, shouldn't we slow down there just a bit.  That GED is nice, but it don't necessarily mean that you're ready for Stanford.

First of all, he's started only 5 games. Of those five games

• 2 he left because of injury (OSU/WVa)
• 2 he played well (Bama/KSU)
• 1  he was marginal at best (La-Monroe)                        

Our offensive line should be a strength this year, which will help, but it's not when he's in the pocket that he gets hurt, it's when he's running around that shit goes foul for him.  When you have a QB that hasn't finished 40% of the games he started due to injury...and your back up is either a tight-end or someone who's never been on the field...that makes me nervous.   

Then, what if his Sugar Bowl performance was the QB version being the 4 Non Blondes?  It's not like he is going to get a month to prepare for anyone on our schedule. What if he's an injury prone one hit wonder?  I don't think he is, but it was a fun way to work the 4 Non Blondes into the conversation.

The most encouraging thing to me when it comes to Knight, is the fact that he doesn't have to be a Heisman candidate for this team to be really, really good.  Yes, he needs to be good and maybe real good...but not Heisman good.  Our defense should be much improved...that is as long as our linebackers don't suffer any injuries or try to take anymore girls home to the dorms. 
Our special teams will miss Jalen Saunders, but there are a lot of talented people that will get a shot to replace him.  
I don't really have anything concrete to offer as to why I feel this way, but I get a sense that the coaches seem a little more into it than they have been in a while...like maybe they sense something special.  It's just a feeling...could just be gas, but until otherwise corrected, I'm going with 'the coaches are focused.'

Last...our schedule sets up very well.  It has some tricky moments: We get a little early test with Tennessee, but we should take care of them at home.  We have to go to Fort Worth the week before Texas, which is a Gary Patterson trap waiting to happen.  The week before TCU is a trip to Morgantown that I think could be scary.  Since Knight will be making his first OU-Texas start you never know what could happen there.  Blake Bell proved that you can have success in other bright lights, but those at the Cotton Bowl are just different.  But we get OSU, K-State and most importantly, Baylor at home.

My thoughts on 2014?
Knight and LB's stay healthy: Final Four at Jerry's World.
Knight gets hurt...and this time next year I might be talking about how well Cody Thomas played against the Purdue Boilermakers in the Armed Forces Bowl.

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

ONE LAST LOOK BACK AT 2013 / PART III

2013
Unpredictable, Unusual & Unforgettable

Part III

#18 OKLAHOMA 33 @ #6 OSU 24

Starting QB: Trevor Knight

Second half starter: Kendal Thompson

Closer: Blake Bell

When you can't call something a rivalry…You call it Bedlam

"Oklahoma vs. Nebraska.  OU vs Texas...now those are great rivalries. OSU, are you serious? That's not a rivalry game for Oklahoma.  Just because it doesn't take us very long to get home after we kick your ass doesn't make you our rival" - Barry Switzer

OSU was ranked #6 in the country and they were on a roll, having won seven straight, the last two having been over #23 Texas and #3 Baylor.  The Cowboys had two weeks to prepare. The game was @ 'The Boone' in Stillwater.  The Pokes were double digit favorites...and just in case beating OU wasn't motivation enough, a win would give the Pokes the Big 12 Conference Title and a BCS Bowl berth.  Yep, wheat was gonna wave. Bullet was gonna run...and Pistols were gonna…Umm, hold up there Pete. 
When you can't call something a rivalry…You call it Bedlam

Rival: (adj) having the same pretensions or claims when competing

The Sooners unstable QB situation would soon reach new heights after starting QB Trevor Knight gets knocked out of the game just before halftime.  When the OU offense takes the field to start the second half, the QB replacing Knight isn’t the experienced Blake Bell...instead its redshirt freshman, Kendal Thompson.  

Wow.  A mere 14 days ago, the stance among OU coaches was that Kendal Thompson wasn’t ready to play yet…an opinion that seemed substantiated by the fact that Thompson had taken the same number of snaps up to that point of the season as I had…which before you go to the effort of looking it up, is zero. But thirteen meaningless snaps against Iowa State later...and suddenly he’s the guy Stoops thinks gives his team the best chance of winning a game where they're on the road and tied at half against the #6 team in the country.

What does offensive coordinator Josh Heupel have Thompson do on his first play from scrimmage?  Why throw the ball deep and into the wind, of course.  “Alex, I’ll take stupid play calls for $300, please”  Yep, wheat was gonna wave. Bullet was gonna run...and Pistols were gonna...Umm, hold up there Pete

When you can't call something a rivalry…You call it Bedlam

"Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they've hit a triple" - Barry Switzer's response when asked why OSU fans thought they were going to beat OU that year

Thanks in part to a goal line stand by the defense, a Jalen Saunders punt return for a touchdown and a touchdown pass to the kicker on a fake field goal…OU found themselves leading 20-17 midway through the fourth quarter.  But when Desmond Roland scored from one yard out to cap off a 7-play, 89-yard drive to give OSU a 24-20 lead with 1:47 to play…it didn’t look good for even the most optimistic OU fan.  Why you didn’t ask?  Becasue the Sooners would need to score a touchdown, which was something they had yet to do on offense all game.  Yep, wheat was gonna wave. Bullet was gonna run...and Pistols were gonna...Umm, hold up there Pete

When you can't call something a rivalry…You call it Bedlam

"Winning is a habit.  Unfortunately, so is losing." -Vince Lombardi 

So who do the Sooner coaches ask to save the day? Yep, Blake Bell.  Wow, you have to wonder exactly how that conversation went down, don't you?

“Hey, Blake...can you put down that clip board, find your helmet and come over here for a minute? Great, thanks. Uh, remember a few days ago when we basically told you that you sucked by demoting you to third-string? Well, we were just kidding. Look, you need to forget what a kick to the nuts that was to your confidence and ego, alright? I know that you didn’t get any reps this week in practice being third string at all, but practice is overrated.  Oh, and earlier when we put Thompson into the game instead of you to start the second half…well, don’t take that personal either.  One other thing, be confident, just because some walk-on holder named Grant Bothun has thrown more touchdown passes today than you have doesn't mean a thing…I know you can do it. Now get out there and win the game!”  Yep, wheat was gonna wave. Bullet was gonna run...and Pistols were gonna...Umm, hold up there Pete

When you can't call something a rivalry…You call it Bedlam

"I don't blame em for being excited. Some of those people out there

 weren't born the last time they beat us, and there's a pretty good chance they might not live long enough to see it happen again"

- Barry Switzer

When asked about the OSU fans celebrating

 their upset win over OU in 1976

OSU had a 24-20 lead with 1:47 to play.  The only thing between the Pokes and a Big 12 Title and BCS Bowl game was a third string QB and an offense that hasn’t scored all game. A few plays later, your best player has his hands on the ball and a chance to end the game. It was all right there for the taking. 

But instead, your best player drops the ball. Given new life...a few plays later our future tight end hits Jalen Saunders in the back of your ugly orange end-zone for a game winning touchdown with 17 seconds left. 

In typical OSU fashion, you use that time to add insult injury by finding a way to let us score again.  The only way it could be better is for the rules to be different so we could have gone for two.

Wheat was gonna wave...Bullet was gonna run...and Pistols were gonna fire...but you forgot something didn't you Pete?  You forgot that your OSU.  You forgot about 84-17-7. You forgot that it's the most lopsided in-state football series for a reason. You simply forgot that:

There's Only One Oklahoma

Now go get your shine box.

Season Excitement Meter: I didn't think it could get better, but I was wrong.

Next Up...The final chapter of 2013.  PART 4: The Sugar Bowl

ONE LAST LOOK BACK AT 2013 / PART II

2013
Unpredictable, Unusual & Unforgettable

Part II

(#18) OU 34 @ Kansas 19

Starting QB: Blake Bell

Yawn.  Rock, Chalk…when does basketball start? Thank the scheduling God’s for this one because if OU had been playing anyone but the Chickenhawks, the Sooner season might've ended in Shreveport instead of The Big Easy. 

One quarter into this game and OU had 23 yards offense and had given up more rushing yards to KU than the ‘Hawks normally averaged per game. Score 13-0.  

What sparked the Sooners? A blocked extra point and a beautifully thrown touchdown pass from…LaColston Bester…a wide receiver, of course.  Bell had a 121 yards passing with an interception, but none to a lineman on the opposing defense. Trevor Knight, unless you count when he was running to and from the locker room, never got on the field. 

That sound you hear…that’s the cry from the Sooner Nation for Kendal Thompson.

Season Excitement Meter: 6-1 (unchanged) 
The equivalent of watching a C-Span rerun

@ (#17)   OU  38 (#10) Texas Tech 30

Starting QB: Blake Bell

The Red Raiders arrived in Norman with a new rock star cool head coach and an undefeated record.  Unfortunately for Tech fans, what wasn’t new was the way their team plays defense.  Big time plays from LaColston Bester and Jalen Saunders helped the Sooners rack up over 500 yards total offense.  The Sooners ran the football on 16 of their last 18 plays…which took time off the clock and kept the Tech offense off the field.  Bell was better, 250 yards and 2 TD’s with no INT’s.  Trevor Knight and Kendal Thompson = Clipboard and headset.

Season Excitement: 7-1 (couple upticks) 
You want to believe, but you kind of know better.  It’s like playing Black Jack with a hand of 20…but the dealer has an Ace showing and of the last eight cards dealt…none were face cards. 

(#12)  OU  12 @ (#5) Baylor 41

Starting QB: Blake Bell

What the hell & why QB: Trevor Knight

QB Witness Program: Kendal Thompson

This one was there for the taking.  The big stage and bright lights seemed to have the Bears a little to jacked-up for their own good.  Senseless personal foul penalties combined with a knee injury to stud running back Seastrunk and an effective defensive game plan from Mike Stoops had Baylor fans restless and the Sooners in position to steal one…for a while anyway.  The Sooners actually lead 5-3 in this one before the wheels came off (Yes, that's right: 5-3).  

A key penalty, OU’s inability to score inside the Baylor 5 yard line and what might have been the worst pass ever thrown by a Sooner QB lead to Baylor scoring 14 points in the final minute of the second quarter to take a 21-3 lead to the locker room.  Basically, it was all over but the bad dancing in Waco.

Blake Bell’s QB rating in that game was 5.7.  That’s on a scale of 1-100 by the way, not 1-10. 5.7…How the hell is that even possible? He might’ve gotten a higher rating by not even playing.  I got a 1.7 QB rating just for successfully driving to Waco; or maybe that was my blood alcohol level...but regardless...5.7 sucks. 

Trevor Knight…remember him? He was the guy that ‘won’ the QB battle in fall camp.  He came in to the game 5 times.  Every one of those time were obvious running situations, all five times he ran.  Tricky.  Who knows where we’d have been without those 15 yards. How bad must Kendal Thompson be if he can’t even get a snap? But, hey…there is a bright side for KT. Three hours of  doing nothing every week gives him plenty of time to fill out his transfer paperwork.  

This just in: Waco still sucks.

Season Excitement Meter:  7-2 (falling)
On scale of 1-10 = 2.  Driving home you want to fire Stoops, cancel the remainder of the season, then hope they give up football all together. Then the next day when you sober up and calm down, you remember that you should be thankful because it could be worse…you could be an OSU fan.

@ (#22)  OU  48 Iowa State 10

Starting QB: Blake Bell (hurt in second quarter)

Because you’re not Kendal: Trevor Knight

OK, are you happy now: Kendal Thompson

Senior day. Bell gets hurt.  Knight runs wild.  Thompson sets down paperwork and goes in for mop up duty.  Whatever, it’s Iowa State.  Three OU QB’s combine to produce the following passing stats: 12 of 23 for 118 yards for an average of 5.1 yards a heave.  Almost enough to make you long for Landry.  Almost. 

Season Excitement Meter: 8-2 (unchanged)
Hey, at least it’s not soccer.

(#22)  OU  41 @ Kansas State 31

Because someone has to start at QB: Trevor Knight

Brennan Clay rushes for 200 yards and Zack Sanchez returns an INT for a touchdown, helping the Sooners hold off the Wildcats on a cold, windy day in Manhattan, KS.  Trevor Knight was efficient if not effective.  On the day he totaled 181 yards and a score through the air and another 82 and a TD on the ground.  In what has become a consistent theme, the big play ability of Jalen Saunders plays a huge role in the win.
QB Blake Bell: out with injury.  QB Kendal Thompson: His consecutive game streak over at 1.

Season Excitement Meter:  9-2 (a few upticks)
The win made you feel bad that you momentarily emotionally abandoned these guys two weeks ago…but you also can’t help knowing that a gutsy win over teams like Tech and KSU makes us nothing more than the “King of the melting pot of mediocrity.”

PART III to follow

ONE LAST LOOK BACK AT 2013

ONE LAST LOOK BACK AT 2013 

Unpredictable, Unusual & Unforgettable

Part 1

@ (#16) Oklahoma 34 vs. Louisiana-Monroe 0

Starting QB: Trevor Knight

Duck Dynasty was in the house as the Sooners opened the season at home against an opponent from the Sun Belt Conference...fitting since the temperature at kickoff was somewhere around 137 degrees, give or take a heat stroke or two.  The defense throws a shut-out, which seemed unlikely no matter who the opponent based on 2012 performance.  Trevor Knight was the anti-Landry Jones, finishing with more yards rushing than he did passing.  All in all, Knight was very average at times, very mediocre at others…but mostly…it was just hot. (1-0)

Season Excitement Meter: The equivalent of eating left-over meatloaf, you’re not hungry anymore…but far from satisfied. 

@ (#16) Oklahoma 16 vs. West Virginia 7

Starting QB: Trevor Knight

Finishing QB: Blake Bell

Five games ago these two teams played a Big 12 style thriller in Morgantown that the Sooners survived 50-49.  This one was no thriller.  If the 2013 game was Scarlett Johansson…then the 2014 version was Scarlett Fever.  Trevor Knight was having a horrible game when he got hurt, whether it was more than his feelings, only he really knows.  Regardless, every fans favorite player, the back-up QB…came to the rescue.  The Trevor Knight era = 1.75 games.  Next up: Blake Bell. (2-0)

Season Excitement Meter: The equivalent of having to sit through a Michael Bolton Concert…but with a hot date.  It sucks, but you hope it pays off later. 

@ (#14) Oklahoma 51 vs. Tulsa 20

Starting QB: Blake Bell

Blake Bell dispels rumors that the Sooners had thoughts of reverting back to the wishbone.  Bell breaks Sam Bradford’s record for most yards passing in their debut as starting QB with 450+ yards and four touchdowns.  “So much for your QB controversy,” said Bob Stoops to the media after the game.  Uh, hey Bobby…you might wanna tap the breaks on that whole no QB controversy thing. Even Sugar Hill Gang had a moment in the sun with Rapper’s Delight.  Might be better to wait until he's played a game on the road against someone we don't have to pay to be on our schedule before annointing him the man.  In the words of the Sugar Hill Gang:

I said, “You need a man who’s got finesse and his whole name written across his chest.  He may be able to fly all through the night, but can he rock a party ‘til the early light?) (3-0)

Season Excitement Meter: The equivalent of recording a top 10 finish at the Albertsons Boise Open on the Nationwide Tour…its nice, but what happens when you tee it up against the big boys? 

(#14) Oklahoma 35 @ (#22) Notre Dame 21

Starting QB: Blake Bell

Cameo: Trevor Knight

Sooners go to South Bend and play maybe their best game in years and knock off #22 Notre Dame.  The Sooners were physical on offense, opportunistic on defense and impressively resilient when the Irish made a push in the second half.  Bell threw for 240 yards to compliment the 200+ yards the Sooners had on the ground.  There was even a Trevor Knight sighting.  Knight jumped off the back of the milk carton and into the game long enough to make a sizable contribution on a scoring drive.  The Sooner Nation has a whole new attitude…things are suddenly great…maybe even thoughts of #8? 

(4-0)

Season Excitement Meter: The equivalent of getting bumped up to first class where you find a super model sitting in the seat next to you who admits she has a fetish for vice ridden, middle aged, over-weight, narcissistic divorced guys who’s first and last names rhyme.  

@ (#11) Oklahoma 20 vs. TCU 17

Starting QB: Blake Bell

A reality check in the form of Gary Patterson and the TCU defense.  Despite not having a first down at halftime, the Frogs were very much in the game late in the fourth quarter.  It was a trap game, right?  After Notre Dame, before Texas? Throw in a little mad scientist Gary Patterson and you can make the case that the Sooners did what they needed to do…win and move on to Dallas and a date with the Longhorns. (5-0)

Season Excitement Meter: The super model has bad breath…but so what.  Just because she could use a tic-tac doesn’t make it a deal killer, right? 

Dallas: (#12) Oklahoma 20 vs. Texas 36

Starting QB: Blake Bell

Ending QB: Maw Bell

You’d think having the experience of playing well on the road in front of Touchdown Jesus and a national television audience would have helped reduce the jitters associated with making your first start at QB in the Red River Rivalry.  You’d think.  But despite the experience in South Bend and the fact that he’d played in this game the previous two years…Blake was completely unnerved from the minute he trotted out of the tunnel.  Look, I use to throw-up before every 2A Oklahoma High School football game I played in.  If I’m yacking up lunch because I’m about to play the Atoka Wampus Cats, then I'd probably need the entire cast of Gray's Anatomy waiting for me at the end of the tunnel prior to taking a snap against Texas.  But that’s why he gets a free education and an opportunity and I get to pay to sit in the upper deck and drink.  OU came in to Fair Park as an 18 point favorite.  They left the Cotton Bowl embarrassed, exposed and with their season at an unexpected cross-road.

Season Excitement Meter: Turns out the super model was a cross dressing transvestite with irritable bowel syndrome. The flight attendant just informed me that there is no more alcohol on board and the movie that is about to play is Cannon Ball Run II. (5-1)

PART II TO FOLLOW

BAYLOR MORE THAN OU COULD BEAR

BAYLOR 41

OKLAHOMA 12

There Was Reason For Hope

"Yeah, I gave up drinkin' and took up churchin' 

and for a while it wasn't tough..." - Daryl Dodd

In my opinion, it was all there for the taking last Thursday night in Waco, Texas....at least for a while anyway.

•  Mike Stoops had a very good game plan in place.  The Sooners were getting good pressure on Baylor QB Bryce Petty by blitzing a linebacker or a safety.  The secondary was able to get away with man-to-man coverage and was doing an excellent job of defending the long downfield passing game that Baylor loves to employ.  The defense was also doing a decent job of bottling up the vaunted Baylor rushing attack by using various stunts and run blitzes.  The Baylor offense came into the game averaging 64 points a game...midway through the second quarter Baylor had a grand total of 3 points.  The defense was doing their part.
• With RB's Lache Seastrunk and Glasco Martin no longer available due to injury, the Bears were down to their third team tailback....some dude named Shock Linwood.  That was a good thing right?
• Baylor was understandably jacked up for this game...but maybe a bit too much so.  Sloppy ball handling, penalties and personal fouls and some pretty good OU defense prevented the Bears from finding any kind of rhythm early on.  The Bears were flagged for a laundry list of fouls and infractions, many of which was due to their over aggressive play.  Baylor would end the night being flagged 12 times for 119 yards in penalties. 
• The Baylor crowd was restless and tense and not much of a factor. 
• Even after Baylor regained the lead at 10-5, the Sooners were in pretty good shape.  With Baylor facing 3 and 9 from their own 8 yards line, the Sooners looked to have made a key stop when Petty's pass over the middle was incomplete....but another offside penalty gave Baylor the last second chance they would need.  9 plays and 93 yards later...for all practical purposes...it was over.

Yes, in my opinion, the #5 ranked Baylor Bears were ripe for an upset last Thursday night...but just not by the likes of a very average football team like Oklahoma. 

Hopeless For So Many Reasons

The Cliff-Notes Version

"It's not enough to do your best; you must know what to do, 

then do your best" - W. Edwards Deming

You don't win big ballgames when your defense:

• Can't achieve the simple task of lining up or staying on-sides 
• Can't tackle a QB
• Has all the depth of a kiddie-pool at the defensive line position
• Can't stay off the field due to the offensive units incompetence
• Allows a third string guy who calls himself Shock to run for 182 yards. 
• Is so injury ravaged that is has become absurd

Rarely do you beat undefeated teams on the road, or any team anywhere for that matter, when your offense: 

• where do I even begin...
• Can't snap the football within the allotted time to do so
• Scores like a bad youth league soccer team inside the red-zone
• Doesn't get a first down without the benefit of the other team cheating until the 12:00 mark of the second quarter
• Doesn't use their running backs to run the ball...1st carry for a Sooner RB wasn't until third offensive series
• Doesn't have a tight end
• Has a 260 lbs. QB who's running style has migrated from Bell-Dozier to Ballerina-Dancer
• Has an offensive line that moves more before the snap than after...and has to zone block more than one defensive player each on the goal line and in short yardage
• Either won't audible/can't audible in time/or doesn't feel confident enough to audible out of a running play when the defense brings 8, 9 and sometimes even 10 defenders within five yards of the line of scrimmage
• Has no quarterback
• Has an offensive coordinator that might be in over his head
• & has no idea who they are or what they are trying to accomplish

Knee Jerk...or Just a Jerk

"Our age knows nothing but reaction, and leaps
from one extreme to another"  -Reinhold Niebuhr

I wrote the first draft of this Baylor blog update when I got home from Waco last Thursday night/Friday morning, but decided to sleep on it before posting. When I woke a few hours later to find that the sun had come out, the sky hadn't fallen and that the world hadn’t come to an end…I reread my thoughts and decided that maybe I should soften my position on things just a tad.  Firing Stoops, cancelling the season and discontinuing the University of Oklahoma football program seemed a reasonable course of action when I was finishing off my last cocktail at 3 AM; but now…not so much. So I scraped it.

The second draft I pounded out on Monday was a more detailed review of Thursday night’s first half than what I outlined above.  My rant documented every little brain dead mistake, every single bonehead miscue, every costly penalty, every ridiculously inept play that was called and all the atrocious QB gaff's that the Sooners committed in that first 30 minutes of the game. The problem with version #2 is that it was turning out to be longer than War & Peace.  If I had printed out the draft, it would’ve looked like the Houston phone book. I realize that I have a tendency to get a little long winded but this thing was a network time slot and a commercial sponsor away from being a mini-series.  Frankly, it was more complaining than a 48 year old should be directing at anything or anybody, much less a group of student athletes.  Besides, if you’re a Sooner fan you’ve already seen the movie, so there’s not much need to read the book.  So I trashed it.

Now it’s Tuesday and I’m starting from scratch for the third time. Of even more concern is that I’m still struggling to find a focus or an identity for this update…and then it dawned on me. No identity? No clue as to what the game plan is or what you're going to do if encountering resistance? Where have I seen that just recently? 
The OAS loves him some irony.

WE ARE WHO WE ARE.  BY THE WAY- 

WHO ARE WE AGAIN?

"You have to find what sparks a light in you so that you in your own way can illuminate the world" -Oprah Winfrey

You know something is desperate when I have resorted to quoting Oprah....The most glaring problem with this football team is obviously on the offensive side of the ball.  The offense has no idea of who it is or what it is that they are trying to do.  One minute they try to be a read option, run first and throw occasionally type unit...but one that is being led by a QB (Bell) not as well suited for the task as maybe Knight or Thompson would be.  Next thing you know, they want to spread four receivers out and try to immulate what they did with Landry Jones...throw first, second and then if it hasn't been intercepted yet...throw it again.  Unfortunately, no QB that they would consider playing this year is capable of running that kind of offense.  Bell is probably the most qualified and he turned in a QB rating of 5.7 against Baylor.  That 5.7 is on a scale of 1-100 by the way....not 1-10.  5.7?  How is that even possible? He might have score higher if hadn't played.  Hell, I got a 1.7 QB rating just for driving to Waco; or maybe that was my blood alcohol level...but regardless...5.7 sucks.

Just thinking about our QB issues makes me want to revisit my therapist.  Maybe it's time to give her a call

More to follow....

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

BIG 12 BATTLE NEAR THE BRAZOS

NEVER SAY NEVER

"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."  -Ken Olson, president, chairman, founder of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977 

I never thought I would see the day when Texas didn't play Texas A&M on Thanksgiving and Oklahoma didn't play Nebraska the day after...that the biggest, best and most important college bowl games wouldn't be played on New Year's Day...that a Heisman Trophy winner would be accused of murder and the baseball hall of fame wouldn't include the all-time homerun king or the all-time hits leader.

"We don't like their sound and guitar music is on the way out."  

-Decca Recording Co. - rejecting the Beatles, 1962

I never imagined there would be a day when there would be NHL hockey in Texas, California, Florida and Arizona...a professional team of any kind in OKC...no NFL team in Los Angeles...that every game in all four professional sports could be seen on TV...or that I could care less about watching Monday night football, or any NFL football for that matter.

"Everything that can be invented has been invented." 

-Charles H Duell, Commissioner, US Office of Patents, 1899

I never considered there was any chance that the sport of horseracing would go over three and a half decades without a triple crown winner...that the heavy-weight champion of the world would be anonymous... that Dean Smith wouldn't be coaching the Tar Heels...that Keith Jackson wouldn't be broadcasting the Rose Bowl...or that Joe Paterno would've ever been guilty of not doing the right thing.

"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once"  - Albert Einstein 

...And never in my wildest imagination could I have fathomed a day when the Oklahoma Sooners would be ranked in the top ten and still be a 14 point underdog to the Baylor Bears...but that will be the case when #10 Oklahoma visits Waco to take on #5 Baylor tomorrow night.

BIG NIGHT ON THE BRAZOS

Bear-ly Recognizable

Holy Grant Teaff, Batman!   What in the name of Walter Abercrombie is going on down there in yawn city?  

Under Art Briles, the Baylor Bears football program is 'bearly' recognizable from the perennial last place doormats that have hibernated over the years at Floyd Casey Stadium.  

 -The 2013 Baylor Bears are undefeated and ranked #5 in the country, their highest ranking in 60 years.  
-The Bears are 4-0 in the Big 12 for the first time ever
-A win tomorrow night would make the Bears 8-0 for the first time in the school history.
-Baylor has the top ranked offense in the country, averaging 63.9 points and 718 yards a game.

What next?  Dancing in public? Somebody opens a second bar in town?  Waco named as a top vacation destination?

Bear-ing it all

"We're going tarpless"- Baylor Head Coach, Art Briles

Tomorrow night's game against Oklahoma is the most anticipated game in Waco since...well....since ever.  And why not?  It's the first time in forty eight years that a game involving two top ten college football teams will be played in Waco.  

How big a game is this for Baylor fans?  Big enough to force the school to 'bear' it all.  In 2004, embarrassed by all the empty seats at Floyd Casey Stadium, the powers that be decided to install a large green tarp that covered up almost 3000 empty end-zone seats.  The tarp has long been a contentious topic among Baylor faithful.  The detractors make claim that covering up the empty seats with a tarp exclaiming "This is Bear Country" makes them look like bigger asses than the seats do by being ass free.  Due to the high demand for tickets the tarp is coming off for tomorrow night's game for only the second time in nine seasons, the other being when A&M visited in 2006.  Tarp or no tarp, it will only be the 4th sellout in the 63 year history of 'The Floyd.'  Pretty Grizzly.

Look, I realize that Baylor has sucked for quite a while, but you can't tell me that there is anything better to do in Waco.  Other than hang out at George's or join a cult, the only thing left to do other than watch a football game...would be leave town.

Tis the Season

Even the most optimistic Baylor fan would have to concede that their schedule to this point has been weak at best.  Much like Texas Tech, the Bears have built their resume by feasting on opponents who have a combined record of 27-31.  The best team that the Bears have played this year, if going by record alone, has been Wofford.  Wow, Wofford? What happened, Waco High wasn't interested in a home and home?

The Baylor season basically starts tomorrow.  Following OU, the Bears still have Tech, OSU, TCU and Texas...or basically the upper crust of the Big 12 left to play.

Please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Baylor is overrated or that they're not any good.   I think they're a very good team, maybe even a great team...but until you play someone worth a damn and take a shot to the jaw a couple times, it's hard to really know.   The Sooners may not win tomorrow night, but if nothing else, I expect them to be a little better test for Baylor than Buffalo or whoever the hell Wofford is.   

Battle on the Brazos

Baylor Wins if...
Offense: Baylor is able to exploit the middle of the Sooners defense with their rushing attack and is able to pick up the OU blitz. All year long, they have been able to almost score at will...but even though this isn't a great OU defense, it is the best one that Baylor has seen this year.  If they happen to be stopped a couple times early, it will be interesting to see if they can remain patient.
Defense: If Baylor stops the Sooners rushing attack, short of turning the ball over several times, they win the game
Intangibles:  This is a big moment for Baylor...bigger than they've had years...They have never been 8-0, never been 5-0 in conference, and never won more than 9 straight at home or more than 11 in a row total.  Are they ready?

Oklahoma Wins if...
Offense: The Sooners need to follow K-States example and run the football.  If they can control the clock, take the fans out of the game and keep the Baylor offense off the field, they have a chance.  OU can simply not afford to turn the ball over.
Defense:  If Mike Stoops has one of those magic game plans, now would be the time to break it out.  OU has to find a way to at least slow down Seastrunk and the Baylor rushing attack...as well as find a way to put enough pressure on Petty to force him into some mistakes.  If the Sooners blitz, they better get there or the Baylor receivers will have a field day. For the OU defense, 'Bend but don't break' will never be more apropos.
Intangibles:  These kinds of games are the reason that kids come to play at Oklahoma.  This is why OU schedules non-conference opponents like Notre Dame, Florida State and Miami so that they are prepared for games like this one.  The Sooners don't hope for big spot light games, they expect them.  Baylor wants to be 8-0 for the first time ever...OU has gone undefeated 11 times.  OU is 21-1 lifetime against Baylor, so they will not be intimidated by the Bears or their fans.  It's also time for a Big Game Bob sighting....

PREDICTION:

OU 42  Baylor 37

I have gone from thinking we have no chance to feeling like we are going to pull off the upset.   No reason, just a gut feeling...a feeling that might just turn out to be gas instead of intuition.

Here is the bottom line...if Baylor were to win this game, the city of Waco would be one big party for anyone ever associated with Baylor University.  Waco...a fun place to be? Now that'll be the day!

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

TECH RECAP - 6 YARDS FROM SHREVEPORT

OKLAHOMA 38

TEXAS TECH 30

"It was only six yards, a mere eighteen feet...but in my opinion it was the most important 216 inches of the 2013 Season." 
-The OAS

The score was 7-0 Tech with a couple minutes gone in the second quarter when the Sooners took over at their own 3 yard line following a Red Raider punt.  First and second down had only netted four yards, leaving the struggling OU offense facing third down and 6 from their own 7 yard line.

In my opinion, the next play was the most important play of the season.  Not only could it be the difference in winning or losing this game against Tech, it might be the difference between still having a shot at winning the Big 12 and spending the bowl season in Shreveport, La.  A bit overdramatic? Maybe...but then again maybe not.

If the Sooners don't pick up a first down on this next play, they will be forced to punt the ball back to Tech from the back of their own end-zone.  Giving Tech back the ball inside the fifty, already down 7-0 would almost guarantee being down a minimum of 10 points the next time you get the football back.  In my opinion, that was something I'm not sure this team could mentally overcome.

But if you're offensive coordinator Josh Heupel, what play do you call?  Running the ball for six yards, when the previous two carries only netted the Sooners four, would seem optimistic at best.  Sure running the ball might get you an extra yard or two for your punter, but it will also show that you have no confidence in your QB...as well as get you booed out of Owen Field.

But it was only a couple weeks ago that Heupel was faced with a very similar situation at the Cotton Bowl.  The Sooners were facing third and long from their own 20, when Heupel called for Blake Bell to throw the football.  Bell throw the ball all right...right into the arms of Longhorn defensive lineman Chris Whaley, who returned the gift for a Texas touchdown.  The interception gave Texas a lead it would never relinquish.

So you are Josh Heupel.  You know that this play is big. You know that punting the ball back to Tech from here almost guarantees that your team will be down double digits when you get the ball back. You know you are probably not going to be able to run the ball for a first down and history tells you that passing it might be a risk that could be very costly.  And....oh by the way...you have about eight seconds to make a decision because the play has to be relayed first to the bench, then to the offense on the field.

Heupel's decision was to have Bell throw the football and as we all know...Bell delivered.  His 20 yard completion to Jalen Saunders over the middle gave the Sooners a first down and allowed them to move out of the shadow of their own goal post.  The play also seemed to inspire Bell, who would connect with Saunders to convert two more third downs on the drive.   

On the 13th play of the drive, the Sooners faced 4th and two from the Tech 24.  Running with authority from the BellDozier formation, Blake was able to give the Sooners a fresh set of downs inside the Tech 20 yard line.  Three plays later, Bell hit Saunders over the middle for 16 yards and a touchdown.  The play was successful because of a good play action fake by Bell which froze the linebackers and opened up the deep middle.

The 16 play, 97 yard drive took over 7:00 off the clock and tied the score at 7-7.   In route to the end-zone, the Sooners convert three crucial third downs and a fourth down; their QB and offense coordinator gained an enormous amount of confidence, they put themselves in a much better position to win the game...and by winning the game...they may very well have saved the season.

A home loss to Tech would have made the Sooners 3-2 in Big 12 play.  With road games at #5 Baylor, an improving K-State team in Manhattan and OSU in Stillwater...it is not inconceivable that the Sooners finish 4-5 in the conference.  In beating Tech, the Sooners are 4-1 and have twelve days to prepare for the high powered Bears in Waco. 

Is this team good enough to beat Baylor or win the Big 12?  My guess is probably not.  Too many injuries and too inconsistent on offense to pull off either would be my guess. If this team can go 3-1 from here they would be looking at a Cotton or Holiday bowl berth...and I would consider that a success.  But if they get crushed by Baylor and play poorly on the road against K-State and OSU then they are looking at a middle of the pack finish in the Big 12. If that happens...call (318) 742-0711.  An operator at the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel in Shreveport, Louisiana will be glad to help you with accommodations.

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty