2012 OKLAHOMA SOONERS INTRO VIDEO
If this doesn't give you chicken skin, then you are simply not a Sooner fan...there is only ONE OKLAHOMA
If this doesn't give you chicken skin, then you are simply not a Sooner fan...there is only ONE OKLAHOMA
The Sooners opened the home portion of their 2012 schedule last Saturday night with a 69-13 victory over the Florida A&M Rattlers. For OU, it was the third straight year that the second game on the schedule featured a foe from Tallahassee, Florida...and for the third straight year, the Sooners emerged from the game victorious. But if you're thinking about humming 'I Got You Babe', don't…because this is where any similarities that would make this some sort of Floridian Football Groundhog Day end.
In 2010 and 2011, the victories were against Florida State, a top ranked team rich in talent and tradition. The victories were impressive and bequeathed the Sooner Nation with some confidence and swagger going into conference play. That is not the pervasive sentiment after Saturday night's win. In fairness, the game against the Rattlers was a no-win game for the Sooners. If they play poorly, then they would get blasted for doing so. If they play well and win big…the response is either indifference because of opponent, or ridicule for running up the score. But that being said, Saturday night's win over Florida A&M, a FCS Division I school and 50 point underdog, did nothing to subside the concerns that emanated from the lackluster win over UTEP.
Yes, OU fans can be spoiled and hard to please at times, but a second straight week of dropping a spot in the AP Poll would indicate that others outside of the Sooner Nation are equally unimpressed by what they have seen from OU so far. The Sooners have an extra week to practice and prepare for what looks like a pretty good K-State team coming to Norman. From what this fan saw on the field against FAMU, that extra time is a good thing…
As Jim Stafford might say...'beating snakes is great, but that ain't what it takes to love you'...you gotta beat K State 'for me to love you, like you want to be loved by me.'
"And in the naked light I saw, ten thousand people, maybe more…people talking without speaking…people hearing without listening…people writing songs that voices never share…and no one dared…disturb the sound…of silence." Sounds of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel
Saturday night's game was the 81st consecutive sell-out at Oklahoma's Memorial Stadium…which just goes to show…a large crowd does not automatically equate to being…a loud crowd. I'm not sure that I've ever been to an OU game where the crowd was that quite…not even a spring game. How quiet was it you ask? It was so silent you could almost hear the fans on the east (opposite) side yawn. It was almost like the PA announcer had asked the crowd too: "please bow your head and join me in recognizing this game with a few hours of silence." Seriously, at times it felt like being at church, except that it wasn't Christmas Eve, my mom wasn't forcing me to be there and when you gave money to the guy at the end of the row, you got peanuts back. What I'm trying to say is…it was not a loud crowd.
I really thought coming into the season that R.J. Washington was finally ready to live up to the hype that made him the nation's top recruit in the 2008 class. After spending a lot of time focusing on his play Saturday night, all I have to say is….Oops…my bad. Look…I also thought OJ would be found guilty and that Starbucks was a bad idea…so it's not like I was on some sort of prognostication unbeaten streak…but that being said, it still would have been nice to have him emerge into a defensive difference maker this year. My next prediction: is that before I have learned how to pronounce his name, Chuka Ndulue will replace RJ in the starting line-up. (P.S…If I was Teddy Lehman or Tinker Owens, I would ask Washington to switch back to #91…cause his play so far is not doing much for #11 jersey sales.)
Good to see Mike Stoops screaming at teenagers on the OU sideline again. Mike looks like he ate well during his time in Tucson…the added weight makes me think he is on the same diet I am. Hey Mike…you might want to mix in a salad with that cover-two every once in a while…just sayin'.
Kenny Stills had a big night….10 catches for 120 yards and a TD. Stills dropped a perfect strike from Landry that would have been a second TD….but he also made a terrific one handed, highlight reel catch that showed he is not afraid to go over the middle like some have suggested. I have no comment on his yellow Mohawk hair-do…keep having 10 catch games and I won't care if he sports a chartreuse mullet.
New item at the concession stand….Parmesan French fries.
The second largest cheer of the night came when freshman wide-out Sterling Shepard caught his first pass as a Sooner. Shepard, from Heritage Hall in OKC, wears #3 just like his father Derrick did when he played WR and returned punts for the Sooners from 1983-1986…the largest cheer of the night? It was reserved for former Sooner All-American and NBA All-Star Blake Griffin. As a football fan, I can't help but daydream about what kind of TE Blake might have been.
Trey Metoyer…made great catch for a TD…his timing with Landry looked a lot better.
The highlight of the night was undoubtedly…Justin Brown. While the Penn State transfer had 2 catches for 55 yards, it is his ability to return punts that has OU fans excited. He had three returns for 102 yards…including one for 62 yards. Twice his returns had the Sooners offense starting inside the Rattlers 20. I do hope he tightens up one aspect of his punt returning repertoire… twice he dribbled the ball when making a fair catch. You can't always count on the bounce to be so kind….just like you can't always count on me not to spew obscenities.
Speaking of spewing obscenities…section 5 was spared my verbal displeasure when Tony Jefferson emerged from getting his ankle rolled up with only a mild strain. It happened right in from of me and looked extremely ugly. He is a player that the Sooners can ill afford to lose. Need an example? His replacement blew a coverage that resulted in long TD pass play for FAMU. (OAS note: I thought the guilty party, Jessie Paulsen, played well otherwise).
The Bell-Dozier was ineffective in limited action Saturday night. Until the forward pass is a real and viable option when using this package, I feel like defenses will catch up to this sand lot shtick soon if not already. Why can't the Sooners get the same blocking and yardage when they hand off to a running back?
Trey Millard…Am I the only guy wearing crimson that wants to see him carry the ball more? While Trey-Dozier might not be as catchy, I bet it would be more effective.
Last week The OAS rambled about the good and bad of Landry Jones. Against FAMU he had an INT and had another one that hit a Rattler d-back in the dread-locks only to be dropped…that kind of good fortune probably won't be available against the likes of Texas and Notre Dame.
Damien Williams had another good game. 156 yards on 10 carries…his 15 yards per carry average aided by an 89 yard jaunt in the second quarter. Good speed not to get caught by D-back…K-State will be better test for what the Sooners have in the JUCO transfer.
Casey Walker is back on the team…David King is back to Defensive end…and The OAS is back to you after the K-State game.
Until then…Boomer Sooner.
Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
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