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



TEXAS TECH RECAP: PART I

 

 

#15 OKLAHOMA 38

#10 TEXAS TECH 30 

 

 GROUNDHOG DAY II 

"It's like deja-vu, all over again" -Yogi Berra

 

 

 

 

October 22, 2011

Where: Owen Field - Norman, Oklahoma

When: Saturday - late October

Who: Texas Tech Red Raiders

Why: Kickoff delayed 94 minutes due to violent area storms

What:  The Red Raiders strike first to take an early 7-0 lead, but OU ties the score at 7 with a TD drive soon after

October 26, 2013

Where: Owen Field - Norman, Oklahoma
When: Saturday - late October
Who: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Why: Kickoff delayed 75 minutes due to violent area storms
What:  The Red Raiders strike first to take an early 7-0 lead, but OU ties the score at 7 with a TD drive soon after

 

BIG 12 CLASSIC

This one had a little bit of everything... lightning, thunder, scoring sprees, big hits, reverses, fog, rain, blunders, lead changes, big plays, long drives, penalties and enough attempted deception to make David Copperfield jealous. 

 

The game was part smash mouth, part finesse; part beauty and part beast.  The two teams treated momentum like Elizabeth Taylor did husbands...often obtained but never retained.  

 

Every time one team seemed poised to deliver a knock out blow...the other would fight back with a flurry of points to get back into the game or even take a lead.

 

It was almost eerie how similar the weather and the first quarter of the game were to the last time these two teams met in Norman.   Look, I have gotten use to the fact that strange stuff is going to happen when the Sooners go to Lubbock…but that voodoo b.s needs to stay out in west Texas. Thankfully, for OU fans at least, this version of OU-Tech Gridiron Groundhog Day had a different ending than the 2011 version. The Sooners were able to come out on top in a hard hitting, entertaining and exciting game…

And who says the sequel is never as good as the original?

THINKING OUT LOUD...

 

OU Double Jeopardy

The OAS: “Alex, I’ll take ‘There’s Only One’ for $500 please.”
Alex: “These ‘Raiders of the Loss’ handed the #3 ranked Sooners their first defeat of the 2011 season. Their win over OU ended the Sooners nation’s longest home winning streak and still stands as the only time that a Bob Stoops coached OU team has lost a home game in the month of October.
Contestant #1:(bing) "What is long –winded answer?"
Contestant #2:(bing) What is how did all that fit on your card?
The OAS: (bing) Who is Texas Tech?
Alex: Texas Tech is correct...The Red Raiders are still the only team to win in Norman in the month of October.

Targeting or Turtling?

It was a very physical, hard hitting football game on Saturday…but the best hit of the day may have been when Aaron Colvin took out his own head coach. Stoops was standing about 5 yards out on the field arguing that the pass Tech had just thrown should be ruled a lateral. A lateral of course would make it a fumble and live ball instead of an incomplete pass. Meanwhile, Aaron Colvin, who is actually supposed to be on the field, is working off the same optimistic premise that Stoops is, so he picks up the ball and starts to run. He didn’t make it very far. I guess you could say he got ‘Stooped’ at the 35 yard line.

I don’t know, I could be wrong…but I would think when arguing a call with a referee, it would be more effective if done so from the sidelines. It would seem to me that your argument would tend to lose a little of its effect when your laying on your back at the near hash mark, kicking you’re arms and legs up and down like a turtle flipped over on his shell…but hey, what do I know.

There is no Kneed for This

Trey Millard’s season ending ACL injury is another huge blow to the Sooners. News of his injury really casted a pall over what should have been a celebratory post game Sooner locker room. Millard’s versatility was invaluable to the Sooners offense. Hell, most chiropractors don’t see as many back positions as Millard did. Whether it was fullback, halfback, H-back, bar back, Nickelback, Back to the Future, Back in Black, back to back or backgammon...Millard could play them all.  
I don’t think I have ever seen someone who could block as well as Millard coming out of the backfield. Equally important, is that by all accounts he seemed to be a good dude and one of the most popular guys on the team. 
If your keeping score at home, you can now add the name Millard to a list that includes Peterson, Bradford, Broyles, Gresham, and Nelson of players who had their Sooner careers ended prematurely due to injury.

Tomorrow Is Yesterday

Remember the last time the Oklahoma Sooners had two true freshman linebackers on the field at the same time?  Yeah, me neither.  The duo of Alexander and Evans combined with redshirt freshman Eric Striker is a terrific foundation for a bright future at linebacker. They are making some mistakes from time to time, but they can play.

Give Both Arms to Do That

Nice game by Gabe Lynn with 9 tackles and a pick. But Gabe has become a poster boy for one of my biggest pet peeves…the armless tackle. Why do defensive backs insist on tackling like they are in a strait jacket? This isn’t soccer!  There is no penalty for using your arms and hands...so wrap up, so I don't melt down.  Thank you

Not So Special Teams

Let’s start with the punt team.  Is there some new minimum weight requirement rule that a punt coverage team must adhere to that I don’t know about? If not, then why do we have three sumo wrestlers and a guy that looks like he has to go to the feed store to weigh himself out there trying to cover kicks? You would think that of the 85 guys on the team, there would be at least 10 who could both cover kicks and be able to tell you what a salad is. One of the deep protection guys could lose 25 pounds and knock a full second off his forty-time just by stopping into Super-Cuts. Seriously, if those are the best we got, then someone needs to get Floyd the barber and Jenny Craig on the phone because something has to change. If a punt returner gets past the first wave of guys all that is left between him and the goal line is four plates of biscuits and gravy and our disinterested punter. Not good. (I will talk about the Tech fake punt in tomorrow’s update…genius.)

One for Me, One for You

The Sooners win on Saturday was the first time in 8 seasons that someone has won 2 in a row. Which I guess makes the win twice as nice.

A NUMBER OF THINGS TO SAY

Texas Tech 725 Oklahoma 0

When it comes to who had the best tight, this was no contest. The Tech tight end is an All-American who came into the game already having 725 receiving yards. The OU tight end is just an American that zero receiving yards because we have instructed our QB's to only throw the ball to people that are actually in the game.
Want to find a way to help your young QB? Then get him a woobie, a pacifier, a teddy bear or some sort of security blanket...like a tight end. A young Jason White had Trent Smith. Redshirt frosh Sam Bradford had Jermaine Gresham. Landry Jones had…well, he had a bad porn ‘stach and some mobility issues…but I regress. Just get a tight end damn it!  

16 of 18

The Sooners ran the football on 16 of their last 18 plays. To be able to control the football and run the clock is how you win football games. Overall the Sooners ran the ball 50 times for 277 yards while throwing it 22 for 249. In my opinion, that is the kind of ratio that gives us the best chance to win right now.

8 of 15

A little over 50% on 3rd down conversion rate will take that every time.

8 for 55 = 6.9

Evidently, Roy Finch has gone from forgotten man to being the OU closer. All of Finch’s eight carries and 55 yards came during fourth quarter crunch time. Don’t get me wrong, I like Roy Finch. It has always puzzled me as to why the coaches haven’t found more ways to get him the ball during his career here. That being said, I find him to be a curious choice for this roll. You would think it better to pound the opposing defense with a bigger back whose running style will take its toll on a tired defense. Finch is a water bug not a bruiser. You would think his style of running would also be more susceptible to fumbling, but hey…I also thought OJ was guilty, so what the hell do I know.

Up Next...Part 2
"6 Yards Away From Shreveport"

Just one mildly interested guys opinion

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

 

 

 

 



 

OU FIGHT'S OFF TEXAS HANGOVER TO BEAT KU

 

OKLAHOMA 34

KANSAS 19

 

Yawn.  Talk about your Texas game hangover.  I woke up Saturday morning and had to look and see what time the game started.  After the disappointing loss to the Longhorns combined with the dreadful opponent, I was about as interested in watching this game as I would be starting a diet...which evidently, is only slightly less interested than the Sooners were to play this game.

The first quarter and a half against Kansas last Saturday, was possibly the worst football this program has played in the Stoops era.  There are some good high school teams that could beat Kansas and that is not a joke.  Kansas has not won a Big 12 game since 2010, yet the Jayhawks came out and punched us in the mouth like it was a BCS Bowl Game.  How bad was it you didn't ask? Well, I will tell you anyway:

-Two minutes into the second quarter the Jayhawks had already rushed the football for more yards than they had averaged per game.
-The OU offense gained 23 yards on its first two opening possessions, including a three and out...with all three being pass plays.  With our current situation being what it is at QB...how does that happen? Our QB should rarely throw the ball period, much less three times in a row.  All that did was put our stunned defense back on the field before they were ready.
-D-Coordinator Mike Stoops and DL coach Jerry Montgomery got into a shouting match  on the sidelines and nearly came to blows, which wouldn't have been all bad.  A least a Sooner would have finally hit somebody.

But eventually the Jayhawks would be the Jayhawks and the Sooners would rally to win...but nonetheless, there are some very disturbing trends that need to be addressed...and addressed quickly.

I don't have much to say about the KU game...it was what it was, but I will touch on a couple high's and low's anyway.

The Good

-Give the Sooners credit for righting the ship on Saturday.  You can see why they would come out flat, but they sucked it up, refocused and got the job done.  If they had lost this game, the season would have spiraled down and out of control like it was Lamar Odom's carrer.
-The Jayhawks threw for 16 yards....16!  I don't care who you are playing, giving up only 48 feet of passing yards is pretty impressive.
-It was nice to see Roy Finch get some consistent playing time.  His 7 carries netted 56 yards.

The Bad

-They should start selling our defense at Duncan Donuts, because without DL Jordan Phillips and LB Corey Nelson, we got nothing but a big hole in middle.
-How can Blake Bell have 24 rushing TD's when he isn't the starting QB yet have the same number of rushing TD's as I do, which is zero, when he is the starting QB?
-Kicker Michael Hunnicutt shanked the extra point after the first OU touchdown...and along with it any chance he had at winning the Lou Groza award.  He was in the running for the award for the nations best kicker and deserved to be, but a missed extra point will not look good on the resume.
-Speaking of kickers...and I use the term loosely...our punter Jed Barrett found a new way to make sure he doesn't have to make any more feeble attempts to tackle opposing punt returners.  Just let the other team block it.  I am actually shocked that this hasn't happened already this year...I could make a sandwich in the time he takes to kick the ball after catching the snap from center.
-Why can't junior college All American defensive lineman Quincy Russell get on the field? With Jordan Phillips hurt, and Torrea Peterson suspended, we need bodies.  You can't tell me that he is still trying to get into shape...and if he doesn't know the scheme, then send him in there to just tie up some bodies and keep them off the linebackers.  Something is going on there and it can't be good.  If not, then get him the hell in the game.

The Ugly

Freshman RB Keith Ford may very well be our best running back.  He runs with downhill with speed and power and seems to have great vision.  But he has now laid the ball on the ground twice.  In case Ford doesn't understand what that second fumble meant for his playing time, I will help him with the math.  Ford + (2) Fumble = Finished

#11 took the ball and rolled to his right.  Quickly he stopped, planted his feet and then launched the football deep down the field.  The tight spiral hit Sterling Shepard in stride down the right sideline for a touchdown.  Finally, the Sooners were able to successfully incorporate the long passing game into their offensive arsenal.  It was by far the best deep pass thrown all season.  The ugly part is, #11 is Lacoltan Bester... and unfortunately, he plays wide receiver, not quarterback. 
I won't even get into things like: where the F*** was this play last week...or why did we have to resort to tricks to beat Kansas....I will instead just say this...
Until we find a QB that can throw the ball down the field with some consistency, no defense is going to respect our passing game.  Bell did connect on six straight passes over 10 yards at one point, but I'm going to need to see him do that against someone besides KU before I give full credit.

Because it was better than the game...

The Ohio State football team beat Iowa in Columbus on Saturday, but still got upstaged by the Buckeye Band. The band paid tribute to Michael Jackson on Saturday.  Fast forward to the out 3:55 mark in the video below and watch as they form his silhouette, bring out a white glove...and then moonwalk during their rendition of 'Billy Jean.' The whole thing was very impressive if you ask me.

Lawrence, Kansas

I will say this, if you ever get a chance to go to Lawrence, Kansas for a game, you should do it.  I didn't make it this year, but I have been before.  Lawrence is a great town, located about 41 miles from Kansas City (similar to Norman/OKC).  The place has a great atmosphere, fun bars and in October...the weather can be both beautiful and pleasant.  The OAS gives Lawrence two thumbs up!

 

Next up...Texas Tech Red Raiders

I'll be honest...I have no idea what is going to happen this Saturday when the undefeated Red Raiders hit town.  This OU team is struggling to find its identity and seems to have lost their confidence after the Longhorns gut punched them.  Norman is a tough place to win, but since Tech was the one who ended our home winning streak two years ago, they know they can win at our place.  The Sooners will have to find a way to stop the Tech running game, while establishing the run on offense.  This game will be a challenge and the outcome could determine which direction this team goes the rest of the season.

My prediction is that the Sooners give The OAS a late birthday present and find a way to win at home:

Oklahoma 23 Texas Tech 20

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

LONGHORNS ANSWER THE BELL - OU-TEXAS - PART 2

TEXAS 36

OKLAHOMA 20

 

 

Obviously, things did not go well for the Sooners in last Saturday's 108th edition of the Red River Rivalry.  OU was out played, out coached and out and out embarrassed by a below average Texas Longhorns football team.  There were so many dysfunctional things about the Sooners performance against Texas that I decided it would be best to take an extra day to think about what I witnessed.  Maybe that would keep me from being so negative and sounding like your typical over-reacting knee jerk fan.  Unfortunately, it didn't work.  Turns out, the only thing the extra time did was provide me additional opportunity to add to my list of points to second guess.  

But today I am going to mainly focus on what I thought was the key to the game...and then beat the shit out it.  Hey, its what I do.

 

The Offensive Game Plan

"Everybody has a plan 'till they get

punched in the mouth" - Mike Tyson

 

The Texas Longhorn defense came into this game ranked as the second worst team in the state of Texas against the run.  That doesn't sound so bad, right?  Wrong.  The Longhorns are also the second worst team in all of America against the run, ranking an abysmal 117th out of the 118 Division I schools.  Let me say that last part again: one hundred and seventeenth.  If not for UTEP, who evidently is only using 8 guys on defense, the 230+ yards a game the Horns were giving up coming into Saturday, would have been the worst in the entire world.

Just to hammer this home, take a look at the following stats from three of the Horns early season opponents:

 

BYU:  Rushing Rank: 13th (33rd w/out Texas stats)

Rushing yards: 550/7.6 ypc / QB rushing yards: 259/17.2

BYU QB had runs of 68, 20 & 26 yards

 

Ole Miss: Rushing Rank: 62nd

Rushing Yards: 272 / 6.0 ypc / QB rush yards: 57 / 4.8 ypc

RB Scott has 164 yards

Iowa State: Rushing Rank 84th

Rushing yards vs UT: 201 / QB rushing yards: 83 / 4.9 ypc

RB Wimberley 117 yards

 

The schools that piled up these stats against Texas aren't exactly known as rushing juggernauts, but yet they ran right down the Longhorns throat.  BYU rushed for an amazing 550 yards against the Texas defense...Hell, I'm not even sure I go that far for vacation. 

 

Unless you are Ronnie Milsap, you might have also noticed that the QB's had more than average success running the football against the Horns.  Hmmm...

 

So you would think that the OU game plan would have been to come out and pound the football down the Longhorns throat right?  I mean, after all, we can do that now, right?   Didn't we hired a new o-line coach who spent an entire off-season reconditioning the body and mind of our offensive line?  We have a roster full of QB's who have proven to have more efficient legs than arms.  We possess a stable of above average running backs that gives us the ability to attack opponents in waves with talented fresh legs...not to mention the fact that we have a receiving corps that has shown they are capable of providing excellent downfield blocking. 

 

Granted, I am just an oversized, over-served guy sitting in section 103 of the upper deck, but the proper offensive approach to winning this ball game seemed pretty cut and dry to me:

 

Show up at the Cotton Bowl and put on those new jersey's that we evidently borrowed from Florida State for this game, watch the refs flip a coin, take the field...and then run the football over and over again like it was the 1970s. 

 

Then when the games over...we can all take turns dancing on the field wearing a gold cowboy hat trophy, plant a big OU flag at the 50 yard line, have Olin Mills take a team picture, eat a Fletchers Corny Dog...and then load our undefeated and top ten ranked asses onto a bus headed back to Norman. 

 

But what do I know. 

 

Instead...Not one single OU running back carried the ball more than seven times, this despite the fact that when they did carry it, they averaged over 5 yards a pop.  While other team's quarterbacks ran through the Texas defense like Grant went through Richmond, we called for our QB to run the ball a grand total of one time in the first half.

 

Maybe I could understand not utilizing the read option more or not getting Trevor Knight into the game, if Blake Bell was playing well....but he wasn't.  I will cover his inability to throw the ball downfield in a bit, but what was more concerning to me was his lack of poise.  I felt certain that playing well and winning on the road in South Bend would go a long way in calming him for his first Red River Rivalry start.  I was wrong. 

 

My cousin Chip and his wife Sara went to school at UT for some reason.

It looks like I have some work to do if I am going to somehow convince

their children Wyatt, Luke & Marshall not to do the same. 

 

Bell never looked settled, confident or relaxed.  The few times he ran the ball he did so tentatively.  He struggled with his progressions, often unable to locate the open receiver or missing them with the pass when he did.  Brennan Clay dropped what would have been a touchdown on the Sooners first possession, but that might have been Bell's last decent throw of the day.  His two INT's were absolutely horrific throws that were not only well off target, but delivered horribly late.  His first interception, which was returned by UT defensive lineman Chris Whaley, is a head scratcher.  How do you not notice a 6' 3" 295 pound guy dressed in orange standing only 15 yards away from you?  He was a flashing light short of being a human construction zone.  Sadly, Bell picked this opportunity to make his most accurate throw of the entire afternoon.  If there's such a thing as hitting a defensive lineman in 'full stride', Bell did it....then became the first player to greet Whaley after his touchdown when he gave him a bear hug at the OU goal line.

 

I could go on and on here...but I don't need to add carpel tunnel to my list of physical deficiencies.

 

In Other News...

Key Stat of the game: 3rd down conversions

Texas was 13 of 20, including a ridiculous 9 of 13 in the first half.  Conversely, the Sooners were 2 of 13 when face with 3rd down.  Tough to win a game when your defense can't get off the field and your offense can't stay on it.

 

Turn That Frown Upside Down

In an attempt to not be totally negative: Dominque Alexander had 19 tackles and Eric Striker had 16. The future looks bright at LB for the Sooners.

 

Damn Kickers

I have watched OU kickers and punters do some amazingly uncoordinated and un-athletic things over the years, but Jed Barnett's attempt to tackle Texas kick returner Daje Johnson on his 85 yard touchdown return may take the cake.  First of all, he is running like he is trying not to hurt the grass. Secondly, his effort tells me he would have just as soon quit the team right there at the forty yard line rather than have to actually try to tackle Johnson.  But that wasn't ever going to be an option anyway...I have seen better angles on a circle than the one he took in his attempt to 'run down' Johnson. I posted the video for those who might need an inspirational message about effort to share with their children.

 

 

 watch the effort @ the 00:33 mark of this video

 

 

In closing, it is my opinion that the Sooners came into the Texas game an exposed football team.  Gary Patterson and his Frogs may not have beaten the Sooners nine days ago in Norman, but they very well may have been the reason that Texas did this last Saturday.  Patterson's game plan against OU was the template the Horns used to render Blake Bell and the OU offense ineffective... and you can bet that every other team on the Sooners schedule will be using the same strategy going forward.

The loss was a big disappointment.  I wasn't under any allusion that this was a great OU football team, but getting beat by a below average Texas squad and out coached by a guy who will be unemployed soon...made this one of the most disappointing losses in the Stoops era.

It will be interesting to see where this OU team goes from here and who will be leading it when it arrives.  A Big 12 Conference championship is still out there to be had...but then again...so is an invitation to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty

THE 108th EDITION OF OU-TEXAS / PART 1

TEXAS 36

OKLAHOMA 20

 

PART 1

The Not the Game Part  



"You can't drink all day if you don't start in the morning" -Celia Rivenbark

It was just a strange day...but at least it started too early.

For the fifth time in the last six years, the game was selected to be broadcast nationally, which means kickoff once again was at 11 a.m.   Look, I have no problem having a cocktail or seven before McDonalds will even sell you a McRib combo, that's not really the issue.  Hell, I majored in that back in college.  The problem with the early kick is the limited window of time it provides for 90,000 people to arrive at Fair Park.  If you don't want to get caught up in bad traffic or for some reason you don't feel comfortable parking your Lexus in the front yard of a crack house located more than a mile or so from Big Tex...then you need to get to Fair Park by 8:30. Which we did.

But arriving early can also have its adventures.  The State Fair of Texas opens at 8:00 am on OU-Texas game day. Arriving by 8:30 will almost guarantee you the rare yet unwelcomed opportunity to observe how a few State Fair carnival employees spend their mornings.  It has been my experience that nothing will make you revisit your pop tart like watching a 'carney' and his significant other give each other spit baths prior to inserting their teeth. I just gotta say...if that doesn't make you want to floss, then nothing will.

Then there was the weather last Saturday....simply put, it sucked.  One minute it was nasty, humid and hot and then the next minute it was nasty, humid and miserably hot.  Saturday, with both the temperature and the humidity in the mid 80's, Fair Park felt like a giant deep fried crimson and orange tropical rain forest...except with a ferris wheel.  

Needless to say, it was even worse inside the Cotton Bowl.  Once wedged into my seat, I got to spend the next 3 1/2 hours sweating like Mike Tyson at a spelling bee and listening to 45,000 tea-sippers chant OU sucks.  God, I love college football....

But regardless of what time the game kicks off, what kind of weather must be endured or who wins; there is always one good thing I can count on at OU-Texas...and that is the people.

One of my favorite things about the weekend is getting to see some old friends who I haven't seen since the previous year...or maybe haven't seen in years.  Sometimes the game can feel like a mini reunion. 

 Like most, I find it hard to comprehend how fast the years are passing us by, stunned by the fact that it has now been 25 years since I somehow managed to graduate.  It may only be for a moment or two, but getting to see people like Jana Rae Love, Michelle Williams Davis and Rob Roberts (just to name a few) reminds me of how blessed I feel to have an annual event like OU-Texas that ties me to my past; a time and place to reminisce past memories all the while creating new ones.

The OU-Texas game is always fun, even when the Sooners lose, but the weekend is truly special...and that is something I will get up early and sweat all day long for...anytime.

Up Next:

Longhorns Answer the Bell

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty























  

A CHAT WITH BIG TEX

BIG TEX 2013
 

His name is Big Tex and he is one of the Lone Star State's most iconic images. A cultural ambassador for both the city of Dallas and the state of Texas, this tall Texan has been the official symbol of the State Fair of Texas since 1952.

The 2012 State Fair marked Big Tex's 60th year as the Fair Park center piece but before the sexagenarian celebration could commence, tragedy struck. Investigators cite an electrical short from within the 4 story fiberglass cowboy as the cause for the blaze...but regardless of how it started, Big Tex as we knew him was no longer.

They said they could rebuild him. They had the technology to make him bigger, stronger and even more fire retardant than ever before….and so they did. 

On September 26th, Big Tex 2.0 was unveiled during the 2013 State Fair opening ceremonies.  Recently the OAS was granted the opportunity to have a one on one visit with the Texas State Fair legend….here is how it went:

The OAS: Big Tex, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk with me today. How are you my friend?
BIG TEX: Word up
The OAS: Excuse me?
BIG TEX: I said, word up
The OAS: Oh please. Word up…What's that all about? What happened to the traditional: 'Hoooowwwdee Foooollllks and welcome to the State Fair of Texas’ greeting that we’ve all come to know over the years?
BIG TEX: I think I got a little burnt out on that old school stuff. The new BT is gonna be a little more hip, more fresh, more gangsta.
The OAS: So you're BT now? Well, BT...Have you glanced at a mirror lately? You’re new look is hardly ‘gangsta.’
BIG TEX: I could be gangsta. Think of me as a four story Vanilla Ice.
The OAS: Vanilla Ice? (laughing) It’s hard to think Vanilla Ice, when what I see is more like Hee Haw Ice.   Dude, no offense, but you look like what could happen if someone down at the sperm bank mixed together Ron Howard and Alfalfa from Our Gang. Who was your artist, Aunt B?   I hate to be the one who breaks this news to you, but with the look you're throwing down you're about as gangsta as Bert & Ernie from Sesame Street.
BIG TEX: Just tryin’ to keep it real ‘my shizzle.’
The OAS: Don’t you mean ‘sizzle.’
BIG TEX:  Hey, that’s not funny. No fire jokes
The OAS: Oh, that reminds me…I’m recording this for my blog and need to put in a plug for my sponsors…you don’t mind do you?
BIG TEX: Go ahead my nizzle
The OAS: Today’s OAS Blog is brought to you by:
Duraflame: America's #1 Fire Log. ‘Start your fire with Duraflame’…and by Kingsford Charcoal: For a fire that is ready faster and burns longer, it's got to be Kingsford…and by Up in Smoke: The official smoke shop of the OAS Blog
BIG TEX: Is the fact that I was involved in a minor yet traumatic fire related incident last fall funny to you? Are you always so insensitive?  Do you always find humor in other peoples misfortune?
The OAS: 'Minor' fire related incident? Big Tex…you were…
BIG TEX: Please…call me BT
The OAS: Okay…whatever you say BT, but that was hardly a minor fire related incident.  In mere minutes, you went from being a larger than life Texas icon to the scrap heap. 
BIG TEX: Are we still talking about me…or did we transition to Mack Brown somehow and I just didn’t pick up on it?
The OAS: Funny, but we are still talking about you.
BIG TEX: You’re right, but it upsets me that there are people out there who think that the blaze that took me down was caused by some sort of internal electrical short.
The OAS: Well, that's what happened isn't it?

BIG TEX: No, not at all. In fact it had nothing to do with me at all. It was all former Texas Defensive Coordinator Manny Diaz’s fault.
The OAS: Come on BT. Nice try. Coach Diaz is getting blamed for a lot of things these days, but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the reason you caught on fire.
BIG TEX: Are you sure? He was in charge of the Longhorn defense and look how bad they've been getting scorched.
The OAS: Funny...you're on fire with these jokes.
BIG TEX: Again with the fire humor
The OAS: My point is, just because the Texas defense hasn't been playing well doesn’t mean he lit you up.   Besides, if you are looking for a good defense...Manny Diaz might not be the guy you want to choose. It didn’t work out to well for Mack Brown.
BIG TEX: Good point my nizzle.
The OAS: Quit saying that…You’re creeping me out.
BIG TEX:   Okay, so it wasn't Manny's fault, but in all seriousness…it wasn’t my fault either.
The OAS: Then what happened?
BIG TEX: The people from the State Fair food court tried to deep fry me. That's what they do here at the State Fair of Texas.  They fry everything.  First it was deep fried bacon and then it was butter. Hell, they even tried to deep fry beer.  I knew after that it was just a matter of time until they came after me.
The OAS: Alright...whatever you say...let's move on.
BT, take us back to the beginning...where and when did all this Big Tex stuff get started for you.
BIG TEX:  The first time all my pieces were put into place was in Kerens, Texas back in 1949.   Funny thing is, and not many people know this, but originally I was a forty-nine foot paper-mache Santa Claus, not a cowboy.

The OAS:   So what happened to your gig as Big St. Nick?
BIG TEX: After two years the novelty of having a giant Santa standing around wore off on the locals and I was purchased by Texas State Fair President R.L. Thornton for $750 and moved to Fair Park.
The OAS: How did that go? Were you well received in and around Fair Park?
BIG TEX: Well received? I was about as popular as a police lineup.
The OAS: Why was that?
BIG TEX: Turns out the woman in the area didn't care to have some oversized white guy in a red suit standing around blurting out ho, ho, ho every 15 minutes. Said they didn't need another pimp in the area, especially one my size. Said if they didn't get rid of me that somebody was gonna, and I quote, "Put a cap in my large white Santa Claus ass."
The OAS: Never heard of someone threatening to shoot Santa before. Tough crowd.
BIG TEX: I doubt Santa ever spent a June evening hanging out near Fair Park expressing a sentiment that could be mistakenly interpreted as a disparaging remark about the morals of the local female populace.
The OAS: Good point...and eloquently articulated I might add.  So then what happened?
BIG TEX:  The powers that be decided to transform me into a cowboy for the State Fair that year.  That was 1952 and I have been Big Tex ever since. 
The OAS:  Tell me what the OU/Texas fans coming out this weekend should expect to hear from the new BT and please tell me that there it is something besides the gangsta b.s. you are throwing down.
BIG TEX: I am capable of saying a lot more things than I could before.  The final touches are being worked out here in the eleventh hour...but I can give you a few examples:

"Hey fat girl over in the turkey leg line;

haven't you already had two of those?"

 

"Smoking is strictly prohibited within 200 feet of me.  Violators will receive a size 70 boot in their ass"

...and my personal favorite...

 

"Fire Mack Brown, not Big Tex"

 

The OAS: Those are all very interesting public service messages.  Good luck with that.  Hey listen, before we go BT...let's talk a little football.  Anything you have to share?
BIG TEX: One interesting fact is that since I arrived in 1952 the two teams are 29-29-3
The OAS:  So do you have a favorite between the two schools?
BIG TEX: No, no...I just want to see a good ballgame and hope that nobody gets hurt.
The OAS: That is kind of hard to believe...I mean this is the Texas State Fair after all...you can't tell me that you don't at least lean toward the Longhorns
BIG TEX: Please don't say lean...that's not funny either.
The OAS:  Sorry...but if you had to pick one side; you would have to go with your home state team wouldn't you?
BIG TEX: I guess...but I have always rooted more for the players than the schools.  Some of my favorites players are from Texas are: Cotton Speyrer, Eric Metcalf, Colt McCoy and Ox Eckhardt.  From Oklahoma my favorites are Reggie Barnes and Leon 'Mule Train' Heath...and of course Buster Rhymes who later went on to became a famous rapper
The OAS: Hate to burst your rapper bubble, but  I think the rapper you are talking about is Busta Rhymes, not the former OU wideout Buster Rhymes
BIG TEX: My bad, my shizzle
The OAS: Right.  Anything else?
BIG TEX: Well...off the record...I will tell you this...I like the Oklahoma Sooners colors much more than I do the Longhorn's.
The OAS:  Really...a fan of the crimson and cream are you?
BIG TEX:   Not so much that I like crimson and cream...but more the fact that I'm just not a fan of burnt orange.  Know what I mean?
The OAS: Got ya.  Thanks for your time BT....see ya on Saturday for the 31st straight year.
BIG TEX: word to your mother

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty