SUDDEN IMPACT

Over the past few seasons, the Sooners have played in their fair share of games like the one last Saturday, where an impact play (or plays) occurred within minutes or even seconds of the opening kickoff.  Watching the Sooners create and cash in on the early opportunities against the Irish was a very pleasant change in fortune...because when it comes to games involving sudden impact moments, the Sooners have been more the bug than the windshield since 2010.

 

10/23/2010

Memorial Stadium / Columbia Missouri

#1 Oklahoma vs #11 Missouri

"RETURN TO SENDER"

The ref blows his whistle and points at the guy we call our kicker, Patrick O'Hara.  Patrick nods back at the ref like they share some sort of secret and then starts his half jog, half hop-scotch approach to the football.  With the wind at his back, O'Hara launches a fat, fluttering shank of a kick that wobbles end over end into the Missouri sky like a wounded duck.  The ball splats down around the Tigers 14 yard line where it takes one lazy bounce into the arms of Gahn McGaffie.  Eighty-six yards later, McGaffie whose first name is pronounced like John but spelled G-a-h-n, is standing in the OU end-zone...probably introducing himself to his fellow Missouri teammates.

 

Elapsed Time 14 seconds:  Missouri 7 Oklahoma 0

Game Result:  The Sooners never recovered from the slow start and would go on to lose 36-27 to the Tigers.  As a result of the loss, the Oklahoma Sooners #1 ranking was now long gahn...pronounced like gone, but spelled g-a-h-n.

 11/06/2010

Kyle Field / College Station, TX

#8 Oklahoma vs Texas A&M

"FALLING BEHIND 2-0 WAS A SNAP"

On the first play from scrimmage at the A&M 12 yard line, OU center Ben Habern launches the shot-gun snap over the head of QB Landry Jones.  Before Jones could catch up to it and do something really stupid, the ball rolls out of the back of the end zone for a safety. Freshman Aggie Cadets looked at their dates with confusion, not sure whether the 2 points the Aggies got for the safety qualifies for a kiss.  The OU offense looks at Ben Habern with confusion because it is usually Landry's fault when the defense scores.

Elapsed Time 9 seconds: Texas A&M 2 Oklahoma 0

Game Result:  The first play from scrimmage would be a precursor for the rest of the night.  The Sooners were a comedy of errors the entire game in route to a 33-19 loss.

10/22/2011

Oklahoma Memorial Stadium / Norman, OK

#3 Oklahoma vs Texas Tech

"And just like that, Texas Tech offense strikes" - Ron Franklin, ESPN

 "LIGHTNING FAST"
 

Tech returns the kickoff to almost mid-field.  On the second play from scrimmage, the Red Raiders run a slip screen.  The name was appropriate, because Tech wide-out Alex Torres slips inside and through the Sooner defense, going untouched 55 yards for the score.  A violent storm delayed the opening kickoff, but there was no pause in the Red Raiders cause.

 

Elapsed Time 68 seconds: Texas Tech 7 Oklahoma 0

 

Game Result: The Sooners would come back on the next drive to tie the score at 7-7...but OU didn't play well all night, eventually losing to the Red Raiders 41-38. The loss ended what had been the nation's longest home winning streak at 39 games.

 

1/04/2013

Cowboys Stadium / Dallas, TX

#12 Oklahoma vs #10 Texas A&M
"COTTON CANDY FOR MANZIEL & THE AGGIES"

 

On the 6th play of the game, Johnny Manziel zigzags his way down the far sideline and into the OU end zone.  The Sooners defense was easy pickin's for Maziel and the Aggies, as he rushed for a Cotton Bowl record 229 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Elapsed Time 2:32: Johnny Football 7 Oklahoma  0

 

Game Result:  Ugly.  Halftime score: 14-13 Aggies.  Aggies come out of locker room to score 27 unanswered second half points and route Oklahoma 41-13. 

 

BUT FINALLY...

09/28/2013

Notre Dame Stadium / South Bend, Indiana

#14 Oklahoma vs #22 Notre Dame

 "OKLAHOMA STRIKER'S FIRST"

 

A Sooner defensive player blitzes off the corner, blindsiding the opposing QB just as he was attempting to throw. The ball flutters into the arms of a Sooner linebacker who rumbles untouched into the end zone for an Oklahoma touchdown.  Sound familiar?  Of course it does, it happened only four days ago.  Okay, maybe the play was a little reminiscent of the play Roy Williams made against Texas in 2001...but this time it was Eric Striker on the blitz and Corey Nelson on the catch and run for six. 

 

Elapsed Time 49 seconds: Oklahoma 7 Notre Dame 0

 

But there was more...One play after NBC had returned from promoting Ford trucks and remedies for erectile dysfunction, Oklahoma LB Frank Shannon intercepts a pass that was deflected by Aaron Colvin at midfield and returns it 17 yards to the Irish 32 yard line.  Four plays later Damien Williams is standing in the Irish end zone.

 

Total elapsed Time 2:45: Oklahoma 14 Notre Dame 0

 

 

Game Result:  As you know the Sooners held off the Irish for 35-21 victory.

 

It would be hard to under estimate how important that early lead was for the Sooners last Saturday....All I know is that's the kind of sudden impact this Sooner fan could really get use too.

 

Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy

 

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

 

Buddy Putty