‘Memories, like the corners of my mind…misty water-colored memories, of the way we were’
– ‘The Way We Were’ / Barbara Streisand
My Friday night was not spent doing the ‘Hustle’ at a Disco…nor did I dress up and participate in a Rocky Horror Picture Show. I didn’t spend the evening reading ‘Looking for Mr. Goodbar’…and not just because I have already seen the movie.
On Saturday, not once did I consider wearing bell bottom jeans or a rayon shirt to the game. I don’t have a CB radio in my car…probably because I would rather get a speeding ticket than utter the phrases "That's a big 10-4 good buddy.”
No, we didn’t spend the pre-game drinking Schlitz and listening to Jefferson Starship on an 8-track player in the O’Connell’s parking lot. Not once did the focus of our discussions involve: Charlie’s Angels, Jimmy Hoffa or the movie Jaws. While I am sure that somewhere there were discussions about military involvement in a foreign country or the price of gas…I would be surprised if Vietnam and .44 cents a gallon were the main points of contention.
At the stadium…while many chests in the stands were now artificial, the field of play no longer was…Mike Treps and John Brooks were no longer in the Sooners radio booth….and no, you couldn’t re-enter the stadium after leaving for a quick half-time beer. If there were any demonstrations or exhibitions of free love happening in or around the stadium, regrettably I was not involved.
And no…the first play of the game did not go anything like this: Quarterback Steve Davis, the 5’11” senior from Sallisaw, takes the snap, fakes a handoff to the FB Littrell…options right…cuts up field …now he pitches to Ivory. Horace, down the right sideline is finally pushed out of bounds at the 47 yard line. At least not for the Sooners anyway.
Despite these facts, who could blame any OU fan for experiencing a three hour journey back in time last Saturday? When you look down and see Lee Roy Selmon on the sideline while you are witnessing an option offense run up and down Owen Field for 351 yards on 63 carries...well…visions of 1975 are easy to imagine…even if the platform shoes aren’t.
This past weekend the University of Oklahoma held a reunion honoring members of the Oklahoma Sooners 1974 and 1975 back-to-back national championship teams. Lee Roy and Dewey Selmon, Steve Davis, Randy Hughes, Tinker Owens and Elvis Peacock were just a few of the 60+ Sooners and coaches who attended the weekend long celebration. The schedule of events included a party on Friday night followed by a special recognition ceremony that was held during half-time of Saturday’s game.
But the biggest tribute to that past era of Sooner champions may have been one that was unscheduled and unintentional.
It has been said, that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery…if that is truly the case…then the performance put on by the Air Force option offense last Saturday…must have had those Sooners of yester-year blushing.
‘One if by land, two if by…land’… Yes, the decade of the 70’s was ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ for OU fans. During those ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Good Times’ the Sooners combined a dominate defense with an explosive, high powered, high scoring wishbone offense to win more games than any other program in the country.
The times, they are a changing…. In the 1970’s, college football had a run first mentality. Need some proof? From 1972-1983 the only position to win a Heisman Trophy was a running back. Need more? Try this statistic: 58 of 152 for 1,331 yards. That was COMBINED passing totals for the 1974 and 1975 Oklahoma Sooners National Title teams. In 1975 the Sooners completed less passes that entire season (25) than Landry Jones did last Saturday (26).
Baseball has always been, and still is, about pitching and defense. In basketball, Jordan and Kobe proved that you could win a title without having a legitimate star at center. In hockey, it was the belief that you only went as far as your goalie would take you…which was a first round playoff exit once Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux came along….but the adjustment in offensive philosophy necessary to win a championship in college football, is arguably the biggest change seen in all of sports history. (This has been another deep thought brought to you by The OAS).
Today’s college football offense is like an iPhone or a laptop…sleek, modern, multi faceted machines built to produce instant rewards. Like the pet rock, the Magic 8 Ball or the mood ring…the option offense is a fad from an era left way behind. If today’s offenses were a form of communication…the passing game of the spread offense would be a text message, while the wishbone would be the equivalent of the hand written letter.
The Air Force almost took the Sooners back to the future last Saturday. Like me, I would guess that most Sooner fans were nervous and concerned at one point as to what the outcome might be. But, I’m willing to bet that somewhere in heaven former Sooner QB Jack Mildren, ‘The Godfather’ of the wishbone, was smiling…lets just hope he wasn’t wearing a one piece leisure suit when he was.
Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy…
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
OH, OH SEMINOLE WIN...FOR SOONERS
WEEK 2 RECAP
OKLAHOMA 47 FLORIDA ST. 17
“My attitude is one of hope…Hoping it was only one game, the first game…hoping that Utah St. was just better than expected (which I think is true)…and hoping that even though looking ahead is a bad habit too, maybe that is what happened here.”
–Quote from The OAS in Week One Update.
I know. Amazing isn’t it? Insight with that kind of depth is not easy to find these days. It’s a gift really. Oh, like you, I hear the talk…people calling me a “Super Hero of Sooner Stuff”…but I don’t know…the word ‘super’ is so over used these days. Ultimately, I guess that’s for me to decide. But regardless of how I label my genius, it feels good knowing that my level headed, even keel, emotionally stable approach in regards to all things Sooner Football is being recognized.
Not buying that? Yeah, me neither. Like most of you, I have met me. Even keel? Can’t say I have heard that used to describe me in, well, ever. My ‘hope prediction’ from last week, falls squarely into the “even my broken clock is right twice a day” category…Hell, I was just due. As far as my history with predictions or assumptions go…A man has a better chance of being the victim in a Lifetime Channel movie than I do being correct. I don’t need Charles Dickens to send the ‘Ghost of Over Reactions Past’ my way for a visit to remember these little winners:
“Allen Patrick will never see the field as a running back”
What I meant to say was…Patrick turned out to be a very important part of the offense for the Sooners in 2006 & 2007. In 2006, he adequately took over for an injured Adrian Peterson…rushing for 761 yards on 169 carries. In 2007 as the starter he rushed for a team leading 1,009 yards, on 173 carries. Not a bad career for a guy that was never going to see the field.
“The impact of the Rhett Bomar situation will not only destroy the 2007 season, it’s impact on the program could very well be felt for years to come”
Or Not. Sooners were Big 12 Champs in 2007 with a converted WR at QB. In 2008 a sophomore 2 star recruit from Putnam City named Sam Bradford led the Sooners to the Big 12 Title and BCS Title Game…Oh, and that guy Bradford; he also won the Heisman that year.
All those Bomar Sooner t-shirts I had made are in a box with my 2004 Sugar Bowl shirt, my 2005 Orange Bowl shirt and my Brent Rawls for Heisman t-shirts.
Mo Dampeer will take over from Tommie Harris and be the next great DT in Sooner historyNot So Much…Mo could have won ‘Dancing with the Stars’ with his sideline break dancing...but the Sooners were hoping for a Selmon Brother not M.C. Hammer. Dampeer ended his career with more interceptions than QB sacks (1).
But, that is the beauty of a new season and having a delete button on your blog….I am 1-0 and on fire in 2010.
"Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." – Mark Twain
Cancel those reservations at the Best Western in Shreveport. What a difference a week makes. Turns out that Landry Jones can still pass…our lineman can block….our cornerbacks can actually knock down a pass…our linebackers can make tackles with out causing red laundry to be thrown…and our kicker can…OK, well, things aren’t perfect, but they are a lot better than a lot of people in the Sooner Nation assumed at this point last week. No, the Sooners don’t suck…but we are probably not as good as we looked against FSU last weekend either. But what an improvement:
NEW & NOTES – OBSERVATION & OPINIONS
OFFENSE
Last Week: Simply Offensive / This Week: Mr. Jones & The Jets
It took three plays to see that the offensive game plan was ‘a little different’ than it was for Utah St. Last Week: was the ‘turn around and hand it to #7’ offense...the aesthetic auto equivalent of the Chrysler K-Car…This Week: the Sooners moved the ball around, utilized weapons no one thought they even had (see TE below) and set up the run with the pass. Auto equivalent: ‘Little red Corvette’.
No Matter What Week: News flash…Ryan Broyles is a stud
I would like to report a UFO sighting:
I think I saw a TE dressed in a Sooners uniform. Last Week: What is a Tight End? (Yes, I have several smart ass answers for that as well…no pun intended.)
This Week: Mr. End Zone, I would like you to meet: James Hanna & Trent Ratterree. No they have never met…at least not since 2008. In 2009 the Sooner TE’s had the same number of TD catches that I did…that would be zero if you are scoring at home. Hanna finally showed the speed and versatility we have been hearing about since he arrived in 2008. Was it my stadium cup cocktail or did anyone have a little Trent Smith flashback on his long TD catch?
Much Ado about Mossis Madu:
Dear Mossis: Welcome back from your one game suspension. I missed you. While you were gone, Kevin Wilson was very mean to me. He made me run the ball 35 times. Doesn’t he know that I breakdown easier than Lindsay Lohan in a court room? If you decide to drink again, please take RB Jermie Calhoun with you to be your designated driver…he is obviously not busy here and needs something to do. In fact, it will probably make him feel good that he finally got an important ‘carry’as a Sooner.
Sincerely, DeMarco Murray.
P.S. Do you Chris Brown’s cell number?
DEFENSE
Brent Venables: As The Fine Young Cannibals might have put it: He Drives Me Crazy. Every time I write him off, convinced that he couldn’t coach a player out of a paper bag…he comes off with a game plan or an adjustment that makes him out to be a genius. For every Lewis Baker he falls in love with, he develops a DJ Wolfe or Clint Ingram. For every running QB that has burned us for 200 yards on the ground.…there is a Heisman candidate or five that he has shut down like a typewriter store.
The defensive adjustment he made after the Seminoles first drive was the key to the game. The FSU coaches never found an answer. FSU QB Ponder was 11-28…and most of those 11 completions were on the first drive.
I admit that I have an on again off again thing for Venables. While I am not a fan, I am more than willing to acknowledge his success…Quick to criticize but the same with credit. He is like a woman that you are tired of going out with…but just not tired enough of her to break up. Venables and I are going out again Saturday against Air Force…triple option offenses and I have something in common…we have both been known to be hard on relationships. See ya Saturday Brent….pick you up about 2:30.
The emergence of freshman Tony Jefferson at nickel back has given the Sooners a nice problem to have. His play has Venables playing a nickel package as more of a base defense, which takes the strong side LB off the field…which is Ronnell Lewis. Lewis is a player the coaches want on the field…so they have him playing a lot at DE….which was a crowded and talented position to begin with. Interesting to see how the rotation plays out.
Thats all I got...
Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy
The Overweigth Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
OKLAHOMA 47 FLORIDA ST. 17
“My attitude is one of hope…Hoping it was only one game, the first game…hoping that Utah St. was just better than expected (which I think is true)…and hoping that even though looking ahead is a bad habit too, maybe that is what happened here.”
–Quote from The OAS in Week One Update.
I know. Amazing isn’t it? Insight with that kind of depth is not easy to find these days. It’s a gift really. Oh, like you, I hear the talk…people calling me a “Super Hero of Sooner Stuff”…but I don’t know…the word ‘super’ is so over used these days. Ultimately, I guess that’s for me to decide. But regardless of how I label my genius, it feels good knowing that my level headed, even keel, emotionally stable approach in regards to all things Sooner Football is being recognized.
Not buying that? Yeah, me neither. Like most of you, I have met me. Even keel? Can’t say I have heard that used to describe me in, well, ever. My ‘hope prediction’ from last week, falls squarely into the “even my broken clock is right twice a day” category…Hell, I was just due. As far as my history with predictions or assumptions go…A man has a better chance of being the victim in a Lifetime Channel movie than I do being correct. I don’t need Charles Dickens to send the ‘Ghost of Over Reactions Past’ my way for a visit to remember these little winners:
“Allen Patrick will never see the field as a running back”
What I meant to say was…Patrick turned out to be a very important part of the offense for the Sooners in 2006 & 2007. In 2006, he adequately took over for an injured Adrian Peterson…rushing for 761 yards on 169 carries. In 2007 as the starter he rushed for a team leading 1,009 yards, on 173 carries. Not a bad career for a guy that was never going to see the field.
“The impact of the Rhett Bomar situation will not only destroy the 2007 season, it’s impact on the program could very well be felt for years to come”
Or Not. Sooners were Big 12 Champs in 2007 with a converted WR at QB. In 2008 a sophomore 2 star recruit from Putnam City named Sam Bradford led the Sooners to the Big 12 Title and BCS Title Game…Oh, and that guy Bradford; he also won the Heisman that year.
All those Bomar Sooner t-shirts I had made are in a box with my 2004 Sugar Bowl shirt, my 2005 Orange Bowl shirt and my Brent Rawls for Heisman t-shirts.
Mo Dampeer will take over from Tommie Harris and be the next great DT in Sooner historyNot So Much…Mo could have won ‘Dancing with the Stars’ with his sideline break dancing...but the Sooners were hoping for a Selmon Brother not M.C. Hammer. Dampeer ended his career with more interceptions than QB sacks (1).
But, that is the beauty of a new season and having a delete button on your blog….I am 1-0 and on fire in 2010.
"Rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." – Mark Twain
Cancel those reservations at the Best Western in Shreveport. What a difference a week makes. Turns out that Landry Jones can still pass…our lineman can block….our cornerbacks can actually knock down a pass…our linebackers can make tackles with out causing red laundry to be thrown…and our kicker can…OK, well, things aren’t perfect, but they are a lot better than a lot of people in the Sooner Nation assumed at this point last week. No, the Sooners don’t suck…but we are probably not as good as we looked against FSU last weekend either. But what an improvement:
NEW & NOTES – OBSERVATION & OPINIONS
OFFENSE
Last Week: Simply Offensive / This Week: Mr. Jones & The Jets
It took three plays to see that the offensive game plan was ‘a little different’ than it was for Utah St. Last Week: was the ‘turn around and hand it to #7’ offense...the aesthetic auto equivalent of the Chrysler K-Car…This Week: the Sooners moved the ball around, utilized weapons no one thought they even had (see TE below) and set up the run with the pass. Auto equivalent: ‘Little red Corvette’.
No Matter What Week: News flash…Ryan Broyles is a stud
I would like to report a UFO sighting:
I think I saw a TE dressed in a Sooners uniform. Last Week: What is a Tight End? (Yes, I have several smart ass answers for that as well…no pun intended.)
This Week: Mr. End Zone, I would like you to meet: James Hanna & Trent Ratterree. No they have never met…at least not since 2008. In 2009 the Sooner TE’s had the same number of TD catches that I did…that would be zero if you are scoring at home. Hanna finally showed the speed and versatility we have been hearing about since he arrived in 2008. Was it my stadium cup cocktail or did anyone have a little Trent Smith flashback on his long TD catch?
Much Ado about Mossis Madu:
Dear Mossis: Welcome back from your one game suspension. I missed you. While you were gone, Kevin Wilson was very mean to me. He made me run the ball 35 times. Doesn’t he know that I breakdown easier than Lindsay Lohan in a court room? If you decide to drink again, please take RB Jermie Calhoun with you to be your designated driver…he is obviously not busy here and needs something to do. In fact, it will probably make him feel good that he finally got an important ‘carry’as a Sooner.
Sincerely, DeMarco Murray.
P.S. Do you Chris Brown’s cell number?
DEFENSE
Brent Venables: As The Fine Young Cannibals might have put it: He Drives Me Crazy. Every time I write him off, convinced that he couldn’t coach a player out of a paper bag…he comes off with a game plan or an adjustment that makes him out to be a genius. For every Lewis Baker he falls in love with, he develops a DJ Wolfe or Clint Ingram. For every running QB that has burned us for 200 yards on the ground.…there is a Heisman candidate or five that he has shut down like a typewriter store.
The defensive adjustment he made after the Seminoles first drive was the key to the game. The FSU coaches never found an answer. FSU QB Ponder was 11-28…and most of those 11 completions were on the first drive.
I admit that I have an on again off again thing for Venables. While I am not a fan, I am more than willing to acknowledge his success…Quick to criticize but the same with credit. He is like a woman that you are tired of going out with…but just not tired enough of her to break up. Venables and I are going out again Saturday against Air Force…triple option offenses and I have something in common…we have both been known to be hard on relationships. See ya Saturday Brent….pick you up about 2:30.
The emergence of freshman Tony Jefferson at nickel back has given the Sooners a nice problem to have. His play has Venables playing a nickel package as more of a base defense, which takes the strong side LB off the field…which is Ronnell Lewis. Lewis is a player the coaches want on the field…so they have him playing a lot at DE….which was a crowded and talented position to begin with. Interesting to see how the rotation plays out.
Thats all I got...
Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy
The Overweigth Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
Thursday, September 9, 2010
SOONERS SURVIVE OPENER
WEEK ONE RECAP:
OKLAHOMA 31 UTAH ST. 24
THE OAS SOONER SPOT LIGHT: Patrick O’Hara, OU place kicker
Thought I would mention this kid now before he isn’t the kicker anymore. Has anyone said anything good about any of the Sooners place kickers this year? “Hey, they never forget to bring their kicking shoe…Anything?” I mean seriously, how confident can this kid O’Hara be? Two weeks ago, his head coach was so impressed with his performance in practice that he felt the need to publicly invite anyone with a pulse and a student ID to come out and audition for his kicking job.
When no one with the ability to be consistent inside of 40 yards magically emerged from the Department of Medieval and Renaissance Studies….Stoops reluctantly named O’Hara the starting kicker. When pressed as to why by inquiring minds…Stoops all but said: “of all the candidates, he sucked the least…and the people printing the program needed a name to put next to the K.” This kid needs his holder to be Dr. Phil.
I seriously think he needs to be featured in a Dos Equis type ad:
He is blamed for losing games the team has yet to even play…Tony Robbins advised him that his only option was to just give up...He was the punch line to jokes told before he was even born…his mother openly admits she wanted a girl…The questions on his recent Spanish class final exam were written in French…Homeless people feel the need to give him money…His twin, if he had one, would claim to be an only child…He is…the most beaten down Sooner in the world.
Need more evidence of the lack of confidence from his coach? Facing 4th and 6 from UTS 28 yard line…Stoops felt it a better gamble to go for it on 4th down then he did have O’Hara attempt a field goal from 45 yards out. Since I think a donut has a better chance to survive 5 minutes alone with Kirstie Alley then O’Hara does making a 45 yard field goal….I thought it was the right move. (The OAS has your back coach!)
I am proud for O’Hara and his success Saturday night. He converted all of his extra points and the one field goal opportunity he got. Good for him. But just for the record, O’Hara’s 32 yard field goal might very well have been the ugliest ever made in school history…but the key word in that sentence was “made” I guess. Ugly but effective can certainly work…just ask Steve Buscemi….
In the words of the Most Interesting Man in the World: “I don’t always try field goals, but when I do, I prefer to drink heavily….Score Touchdowns My Friends"
PRE-GAME
Clearly, the “in thing” in business advertising these days is to boast a mascot. To me, walking around campus corner was like being an extra in a Pixar Film. There was a walking steel belted radial tire, a hand shaking computer screen, an overly aggressive orange safety cone representing who knows what...and my personal favorite, a water drop named H2Ou. Evidently there must be some sort of Campus Corner mandate that if your product is edible, it must be represented by a mascot. What happened to the day when a business would just pay Billy Sims $20 to stand at the door and tell you it was his favorite place? Now it like a buffet on parade…everywhere you turn there is a walking, talking, smiling, kid kissing, 7” tall carbohydrate trying to hand you a flyer. Does this kind of marketing really work? Maybe it’s just me, but I just can’t envision a scenario in which my dietary decision would be influenced one way or another by a dancing Bean Burrito.
THE GAME
Positive first play √ Score inside the red zone √ Convert extra point √
QB not hurt before half √ Schooner Ponies don’t take pre-game poop on field √
Sooners roll over Aggies...X
“Holy ‘Big Love’…this can’t be happening again…can it?”
Yes, that thought crossed my mind more than once Saturday night. Well, OK…maybe not that exact thought. My disbelief at the possibility of losing a second consecutive season opener probably didn’t include a reference to the HBO series Big Love…but hey, how often does one get the opportunity to work a TV show about polygamous families in Utah into the conversation? I am nothing if not opportunistic.
The truth of the matter is…the Sooners got outplayed and maybe outcoached last Saturday night. In the end OU won the game because: (1) it was at Owen Field and (2) the disproportionate talent edge the Sooners possessed made just enough plays to avoid being upset by the 31 point underdog Aggies.
The victory was the 800th in Oklahoma school history, an accomplishment that only 7 other schools can make. 800 wins is an amazing accomplishment…it validates our sense of tradition and underscores the consistent, long term excellence that this program has achieved…Nice milestone…but if you are wondering why you didn’t get invited to the 800th win celebration after the game, don’t worry…it is because there wasn’t one. This team has major issues that need to be addressed and soon….cause if they don’t…you won’t be getting invited to the post game 801st victory celebration this weekend either.
Couple Positives -Thought Wort & R. Lewis were active and aggressive. Tom Wort, obviously a little to much so with the 2 personal foul penalties. It didn’t bother me as much as coaches, I was glad to see some passion out there.
-Freshman contributions. I noticed lots of redshirt and true freshman out on the field. The one that stood out the most was true freshman DB Tony Jefferson from California. He is the starting nickel back…played very well in my opinion.
“I thought we could get a foot, and I was almost wrong.” – Bob Stoops
Still 8 minutes to go in 3rd quarter, OU goes for 4th and inches at own 32
Panic move or Big Game Bob Move? Were coaches concerned that by punting they would be behind next time they had the ball? Interesting call.
Frankly, enough is being said about this game, so I won’t recap what you have already read...My attitude is one of hope…Hoping it was only one game, the first game…hoping that Utah St. was just better than expected (which I think is true)…and hoping that even though looking ahead is a bad habit too, maybe that was what happened here. We will know soon enough.
See you in Norman, get there early....we are.--“Stay thirsty my friends”
Just the Opinion of one mildly interested guy
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
OKLAHOMA 31 UTAH ST. 24
THE OAS SOONER SPOT LIGHT: Patrick O’Hara, OU place kicker
Thought I would mention this kid now before he isn’t the kicker anymore. Has anyone said anything good about any of the Sooners place kickers this year? “Hey, they never forget to bring their kicking shoe…Anything?” I mean seriously, how confident can this kid O’Hara be? Two weeks ago, his head coach was so impressed with his performance in practice that he felt the need to publicly invite anyone with a pulse and a student ID to come out and audition for his kicking job.
When no one with the ability to be consistent inside of 40 yards magically emerged from the Department of Medieval and Renaissance Studies….Stoops reluctantly named O’Hara the starting kicker. When pressed as to why by inquiring minds…Stoops all but said: “of all the candidates, he sucked the least…and the people printing the program needed a name to put next to the K.” This kid needs his holder to be Dr. Phil.
I seriously think he needs to be featured in a Dos Equis type ad:
He is blamed for losing games the team has yet to even play…Tony Robbins advised him that his only option was to just give up...He was the punch line to jokes told before he was even born…his mother openly admits she wanted a girl…The questions on his recent Spanish class final exam were written in French…Homeless people feel the need to give him money…His twin, if he had one, would claim to be an only child…He is…the most beaten down Sooner in the world.
Need more evidence of the lack of confidence from his coach? Facing 4th and 6 from UTS 28 yard line…Stoops felt it a better gamble to go for it on 4th down then he did have O’Hara attempt a field goal from 45 yards out. Since I think a donut has a better chance to survive 5 minutes alone with Kirstie Alley then O’Hara does making a 45 yard field goal….I thought it was the right move. (The OAS has your back coach!)
I am proud for O’Hara and his success Saturday night. He converted all of his extra points and the one field goal opportunity he got. Good for him. But just for the record, O’Hara’s 32 yard field goal might very well have been the ugliest ever made in school history…but the key word in that sentence was “made” I guess. Ugly but effective can certainly work…just ask Steve Buscemi….
In the words of the Most Interesting Man in the World: “I don’t always try field goals, but when I do, I prefer to drink heavily….Score Touchdowns My Friends"
PRE-GAME
Clearly, the “in thing” in business advertising these days is to boast a mascot. To me, walking around campus corner was like being an extra in a Pixar Film. There was a walking steel belted radial tire, a hand shaking computer screen, an overly aggressive orange safety cone representing who knows what...and my personal favorite, a water drop named H2Ou. Evidently there must be some sort of Campus Corner mandate that if your product is edible, it must be represented by a mascot. What happened to the day when a business would just pay Billy Sims $20 to stand at the door and tell you it was his favorite place? Now it like a buffet on parade…everywhere you turn there is a walking, talking, smiling, kid kissing, 7” tall carbohydrate trying to hand you a flyer. Does this kind of marketing really work? Maybe it’s just me, but I just can’t envision a scenario in which my dietary decision would be influenced one way or another by a dancing Bean Burrito.
THE GAME
Positive first play √ Score inside the red zone √ Convert extra point √
QB not hurt before half √ Schooner Ponies don’t take pre-game poop on field √
Sooners roll over Aggies...X
“Holy ‘Big Love’…this can’t be happening again…can it?”
Yes, that thought crossed my mind more than once Saturday night. Well, OK…maybe not that exact thought. My disbelief at the possibility of losing a second consecutive season opener probably didn’t include a reference to the HBO series Big Love…but hey, how often does one get the opportunity to work a TV show about polygamous families in Utah into the conversation? I am nothing if not opportunistic.
The truth of the matter is…the Sooners got outplayed and maybe outcoached last Saturday night. In the end OU won the game because: (1) it was at Owen Field and (2) the disproportionate talent edge the Sooners possessed made just enough plays to avoid being upset by the 31 point underdog Aggies.
The victory was the 800th in Oklahoma school history, an accomplishment that only 7 other schools can make. 800 wins is an amazing accomplishment…it validates our sense of tradition and underscores the consistent, long term excellence that this program has achieved…Nice milestone…but if you are wondering why you didn’t get invited to the 800th win celebration after the game, don’t worry…it is because there wasn’t one. This team has major issues that need to be addressed and soon….cause if they don’t…you won’t be getting invited to the post game 801st victory celebration this weekend either.
Couple Positives -Thought Wort & R. Lewis were active and aggressive. Tom Wort, obviously a little to much so with the 2 personal foul penalties. It didn’t bother me as much as coaches, I was glad to see some passion out there.
-Freshman contributions. I noticed lots of redshirt and true freshman out on the field. The one that stood out the most was true freshman DB Tony Jefferson from California. He is the starting nickel back…played very well in my opinion.
“I thought we could get a foot, and I was almost wrong.” – Bob Stoops
Still 8 minutes to go in 3rd quarter, OU goes for 4th and inches at own 32
Panic move or Big Game Bob Move? Were coaches concerned that by punting they would be behind next time they had the ball? Interesting call.
Frankly, enough is being said about this game, so I won’t recap what you have already read...My attitude is one of hope…Hoping it was only one game, the first game…hoping that Utah St. was just better than expected (which I think is true)…and hoping that even though looking ahead is a bad habit too, maybe that was what happened here. We will know soon enough.
See you in Norman, get there early....we are.--“Stay thirsty my friends”
Just the Opinion of one mildly interested guy
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Time To Begin 2010
TAKE 2
For the second straight year the Sooners will open the season against a team from the Mormon state. OK, OK…calm down. Just like you, I am well aware of the fact that the official nickname for the state of Utah is The Beehive State. But seriously, The Beehive State? I don’t get it…Is Winnie the Pooh from Utah or what? I will grant you that the Mormon state is not ideal...but at least it is not as generic and non-associating as a beehive. Look, my name is Buddy Putty, so who am I to say shit to anybody about what they want to call themselves. But I will say this…My “official” name is Weldon. The only people who address me as such are opposing counsels and some bitch from Discover Card…and I don’t like it or them. Weldon is an old guy who hangs out at the coffee shop. Weldon doesn’t fit me. So out of respect for Butch Cassidy, Donnie Osmond and all the other Utahans I have never met...Utah is the Mormon State.
(Wow, first paragraph and I go way off the map…although it seems worth it, if for no other reason than I got to use Winnie the Pooh and Butch Cassidy in the same paragraph.)
Anyway…Also like last year, the opening opponent will be dressed in blue and white and will be a double-digit underdog. As was also the case a year ago, the game is scheduled for evening kickoff and will be played before a large partisan OU crowd.
Also like last year, I plan on arriving at the game early. I plan on enjoying some time with old friends as well as some adult beverages. I am sure that just like opening day last year and all the opening days prior …I will still get that familiar rush that come with the new season…things I call ”the traditions”
The traditions are things…like the energy you feel and the color you see entering the stadium…hearing the “go-go” as the Pride takes the field (just got chills)…Waiting to see if the Drum Major who leads the team down the field can tilt his head back like the guys we watched as kids…all the while knowing he won’t. It’s the chill I will get from watching the new intro video on the Jumbo-Tron…which is similar to the one I will get when the Sooners take the field. Tradition is a large bag of peanuts and the sound of crown royal and ice merging in a $6 stadium cup. Hey, some traditions are better for you than others.
On a personal note, there is one tradition that I will enjoy above all other this season…I will see my friend Ken again. Ken is the unfortunate soul who has had to sit next to me at Memorial Stadium for the last 17 years. Don’t know that I have ever heard him cuss; don’t know that he has ever heard me not. Ken has been battling cancer for a couple years with a courage and passion that is truly remarkable. If he possessed an attitude wrought with bitterness or defined by depression, one would understand, if not condone…instead you find a Sooner fan with a youthful exuberance and passion that even I bow too. Instead of complaining about how he feels or the effects of chemo…Ken will talk about the point spread and single out which Pom-Pom girl he thinks wants to date him this season. Last year Ken had a tear running down his face on senior night. While we were all sad to see Cordero Moore and Carter Whitson graduate…I knew what he was thinking…maybe this was his last home game too. He promised me he would be back. He called me last week to confirm that he was indeed “living" up to his end of the deal. I never doubted for a moment that he wouldn't. Ken told me he was looking forward to seeing me…I am looking forward to him seeing me too…Ken, the honor is all mine. Boomer Sooner
Yes, it will be all smiles and maybe even a Steel Magnolia moment or two. It will be good to be back with something so familiar, so good, so comfortable….
That being said….from that point on….I hope that any and all similarities to last year come to an end.
NEW SCRIPT
I hope that Joe Castiglione does not have to scoop up pony poop before the anthem. I hope that after one play, it is not 1st and 15. I hope that the Sooners will find a way to score touchdowns inside the red zone…and be able make the point after when they do. I hope that if Landry Jones is standing on the sidelines in the second half without pads on, that he is eating ice instead of wearing it. I hope Stoops does not wait until Jones gets hurt to get Allen some snaps. I hope that the mouthy idiot two rows behind me had to go to a wedding or a baby shower or had car trouble and couldn’t make the game. I hope that the guy who wins the Carl’s punt, pass and kick thing has some eligibility left so he can kick for us. I hope our starting tight end is not on crutches when the game starts and has better hand than a fish after it does. I hope that LB’s Tom Wort & Ronnell Lewis are as good as I think they are…Jamarkus McFarland is more Selmon, Harris & McCoy than he is Mo Dampeer or De Granger. I hope the Sooner coaches can find the milk carton that former top prospect in the nation R.J. Washington is on. I hope Wheeler and Colman are ready to roll with the food this week, because I am going to be a consumer not a provider. I hope the final score is what I expect it to be.
It is time for football. Personally, the season could not be getting here at a better time for me. Life is strange…about the time you think you got it all figured out, it provides proof that you don’t. Going to Norman for OU games has always been like going home…a place to see old friends and meet new ones…there is a comfort in it…its good for the sole…and my soul could use some good.
It is time to renew traditions. Time to feel the chills those traditions bring…It’s time to tape your ankles and put on your eye black…time to turn on GameDay and fill you flask. Get out your new OU shirt and visor…and pick out your Pom-Pom girl…It’s time to get excited about potential and be nervous about the unknown…Its time to see old friends and met new…It’s time for football….It’s about time
Just the opinion of one mildly interested fan...
Buddy Putty
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
For the second straight year the Sooners will open the season against a team from the Mormon state. OK, OK…calm down. Just like you, I am well aware of the fact that the official nickname for the state of Utah is The Beehive State. But seriously, The Beehive State? I don’t get it…Is Winnie the Pooh from Utah or what? I will grant you that the Mormon state is not ideal...but at least it is not as generic and non-associating as a beehive. Look, my name is Buddy Putty, so who am I to say shit to anybody about what they want to call themselves. But I will say this…My “official” name is Weldon. The only people who address me as such are opposing counsels and some bitch from Discover Card…and I don’t like it or them. Weldon is an old guy who hangs out at the coffee shop. Weldon doesn’t fit me. So out of respect for Butch Cassidy, Donnie Osmond and all the other Utahans I have never met...Utah is the Mormon State.
(Wow, first paragraph and I go way off the map…although it seems worth it, if for no other reason than I got to use Winnie the Pooh and Butch Cassidy in the same paragraph.)
Anyway…Also like last year, the opening opponent will be dressed in blue and white and will be a double-digit underdog. As was also the case a year ago, the game is scheduled for evening kickoff and will be played before a large partisan OU crowd.
Also like last year, I plan on arriving at the game early. I plan on enjoying some time with old friends as well as some adult beverages. I am sure that just like opening day last year and all the opening days prior …I will still get that familiar rush that come with the new season…things I call ”the traditions”
The traditions are things…like the energy you feel and the color you see entering the stadium…hearing the “go-go” as the Pride takes the field (just got chills)…Waiting to see if the Drum Major who leads the team down the field can tilt his head back like the guys we watched as kids…all the while knowing he won’t. It’s the chill I will get from watching the new intro video on the Jumbo-Tron…which is similar to the one I will get when the Sooners take the field. Tradition is a large bag of peanuts and the sound of crown royal and ice merging in a $6 stadium cup. Hey, some traditions are better for you than others.
On a personal note, there is one tradition that I will enjoy above all other this season…I will see my friend Ken again. Ken is the unfortunate soul who has had to sit next to me at Memorial Stadium for the last 17 years. Don’t know that I have ever heard him cuss; don’t know that he has ever heard me not. Ken has been battling cancer for a couple years with a courage and passion that is truly remarkable. If he possessed an attitude wrought with bitterness or defined by depression, one would understand, if not condone…instead you find a Sooner fan with a youthful exuberance and passion that even I bow too. Instead of complaining about how he feels or the effects of chemo…Ken will talk about the point spread and single out which Pom-Pom girl he thinks wants to date him this season. Last year Ken had a tear running down his face on senior night. While we were all sad to see Cordero Moore and Carter Whitson graduate…I knew what he was thinking…maybe this was his last home game too. He promised me he would be back. He called me last week to confirm that he was indeed “living" up to his end of the deal. I never doubted for a moment that he wouldn't. Ken told me he was looking forward to seeing me…I am looking forward to him seeing me too…Ken, the honor is all mine. Boomer Sooner
Yes, it will be all smiles and maybe even a Steel Magnolia moment or two. It will be good to be back with something so familiar, so good, so comfortable….
That being said….from that point on….I hope that any and all similarities to last year come to an end.
NEW SCRIPT
I hope that Joe Castiglione does not have to scoop up pony poop before the anthem. I hope that after one play, it is not 1st and 15. I hope that the Sooners will find a way to score touchdowns inside the red zone…and be able make the point after when they do. I hope that if Landry Jones is standing on the sidelines in the second half without pads on, that he is eating ice instead of wearing it. I hope Stoops does not wait until Jones gets hurt to get Allen some snaps. I hope that the mouthy idiot two rows behind me had to go to a wedding or a baby shower or had car trouble and couldn’t make the game. I hope that the guy who wins the Carl’s punt, pass and kick thing has some eligibility left so he can kick for us. I hope our starting tight end is not on crutches when the game starts and has better hand than a fish after it does. I hope that LB’s Tom Wort & Ronnell Lewis are as good as I think they are…Jamarkus McFarland is more Selmon, Harris & McCoy than he is Mo Dampeer or De Granger. I hope the Sooner coaches can find the milk carton that former top prospect in the nation R.J. Washington is on. I hope Wheeler and Colman are ready to roll with the food this week, because I am going to be a consumer not a provider. I hope the final score is what I expect it to be.
It is time for football. Personally, the season could not be getting here at a better time for me. Life is strange…about the time you think you got it all figured out, it provides proof that you don’t. Going to Norman for OU games has always been like going home…a place to see old friends and meet new ones…there is a comfort in it…its good for the sole…and my soul could use some good.
It is time to renew traditions. Time to feel the chills those traditions bring…It’s time to tape your ankles and put on your eye black…time to turn on GameDay and fill you flask. Get out your new OU shirt and visor…and pick out your Pom-Pom girl…It’s time to get excited about potential and be nervous about the unknown…Its time to see old friends and met new…It’s time for football….It’s about time
Just the opinion of one mildly interested fan...
Buddy Putty
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Texas 16 Oklahoma 13
Injuries, Turnovers, Penalties…A Familiar Formula for Defeat
“The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful” – Jimmy Buffett
The weather was gorgeous. The football game…well, not so much.
Can we talk about this 11 AM kickoff thing? AM kickoffs suck. A college football game of this magnitude should not kickoff at the same time that other networks are airing the likes of Speed Racer and Hong Kong Phooey. Look, I don’t mind having a warm Lone Star and a pop tart while Big Tex is still in his feety jammies…but it would be nice if I had time to identify and apologize to those I offended on Friday night, before I do it again on Saturday. I’m just sayin’.
The 2009 most talked about food at the State Fair? Fried butter. Not even The OAS would eat that. Seriously, fried butter? Wow
Despite the early start time, The OAS was in rare form for this one. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I was…how do I say this…well, in this rare of form. I guess I was excited to get to the game, because I forgot to turn the car off completely…which I guess was convenient, because it made it a lot easier for me to leave the keys in the ignition. The car was miraculously still there when we returned, but needless to say the battery was a little tired.
Thankfully, Blake and Sally were also leaving when we were and had jumper cables. Unfortunately, Sally also had video capability on her camera and caught a rather unfortunate moment I had with the parking lot attendant and his orange flag. I will attach the link if I can figure out how. (See attached link)
I forgot to eat until it was way too late. Usually I am good for one or two pork chop sandwiches before the game, which can be a good base…but unless it was liquid and came out of a flask or a wax plastic cup, I didn’t bother with it this year.
I forgot to pace myself…for the OU/Texas game I always take two flasks, one for the first half, and one for the second…and then pray there is no overtime. With 6 minutes to go in the second quarter I was well into flask number two…not good for me, not good for those with me, not good for those around me…hell…it was just not good.
I forgot to not let idiots get to me…A Texas fan pushed me while I was standing at the urinal in the bathroom. He laughed, I didn’t. Suffice to say, what happened next wasn’t pretty. The good news was that after a semi-lengthy speech from the “bathroom cop” I got to continue watching the game from my seat inside the Cotton Bowl and not one inside the Dallas County Jail.
The Game
Sooners come out of the locker room and dominated everywhere but the scoreboard. Their small 6-0 lead evaporates due to injuries, mistakes, turnovers, penalties, poor coaching decisions, inability to score inside the red zone and missed field goals. Sound familiar? Same thing has happened in all four of the games that OU has lost in 2009 (don’t forget the Orange Bowl in January). I find it strange that that a perennial BCS bowl team is trying to learn how to win…team leaders or coaching?
OU kicker…Jimmy Stevens. The nicest thing I can say about our field goal kicker is that he is not dependable. Anything outside of 30 yards is anybody’s guess. He clanked one off the upright that luckily went thru. The Texas fans thought he had missed the second one, and by his reaction, he did too. His third one did miss…and the Sooners lost by three. In my opinion it is time to give Tress Way a chance to do the place kicking. At least then when I yell,”No f****** Way” it will be as accurate as it is offensive. F****** kickers.
There is never going to be many, if any, sentimental moments between OU and Texas fans…but sometimes the lack of respect for each other really crosses the line. There will always be some morons, regardless of team affiliation, that cheer injury…but I was shocked by the roar that came from the orange end of the Cotton Bowl when Bradford went down. The reaction was completely classless and reprehensible….and believe me if the situation was reversed I would be saying the same thing about our fans.
Can someone make a play? Somebody,anybody?
The difference between winning and losing can often come down to a single play or two. As was the case in the previous two losses this season, the Sooners just could not seem to make a game changing play when the opportunity presented itself…and the opportunities were definitely there. Here are just a couple of plays that stand out.
*Score if you have too. DeMarco Murray needs to find a way to get into the end zone on that screen pass during the first drive. The Sooners offense has little confidence in the red zone these days; if he takes that play to the house it makes a big difference. I hate to join the Kevin Wilson lynch mob…but in my opinion…the play calling inside the 10 yard line after Murray failed to score was predictably horrible.
*Catch and release program. Keenan Clayton dropped not one, but two interceptions…both times he would have easily scored IF he makes the catch. If…if a frog had wings he wouldn’t bust his ass every time he jumped.
* Don’t be afraid to bust a move. Brian Jackson makes great INT, but can’t elude the only thing between him and the end-zone….QB McCoy. Look, I know it is easy for a guy sitting in the stands drinking an adult beverage to say…but it looked like all he had to do was make a cut. Maybe I am wrong and McCoy just made a great play, but I would be willing to bet that BJ would like that one back.
Things that make you say hmmm or maybe worse…
*Ghost of Mark Bradley. Dom Franks decision to try and field the punt in the first quarter was very reminiscent of Mark Bradley’s flub in the 2005 Orange Bowl. If it was in the middle of the field, then maybe you write it off to he was trying to makes something happen…but he had a Horn bearing down on him and he was pinned to the sidelines. While it was not the complete change in momentum avalanche that Bradley’s gaff created, it was a key factor.
*Wishbone R.I.P. Oklahoma had -16 yards rushing…yes that’s right…negative 16 yards. That means that I had 16 more yards rushing than the Sooners.
*Dubious achievement. No other returning Heisman winning QB has ever been knocked out of two different games in one season…until now. Not exactly the kind of achievement an offensive line wants to be remembered for.
*Not so handy. Landry Jones can’t make a simple hand-off to DeMarco Murray…the result is a fumble inside the Texas red-zone. The fumbled exchange cost the Sooners, at minimum, a chance to miss another field goal.
*Much Madu about something. Madu’s fumble of the kickoff after the first Longhorns field goal was a killer. Sooners would have had decent field position and a chance to re-establish momentum. The sound you just heard was the contents of flask two being poured over ice.
*That’s my line. The OAS: “Either (a) I’m drunk, or (b) that is Brody Eldridge at right guard” Terry: “how about (c)…all of the above”
*Picture on a Milk Carton…Travis Lewis? Lewis? Anyone seen Travis Lewis? TL had an uncharacteristically quite day.
*Reach out and touch someone. I don’t understand why Ryan Broyles only touched the ball one time? Considering he scored the only Sooner TD the one time he got to hold the ball, I might have found a chance to let him try it again. Just me.
*Help me understand. Can someone please explain the WR rotation to me? Did D. Miller miss the team bus?
What I think I know from what I think I saw:
*In the name of full disclosure, let me state for the record that I am not a Brent Venables fan…but that being said, I thought his defensive game plan for Texas was brilliant. I noticed not just one, but several blitz packages that were either new or seldom used before. This is a good defense…but a defense that has not been able to make a pivotal stop or make a game changing play in close games. Saturday, this unit was stellar…they played with heart and passion and continually came up big no matter the situation they were put in….still though, the difference in good and great is the ability to change the outcome when given the opportunity…this defense is about 5 dropped INT’s from having good replaced with the word great.
In my opinion, the Longhorns are a very good football team, but not a great football team. Since the Big 12 is way down, they should win out…which should put them in the title game. An objective Horns fan would agree with me that they have some weaknesses and need to improve, which they certainly have time to do.
Colt McCoy did not have a good day. Yes, he got his team a win, but very easily could have cost them the same. He is not having the type season most thought he would and Saturday probably ended any Colt McCoy for Heisman conversations. That being said, even as a Sooner fan, Colt McCoy is the kind of kid you can’t help but root for. He is a class act on and off the field...Plain and simple, the kid is a winner.
Post Game
We made it to the post game “spot”…took the annual group picture…but that was about it for The OAS.
Dallas Police Officer to The OAS: “You can leave on your own, or my partner and I would be glad to assist you….it’s your call.” And just like that 2009 OU/Texas was over.
It is no secret that this is my favorite weekend of the year. While the game is important, the chance to spend some time with friends is what I love most about OU/Texas. It was good to see everyone…Boomer
Injuries, Turnovers, Penalties…A Familiar Formula for Defeat
“The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful” – Jimmy Buffett
The weather was gorgeous. The football game…well, not so much.
Can we talk about this 11 AM kickoff thing? AM kickoffs suck. A college football game of this magnitude should not kickoff at the same time that other networks are airing the likes of Speed Racer and Hong Kong Phooey. Look, I don’t mind having a warm Lone Star and a pop tart while Big Tex is still in his feety jammies…but it would be nice if I had time to identify and apologize to those I offended on Friday night, before I do it again on Saturday. I’m just sayin’.
The 2009 most talked about food at the State Fair? Fried butter. Not even The OAS would eat that. Seriously, fried butter? Wow
Despite the early start time, The OAS was in rare form for this one. In fact, I can’t remember the last time I was…how do I say this…well, in this rare of form. I guess I was excited to get to the game, because I forgot to turn the car off completely…which I guess was convenient, because it made it a lot easier for me to leave the keys in the ignition. The car was miraculously still there when we returned, but needless to say the battery was a little tired.
Thankfully, Blake and Sally were also leaving when we were and had jumper cables. Unfortunately, Sally also had video capability on her camera and caught a rather unfortunate moment I had with the parking lot attendant and his orange flag. I will attach the link if I can figure out how. (See attached link)
I forgot to eat until it was way too late. Usually I am good for one or two pork chop sandwiches before the game, which can be a good base…but unless it was liquid and came out of a flask or a wax plastic cup, I didn’t bother with it this year.
I forgot to pace myself…for the OU/Texas game I always take two flasks, one for the first half, and one for the second…and then pray there is no overtime. With 6 minutes to go in the second quarter I was well into flask number two…not good for me, not good for those with me, not good for those around me…hell…it was just not good.
I forgot to not let idiots get to me…A Texas fan pushed me while I was standing at the urinal in the bathroom. He laughed, I didn’t. Suffice to say, what happened next wasn’t pretty. The good news was that after a semi-lengthy speech from the “bathroom cop” I got to continue watching the game from my seat inside the Cotton Bowl and not one inside the Dallas County Jail.
The Game
Sooners come out of the locker room and dominated everywhere but the scoreboard. Their small 6-0 lead evaporates due to injuries, mistakes, turnovers, penalties, poor coaching decisions, inability to score inside the red zone and missed field goals. Sound familiar? Same thing has happened in all four of the games that OU has lost in 2009 (don’t forget the Orange Bowl in January). I find it strange that that a perennial BCS bowl team is trying to learn how to win…team leaders or coaching?
OU kicker…Jimmy Stevens. The nicest thing I can say about our field goal kicker is that he is not dependable. Anything outside of 30 yards is anybody’s guess. He clanked one off the upright that luckily went thru. The Texas fans thought he had missed the second one, and by his reaction, he did too. His third one did miss…and the Sooners lost by three. In my opinion it is time to give Tress Way a chance to do the place kicking. At least then when I yell,”No f****** Way” it will be as accurate as it is offensive. F****** kickers.
There is never going to be many, if any, sentimental moments between OU and Texas fans…but sometimes the lack of respect for each other really crosses the line. There will always be some morons, regardless of team affiliation, that cheer injury…but I was shocked by the roar that came from the orange end of the Cotton Bowl when Bradford went down. The reaction was completely classless and reprehensible….and believe me if the situation was reversed I would be saying the same thing about our fans.
Can someone make a play? Somebody,anybody?
The difference between winning and losing can often come down to a single play or two. As was the case in the previous two losses this season, the Sooners just could not seem to make a game changing play when the opportunity presented itself…and the opportunities were definitely there. Here are just a couple of plays that stand out.
*Score if you have too. DeMarco Murray needs to find a way to get into the end zone on that screen pass during the first drive. The Sooners offense has little confidence in the red zone these days; if he takes that play to the house it makes a big difference. I hate to join the Kevin Wilson lynch mob…but in my opinion…the play calling inside the 10 yard line after Murray failed to score was predictably horrible.
*Catch and release program. Keenan Clayton dropped not one, but two interceptions…both times he would have easily scored IF he makes the catch. If…if a frog had wings he wouldn’t bust his ass every time he jumped.
* Don’t be afraid to bust a move. Brian Jackson makes great INT, but can’t elude the only thing between him and the end-zone….QB McCoy. Look, I know it is easy for a guy sitting in the stands drinking an adult beverage to say…but it looked like all he had to do was make a cut. Maybe I am wrong and McCoy just made a great play, but I would be willing to bet that BJ would like that one back.
Things that make you say hmmm or maybe worse…
*Ghost of Mark Bradley. Dom Franks decision to try and field the punt in the first quarter was very reminiscent of Mark Bradley’s flub in the 2005 Orange Bowl. If it was in the middle of the field, then maybe you write it off to he was trying to makes something happen…but he had a Horn bearing down on him and he was pinned to the sidelines. While it was not the complete change in momentum avalanche that Bradley’s gaff created, it was a key factor.
*Wishbone R.I.P. Oklahoma had -16 yards rushing…yes that’s right…negative 16 yards. That means that I had 16 more yards rushing than the Sooners.
*Dubious achievement. No other returning Heisman winning QB has ever been knocked out of two different games in one season…until now. Not exactly the kind of achievement an offensive line wants to be remembered for.
*Not so handy. Landry Jones can’t make a simple hand-off to DeMarco Murray…the result is a fumble inside the Texas red-zone. The fumbled exchange cost the Sooners, at minimum, a chance to miss another field goal.
*Much Madu about something. Madu’s fumble of the kickoff after the first Longhorns field goal was a killer. Sooners would have had decent field position and a chance to re-establish momentum. The sound you just heard was the contents of flask two being poured over ice.
*That’s my line. The OAS: “Either (a) I’m drunk, or (b) that is Brody Eldridge at right guard” Terry: “how about (c)…all of the above”
*Picture on a Milk Carton…Travis Lewis? Lewis? Anyone seen Travis Lewis? TL had an uncharacteristically quite day.
*Reach out and touch someone. I don’t understand why Ryan Broyles only touched the ball one time? Considering he scored the only Sooner TD the one time he got to hold the ball, I might have found a chance to let him try it again. Just me.
*Help me understand. Can someone please explain the WR rotation to me? Did D. Miller miss the team bus?
What I think I know from what I think I saw:
*In the name of full disclosure, let me state for the record that I am not a Brent Venables fan…but that being said, I thought his defensive game plan for Texas was brilliant. I noticed not just one, but several blitz packages that were either new or seldom used before. This is a good defense…but a defense that has not been able to make a pivotal stop or make a game changing play in close games. Saturday, this unit was stellar…they played with heart and passion and continually came up big no matter the situation they were put in….still though, the difference in good and great is the ability to change the outcome when given the opportunity…this defense is about 5 dropped INT’s from having good replaced with the word great.
In my opinion, the Longhorns are a very good football team, but not a great football team. Since the Big 12 is way down, they should win out…which should put them in the title game. An objective Horns fan would agree with me that they have some weaknesses and need to improve, which they certainly have time to do.
Colt McCoy did not have a good day. Yes, he got his team a win, but very easily could have cost them the same. He is not having the type season most thought he would and Saturday probably ended any Colt McCoy for Heisman conversations. That being said, even as a Sooner fan, Colt McCoy is the kind of kid you can’t help but root for. He is a class act on and off the field...Plain and simple, the kid is a winner.
Post Game
We made it to the post game “spot”…took the annual group picture…but that was about it for The OAS.
Dallas Police Officer to The OAS: “You can leave on your own, or my partner and I would be glad to assist you….it’s your call.” And just like that 2009 OU/Texas was over.
It is no secret that this is my favorite weekend of the year. While the game is important, the chance to spend some time with friends is what I love most about OU/Texas. It was good to see everyone…Boomer
Please see pictures of facebook
Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy
Buddy Putty
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Just the opinion of one mildly interested guy
Buddy Putty
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Week 4
More South Beach Pain for Sooners vs. Canes
Therapist: “Wow, you look like hell. Can I get you something to drink? Water…maybe some coffee? Or should I just get you a glass and some ice and let you make another cocktail from you breath?”
The OAS: “Yeah, sorry about that. I had a pretty rough weekend.”
Therapist: “Man, I guess so. What happened to your arm? Why is it in a sling?”
The OAS: “Oh that….I think I got to close to the TV and one of the OU offensive lineman grabbed me and held me while another lineman leg whipped me. I guess they ran out of people on the opposing team to commit personal fouls against and took it out on me.”
Therapist: “Un Huh…Look, if you want to pay me $150 an hour to lie to me, it’s your meter…just let me remind you however, that when you tried that same strategy in your first marriage it didn’t work out to well for you….I’m just sayin’”
The OAS: “I think I accidently fell off my barstool when that bouncer asked me to leave the bar where I watched the game. Truth is…other than my feelings, I’m not really hurt…I just thought I would use the opportunity to act like I was. Having a hurt shoulder is all the rage in Norman right now. I’m telling people that it’s a sprained AT&T joint in my shoulder….since it is my drinking shoulder, I probably won’t be able to resume text messaging or tequila shots for 2-4 weeks pending the breathalyzer tests.”
Therapist: “Well, I can see that being serious is off to a very slow start…but hey, I don’t need to point that out to you….I mean, who would know more about seriously slow starts these days, than a Sooner fan?”
The OAS: “Why do you have to be that way? I am on suicide watch and need a hug, not abuse. And to think I actually pay for this. Ok…You want serious? How about all the injuries that keep afflicting our top offensive playmakers? When we play Texas in two weeks we might have as many as three NFL first round draft picks standing on the Cotton Bowl sidelines. The only thing that they will be able to help the team score is prescription pain killers.”
Therapist: “Hey, here is an idea…why don’t we focus on you?”
The OAS: "That is my favorite subject."
Therapist: "I know you are really down….and while I still feel there are much more important issues in life, I understand how important OU football is too you. Losing to BYU 14-13 and to Miami 21-20 has to be tough on you. How are you holding up?"
The OAS: "Please don’t say holding"
Therapist: "For God sake, would you please work with me here"
The OAS: "I guess I am feeling a little conflicted. I would say that about 30% of me is angry…and another 30% of me is really disappointed."
Therapist: "OK…Go on…"
The OAS: "Oh, yeah…well, the other 39% of me is pretty much just drunk."
Therapist: "That’s mature…God this must be what is it is like to work with Gary Bussey...and the last part?"
The OAS: "What last part, I’m not following you"
Therapist: "Look, I know you’re from Oklahoma, so I am sensitive to your limited math skills, but we’re still coming up a little short here, are we not?"
The OAS: "Oh…I know, Doc…and therein lye’s the problem and the reason I am here…this just isn’t adding up for me…part of me feels missing or lost. What do you think?"
Therapist: "You really want to know?"
The OAS: "No, I just want to pay you to keep me in the dark."
Therapist: "It’s simple really… I think you are just a typical 2009 Sooner…"
The OAS: "What does that mean?"
Therapist: "Always ONE point short of where you need to be."
The OAS: "Ouch"
Just the Opinion Of One Mildly Interested Guy
Buddy Putty
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
More South Beach Pain for Sooners vs. Canes
Therapist: “Wow, you look like hell. Can I get you something to drink? Water…maybe some coffee? Or should I just get you a glass and some ice and let you make another cocktail from you breath?”
The OAS: “Yeah, sorry about that. I had a pretty rough weekend.”
Therapist: “Man, I guess so. What happened to your arm? Why is it in a sling?”
The OAS: “Oh that….I think I got to close to the TV and one of the OU offensive lineman grabbed me and held me while another lineman leg whipped me. I guess they ran out of people on the opposing team to commit personal fouls against and took it out on me.”
Therapist: “Un Huh…Look, if you want to pay me $150 an hour to lie to me, it’s your meter…just let me remind you however, that when you tried that same strategy in your first marriage it didn’t work out to well for you….I’m just sayin’”
The OAS: “I think I accidently fell off my barstool when that bouncer asked me to leave the bar where I watched the game. Truth is…other than my feelings, I’m not really hurt…I just thought I would use the opportunity to act like I was. Having a hurt shoulder is all the rage in Norman right now. I’m telling people that it’s a sprained AT&T joint in my shoulder….since it is my drinking shoulder, I probably won’t be able to resume text messaging or tequila shots for 2-4 weeks pending the breathalyzer tests.”
Therapist: “Well, I can see that being serious is off to a very slow start…but hey, I don’t need to point that out to you….I mean, who would know more about seriously slow starts these days, than a Sooner fan?”
The OAS: “Why do you have to be that way? I am on suicide watch and need a hug, not abuse. And to think I actually pay for this. Ok…You want serious? How about all the injuries that keep afflicting our top offensive playmakers? When we play Texas in two weeks we might have as many as three NFL first round draft picks standing on the Cotton Bowl sidelines. The only thing that they will be able to help the team score is prescription pain killers.”
Therapist: “Hey, here is an idea…why don’t we focus on you?”
The OAS: "That is my favorite subject."
Therapist: "I know you are really down….and while I still feel there are much more important issues in life, I understand how important OU football is too you. Losing to BYU 14-13 and to Miami 21-20 has to be tough on you. How are you holding up?"
The OAS: "Please don’t say holding"
Therapist: "For God sake, would you please work with me here"
The OAS: "I guess I am feeling a little conflicted. I would say that about 30% of me is angry…and another 30% of me is really disappointed."
Therapist: "OK…Go on…"
The OAS: "Oh, yeah…well, the other 39% of me is pretty much just drunk."
Therapist: "That’s mature…God this must be what is it is like to work with Gary Bussey...and the last part?"
The OAS: "What last part, I’m not following you"
Therapist: "Look, I know you’re from Oklahoma, so I am sensitive to your limited math skills, but we’re still coming up a little short here, are we not?"
The OAS: "Oh…I know, Doc…and therein lye’s the problem and the reason I am here…this just isn’t adding up for me…part of me feels missing or lost. What do you think?"
Therapist: "You really want to know?"
The OAS: "No, I just want to pay you to keep me in the dark."
Therapist: "It’s simple really… I think you are just a typical 2009 Sooner…"
The OAS: "What does that mean?"
Therapist: "Always ONE point short of where you need to be."
The OAS: "Ouch"
Just the Opinion Of One Mildly Interested Guy
Buddy Putty
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Thursday, September 17, 2009
WEEK 2: OU vs. IDAHO ST.
Norman, Oklahoma
HELP WANTED, ONLY CUPCAKES NEED APPLY
Normally, I hate games like this. It’s your typical early season home game against an over matched Division II opponent. The game is no more than a glorified scrimmage, the results of which are so banal and predictable that after it is over, you wonder what the purpose was. The reason: these early season games are all about the guarantee. The University receives all the financial gains that are normally associated with home game…the Sooners are assured a blow-out win…and Idaho St? Well, Bob, tell them what they’ve won: “like all Division II opponents who appear at Memorial Stadium, the Bengals will receive a generous check, a large dose of humiliation, and a lifetime supply of Johnson’s Turtle Wax.”
Yes, normally I hate these games...but normal got its ass kicked by a bunch of Mormon boy scouts on national television last week…normal is MIA when a tight-end suddenly becomes your starting center and your right tackle keeps jumping off-sides before he even gets a chance to illegally use his hands. Normal was suppose to be a returning Heisman Trophy winning QB throwing to a first team All-American TE…not a red-shirt freshman with a porn-stache watching the play clock expire on the one yard line. Normal is not watching Bob Stoops get out coached on National TV in a bowl type atmosphere by some guy named Bronco…OK, OK…maybe that last one was not a good example…but the point is…nothing is normal in Norman these days. This team needed some confidence…this team needed a cupcake…
…And man did it get one...
The Offense
Grooming issues aside, Landry Jones looked pretty good. He seems to have a presence about him and was seemingly in control of both the team and his own emotions, which is a big thing. He possesses a big arm, but he also showed some touch and accuracy, which was especially impressive considering the conditions. Yes, there were also some mistakes…he tried to throw into double coverage several times …and the pass he tried to make to Clapp in the flats would have been picked off and returned for a touchdown by any other team on the schedule.
Some will also say that it was obvious that Jones was locked in on one receiver (and he was), and that he needs to spread the ball around more (yes and no). Let me put it to you like this: If you are looking for your car keys, and you find them in the first place you look, then you don’t continue to look for them just because there are other places that they conceivably could have been. So yes, maybe he was locked in on Broyles, but as a former QB (albeit on a slightly different level) I can tell you this…if you look up and see an open receiver, you throw it to him…especially if you know he is going to catch it when you do. Smart guys those quarterbacks.
The problem going forward is that teams are certainly going to double cover Broyles…so you would like to know that Jones can go thru his progressions and find some one else if necessary. But who says he didn’t? This situation, in my opinion, could be just as much about the other receivers as it is the QB. Are the other receivers getting open? Will they catch it if he throws it to them? Do they like his mustache?
I don’t understand how OU can have such a drop off in talent at this position. Considering the style of offense the Sooners run, and who has been running it, you would think that top WR’s around the country would flock to Norman. True, the Sooners have been close to landing the top WR recruit in the nation in recent years (see Julio Jones last year), only to be spurned on signing day…but evidently those efforts were an all or nothing attempt to fill the position, because no one on this roster outside of Broyles seems capable of stepping up.
What about the TE? Not much help here since the tight ends had the same number of catches in the game that I did…none. All I read about on message boards is about what great hands Hanna has…great hands for what? Is he the team masseuse, or a TE? If he is the later, get him in the frickin game.
The running game….The Sooners have the ability to trot out not one, but two returning 1000 yard rushers from a year ago…but until the Sooners show or prove they can throw a pass deeper than 15 yards, defenses are going to continue to creep up to contain the run. You can trot out Emmitt Smith or bring back AD, but it won’t matter if the O-line sucks. Speaking of, and I know you have been:
Offensive Line
When the music stopped this week, Eldridge was back at TE, Habern was back starting at center and a true freshman named Tyler Evans was starting at guard. Cory Brandon and his 6 penalties were holding down the bench this week instead of opposing defensive lineman. I agree that changes should have been and needed to be made here…but what I don’t understand is all the position changes. Are you a guard, or a tackle? Are you a tight end or a center? Are you a punter or a place kicker? My unsolicited opinion? Why not pick one position for a player…then the player learns that one position and all that goes with it…then when he goes into a game he knows what to do…which would seemingly increase his chances at producing positive results. Hey, there is a reason I am still undefeated…Call me coaches, I am here for you.
Any chance of this team reaching the goals they set for themselves going into the season is contingent upon whether or not this unit can drastically improve. With reports that Bradford may be back sooner than later (today’s rumor is that family and doctors are advising not playing again) an improved offensive line could still allow the Sooners a chance to be in the hunt for a 4th straight Big 12 Title. Status quo from the big uglies and Sooner fans can start looking into Independence Bowl packages. Judging from the first drive of the game when the Sooners failed to score on 4 straight tries from the one yard line…against the Bengals of Idaho St… a trip to Shreveport, LA may be in the Sooner Nations future. Hey, I hear it is great there in December.
Yes, as expected OU got a W Saturday night…but what else did it accomplish? I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that the Idaho St. Bengals were the worst team the Sooners have ever hosted at Memorial Stadium…so how much do you take from some of the good things we witnessed last Saturday night? There are still a lot of questions surrounding these 2009 Sooners…Will the Sooners start to find some answers starting this week at home against Tulsa or for sure a couple weeks later in Miami? I don’t know, but one thing is certain, the questions won’t be coming from a cupcake, they will come in the form of a Hurricane.
Just One Mildly Interested Guys Opinion
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
Norman, Oklahoma
HELP WANTED, ONLY CUPCAKES NEED APPLY
Normally, I hate games like this. It’s your typical early season home game against an over matched Division II opponent. The game is no more than a glorified scrimmage, the results of which are so banal and predictable that after it is over, you wonder what the purpose was. The reason: these early season games are all about the guarantee. The University receives all the financial gains that are normally associated with home game…the Sooners are assured a blow-out win…and Idaho St? Well, Bob, tell them what they’ve won: “like all Division II opponents who appear at Memorial Stadium, the Bengals will receive a generous check, a large dose of humiliation, and a lifetime supply of Johnson’s Turtle Wax.”
Yes, normally I hate these games...but normal got its ass kicked by a bunch of Mormon boy scouts on national television last week…normal is MIA when a tight-end suddenly becomes your starting center and your right tackle keeps jumping off-sides before he even gets a chance to illegally use his hands. Normal was suppose to be a returning Heisman Trophy winning QB throwing to a first team All-American TE…not a red-shirt freshman with a porn-stache watching the play clock expire on the one yard line. Normal is not watching Bob Stoops get out coached on National TV in a bowl type atmosphere by some guy named Bronco…OK, OK…maybe that last one was not a good example…but the point is…nothing is normal in Norman these days. This team needed some confidence…this team needed a cupcake…
…And man did it get one...
The Offense
Grooming issues aside, Landry Jones looked pretty good. He seems to have a presence about him and was seemingly in control of both the team and his own emotions, which is a big thing. He possesses a big arm, but he also showed some touch and accuracy, which was especially impressive considering the conditions. Yes, there were also some mistakes…he tried to throw into double coverage several times …and the pass he tried to make to Clapp in the flats would have been picked off and returned for a touchdown by any other team on the schedule.
Some will also say that it was obvious that Jones was locked in on one receiver (and he was), and that he needs to spread the ball around more (yes and no). Let me put it to you like this: If you are looking for your car keys, and you find them in the first place you look, then you don’t continue to look for them just because there are other places that they conceivably could have been. So yes, maybe he was locked in on Broyles, but as a former QB (albeit on a slightly different level) I can tell you this…if you look up and see an open receiver, you throw it to him…especially if you know he is going to catch it when you do. Smart guys those quarterbacks.
The problem going forward is that teams are certainly going to double cover Broyles…so you would like to know that Jones can go thru his progressions and find some one else if necessary. But who says he didn’t? This situation, in my opinion, could be just as much about the other receivers as it is the QB. Are the other receivers getting open? Will they catch it if he throws it to them? Do they like his mustache?
I don’t understand how OU can have such a drop off in talent at this position. Considering the style of offense the Sooners run, and who has been running it, you would think that top WR’s around the country would flock to Norman. True, the Sooners have been close to landing the top WR recruit in the nation in recent years (see Julio Jones last year), only to be spurned on signing day…but evidently those efforts were an all or nothing attempt to fill the position, because no one on this roster outside of Broyles seems capable of stepping up.
What about the TE? Not much help here since the tight ends had the same number of catches in the game that I did…none. All I read about on message boards is about what great hands Hanna has…great hands for what? Is he the team masseuse, or a TE? If he is the later, get him in the frickin game.
The running game….The Sooners have the ability to trot out not one, but two returning 1000 yard rushers from a year ago…but until the Sooners show or prove they can throw a pass deeper than 15 yards, defenses are going to continue to creep up to contain the run. You can trot out Emmitt Smith or bring back AD, but it won’t matter if the O-line sucks. Speaking of, and I know you have been:
Offensive Line
When the music stopped this week, Eldridge was back at TE, Habern was back starting at center and a true freshman named Tyler Evans was starting at guard. Cory Brandon and his 6 penalties were holding down the bench this week instead of opposing defensive lineman. I agree that changes should have been and needed to be made here…but what I don’t understand is all the position changes. Are you a guard, or a tackle? Are you a tight end or a center? Are you a punter or a place kicker? My unsolicited opinion? Why not pick one position for a player…then the player learns that one position and all that goes with it…then when he goes into a game he knows what to do…which would seemingly increase his chances at producing positive results. Hey, there is a reason I am still undefeated…Call me coaches, I am here for you.
Any chance of this team reaching the goals they set for themselves going into the season is contingent upon whether or not this unit can drastically improve. With reports that Bradford may be back sooner than later (today’s rumor is that family and doctors are advising not playing again) an improved offensive line could still allow the Sooners a chance to be in the hunt for a 4th straight Big 12 Title. Status quo from the big uglies and Sooner fans can start looking into Independence Bowl packages. Judging from the first drive of the game when the Sooners failed to score on 4 straight tries from the one yard line…against the Bengals of Idaho St… a trip to Shreveport, LA may be in the Sooner Nations future. Hey, I hear it is great there in December.
Yes, as expected OU got a W Saturday night…but what else did it accomplish? I don’t think it would be a stretch to say that the Idaho St. Bengals were the worst team the Sooners have ever hosted at Memorial Stadium…so how much do you take from some of the good things we witnessed last Saturday night? There are still a lot of questions surrounding these 2009 Sooners…Will the Sooners start to find some answers starting this week at home against Tulsa or for sure a couple weeks later in Miami? I don’t know, but one thing is certain, the questions won’t be coming from a cupcake, they will come in the form of a Hurricane.
Just One Mildly Interested Guys Opinion
The Overweight Armchair Sooner
Buddy Putty
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
