Bears Use a Sqwirl to Dominate Sooners

BAYLOR 45 OKLAHOMA 35 

Yes, I know that wasn’t the official final score, but I don’t care. From now on, when a player takes a knee to run out the clock in leu of walking in for an easy touchdown, that team still gets the points. It’s a new rule that I just made up – so everyone just needs to get on board with it. Although I could see where this new proclamation might be a tough sell to the people out in Vegas. 

Superman 

“Two-thirds of the earth is covered by water, the other third by Roy Williams” 

Former Sooner safety, Roy Williams (1999-2001) was honored during the game in recognition of his upcoming induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Williams, the 23rd Sooner to be elected, will always be remembered for his legendary “Superman” play in the 2001 OU-TX game. I could be wrong, but it looks like Roy has been on same diet that I have for the last two decades. But the best part of the whole thing was what Roy wore for the occasion, which was a t-shirt adorned with a very large replication of the Superman play. 

 Ironically, I’ve also been looking into having one of my greatest moments duplicated onto a XXXL Beefy-T … but the image of giving up fast food for an entire week doesn’t translates to 100% cotton as well as one might think. (if you have 4-minutes to spare - check out the Roy Williams highlight film below - the guy was amazing)

Scattershooting … Wondering what ever happened to Ryan Leaf? Oh, seriously? … 

Just a year removed from this game being the site of Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff, the Sooners and Bears were relegated to the random 2:00 ‘nobody is gonna find this channel so it doesn’t matter’ kickoff slot and televised on ESPN+ … which is a streaming platform one-step above having the game televised at 11 PM on tape-delay. 

 

ESPN+ is where you’ll find marquee matchups like Middle Tennessee St/La Tech and Florida International/North Texas – games whose outcomes change the landscape of college football each and every week. Who needs Rece, Kirk, Desmond and the rest of the GameDay crew when you have the ESPN+ team of Courtney Lyle (play-by-play), Ryan Leaf (analyst) and Tori Petry (sideline) rocking the Palace on the Prairie. Well, as it turns out, I do. 

I Think My Ears are Bleeding … 

Before I offend every person with an X chromosome with what I’m about to put in writing, let me say this … I’m a big fan of the female gender. For instance, my mom, who raised two children while successfully navigating the waters of a male dominated industry, is my hero – this despite the fact that she thinks the wishbone is symbol of luck, not an offense. I also think that Heart’s ‘Dog and Butterfly” album stands the test of time and I even rooted for Billie Jean King when she played Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes back in 1973. Hell, I’m not even mad that we decided to let women vote (that’s a joke mom). But with that said, I’d almost rather go swimming near the Great Barrier Reef with a ham tied to my ankle than listen to a woman do the play-by-play of a game. There I said it. So, sue me. 

Seriously, wasn’t it torture enough watching some dude named "Sqwirl" run through the Sooner defense like crap through a goose, without having to hear about it from someone whose voice goes from Sam Elliot to Screech from Saved by the Bell? I swear, every step "Sqwirl" took, and there were many, her voice got higher and higher. I’m pretty sure that by the time "Sqwirl" carried the nut ball into the endzone – her voice was so high that only stray dogs and hump-back whales could decipher what she was saying. It was so bad I didn’t know whether to cuss the OU defense or howl at the moon. Okay, I’m done now. 

I will give analyst Ryan Leaf, who is considered by many to be the biggest QB bust in NFL history, a nod for the funny, self-deprecating shot he took at himself after a Dillon Gabriel interception in the second quarter. “Watching a pass sail high over the middle gives me PTSD."

The Melting Pot of Mediocrity. 

With the loss Saturday, the Sooners dropped to 5-4 on the year … which sounds more like the first two digits you press when your calling your Aunt in northwest Virginia than it does a win-loss record. Maybe it sounds strange, because it is – as this is the first time Oklahoma has lost 4-games in a season since going 8-5 in 2014 – and only the second time in the last 22-seasons, the other being 8-5 in 2009. I don’t know about you, but after watching the first 9-games, I’d be more than happy to take 8-5 and a trip to the Chef Boyardee Spaghetti Bowl in Tupelo, MS., right now. 

3rd Down is so Yesterday. 

On Saturday, the Sooners converted a remarkable 66% of their 3rd down attempts (10 of 15), while Baylor struggled – converting only 4 of 13 (30%). There was a time, not so long ago, this kind of advantage of third-down efficiency was one of the more important and telling stats associated with a game. But that is changing and fast. More and more, offensive coordinators are using 3rd down to put their offense into a manageable distance to go for it on 4th down. Furthermore, fourth down conversions are often game changing, regardless of when they occur. 

For example … Baylor was 3 for 3 on 4th down, with two of those conversion extending drives that eventually led to touchdowns. On Baylor’s initial possession, it faced a fourth-and-7 from the Sooners’ 35-yard line. The 35-yard line is the epitome of no-man’s land, too close to punt and the percentages show that making a 52-yard field goal is low. Failure to convert however, gives the Sooners, already up 7-0, great field position and all the momentum. But the Baylor coaches never hesitated and three plays following Baylor QB Blake Shapen’s throw to Josh Cameron over the middle for 16 yards, the game was tied. 

 

Conversely, OU was 0 for 1 of 4th down. Early in the second quarter, the Sooners were facing 4th and less than a yard at the Baylor 35-yard line. Quarterback sneak? Nope. Lebby, instead went with the Wildcat formation, which is a shot-gun snap … and Marcus Major never got back to the line of scrimmage. You also have to ask yourself, did that failure to convert factor into the decision not to go for it on 4th a 4 from midfield at the start of the 4th quarter? I’ll admit, I happened to agree with Venables decision to punt at the time – but that was prior to the OU defense surrendering an 11-play, 80-yard drive that put Baylor up by two-scores. Second guessing head coaches … it’s my gift that keeps on giving. 

Penalties are About Discipline 

“It’s not how hard the wind blows, it’s what the wind blows” – Ron White 

Listening to Venables press conference, he must have used the word discipline 40 times. Okay, maybe not 40, but I know it was a lot, I just didn’t have to mental strength to keep count … but as much as the head coaches stresses it, discipline would be about 67th on the list of adjectives I would use to describe this team. 

Committing 8-penalties isn’t the end of the world, in fact its about the average. But when those penalties occur can be devastating. The 15-yard hands to the face penalty by center Andrew Raym right before half essentially cost the Sooners 3 points. Instead of a 40-yard field goal, it was 55-yarder – which Schmidt missed wide left.

Defense is About Attitude 

Baylor rushed for 300 yards (yes, I’m adding in the ungained yards lost when the "Sqwirl" took a knee) – but most concerning is that 114 of those came in the 4th quarter. Mentally tough, physical teams do not give up 300-yards rushing, much less 114 when the game is on the line. 

This defense, which lost its top three defensive lineman, leading tackler, sack leader, interception leader, and glue guy from a year ago – frankly, just isn’t there yet. But while a lack of talent it one thing – there is no excuse for not playing with effort and passion – and from what I saw – that was the case on Saturday. But then again, I was drinking bourbon, and watching on ESPN+ with the volume muted, so there is that … 

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy 

Buddy Putty 

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Crimson, Cream & ... Anthracite?

 OKLAHOMA 52 #19 KANSAS 42

While the Sooners broke their three-game losing streak last Saturday against #19-ranked Jayhawks, I'm gonna focus more on what they were wearing while they did it.

CRIMSON, CREAM AND …. ANTHRACITE?

The Sooners unveiled their new alternate uniforms this past Saturday. The ‘Unity’ uniforms featured anthracite-colored jerseys, pants and helmets with crimson trim and lettering. There was an outline of the state of Oklahoma amid a triple-stripe on both sleeves and the word “UNITY” was stitched on the back-of-the-jersey nameplate.

 

I’ll be honest, my first reaction upon seeing the alternate uniforms was that I hated them.

 

My first reaction was … To make a snap judgement. “The jersey’s shouldn’t say Unity on the back, they should say Ugly.”

 

My first reaction was … That just the description of the uniforms made me dizzy. “Anthracite, really? Is that even a color? Because it sounds more like something I need to have my pesticide provider spray for on their next visit.”

 

My first reaction was … To make fun of them. “It would be my contention that any color that can’t beat out the likes of tumbleweed, inchworm, or jazzberry jam for a slot in the Crayola Crayons Box of 120 – shouldn’t be featured on a football jersey.”

 

My first reaction was … To chalk it up to something I don’t understand. “The new generation could care less about tradition … and sad as it may be, things like ‘alternate’ uniforms matter to recruits. Call me an old man, but I want these hideous things off my yard”

 

My first reaction was … To find a way to tie it to something else I deemed negative. “How in the hell am I supposed to know who to scream at when the jersey doesn’t have the players name on it, and you can’t decipher their jersey number? It’s like a witness protection program for Oklahoma Sooners defensive backs.”

 

Thankfully, before I published the blog this week, I did what I should’ve done to begin with … I took some time to educate myself on the Unity Uniforms.

 

Turns out … my first reaction was … Judgmental, Insensitive, and Uninformed.  

 

There are two thing I want to be very clear about.

 

The jersey Prentice Gautt signed for me back in 2002.

First, I loved both the message and the great pioneer that the
Unity Uniforms represented from the start. Prentice Gautt, a man I had the privilege of meeting back in 2002, became the first black scholarship football player at the University of Oklahoma in 1956. His perseverance through racial prejudice, helped unite this teammates on their way to four consecutive conference championships. Gautt, who was a two-time All-Big Eight running back, an Academic All-American, and the MVP of the 1959 Orange Bowl, also play seven seasons in the NFL. IMO, there could not be a more appropriate and deserving man to be honored and recognized by this kind of tribute than Prentice Gautt.

I’m also not so egotistical as to think my opinion on the Unity Uniforms matters to anyone, nor should it. The only opinions on the subject that matters … is that of the Gautt Family, the people who designed them and the players who wear them.  With that said, after reading more about the uniforms I have a whole new appreciation for them.

 

THE IDEA

The ‘Unity Uniform’ idea was created and then designed by a group of student-athletes, including several former football players. I’m impressed with the idea, that it was done by committee, and that the powers that be at the University of Oklahoma were on board and supportive of the project. Once again, Joe Castiglione shows why he is the best Athletic Director in the nation.

 

THE PROCESS

The idea for the ‘Unity Uniforms’  started in 2020. Two-years is a lot of time and effort to put into a project. Plus, when a ‘committee’ is tasked to do a project, that is a lot of opinions, which can lead to things being tedious at times. I know this from experience. The two situations I was involved in where I wasn’t the only one to get a vote, both ended in divorce. So, kudos to the group for the time and effort it took to bring the ‘Unity Uniforms’ to fruition.

 

THE HONOR

I read where it was also the desire of the student-athlete group to use the new football uniform to honor Gautt. “We wanted to honor Prentice for being the first African American scholarship football player here,” said Kelly. “He stood for unity, he stood for doing things the right way. He stood for making sure that you handled academics and football. He was one of the founding fathers who made Oklahoma football what it is and gave all the African American players who have come through OU an opportunity. As I’ve already mentioned, there couldn’t be a better choice for that honor. Well done.

 

THE MESSAGE

‘Unity Uniforms’ were designed for all University of Oklahoma varsity sports, not just the football team. “We wanted to make a statement that was way broader, something that stood out more than just a practice jersey,” said Caleb Kelly, a former OU linebacker who is now a director for the football team's SOUL Mission program. “When we're all together wearing the word ‘Sooners,’ we’re all one. We wanted to make sure we exemplified unity in our uniform.”

 

I’m not sure how the swim team is going to feel about wearing those helmets, but I love the message. I’m just kidding, we don’t even have a swim team, do we?

 

MY THOUGHTS

My second reaction was … That the new alternate uniforms, while not being my cup of tea aesthetically, are special. Special because of who designed them. Special due to the time and effort it took to bring them to completion. And special for who and what they represent – which is Prentice Gautt and the importance of togetherness and building relationships to better society.

 

Maybe the uniforms also serve as a reminder that the path to achieving the goals above won’t always be pretty and that a person’s first reaction should be based on meaning and not color … even if that color is something called Anthracite.

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy

Buddy Putty

The OAS

OU-TX - Part 2 - The Game Inside the Cotton Bowl

 

“All I could think about the entire game was …
How bad the Nebraska Cornhuskers are” – The OAS

 

*Now seems to be a good time to share my annual disclaimer. Despite what you might occasionally read in this blog, I hate to be critical of a student athletes, I truly do. To start with, they have more talent in their little fingers than I’ve ever exhibited in my best day. I also appreciate the commitment, sacrifice, and effort that these kids put forth in order to chase their dreams – as well as give people like me something to live vicariously through. There is an old saying, those that do, do… and those that can’t, write about it.  Never has that saying been more applicable than with The OAS.

I’m also not ready to jump ship. Anyone who thought this was going to be a 10- or 11-win season was not being realistic. I still believe we have the right guy leading this team in Brent Venables and while it very well may get worse before it gets better, I’ll continue to trust the process – but meanwhile – I might continue to pass the time by pointing out a few things in order to laugh my way through this, because let’s face it – there in nothing attractive about a crying, soon to be 57-year old man. Boomer!

The empty Oklahoma end of the Cotton Bowl in the back ground, symbolic of the way the entire day went for the Sooners

THE GAME

Look, I’m sure that backup quarterback Davis Beville is a nice kid. He probably opens the car door for his dates, spends time playing canasta with the elderly at the local retirement home, and always sends handwritten thank you notes when given a gift … but he is, without a doubt, the worst QB to ever start a football game for the University of Oklahoma. If Mr. Beville was the best option to replace Dillon Gabriel at QB on Saturday, then the young men listed behind him on the QB depth chart need to rethink their football path in life. I honestly think we would’ve been better off with Mac Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., or even Betty Davis taking the snaps instead of the Davis we trotted out there. How bad was it? The best two quarterbacks for the Sooners this past Saturday weren’t even quarterbacks – they were a tight end and a punter.

- The Sooners completed just nine passes for 39 yards on Saturday. Unless OU reverts back to the wishbone, completing less passes than the number of beers I drank before the game, is not a recipe for success … for either of us.

32 of those yards were in the first half, the fewest yards passing for OU in a first half since 2014. What the hell were we doing in 2014? Anyway – in case that wasn’t pathetic enough, we followed that exhibition of ineptitude, with a grand total of 7 yards in the second half. Hey, we almost had enough for a first down. 7-yards … isn’t that what I use to drink at Brothers when I should’ve been studying? While I can’t confirm the accuracy of this next statement – 7-yards has to be the fewest yards passing in a half by anyone since the invention of electricity, the introduction of the forward pass, and the retirement of Woody Hayes.

- OU was only 2 for 15 on third down. Which begs the question … how the hell did the Sooners get two third down conversions? That said, 2 is not much to brag about since even a broken clock is right twice a day.

- Bad decision – football related #1: Down 7-0 in the first quarter, OU sends out Tight End Brayden Willis to run the wildcat. 6-plays later the Sooners had gone 43-yards and are now 1^st and 10 at the Texas 32. The Sooners have some offensive rhythm and the Horns on their heels – so what do the Sooners do next? Well, they decide to trot Davis Beville back into the game of course. Huh?

So, let me get this straight … the 7 your dating is a head case, so you take a break – and find yourself in a rebound relationship with a 3. As soon as you realize there is zero upside to dating a 3 - you break up and after playing the field, you suddenly find yourself going out with a 6.  While dating a 6 isn’t always pretty and won’t replace the 7 long term – you’re at least going places. But suddenly, for no apparent reason, you end things with the 6  - and go back to the 3 … even when you’re fully aware of the fact that her family doesn’t own a chain of liquor stores. Clearly, I don’t understand.

- Bad decision – football related #2: With about 1:50 to go before half, Texas was facing 3^rd and 10 from their own 30-yard line. Knowing they would get the ball to start the second half, the Horns seemed more than willing to just let the clock run down and take their 3-touchdown lead to the locker room … that was until OU called a timeout.

Venables obviously wanted to stop the clock in hopes that his team could hold Texas on 3^rd down, then get the ball back with some time left on the clock to try and score before half. It was a strategy that I would normally agree with – but not this past Saturday.

Evidently, Venables wasn’t watching the same Sooners offense that I was in the first half, because if he had been– he would’ve realized that they had completed only 5 passes to that point – and two of those were to the Longhorns.

Unless Venables truly believed that his QB was suddenly gonna morph into John Elway and engineer a drive that lead to points in the final minute of the half – then stopping the clock didn’t make sense. I would also argue that even if the Sooners got the ball back with some time left – there would be a higher probability of the Longhorn defense scoring than that of the OU offense.

But Venables call the timeout – and predictably, the Longhorns were able to convert on third down and 10. Armed with the extra time on the clock courtesy of OU timeout – Texas now had time to try and score, which they did, with 18 seconds left in the half.

IT’S OVER WHEN IT’S OVER

Somewhere above – John Blake is smiling.

Saturday's 49-0 loss ends the Sooners streak of 311 consecutive games without being shutout. The last time Oklahoma was held scoreless was by Texas A&M back on Nov. 7, 1998. The last time Texas shut-out Oklahoma was in 1965, 19-days before I was born.

Coming into the game, Oklahoma had scored an offensive touchdown in 167 straight games, which WAS the longest active streak in FBS.

The 55-24 loss to TCU last week and the 49-0 loss to the Longhorns on Saturday, marked the first time in the programs 127-year history that the Sooners have lost consecutive games by 30 or more points.

Next streak in jeopardy? The Sooners 22-year post season bowl streak. Just Sayin’

How bad is our defense? The latest Heisman polls show the favorites to win the 40-lbs piece of granite to be: Alabama QB Bryce Young, Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud and any QB with OU still left to play on their schedule.

Just the Opinion Of One Mildly Interested Guy

Buddy Putty

The OAS

OU-TX - Part 1 - The Game Outside the Cotton Bowl

 

As always, one of the best parts of every OU-TX weekend is getting to see and spend time with friends that day-to-day-life doesn’t always allow time for. The weekend also serves as a reminder of just how fast life is moving. All those kids my friends were raising? Well, they’re not kids anymore.

OU-TX: Where Are They Now

Donnie Little (Texas QB 1978-82) “Hello, Donnie Little.” Surprised that I recognized him as he was leaving the stadium, the former Longhorn QB actually stopped to shake my hand and offer condolences. “As you know, we’ve been on the other side of this kinda score,” he said. “Games like this aren’t indicative of what this rivalry is all about.” My response was to try and not breath on him.

Little, who was the first black QB to play at UT, looked like he could still play today. The Texas Sports Hall of Famer, who lives in Round Rock, was also nice enough to take a picture with me. I’ll let you decide which one of us had been drinking all day.

Forecast: High in the low 70’s, with a high probability of an ass kicking in the afternoon

The game time temperature at kickoff was 71 degrees, which was about three degrees cooler than the beer being served at most of the stands at Fair Park. Ah, warm beer in a wax paper cup … other than cold, it’s my second favorite kind.

Alex, “I’ll take ‘food items’ I can’t pronounce’ for 14 coupons

My choice to forgo a third corndog in favor of some big taco looking thing was a colossal mistake. First of all, I should know better than to try and eat something I can’t pronounce, especially when it’s the size of a deflated Spalding basketball -  and oozing enough grease to service a John Deere tractor. But with Kate being in the beer line, this is the kinda thing that happens when I’m left unsupervised.

The main ingredient was a chopped meat of undetermined origin that may or may not have been originally cooked within the last week. But none of that mattered if you made the additional mistake that I did, which was dipping it in the ‘sauce’ that accompanied this thing.

Holy ghost pepper, Batman. I now know what the flame emanating from a blowtorch would taste like if it was liquid. I would’ve dialed 911 and/or sought on-site medical attention – but both of those options would’ve required the ability to speak or see clearly. Once I was able to partially regain my vision, my quest became finding a trash can big enough to hold this thing – and remembering not to rub my eyes in case some of the nuclear waste they called ‘sauce’ had leaked onto my hands.  Even though my bad decision cost me 14-coupon and two of my five tastebuds – I feel lucky to have survived the ordeal.

IF YOU’RE A GOOD BOY, WE’LL GET ICE CREAM LATER

For the most part, my behavior was pretty darn good on Saturday. Turns out that the Sooners living down to my low expectations doesn’t bring out the wack-job in me like it does when they fail to live up to the standard of greatness, I so wish for them. Hmm, after typing that, I can’t help but wonder if that is the same mentality my mom has used in order to deal with me all these years so calmly?

The day, however, was not without incident. As Kate and I were exiting Fair Park, some punk in burnt orange asked me if the betting line on the game had been 49. Predictably, I didn’t find as much humor in his question as his three McConaughey wannabe friends.

My response – and I’m paraphrasing -  was to call him a name his mom wouldn’t appreciate, followed by equating his short memory to another part of his anatomy, then tying it all together by reminding him that the Longhorns had lost 4 straight to OU prior to today. Despite the fact that I used complete sentences and only slurred a couple of my words, my remark didn’t seem to be appreciated by the four Teasippers. Judging by the fingernails that were buried an inch deep just above my right elbow – it wasn’t a big hit with Kate either.

Then Kate goes all Ron White on me … “I don’t know how many of them it would take to kick your ass, but I know how many of them they were going to use – and the math wasn’t going to work out very well for you,” she said. “And by the way, I’ve already had to endure one ass kicking today – I’d rather not be witness to a second.” Her points were both funny and hard to argue – so I didn’t.  

Next – the game. Ugh

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy

Buddy Putty

The OAS

OKLAHOMA 34 KANSAS ST 41

 Half of my mistakes I swear I should've known better … You get a little distance on it, the truth is clearer. Oh, and half of my mistakes I'd probably make 'em again”- Radney Foster, Half My Mistakes

Wow, I didn’t see that coming. But in retrospect, why the hell didn’t I?  Sadly, those last two-lines might be etched on my tombstone someday.  Yes, the Sooners ascension to all things special in the new Brent Venables era took the night off last Saturday … the result was a 41-34 loss at home to Kansas State. It was the first loss for the Sooners in the Venables era, dropping OU to 3-1 on the season and 0-1 in conference play. KSU, fresh off a loss to Tulane, has now won 3 of the last 4 against OU. Talk about a buzzkill.

SLOW START

These slow starts to games by the Sooners are now officially an issue. Other than the opening game against UTEP, not only have the Sooners failed to score on their first drive of the game, they’ve fallen behind in all three – and frankly, they’ve looked bad doing it.

Kent St. led 3-0 until a minute to play in the first half. Nebraska marched down the field on their first drive of the game to take a 7-0 lead … the Sooners response was 5-plays and a punt. The first two times that KSU had the ball Saturday night, they marched down the field like Grant went through Richmond. Back-to-back drives of 15 and 12 plays had the Wildcats up 14-0.  Meanwhile, while the Sooners defense is sucking oxygen on the sidelines, the OU offense goes 5 plays and a punt, and 5-plays and a punt, rinse, repeat on their first two drives.

Look, if I know what time the game starts, then I think it’s only fair that the team does as well. When the ball is kicked – I’m ready to go, why aren’t they? I’ve got snacks in place, I’ve checked the batteries in my remote, I removed any expensive fragile decorative accessories from the immediate area, and I have my blood-level alcohol at the proper percentage for cheering/screaming. I don’t know if Venables is reading Ole Yeller, or Steel Magnolias or Where the Red Fern Grows to the team or what – but whatever he’s doing – it might be time to try something different.

SIGNS OF MATURITY

It was nice to have a night game for a change. I’m not saying I don’t mind having a Bloody Mary with my pop tart at 9AM, but every once in a while, it’s nice to be able to ease into the day.

Having had pizza the week prior, we went with wings this week. The wings, boneless for me, were fine … but I regret not calling an audible when Wing Stop told me they no longer had the rolls I love – “only sides are carrot and celery sticks”. What? Which one of my chins tells you that I’d prefer a vegetable over a butter-soaked roll? What next - McDonald’s deciding to nix their fries in favor of sprouts in their combo meals?

I do have to give myself some credit in regard to my overall behavior. In seasons past, a loss like the one Saturday night would’ve been met with expletive laced tirades, a broken nick-nack of some unknown origin, and anything that wasn’t tied down being launched into the pool. Other than some strongly worded encouragement, a quickly retracted declaration about Gabriel’s mom after he over-threw a wide-open Stoops on 4^th down, and a broken whiskey glass that didn’t bounce well – I was pretty much an adult. Hey, it’s progress. Don’t tell anyone, but maybe I’m starting to grow up. Right.

GAME CHANGER

With a little under 12:30 to go in the second quarter, Gabriel hit Marvin Mims on a 50-yard go route to tie the game at 14. When Sooners kicker Zach Schmit launched the ball in the air down toward the KSU goal line, momentum was clearly wearing crimson and cream. But a Malik Knowles 58-yard return found KSU taking the field with first and 10 in OU territory. 14-plays and 42-yards later, it was 21-14 KSU. On the drive, the Cats converted twice on third down, twice on 4^th down, and drained over 6-minutes off the clock. Momentum, which only moments earlier looked like Barry Switzer’s closet, now looked the color of Prince, eggplant, and whatever that big Barney thing is that kids like.

PENALTIES

Want the recipe for losing to what was perceived to be an inferior opponent? (1) Allow them to convert 50% of their 3^rd downs and both 4^th down attempts (2) Let them win the time of possession by 10 minutes (3) Commit 11 penalties – seeming all of which were pivotal in stalling your own drives or extended theirs (4) allow over 100+ yards rushing to two different players (4) miss a wide-open receiver on 4^th down, game changing play. (5) Order Wing Stop when they don’t have rolls anymore.

SPY?

Look, I only know two things about defense: It is played with 11-guys and we haven’t seen one in Norman in 15 years.  But that said, I have to question why the F didn’t Venables employ a spy on KSU QB Martinez? If he said he did, then he was undercover.

KSU’s ability to convert on 3^rd & 4^th down absolutely killed OU. Not only did that allow KSU to extend drives and wears down the OU defense, it also toke the crowd out of the game and the ball out of the hands of the OU offense.

Speaking of a tired defense …

NOW YOU SEE HIM .... NOW YOU DON'T

Jaren Kanak. A week ago, I watched the gifted freshman linebacker come off the bench and play like Lawrence Taylor. While only playing a little over half the game, Kanak led the team in tackles (10), while also forcing and recovering a fumble.  Then a week later, Kanak might as well have been Elisabeth Taylor, because he never played a snap. How can he go from being all over the field – to not being able to get on it?

Seriously, what was the downside to putting Kanak in the game to spell White or another linebacker? It’s not like the starters were having the games of their life. With his speed, Jaren Kanak, could very well have been the answer for Adrian Martinez, but now we’ll never know. Instead, I can't unsee a totally gassed Dashaun White lumbering after KSU QB Adrian Martinez, like Kirsti Alley plodding after an ice cream truck, as Martinez scrambled on third-and-16 for 52 yards. From 3-and 16 ... to ... 1^st and goal Wildcats. From undefeated to 3-1. Better days ahead, I hope.

Next up – Sooners come here to Fort Worth to take on TCU.

Sooners Dominate Cornhuskers

Oklahoma 49 Nebraska 14

I was worried about this game. Coming off a loss to Georgia State, the 1-2 Nebraska Cornhuskers were the laughingstock of the college football world. Their head coach, Scott Frost, a former Huskers quarterback and the appointed savior of Nebraska football, had just been shown the door. So badly did the University of Nebraska want him gone, they couldn’t even wait three more weeks until October 1^st, when it would’ve saved the school $7.5 million to do so. Replacing Frost was Mickey Joseph, another former Nebraska quarterback, a guy that by all accounts was extremely popular with the players.  I felt certain that the Cornhuskers, playing in front of their loyal and raucous crowd, would be armed with an ‘us against the world’ mentality and play inspired football for their new interim head coach.  And they did …. For about 6-minutes.

This past Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska, the #6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners shook off an early 7-0 deficit on their way to a resounding 49-14 victory over the struggling Cornhuskers. To be honest, the final score was not really indicative of how much Oklahoma dominated this game. Using a balanced attack on offense and applying relentless pressure on defense, Oklahoma turned in what, in my opinion, was the most all-around complete game played by a Sooners team in the last 14-years.

Opinions, Observations, Raves, and Rants

- I thought Sooners QB Dillion Gabriel was good, but not great on Saturday. His 60-yard run to tie the score left me almost in a state of shock. Honestly, I thought I would’ve had a better chance of scoring from that distance than he did.  Okay, not really – but only because I haven’t run 60-yards since Ronald Reagan was in office. Throwing the ball, as his 59% completion ratio will reflect, I thought he was a bit erratic. There were times when he threw fastballs when touch would’ve provided a better result. I do love the way he makes it a priority to get Mims involved (6-catches), while also spreading the ball around (10-different receivers caught a pass).

- Gabriel wasn’t the only one spreading it around on Saturday. After starting the game with a Coors Banquet beer, I connected with a couple of Bloody Mary’s, faked play action and took a couple deep shots with homemade Limoncello, mixed in a trick play with a High Noon, then ran out the clock with a large dose of Angel’s Envy on ice. Having that kind of variation to my game makes me tough to defend … or so those around me say.

- I’ve seen the future and possibly the here and now, and its name is Jaren Kanak. The 6’2”, 210-pound true freshman linebacker from Hays, Kansas, who runs the 100-meters in 10.37, came in after DeShaun White was ejected for targeting in the second quarter. All Kanak did was lead the team with 10 tackles, while also forcing and recovering a fumble and registering a quarterback hurry. His speed wrecks complete havoc. He's just learning how to play linebacker,” Venables said. “He has no idea what he's doing yet. But he's made a lot of improvement from fundamentals and the language — and I know things are going a million miles an hour for him. But he did a nice job.” I'll say.

- Proof that coaching and scheme matters? This Sooner defense is the same group of players from last year … only without the player that led them in tackles (Asamoah), sacks (Bonitto), and interceptions (Turner-Yell) – and yet this 2022 version is night and day better. I'd tell Grinch and his Speed D too kiss my ass, but it's hard to kiss what you can't stop.  

- Thank you to my friend Styx, for hosting a few of us for the game. He brought in Nizza Pizza at halftime, which I'd never had before. It was good … But I have to deduct points due to the fact they only offer delivery after 5 PM, which is blatant discrimination against us day drunks. Just sayin'.

- Kudos to the offensive line for their performance on Saturday. I’ve been critical of this group through the first two games – which I’ll admit is ironic considering the fact that I couldn’t block a stuffed animal. For the most part on Saturday, they gave Gabriel plenty of time to throw, and opened holes that were wide enough to spring Larry the Cable guy into the secondary. That’s the way to “Get-R-Done” right there boys!

- I was also impressed with the number of players who got playing time while the game was still competitive. I’m usually rain man when it comes to knowing players via their jersey number – but Saturday, I found it necessary to consult with a roster more than once. You know what they say about depth, rarely is it a bad thing, unless you’re wearing concrete shoes of course.

So, what did the Sooner Nation learn on Saturday? That maybe … the days of an Oklahoma Sooners team consistently playing down to their competition might be a thing of the past. That maybe - this is no longer a program whose only chance to win is predicated on their ability to outscore their opponent. That maybe - this is a team that can take an early punch in the mouth and not pee down both legs. That maybe, just maybe - we’re witnessing the birth of something special in the Brent Venables era … or … maybe the fact is, the Sooners just beat a Nebraska team that sucks like a $2 hooker.  

We will know more soon, but as far as this past Saturday is concerned, there was no maybe about it …  It was most definitely was a good day to be a Sooner.

 

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy

Buddy Putty

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

4-For-4 ... Part II

The second part of a look back at the four games that Oklahoma played against Nebraska when I was in college. Not only did the Sooners win all four, each game feature a play so memorable, they were given nicknames. 

THE CATCH - 1986

#3 Oklahoma (9-1) @ #5 Nebraska (9-1)

November 22^nd, 1986

 

What would a trip down memory lane be without a serving of Sooner Magic.  With the Big-8 title on the line, Oklahoma rallied from 10-points down in the fourth quarter to beat the Cornhuskers in Lincoln 20-17.

 

Of note here … I was supposed to watch the game at my then girlfriends parents’ house in Norman, but she decided a couple hours before the game that my inability and lack of desire to harness ‘my passion’ was not fun for others. Actually, what she said was – I don’t want to spend 3-hours listening to you scream f-words at the TV like some kind of possessed moron, then have to answer questions from my parents in regard to your anger issues. Besides, they’re still not very happy with you for spiking their glass into the fireplace during the Colorado game two weeks ago.

 

“Look, for the record, that glass was bad luck and besides, why do they care – its not like they don’t have 3-more that look just like it in the pantry. But whatever … there are plenty of people I know who will want to watch the game with me.” Yep, that 1986 OU-Nebraska game was the first I ever watched by myself.

 

Down 7, with only 4:22 to go in the game, the Sooners drove 94-yards, tying the game on a Jamelle Holieway 17-yard touchdown pass to Keith Jackson with 1:22 to play.

 

The Sooners, with one of the best defenses in college football history, were able to use their timeouts and after forcing a Nebraska punt, took over at their own 37-yard line with only 40-seconds to play and no time outs.  On 3^rd and 12, from their own 37 … and 18 seconds to go in the game .. it was time for a little Sooner Magic …

 

The 41-yard completion stopped the clock with just 9-seconds to play. After spiking the ball, Tim Lashar’s kick from 41-yards split the uprights. It was pure pandemonium – for a party of 1 at my house … a place where only solo cups are used on game day.

 

THE BOW – 1987

#2 Oklahoma @ #1 Nebraska

Game of the Century II

 

The game was being billed as the Game of the Century II. Undefeated #2 Oklahoma vs, undefeated #1 Nebraska. At stake was a trip to the Orange Bowl and a shot at the National Title.  Yes, once again this rivalry would play a major role in determining college footballs national champion.

 

Going in, the deck seemed stacked against Oklahoma. Talk all week was in regard to the perceived advantage the Huskers had received due to a scheduling quirk that resulted in the Sooners having to travel to Lincoln for a second consecutive year. Furthermore, while Oklahoma plodded through a rather unimpressive 17-13 win over Missouri the previous week, the Huskers had the benefit of a bye-week to rest and focus on their longtime rival.

 

Much was also made of the fact that the Sooners would be playing without two key starters, fullback Lydell Carr and QB Jamelle Holieway. Turns out, the Sooners, led by redshirt freshman QB Charles Thompson, would do just fine.

 

Late in the third quarter with the score tied at 7, the Sooners had the ball facing second and 2 from their own 35. Patrick Collins takes the pitch from Thompson, turns the left corner, gets a perfect block from John Green, shakes off a couple of arm tackles, and raced 65 yards down the sideline for the go-ahead touchdown. Patrick Collins – take a bow!

 

 

Since we won the previous year, superstition had me watching my second consecutive OU-Nebraska game by myself, which was both good and bad. After Collins 65-yard gallop, I decided that the only way to properly celebrate Collin’s achievement was for me to jump over my couch. Good that I was alone so nobody saw it, bad that nobody was there to take me to a hospital.

 

Elevating over my couch wouldn’t have been a good idea, well – ever. To start with, my couch at that time was the size of a small third world country.  Hell, Evil Knievel probably would’ve declined an invitation to jump that thing. Throw in the fact that I was drunk and on a good day possess the vertical jumping skills of an anvil, and well, as you can imagine … it was a disaster of near epic proportion. 

 

As I entered take-off mode, I stepped on a beer bottle and rolled my ankle. To far in to abort the mission, I’m now focused on merely surviving. With all the grace of a walrus, I bellyflop/carom off the side to the couch. While I did stick the landing, unfortunately, that landing occurred out of bounds and in the middle of the fireplace equipment – the result of which left a deep gash on my left elbow that eventually needed 6 stitches.  I say eventually, because I felt certain that despite the carpet looking like a crime scene, that this wasn’t a big deal. All I need to do was pour some bourbon on it, and then if it ever stops burning, apply pressure on it with a kitchen towel. Hell, it'll have to stop bleeding pretty soon. I was wrong.

 

4-For-4 – Good times indeed.

 

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy

 

Buddy Putty

The Overweight Armchair Sooner