Andre Ware still predicts 8-4 year for Sooners
OU football
BY DAVID UBBEN
Comments 
106
Published: November 3, 2009
NORMAN —The only logical assumption was Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops must have gone out of his way to disrespect Andre Ware’s mother.
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"How dare he!” cried
Sooner Nation in August, after the former
Heisman winner and current
ESPN analyst predicted the Sooners would lose four games.
Ranked No. 3 in the preseason polls, Oklahoma was among a handful of favorites to compete for the national title. Oklahoma won 23 of its 28 games in two seasons, and with several players in the conversation for the best at their position in college football, Ware took plenty of criticism, thanks to his peculiar prediction.
"Oklahoma fans are passionate, and rightfully so,” Ware said this week. "When you say something like that, a lot of places will let it go and move on down the road. That’s not the case at the University of Oklahoma.”
With the season now more than half over, Ware’s prediction doesn’t look so outrageous. Though Oklahoma was a three-touchdown favorite in its season opener against
Brigham Young, Ware said the Sooners would lose. They did.
He warned that a road trip to
Miami would be far from a repeat of the Sooners’ 2007 blowout win in Norman. It was.
Ware was wrong about
Tulsa’s offense troubling the Sooners (shutout in a 45-0 loss in Norman), but Oklahoma came a step closer to fulfilling the former
Houston quarterback’s prediction after losing to
Texas in
Dallas to fall to 3-3 on the season.
"I’m not in the business to feel vindicated,” Ware said. "I don’t take any satisfaction in saying, ‘Hey, I told you so.’ It’s what I believed at the start of the season, and it’s how it’s seeming to unfold. I just keep calling games.”
Ware never quite explained, other than referencing Oklahoma’s suspect offensive line, what made him think the Sooners’ national championship hopes would be shattered so early in the season.
Now, he says his inspiration was Clemson’s 2008 team, which returned a host of skill players, including a pair of superstar running backs,
C.J. Spiller and
James Davis, but just one offensive lineman. The Tigers, who opened the season in the top 10, were blown out by
Alabama in their season opener and finished 7-6, winning just four ACC games.
"When I looked at Oklahoma, I saw the same picture,” Ware said. "It was quite clear to me, even with Sam back, that there were going to be some struggles, especially early, before the line had a chance to gel together.”
Bradford sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder just before halftime of the Sooners’ season-opening loss. The reigning Heisman winner missed three games, returned for one, but was shelved for good after re-injuring the shoulder on Oklahoma’s second offensive drive against Texas.
"I didn’t take into account or factor for injuries, though certainly they’re a part of the game,” Ware said. "I just felt the teams I picked them to lose to would be better, at the time they played them, than the University of Oklahoma.”
The Sooners are still a loss away from fulfilling Ware’s prediction, but he sees no reason to revise his preseason prediction.
Rather, he says Oklahoma is still on track to making him look like a 21st-century
Nostradamus.
"They’ve got one more loss coming, and it’s against their rival,
Oklahoma State,” Ware said. "I still think they’ll finish the year 8-4.”
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were candy and nuts" OU would be undefeated. OU fans need to start dealing with reality. OU
hasn't been the team they were propped up to be for the last 5-6 seasons. This season is a
good marker for what is to come. A team has to win close games, snatch victories from the
jaws of defeat, win in prime-time, beat teams when you are an underdog to them. Win
on the road against top 10 teams impressively. Whats impressive about a 62-41 score at
Stillwater, not a friggin thing. They held Texas to 45 pts. in the Cotton Bowl, impressive,
right! The DO said they had moved up to #20, but the crawl on ESPN for this week-end
had them #24. #24 is about right. Looking at the teams from #20 up to #10, I don't see
OU winning at a neutral or visiting team situation. No swagger, no intimidation, no smash
mouth style for 4 quarters. Big "half-game Bob" has left his mark. They say a team takes
on the demeanor of their coach and staff. The spin starts at the DO and ends here.
Jason, you almost sound like you're switching sides on me. You're coming up with ways to help make OU better. Have you had your meds today?
Same story with Miami.
So Ware, you would be wrong if Bradford did not go down.
Sorry, but...
BOOMER SOONER!!
Sure, it's another very disappointing year. Lose Bradford, lose any hope of national recognition (which Swooner fans directly tie into their self-esteem), lose to Texas AGAIN, and the Swooners are saying "Ware was lucky because of the injuries"?!
Passionate, all right!
Excuses, Excuses....Bradford did play against TEXAS..we knocked his a$@ out of the game! Enjoy Shreveport!
LOL It looks pretty nasty the other way! hahaha
I can't wait for the game Jason. I'm so happy you invited me. That is awfully nice of you to take lil ole me... :)
I am a huge OSU fan...I bought my first bedlam tickets yesterday. I am really looking forward to the game! ...but not looking foward to dumb idiot fans on either team...we both have them.
I'm going to be bold, and predict 7-5 year.
El Prez, Deer Creek