Sooners have turned into what they had planned

View more >

Bowl picture still cloudy for OU, OSU
Going bowling
Welcome to my world: Paul Thompson, quarterback
Story lines

Related Information

Related Topics

Top Jobs

By Berry Tramel
The Oklahoman

COLLEGE STATION, Texas — November arrives for Oklahoma football 2006, and to borrow a phrase from Arizona Cardinal mastermind Dennis Green, the Sooners are exactly who we thought they were.

View More Most Popular Categories...

Finally.

Tough defense. Ball-control offense that wants to score but doesn’t mind punting.

That’s what we thought we’d see from August on, with Rhett Bomar’s slide into villainy. Instead, Paul Thompson was a passing machine and OU’s defense sprouted leaks.

Then when Adrian Peterson’s collarbone went splat in the Owen Field end zone against Iowa State, we thought Tall Paul would have to air it out even more. Instead, the Sooners have gone 1969 on us.

All of which comes at an opportune time. Kyle Field, where OU duels Texas A&M tonight, has hosted all sorts of Sooner-Aggie theatrics in the Bob Stoops era. Three waltzes, average score: OU 34, A&M 32.

The Sooners want no part of such hijinks tonight. They have found their missing defense and desire no retreat.

Since the Oregon heist, OU has trotted out five straight strong defensive efforts. Nothing new there. The Sooners often grow stronger defensively.

A few weeks ago, the rabids demanded Brent Venables’ head and philosophized that Stoops magic flowed through brother Mike’s veins, not Bob’s.

Now Venables’ clan has allowed just five touchdowns total in the last five games, three by mighty Texas, which still managed just 232 total yards.

The improvement comes from many fronts.

Personnel changes, led by Reggie Smith going to strong safety from cornerback, and corners Marcus Walker and

View more >

Sooners have turned into what they had planned

World Wide Web

No Articles Found

Related Topics

No Archives Found