More than bragging rights on line The Bedlam Stakes: Texas loss Friday means a lot for Sooners
By John Helsley and Mike Baldwin
Published: November 25, 2006
STILLWATER - No need for antes in this 101st edition of Bedlam.
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The Sooners and Cowboys are all in, with the stakes plenty stiff already — a Big 12 title game appearance for OU, bowl destinations and program momentum for both among them.
And as always, 12 long months of bragging rights.
"The fact our bowl life is possibly on the line, mixed in with it's Bedlam makes this a really big game," said OSU defensive end Nathan Peterson, who grew up a Cowboy and now plays one.
"This is a pure rivalry, pure hatred between two in-state schools. It's a lot of fun. To be part of it, this is what you dream about."
Texas A&M padded the stakes Friday, upsetting Texas and creating a Big 12 championship opportunity for OU. With a win today, the Sooners advance to play Nebraska in the conference title game next Saturday in Kansas City.
Beat the Cornhuskers and the Sooners are on to the Fiesta Bowl.
"I can't look past Oklahoma State because that's all I have on my mind right now," Sooner senior offensive tackle Chris Messner said. "That's the biggest deal we have going on."
Indeed, much of what the Sooners aspire to — a league championship, a BCS bowl and respect nationally — is tied to winning today.
"It's real big," OU quarterback Paul Thompson said. "As far as where we want to end up in the Big 12. As far as where we want to end up in a bowl game, where we want to end up overall nationally in the rankings, there's definitely a sense of urgency and a sense of focus, knowing the importance of this game."
At 6-5, the Cowboys are bowl eligible, but not necessarily bowl bound.
The bowls tied to the Big 12 are obligated to take all seven-win-or-better teams first to fill slots. And should Kansas win at Missouri today, the league would have eight seven-win teams for just that many spots.
OSU, an attractive bowl team because of its history of traveling fans, could all but cement its place in the postseason with a win today.
The Alamo Bowl is sending two represenatives to the Bedlam game today. Alamo Bowl officials have indicated that if the Cowboys win, they may pick OSU to take on Iowa from the Big 10 Conference.
For both teams, there are intangibles like momentum and recruiting and perception.
"It's bragging rights for the whole year ... but this also can get us a bowl game and give us momentum going into next year," Cowboys linebacker Rodrick Johnson said. "This game can set the tone for what we're going to do in the near future."
Did anyone mention bragging rights?
For OSU's senior class, this is its last shot at the Sooners. The Cowboys have lost three consecutive Bedlam games for first time since OU won 15 straight from 1977 to 1991.
"I get one more shot in my lifetime of playing OU," Cowboys wide receiver D'Juan Woods said. "This is the best game I'll have taken part in. It couldn't have come at a better time. It's great that my last home game is against OU."
The Cowboys share one thing with the Sooners, a focus on the here and now — Bedlam.
"Clinching a berth in a bowl game is added incentive, but that's a secondary issue," OSU offensive tackle Corey Hilliard said. "I really don't care about all that's at stake. I just want to win. I want to beat OU."
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