Sooners can't adjust to Boulder's altitude
Buffaloes' win spoils some OU fans' vacations
Sooners can't adjust to Boulder's altitude

BOULDER, Colo. — Bob Stoops said altitude shouldn't matter to football teams visiting the Rockies, be it Folsom Field or Mile High Stadium.

Maybe it's time to rethink that.

In the second half Saturday, the Sooners were more than outplayed and outcoached, as Stoops said. They were outconditioned.

Second-half total yards: Colorado 219, OU 56. Second-half first downs: CU 12, OU 3. Second-half rushing yards: CU 114, OU 45.

The Sooners were gassed in the second half, and anyone who has hiked in the Rockies shouldn't be surprised.

Which means Stoops might should implement OU fan Craig Blankenship's plan. Blankenship offered advice for the Sooners the next time they play in altitude. And he's not a sore loser; he trotted this out before the game.

Blankenship's theory: Fly to Colorado on Thursday and take the team to Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, north of Boulder. Have the Sooners hike for an hour or so around Bear Lake, elevation 9,500 feet.

The next day, in lower elevation closer to Boulder, the Sooners would become more acclimated to the thinner air. By Saturday, the Sooners might be close to normal on oxygen flow.

"Stoops made the comment that his team would not be affected because they would only be in Boulder 24 hours,” Blankenship. "That is like saying I would not be affected trying to perform underwater, or holding my breath for that matter, because I would not be doing it that long.”

Blankenship flew to Denver on Wednesday and spent two days climbing near Estes Park, then planned to return to Boulder for the game.

Blankenship says he climbs at a "fairly high” level and trains hard, and that it takes about three days for him to acclimate from hiking in the Wichita Mountains near Lawton to the altitude of Rocky Mountain National Park.

"If you cannot get enough oxygen in your blood, you cannot perform as well as those who can, if they are equally conditioned,” Blankenship said..

"When people breathe hard it is because their body is trying to force more oxygen into their bloodstream. So those who don't have to breathe as hard can perform at a higher level.”

Playing in Boulder is tough enough. The Buffs often have a good team and a tough atmosphere. No reason to play short of air.

"We planned this three years ago, that's what's bad,” OU fan Hans Cyr of Tulsa said of his weekend in the Rockies.

Said OU fan John Lauer of Dallas, "I thought we were coming up here for a fun weekend and watch a big win. I kept waiting to see us turn it on, and I just never saw it.”

None of the estimated 6,000 OU fans saw it. The lethargic Sooners, even when taking command on the scoreboard, never took command on the field.

"I'm not too happy,” said OU fan Randy Swank of Mountain Top, Pa. The Sooners led 24-7 after three quarters, and "I thought, here we go, like all the other games.”

Like most fans, Cyr never saw this coming. "You hear the fans last night, ‘You're gonna spank us by 60 points.'”

Didn't happen, and the only solace for Sooner fans was watching Kansas State take apart Texas 41-21, setting up a Cotton Bowl showdown next Saturday to eliminate a team not from national championship, but Big 12, contention.

OU fans in the past have reported being barraged by snowballs, wet toilet-paper rolls and condensed marshmallows, not to mention sordid language.

"The (CU) fans are a little crazy, so I figured the Sooners needed our support,” said OU fan Anita Holloway of Dallas, who bought a plane ticket at 4 p.m. Friday to fly to the game.

But Saturday, Oklahomans reported a more cordial reception.

"The people we saw were pretty courteous,” said Joe Paul Klabzuba of Edmond, who stayed Friday night in downtown Boulder and attended a CU pep rally. "A lot of (Folsom) ushers welcomed OU fans.”

• OU at Colorado is maybe the Big 12's best uniform matchup. The Sooner whites are their best look, anyway, and when contrasted with Colorado's black and glittering gold, on a gorgeous green field, well, college football wardrobes don't get much better.

• Folsom Field is loud. The Colorado crowd was disappointing; announced at 50,031, some 3,000 shy of capacity. Still, old Folsom can roar with all but the best of stadiums and did Saturday. OU quarterback Sam Bradford had trouble calling signals at key points throughout the game.

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It was not the altitude!!! Most of these things you guys are talking about are important when you're in the mountains (10-12,000 ft). Boulder is only 5,000. The Altitude isn't an excuse.

Jason, Seattle - Oct 3, 2007 at 2:31 pm

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I agree with all who've noted that it takes ~2-3 weeks for the body to produce enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells. (maybe a few months to reach peak performance). Obviously, that isn't possible. All the more reason to be prepared for it. With the high altitude comes a dehydrating climate! While OU players couldn't have done anything about their blood cells--the question remains: did they do what they could? (hard to believe if the head couch went on record before the game saying that altitude isn't a factor) Were they hydrated? Unacclaimated athletes should also consider carbohydrate since their bodies will be forced to use more anaerobic fuel when playing where oxygen is limited. Consider recommendations experts give to tourists who come to Colorado to ski: "Take it easy the first day" "Don't head to the slopes straight from the airport" "Drink pleny of non-alcholic beverages" "Consume carbohydrate" These recommendations are for a reason! (blakenships advise is also flawed--but at least he recognized the need) Like it or not--unacclaimed athltes will have to play harder. Is it do-able? Of course. Teams do it all the time. CU beat OU. Was it altitude? Maybe/maybe not. We'll never know. I just think it's ignorant for Oklahomans to disregard altitude when preparing to compete at elevation.

Karen, Oklahoma City - Oct 3, 2007 at 12:09 pm

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Interesting that altitude didn't affect Florida State holding the CO Buffs to minus rushing yardage. Year in and out FSU defense is coached to attack the offense not "react" to the offense. In addition to a poor OU offensive showing, it just also maybe a difference in defense philosophy between OU and FSU.

A disappointed Okie in FSU land.

Clifton, Tallahassee - Oct 2, 2007 at 8:01 am

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Hey, Berry. Since the "altitude" excuse doesn't seem to be working for you, I've got a really good one.
After reading the CU fans responses to the game, I noticed one that really made sense.
One Buff fan, in the THIRD QUARTER, noticed a cloud shaped like a WHITE BUFFALO, an Indian sign of good fortune.
At that time the game was 24-7 and seemingly out of hand for CU. The White Buffalo changed everything in favor of the black clad Buffaloes.
OU mysteriously blew up -- bad plays, dropped passes, missed assignments, poor coaching decisions, no "icing timeout" calls, and before you knew it, Sooner fans of all ages were unashamedly crying on national TV.
It wasn't any Swooners fault. IT WAS THE GREAT WHITE BUFFALO!!

Danny, Vail - Oct 2, 2007 at 7:51 am

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Sir Craig, I am little be-fuzzled (it can be bad grammar if it "ain't" a real word) at what was said here that induced a question of honesty. And, then the "ever been out of Oklahoma" question? Is that suppose to imply that once you get out of Oklahoma you realize how backward the state? If that is the case, then I have a severe learning disability. Business travel has taken me to most every state on multiple occasions. Along the way I lived 13 different cities, up and down both coast and several in between. I never picked up on that. However I did detected some preconceived notions along that line. What I did notice is they all have book stores, library and magazines and what appeared to be the same books and magazines. At the least the pictures were the same. Being a typical Okie, not well learned in ciphering letters and words, I can't verify that part.

Nick, Norman - Oct 1, 2007 at 11:41 pm

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Of course the altitude effected the defense, they were on the field for 41 minutes. The inability of the offense to move the ball was the problem. The inability to move the ball (no, Kelly was NOT double teamed all the time) was the issue. The brilliant play calling on first down, mostly running to the left side of the line, the dropped passes etc etc, resulted in an inspired and well coached Colorado team to run wild in the second half. I was there!!

Kathryn, Sun Lakes - Oct 1, 2007 at 10:24 pm

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Mr Blankenship's altitude idea is flawed and incorrect for one simple reason. For flatlanders a trip to Boulder or Denver's altitude causes the body to deplete it's reserves at about 36 hours. So arriving three days early would not benefit the Sooners. When professional sports teams come to Denver they arrive as late as possible within respective league rules so as to minimize the time spent at altitude. So lets just leave it at the fact that the Sooners were beaten by an inferior team- It just happens sometimes!
Kevin, Denver

kevin, Denver - Oct 1, 2007 at 10:17 pm

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I'm not an ou or Barry Switzer fan but when ou played in the BIG 8 i don't rember Switzer or OU using the altitude as an excuse for loosing the few theay lost there did theay train diffrent then or are the excuses all that remain of the Sooners of yesteryear

Darren, Oklahoma City - Oct 1, 2007 at 8:41 pm

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Wait...OU "might should" adopt the theory/advice of "OU fan" Craig Blankenship? OK. Maybe they "might should" institute this theory: QUIT MAKING EXCUSES!!! That one's my own. Now, I ain't the biggest OU fan (I ain't no Berry Tramel) but I might should keep trying, so's I can git me one of them OU t-shirts or bumper stickers to put on my RV. Or one of them fancy flags. I like them lots & lots. I love OU, even though I ain't never had the grades to go to no college. I might get a GED in the next couple years or so, though.

Still, I got me all kinds of theories and ideas that ought maybe ya'll could might should adopt, Mr. Stoops. I think yer the greatest coach of all time, after Barry Switzer, of course, and Craig Blankenship.

Hooo-eey!!! YEEHAW! Boomer Sooner!!!

The Daily Oklahoman, Berry Tramel, & Jenni Carlson all make me sick & ashamed & flat-out appalled to be from Oklahoma.

I might should quit reading this crap, but it's too damn funny. Funny like watching OU lose to Colorado.

Best, kids.

john, Austin - Oct 1, 2007 at 2:16 pm

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Colorado won. Fair and square and end of story.
Altitude is always a factor in Boulder; no surprise there and no excuse either.

harry, lake forest - Oct 1, 2007 at 12:52 pm

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It takes about 6 months for the body to adjust to high altitude conditions by producing more red blood cells as compensation to the lower partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere. Just in case you all would like to know.

sd, Golden - Oct 1, 2007 at 12:47 pm

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Altitude is one of many factors in athletic performance. Obviously, altitude can be overcome....as evidenced ty the fact that flatlanders beat Colorado teams. Still, smart teams should not "diss" the effects of altitude. Facts are facts. Athletes living at 500 feet are playing in (relative) oxygen-debt. VO2 max is compromised. Hearts beat faster. Dehydration is quick and deceiving (athletes may not percieve how much they are sweating in dry air). Breathing is labored. Headaches are common. From an energy perspective--carbohydrate may be preferentially used (even at exercise intensities that would otherwise be "aerobic" at sea level) Lactic acid accumulates faster. I don't think altitude ought to be used ans an excuse, but I do think altitude should be respected when it comes to preparation and training. Failing to acknowledge that altitude is even a factor is to fly a finger at science. Should OU have acclimated for a couple days? Did they recalculate sweat rates? Focus on carbs? Avoid alcohol and caffenine? Did altitude affect attitude? ....hard to feel "up" if you've got a headache and feel tired.

Karen, Oklahoma City - Oct 1, 2007 at 9:58 am

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Thin air at 5,200 feet is a FACT. Next thing you know Stoops will be denying gravity!

Randy, Oklahoma City - Oct 1, 2007 at 8:42 am

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You have got to be kidding me!! I can't believe your editor let this one get out! What an embarrassment for you, the editor, and the Gaylord family!!

The Sooners are supposed to be one of the elite teams in the country. We've been hearing /reading for a month now what a "complete" team they are. We've been told how awesome Sam Bradford is at quarterback. And of course we've heard for several years what an excellent coach Bob Stoops is.

And the altitude is the best you can do!?!

Almost anyone knows that the air is indeed "thin" at that high of an altitude. But with your "theory" (excuse?), Colorado should be undefeated at home year after year. Especially when you consider that this was no average team they beat yesterday up there in that rarefied air. That was the Mighty Oklahoma Sooners who apparently checked their "Sooner Magic" at the door of Folsom Field on Saturday.

The "thin" air story might hold up as a "game-changer" when comparing the Buffaloes to an equally matched team. But the Sooners?!

And you write this as if it's some new concept and as if the Sooners had never been to Boulder before or read any "reports" on the "thin" air there.

Wow! Just wow! I guess the only logical explanation I can think of for why such a poor article would be printed in your paper would be to deflect criticism from that horrid excuse for a column that your friend Jenni Carlson ran past your editor last week.

Better luck next time!

Blake, Leslie - Sep 30, 2007 at 11:01 pm

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Yeah, pretty lame Berry. The Sooners had the game in hand in the second half and spit it up. Very conservative play calling, Sam locking on to Iglesias on every pass play. dumb personal foulpenalties, which we seem to get a lot of and boneheaded mistakes. Reggie seems to drop a punt at least every other week. Why is he trying to field that knuckler? I don't think the season's lost. OU will still be favored to win every game on the rest of it's schedule and the winner in Dallas on Saturday is still in the driver's seat for the South Division and the Conference championship. As for possible NC shot, remember Florida lost in September last year. We'll need some help, but yesterday proved that top teams have to bring it every week or they'll get knocked off. Wisconsin will lose. Oh St. has to go to Ann Arbor (I still think Mich. is going to come back to win the Big 10). We probably need 'SC to lose twice, though. I don't see LSU losing a regular season game, but who knows?

tim - Sep 30, 2007 at 10:25 pm

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What I would like to know, if altitude was the problem, why didn't Stoops use the depth on the bench and keep running in fresh players? I would have thought that would be part of the game plan to substitute enough to keep people fresh enough to play at their maximum. I agree, it seems the secondary plays a little too soft and gives up too much yardage and that is coaching. Are we really that insecure about the matchups that we have to back off 10 yards? You may not give up the big play but you end up giving up the field in big chunks. Very disappointing that we can never seem to adjust to new schemes and that too is coaching. Beat TEXAS! Saw em' off!! Go Sooners!!

ED, MULESHOE - Sep 30, 2007 at 10:23 pm

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Hey Nick from Norman, I guess you get to decide what's widely accepted? Have you ever been out of Oklahoma? As I said before, there's folksy and there's stupid. I believe by by writing that, I'm admitting that there's a history of adding color to a column, but "might should" in the middle of a sentence fragment might as well have been written by a retarded hillbilly. If that's insulting, I don't know what to tell you except that maybe it hits a little too close to home and it hurts to come to terms with one's inner hillbilly. I guess, after living in Bush-America for almost 8 years, I should come to terms with the fact that little things like grammar, spelling and honesty don't matter to most folks any more.

Craig, Roeland Park - Sep 30, 2007 at 10:20 pm

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Jenni....Uhh Berry-Now I understand why Colorado has been a dynasty for so many years. Altitude causes blown coverages, diving for punts, and poorly thrown passes. The altitude excuse was overused about 20 years ago. It comes out about every 10 years. Boulder should be about the same altitude for the next 100 thousand years or so. What a dynasty!!!!! Thanks for your analysis of this game. How lam!! Try the officials next time.

Andy, Cherryvale - Sep 30, 2007 at 9:42 pm

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Hey Ann, I don't think that game was played on top of Mt Evans and I would hope that these 19 and 20 year old are in better condition than your mother- maybe not, but it all goes to being prepared and Stoops teams are not prepared 2 or three times every year. And Venables D backfields have been awful every year since Mike Stoops left. Venables is an arrogant fool like his boss. Why did CU lose 10 games last year, if your altitude theory has any validity, they should have won at least 6 games. Think before you put on your Crimson and Cream blinders. I am as big a OU fan as anyone, that's why I am sick of losing to mediocre teams.

Jerry, Corpus Christi - Sep 30, 2007 at 9:29 pm

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The reason the players were "gassed" is because the OU offense had the ball for about 26 seconds of the third quarter. The altitude didn't force all the penalties, muffed punt returns, turnovers, poor play calling, and Reggie Smith running off the field in tears like a little girl. He must not be 40!

Jason, Seattle - Sep 30, 2007 at 9:01 pm

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For those of you that think altitude is a non-factor, you are wrong. Not the ONLY factor, by any means. But an important one. I am old enough to remember when Bud would go up there in the 50s, when OU clobbered everybody, and squeak out a 6 point win or even an occasional loss. Alternate years in Norman, it was always a 56-14 blowout, or something similar. I think Bud did take his team up a day early, but it was still tough. However, those 4th qtr turnovers were the main factors on Saturday, but you could see that the players were, indeed, "gassed" in the late 3rd qtr. They should have been further ahead than 24-7 at that point and it wouldn't have mattered. Second half stats really told the story, big advantage to CU.

Bob, Signal Hill - Sep 30, 2007 at 8:20 pm

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The world would be a much better place without the comments of people like Craig, from Roeland Park. Taking liberties with terms like "MIGHT SHOULD" to emphasize a point and add color has always been a widely accepted practice by many popular writers. I don't always agree with Mr. Tramel's point of view, e.g., his support of the Jeni Carlson's article trashing a college student, is one example. Still Mr. Tramel is a very talented writer that creatively weaves words in a way that makes a story interesting. Here is hoping the joy of reading will never be diminished by those who want to grammatically sanitize.

Nick, Norman - Sep 30, 2007 at 8:12 pm

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Danny, Vail - Sep 30, 2007 at 7:52 pm

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I think Berry meant "Attitude Sickness" instead. That has to be it.
The attitude that most Sooners have was evident. Fans thought it was a no brainer -- a vacation with a mere formality of a game to punctuate the beautiful mountain holiday.
The team's attitude after feasting on cupcakes with similar records was that CU just had to accept that OU was in town and they should just rollover.
The attitude of the OU coaches that OU didn't have to do anything creative to win or make any adjustments.
The attitude by the OKC media that OU was invincible with little opposition in the way of another trip to a BCS MNC game.
Yep, that loss sure can be attributed to "Attitude Sickness" alright.

Danny, Vail - Sep 30, 2007 at 7:44 pm

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OU fans were set up by a soft schedule of patsies -- and Miami is no where near the Miami of old.
Sooner fans swallowed the hook, line and sinker. The team, overconfidently spoonfed by this very media outlet and it's subsidiaries believed it's own press.
Don't stop believing your own press now. That same press has turned on you like a politician on a bum.
I think both major universities in this state have little reason to believe anything from this paper or it's TV station.

Danny, Vail - Sep 30, 2007 at 7:32 pm

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