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David Stanley Ford

No need to remind OU Sooners about BCS slump
BCS flops Weight room banner lets players know about postseason skid

By Berry Tramel    Comments Comment on this article84
Published: January 1, 2009


Quarterback Sam Bradford leaves the field at the end of the Fiesta Bowl college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the West Virginia University Mountaineers (WVU) at The University of Phoenix Stadium on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008, in Glendale, Ariz. Photo by Steve Sisney

NORMAN — The sobering reminder crawls across the ESPN ticker day after December day.

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Berry Tramel - The What Bowl?

Dec 31What do some of these bowl names mean?

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→Who: No. 1 OU vs. No. 2 Florida
→When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8

→Where: Dolphin Stadium, Miami
→TV: FOX (Cox 12)
→Live blog: Follow online at blog.newsok.com/ou

What they’re saying

The Sooners on the BCS bowl slump:
"It is a business trip. We’re not going down there to have fun. We are going down there to try and win a championship.”
Defensive end Jeremy Beal

"We’re learning how to finish. Last year we had trouble playing on the road, and this year we haven’t had that same type of trouble. We’re learning how to finish, we’re staying intense throughout the whole game. It’s something we changed from last year to this year, and we’re going to try to keep that going into this game with Florida.”
Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy

"It is a completely different team. There are new guys that haven’t been there and guys that haven’t played in those BCS games, or the past couple bowl games we have lost, that are going to contribute this year.”
Center Jon Cooper

"They’ve practiced really hard and you can tell they’re focused. Hopefully that’s what we have to do. You have to be able to play well and do the things necessary to get yourself prepared to play well.”
Coach Bob Stoops

By Jake Trotter

NewsOK Related Articles

"OKLA: Lost 4 straight BCS bowl games”

The stigma that so rankled Bob Stoops last December in the desert — that his Sooners had forgotten how to win in the postseason — has only multiplied, with another Fiesta Bowl loss, 48-28 to West Virginia, and now a national-championship game looming against Florida.

But no matter how much the Sooners say they pay no attention to talk of their bowl slump, the truth is no one reminds the Sooners of it more than themselves.

For months in their Switzer Center weight room hung a banner with the score and quote from West Virginia quarterback Pat White: "48-28: I guess we just wanted it more.”

The theory is groundless, of course. Trotted out after most big games, sometimes by the winners and sometimes by the losers, but almost always just an excuse to explain away a verdict.

What’s interesting, though, is that the Sooners chose to feed off that banner. They didn’t need ESPN to remind them of bowl failure. They remind themselves.

"There has been a lot different attitude with this team,” OU quarterback Sam Bradford said. "I think it started in the offseason. Having to look at the banner ... every day and knowing how we finished the season, I think that got to a lot of guys.

"I think we did a lot of things to change that. Hopefully, we’ll end the season on the right note this year.”

Before the West Virginia game, Stoops told his players he was tired of seeing the ESPN crawl proclaiming OU’s bowl woes. He says he hasn’t broached the subject this time around.

"I don’t think I need to bring it up,” Stoops said. "They see it enough.”

Some Sooners seem unmoved by their status as the nation’s bowl floppers.

"We don’t care about the ticker across ESPN,” tailback Chris Brown said. "When you see it, you think about it. But you really can’t do anything about it.”

But OU’s bowl slump obviously is a sore spot for safety Nic Harris. Here’s his answer on why the Sooners haven’t played well in bowl games: "I’m not a critic, nor am I coach. Therefore, I can’t answer the question.”

Uh, OK. So let’s go to the coach. Why have the Sooners stumbled in BCS bowls — 21-14 to LSU in the 2004 Sugar Bowl, 55-19 to Southern Cal in the 2005 Orange, 43-42 in overtime to Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta and West Virginia?

"In the end, you’re playing other championship teams,” Stoops said. "And you’ve got to play well. If you turn the ball over or don’t play well, you’re not going to win.”

Turnovers are a great place to start. OU has committed 12 in those four BCS losses, including nine interceptions from quarterbacks who hadn’t been in the habit of throwing the ball to the other team.

But some demand more abstract answers, like attitude or focus. There’s something to be said for that. OU was without several injured players against West Virginia — Malcolm Kelly, Reggie Smith, DeMarco Murray. But compounding the problem was safety Lendy Holmes, who didn’t make his grades, and defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger, who was sent home from Phoenix after shoplifting a jacket.

"We have to go down there with the right mindset,” defensive end Jeremy Beal said of the showdown against Florida. "It’s a business trip.”

Bradford and some other team leaders called a meeting in early December and came up with some suggestions for Stoops, including an earlier curfew.

"Obviously, the past couple of bowl games haven’t worked out for us,” Bradford said. "We want to treat this bowl game just as it would be a game week here.”

Holmes said the suggestions included more team functions and less individual free time. "If you’re with the team, you can’t get in trouble,” Holmes said.

Stoops is on board with the ideas but doesn’t sound gung-ho about their reliability.

"You can change, but nothing guarantees success,” Stoops said. "We’ll change some things scheduling wise and all, but what worked for us in 2000 and the Rose Bowl (BCS victories), didn’t work the next time. So what do you do?

"Is there any specific, magical formula? No, I don’t think so. Hopefully, when we get out there, we’ll take care of the football and play better.”

How do you stop a bowl losing streak? Same way you stop any kind of losing streak.

Harris, who is neither coach nor critic, said it simply: "You win. At the end of the day, you come out and win.”

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football, Bowl Championship Series


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OU may lose this game, too. They will miss the run game that Murray gave them. They have to protect Bradford, or he'll end up like Robinson and be ineffective at the end of the game, when it counts. How to beat Florida! They are faster than lightning. They will come out hitting very hard. What's OU gonna answer with? Some Bradford to Iglesia passes? Need more than that, I'm afraid. Your defense better step up and be the aggressor in this one, and knock some heads before they start knocking yours.
Mike, Oklahoma City - Jan 2, 2009 at 11:54 am
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what's this? sports writers in the SW didn't place tim tebow on the heisman ballot anywhere? No wonder he had more first place votes than anyone yet failed to win. then again, with a mascot that really means cheaters it's not hard to believe. OU shouldn't be in the game and bradford shouldn't be the heisman.
jeff, midwest city - Jan 2, 2009 at 11:41 am
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Gary, BCS slump is going to one of the games and consistently losing. that's what OU is known for now. just because the rest of you cow pie tossers don't like owning up to the fact OU chokes in big games, beer in Oklahoma sucks and most women in OKC work in strip joints doesn't make it not so. get a grip on reality.
jeff, midwest city - Jan 2, 2009 at 11:04 am
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Mark, your parents must be pained, they had a kid with an extra chromosome.

Gary, then there are teams that went to BCS bowls and shouldn't have, like Cincinnati and Virgina Tech.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:55 am
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Back on topic...seems to me a "BCS slump" is a team that hasn't BEEN TO a BCS game in a long time, like Miami, Nebraska, & Tennessee.

Then there are a few teams that are in a BCS drought having NEVER been to a BCS game, but probably should have, like Missouri & Clemson.
Gary, Oklahoma City - Jan 2, 2009 at 10:08 am
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i understand your pain dana, you're a man with a womens name. your parents must have really loved you.
mark, amarillo - Jan 2, 2009 at 9:40 am
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AWESOME!! The class of $ooner fans shines through. BCS = Bob Choke Stoops.
J, Austin - Jan 2, 2009 at 8:48 am
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As much as you try, as much as you dig deep in your shallow little meaningless world, you're still a retard. You began with second grade insults, went to "I'm a big, successful guy!", and now come the idle threats. You're either an idiot, or a little kid.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 2, 2009 at 7:54 am
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The boys need to say to hell with the flops and just have fun. I disagree big-time with Beal's comment that this is a business trip. This is a sporting game and they should have fun. If they don't play loose they're going to lose again.
boe, Jenks - Jan 2, 2009 at 6:24 am
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BOOMER SOONER!
cooter and joe SUX!, duncan - Jan 2, 2009 at 2:41 am
Maybe if USC is lucky, Golf DIGEST can vote the trojans NC! LOL Everybody wants a stab at the NC. No matter who it comes from. Hey people! The crystal trophy is from the BCS game! I dont ever here anyone going after the AP trophy. Who even cares about the AP anyway.. they are just a bunch of Liberal Left coast pansies from Tacoma! Every body should want the crystal ball. thats what were playing for! Good Grief...AP TITLE..LOL!!
cooter and joe SUX!, duncan - Jan 2, 2009 at 2:40 am
I've known people with MBAs that worked in music retail for very low pay, so I'm not impressed. I do agree with Roy though that OU deserves to be in the championship game.
Mark, Okla. City - Jan 2, 2009 at 12:00 am
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I've known people with MBAs that worked in music retail for very low pay, so I'm not impressed. I do agree with Roy though that OU deserves to be in the championship game.
Mark, Okla. City - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:59 pm
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I've known people with MBAs that worked in music retail for very low pay, so I'm not impressed. I do agree with Roy though that OU deserves to be in the championship game.
Mark, Okla. City - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:59 pm
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Trojan you lost your game to an unranked Oregon State team. I was just making a point that if Pete's analogy works for USC, so does mine about OU, that's all. You have a fine team again this year and so does OU. USC was lucky to be playing Penn State in their backyard.
Jeff, Tulsa - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:18 pm
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Neutral site? Obviously you have never strolled down the midway at the Texas State Fair before the OU/Texas game.

And the "Methodists/Trojans" play at that 'neutral' site at the Rose Bowl, right?
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:54 pm
timing of losses means everything in college football
eric, OKLAHOMA ,city - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:40 pm
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ou wins 43-34
eric, OKLAHOMA ,city - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:39 pm
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Jeff, you are lucky that OU doesn't have to play USC. At least we lost our game on the road and not at an (ANNUAL) neutral site.
Trojan, Santa Barbara - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:30 pm
You know Danish, you're the troll who comes here looking to pick a fight and when you are bested by the "retard" you resort to callow antics. Your interminable rantings here only reveal your pathetic life. Fortunately for you, this forum gives you the anonymity that keeps your teeth from being realigned in the real world.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:06 pm
USC - #1. Florida 77, Oklahoma 0
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:33 pm
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It's interesting that Pete Caroll said after the USC game that he would love to play either OU or Florida, because he believes that no one can beat USC. Hmmm, Oregon State has already beaten USC this year. What he meant was that no one can beat USC at this point of the season, and that his team was playing better now than Oregon State or others. I think that is what we've been trying to tell everyone that says "OU lost to Texas!!!!!" OU is playing much better at this point of the season than in early October. We just get a chance to show it on Jan. 8th, and poor USC doesn't. OU # 1
Jeff, Tulsa - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:06 pm
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You betcha, Roy. You know, it's always the people who try the hardest to convince others that they're not a douchebag that are the biggest douchebags. I gotta tell you, anyone who feels compelled to claim an MBA in response to being called a retard on the Internet is, well, a retard. Christmas break is over next week, you'd better get on that assignment that your eighth grade teacher gave you.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:01 pm
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Sooner-haters and the media keep bringing their trash talk and blatant disregard of the facts of this season. The Sooners have earned their way to the Championship game! The Big 12 is no trashy conference! ESPN and the PAC-10 does not like the statements that college football fans have made about their beloved but their overall performance over the season makes most of those statements a true fact. The PAC-10 has only one team that consistently competes for national championships from year to year! Where are the other 9? As I have said, keep talking the trash it only makes the fire within the Sooners burn hotter!
jerry, Hephzibah - Jan 1, 2009 at 8:29 pm
OU, just play as HARD as you can, and as TOUGH as you can ALL night, and you will be fine! OU # 1
Jeff, Tulsa - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:48 pm
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LOL, Danish, a retard with an MBA. I just take exception to slugs like you raining down on my homestate. Don't come here with a trashmouth and not expect your betters to call you the fool that you are...
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Hmmm...USC barely escaped the comeback by Penn State. Hardly an annihilation as Danish of Tacoma claimed...
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:42 pm
Roy, umm, you apparently have no idea what a retard you are. Clean yourself up man, you're a disgrace.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:42 pm
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Polly of Yukon, sometimes you need to engage that pea-sized brain before you can sit with the grownups here.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:39 pm
ABC/ESPN'S Kirk Herbstredt (sp) is still on the anti Bradford street at the Rose Bowl. Both he and Brent Musberger are talking how great Tebow is and that he is better than Bradford. I'm surprised they aren't talking about Colt McCoy. I sure OU and Sam can shut these people up and not only win the BCS championship but beat Florida badly. All the media including this paper (at least two of the reporters) is not behind OU. Stoops and the Sooners, I hope, are reading all this and get mad. But not only mad but focused to get the job done this time. GO SOONERS!!! BEAT FLORIDA!!!
William, Fairfield - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:37 pm
Hey Danish, your friends at "The Mix" are sick of your whining about Stevie leaving you for Daniel.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:33 pm
"Dana, that beatdown by your boyfriend left you witless.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:21 pm"---and when and if he gets "beatdown" a few dozen more times, and becomes less witless, then he'll have earned the right to call himself an okie, since Okies are the most witless, mouth breathing bottom feeders I can think of....
paul, yukon - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:29 pm
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" except for USC and Notre Dame.
Trojan, Santa Barbara - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm"---OU sucks doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath or sentence as USC and Notre Dame....there's only a few national level teams and OU ain't one of them, nor will they ever be, not until the yokels and hicks down in these parts realize this place is nothing more than a mid western dust bowl flyover state.....
paul, yukon - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:26 pm
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" except for USC and Notre Dame.
Trojan, Santa Barbara - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm"---OU sucks doesn't even deserve to be mentioned in the same breath or sentence as USC and Notre Dame....there's only a few national level teams and OU ain't one of them, nor will they ever be, not until the yokels and hicks down in these parts realize this place is nothing more than a mid western dust bowl flyover state.....
paul, yukon - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:26 pm
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Dana, that beatdown by your boyfriend left you witless.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:21 pm
Dana, your mom wants you to quit shaving around your vienna sausage because it gives her razor burns..
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:17 pm
The AP also votes after the season. Either OU or Florida will win the BCS national championship, but it's entirely possible that neither will be the AP #1. While the AP vote means nothing to the BCS title game, it would certainly create controversy.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:16 pm
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HAHAHAHAHA!!! Roy, that's so funny! Actually, it might be, if we were in the second grade. Face it Roy, you're a retard.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:12 pm
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There is no such thing as a A.P. N/C. That is why it is called the BCS N/C game stupid!!!BOOMER SOONER!!!
Brian, Okemah - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Dana, too bad your daddy left the best part of you on the sheets...
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:59 pm
Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Hey Roy, also, is there any chance your social worker can teach you how to use a computer?
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:49 pm
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Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:44 pm
Roy, you're a waste of perfectly good oxygen. In days past, your fate would have already been sealed through natural selection. Now, next time your dad and your brother (and it's the same guy) gets drunk on Pabst Blue Ribbon and grabs you by the mullet, don't fight back. You're really quite wimpy, so look what happens - he just does it harder. And please, tell your mom to put the camera away, that's the last thing anyone wants to see on youtube.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:39 pm
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Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:39 pm
Dana, I don't have to hold my own junk, your momma and your girl flew in special to do it for me. Since they've been here though, all they have done us complain about how much of a sniveling loser you are...

The Mustyberger and Kirk Herbalessence have mancrushes on anyone with a 'trojan'.
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Unless OU's defense shows up for this game, it could be a Florida blowout. That is unless both teams show no defense and it gets into a high scoring match. Then, OU may have a chance. OU has got to go into this game mad and determined to erase the last 4 BCS losses. If OU gets blown out, it simply means once again that they are very overrated when it comes to playing with the big boys. And it also means they need to get a lot more serious about their defense and possibly changing their defensive head coach. One more big loss and OU fans are really going to have a hard time getting up for the 2009 season knowing that it will probably all be for nothing again. Come on OU, get mad and win this game! A huge amount of confidence will get restored and OU will be at the top of the football world again.
Stephen, Cypress - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:15 pm
If you go by national titles, then the histories of USC, Notre Dame, Michigan, and Alabama all stand tall over OU.
If you go by national championships.

http://www.rauzulusstreet.com/football/college/collegechampionship.htm and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Division_I-A_national_football_championship
Trojan, Santa Barbara - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:13 pm
To make it more readable"


"Again, Dana you are not a TRUE OU Football fan. All the talk will be put to rest when BOOMER SOONER rolls over Florida. And as I said once before, that will give ESPN loving Austin, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, Stillwater and the rest of the OU Hater Nation reason to ENVY OU even more. When it comes to college football OKLAHOMA TRADITION STANDS TALL OVER ALL PROGRAMS."




Yes Kim, except for USC and Notre Dame.
Trojan, Santa Barbara - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:07 pm
"Again, Dana you are not a TRUE OU Football fan. All the talk will be put to rest when BOOMER SOONER rolls over Florida. And as I said once before, that will give ESPN loving Austin, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, Stillwater and the rest of the OU Hater Nation reason to ENVY OU even more. When it comes to college football OKLAHOMA TRADITION STANDS TALL OVER ALL PROGRAMS."


Yes Kim, except for USC and Notre Dame.
Trojan, Santa Barbara - Jan 1, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Roy, let go of your junk and pull your pants back up. I'm not a woman. I've been watching the best team in the country, hands down, annihilate Penn State. The ABC guys are already talking about the AP poll giving the championship to USC, regardless of what happens between OU and Florida.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 5:57 pm
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Here we go and the peanut gallery chimes in. Its about time for all the haters to chime now. Your team(s) lost so you have nothing better to than talk crap about the Sooners and want to talk about BCS games past. What are you all going to say when OU brings home #8? I have kept quite as far as talking crap being that I like most of Sooner Nation understands what is at hand. Let the game be played and the result be what it may be. Yes we will be pissed if its not in our favor but for all you bashers the bandwagon has already left for Florida and we dont need your bashing on the eve of the game or the what ifs after. Go and analyze why your team never makes the Championship game and cannot get past the toilet bowls that your team has been playing in.
Thomas, Fort Sill - Jan 1, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Because Dana of Tacoma can't get a boyfriend, she has to rely on bashing the Sooners to get someone to pay attention to her.

Maybe Paul in Yukon would be interested in hooking up with her since he likes witless fat-bottomed girls...
Roy D Mercer, Owasso - Jan 1, 2009 at 4:50 pm
Again, Dana you are not a TRUE OU Football fan. All the talk will be put to rest when BOOMER SOONER rolls over Florida. And as I said once before, that will give ESPN loving Austin, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, Stillwater and the rest of the OU Hater Nation reason to ENVY OU even more. When it comes to college football OKLAHOMA TRADITION STANDS TALL OVER ALL PROGRAMS.
Kim, Sacramento - Jan 1, 2009 at 3:49 pm
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Gators 55 ou 31
James, , - Jan 1, 2009 at 3:13 pm
As a huge OU fan, I sure hope that Florida goes easy on us. And it's a darn good thing that we don't have to play the best team in the country, USC. Whenever OU plays a bowl game, there's no point in watching the fourth quarter, because the network always shows as many shots of fans and marching band members crying as they do the actual football game of OU losing. What a bummer.
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 2:14 pm
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OU must force Florida to punt, hold them on a few key drives and they will win. This team is totally different from previous Sooners. They have attitude and drive. Plus they are more disiplined by not having hardly any turnovers this year. If OU can develop a fast paced game and keep Florida on their heels they can win by a lot probably. Florida hasn't played a highly fast paced offense yet. The only thing that concerns me is at OU's linebackers trying to stop Tebow. If they fold Tebow will run all over the field.
Jess, Warr Acres - Jan 1, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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Well CBS just joined the crowd saying OU will lose to Florida due to the fact the Sooners have not played against any real good defense (except TCU). Not very many people are giving OU much of a chance against Florida. Sounds like 2000 when Florida State had a big following. I hope OU does the same thing this year as in 2000 and beats Florida in Florida. It won't be easy but the Sooners can do it.
William, Fairfield - Jan 1, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Damn the multiple posting glitch!
Josh, Norman - Jan 1, 2009 at 1:39 pm
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My God "Dana," you seriously must have nothing to do. I'm on break from school so I read these articles much more than I normally would, and on the comments section on every single OU article I read, you are on here saying something negative about OU. You seriously must have no life or anything to do, to spend your time on the website for an Oklahoma newspaper rather than getting out of your home and actually doing something.
Josh, Norman - Jan 1, 2009 at 1:38 pm
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Dana, Tacoma is NOT an OU fan.
Tim, Yukon - Jan 1, 2009 at 1:38 pm
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My God "Dana," you seriously must have nothing to do. I'm on break from school so I read these articles much more than I normally would, and on the comments section on every single OU article I read, you are on here saying something negative about OU. You seriously must have no life or anything to do, to spend your time on the website for an Oklahoma newspaper rather than getting out of your home and actually doing something.
Josh, Norman - Jan 1, 2009 at 1:37 pm
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I hope everyone heard or saw Lee Corso tell the world that if the BCS championship game is close OU will fold. I am tired of ESPN talking down the Sooners. They were big for Texas and it still shows. Once again I say defense still wins football games. The OU defense must play lights out against a very fine Florida team. I don't think anyone can stop the OU offense but Florida's defense will slow it down. The defense must make a lot of stops, getting some turnovers from the Gators would be nice. GO SOONERS!!! BEAT FLORIDA!!!
William, Fairfield - Jan 1, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I'm a huge OU fan, and I'm really scared to have OU play anyone besides other Big 12 teams. I like it that we play in a horrible conference where we can rack up the style points, but why can't the BCS just make a special bowl for us and invite Northeast Arkansas as our opponents? That would be awesome! They could call it the "Special Bowl".
Dana, Tacoma - Jan 1, 2009 at 1:21 pm
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I for one am sick of having to stand up for OU by saying, "Well, at least we get there." Baloney!!! WIN!!! I bleed Crimson and Cream and I'm tired of having to listen to OU-haters...especially here in the Northwest...when we go out and look sloppy and lose these big games. Losing sucks. But I don't mind losing as much when it was a hard fought game and OU didn't make as many mental mistakes as they have the past. I KNOW this OU team can beat Florida and possibly even CRUSH Florida by twenty or more points. But doing it is another thing. I like the players' comments. I just hope that the players are doing what they say they are doing. BOOMER SOONER!!!!
Ken, Boise - Jan 1, 2009 at 12:08 pm
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Bob Stoops picture was in The Denver Post this morning about being considered for the Bronco's head coaching job. FYI!!!
Robert, Denver - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:49 am
Press Here .... " Berry Tramel is clueless "
KEITH, North Charleston - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:45 am
Where's the Ignore Berry Tramel button?
Gary, Oklahoma City - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:22 am
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Where's the Ignore Berry Tramel button?
Gary, Oklahoma City - Jan 1, 2009 at 11:16 am
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How many teams have made it to four straight BCS Bowls? Had we gone to lesser bowls, we might be 4-0 in the last four bowl games. How much does our opponents pay the writers for the OKLAHOMAN to torture us with their articles? Bob Stoops has nothing to explain to any of us fans, and certainly to none of you idiot critics with the Oklahoman. Bring back the OKLAHOMA JOURNAL!!!!
Jerry, Atlanta - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:09 am
The Ou team this year is more focused i think,,,,the difference will be bradford/wilson callin plays instesd of white/long......if you remember when ou lost to lsu ....we drove the balldown to the red zone/LSU's only to see chuck long call 3 passes,,,,,that was stupid.....no excuses for the usc lost they just had a bunch of turn-overs and seniors looking forward to the nfl////////wilson has been brilliant.....this is the reason that coaches with talent should win ..lots of weapons,,,,,,,i cant see florida shutting them down for 4 qt....now the florida coach meyer is good ,,and im sure he gotawrinkle that stoops and co havent covered,,,,,b ut it works bith ways,,,,,bottom line bradford/wilson are smarter and better than chuck long and white......not bashing white but bradfords is better,,,,better feet and accuracy backs that up,,, on record OU 43-34,,,WINS
eric, OKLAHOMA ,city - Jan 1, 2009 at 10:08 am
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"BTW, for all of you haters, I would rather lose the game and collect the pay check than be sitting at home not playing"---I didn't realize the college players collected anything, except a few free jackets from local merchants.....and I think Big Red got their hands slapped a few years back as well for "giving" ....
paul, yukon - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:45 am
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Just to remind everyone, Jason White played the LSU game with a broken throwing arm). Sooners have lacked focus in previous games and that's the bottom line. This year's team seems to have the killer attitude that has been missing.

BTW, for all of you haters, I would rather lose the game and collect the pay check than be sitting at home not playing.
steve, nicholasville - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:43 am
It takes a pretty good team to lose 4 straight BCS bowl games. That is more BCS games than most schools have even come close to playing in. A couple of those games they played alright in (LSU and Boise St.) and a couple of those games they were awful in. As Tramel pointed out in the story, it comes down to taking care of the ball. Too many turnovers in those four games.

Albert from Bethany, how did your Cowboys do in the Holiday Bowl? How many BCS games have they played in? Doesn't take very long to answer those two questions.
Joshua - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:39 am
Let's hope that they can change the number in the stats to "5" instead of 4....
paul, yukon - Jan 1, 2009 at 9:38 am
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You people are so funny...ou will FUBAR this one too!!! Happy New Year
J, Austin - Jan 1, 2009 at 8:56 am
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Focus and execution wins games. You can talk all you want but when it comes time for the game you must walk the walk. What bothers me most about the BCS game is that we hear nothing, or almost nothing, about the defensive preparations. OU has been unbelievable on the offense and has won without much help from the defense. Although the defense came up again in the Big 12 championship game and played better. However, looking at Missouri in their bowl game just how good was the OU defense back in KC is questionable. Offenses are great but defense still wins championships. OU's defense had better get a few stops (really quite a few stops) on Florida if OU is to win the game.
William, Fairfield - Jan 1, 2009 at 7:57 am
Ha Ha brandon, just had to reply after getting in from the New Year party. If being 1 an 4 in bowl games with the one win being a crappy PRE (dec. 29th) New Year bowl in a 3 pt. win of 17 to 14 over Oregon counts as "skill and tradition that OU has" you can keep it. Excuses and denial can't override the facts, that my friend "is the fact" yOU need to "get over"!
ALBERT, BETHANY - Jan 1, 2009 at 4:36 am
Ha Ha that would be a great example if Georgia Tech was a good football team. This bowl season has proven how woeful the ACC is. By far, the ACC is the worst conference out of all the BCS conferences. Playing championship caliber teams in their backyard is different. However, with all that being said I don't think the reason we got beat by LSU was because of where the game was played. We got beat because our Heisman trophy winning quarterback didn't play a very good game, and threw a really soft pick 6 that was a big difference maker. In closing I think that you should have tried to use a more relevant example than a crappy pre-New Year bowl game to prove some point about OU football. Get over the fact that whatever team you root for sucks, and just wishes they had the skill and tradition that OU has.
Brandon, Edmond - Jan 1, 2009 at 2:16 am
All I know is the game in Atlanta is proof on how to play football in someone's own back yard! #14 Georgia Tech got WHIPPED by non ranked LSU only 2 miles from Georgia Tech's campus. OU's constant crying about having to play in someone's back yard is what everyone already knew the lame excuse was, BULL!!! OU should observe that game and learn that this is how you get it done in another teams back yard!!!
ALBERT, BETHANY - Dec 31, 2008 at 10:21 pm

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