Phil Loadholt of OU walks off the field after OU's loss to Texas in the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and University of Texas Longhorns (UT) in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008, at the Cotton Bowl, in Dallas, Tx.
BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
DALLAS — A renovated Cotton Bowl. Two top-five teams. The biggest crowd ever to see the Sooners play.
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The most points ever scored in OU-Texas.
This was an historic game from which you couldn't avert your eyes.
But the Sooners did on this gorgeous Saturday. Oklahoma blinked.
In a convergence of 20th-century drama and 21st-century offense, fifth-ranked Texas stared down No. 1 Oklahoma in the fourth quarter and won a 45-35 classic.
The better team won.
That's what Okies prayed for in pregame, but turns out the Longhorns were the superior squad.
Don't believe it? What other deduction is possible? Every time OU scored one of its five touchdowns, Texas immediately answered with a score of its own.
The Longhorns won the kicking game, with Jordan Shipley's 96-yard kickoff return another sign that the Sooners are clueless about that Achilles heel.
The Longhorns could run the ball (outgained OU 161-48).
And the Longhorns had a quarterback, Colt McCoy, just as salty as Sooner stud Sam Bradford.
That's a recipe for victory every time.
And when OU had a chance to make this Saturday something special, to stage a fourth-quarter rally that would preserve its spot atop the polls, the Sooners went splat.
After UT took a 38-35 lead midway through the fourth quarter, the Sooners withered.
First with an unimaginative three-play drive that ended with a punt, after Bob Stoops decided he'd gambled enough.
A fake punt in the third quarter backfired on OU, leading to a Texas touchdown, but at least that was vintage Stoops. Bold. Aggressive. That's the way the Sooners win.
Yet with less than seven minutes left, and OU's defense sucking wind, Stoops didn't want to gamble on fourth-and-2 from the Sooner 46-yard line.
“Probably should have,” Stoops said. “One of those situations, so much time, you think you can come up with a stop.”
Uh, no. The Longhorns had gone touchdown, field goal, touchdown on their previous three drives, and when McCoy slipped a little pass to tailback Chris Ogbonnaya for 10 yards on third-and-4, that No. 1 ranking started slipping from crimson fingers.
On the next play, it fell into the abyss. Ogbonnaya dashed 62 yards to the 2-yard line, and for just the second time in nine tries, Texas had felled a No. 1-ranked Oklahoma team.
Texas coach Mack Brown talked about what an epic game it was, and he was right. But it also was epic disappointment.
Bad enough to lose, but to lose the fourth quarter to a coach and school that OU once lorded over? The Sooners aren't who we thought they were.
“We felt like if we had the ball close to the end, we could score,” said OU flanker Manny Johnson.
Instead, Texas made the plays. Texas made the touchdowns. Texas wears the Golden Hat. And Texas turned the Sooners into so many scoreboard watchers the rest of this autumn.
Berry Tramel: 405-760-8080. Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.
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I'd like to know why this is still a lead story and it is Wednesday after the game. Come on newsok...move on...let's focus on the upcoming game.
I would add only one comment Texas tackled well on both sides of the ball the offence especially. Great offencive tackling. YOU CANT TACKLE IF YOU ARE ON OFFENCE!!!!!!!!!!!
I love OK football and have been a season ticket holder for 40+ years, but we need a change and hope that Stoops will step up and make some in his coaching staff; a great program like OK and no special teams is not acceptable. Let's get creative on offensive and use the weapons we have behind a great QB. We have a lot of the season to go and let's put the one loss behind us, but Stoops please get Wilson out of his shell. Why hurry up and then stand there at the line of scrimmage. Stoops, you are the head coach and if you have to take over now is the time. GO OU!
Being down here in SEC country, many people here respect our football program. Evidently you're the one who hasn't gotten out of you trailer to see the outside world!! You're another slug in life like Cooter!!!
OK so it's Monday and most Sooner Fans are moving past the disappointment of Saturdays loss.
We can forgive the bad ref calls and just chalk it up to part of the Game but the reality is that when the final Gun sounded The best TEAM won not the best program.
Before kickoff I knew we'd score and Sam would have a big game in fact I like most others thought we'd win convincingly but very shortly afterward the programs system operators got in the way.
Again what is the point of the no huddle offense? As Brandon pointed out
The point of the no huddle is to get up and snap the ball before the defense has a chance to get set up, but over and over again Sam kept getting calls from the sideline to change the plays.(i noticed as well) This I believe was shooting us in the foot even Kirk Herbstreit eluded to it. We even got a delay of game penalty! How is that possible with the no huddle?
When exexuted and performed right it becomes another weapon ask TCU remember how they were out of position Why let a TEAM like TEXAS line up and get in position and excute for goodness sake you have TWO Freshman safeties praying not to be exposed. Then as a TEAM You pick up where your defense and Special (ED) teams Fail you say okay D I see we need points or to keep the clock moving let's see what the ole OC has in his bag. What we witnessed from Texas and (I am a haterLongorn) was a TEAM and if you watch OSU you saw a Team feeding off of one another Again Notice the confidence and Trust and energy A coached Team gets as OC/head Coach Gundy lets his coaches do their job. Boomer Sooner!
Connie, I hope you will accept my apology. Maybe I should not have said "all". I have season tickets and when I do go to a game I hear the yell, "Boomer - Sooner, Texas - Sucks" and when it comes from throughout the stadium, I guess I figured the phrase "all" was appropriate. I still crack up when I hear that and the visiting team that day is not even from Texas. That, plus seeing the upside down horns when they are playing someone like Kansas or Colorado is hilarious.
The other thing I don't understand is how fast a lot (not "all") OU fans find an exit if things look bad. How can so many life long, die hard, "I bleed crimson" fans find an exit that fast when they think it is all over but the crying?
And Eric, bud, don't worry, I didn't think you graduated from either school. It's obvious you didn't attend college, or for that matter senior year of high school. Those of us who are educated use punctuation, complete sentences, and don't abbreviate words like "your" as "ur." I can't respond to your arguments, because I don't pick on children. Stay in school.
I don't know why every one is so surprised that Tramel wrote this. He does this all the time. He is OU's biggest fan until they trip up and then he is completely and unnecessarily brutal. He does it with football, basketball (men's and women's), baseball, you name it. He's worse than a bandwagon fan, because he is hateful when OU loses. I have written him multiple times about his coverage of OSU and he fires back unprofessional emails and tries to argue with me via email. He's a jerk and a terrible journalist.
Allen, please don't put me and my family in the category where you say "all" OU fans think so and so about Texas. That is not true. I don't appreciate being put in a category that I am not in and would never talk that way. There are many OU fans like me also.
Oh, and by the way, Sara, my team pride does not go in the closet when OU loses. I don't like being put in the "all" category. You don't know everyone.
rj, my brother, alabama will be no.1 after this weekend and you know why. I VOTE FOR COOTER for best comments and his sister for reading
and writing them for him ...his your sign.... cooter
Huge pro football fan here, but do follow college too. Why is it all OU fans feel the need to say "Texas Sucks" all the time when it is very clear that there would be no football here if it weren't for all the Texas athletes that come here. Something like 10 starters and 10 to 12 back ups. Wouldn't that mean, if Texas sucks, then Oklahoma sucks too, because of the co-dependent nature? Or, is it all just directed toward the university in Austin and the rest of the great state of Texas is immune to the phrase?
I agree, congrats to OSU. But as far as opponents before the texas game, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Arkansas oh and lets not forget Rice. But we all know those are teams belong in the top 5. Most of you don't understand that these smaller colleges get paid alot of money to play teams like Oklahoma, Texas, USC, and yes even OSU. Your not going to tell me that all the money T Boone Pickens gives to OSU goes to academics. Whether you believe it or not college football is a money maker. It doesn't matter what we all think. Winning games makes money.
I am so happy the Sooners went down! I was sick of seeing a team in the number one spot whose schedule until the Texas game had consisted of opponents such as Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Baylor, Washington, & TCU. I am also happy I will be seeing a lot less of the Crimson & Cream colors in my neighborhood. OU fans are so fickle, when they lose the team pride goes in the closet but when they win the pride is out for the world to view. PS......Congrats to OSU
Jonathon,why do you have to bash and bash another team and it's fans. We are all Oklahomans and love our state. I can root for OSU in all their games but one. Believe it or not, all my kids graduated from OU and are decent citizens (lots of them great teachers) as are my husband and I who work at OU. We are all OU fans and enjoy backing our team, in good times and bad. We don't have to say bad things about another team and it's fans to support our own team. It doesn't matter about all this horrible stuff that other people say; we will always support our Sooners and we know we have a lot of great people on "our" side also--just like other teams do.
Correction: the guys that should be embarassed. McCoy shouldn't be with Loadholt, and Grainger should have read "Gresham". I got typing a little fast and didn't edit myself.
-DON’T lose heart during close games. I don’t care if there are turnovers, injuries, bad officiating, or any other excuse. When the game is still close and there is still reasonable time on the clock, giving up is inexcusable. This team began showing signs of losing heart in the 3rd quarter.
-DON’T give up 45 points to anyone. The defense and special teams of a #1 team don’t do that… ever. Even if you factor in an excuse of a bad official’s call or an unlucky bounce, there should still be no way 45 points get scored on you.
-DON’T have offensive coaches who fold under pressure. Great offenses are unpredictable and explosive. They don’t constantly run the same thing over and over “because that was the game plan.” If the offense is like a Swiss Army knife, great coaches don’t put in 30 different tools, only to use just 3 of them.
EX. The offensive set with Matt Clapp? One appearance. Use of new weapon Ryan Broyles? Three catches in a row, then hardly a look for the rest of the game. Chris Brown (the only back that was moving the pile forward all game), hardly an appearance in favor of Murray, who has lost more than “a step” since last year. And, I’m officially putting out an APB for Brodie Eldridge… the so-called best player (and best blocker) on the team. And, as far as “new wrinkles” go… yeah, that fake reverse-pass in the flat was great. Can you name a single other new look of any kind? (no, using that play a second time doesn’t count).
- DON’T have NFL caliber offensive linemen who suddenly couldn’t blow a Pop Warner team off the ball. 48 yards rushing. Enough said.
-DON’T have a Tight End who is incapable of blocking. Gresham couldn’t block a traffic cone. He’s as much of a liability as a blocker as he is a talent when he’s a receiver.
-DON’T have a punter that can’t kick the ball out of his shadow.
-DON’T have a place kicker that can’t kick the ball out of his shadow.
-DON’T have a kick-off team that ranks in the bottom tier of all of college football… especially after having 5 weeks to fix the problem.
So, OU was a poser. Clearly not worthy of #1. Notice. I never said #1 teams don’t lose. #1 teams lose close hard fought games. Sometimes the breaks just don’t go your way. But, #1 teams don’t repeat the same mistakes over and over. They don’t lose heart, and their offensive coordinator actually turns the pages of the playbook – especially when the team falls behind.
Guys that should be embarrassed: Kevin Wilson, the whole O-line (emphasis on Loadholt and McCoy. Cooper gets a pass), the whole D-Line, the entire kickoff team, Grainger (his poor blocking alone could have been the difference in the game), the Officials (multiple bad calls. OU didn’t deserve to win, so it isn’t a big deal. But, once again, the officiating was crap), Bob Stoops – by my count, Big Game Bob hasn’t shown up in 4-5 years (last year’s Big 12 title game not withstanding).
As an OSU fan, I know that loss was tough on you guys. OU still has a good shot to make it to the Big 12 title game and beyond, just have to pick themselves up and get ready for KU this week. Good luck, Sooners.
Everyone below look out, the DAILY dISSAPPOINTMENT and okc media is jumping off the Ou bandwagon. Friday, they were the greatest and now on Monday, they arent what we thought. They lost to a good texas team. Its not as bad as USC losing to Oregon State or Georgia getting blasted by Alabama. Plus Tramel sucks anyway.
Chauncey in Junction City,
I agree with you about the interception it appeared that he had control of the ball. Coach Stoops commented on that play last night.
He didn't feel that it was an interception the rule is this the ground can't cause a fumble but it can cause cause an incompletion that's why it was ruled an incompletion instead of an interception, I hope that clears it up a little Bryan
Trammel, the Sooners aren't who YOU thought they were. Get real. Some of us saw the weakness in the kickoff return teams, the lack of a running game, the lack of creativity by Wilson in the run game, the soft play in the middle by the secondary and the unwillingness of Stoops to play the game out, i.e. the first four games, for fear of being accused of running up the score against lesser foes. If you think you can play like the Sooners played the first 5 games and beat the best teams you are, as I have said before, delusional. Every team OU plays this year has seen the run backs against the kickoff return team. That was the easiest 7 of the game for Texas and who ever is the special teams coach is needs to put on notice at least that it won't keep happening. Seems to me when the Sooners quit blitzing and pressuring McCoy is when the breakdown began. I know you give up big plays with the blitz but you can't ever stop pressuring someone like McCoy. You can't expect Bradford to carry the game with a one-dimensional pass attack. The Sooners are now one dimensional. 58 yards rushing is not a balanced attack. And we go on fourth down instead of playing field position when the defense is already getting hammered? As I said last year after the TxTech game, and will probably say several times again this year, Wilson should have been fired on the bus home. And for those OSU fans, great win over a one dimensional (Chase Daniels) Missouri team. Beware of Texas, Cowboys, they aren't one-dimensional.
Kyle, get over yourself. You know he's talking about the Stoops era, not the overall series. Typical Cowgirl drivel. Go back to your coloring books. 8th-grade reading comprehension is obviously beyond your abilities.
Cooter, it must be nice to only have to work part-time down at the Stillwater McDonald's so you can sneak onto your ma and pa's computer and waste everyone's time with your pointless posts. Ding! Fries are done.
"Bad enough to lose, but to lose the fourth quarter to a coach and school that OU once lorded over?" I believe the overall record in this series is now 58-40-5 in favor of Texas. Who has lorded over who? Typical Trammel drivel.
The reason Tenn. Chatt. was scheduled is because the opponent that originally signed to play us in the opening game backed out and at that point in the year, when everyone is releasing schedules, the Mocs were one of the only ones who would play us that had an open weekend. Get pissed at someone else about the schedule, not the Athletic Department. Tennessee is on the horizon and so is Florida St. I believe.
Another thing too, stop scheduling week OOC opponents. Tennessee Chatt.? We need to get our butts kicked, or kick butt early against quality teams to prevent all these premature number 1 rankings. A game vs USC wouldn't hurt, but I'm thinking more along the lines of Tennessee, Kentucky, Auburn(especially this year!), Oregon/Oregon St., you kinda get my drift right?
Yeah yeah get it all out sooner haters. We do lack a strong running game, but that's due to our sooners not being good enough in the trenches. We were getting pushed around all day, and Loadholt?!?!?! Good grief! A guy about half your size just overpowers you and brings you down to size. Wow. Venables defense is still as questionable as always. If you're getting burned up the middle, you may wanna drop that zone coverage that kinda leaves the middle OPEN. Stoops, what else can I say, its another big loss you can't keep affording to have. The fire is gone from Stoops yall. He's satisfied with just being an average team. I watch every sooner football on sunday and he is just obscenely too optimistic about these big game losses. If you've lost the fire-JUST RETIRE, or leave, and let someone else who has big dreams step in to do the job. If you're not used to playing for championships, then bring in someone who wouldn't mind the task. We've lost to best, which I'm not mad at, but we've become the welcome mat to subpar teams like boise state and wv, who was dominated by colorado. Either stoops or his team lack heart. And since they saying goes, "attitude reflects leadership", I can only blame the coaches for not properly preparing OU for all of the big games its lost in. You can lose some, I'm not expecting perfection, but win 2 or 3...just for respect's sake. Don't build up the reputation of always losing when it counts the most.
I'm a sooner fan for many years buy until they get that special teams problem fixed they're not going to win against good teams.....you let good teams start drives in the middle of the field or run back for td's, your chances aren't too good......we also need to get kicks into the end zone......BRING BACK UWE VON SCHAMMAN!!!
The gooners will go down again this week to the #15 Jayhawks.
I have said all year that once the gooners play a real team then they
will get beat.Look what happend against Texas.Every year they are overrated and every year you gooner fans fall for it.Jayhawks 45 gooners 24...Go Pokes Big 12 champs 2008!!!
...and another thing since nobody seems to think this is a problem except for me. The weaknesses of OU's team is the lack of a running game and special teams (not necessarily in that order). You give any good offense a 60-yard field or less, and they're going to score either a field goal or a touchdown. And when you can't run the ball, you just made it easier for the other team to defend against you.
I've been trying to tell those at work that OU would lose to Texas and OSU this year. Now that OU's offense is obviously one-dimensional and a team must only defend the pass, are there any other believers out there that OSU is the better team come Bedlam?
OU loses one game and you run a column like this in an Oklahoma Paper???? One would think we were in Texas! Shame on you! OU is still a great team! GO OU!
this the university of florida.....or this is louisiana state university,,,,,this ohio state university.. this is the university of southern california,,,,,,news flash,,,,,,all programs go .thru problems but everyone of these schools have national championships within the last decade,,,,,and they all have had the sh*t beaten out of them this year,,,,,can anyone of these programs sneak up on anyone,,,,when these names pop up on other schools calendar their fans coaches boosters and players circle the date,,,,just like i did when alabama and miami came here to norman.....ive already done the same thing for notr dame,,,,what the average joe dont understand is when you have multiple national championships ,,,YOU GET EVERYONEs VERY BEST SHOT..because you have a program not a 'outof nowhere good year".. reminds me of the old saying the higher you go up on a laddr the more your a$$is exposed....sooner fan but not fanatic....who appreciate what mike gundy has done in stillwater...good luck pokes
to osu fan from tulsa........i didnt go to either school ....but i root for ou ,more than i do osu.....me being an okie thats my choice,,,,im a third party watching you morons from both school tear each others scrotums off,,,and frankly its amusing
I really don't think that Trammel is pulling the bandwagon. But I do think he picked out a few horses.
OU is always pumped up higher than they really are. I am a Sooner fan at heart but I can admit that there is some problems in the overpaid coaching staff that needs fixing.
I am tired of seeing the Sooners look un prepared in "BIG GAMES". To say that these things happen and they can't win them all is the wrong attitude to have. This is the University of Oklahoma!
Yea, Barry is wrong here, but what happened to the fans at the game.
Longhorn fans were louder, bolder and their team, heck even the band played off that emotion.
Yea there were missed calls both ways, missed plays both ways, bad coaching both ways, and heck even players made great plays both ways, but only one set of fans stood up and cheered like there was no tomorrow for their team, and unfortunately it was not the Sooner Nation..........
Now get behind out team, our coaches and lets win out, win the south, and end up in a BCS title game. We are after all at 4th.
Barry, this is incredible. I'm an OSU grad and fan but I root for OU with exception to 1 game. But saying that OU is not who you thought they were confirms the bandwagon mentality. How can you say that, OU's defense will be fine without Reynolds, and I guarantee you they won't lose another until Bedlam, and I'm not sure OSU will be the victor in that game either. The bottom line is that OU played a dam good team and didn't come out on top. Mizzou could have very easily won saturday too, but things went our way. OU fans, I urge you not to jump off the band wagon as Barry just has...he is an embarassment to OU fans!!!
Sitting at the game Saturday several things became very clear. 1) The OU Defense became very open after Reynolds got hurt. 2) The special teams needs to go back to the drawing board and learn how to tackle. 3) Sam Bradford is a very good quarterback but he cannot keep everything going by himself. 4) The play calling for the offense was offensive....first down run, second down throw, third down run, fourth down punt. Come on.......even I could figure that out. 5) That was the absolute best game I have ever seen in person. Yes we lost but the back and forth of the game and how well matched the teams were was amazing! 6) We might have lost but we are still really good. We are better than we played Saturday and that will show the rest of the season when we win out. 7) OSU is better than expected but not as good as they think they are......they will get their butts kicked Saturday against Texas. Watch out OSU....you will get what is coming to you! I still love the Sooners and can't wait to see them play again! BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!
I have to agree with the observation, OU defense is not good and our rushing offense is not there. We have not had a good defense since Bob's brother has left.
OSU alum here... Bradford is amazing. He should be the Heisman frontrunner despite the loss. Keep your heads up Sooners. It will still work out and we'll play for the South division over Thanksgiving. GO POKES!!
I read these post and I just have to laugh and think, Oh yeah, I remember seeing Berry Tramel taking snaps, catching passes and making tackles. I just cant understand why you as fans, "SOONER NATION" who is all knowing about the game of football want to go from getting beat to blaming a sports writer for publishing the facts. I challenge ANYONE to show me what part of the story in untrue or even unfair.
This BCS thing has the potential to be really wild this year. Does anyone else see all the possible scenarios that could potentially play out through the rest of this year? What happens if Penn State and Alabama lose, and OU and Texas run the table? Or say Penn State loses, and Texas loses a Big 12 title game to MizzOU? The only way a Big 12 or SEC team doesn't get in the title game this year is with 2 losses, and BYU being undefeated. A one loss USC won't get in over a one loss Big 12 or SEC team. Recent seasons have shown to be BCS crazy, but this one has the potential to be really ridiculous!
It is amazing to me how so many people (including you, Tramel) can sit and bash the Sooners after they played the number 5 team in the country. OU didn't lose to Colorado or Baylor, they lost to Texas who is ranked number 5 and has a pretty good football team.
Like all of you, I'm sad that the Sooners lost, but does that mean I am going to bash them and give up on them? No, it does not. There is a lot of season left and a lot of things can happen, just as things have happened so far in this season. By the end of the season, or better yet, the end of next week or the next week, there could be a whole new number 1. And considering that we only fell to number 4 in the AP poll, it is possilble that we could be back up there.
Have faith Sooner fans and sports writers. The season is young and many things can happen between now and the end of the season. And you fair weather fans, find someone else to root for. The Sooners need people to stand behind all the time, not just when they are winning.
Well look at this vitriol. :rolleyes: Doesn't surprise me a bit. Didn't take long for Tramel to return to his old ways of being bitter towards Sooner Nation and all of Oklahoma in general. How he homered someone to keep a job from this newspaper is a question all Sooners and Cowboys need to ask.
Berry Tramel you are an idiot. How do you keep a job writting crap like that. That was a good game and yes tx won and played better than OU in the fourth. It was still a good game and one game does not make a season. I take comfort that texas played about as good as they could OU did not. Who knows what would have happened without the bad calls against OU and without their Kick off return. I do not understand how you keep a job. If I were as ignorant doing my job as you appear to be I would not have a job. I guess it is good you specialize in fantacy.
BOOMER LOSER BOOMER LOSER BOOMER LOSER BOOOOOOOOOMER LOOOOOOSER!! AHAHAHHAHA I WONDER HOW MANY OU FANS WERE CRYING IN BUFFALO WILD WINGS TODAY AHAHAHAHH!!!
Cooter, Cooterville - Oct 11, 2008 3:28 PM
V, you keep referring to OU's remaining schedule being easy. Before yesterday, OU had not played anyone. You really shouldn't be counting the wins before you get them.
The other is about smack talking OSU fans. I will have to admit to chuckling at a couple but some are way over the line. Before you OU fans get to critical, spend some on the OSU articles and you will see about a dozen regulars dishing out much the same, everyday, as what you are seeing today. It doesn't make it any more right but you understand where it is coming from. Those same trolls seem to have lost their typing skills since yesterday.
In this anything can happen college football era there is no reason to think all is lost!. Remember OU lost TWICE in conference last year and still won the BIG 12. Texas has OSU (who looks tough) Tech, Missery, and I believe Kansas. They could drop a few there because there are enough offensive powehouses, who if their defenses play more defense than OU, could exploit Texass. Now we got that loss in, its kind of like OU can start playing like they need to prove something instead of playing not to lose. I agree with several of the posts here so far that the o-line needs to really get it together, special teams is a freaking nightmare (like every time Reggie Smith would catch a punt type of deal) and the defense has to step it up. All of you wishing for the days Mike Stoops piloted the defense may get your wish, because he's gonna be tossed after this season...just have to wait and see if his pride keeps him from working for his bro again.
The fundamental problem is OU's defense. Until they make coaching changes here, OU will NEVER win the big ones. They are a very good team, but certainly not a great team. Sure, they can beat most of the other Big 12 teams because they see them often enough. But they struggle against great teams outside the Big 12 and somehow manage to lose to a Big 12 team they shouldn't. At least Mack Brown is willing to change up his coaching staff to get the right mix he needs to win. OU is unwilling to do that to a large degree. OU will win most of it's remaining games and go to a bowl, but then they will be exposed yet again as the great pretenders that they are.
Patrick, Fayetteville I didn't say Texas didn't play well. I said the out come would have been different if it wasn't for a few bad calls, the loss of a key player and a bad call from our coach. It was a great game on both sides of the ball.
Charles, Oklahoma City No Sooner fan on here is bashing the Sooners. I may want to bash the kick off team a little. They need to get some players that want to hit somebody on the kick off.
v-- easy on the OSU getting lucky business i have sat here and listened to the UO fans talk about how hard their schedule has been and how great this team was. Accept the fact that UO got beat and OSU won. Tramel should win a purlitzer prize for all of his stories.
Just your typical Tramel story on being biased. When him and Jenny go the real reporting can began. Come on folks, how much bashing do you need of your home teams as if we win it is cool. If we lose oh man...its the end of the programs as we see it. Its a damn sport and we cannot win all of the time. We did our best and that is all we can ask. As for Tramel and his do or die attitude, you folks will not speak out like I do on what is obvious. And that is if we are winning...great. If we lose, oh well throw out the baby with the bath water. Just my opinion along with a few hundred thousand others. Get over it.
I'm a big OU fan who doesn't think this game was decided by officiating. These kids fought their hearts out, and it could have gone either way. It was Texas' day, give them their due. Two of the best teams in the country put on a great show yesterday. All the finger pointing, and excuses take away from the incredible game we all got to see yesterday. Maybe the BCS will get it right this year, and we can do it again on January 8th in Miami!
How many time does a quarterback throw for 380 yards and lose the game. I have to question the Texas defense after that. A total air assault. Colt Mccoy wouldn't make a pimple on Bradfords butt.
A few bad calls that went for Texas and the loss of our middle coverage guy and a bad call from Stoops. If Texas didn't get a little help we would have won by 10 instead of losing by 10. The luck was on Texas' side this time and it was only luck and some calls be the refs. It seems there is always a blind ref or two in the RRR and usually they play for Texas.I seen it time and time again year after year.
Stephen, Moore Good. With the weak schedule we should have no problem staying in the top 5. We need a linebacker to replace Reynolds and Granger should be back soon. Then we are back at 100%.
Being number 4 at this point because Texas will stumble and we have a easy schedule for the remainder of the season. We will win the Big 12 and will be number 1 at the end of the year.
Unfortunately, the Sooners are who I thought they were. I told my college-football-watching buddies that I suspected Texas was the stronger team and that they would win. Why did I think that?
1) Oklahoma can't run block. That became obvious during the TCU game. And I was trying to think when it was that you could say they had a good run-blocking O-line. That's coaching.
2) OU has a lack of depth on defense in general, and at linebacker in particular.
3) Oklahoma has a mediocre kicking game.
4) OU (obviously) has mediocre kick coverage.
5) OU does not play well under adversity. The game against Texas illustrated that perfectly. While Texas thrives on it and gets better, OU withers. This is consistent over past seasons. That's coaching.
As a fan and avid Sooner watcher since the 2000 season, it seems apparent to me that Oklahoma is at a plateau in their potential. What they are now is pretty consistent with what we've seen over a number of years. When they're rolling they look super. But when they play in the Top-10, as they do in the big bowl games, they are not able to persevere. Until Bob Stoops is willing to do what Mac Brown does and go after the coaching staff that it takes to go all the way to the top, they'll continue to be a team that wins 9-11 games a season and more often than not loses the last one.
Rob, Stillwater The sob needs to move to Texas. OSU got lucky. You will see later in the season. Missouri has no defense. OSU needs to be about number 12 or 13 because of limited talent. I think they ranked them a little high this week.
Berry is a sports writer for a mid market newspaper without competition. I seldom read his posts and usually turn the radio knob when he is on. He doesn't seem to be a happy person, probably because his mother misspelled his name.
The one assuring thing that I can take from a depressing loss by OU, everyone else loves it that we lost! Its like when you saw the school yard bully, who routinely kicked your ass, get beat by the other bully!
Lets you know, that your still lesser, and can enjoy your temperary status while the big dog is down. Keep gloating Sooner Haters, the status quo will return soon.
RUN THE BALL AND YOU WIN!! oh wait, UO CAN'T!!!UT COULD!! Did the
REFS take away the run game? Did the refs take away Reynolds knees? LOL!! LOSERS, ALways finding someone/thing to blame when you lose insteED OF SEEING IT FOE WHAT IT IS!!
Jonahton...I think YOU are showing us your true mentality...I think the hospital has been out looking for you!
Stephen, Moore -
Stephen, as a matter of fact I was in the hospital for about a week and now I'm at home under doctor's orders not to return to work for two more weeks. I'm just enjoying myself so much. I get to log in to these message boards and enlighten people on various subjects ... mainly the loser football program down in gaylordville. Have a good day.
Hey, Give Mack Brown credit for hiring away Auburn's defensive coordinator to scheme against Oklahoma. Oklahoma has a defense that is overrated. We make too many penalities in big games. There is no discipline, and the missed tackles are excessive. We can't defend the middle of the field. Its time to make a change with defensive schemes, and possibly with the defensive coordinator. I expressed this fact on the post game radio show last evening, and Coach Merv Johnson indicated that I was angry from the loss. Sooner fans, the problem with the team relies on the defensive side of the football. We have been an average defense since 2003. Ask the coaches from LSU, USC, Boise State, West Virginia, and Texas. Its time to make changes with our schemes. Most teams in the Big 12 have improved on defensive play with the exception of Oklahoma. Let's not waste Sam Bradford's talent. We need a defense to support our offense.
"Barry Trammel needs to get his walking papers...I"m sick of his reporting!"
Whatsa matter shephen, bawwy twammel not tewwing oo what oo want to heew? Bawwy not tewwing oo uo nummer 1? waaaahhhhh ... somebody get this boomer baby a pacifier.
"OU played well yesterday, and will have a good season...." Out of respect for you Jason, I'm going to clarify this statement you made. OU DID play well yesterday. But, they dang sure didn't play like the team they were HYPED up by the local media to be. And they dang sure didn't play like the #1 team in the country. Rankings are for losers who have nothing better to talk about. If you want to see how good a football team IS, then watch them play the game on the field. uo once again proves itself to be what it always is ... a paper tiger with a paper clip logo. Glad to see the real uo show its true colors yesterday. boomer loser.
"Understand that the University of Oklahoma will continue to have a long proud tradition in football. I have been all over the country and people do respect our program. Unfortunately, people like you are those who have nothing better in life to do and must not have any social life."
uo will not have a long proud tradition in football because it never had one. Unless of course you count paying GIs coming home from the war to try out for the football team from slush fund money donated by people wanting something to be proud of. Small men with small minds and a small man syndrome. Pathetic losers ... the whole lot. They created an EMBARRASSMENT for the state and its citizens. Take a look at the national response to the latest pay for no work scheme cooked up by a boomer car dealership. And the extended test drives of vehicles. And the parking tickets "all taken care of". You say you've "been all over the country and people do respect our program". What two people did you find that would admit it at gun point just so you'd let them go? Sounds like a very selective survey. People very well may recognize uo for its good football on the field, but they also recognize how it was born ... by CHEATING. That in itself nullifies the whole nine yards. That's why people cheer when uo loses because those people know uo cheated to get to where they are ... AND ARE STILL CHEATING TO THIS DAY. Just ask free gas Broyles how much he's helped himself to lately. So, all you people who thought uo was the team to cheer for because they win and are something to be proud of ... think again. They win alright, but there's a reason they win and that reason is something to be ashamed of.
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Being down here in SEC country, many people here respect our football program. Evidently you're the one who hasn't gotten out of you trailer to see the outside world!! You're another slug in life like Cooter!!!
Please fix that grammar error. Thanks.
We can forgive the bad ref calls and just chalk it up to part of the Game but the reality is that when the final Gun sounded The best TEAM won not the best program.
Before kickoff I knew we'd score and Sam would have a big game in fact I like most others thought we'd win convincingly but very shortly afterward the programs system operators got in the way.
Again what is the point of the no huddle offense? As Brandon pointed out
The point of the no huddle is to get up and snap the ball before the defense has a chance to get set up, but over and over again Sam kept getting calls from the sideline to change the plays.(i noticed as well) This I believe was shooting us in the foot even Kirk Herbstreit eluded to it. We even got a delay of game penalty! How is that possible with the no huddle?
When exexuted and performed right it becomes another weapon ask TCU remember how they were out of position Why let a TEAM like TEXAS line up and get in position and excute for goodness sake you have TWO Freshman safeties praying not to be exposed. Then as a TEAM You pick up where your defense and Special (ED) teams Fail you say okay D I see we need points or to keep the clock moving let's see what the ole OC has in his bag. What we witnessed from Texas and (I am a haterLongorn) was a TEAM and if you watch OSU you saw a Team feeding off of one another Again Notice the confidence and Trust and energy A coached Team gets as OC/head Coach Gundy lets his coaches do their job. Boomer Sooner!
The other thing I don't understand is how fast a lot (not "all") OU fans find an exit if things look bad. How can so many life long, die hard, "I bleed crimson" fans find an exit that fast when they think it is all over but the crying?
Oh, and by the way, Sara, my team pride does not go in the closet when OU loses. I don't like being put in the "all" category. You don't know everyone.
and writing them for him ...his your sign.... cooter
-DON’T lose heart during close games. I don’t care if there are turnovers, injuries, bad officiating, or any other excuse. When the game is still close and there is still reasonable time on the clock, giving up is inexcusable. This team began showing signs of losing heart in the 3rd quarter.
-DON’T give up 45 points to anyone. The defense and special teams of a #1 team don’t do that… ever. Even if you factor in an excuse of a bad official’s call or an unlucky bounce, there should still be no way 45 points get scored on you.
-DON’T have offensive coaches who fold under pressure. Great offenses are unpredictable and explosive. They don’t constantly run the same thing over and over “because that was the game plan.” If the offense is like a Swiss Army knife, great coaches don’t put in 30 different tools, only to use just 3 of them.
EX. The offensive set with Matt Clapp? One appearance. Use of new weapon Ryan Broyles? Three catches in a row, then hardly a look for the rest of the game. Chris Brown (the only back that was moving the pile forward all game), hardly an appearance in favor of Murray, who has lost more than “a step” since last year. And, I’m officially putting out an APB for Brodie Eldridge… the so-called best player (and best blocker) on the team. And, as far as “new wrinkles” go… yeah, that fake reverse-pass in the flat was great. Can you name a single other new look of any kind? (no, using that play a second time doesn’t count).
- DON’T have NFL caliber offensive linemen who suddenly couldn’t blow a Pop Warner team off the ball. 48 yards rushing. Enough said.
-DON’T have a Tight End who is incapable of blocking. Gresham couldn’t block a traffic cone. He’s as much of a liability as a blocker as he is a talent when he’s a receiver.
-DON’T have a punter that can’t kick the ball out of his shadow.
-DON’T have a place kicker that can’t kick the ball out of his shadow.
-DON’T have a kick-off team that ranks in the bottom tier of all of college football… especially after having 5 weeks to fix the problem.
So, OU was a poser. Clearly not worthy of #1. Notice. I never said #1 teams don’t lose. #1 teams lose close hard fought games. Sometimes the breaks just don’t go your way. But, #1 teams don’t repeat the same mistakes over and over. They don’t lose heart, and their offensive coordinator actually turns the pages of the playbook – especially when the team falls behind.
Guys that should be embarrassed: Kevin Wilson, the whole O-line (emphasis on Loadholt and McCoy. Cooper gets a pass), the whole D-Line, the entire kickoff team, Grainger (his poor blocking alone could have been the difference in the game), the Officials (multiple bad calls. OU didn’t deserve to win, so it isn’t a big deal. But, once again, the officiating was crap), Bob Stoops – by my count, Big Game Bob hasn’t shown up in 4-5 years (last year’s Big 12 title game not withstanding).
I agree with you about the interception it appeared that he had control of the ball. Coach Stoops commented on that play last night.
He didn't feel that it was an interception the rule is this the ground can't cause a fumble but it can cause cause an incompletion that's why it was ruled an incompletion instead of an interception, I hope that clears it up a little Bryan
I have said all year that once the gooners play a real team then they
will get beat.Look what happend against Texas.Every year they are overrated and every year you gooner fans fall for it.Jayhawks 45 gooners 24...Go Pokes Big 12 champs 2008!!!
OU is always pumped up higher than they really are. I am a Sooner fan at heart but I can admit that there is some problems in the overpaid coaching staff that needs fixing.
I am tired of seeing the Sooners look un prepared in "BIG GAMES". To say that these things happen and they can't win them all is the wrong attitude to have. This is the University of Oklahoma!
Longhorn fans were louder, bolder and their team, heck even the band played off that emotion.
Yea there were missed calls both ways, missed plays both ways, bad coaching both ways, and heck even players made great plays both ways, but only one set of fans stood up and cheered like there was no tomorrow for their team, and unfortunately it was not the Sooner Nation..........
Now get behind out team, our coaches and lets win out, win the south, and end up in a BCS title game. We are after all at 4th.
Like all of you, I'm sad that the Sooners lost, but does that mean I am going to bash them and give up on them? No, it does not. There is a lot of season left and a lot of things can happen, just as things have happened so far in this season. By the end of the season, or better yet, the end of next week or the next week, there could be a whole new number 1. And considering that we only fell to number 4 in the AP poll, it is possilble that we could be back up there.
Have faith Sooner fans and sports writers. The season is young and many things can happen between now and the end of the season. And you fair weather fans, find someone else to root for. The Sooners need people to stand behind all the time, not just when they are winning.
Kevin, Jackson, TN
I know I've fired off my letter about Trammel...(like it will do any good). but might help me get it off my chest!
Feel free to join me...maybe we can help Trammel to an early retirement!
Cooter, Cooterville - Oct 11, 2008 3:28 PM
V, you keep referring to OU's remaining schedule being easy. Before yesterday, OU had not played anyone. You really shouldn't be counting the wins before you get them.
The other is about smack talking OSU fans. I will have to admit to chuckling at a couple but some are way over the line. Before you OU fans get to critical, spend some on the OSU articles and you will see about a dozen regulars dishing out much the same, everyday, as what you are seeing today. It doesn't make it any more right but you understand where it is coming from. Those same trolls seem to have lost their typing skills since yesterday.
Charles, Oklahoma City No Sooner fan on here is bashing the Sooners. I may want to bash the kick off team a little. They need to get some players that want to hit somebody on the kick off.
GO OU...only dropping to #4 keeps OU well within reach of the trophy.
1) Oklahoma can't run block. That became obvious during the TCU game. And I was trying to think when it was that you could say they had a good run-blocking O-line. That's coaching.
2) OU has a lack of depth on defense in general, and at linebacker in particular.
3) Oklahoma has a mediocre kicking game.
4) OU (obviously) has mediocre kick coverage.
5) OU does not play well under adversity. The game against Texas illustrated that perfectly. While Texas thrives on it and gets better, OU withers. This is consistent over past seasons. That's coaching.
As a fan and avid Sooner watcher since the 2000 season, it seems apparent to me that Oklahoma is at a plateau in their potential. What they are now is pretty consistent with what we've seen over a number of years. When they're rolling they look super. But when they play in the Top-10, as they do in the big bowl games, they are not able to persevere. Until Bob Stoops is willing to do what Mac Brown does and go after the coaching staff that it takes to go all the way to the top, they'll continue to be a team that wins 9-11 games a season and more often than not loses the last one.
Lets you know, that your still lesser, and can enjoy your temperary status while the big dog is down. Keep gloating Sooner Haters, the status quo will return soon.
REFS take away the run game? Did the refs take away Reynolds knees? LOL!! LOSERS, ALways finding someone/thing to blame when you lose insteED OF SEEING IT FOE WHAT IT IS!!
Stephen, Moore -
Stephen, as a matter of fact I was in the hospital for about a week and now I'm at home under doctor's orders not to return to work for two more weeks. I'm just enjoying myself so much. I get to log in to these message boards and enlighten people on various subjects ... mainly the loser football program down in gaylordville. Have a good day.
Not Bob Stoops. MIKE STOOPS! Since Mike Stoops left OU has not had what it takes to push it over the edge.
The solution is get another defensive coordinator unless you are happy with playing Ball State in the Liberty Bowl in mid-Decmeber.
Check this out:
Last 5 Bowl Games: 1-4
BCS Championship games: 1-2
Last 4 vs. Texas: 1-3
Whatsa matter shephen, bawwy twammel not tewwing oo what oo want to heew? Bawwy not tewwing oo uo nummer 1? waaaahhhhh ... somebody get this boomer baby a pacifier.
uo will not have a long proud tradition in football because it never had one. Unless of course you count paying GIs coming home from the war to try out for the football team from slush fund money donated by people wanting something to be proud of. Small men with small minds and a small man syndrome. Pathetic losers ... the whole lot. They created an EMBARRASSMENT for the state and its citizens. Take a look at the national response to the latest pay for no work scheme cooked up by a boomer car dealership. And the extended test drives of vehicles. And the parking tickets "all taken care of". You say you've "been all over the country and people do respect our program". What two people did you find that would admit it at gun point just so you'd let them go? Sounds like a very selective survey. People very well may recognize uo for its good football on the field, but they also recognize how it was born ... by CHEATING. That in itself nullifies the whole nine yards. That's why people cheer when uo loses because those people know uo cheated to get to where they are ... AND ARE STILL CHEATING TO THIS DAY. Just ask free gas Broyles how much he's helped himself to lately. So, all you people who thought uo was the team to cheer for because they win and are something to be proud of ... think again. They win alright, but there's a reason they win and that reason is something to be ashamed of.