SoonerDave, I'll assume you're referncing Frank Shannon. He's done alright, but still not much of an improvement over Wort and Nelson.

It would be a huge waste to NOT run the ball with Bell next year. Dual threat QBs put a ton of pressure on defenses. I'll be very disappointed if Bell is just used as a pocket passer. You have to also remember that this might be the beginning of a big change for OU offensively. All the up and coming QBs are dual threat - Bell, Thompson, and Knight. If OU changes it's offense it will be for more than just Bell.

SoonerDave, I'll assume you're referncing Frank Shannon. He's done alright, but still not much of an improvement over Wort and Nelson.



Arrgh, yes, I meant Shannon, been calling him Simmons all season. Blast. I think *SHANNON* has been better, esp. in passing situations, than Wort. Agree, however, that this is hardly a marquee LB corps.



It would be a huge waste to NOT run the ball with Bell next year. Dual threat QBs put a ton of pressure on defenses. I'll be very disappointed if Bell is just used as a pocket passer. You have to also remember that this might be the beginning of a big change for OU offensively. All the up and coming QBs are dual threat - Bell, Thompson, and Knight. If OU changes it's offense it will be for more than just Bell.

I understand where you're coming from, and agree that we've got dual threat guys in the wings, but we've also got one of the deepest WR corps ever, and I don't see the offense changing *that* drastically where those guys suddenly aren't used or are used significantly less. I'd love to see something in the vein of the '08 offense with a QB run threat on the edge mixed in, but that obviously requires all the attendant talent.

Have to believe we're going to hit the JUCO ranks hard to get some immediate DL help. Way it stands right now, OU may be worse off talent-wise along the DL next year than this year, and that has to be a concern.

Guess people don't realize this:

On April 22, 1889, the Unassigned Lands of the Oklahoma Territory were opened for homesteading with the first Land Run. By the end of the day, 240 acres (0.97 km2) had been claimed and designated as Stillwater township and a tent city with a population numbering 300 had sprung up on the prairie.

This county was established and named as the Sixth County by the Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890. It included land settled during the Land Run of 1889. The Organic Act settled a dispute between the towns of Stillwater and Payne over which should be the county seat.

OSU was founded in 1890 under the Morrill Act.

So technically, dirt burglars aka sooners existed before Stillwater and Oklahoma A&M were even in existence. Nice try though.


I thought he was referring to what the term 'sooner' meant in the land runs. Not the land runs themselves. Could be wrong though.

So technically, dirt burglars aka sooners existed before Stillwater and Oklahoma A&M were even in existence. Nice try though.

hmmm... isn't a 'dirt burglar' anybody who tried to settle the unassigned lands before they were opened for settlement? now... i can't seem to remember... what was the name of the 'dirt burglar' who got this whole settlement of oklahoma thing started? i seem to remember some crazy old coot who got himself escorted out of the region a couple times by the military... i wonder if he ended up with a county named after him or or something. -M

Guess people don't realize that the first land grab was in Stillwater......

I think he is referring to the Boomers ( Boomers (Oklahoma settlers) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomers_(Oklahoma_settlers)) ) led by their leader David Payne ( David L. Payne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_L._Payne) ) for whom the county is named after.

I think he is referring to the Boomers ( Boomers (Oklahoma settlers) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomers_(Oklahoma_settlers)) ) led by their leader David Payne ( David L. Payne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_L._Payne) ) for whom the county is named after.

Boomers - the people that lobbied to have the lands opened up for settlement.
Sooners - the people that snuck into the land run area early and staked out claims ahead of time.

Since thieving was mentioned I thought he was referring to the latter.

I understand where you're coming from, and agree that we've got dual threat guys in the wings, but we've also got one of the deepest WR corps ever, and I don't see the offense changing *that* drastically where those guys suddenly aren't used or are used significantly less.

Is it really a drastic change? Bell runs the ball 3-6 times a game right now. I'm talking about upping that number to around 10. You can still pass it 40 times and run it some also.

We have seen what other teams have done to OU this year with the QB run game.
All Bell or the others need is to keep the defense honest with their feet. 5 to 10 designed or QB scramble plays a game is about all it would take in most games.

OU is loaded with young QB prospects.
I am far more concerned about developing a better defensive front.

hmmm... isn't a 'dirt burglar' anybody who tried to settle the unassigned lands before they were opened for settlement? now... i can't seem to remember... what was the name of the 'dirt burglar' who got this whole settlement of oklahoma thing started? i seem to remember some crazy old coot who got himself escorted out of the region a couple times by the military... i wonder if he ended up with a county named after him or or something. -M

Yes, such as 'Payne' County, 10 years before any such land run in 1889 for the unassigned lands ........in the Stillwater area.

Boomers , 10 years prior to Sooners.

I think he is referring to the Boomers ( Boomers (Oklahoma settlers) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boomers_(Oklahoma_settlers)) ) led by their leader David Payne ( David L. Payne - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_L._Payne) ) for whom the county is named after.

OKCisOK4me........you need to read up on the 'Boomer' dirt burglars you've been referring to...nice try though.

BTW, ever heard of Boomer Lake ?

We have seen what other teams have done to OU this year with the QB run game.
All Bell or the others need is to keep the defense honest with their feet. 5 to 10 designed or QB scramble plays a game is about all it would take in most games.

OU is loaded with young QB prospects.
I am far more concerned about developing a better defensive front.

This. I don't know how many Sooner fans are aware of the fact that OU may well be less talented along the defensive front next season than this season. A defense that can take some of that "score every possession" pressure on the offense would surely help everyone.

This. I don't know how many Sooner fans are aware of the fact that OU may well be less talented along the defensive front next season than this season. A defense that can take some of that "score every possession" pressure on the offense would surely help everyone.

Sounds like they need to go raid the JC ranks.

Sounds like they need to go raid the JC ranks.


OU is hitting the JC ranks hard for DT’s
OU will probably sign one of the nation’s top high school DT prospects who some say should play well from day one? We will see?
In addition there are a couple of young players already on campus who should benefit a great deal by another off season of strength and conditioning.

For OU the majority of the remaining 2013 scholarships need to be linemen.

Thus far, OU has (6) commitments from every in state player they have offered in the 2013 class.
The in state recruiting crop for 2014 is said to be extremely good. OU should get most of these in state players.