Go Sooners beat the Wildcats!

[MonkeesFan]

The 2000 Championship team wasn't even Stoop's players, all the best players on that squad, coach John Blake recruited. To put it in perspective, Stoop's has never won a National Championship with players he and his coaching staff recruited. Yes, Stoop's has had success, but I only give him partial credit for the 2000 crystal ball. I honestly think its time for the Stoop's era to end.

I have to disagree because if Stoops get fired, there is nobody out there that is good as Stoops and we will back in the bottom like in the 90's....

[TaoMaas]

I have to disagree because if Stoops get fired, there is nobody out there that is good as Stoops and we will back in the bottom like in the 90's....

I totally agree, although it's looking like this may be one of Stoops' down years. Last night, it looked like our problems were with our offensive and defensive lines. We watched the game with some friends and were talking about how, for the first time since we could remember, OU didn't have a major talent on the defensive line. We were also speculating as to how many millions Landry may have cost himself by not going pro last year.

[kevinpate]

A few more nights like last night, and he'll never know.

[Just the facts]

I know this sounds crazy, but is it just possible that K-State is a good team?

09/01/12 Missouri State Bears
Won 51-9 ---

09/08/12 Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Won 52-13 ---

09/15/12 North Texas Mean Green
Won 35-21 ---

09/22/12 at Oklahoma Sooners
Won 24-19

[venture]

Sure KSU could be a legitimate Top 10 team this year. That doesn't discount that OU is probably an average to sub par team (not Top 25 material) this year. Though KSU struggling some with North Texas isn't all that good, but probably rates the same against OU vs. UTEP.

The road doesn't get easier. Texas Tech, while not playing anyone significant yet, is always tough for us on their turf. We haven't won in Lubbock in 9 years.

• Texas is an emotional game and go go either way.
• Kansas isn't good right now, so that looks like a win there.
• Notre Dame is going to be extremely tough for us. They play Miami FL in 2 weeks, so that will be the first "head to head" we can compare with KSU to measure how good they are.
• Iowa State has a better record and OU right now. Wow...with one win over Big Ten rival Iowa and the other two Tulsa and FCS Western Illinois. Though OU *should* still be able to beat them easily.
• Baylor seems to be back and forth. They can score well, but haven't played anyone yet...changes next weekend in Morgantown.
• WVU has been humming along but don't get a real test until they go to Austin and Lubbock.
• OSU can light it up, but also get lit up.
• TCU hasn't posted any amazing wins, more so on part with OU vs. UTEP.

At the end of the day OU just hasn't been able to get the job done with its talent. Whaley was on tap to have a great game, and they bench him for what? To spread play around to other players? You don't do that when you are down. You keep your best in and let them do their thing. Jones has been growing in inconsistency. His happy feet and scrambling abilities are destroying his focus. Take a freaking sack instead of giving them the ball in the end zone. At some point you have to make the call to sit the players that aren't performing and try new ones. The loyalty to the senior is crap. Let the new kid get some more snaps to see what he can do. If they are going to fumble/turnover anyway, might as well get game experience built up for someone new.

As far as BCS chances, it is only one loss and it is early. However, this team needs to flip a switch and make an immediately 180 to have any shot. The talent is there, but the key players have to do what they are expected to do. At the same time the coaches need to do what is expected as well. Mike Stoops needs to get his players to start blowing up other players and actually playing solid defense. Heupel needs to start calling plays better and utilizing the skill that is available.

[Stew]

I know this sounds crazy, but is it just possible that K-State is a good team?

09/01/12 Missouri State Bears
Won 51-9 ---

09/08/12 Miami (FL) Hurricanes
Won 52-13 ---

09/15/12 North Texas Mean Green
Won 35-21 ---

09/22/12 at Oklahoma Sooners
Won 24-19

As usual you're spot on.

[jn1780]

We were also speculating as to how many millions Landry may have cost himself by not going pro last year.

He could always start a Mexican fast food chain with four other former players called: Five OU Guys and a Taco.

[betts]

The talent isn't there this year. While Stoops is clearly not the best division I football coach, he is still one of the best. You don't fire a coach with his winning percentage and a national championship, or at least smart programs don't. You could question recruiting, as our offensive and defensive lines just don't have the size, strength or talent to create a top 5 team, but I don't think it was the coaching. Landry has a lot of talent, but it's unpredictable. He is clearly more mobile than last year, but he hesitates. He had one interception and got a bit lucky on two others where the defense was able to read his eyes because he was hesitating. Gabe Ikard has never played center before, and I think he's responsible for those two critical bad snaps, or at least that's what it looks like from where I was sitting. We miss Ben Habern. I think our receiving corps has a lot of potential, but they're not and may never be at the level of a Ryan Broyles. It's a down year. And any football program has ups and downs.

[Bellaboo]

Big money Bob and his sidekick brother lose. Prepare for more spin and arse whippings this year. Dudes getting paid handsomely for mediocrity, but many of you clones will blame it all on the players

I totally agree. He's way over paid for his production.

Snyder out coached him in this game, even though Bob had 2 weeks to prepare. I'm an OU fan, but I've been tired of this regime for a while. Only a couple of years (with Sam B) have they really competed since 2003.

[Stan Silliman]

It was only a 11 pt victory so whos to say......
I stand by my OP that Stoops is quite overrated.......but hey thats hard to see when your beating up on Valdosta State and Midd Tenn State.

You can complain about Stoops and his coaching in many ways but his out-of-conference scheduling shouldn't be faulted.

I don't think we've ever played Valdosta State and although occasionally we've had drop outs and had to fill with cupcakes, OU's strength of OOC opponents
have regularly bested most top twenty competitors. Plus, we've been willing to play OOC opponents on the road, or home and homes, something you are
want to find in the SEC.

In Stoops 11 years of in season scheduling OU has played:
Alabama twice (winning both)
Oregon twice (split)
Notre Dame twice (won first one)
North Carolina (Julius Peppers team)
UCLA (split)
TCU twice (split)
Miami of Florida twice (split)
Cincinnati twice (won both)
Louisville
Washington twice
Air Force twice
South Florida (Big East winner)
Fresno State
Florida State twice (won both)
BYU (lost)


The only local cups we kept playing were UTEP (3 times), North Texas (3 times) and Tulsa (5 times) who we had
coaching connections with, fans living near there and in some circles, these were considered good teams.

Criticize Stoops for other things but on Strength of Schedule, considering in most years the Big 12 was pretty
competitive, you can't knock him. It's the reason many of his teams were in BCS bowls, if not the championship
games.

[Bellaboo]

You can complain about Stoops and his coaching in many ways but his out-of-conference scheduling shouldn't be faulted.

I don't think we've ever played Valdosta State and although occasionally we've had drop outs and had to fill with cupcakes, OU's strength of OOC opponents
have regularly bested most top twenty competitors. Plus, we've been willing to play OOC opponents on the road, or home and homes, something you are
want to find in the SEC.

In Stoops 11 years of in season scheduling OU has played:
Alabama twice (winning both)
Oregon twice (split)
Notre Dame twice (won first one)
North Carolina (Julius Peppers team)
UCLA (split)
TCU twice (split)
Miami of Florida twice (split)
Cincinnati twice (won both)
Louisville
Washington twice
Air Force twice
South Florida (Big East winner)
Fresno State
Florida State twice (won both)
BYU (lost)


The only local cups we kept playing were UTEP (3 times), North Texas (3 times) and Tulsa (5 times) who we had
coaching connections with, fans living near there and in some circles, these were considered good teams.

Criticize Stoops for other things but on Strength of Schedule, considering in most years the Big 12 was pretty
competitive, you can't knock him. It's the reason many of his teams were in BCS bowls, if not the championship
games.

Actually lost to Notre Dame first game, will play second later this season.

[Stan Silliman]

I remember that. I stand corrected.
But the point still is we played at least 2 big time games or teams OOC per year.
Check some other schedules of top ten teams over the past 11 years and I doubt you
find that kind of average.

[Dustin]

This is totally off subject but I couldn't not post this!

The Pride of Oklahoma singing the OU Chant

Hauntingly beautiful!