Fellas...I will never doubt the OU program again (semi Football thread)

[stormspencer]

What a great night! We beat the overwhelming favorite in the Sugar Bowl tonight. Not that I expect that to happen in basketball this year, but Coach Stoops has certainly set a bar within our athletic program for excellence. And the good news is that Lon Kruger is that type of coach that can do the same thing in basketball.

I was one of those fans that wasn't all that crazy about being matched up with Bama when it first came out....I admit it. But that is the great thing about being an OU fan (and alum)....our teams will fight and scratch and do what they can to win. I'm proud that we have a great athletic program and that we have the right people in the right places to make us successful.

Here's to a great conference season and the Sooners overachieving in conference play.

And Gary, you're ok with me.....even though we disagree.

 

[WaymanFan]

IMO, this was the biggest win for the football program since beating FSU for the 2000 title because we badly needed to jump-start recruiting. It was the second biggest upset in terms of being an underdog in my 40+ years as a fan. Beating what is now the gold standard for college football in Alabama (10 National Championships earns them that right) should parlay into getting back on the national stage (meaning top 5).

Starting next year, there is a 4-team playoff. I don't think it's unreasonable that OU is in this playoff every 3-4 years on average. Last night's great victory is what I'll be pointing to when we do make this playoff sooner rather than later.

Now, after about 3 hours of sleep last night...gotta get ready for work :-(

 

[Stikboy]

Gotta give it up to "Stoopsie". Just gave a big facial to all his doubters. Great win for sure!

 

[garyeb2]

What a great night! We beat the overwhelming favorite in the Sugar Bowl tonight. Not that I expect that to happen in basketball this year, but Coach Stoops has certainly set a bar within our athletic program for excellence. And the good news is that Lon Kruger is that type of coach that can do the same thing in basketball.

I was one of those fans that wasn't all that crazy about being matched up with Bama when it first came out....I admit it. But that is the great thing about being an OU fan (and alum)....our teams will fight and scratch and do what they can to win. I'm proud that we have a great athletic program and that we have the right people in the right places to make us successful.

Here's to a great conference season and the Sooners overachieving in conference play.

And Gary, you're ok with me.....even though we disagree.

We agree on this thread.

 

[badger]

Basketball-related, because Stoops regularly attends basketball games with his family

I love that our coaches support each other's Sooner programs.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Now let's go beat effing texas!

 

[AdaSooner]

IMO, this was the biggest win for the football program since beating FSU for the 2000 title because we badly needed to jump-start recruiting. It was the second biggest upset in terms of being an underdog in my 40+ years as a fan. Beating what is now the gold standard for college football in Alabama (10 National Championships earns them that right) should parlay into getting back on the national stage (meaning top 5).
Starting next year, there is a 4-team playoff. I don't think it's unreasonable that OU is in this playoff every 3-4 years on average. Last night's great victory is what I'll be pointing to when we do make this playoff sooner rather than later.

Now, after about 3 hours of sleep last night...gotta get ready for work :-(

Exactly my thoughts as I watched last night's game, WF. OU went into the 2000 championship game an underdog to the mighty Seminoles, led by Heisman Trophy winner, Chris Weinke. None of the so-called experts expected OU to win that game, yet the Sooners completely dominated the Noles with one of the best performances by a defense I have ever seen. Who could have imagined that OU's offense would pull off the stunner last night? What a performance by Trevor Knight!

Aside from OU's win, the best part is that this Sooner team made May and Holtz look like total fools, something that is not that difficult to do in their case. In the pre-game show, Holtz gave OU no chance to win the game. May predicted the final score would be 38-10 Bama.

Take that Lou Holtz! That that Mark May! :woot

 

[DenverSooner]

At least Holtz predicted a close game with Alabama winning in the fourth quarter. Mays said something like 48-10.

How about the lack of penalties on Alabama. You don't give up 7 sacks and have your QB under duress all night without holding. Clay was face masked on the last key driver with about 2 minutes left. It was obvious. No flag and not one word from the announcers.

Lots of PI calls not made. OU took it to Alabama all game and the officials called twice as many penalties on OU. Three celebration/unsportsman like penalties after TDs. Really? They never showed two of them and the one on Sheppard was total BS. He did not throat slash.

 

[Stikboy]

At least Holtz predicted a close game with Alabama winning in the fourth quarter. Mays said something like 48-10.

How about the lack of penalties on Alabama. You don't give up 7 sacks and have your QB under duress all night without holding. Clay was face masked on the last key driver with about 2 minutes left. It was obvious. No flag and not one word from the announcers.

Lots of PI calls not made. OU took it to Alabama all game and the officials called twice as many penalties on OU. Three celebration/unsportsman like penalties after TDs. Really? They never showed two of them and the one on Sheppard was total BS. He did not throat slash.

Are you freaking kidding me? Exactly. What Sheppard did, i've seen all across HS, College, and Pro Football literally hundreds of times this year. Did they assess two unsportsmanlikes on OU after the last TD? I've never seen any team kick off from the 10 before.... Unreal.

 

[MsProudSooner]

There was an off sides penalty where Tapper was adamant that the Bama lineman moved. They never managed to show a replay of that one, either.

 

[WaymanFan]

Exactly my thoughts as I watched last night's game, WF. OU went into the 2000 championship game an underdog to the mighty Seminoles, led by Heisman Trophy winner, Chris Weinke. None of the so-called experts expected OU to win that game, yet the Sooners completely dominated the Noles with one of the best performances by a defense I have ever seen. Who could have imagined that OU's offense would pull off the stunner last night? What a performance by Trevor Knight!

Aside from OU's win, the best part is that this Sooner team made May and Holtz look like total fools, something that is not that difficult to do in their case. In the pre-game show, Holtz gave OU no chance to win the game. May predicted the final score would be 38-10 Bama.

Take that Lou Holtz! That that Mark May! :woot

Thanks for reminding me about Mark May. I've made my share of bad predictions before, but Mark May actually (using a Barry Switzer-like phrase) hung a half a hundred on us viewers. He predicted Alabama to win 48-10, so the 38 point win prediction added to a 14 point loss equals 52. I doubt anyone reading this has even been off by 50+ points in a prediction...hope no one makes bets on Mark May's predictions.

 

[sybarite]

I am much harsher on the football program because we have the tradition to expect more. Last night was a step in the right direction, but the right direction for the football program is #8. A win in a non-title game is nice, but it isn't the title. If we had won seven basketball titles, I would be harsh on basketball because we would have the tradition that would lead us to expect more. The Monster is hungry, but we built the Monster.

 

[AdaSooner]

Thanks for reminding me about Mark May. I've made my share of bad predictions before, but Mark May actually (using a Barry Switzer-like phrase) hung a half a hundred on us viewers. He predicted Alabama to win 48-10, so the 38 point win prediction added to a 14 point loss equals 52. I doubt anyone reading this has even been off by 50+ points in a prediction...hope no one makes bets on Mark May's predictions.

You and Denver are right, May's prediction was indeed 48-10, not 38-10 as I posted earlier. My mind went to the 38 points differential for some reason.

Funny how he and Holtz tried to save face in the post-game after making fools of themselves before the game got underway. Did my heart good to see them eat crow!

 

[stormspencer]

I am much harsher on the football program because we have the tradition to expect more. Last night was a step in the right direction, but the right direction for the football program is #8. A win in a non-title game is nice, but it isn't the title. If we had won seven basketball titles, I would be harsh on basketball because we would have the tradition that would lead us to expect more. The Monster is hungry, but we built the Monster.

I feel the same way. My expectations for the football program year in and year out are always 1) a conference championship and 2)competing/being in the mix for an MNC. Thus, like you, my critique of our football program over the last several years has been harsh. I felt like the program was growing complacent as of late, so I've been waiting on a game where we really competed with an elite team on a national stage....and we did more than that last night. This program needed a win like that. It may sound silly, but it appears that the fire is back. The passion may have been there the whole time, but we were certainly having a hard time seeing it.

 

[bocabull]

I love it that Stoops gave a facial to his critics, including me!! I had already done an about face after the brilliant coaching job at OSU but this was icing on the cake. We were not only well coached, we were explosive & ferocious. Exactly what you want to see.

I'm calling it Stoops 2.0 & I like it.

 

[AdaSooner]

I love it that Stoops gave a facial to his critics, including me!! I had already done an about face after the brilliant coaching job at OSU but this was icing on the cake. We were not only well coached, we were explosive & ferocious. Exactly what you want to see.

I'm calling it Stoops 2.0 & I like it.

You weren't the only one who had all but lost hope that Stoops would ever be the same coach again.

I had already given up on Josh Heupel. But to his credit, he called a brilliant game last night.

 

[badger]

Now let's go beat effing texas!

I agree, we owe texas a beating. or two. hell, let's give em no. 3 in the big 12 tourney

 

[originalsooner55]

You weren't the only one who had all but lost hope that Stoops would ever be the same coach again.

I had already given up on Josh Heupel. But to his credit, he called a brilliant game last night.

I heard from a source that Norvell called most of the game- Just hear say though.

 

[coolm]

I was another one of those who didn't think OU had a chance. We have lost SOOO many key players in key spots. But I would happily eat the crow after such an amazing performance.

and it WAS amazing. I fully expected that Bama team to ram the ball down our throats all night. Of course, they could have too from the looks of it BUT our offense put pressure on them to keep up in a scoring fest - which played right into the defense's hands. Great coaching. It wouldnt surprise me a bit if Norvelle did, in fact, call much of the game because that level of playcalling had not been evident most of the season.

awesome. I have been on cloud 9 all day.

 

[AdaSooner]

I was another one of those who didn't think OU had a chance. We have lost SOOO many key players in key spots. But I would happily eat the crow after such an amazing performance.

and it WAS amazing. I fully expected that Bama team to ram the ball down our throats all night. Of course, they could have too from the looks of it BUT our offense put pressure on them to keep up in a scoring fest - which played right into the defense's hands. Great coaching. It wouldnt surprise me a bit if Norvelle did, in fact, call much of the game because that level of playcalling had not been evident most of the season.awesome. I have been on cloud 9all day.

Wouldn't surprise me either. The creative play calling was totally unlike the plain vanilla, conservative calls we saw in most of the regular season games. But, no matter who was calling the shots, they deserve props for a game plan that worked to perfection against what was supposed to be one of the best defenses in the land.