Why do we get Kansas on the road first???

[coolm]

Thats just wrong. Battle thru a harsh OOC schedule, mostly on the road, and FINALLY get some respect from the polls and the fans only to be thrown into the lion's den right off.

From a "positive fan" perspective I'd like to say it's a wonderful opportunity ... but that's not how I feel. I feel like it's a bone job that we shouldnt have to endure at the crack of dawn on the conference schedule.

Is it all random? Does some computer spit it out or are there AD's sitting in a room deciding these schedules??? Because if so then Joe C. needs to fight harder for this team.

I just feel like we're getting rooked and I want to complain to someone. I feel like a potential loss here is much more hurtful to our national image than one would be later in the season = a worse NCAA seed. Obviously I could be wrong but I'd rather start off with more of a bunny if one even exists in the big-12 this year.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

In this case I am on the opposite side of the fence. I like the early opportunity and challenge of Allen Fieldhouse. If the Sooners play well and stay competitive in that tough environment, then I don't think they will be penalized too badly by the polls. The Sooners are a mature, senior dominated team that is likely looking forward to playing in Allen Fieldhouse.

If the Sooners get butt-stomped, then the timing really does not make much difference.

 

[skyvue]

My initial reaction to this aspect of the schedule was that it was a bad deal for OU, especially since we travel to Tech two games later. But even if we lose both of those games (and I'm not conceding either game), it'll come down to how the team reacts to that adversity. If they don't let the losses rattle them, the toughest part of the conference schedule will be behind them and if they perform for the rest of the season the way they're capable of doing, those two early losses will be all but forgotten by selection time.

 

[AdaSooner]

Good question!

No one could have predicted this OU team would finish the non-conference portion of their schedule with an 11-1 record. On paper, that part of our schedule appeared to be brutal. So, nothing could have been worse than going on the road to face the perennial conference favorite. Thanks a lot Joe C! I’m sure Lon had some input, but the AD is typically in charge of scheduling games.

On the other hand, somebody had to do it I suppose. The only positive I can see, aside from pulling off an upset, is that OU will get what is likely to be the toughest conference game on their schedule out of the way early. I can’t see any team in the Big 12 coming out of the Phogg with a victory, so it’s not like we’re going to be behind everyone else to start conference play.

Win our games at home and steal a few on the road and we’ll be fine!

 

[WichitaSooner]

It's completely random. Whoever plays KU first will complain that they are getting screwed. It's not like it's a pattern that has happened several times. In fact, the triple overtime game was the only other time we have played in Allen early in the season over the past several years. Usually we have played there late in the season.

One thing to remember is that to the extent it matters when we play there, at least this way it will be while school is out. They will still fill the place but some of the usual students won't be there.

 

[coolm]

One thing to remember is that to the extent it matters when we play there, at least this way it will be while school is out. They will still fill the place but some of the usual students won't be there.

good point. I didnt think of that.

 

[skyvue]

Thanks a lot Joe C! I’m sure Lon had some input, but the AD is typically in charge of scheduling games.

Surely the conference scheduling is overseen by the conference itself, no? I mean, perhaps ADs are given the chance to object if they see something they don't like, but I don't imagine they have any direct control over it.

 

[Max Power]

So we are just ignoring all that Saturday home games we got in January and say the schedule is not fair? I will gladly trade a trip to Kansas over Christmas break for 3 out of 4 Saturdays at home when Saturday games are always better attended

 

[coolm]

So we are just ignoring all that Saturday home games we got in January and say the schedule is not fair? I will gladly trade a trip to Kansas over Christmas break for 3 out of 4 Saturdays at home when Saturday games are always better attended

ohh, good point. maybe thats the trade-off

 

[Max Power]

ohh, good point. maybe thats the trade-off

And i just looked, it will still be Christmas break in Lubbock when we go there.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Surely the conference scheduling is overseen by the conference itself, no? I mean, perhaps ADs are given the chance to object if they see something they don't like, but I don't imagine they have any direct control over it.

I don't think schools have any say whatsoever in the conference schedule. The league handles that.

 

[Sooner04]

The conference, in conjunction with ESPN, establishes which games they want for the showcase contest on Monday night. After those games are picked, everything else is left to the computer. So the games are set to be "Big Monday" contests, but the computer spits out which Monday they eventually take place. It was a little different a few years ago when CBS would still snag a game or two here and there from the conference slate, but we're in lock-step with ESPN now.

It all evens out in the end. Some years you get to ease into the conference slate. Other times it's a trudge from the get-go. I love that it's round-robin. I'll be sick when football screws it all up for us.

 

[MsProudSooner]

On the bright side, we have several Saturday afternoon home games which are easier for out of town people to attend.

 

[tycat947]

Surely the conference scheduling is overseen by the conference itself, no? I mean, perhaps ADs are given the chance to object if they see something they don't like, but I don't imagine they have any direct control over it.

Yes, and conference networks.

 

[opsooner]

They will have plenty of students there. They will also have oiled the mail slot to the refs locker room if needed.

I have no issue with playing them first though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TulsaWorld]

Preview from John Shinn...

NORMAN — For seven straight days, No. 23 Oklahoma has been locked in its practices. Since the overtime victory at Northwestern on Dec. 21, there’s been one game circled.

The Sooners (11-1) face No. 5 Kansas (11-1) at 8 p.m. Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. It is the Big 12 Conference opener for both teams.

Rarely does the opportunity come to lock into an opponent like this one. OU’s Lon Kruger, who is in his 33rd season as a head coach and has been around the collegiate game for nearly 50 years, doesn’t remember many instances when he had a full week to prepare for an opponent.

“We’ve had a very good week of practice,” he said Tuesday. “We’ve had three or four days after Christmas, but normally you get another game in there. This group has been such a good practice group. I think we would’ve been concerned about it if this wasn’t such a good practice group. They’ve done a good job.”

 

[sperry]

This game is a loss no matter when you play it. Get it out of the way and move on. In fact, the timing works out well as I think we could actually knock off KU in Norman, but probably not happening with Jamuni out like he is right now. So he is going to miss the game that we didn't have a prayer in anyway, and hopefully we are fully healthy the remainder of the way for the 17 other conference games all of which we should have a fighting chance in.

 

[slides]

So we can shock the world?

 

[Darwin]

Realistically I can't come up with a better time to play at KU unless it's next mid week tipping early at 6.

 

[mict085]

So we can shock the world?

No. McNeace is out and OU hasn’t won at ku for almost 30 years.

KU will win by 10+