It's early in the pre-season, but here are couple of beauties regarding changing this years Bedlam football game to December and the reason(s) behind it - thru the eyes of the Puke head coach. Thank you Oklahoman.

"For us to be in this situation kind of shows where we are as a program."

"When they come and hand-pick you to play on Championship Saturday, it kind of shows where we are at."

ARE YOU KIDDING ME, MIKE?  If this was about "you" and "us" they would have moved your game with Kansas to Championship Saturday so that your team would have a chance to maybe win.

Apparently a couple of average years by OU's standards elevates your program to iconic - at least in your eyes and the eyes of your supporters.  Good luck with that.

There has been an uproar this season, especially when OU loses a road game, as to who is at fault. Obviously it's the players fault because players play.  What's interesting to me is that critics have no problem blaming a professional "player" when things go wrong, but somehow are reluctant to blame a college "player". I can only imagine it is because a professional is making millions of dollars and college players are only getting a college education. That is why I am on the side of the college player.

None of us has seen Bob Stoops throw an interception, Kevin Wilson fumble the ball, or Brent Venables miss a tackle. What we have seen is those three plus the remainder of the current coaching staff do worse.

Who decides what players are offered a scholarship? is it the current players or the coaching staff?

Who evaluates the talent once the player is on campus? the current players or the coaching staff?

Who decides which player(s) is on the field at a given time? the current players or the coaching staff?

Who calls the offensive/defensive plays? the current players or the coaching staff?

The only area of all the above, where the players are responsible, is EXECUTION.

Coaches should NEVER expect a player to do something they are incapable of doing. Example, Venables expecting any linebacker to cover a wide receiver, let alone a tight end.

I believe the fact that there are so many freshmen currently playing, and playing exceptionally well, is more of a problem than most. What that says to me is that the coaching staff has made SERIOUS mistakes in recruiting the past 2-3 years. 

I think it's pretty much a given that Stoops rarely plays a true freshman. Hell, he didn't even play Gerald McCoy as a true freshman. Supposedly their offensive and defensive schemes are so complex that it takes at least two years for a freshman to ensure his "trust" and be allowed to play. This group of freshmen must be beyond the pale if they're being allowed to play, OR he is admitting that his staff misjudged the talent they recruited previously.

I have always taken pride in the fact that OU seems to fall short in the recruiting "race" when it comes to signing 5-star recruits. The coaching staff was able to take 3-star recruits, and by the time they left Norman, they had become 5-star players. This is where my concern lies. Has the coaching staff lost the ability to do that? IMO that is what happened the last couple of years.

I don't think anyone wants to see Murray on the bench so Finch can play more. I want to see BOTH on the field at the same time and I know Wilson is capable of calling plays that will let that happen.

Players suffer consequences when they drop a pass, fumble the ball, or spike the ball between their legs after scoring a touchdown. That consequence is ASS ON BENCH. What are the consequences for this coaching staff. Personally I'm tired of hearing a coach say "I need to do a better job or this is on me" 

Give the players a chance to be successful by putting them in position to make plays they are capable of making or calling plays the players are capable of executing. Seems to me that would solve the problem of loses on the road.

Finally, the beginning of my favorite week of the football season (and easily my longest) - it's always thrilling to anticipate the sight of that orange blood on the floor of the Cotton Bowl. It is such a beautiful sight, when leaving the stadium following another OU victory, to witness the flow of those orange tears streaking down the faces of those poor, pathetic shorthorn fans.

If you choose to read further, please bear with me. As I said previously this is my favorite week of the football season, and I tend to indulge myself with personal thoughts and memories.

My first trip to the Cotton Bowl was 1973. Ironically, it was also the first trip, as a head coach for Barry Switzer (my personal favorite OU coach). WHAT A DAY. Final score OU 52 - them 13. It was a beautiful thing to witness. It was also my first experience to personally attend big-boy football, and it was electric.

Thank you for this #42, Rufus Alexander, class of 2006 - "Nobody can prepare you. There's nothing a coach can tell you before the game, because when you go out there and you se the people, you see the stadium, the ride up there, you get inside the State Fair, people banging on the buses, flipping off the buses, yelling stuff, IT'S REALLY LIKE NO OTHER." 

OU's legendary coaches are 32-25-2 all time in the RRR:

Bennie Owen (1905-26) 8-7

Bud Wilkinson (1947-63) 9-8

Barry Switzer (1973-88) 9-5-2  My personal favorite

Bob Stoops (1999-present( 6-5

Bringing up the Red River Rivalry still makes Switzer bristle: "It bothers me and frustrates me so much that I got screwed out of two wins  ...", both were TIES, NOT losses, and the screwing took place at that famous NEUTRAL field in  Dallas. Last time I checked Dallas was in Texas, and that doesn't equate to "neutral" to me.  Yes it is almost exactly half way geographically between Norman and Autism, but that's it. In addition, way to many Big 12 referee's reside in the state of texASS as well as some who actually live in Autism. How does that make them neutral?

Back to Switzer's (and my) angst.

1976 tie (6-6) was not an officiating error like 1984. The game ended in a tie because of a bad snap from center on Uwe von Schamann's extra point attempt (essentially automatic with Uwe) or OU wins 7-6.

1984 tie 15-15 was DEFINITELY and officiating gaff. Three plays after OU recovered a fumble at midfield that was NOT awarded by the officials, Keith Stanberry intercepted a Todd Dodge (current North Texas head coach) in the end zone, only to have it ruled INCOMPLETE. Wonder if those boys lived in Autism?

According to Switzer: "I don't view the game any differently (today), the only difference for me is now I get to sleep at night when the game is over."

Is this the GREATEST rivalry in college football? Obviously I think so, but I offer some others for debate.

Army-Navy. I offer this out of patriotism, but problem is that the winner RARELY goes to a bowl game

Souther Cal-Notre Dame. Not much more than catholics v hollywood

Ohio State-Michigan. No longer a rivalry since Michigan dropped football at the start of this decade

Georgia-Florida. Not much more than an excuse for those losers to get drunk, and who really needs an excuse

Auburn-Alabama. Intrastate games are NOT a rivalry. Only the Pukes consider it a rivalry with OU

Obviously fans of the above mentioned teams will disagree with me, so you decide for yourself.

The basic numbers:

texASS leads the overall series 59-40-5 (46-36-5 in Dallas; early games also played in OKC, Norman & Autism)

Since 1946, overall series record favors texASS 32-29-3

Six of the last ten years either OU or them have played for the National Championship - OU won in 2000 and texASS won in 2005.

OU-texASS is so BIG it awards THREE trophies:

The Golden Hat is presented on the Cotton Bowl turf immediately after the game

The Red River Rivalry trophy (started in 2003) goes to the winning side's student government

The Governor's Trophy is exchanged by the governors of the two states and resides in the respective state capital for the year.

PRIDE and BRAGGING RIGHTS are probably most important to the fans, but it also matters to the players. With so many players leaving the cesspools of texASS to attend OU and WIN, it gives the players a special pride when they are forced to return home during the summer. Those same players suffer tremendous abuse if they lose this game.

OU and texASS claim seven Heisman trophy winners:

texASS - Earl Campbell and Ricky Willams

OU - Billy Vessels, Steve Ownes, Billy Sims, Jason White and Sam Bradford

i believe that's 5-2 in favor of OU, thank you very much.

On a sad note, texASS quarterback Peter Gardere, is the ONLY quarterback in the history of the RRR to go 4-0 as a starter, and that sucks big time.

After the disaster (for them, heaven for me) that occurred in Autism last Saturday, this weeks game should be most interesting. It's time for OU to win a few in a row (like TEN) and there is no better time to start than Saturday. While I won't be physically in attendance this year, I will be in  spirit. 

Honestly, my biggest concern, is how OU will handle the dynamic texASS quarterback who was anointed during his rousing performance against Alabama in last year's championship game. It was stastically  brilliant and he continues to expand that classic resume. Throwing bombs to his critically acclaimed wide receivers and handing the ball off to his unstoppable running backs. My body just quakes every time I think about it. NOT

BOOMER SOONER

(Bumped From FanPosts)

I don't know how to say what I need to say without sounding like the whining wimps that exist south of the Red River. Finally realizing that was impossible, I have decided to just suck it up, forge ahead, and suffer the consequences.

Watching the last two days of the NFL draft has forced me to post what I have been feeling for a LONG time. Say what you want, but my eyes don't lie and my ears don't lie.

E     mphasizing

S     ooner

P     player(s)

N    neglect

The bias of this network is beyond belief. I have no idea what they have against the University of Oklahoma and it's athletic programs and athletes. I have reached the point where I don't care. Problem is, I a sports-a-holic, and essentially have no other choice when it comes to getting my sports-fix. If anyone has an alternative, PLEASE comment so I can rid my life of the horror show that is SportsCenter.

To the best of my knowledge, for the FIRST time in the history of the modern-day draft, the University of Oklahoma had THREE of the first four picks in the NFL draft. IMO that's a big damn deal. Have any of you heard a report regarding that historical event? Not me. I expect it would have been a lead-in to their coverage if it had happened to the University of FloriDUH. How bout the University of TexASS?

The Big 12 conference produced FIVE of the top six picks in the current NFL draft? Did the network mention that? Would they have "mentioned" that fact if it had been their beloved SEC? Where the hell is Dan Beebe? Isn't at least part of his job to promote the BIG 12, especially when it excels?

Did I miss the interview with Sam Bradford after he was the #1 selection of the draft? I know I didn't miss the interview with the "chosen one" when he was drafted #25 by Denver.  Their coverage seemed to me like the Tim Tebow show. This network announced that he was the "greatest college football player of all time" and does not miss an opportunity to put him on the air. Will it never end?

The lead into SportsCenter on Friday was not about the #1 pick in the draft. No, it was about the #25 pick. They are just a joke to me. Boys, your bias is showing.

The final straw for me happened last night, and is ultimately what prompted me to vent.  When the King of Whine announced the #85 pick of the NFL draft, by the Cleveland Browns, was Colt McCoy, I threw up in my mouth. Thank God Bob Stoops has more class than Mack.

I'm am open to suggestions. I have contacted the network through their website and receive the standard automated "reply".  I am not deterred. I find myself e-mailing them almost daily. Again, if you have a better suggestion, I welcome it.

I am willing to accept the pub related to indiscretions by OU athletes, and they are quickly and loudly reported by those hypocrites in Bristol. All I ask is the same type of coverage when good things happen, like this years NFL draft.

Whew, I feel better.

Bumped to main page from FanPosts

I would enjoy comments relevant to the "state" of officiating. IMO it is unbelievably BAD. Where do they get these people? How do they "earn" the right to call the games, especially in the NCAA tournament? If they are the "best of the best" then this game is in DEEP trouble.

I thought that referee's were supposed to be objective, impartial, and apply the rules of the game to both teams.

Can anyone explain the "unwritten" rule that "the home team gets the calls"; "stars get the calls"; or why, at the end of the game, "the refs swallow the whistle" and let the players decide the outcome"? Why not let the players decide the outcome for the WHOLE game. The best officiating anyone can ever hope for is when, at the end of the game, you realize that the players decided the outcome, and not the officials.

It doesn't make sense to me that bodies can "fly" under the boards during a rebound and there is no call, but when there is a "touch" on the perimeter, the whistle blows. Players dive on the floor going for a loose ball and no foul is called, but let a player "bump" another one on a drive to the basket and "tweet, FOUL. Totally inconsistent.

Players can adjust to how a game is being called, all they need (my self included) is consistency. That is not happening. The officiating  fluctuates so much during a game, players have no idea what to expect, except the unexpected when they least expect it.

How can coaches and players be required to do post-game interviews and NOT the officials? Coaches are fined and/or sanctioned when they comment on bad officiating. If the NCAA is truly concerned with the integrity of their game(s), and that's a subject for another discussion, then referee's should be held accountable for the calls they make during a game.

Officials stop the game all the time to check the shot clock. Why can't the same thing happen when a controversial call is made? And no, that does not mean every time the whistle is blown, but there are obvious questionable calls in every game. I thought the point was to "get it right". I have seen an official "over rule" the call of another official enough times to know it is possible.

Is officiating easy? NO, but this has been pathetic. Argue if you want, but IMO it is easier to officiate a women's game because they are generally not as big, not as fast, and they are usually not as physical as the men. When is the last time you saw a guy help his opponent off the floor after a foul? Happens a lot in the women's game. It is extremely rare for someone pull a Griner in the women's game. It may not be in the future, if the officiating doesn't improve. Women can become just a frustrated as men, especially when trying to figure out how a game is going to be called.

Bumped.  And Bravo.

Call me old fashioned, but it is as important to me in how you play the game, regardless of whether you win or lose.

Being new to this forum, and considerably than those among you who post of this site, I expect to offend some, and be criticized by many. Having been a "fan" of OU athletics since the 1950's, I certainly have opinions. I recently retired and moved to Norman in order to "enjoy" sporting events that I previously did not have access to, except for those broadcast by television. For the record, this just completed basketball season was far LESS successful than I had hoped for.

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