It’s been a long off season, but Sooner football is once again finally upon us. For the first time since 2007 we had a hotly contested QB derby to see who would take the field under center for Oklahoma in 2013.
I have to admit I was surprised with the outcome. But at long last we now know the Trevor Knight era begins this Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. It’s Knight Time. The Dark Knight. Boogie Knight. Knight Rider. Knight Ranger. Knight in White Satin. (Doubt that last one will stick).
I was surprised not because I don’t think it was the right choice, but because Bob Stoops of the past would have gone with experience over inexperience even if that inexperience had more of an upside. In selecting Knight, Stoops is taking a calculated risk. He is betting Trevor’s playmaking ability will out weigh possible mistakes from a freshman QB. Not to say Blake Bell has shown us anything outside of bulldozing for two or three yards at a time. But some of those runs were at critical times that could have won or lost games.
Let’s hope it pays off because Knight will not get the benefit of a cupcake right off the bat this Saturday.
In other words Bell has the experience of playing in front of 85,000 screaming fans when the game was on the line and he had to produce. The last time Knight had to do that was in high school in front of hundreds, not thousands. Much less tens of thousands. But the game Knight plays is what college football is moving too. Mobility at quarterback is where it’s at now. Not just avoiding a sack and getting rid of the ball. It’s avoiding the sack and busting a 30 yard run. And Stoops has recognized this.
Let’s hope it pays off because Knight will not get the benefit of a cupcake right off the bat this Saturday.
I have heard too many people write this game off as another home opening blowout against a small directional school that doesn’t stand a chance. Nothing could be further from the truth. Louisiana-Monroe isn’t coming to Norman just to collect a paycheck. They are coming to win. And they have the credentials to back them up. Think about this for a minute. They have 17 returning starters. A senior quarterback who last year threw for over 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns. He also ran for nearly 500 yards and 7 more scores. They walked into Little Rock and beat then 8th ranked Arkansas last year. They also took Auburn and Baylor right to the end before eventually coming up short of two more upsets.
This will not be an easy game to win, much less a blowout. Anyone remember TCU in 2005? We were starting a new quarterback that year too.
So all this adds up to the old worry meter getting an early work out this year. It’s hovering right around 70% as we approach kickoff to the 2013 season. We should win, but it won’t be easy. With all that being said….BOOMER!!!!
— Dave
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