I don’t care how much money OU spends for suites and boxes and shaded south end zones, if Bob Stoops doesn’t get a National Championship this year they might as well be (as Stoops calls it) East Popcorn State.
There I said it. Enough is enough. I’ve been hauling myself down I-35 to Norman every home game since 1982, and I’ve not seen a more underachieving set of coaches since General Cornwallis lost to a bunch of rag tag Americans (get to know your history you mindless millennials).
The only reason the Sooners ended up in the Final Four last year is because every top team they played (TCU and Baylor) fielded their back up quarterbacks due to injury. This year they won’t get that lucky.
Here’s how I see the season playing out. Check back with me by year’s end and then tell me if I was wrong:
So, I’ll be happy when this Sooner coaching staff either recruits linemen like Alabama or Clemson, or coaches them up so that they can compete with those brutes.
So, I’ll be happy when this Sooner coaching staff either recruits linemen like Alabama or Clemson, or coaches them up so that they can compete with those brutes.
First game is a loss to Houston. Houston is good. When did you ever see Oklahoma play well in the first game of the season? And this one is on the road. Of course if you’re going to lose, it’s better to do that in the opening game. By December, most people will have forgotten it.
But, I won’t have. Trust me. I haven’t forgotten the humiliation of losing by 34 points to Clemson in the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl. Or by by 20 points to Clemson in last year’s Orange Bowl (playoff game). Well, at least we’re getting better against Clemson.
And Clemson should be the goal that is set. Alabama too. The Sooners get muscled around by the Bigs on those teams that dominate the offensive and defensive lines.
So, I’ll be happy when this Sooner coaching staff either recruits linemen like Alabama or Clemson, or coaches them up so that they can compete with those brutes.
That is a concern this year, with inexperience at the offensive line for OU. I have no doubt Lincoln Riley will find receivers to replace the role of Sterling Shepard. Dede Westbrook, Mark Andrews and Geno Lewis can do that.
Who will step in to the shows of graduating Ty Darlington? Who will be the new Charles Tapper?
But I digress.
Ohio State. I remember the last time they came to Norman. The Buckeyes beat the Sooners 24-14 in 1983. They physically shoved the Sooners around, and that was when Oklahoma was ‘roided up. I do think Oklahoma will eek out a win against Ohio State because the Buckeyes sent a dozen or more to the NFL last year and we catch them early in the season before they become seasoned.
Then there is TCU on the road and then Texas. It’s the Sooners’ year to win over the Longhorns, but TCU’s offense with A&M transfer QB Kenny Hill could be magical. I don’t like it. That could be loss number two by early October.
The Sooners then get a weaker K-State before traveling to Lubbock on October 22. Kliff Kingsbury is every bit the madman that Mike Leach was on offense. And I hate Lubbock. I was stuck in a dust storm there once. Bad feel of the place. And the feed lots cause it to stink. Just an awful place. We could get beat there. Could be loss number 3.
Oklahoma can phone in the Kansas game. Then the Sooner travel to Iowa State for a Thursday night game on November 3. Who scheduled this mess? Normally I would call that a trap game, but ISU’s defense is worse than Kansas’ and Cyclones will be coming off a stretch of games against Texas, Oklahoma State and K-State, with only four days preparation for the Sooners. That’s a win for OU any way you look at it.
Baylor on November at home. I thank God Art Briles is a douche bag who got canned. We beat them because we want to.
Oklahoma travels to Morgantown on November 19. This could be the game that saves Dana Holgorsen’s job. I don’t like. Could be loss number 4.
And Bedlam is back in Norman on December 3. The Sooners win in Stillwater and the Pokes win in Norman. There apparently is some pact reached by the football gods who bargained to get Barry Switzer in the College Football Hall of Fame or something. Anyway there is loss number 5 and soon Stoops’ house is for sale.
OK, enough of my bleak ranting. Let’s play ball.
-Charles
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