SOONERGUYS Blog

Most observers have already named the OU-Texas game on October 17 the pivotal contest of the year (including Alex in his video report here), so it is little wonder the talk of last year’s Sooner defeat in Dallas is already quite loud.

Much of the discussion centers on the play of walk-on linebacker Brandon Crow, who was pressed into service when starter Ryan Reynolds sustained a season-ending knee injury. With the previous LB star Curtis Lofton having left early for the NFL the Sooners were without a strong backup.

Crow had his lunch eaten against Texas. The Texas coaches focused on the inexperienced LB, running tight end drag pass routes and mis-direction plays against him the rest of the game. He wasn’t the only reason OU lost 35-45 to Texas last year, but the position became a huge Achilles heel in that game. With some shifting of personnel Oklahoma coaches adjusted and Crow played little more the rest of the year.

With backup Tom Wort out for the season and Mike Balogun’s eligibility still in doubt, will we see the walk-on from Comanche back on the field against the Longhorns?

Considering all the grief Crow received after last year’s performance no one would have faulted him had he chosen to shelve the remainder of his football career.

But he didn’t. Crow is suited up and giving it his all in pre-season practices, fighting for his linebacker position. Whether he gets on the Cotton Bowl field in October remains to be seen. We hope that doesn’t have to happen. But, in the meantime, our hats go off to him for showing the mental toughness to work through that bad experience and fight for the right to wear the crimson and cream.

UPDATE:  Crow is being tried out as backup fullback.  Good job by the coaching staff to get him involved in a way for which he may be best suited. 

Mike Balogun’s legal challenge of the NCAA is heading toward a settlement. Apparently. His lawyer says he is trying to work out some compromise to get the NCAA to re-certify his client’s eligiblity, after it became questionable for allegedly playing semi-pro ball in Maryland after he turned 21 years old.  A court hearing that was set for today on Balogun’s request for an injunction against the NCAA was cancelled, to give the parties an opportunity to try to work things out.

My experience with settlements is they are good ideas when you a) want to avoid looking stupid in front of the whole world; or b) it’s cheaper.   Both are some reasons for the NCAA to consider letting Mikey play. 

But, any settlement would have to be written so as to protect OU from sanctions in the event the NCAA decides to de-certify Balogun when some yokel presents a Youtube video showing Balogun dressed up as a Maryland Marauder, with 21st birthday party hat and balloons.

None of this would be that critical if linebackers recruited by the Sooners had super tuff ACLs.  That is probably Bob Stoops’ birthday wish this year. 

Usually hearing that a freshman linebacker who had never played a down of college football was injured in pre-season drills would hardly make news, but when it happened last week in Norman my first thought was Oklahoma’s hopes of a return to a Big 12 championship and BCS appearance were hanging by a thin thread.

Freshman Tom Wort was expected to play a key back-up role at middle linebacker to Ryan Reynolds, whose injuries last year cost the Sooners a win against Texas and greatly hampered their ability to lasso Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow in the national championship game.  His promise made dependence upon a rehabbed Reynolds less critical and the possibility that Senior Mike Balogun’s eligibility is doomed by a stint in a semi-pro league less likely to expose the Sooners’ weakness on defense.

But Wort suffered a torn ACL and is out for the season.   Austin Box will be moved from outside linebacker to the middle linebacker spot as a result.  Balogun remains practicing, but his future may be dependent upon a Cleveland County judge (who is considering Balogun’s lawsuit against the NCAA).

All in all, the middle linebacker remains the key to success.  One more injury and Oklahoma will be hard pressed to get to Arlington to play the north division leader, much less appear in another BCS game.