SOONERGUYS Blog

Coach Stoops’ press conference could have been conducted at Norman Regional today, given that much focus was on the injury situation for QB Sam Bradford and TE Jermaine Gresham.

He said Bradford’s AC sprain can heal enough to put him back on the field in two to four weeks.  Good news, under the circumstances.

Stoops also announced that TE Jermaine Gresham’s career at OU hinges on the results of this afternoon’s arthroscopic surgery, to determine whether the cause of his knee locking up is a chipped meniscus, or cartilage damage that will require stitching.  If the former, he will be back on the field in a couple of weeks.  If it is the latter, then surgery will lead to a five-month recovery and Gresham’s next play will be in an NFL uniform (hopefully, for him).

“It’s pure speculation now because none of that shows through three different MRIs. Until they (orthopedic surgeons) get in there you won’t be able to tell.”

Stoops’ report indicates that KOCO’s report this morning that Gresham is definitely out for the season was premature.  Imagine that — a sports reporter jumping the gun (in true Sooner land run fashion).

Meanwhile, all those penalties against offensive linemen during the BYU game will apparently lead to some personnel changes.  Stoops would not identify who might that be, but every Sooner fan knows that Senior OL Brian Simmons and Junior OL Cory Brandon got flagged for more procedure and holding penalties than most teams get in a season.

“It’s still college ball, I’m not going to call anyone out. But there will be changes,” Stoops said.

Also, full back turned tight end turned center Brody Eldridge will get moved back to tight end, in light of Gresham’s standing.  He’s valuable at the edge of the line because of his blocking ability to create creases for Oklahoma’s running backs, whose play becomes increasingly more important during Bradford’s absence. 

Still, juggling around players at different positions won’t solve some of the problems suffered by Oklahoma last Saturday in Arlington.  The Sooners must re-assess their focus and understand that just wearing the jersey doesn’t make for a championship team.

“Our team can’t overlook anybody if we can’t play correctly and play smart,” Stoops said. 

“We have to play more responsible and disciplined if we are to beat anyone.”

Thirty minutes after leaving Cowboys Stadium and the sting of this game is a long way from fading.

I’m not one to blame coaches for most losses.  Certainly they aren’t out there holding BYU defenders, or jumping before the snap. 

And, replacing Heisman winner Sam Bradford after he went out with injury in the second quarter tonight is a problem few coaches can solve.

But, with your offense poised to score from the one-foot line, and your red shirt freshman quarterback (Landry Jones) seeing his first college football action ever, you (the coaches) let the play clock wind down without calling a time out?

To his credit, Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson took complete responsibility for that error.

“I didn’t watch the clock,” Wilson said in the post-game locker room.  He said he was concentrating on getting the right play into Jones on the fourth and goal from the one.

“That cost us four points (the Sooners settled for a FG) and that one is on me,” Wilson said.  “That’s totally my fault. It is my fault.”

The Sooners beat themselves tonight, 14-13, in an offensive debacle that overshadowed a reasonably good defensive effort against a potent Cougar offense.

Let’s face it, holding BYU to two touchdowns should mean Oklahoma wins this game 31-14.  Instead, more holding and procedure penalties in this game than the Sooner committed last year in a half dozen games (forgive me for some hyperbole as I throw the hotel TV remote control across the room as ESPN shows Tim Tebow highlights), meant the high octane Oklahoma offense of last year ran out of gas in Arlington, Texas.

I will avoid reminding all who heard me this summer saying I didn’t want OU to play this game in Jerry’s monster stadium against BYU.  OK, I will shut up now.

Dear Soonerguy:

Do BYU players wear those sacred Mormom undergarments under their pads during games?

— Fashion conscious in OKC

Dear Fashion:

No, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) allows athletes to forego wearing the traditional Mormon undergarments during games because they are impractical.   Church members won’t talk about these duds,  but they serve as reminders of the person’s covenant with God.  These garments (even women wear them under their bras) are only worn by members who have gone through the temple ritual called endowment, and that’s not everyone on the team.

Not sure if this means the Cougars go commando when on the gridiron.   OK, I know. TMI. 

Dear Soonerguy:

Is it true that the Coca-Cola sold on BYU’s campus has all the caffeine removed from it?

— Soda Pop Paul in Pauls Valley

Dear Pop:

Yes.  Which means we have no idea how students stay up late to study.

Dear Soonerguy:

Will the Cowboys Stadium dome be open or closed. And, if closed, is there air conditioning? 

— Ms. Chick in Chickasha

It will be closed. There is a 48 percent chance of rain on Saturday.  Also, Jerry Jones is afraid punters will knock balls out of the stadium if the dome is left open.

Thanks to Jerry Jones for spending $1 billion on a stadium with a scoreboard too low.  When the Cowboys played their pre-season game last week against the Titans the punters discovered they could easily kick footballs off the 60 yard long jumbotron that hangs 95 feet above mid field.

This could be the answer to Oklahoma’s poor kick coverage.  If Tres Way and Jimmy Stevens can knock the pigskin off the huge TV screen it might distract the opponent’s return team just enough to give the Sooners an edge on kick coverage.  Lord knows they need it.  Last year Oklahoma was 102 out of 119 Division I teams in kick coverage.  The Texas game was lost in large part due to a Longhorn kick return for TD that busted the game open.

Off the big screen, off the ceiling, over the hill, across the parking lot, and through the uprights. Kicking could be real interesting on September 5 when the Sooners play BYU at the new Cowboys stadium in Arlington.