SOONERGUYS Blog

An early interception and a drive-stopping holding penalty had us wondering during the opening minutes of the game whether the Sooners season was truly snake bit.

Then, as if to tell the crowd, “don’t worry about a thing”, backup QB Landry Jones went on a 25 of 37, 336-yard, record setting six touchdown pass performance, the Sooner defense shut down a decent Golden Hurricane offense, and Oklahoma came away with a 45-0 win over Tulsa on Saturday.

Jones is definitely the quarterback of the future. And, Ryan Broyles is definitely one of the top 5 receivers in the country this year. On Saturday he grabbed 11 catches for 128 yards – the second 100-plus game in a row (he had 155 yards last week). He competed with RB Demarco Murray for the best Sportscenter highlight. Murray’s TD reception was a spin, a tight-rope and a one and full gainer gymnastics-style into the end zone. One of Broyles’ Tds was a Superman-like leap for a score.

Now, if only Adron Tennell would catch one pass. (Which I think he will – don’t give up on him just yet).

But despite the 529 total yards by Oklahoma’s offense, perhaps it was the defense that shined against Tulsa. TU managed some decent yards, but were blanked for the first time since 2004. That says a lot. This isn’t the TU team of a couple of years ago, but this is a team that may compete for the Conference USA championship. TU got in the Red Zone a few times, but OU forced stops and turnovers. The Sooner secondary played very well.

Oklahoma has now only given up 14 points (all against BYU) in three games.

— MD

Our Soonerguys prognosticators are optimistic that Oklahoma’s offense will be in full gear this Saturday against Tulsa, with point production ranging from 31 to 63.   See the Soonerguys picks.

Well, except for Sherry, who is pessimistically seeing the Sooners putting up a mere 27 – and only a 13 point favorite. She’s more in line with Vegas this week (Sooners are just 15 point favorites), so maybe its the rest of us who have already forgotten the debacle of Arlington and are fully emersed in crimson Kool-Aid.

Still, I feel confident that young Jones will feel the “force” and pass his way to a Sooner victory over the Golden Hurricane.

If Oklahoma wins by just two touchdowns or less, then the glass half empty folks will continue to whine about how the season is over, how the coaches must be lying about Sam Bradford’s two to four-week recovery prognosis, and how the offensive line could not block a kindergarten class.

Let’s hope the Sooners light ‘em up.

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When South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier brought his team to play at Georgia last week he did not expect that the guys entrusted to protect his safety would subject him to cheers for the other team.

Ever seen cops turn into cheerleaders? These Goobers from the Georgia Highway Patrol did just that, celebrating Georgia’s 41-37 win over the Gamecocks in Athens. See video:

On the other hand, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (sound the trumpet fanfare here) know how to act appropriately when the side they’re protecting is losing:

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If Colorado Coach Dan Hawkins isn’t on the hot seat, then there is no hot seat.

He did the unthinkable, first losing to the in-state rival, Colorado State. Then he lost to the Toledo Mud Hens (yeah, we know that’s not their real mascot, but M*A*S*H* fans will like the reference), who had lost to lowly Purdue the week before.

Hawkins must be re-thinking his past comment about this not being high school, no no no – this is “Big 12 football.”

In the words of Coach Switzer, “There is no losing in the Big 12 to Colorado State and Toledo, gentlemen.” (OK, he didn’t say that, but he would have, especially if Dunkin’ Donuts was paying him).

Hawkins has now lost his first two games, and considering he also said his team was capable of 10 wins this year, we’re wondering whether he’s now scheduled a few high school games on Friday night to get his 10 wins.

No such luck. The Buff’s next four games: Wyoming, at West Virginia, at Texas and Kansas.

So, is Hawkins out at CU? Maybe not.

The university would have to come up with $3 million to buy him out of his contract. The CU Athletic Department is strapped for money. They haven’t paid back most of an $8 million loan obtained to help pay off former coach Gary Barnett. Meanwhile, try to get a loan now when the main campus is laying off employees due to declining state revenues.