What a magical year for OU football. Counted out by many Bob went out and showed all he still has the fire. Made great hires across the board and steered the team through pre-season adversity and a tough mid-season loss to UT. As a result, this team overacheived and made an improbable run to a Big 12 Championship and our first CFB Playoff appearance. The comeback win on the road in front of an extremely hostile crowd that was ready to crown themelves with a big win over us. The complete performance on the road against a great team that had whipped us two years in a row. The gritty win at home after we lost our leader to a concussion. And, the beatdown of a rival on the road to close out the season. How sweet it all was. Yeah, we caught some breaks along the way but that's football. Clemson caught more than its share of similar breaks along the way.
Our first trip to the CFB Playoff, like BAMA last year, showed we still had some lessons to learn before we're ready to go the distance. The second I heard our players were talking trash I knew our focus was not where it should be. You NEVER do this before a game like that-especially against a team that beat your ass just 12 months earlier. Nonetheless, we came out out looking good and came close to taking control of the game early. But our emotions cost us when Flowers got flagged for unsportsmenlike conduct when we were driving deep inside of Clemson territory to take a two score lead. Then our ST coaches fall asleep on a punt return when Clemson was desparate and had the ball on our 44 yd line. Our offense and ST basically gave Clemson 10 points in the 1st half and, more importantly, allowed them to avoid the early knock out punch and gain confidence for the stretch run. Then our luck ran out when injuries started to catch up to us and we just couldn't make the necessary plays. Still, we were very competitive through the first three quarters and that's a lot more than you can say about most losing teams this bowl season. Did we pratice too hard before the game; possibly but it doesn't matter now. Hopefully, the lessons have been learned.
Despite the tough loss, the state of the Sooner program is STRONG and we are looking VERY good for the future. We have A LOT coming back, the right staff and our recruiting is EXACTLY where it needs to be. Kids are excited about OU again and even the talking heads are praising our efforts. The young players are chomping at the bit to get after it again next year. At this point, the sky is the limit and I feel VERY good about our future. The next few years will see an in flux of talent to go along with a great staff and a reinvigorated fanbase. We can help the cause with social media efforts and doing everything we can to champion the Sooner Nation. The bridge to greatness has been built and it is now time for the present and future Sooners to storm across it with reckless abandon.
Boomer Sooner
Our first trip to the CFB Playoff, like BAMA last year, showed we still had some lessons to learn before we're ready to go the distance. The second I heard our players were talking trash I knew our focus was not where it should be. You NEVER do this before a game like that-especially against a team that beat your ass just 12 months earlier. Nonetheless, we came out out looking good and came close to taking control of the game early. But our emotions cost us when Flowers got flagged for unsportsmenlike conduct when we were driving deep inside of Clemson territory to take a two score lead. Then our ST coaches fall asleep on a punt return when Clemson was desparate and had the ball on our 44 yd line. Our offense and ST basically gave Clemson 10 points in the 1st half and, more importantly, allowed them to avoid the early knock out punch and gain confidence for the stretch run. Then our luck ran out when injuries started to catch up to us and we just couldn't make the necessary plays. Still, we were very competitive through the first three quarters and that's a lot more than you can say about most losing teams this bowl season. Did we pratice too hard before the game; possibly but it doesn't matter now. Hopefully, the lessons have been learned.
Despite the tough loss, the state of the Sooner program is STRONG and we are looking VERY good for the future. We have A LOT coming back, the right staff and our recruiting is EXACTLY where it needs to be. Kids are excited about OU again and even the talking heads are praising our efforts. The young players are chomping at the bit to get after it again next year. At this point, the sky is the limit and I feel VERY good about our future. The next few years will see an in flux of talent to go along with a great staff and a reinvigorated fanbase. We can help the cause with social media efforts and doing everything we can to champion the Sooner Nation. The bridge to greatness has been built and it is now time for the present and future Sooners to storm across it with reckless abandon.
Boomer Sooner
