Let's get to it.
(Won't be the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. You gotta actually sit next to Texas fans in Arlington)
1. OU-Texas, Pt. II - what more needs to be said?
There was a scene that wasn't much talked about after OU's 48-45 loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry. After all the stuff with Mike Stoops, it became a little forgotten.
On the sideline, immediately after the game, was assistant coach Shane Beamer attempting to do anything to console his daughters after the Texas win.
He knew what to say:
“It’s OK. Remember when Auburn beat us and we got to play Auburn again?”
Yep, Beamer with Georgia last year, got the chance to right the wrong vs. the Tigers. Now Beamer, with the Sooners, gets the chance to right the wrong vs. the Horns.
There were so many times since Oct. 6 where it never felt like this game was going to come to be once again. After Texas lost back-back to Oklahoma State and West Virginia, thought its season might go down the tubes.
OU has allowed more than 40 points to its last four opponents and is somehow 4-0 during that span. Hey, it was meant to be for the Red River Rivalry one more time even if it means OU-Texas fans might have to sit near each other because the field won't be separated at the 50.
The Sooners have now scored at least 45 points in the last eight games and in 10 of the 12 this season (37 at Iowa State, 28 vs. Army). That's pretty nuts.
Just like in Morgantown, if OU's defense can create a turnover and/or score, game over. You cannot give OU free points. After two and two touchdowns at WVU, perhaps the confidence is higher than ever heading into Arlington.
Gut feeling? Either Texas wins a tight one, or OU blows 'em out the water. Horns offense has never looked as good since Oct. 6, and there's no signs of slowing down the Sooners attack.
Either way, the Big 12 got the championship game right this year. OU doesn't stand a chance at the playoff without this game. We'll see where the CFP has OU and Ohio State tomorrow night, but OU going up against Texas > OSU vs. Northwestern.
In other words? Sooners resume can only get better this weekend. Will it be enough?
***
2. Pump the brakes on the defensive coordinator hire
Well, damn, who saw that coming? OU wins at West Virginia. Ohio State takes out Michigan, and all the sudden, that No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 OU scenario from last week is a heck of a lot closer to reality.
As is, then, hey, be patient. There is no way OU is going to hire a defensive coordinator before its regular season/conf championship is over. Not gonna happen, would be the ultimate distraction.
Everything is still (sort of) pointing toward Alabama co-DC Pete Golding to be the guy. But the longer it goes, the more you start to wonder. And with good reason, too, about how (if?) this can be finalized.
Know Jeremy Pruitt pulled the double duty thing, coaching Bama and recruiting Tennessee at night, but this is something completely different. I don't know the logistics of how this gets done.
Lincoln Riley wouldn't trade this spot for anything, but it's technically a lost week on the recruiting trail because preparing for Texas. A lost week means a week of negative recruiting being used against them with any defensive recruits.
If we're standing here Sunday afternoon, and it's OU vs. Alabama, no clue what the next step in this process becomes.
The contact period has begun and schools were out full force Sunday. OU has to wait, but that's OK since all the talk will be on defense. Nobody is in any danger of backing out, just about when will OU strike and make its move.
Expect maybe some in-home visits like Wednesday or Thursday, but other than that? Gonna be pretty dull. OU's next chance to really strike will be Dec. 7 weekend. You'd imagine OU will try to get juco RB Rhamondre Stevenson in, among others.
***
3. Baker, Baker, Baker
Screw it, let's end with Baker being Baker.
Or this:
Or this:
Or this:
Or this:
That was one heck of a day/performance by Mayfield as the OU brand gets bigger and bigger (at least offensively) in the NFL.
(Won't be the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. You gotta actually sit next to Texas fans in Arlington)
1. OU-Texas, Pt. II - what more needs to be said?
There was a scene that wasn't much talked about after OU's 48-45 loss to Texas in the Red River Rivalry. After all the stuff with Mike Stoops, it became a little forgotten.
On the sideline, immediately after the game, was assistant coach Shane Beamer attempting to do anything to console his daughters after the Texas win.
He knew what to say:
“It’s OK. Remember when Auburn beat us and we got to play Auburn again?”
Yep, Beamer with Georgia last year, got the chance to right the wrong vs. the Tigers. Now Beamer, with the Sooners, gets the chance to right the wrong vs. the Horns.
There were so many times since Oct. 6 where it never felt like this game was going to come to be once again. After Texas lost back-back to Oklahoma State and West Virginia, thought its season might go down the tubes.
OU has allowed more than 40 points to its last four opponents and is somehow 4-0 during that span. Hey, it was meant to be for the Red River Rivalry one more time even if it means OU-Texas fans might have to sit near each other because the field won't be separated at the 50.
The Sooners have now scored at least 45 points in the last eight games and in 10 of the 12 this season (37 at Iowa State, 28 vs. Army). That's pretty nuts.
Just like in Morgantown, if OU's defense can create a turnover and/or score, game over. You cannot give OU free points. After two and two touchdowns at WVU, perhaps the confidence is higher than ever heading into Arlington.
Gut feeling? Either Texas wins a tight one, or OU blows 'em out the water. Horns offense has never looked as good since Oct. 6, and there's no signs of slowing down the Sooners attack.
Either way, the Big 12 got the championship game right this year. OU doesn't stand a chance at the playoff without this game. We'll see where the CFP has OU and Ohio State tomorrow night, but OU going up against Texas > OSU vs. Northwestern.
In other words? Sooners resume can only get better this weekend. Will it be enough?
***
2. Pump the brakes on the defensive coordinator hire
Well, damn, who saw that coming? OU wins at West Virginia. Ohio State takes out Michigan, and all the sudden, that No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 4 OU scenario from last week is a heck of a lot closer to reality.
As is, then, hey, be patient. There is no way OU is going to hire a defensive coordinator before its regular season/conf championship is over. Not gonna happen, would be the ultimate distraction.
Everything is still (sort of) pointing toward Alabama co-DC Pete Golding to be the guy. But the longer it goes, the more you start to wonder. And with good reason, too, about how (if?) this can be finalized.
Know Jeremy Pruitt pulled the double duty thing, coaching Bama and recruiting Tennessee at night, but this is something completely different. I don't know the logistics of how this gets done.
Lincoln Riley wouldn't trade this spot for anything, but it's technically a lost week on the recruiting trail because preparing for Texas. A lost week means a week of negative recruiting being used against them with any defensive recruits.
If we're standing here Sunday afternoon, and it's OU vs. Alabama, no clue what the next step in this process becomes.
The contact period has begun and schools were out full force Sunday. OU has to wait, but that's OK since all the talk will be on defense. Nobody is in any danger of backing out, just about when will OU strike and make its move.
Expect maybe some in-home visits like Wednesday or Thursday, but other than that? Gonna be pretty dull. OU's next chance to really strike will be Dec. 7 weekend. You'd imagine OU will try to get juco RB Rhamondre Stevenson in, among others.
***
3. Baker, Baker, Baker
Screw it, let's end with Baker being Baker.
Or this:
Or this:
Or this:
Or this:
That was one heck of a day/performance by Mayfield as the OU brand gets bigger and bigger (at least offensively) in the NFL.
