It has taken two days, but I finally figured this whole thing out. I have gone through the gamut of emotions. I can’t believe we were suckered back in for another emotional roller coaster only to see our beloved Sooners fall short once again. We all thought the stars were aligned for us this time. This was to be our moment. The one the team worked so hard to achieve. Unfortunately, we were cursed three ways.
The first curse took its form via a television broadcast. Gameday was there to exact its toll upon the Sooners. The talking heads pontificated; the pendulum was swinging our way. That’s when the hammer fell. Corso, the clairvoyant sage who predicted the “Pretenders”, placed the Sooner schooner upon his head. My best friend, a Georgia fan, commented that was going to be the kiss of death. A sickness fell upon me.
The second curse fell our beloved quarterback. The Heisman curse was once again front and center in the post season. Whether it was the sickness, additional pressure, or a combination of both, Baker did not have one of his finest games. He seemed off. Missed breakaway moments he achieved in the past. Missed passes he so easily made before. While he had a good game, he did not seem to have the sharpness and reactions that were the hallmark of his greatness. I have to believe that some of Riley’s play calling was a result of his perception of Baker’s ability in the game. We will never know, but the counterintuitive play calling may have been Riley’s attempt to protect Baker.
The final and most insidious curse has been with us a long time. This is the curse laid upon us by our beloved Bob Stoops. The curse of Mike. With a month to prepare, Mike comes into the game with a defensive strategy more suited to the pass happy Big 12. A three man front for most of the game. At times, the gaps were so big you could drive a truck through them. No pressure on the quarterback and corners playing 10 – 15 yards off the ball. Made it easy for the freshman to make the underneath passes. The gaps so big, their backs could easily run free. No adjustment at all after the half. While there were a few good moments when he did have faith in his defense and had them play aggressive, he continually went back to the soft and prevent defense that had us struggling in so many games during the season. I watched a UCF team, with players who were not recruited by the big boys, play aggressive against an Auburn team that beat both Alabama and Georgia during the season. One of the linebackers does not have a left hand. Even with that deficiency, he had a stellar game. The difference, a coach who believed and came up with a strategy that was properly executed. You can’t tell me that our players could not have done the same thing. Georgia did exactly what we knew they would do. UCF could have done a better job. We could have done a better job. Unfortunately, we can’t due to our coach. Unfortunately, we will never be competitive on the big stage as long as we keep drinking the Kool Aid and listening to the excuses.
I am a Sooner till the day I die. This loss has been one of the most difficult to accept. I have to agree with Bayless, I’ve been suckered in too many times over the years. I can’t believe that we will accept winning the Big 12 as our defining moment on the field. Mediocrity is not who we are. We are one of the blue blood programs. We set the benchmark. We can’t continue like this. It is time for someone to step up and say this is unacceptable. This will not be the norm. We are the Sooners and we will be great!
The first curse took its form via a television broadcast. Gameday was there to exact its toll upon the Sooners. The talking heads pontificated; the pendulum was swinging our way. That’s when the hammer fell. Corso, the clairvoyant sage who predicted the “Pretenders”, placed the Sooner schooner upon his head. My best friend, a Georgia fan, commented that was going to be the kiss of death. A sickness fell upon me.
The second curse fell our beloved quarterback. The Heisman curse was once again front and center in the post season. Whether it was the sickness, additional pressure, or a combination of both, Baker did not have one of his finest games. He seemed off. Missed breakaway moments he achieved in the past. Missed passes he so easily made before. While he had a good game, he did not seem to have the sharpness and reactions that were the hallmark of his greatness. I have to believe that some of Riley’s play calling was a result of his perception of Baker’s ability in the game. We will never know, but the counterintuitive play calling may have been Riley’s attempt to protect Baker.
The final and most insidious curse has been with us a long time. This is the curse laid upon us by our beloved Bob Stoops. The curse of Mike. With a month to prepare, Mike comes into the game with a defensive strategy more suited to the pass happy Big 12. A three man front for most of the game. At times, the gaps were so big you could drive a truck through them. No pressure on the quarterback and corners playing 10 – 15 yards off the ball. Made it easy for the freshman to make the underneath passes. The gaps so big, their backs could easily run free. No adjustment at all after the half. While there were a few good moments when he did have faith in his defense and had them play aggressive, he continually went back to the soft and prevent defense that had us struggling in so many games during the season. I watched a UCF team, with players who were not recruited by the big boys, play aggressive against an Auburn team that beat both Alabama and Georgia during the season. One of the linebackers does not have a left hand. Even with that deficiency, he had a stellar game. The difference, a coach who believed and came up with a strategy that was properly executed. You can’t tell me that our players could not have done the same thing. Georgia did exactly what we knew they would do. UCF could have done a better job. We could have done a better job. Unfortunately, we can’t due to our coach. Unfortunately, we will never be competitive on the big stage as long as we keep drinking the Kool Aid and listening to the excuses.
I am a Sooner till the day I die. This loss has been one of the most difficult to accept. I have to agree with Bayless, I’ve been suckered in too many times over the years. I can’t believe that we will accept winning the Big 12 as our defining moment on the field. Mediocrity is not who we are. We are one of the blue blood programs. We set the benchmark. We can’t continue like this. It is time for someone to step up and say this is unacceptable. This will not be the norm. We are the Sooners and we will be great!
