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David Stanley Ford

Bradford, Sooners state their case with Sam-tastic victory
Bradford, Robinson state QB duel in highest scoring Bedlam game in history

BY Berry Tramel    Comments Comment on this article94
Published: November 30, 2008

STILLWATER — The Sooner points kept piling Saturday night. Seven, 14, 37, 51, 61. Kept piling for Oklahoma State, too, which made this the zaniest, wildest, highest-scoring game in Bedlam history.


Oklahoma's Sam Bradford (14) and quarterback coach Josh Heupel celebrate after a touchdown during the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, in Stillwater, Okla. STAFF PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER

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The Sooners won it 61-41, their fourth, count ’em, fourth straight game to crack the 60-point barrier, and their reward for such a show, for such a monumental feat of outrageous football is this.

A Sunday of worrying about and waiting on points out of their control.

“Out of our hands now,” said OU quarterback Sam Bradford, a concept that must be a relief to all opposing defenses, who would like nothing better than to see the ball far from Sudden Sam's grasp.

“All we can do is hope what we've done the last two weeks is enough.”

We'll find out between 3 p.m. and 3:30 today, when the BCS rankings are announced on FOX, and the great debate will be decided. Which will it be, OU or Texas emerging from the Solomonic three-way tie in the South Division to play in the Big 12 title game next Saturday night?

“If 61 points is not good enough, I don't know what is,” yelled OU center Jon Cooper as he climbed up the Boone Pickens Stadium ramp.

If pollsters vote for the most deserving team, who knows? There are solid arguments for both sides, and they've been well-covered lo these many days.

If voters side with the most entertaining, it's Kansas City here the Sooners come. Bradford's electric light offense is the greatest show in college football.

After the first quarter, OU had the ball eight times against OSU. The result: seven touchdowns, a field goal and 54 points.

The gutty Cowboys kept it close for the longest, down 44-41 midway through the fourth quarter, but finally blinked. And the Sooners kept churning.

Bradford said OU wasn't seeking style points with its full-throttle fourth quarter. It was seeking something else. “Honestly, we wanted to score 60 points again,” Bradford said.

OSU coach Mike Gundy gave the Sooners a chance by calling timeout with 25 seconds left. That gave the Sooners another play, and tailback Chris Brown bolted 28 yards on a sweep for a touchdown.

And now the ball moves from Bradford's hands to voters, who had OU barely ahead of Texas last week. If they repeat that ballot, the Sooners will be in Kansas City, because the computer rankings figure to boost Oklahoma ahead of the Longhorns this week.

“I think we have a real good chance,” said Bob Stoops. “We have finished the year pretty strong.”

Stoops' case: OU beat then-No. 2-ranked Texas Tech by 44 points a week ago and the 12th-ranked Cowboys by 20 on Saturday.

And anyone who saw the game knows the Sooners were in a street fight. The BooneDock, despite the well-publicized empty seats, rocked all night, particularly with the big plays produced by State quarterback Zac Robinson.

Bradford completed 30 of 44 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns and made a highlight-reel play with an eight-yard scramble in which he went airborne and was flipped by OSU safety Ricky Price, just to reach the 1-yard line.

But it wasn't clear until late who was the best quarterback on the field. Robinson was magnificent, with timely passes and magical scrambles. Robinson threw for 254 yards and ran for 90, and not until two late sacks did the OU defense turn back the Cowboy upset bid.

OSU never did stop Bradford. The Sooners converted 12 of 18 third downs, most on Bradford passes, and this was a Heisman Trophy-worthy performance.

By crunch time, all other meaningful football was over, which means every interested fan was watching and saw Bradford's case as America's best quarterback: 12 of 18 for 199 yards and three TDs in the second half alone.

They saw OU's case as the Big 12's best team, which frankly was better than any of the campaigning done by any side in recent days.

This is a show you don't want to see end.

Berry Tramel: 405-760-8080. Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.

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David Stanley Ford


Related Topics: Sports, Football, College Athletics, College Football


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UofA Wildcat here. Congratulations Sooners! You're now second in the BCS. Stay focused and don't fall into the trap Missouri fell into against Kansas because you know the Tigers are will be up and after you in the Big 12 Title Game. To me, it looks like it will be you and Florida (after they beat Alabama) in the BCS Title Game.
In the meantime pull for Mike Stoops and the Arizona Wildcats against the Arizona State Scum Devils. Even though the Cats are going to a bowl, Stoops NEEDS to take this rivalry more personally than he did OU-Texas which he doesn't, which annoys Wildcats Nation. Stoops NEEDS to demolish ASU and knock them out of a bowl to make Wildcats fans forget about the losses to Oregon and Oregon State and get back in the graces of Wildcats Nation.
Loumar, Phoenix - Nov 30, 2008 at 5:19 pm
I meant Florida State. Sorry. Enough blogs.
Stuart, Brooklyn - Nov 30, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Me an OSU fan? In Brooklyn? Please. I just take my OU sports too seriously for an adult. I don't like Stoops and Venables. That's not a crime and it's nothing personal. They get paid, I have an opinion. I don't like pinball football. Bama shut Auburn out. OU beat Floria in 01 with an overwhelming dominant defense. OU teams have been live sieves on D for sometime, except last week. "All y'all" need to get off the spleen. By the way, Woody Guthrie wrote Mermaid Avenue right here in Brooklyn. I believe he was born in Okemah. I've been watching OU football most of my life, before most people who write blogs were born. Happy holidays!
Stuart, Brooklyn - Nov 30, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I agree that the system is not perfect,look at it this way. OU beat Texas Tech when they were ranked number 2 in the Nation OU beat OSU
who was ranked Number 12 When Texas played Texas A&M,Texas A&M was not
even ranked it was just a simple Victory for Texas. I hope they look at that OU beat two ranked teams. I wish the best team all the luck
in the Conference Game.
Jerry, Norman - Nov 30, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Whatever happens, OU played a great game last night as did OSU. The atmosphere was good and I enjoyed being there. BOOMER SOONER Michael--you need to get a life. OU students do quite well for themselves, I know I did!!!
Cindy, Midwest City - Nov 30, 2008 at 2:43 pm
What isn't being talked about enough is the OU has beat the #8 team Texas Tech, the #11 team TCU, the #12 and BCS team Cincinnati, and the #15 team OSU on their home field. No other team in the country has accomplished anything this difficult. OU and the winner of the Southeast conference need to play in the National Championship.
tom, Lawton - Nov 30, 2008 at 2:03 pm
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If Texas and Tech Tech wanted to win in a 3-way division tie, then they should have played a tougher non-conference schedule. Those TCU and Cincinnati wins look pretty good right about now with both those teams in the top 15. It especially looks good to computers that don't listen to ESPN commentaries. Texas booked three creampuffs plus Arkansas--not a creampuff, but the Hogs happened to be not so good this year. Texas Tech booked nothing but the creamiest of creampuffs. OU booked one creampuff (Chattanooga), two bowl and conference championship contending teams (TCU and Cin) and a pac-10 team (WA) that turned out to be terrible this year. All three have good wins over solid Big-12 north teams and over a very solid OSU team. Beating A&M doesn't count. Neither does beating Baylor. Trying to argue that its a two-way tie (with Texas having the head-to-head over OU) ignores the fact that its not a two-way tie--its a 3-way tie.
Armbrooke, Pocasset - Nov 30, 2008 at 1:59 pm
From what I have seen today their has been OU fans congratulating OSU on a good game. Don't get on here and try to make it sound like we haven't been. Go cry and whine to somewhere else cause its not working here! Hope the computers still like us. Its gonna be a close one.
jeanie, elmore city - Nov 30, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Michael,

if it's "just a game" why are you in here trash talking? So much for your point about fans who "can't stop crying after a loss". Now who's cryin'
R, Oklahoma City - Nov 30, 2008 at 1:02 pm
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3 way tie, rules they don't like, and computer rankings are ALL reasons the media darlings are upset! They don't like their turf being (or shall I say Monopoly) being messed with. To THEM, unbiased computers are unfair. To US, their irrational bias is unfair and not even based on logic.
curtis, madera - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:49 pm
david, ah, this is true, I remember hearing that now... good news indeed. Still going to be close...
Jason, Logan County - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Jason, It's too bad the AP is not part of BCS polling or Texas would
be in KC. The AP voted to stay out of BCS selections years ago. Thus
OU has it made
david - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Michael, really, no one is talking any trash in here on OSU, go cry somewhere else.
Jason, Logan County - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:44 pm
a lot of things happened this weekend for OU that computers will see and humans didn't necessarily: Kansas beat Mizzou, that helps OU, Nebraska beat Colorado, that helps OU, OU beat a highly rated team on their home field by 20... that helps as well. Sucks that it has to come to this, 8 team playoff needed now!
Jason, Logan County - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:43 pm
When its all said and done, OU will choke in another bowl, Bradford will be another on the long list of OU quarterbacks who doesnt have a strong enough arm or guts to make it in the NFL, and OU fans will always be arrogant idiots who either cant shut their big mouths after a win, or cant stop crying after a loss. I will take the Pokes and their loyal fan base of good, honest, hard working people any day over the band wagon Sooner fans. We at least know that in the end its just a game, and our student athletes will still have a higher graduation rate and go on to become succesful individuals.
Michael, Oklahoma City - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:42 pm
OU moved up to #1 (2 LW) in Sagarin, but Texas moved up to #2 (3 LW)

Haven't seen the other computer polls announce yet
R, Oklahoma City - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:42 pm
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Steve, those are from last week, OK #2 in coaches poll by 1 point over texas this week, #4 in AP, 8 pts behind texas. Computers will like OU better though, it's going to be close.
Jason, Logan County - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:38 pm
AP Top 25 Week 14

1. Alabama (62) 12-0 1,620
2. Florida (3) 11-1 1,516
3. Texas 11-1 1,488
4. Oklahoma 11-1 1,480
5. USC 10-1 1,355
Steve, moore - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:37 pm
sorry last was week 13
Steve, moore - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:37 pm
AP Top 25 Week 14

1. Alabama (63) 11-0 1,622
2. Florida (2) 10-1 1,512
3. Oklahoma 10-1 1,486
4. Texas 10-1 1,482
5. USC 9-1 1,352
Steve, moore - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:36 pm
USA Today Poll Week 14

1. Alabama (56) 11-0 1,518
2. Oklahoma (4) 10-1 1,412
3. Florida (1) 10-1 1,401
4. Texas 10-1 1,370
5. USC 9-1 1,288
Steve, moore - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:35 pm
hey toby,plains and james,edmond how did you enjoy that 61-41 ou victory? where are all your generic ou hater comments now? and stuart in brooklyn....SCOREBOARD!
jordan, the woodlands - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Shane, I saw the replay. Complete cheap shot.
Jeremy, Krum - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Maybe I am the only one who is worried about our Defense and Kick off coverage. Did anyone notice Box went down with a knee injury. Who is going to play middle linebacker now? It just worries me a little, not trying to be a pessimist. We are running out of linebackers.
Jeremy, Krum - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Looks like OU stayed at #2 in the coaches poll, fell to 4th in the AP. Let's hope the computers get it right.
Jason, Logan County - Nov 30, 2008 at 12:14 pm

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