John Rohde, sports columnist
Rohde: Could BCS National Championship loss send Bob Stoops packing?
By John Rohde
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157
Published: January 9, 2009
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — With Thursday night's 24-14 loss to Florida in the BCS championship game, Bob Stoops is now 4-6 in postseason play as Oklahoma's football coach.
OU coach Bob Stoops walks off the field after OU's 24-14 loss to Florida in the BCS National Championship Thursday. Photo by Bryan Terry
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He is 105-18 in all remaining games and has claimed six
Big 12 Championships.
Will Stoops' latest postseason heartache be his postmortem at OU?
Might this loss send Stoops packing?
Stoops previously said he had not been contacted by the
Denver Broncos, who are owned by OU grad
Pat Bowlen.
Now that the season is complete, it is anticipated the Broncos will seek permission to interview Stoops for their vacant coaching position.
On Jan. 1, Stoops fulfilled his 10-year stay clause requirement for a $3 million bonus, so he has a chance to take the money and run.
Following Thursday's game at
Dolphin Stadium, Stoops didn't sound like a man who was going anywhere anytime soon.
Asked about his continuing postseason woes, Stoops said, "In the end, I'll be glad to try it again next year. If that's the biggest burden I have to bear in my life, I'll be a pretty lucky guy. We're going to do our best to be back at it, try it again next year. We'll keep going after 'em, if it's all the same to everybody else."
Stoops may have zero interest in the Broncos' job.
He may have some interest.
He may have great interest.
It's impossible to know until the process begins, which could start as early as today.
Stoops has qualified for the national title game an astounding four times in his 10 seasons as the
Sooners' coach.
Some frustrated OU wackos might feel it's time for a coaching change, which is a ludicrous thought.
I'm not exactly sure what the shelf life is for winning a national title is, but eight years certainly ought to suffice, especially given what happened to the Sooners' program throughout the 1990s.
Stoops is now 1-3 in national title games, which is much better than 0-4, and a whole lot more impressive than 0-0.
Surprisingly, what prevented Stoops from upping his title game record to 2-2 was his team's inability to convert scoring opportunities inside the red zone (the opponent's 20-yard line) on Thursday night.
During the season, the Sooners scored 76 times in 80 trips inside the red zone, with 69 of those scores being touchdowns.
In the second quarter against the Gators, they were 1 for 3.
OU failed to convert on third and fourth down from the Florida 1-yard line and on its next possession threw an interception on first-and-goal from the 6 with 10 seconds remaining before intermission.
"You know, I tried to force one in there, but I probably should have thrown it in the back of the end zone and taken the three points (with a field goal)," said Sooners quarterback and 2008
Heisman Trophy winner
Sam Bradford.
Instead of OU potentially leading 21-7, the game was in a 7-7 deadlock at halftime.
"As ironic as it is, we've been so efficient the entire year in the red zone," Stoops said. "We had some opportunities to make a difference in the first half (and) came up short. Those are all opportunities for production, for points, that we didn't get. To me, that's part of the end."
Was that part of the end just for Thursday's game, or possibly the end of Stoops' tenure at OU?
John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 6-7 p.m. on The Sports Animal Network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.
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its won, idiot! O.k. maybe you didn't make it through the 6th grade.
Hey James you are forgetting one thing--Bob Stoops has a 6-4 winning record against your whining coach Mack Brown since he came to OU. And even better OU has one the Big Twelve Championship 6 out of the 12 years and poor little mackie Brown-nose has only 2 big twelve championships. So Keep on talking trash and push OU down because you can't change the past and facts are OU and Bob have proven themselves over little Mack and the milk cows. Oh and I commend you for being honest and admitting you are from Memphis TX-Their claim to fame is a great big auto junk yard- I thought it was a big junk yard until I realized that part of that gigantic junk yard was the town of Memphis--and 1 more question the woman who gave birth to you--Do you call her mom or sis because either would be right in your case you inbred texan oh wait inbred and texan have the same meaning.
Andrew, Clinton - Jan 10, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Report as inappropriate or Ignore Andrew
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its 8:31 pm CST and OU still sucks! idiot!
Mom jokes...you must have gotten through at least 6th grade, ok Andrew.....Tell your mom to stop kicking the help when she gets milked.
P.S. Is that really the best you have Andrew? James 8 Andrew 0
Mom jokes...you must have gotten through at least 6th grade, ok Andrew.....Tell your mom to stop kicking the help when she gets milked.
P.S. Is that really the best you have Andrew? James 8 Andrew 0
I'd make Ohio State +4 1/2 favorites if Big Game Bob stays..... and the game a pick'em if Bob leaves.
At least one of these teams would finally win a bowl game.
Their fans could start wearing their next best loser gear with some limited pride (just in the company of their fellow fans).
Perhaps if Stoops leaves, we could all be so lucky if Rhode left, too.
Remember to 'ignore' my comments on this article as well. Wouldn't want to hurt your feelings and cause poor Sooner fans to stop traveling to see your team lose. We need someone to laugh at next October in Dallas.
it's 6:54 pm CST ladies and gentlemen, and OU still sucks!
in case you forgot... its now 6:32 pm CST and OU still sucks!
cat got your tongue? or are you all just like Big Game Bob (a.k.a Marv Levy)...who runs his mouth after a win and then has no comment after another choke!
Sooner fans, enjoy a nice long winter, spring, and summer...you'll have ample time to reflect on the art of choking away a BCS game!