Berry Tramel, Sports columnist

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Contact Berry -- E-mail: btramel@opubco.com. Phone: (405) 475-3313.

Sooners can't adjust to Boulder's altitude
Buffaloes' win spoils some OU fans' vacations
Sooners can't adjust to Boulder's altitude

Comments Comment on this article57

By Berry Tramel
Published: September 30, 2007

BOULDER, Colo. — Bob Stoops said altitude shouldn't matter to football teams visiting the Rockies, be it Folsom Field or Mile High Stadium.

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Maybe it's time to rethink that.

In the second half Saturday, the Sooners were more than outplayed and outcoached, as Stoops said. They were outconditioned.

Second-half total yards: Colorado 219, OU 56. Second-half first downs: CU 12, OU 3. Second-half rushing yards: CU 114, OU 45.

The Sooners were gassed in the second half, and anyone who has hiked in the Rockies shouldn't be surprised.

Which means Stoops might should implement OU fan Craig Blankenship's plan. Blankenship offered advice for the Sooners the next time they play in altitude. And he's not a sore loser; he trotted this out before the game.

Blankenship's theory: Fly to Colorado on Thursday and take the team to Rocky Mountain National Park, near Estes Park, north of Boulder. Have the Sooners hike for an hour or so around Bear Lake, elevation 9,500 feet.

The next day, in lower elevation closer to Boulder, the Sooners would become more acclimated to the thinner air. By Saturday, the Sooners might be close to normal on oxygen flow.

"Stoops made the comment that his team would not be affected because they would only be in Boulder 24 hours,” Blankenship. "That is like saying I would not be affected trying to perform underwater, or holding my breath for that matter, because I would not be doing it that long.”

Blankenship flew to Denver on Wednesday and spent two days climbing near Estes Park, then planned to return to Boulder for the game.

Blankenship says he climbs at a "fairly high” level and trains hard, and that it takes about three days for him to acclimate from hiking in the Wichita Mountains near Lawton to the altitude of Rocky Mountain National Park.

"If you cannot get enough oxygen in your blood, you cannot perform as well as those who can, if they are equally conditioned,” Blankenship said..

"When people breathe hard it is because their body is trying to force more oxygen into their bloodstream. So those who don't have to breathe as hard can perform at a higher level.”

Playing in Boulder is tough enough. The Buffs often have a good team and a tough atmosphere. No reason to play short of air.

Colorado vacation
Colorado ruined more than OU's national title hopes. The Buffs also ruined many a Sooner vacation.

"We planned this three years ago, that's what's bad,” OU fan Hans Cyr of Tulsa said of his weekend in the Rockies.

Said OU fan John Lauer of Dallas, "I thought we were coming up here for a fun weekend and watch a big win. I kept waiting to see us turn it on, and I just never saw it.”

None of the estimated 6,000 OU fans saw it. The lethargic Sooners, even when taking command on the scoreboard, never took command on the field.

"I'm not too happy,” said OU fan Randy Swank of Mountain Top, Pa. The Sooners led 24-7 after three quarters, and "I thought, here we go, like all the other games.”

Like most fans, Cyr never saw this coming. "You hear the fans last night, ‘You're gonna spank us by 60 points.'”

Didn't happen, and the only solace for Sooner fans was watching Kansas State take apart Texas 41-21, setting up a Cotton Bowl showdown next Saturday to eliminate a team not from national championship, but Big 12, contention.

Fan friendly
Folsom Field hasn't always been a hospitable place for the Sooners, even in victory. Colorado fans can get quite rowdy, even after Folsom went dry, stopping beer sales in 1996.

OU fans in the past have reported being barraged by snowballs, wet toilet-paper rolls and condensed marshmallows, not to mention sordid language.

"The (CU) fans are a little crazy, so I figured the Sooners needed our support,” said OU fan Anita Holloway of Dallas, who bought a plane ticket at 4 p.m. Friday to fly to the game.

But Saturday, Oklahomans reported a more cordial reception.

"The people we saw were pretty courteous,” said Joe Paul Klabzuba of Edmond, who stayed Friday night in downtown Boulder and attended a CU pep rally. "A lot of (Folsom) ushers welcomed OU fans.”

Sights & sounds
• They don't make Ralphies like they used to. Colorado's buffalo mascot charging onto the field is one of college football's great traditions. But this Ralphie galloped at a leisurely pace. Her blue-jeaned handlers loped alongside. I've seen Ralphies in the past that made the lads look like George Jetson caught on that crazy treadmill.

• OU at Colorado is maybe the Big 12's best uniform matchup. The Sooner whites are their best look, anyway, and when contrasted with Colorado's black and glittering gold, on a gorgeous green field, well, college football wardrobes don't get much better.

• Folsom Field is loud. The Colorado crowd was disappointing; announced at 50,031, some 3,000 shy of capacity. Still, old Folsom can roar with all but the best of stadiums and did Saturday. OU quarterback Sam Bradford had trouble calling signals at key points throughout the game.


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It was not the altitude!!! Most of these things you guys are talking about are important when you're in the mountains (10-12,000 ft). Boulder is only 5,000. The Altitude isn't an excuse.
Jason, Seattle - Oct 3, 2007 2:31 PM
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I agree with all who've noted that it takes ~2-3 weeks for the body to produce enough oxygen-carrying red blood cells. (maybe a few months to reach peak performance). Obviously, that isn't possible. All the more reason to be prepared for it. With the high altitude comes a dehydrating climate! While OU players couldn't have done anything about their blood cells--the question remains: did they do what they could? (hard to believe if the head couch went on record before the game saying that altitude isn't a factor) Were they hydrated? Unacclaimated athletes should also consider carbohydrate since their bodies will be forced to use more anaerobic fuel when playing where oxygen is limited. Consider recommendations experts give to tourists who come to Colorado to ski: "Take it easy the first day" "Don't head to the slopes straight from the airport" "Drink pleny of non-alcholic beverages" "Consume carbohydrate" These recommendations are for a reason! (blakenships advise is also flawed--but at least he recognized the need) Like it or not--unacclaimed athltes will have to play harder. Is it do-able? Of course. Teams do it all the time. CU beat OU. Was it altitude? Maybe/maybe not. We'll never know. I just think it's ignorant for Oklahomans to disregard altitude when preparing to compete at elevation.
Karen, Oklahoma City - Oct 3, 2007 12:09 PM
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Interesting that altitude didn't affect Florida State holding the CO Buffs to minus rushing yardage. Year in and out FSU defense is coached to attack the offense not "react" to the offense. In addition to a poor OU offensive showing, it just also maybe a difference in defense philosophy between OU and FSU.

A disappointed Okie in FSU land.
Clifton, Tallahassee - Oct 2, 2007 8:01 AM
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Hey, Berry. Since the "altitude" excuse doesn't seem to be working for you, I've got a really good one.
After reading the CU fans responses to the game, I noticed one that really made sense.
One Buff fan, in the THIRD QUARTER, noticed a cloud shaped like a WHITE BUFFALO, an Indian sign of good fortune.
At that time the game was 24-7 and seemingly out of hand for CU. The White Buffalo changed everything in favor of the black clad Buffaloes.
OU mysteriously blew up -- bad plays, dropped passes, missed assignments, poor coaching decisions, no "icing timeout" calls, and before you knew it, Sooner fans of all ages were unashamedly crying on national TV.
It wasn't any Swooners fault. IT WAS THE GREAT WHITE BUFFALO!!
Danny, Vail - Oct 2, 2007 7:51 AM
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Sir Craig, I am little be-fuzzled (it can be bad grammar if it "ain't" a real word) at what was said here that induced a question of honesty. And, then the "ever been out of Oklahoma" question? Is that suppose to imply that once you get out of Oklahoma you realize how backward the state? If that is the case, then I have a severe learning disability. Business travel has taken me to most every state on multiple occasions. Along the way I lived 13 different cities, up and down both coast and several in between. I never picked up on that. However I did detected some preconceived notions along that line. What I did notice is they all have book stores, library and magazines and what appeared to be the same books and magazines. At the least the pictures were the same. Being a typical Okie, not well learned in ciphering letters and words, I can't verify that part.

D, Norman - Oct 1, 2007 11:41 PM
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Of course the altitude effected the defense, they were on the field for 41 minutes. The inability of the offense to move the ball was the problem. The inability to move the ball (no, Kelly was NOT double teamed all the time) was the issue. The brilliant play calling on first down, mostly running to the left side of the line, the dropped passes etc etc, resulted in an inspired and well coached Colorado team to run wild in the second half. I was there!!
Kathryn, Sun Lakes - Oct 1, 2007 10:24 PM
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Mr Blankenship's altitude idea is flawed and incorrect for one simple reason. For flatlanders a trip to Boulder or Denver's altitude causes the body to deplete it's reserves at about 36 hours. So arriving three days early would not benefit the Sooners. When professional sports teams come to Denver they arrive as late as possible within respective league rules so as to minimize the time spent at altitude. So lets just leave it at the fact that the Sooners were beaten by an inferior team- It just happens sometimes!
Kevin, Denver
kevin, Denver - Oct 1, 2007 10:17 PM
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I'm not an ou or Barry Switzer fan but when ou played in the BIG 8 i don't rember Switzer or OU using the altitude as an excuse for loosing the few theay lost there did theay train diffrent then or are the excuses all that remain of the Sooners of yesteryear
Darren, Oklahoma City - Oct 1, 2007 8:41 PM
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Wait...OU "might should" adopt the theory/advice of "OU fan" Craig Blankenship? OK. Maybe they "might should" institute this theory: QUIT MAKING EXCUSES!!! That one's my own. Now, I ain't the biggest OU fan (I ain't no Berry Tramel) but I might should keep trying, so's I can git me one of them OU t-shirts or bumper stickers to put on my RV. Or one of them fancy flags. I like them lots & lots. I love OU, even though I ain't never had the grades to go to no college. I might get a GED in the next couple years or so, though.

Still, I got me all kinds of theories and ideas that ought maybe ya'll could might should adopt, Mr. Stoops. I think yer the greatest coach of all time, after Barry Switzer, of course, and Craig Blankenship.

Hooo-eey!!! YEEHAW! Boomer Sooner!!!

The Daily Oklahoman, Berry Tramel, & Jenni Carlson all make me sick & ashamed & flat-out appalled to be from Oklahoma.

I might should quit reading this crap, but it's too damn funny. Funny like watching OU lose to Colorado.

Best, kids.
john, Austin - Oct 1, 2007 2:16 PM
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Colorado won. Fair and square and end of story.
Altitude is always a factor in Boulder; no surprise there and no excuse either.
harry, lake forest - Oct 1, 2007 12:52 PM
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It takes about 6 months for the body to adjust to high altitude conditions by producing more red blood cells as compensation to the lower partial pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere. Just in case you all would like to know.
sd, Golden - Oct 1, 2007 12:47 PM
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Altitude is one of many factors in athletic performance. Obviously, altitude can be overcome....as evidenced ty the fact that flatlanders beat Colorado teams. Still, smart teams should not "diss" the effects of altitude. Facts are facts. Athletes living at 500 feet are playing in (relative) oxygen-debt. VO2 max is compromised. Hearts beat faster. Dehydration is quick and deceiving (athletes may not percieve how much they are sweating in dry air). Breathing is labored. Headaches are common. From an energy perspective--carbohydrate may be preferentially used (even at exercise intensities that would otherwise be "aerobic" at sea level) Lactic acid accumulates faster. I don't think altitude ought to be used ans an excuse, but I do think altitude should be respected when it comes to preparation and training. Failing to acknowledge that altitude is even a factor is to fly a finger at science. Should OU have acclimated for a couple days? Did they recalculate sweat rates? Focus on carbs? Avoid alcohol and caffenine? Did altitude affect attitude? ....hard to feel "up" if you've got a headache and feel tired.
Karen, Oklahoma City - Oct 1, 2007 9:58 AM
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Thin air at 5,200 feet is a FACT. Next thing you know Stoops will be denying gravity!
Randy, Oklahoma City - Oct 1, 2007 8:42 AM
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You have got to be kidding me!! I can't believe your editor let this one get out! What an embarrassment for you, the editor, and the Gaylord family!!

The Sooners are supposed to be one of the elite teams in the country. We've been hearing /reading for a month now what a "complete" team they are. We've been told how awesome Sam Bradford is at quarterback. And of course we've heard for several years what an excellent coach Bob Stoops is.

And the altitude is the best you can do!?!

Almost anyone knows that the air is indeed "thin" at that high of an altitude. But with your "theory" (excuse?), Colorado should be undefeated at home year after year. Especially when you consider that this was no average team they beat yesterday up there in that rarefied air. That was the Mighty Oklahoma Sooners who apparently checked their "Sooner Magic" at the door of Folsom Field on Saturday.

The "thin" air story might hold up as a "game-changer" when comparing the Buffaloes to an equally matched team. But the Sooners?!

And you write this as if it's some new concept and as if the Sooners had never been to Boulder before or read any "reports" on the "thin" air there.

Wow! Just wow! I guess the only logical explanation I can think of for why such a poor article would be printed in your paper would be to deflect criticism from that horrid excuse for a column that your friend Jenni Carlson ran past your editor last week.

Better luck next time!
Blake, Leslie - Sep 30, 2007 11:01 PM
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Yeah, pretty lame Berry. The Sooners had the game in hand in the second half and spit it up. Very conservative play calling, Sam locking on to Iglesias on every pass play. dumb personal foulpenalties, which we seem to get a lot of and boneheaded mistakes. Reggie seems to drop a punt at least every other week. Why is he trying to field that knuckler? I don't think the season's lost. OU will still be favored to win every game on the rest of it's schedule and the winner in Dallas on Saturday is still in the driver's seat for the South Division and the Conference championship. As for possible NC shot, remember Florida lost in September last year. We'll need some help, but yesterday proved that top teams have to bring it every week or they'll get knocked off. Wisconsin will lose. Oh St. has to go to Ann Arbor (I still think Mich. is going to come back to win the Big 10). We probably need 'SC to lose twice, though. I don't see LSU losing a regular season game, but who knows?
tim - Sep 30, 2007 10:25 PM
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Jenni....Uhh Berry-Now I understand why Colorado has been a dynasty for so many years. Altitude causes blown coverages, diving for punts, and poorly thrown passes. The altitude excuse was overused about 20 years ago. It comes out about every 10 years. Boulder should be about the same altitude for the next 100 thousand years or so. What a dynasty!!!!! Thanks for your analysis of this game. How lam!! Try the officials next time.
Andy, Cherryvale - Sep 30, 2007 9:42 PM
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Hey Ann, I don't think that game was played on top of Mt Evans and I would hope that these 19 and 20 year old are in better condition than your mother- maybe not, but it all goes to being prepared and Stoops teams are not prepared 2 or three times every year. And Venables D backfields have been awful every year since Mike Stoops left. Venables is an arrogant fool like his boss. Why did CU lose 10 games last year, if your altitude theory has any validity, they should have won at least 6 games. Think before you put on your Crimson and Cream blinders. I am as big a OU fan as anyone, that's why I am sick of losing to mediocre teams.
Jerry, Corpus Christi - Sep 30, 2007 9:29 PM
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The reason the players were "gassed" is because the OU offense had the ball for about 26 seconds of the third quarter. The altitude didn't force all the penalties, muffed punt returns, turnovers, poor play calling, and Reggie Smith running off the field in tears like a little girl. He must not be 40!
Jason, Seattle - Sep 30, 2007 9:01 PM
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For those of you that think altitude is a non-factor, you are wrong. Not the ONLY factor, by any means. But an important one. I am old enough to remember when Bud would go up there in the 50s, when OU clobbered everybody, and squeak out a 6 point win or even an occasional loss. Alternate years in Norman, it was always a 56-14 blowout, or something similar. I think Bud did take his team up a day early, but it was still tough. However, those 4th qtr turnovers were the main factors on Saturday, but you could see that the players were, indeed, "gassed" in the late 3rd qtr. They should have been further ahead than 24-7 at that point and it wouldn't have mattered. Second half stats really told the story, big advantage to CU.
Bob, Signal Hill - Sep 30, 2007 8:20 PM
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The world would be a much better place without the comments of people like Craig, from Roeland Park. Taking liberties with terms like "MIGHT SHOULD" to emphasize a point and add color has always been a widely accepted practice by many popular writers. I don't always agree with Mr. Tramel's point of view, e.g., his support of the Jeni Carlson's article trashing a college student, is one example. Still Mr. Tramel is a very talented writer that creatively weaves words in a way that makes a story interesting. Here is hoping the joy of reading will never be diminished by those who want to grammatically sanitize.
D, Norman - Sep 30, 2007 8:12 PM
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Danny, Vail - Sep 30, 2007 7:52 PM
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I think Berry meant "Attitude Sickness" instead. That has to be it.
The attitude that most Sooners have was evident. Fans thought it was a no brainer -- a vacation with a mere formality of a game to punctuate the beautiful mountain holiday.
The team's attitude after feasting on cupcakes with similar records was that CU just had to accept that OU was in town and they should just rollover.
The attitude of the OU coaches that OU didn't have to do anything creative to win or make any adjustments.
The attitude by the OKC media that OU was invincible with little opposition in the way of another trip to a BCS MNC game.
Yep, that loss sure can be attributed to "Attitude Sickness" alright.
Danny, Vail - Sep 30, 2007 7:44 PM
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OU fans were set up by a soft schedule of patsies -- and Miami is no where near the Miami of old.
Sooner fans swallowed the hook, line and sinker. The team, overconfidently spoonfed by this very media outlet and it's subsidiaries believed it's own press.
Don't stop believing your own press now. That same press has turned on you like a politician on a bum.
I think both major universities in this state have little reason to believe anything from this paper or it's TV station.
Danny, Vail - Sep 30, 2007 7:32 PM
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What I would like to know, if altitude was the problem, why didn't Stoops use the depth on the bench and keep running in fresh players? I would have thought that would be part of the game plan to substitute enough to keep people fresh enough to play at their maximum. I agree, it seems the secondary plays a little too soft and gives up too much yardage and that is coaching. Are we really that insecure about the matchups that we have to back off 10 yards? You may not give up the big play but you end up giving up the field in big chunks. Very disappointing that we can never seem to adjust to new schemes and that too is coaching. Beat TEXAS! Saw em' off!! Go Sooners!!
ED, DUMAS - Sep 30, 2007 10:23 PM
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Hey Nick from Norman, I guess you get to decide what's widely accepted? Have you ever been out of Oklahoma? As I said before, there's folksy and there's stupid. I believe by by writing that, I'm admitting that there's a history of adding color to a column, but "might should" in the middle of a sentence fragment might as well have been written by a retarded hillbilly. If that's insulting, I don't know what to tell you except that maybe it hits a little too close to home and it hurts to come to terms with one's inner hillbilly. I guess, after living in Bush-America for almost 8 years, I should come to terms with the fact that little things like grammar, spelling and honesty don't matter to most folks any more.
Craig, Roeland Park - Sep 30, 2007 10:20 PM
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Every facet of OU's game was terrible yesterday. The rush defense, pass defense, offense, and kick coverage was awful. I do not care what Coach Stoops says the Sooners were not ready to play. Either they were taking Colorado too lightly or thinking ahead to Texas. Maybe they were reading their press clippings too much. Whatever the reason the season hangs in the balance and they better right the ship right now. I do not know what I saw yesterday but it was not OU football.
William, Fairfield - Sep 30, 2007 1:52 PM
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Hey Tramel, there's folksy and then there's stupid. "Which means Stoops might should implement OU fan Craig Blankenship's plan." MIGHT SHOULD? I sure hope this is just another case of the Oklahoman having a horrible proof reader/editor. This kind of hillbilly crap makes me embarassed to be from Oklahoma. Jesus.
Craig, Roeland Park - Sep 30, 2007 1:27 PM
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I disagree with some comments about altitude having no affect, but that was not the reason OU lost. This looked like Boise State all over again. OU appeared to be totally confused on what to do with both CUs offensive and defensive formations. That is coaching. One question that likely, did the coaching staff spend
too much of the week on Texas, thinking they could cruise by CU?

I moved to Denver for a few years and moved back. The altitude definitely makes a difference. It is a physiological thing, well known to the medical community in Colorado. I am surprised that Stoops and his staff haven't looked into this. Lower atmospheric pressure reduces the oxygen entering our vascular systems. Over time a body adjusts by developing more red blood cells and capillaries, the lungs increase in size. Backing that up with personal experience, I exercise almost daily. At the time I moved to Denver was on the Stairmaster 4 times a week. Using the same model in Denver, I had to reduce the level on that same Stairmaster model 2 levels, from 11 to 9. On a range of 1 to 12 that falls between 8 and 16%. Within a month my body had acclimated. By the same token moving back to OK resulted in the opposite effect. In addition there is an increase in dehydrating in a much dryer atmosphere. There are claimes of preconditioning methods used before going to higher altitudes, but I leave it to others to determine if that works and is safe.
D, Norman - Sep 30, 2007 1:20 PM
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Don't make excuses for them. It wasn't the altitude. The stats prove that the Sooners just straight up got their a$$es whopped!
Jason, Seattle - Sep 30, 2007 12:47 PM
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This is one of the most ridiculous articles I've read! Having the superior coaches, players, and conditioning programs should win over altitude every time. This loss was because of poor execution by everyone - NOT ALTITUDE. Call it what it is...a LOSS!! I'm starting to wonder if OU ever truly gets beat - there is always an excuse. They flat got beat by CU, not altitude. Gimme a break.
Doug, Oklahoma City - Sep 30, 2007 12:10 PM
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When you are up 24-7 in the second half, MIDWAY through the third quarter and lose....that's coaching ala John Blake (I don't think even his teams would have blown that kinda lead, Schnelly's maybe). When you get manhandled and beat like a lil' redheaded stepchild...ala USC in 2004 that is superior talent. Ask any coach, hell ask the Jackass in Norman who refuses to fire Kevin Wilson, just like he refused to fire Chucky (how's that working out in SD, Chuck?), what 24-7 to 27-24 means (it's the coaching stupid). OU will never win another National Championship until Kevin Wilson is fired and they hire someone FROM OUTSIDE the program. You know someone with new ideas on how to play football, not call vanilla ass plays to keep from losing a game...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, Joe step in before it's to late.....FIRE KEVIN WILSON, FIRE KEVIN WILSON, FIRE KEVIN WILSON. Cuz we all know that ole' lose to someone we are not supposed to BOOB won't do it(OSU 2001, 2002, Texas Tech 2004, Oregon 2006, K-State 2003, LSU 2003, Nebraska 2001, Boise fricking State 2006). It's a cold hard truth we can't play on the road unless we are an underdog. Every loss I can ever think of in the Bob stoops era (BTW thank god we never played Miami in 2000 *SPANKING*)we were favored to an inferior opponent. That is bad coaching. When you are up step on thier throats and crush them NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, go vanilla (or ugly) early. You will lose every time (or at least wake up with the clap).
Chris, Lindsborg - Sep 30, 2007 12:09 PM
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Mark in OKC is right! It appears more and more that we rely solely on individual athletic ability. What would it be like if that talent was coached up? I guess I'll just keep waiting to see... a.k.a when we get a new D coordinator.
Pete, Dallas - Sep 30, 2007 4:00 PM
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It was not the altitude that beat us yesterday! We simply imploded in the 2nd half with mistakes, turnovers, penalties, poor clock management, and poor coaching. We were way to predictable and conservative on offensive playcalling for the entire game. On defense, we can't cover any receivers running intermediate routes. We should have learned that from the Tulsa game. And to let the clock tick down from 34 seconds to 2 without calling time out to give yourself a chance for a runback and a few hail Mary's in case they DO make the field goal is inexcusable. In the end, Colorado played like the team that was hungrier and wanted it more. The buffaloes won it and deserved it, and it wasn't because of the 'thin air'.
toby, cyril - Sep 30, 2007 11:31 AM
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I have seen this for yeardsd,i.e., altitude...make them come to Norman if it is nec they play ..blood is not good there..thickens.
Boo, Salem - Sep 30, 2007 10:27 AM
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One more thing i would have to ask as a reporter...Brent Venebles...why do you teach your guys to play so soft in the secondary. They are obviously athletic...we have future NFL players that several of those positions but any time that it is lets say 3rd and 5 to 3rd and 15 they sit back in a zone, watch only the quarter back, and let guys run their routes, catch the ball, and then react. I mean they are just standing there letting guys run in space right in fron of them and not covering them!! how does that happen? what are you teaching them that they arent grasping? Do you just hope and pray that the quarterback is inaccurate and over or under throws the ball, because as a fan thats what I am hoping for. Why not just man up on these guys if we are so athletic, they obviously do not unserstand your schemes (because surely you do not teach them to just stand back and let guys run around wide open all day) you get paid over $300,000 Brent...please explain so i dont have to cringed when i look on the tv and see 3rd and 10 because i know the chances of completing if they have a decent QB.
Eric, Norman - Sep 30, 2007 10:23 AM
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jerry, have you ever been on top of Mt. Evans in Colorado? They have oxygen for people because of altitude sickness. My mother could not do much for several days when she went to Colorado. The team should have gone up there earlier than the day before. That's the coaches fault.
american, anywhere - Sep 30, 2007 10:11 AM
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Did they raise the stadium in Boulder? How did we ever win there before. If they weren't conditioned that is the coaches fault. In reality Texas beat OU today. All of the mental mistakes were proof this team wasn't focused.
steve, nicholasville - Sep 30, 2007 8:59 AM
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Hi Tom. I'm not a fan of OU, but I did watch the game and saw the mistakes.
dan, oklahoma city - Sep 30, 2007 8:48 AM
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No one has ever beaten OU yet, its always them beating themselves, right? Fans cant admit it.
Tom, bethany - Sep 30, 2007 8:35 AM
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The Sooners beat themselves.

But, Jerry, altitude sickness does in fact come on that quick. I live in Oklahoma and climb mountains in Colorado. Altitude sickness is fast and effective. It takes a few days to adjust to perform at your peak. That's not an excuse for the loss, but don't tell someone they don't know what they're talking about.

dan, oklahoma city - Sep 30, 2007 8:11 AM
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Let's, for a minute, say the altitude was a factor, even while admitting that Colorado deserved to win whether OU was gassed or not. The fact the Sooners were not prepared to play in Boulder goes back to preparation, and that goes back to coaching. Stoops did not have OU prepared to play on any level. When it comes to being overpaid and overrated, he leads the nation. At $3.4 million annually, OU deserves better.
Robbin, Fort Collins - Sep 30, 2007 9:55 AM
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History has repeat itself. In 1972, OU took a first-year QB, a reputable defense and an undefeated record to Boulder and lost 20-14. In that game, OU went up early, then once-beaten Colorado found its running game, kicking game and fed off the crowd's emotion to pull off the upset. It was OU's only loss of the year, preventing them from claiming the title that USC won.
Tommy, Mansfield - Sep 30, 2007 9:33 AM
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What a joke. Did the sooners look sick to anyone? They got their butts beat, period. Bad coaching and bad fundamentals. When the ball hits you in the hands you have to catch it. Muffed punts and little league mistakes. Tramel, you've always been an idiot. You and Carlson should run away together and join the circus.
John, Wylie - Sep 30, 2007 9:33 AM
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Five of the top ten teams lost. 7 of the top 13 teams lost. #3 OU lost by 3 ON THE ROAD. #7 Texass lost by 20 AT HOME. #4 Florida lost by 3 AT HOME. #10 Rutgers lost by 10 AT HOME! Yeah... OU is the most overrated team in the nation. *rolls eyes* Mike, you're an idiot. Go back to the sandlot, child!
Richard, Oklahoma City - Sep 30, 2007 3:57 AM
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Oklahoma....The most overated team in the nation.You guys must have gotten fat eating all those cupcakes....lol
James, Edmond - Sep 30, 2007 3:34 AM
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Proof positive: OU NEVER loses, there is ALWAYS an excuse, but they NEVER get beat. Excuse me, Berry, but how do other teams with far less talent than OU manage to win in Boulder? SO sorry about the poor fans who booked a vacation thinking the game would be a vacation--typical OU--Whine when you lose, Gloat when you win--no wonder every other school hates you. You think it's because you win a lot? Not true, it's that you have no class when you win or lose. Kudos to Rhode--he's an OU homer, but he got this one right. One final note...what fan in their right mind would call for the firing of a coach whose offense has put up the numbers OU's has after one game? Answer? an OU fan.
Jim, Rockwall - Sep 30, 2007 4:52 PM
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Barry Tramel, sooner apologist.
T Scott, Oklahoma City - Sep 30, 2007 1:43 AM
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Jill go report on cooking or cleaning. You have no idea what you are talking about. You don't get altitude sickness that quick, but you do get bad coaching and prepartion sickness that quick.
Jerry, Corpus Christi - Sep 30, 2007 12:42 AM
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Tramel you are an idiot. Why don't they just play up to their potential and beat vastly inferior teams. By the attitude of the two teams on the field, you would have thought CO was the higher ranked undefeated team. This team QUIT. They are so badley prepared they are just helpless at times.
Jerry, Corpus Christi - Sep 30, 2007 12:40 AM
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The altitude beat OU? C'mon Berry, quit making excuses for the Sooners. Colorado's football team beat them, not anything else.
Bill, Tahlequah - Sep 30, 2007 12:17 AM
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Barry, you look a little high in your picture on this webpage. Could that be the altitude or something else?
Scott, Tyler - Sep 30, 2007 12:16 AM
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I agree, high altitude is rough. Not even the Sooners could overcome it.
Lehr, Kansas City - Sep 30, 2007 12:15 AM
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Quit making excuses. OU blew it. If altitude is such a big factor, why did Colorado go 2-10 last year? Shouldn't they have been 6-6, winning all their homegames because of "altitude advantage." Give me a break Tramel. The strength and conditioning programs of colleges, especially "elite programs" like OU, take away virtually any effect of the altitude difference.
Scott, Tyler - Sep 30, 2007 12:13 AM
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Absolutely. If you've ever had altitude sickness, it feels like the flu. You've got a headache, nausea and you're tired. It gets worse with any exertion and doesn't improve until you stop exerting or go to lower altitude. I've always been shocked that the team doesn't go up far earlier. Today was a perfect example. If it had been a blowout and the second team could have played the second half, it might have been different. But that's a difficult situation in which to play lights out for 60 minutes.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Sep 29, 2007 10:17 PM
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Coach says that our team is "robotic" in the way it prepares. I hope emotion and "passion" is another ingredient of this year's team. Colorado had alot of emotion and passion, yesterday! That's why CU won. They certainly do not have better athletes than OU. Boomer Sooner!
Jeff, Tulsa - Sep 30, 2007 3:33 PM
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We can make all the excuses we want about OU, but all those dropped passes. All those OU leaders who make basic mistakes (15 yard penalties, dropped punt, dropped passes right in the bread basket)....OU's leaders lost this game...all in the midst of OU's QB keeping his head coming back from an INT throwing great, catable passes. OU's leaders lost this game. OU's offense could not sustain a drive giving the defense a much-needed rest. OU's offense giving CU exactly the number of plays it needed to overcome 17 points.... Hey OU team captains and leadership, you gave CU this one. Please spend the rest of the season making up for it.
John, Oklahoma City - Sep 30, 2007 5:13 PM
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Chalk me up as another who lists reason #1 as coaching... To my mind, blowing a 24-7 lead, with OU's talent, and what they've accomplished this year, lands squarely on the coaches shoulder, and that includes underestimating conditioning up there, once again exposing OU's questionable coverage schemes, playing conservatively, not FINDING a way to get Kelly involved, lack of aggresiveness when a team stands up to them and plays them tough for 4 quarters....It's almost like the coaching staff gets exposed when they play a team that they can't rely on their sheer athleticism to outclass.
Mark, Oklahoma City - Sep 30, 2007 2:50 PM
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