But that's not all he saw.
"The ball was kind of loose when he did it,” Gundy said. "There's always a lot of things to coach on, even when you make great plays.”
Gundy congratulated his freshman tailback for his performance, but he wasn't going to miss an opportunity to coach. And it appears the message stuck.
"I've seen a lot of times I had been carrying the ball (loosely),” Murray said. "I had actually been doing a pretty good job up until that game, trying to keep it high and tight. I don't know what happened in that game. Maybe I got a little too hyped, a little too ahead of myself.”
With 128 yards Saturday, Murray passed Allen Patrick as the team's top rusher with 444 yards. Murray already led the team in scoring, now with 10 touchdowns.
Gundy stood firm when asked Monday if Murray's Cotton Bowl performance has him rethinking his running back rotation, answering with a simple "no.”
Patrick has no lingering effects from the cramping problems that kept him out of the second half of Saturday's game. But it's an issue that bothered him in the Miami game on Sept. 8, which like Texas, was played in hot, muggy conditions.
Patrick remains the No. 1 option in the OU backfield.
Of course, the plan all season has been to find other ways of getting the ball to Murray, and that hasn't changed. Murray will continue to line up as a receiver, running reverses and catching passes.
"He's a special player,” Gundy said. "He's a guy that is very skilled, can do a lot of things.”
Murray says Saturday's touchdown run will stick with him.
"It was a very emotional touchdown, very exciting — your first touchdown playing in that game,” he said. "I'll remember it forever.”
And he'll remember the coaching he got from it just as long.
"Everybody else thought I did good,” Murray said with a smile before quickly turning the conversation to the grade Gundy gave his overall performance Saturday.
"I was only 2 percent (above) a winning grade, so there's a lot of things I've got to improve on. Hopefully, I'll do it this weekend.”
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I give you that the defense can improve against the pass and I miss the aggressive style that we seem to have lost on defense. I also miss the riverboat gambler Stoops that used to fake kicks, etc. I dont think we got too conservative against CU. The interceptions came on passes that, if completed, would have been over 20 yards. We just didnt execute well. It was a bad game, just like USC had a bad game against Stanford, and Florida against Auburn. It just happens. Its hard to avoid getting beat by an underdog if you are always the favorite. This staff as a whole is as good as any in the country
And don't get me wrong. I'm not saying the coaches are "terrible". But I am saying that based on a number of games over the last few years it seems to me that we could do better. I love what Stoops has done for OU. We're just sort of becoming the annual "fraud team," and that's a shame. We're recruiting better than that, obviously.
I don't think we should hang 50 on everybody. I think we should beat teams where we're favored by more than 20 points. The boys in Vegas do seem to know a thing or two. CU was a 2-10 team last year, 2-2 when we played them. Yes, there's more parity, and the days of going undefeated may be coming to an end. And that's not bad. It is bad when you're #3 and flail around at CU.
As for Stoops and the staff: You have to remember that he's being paid as much as any coach in the country. That's Nat'l Championship money. No, you're not going to win it all every year. But OU has consistently gone into games it should win and managed to lose.
What was Wilson's fault at CU was not facing the fact he couldn't pound the ball. Stoops said we didn't have many snaps. We didn't have many snaps because we got conservative, and we can't just blow people off the ball, no matter how much Wilson wants to. Murray's a cut-back runner, and exactly what we needed in the 2nd half. Wilson didn't use him.
On defense: How many years now have we watched the supposedly "best secondary in the country" keep getting torched, beat deep, repeatedly? We have as much speed and athleticism as anyone. We shouldn't get beat deep so often and so easily. Our d-backs keep looking into the backfield. In zone, how many times have you seen an opponent find the soft spots, surrounded by Sooners, but make catch after catch? OSU? A&M? Tulsa? CU? Not the same ball-hawking defense Mike Stoops put out there. Zone seems to be asking these players to think too much, and they keep blowing it. Let them line up man-to-man, press at the line, and disrupt the opponent's timing.
I'm no coach. But I've talked at length to several who are, and they agree that OU's schemes are no more sophisticated than what they run at their high schools. Wilson's offense is no more sophisticated than Long's.
Naturally there will be mistakes, dropped passes, bad games, etc. But as Stoops says, the coaches' job is to put the players in positions to make plays. Against CU, we had a perfect example of how OU often fails to do this.
For me, the most inane thing I've heard is about Malcolm Kelly being covered. If you can't find a way to throw the ball at least once to one of the top 3 receivers in the country, you've got some scheme problems. If nothing else, you send him on a go, throw it high or short, and let him go get it. Line another receiver up with him.
Great teams find ways to win games like the one at CU. You can't make a claim to #1 when you get shut out for a half against a team like CU with all the talent OU has on the field. And OU is all about being #1. That's why we're not CU.
If Wilson is so good, why is no one coming after him? Would you honestly say he's one of the 5 best OCs in college football? If Bradford is benefiting from coaching, it's because of Heupel, not Wilson. Run a reverse, throw to Murray in the flat or the seam. Take some pressure off Bradford. Bradford is so good right now because of his natural talent. Not like they've been coaching him up for three years. That was the same case with Peterson. OU didn't make him better. Or, I'm sure Gundy didn't.
Our staff looked like deer in the headlights. If it was just one game in several seasons, okay. We've had at least one game like that every year since 2000. I think it's a disservice to the players. Me, I'll get over it.
But for all the money Stoops is making, and for all the money I've spent going to the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Big 12 championship games, etc. (and I was at that CU game), it's not too much to ask that OU plays out one season to its potential.
Tom, thats something that hasnt been addressed and I hadnt really thought about. Patrick does have durability issues. I dont know if its the lingering ankle injury that they are calling "cramps" or what, but usually players dont sit out a whole half of football with cramps.
There are merits to all of these comments. I believe Murray is a real comer but it is probably wise to have the senior Patrick starting. However, he seems to have durability problems so I would not be surprised to see Murray as starter before season's end. As far as coaching and OU team ability, we probably have as much of both as anybody. Every year college football gets more like the NFL and I would not be surprised to see a two loss national champion in the not too distant future.
I agree, John is one of those guys that thinks we should put fifty on everyone, never get out coached, never get out played, make no mistakes, and not have a single weakness on the team. Yes, this team is good, and yes, it has weaknesses. JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER TEAM! LSU is the best team in the nation right now, and even they dont look flawless. Everyone has talent and everyone wants to win. We made too many mistakes ON THE FIELD against Colorado. and that bit about Pete Carroll? What does that have to do with Gundy or Wilson. Chuck Long called the plays in that game. Its amazing all these guys that know so much dont get into coaching.
Coach Wilson is easily the best OC we've had since Leach, although Mangino was quite good, also. Actually, Mangino and Wilson are both similar in that they are also O-line coaches.
Wilson coached a bad game at Colorado, but more importantly, our receivers, and to a lesser extent Bradford, played their worst game up there. How many drops were there by our receivers in that game? That wasn't bad playcalling, that was just poor play. Not Wilson's fault and if you think it is you know very little about football.
Also, if you cannot see how well this staff has developed this young quarterback in a hurry, you have no hope of ever understanding modern college football.
Many OU fans like yourself do not deserve to be so spoiled to root for such a great program.
I don't think much of either Gundy or Wilson. Against CU Wilson had a terrible, terrible game, and Murray didn't figure, even though he would've done to CU what he did to Texas, cutting to the backside and daylight. He is stubborn, and has no feel for the rhythm of play calling. Our run blocking has never been dominant. Murray is obviously the better back. It's not that Patrick is a slouch. Murray is just a more talented runner with better vision.
As for Gundy, I have no idea what qualifies him to be a running back coach for OU. Donte Hickson was always a better back than Kejuan Jones. I'd think they could get someone with NFL experience at the position to coach RB.
In my opinion, Stoops is too loyal. The Sooners have all the talent in the world, and it's not being maximized. Our secondary has been blowing coverages routinely for years, and shouldn't be playing zone.
Our offensive schemes and personnel groupings are too predictable. Just ask Pete Carroll. They knew not only when we were running, but to which hole. Both the offense and defensive schemes are simplistic. We look great against nobodies, and we struggle mightily with quality competition. We've been outcoached a number of times, and big-game Bob? Not so much anymore.
I appreciate what he's done for OU, but it's time he hired a more qualified and creative coaching staff. That's why he's making Nat'l Championship money, to make those hard calls.
WOW! Coach Gundy MADE Adrian Peterson the best running back ever? First off, he is great but its a stretch to call him the best ever. Also, that kid has so much talent he could have made it at any school. At any rate, the Vikings had to work a ton on AD's blocking and his footwork. Coach Gundy is probably a decent coach, but he is probably here because he played here. Murray is not yet a better running back than Patrick. He is our biggest playmaker and he needs to see the field, but the test of a running back isnt always whether he can rip off 60 yard runs. I havent seen enough from Madu to know if he is any good or not.
I applaud coach Gundy for not promoting Murray to first string or talking about getting him more carries. Just because Murray averages more yards per carry and is called "special" by most people that watch him doesn't mean he deserves to play more. Cale knows what he is talking about because he was a great running back himself. He also made Adrian Peterson the greatest player ever. Do you really think Peterson would have run so fast and had such a strong handshake if Gundy had not been his coach?
I applaud coach Gundy for not promoting Murray to first string or talking about getting him more carries. Just because Murray averages more yards per carry and is called "special" by most people that watch him doesn't mean he deserves to play more. Cale knows what he is talking about because he was a great running back himself. He also made Adrian Peterson the greatest player ever. Do you really think Peterson would have run so fast and had such a strong handshake if Gundy had not been his coach?
Maybe Gundy's just not cut out to be an OC? Personally, I'm a big fan of Wilson as OC, even before he was a Sooner. Btw, Cale is the RB coach, so he really wasn't very responsible for Jason White.
I've always wondered why Bob Stoops won't promote Cale Gundy he's been with the program a long time, he's coached a heisman winner "Jason White" he's coached probley the best player to ever play at OU "Adrian Peterson" yet when Mangino or Mike or the other Mike Letch, left he didn't promote him. Cale Gundy heads up the recruting program for the Sooners so you could say he's responsible for most of the talent at OU. Its sad that the Head Coach gets out coached in the big games. I think its time Cale Gundy gets his respect.
Here is my depth chart at tailback: Murray, Patrick, Madu then Brown. Brown hasn't shown me much at all. The other 3 have the ability to break the long one, and power run in the middle. Brown only to power run in the middle with no break-away capabilities. Start Murray because he is the best overall choice.
I agree with Rick, for now Patrick is the better back. By the time he leaves OU, Murray will be the better of the two though. Patrick is better than Murray between the tackles and has a better burst of speed than Brown. That said, I think Murray should be on the field as much as possible as he is our biggest home run threat. He will become even more valuable as a decoy as well. I feel like Brown and Murray will still compliment each other nicely next year. Its so nice to have 3 or 4 guys that can get out there and run with no huge drop off in production.
That may be true, Rick. However, I have seen Murray throw some devestating blocks in the backfield, knocking guys completely out of the play. He has the talent. He just needs more experience, perhaps, to be able to recognize the defenses better. All in all, he is no slouch, and for all of his explosiveness with the ball, AD was very frustrating when it came to pass blocking. He missed more than he hit. Patrick is very good, but for a frosh, so is Murray.
I read a national writer questioning the coaching staff's decision to keep Patrick starting ahead of Murray. I see Murray as the more electrifying runner, but Patrick is no slouch. The bigger gap is in pass protection. Patrick is a good blocker, and Murray misses guys. I've seen Murray block well on kick returns, so it's something he can learn. But for now, Patrick is still the more well-rounded back.
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As for Stoops and the staff: You have to remember that he's being paid as much as any coach in the country. That's Nat'l Championship money. No, you're not going to win it all every year. But OU has consistently gone into games it should win and managed to lose.
What was Wilson's fault at CU was not facing the fact he couldn't pound the ball. Stoops said we didn't have many snaps. We didn't have many snaps because we got conservative, and we can't just blow people off the ball, no matter how much Wilson wants to. Murray's a cut-back runner, and exactly what we needed in the 2nd half. Wilson didn't use him.
On defense: How many years now have we watched the supposedly "best secondary in the country" keep getting torched, beat deep, repeatedly? We have as much speed and athleticism as anyone. We shouldn't get beat deep so often and so easily. Our d-backs keep looking into the backfield. In zone, how many times have you seen an opponent find the soft spots, surrounded by Sooners, but make catch after catch? OSU? A&M? Tulsa? CU? Not the same ball-hawking defense Mike Stoops put out there. Zone seems to be asking these players to think too much, and they keep blowing it. Let them line up man-to-man, press at the line, and disrupt the opponent's timing.
I'm no coach. But I've talked at length to several who are, and they agree that OU's schemes are no more sophisticated than what they run at their high schools. Wilson's offense is no more sophisticated than Long's.
Naturally there will be mistakes, dropped passes, bad games, etc. But as Stoops says, the coaches' job is to put the players in positions to make plays. Against CU, we had a perfect example of how OU often fails to do this.
For me, the most inane thing I've heard is about Malcolm Kelly being covered. If you can't find a way to throw the ball at least once to one of the top 3 receivers in the country, you've got some scheme problems. If nothing else, you send him on a go, throw it high or short, and let him go get it. Line another receiver up with him.
Great teams find ways to win games like the one at CU. You can't make a claim to #1 when you get shut out for a half against a team like CU with all the talent OU has on the field. And OU is all about being #1. That's why we're not CU.
If Wilson is so good, why is no one coming after him? Would you honestly say he's one of the 5 best OCs in college football? If Bradford is benefiting from coaching, it's because of Heupel, not Wilson. Run a reverse, throw to Murray in the flat or the seam. Take some pressure off Bradford. Bradford is so good right now because of his natural talent. Not like they've been coaching him up for three years. That was the same case with Peterson. OU didn't make him better. Or, I'm sure Gundy didn't.
Our staff looked like deer in the headlights. If it was just one game in several seasons, okay. We've had at least one game like that every year since 2000. I think it's a disservice to the players. Me, I'll get over it.
But for all the money Stoops is making, and for all the money I've spent going to the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Big 12 championship games, etc. (and I was at that CU game), it's not too much to ask that OU plays out one season to its potential.
Wilson coached a bad game at Colorado, but more importantly, our receivers, and to a lesser extent Bradford, played their worst game up there. How many drops were there by our receivers in that game? That wasn't bad playcalling, that was just poor play. Not Wilson's fault and if you think it is you know very little about football.
Also, if you cannot see how well this staff has developed this young quarterback in a hurry, you have no hope of ever understanding modern college football.
Many OU fans like yourself do not deserve to be so spoiled to root for such a great program.
As for Gundy, I have no idea what qualifies him to be a running back coach for OU. Donte Hickson was always a better back than Kejuan Jones. I'd think they could get someone with NFL experience at the position to coach RB.
In my opinion, Stoops is too loyal. The Sooners have all the talent in the world, and it's not being maximized. Our secondary has been blowing coverages routinely for years, and shouldn't be playing zone.
Our offensive schemes and personnel groupings are too predictable. Just ask Pete Carroll. They knew not only when we were running, but to which hole. Both the offense and defensive schemes are simplistic. We look great against nobodies, and we struggle mightily with quality competition. We've been outcoached a number of times, and big-game Bob? Not so much anymore.
I appreciate what he's done for OU, but it's time he hired a more qualified and creative coaching staff. That's why he's making Nat'l Championship money, to make those hard calls.