Emails in on Landry & Miami

The new emails are in, and lots of talk about Landry Jones and Miami.

Bob: “I guarantee you that if Landry Jones goes down in Miami, they will be suiting Bradford up as quick as they can. This depending on the score, of course. Why would you take someone to an away game if they aren’t going to play? I love the idea that Sam isn’t playing. The Big 12 championship and a BCS bid is so much more important than this game.  Unless Landry turns into a Sam, we cannot win the Texas game without Sam.”

There’s actually a couple of golden nuggets, unintended, in this email. First of all, it’s a solid question. Why do you take an injured player to a road game? I think I know the answer. I think it’s because he’s Sam Bradford and he’s a team leader. Maybe he’s one of those guys who makes everyone around him feel better. I’m not trying to turn this into Tim Tebow worship, but maybe Bradford has a calming effect on not just the other QBs, but all his teammates. But I disagree with the premise that Bradford will play. Bob Stoops said he wouldn’t, so to pull some Willis Reed now will make OU look bad and question everything Stoops has said about watching out for Bradford’s health. The other nugget: is the Big 12 title and a BCS bid much more important than this game? It’s a great question. And I have to say no. OU’s six Big 12 titles in nine years is a fabulous streak, but OU’s national-championship drought  -  including three title losses  -  is an equally disturbing streak. I say the Sooners are all in on winning the national title, which starts with this game.

Gary: “It’s grossly unfair to compare Landry Jones after two games with Sam Bradford after two years.  Landry looks a lot more effective than Rawls, Bomar, Thompson, Halzle, Grady, Walls or whoever runs the scout team. Nine TD passes in 2.5 games? Bradford wasn’t Bradford after only two games. He gained all that wonderful experience and the ability to read defenses by doing it for two years, in games and practice against one of football’s finest defenses. It’s unfair to the Sooner nation to rip the man’s potential ‘not now, and probably not ever’ which comment one can only hope nobody pointed out to Landry Jones.  Most of us would much prefer to have his confidence bolstered, not sabotaged. I still love you, brother, but this was not a fruitful comment.”

I come not bearing fruit. I come bearing truth. Jones’ nine TDs are hollow. Idaho State and Tulsa don’t count for much. And it’s time everyone realizes that a QB like Bradford is special. It’s not automatic that the next OU quarterback is going to be as good as Bradford.

Jim needed some OU-Miami history. “1. Who coached Miami in 1975? 2. Did Miami have a chance to win that 1973 game, 24-20 in Norman?”
You’ve never heard of him. Carl Selmer, Miami’s coach in 1975-76, was the ‘Cane coach when OU survived the U. 20-17 on a Friday night in the Orange Bowl. In 1973, when Miami came to OU and lost just 24-20 to an epic Sooner team, the ‘Canes were coached by Pete Elliot, a former Bud Wilkinson assistant. And yes indeed, in ’73, Miami had a chance to win. The ‘Canes led 20-7 at halftime. Tinker Owens’ 52-yard TD catch with 3:08 left in the third quarter, and Rick Fulcher’s 30-yard field with 4:34 left in the game gave OU some breathing room. Miami missed a 45-yard field goal with 10 minutes left that would have given it the lead.

Charles: “Can you remember the last time that OU went on the road and defeated a top 20 opponent with our backup quarterback?  I think you have to go all the way back to 1987 when Charles Thompson beat the Huskers up in Lincoln 17-7.”

If you don’t count Texas (Jason White in 2001), I think that’s right.

Ron: “I am shocked to read that Bradford won’t start.  I don’t question Stoops. I just knew he would be ready to play. Does Stoops think we can win without him and wants to save him for the run through the Big 12?”

To cut straight to the truth, yes. That’s exactly what Stoops thinks. Here’s my theory. If Landry Jones had fell off a curb this week and sprained an ankle, I think Bradford would start vs. Miami. He would hand off about 50 times, throw maybe 10 passes and OU would try to win 13-10. But Jones is a decent quarterback (maybe better than that) who gives the Sooners a chance to win.

Stan: “I for one believe that Landry is a very adequate replacement for Sam, who ought to sit the season out, get that shoulder completely healed and rested  and enter the next draft.  His tight end sure has the right idea.  After 80 years of watching college football evolve, I strongly feel that the old ‘do or die for the alma mater’ has become hypocritical.  Our Texans play their Texans and only a few of the players are in college for the education.  It’s the minor leagues of the NFL, it should be acknowledged as such and the players should get a decent livable salary in return for the big bucks they earn for the universities.  Right now, they are virtually indentured servants.”

What’s worse. Hypocrites or cynics? I tend to vote for cynics. For the record, the three Sooners mentioned by Stan are not Texans; Bradford is from Putnam North; Jones from Artesia, N.M.; and Jermaine Gresham from Ardmore. And if anyone raises huge tons of money for universities, it’s the general student population, who fuel huge budgets that dwarf the athletic allotment.

Kermit, a Boise State fan: “I just finished reading your reality rankings and have only one issue with it: you have ranked Cincinnati higher than BSU, but we played Oregon when they were ranked and Cincinnati played Oregon State when they weren’t. You said this list was based on what the teams have done. I think BSU could beat Cincinnati, but we probably won’t find out for sure any time in the near future, though.”