Worst losses of the Bob Stoops era: No. 15, West Virginia 48, OU 28 (2008 Fiesta Bowl)

West Virginia's Pat White, left, runs past OU's D.J. Wolfe during the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE

Each Friday at 10 a.m., I’ll release that week’s worst loss. Three hours later at 1 p.m., you’ll get that week’s best win.

I’ll post the score, where it was played and why I think it belongs where it is on the list. Then, I’ll provide The Oklahoman’s column from that game. If I can find a good video from the game, I’ll include that, as well as The Oklahoman‘s sports front page from the next day.

The worst loss and best win in the Stoops era will be released Friday, Aug. 31.

I’ve based my lists on the expectations for the Sooners entering the game, its historical implications and how the game was won or lost (level of play, officiating, etc.).

And now, I bring you the 15th-worst loss of the Bob Stoops era.

2008 Fiesta Bowl: No. 11 West Virginia 48, No. 3 Oklahoma 28

When: Jan. 2, 2008

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

Oklahoman headline: CACTUS JACKED

Why it’s on the list: OU entered this game will all kinds of momentum; they’d just smacked the No. 1-ranked team in the country, Missouri, 38-17 in the Big 12 Championship game a few weeks earlier. West Virginia, on the other hand, had just lost its head coach when Rich Rodriguez bolted for Michigan. The Mountaineers had also blown their shot to play for the national championship by losing the last game of their regular season, 13-9 to rival Pittsburgh.

Berry Tramel’s column from the game

Stoops runs out of magic again, and Sooners’ BCS struggles continue

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Bob Stoops came to the desert a year ago and got outfoxed by Boise State’s Chris Petersen.

Stoops came to this Fiesta Bowl and outfoxed himself.

Oklahoma’s BCS slump continued Wednesday night in a big-time way, a 48- 28 browbeating by West Virginia.

The Sooners weren’t the better team. Not by a long shot. West Virginia’s defense dominated the first half, and its offense dominated the second half.

And Bill Stewart, the down-home, one-game-and-done interim coach for the Mountaineers, didn’t get in the way.

The same can’t be said of Stoops or his staff.

The Sooners were woefully ill-prepared from the outset, just as they appeared to be against Boise State.

“Obviously, I need to do things differently as a head coach,” Stoops said of his fourth BCS defeat, three of the embarrassing variety.

Starting with picking his spots a little better.

Just like a year ago, OU rallied, clawing within 20-15 midway through the third quarter, when Stoops, who once had the magic touch on such surprise, tried to wizard his way to a win.

He called an onside kick.

Horrible decision. The Sooners had all the momentum. The defense finally had slowed the Mountaineers, with three straight possessions turned away. The offense had moved 59 and 80 yards on its two second-half drives, to a field goal and touchdown.

No reason to give West Virginia breathing room. But that’s exactly what Stoops did when Garrett Hartley’s kick didn’t even roll 10 yards. West Virginia pounced on the ball, and OU momentum went poof faster than you could say Mark Bradley.

“Obviously, you’re in a tight situation,” Stoops said. “We had the momentum. If you get the onside kick, you get a chance to really give them a blow.

“In the end, you don’t do those kind of things when you don’t have momentum. I felt the opportunity was there…

“There were still a lot of plays after that.”