Meanwhile, OSU will be playing across town, not in the Cotton Bowl but in its namesake stadium. The Cowboys draw Purdue, a weak team from a weak Big Ten, in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. This is a game nobody outside Oklahoma will watch.
How did the Cowboys, who tied Texas for third place in the Big 12, become No. 8 in the league's bowl selection?
Here's who passed on OSU.
Alamo: Had OSU in 2010, and always wants Texas.
Buffalo Wild Wings: OSU was in Greater Phoenix in 2011, so took TCU.
Holiday: Always looking for a school that's never been to San Diego, so took Baylor.
Houston: Took Texas Tech. Don't know why.
Pinstripe: The Big 12's only Eastern team makes sense for the Big 12's only Eastern bowl.
Maybe this was a case of not enough schmoozing. I know it's distasteful, but that's the way the business works. OSU athletic director Mike Holder, not a warm and cuddly personality, needs to let these bowls know that the Cowboy fan base has responded in bowls past and will respond in bowls future.
And maybe Holder did. But perhaps he didn't sell Phoenix or San Diego or Houston enough on the Cowboys. Certainly OSU's fans have done their part in recent years.
Of course, there's not much difference between playing Minnesota in the Meineke Car Care of Texas Bowl (Houston) and playing Purdue in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Maybe there's not a reason for OSU's plummet. Maybe it's just a bad break.
At least the Sooners know why they fell. Blame it on Boise State.
Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at btramel@opubco.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.
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