STILLWATER — Through no fault of its own, Oklahoma State played the wrong football team Saturday night.
OSU head coach Mike Gundy speaks to his players as they come off the field during the second half of the college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Boone Pickens Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008, in Stillwater, Okla. STAFF PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS
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The Cowboys could have beaten just about every team in the country the way they played before a crowd of 49,031 at Boone Pickens Stadium.
Oklahoma was one of the exceptions.
The sizzling Sooners posted a 61-41 victory to keep alive the debate as to who will represent the South in next Saturday's Big 12 championship game against Missouri at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
OU has now scored 60-plus in four straight games, something the Sooners have never done in their storied history which includes seven national titles since 1950 and a half-dozen additional misses for the crown.
This could be the most prolific offense in OU history, and the Cowboys went toe-to-toe for as long as they could.
Usually a team throws a victory party whenever it scores 41 points, gains 452 total yards, averages 7.0 yards-per-play, collects 25 first downs and has to punt only twice.
Not so when facing these Sooners. Not right now, anyway.
Had the Bedlam game not been switched a few years back from October to Thanksgiving weekend for television, perhaps the Cowboys could have survived.
Since its 45-35 loss to Texas in Dallas on Oct. 11, the Sooners' offense has become a runaway train, demolishing whoever dares to step on the same tracks.
There were 1,009 total yards, 102 points and 52 first downs in the highest-scoring game in Bedlam's 103-game history.
Please forgive both defenses. When these two offenses get rolling, it's best just to get out of the way.
The country's best offense roosts in Norman.
OSU countered with an almost equally-impressive explosive offense of its own, but it eventually got derailed by too many turnovers.
As if the Sooners needed any help, good fortune also shined upon them with a 73-yard tipped pass for a touchdown and bobbled quarterback sneak for a score from the 2-yard line on fourth down.
Afterward, Cowboys coach Mike Gundy did precisely what he should have done with his team.
He bragged about them.
"I thought our team played extremely hard," Gundy said. "We were down a number of times and fought back, drove down the field and scored.
"They had a little too much firepower for us on offense."
A quality bowl now awaits 9-3 OSU. Here's a vote for the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.
The Cowboys would return on the 20th anniversary of their previous appearance there, when they had 1988 Heisman Trophy winner Barry Sanders, wide receiver Hart Lee Dykes and a quarterback named Gundy.
This year's OSU team offers a slightly smaller version of those Triplets with tailback Kendall Hunter, receiver Dez Bryant and quarterback Zac Robinson.
On any other Saturday, Robinson would have been the toast of the conference with 254 passing yards for three touchdowns and 90 yards rushing with Houdini-like artistry to escape the Sooners' pass rush.
On this Saturday, however, the Cowboys were the second-best team on the field, and there's no disgrace in that.
Not when the other team brings the scariest offense in the country.
John Rohde: 475-3099. John Rohde can be heard Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m. on New JOX 930 (AM).
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Both teams. Both the best in recent history. Both with a winning season and both without facing NCAA violations. Both coaches, Coach Stoops and Coach Gundy have built a quality program without cheating. I am proud of both teams, the coaching staffs and the universities. We could not have asked for a better game and look forward to many future games by these fine programs. An OSU/OU fan
My biggest fear at the OSU/OU game was having to sit next to fans on either side with no class. I am very grateful that all the OSU season tickets who had been sitting around me all year were still there sitting in our group. I also had the privilege of sitting next to 5 OU fans that were very respectful. I am glad that the bad-mouthing trash talking fans that post on the OSU/OU articles were not the ones that showed up at the game and sat by me. Not only do you make yourselves look bad, but you also give your fan base a bad name. Grow up and support the fact that our state will be represented extremely well in the bowl games. Yes, the Sooners will be representing the Big 12 South, and I will be cheering for them to wipe out Missouri so that they will then have the opportunity to play for the NC and bring home the honor to the state of Oklahoma.
As a self-proclaimed classy OU fan, I have to give props to the Pokes for putting up an entertaining fight. They may not have won, but at least they did better than Tech. However, if the defense that played against Tech had shown up against OSU, it wouldn't have been nearly that entertaining. Let's just hope that OU represents the Big 12 by beating Mizzou (again) and beats whoever shows up for the SEC. If they pull another Fiesta this year, they might join Ohio State in the overrated column of college football.
OSU is the 4th best team in the Big 12 South. OSU is also the 14th best team in the country. For 4 teams in one division, in one conference to be rated so high is absolutely amazing. I think if we all took off our crimson and orange glasses we would have to admit it has been a very entertaining year. I wanted OSU to win, but in reality knew as good as OU was playing they were going to have to be flawless. The loss does not bother me near as much as listening/reading iditotic comments by Sooner fans who get on here, and just say anything they can think of negative toward the other team. These guys are probably the same people who were calling for Venables head 3 weeks ago. They are not the type of fans that a school is not proud of, and unfortunatley for them do not have a degree from OU, but can ask you if you want fries with that at McDonald's! Carl please go back to manning the french fries, and JJ and Richard I would like to super size! LOL
OSU wasn't expected to have a 9 win season. Cudo's to the team and coaches for their hard work. Cudo's to the OSU Alumni who bought tickets and supported the team. I am very proud of the university where I graduated. OSU is a great place to go to college. Football gives us an opportunity to return to the campus and see our life long friends made during our college years. I am looking forward to purchasing season tickets for 2009.
OSU has played the toughest schedule in the history of college football this year...look it up...games with #1, #2, #3...all on the road, and then #3 at home. That has never been done, so all the classless Sooners, acknowledge that OSU showed up and played.
JJ....living his life through a college football team since 2000. (When they won the National Championship). Ever heard of being classy? No? Or maybe being educated? Nah, your parents didn't teach you how to achieve either of those, loser. Congrats, OU won a football game. I still have my life to live, you have to just be the loser you already are. And you have to be at the oldest 16. No way you are older.
Hey Neel, hey Jacob, hey Patrick......sup? I am still here lOSUrs. How'd you like that game? I know....another moral victory for OSUcks. And wait til next year, right? OSUcks mantra is wait til next year.
"One thing to hang our hat on is that the Cowboys are the highest ranked 9-3 team in the country." And very appropriately. That was a great game, and clearly OSU is a team on the rise. I hope y'all get a great bowl game, and show the country what the Big Twelve South is made of.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Dec 1, 2008 at 1:18 am
All of us (OU fans) were nervous about this game and I continued to be nervous until OU recovered that fumble up 13 late.
Robinson was awesome. I dont know how OU could have defended him better, except a little better tackling. But they were constantly pressuring and he was constantly making plays.
Lastly, we all have to recognize just how brutal the Big XII South was this year. Easily the best division in college football. It is a shame that the winner has to be decided in such a contriversial manner. While I am happy OU is going to the title game, it is tough to have somewhat of an asterisk on it.
Carl, ARE YOU SERIOUS? You admitted that you didnt watch the end and you accuse OU of running up the score? Talk about a sore loser. That last drive had 4 plays, all runs and covered 70 yards. The defense gave up. The play that scored was a simple draw play right after Gundy had called the timeout. Stoops himself said that they would have let the game end if not for that timeout. So they chose to run the ball instead of taking a knee... So what. They werent trying to score, therefore they did not run up the score.
OSU played great. I just wonder if Pickens bought some of the officials this year? The first half was completely lopsided even the announcer were mentioning the BAD calls. For a moment I thought they were even going to take the ball away at the end of the 2nd quarter. There was a lot of confusion, but luckily the second half it was a non-factor. Not to take anything away from OSU though as it was not their fault for the bad officiating.
Robinson played a great game, but after running in the backfield all day and over 100 yards on the ground - I think he lost a little steam in the fourth quarter. OU gained a lot of momentum in the fourth quarter including Bradford who seemed to keep getting better as the game continued. It was nice to see him compete for 4 quarters. 60+ points 4 games in a row including against top ranked opponents. Give the Heisman to Bradford!
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Nov 30, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Our Pokes still have a ways to go before they can really be considered even with UT and OU, but this team made a big move in the right direction this year. The real Sooner fans have given our team its props. A 9-3 season with all three losses coming to 11-1 teams is a fine accomplishment and being involved in some significant national games will make them better. Too bad we were unable to win any of those big time games, but were in two of them all the way to the end. One thing to hang our hat on is that the Cowboys are the highest ranked 9-3 team in the country.
Carl, I somewhat agree. However, on the play, Stoops called a run up the middle. If OSU didn't want them to score, they should have stopped the play. I have never been critical of teams running up the score. If the defense plays tough till the end, they can help stop those types of TD's. Stoops didn't do anything wrong. OSU should have played better on that play, and basically every play of the second half.
I left with about 52 seconds left sure that Stoops and Co. would do the classy thing and take a knee. I heard in the bathroom what should not have surprised me. Then I hear Stoops on the radio with the gameday crew bragging about scoring 60+ in three straight games. Classy, classy guy. not!
Neel, Jason could never understand holding on to values. He left his and joined the OU bandwagon long ago. He doesn't have values, as you can see based on his loser comments.
Jason, keep up the classy comments buddy. You just continue to make yourself look stupid. I love it. But, at least OU won a football game. Who cares how you look, right? That is what happens when you live your life through OU football.
I have long doubted the reporting of John. He needs a dress overhaul like jenni and berry. OSU stunk in their pass coverage just like the last 100 years. And the last few minutes they just flat quit. Look like a good team???
Jason trust me I would never abandon my values and beliefs and being a true fan to OSU no matter what is part of my belief system and I am a proud alum and an avid OSU fan...but other than that Mary your comments are worthless because OSU isn't settling for mediocricy its going to take time to build a great team but there are many improvements and they are continuing to grow and it will take some time so quit spewing for rhetoric. Go Pokes!
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Robinson was awesome. I dont know how OU could have defended him better, except a little better tackling. But they were constantly pressuring and he was constantly making plays.
Lastly, we all have to recognize just how brutal the Big XII South was this year. Easily the best division in college football. It is a shame that the winner has to be decided in such a contriversial manner. While I am happy OU is going to the title game, it is tough to have somewhat of an asterisk on it.
Carl, ARE YOU SERIOUS? You admitted that you didnt watch the end and you accuse OU of running up the score? Talk about a sore loser. That last drive had 4 plays, all runs and covered 70 yards. The defense gave up. The play that scored was a simple draw play right after Gundy had called the timeout. Stoops himself said that they would have let the game end if not for that timeout. So they chose to run the ball instead of taking a knee... So what. They werent trying to score, therefore they did not run up the score.
Robinson played a great game, but after running in the backfield all day and over 100 yards on the ground - I think he lost a little steam in the fourth quarter. OU gained a lot of momentum in the fourth quarter including Bradford who seemed to keep getting better as the game continued. It was nice to see him compete for 4 quarters. 60+ points 4 games in a row including against top ranked opponents. Give the Heisman to Bradford!