Berry Tramel, Sports columnist
Look out, Florida; here come the Sooners
Sooners earn their first title shot in four years
BY Berry Tramel
Comments
169
Published: December 7, 2008
OU's Sam Bradford celebrates after OU's win in the Big 12 Championship college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the University of Missouri Tigers (MU) on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For the slightest moments, for just a fraction of time, this game felt a little like 2003.
Multimedia
Big 12 blowout
Dec 8The Sooners quiet the naysayers with a 62-21 trouncing of the...
NewsOK Related Articles
- Sooners offense is one for the ages
12/07/2008 KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Moments after winning the SEC Championship, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said he couldn't wait to face a Big 12 defense. Well,...
DeMarco Murray got hurt on the opening kickoff.
Bob Stoops played it a little safe on the opening drive and settled for a field goal. The Schooner got stuck on the
Arrowhead Stadium turf.
Missouri seemed to be putting up a fight.
And somewhere deep in the heart of
Texas,
Mack Brown and the Longhorns had to allow themselves to think that these irresistible
Sooners could be felled, just as the indestructible Sooners of '03 were cold-cocked by
Kansas State in KC.
But the Longhorns would not get the last laugh on this cold Missouri night.
Soon enough, here came the Oklahoma avalanche we've come to expect in this video-game season of 2008. Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown.
62-21. Another Sooner rout. Another 60-point performance, five in a row. Another
Big 12 championship, three in a row. And, after a four-year wait, another shot at a national title.
Florida, here come the Sooners.
This game surely removed all suspense from tonight's
BCS announcement. It's Oklahoma-Florida for all the marbles hard by the sunny sand of South Beach.
“Hopefully, the people that watch this game tonight, we made an impression on them,” said linebacker Travis Lewis.
The Sooners suffered through an anxious Sunday a week ago, waiting to hear if they would win the BCS lottery to break the three-way tie in the Big 12 South.
The anxiety should be gone today. College football's voters and computer programmers will give the sport the game it most longs to see: Oklahoma-Florida, two teams that stumbled a bit two months ago but have been thrashing even the best of foes ever since.
“That's a pretty convincing win in a championship game, when you have to have it against another ranked team,” Stoops said. If “that doesn't make a statement, then you don't want it to.”
This was a thorough thrashing. Missouri is not the No. 1-ranked juggernaut it was a year ago, when the Sooners beat the Tigers for the Big 12 title game. But to maul a fellow division winner like this?
“They're one of the best football teams I've seen,” said Mizzou coach
Gary Pinkel, and he wasn't talking just about 2008.
Look at it this way. LSU won the national championship a year ago, and in the
SEC title game played a pretty good
Tennessee team that had a disappointing season and was 9-3. LSU won 21-14.
These Sooners played the same kind of team; same record. And Missouri got beat by 41.
The Sooners seem to be on a mission, and the flap of the last two weeks has fueled that fire.
“There was a lot of talk this week about how we didn't deserve to be in this game,” said quarterback
Sam Bradford. “We didn't get a lot of credit for what we had done this year. So I think there was a lot of motivation for us to come out and play well tonight and prove to everyone in the country that we belonged in this game.”
Not just this game, but the next one, too. The Sooners will be there, Jan. 8 against Florida for the national championship. After this performance, there can be no other result.
Berry Tramel: 405-760-8080. Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1.
Leave a Comment
News Photo Galleriesview all
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
Thank you for joining our conversations on newsok. We encourage your discussions but ask that you stay within the bounds of our terms and conditions. Please help us by reporting comments that violate these guidelines. To review our rules of engagement, go to Commenting and posting policy.
Log in below or sign up (it's free).
Thank you TT and Mike Leech!
OU is the most storied program in the history of college football. We've already added another conference championship to that story and we'll be adding another national championship in January.
Texas has added plane flyovers to their resume'.
Teasippers or stoolwater drinkers....Same ugly orange, both deal with cows...humm
enjoy sitting home on Jan 8!
With that out of the way, BOOMER SOONER!!!! Proud graduate of OU!!
We know it's hard Joe, but please try and show some class
We wish the Longhorn fans the best against the Buckeye's
If you can't do the same, then kiss the Sooner Nation's a**!
All he could do was refer to the Harris/coaches/BCS polls and the head to head Blah Blah Blah!!
It was a YES OR NO QUESTION, what a dumb A$$.
He was told by one of the BCS announcers he would make a great POLITICIAN for that answer.
Even he thinks he and his team where lucky to be there.
45-35
45-35
It will stick in his craw until he gets another chance next October. Normally, I would yell for the Big 12, but not this year. Chomp chomp! Go Gators! Give big-headed Stoops, his coaches, players , and fans a big old piece of humble pie. Please! Then maybe they will Shut Up!
Hook em'
P.S.
Hey Bob, next time you're on national T.V. get a better makeup man. At best with your Vitalis slicked hair you looked like an Okie rube. Have some class man!
45-35
45-35
Don't like it? Oh well
I can hear that disappointment in their Longhorn whines
Right after OU scored 60 on Missouri, I knew
That it wouldn't be long before it's cryin' time
Oh, it's cryin' time again, from down in Austin,
You can't turn on the radio, and miss Mac's speech
"We beat them on a neutral field, here in Dallas ...
Please forget about our loss, to Tech's Mike Leach."
Texas Whorns -- 33
I am at, Mama's House
"Take the Prozac or Paxil, and go watch an old western with your mother."
At least this idiot knows how to win BCS bowl games. After the embarrassing lost to West Virginia, I believe all of you wanted to run the idiot Sooner Coach of yours out of town. LOL
Stoops went on to say, "If you look at head to head, Texas Tech beat Texas. And they have an identical record as Texas and as us. So in the end the head to head didn't work it out because of that scenario. Texas Tech is 11-1, 7-1 in the league, just like we our, just like Texas is. So they went to a system that we all agreed up before the season. And if someone didn't like that system, whether it be the media, whether it be some other team, hey, just change it before the season and I'll play by whatever rules they want to play by. Just let me know before the season starts."
You would think Mack Brown would know what the rules are, too. What an idiot.
Nuff said.
ESPN just showed on the board how Chokahoma has lost straight four years in BCS bowl visits...what embarassment and in all four : Kirk, Lee , Lou and Mark laughed about it on ESPN>that is one for Coklahoma to go hide. And a few predict another LOST for the sooners.
I love the way Gooner fans post comments pn how good you are...but aren't.
This coming from a guy who married his sister.
LMAO
Stoops said: “The media, some media, say head-to-head is all that matters. But they’re only looking at it one way.”
You would think he would of had a better response ready. What an idiot.
Nuff said
I hear Wal-Mart has a special on banners this week. Might want to let them know down in Austin. :)
LAST YEAR, IT WAS WEST VIRGINIA WHO MADE YOU LOOK LIKE IDIOTS AND YOU WERE CALLING FOR STOOP'S HEAD.
THE YEAR BEFORE THAT IT WAS BOISE STATE: THEY REALLY MADE YOU GUYS LOOK LIKE FOOLS.
IF I WAS A SOONER FAN I WOULD WANT TO FORGET THE LAST TWO YEARS AS WELL.
NOW SOONER Gooners ARE HELPING STOOP'S HEAD SMILE THIS YEAR.
SOONERS SHOULD MOVE ON AND PREP YOUR TRAILERS FOR THE LONG RIDE TO MIAMI.
WARNING - NO FOODSTAMPS OR W.I.C excepted in most areas!
GATORS ARE WAITING TO PLAY and MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF THE BIG 12 SOUTH - YOUR SOONERS COULDN'T STOP JORDAN SHIPLEY, Quan Cosby OF TEXAS, HOW CAN YOU EXPECT TO STOP PERCY HARVIN AND THE REST OF THE WIDEOUTS THAT RUN 4.2,3 SPEED?
HAVE FUN IN MIAMI AND TAKE YOUR ALL YOUR TRASH WITH YOU WHEN DEPARTING THE FIELD INCLUDING YOUR TEAM WHEN IT IS ALL OVER!
P.S. Stay away from South Beach, because you will only embarrass yourselves if you don't.
HAVE FUN, WE'LL BE WATCHING.
Better check again. The latest AP poll has OU ranked second, behind Florida. And ahead of Texas. Meaning the Horns won't be getting any national title of any kind, no matter what. Darn, that breaks my heart. :)
"I see nowhere Texas fans would claim should it have come down between them and Texas Tech they would live with heads up loss."
Had it come down to the Red Raiders and Longhorns, Texas would be flying banners around claiming they deserved it over Tech since they're ranked higher than Tech in the BCS. They wouldn't care about the head-to-head record, and would complain about it being the tie-breaker. That's how they'd approach it. It doesn't matter though. The only thing that matters is my favorite score of all time - OU .935 Texas .922. Decided on a neutral CPU. :)
Texas will go win its bowl game be crowned AP National Champ.
OU will lose to Florida and the Big 12 will see is shameful mistake.
I see nowhere Texas fans would claim should it have come down between them and Texas Tech they would live with heads up loss.
While there are great OU fans in this state and support their team they often are arrogant beyond belief.
45-35 does COUNT and OU fans can't change it.
BCS is so fluked up the have Cincy in a BCS game yet leave Boise State out. OU might remember that team heads up??
45-35? Yes, that's a fact. Post it all you want. Nobody is denying it. 39-33? Yes, that's another fact. Only Texas is in denial about it. 65-21? Another fact that Texas should be thanking Oklahoma for. Otherwise, Texas wouldn't have even gotten a share of anything.
You're right about one thing. Your lack of intelligence on this website is very astonishing! One would think that you would be focused on what bowl game Texas is going to play in now and their opponent instead of still obsessing and whining about OU.
I totally agree. OU never plays better than when they're being slighted. I'm glad they're being questioned. Its just making the team that much more motivated.
LOL,
I rest my case.
Surely your joking? LMAO
You have a lot of issues dude, and I do mean a lot. You don't like what I'm posting, Oh well. There is nothing you can do about it. I bet that just chaps your hide.
It amazes me that Sooners will spew hate and call you all kinds of names when they don't like what they read or hear. The lack of intelligence on this website astonishes me.
I didn't realize there was a title for playing and losing a BCS game. What title would that be? All Time BCS Losers Title?
You don't like what I have to say, then don't read it.
Move On
What world do you live in? Sooner World?
The world has moved on, but it doesn't mean that I or anyone else can't speak our minds. Maybe not in the Sooner World but in the real world there is such a thing of freedom of speech. Check it out, you might learn something.
Your whining has become tiresome...a mere nuisance. Cry all you want but it's over for you and your precious longhorns. OU has now won 6 Big XII championships to your one... has played in 6 BCS games(about to be 7)to your two...and is about to play in the national championship...yet again. I believe that makes 4 title games for OU to ut's one. So, you should give it up. The rest of the world has moved on and you should join them.
Is this a great matchup,
t
t
Now what would the fun be in that?
Last night was huge for the Stoops family! Big brother Bob got you into the title game which I'll say right now will be the greatest title game in the history of the BCS title series to this point. Meanwhile, brothers Mike and Mark Stoops ended Arizona's 10 year absence from a bowl appearance and after 3 consecutive losses to rotten rival Arizona State blew away the Scum Devils 31-10 bringing euphoria to UofA Wildcats nation who are back fully embracing and backing Mike and Mark again. Things looked bleak when ASU took a 10-7 lead into half time. But Mike's half time speech inspired the Cats who came out in the second half and scored 24 answered points while the UofA defense limited ASU to a meager 162 yards of total offense.
How long did it take you to come with that response?
http://www.ou.edu/oupd/choke.htm
Good Luck!
Bob Stoops, Sooner Fans, Class-less
Let's all fly planes with banners and make arses out of ourselves on national TV trying to get Texas Tech in the Fiesta Bowl over a Texass team that they beat 39-33 head to head.
The BCS is ajoke!!!
The facts are Texas Tech beat Texass 39-33 in a head to head game!!!!
This whole BCS thing is rigged! This is a travesty that the best team in Texass isn't going to the BCS Fiesta Bowl over a team that they beat head to head 39-33.
Texas Tech should be in an outrage because they beat Texas 39-33 in a head to head game and should therefore being going to the Fiesta ahead of a Texass Longhorn team that they beat 39-33 head to head.
I understand watching the last few games and reading the post in the last few weeks that in Oklahoma there is nothing but college football. The fans are already talking about neutral fields and the coach leaves in the starting quarterback to pad the stats in the last few games when they clearly had it won. The Tiger coach says good things about the Sooners and the fans bad mouth him.
So I get that saying of yours ,it is proud to be a Sooner.
Did you also know that Texas Tech beat Texass 39-33 head to head, yet Texass is going to the Fiesta Bowl over Texas Tech. How can that be? Since Texas Tech beat Texass head to head 39-33?
Let's ask Joe how come Texas is going to the Fiesta Bowl even though Texas Tech beat Texass 39-33 head to head.
Joe, How come Texass is going to the Fiesta Bowl when Texas Tech beat Texass head to head 39-33? It just doesn't seem right since Texas Tech beat Texass 39-33 in a head to head game.
Joe you're a loser and should find a better hobby than trolling Oklahoma message boards. You can spout of 45-35 all you want. OU is Big XII champs and Texass isn't. Have fun watching the Fiesta Bowl which in my opinion Texas Tech should be playing in since they beat you 39-33 in a head to head competition. You do remember that beating Texass took in Lubbock at the hands of the Red Raiders don't you? Remember how Texas Tech beat Texass 39-33 head to head. Let me remind you once agains how the Texas Tech Raiders beat the Texass Longhorns 39-33 in a head to head match.
Eat pooh Joe!!!!!
UT- I like the line from the movie Gladiator to sum-up your position in the BCS "you've been weighed, measured.... and found wanting". Best of luck against Ohio State- hope you represent the Big 12 well.
Relish in putting people down? No, I just state the facts. Read some of the Sooner posts, and then tell me who enjoys putting people down.
I've learned not to spew fan-smack or fan-trash BEFORE a game has actually been played. I can only hope that the Sooners will beat Florida, or whomever they face, in the NC game. If they can do that, most of this noise about losing 4 straight BcS games will stop.
One thing is certain, OU has made it to those 4 BcS games, while most schools can't come close to such accomplishments. And to go even further, OU has been to more bowl games, and won more bowl games, than 95% of any other school in the country. I believe those statistics best even UT. Even so, I suspect UT and their fans can argue such details don't count in one way or another.
Have a great weekend. Go out and enjoy the sunshine today. Breathe in the fresh air and realize that there is more to life than football. You seem to relish beating others down to make yourself feel better, and do a pretty good job at it. May God bless you too, because you really seem to need it.
talk about beating up on the special needs kid down the street.
everytime i see you post, i get the big Switzer smile just before he announce that the whorns were behind OU. at this point, suicide must seem like a real option for you.
Go hug your kids, if you have been fortunate enough to procreate with a human. Look it up if you need to.
Wow, how long did it take you to come with that tune?
Again, Class-less
I rest my case.
Yeah i posted the same message in another blog, what of it?
Dont like it? Oh well
Everybody now- (to the tune of the "Eyes of Texas")
The WHINES of Texas are upon you,
all the live long day.
The WHINES of Texas are upon you,
why don't you go away.
All the people down in Austin,
Think that they've got class,
While all the people up in Norman,
enjoy laughing at TEXASS!!!!
BOOMER SOONER!
Bob Stoops, Sooner Fans, Class-less
You aren't that bright darling. Your the pot calling the kettle black. Selective memory, how about 45-35??????
Get over yourself.
Regarding the tie breaker - Stoops voted against the BCS trump card. Mack voted for it. Joe, go yell at good ole Mack. He's the source of your trouble.
Pokes fans,there's always next year!!
Oh...Lest we forget...39-33.
Go to www.ioffer.com/i/86593481
WIN THE BCS SOONERS!!!
Your LoSur envy is really showing. Be a fan, root for your team, and hold your head high. Oops, you cant do that being a Booner, since your neck is permantly crooked from start at the back end of livestock.
Bill, doesn't your life suck knowing OU was put into the championship game cause they put a major beat-down on your once-a-decade ranked team? Chew on that one for awhile.
LoSur pride = getting to root for whoever is playing the Sooners
I have two words for you, Texas Tech. Is there ever a perfect way to break a three way tie? No! Get over it and go beat up on OSU.
More importantly, the Big 12 championship is now in the past and it is time for Coach Stoops to coach this team to a national title. Regardless of what your winning percentage is, the big prize is the national title. The talk for the next month will be that OU can't win the "big one." It is time for Sooner pride to rip that to shreds and re-establish the Sooners as the most feared college football team in the nation. I don't care about the win-loss record, all I want is a national championship. Here's to hoping that this Sooner team feels the same way. Go Sooners!
PLEASE make sure all the coat stores are closed the day they come to town.
PLEASE let the excuses begin when they get beat.
PLEASE let the gooners get beaten badly....
Let's look at some of the other games:
Chattanooga (57-2) - 7 OU points in the second half, and none in the 4th quarter.
Washington (55-15) - 7 OU points in the 4th quarter.
TCU (35-10) - no 4th quarter points.
Baylor (49-17) - 7 OU points in the 4th quarter.
KState (58-35) - 3 OU points in the 2nd half
A&M (66-28) - 0 OU points in the 4th quarter
Tech (65-21) - 7 OU points in the 4th quarter.
So where, exactly is the evidence of OU running up the score?
Let's compare Saint Mack's behavior to Stoops':
Texas v. Florida Atlantic (52-10) - 10 Texas 4th quarter points
UTEP (42-13) - 14 Texas 4th quarter points
Rice (52-10) - 14 Texas 4th quarter points
Missouri (56-31) - 14 Texas 4th quarter points
A&M (49-9) - 21 Texas 4th quarter points!!!!
I know it's easy to just bury your head in the sand and spout off what you've heard on tv or read on the internet. Do yourself a favor and do just a little bit of research before you make yourself look like a fool.
Bradford has sat for over 9 quarters this year and you want to take him out of the conference championship game?
Get over it, or get better.
Even though it would be unjust, I almost wish texas would have to play OU in the NC game. Then they would get a month's worth of their own medicine because they wouldn't deserve it. Florida probably wouldn't stoop to the same level as flying planes overhead though. But could you imagine a stadium full of OU faithful and the majority of the rest of them being anti-Texas. And when OU dropped 60 and held the golden calves to 17, that would be sweet! Of course then we still have to hear 45-35 (because it is apparently the only game that mattered this year). Oh well, I guess we'll have to wait until October to knock them off again. Meanwhile it sure feels great to be a fan of the greatest college football team ever. #8 is a little over a month away! And owning 6 of the last 9 Big 12 Championships is pretty sweet also.
BOOMER SOONERS!!!!
dont hurt yourself thinking.
45-35
39 - 33 don't forget loser!!
I'm here posting my thoughts and opinions. You have a problem with that? Oh well.
I love sharing my thoughts on sports websites, not only on this one.
It's a free country, dont like it? Move
Why was Bradford still in the game in the 4th quarter, much less THROWING the ball with 4 minutes left?!?! Gee, padding the stats for the Heisman?
Someone will say it's up to the defense to stop them and they were going for a record of 60+ points in 5 straight games. I say that's a load of crap. There was absolutely no reason for Stoops to 'stoop' that low (pun intended).
Thank you Big 12 for rendering the regular season meaningless. Thank you Stoops for killing sportsmanship. You truly are a piece of work.
45-35
45-35
Have fun in the Fiesta Bowl, Whorns. Oh wait, shouldn't Tech be there since they beat you head-to-head?
2008-OU wins thier 6th Big 12 title while Texas sits at home and wonders why they suck soo bad since they've only won one Big 12 title in the last 10 years. OU defeats Florida and wins their 8th national title, while Texas whines and crys all the way to the Fiesta Bowl then gets upset by a team who couldn't even beat my high school football team in Ohio State.