Stoops reflects on loss to UT
By Mike Baldwin
Published: October 13, 2008
Breaking down the film, Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said there were “a bunch of plays” that could have made a difference in the outcome last Saturday in the Cotton Bowl.
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Your thoughts!
If Bob Stoops were to leave, who would the fans want as head coach?
tommy, midland - Oct 15, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Boomer Sooner! It will be alright. Saturday after they whip up on KU some of you will get your painties out of wad. Face it, Texas played better than we all thought they were capable of and ESPN loved it. I really think the days of undefeated College Football Teams is over. Did I say Boomer Sooner!
eudell, Virginia Beach - Oct 15, 2008 at 11:22 am
I'm with Eric on this one. Have been for a long time. I've pointed out time and time again to the excuse-makers, the singular common denominator is bad defense. In big games, OU has allowed far too many points to be scored against them.
The Plainsman, Oklahoma - Oct 15, 2008 at 9:13 am
Michael from Norman, why do you think the Oklahoman provides comment sections at the end of these articles? So that readers can comment. No one said these comments had to be "reasonable". Gives fans a way to express themselves, and yes, you won't agree with all that is written. But isn't that the point?
tom, Lawton - Oct 15, 2008 at 9:06 am
New D-Coordinator!!!!!!!! Come on Bob!!!
Eric, Norman - Oct 14, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Micheal, Matt, George, nice comments. I am an OSU fan and don't make it to the OU articles or comments often so the only experience I have with OU comments are those made by idiots that think its fun to name call and bash OSU.
Good to see there are some intelligent/respectfull/decent OU fans.
Brad, Longview - Oct 14, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I do think it is fair to throw some criticism of the coaching around but I don't believe getting rid of Stoops is the answer. He is still a great coach but perhaps his loyalty to some of his staff is hurting him. Yes we have a great team and great recruits and do well year in and out under him, but we either are underacheiving or are over-rated in many respects. Brown couldn't beat Stoops for Stoops' first 5-6 years at Oklahoma and there was rumblings at the time that Brown should be ousted at UT. He's made some great coordinator hires and now has beaten Stoops at this game for the last several years. Paterno was supposed to step down given the dismal performances of Penn State several years back, now they're undefeated and ranked 3. Stoops can stick this out but our defense is suspect against versatile offenses as exposed Saturday, West Virginia, Boise State. Our offensive line should be able to push lines around and run block better and can't for some reason. Our running backs run full speed into the line without any semblance of patience for waiting for blocks (maybe they don't expect the blocking to be there). Our offensive playcalling is also suspect. West Virginia sacked, hit and hurried Bradford left and right in the first half of that game. Once the play calling adjusted to moving him out of pocket, we moved the ball - but that didn't happen until after half time, when it should have happened on at least the second or third offensive possession of the game. When we got up to the line and snapped the ball before Texas could adjust and get set, we moved with ease. When we got to the line and waited, making adjustments of our own, we struggled. There's no reason to get rid of Stoops but our level of play, which is undoubtedly enviable to many universities nationwide, has plateaued over the last few years. We play great and win nearly all of the games we're supposed to win but can't close out games against stiffer competition. It really goes back to getting crushed by K-State in the Big 12 Championship. Prior to that we had a swagger, a sense that teams were intimidated just walking on the field to play us. Since then we've never been able to return to the same level. That's also the same time Mike Stoops stepped aside.
Kyle, Dallas - Oct 14, 2008 at 12:32 pm
You think that if everyone yells loud enough that Bob needs to make a change and get rid of his friend Venables that he might here it? It's a business decision...not easy to do but thats his job. If anyone had not done their job for 6 years wouldnt they expect to be fired? Im sure he would understand...he has the athletes but they are getting the job done because they are always out of position and and get his schemes.
Eric, Norman - Oct 14, 2008 at 12:14 pm
There are so many pompous ignorant OU fans that I hardly know how to respond. And before anyone thinks I'm an OSU loser, I have two degrees from the University of Oklahoma, a son who is a graduate, am a season ticket holder, have attended more than 250 Oklahoma football games (including every bowl game since 1999) and yes, I was there Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. Come on people, get a life. Texas won the game. You can pin point a bunch of reasons, but to say Stoops isn't good enough is about as ignorant as anything I've ever seen. These comments are embarrassing our fan base.
Michael, Norman - Oct 14, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Tom, from Lawton, what gives you the right to tell people what to post? Bob Stoops is a really good coach. Oklahoma got beat. It happens. Oklahoma will rebound and play again this week. Lets not forget that all Bob Stoops has done is play in 3 National Championship games, won i believe 5 big 12 championships (correct me if im wrong). This is high profile college football. Teams will get beat. The best team does not always win. It is the best team that day for 60 minutes. Please stop with the fire stoops stuff, you are making the real sooner fans look like idiots.
Matt, a - Oct 14, 2008 at 11:32 am
Wow, one loss and so many so-called fans calling Stoops a cross between gibbs-scnel, on a down hill slope? Yall forget John Blake, 3 win seasons and getting blown out? This Texas-Ou game was awesome!, Also, remember, these are just young adults, not pros, so lets dont diss them. Texas isnt some unranked patsy, they are a top-ranked team, and losing to them in a game that could have went either way isnt a shame. Lets root for all these young guys to play well, stay healthy and give it their all, as they did Saturday.
george, lone grove - Oct 14, 2008 at 10:48 am
Stoops talks all around the problem instead of maning up on what it is.
1. He doesn't have a QB that can make a play with his feet.
2. He is a poor special team's coach, or doesn't care.
3. The offensive line is overated-again.
4. His defensive scheme and co-ordinator are not flexible enough to compete
in big games.
5. His biggest problem is, he's not a Sooner. He talked a good show in '99, reached
his pinnacle in '02-'03 and has been on a gradual down hill slide since. He's a
cross between Gibbs and Schnelly'. Agree or disagree but the results are starting to
speak for themselves.
jo, edmond - Oct 14, 2008 at 9:36 am
You later guys on ths blog pretty will covered it all regarding the Offensive Line for the Texas game. Too much of it was "offensive". All the poor blocking, play calling, and extremely untimely penalities are in my opinion (along with special teams), is what I feel did in the Oklahoma Team. They could have won. They should have won had these players had been as alert and on their game as they should have been. This was hardly the beginning of the season.
Lee, Lawrenceville - Oct 14, 2008 at 9:19 am
My rant got messed up in the middle. Meant to say that most of the credit for this win goes to the defensive coordinator. Then remember back to the great Barry not winning all of his game and he was warned by the regents. That resulted in another great winning streak and a national championship in '85
tom, Lawton - Oct 14, 2008 at 9:05 am
Like every other Sooner fan I was disappointed in the outcome. What I did realize last Saturday that this team has its vulnerabilities, just like any other team. Year after year we start the season by thinking "this is the team that's going to run the gauntlet", and this season is no exception. Bottom line is Texas, coaches and players, came into the Cotton Bowl and executed better than OU. It also seems that the Longhorns wanted the win much more. Texas was one of those "sleeper" teams that no one paid much attention to, a team that will likely win out the rest of the games in the season. The optimists say OU can still get to the Big 12 Championship, but Texas has to completely fall apart for that to happen, and the team I saw playing last Saturday shows no indication of that happening. The Sooner coaching staff and players "blinked" against a team that was just waiting for the opportunity to strike, and they took advantage of our mistakes. I'm not even going to comment on the decision to go for it on 4th and 6, at midfield, still in the lead... you all saw the same thing I did. The outcome is just as disappointing to me as it is to any other OU fan, but the realist in me points to our chances at a BCS bowl, but it is almost certain it won't be the Orange Bowl on January 8, 2009. BOOMER SOONER!
Doug - Oct 14, 2008 at 9:03 am
Another thing that has been well documented but bears repeating here, Saturday's game is another example of "Big Game Bob" not winning a big game. I watched that game Saturday thinking that as long as we were close in the 4th quarter, OU would win because Texas would mess up or OU would find a way to win. Doesn't seem to be that way any more. Remember when Bob's teams were so well prepared for everything. they were so well coached. I wonder if Bob is bored, burned out, or has lost his enthusiasm for the game. His record, since '04, despite all the hype and love he is given nationally is barely acceptable for OU. Now he can't even beat Mac Brown. I know that most of the credit goes to Switzer lost 4 games, three years in a row, his contract was not extended. A three loss team is not a top ten team, and that is what we have been for the last three plus years. By the way, don't respond by saying that we are so much better off than in the Blake years, that was unacceptable and Castiglione would not let that happen again.
tom, Lawton - Oct 14, 2008 at 9:00 am
We need to get a running game, so when we get the lead using the hurry up, we can burn clock and keep the D off the field. That is how games are won! Also, covering kick offs would be a plus.
Jeremy, Krum - Oct 14, 2008 at 8:55 am
Let's predict how many more touchdowns OU will allow on kickoff coverage until Stoops hires somebody who knows how to coach special teams? I'm thinkin' 3, maybe 4.
Rob, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2008 at 8:53 am
Boy...a loss sure does bring out the idiot in all of you. "Coach" Meade, I'm certain you're no coach at all, or you'd know that you can't run the hurry-up the entire game because repeated scoring drives that only last 1:30 to two minutes leave your defense on the field too long. It doesn't mean anybody is "out of shape." You guys are overanalyzing and overdisecting a close loss to a team that has equal talent to OU. Nobody left on the schedule has near the defense UT has, so the offense will roll the rest of the season. And once the middle linebacker is replaced in practice and spends time as part of the game plan with the rest of the defense, we'll be fine there. You don't just replace that position on the fly, in the middle of a game, against an offense as good as UT's, and have any success.
You know...you people really are a bunch of witless fools.
Mike, Seguin - Oct 14, 2008 at 8:33 am
We'll see what the coaching staff is made of now. OU has lost an average of 3 games each of the last three years, since losing that great class in '04. Not a great record for an "elite" team. And now we are in a position of having to outscore all of the rest of our opponents. You know Mangino is going to have his quarterback throw short passes over the middle all day long now that Ryan Reynolds is out. And their quarterback is a good scrambler also. We are in for a tough week and perhaps a long year. Another three or four loss season?
tom, Lawton - Oct 14, 2008 at 8:18 am
The OU line can't seem to run block. And it showed Saturday that when they take their time running plays that Texas and probably others will stop our offense. But in hurry up we are very, very good. Why we didn't continue the hurry up must be because we are out of shape.
Coach Meade
Terry, Mesquite - Oct 14, 2008 at 8:14 am
Ed, that is the most asinine post I've read in years. There are not enough OU alums to pay Stoops' $3 million a year compensation and his $3 million bonus that he received this year. If you think OU fans are going to tolerate continued losses to UT than you don't know the history of OU football, despite your cherished degree! Do you realize that the senior Longhorn class has beat OU three out of the last four years? His(Stoops')inability to beat Texas (and his complete failure to comprehend kickoff return coverage) is enough for him to see if the Ohio State job might be available soon!
Rob, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2008 at 6:59 am
You must admit that Mack Brown knows how to come from behind and win.
Brett, Oklahoma City - Oct 14, 2008 at 4:59 am
You all need to get a life. If my friends and I had our wish, you would only be able to buy, watch, and read about OU football if you are an alum. That is all. Now get back to your mindless bickering about something insignificant. Ready, GO!!!
ed, oklahoma city - Oct 14, 2008 at 12:21 am
According to OU's website Chris Wilson is the special teams coordinator. I think they need to hire a special teams coach, and get rid of coordinators - everyone in college should know what time the game starts. and how to get there.
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 11:44 pm
forgot about you Thomas,They will turn it up a notch and they will get back to Sooner business. What flavor of the koolaide you drinking. There are 4 teams on the schedule that will beat OU if this team continues to block, play defense, and the coaching remains stubborn as it is now.
Steve, Ketchum - Oct 13, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Rob, I thought you meant 4 losses this year, I would tend to agree it things don't change.
Richard, If the challenge is players that don't think they can improve, make that player 2nd string, find someone who will. Sounds to me lie the O-line coach needs to feel if he(wilson) has balls. I doubt it.
Rob,I agree, Lawrence, the special teams coach needs to be fired immediately., That would be Bob Stoops, you advocating that? I am not, change the players on the special teams. someone want to play I don't give a eff it is a walk-on. Play em.
Richard, My comments about Gresham's blocking is right on. YOU comments a dead on. Gresham is a waste, put in Eldridge, Gresham shouldn't play another down of ball until a bowl game if we get there.
Lawerence, Load"hold" matches up well with some people, but did not against this guy from Texas. He was either holding or getting beat all day. Maybe there should have been a change made in that situation? Loadholt is the biggest waste of size and maybe talent as there is. If he was being paid for a job he would have been fired. Can we take away his scholarship? I wish the coaches would do that.
Ken, THEY PUT UP 35 POINTS ON A GOOD, IF NOT GREAT, TEXAS TEAM!!! That should have been enough to win. No Ken that is good enough on to beat cupakes. Our team is ONE dimensional. The defense is still very very suspect. WE HAVE NO RUNNING GAME AT ALL. TEXAS DID NOT STACK THE BOX AND WE GET 48 CRUMMY YARDS.
Russell, Put the blame where it goes, on the shoulders of Brent Vulnerables (as his defense in vulnerable in big games) and Bobby Jack Wright whose secondary gets burned again. Thats where I put the blame. The coach of the unit was totally unprepared, but Colt McCoy was. McCoy was asked how his team was able to put 45 on OU. McCoy replied that they studied the film and OU did nothing new, it was just like the film.
Grant, "That play ought to work. This is my game plan!" I don't know if that is exactly what Wilson says but I bet it is very close to the truth. Maybe his plan would work if the players executed and BLOCKED.
If I was a member of the team I would totally pissed at Loadholt and Gresham. This crap has gone on too darn long. Time to make major substitutions in their positions for nothing else to set a damned example.
Steve, Ketchum - Oct 13, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Well, Tom, since you mentioned it, OU's defense hasn't been the same since Mike left; and I am completely dumbfounded by your comment, "Special teams did do its job". Is allowing another kickoff return for a touchdown "doing its job"? OU ranks close to #200 in kickoff return yardage. If Stoops can't figure out after six games the fundamentals of how to cover a kickoff than I think it's time for a coaching change! He's got to beat Texas or go away!
Rob, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Rob that is just crazy about Leach. I bet yoy think bring back Mike Stoops changes the losses as well right? Special teams did do its job, the Sooners never got the ground game going. I just cannot see that happening again. This weekend and a few others are no east wins either. They will turn it up a notch and they will get back to Sooner business, and that is winning.
Thomas, Lawton - Oct 13, 2008 at 9:02 pm
If I see a hand-off up the middle again on first down I'm going to throw-up! Blunder after blunder in key coaching situations. We've lost three out of the last for against Bevo. That is inexcusable! I wonder if Mike Leach would come back? I bet he would love to "leave Lubbock in the rear view mirror"!
Rob, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 8:45 pm
The Sooners coaches didn't get to OU by being a bunch of dumbwads. In this day and age it is improbable that a team can win every game. It was a very close game that could have gone either way, and OU was in the lead for the majority of the game. OUr coaches are as good as they come! Boomer Sooner!
Jeff, Tulsa - Oct 13, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Bring back Blake!!!!!! Woo......wooo.....woooo.
I am at, Mama's House - Oct 13, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Matt you come off like you have some "insight" that other SPECTATORS fail to grasp. My comments about Gresham's blocking is right on, go back and look at the game, in fact several of them. He gets smoked by a deke move here or there and at times he reacts late, as if he just recognizes he missed a block as the dude blows past him. He is a great talent, and part of what makes him effective is that he does not get thrown to on every play. I know Texas had a good run defense, but it was no steel curtain. I think the criticism is deserved. Wilson himself said during summer drills that getting the o-line to buy in and see the need for individual improvement was a huge coaching challenge. If OU had been rushing for a couple hundred yards a game and then got stuffed by Texas then I would agree that OU just met a challenge it could not overcome, yet that has not been the case. After today, though, I agree with most that the focus be shifted from what was to what is coming up. OU, unlike most programs, has the ability to bounce back and be better than expected, that goes from the coaches down to the third teamers.
Richard, Visalia - Oct 13, 2008 at 7:07 pm
I agree, Lawrence, the special teams coach needs to be fired immediately. OU was playing with one safety deep(most teams use two) on kickoff returns even after consistently giving up touchdowns and big yardage in previous games. The game was over, though, when Stoops failed to go on fourth down and short yardage with less than seven minutes left in the game from their 46 yardline. Everybody watching the game could tell you that Texas was going to score again when OU punted instead! All the experts agreed that OU had the better talent but NOT THE BEST COACHING! It's time for a change! Stoops is not earning his milllions.
Rob, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 5:55 pm
There were problems on both sides of the ball - just what Stoops was saying when we were winning games - we need to get better. Gresham is one of my favorite players, but at 260 pounds he should be blocking a LOT better than he is. He is only catching 60-70% of the balls that hit him in the hands! When he gets the ball - he is a monster! We need consistancy on third down, and we NEED a running game. If it is third down with 2 yards to go - run the BALL. Then it is 4th and 2 and you are behind in the 4th quarter go for it. It was a gutsy call on 4th and 7, but I don't blame anyone for that - he almost made it. The defense played well the first half - we lose one guy and stopping the run becomes impossible? OU has to be deeper than that to win big games. The coach on the kick-off team should have been fired today. He has had plenty of time to recover and it hasn't happened - more of the same... He has made national news on his lack of ability with excellent talant on the team. It is time to turn Demarcus into a defensive player or what? 1 yard per carry average? Maybe he can tackle? Obviously 35 points wasn't enough to win this time, OU should practice running up the score so they get use to being in the endzone. 14 points in the second half is way below their average - what happened at half-time? Load"hold" matches up well with some people, but did not against this guy from Texas. He was either holding or getting beat all day. Maybe there should have been a change made in that situation? Bradford played great, I wish he could have thrown some longer balls in the second half.
Lawerence, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Im with you Ken. You know what else is funny??? All these dudes were all over Wilson for not throwing to Gresham more last year, and now they are all over Gresham for missing blocks. Maybe that explains why he wasnt on the field so much???? It just amazes me how smart these guys are on Monday morning and they assume they know more than coaches on EVERYTHING. I do agree that changes are necessary on defense, but Im happy with the offense, but we need a little run game. Keep in mind that this is still a better run game the "the best team ever" had in 2003.
matt, Moore - Oct 13, 2008 at 4:30 pm
I don't understand why so many fans keep blaming the offense. THEY PUT UP 35 POINTS ON A GOOD, IF NOT GREAT, TEXAS TEAM!!! That should have been enough to win. I'm with Russell in OKC. The defense is playing too poorly for there to be that much talent suiting up every Saturday. I don't think the problem is with the players.
Ken, Boise - Oct 13, 2008 at 4:24 pm
The secret is out, Kevin Wilson is a sceerdycat in the big games.
Jonbonjovy, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I agree with Mangino that the Texas game is now history. I am very disppointed in the result of the game like all Sooner fans and do not understand the play calling but that is past. What I will still complain about is the kickoff coverage. This is not that hard if the players stay in their assigned lanes and can tackle. For six games the coaches cannot get them to do that. What gives? After the Sooners went up 14-3 the return gave Texas life and from then on it was shoot out. Give the Longhorns credit they did not quit. But it is time for the Jayhawks. They are not a push over and the defense had better be ready this time. More pressure from the front four and the linebacker play will be critical. Who will replace Reynolds? Crow was not the answer on Saturday. Maybe he is ready now. What about Box? Go Sooners!!! Beat Kansas!!!
William, Fairfield - Oct 13, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Too true on Bradford. I watched Gresham on the fake punt actually turn around and watch the punter when he should have been laying someone out...unreal. My opinion of him fell off a cliff. Not a team player. What a waste of a great talent. When is Stoops going to admit he has a problem with his staff? Insanity is defined as doing the same thing time and again and expecting a different result.
Bob, Edmond - Oct 13, 2008 at 3:30 pm
O-line needs to get it going...so far those guys have been the BIGGEST,literally, disappointment. And Gresham missed SO many blocks, seems like most big plays came after on of his "ole" blocks. O-line should try to obsorb some of bradford's intesity...that dude was a warrior Saturday.
Richard, Visalia - Oct 13, 2008 at 2:44 pm
I don't believe the OFFENSE gave up 45 points to the Horns or 48 points to West Virginia last year. Clear and simple, OU puts up 35 points against a damn good Horns team, you don't lose that game! The Defense is clearly the culprit... Put the blame where it goes, on the shoulders of Brent Vulnerables (as his defense in vulnerable in big games) and Bobby Jack Wright whose secondary gets burned again. Time for Stoops to take a look at his coaching staff, after all he's getting paid some $5 million plus this year and its time he makes some big decisions and make changes on the DEFENSIVE side of the coaching staff.
Boomer Sooner Forever!
Russell, Oklahoma City - Oct 13, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Wow. Texas added some offensive wrinkles. Too bad Kevin Wilson won't do that. He won't even play with the deep playbook he has now. We saw one wrinkle - the fake reverse-pass to Murray play... and we saw it twice.
We didn't see much of Broyles. We didn't see Brown. We didn't see all that much Gresham (too bad, because on all of the plays that didn't go to him, he wasn't blocking anyone). We didn't see Eldridge (the "best player on the team and the best blocker" according to other players and coaches). We barely saw the personnel that includes Matt Clapp at fullback. We never attacked the seams. We had the drive where we saw the screen passes work. Where were those plays when we needed them??? Oh yeah, we couldn't run them because we were too busy starting EVERY SINGLE POSSESSION with a weak draw up the middle with a tailback that is barely the shadow of the explosion he used to be (Murray... I love him, but he clearly has more healing up to do.)
I found the offensive play calling to be flat out demoralizing for our players. There was no tempo to the no-huddle, and the Texas D knew what was coming.
Plus, the O-line (especially Loadholt and Gresham) have been praised way too much as the best in the country. When you can't get your star running back more than 7 yards on the ground for the game, that's as much on you as it is on the predictable play calling. You ought to be able to tell the opposition what's coming, and still fall forward for 4 yards if you're really that good.
Kevin Wilson better wake up quick, and start bringing the the talent and heart out of these guys. He needs to swallow the pride that says "That play ought to work. This is my game plan!" and begin making adjustments and calling creative plays in the heat of battle. You never know when your best defender will go out and you'll need to outscore someone.
Grant, Edmond - Oct 13, 2008 at 2:06 pm
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