Oklahoma University Football Program "Stoops" To A New Low

I think Skip Bayless got it right on his ESPN commentary yesterday when he stated that the loss to Texas Tech on Saturday was the worst loss in the history of the OU football program.  How do you lose to a team that you are favored to beat by thirty or so points and on your home field where you have a record of 75-2 during the tenure of your current head coach.  I remember the old saying coined by the fans of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1940s and 1950s.  Wait 'til next year!   I, for one, am tired of waiting.

Haven't we been through this scenario time and again under Bob Stoops' reign at the helm of the, arguably, best football program in NCAA, Division I.  True, he has a 135-32 (.808) record since he took over in 1999 but how many times have we had our hopes raised before the season starts that maybe this is the year of our eighth national championship?  Rated number one in preseason, all of those returning starters, no Big 12 championship game, relatively favorable schedule in a conference without Nebraska and Colorado, surely this would be the year.  By the way, Switzer and Wilkinson both had higher winning percentages during their tenure at OU.

No, reality has set it again.  During Stoops' regime, our disappointments have come at different times during the year, sometimes at the beginning, sometimes during the middle, sometimes at the end, and, oh yes, three times in the BCS Championship game for all the marbles.  But you say, we won the 2000 National Championship 13-2 over FSU.  But do you forget, those weren't players recruited by Stoops who is undoubtedly one of the best recruiters in the nation.

Let's look at the facts:  6-6 record in bowl games, 3-5 in BCS bowl games, and 1-3 in National Championship games.  It is evident that the powers that be at OU are content with 80% winning percentage but not this longtime fan.  My first OU game was in 1955 as a Boy Scout usher.  I cried the day, November 16, 1957, when Notre Dame defeated OU 7-0 to end the 47-game winning streak.  I have endured the lean years under Gary Gibbs, John Blake, etc and then came this unknown, Bob Stoops.  Great pedigree, football history better than most, brother included - we were set for greatness.  The malaise was past.  7-5 first year - OK, then 13-0 and National Champs.  We were back!

Then over the years, the "Can't Win the Big One' label began to rear its ugly head.  Let's review the last 12 years and then make up your mind.

• 1999 - 7-5, first year, not too bad.
• 2000 - 13-0, National Champs, could it get any better.
• 2001 - 11-2, lost to OSU in Norman, give me a break.  Who is Les Miles?
• 2002 - 12-2, lost to Texas Aggies and OSU - again?
• 2003 - 12-2, lost to KSU in Big 12 Championship but still in BCS Championship game. LSU who?
• 2004 - 12-1, 5 turnovers in 55-19 romp by USC in BCS Championship game.
• 2005 - 8-4, Rhett Bomar ring a bell?
• 2006 - 11-2, Can you say BOISE STATE?
• 2007 - 11-3, Lost to Colorado, Texas Tech (sounds familiar) and WVa in Fiesta Bowl
• 2008 - 12-2, Lost to Texas but still in BCS Championship game.  Tim Tebow, anyone?
• 2009 - 8-5, Sam Bradford hurt twice, 'nuf said.
• 2010 - 12-2, lost to Missouri and Texas Aggies but beat that powerhouse of football - UConn.
• 2011 - 6-1 so far, bet the farm that they will lose again before the season ends.

As Skip Bayless said yesterday, Bob Stoops is the worst coach in the NCAA when it comes to motivating his team to play.  I would add that he does not understand adjustments to the game plan and predictability, especially on offense.  The second quarter of the Tech game on Saturday was the worst offensive play-calling that I can ever remember and that is when the game was lost.  You could almost see it coming in the lackluster performances against Missouri and Kansas.

Well, there you have it.  Skip Bayless said that Stoops should be fired.  I don't necessarily agree with that but some changes need to be made.  Perhaps get rid of Venables and bring back Mike Stoops.  I hear he is looking for a job.  As Bob Stoops said after the game, "We were out-coached and out-played".  Who shares the burden of the blame for the loss?  The buck stops with the head coach.  Are we getting the best bang for our buck ($4M per year at least), I think not.

The crimson-and-cream bleeders will always say that we are so much better than most programs and defend the poor coaching decisions to the end but I say we should expect more and when our championship dreams are spoiled year after year after year, changes should be made.  I'm not smart enough to know exactly what but we have to figure out why the second quarter performance was the worst that I have ever seen.  Perhaps our motto should be "Three and Out, OU no doubt!

In baseball, good pitching usually stops good hitting.  In football, good defense usually stops good offense.  LSU is a great example of this.  Skip said he would trade Bob Stoops to LSU for Les Miles.  I would not but Miles' teams are usually not out coached as badly as OUOU could end up 7-5 or 8-4.  Who would be satisfied with that?  I have no problems when OU loses to an opponent that is better than they are but this was not the case in Norman last Saturday.