Bedlam by any other name.

Is it just me, or are Bedlam games played in Stillwater more exciting?  40 combined points, 4 touchdowns and over 400 yards of total offense!!  That would be a stat line from a typical, slow grinding slugfest, except that all this happened in the 4th quarter!!  I guess this is what we've come to expect of Bedlam in Stillwater.  Don't leave your seats because you never know what you might miss.  And what would Bedlam be if some of these games didn't go down to the wire??  For the sake of filling my page with material, I'll list down some memorable moments.

1. 2000:  Derrick Strait deflects a pass in the end zone that was intended for Marcellus Rivers.  OU hangs on to win and blah blah blah yada yada.............
2. 2002:  Coming off a 2001 stunner in Norman, Oklahoma State, led by Rashaun Woods (13 catches, 200 + yards 3TDs) build an early lead, forcing OU to play from behind.  The final score was 38-28, but in reality, the game wasn't even that close.  What makes this exciting was how Woods and Josh Fields combined to torch a highly rated OU secondary.
3. 2004:  Jason Ricks' field goal attempt to send the game into overtime goes wide left and OU survives 38-35 after quite an interesting second half.
4. 2006:  Another close game comes down to the last play.  Zac Robinson's desperation throw into the end zone is tipped by OU cornerback Lendy Holmes and barely misses D'Juan Woods' outstretched hands.
5. 2008:  With spread offenses now the norm, both teams combine for 39 points in a wild 4th quarter.

The 2010 edition didn't disappoint at all.  Oklahoma State fans might see it differently, but we can all agree that we saw a very good game.  Broderick Brown jumping to bat the ball back inbounds where it was picked off by Shaun Lewis had to be the Play Of The Game, bar none.  How often do you ever see someone do that!!  In my opinion (not that it really matters), it has to be one of the the Plays Of The Year, maybe even ESPY worthy.

If you really want to see where this game was won or lost, you need to look at the stat sheet.  That explains how Oklahoma, playing on the road where they have struggled lately, was able to put a full game together and beat a red-hot Oklahoma State team that had a lot going for them.  Could there a better way for Oklahoma State to send off their senior class than beating their hated rival?  And getting to dance all over their body because the Big 12 South Crown came with the win?  Talk about a grand finale.

Back to the stat sheet, before I get derailed.  You'll notice that Oklahoma had the ball 11 minutes longer, converted more 3rd downs (16, while OSU attempted only 15 all game) and more importantly, held Kendall Hunter to only 55 yards rushing.  OSU was also held to about 200 + yards below their usual offensive output while running only 66 plays compared to OU's 107.  To sum it up, the nation's best offense was kept on the sideline; they can't beat you if they are not on the field, right?  It just goes to show that even in the big games, despite all the explosive and incredible plays, it usually comes down to executing the little things.

For what it's worth, Bedlam will be in Stillwater for the second year in a row and hopefully, it will be just as exciting as this one.

Dana, oh Dana!! Where thou art forth, Dana!!

I have got to admit something here.  When Mike Gundy brought in Dana Holgorsen to run the offense at Oklahoma State, I knew there was a storm brewing.  Gundy must loved what he saw, that he handed the play calling duties over to Holgorsen.  That kind of speaks for itself; after all, he was the offensive coordinator at Houston when they upset a #5 ranked Oklahoma State last year.

Oklahoma State's offense is explosive and is ranked in the top 3 in some major categories; scoring offense, total yards and passing offense.  Brandon Weeden, Kendall Hunter and Justin Blackmon are also lined up for some major awards in their respective positions.  These guys are lighting it up left and right and are going places that no Oklahoma State team has ever been to.

The next logical step would be to move on as a head coach.  Some of the best assistants (offensive coordinators in this case) over the years have moved on to head coaching gigs.  Mark Richt went to Georgia from Florida State.  Steve Sarkisian went to Washington from USC.  Jimbo Fisher was at LSU then took the same position at Florida State before succeeding Bobby Bowden.  Of course we all know about Mike Leach, which brings us back to Holgorsen.

So which job would be a good fit?

Minnesota:  It's possible to win there, but it will take ages to get a decent recruiting class and it'll be a while longer before they can compete for the conference title.

Colorado:  They can't even dominate the North division and now have to contend with the likes of USC, Arizona and Arizona State; I bet those 3 are tougher than Iowa State, Kansas and Kansas State.  Pretty sad, considering that they've been to 4 Big 12 title games.  Colorado can only offer $2 million tops; Holgorsen's resume will command a lot more.

Georgia:  I doubt they'll fire Mark Richt; but if they do, failure to beat Tennessee & Florida consistently means that you're a bad season or two from losing your job.

Illinois:  Probably the most attractive job of the bunch, but it's no walk in the park.  Recruiting shouldn't be a problem but breaking into the Big Ten's "Top 3" on a yearly basis?  Now there lies the rub.

Ole Miss:  Playing the SEC West that's always been dominated by LSU, Auburn and Alabama?  You're already playing from behind on the first day.

Arizona State:  Not a bad job either, but they only make an impact once every blue moon if any at all.

So we know that the jobs and possible openings are out there.  I doubt any of them are attractive enough to make Holgorsen blink, let alone think twice.  Besides the money, the ability to recruit and win consistently will be ace in the deck of cards.  If all else fails, Holgorsen could always take his talents to the NFL.

College Football; Week 11 "hot or not"!!

After week 11, let's check out the toast of the town.


HOT: Wisconsin Badgers: They put up 83 points on a hapless, helpless Indiana team.
NOT: Indiana Hoosiers.  When you concede 83 points, is there a reason why the defensive coordinator still has his job?


HOT: Oklahoma State Cowboys: It's been 12 years since they last beat Texas; 66 since they last won in Austin.  The Pokes are on the verge of winning 10 games this season; a first in school history.
NOT: Texas Longhorns: After coming so close to winning the national championship last season, no one could have seen this coming.  They've lost 6 of their last 7 games, including the last 4; and might not even make qualify for a bowl game.


HOT: South Carolina Gamecocks: A series of firsts; first ever win in Gainesville, first ever SEC-East crown, first trip to the title game.  A tasty rematch with Auburn awaits.
NOT: Florida Gators: They returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown and that was about all the excitement they got.


HOT: Texas A&M: After losing 3 straight, they're riding a 4 game win streak; highlighted by a wins over Oklahoma and a 42-30 win over Baylor (at one point, they trailed 30-16).  A win over Nebraska leaves them in contention for the Big 12 south crown.
NOT: Utah Utes: A few weeks ago, they were ranked #5 and considered by some as a possible national title contender.  They got blown out by TCU and followed it up with a loss to Notre Dame.  Look who got busted!!!


HOT: Ohio State Buckeyes: Trailing Penn State 14-3 at the half, they dominated the second half; scoring 35 unanswered points to win 38-14.  This win leaves them in contention for a Big 10 title and a Rose Bowl berth.
NOT: Penn State: They outplayed Ohio State in the first half, but couldn't sustain the pressure in the second half,  Simply put, they got owned.


HOT: Virginia Tech: The Hokies are on an 8 game win streak after an 0-2 start.  A win over Miami should see them through to the ACC Title game.
NOT: Iowa Hawkeyes: Their loss to Northwestern knocked them out of the conference title race.


HOT: Dustin Hopkins; kicker, Florida State:  Kicked a 55 yard field goal as time expired to give Florida State a win over Clemson.
NOT: Giorgio Tavecchio; kicker, Cal: missed a 29 yard field goal that would have given Cal a 16-15 lead over #1 Oregon.  He had initially converted a 24 yard attempt, but he stutter stepped and was flagged for a false start.  Prior to his miss, he had been 6 for 6 in field goal attempts under 30 yards.  The missed field goal might have saved Oregon's season.


I'm sure there's room for more, but this is where I jump off the ledge.  Have a good week.  

Another home win; so what else is new?

Back from a tough outing in College Station, Oklahoma turned around and blew away Texas Tech.  I really wasn't surprised by the outcome.

Texas Tech has a better record than Iowa State and Colorado.  Iowa State beat Texas Tech, but lost to Colorado; who also lost to Texas Tech.  All these three teams came to Norman and received the same treatment; a beatdown.  No disrespect to any of them, but it's just what it was. 

After watching this game, I'm sure everyone has the same question, "How come they never play like this on the road?".  Granted, Mizzou and A&M aren't exactly easy places to play, but their defenses aren't exactly stellar either.  If anything, OU has the ability to put points on the board.

However, what happens is that they beat themselves up, then the opponents finish the job for them.  Make your pick: the predictable play-calling, slow starts, a blown coverage here or there, missed tackles.  The list is endless.  Still, just about everyone has had it with the "Jekyll and Hyde" act that has plagued the Sooners over the last 5 seasons.  I'm sure the coaches have had enough, right?  At least that's what they tell us.

What we learned on Saturday:

1. There were hardly any "bubble screens" plays.  OU coaches seem to have fallen blindly in love with this scheme, even when it proves to be ineffective due to its predictability.  They went more vertical with their passes, and the run blocking was improved.  Turns out there's actually more plays in the playbook, who'd have thunk it.  
2. Ryan Broyles is the second coming of Mark Clayton.  Broyles has just about broken every school receiving record, except for career receiving yards.  That should be settled in a couple of weeks.
3. Ryan Broyles and Travis Lewis may have just played their last game in Norman.  I think the lure of the NFL might prove too strong to resist.

Hopefully, this performance was a sign of good things ahead for the Sooners.  We'll find out in a fortnight.

Senior Night, Oh what a night!!

Oklahoma's bid to win the South division will be tested when they host Texas Tech this weekend.  The Sooners will also bid farewell to a distinguished group of seniors that include among others: Adrian Taylor, Jeremy Beal, Erik Mensik, Quinton Carter, Jonathan Nelson, Mossis Madu and DeMarco Murray.  This might also be the last home game for Travis Lewis; the junior linebacker might declare for the draft at season's end.

Last November, OU was on the receiving end of a 41-13 mauling , which was supposedly payback for the 65-21 thrashing that Tech received the previous season (coincidentally on Senior Night too).  Both games featured a little soundtrack - House of Pain's Jump Around - as each team rubbed some salt onto the other's wounds.  No offense to Tech, but OU's was better.

Texas Tech is coming off an impressive win over Mizzou; who in the last couple of weeks have resembled nothing of the team that beat Oklahoma.  The Red Raiders were torched by Ryan Tannehill (449 yards passing) in a loss to the Aggies, but bounced back to hold Blaine Gabbert to only 95 yards passing.


Even though Tech is riding a wave of momentum going into this match, Oklahoma should be able to extend their home game winning streak.  They play very well at home and the crowd will definitely be a factor.  The only twist here might the be QB shuffle that Tech might use; but expect OU to adjust accordingly and give their senior class a fitting send off.  Enjoy your football weekend.

Different venue, same result.

For the second time this season, Oklahoma’s impressive home performance has been followed with a sub par one on the road.  Despite a valiant 3rd quarter effort, they couldn’t close the deal in the 4th quarter………………again.

What went wrong this time around?  Was it the errant snap that sailed over Landry Jones and through the end zone for a safety?  How about when they couldn’t score on 4th & Goal from the 1 yard line in their first trip to the end zone and later in the game (three times if you're counting!!!).  It could have been the touchdown they gave up on a kickoff return to open the second half.  Or the missed field goal to cut the deficit to 26-20.  Don’t forget the pass off the fake field goal attempt that James Hanna wasn’t able to haul in for a score.

I’ll give Bob Stoops some credit for rolling the dice on that play.  However when he came up empty, the opportunity to take the lead was lost and so was any momentum that Oklahoma had gained.  The Aggies scored on back to back possessions to put the outcome of the game beyond doubt.

We have heard time and time again how Kevin Wilson, the offensive coordinator, preaches for the need of a balance of offense to take pressure off Landry Jones.  59 pass plays compared to 29 running plays doesn’t exactly seem balanced to me.  This time, it wasn’t the turnovers that were the problem but the rather predictable play calling; and yet we wonder why Oklahoma plays poorly on the road.

Oklahoma was beaten in the trenches, between the lines.  The Aggies dominated the line of scrimmage on offense by gaining more rushing yards and making it count when it mattered in the 4th quarter.  They dominated the line of scrimmage on defense by stopping Oklahoma on three “4th & Goal” situations from the 1 yard line; including twice in the 4th quarter.

Is it me, or does Oklahoma seem to suffer from a kicking recession?  How did we get from Garrett Hartley, a super bowl winner, to whatever we have now?  If there is any way in which Jimmy Stevens and Patrick O’Hara complement each other, it’s that they are both mediocre on a good day.  Stevens missed a chip shot field goal that would have tied the game against Mizzou, while O’Hara followed up by missing a field goal that would have cut the deficit to a one-score game.  Both misses helped swing the momentum greatly in favor of the opposition.

The defense kept the game within reach by getting some crucial stops and forcing turnovers as well; but the offense couldn’t take advantage.  Despite rushing for only 10 yards in the first half, Oklahoma used the run effectively and was rewarded with 17 points to keep the game close.  Then somehow, the running game was abandoned in favor of a predictable passing game that resulted in “3rd & long” situations that weren't converted.  They ran the ball when they needed to pass and passed when they needed to run.

Oklahoma ran more plays, had more time of possesion and won the turnover battle; yet lost by 14 points.  There are some issues that if not addressed come Bedlam, don't be surprised should Oklahoma come out on the losing end.

Road Woe-rriors?

Oklahoma’s march towards the Big 12 South begins with a trip to College Station, followed by trips to Baylor and Oklahoma State.  3 out of 4 games on the road should be a cause for concern given the Sooners’ struggles on the road.  And don’t forget that A&M and Oklahoma State tend to play out of their minds when OU comes a’ callin’.

Last week, facing a pass defense that is ranked 112th in the nation, Landry Jones and Ryan Broyles combined to torch Colorado; they did what they had to do.  The Aggies pass defense is ranked 101st nationally, but seems to be improving rapidly according to reports.  They’ll look to generate a pass rush good enough to cover up for their flaws in the secondary.  The 12th Man will definitely be rocking the house for sure.

Keys to an OU Victory:

1.       When on defense, they need to get that pass rush going.  Injuries on the defensive line may make this seem easier said than done.  They may need to blitz early and often, and they may have to find a way to contain Tannehill.  Having played receiver for the past 3½ seasons, we know he can scramble to make plays if needed.  Also when you see 4 or 5 receiver sets, you might want to rethink about blitzing.

2.       Tackle, tackle, and tackle.  Missed tackles really hurt them against Mizzou and there is no room for those weak arm tackles, or looking for those big hits.  Wrap them up and put the guys on the ground.

3.       Don’t get too conservative on offense.  Oklahoma should run the ball more to avoid getting into predictable passing situations.  The Aggies will be playing a “3-4 defense” and will drop 8 defenders to cover the pass if necessary.

4.       Be cool.  Should the Aggies jump out to a big lead, OU shouldn’t look for the big plays right away.  It’s going to be a crazy, loud and hostile environment and they will need to keep cool.

5.       4th Quarter issues.  As if their troubles on the road weren’t enough, they’ve got the final period as well.  They cut it close against Utah State, Air Force, Cincy and Texas; but got bit against Mizzou and they can only expect to get tested against the Aggies.  I’ll keep my fingers crossed.

That being said, I am definitely looking forward not only to a good game, but a good weekend; a lot of good games lined up.  Enjoy your football weekend.

Beware the Ides of November!!

Hello November!!  The climax, the homestretch, of college football is upon us.  The time has come, to separate the contenders among the pretenders, the wheat from the chaff.  Time for the cream to rise to the top.  Without further ado, let us look at the conferences and divisions that may go down to the wire.

SEC-EAST: 

South Carolina and Florida seemed destined for a collision course; to decide who will represent the East in the SEC title game.  Florida boosted their chances for a 3^rd straight trip after overcoming Georgia.  The Gators will play at Vanderbilt, while South Carolina’s game against Arkansas seems to be the tougher of the two.  The Gamecocks play at home and that might just be the edge they need.  The SEC West could over should LSU beat Alabama.  At this point, it's Auburn's race to lose.

BIG 12 SOUTH:

In years past, whenever you heard that this division was up for grabs, your guess would be right if either Texas or Oklahoma were the teams in question (Texas A&M or Texas Tech might be the other teams in case of a 3-way tie).  This year, joining Oklahoma to complete the trio are Baylor and Oklahoma State.  That’s right, I said BAYLOR!!  A major step toward solving this logjam will take place this weekend when Baylor travels to Oklahoma State while Oklahoma travels to A&M.  Should Oklahoma beat the Aggies, they still have to travel to Waco and Stillwater.  This just keeps getting better by the minute.  Nebraska should be fine provided they win their remaining matches, as they hold the tie-breaker over Mizzou.

ACC-ATLANTIC:

Virginia Tech’s win over Georgia Tech gives them a leg up in the Coastal Division; as the winner has represented the Coastal Division ever since the addition of a title game.  The Atlantic Division was locked in a 3-way tie when North Carolina State beat Florida State last week, putting Maryland in the mix.  The Terps host both the Seminoles and Wolfpack at the end of the month; but have to get through Miami and Virginia first.

BIG TEN (Or 11, but hey, who’s counting?):

Michigan State and Ohio State do not play each other this year, which should favor the Spartans a little more than the Buckeyes.  Michigan State beat Wisconsin (who beat both Ohio State and Iowa) but lost to Iowa.  If my guess is correct, for the Spartans to get to a BCS bowl, they’ll need to win out and hope that Ohio State beats Iowa.

MOUNTAIN WEST:

This conference will play itself out this weekend when Utah hosts TCU.  Two undefeated teams, someone has to win right?  It doesn’t matter if it takes one overtime or nine, or if they play all through the night into Sunday.  What we do know is that there will be a winner.

PAC 10:

Until someone can find a way to clip the Ducks from flying away with the title, I won’t even get into this.

In parting, I would like to send my condolences to the Mississippi State family and to the family of Nick Bell, who lost his battle with cancer last Tuesday.  This is indeed a trying time for all involved and let us keep them in our prayers.  R.I.P Nick Bell, you’re in a better place and you will suffer no more.

Week 9 Roundup: Trick or Treat.

Just as I had predicted in my previous blog, both top ranked Auburn and Oregon would put an end to the insanity that prevailed over previous three weeks. It was even better that both outings resulted in almost similar high scoring affairs; quite a treat for everyone indeed. So let us proceed to hand out the goodies where due.

Auburn: What more can I say about Cam Newton that hasn’t already been said. It wasn’t enough that he’s running or passing for touchdowns, but had a great catch for a touchdown on a nice jump-ball fade in the corner of the end zone. The Tigers jumped out to an early lead and put any thought of a rally/upset to the sword. Verdict: Treat.

Oregon: Trailing 32-29, the Ducks piled up 24 unanswered points and not only flew away with the game but the #1 BCS ranking as well. LaMichael James and Darron Thomas put on a show to match the Hollywood setting. LA hadn’t seen such a dynamic duo since Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg in the early 90’s. Verdict: Treat.

Michigan State: The Spartans couldn’t rekindle the same spark that saw them overcome a 17 point deficit against Northwestern a week earlier. Plainly put, they bit off more corn than they could chew (Lol, I know; I had to put a corny joke in there somehow). Verdict: Trick.

Missouri: After putting on a complete and dominant performance in their win over the top ranked Sooners, the Tigers lost a very good shot at taking control of the North Division. Verdict: Trick.

Oklahoma: The Sooners were able shake off their loss with a much needed win over Colorado. They put the Buffs away early, since they only know too well what happens when you let the Buffs hang around for long. Verdict: Treat

Oklahoma State: Playing on the road without a suspended Justin Blackmon, it was Bo Bowling, Josh Cooper and Michael Harrison who stepped up and made plays in the passing game. The defense also made the win more impressive; forcing three turnovers including a “pick 6” to ice the game. Verdict: Treat.

Tulsa: In one of the biggest wins (if not the biggest of them all) in school history, the Golden Hurricane made big play after big play; Shawn Jackson’s 66 yard “pick 6”, Damaris Johnson 59 yard punt return for a score. None of these however, was bigger than James Flanders’ game clinching interception. The Golden Hurricane swept through the Golden Dome. Verdict: Treat.

Baylor: There was a joke that once went like this, “How do you beat the Baylor Bears?” The answer: “Just show up”. You can still show up, but you might get mauled. The Bears made big plays on offense and defense resulting in their first win in Austin since 1991; and they also ruined what was supposed to be Colt McCoy’s glorious homecoming. Verdict: Treat.

Texas: Many felt this team was primed for another title run following their appearance in the National Championship game. Granted, they lost a lot of players were lost to the draft, but it’s Texas; they don’t rebuild, they reload. The rich do cry after all. Verdict: Trick.

Nebraska: Finally, they were able to put on another impressive performance for a second consecutive week. This time, they went retro using a punishing ground game and dominant defense to bring Mizzou down from Cloud 9. Verdict: Treat.

Second helping of treats go to:

Roy Helu, Jr, Nebraska: 28 carries, 307 rushing yards, 3 TDs; sparking a win over Mizzou
Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M: 449 passing yards, 4 TDs leading the Aggies to a win over Texas Tech, in his 1st start at QB.
Entire Baylor Bears team: Great team effort.
Entire Oklahoma State Cowboys team: Their last win in Manhattan came in 1988. This may not have been an impressive win, but it was a commendable team effort all around.
LaMichael James, Darron Thomas, Jeff Maehl; Oregon: 1, 2, 3 strikes!! You’re out of the ol’ ball game.......
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma: Set a school single game receiving record; 208 yards on 9 receptions to go along with 3 touchdowns.


If I forgot to mention your squad, don’t take it personal. Just let me know, and I’ll be sure to send a shout out.