Stoops makes statement with victory
By By Tony Krausz/assistant sports editor
November 15, 2003
Of all the low-down, dirty, despicable things a college football coach could do, how could Oklahoma's Bob Stoops call off the dogs?
Come on man, think of the children? What lesson are you teaching America's youth?
The No. 1-ranked Sooners proved last week that they are not just considered the top team in the land, but that they are the best team period.
Granted it was Texas A&M that Oklahoma flogged 77-0 last week, but if Stoops wanted to his squad could have easily found out what a scoreboard looks like when a team hits the century mark.
But no, the wily Sooners coach that will just as soon call for a fake punt or field goal (just ask Alabama) as shake your hand after the game, decided to show heart.
Quarterback Jason White, the Heisman Trophy front-runner, was pulled at the half after tossing just five touchdowns on 263 yards passing. He could have gotten so much more.
The Sooners ran the ball 83 times to a pedestrian-like 21 passing attempts, as they notched 33 first downs to the Aggies' three.
That's right, three. As in three one more than two, one less than four.
Then after the dust settled on the Saturday thrashing, so called "sports experts" got on Stoops for running up the score against a team that would have struggled putting the kabosh on a Pop Warner League drive last week.
It's not Oklahoma's fault that Texas A&M, a team that defeated it last year, played like it had never stepped on a football field before.
It's not the Sooners' problem that the Aggies are just that much worse, or that the Sooners are simply that much better than any team in college football.
It's not Stoops' foible that he has assembled a team that could compete with a few of teams from the NFL.
Yet still there it was, after the whitewashing, critics crying foul and demanding that a "You're too good" flag to be thrown at Stoops and the Sooners.
Where were these critics when Oklahoma decimated its instate rival Oklahoma State, another team that defeated the Sooners last season, 52-9 on Nov. 1. For the record, the scoreboard in Norman, Okla., for the last two weeks now reads Sooners 129, everybody else 9.
Are we supposed to believe that a 43-point loss is really any worse than a 73-point defeat. Either way you add it up, the games were blowouts.
But more to the point, where were all of these "fair-play" babblers when Texas A&M smacked Baylor around to the tune of a 73-10 score back on Oct. 11.
Where the Aggies not at fault because they threw the opposition a bone and allowed Baylor to get 10 points?
The total points for the winning team is exactly the same in Texas A&M's big win and big loss, yet the Aggies get to skate with coming with 27 points of a 100.
No one seemed to care when Missouri picked up a 62-31 win over Texas Tech, or when Texas Tech won a shoot out over Ole Miss 49-45 on Sept. 27. By the way, Texas Tech whipped up on Baylor 62-14 last weekend.
Shouldn't these teams be given grief for not playing any defense.
Now, Oklahoma enters today's game against Baylor as a 53 point favorite. This is just way to low.
Considering all of the grief Stoops has gotten over the past seven days after his team's shut out win, the Sooners should shoot for 150 points.
Or would it be better if Oklahoma just scored two touchdowns and simply let its defense pound away on Baylor for the rest of the game to get another shut out victory? It could happen with the Sooners' squad.
Oklahoma should go for as many points as the opponent will give up. It's that simple, if you let a team run wild on you expect to be embarrassed.
When the No. 1-ranked team in the land lines up opposite you, show up to play or don't show up at all.
Alabama gave Oklahoma a bit a scare earlier in the season, and considering how the Tides' season has played out, that was no small feat.
So after Stoops' team has a 50-point lead in the opening quarter, the Sooners need to keep going. If you are going to be hated, you might as well be utterly despised.
