This ability to make the right momentum call or the right call to finish a team off to walk away with a victory is not easy and it wasn’t this time. Go back to last week in Missouri and Oklahoma faced a 4th and 1 in Mizzou territory with a 16-3 lead in the first half. Paul Thompson faked the handoff and looked deep down the field to Malcolm Kelly for a big play. However, Kelly couldn’t get to the ball and Oklahoma had to punt. The play didn’t work, but the Sooners went on to play well and win the game anyway.

Fast forward to Saturday night and Oklahoma leads 14-3 in College Station with the first quarter crawling to a close after the Sooners just rolled 80 yards once again. The ball was hit perfectly by Garrett Hartley and Jason Carter flew by the ball with hands grasping to hold on the entire time. The ball hit the ground and Oklahoma seemed to have it again, but once again the Sooners lost on an onsides kick, although this time it was legal. Again, Stoops tried to take momentum and become “River Boat Bob” or “Big Game Bob”.

Finally, with 1:29 to go inside the toughest place to play in the Big 12 conference, Stoops made the gutsy gamble in the big game that actually paid off. Just a mere few inches from clinching victory in a massive game for the program’s present and future, Stoops gave the “okay” to go for a 4th down attempt. After Paul Thompson converted the first attempt, nullified after Bob Stoops called timeout, Thompson then converted again. Turns out, the play wasn’t even needed as A&M took a tradition a little too seriously and had 12 players on the field for the fourth down.

Now, you may say that the play shouldn’t count for Stoops gut-check calls because of the penalty, but consider this. After A&M called timeout when the measurement showed a fourth down was necessary, Stoops called a timeout to let officials look at the spot again. After that, Stoops called a timeout just before snapping the ball, which may have been the reason for the penalty in the end. Stoops wanted to see how the Aggies would line up, which usually in turn makes the opponent put in a new look. During that time and the next play confusion reigned for A&M and the penalty was a result. Either way, rest assured that A&M wouldn’t have had 12 players on the field to return a punt.

In the end this game won’t go down with a lot of others in Sooners history because it won’t lead to a national title, or even a Big 12 Title, but it will lead to bigger things. Oklahoma should be 8-1 right now with a shot at finishing 11-1, but most Sooner fans will (and should be) impressed with a 10-2 finish all things considered. No, this won’t lead to a title for 2006’s version of the Oklahoma Sooners, but it could be a giant step to creating champions for the 2007 version.

“Talent does what it can; genius does what it must.”
- Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

Before I start a firestorm of criticism and insults let me start by saying that in no way shape or form could Sooner fans, coaches, or players feel good after losing Adrian Peterson. In fact, they should feel like someone stole their new Tivo just as they had filled the electronic wonder with dozens of their favorite shows. They should feel sick to their stomachs about missing the opportunity to see such a player ever don the Crimson and Crème again. That being said, this is a monumental opportunity for Kevin Wilson to prove his ability.

First, before I delve into this thought let me say that when Barry Sanders retired I felt like someone had stolen the heart of professional football from me forever. Not being able to see that unbelievable athlete play again was very similar to being punched in the nose by any number of professional boxers. I felt that feeling again last Saturday when the news about Peterson hit with the obvious exception being that I knew Peterson would play again … just not in Norman, not in the college game. Sure, this is a hit to Sooner fans, but this is a hit to college football in general.

However, up until now we have known through six games this season and the Holiday Bowl of last year that Kevin Wilson knew how to get the ball to his best player and build around him. Now, we will see if he can do that again, knowing that his best player on offense is now wearing #4. Malcolm Kelly has NFL written all over him as well and he is now ready to become “the” guy in the Sooner offense. Have no fear Sooner Fans, Kevin Wilson has done this before.

At Northwestern, Wilson had little more than running back Damien Anderson to lean on and what did he do with that? He only got Anderson to lead the Big 10 in rushing with almost 200 yards per game on the ground. Again, I remind you that he did that on the ground at Northwestern … that plays in the Big 10 … where rushing is not the easiest thing to do. Point being, Wilson knows that the key to any great offense is to get the ball to your best player as much as possible. Consider a few words from the great war strategist, Sun-Tzu:

“In general, the strategy for employing the military is this: If your strength is ten times theirs, surround them; if five, then attack them; if double, then divide your forces. If you are equal in strength to the enemy, you can engage him. If fewer, you can circumvent him.”

While the strength wasn’t exactly “ten times” that of the opponent for Oklahoma with AD, the offense of the first six games falls under the first category. With the best player in America you give it to him over and over, “surrounding” your enemy with the best talent on the field. Now, Oklahoma is in the second category for the final six games. Again, they aren’t “five times” the strength of their remaining opponents, but they will be favored in all games remaining. The difference now is this, instead of relying on your best to win over the long haul, now you go and attack early, then attack often.

Expect this Sooner fans, expect the most imaginative offense since Mike Leach left for West Texas. Expect to see an offense that will magnify the ability of the best players on the field while keeping the defense on their heels. While most believe that the excitement to be gone for this season, don’t buy the overreaction. These Sooners aren’t going to win a National Championship, but if Stoops is ever going to show his muscle through his coordinators it is going to be now. Sit back and strap yourselves in, this season is far from over.

“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.” – Tom Clancy

The 2006 edition of Oklahoma-Texas was not unlike many recent games in the series, which is why it is altogether shocking that Oklahoma lost. If you were part of the national audience that watched the game you saw one team laying out the hits, holding on to the ball and not making game shifting penalties … the same thing that happened over and over during Oklahoma’s recent five game win streak in the series. Here’s the kicker though, this time the team doing the right things had horns on their helmets.

Anybody who walks away from this game and thinks that Oklahoma is falling apart en route to a trip to the Independence Bowl is kidding themselves. Anybody who watched and feels that the coaching staff made all the wrong plans therefore causing Oklahoma to drop a Red River embarrassment is sadly mistaken. This game can be described quite easily by talking of one particular aspect of the game that is sometimes ridiculously overblown … confidence. Not confidence in yourself as an athlete, but in yourself as a game breaker, right now Texas has “it” and Oklahoma does not.

Before you start spouting that statistics don’t matter, look at Oklahoma having over 100 yards more total offense than Texas, allowing the Longhorns just 232 yards of total offense. This should tell you one thing about Oklahoma no matter how upset you are about Saturdays loss, the defense IS getting better. The last two times OU faced somebody with an offense that potent 400 and 500 yard games were posted. This loss can’t be blamed on the defensive game plan. They realistically gave up 21 points to the Longhorns.

The Oklahoma offense had a game plan that worked for the majority of the day against the stout Texas defense by using Adrian Peterson on every play. Whether he ran it or acted like he was running it Oklahoma keyed on Texas keying on him and play action faked their way to some pretty impressive drives. Here’s where the problems came in, the Sooner offensive line played well, they just didn’t concentrate. Five false start penalties and a hold or two just for good measure stopped countless drives from having any sort of continuity at all. Throw in some defensive off-sides (at least 3 by my count) and you are hurting yourself even more.

Where the game really was decided was here, turnovers. Every year of Oklahoma’s five game streak over Texas, the Sooners seemed to dominate the turnover battle and did by going +9 over that five game stretch. Saturday, Oklahoma not only lost the turnover battle 5-0, but they luckily recovered three other fumbles. Texas? They never had a loose ball or something resembling an interception all day. That, my friends, is the difference. Confidence, be one of the people that calls it “swagger” if you like, but this game needs its winner to be sure that they are it. Right now, Texas is sure, OU isn’t.

What does it take to change? Not Vince Young per se, but somebody like him or the cast of characters that did it for OU for five years. Somebody to take over a game like Rocky Calmus, Roy Williams, Quentin Griffin, Jason White, or Teddy Lehman did from 2000 to 2004. These Sooners have loads of talent, but nobody seems to be able to turn the tide.

Take my advice if you ever will and don’t be a fan that looks like a moron and call for the heads of the coaching staff. Coaches can’t coach you to not jump off-side or jump early and they sure can’t coach you to hold on to the ball! Just as Mack shouldn’t have been fired for losing to OU these guys can’t be fired for losing to Texas. Remember, they should be 4-1 right now staring right down the barrel of a seven game stretch of VERY winnable games. As a matter of fact, right now, Sooner fans should hope Bob Stoops is as good as Mack Brown was during his Red River Funk; they rarely lost after the first weekend of October.

“The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those who don’t have it.” – George Bernard Shaw

Nobody in or around Norman believes that all of the questions from the first three games of the 2006 campaigns were answered in the Sooners 59-0 thrashing of Middle Tennessee, but it was most definitely a step in the right direction. For the first time since Jason White graced Owen Field, Oklahoma looked like a team that could regain the swagger of the early Bob Stoops years thanks to an opportunistic defense, efficient offense, and reliable special teams unit. Are they ready for the eyes of Texas in front of the eyes of the nation?

ABC has announced a national audience will take in the 101st installment of the Red River Shootout between OU-Texas, a game with much more intrigue than last year’s inevitable beating. There is plenty of time to discuss all of that; this is time to discuss what you can be excited about in a 59-0 win over the Blue Raiders.

—-The offense is no longer the unit that just needs to move the ball consistently; it is becoming a unit that could be feared alone. Playmakers like Malcolm Kelly and Juaquin Iglesias have stepped forward to allow Paul Thompson to show off his skills. Kelly’s emergence as a potential superstar just means more glory down the road for AD … how many D-Coordinators do you think want to go man-to-man with that guy?

—-The defense has finally started to force turnovers, another stat that has been non-existent since the back-to-back national title game squads. The nine turnovers forced the last two weeks have been just that, forced. Defensive backs and linebackers have been stepping in front of balls to make plays while others have simply ripped the ball away. This trend must continue for an otherwise shaky unit to gain confidence.

—-Defensive backs have slowly, but surely, started to emerge every week, starting with Reggie Smith from week one. Slowly, Marcus Walker and Nic Harris have begun to show the ability to make plays and be reliable, while DJ Wolfe showed a few signs of returning to 2005 form on Saturday night. Sooner fans should hope for more in the bye week before Texas.

—-Zach Latimer and Rufus Alexander finally have started to show up on every other play, a staple of linebackers in the Stoops Era. OU fans hope to hear those names over the loudspeaker just as often as Adrian Peterson and Paul Thompson, the more you hear them the better things are going.

—-The special teams are truly special again. Garrett Hartley is one sickening block away from a perfect record during an impressive start to the 2006 season while Reggie Smith has proven to be the type of showstopper that Oklahoma seems to have every time that they make a run at a title.

The Sooners are by no means out of the darkness, but teams rarely solve everything in one week, a strong showing in Dallas could send this team to heights expected before the Bomar Fiasco unfolded.

As the proverbial horse has been methodically beaten to death I will step up to the plate one last time and dispel a few myths that have floated in the atmosphere since Saturday’s Debacle in Eugene. These myths are not so much related to the calls made during the game, but in the opinions and statements in the fallout. Pack it up and pack it in, let us begin!

“Oklahoma fans, coaches, and administration are simply whining and pouting about Saturday’s games. It’s not like they are the first one’s to be the victims of a horrible call, they should take their medicine like men and go to bed.”

This theory has worked out perfectly for activists for centuries in our world, don’t stand up for yourself and simply take your medicine … your time will come. Who made this chivalric code in sports that says it is unmanly to say a call cost you a game? The same person who said a real athlete doesn’t celebrate after a score? Or that you don’t bunt in the middle of a no-hitter? Need I remind everyone reading that America itself was built on the fathers of our country laying down and taking it from the British. (That sarcasm was thick enough to sense, right?)

For the most part this theory is right, except for the fact that it doesn’t apply in this instance at all! Yes, Oklahoma’s defense could have done more Saturday, but you know what they did do? Enough to win the game! The ball was recovered … even after Oregon committed a foul on the play … by Oklahoma which meant they should have been able to down the ball and leave with a victory. Oregon could have done more also, but in effect they were … forgive me … dead ducks. OU did do enough to win, it was taken from them.

Again, part of this is right, the game can’t be overturned or it would lead to one heck of a slippery slope, but there is absolutely no harm in bringing it up. David Boren is a very intelligent politician, he knew what he was doing. He knew they wouldn’t overturn the game’s final decision, but he did back his school and his fans, which means a lot to the group as a whole. All the other demands were justified … and as for Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg’s response … we knew this guy was a weak stick to begin with.

Stoops has set an example for his team, that they will not be pushed around or slighted. You constantly coach your players to stand up for themselves and their teammates, but you aren’t supposed to do it when you are wronged? Please, who is making this rule?

“David Boren should spend more time on improving the other areas of Oklahoma University academically and leave football to the Athletics Department.”

This comment by one specific ESPN writer (no names, but his initials are Pat Forde) is comical because how much he obviously doesn’t know about Boren. Ask any number of Sooner Football and Basketball fans how many times they sit through presentations to other parts of the university Boren has improved during a timeout and gauge the response. It has been both boring and exhausting to sit through the presentations at times, but rest assured Mr. Forde, the University IS in good hands. This wouldn’t surprise Sooner fans who are addressed as the “Sooner Nation” by East Coast writers anyway, that moniker alone shows how much you follow the program.

First of all, he does have the same angles as the network, we all know that to be true. However, let’s say for a second that he didn’t, does anybody remember replay overturning the Malcolm Kelly touchdown catch and run in the third quarter? Kelly tip-toed down the sideline and was called out at around the 47 (thought they didn’t know which 47 at first) and the play was called back. Those cameras seemed to work fine at that point … must have been a power surge, right?

On the surface I do agree, I believe this was gross incompetence as well, but why do we all assume that officials are squeaky clean without question? With the corruption engulfing all other areas of sports why are these guys rendered clean? Bonds takes steroids, Bomar takes money, but these guys may as well be giving a sermon on Sunday mornings? If you think that an official has never taken money to swing a game or never will again … who is really the crazy one?

Surely I have missed something with all of these myths, but this is all that I could think of at the moment. Drop in your myth busters as you choose, I’m sure they will be worth it. As for those that say that this can’t be stricken from the record, let me remind you of some words of genius from the tongue of Mr. Albert Einstein, “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”

Nothing will change the record book or give Oklahoma back a celebration that they earned and deserved, but the Pacific 10 conference did own up to mistakes made by their employees Monday afternoon. The onsides kick, consequent recovery, and pass interference calls from Saturday’s Oklahoma-Oregon game were reviewed by Pac-10 officials and the conference did take responsibility. Here’s a recap from the release:

An onside kick by Oregon after its first touchdown was touched by an Oregon player before it had traveled the required 10 yards, and the ball accordingly should have been awarded to Oklahoma at the spot of touching. Further, while the ball was determined to have been recovered by Oregon by the game officials, video shows an Oklahoma player actually recovered the ball. That aspect of the play is not reviewable by instant replay by rule.

The play was reviewed by the instant replay officials, who concurred with the field officials that Oklahoma had touched the ball with Oregon recovering and the play stood as called on the field.

A subsequent Oregon pass play on which pass interference was called on Oklahoma also was reviewed to see if the forward pass had been touched by a defensive player, thus nullifying the pass interference call. The replay officials ruled that there was not indisputable video evidence that the touching had occurred.

“The fact that the errors on the onside kick altered the outcome of the game is most unfortunate and unsettling,” Hansen said. “We had a solid veteran crew assigned, and the instant replay official had a fine career as a referee in the Pac-10. We believe in the ability and integrity of each individual involved. It should be noted that not all of the seven officials were directly involved in the play in question, but the entire crew bears responsibility for every play. Game officials and replay officials have positions of great responsibility and must be accountable for their actions.

“Errors clearly were made and not corrected, and for that we apologize to the University of Oklahoma, Coach Bob Stoops and his players. They played an outstanding college football game, as did Oregon, and it is regrettable that the outcome of the contest was affected by the officiating.
“Because of the ramifications, we are taking action against both the members of the officiating crew and the instant replay official and his assistant. Each individual will be suspended for one game, and their work in future games closely monitored.

So what does this mean to Oklahoma fans? The game is over and done with, the outcome will not be changed, however, fans should move on, not forget. This game will live in Sooner infamy, but more is possible from this 2006 squad. President Boren should not drop his quest for more changes that he addressed in his statement on Monday, but this should provide some solace, unlike 2005’s Texas Tech game that had insult added to injury by the calls being called correct after review by the conference.

While I believe that the suspension is weak at best, one game does nothing other than marginally affect one’s pride, at least the conference is trying to correct a wrong. Fans are still allowed to feel cheated or wronged, but Middle Tennessee, Texas, and the other seven teams after that are still coming to play anyways, it is time to move on.

Move on to the Blue Raiders, but don’t forget, changes should be made before Oklahoma waltzes into Washington in 2008. Officiating should be reviewed, the process should be reviewed, and what CAN be reviewed should be reviewed. Don’t tell me that who recovered an onsides shouldn’t be able to be reviewed, just tell me if there isn’t any evidence to be reviewed. Allen Patrick emerged with the ball BEFORE officials marched in to declare possession ON VIDEO, if whistles blew, they blew incorrectly.

Don’t tell me it can’t be reviewed; tell me if there is ANYTHING to REVIEW!

It is rare in times such as these where obvious wrongs are done to a school via poor officiating that an official of the school speaks out against it. Fines can be levied and opinions can be formed that are detrimental to the progression of the school by committing such an act. However, after such transgressions on Saturday that were so obvious to everyone, David L. Boren, President of the University of Oklahoma spoke out Monday. Here is a review of Boren’s main points to Kevin Weiberg, Big 12 Commissioner.

>“First, seek an apology from the Pac-10 Conference for the gross errors in officiating.” If this isn’t done then the Pac-10 is a joke anyway and should no longer be considered a legitimate organization by the college football world in general. You MUST take accountability for your actions!

>“Second, since institutions, players, and coaches are held responsible by conferences and the NCAA for their actions, those who officiate games should also be held responsible. At the very least, those found responsible for reviewing the onside kick call and the interference call in the closing minutes of the game should be suspended from officiating for the rest of the season.” The Pac-10 suspended the officials for one game, the equivalent of jailing someone for one week for stealing from the company they work for.

>“Third, it is my understanding that the Pac-10 Conference has a rule that they will only use Pac-10 officials at games with other conference institutions hosted by Pac-10 members. In light of what happened Saturday, the Big 12 should request that the Pac-10 change its rule to assure impartial officiating.” Is there any harm in asking for this? I understand that this was agreed upon when the contract was signed, but forgive me if I believe that the playing field is different now. Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on the Pac-10.

>“Fourth, the Big 12 should request that the game should not go into the record books as a win or loss by either team in light of the level of officiating mistakes.” This is a little out there in that it will never happen, but again, where is the harm in asking? If the officials know that it IS possible to change the outcome after the game has finished wouldn’t that put an end to any improprieties? Not saying that this was a “fix” but if it were that would certainly put an end to it, right?

>“Fifth, the Big 12 should place on the appropriate agendas of NCAA meetings and meetings of the conference commissioners a discussion of how the film review process should be implemented.” Thank God somebody finally said it! Yes, review is a great idea. Yes, its intent has the good of the game at heart. However, how does something like this happen with review being used? This isn’t the first time that replay has failed, just ask Joe Paterno about instant replay’s effectiveness!

I understand that asking for some of the things that Boren asked for and even speaking out may color him a “whiner”, but here’s the truth, if nobody speaks out then nothing changes. The old saying goes something like this, all truth goes through three stages, “First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is recognized as being self evident.” When replay screwed Joe Paterno we laughed at its inaccuracy as being ridiculous. When it screws you in the last minute you violently oppose its use. When do we accept that the system is flawed and begin to make changes?

The Ducks then drove the ball and scored a touchdown with a little over a minute remaining in the game. Trailing by six and with only one remaining timeout, the Ducks had no choice but to try an onside kick. The kick traveled nine yards through the air and then was batted by an Oregon player and players from both teams then scrambled to recover the ball.

The officials on the field quickly rule the ball in the possession of the Ducks. The Sooners complained and the officials in the replay booth decided to take a look. While they were reviewing the play, television footage clearly showed that the ball was touched by an Oregon player before it traveled the required 10 yards. It seemed a no-brainer call that the call on the field would be overturned and the Sooners would receive possession (and be able to run out the game clock). The still image above clearly shows the Oregon player touching the ball before it reaches the 45 yard line.

Amazingly, when the official replay team finally completed its review it said that the receiving team (Sooners) touched the ball first and the ball became live (even if it hadn’t traveled the required 10 yards). The Ducks were awarded with possession of the ball and proceeded to score a few plays later to secure victory.

What makes the entire situation even more amazing is that Oklahoma running back Allen Patrick actually recovered the kick, but the officials never noticed. They were too busy trying to focus on the pile of players to find the ball. Replay again clearly shows Patrick recovering the ball as it squeezes out of the back of the pile. He stands up and tries to find an official to give the ball to. Several OU players are seen on the video trying to point this out to officials, but were ignored by the referees.

The two pictures below clearly show proof that Patrick recovers the ball as it bounces through the legs of the Oregon player. A video at the bottom of the page will show you this evidence in full game speed.

The pictures below are closer looks with circles around Patrick as he secures the loose ball. Tak a closer look:

The bottom line is that the call on the field should have been overturned by the replay officials since video evidence conclusively shows the Oregon player touching the ball nine yards after the kick. The Sooners should have been rewarded with the football and a chance to secure the game.

College football, the NCAA and the PAC-10 owe the Sooners an apology. Take a look at the video below for full speed action.

Here’s a few more views of the video footage of the onside kick. It’s simply amazing that the replay officials couldn’t get this right.

Click Here to see another video

Courtesy: Okstate.com

STILLWATER, Okla. – Bobby Reid threw four touchdown passes — doubling his 2005 season total — and Mike Hamilton rushed for 155 yards to lead Oklahoma State past Missouri State 52-10 Saturday.

Freshman Perrish Cox returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to give the Cowboys (1-0) a quick lead over their NCAA Division I-AA foe — one year after they struggled to beat another I-AA team, Montana State, by five points in the opener. Barry Sanders is the only other player in school history to return the season opening kickoff for a touchdown. The Heisman Trophy winner did it twice — in 1987 against Tulsa and 1988 against Miami (Ohio).

Oklahoma State, which averaged 324.8 yards of offense per game last season, had 346 yards by halftime and finished with 443 yards, posting scoring drives of 63, 99 and 72 yards.

The 42-point winning margin was the largest by the Cowboys in a season opener since 1984, when they beat Arizona State 45-3. Oklahoma State scored more than 50 points for the first time in 21 games, dating to September 2004.

Reid’s numbers weren’t spectacular — 8-for-17 for 165 yards — but the sophomore proved efficient, throwing touchdown passes of 19 yards to newcomer Adarius Bowman, 33 yards to Keith Toston, 3 yards to John Johnson and 72 yards to D’Juan Woods, the last with 8 seconds left in the first half.

The Cowboys led 38-0 at halftime, their most points in a half since scoring 38 against SMU on Sept. 20, 2003.

A blocked punt by freshman Chris Collins deep in Missouri State territory early in the third quarter set up an 8-yard touchdown run by Toston to make it 45-0. Reid, who was limited by injuries last season to seven games and threw only two touchdown passes, exited the game after that series.

Hamilton averaged 9.7 yards on 16 first-half carries but didn’t touch the football after halftime as the Cowboys went mostly with reserves.

Missouri State (0-1) scored on a 29-yard field goal by Nathan Stokes with 40 seconds left in the third quarter and a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Jonathan Davis with 6:56 left.

Missouri State’s alternating quarterbacks, Matt Krapfl and Garrett Congdon, combined to complete 19 of 31 passes for 266 yards, but the Bears managed only 68 yards rushing.

In the much anticipated 2006 season opener, the Oklahoma Sooners looked better in some areas than expected and looked below potential in others.

With much of the focus this spring on the loss of last year’s starting quarterback Rhett Bomar, many college football experts expected the Sooners offense to be the biggest question mark. Most experts agreed that the Sooners would have one of the nation’s best defensive units.

While the Sooners offense, led by fifth year senior Paul Thompson, looked better than expected overall, the defense was average at best. The Sooner defense allowed Alabama-Birmingham to pile up nearly 300 yards of total offense and dominate much of the time of possession battle. Although most of the OU defensive struggles appear to be correctible, like poor tackling and position problems, the performance was still a surprise.

Offensively, the Sooners showed signs of promise. Facing an above average UAB defense, the Sooners controlled the line of scrimmage and were able to successfully work the field through the air and on the field.

In the first half, Thompson picked apart the UAB secondary while driving the Sooners up and down the field. Due to three first half turnovers, the Sooners were only able to score one touchdown while losing the ball twice inside the UAB 20 yard line. At halftime, the game was tied 7-7.

Oklahoma star running back Adrian Peterson took over in the second half. After getting off to a slow start in the game, Peterson had much of his 200+ yards of all purpose yardage in the closing half. UAB head coach, and former OU offense coordinator, Watson Brown said Peterson may be the best player he’s ever coached against.

Due to another turnover and poor defensive tackling, the Sooners trailed the game 17-14 when Peterson took a short pass from Thompson and broke lose for a 69 yard touchdown reception. The Sooners scored again on a late field goal to secure the final 24-17 margin.