After Further Review…

October 25th, 2005

By Justin Waganer
Senior Sports Writer

As three quarters of a sellout crowd threw their hands up in jubilation after Oklahoma survived their own dominant performance over Baylor instinct was to be unimpressed. After all, OU had outscored Baylor 255-46 during the Stoops Era while rolling to three Big 12 Championships, playing in four BCS Bowls, and winning the 2000 National Championship. When instinct passed and time was given to consider what had happened on Owen Field one can’t help but notice, these kids are getting better.

Just a short time ago the Sooners took the field to open the season against TCU with Adrian Peterson at tailback and managed just 97 yards rushing on 36 carries. The Horned Frogs rushing defense is ranked 48th in the country this week against the run, Baylor is ranked 46th. Oklahoma racked up 205 yards on 53 carries against the Bears, with the 4th and 5th string tailbacks in the game. I believe Jacob Gutierrez has a future at OU, but Allen Patrick has played tailback for about a month. The point is this, early this season the Sooners couldn’t make holes for the Heisman runner-up, now they have holes good enough for a converted safety to gain 3.5 yards per carry.

The week after TCU, Oklahoma struggled to throw the ball and didn’t throw a pass in the second half against Tulsa. With the game on the line OU went to their only proven commodity in Adrian Peterson to survive 31-15. On Saturday the Sooners were in a third down situation in double overtime in a game that could have been the last shred of dignity to be stripped away in a long 2005 and let Rhett Bomar throw in the face of a blitz. Bomar delivered, Oklahoma won and climbed above .500 for the first time this season.

In Oklahoma’s previous three wins the defense shut down Tulsa, Kansas State, and Kansas to win despite the offensive woes. Oklahoma currently ranks third in rushing defense and 17th in total defense. Saturday night the OU defense stood stout after several offensive mistakes, but nearly blew it when Lewis Baker let his man run right past him to the end zone. In a reversal of roles, Rhett Bomar let the defense off the hook and picked up a big win for the Sooners hope of a seventh straight bowl game.

Before getting yourself in a huff hear what I’m saying. This is not a big win in the realm of Torrance Marshall racing down the sidelines in College Station in 2000. This is not a big win in the realm of Roy Williams playing Superman in Dallas in 2001. This is not a big win like Renaldo Works leaping over Crimson Tide tacklers in 2002 or Jason White throwing to Mark Bradley in College Station last season. This is a new type of big win for Oklahoma, this is a big win to spark the flares to light the road back to success.

The word the last few days has been that it’s hard to get excited about a double overtime win over Baylor when you’ve played in the last two National Championship games. Well, don’t be excited about beating Baylor, be excited about what you saw in that win. An offense playing with several freshmen offensive linemen, three freshmen wide outs, a freshman quarterback, and a sophomore rushing for 173 yards in his first start in the backfield. This is not a win to remember forever and ever, but it could be the beginning of success for a group of young talent that is showing promise.

Entry Filed under: Oklahoma Sports