NORMAN, Okla. — If what we're talking about now is
winning and nothing else, then count Saturday's effort against Baylor a
success for the Oklahoma football team.
If you're
looking for more than that, keep reaching.
The
Sooners won against Baylor, but past the raw data of the scoreboard
which showed a 42-34 victory, Oklahoma played uninspired with a good
touch of apathy mixed in.
The Sooners led 14-3 in the
first quarter, 28-17 at halftime, then by as much as 16 deep into the
fourth quarter, but still needed to grab hold of an onside kick with
1:25 left to make sure something really screwy didn't happen – like
losing a third game at home this season.
"It's onto
West Virginia next week," coach Bob Stoops
said.
Yeah, time to move on, because looking back
isn't exactly a pleasure cruise. Stoops defended the win, going as far
as calling it, "Good" and "Solid," and "Really positive," but the odd
thing is, it didn't pass the smell test.
Baylor's
defense didn't come in as just a bad defense. That would be insulting to
the 119 teams ranked ahead of the Bears in total defense. Instead, it
came in as the worst in the country, giving up an average of 527 yards
per game. Twice this season, Baylor scored 50 or more points and lost,
offsetting the nation's top-ranked offense. Yet, here was OU ignoring
it's short-yardage, Belldozer package in the first half and finishing
with numbers that will actually improve Baylor's standing, going for 460
yards of offense.
Certainly not terrible, but Baylor
hadn't faced a team as good as OU this season, while giving up yardage
easily and often in losses to West Virginia, Texas and
TCU.
All that coupled with this: OU held Baylor to
season lows in total offense (424 yards) and pass offense (172 yards)
and tied the Bears' low in completions.
So, why
didn't this game turn ugly?
Depends who you ask, I
guess. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops basically came in and said the
opposite of brother Bob, proving the two should either never be
separated in an interview situation or should come up with a single
story ahead of time.
Bob Stoops challenged reporters,
saying, "I love it. With a 1:40 to go we're up 16. You can rip me
tomorrow. Yeah, I'm good with it, but Mike suggested his team didn't
play good defense, didn't stop the run and didn't tackle particularly
well.
"You have to make a play," Mike Stoops said.
"Something."
You decide who's right, but understand
this: The Sooners had consecutive, third-quarter turnovers, didn't force
a single turnover from the Bears and also gave up 11-of-20 third down
conversions.
Oklahoma called timeouts when they
couldn't get lined up right and called two more in dead-ball situations.
A team that should have been motivated and inspired, considering what
looks to be a fruitful bowl opportunity, wasn't
either.
"A win is a win," said a stoic Tony
Jefferson, OU's safety. "You have to enjoy a win, but when you feel like
you could have played better, you're not excited about
it."
All signs and a number of projections point to
the Sooners getting a BCS bowl game if they are able to win the rest of
the way. And with Louisville losing, the Sooners will surely jump up in
the standings. Meanwhile, it was Baylor who ended OU's BCS hopes a
season ago, rallying for a touchdown in the final seconds, essentially
sealing quarterback Robert Griffin's Heisman.
"We
didn't cause any turnovers, and that ties in with the scoreboard,"
Jefferson said. "We gave up some big plays. We can't do that. This is a
good offensive team. We have a lot of work to
do."
Baylor ran for 252 yards, a product of OU's
desire to stop the pass, according to Stoops, but the Sooners seemed
like they couldn't get off the field, giving up a 17-play drive and a
19-play drive.
"There wasn't anything easy or cheap,"
Bob Stoops said. "These guys have lit up the scoreboard and have had
yards all over. We're in there with a 16 point lead with a 1:30 to go.
That's positive."
He's right, but how come it doesn't
feel like it?
