The piling on has just begun at Oklahoma.
That's what happens when a bowl game goes astray. Oklahoma lost 40-6 to Clemson Monday in the Russell Athletic Bowl and there's plenty to be down about from the top to the bottom with the Sooners.
But what about trying another approach and looking at things differently?
Here are four things to look forward to:
1. It can't get any worse
Five losses in 2014 after being ranked in the top five in the nation to start the season. A miserable showing in each of the last two games of the season.
Perhaps, this is rock-bottom for the Sooners and there's nowhere to go but up.
The offseason can't get here quick enough. Oklahoma needs a break. The Sooners need some time off to cool off, check things over, re-energize.
Oklahoma's schedule in 2015 is much tougher with road games at Tennessee, Baylor, Oklahoma State and Kansas State, but things won't be worse than 2014.
OU quarterbacks threw 17 interceptions this season and for nearly 1,000 yards less than their opponents did. The Sooners averaged only 203 yards per game passing. Honestly, it would be hard to be worse than that. Figure things are going to be better in the passing department, no matter who's throwing it around.
There won't be expectations in 2015. Not from media. Not from the rankings or prognosticators and not from fans. There won't be massive disappointment if OU loses a few games, not on the scale of 2014, that's for sure.
Just think, a single win against Oklahoma State will get everyone excited.
See, you feel better already, right?
2. Lots of Changes
If you're upset and want heads to roll, you're probably going to get your wish.
Watch in the near future as OU makes changes on the staff, and then watch into the spring as OU makes changes on the field.
At the very least, you know the Sooners aren't going to sit still. There's no way they can after what just happened.
Already, defensive tackle Jordan Phillips has announced he won't be returning next season and linebacker Eric Striker said he would be back. The shifting has already started and it hasn't even been a full day.
Trevor Knight is certainly not assured of being the quarterback next year, despite beating Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. He was bad against Clemson Monday, throwing three interceptions. Back-up Cody Thomas wasn't much better in his chances as a starter.
Watch as Stoops announces the quarterback position is wide open and watch as that announcement comes well before spring practice starts. Add in transfer Baker Mayfield to the mix and you have a fluid situation at a position that seemingly was settled a year ago at this time.
3. The running back situation
OK, the defense was no good and the receivers were bad and the quarterback was shaky.
But the running backs? Now that's something you can feel pretty good about, and we haven't even seen the likes of Joe Mixon.
Mixon was suspended for the season but has been on campus all year. He is expected to play next season and the five-star running back from California was one of the nation's top recruits at this time last year.
Meanwhile, Samaje Perine, Keith Ford and Alex Ross all return. Perine was phenomenal all season, Ford has shown himself to be a good receiver out of the backfield and Ross has been sensational with his big-play ability.
There might not be another position on the field you feel good about, but OU should be really good at running back and that will help whoever the quarterback is next season, knowing that if the Sooners can't figure out how to pass the ball they can always rely on the running game.
4. Fiery Bob Stoops
On a good day, one could describe Bob Stoops as confrontational. Now, we'll see just how defiant Stoops will be.
The 8-5 season wasn't his worst by wins and losses, but it was his worst considering expectations. No doubt he's going to use that as motivation heading into 2015. No doubt, media fans and players will hear about it, too.
If you are interested in a coach getting fired up and letting everyone know it, you should be looking forward to 2015.
Already, and we're less than a day from the Clemson disaster, Stoops has taken a lot of verbal abuse from media and fans locally, as well as nationally.
Hard to imagine he wouldn't want to reverse that trend in a hurry. Hard to imagine he won't be more upset and more motivated. If you like that, you'll love this offseason.
Follow Andrew Gilman on Twitter: @andrewgilmanOK
