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Can Stoops Still Bring It?
Published: 4/29/2009 2:50 PM
Last Modified: 4/29/2009 2:50 PM

Mack Brown has beaten OU three of the last four in Dallas.

OU has lost all those BCS games in a row.

Has Stoops lost anything?

Clearly, his best coaching move was signing Josh Heupel to play quarterback. That time period is drifting toward "back in the day" territory.

The OU football priorities are:

1. Winning the Big 12 title * (but with an asterisk).
2. Beating Texas.
3. Winning a BCS bowl game.
4. Beating OSU.

Winning the Big 12 is the number one priority only if the northern division is of a high quality, and only if winning the title leads to a BCS bowl win.

Winning a lousy conference and losing a BCS bowl game is not a successful year.

Texas did not win the conference and did win a BCS bowl game; and arguably had a better year than OU.

What could be missing at OU?

Some new assistant coaching blood?







Reader Comments 29 Total
Bullhead (4 years ago)
We haven't given up the fight. I believe he can get us there.
buster (4 years ago)
Stoops has done better than any other
coach in the big 12, north or south, can you
deny that?
rogerq (4 years ago)
I'm a Sooner fan all the way. I even watched every agonizing seond of that National Championship when USC beat us, hoping they would start the real game soon. But it does get embarrassing here when my batallion commander went to Boise State and my Command Sergeant Major is from West Virginia and they tell me they hope they get to play OU every year in a bowl game. What IS going on there? How can a team run up the numbers Stoops' teams do and not be able to close the deal? It boggles the mind.
OSUNDN (4 years ago)
Picker, I'm afraid you left the flood gates open for the "AT LEAST WE GOT THERE" choir to chime in on this board.
63Tackles (4 years ago)
Well, we did get there but Bob has a consistent problem closing out late season games. VERY disappointing, particularly the BCS championship game losses. A consistent problem for Bob. 1999 lost last game (bowl); 2001 lost last regular season game; 2002 lost last regular season game; 2003 lost last 2 games (Big XII and BCS championship); 2004 lost last game (BCS championship); 2006 lost last game (BCS bowl); 2007 lost last game (BCS bowl); 2008 lost last game (BCS championship). See a trend?
wreed22 (4 years ago)
Good morning Mr. Picker. Have you considered the popularity of your column if you did not write about OU? I bet 6 months of OSU/Tulsa/Arkansas insight would be distilled humility. Oh well football isn't that far off.
Ignatz (4 years ago)
I'm not an OU fan but do recognize the remarkable achievement the Sooners make to even get in those high-ranked BCS games yera in and year out. Stoops has picked two Heisman QB's and one guy who probably should have been. That is extremely remarkable. That being said, the games they lose are generally lost on the other side of the ball (the USC, West Va, Boise scores particularly come to mind). Maybe it's just tougher to recruit the defensive players who will get you there than one would think.
SUEA (4 years ago)
Hey Picker Boy -

go on the Shorthorn website at Austin American Statesman like my character "SWITZER" does and infuriate the Steers........then maybe you'll get the recognition you dearly crave.........hee hee
Ignatz (4 years ago)
Picker, I'm going to a you-pick-em Derby Party at my club tomorrow nite..which horse do you like?
dcood (4 years ago)
Geez. Slow time of year I guess. Why does picker continue to stubbornly claim that the Big 12 is a lousy league and that, in turn, winning that league is no big deal? Ludicrous claims. So if what some people would call justice had been served,and Texas had played Florida and OU had gone and beaten Ohio St in a BCS bowl, would this even be up for debate?? Winning your league is a huge accomplishment, no matter what league.... Remember, the Picker's main job is to stir the pot and he is one of the best ever at doing just that!
MexiMike (4 years ago)
From a national perspective, it doesn't speak highly of our conference if OU keeps winning Big 12 championships but keeps getting beaten by other conference teams in BCS games. To people around the country, that just means our conference is pretty weak (which I don't believe to be true at all).

I have a ton of respect for Stoops and what he has accomplished but the one and only way for perception to change is simple: Just win.
MexiMike (4 years ago)
Tattoo, one game matters when it is a heated rivalry. People will compare the OU/Texas record just like they compare Michigan/Ohio State, Notre Dame/USC, Auburn/Alabama etc. regardless of their season records.

In fact, Michigan is a perfect example. Llyod Carr took The Blue to a bowl every single year he was the head coach at Michigan and claimed the Big 10 title 5 of his last 7 years. Why did he get fired? Because he couldn't beat Ohio State.

Stoops can win all the Big 12 championships he wants but unfortunately, that alone will never be enough.
love 918 (4 years ago)
The quality of the Big 12 is an interesting debate point. There has been a Big 12 team in 6 of the 11 BCS national championships...but only 2 wins. The Big 12 has the worst conference record in BCS national championships. But they've been there more than anyone.

Does that denote a quality conference? I can see why some consider the big 12 over-rated and weak.
The Picker (4 years ago)
OU needs a new co-coordinator or two.

A fresh breeze in the ranks.

Ignatz: I can't stand favorites. Take a look at Regal Ransom at 30-1. Who knows. If it rains, draw numbers out of a hat. I'm betting two bucks on Pioneer of the Nile and Regal Ransom.
MexiMike (4 years ago)
Tattoo, I understand your side of the argument but think about this question objectively:

If for the next 2 years OU wins the Big 12 championships BUT also loses to Texas AND loses their BCS bowl each year, does Stoops still have a job?

Think about that. That would be 5 losses out of 6 games to Mack Brown and 7 straight BCS losses. Those Big 12 championships don't look so pretty with those ugly stats attached.

While we're at it, what if by some chance OU loses to both Texas and OSU this year? Losing to both your rivals (one on your home field), not making the Big 12 championship or a BCS bowl game? How much hot water would Stoops be in if that were to happen?
mgsooner (4 years ago)
Hey Picker your boy Traber was really ripping you on the Total Incompetence Hour today.
drillthis (4 years ago)
Wow Picker, Big 12 championship with an asterick. Yeah, the rules still haven't changed yet because they make sense. So, how's that replica high school diploma doing on your wall. Go write for that paper that could afford to publish their newspaper so I can be spared of this crap.
dcood (4 years ago)
A new coordinator or two??? The '08 offense was the most prolific since the game was invented, I think Kevin Wilson's job is probably safe. Venables and the OU defense totally shut down TT, Missouri and certainly were not the reason that Florida beat OU. They held them to 24 and Tebow looked decent at best. Coordinators dont get canned with what has occurred at OU, they get head jobs. IF they wanted, both could have head jobs already but why? They both make over 300k total compensation to be assistant football coaches at a great place, why would you wanna mess with that?
tulsandn (4 years ago)
Kevin Wilson needs to go.....but no one wants him....and if they did, why don't they just take him....

Josh Heupel needs to be elevated before the Sooners lose him to someone who sees what he does and knows what he can do....

The Offense last year operated best when Sam Bradford ran the show on the field exactly like Heupel did during his OU days....They did their worst when they had to wait for the coach in the press box make up his mind to run the play they ran before....

Why is that so hard to see ???
tulsandn (4 years ago)
Kevin Wilson needs to go.....but no one wants him....and if they did, why don't they just take him....

Josh Heupel needs to be elevated before the Sooners lose him to someone who sees what he does and knows what he can do....

The Offense last year operated best when Sam Bradford ran the show on the field exactly like Heupel did during his OU days....They did their worst when they had to wait for the coach in the press box make up his mind to run the play they ran before....

Why is that so hard to see ???
mgsooner (4 years ago)
LOL @ Kevin Wilson needs to go. You are a massive idiot.
MexiMike (4 years ago)
"...how could you fire a coach who has won 6 conference championships in 11 years and been to BCS bowls in all but 2 or 3 of those years?"

Ask Lloyd Carr, former head coach of Michigan.
mgsooner (4 years ago)
And we all saw how that worked out for Michigan. Sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for.
Thomas Cothran (4 years ago)
You should put an asterisk at the end of this column. It's as fake as silicon.
drillthis (4 years ago)
Sam Bradford run the show like Heupel??? Sorry, neither of those guys call the plays. They're good but Kevin Wilson deserve his due.
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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