In one sense, Brian Kelly has already beaten Bob Stoops
Published: 5/5/2008 11:36 AM
Last Modified: 5/5/2008 11:36 AM
I don't get the feeling Oklahoma football fans are too jacked up about the Sept. 6 game against Cincinnati. It seems that many are looking ahead to the following Saturday's trip to Washington, and even beyond that to the Sept. 27 home date with TCU and a shot at redemption for the shocking 2005 season-opening loss to the Frogs.
That, however, might be a mistake.
Cincinnati is coming off its first 10-win season since 1951. It beat three top-25 teams last fall, and made a star of first-year head coach Brian Kelly.
Never heard of Brian Kelly? The folks in Ann Arbor have.
After Lloyd Carr announced his retirement last November, the Michigan website MVictors.com posted a bracket where Wolverine fans could vote in Carr's successor. Bob Stoops advanced to the quarterfinals, beating the guy Michigan actually chose, Rich Rodriguez, along the way.
Then he ran into Kelly and lost, in terms of percentage, 57-43.
For the record, Kelly went on to beat Cal's Jeff Tedford in the semifinals before losing to Jon Gruden in the so-called championship.
And Les Miles? Like Stoops, he lasted until the quarters before bowing to Gruden.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
