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Published: 11/19/2012 4:09 PM
Last Modified: 11/19/2012 4:16 PM

First off, some are concerned because of the lack of attendance at certain sporting events, TU football games and OSU basketball games, to name two.

Here's the way that works. Given the size of TU, there's little margin for error. Beat an average Iowa State team and a rotten Arkansas team, and the stands will be full. Lose to those two and beat all the bums, you'll have what you had Saturday. You want sell-outs, beat the big-name has-beens, it's that simple, always has been, always will be. It's the same for OSU hoops. Sutton set a high standard. Win games, get to the tournament, crowds will return. This thin team looks nice by the way.

While on the subject of hoops, this could be a l-o-n-g year for TU.

Concerning pro football, Sam Bradford needs to step it up and fast. He was terrible Sunday versus the Jets. Nice guy. Slow feet.

Concerning college football, we told you so. For some while now, we have been saying that the spread was a rinky-dink offense invented for the Techs of the world, a gimmick aimed at evening the playing field with the big boys. Every year some team like Oregon beats 10 or 11 people 75-10. Then against a solid defense, it gets punched in the mouth and is "upset." Teams like OU should junk the spread immediately because on third and one, you can't hand off and make a yard. So look atop the college football rankings. Again. Same as year after year after year. Not a silly spread team to be found.

While on the subject of college football, it's time the OU fans came to grips with what this team really is, and will be for the foreseeable future. It's a good team. It's nowhere near a national title contender. It is a good team comprised of hard-headed coaches -- not using Finch as a runner is absurd. If Mike Stoops was a great defensive mind, he wouldn't be where he was, would he. OU has one playmaker, receiver Stills, who catches tons of third and 18 passes and seldom drops a one. Many of the rest, good, not great. Versus K-State, make one defense play and win the game. Nope. Versus Notre Dame, make one defensive play and win the game. Nope. Versus horrible West Virginia, bury the tape. Good team. Solid quarterback. Great receiver in Stills. Strange defense. Has settled between 6th and 15th nationally. Pretty salty. Far from great.


Reader Comments 10 Total
On The Fly (3 months ago)
I agree with the Picker. Not playing Roy Finch is a crime.
241362 (3 months ago)
Too bad the media is afraid to get to the bottom of the Finch story.
colhi64 (3 months ago)
That Finch kid would set the world on fire if he got to play. He has been very humble, he must have a lot of character too. I bet other Florida recruits look at him and say, "no way I would come to OU to play". Stoops is too bullheaded for his own good.
Hooter (3 months ago)
Don't like the spread? Ha.

Texas A&M's spread seemed to work OK.

No one wants to play Oregon. And even Baylor can stay on the field with fat boys.

Don't like the spread? Enjoy the Big 10, old guy.
Glenn616 (3 months ago)
Mr. Picker,
Didn't New England win 3 Super Bowls running the pass-first spread offense? Florida won 2 national titles running a variation of the spread offense. Auburn and Texas also won national titles (in 2005 and 2010, respectively) running the spread offense.

Also, the biggest issue with the Big 12 defenses is the lack of talented defensive lines. Look at how many SEC defensive linemen (and ends) there are in the NFL as opposed to the number of those from the Big 12.
ouisok (3 months ago)
The spread has to have a running quarterback. We do not need the huge huge quarterbacks with 2 left feet. Look at Major Applewhite and Johnny Football. Prefect college quarterbacks. Remember when Mack went with Chrissy Sims and benched the Major?
                    
W. G. (3 months ago)
I remember, and Brown would have won a National Championship had he stayed with Applewhite.
WilsonReagan (3 months ago)
The Thunder success coupled with the fall of the Sutton dynasty to DUI's and then drug arrests hurt the OSU basketball attendance. Not much Ford can do about that. Even if he wins the fans now have thunder season tickets.
Chester Copperpot (3 months ago)
The only way for the state basketball teams to become regulars in the NCAA tournament again is to build depth and experience so that the rosters have several returning starters as many years in a row as possible. None of the four schools have the luxury of being able to recruit NBA caliber talent like Kentucky can, so it can't afford to have first year starters year in and year out.
241362 (3 months ago)
The Texas A&M spread will work fairly well (two losses) until somebody breaks that kid in half.
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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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