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Not Number One!
Published: 9/29/2008 5:45 PM
Last Modified: 9/29/2008 5:45 PM

What could be worse than being number one on October 1?

Not much, actually.

What's the longest a team has stayed number one since the inception of the BCS fiasco, a few hours?

You think Texas would rather play a top-ranked OU, or a Sooner team ranked fifth?

Fourth is about the place to be.

Many fans are conerned about OU's lack of a running game.

That's typically goofy.

The only time to be concerned about a lack of running game is if you can't pass. If they put nine on the line, nobody can run. So don't run. Pass. OU passes beautifully. So keep passing. Granted, it's hard to protect a lead, throwing. So build on the lead.

Here is what there is to be concerned about if you're an OU fan: a horrible kicking game.

Kickoffs float to around the 20 and are routinely run back to near mid-field.

Extra points slip through, most times.

Field goals, who knows, there haven't been any under pressure.

Punts fly sideways.

Also of concern is the yearly reluctance to throw to the tight end.

And there's the defense that is worrisome when it comes to staying among the top two.

Missing is a playmaker, somebody who leads by the example of making something dramatic happen. There are a bunch of good defenders, up front, but no superstar so far.

Also, the macho man-to-man approach in the secondary is a long completion waiting to happen. Forget stopping the run, get a safety to help the corners.

Getting back to the polls, bet Alabama wouldn't switch spots.

And instead of undefeated teams worrying about getting cheated, it looks like there will be no undfeated team, and many with one loss, making it all the more a popularity contest.



Reader Comments 42 Total
PICK ME (4 years ago)
Seriously, you think teams like Texas need extra motivation when they are playing their biggest rival?
You have been in the media far too long if you think a number matched to a teams name makes THAT much difference to the guy on the field.
OU is still OU whether they are #1 or an overrated #7 (see 2005). Ask TCU if beating OU meant any less once they found out exactly HOW overrated OU was.
Akash (4 years ago)
We all know OU will WIN
SoonerGuy (4 years ago)
"Also of concern is the yearly reluctance to throw to the tight end."

Have you forgotten about Gresham? Last year he was third in receiving yards, and Finley finished 5th. So far this year Gresham is third in receiving yards.
Also, maybe there are some things we haven't yet done against inferior opponents that we may see against some of the better Big 12 teams, Just my thoughts.
NORSEMUSTANG (4 years ago)
Picker, as far as the BCS fiasco goes, here are a couple of my solutions:

1: Shorten the regular season to make room for an eight team playoff involving the top eight teams in the BCS poll. The first two rounds would determine who goes to which bowl and who plays for the national championship, and the third round would be the bowl games themselves. That way, there can be a playoff system and still keep bowl games. That being said, there will no doubt be somebody that doesn't like it.

2: Go back to the old system where the two polls determine the national champion. It's no more controversial than the BCS system and it's much simpler. I personally don't mind a split national champion, and 2003 proved that the BCS can have a split national champion (USC and LSU).
NORSEMUSTANG (4 years ago)
Sorry for the double post, but I forgot to say that in that type of playoff system, there would be a winners bracket and a losers bracket after the first round. The teams that lose the first round would play in the second round to determine who plays in the 7th place bowl and the 5th place bowl. The teams that win the first round would play in the second round to determine who plays in the 3rd place bowl and the national championship.
NORSEMUSTANG (4 years ago)
Sorry for the double post, but I forgot to say that in that type of playoff system, there would be a winners bracket and a losers bracket after the first round. The teams that lose the first round would play in the second round to determine who plays in the 7th place bowl and the 5th place bowl. The teams that win the first round would play in the second round to determine who plays in the 3rd place bowl and the national championship.
cyco myko (4 years ago)
Norse Mustang, Why don't you come up with a more intricate and ridiculous plan?
Sooner Guy, you took the words out of my mouth.
And Licker, where's your new top three?
Coy (4 years ago)
Speaking of the tight end - I swore I saw Gresham get hurt Saturday on kickoff (or punt) coverage - he got up holding his left (?) shoulder or arm and had his helmet off before reaching the sideline where a trainer immediately met him and disappeared. I never saw him go back into the game. None of the commentators said a word about it, and I've seen no mention of an injury since the game - does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Coy (4 years ago)
Speaking of the tight end - I swore I saw Gresham get hurt Saturday on kickoff (or punt) coverage - he got up holding his left (?) shoulder or arm and had his helmet off before reaching the sideline where a trainer immediately met him and disappeared. I never saw him go back into the game. None of the commentators said a word about it, and I've seen no mention of an injury since the game - does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Coy (4 years ago)
Speaking of the tight end - I swore I saw Gresham get hurt Saturday on kickoff (or punt) coverage - he got up holding his left (?) shoulder or arm and had his helmet off before reaching the sideline where a trainer immediately met him and disappeared. I never saw him go back into the game. None of the commentators said a word about it, and I've seen no mention of an injury since the game - does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Coy (4 years ago)
Speaking of the tight end - I swore I saw Gresham get hurt Saturday on kickoff (or punt) coverage - he got up holding his left (?) shoulder or arm and had his helmet off before reaching the sideline where a trainer immediately met him and disappeared. I never saw him go back into the game. None of the commentators said a word about it, and I've seen no mention of an injury since the game - does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Coy (4 years ago)
Speaking of the tight end - I swore I saw Gresham get hurt Saturday on kickoff (or punt) coverage - he got up holding his left (?) shoulder or arm and had his helmet off before reaching the sideline where a trainer immediately met him and disappeared. I never saw him go back into the game. None of the commentators said a word about it, and I've seen no mention of an injury since the game - does anybody else know what I'm talking about?
Chris (4 years ago)
Pick Me,

OU always seemed to do better in Stoops early years when OU was the underrated team. Nebraska and Texas in 2000, Florida St. in the national title game, etc.

They don't seem to have the same fire when they are the favorite. Look at their bowl failures for further proof.

UT doesn't need any more motivation. OU doesn't need more motivation, but sometimes a ranking can get a team to play better, IMO.
MIKE (4 years ago)
COY found the refresh button
COY found the refresh button
COY found the refresh button
COY found the refresh button

ENOUGH!
Steve (4 years ago)
as for how long a team has stayed no 1 since the inception of the BCS, USC stayed no 1 all year long in 2004-2005 season.
World Picker (4 years ago)
Norsemustang: There's what you want now, more or less, the AP still gets a separate vote and can crown its own national champion. It's just that under this nutty system, there's never been an opportunity for a split vote, because the third or fourth best teams usually play bums.

CM, this week's top three: Alabama, OU, Ohio State,

Getting back to being number one, what might the odds be on OU running the table all the way to the title game as number one, 10-1 against?
Nit Picker (4 years ago)
World Picker:

Here's why you should be fired:

1. OU's "...reluctance to throw to tight end".
See Greshams stats last year and thus far this year. As for the TCU game: he was blocking or drew tighter coverage and was not open. (he was hit on the shoulder=stinger during kick coverage)

2. "Phil Mickelson should not play in the Ryder Cup." He accounted for 2 points and was one of only two players on USA team to play 5 matches. Anthony Kim only accounted for 2 1/2 points.

3, "get rid of the man to man defense and go to zone."
Absolutely your most ignorant statement, ever, bar none.
The OU defensive line -w/o blitzing- has been able to put enough pressure on the QB's it played so far that man to man is effective.
May not be true against all offensive lines. But it is about matchups-remember.

You should be fired. No wonder you don't want anyone to know who you are.
Scott Guy (4 years ago)
Yeah, the picker again shows his ignorance. Our best 6 can stop most running games. Don't go man with safety help, go roll up man cover 3.

OU when necessary can run the ball. They're just pacing themselves.

Like you, I think they should put BA or Jenks special teams in on Kickoffs. Guys, you are assigned a lane for a reason. When you leave that lane(s) you leave very large HOLES for SPEEDY returners to run through. While we have speed, we must stop, change direction and chase said returner down. STAY IN YOUR LANES, DO YOUR JOB AND LET THE OTHER GUY WORRY ABOUT HIS. Maybe the onside kick is the answer? What's to lose, if we don't get it, they start about the same place and 30% of the time we get a couple of extra possessions a game.

I like OU at 3 or 4 as well. But it's hard to be humble when you are the best........

I'll beat your cap again this week too!

Tell the Hoove with the moove, I'll be reading him.
World Picker (4 years ago)
Could be the kickoff coverage problem is caused by kicks coming to earth at the 20-yard line.
JJ (4 years ago)
Forget onside kicks, kick the dang ball out of bounds. Atleast they only get it on the 35. Seriously. TCU fans really thought they had a good chance on winning because of 05.
Greg (4 years ago)
Out of the 10,000+ young males on campus, there has to be somebody that can kick better. I'd bet the drum major could get it closer to the end zone. I will start chewing up a couple or three Zanexes if a game looks like it will come down to a last second OU field goal attempt.
Marguertie (4 years ago)
Not to change the subject, but here's something I've been wondering for a while: Do the World Picker and the Nit Picker know each other in real life? Like, do they know each other's real names and would they know each other if they met on the street, or, say, in the office? Another thing I've always wondered is what makes someone post multiple times? Seriously. not to be critical, but what button do you push to make that happen?
cyco myko (4 years ago)
Margie, Get ready for your head to explode. Not only do the Nit-Picker and The Licker know each other: THEY ARE EACH OTHER! Yes, now you know: The Nit-Picker and The Licker are one and the same. The eternal struggle.
And Licker, Alabama #1? Arguable. Ohio State #3? How on Earth do you come up with something like that? You've said a lot, and I mean A LOT, of ridiculous things over the years- but Ohio State#3? This has to be the pinnacle of idiocy. How can you possibly believe this? You've already stated how average you think they are and now top three? I don't think you should be fired- you should be moved to the Satellite section to comment on school lunches. Let the 'In the Wright Light' guy do the Licker column.
Marguerite (4 years ago)
OMG, say it isn't so! If this is true, it changes my entire outlook on the world.
MIKE (4 years ago)
Marg,

They press the refresh button and it causes multiple posts.

Cyco, as much as I hate to say it, you are absolutely right in questioning the Picker's sanity when saying that Ohio State is #3. Then again, the Picker has always had some sort of infatuation with tOSU. He picked them to win the NC game last year against LSU (in LSU's backyard no less) and a week after they lost to USC, he said they were "underrated." I don't get it. They aren't even the best team in their conference! How can they be number 3 in the nation?
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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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