The case should be made that BECAUSE of the prior disappointments that the Sooner players are more focused and driven this year than before. Sam Bradford said as much during the Heisman hoopla. After the Texas Tech game one defensive lineman for the Red Raiders was asked what was the major difference between OU and Texas. He said "OU is all business. There is no smack talk, no messing around. They're serious". The no-huddle offense is designed to be unrelenting and to keep defenses off balance. If the other guy is playing YOUR game, then you have increased your odds of winning.

This is a different bunch of players. The seniors are hungry and that influences the underclassmen. Don't sink the ship before it sails. I gotta believe the Sooners will be poised and ready.

GOOD REASON FOR MAJOR CONCERN!!

OU football does have a big giant monkey on it's back about loosing in the final...big game of the past several seasons. No doubt!
History shows in the past few years of losses in a bowl game can be atributed to 3 big reasons.
1.Key players that were hurt come bowl game time, whose playing status was hidden from the press until it was game time news. This effects the Vegas spread by the way and I would also assume the the Sooners would want to hide any weaknesses at some major playing positions.
2.The second factors seems to be a lack of player oversight by ALL the coaches, including Stoops of the players during the 3 weeks leading up to the games. These guys are young men. They need some fairly tight oversight to keep them on the right focus and right path. I do not buy the statement by the 14 coaches and 8 other assistant coaches at OU that they cannot pay attention to 110 players!
One player gets popped for shop lifting, as memory serves. Another key wide out got hurt horsing around in the showers one week before the game and never played a down in last years bowl loss.
3. Lack of focus by the players in preperation for the other team. In most years past the OU offense AND defense and special teams units look as if they are out of shape, out of focus, out of wind, and looked like they had never seen any film or had spent any quality pracice time in over a month. Then of course we LOST and LOST UGLY!
I LOVE THE SOONERS AND HOPE THAT THEY CAN FIX IT>>>!@!!
WHEN IT IS GAME TIME AGAINST FLORIDA THE SOONERS OFFENSE NEEDS TO BE AS TOUGH MINDED, AND AS FOCUSED AS THEY WERE AGAINST TEXAS TECH, OSU and Missouri.
THE OU DEFENSE MUST PLAY 60 MINUTES OF SMASH MOUTH,,, YET SMART FOOTBALL WHEN THEY ARE ON THE FIELD!! AVOID STUPID PENALTIES!
GO SOONERS TAKE NO PRISONERS CAUSE YOU CAN DANG SURE BET THAT FLORIDA IS COOKING UP THE SAME GAME PLAN>!

Pat raises some interesting points and presented them very well. As I recall, the Sooners appeared flat at the start of the games against LSU, Boise State and WVU. Ironically, they came out strong against USC. The poor decision by Mark Bradley on the kickoff and the quick, cheap touchdown seem to cause the team to panic. Jason White threw into triple coverage on 2nd down right after that play. From that point on it was a disaster.

Re: NATIVEGATOR Why am I not surprised that all that comes out of Florida is bragging and thumping chests and obscene language. They show they are immature, disrespectful and show no competitive sportsmanship. The Gator team is good. Their fans and media show absolutely no class. Even if I wasn't a Sooner, I would root against Florida simply because of the arrogance and potty mouths of the people there.