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Running of the bulls
Published: 10/1/2007 1:24 PM
Last Modified: 10/1/2007 1:24 PM

Well, well, well.

Look what happened.

The most surprising weekend in football history turned into a defining moment: We were 9-1 against the point spread in a display of predicting greatness that will likely wind up in the College Football Hall of Fame -- our selections with the headline COLORADO FEELS LIKE ANOTHER BOISE -- next to a pair of Knute Rockne’s old socks.

Weekends like the one that just transpired must be used as a learning experience. Here are the chief lessons: Radio and TV people are worse than bad when it comes to understanding football. They’re sad. They know as much about football as their “inside” sources, which are usually bigger cheerleaders than they themselves are. As we were issuing serious warnings about the average Colorado team, the radio and TV people were probably booking rooms for the national championship game.

If you want to know what the assistant coaches are ordering from Netflix, and what the booster club members are wearing to the next rally, tune in to Larry, Curly and Moe on radio and TV. We’re here for the rest of you.

It stands to reason that if nobody knows what they’re talking about going in, then the analysis coming out is going to be as screwy.

A coach said the OU defense was on the field too long. Bull.

Somebody said OU should have thrown more to Kelly. Bull.


Somebody said mistakes beat OU. Bull.

The mistakes didn’t put the football in the end zone. Lousy pass defense did. Here’s a question that is neither rude nor sarcastic: Can anybody think of a single time when, with the outcome of the football game on the line, OU made a big play on pass defense?

Outside of when Calmus tackled the entire Texas team on its goal line, the recurring imagine of OU pass defense with a game on the line is of a defender chasing a receiver into the end zone, with only the years changed.

Why can’t OU make a pass defense play with a game on the line?

Beating nobody’s at home means nothing; a history of lousy pass defense in a pinch could mean something.

In related, but better, news: nobody is too good this year. LSU has no offense. If the USC quarterback plays on Sunday, it’ll be in a softball league. Cal is better than SoCal.

Losing early beats losing late.

The top 10 is laughable. Ohio State got lucky. It plays in the worst major conference around and has no playoff game. South Florida? Bull. It got six turnovers versus West Virginia, which also lost its quarterback, and still barely won!

OU is still in decent shape. If it can figure out how to make a play of pass defense with the game on the line.

Check out the Week 6 Picks: Sounding off about umps, more



Reader Comments 42 Total

Yoda (5 years ago)
Your article and picks have been the most accurate by far this year. Frankly, some of the other guys writing for TW need to retire, or stick to high school teams. OU fans relish the glory days of Calmus and Roy. There are 5 big 12 teams in the top 25, none of them are Colorado. WTF? May this be the year of the Big 12 North, sans Nebraska? Does Okie State have a chance at winning the South? Is this the year of the upset? Or are upsets not really upsets, its just the polls come out too early?
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
Thank you Yoda. You couldn't be more correct. I am scalding scorching hot with the colleges. Now does everybody understand why K-State told Venables see you later? Bad pass defense. The K-State coach is a monster.

I shall ponder the Aggie question shortly.

How about those Three Stooges on the radio and TV -- I mean the Eight or Nine Stooges.

They couldn't pick the replay.
steve (5 years ago)
i thought of a time:
2005 holiday bowl. with the game on the line, that one linebacker, i forgot his name, made a leaping interception to save the game and OU won 17-14.
Greg Tepper (5 years ago)
*humming the Missouri fight song...*
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
Steve, Steve, Steve: That was an under-thrown pass by a quarterback who was a laughing stock on a lousy team.

Plus the game meant next to nothing. The stadium was half full. A game that means something is when you're undefeated. Or when you're going for a conference title. Or when the bowl is for something big.

Seldom a winning pass defense play against a decent quarterback in a huge game?

You people tell me what that means.
Watchdog (5 years ago)
Michigan Man,
9-1? To quote you, bull. According to your picks in Saturday's paper, you went 8-2. Just one off, but tell the truth. Also according to your paper's figures from last Saturday, that means you are now 24-25-1 this season against the spread. "Predicting greatness." Bull.
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
Watchdog: Get some glasses and some flea spray. The contest picks are in the paper Thursday. 9-1 pal. Not any stinking 8-2.
JJ (5 years ago)
I think Michael Thompson made some game saving pass defense plays in the end zone in the OB 2000. I think that we might want to recruit some secondary players & stop converting... RB & WR. Allen Patrick would have atleast hit some one or held 'em up before they went running free into the end zone. Or maybe Bobby Jack needs to focus on recruiting... not on the secondary. And since when has OU special teams been special? Did they even try to block that kick Sat? I only saw Kelly rushing & jumping.
Epphan (5 years ago)
Yep. 2000 OB was the last time the secondary came up big...SEVEN YEARS AGO...With Blake's D.

Could it be that secondary play is Stoop's Achilles’ heel? Could it be it only takes a mediocre coach and mediocre passing corps to exploit it?

And Stoops is an old secondary position player. Picker should figure out how that works?
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
All I know is every time there has been a big game in the last X-number of years, the corner backs have been torched.

Stoops says he wants to stop the run first. Well, if a good team passes first, where does that leave you?

Somebody made a good point about all the converts at corner -- how about trying corners at corner.

Don't anybody forget, losing early is not that bad. Long as you don't lose again!
JJ (5 years ago)
Losing early is much better see A& M 2002, OSU any those years.

I think it still goes back to not converting. Bo Pelini looked like a friggin idiot at OU. Why is his secondary better at LSU? players who are true corners & safeties? I just heard that 20 of the last 22 snaps were by Colorado. Grossman I think could pass by that point.
JJ (5 years ago)
Losing early is much better see A& M 2002, OSU any those years.

I think it still goes back to not converting. Bo Pelini looked like a friggin idiot at OU. Why is his secondary better at LSU? players who are true corners & safeties? I just heard that 20 of the last 22 snaps were by Colorado. Grossman I think could pass by that point.
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
High quality question about Pelini.
Watchdog (5 years ago)
Michigan Man,
Oh, so your Saturday picks don't count? Except when they are better than your Thursday picks? Is that how it is, pal? It's hell when someone pays attention and catches you lying, isn't it, pal?
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
Watchdog, every Friday in the sports section, my contest picks are listed in an ad! They are based on the Thursday picks in the paper. You get your rabies shots?
Watchdog (5 years ago)
And Saturday's are a mulligan? If Saturday's don't count, don't print them, pal.
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
Don't read 'em, Fido. Thursday plays. Period.
JJ (5 years ago)
Picker - so what is the deal with Pelini? His defensive got shredded by OSU & Miles still hired him, at the time that was boneheaded, but one has to wonder.

So when will Fran leave A &M. Before the NCAA investigation or the tax evasion...
WORLDPICKER (5 years ago)
Other Big 12 schools should start a campaign urging the Aggies to keep Fran, who couldn't coach a dog to lift a leg on a popular bush.
jj (5 years ago)
But in the end, I always say a prevent prevents one thing.... victory. Any time OU goes into a prevent .... well you know what happens. Saty aggressive, rotate LB's get some fresh legs, who cares if they are out of position when the gas tank is empty & ya know what the other team is doing? May be someone else can chase 'em faster & drop an extra DB, the tight end was the only CU player consistenly catching the ball. It isn't rocket science...

JJ (5 years ago)
All Aggies want Fran gone, the money Ags dont want to pay it out.
JJ (5 years ago)
Bama isnt b- itchin about Fran leaving anymore are they?
Watchdog (5 years ago)
Michigan Man,
"Thursday plays" unless your Saturday picks are better. Is that right, pal? What a tool. You white-haired fool.
Steven (5 years ago)
I will tell you what isnt rocket science.

OU couldnt get a first down. The defense spent too much time on the field and they showed it. No excuses, they didnt perform. Secondary looked terrible without a dominating pass rush. The second half counter play by Colorado had the staff scratching their heads as the buff's RB rattled off 8 yards a pop.

Bradford didnt play that bad. He could have had serious help from the 'playmakers' around him. Think you need more patience in the running game when you have an Allen Patrick.
E (5 years ago)
How bout that Dwayne Bowe?
Future Hall of Famer 20??
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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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