Sooners have a job to finish at Miami
Published: 9/27/2009 11:18 PM
Last Modified: 9/27/2009 11:18 PM
Here's how the Associated Press began a story the last time Oklahoma played Miami: "Despite Oklahoma winning by 69 points last week, coach Bob Stoops says the second halves of games tend to give him sleepless nights. A matchup with a new-look Miami team could leave him bleary-eyed."
So the Sooners slept peacefully after they outscored the Hurricanes 30-3 in the second half of their 51-13 rout Sept. 8, 2007. That doesn't, however, change a troubling trend in OU's last three losses.
The second half score of the Sooners' 45-35 fall to Texas last October: 25-14, Longhorns.
The second half score of OU's 24-14 national championship tumble against Florida: 17-7, Gators.
The second half score from the 2009 opener: 7-3, BYU.
"I go home just totally aggravated," Stoops said in that AP story, "because guys get in late, lose their focus (and) have penalties."
He was talking about OU's inability to close out cakewalks like the 79-10 2007 opener against North Texas.
Imagine how hacked Stoops will be if his team squanders the second half of another big, close game.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
