Uh-oh. You notice where OU is playing the week before Texas?
Published: 2/15/2012 9:32 AM
Last Modified: 2/15/2012 9:32 AM
Answering some mail about Oklahoma's Big 12 football schedule…
What's the biggest break on the bill?
-- Grover, Sesame Street
The Sooners still have to play at Iowa State. But at least the game is on Nov. 3, not Nov. 24 like some folks feared it would be.
It was bad enough that OU hosted the Cyclones two days after Thanksgiving 2011. Can you imagine how depressing it would have been to spend that weekend in Ames next November?
The most troublesome game nobody's talking about?
-- Dorial, Springfield
Texas Tech, Oct. 6
Nine seasons ago, the Sooners traveled to Lubbock and smoked Tech 56-25 to polish off one of their greatest regular seasons in history. Everything seemed very much in order.
Since then...
There was 2005, when officials turned the game into something out of Looney Tunes.
There was 2007, when Duke Robinson nearly killed Sam Bradford.
And there was 2009, when the Sooners' sorry effort matched their drab Pro Combat uniforms.
No, Bob Stoops no longer has a "Texas problem." He has a "Texas Tech problem." He had it before OU's Owen Field loss to the Red Raiders last October. It crops up every time his Sooners play in Lubbock.
Don't be shocked if it crops up again next fall.
Is there a road trip you can suggest?
-- Hopalong, Columbus
Easy. West Virginia, Nov. 17
There is already some fear and loathing around here about the Sooners' first venture into Mountaineer Country. Like red-dressed fans are going to have to dodge burning couches and 'shine jugs on their way into the stadium.
First of all, I don't see that happening. Maybe on their way of the stadium (buh-dum-pum).
No seriously, it'll be fine. Actually, it'll be fun. You're going to have to trust me on this. Be open to new experiences. That kind of thing.
And if you can't/won't trust me, spend all of your free time that weekend in the very underrated city of Pittsburgh roughly 100 miles to the north. Get into Morgantown and get right back out, if you must.
Just know that you'll be missing out.
Is there a home game worth skipping?
-- Commissioner Dan, whereabouts unknown
Yes. Kansas is coming to town Oct. 20.
Sure, it's the Saturday after Texas. But that's never been an issue with Stoops' Sooners. It definitely won't be an issue next October.
It won't be a game, either.
Let's put it this way: KU football was slowly sinking by the end of Mark Mangino's tenure. Turner Gill arrived, supposedly to pull it above water. Instead, he tossed the program an anchor.
Naturally, the Jayhawks thought it would be a swell idea to hire Charlie Weis to save the day.
You'll be hearing from this bunch again sometime around 2029.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
