With history at hand, Stoops knew exactly what to do
Published: 10/18/2011 9:10 AM
Last Modified: 10/18/2011 9:10 AM
Postscript to Ryan Broyles' record-breaking touchdown catch at Kansas…
The Sooners were in the pistol formation on the play, Kenny Stills wide left, Jaz Reynolds slot right and Broyles wide of Reynolds. This was significant for something Broyles had told me after the Texas game the previous week, that teams couldn't bracket him as easily if he went wide.
So the Sooners, hoping to get Broyles his record in dramatic fashion, sent him wide and turned him loose on a straight "go" route. Sure enough, after Broyles zipped past cornerback Tyler Patmon – couldn't tell if he was in man coverage or zone; I do know he was toast – it became practically impossible for the safety to get over and help in time.
It was clear OU had set the formation for Broyles to make history. It was refreshing to hear Bob Stoops admit as much in postgame.
"It seems just perfect for him to have a 60-yard touchdown pass to get the record," he said. "We were all very aware of it… We definitely had him in that position expecting him to be the guy that's getting the ball deep."
Landry Jones didn't necessarily have to go Broyles' direction with the play, but who's kidding who. Let's just say his reads were "Broyles, Broyles again, Broyles one more time, OK he really isn't open, Stills, wait, I'll check one last time, no, OK, Reynolds."
The Sooners received some nice pub thanks to the play, and not just on ESPN2 Saturday night.
Tony Barnhart filed the following in his "Weekend Review" column for CBSSports.com: "Here is another reason why guys like to play for Bob Stoops: Most coaches say they don't keep track of records. They say they are just simply worried about the next play of the game at hand. That, of course, is ridiculous. Oklahoma's Bob Stoops knew that Ryan Broyles only needed one more catch to break the NCAA career reception mark in Saturday night's game against Kansas. So Stoops dialed up a post pattern that Broyles turned into a 57-yard touchdown catch to break the record."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
