Tulsa World: Stoops today: Beating Texas isn't as important as winning championships

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Stoops today: Beating Texas isn't as important as winning championships

Bob Stoops congratulates Sam Bradford after a touchdown against Baylor. ASSOCIATED PRESS

By JOHN HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/13/2009 2:07 PM
Last Modified: 10/13/2009 3:25 PM

Sports Editor Mike Strain’s blog: Who would you want coaching your team? Mack Brown or Bob Stoops?

The OU blog: A Bradford comeback to the Sooners in 2010?

NORMAN — There was a day when Texas coach Mack Brown simply couldn't get a break against Bob Stoops. From 2000-2004, Stoops' Oklahoma teams defeated Brown's Longhorns five years in a row, including two of the worst beatings in the history of the proud Texas program.

But lately, the tables have turned, with Brown topping Stoops in three of the last four Red River Rivalry contests.

The teams meet again on Saturday, an 11 a.m. start at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. No. 3-ranked Texas (5-0) is a three-point favorite over the 20th-ranked Sooners (3-2). In Stoops' 10 seasons, he's now 6-4 against Brown.

But Stoops said Tuesday the notion that either coach has owned any kind of mojo against the other is false.

"I've been on both sides, so I've never believed in any of that," Stoops said.

"Everybody makes such a big deal about this game, but in the end, the objective is the championship. So that's what matters."

OU has won six Big 12 championships under Stoops, while no other team — including Texas — has won more than two. There once existed an idea that the winner of OU-Texas would win the Big 12, but in 2006 and 2008, that didn't happen. Texas won the game, but Oklahoma won the league.

"In the end, if we win this game and don't win the Big 12 championship, there isn't anyone patting us on the back," Stoops said. "Same with them. I'm sure they've been in that situation.

"In the end, it gets down to not just this game, it's winning the rest of 'em and being the Big 12 champion or national champion. That's what I've always focused on. Not just beating Texas. That isn't the end-all for anybody here. And I'm sure it isn't for them. It's part of it. The rest of it matters a lot more than just one game.

"So in the end, that's what we're focused on. And fortunately, three of the last four years, we have won the Big 12 championship. In fact, three in a row. So to me, that's what the focus is. Not just winning one game. And that's what ours will always be, as long as I'm here."

Other highlights from Stoops' press conference:

On the possibility of playing the series elsewhere, like in Norman, Austin or Cowboys Stadium in Arlington:

"As always, I'll defer that to our presidents and athletic directors who really know the business side of what this game is worth.

"I always felt it'd be pretty neat to play it home and home once in a while. That'd be pretty cool, too.

"It would be hard. But again, it doesn't matter."

On defending Texas wide receiver/kick returner Jordan Shipley:

"They move him around. You have to be aware of where he is."

On playing a hard non-conference schedule:

"Sometimes it's been to our benefit. Obviously this year, isn't hasn't been that way. "It's good for our fans . . . I guess as long as you win 'em."

On the strength of Sam Bradford's shoulder:

"I saw him throw a deep ball about 55 yards the other afternoon before we played Baylor. It looked as pretty as it normally does.

"I asked him and he goes, 'Shoot, I feel fine.' He doesn't feel any different (now) than he did through the week."

On commentary that Texas QB Colt McCoy isn't playing at the level he was last year:

"I don't know who 'they' would be. I think he's throwing the ball great. Every bit as good as he was a year ago."

By JOHN HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS

Reader comments for this story have been moved to the most updated version of the story, now under the headline "Friendly rivals: Bradford-McCoy relationship transcends rivalry," which was published on 10/14/2009. So far, 36 comments have been made.

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