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2008: Not your usual Bedlam game

 
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist
Published: 11/28/2008  2:57 AM
Last Modified: 11/28/2008  3:32 AM

 Oklahoma and Texas believe the October showdown at the Cotton Bowl is the biggest game of the season, or just about any season.

That may be true, but playing an in-state rival is different. There is an extra emotion that doesn't come into play in regional or national rivalries.

"It's always tough," said OU coach Bob Stoops.

OU-Texas may be bigger when it comes to the nation's college football fans. Playing your state rival is bigger in neighborhoods from Boise City to Broken Bow.

You may not see a Texas fan shopping at your neighborbood grocery store. There's a good chance you'll see Sooners and Cowboys from Utica Square to Woodland Hills.

"It is a big game in the state," said OSU coach Mike Gundy. "There is no reason to deny that."

The one game you don't want to lose is a showdown with your in-state rival.

Texas loves to beat Oklahoma but it absolutely can't lose to Texas A&M. The same goes for Alabama. You have to beat Auburn. Ole Miss and Mississippi State aren't playing for national recognition but it is the game of the year for those in Mississippi.

Everywhere you look the state rivalry is huge. For those folks in the state, there's nothing bigger than Clemson-South Carolina on Hilton Head Island.

Last week's Apple Bowl showdown was between teams with one victory (Washington, then 0-10, and then-1-10 Washington State). But, because it was a state rivalry, it was still big from Seattle to Spokane.

"There's a natural energy around this game that everyone is affected by," said lame-duck Washington coach Tyrone Willingham.

New Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman understands.

"Obviously, these fans are interwoven throughout the state," said Sherman. "I think proximity has a lot to do with (it)."

That's why Saturday's Bedlam game is a different game.

It is different because there are friends, neighbors and even families on both sides of this game.

And, this year, there are a lot of folks that live in places from Los Angeles to New York that care what happens in Stillwater on Saturday.

In-state rivalries don't go away for a year. The Cowboys and Sooners work and play together. They go to neighborhood meetings and family reunions together.

"This is their Super Bowl just like it's our Super Bowl," said North Carolina's Bobby Rome about playing North Carolina State.

The case could be made that this is the biggest Bedlam game in 24 years, since the Sooners and Cowboys met as top-10 teams in Norman. Those were good teams. OU went to the Orange Bowl and OSU went to the Gator Bowl.

These teams are that good. Maybe better. Both of them.

Oklahoma's rout of Texas Tech will surely spur a lot of speculation that the Sooners are on the verge of yet another runaway.

That could happen. It could also turn into a real game with OSU's new-found confidence fueling an upset.

While history is certainly on Oklahoma's side, the Cowboys have a history in this game of playing well enough to win.

They just haven't done it that often.

Some will tell you that history has nothing to do with the current teams. In some ways that is true.

Yet, O-State has been different this year.

Oklahoma, as usual, is very good. OSU has been far better than expected.

Whether the Cowboys are good enough to hang with Oklahoma's offense is to be seen.

But, it probably won't come down to OSU's perceived lack of talent. The Cowboys have playmakers on offense and just enough defense to give them a chance in most games this year.

Plus, there is something extra on the line this season.

This is about teams that mean a lot to folks around here. But, for a change, these are teams that have claimed a spot on the national stage.

This is not your usual Bedlam game. This is not about OSU trying to ruin OU's season with a massive upset.

This is about two teams that are very good trying to climb to the top of college football.

That makes it even bigger than usual.

And, more fun.
By JOHN KLEIN Senior Sports Columnist

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tulsaOUfan, Tulsa (11/28/2008 9:56:10 AM)
Sorry Mr Klein, but the OU/Texas rivalry is biggest by far for OU fans. Don't even try to put Bedlam as even close to its equal. Bedlam is bedlam, true. But it's not OU/Texas, not even close.
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Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (11/28/2008 10:32:57 AM)
OU/TX biggest for OU fans because TX leads series. OSU/OU biggest for OSU fans because OU leads series. Anytime someone has your number it makes it a big game. Both are traditional rivalries. Looking forward to Saturday- Go Pokes!!!!!!!
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Sodumdum 83, Bella Vista (11/28/2008 1:56:43 PM)
Ou/TX was big for Texas this year because they think they are better than OU 45-35.
They forget they won because OU couldn't move the ball after Bradford was sidelined.
If McCoy had been hurt too OU would have won. POOR TEXAS. such ideas of grandeur.
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wsums2, Cincinnati (11/28/2008 5:41:17 PM)
Sodumdum 83, Ryan Reynolds was injured, not Sam. But you are correct, If Ryan had remained in the game, it would have been a different game and Texas knows that.

Sr. Strangelove, you know that as well. I believe OU is now playing better than Texas, though I still believe these 3 teams could beat anyone else in the nation. Too bad their is no playoff system.
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Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (11/29/2008 7:30:23 AM)
Agreed wsums
 

 
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