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Sooners looking for win on the road

Juaquin Iglesias is surrounded by Colorado defenders during a 2007 game. Iglesias caught two passes for 15 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, but the Buffaloes shocked the Sooners, 27-24. Michael Wyke/ Tulsa World file

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/12/2008  2:16 AM
Last Modified: 9/12/2008  2:58 AM

 Those who make a living discussing college football's potential national championship contenders seem hesitant to elevate Oklahoma to that status.

Maybe it's because the Sooners have lost their last three games when ranked No. 3.

Maybe it's because OU has won just one of its last eight contests played west of Norman.

And maybe it's because the Sooners are ranked No. 3 this week when they return to the Pacific time zone to take on Washington in Seattle.

"We have to earn it every week if we want to be a national championship-caliber team," said OU senior captain Jon Cooper. "If we want the season that we think we can have, then we've got to play well on the road. It's kind of hit a lot of the guys that have been here for a while that we have kind of struggled on the road, and we need to have the discipline and focus to do that."

OU is a 20-point favorite to beat the Huskies in Saturday's 6:45 p.m., ESPN-televised contest. But that matters little.

Last year at Colorado, the Sooners were a 22 1/2-point pick, but faded in the fourth quarter and lost 27-24. Even in victory, last year's team struggled on the road. OU was a 30 1/2-point favorite to win at Iowa State, but turned a goal-line stand into a late field goal to survive, 17-7.

This year's team is replete with players who have tasted bitter defeat away from home.

"No team did anything to hurt us in those games," said senior receiver Manuel Johnson. "We always hurt ourselves."

"We were undisciplined, unfocused, stuff like that," Cooper said. "I don't think it was physical, it was more mental."

Leading OU's road-weary players is quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford played like an NFL All-Pro in his first four games of 2007, completing 78 percent of his passes, averaging 267 yards per game, throwing 14 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Then, he looked every bit the redshirt freshman in Boulder, going 8-of-19 for 112 yards with one TD and two picks.

Later, at Iowa State, he played his only full game so far without a TD pass.

"That first year, you're kind of guessing. You didn't know," senior receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. "Even when he was doing good, you're like, 'Uh, he's a freshman still.' "

"I don't think it was on him last year at all," Cooper said, "but yeah, I do think he's better prepared (this year)."

Bradford said the team emphasized playing better on the road throughout its offseason workouts.

"I think we kind of had a lack of energy to start those games with, and that's something we know we can't do, especially going out there against a good team," Bradford said. "And last couple times we've been out west, we've gotten beat. So we realize we're going to have to come out and we're going to have to play well this week."

Head coach Bob Stoops said he doesn't "ever process the crowd," but some do.

"You get taken out of your comfort zone," said senior defensive tackle Cory Bennett. "You're in an unfamiliar area, the people in the crowd, they're not behind you. They're against you. For some people, that could be a lot."

Bennett said the routine of a long-distance road trip can take a physical toll, but travel fatigue can be overcome with extra attention on rest and nutrition.

"Those are some of the things that go into traveling that maybe a couple of guys took for granted last year," Bennett said.

There's another factor in play: teams circle the Oklahoma game on their calendar months ahead of time.

"It's huge," said receivers coach Jay Norvell. "Everybody's gunning for Oklahoma, and to play on the road in their stadium, they're going to be cranked up, and their fans will be."

Stoops, though, boils it down succinctly. In seven games at Owen Field last year, OU's offense committed 10 turnovers. In three road games, it gave up eight turnovers.

"In the end, you can't turn the football over," Stoops said. "Why do you turn it over? I can't answer that. Is it focus? Is it being careless with the ball? I don't know. You have more breakdowns mentally. What's the reason? You practice the same way. If anyone knew exactly what it was, they'd have the key to football."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com

WILD, WILD WEST

Oklahoma continues to be one of college football’s premier programs, but has fared poorly recently when venturing west of Norman. Since 2005, the Sooners are just 1-7 in games out west. Four of those defeats came on the last play of the game. A recap:

Sept. 17, 2005, Pasadena, Calif.: UCLA 41, OU 24 Rhett Bomar fumbles four times, No. 21 OU loses two others and Adrian Peterson rushes for full-game career-low 58 yards in Bob Stoops’ biggest regular-season defeat.

Nov. 19, 2005, Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech 23, OU 21 Peterson leads a rally with one of his best touchdown runs, but replays sting the unranked Sooners twice on Tech’s game ending drive.

Dec. 29, 2005, San Diego: OU 17, Oregon 14 A Peterson goal-line fumble keeps OU from closing the door, but Clint Ingram’s red zone interception clinches the Holiday Bowl.

Sept. 16, 2006, Eugene, Ore.: Oregon 34, OU 33 Arguably Peterson’s best game (211 yards, 161 in the second half) for 15th-ranked OU is inarguably stolen by replay official Gordon Riese and referee David Cutaia.

Jan. 1, 2007, Glendale, Ariz.: Boise State 43, OU 42 (OT) The No. 7-ranked Sooners stumble early and rally big, but the feisty Broncos win the Fiesta Bowl with three trick plays (Hook and Lateral! Statue of Liberty!).

Sept. 29, 2007, Boulder, Colo.: Colorado 27, OU 24 No. 3 OU, favored by 22½, leads by 17, then gets outscored 17-0 in the fourth quarter. Reggie Smith’s fumbled punt and a game-ending FG decide it.

Nov. 17, 2007, Lubbock, Texas: Texas Tech 34, OU 27 Needing to win out to return to the national championship game, No. 3-ranked OU trails by 20 after QB Sam Bradford’s concussion, then rallies just short.

Jan. 2, 2007, Glendale, Ariz.: West Virginia 48, OU 28 In another Fiesta faceplant, the No. 3 Sooners give up 525 total yards (a bowl record 349 rushing) and show little heart once things get going badly.

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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2 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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wsums2, Cincinnati (9/12/2008 6:46:32 PM)
This is a different team with a different personality than last year. Many of the starters are back, but I don't remember so much dedication as the guys put in this last year working their tails off, from everyone. So mnay young guys have worked their way to the top. That's what you do, play the best players, and that's doesn't always mean the superstar. I think it means the guy that works the hardest, studies the most, becomes a team player, and adds the most value to the team. Thats passion to excel. Bloody marvelous to see them work so hard and so long. That is dedication my friend.
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Rhymeister, Tulsa (9/12/2008 7:53:09 PM)
It's cyclical and perhaps the long break from the last regular season game to the bowl game affects OU's preparation of whatever more than its opponents. Or perhaps the coaches are not preparing their players in the best way. They should look into that because some coaches are obviously more successful than others. Not trying to take anything away from coach Stoops' successes because he's done a great job.
 

 
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