Tulsa World: West-coast revisit

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West-coast revisit

This onside kick call and subsequent replay led to the 2006 OU-Oregon controversy. Stephen Pingry/Tulsa World file

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/13/2008 2:08 AM
Last Modified: 9/13/2008 2:53 AM

OU faces Washington today in its first trip to Pac-10 country since the '06 Oregon debacle

SEATTLE — Oklahoma football fans already were fired up about their team's return to the Pacific Northwest, scene of the infamous Oregon game of 2006.

But Washington quarterback Jake Locker's penalty last week for flipping the football in the air after a late touchdown against BYU, the blocked extra point attempt that would have tied the game, and the weeklong national criticisms of Pac-10 Conference officiating became gas to the Sooners' flame.

"Shoot, man, I look forward to playing against the Pac-10," OU senior defensive tackle Cory Bennett said. "Not trying to talk any mess about them, but there's just something about them that gets my blood boiling."

A brief recap: OU fell behind Oregon early, rallied late, then got pierced through the heart when Oregon's onside kick with 1:12 to play was first illegally touched, then awarded to the Ducks despite Oklahoma's Allen Patrick recovering the football. The play was reviewed, but the ball still was awarded to the wrong team. Oregon scored the go-ahead TD with 46 seconds left and prevailed 34-33.

"To me, it was the equivalent of watching a horrible accident," Bennett said. "You sit there and you watch the final moments of something that was supposed to be yours, and it was just taken away like that. It's one of those things that, you know, it cost us a lot. It cost us a lot. Shoot, I try to put it behind me, but I've been around a long time and it's one of those things that is still in the back of my mind."

Afterward, the Pac-10 suspended the officiating crew for a game and offered Oklahoma a formal apology. That did not soothe OU coach Bob Stoops.

"They had an opportunity to get it right, and they chose not to," Stoops said the next day. "So I find it still absolutely inexcusable and unacceptable."

OU athletic director Joe Castiglione said, "There should be no mistaking our very serious concerns about the events that transpired and the energy we will exert in voicing those concerns."

That went so far as president David Boren suggesting Oregon forfeit the win, and Stoops suggesting that this year's game at Washington be canceled if the Pac-10 did not change its rule on using its own officials for nonconference home games.

Stoops and Castiglione quickly backed away from that stance, the Pac-10 never changed its rule and the home-and-home contract will be fulfilled Saturday when the No. 3-ranked Sooners (2-0) visit Husky Stadium as a 20-point favorite over Washington (0-2). The teams previously met in 2006, when the Sooners throttled the Huskies in Norman 37-20.

That game was played one week before Sooner fans learned about Pac-10 officiating.

Potential bad calls aside — replays in particular — most agree that the '06 Oregon game has zero impact on Saturday's contest. It is not even taking place in the same state, let alone against the same program. And the officials involved that day — replay official Gordon Riese and referee David Cutaia — will not be there. Riese retired, and Cutaia is the Pac-10's coordinator of officials.

"I haven't forgotten it. But I'm just not focused on it," senior safety Lendy Holmes said. "I mean, it was 2006. This is 2008. That's two years ago."

"I'm not going to say it was taken away, because I don't put on stripes. Nor am I a coach," senior safety Nic Harris said. "I played in the game. We lost the game."

Senior center Jon Cooper said he is not angry at Oregon for the defeat. He said when he thinks about Oregon, he thinks about crazy uniforms, not crazy refs.

"Oregon's a nice place. It looks nice. It was loud. I had a vacation there about 10 years ago. It was nice," he said. "That can be my nice Oregon trip."

Other Sooners say their focus is elsewhere. For example, they have lost seven of their past eight games played west of Norman, from Lubbock, Texas, to Glendale, Ariz., to Boulder, Colo., to Eugene to Los Angeles. Also, they have lost their past three games — at Colorado, at Texas Tech and at the Fiesta Bowl — while ranked No. 3.

"I'm tired of everybody thinking we can't win on the road," Bennett said.

And the players say there is no fear about returning to Pac-10 country, in a game officiated by a Pac-10 crew.

"If you're worrying about the refs, you're not focused on the defense or something," Cooper said. "You're looking at the wrong color if you're looking at the stripes."

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

OKLAHOMA AT WASHINGTON

6:45 p.m. Saturday

Husky Stadium, Seattle

TV: ESPN-25

Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430

Weather: Expect dry conditions, a mostly sunny sky and temperatures in the lower 70s at kickoff.

Records: OU 2-0, Washington 0-2

Last meeting: 2006, Oklahoma, 37-20 Series: Tied 1-1

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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thinksmart 1st, sand springs (9/13/2008 2:50:14 PM)

it would be great to make it 3-0 win over washington. I just hope OU dosen't play football like they miss their mama. if they play smart football they can win.

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