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Stoops today: He agrees with Texas' Brown
 
By Staff Reports
Published: 11/25/2008  2:51 PM
Last Modified: 11/25/2008  4:08 PM

Audio: Listen to Bob Stoops' press conference today. (Approx. 15 minutes).



NORMAN – Apprised of Texas coach Mack Brown's Monday comments that the Big 12 Conference tiebreaker scenario "screams for a playoff," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on Tuesday concurred with his rival.

"I would agree," Stoops said.

Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe came out Monday in support of the current system – in which the team ranked atop the Bowl Championship Series standings advances to the Big 12 title game – and Stoops said that was OK, too.

"Well, I mean, everyone's entitled to their opinion," Stoops said. "And I'm sure we will have our opportunity to share (ideas about) that."

OU is ranked No. 3 in the BCS standings this week, just fractions behind Texas. OU plays at No. 12 OSU this week and with a victory would figure to move past the Longhorns, despite UT's 45-35 victory over the Sooners at the Cotton Bowl in October.

It's likely that if the Sooners were to experience another resounding triumph – they defeated then-No. 2 Texas Tech 65-21 last week at home – their surge past Texas could be significant. But Stoops doesn't discuss "style points" – especially with his team never having had an easy time in Stillwater.

"We never worry about (style points). Didn't last week. Won't this week," he said. "Players, coaches and teams that do –
when you're the one that has to compete, you do all you can to focus on being as prepared as you can be to win, and win whatever way you have to. And always, going on the road, no matter where you're going, is never easy.

"I'm not gonna sit here and debate all that. We're concentrated on going to Oklahoma State and being as prepared as we can be, focused to play a really strong game. That's what we have to do. From there, we'll see where it goes."

Other highlights from Stoops' weekly press conference:

On whether the success of this year's team on the road has changed his expectations for how the team performs Saturday in a hostile environment:

"I go into every game, here or away, thinking they're going to be close, hard-fought games. None of us ever assume – that's just how we are. When you're the one competing, you realize anything can happen. We go into every game that way, prepared, hopefully, to play our best."

On OSU's defense:

"Well, I think overall, their structure's very disciplined, they're solid in their structure and what they're doing and I just think overall, you watch 'em, just technique and fundamentals overall, up front their active, they mix in their blitzes, whether it's run game or pass game, trying to get someone to miss a block and try and stuff you up front by changing up what they're doing. But overall, they're just much different and playing really well."

On OSU's offense:

"They do a great job, and it really all begins with running the football. They do it various ways, not only with their – they've got a couple of great running backs, but Zac Robinson being able to run the football as well adds another dimension. So you really have to be disciplined. Not only just physical up front, but disciplined and be where you're supposed to be and read out their schemes to be in position to tackle.

"But then once you do, they're also going to try to fool you and play-action pass, and Zac is an excellent thrower as well. So you've got to deal with all the passing game, and they've got excellent targets out there. A lot of really good skill guys, and they spread the ball around to 'em, so you've got to be really disciplined and be able to handle it when they're running it but also read it out and play the pass game."

On if he's surprised at Bill Snyder's decision to return to coaching and Kansas State:

"Yes and no. I thought he was comfortable when he was retired and was ready to be out of it. But then it doesn't surprise me that, hey, that's what he loves to do. I don't blame him, and I'm excited for him. He always has done just a great job. I wish him the best – outside of one game, anyway."

On his September stance that, like other conferences do, it might be good to play conference games earlier:

"Yeah, that's a good point. It'd be kind of odd now to throw in somebody that wasn't part of the Big 12. You notice that with some other conferences. It almost takes you aback, like, 'What are they doing playing them now?' So yeah, it sounds good early in the year, but you make a great point now that it doesn't seem like it'd be a good idea to play someone out of conference this late."

On the firing of former OU assistant and long-time friend Chuck Long as head coach from San Diego State:

"All of us have tremendous respect for Chuck and loved the time he was here. He did a fabulous job for us running the offense and developing quarterbacks. Great person. A great man in how he handles his character and all that. So he'll have many opportunities. We all feel bad for him and wish that hadn't happened.

"But I also know that some jobs are more difficult than others and take more time than others. But I'm sure Chuck will have a great number of opportunities. I know here we would always welcome him. In the right situation. We don't have anything now, of course, and I'm not saying any of that, but we couldn't have more respect. No one has more respect for Chuck than I do. But that's the case with a good number of people who know Chuck."
By Staff Reports

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Chiefs, Vian (11/25/2008 6:27:50 PM)
The Sooners MUST take the Cowboys seriously this week and play just as hard as they did against TTech or last weeks game doesn't mean a thing! The Pokes are VERY good and have some 1st round picks playing so the Sooners better be ready and you KNOW that they would like nothing better than to knock the Sooners out of the BCS race. I think this game will be within 3 points. If OU doesn't turn it over, OU 38 OSU 35.
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Kryptonite, Lowcash Oklahoma (11/25/2008 8:19:36 PM)
OU 57 Stoolwater 21
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JoTulsa, Broken Arrow (11/25/2008 10:43:16 PM)
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE give us a playoff system and TRASH the bcs
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tulsaGuy, (11/26/2008 11:08:04 AM)
The 2008 Graduation Success Rate:
OSU: 62%
OU: 46%

The NCAA Graduation Success Rate measures how many players earned a four-year degree within a six-year window, accounting for both transfers into the footabll program as well as transfers out of the football program.
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Robbie Kyle, Tulsa (11/27/2008 10:00:36 AM)
When you factor in all the guys that go pro from OU, and the very few that jump from OSU, you realize how bogus that number is. Don't forget that OU's Hesiman-like quarterback graduated first in his class out of highschool.

 

 
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