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Sooners must be ready for any strange happenings in Lubbock

 
By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/18/2009  2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/18/2009  4:47 AM
Go to Dave Sittler's Blog


NORMAN — A few weeks ago, a sportswriter crunched the numbers and concluded Texas Tech might beat Texas A&M by 100 points that weekend in Lubbock.

His reasoning was based on this: The week after Tech won at Kansas State 66-14, A&M went to Manhattan, Kan., and got waxed by the Wildcats, 62-14.

Using a similar comparative-score formula of A&M's games with Tech and Oklahoma, one could surmise that OU will whip the Red Raiders by 77 points in Saturday's Big 12 Conference game at Tech's Jones Stadium.

Here's one reason not to bet the farm on that happening: Texas A&M 52, Texas Tech 30. In a season loaded with head-scratching results, that one-week turnaround by the Aggies may be the strangest of the bunch.

Oh, and here are four more reasons not to bet the house on the Sooners: BYU 14, OU 13; Miami (Fla.) 21, OU 20, Texas 16, OU 13; Nebraska 10, OU 3.

OU (6-4, 4-2 Big 12) has been a thrashing machine at home this season, going 5-0 and winning by an average of 40.4 points a game. But away from Memorial Stadium, be it a neutral site or the hostile setting of an opponent's home field, the Sooners are 1-4, winning only at turnover-prone Kansas.

Since A&M won by 22 points at Tech and lost by 55 at OU, shouldn't the Sooners be more than 4 1/2-point favorites at Tech (6-4, 3-3) in the 11:30 a.m. contest on plains of northwestern Texas? Like 77 points?

Uh, no. Lubbock native and rock-and-roll icon Buddy Holly didn't have defeating Tech at home in mind when he wrote the mega-hit "It's So Easy."

It's been anything but easy for OU coach Bob Stoops. He is 5-0 at home against the Red Raiders, but 2-3 in the Red Raiders' house, including losses the last two times he visited Lubbock.

Strange things seem to happen to OU on those late November journeys to Texas Tech. To wit:

In 2005, inept work from a crew that included some Texas-based officials resulted in two controversial calls on Tech's final possession. They allowed the Red Raiders to drive 65 yards in the game's final 93 seconds to claim a wildly disputed 23-21 win.

In 2007, quarterback Sam Bradford was lost for the game with a concussion suffered on OU's first offensive series. Running back DeMarco Murray was lost for the season when he dislocated a kneecap during an onside kick in the final seconds of a 34-27 loss.

Already out with a shoulder injury, Bradford won't get a chance at redemption this weekend. Murray, however, is coming off a huge performance as he heads to the stadium that holds nothing but bad personal memories.

Murray, who rolled up 223 all-purpose yards and scored twice in the romp over A&M, acknowledged that his recollections of the 2007 Tech game are "bad. I've been thinking about it a little bit. I'd never been hurt in football before in my life, but I knew something was wrong.

"But come Saturday, I don't think I'll be worrying about it."

Asked if his memories about the 2005 loss at Tech included those questionable calls, Stoops said: "I'm not allowed to comment on officiating. But it's fair to say that's part of (his memories), yes."

Murray, whose role in the offense has expanded because of injuries to other playmakers and inconsistency by the receiving corps, said the Sooners are fully aware of what they'll walk into when they enter Jones Stadium.

"It's always a crazy time playing down there in Lubbock," said the OU junior, who has been featured in recent games in the Wildcat offensive set. "I'm sure their fans are going to do something crazy for them, and get as loud as they can be.

"We have to be immune to it and just settle down."

At Tuesday's press conference, Stoops said he doesn't believe there is anything unique about Tech's stadium or Lubbock that caused him to lose three critical games in that city.

"When you go to someone's place and they're good a good team, it's hard to play there," Stoops said. "They (Raiders) play well in their place. So I don't think there's anything magical about it."

OK, so OU probably isn't a lock to win by 77 points.

But if Stoops wants to win by one point, he'd be wise to keep Murray off special teams and make darn sure none of the officials working the game live anywhere near Lubbock.

By DAVE SITTLER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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15 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/18/2009 7:39:16 AM)
Hopefully we can take out our frustrations on our opponents the rest of the way. A little O and a lot of D and we should win by at least 2 TD's.
Report Comment
soonerman37, Broken Arrow (11/18/2009 8:05:15 AM)
I hope we can beat the Raiders. It's hard to do in Lubbock when they only need 8 1/2 yards for a first down.
Report Comment
BOBO1, (11/18/2009 9:15:01 AM)
Not only will the Sooner offense be tested the Sooner Defense will be playing one of the better passing teams in the Nation. If the Raider quaterbacks are hot...Katy bar the door...it will be a long game for the Sooners. Last week against the Cowboys Raiders were pretty much held by good defensive stands and timing problems Tech was having. Don't count on Tech being out of sync two weeks in a row....and believe me they want this game.
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The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/18/2009 9:29:07 AM)
I'll just count on our D continuing to do what they do. No reason to believe Tech will fare any better than anyone else has. They only scored 30 at home on a horrible A&M defense.
Report Comment
Arbythree, Tulsa (11/18/2009 9:40:48 AM)
BOOMER SOONER! Keep it up Defense.
Report Comment
Unbiasedfan0315, (11/18/2009 10:06:43 AM)
Considering the current physical and mental status of the Sooners, I wouldn't be too sure about a win this weekend in Lubbock, despite wishful thinking from their fans. They are a good team, but Tech isn't a bad team.
Report Comment
Soonersteve50, Aberdeen (11/18/2009 10:25:28 AM)
This will be the WEEKEND that defines the remaining season future and bowl game options.
Kevin Wilson play calling or Bob Stoops leadership can not afford to be conservative.
A win can give the OU the lift it needs to finish strong with wins and a bowl appearence.
Another loss will definately add heat to an already pretty hot kitchen!
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The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/18/2009 12:36:28 PM)
Don't worry, unbiased, we aren't TOO sure. We're just PRETTY sure. By the way, where did you see the report on their physical and mental health? You must have a source verrry close to the program.
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ousoonerfan1971, Houston (11/18/2009 4:41:03 PM)
I think Landry is the key. If he is on we should come out on top. Our defense is better than OSU and Tech has some Quarterback issues trying to decide which one IS their QB. I think the Sooners in their Pro Combat Nike Unis will prevail. BOOMER SOONER !!!
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TMS, (11/18/2009 5:52:38 PM)
Tech appears to be better defense wise but not as good on offense. They have beaten a lot better OU teams than the one this year. Better not count on Bedlam just yet either. OSU has won more often in Norman than Stillwater.
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kcc12, (11/18/2009 7:11:39 PM)
The pirate will smack no blame bob one last time before he heads off to Louisville.
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eglkeeper, Cooder Bluff (11/18/2009 7:35:34 PM)
No shut-down corners could equate to a long night for the sooners. TT will dink and dunk all night, hope the OU D-Line is well conditioned. Good OU cardio D-Line workout for the men in the trench though...and thats a positive.
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The Masked Assassin, Parts Unknown (11/19/2009 12:13:21 PM)
OSU corners didn't seem to have much problem so we'll take our chances.
Report Comment
SpankyNek, houston (11/19/2009 2:00:56 PM)
TMS,

True, OSU wins more often in Norman. They are 8-37-2 there for a WHOPPING winning percentage of 17%. In Stillwater they are 5-35-6 (percentage 11%). Incidentally they are 0-1 in Guthrie and 2-5 in Oklahoma City...maybe they should petition to move the game to Taft Stadium....Oh yeah, and Gundy is 0-4 vs. the Sooners losing by 3 touchdowns on average(in Norman 0-2 losing by 30 points per game)

Keep up hope, pokes X)
Boomer Sooner!
Report Comment
eglkeeper, Cooder Bluff (11/21/2009 6:02:25 PM)
Appears the OU defense performed as I predicted. Minimal effort and zero coaching ability. X's and O's are just a start when leading men, there must be motivation and an unquenchable desire to win instilled-imparted by the coaches to the athletes. Bobby; you have failed in this most significant facet of coaching and that is setting expectations and holding all accountable. It makes no difference if they are 1st teamers or the water boy, step up and coach as the young men you recruit, at the very least deserve this from a coach...
 

 
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