Tulsa World: Stoops: 'I have empathy for Texas and Texas Tech'

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Stoops: "I have empathy for Texas and Texas Tech"

By SARAH HART World Sports Writer
Published: 12/1/2008 3:34 PM
Last Modified: 12/1/2008 4:53 PM

Audio: Listen to OU coach Bob Stoops discuss how OU’s nonconference schedule helped the Sooners secure the Big 12 championship, as well as playing Missouri this Saturday, during the Big 12 college football coaches teleconference Monday (Appx. 10 minutes).

Audio: Listen to Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel playing Oklahoma in this season’s Big 12 championship and more during Monday’s Big 12 football coaches teleconference (Appx. Appx. 13 minutes).

Audio: Listen to OU running back DeMarco Murray discuss playing in the Big 12 championship, as well as the improvement in his running game, during the Big 12 football coaches teleconference on Monday. (Appx. 8 minutes).

Audio: Listen to an interview with Missouri tight end Chase Coffman discuss playing Oklahoma in this season’s Big 12 championship and what it means for him to play in it since he missed it last year. (Appx. 8 minutes).

Audio: Listen to an interview with Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel discuss playing Oklahoma in this season’s Big 12 championship, the overall landscape of the Big 12 and losing offensive coordinator Dave Christensen. (Appx. 7 minutes).

The dust has settled –- more or less –- and the Big 12 North and South contestants have been decided: Oklahoma will face Missouri at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Big 12 championship game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

During Monday’s Big 12 football coaches teleconference, OU head coach Bob Stoops discussed Big 12 North winner Missouri, as well as the Sooners’ path to the game.

“I have empathy for Texas and Texas Tech,” he said. “For some reason, Tech has been left out. Everyone wanted to make this a two-team situation. Texas Tech has identical records as Texas and us. They’re 11-1 overall and 7-1 in our league, and in head-to-head, they beat Texas. I have empathy for both of them. But in the end, if you’re going to take Texas Tech out of the mix, then the only reason you’re taking them out is because of what we did to them, not what Texas did to them.”

Stoops was asked how the Sooners’ nonconference schedule affected the season. OU played Cincinnati, which won the Big East title, and Texas Christian, ranked No. 11 in this week’s Associated Press poll and No. 11 in the BCS.

“It seems like it paid off considerably,” Stoops said. “I’ve said before. There should be some kind of incentive … We’re going to Miami next year to play Miami. There ought to be some incentive to do that. Otherwise, why in the heck do we need to go down to Miami, or like in past years, we went to Alabama. … If you’re not going to be rewarded for them, you schedule four softies and you can almost schedule a bowl game by getting your first four wins.”

Stoops said tough nonconference foes also helps the team be more prepared for traditional foes within the conference.

“I don’t think there’s any question that challenging your team early usually helps it develop sooner and get yourself ready for some of the tests that are coming down the road.”

By SARAH HART World Sports Writer

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