Oklahoma Daily - COMMENTARY: An OU loss is for the greater good of the Big 12

[bluedogok]

Has anyone else seen this moronic article from the "school' Newspaper yet?


Yahoo Sports U-Wire - COMMENTARY: An OU loss is for the greater good of the Big 12 (http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AkzVnnLbY9WNzc5skJ6FQbscvrYF?slug=uwire-commentaryanoulossisforthe&prov=uwire&type=lgns)
By Baxter Holmes, Oklahoma Daily
November 26, 2007

(CSTV U-WIRE) NORMAN, Okla. -- OU is caught in a catch-22. Missouri has a chance to play for the national title and all that stands in its way is the Sooners.

For the sake of the Big 12, an OU loss -- while disappointing to OU fans and to the team -- would boost the league's most legitimate national title contender into the ring, therefore giving the Big 12 a chance to regain postseason and national credibility that has been chiseled in recent years.

OU losing? It's for the greater good.

It's called utilitarianism, which is an ethics theory that basically means doing whatever's best for the masses.

And in the case of the Big 12, it's OU falling so Mizzou can play for it all in New Orleans, not only representing Columbia and the rest of the Show Me State, but the whole conference, which includes OU. You play to win the game

Five years ago when Herm Edwards coached the New York Jets, he blew up during a postgame press conference and defined the point of athletic competition.

"Hello? You play to win the game. You don't just play to play," he said.

OU will play to win the game, just like Missouri.

But OU is playing spoiler this season. The Sooners had their shot at the crystal ball. Now they're in position to deny somebody else -- a fellow conference foe -- the same chance.

Nothing is given, though. Mizzou will have to earn it. And if Missouri does earn a win, it will earn the chance to regain street cred for OU. The greater good

The Big 12's last big win was when Vince Young did unspeakable things to USC in 2005. Before and after that, the Big 12 has been weak. OU lost back-to-back national title games in 2003 and 2004 and also lost to mid-major Boise State in 2006. Nebraska has become sickening. Texas has returned to a level of mediocrity and neither of the three other Texas schools have done much to speak of.

When Vince Young left the Big 12, he took whatever credibility the conference had with him.

Another conference title for OU would be its 41st. It would cap a nice season and it would make OU the first Big 12 team to win back-to-back conference titles.

The OU seniors don't want to lose this game. They want to go out as league champs and as the only back-to-back winners.

They don't care about the future of the Big 12, and they shouldn't. No one else on the team should, either.

But for Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe, a Missouri win is what the league needs, mostly because the Tigers could win the BCS title against anyone.

West Virginia doesn't have a great defense, not like LSU. Mizzou can win and a Big 12 national championship would do wonders for the conference's credibility.

And I'll throw up if I have to watch Ohio State in the national title game again. Share the wealth

Walking down the aisle of this jet, there is a Missouri fan bouncing around like he just kissed the girl of his dreams. He boarded the flight from Chicago to Oklahoma City with a phone to his ear, checking the Kansas-Mizzou score.

"It's 14-0 at halftime!"

He let everyone know when Mizzou scored again and when the captain announced the fourth quarter score of 34-21, the Tiger fan was elated.

"Whoo-hoo! Roll Tigers!"

He sounded like OU fans did when they had a chance to be apart of a national title this season.

OU has history, championships and countless honors. Sparing one this season so the league can gain some much needed credibility isn't a bad idea. It's for the greater good.

This game doesn't mean as much for preseason rankings. Both teams return their quarterbacks and both will start next season ranked high.

This game doesn't mean as much for money. The winner will make a BCS game and the loser won't. There's no way to get two Big 12 teams in the four BCS bowl games. A BCS bowl berth is worth about $14 million to the Big 12, which is evenly divided among the conference schools. It's the same as every year -- the Big 12 title game winner will earn a BCS bowl berth. The only difference is this year, a national title contender can come from the Big 12.

I've said that OU losing is for the greater good. There's a good chance it will happen anyway. Missouri is five weeks better than it was when it lost in Norman. Now, running back Tony Temple is back and the game is not in Oklahoma, which has obviously bothered OU this season.

So if Mizzou does beat OU in Round 2, at least OU will have money, history and ethics on its side.

Oh, and it's for the greater good.

[cheezyq]

Right. We should throw the game just like K-State did against us in 2003. :rolleyes:

[MarylandSooner]

Communism I say, nothing but Communism.

[SeattleOUstudent]

Dont you guys remember The Daily? They just put stuff down to get reaction.

[Civicus_Sooner]

That article is garbage and the editor that allowed it to be printed is garbage.[hairGel]

Utilitarianism??? Are you effin' kidding me? Someone just finished up freshman philosophy.

What a dill hole.

[TopDawg]

Personally, I couldn't care less about the bright side if OU loses, but I see what he's saying.

[astro5169]

"It's not true" "Are you kidding me?" "Who's the kid?"

" It's not fairr to ridicule your fat kid" "Someone who works hard all week" "Makes me want to puke"

[76soonergrad]

...supports the stereotype that liberals run newspapers.

Is Stoops supposed to forfeit now?

[JohnnyMack]

**** this guy.

[r5TPsooner]

I hate to lose.

[sooner59]

I bet it was only written so that the team would read it and think everyone had written them off, even their own school. Maybe it would make them play harder. But I think that is stupid, I got mad when i read it yesterday.

[Civicus_Sooner]

He obviously hasn't been involved in competitive sports.

[aurorasooner]

**** this guy. 2nd, 3rd, and 4th that. I wouldn't be surprised though if that's the way the Big 12 office sees this game, and if J.Bible's crew is doing the officiating, I seriously doubt that Missouri will have 14 penalties for 140 yards like they did last weekend in KC. It's going to be interesting to see the number of phantom holding calls negating big plays that we get, and how the total penalty yards end up this one.

[StoopTroup]

We should just write the Big XII the day before the game and tell them we're not interested in beating Mizzou again and that we're not going to risk any injuries before going bowling. :D ;)

[Civicus_Sooner]

http://jmc.ou.edu/ambassadors/2008/images/portraits/Holmes.jpg


After graduation, Holmes plans to become a full-time reporter for a major metropolitan newspaper, hopefully, The New York Times.

He should fit right in.

[Lott's Bandana]

I don't think that is a poorly written viewpoint. I'm certain 11 other teams feel exactly that way. Another NC for the conference this decade would mean 3 in 7...certainly those that are fans of conferences would like that.

I'm not one of those fans, however.

My "greater good" is to have us completely and mercilessly skin the Tiggers, then win a quality bowl game.

That would put the preseason rankings in a BigXII lock next year with OU, Mizz, KU and Texass likely all in the Top 10. We play KU and RRS next year, Mizz plays KU and UT...CCG either a rematch with KU or a great game with Mizz again. Win those games and our BCS numbers will be healthy and solid. Especially after beating Washington and Cincinnati in non-con.

That will be good. No....great!


IJS



^

[Spanish Sooner]

Trust me, as someone who reads the Daily sports page on a regular basis, this writer generally has the dumbest/worst articles of the bunch. It has gotten to the point where I make an effort to not read his articles

[stoopified]

Screw the greater good.If OU losing means world peace fine ,until then the GREATER GOOD can kiss my crimson a$$.

[BermudaSooner]

"I shall never live for another man, nor ask another man to live for me."

Ayn Rand.

F-in commie pink-o bastages.

[Bourbon St Sooner]

We need to spank Missouri just for sucking so bad all these years, not rewarding them. OU is the greater good in this conference. I don't care how many Boise State's we lose to.

[sooner518]

if we lose, then I will root for the Big 12 and Mizzou. But if we're playing the game, screw the conference. Who the hell cheers for a conference anyways?

[85sooners]

f em!!!!!

[Desert Sapper]

Wow. What a bunch of drivel. Look. If we had already lost to Mizzou, I could see writing some crap about how it's for the greater good. But to blather on about greater conference good when OU has a chance to be Big XII champs? For the second straight year? And go to a BCS bowl??? Go **** yourself, dude, but don't try to **** my Sooners.

[TUSooner]

HOKEY SMOKES, BULLWINKLE. Y'all need to get a grip. Whether the guy is a peeny-blossom or not, I neither know nor care. But why this hysteria??

Haven't there been posts on here that acknowledged the same obvious fact -that a Mizzou win would help the Big XII and, as a bonus, keep an undeserving OhSU out of the BCSCG? That is true! It may not be the mythical "greater good" in any cosmic sense, but it's good enough for just about every non-Sooner except OhSU to want OU to lose.
Maybe I need to read the thing again, but I dont see where he says "OU SHOULD LOSE". I think he's just trying (and failing) to cleverly identify a thought that has already crossed many minds.

The bottom line, however, is I DON'T CARE ! I want OU to win every game they play without exception! End of discussion.

[westcoast_sooner]

Why didn't this little p***k just propose that we have the game in San Antonio between, um, Baylor and Nebraska? You know, kind of a "let's all feel good about each other non-bowl". After all, we can't have anyone excel. Other people's self esteem might be hurt. AWWW....

F THAT NOISE!!!! We play for Championships at Oklahoma, not for 2nd place. Not for the other guy. Not for some idiotic kid that can't wipe his own nose.

I'd expect stuff like this coming from Austin, or possibly even the journalism dept at Mizzou.

Screw it - let's go kick some tail.

[TheUnnamedSooner]

So, Mizzou wins and goes to the BCS champ game. Then they get slaughtered by whoever they play. How does that make OU and the conference look then?

OU wins big then takes home the Fiesta trophy!

[cjames317]

"Greater good?" I'd hate to think that Big 12 executives and game officials have any such thought. What happens if OU gets screwed by another ref?

OUr team needs to "exert its will" to eliminate any appearance of impropriety by game officials. Another thorough arse-whuppin by OUr OL will take care of business.

[Doged]

I see the guy's direction, but the article is so poorly written it almost hides his point. Look at his logic:

1. The Big 12 needs a team in the NC game because it gives the conference credibility. That's a valid point. Having a team in the NC game does lend the team's conference some prestige points.

2. The Big 12 lacks credibility because no league team has played in the NC game since Texas... which was all of..uhh.. 1 NC game ago.

3. The Big 12 was weak and had no credibility before Texas played in the NC game year before last. Point #1 must then be suspended because he goes on to talk about OU's NC game appearances in the years preceding the Texas NC.

4. The entire article has as it's foundation a pre-determined label of the Big 12 conference as "weak" and badly in need of "credibility", a label often made but never fully supportable.

Then there' some muddled stuff about OU should lose for the good of the conference, but they won't, but they might anyway and if they do the conference will be better off and Mizzou deserves it more because they've never been there before.

While the writer's point is muddied and only vaguely comprehensible, the article does a great job of showing the value of using an outline to organize any piece that will use logic to support a point.

[SoonerMom2]

He obviously hasn't been involved in competitive sports.

This is the same person who wrote the article about the Tulsa game about how boring our games had become. He isn't just a writer, he is THE Sports Editor.

Most of the OU Daily staff graduated and this is an example of what replaced them. The last two sports writers loved OU sports especially the one in the spring who covered football in the fall. This editor has admitted to some others that he hates being the sports editor. The overall editor is not even part of Gaylord's print media. The advisor to the OU Daily retired in the spring.

[Lott's Bandana]

the article does a great job of showing the value of using an outline to organize any piece that will use logic to support a point.

Your outline served you well, Dawg. ;) ;)

[JohnnyMack]

Yes, the SEC now sucks as conference because it won't have a representative in the title game.

[BoulderSooner79]

I kinda agree with the premise - but only in the short term. Yeah, MU in the MNC game gives the conference cred this year (if they don't get blown out!). But the SEC teams knock each other out all the time and in the long term, it gives them more cred. The gators get in last year with 1 loss because of conference cred. Same with LSU in '03.

But as other point out - who cares !??? The OU coaches and players will do everything they can do to win and that's all that matters. And our fans will cheer as loud as they can (wish I could go help). If MU wins, I'll tip my cap because I'll know they have to earn it.

[OUTrumpet]

Isn't this that retarded guy that said OU football was boring because we win all the time right before we played Colorado?

[KABOOKIE]

From now on all teams must lose to OU for the greater good of the Big XII.

[soonersn2007]

If the chance to play for the NC wasn't railroaded down to 2 teams, then noone would need to laydown for the greater good. In any case, there was no need to make this point in a printed article. I don't remember any teams laying down for OU.

I suppose this article should been directed to the other 10 teams of the big XII, let them cheer for the greater good, I will be cheering for my Sooners.

[Animal Mother]

That article changes directions so many times you'd think it was a foreign policy press release. In a perfect world.................. OU WINS 100 STRAIGHT!
Too many "we don't keep score" games being played in school nowadays.

[MextheBulldog]

Baxter!

http://content7.flixster.com/photo/75/58/36/7558369_gal.jpg

http://www.caaien.com/jackblack/photos/anchor2.jpg

[jccouger]

I understand what he is saying. But I still want OU to win of course.

But if we do lose, I will cheer for Mizzou in the NC.

[tommieharris91]

Yes, this was the idiot who wrote that he was tired of OU blowouts the week before the Colorado game.

[goodonya]

It doesn't matter if you're shooting marbles or commies. You don't play unless you play to win. Evidently the socialist/communist nature of higher education at OU has manifested itself squarely in the journalism discipline.

[MextheBulldog]

Evidently the socialist/communist nature of higher education at OU

:eek:

[sooneron]

I too, dabbled with the illegal stuff in college.

[AverageJoe]

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Take his diploma away,transfer him to Stillwater, tar and feather him, boil him in oil.

He should be ashamed of himself.

AJ

[ocsooner]

I hate to lose.

That's why I'm a Sooner fan.

[ruf/nekdad]

"I shall never live for another man, nor ask another man to live for me."

Ayn Rand.

F-in commie pink-o bastages.

Who is John Gualt?

[soonermeteor]

I think its just as important for OU to get to a BCS bowl and win. We've lost our last 3, including two championship games. We need to rebuild our own credibility in the post season considering when they country thinks big 12 they think Oklahoma and Texas.

[aero]

That article is sophomoric. If we beat mizzou again they didn't deserve to be in the title game. The only good for us is a Sooner victory and conference comes second. What if we were to not play our best and "allow" mizzou to win and then they go and get drummed in the NC? Wow, that would really make the B12 look good. All we would hear is how overrated the B12 is, MU, KU, OU, etc. didn't really play anybody, and MU didn't deserve to be there. I say if MU beats us then fine for them and I will pull for them to win it all for the conference. As far as us losing being better for the conference, that's cow manure. How about us beating mizzou and then drubbing whoever they put in front of us in a BCS? That would look just fine for the conference. Then everyone can talk about how TT and CU beat such a fine team and how ISU, UT, and Baylor gave us a fight.

[SoonerMom2]

Isn't this that retarded guy that said OU football was boring because we win all the time right before we played Colorado?

That is him! Same sports editor! Looks like he didn't learn his lesson!

[SoonerMom2]

It doesn't matter if you're shooting marbles or commies. You don't play unless you play to win. Evidently the socialist/communist nature of higher education at OU has manifested itself squarely in the journalism discipline.

A lot of good journalism students have GRADUATED and this is what was left after graduation last winter and this past spring. Paper has gone down hill this fall without all them who had been on the paper for several years and the advisor who retired. It is even worse then anyone imagined.

This guy may go down in history as the worst sports editor ever at the OU Daily. They need a big shake up at the OU Daily and need writers that don't think they are going to be the next Woodward and Berstein.

[usmc-sooner]

the article is retarded written by a retard. If OU wins the B12 gets 2 big teams in the BCS same if they lose. The conference still gets paid for two BCS games. I'm sure this guy will fit in with NY Times and their defeatist attitude. Who raised this kid?

[Dio]

Step away from the bong, dude.

[usmc-sooner]

I bet this guy ends up a screenwriter in Los Angeles.

[goodonya]

I bet this guy ends up a screenwriter in Los Angeles.

I bet he ends up behind a screen in Las Angeles.

[Jacie]

Bull f***ing s**t!

[Jerk]

If this guy really wants socialism then ALL 12 teams in the conference should be given a championship trophy and a BCS bowl bid for an NC.

Until then, may the best team kick the ever living sh** out of the other one.

[badger]

It's true, an OU loss would be better for the Big 12... perhaps he's just alerting us to this WELL KNOWN FACT so that if the refs do screw us, as expected, we'll all know why.

However, it is in OUr best interest to win every game we play. That's just the way fooseball works, folks!

[kevpks]

Caring too much about what is good for the conference makes me feel like one of those SEC fans. You know the type I mean. They hit the message boards every year to brag about how great their conference is and to talk about the hot SEC team of the moment. It is usually tough to even tell which team is their team. Frankly, I want the Big XII to be just good enough not to hurt us in the BCS. Other than that I could care less about what is good for the conference. Boomer Sooner!

[setem]

This kid is gonna get whooped if I see him on the South Oval!!!:D

[FirstandGoal]

**** missouri

[MojoRisen]

In reality - 9 million more for the conference is at stake over the 14 million for one BCS team in this guys point - I would have to think that if OU wins we get another 14 million with an at large berth by either Kansas or Mizzou and it is actually 5 million better for the conference bringing in 28 M as apposed to 23 M -

If an at large team is rated in the top 12 BCS don't they get an at large bid?

Credibility would be winning two BCS games - NC or not - this year has the least credibility in my mind as anyone in the top 10 could win the NC on any given day and would not surprise me a bit.

[Chrisrokc]

I was reading this on Monday in class and I said out loud, WTF is this ****?

[MojoRisen]

I think that if OU wins from a $ stand point the conference stands to gain 5 million as I do believe that Kansas or Mizzou will get an at large berth being rated in the top 12 of the BCS final standings and likely in the top 10 for Mizzou.

I believe the MNC is worth about 9 million more so we would loose 5 million by not having OU get in -

Either way - who cares about the conference money sharing - name any conferene that has played for or won more NC this decade?

[Sooner98]

So, the conference needs a team in the NC game this year to regain national respect? Correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't the Big 12 had a team in the NC game, five out of the seven years this decade? That's not too shabby. You're not going to win them all.


There's no way to get two Big 12 teams in the four BCS bowl games.

Yes there is. Where did he come up with this? Oh, and there are FIVE BCS bowl games.

[MyT Oklahoma]

The writer of this story is what we in Kansas refer to as a "f***ing moron". Perhaps he would like to be man enough to hand deliver autographed copies to our team before the big game.

P.S. However.. my cheap thrill of the week was wearing Sooner crimson and cream into a sports bar in Coconut Creek Florida (the Miami metro area) last Saturday afternoon to watch OU beat down those poor Aggies. Nothing like showing the colors so Miami gets a taste of coming attractions.
__________________________________________
"This is the voice of The Sooner Football Network".

[pott_2]

"When Vince Young left the Big 12, he took whatever credibility the conference had with him."

This is the kind of SH*T that needs to be read to any Big Twelve team right before a game. They would play so angry and determined. I want to punch my computer for showing me stupid sh*t like this.

[ouwasp]

From now on all teams must lose to OU for the greater good of the Big XII.

Preach On, Brother!

On the downside, imagine the sleep Bob, Brent, and the boys will lose over this dilemma...:confused:

Sheesh......this writer will probably make the day of some paper that has to fill a quota of _____ employees.

[Desert Sapper]

If an at large team is rated in the top 12 BCS don't they get an at large bid?

Credibility would be winning two BCS games - NC or not - this year has the least credibility in my mind as anyone in the top 10 could win the NC on any given day and would not surprise me a bit.

Bingo.

Kansas will almost certainly get a BCS bid regardless of who wins or loses.

The money factor is probably playing in with all the Big XII suits. If Mizzou goes to the MNC, it is more bank for the conference, given that we will get at-large money for KU, regardless.

We gain respect across the nation by winning, not by simply being there. If the Big XII wins all of its bowl games, especially the ones against the media darling SEC and Pac 10 teams, the conference gains respect. BCS wins are huge for respect. Respect for the conference equals greater respect for OU. So, regardless of who the Big XII champ is, winning our bowl games as a conference is what matters.

In summation: **** Mizzou! BOOMER SOONER!