Collier11
5/17/2010, 01:06 AM
By Patrick Fioravanti
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted May 15, 2010
CFN Blog - Analyzing and breaking down the Oklahoma schedule
By Patrick Fioravanti
The Sooners’ 2010 double-edged sword of a slate
The last two years the Sooners have played pretty challenging schedules, and that doesn't appear to be ending any time soon.
2008 was the year that wins over TCU and Cincinnati probably provided the difference that put Oklahoma in Miami against Florida. 2009 was the year that Oklahoma's challenging schedule sent them to the Sun Bowl. That's right, it was the schedule that did it, not the injuries. The only folks making injury excuses for Oklahoma last year weren't from Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's 2010 schedule is looking like it might just be tougher than '08 and '09 combined. It won't matter what ranking Oklahoma starts out at this year with their schedule. If they take care of business, they'll play for it all. However that will be much easier said than done. Let's break it down:
Utah State - OK, after '09 they're entitled to this one. Smarter strategy than '09 as well when they started out with a tough BYU, then played the easier game.
Florida State - Blockbuster potential. Most Sooner fans sure wish Bobby Bowden was going to be on the sideline for this one. They would like to exact a little pay back for all those ridiculously low rankings he's been giving the Sooners over the years. Plenty of athleticism and talent on both sides of the ball to make this game one to watch. Sooners have advantage with this one being in Norman where they have won 30 in a row.(Will be 31 if they squeak past Utah State in week 1).
Air Force - Laugh if you want, but it's pretty hard to prepare for that Air Force offense. It isn't like everyone in the Country is running it. Not to mention the fact that there aren't a whole lot of teams out there that are more disciplined. I don't know if anyone saw what they did in their Bowl game last fall getting their offense off the field and converting a field goal without using a time out. Oklahoma should pull this one off, but they better not sleep on them.
@Cincinnati - Sure Brian Kelly is gone. More importantly though for Sooner fans is that Mardy Gilyard is also gone. Man, Sammy's gonna love throwing the rock to that guy! Gilyard put on a show back in Norman in '08. The momentum that Oklahoma carries from their first three games will have a lot to do with this one. Also, this will be Landry Jones first chance to prove to Sooner fans that the 5 pick game @Nebraska last year was a fluke. Sure he played well in El Paso, but many Sooner fans are still a little nervous.
Texas - Need I say more? Texas has a mysteriously high ranking coming into the 2010 season even though they lost a lot of players. This should bode well for Oklahoma if they can finally turn this thing back around. It'll be pretty interesting seeing Texas' youth on offense against the youth in OU's back seven. A glimpse of things to come. This will be Landry Jones' mid-term exam. Either he comes out of this game 5-0 or he needs to start looking over his shoulder.
Iowa State - Whew! Can a Sooner get a breather?! That 5 game stretch was brutal and the Sooners are going to be thankful for a bye week then being able to host the Cyclones. Better make sure Stoops shows them the film of the ISU-Nebraska game last fall just to make sure everyone's head is right.
@MizzOU - That was a quick break. This game isn't going to be an easy one for the Sooners. The Tigers are trying to move past the Chase Daniel era with Blaine Gabbert and this will be a huge opportunity for him to stick a nice crimson feather in his hat.
Colorado - This one shouldn't be too much of an issue for the Sooners. This isn't the type of game they lose in Norman.
@Texas A&M - Yet another challenging road game. A&M has a lights out offense, and playing in College Station isn't exactly easy. This game could be payback for the Sooners for all the pain they've inflicted on A&M recently.
Texas Tech - Will never forget the atmosphere when Sooner faithful did that 'jump around' thing right before halftime of their game in '08. It was so spontaneous and everyone in the stadium was doing it........except maybe for the black section in the corner of the stadium. This game won't be anything like that one, and it'll be interesting to see what kind of team Tuberville brings to Norman. 2003 was the last time the visiting team won this game.
@Baylor - Sooner fans look forward to finally seeing Robert Griffin play. Finally a road game that appears a little less challenging than all the rest.
@OSU - Yet another tough road game for the Sooners. Fortunately for them, the Cowboys appear to be in a rebuild mode. Being a rivalry game, that usually doesn't matter. Wonder if OSU will finally come off their absurd ticket policy by the time this one is played.
Anyone that can read will be able to see that it'll take a lot of work for the Sooners to improve on last year's record. They endure a brutal start to the season in their first five games, then finish the season with 3 very challenging road games. If recent history holds true, it could be a long season for the Crimson and Cream.
However, if they can finally get over that hump and remember how to win road games it could be special. There are definitely more tough games for the Sooners than cakewalks. Just like in '08 and '09 the schedule has potential to send them to the promised land or back to El Paso. It won't get any easier for Oklahoma in the future either as they have upcoming home and home games schedule with Ohio State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and LSU, which will begin after they return Florida State's game in Tallahassee in 2011.
CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted May 15, 2010
CFN Blog - Analyzing and breaking down the Oklahoma schedule
By Patrick Fioravanti
The Sooners’ 2010 double-edged sword of a slate
The last two years the Sooners have played pretty challenging schedules, and that doesn't appear to be ending any time soon.
2008 was the year that wins over TCU and Cincinnati probably provided the difference that put Oklahoma in Miami against Florida. 2009 was the year that Oklahoma's challenging schedule sent them to the Sun Bowl. That's right, it was the schedule that did it, not the injuries. The only folks making injury excuses for Oklahoma last year weren't from Oklahoma.
Oklahoma's 2010 schedule is looking like it might just be tougher than '08 and '09 combined. It won't matter what ranking Oklahoma starts out at this year with their schedule. If they take care of business, they'll play for it all. However that will be much easier said than done. Let's break it down:
Utah State - OK, after '09 they're entitled to this one. Smarter strategy than '09 as well when they started out with a tough BYU, then played the easier game.
Florida State - Blockbuster potential. Most Sooner fans sure wish Bobby Bowden was going to be on the sideline for this one. They would like to exact a little pay back for all those ridiculously low rankings he's been giving the Sooners over the years. Plenty of athleticism and talent on both sides of the ball to make this game one to watch. Sooners have advantage with this one being in Norman where they have won 30 in a row.(Will be 31 if they squeak past Utah State in week 1).
Air Force - Laugh if you want, but it's pretty hard to prepare for that Air Force offense. It isn't like everyone in the Country is running it. Not to mention the fact that there aren't a whole lot of teams out there that are more disciplined. I don't know if anyone saw what they did in their Bowl game last fall getting their offense off the field and converting a field goal without using a time out. Oklahoma should pull this one off, but they better not sleep on them.
@Cincinnati - Sure Brian Kelly is gone. More importantly though for Sooner fans is that Mardy Gilyard is also gone. Man, Sammy's gonna love throwing the rock to that guy! Gilyard put on a show back in Norman in '08. The momentum that Oklahoma carries from their first three games will have a lot to do with this one. Also, this will be Landry Jones first chance to prove to Sooner fans that the 5 pick game @Nebraska last year was a fluke. Sure he played well in El Paso, but many Sooner fans are still a little nervous.
Texas - Need I say more? Texas has a mysteriously high ranking coming into the 2010 season even though they lost a lot of players. This should bode well for Oklahoma if they can finally turn this thing back around. It'll be pretty interesting seeing Texas' youth on offense against the youth in OU's back seven. A glimpse of things to come. This will be Landry Jones' mid-term exam. Either he comes out of this game 5-0 or he needs to start looking over his shoulder.
Iowa State - Whew! Can a Sooner get a breather?! That 5 game stretch was brutal and the Sooners are going to be thankful for a bye week then being able to host the Cyclones. Better make sure Stoops shows them the film of the ISU-Nebraska game last fall just to make sure everyone's head is right.
@MizzOU - That was a quick break. This game isn't going to be an easy one for the Sooners. The Tigers are trying to move past the Chase Daniel era with Blaine Gabbert and this will be a huge opportunity for him to stick a nice crimson feather in his hat.
Colorado - This one shouldn't be too much of an issue for the Sooners. This isn't the type of game they lose in Norman.
@Texas A&M - Yet another challenging road game. A&M has a lights out offense, and playing in College Station isn't exactly easy. This game could be payback for the Sooners for all the pain they've inflicted on A&M recently.
Texas Tech - Will never forget the atmosphere when Sooner faithful did that 'jump around' thing right before halftime of their game in '08. It was so spontaneous and everyone in the stadium was doing it........except maybe for the black section in the corner of the stadium. This game won't be anything like that one, and it'll be interesting to see what kind of team Tuberville brings to Norman. 2003 was the last time the visiting team won this game.
@Baylor - Sooner fans look forward to finally seeing Robert Griffin play. Finally a road game that appears a little less challenging than all the rest.
@OSU - Yet another tough road game for the Sooners. Fortunately for them, the Cowboys appear to be in a rebuild mode. Being a rivalry game, that usually doesn't matter. Wonder if OSU will finally come off their absurd ticket policy by the time this one is played.
Anyone that can read will be able to see that it'll take a lot of work for the Sooners to improve on last year's record. They endure a brutal start to the season in their first five games, then finish the season with 3 very challenging road games. If recent history holds true, it could be a long season for the Crimson and Cream.
However, if they can finally get over that hump and remember how to win road games it could be special. There are definitely more tough games for the Sooners than cakewalks. Just like in '08 and '09 the schedule has potential to send them to the promised land or back to El Paso. It won't get any easier for Oklahoma in the future either as they have upcoming home and home games schedule with Ohio State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and LSU, which will begin after they return Florida State's game in Tallahassee in 2011.