Alabama's left tackle...

[dwarthog]

Wonder if he finally managed to get a souvenir Eric Striker jersey after the game.

Dude had been trying to rip it off all night long and never was called for it...

[OklaPony]

I've got a great screen capture of this if someone wants to host it and post it...

[SoonerMarkVA]

I loved how the play to get the defensive TD shows him blatantly and desperately pulling Striker back, and the commentators didn't ONCE mention in passing, "Even being held, Striker would not be stopped." Striker owned him.

[dwarthog]

I've got a great screen capture of this if someone wants to host it and post it...

I'll host it. Pm'ed ya.

[OklaPony]

I loved how the play to get the defensive TD shows him blatantly and desperately pulling Striker back, and the commentators didn't ONCE mention in passing, "Even being held, Striker would not be stopped." Striker owned him.
That's exactly the pic that dwarthog is about to put up.

[dwarthog]

Here it is...

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/dwarthog/OU%20vs%20Alabama%202013%20Sugar%20Bowl/Striker_zps9bdb9e48.jpg

[BigTip]

That boy would fit in nicely at Baylor.

[BoulderSooner79]

Any OT worth his salt would try to hold in that situation. Striker had him beat and if he gets to the QB, the game is over. If he gets a holding call, they at least still have a chance.

[BoulderSooner79]

Here it is...

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/dwarthog/OU%20vs%20Alabama%202013%20Sugar%20Bowl/Striker_zps9bdb9e48.jpg

I guess Wichita St. handled S. Illinois without much problem.

[Temujin]

They also held Grissom all night long too. Especially at the end of the first half. The ONE holding call on Bama was declined because we forced a 4th down anyway. Not even the black/white can stop us.

[dwarthog]

No problem with the OT trying to "save the game", but a very conspicuous lack of laundry for a very blatant hold.

[tycat947]

This was ONE of many! Espin never mentioned it! SHOCKER!

[OklaPony]

Any OT worth his salt would try to hold in that situation. Striker had him beat and if he gets to the QB, the game is over. If he gets a holding call, they at least still have a chance.


No problem with the OT trying to "save the game", but a very conspicuous lack of laundry for a very blatant hold.


This was ONE of many! Espin never mentioned it! SHOCKER!
These 3 quotes pretty much sum it up.

[BoulderSooner79]

Refs don't call holding on the OL just because a jersey gets pulled, it has to impede the player. I'm not saying that wasn't holding, you would have to watch the video and not the still picture. At full speed, it didn't look like Striker was impeded, but I'm going from memory.

Personally, I thought the refs called a great game. That PI call on Shepard was critical and was not an easy call. At full speed and from the first camera angle, I couldn't tell. But the review from the end zone clearly showed the DB hooking Shepard's arm early and that's exactly what caused the incomplete as it was a perfect pass. Many refs would bury their flag in their pocket at that point in the game. I loved seeing Saban go ballistic over it :D The 2 bad calls at the end of the 1st half sort of canceled each other. The phantom "throat slash" gave Bama good field position on the kickoff, but missing the "Striker photo op" pushed Bama back and may have saved us points. Other than that, the refs did a fine job.

[soonertravis]

I'm still not convinced Striker's helmet didn't partially get knocked loose by the sack. The facemask drags down McCarron's back and easily could have been jostled. He sure didn't look like he was fixing it the way he took it off, but the official was right on top of the play and didn't do anything. Also, did Alabama call a timeout after the play?

[badger]

I was kind of curious how Eric Striker ended up at OU, and even if you've already heard the story, it's worth reading again.

Linky (http://espn.go.com/colleges/oklahoma/football/recruiting/story/_/id/7520796/eric-striker-stumbled-oklahoma-sooners)

It's games like these that matter to recruits. Win or lose, have a strong bowl showing and you'll have recruits from out of state that want to be Sooners.

[SoonerMarkVA]

No problem with the OT trying to "save the game", but a very conspicuous lack of laundry for a very blatant hold.

Exactly. And the commentators "seeing no evil" after several replays.

[dwarthog]

Refs don't call holding on the OL just because a jersey gets pulled, it has to impede the player. I'm not saying that wasn't holding, you would have to watch the video and not the still picture. At full speed, it didn't look like Striker was impeded, but I'm going from memory.

Personally, I thought the refs called a great game. That PI call on Shepard was critical and was not an easy call. At full speed and from the first camera angle, I couldn't tell. But the review from the end zone clearly showed the DB hooking Shepard's arm early and that's exactly what caused the incomplete as it was a perfect pass. Many refs would bury their flag in their pocket at that point in the game. I loved seeing Saban go ballistic over it :D The 2 bad calls at the end of the 1st half sort of canceled each other. The phantom "throat slash" gave Bama good field position on the kickoff, but missing the "Striker photo op" pushed Bama back and may have saved us points. Other than that, the refs did a fine job.

The result on the play pretty much indicates the hold didn't impede Striker from getting to the QB and forcing the fumble. As I recall, it was pretty much a last gasp effort by the lineman at that point.

Still a great photo though.

No arguing that the Ref's for the most part called a good game. Always a lot of "homerism" coming into play when viewing their calls.

[BoulderSooner79]

The result on the play pretty much indicates the hold didn't impede Striker from getting to the QB and forcing the fumble. As I recall, it was pretty much a last gasp effort by the lineman at that point.

Still a great photo though.

No arguing that the Ref's for the most part called a good game. Always a lot of "homerism" coming into play when viewing their calls.

Agreed, it's a great photo - definitely one of those "picture worth a thousand words" things. It shows desperation and the reason for the desperation :)

I was actually commenting to my wife during the game how well I thought the refs were calling it compared to other bowls. I do admit to getting a little riled after the "throat slash" call, but I'm not complete impartial :)

[Scott D]

FWIW, as much as you guys are bagging on Cyrus Kouandijo, he seems to be a stand up guy.


"If you're going against a normal guy, you'll get away with that type of stuff," he said. "You're going against a top guy, it's not going to look good."

[BoulderSooner79]

Just watched the video replay of the sack/fumble and Striker definitely was not impeded by the jersey pull. The jersey didn't really extend until Striker had already hit McCarron. I don't think many refs would have thrown the flag in that situation.

[Aries]

Personally, I thought the officiating was pretty good. I didn't notice a lot of holding, but it's the kind of thing I usually don't see until it's pointed out on replay.

I only saw 3 calls I thought were wrong (actually 2 non-calls, and 1 bad call)

#1) We should have been called for defensive holding on McCarron's first interception.
#2) We should have been called for Striker taking his helmet off
#3) The "throat-slash" should not have been called

I have nothing to complain about regarding officiating.

[okiewaker]

I thot Bam O line was as good as the 90's D Cowboy O line, or so we've been made to believe. Apparently they were overhyped a little. OU D line and backers THRASHED the opposition.

[Snrinhouston]

Agreed, it's a great photo - definitely one of those "picture worth a thousand words" things. It shows desperation and the reason for the desperation :)

I was actually commenting to my wife during the game how well I thought the refs were calling it compared to other bowls. I do admit to getting a little riled after the "throat slash" call, but I'm not complete impartial :)

Yep, I did too. The ref blew that call. However "upon further review" I realized that is just further proof of the utility of doing a "Sanders". If you just give the ball to the ref and go slap hands with teammates, then you leave very little for a ref to misinterpret.

This episode is great material for coaches (and I'm sure Stoops will use it) to emphasize the importance of (again to borrow from Sanders) acting like you've been there (the end zone) before.

[Mjcpr]

Isn't he projected as a high draft pick? If you're playing LT at Alabama these dsys, I'm thinking yes but he got schooled last night.

[hawaii 5-0]

I don't buy the "didn't impede the progress" theory.

Suppose Striker was held, but wasn't impeded, McCarron somehow eluded the sack and threw a TD?

I know holding takes place alot, pretty much on every down, but......

Holding is holding and should be called if seen.

Otherwise, change the rules.

BTW, I also believe if a player's helmet is pulled off, or comes off during play where there is no slowdown of play due to a broken chinstrap, the player should not have to exit for one play. JMO.


5-0

[bluedogok]

There was one play where Tapper pretty much got undressed by the right tackle (and no call), coming off the sideline it almost looked like an old tear away jersey or the hockey fight sweater pull.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

I don't buy the "didn't impede the progress" theory.

Suppose Striker was held, but wasn't impeded, McCarron somehow eluded the sack and threw a TD?

I know holding takes place alot, pretty much on every down, but......

Holding is holding and should be called if seen.

Otherwise, change the rules.

BTW, I also believe if a player's helmet is pulled off, or comes off during play where there is no slowdown of play due to a broken chinstrap, the player should not have to exit for one play. JMO.


5-0

The rule has been there forever. The most notorious non-call was 2000 @KState where they had our guy by the horse collar and wouldn't let him get to the QB. They picked up the flag saying his progress wasn't impeded.

[BoulderSooner79]

I don't buy the "didn't impede the progress" theory.

Suppose Striker was held, but wasn't impeded, McCarron somehow eluded the sack and threw a TD?

I know holding takes place alot, pretty much on every down, but......

Holding is holding and should be called if seen.

Otherwise, change the rules.

BTW, I also believe if a player's helmet is pulled off, or comes off during play where there is no slowdown of play due to a broken chinstrap, the player should not have to exit for one play. JMO.


5-0

If he's not impeded he's not held. That's the way I've always seen it called and the refs must be consistent in how they call things. If they call every "attempted hold" which is what this was, there would be a flag every play. If the LT tries to hold back Striker, but Striker is still moving at full speed and McCarron escapes, so be it. Still not a hold. Just a phailed hold.

[jkm, the stolen pifwafwi]

Isn't he projected as a high draft pick? If you're playing LT at Alabama these dsys, I'm thinking yes but he got schooled last night.

He was projected top 20, but he doesn't have the feet or hands for tackle at the next level. He consistently let Stryker get to his body at 215 lbs. Imagine what Von Miller or some other rush specialist is going to do at 275 lbs with the same speed. I think he'll probably drop to late 1st round and be projected as a guard. Both he and his brother were bulls out there in the run game.

[RUSH LIMBAUGH is my clone!]

Refs don't call holding on the OL just because a jersey gets pulled, it has to impede the player. I'm not saying that wasn't holding, you would have to watch the video and not the still picture. At full speed, it didn't look like Striker was impeded, but I'm going from memory.

Personally, I thought the refs called a great game. That PI call on Shepard was critical and was not an easy call. At full speed and from the first camera angle, I couldn't tell. But the review from the end zone clearly showed the DB hooking Shepard's arm early and that's exactly what caused the incomplete as it was a perfect pass. Many refs would bury their flag in their pocket at that point in the game. I loved seeing Saban go ballistic over it :D The 2 bad calls at the end of the 1st half sort of canceled each other. The phantom "throat slash" gave Bama good field position on the kickoff, but missing the "Striker photo op" pushed Bama back and may have saved us points. Other than that, the refs did a fine job.They def made some goofs, but they SEEMED fair. Our guys didn't appear to let bad calls against them bother them at all. As it should be.

[instigator]

I was kind of curious how Eric Striker ended up at OU, and even if you've already heard the story, it's worth reading again.

Linky (http://espn.go.com/colleges/oklahoma/football/recruiting/story/_/id/7520796/eric-striker-stumbled-oklahoma-sooners)

It's games like these that matter to recruits. Win or lose, have a strong bowl showing and you'll have recruits from out of state that want to be Sooners.

Awesome read. Thanks for finding that.

[Okie35]

FWIW, as much as you guys are bagging on Cyrus Kouandijo, he seems to be a stand up guy.

Cyrus is a stand up guy and he has a high nFl grade.. He's supposedly going to be the first tackle drafted... It says a lot about Striker

[BoulderSooner79]

Cyrus is a stand up guy and he has a high nFl grade.. He's supposedly going to be the first tackle drafted... It says a lot about Striker

Indeed. But it can be a different kind of mismatch when the players are so different in size. If the size difference is small, the bigger guy may maul the little if he has good technique. If the size difference is huge, the little guy may be too quick for the big guy. I don't think Phil Loadholt was a high draft pick (someone correct me), but he started in the NFL as a rookie. In OUr bowl game against WVU, he got owned by a small, fast guy that went around him like he wasn't there.

[Aries]

I don't think Phil Loadholt was a high draft pick (someone correct me)

Loadholt was drafted in the 2nd round, 54th overall pick.

[picasso]

Who cares about Striker taking his helmet off? That was a makeup call for the goof on the Sterling Shep Penalty.

[BoulderSooner79]

Loadholt was drafted in the 2nd round, 54th overall pick.

That's high. And the undersized WVU DE made him look really bad with his speed, just like Striker did to 71 on Thurs.

[IronHorseSooner]

Striker is probably closer to 220, and will probably play at 225 next year. If he can do that and keep his speed, he will go in the draft. Keenan Clayton went at 227, and whereas he was good, Striker is better.

[fadada1]

So if we're not calling holding when someone's progress hasn't been impeded, are we going to take away catches if the receiver was interfered with, or allow plays to continue on false starts, or.......... .?????

That's a BS argument if there ever was one. Say Striker doesn't get that sack and cause the fumble, but bama scores a TD on that play. Now you've got a tie game with a blatant missed call that causes OT.

A hold is a hold.

[BoulderSooner79]

So if we're not calling holding when someone's progress hasn't been impeded, are we going to take away catches if the receiver was interfered with, or allow plays to continue on false starts, or.......... .?????

That's a BS argument if there ever was one. Say Striker doesn't get that sack and cause the fumble, but bama scores a TD on that play. Now you've got a tie game with a blatant missed call that causes OT.

A hold is a hold.

Dude, if you want to watch the *video* of that play and claim the refs missed a hold, then be my guest. IMO, the ref called that the way I'm used to it being (non) called and consistency in how things are called is critical. So if Bama scored on the next play, it would be because they earned, not because of a missed call. Besides, if Striker doesn't strike(heh) the QB, that extended jersey *would* become and obvious hold right in front of the ref. In the *video* the jersey is not visibly extended until the impact with McCarron at which point the refs eyes are naturally on the ball and who is going to recover. If McCarron steps up and avoids contact, the ref is still watching the OL and sees an extended jersey. Fortunately, we'll never know. I'll just say the still shot doesn't tell the story and watching the video, if I'm the ref, I'm not seeing anything.

[okiewaker]

The refs let them play and I'm good with that. With all the apparent "holds" being discussed, AJ still was lying on his back quite a bit and I'm good with too.

[Salt City Sooner]

The rule has been there forever. The most notorious non-call was 2000 @KState where they had our guy by the horse collar and wouldn't let him get to the QB. They picked up the flag saying his progress wasn't impeded.
Derrick Strait, & the ref's explanation was that he "fought through the hold." I'll never forget that.