AllAboutThe'O'
9/8/2007, 02:07 PM
I think it's safe to go ahead and post this column that appeared in today's Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.). The paper doesn't update its web site on weekends (except for high school football games), so I wanted to go ahead and give y'all a peek before it hits the Web on Monday.
Sooners aim to make a “U” turn today
"Other than Texas, and maybe Nebraska and Oklahoma State, there are two teams Oklahoma fans love to beat.
Notre Dame and Miami.
The Sooners have beaten the Fighting Irish only once. Notre Dame snapped OU’s record 47-game winning streak 50 years ago. But, unless they meet in a bowl game, it’ll be another five years before OU gets a shot at the Golden Domers as the two teams recently signed a home-and-home contract for the 2012-2013 seasons.
Today, however, the Sooners will get the opportunity for redemption when the Miami Hurricanes visit Norman.
In the mid-1980s, OU had a dynasty that was on par with the great 1950s and 1970s teams. Problem was, the Sooners went 0 for 3 when they squared off against Miami, which was just beginning to establish itself as a college football superpower.
Miami first knocked off the Sooners back in 1985.
OU might have had a “three-peat” national title run had it not been for the ‘Canes. The Sooners went 11-1 in 1986 and again in 1987. Each loss came from the “U,” the latter taking place in the 1988 Orange Bowl which decided the national championship.
That game turned out to be the last time OU and Miami would meet. Until today.
While both the Sooners and Hurricanes went on to win national titles since then, both teams also endured dry spells. However, while OU has rebounded rather nicely since coach Bob Stoops took over in 1999, Miami is several years removed from its last national title.
The Hurricane program that takes the field in Norman this morning doesn’t possess the big-play weapons of its previous teams. But the ‘Canes are still pretty athletic and still have the name recognition that indicates they won’t be a pushover.
OU looked impressive in its season-opening win over North Texas. But Miami, while still not looking like the old Miami, is much better than the Mean Green.
It will be the first challenge for the freshman backfield duo of quarterback Sam Bradford and tailback DeMarco Murray. The Sooner offensive line, perhaps the Big 12’s best, may be tested by the athletic Miami defensive front. Miami’s offense remains a work in progress, and it will be up to the aggressive Sooner defense to make sure the ‘Canes don’t begin to pick up a rhythm.
No doubt, today’s game will be much closer than last week’s walk in the park against North Texas. But in the end, OU’s talent will turn out to be the difference as the Sooners finally get their long-awaited revenge on the “U.”
A win today also likely puts the Sooners in great shape to stay undefeated until another shot at redemption, on Oct. 6 at the Cotton Bowl against the Longhorns."
Sooners aim to make a “U” turn today
"Other than Texas, and maybe Nebraska and Oklahoma State, there are two teams Oklahoma fans love to beat.
Notre Dame and Miami.
The Sooners have beaten the Fighting Irish only once. Notre Dame snapped OU’s record 47-game winning streak 50 years ago. But, unless they meet in a bowl game, it’ll be another five years before OU gets a shot at the Golden Domers as the two teams recently signed a home-and-home contract for the 2012-2013 seasons.
Today, however, the Sooners will get the opportunity for redemption when the Miami Hurricanes visit Norman.
In the mid-1980s, OU had a dynasty that was on par with the great 1950s and 1970s teams. Problem was, the Sooners went 0 for 3 when they squared off against Miami, which was just beginning to establish itself as a college football superpower.
Miami first knocked off the Sooners back in 1985.
OU might have had a “three-peat” national title run had it not been for the ‘Canes. The Sooners went 11-1 in 1986 and again in 1987. Each loss came from the “U,” the latter taking place in the 1988 Orange Bowl which decided the national championship.
That game turned out to be the last time OU and Miami would meet. Until today.
While both the Sooners and Hurricanes went on to win national titles since then, both teams also endured dry spells. However, while OU has rebounded rather nicely since coach Bob Stoops took over in 1999, Miami is several years removed from its last national title.
The Hurricane program that takes the field in Norman this morning doesn’t possess the big-play weapons of its previous teams. But the ‘Canes are still pretty athletic and still have the name recognition that indicates they won’t be a pushover.
OU looked impressive in its season-opening win over North Texas. But Miami, while still not looking like the old Miami, is much better than the Mean Green.
It will be the first challenge for the freshman backfield duo of quarterback Sam Bradford and tailback DeMarco Murray. The Sooner offensive line, perhaps the Big 12’s best, may be tested by the athletic Miami defensive front. Miami’s offense remains a work in progress, and it will be up to the aggressive Sooner defense to make sure the ‘Canes don’t begin to pick up a rhythm.
No doubt, today’s game will be much closer than last week’s walk in the park against North Texas. But in the end, OU’s talent will turn out to be the difference as the Sooners finally get their long-awaited revenge on the “U.”
A win today also likely puts the Sooners in great shape to stay undefeated until another shot at redemption, on Oct. 6 at the Cotton Bowl against the Longhorns."