They could, of course, mean just what they say. And if they do, well, paint me a cynical naysaying sportswriter, which may be redundant. Because I don’t believe it.
Oh, yeah, I believe Rhett Bomar will play. But early? I’ll believe it when I see it. And with great consequence? I’ll believe it when Paul Thompson quits starting. Which I don’t see happening.
You must admit, it’s more fun this way.
And I must admit, I’m not even clear what the law firm of Stoops and Long would even have us believe.
That Thompson will start, yes. And that Bomar will play, yes. But that the competition will continue because the position has yet to be settled? Or that even while Thompson is a clear No. 1 now, we have to see what happens for a couple Saturdays to really be sure?
I honestly don’t know.
But that’s small potatoes.
What the head coach and offensive coordinator believe themselves is a very different guessing game.
So, we begin again.
When they say both will play, they really mean …
That the competition will continue because it always continues; because just like Chij … oh, do I really have to spell that name out? Because just like anybody must earn his keep from week to week, be it an offensive lineman, a safety or a corner, so too must the quarterback?
That could be the real story.
Or …
That deep down, really deep down, so deep and down any memo purporting such a theory has already been shredded, they know it’s going to be Bomar sooner or later so they’re going to give him every chance to take the job and Thompson every chance to lose it?
That could be it, too.
But I don’t buy it.
And just as a sidebar, if that’s it, we could just start calling him Mack Stoops.
Here’s what I buy.
I buy that it’s Thompson.
I buy that it’s Thompson until he fails to a point equal to the last guy who ever lost the job on (de)merit. And I don’t see that happening, because I don’t see Thompson ever looking completely inept against the likes of Kansas.
I know this won’t go over too well in Grand Prairie or, perhaps, the message boards of any number of recruiting-dot-coms, but for every time we heard how close this race was, or how they might decide not to decide because, man, who wants to make such an impossible call, was it really that close?
Thompson has been in the system two years longer than Bomar. Thompson redshirted with the approval, if not outright sponsorship, of the coaches, so he might have two more seasons to play quarterback at Oklahoma. And even while this staff is all about winning, it’s still a little about loyalty.
And Thompson was 41-for-73 for 453 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions over three public preseason scrimmages against Bomar’s 30-for-61 for 359 yards with two touchdowns and five interceptions. That is, Thompson completed 17 percent more of his passes for 94 more yards, the same number of touchdowns and five fewer interceptions. The only category Bomar led was yards-per-reception by less than a yard.
So what is it they mean when they say both will play?
Maybe nothing. Because they’ve said such things before.
Or they’re playing to Bomar’s ego. Not that it’s fragile. Like keeping Adrian Peterson out of contact, it’s a precautionary move.
Got to be one of the two. Because Thompson didn’t just eke out a victory. He won in a landslide.
Clay Horning366-3526cfhorning@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
What do they mean when they say both will play?
Commentary
- OU Sports
-
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
It’s a recipe for success
