By John Shinn
As frustration builds among fans, Oklahoma football coach Bob Stoops isn’t following their lead. The 2-3 start has led to wide-spread grumbling that changes should be made. Everything from players, to coaches, to the direction of the program has been called into question.
Stoops has heard it all, but it doesn’t mean he’s about to make any sudden or great changes.
“Everybody’s got their answers,” he said. “To me, there are times changes definitely need to be made and at times there isn’t. You don’t have much of a choice, so you do the best you can to manage that. And that’s what we’re trying to do as far as personnel goes.”
The youthful Sooners haven’t been on a par with OU teams of the recent past. Mental mistakes the Sooners previously appeared immune to have hit like a virus this season.
OU was plagued by turnovers early in the season, but appears to have fixed that problem. Inconsistency is the current ill. Most of the mistakes have been self-inflicted.
Is the answer a revolving door of players until finding a group that catches on?
“We’ve got to work with some other guys if somebody else isn’t productive or isn’t making the plays that we feel are fairly easy to make,” Stoops said. “But then if we make that change and another guy doesn’t do it, what do you do then? You change again.
“We’re fighting through it trying to find some consistency and players to step up and show consistency on the field. That’s all you can do, and gain experience as you go.”
But players tend to age like wine. The older they get, the better they get.
Some see the problems running beyond personnel. They want to see changes on the sideline.
Stoops has never fired a coach. Since he arrived in 1999, his staff has seen its share of changes. His first offensive coordinator, Mike Leach, left to take over at Texas Tech following Stoops’ first regular season. His second offensive coordinator, Mark Mangino, departed in 2001 for Kansas, which OU faces at 6 p.m. Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
His first defensive coordinator, Mike Stoops, left for Arizona following the 2003 Big 12 championship game. Others, like Jonathan Hayes and Steve Spurrier Jr., left for the NFL.
Even so, Stoops said he doesn’t have a problem with sending a coach out the door if it has to be done.
“I have no problem firing a guy that needs to be if it’s better for our program,” he said. “Fortunately, I’ve never been in that situation. But if I had to be, I don’t look at it as something to be proud or not proud of. To me, it’s just something that’s necessary or it’s not.”
When asked if he would be making any staff changes, Stoops answered with his own question.
“Why would I?,” he said. “You’re more than capable of going back and seeing what this staff has done. You could pick everyone of them and find success.”
The tale of the tape includes three Big 12 titles in the last five years, four BCS bowl games, three berths in the national championship game and one national title.
Just about every Sooner assistant has played a role in those achievements.
One tough season doesn’t erase the past.
“Obviously you can take your shots this year,” Stoops said, “but it’s not like we haven’t done anything the last five years.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
