By John Shinn
Oklahoma won’t fight a battle it can’t win. That was the stance Sooner coach Bob Stoops took Sunday on three questionable calls in the final minute of OU’s 23-21 loss at Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders won the game on Taurean Henderson’s 2-yard dive on the final play. A side official ruled Henderson reached the ball across the goalline before he was down. Video replays did not provide a definitive answer and the touchdown was upheld.
The other plays on the final drive were a a 5-yard touchdown pass from Cody Hodges to Joel Filani that was ruled incomplete after review, and a fourth-and-3 pass from Hodges to Danny Amendola on which the spot at the Oklahoma 23 was reviewed and upheld. The reception gave the Red Raiders a first down by less than an inch.
Replays appeared to indicate the ball should have been spotted closer to the 24.
“There are several plays. To me, the bigger issue is the fourth-down play,” Stoops said. “Obviously, I see them differently. The spot on the fourth-down play, the touchdown, that’s part of the game. Spots are judgments on what (the officials) see. I’m not going to sit here and whine about or say that’s the reason we lost. They got those calls and we didn’t. They made enough plays and we didn’t.”
There’s no other stance the Sooners can take. Nothing will change the outcome.
Stoops said a report will be sent to the Big 12 Conference office, but that is normal after every game.
His only gripe was wanting to see the replay system improve, including adding more camera angles to review plays. There was no replay available from the side of the field where the official made the touchdown call.
“I understand there are expenses involved to get in the right position to view what has occurred, and the people in the position to make the calls are able to do so in all situations,” Stoops said. “I just think this our first year with it and I’m realistic. I believe we will continue to get better in those areas the more we do it.”
OU will focus on what remains of the season. Next up is Oklahoma State at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Owen Field. It is the season finale for the Cowboys and the Sooners’ bowl fate still hinges on the outcome.
OU could still secure a berth in the Holiday Bowl with a victory. Stoops believes his team is focused on that, not the disapointment of the loss to Texas Tech.
“Our guys were more angry in the locker room than feeling bad for themselves,” he said. “They know they competed well and everything doesn’t always go your way. Regardless of circumstances, they fought hard and showed a lot of character and we know we can be better.
“They’ll have a good attitude about it. We understand it’s a big game and we’ll be excited for it.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
