By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
When Oklahoma booted Rhett Bomar from the team in early August, it took a tumble in the polls. Most believed the Sooners’ Big 12 and national title hopes hung on the former quarterback’s shoulders.
The fact OU turned to senior Paul Thompson did little to calm the waters. After all, his only career start was a disastrous three-interception performance in a 2005 loss to TCU.
Well, OU still hasn’t recovered in the polls. It started the season ranked in the top 10, but fell to No. 15 despite not losing until the controversial ending at Oregon.
The loss might prevent the Sooners from moving back into the top echelon of college football’s elite. Thompson, however, has proven he’s more than an emergency replacement.
“Paul stepped up to the challenge,” wide receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “He’s really gone out there and proved everybody wrong.”
How wrong?
Through four games Thompson has thrown 930 yards and eight touchdowns. He’s well on pace to blast past Bomar’s 2005 totals of 2,018 yards and 10 TDs.
The Sooner offense doesn’t look like it’s missing any important pieces. OU’s averaging 416.5 yards per game with 236.2 coming through the air. More importantly, it’s averaging 38.5 points a game.
Those aren’t the averages most were expecting when the season began. Conventional wisdom predicted OU would feed the ball to Adrian Peterson and let the Heisman Trophy candidate grind out what he could.
Peterson’s certainly gotten his share of carries (117) and yards (643). He’s even found the end zone seven times.
But Thompson’s done a lot more than hand him the ball. Against the Ducks, he threw for 174 yards and a touchdown. Statistically, it was his worst performance of the season, but the poise he showed in the Autzen Stadium madness won over most of the doubters.
“When the switch was made I didn’t know about his consistency,” said wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who has caught four touchdown passes and averages 94.8 receiving yards a game. “I knew he was a great athlete and I knew he could lead the team. I knew he would have some real good games, but I also thought we would have some bumpy ones, too. I haven’t seen any of that yet. He knows exactly what he needs to do and he knows how to conduct this offense.”
Last week’s 13-for-18 outing against Middle Tennessee was his most efficent. He threw for a season-high three touchdowns as part of a 257-yard night.
Through four games on the hot seat, Thompson’s been as cool as the other side of the pillow.
“He’s a good thrower, as everyone is seeing, and he is doing an excellent job managing everything out there,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “He sees the opportunities that are there and he’s taking advantage of them.”
“We’ve said it all along, he’s a very good quarterback with the chance to be great if the guys around him will also be great. He’s got a lot of ability and I think we’re seeing it. The more snaps he gets the better he is going to be."
In fairness, the weapons at Thompson’s disposal have also improved. Peterson is 100-percent healthy and in the thick of the Heisman Trophy race. Kelly and Igleisias are seasoned sophomores instead of raw freshmen.
That was not the case in 2005 and Thompson has reaped the benefitts of a season of change.
“Paul is playing well. His play against some of these previous opponents has been kind of easy,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. “The total commitment of the alignment and structure to get people up there and stop Adrian has left a lot of those guys out there with one-on-one plays. All that is working together and he is getting reasonable protection.”
But all that could change when OU returns to the field next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Dallas against Texas.
The Longhorns have one of college football’s best defenses. OU won’t be able to outman them. Thompson will have to remain calm while everyone around him is going crazy.
That’s the chore everyone faces in the Red River Shootout.
“You can be calm the whole time leading up to the game, but when you get out there it’s a different situation,” tight end Joe Jon Finley said.
Thompson knows that as well as anybody. He’ll be making his fifth trip down the Cotton Bowl ramp next Saturday. He’s experienced plenty over the years. He knows what’s expected of him.
“I should be the last one to worry about it because I feel real comfortable with myself and with what I can do,” Thompson said.
And Oklahoma has become very comfortable with Thompson.
