On the road

By John Shinn

Oklahoma is about to enter a critical stretch of the season. Five games that will decide everything from where it finishes in the Big 12 South to where and when it will go bowling.

The one common thread in four of those five games is where all but one of them will take place: on the road.

That’s why playing away from the friendly confines was a big topic for the Sooners at Bob Stoops’ weekly media luncheon Tuesday. The season-ending string begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at No. 23 Missouri.

It becomes an even bigger question when considering the fact OU has lost three of its last four road games dating back to last season.

Are the Sooners ready for what lies ahead?

OU coach Bob Stoops downplayed any significance the cluster of games away from Owen Field. To him, the challenges of playing away from home are inconsequential.

“Same keys as winning here at home,” he said. “Playing great defense, not giving up big plays, taking care of the football on offense, being balanced and being able to do both (run and pass). Being strong in the kicking game.

“I’ll say that here, I’ll say that there. That doesn’t change for me. To me, I don’t see that all of a sudden you have a new strategy when you go on the road.”

It’s hard to argue with him. The Sooners are 34-16 on the road under Stoops. A pretty good argument can be made the record should be 36-14, considering the controversy that surrounded OU’s last two road losses at Texas Tech last season and Oregon this season.

But there’s a different feel away from home.

The Sooners are working on silent snap counts and hand signals. Take a walk past the Switzer Center any weekday afternoon over the next five weeks and you’re liable to hear music blaring. They’re the same things the Sooners usually do to prepare for road games.

Despite the recent road struggles, OU sees no reason to change things.

“I think we are prepared,” quarterback Paul Thompson said. “Playing out at Oregon was our first away game this year and it was real loud. There was a lot of anticipation for that game, and I think we came out of that game real confident and we feel confident about where we’re at now.

“So we have that experience with us now, and I think going to Missouri will be very similar. I think the fans will be a little further out. We just have to make sure we block out all of the extra stuff and eliminate the mental errors. I know that they’re excited to play us and we’re excited to play them.”

There should be plenty of excitement at Faurot Field. The Tigers (7-1, 3-1) are tied for the Big 12 North lead with Nebraska. Topping OU would be a huge step toward advancing to their first Big 12 championship game.

And it’s not like there’s nothing at stake for OU.

“It’s that time of the season when everything is crucial,” cornerback Marcus Walker said. “It’s a big game to us, too.”

The Sooners are a long shot to win the Big 12 South, but another loss would take it out of the equation. Plus, if the standings hold true, OU and Missouri would be competing for bowl spots at the end of the season.

“Our players realize the challenge of it and the excitement of it,” Stoops said.

John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com