By John Shinn
Turnovers, as coaches like to say, will either lift you or bury you. Winning that little battle each game is considered a necessity for victory. But somehow, Oklahoma has become the exception to the rule.
The Sooners have turned the ball over 28 times this season and rank 11th in the Big 12 in turnover margin at minus five. Only four teams in the conference — OU, Kansas (-3), Iowa State (-5) and Baylor (-7) — have given more than they’ve taken away.
Those teams, however, aren’t in contention for a conference title, much less harboring hopes of BCS bowl berth.
“You can look at the turnovers we have had, I think we are tied for last in the country, to still have the record we have, shows a lot about this team and where we could be,” quarterback Paul Thompson said. “It has to be concentration. In practice it has been put into our head throughout the week to take care of the ball.”
Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, who fumbled against Baylor despite not being hit, said he’s been running sprints this week while holding a football.
“Whenever I run by Coach Stoops I have to put two hands on it,” he said.
But little has helped to stem the flow of giveaways.
The Sooners turned the ball over five times last Saturday at Baylor and four times the previous week against Texas Tech.
If fact, No. 13 OU (9-2, 6-1 Big 12) has won five games this season when committing more turnovers than its opponent.
Most of the credit for the surprising statistic goes to the defense. It is currently the best in the Big 12 and ranked 10th in the nation. And it has been at its best when backed into a corner.
The Sooners have allowed opponents to score only 51 points off those turnovers. A closer look at the statistics shows 21 of those points shouldn’t even be credited to the defense. Two fumbles and an interception were returned for touchdowns.
“Fortunately, we’ve been able to — whether it’s sacks, turnovers — change it and play in a good way coming right off the bench in a surprise situation,” he said. “Our guys have reacted to it well.”
The best example was earlier this month at Texas A&M.; OU turned the ball over twice inside its own territory, but the Aggies actually lost yards on the ensuing possessions.
But there’s no doubt OU’s will be pressing its luck of the trend continues. The Sooners meet Oklahoma State (6-5, 3-3) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Boone Pickens Stadium. Momentum usually swings around like a flag in a swirling wind in Bedlam games. Toss a few extra turnovers the Cowboys’ way and the Sooners may be facing a very steep uphill climb.
But that’s something that’s been banged into the players’ heads since freshman orientation. Stoops admits he’s willing to go with a new approach.
“I’m not a psychologist, but I know sometimes you can focus on something so much you perpetuate it or can make it worse,” he said. “I know our guys are capable of doing it, and hopefully we’ll start doing it. I’m going to start talking on the positive side. Maybe they’re listening.”
He’ll find out Saturday.
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
