Most figured Oklahoma could name the score in Saturday night’s season opener against Tennessee-Chattanooga. It was pretty apparent after OU scored on its seven possessions and held the Mocs to negative yards during the same span.
But points weren’t necessarily the Sooners’ biggest focus in the 57-2 victory. The little things were.
One first-half penalty. No turnovers by the first team. Assignment busts were minimal by veteran players. Opening the season with a 55-point victory was fine, but showing discipline was better.
“We have a perspective on it,” OU coach Bob Stoops said Sunday. “In the end, where you’re supposed to be, doing what you’re supposed to be doing. We’ve had teams who weren’t always doing that. I feel positive about it.”
Last season, the Sooners opened up with a 79-10 thumping of North Texas. The big-play capability that characterized the season was unveiled. So were the hints of sloppiness with nine penalties and two turnovers.
If one’s looking for bad omens to the 2008 season, there weren’t many Saturday night.
Lost in the shuffle of the no-huddle offense’s debut or the 72-minute lightning delay was how dominant OU was defensively. It only allowed 36 yards, which was less than one per play. The Mocs spent most of the first half at negative yardage.
“We have to be able to control what we do. We can’t let anything else affect us,” linebacker Keenan Clayton said. “We had a great gameplan and we had to go and execute. That’s what we have to do every week.”
Defensive coordinator Brent Venables was pleased with what his unit did. It was the group that had the question marks entering the season. New linebackers and cornerbacks were causes for concern.
He was pleased with how they stood up their first time out.
“It was a really good performance. Just very consistent, very clean,” Venables said Sunday. “Guys were sure of themselves, trusted each other. Just showed some real discipline that you’re pleased with, particularly with a number of guys in their first time out there.”
Make no mistake, Saturday’s victory was about as easy as it can get for OU. It will be a whole lot tougher from here on out.
Cincinnati, which went 10-3 and finished second in the Big East last season, comes to Owen Field at 2:30 p.m. Saturday fresh off a 40-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky.
“The Big East isn’t taking a back seat to anybody as we saw last year right in front of our faces and on national TV,” OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said, referring to the Sooners’ 48-28 loss to West Virginia in last season’s Fiesta Bowl.
The Sooners should have a much better gauge of where they stand in six days. Scoring 50 points in two quarters might happen again. But not with the same ease as the opener.
No one expects it to. But the disciplined play needs to be a gameday cornerstone.
A foundation was laid Saturday night.
“I think the team is at a better starting point at this time of the year than we were at the same time last season,” wide receiver Manny Johnson said. “That is something very promising.”
OU Sports
Related Photos
-
KEVIN ELLIS
Discussion
A step up
- OU Sports
-
-
Sooners make winning look easy
As Oklahoma’s players locked arms around the pitching circle, coming together for what passed as a celebration following Saturday’s 7-1 NCAA Super Regional-clinching victory over Arizona, three gloves remained near second base....
-
There are no easy outs in the lineup
Looking for a gameplan to stop Oklahoma? Well, one may or may not be available, but walking two of the first three Sooners you face certainly isn’t part of it. Just ask Arizona’s Kenzie Fowler....
-
Sooners will play for Big 12 championship
OKLAHOMA CITY, — It’s been 16 years since Oklahoma won the Big 12 tournament. It’s closer now than its ever been to ending the streak. The Sooners rolled through Baylor, 7-2, on Saturday at Bricktown Ballpark to advance to the tournament’s ...
-
Sooners send five more to nationals
AUSTIN, Texas — Oklahoma track and field teams had five more individuals qualify for the NCAA Championship on Saturday evening at the NCAA West Preliminary. The men’s 4x100-meter relay team also advanced to the national semifinals....
-
OU sophomore Jao-Javanil wins NCAA golf title
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Oklahoma’s Chirapat Jao-Javanil made Oklahoma golf history Friday, becoming the first Sooner, man or woman, to win an individual NCAA national championship....
-
Pitching staff is exactly where Golloway wants it to be
When the Big 12 tournament began, Oklahoma felt like it had the pitching staff to make a deep run. Dillon Overton, Jordan John, Jonathan Gray and Damien Magnifico gave them four quality starters and a closer — Steven Okert — capable of ...
-
Sooners shut out Wildcats, need one more win for WCWS entry
Oklahoma might have scored more runs, not committed an error and starting pitcher Keilani Ricketts could have been just a little more efficient along the way....
-
Sooners send 4 more to NCAAs
AUSTIN, Texas – Oklahoma’s track and field teams added four individuals to the list of Sooners advancing to the NCAA championship Friday at the NCAA West Preliminary. In addition to the four new qualifiers, Brittany Borman advanced to the ...
-
Big 12, SEC deal breaks the mold
It is unclear what the on-the-field product of the game-for-which-there-is-not-yet-a-name will be. Indeed, all we really know is the Big 12 and SEC plan to play a game on Jan. 1, 2015 (and on every Jan. 1, thereafter) that will include ...
-
Rivalry helped shape program
For coach Patty Gasso, it goes all the way back to 1995, her first year at Oklahoma. That was when her Sooners played Arizona six times throughout the season. Those Sooners were “annihilated” in all six of those contests....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Sooners make winning look easy
