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Discussion

December 3, 2008

As long as Sooner bothered about BCS, Sooner Nation need not be

Commentary

By Clay Horning

When a topic won’t end, one might as well jump on the bandwagon and milk it dry. Or, for at least another day.

So with that, Sooner Nation, perhaps you shouldn’t be so upset about all the BCS hand-wringing going on. Instead, be pleased your team is upset.

“It infuriates me that half the people think we shouldn’t be there,” said weakside linebacker Travis Lewis, who knows more than most about taking advantage of an opportunity. “It’s just going to make us go out there with something to prove.”

And why shouldn’t it? Because being a Sooner, or even a Sooner fan, is not required to take offense at the madness that’s come forward ever since six computers, none with a rooting interest, agenda nor axe to grind, clear-headedly (or however it is computers think: clear-hard-drivedly?) appointed Oklahoma the No. 1 team in the country, which was enough to make OU No. 2 in the latest BCS standings.

The headlines continue to roll in.

“BCS beats Texas in Red River sellout” ran atop Michael Wilbon’s most recent column in the Washington Post. “Argument that BCS is unbiased doesn’t compute,” ran atop the most recent entry of the Dallas Morning News’ Kevin Sherrington.

They’re two really smart guys, but even they have succumbed to the screamers. Even though, Sherrington has a point … and it almost cost OU.

Because when has a team ever gone on the road and beaten the nation’s 11th-ranked program and still fallen in the rankings? Because that’s exactly what happened to OU, which was simply fortunate to still come out first in the BCS wash. Only Sherrington wasn’t writing about the human aspect of the process.

Lewis is right.

It’s infuriating to listen and read so many fallacy-soaked arguments. But do yourself a favor and rejoice in his infuriation, because he can’t be the only one feeling the pinch. Nor can he be the only one feeling an extra surge of motivation.

“I think it’s probably a little bit of motivation,” quarterback Sam Bradford said. “I think we go in there with something to prove.”

It must to be good news to the Sooner faithful, because if there’s been anything missing down the stretch of too many seasons since Bob Stoops took over, it’s been the odd sense that too many Sooners have lost focus between the regular season and postseason. Typically, it’s only shown itself in January, though the thrashing Kansas State delivered at the 2003 championship game remains a real head scratcher.

When they’re not talking about how unfairly OU has benefitted from the Big 12’s fifth tiebreaker in the matter of divisional ties, some are now asking where this Sooner offense ranks historically. Like perhaps it might be first.

Only the BCS harangue must first be waded through, which makes one think no Sooner will rest on what’s already been done. Because if it doesn’t continue being done, all anybody will be talking about is the Sooners’ unworthiness in the first place.

Stoops said nobody’s paying attention to this stuff, yet when asked about it as a motivational factor, he said some of the players have surely taken note. Kind of makes you wonder if it’s been Stoops and his staff posting the notes.

Whatever, the Sooners are getting the message.

Clay Horning

366-3526

cfhorning@normantranscript.com

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