Oklahoma has itself to blame. Getting clobbered by Southern Cal, surprised by Boise State and embarrassed by West Virginia, those national impressions, on the BCS bowl stage, have been the lasting ones.
But they’re not the only ones.
Saturday night at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, the Sooners take on Missouri for the Big 12 championship. For so many, the Sooners included, it is a gateway to the BCS championship game and a possible eighth national championship.
But for many others, it is also something, well, less, but perhaps no less important. Because regardless of what comes next, it is OU’s seventh appearance in the Big 12 championship game in nine seasons. Since the national championship year of 2000, the Sooners have only failed to play in the game in 2001 and 2005. Of the six already in the books, OU has won five, including the last two, 21-7 over Nebraska and 38-17 over Saturday’s opponent, Missouri.
The Sooners have won it with a sore-armed quarterback (Josh Heupel), a beleaguered but darn good quarterback (Nate Hybl), a strong-armed but weak-kneed quarterback (Jason White), a substitute quarterback (Paul Thompson) and a freshman quarterback (Sam Bradford).
They’ve won it with three offensive coordinators and two defensive coordinators. They’ve won it with a roster of postseason award winners (2004) and with a roster of overachievers (2000 and 2006). They’ve won it with defense and they’ve won it with offense.
They’ve won them all with the same head coach.
Most of all, they’ve just won.
Saturday they can make it four conference championships in five seasons. Call it a dynasty, because that’s what it is.
It’s not easily realized because it’s easy to forget. What happens in December can seem awfully fleeting after a January dive. That could be the case again this season, yet the accomplishment will be no less complete.
Because the best a Big 12 Conference program can do in the Big 12 Conference is win the Big 12 Conference. Redundant, yes, but required to understand. A national title will always be more meaningful than one won in the conference, but greatness over time is best measured in the league. There hasn’t been a major sport national collegiate dynasty since John Wooden’s Bruins. Also, while a January loss can make it easy to forget, a Big 12 championship is never easy to win.
“It’s not easy (to reach the game), particularly in this competitive (South) division. It’s incredibly difficult,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “I always appreciate the work of the players and the coaches, along with everyone in the program to keep your head down, keep fighting for it each week, Just giving ourselves a chance for it.”
This season might be a special one. Whenever asked, Stoops has spoken of the consistent and businesslike approach his team takes, week in and week out, in practices and games. But even if this year stands out, at least before December becomes January, the Sooners have approached the same type of consistency in several recent seasons. The proof is their success.
“It’s just the leadership of the team,” senior receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. “We put in the hard work and we just try to bring that to every game.”
“It shows the character of this team,” linebacker Travis Lewis said. “We have a common goal and we’re going to go out there hungry every single time.”
There’s probably more reason to believe the approach will carry over to the very end this time. Just as the Sooners gave great emphasis to their approach away from Owen Field going back to the preseason, they’ve internalized the need to finish, games and the season, with the same kind of urgency.
That works for what comes next, but also for Saturday night, when OU can make it three straight Big 12 championships, four in five seasons and six in nine.
A dynasty, by any measure.
Clay Horning
366-3526
cfhorning@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
Big 12 Championship: It's a dynasty
Commentary
- OU Sports
-
-
It’s a recipe for success
Oklahoma softball coach Patty Gasso was answering questions Saturday after her Sooners clinched another return to the Women’s College World Series when, without really meaning to, she began to make it clear her job has, sort of, become ...
-
Tigers deny Sooners’ Big 12 title hopes
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma wanted to win its first Big 12 tournament in 16 years on Sunday. Missouri needed to win it to get in the NCAA Tournament. Need topped desire at Bricktown Ballpark....
-
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 ...
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
It’s a recipe for success
