FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The question was asked so many times Sunday morning that several of Oklahoma’s defensive players had to feel like parents sitting in a car during a long drive, the kids constantly asking, “Are we there yet?”
The question they kept getting couldn’t be answered with a simple yes or no, but was just as frustrating. How could a team that ranks 63rd in the country in total defense possibly stop Florida in Thursday night’s BCS national championship game?
“Have you seen what we’ve done the last part of the season?” OU’s Nic Harris asked a reporter.
The safety was bringing up holding Texas Tech and Missouri to less than half of their average point total in victories that catapulted the Sooners to the top spot in the BCS rankings.
But it’s hard to ignore the 359.1 yards OU has allowed this season. It’s even harder to overlook the 24.5 points the Sooners have allowed per game. Both averages represent the most a Bob Stoops coached OU team has ever allowed. It gives credence to the notion the Sooners are playing for the national championship in spite of their defense.
“People say we can’t play defense, but I know we can play defense,” the Sooners’ Jeremy Beal said. “I think we know we can play defense. That’s what we’re going to go out and do on Thursday is just play defense and do what we do.”
Some, at least in the lower Midwest and Texas, have accepted playing defense in the Big 12 Conference this season was lot like trying to hit big league pitching in bad light.
The quarterbacks were exceptional. The receivers were phenomenal.
OU cornerback Dominique Franks reminded one reporter that it was Big 12 players that were finalists for three national offensive player of the year awards. OU’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell were the trio up for the Davey O’Brien Award given to the nation’s best quarterback. It was Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree, Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin and Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant up for Biletnikoff Award given to the best wide receiver. Even the Mackey Award, which goes to college football’s best tight end, came down to Missouri’s Chase Coffman, Oklahoma State Brandon Pettigrew and OU’s Jermaine Gresham.
To followers of the SEC, that meant the Big 12 couldn’t play any defense.
When it was announced last month the Sooners would be in the BCS title game, Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said, “I can’t wait to play against a Big 12 defense.”
There’s a perception out there that OU’s like a boxer with great punching power, but a weak chin. The Sooners are tired of hearing about it.
“To win a game, you have to be good on offense and defense,” OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. “We’re not worried about what everybody says. We’re going to be ready to play.”
OU’s won seven national titles and a stingy defense was the key in all of them. The numbers might say OU’s current defense doesn’t rank with those, but the opportunity has arrived to prove it does.
“It’s not about how you start, it’s not about the middle of the season, it’s how you finish,” Harris said. “We’re finishing at the national championship game. I’m pretty sure we’re coming out with the win. All the critics will be silenced. All the stats will go down the drain.”
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
OU's defense under fire
- 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
