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October 3, 2009

Sooners in position to let nation know how far they've come in a month

By John Shinn

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Oklahoma is back in the national spotlight as it prepares to face Miami. There isn't a game in college football this week that will get more attention or have more eyes glued to it than the one that kickoffs at 7 tonight at Land Shark Stadium.

The game provides a statement opportunity for both teams.

No. 17 Miami (2-1) wants to prove it belongs back in the national discussion after a five-year absence. No. 8 OU (2-1) has a chance to hop back into the national championship picture with road win against a ranked team.

Of course, the Sooners have dodged any talk about the national title race since losing their season opener to BYU. Getting better has been the only motivation they've been willing to discuss over the last four weeks.

"We just want to be better than the week before," wide receiver Brandon Caleb said. "That's our goal every week; to just try to get better and just make sure we're in a position to win."

Statistically, there's been dramatic improvement since the Sooners came up short against the Cougars. Points and yards have risen over OU's last two games. Penalties have dropped. The Sooners haven't allowed a point its last 120 minutes of football.

But there's a difference between doing it at home against Idaho State (an FCS team) and Tulsa and doing on the road against a team like Miami.

This is a legitimate opportunity for OU to prove it can slow an explosive offense and put up points against defense that's shown the ability to dominate.

OU coach Bob Stoops still has concerns. The offensive line, which struggled against BYU, will face a serious test.

"I think it needs to continue to improve and work for improvement. We need to be more disciplined in our assignments," he said. "It's been positive in the last couple of games, but I still think it can be better.

"So am I pleased? No. I'm pleased that it is better than that first game but we still have to keep pushing for more."

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables is in charge of a group that's only allowed 14 points in three games. But he still has concerns about the Hurricanes.

"It will be the best line that we will have seen, the best quarterback that we will have seen at this point and the best backs," he said. "They have great, great special teams. Again, I think this will be a challenge for everybody. Everybody will be stressed and we will need to play well."

There's been signs OU's ready to do those things.

The Sooners thoroughly believe they're an improving team and a much better one than when it last stepped on the national stage.

"I think at this point we're a more comfortable, more confident team," left guard Brian Simmons said. "We had some guys, including myself, who struggled that first game. I don't think we'll be rattled. I think we'll be fine."

Winning cures all ills in football. There's no doubt that with what OU's been able to do since falling to BYU, lost confidence has been restored. The Sooners believe they're a better team in every phase than the one that took the field in the season opener.

Yet in college football, some wins are bigger than others. Prestige comes from winning games against big-time opponents.

At the beginning of September, OU didn't have what it took to win one of those games. It's October now, and OU feels it's made the necessary strides to get where it wants to be.

Tonight, against Miami, it has a chance to prove it.

John Shinn 366-3536 jshinn@normantranscript.com

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