No. 2 Oklahoma proved that Saturday in Stillwater when it took on the 19th ranked Cowboys of Oklahoma State. Despite numerous penalties and turnovers, everytime OSU made a run, the Sooners answered back in resounding fashion during the 38-35 victory.
"It is always great to go through a challenge," said linebacker Rufus Alexander. "To be mentally tough. You know you have already been in those situations. Blowing out every team, then get to the end and get in a close game, and you get that adrenaline pumping, you don't know what to do. It is great that we went through this. We went through this a little bit in the Texas game."
The ability to answer when called upon has been a trait the Sooners didn't need to show much during the regular season last year. And many believe that hurt them in the Big 12 title game against Kansas State and in the national championship against LSU. They were two teams that didn't back down from OU, just like Oklahoma State didn't over the weekend.
Saturday's victory may go down as a pivotal moment in the Sooner's season as they chase another title.
"Overcoming it is big for us," said quarterback Jason White. " We are going to have adversity and we have to overcome it. Last year sometimes the first team offense would be out in the third quarter. And now we have played four quarters just about every game. It has really helped us out. We have all learned a lot. And we have all grown and matured with it. It's going to help us down the road."
However, they Sooner still took time to revel in victory over their state rival.
"That is the best feeling in the world," Alexander said. "The opposing team's crowd is very silent and our offense is out there going to do the victory kneel. That is the best play to me of the whole game."
MOVING ON UP
The biggest reason for the Sooners win over OSU was the play of phenom Adrian Peterson. The freshman was a horse as he rushed for 249 yards on 31 carriers. That included a momentum shifting 80-yard scamper that sent a thrill through the partisan Cowboys' crowd.
With his performance, Peterson is making it harder and harder not to consider him for the Heismann trophy. Almost every poll taken after the weekend slate full of games had the frosh on top of the leaderboard.
But Peterson is trying to downplay it right now as he looks to help lead his team to a BCS championship.
"I don't say that," Peterson said to a reporter asking about if he is making it hard for voters not to vote for him. "I guess you can say that. Like I said, I just go out there and play. Whatever happens, happens. They go out there and determine all that stuff."
On the season Peterson has 1,278 yards, eight touchdowns and a record streak of eight games topping 100 yards to start a career. He is averaging 6.1 yards a carry and 159 a game.
But he is not doing it alone. The unsung heroes of this record breaking year are the men up front. Led by all-American tackle Jamaal Brown, the Sooners have become the most feared offense in the big 12 and maybe the nation.
"He is a special player," Brown said of Peterson. "That is all that matters. When he plays good like this, we take a lot of pride in it. Adrian is a good runner, but he still needs those five up front. We have to somewhat do our job for him to have a big game, but we take a lot of pride in that."
CLOSE CALL
The 2004 seniors narrowly avoided joining a infamous group at Oklahoma.
In 99 games, the Sooners hold a 76-16-7 advantage. The only groups to have losing record over 4 years belong to 1930, 32, 33, 34 and 98 classes.
But if OU were defeated last Saturday, it would have joined them with a 1-3 record.
"That's good," said Brown, a Lawton native. "I will always hate that I even lost to those guys. To end my season year with a winning one, that's always good and impressive."
NEXT UP
Oklahoma will now shift its attention to No. 22 Texas A&M. The Aggies are coming off a stunning defeat to lowly Baylor University and should still pose an imposing problem for OU.
The players should have no problem with a letdown.
"Big time game," said wideout Mark Clayton. "Big time team, stadium, fans and great tradition. We are going to have to come out and execute like we know how."
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