For four weeks much of the country had Oklahoma University dead and buried. Epitaphs were being written about coach Bob Stoops and his ability to win big games as he watched his Sooners fall to 1-2 on the season.
How quickly perceptions change.
Oklahoma defeated Kansas State 43-21 on Saturday and now have critics taking a step back and reevaluating how good the Sooners are heading into the annual matchup with No. 2 Texas (4-0, 1-0) this weekend.
But is that necessary? Has Oklahoma really changed that much in two weeks? Has the porous offense that scored only 10 points in a loss to TCU really disappeared? Has the secondary that was torched by UCLA and Tulsa been replaced by a hard hitting group that is reminiscent of the 2000-02 teams?
“What I know is Saturday night against Kansas State it looked like the same OU team we have been playing since we have been here,” said Texas coach Mack Brown at his weekly press conference. “So I think whatever struggles they had early, those are out of the way and they have a really good football team right now.”
The truth won’t come out until noon on Saturday. But all indications point to a new resurgence up in Norman. They started the year with a group of embattled youngsters that looked like they could hardly find the field at times, much less compete in the rugged Big 12 conference. Yet, the Sooners victory over a Kansas State squad that was undefeated at the time has given new hope to those fans who felt this would be a rebuilding season for the men in the maroon and white.
After its win over Tulsa, Oklahoma’s biggest question mark was at the quarterback spot. Stoops had made the decision that Rhett Bomar was going to be his man, no matter what. Unless an injury took place, veteran backup Paul Thompson knew he would not see the field as a quarterback for the rest of his Oklahoma career. So he made the switch to part-time receiver, leaving the red shirt freshman as the only scholarship signal caller on the roster. It was a move that left many in the Sooner nation scratching their heads.
Yet, it looks like Stoops may have known what he was doing the entire time. Bomar has responded with two impressive outings. On the season he is 39-for-69, for 441 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. They in no way compare him to his counterpart at Texas, Vince Young, but its a far cry better than where he seemed destined to be heading early in the season.
“Some of the plays we got out of Rhett (Bomar) running the football as well give us a lot more diversity and are helping us,” Stoops said. “I also felt good about Rhett’s production throwing the football. In the last two games, I think he’s been up a little over 60 percent. With no interceptions in last week’s game, those are the kinds of statistics that you have the chance to really win with and improve on. And I think we are.”
But will it last against the No. 2 ranked team in the country?
However, as Bomar has started to shine, the catalyst for Oklahoma (2-2, 1-0) is showing signs of breaking down. Running back Adrian Peterson has had to be helped off the field more time this year than a drunken sailor on leave. A high ankle sprain ended his day against Kansas State, which was probably the best news the Longhorns had last weekend.
Peterson wore out the Texas defense in 2004 for more than 200 yards in his debut to the Red River Rivalry. Next to Stoops, he is the constant nightmare that creeps into the minds of the Longhorns and coach Mack Brown every night.
“Adrian is a great player and he is a tough guy and he is from the state of Texas and he will be full speed and ready to go on Saturday,” Brown said. “I am sure we will see the best out of Adrian.”
But if Peterson (392 yards, six TDs) is not at 100 percent, how effective can he be against a unit that is keying on him?
Bar none, this is the Sooner’s most important game of the season. A win over a hated Texas squad puts them on path to run the Big 12 table. It will also show critics that the Oklahoma mystique, swagger or confidence is not gone, but thriving under extreme pressure.
But it’s a funny thing about pressure. It reveals exactly what type of players and team you have. Saturday we will finally see the real Sooners stand up. Fans can only hope it’s a sight worth seeing.
Reach Michael Kinney at sports@altustimes.com
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