Nooch and I had a brief conversation yesterday the gist of which was that the "experts" have already determined in many instances who will play in conference championship games...who will win conferences...who will play in the National Championship games...and in some cases...who will win the National Championship. I don't really care who plays in the National Chamionship game so long as they are playing Oklahoma. Am I taking on the roll of an "expert" and picking OU to play in the National Championship game. Not on your life...my life...the lives of any family members...or even on the lives of people I don't know. It isn't because I wouldn't dare to pick OU to play in the National Championship game. It is because I am realistic and take things into consideration that the "experts"...apparently...do not!!!

We get to witness on television or read in the paper the "experts" views on who will wind up where. Whatever! What continually astounds me is the lack of common sense things these "experts" don't take into account when making these bold claims. We hear about SOS (strength of schedule) for those who haven't bothered keeping up with NCAA FB or colege football this year. We hear about conference strength and we hear about BCS computers and coaches polls and this poll and that but, we rarely hear about things like rivalry games and road games and toughest venues to play in or any of the intangible things that don't seem to get any thought process from the "experts." I'm sick and tired of hearing about all of the standard ####. If I were playing one of the "top" teams in the country I would only need to open the paper or turn on ESPN to get all the motivation I would need to beat a"top" team. In this year of upsets...maybe that is all these coaches have done...open the paper or turn on the tube. "Guy's! Look at the lack of respect you are getting from the college football "experts" (done with two hands up and two fingers on each hand moving up and down)!!! Use that for your motivation!"

The bad things about letting the "experts" determine things before they are played out is this. When a bunch of "experts" picks your team to finsih so high...get to the conference championship game (if your conference has one), get to the National Championship game..etc., etc., etc. and your team doesn't make it...too bad so sad! Watch how fast you tumble out of the picture...especially if you haven't been in that picture before. If one the other hand you are picked to lose...and you win...all hail the conquering heroes...until the shoe is on the other foot. What am I getting at? Here we go.

I am so sick and tired of the "experts" annointing OU the Big 12 South Champions...with 2 games to play...that I can't stand it.

I'm so sick and tired of the "experts" annointing Oregon the PAC 10 Champions...with 3 games to play...that I can't stand it.

I'm so sick and tired of the "experts" annointing LSU the SEC Champions and in many cases the National Champions...with 2 games to play...that I can't stand it.

The only conference championship that hasn't been annointed yet is the Big 12 North. The "experts" are at least using "if" when they talk about this one. Missouri and Kansas play on Nov. 24th and that may decide the Big North...if something else doesn't happen by then. And in this year of the upset...well...you never know. And that is why I am getting tired of the "experts" and their annointings.

LSU has yet to play Mississippi and Arkansas. Yet...those two teams can't possibly stand in the way of LSU's march to a National Championship. No UPSET possibilities there???

Kansas plays Iowa State this weekend and then Missouri. While we don't expect trouble this weekend for Kansas the Cyclones are much improved and have played pretty well the seond half of the year. I'd turn on the tube and purchase a ton of newspapers for my team.

Missouri gets Kansas State tihs weekend. Yea, we all know the lowly Cornhuskers blew Kansas Stae away but the Wildcats have played some inspired ball this season at times. Do we expect issues...naw! Let's just go straight to the 24th. Again...more ESPN and the black and wide and occasionally color of the local written press.

Oregon plays Arizona on Thursday night. No problems here right? Well...typical Mike Stoops team needs the entire first half of the season to get ready to play ball the second half of the season. On an odd night on the road. Upsets do happen when schedules change. But...we shouldn't consider ay of that and Oregon rolls. That's just dandy. Because they follow that up on the road with UCLA. The same UCLA that started in the top 10 or 15 (depending on what "expert" you follow) this year. Well...they aren't that good now. Consistently...maybe...but at home...with another teams season to crush. Naw...no problem...Ducks cruise! And to top that off they follow UCLA with Oegon State...in-state rivalry game. And we all know that NOTHING out of the expected ever happens in those games. What the hell am I thinking? There is nothing standing in Oregon's way. Silly me.

OU goes to Lubbock, Texas this weekend to play Texas Tech. Tech blows! Well...except for the high powered offense and a QB named Graham Harrell. This kid throws for 500 yards a game against solid secondaries. The verdict is still out on OU's secondary. Not to mention that Tech plays OU hard in Lubbock and some of OU's stumbles have come...in Lubbock...against...Texas Tech. Not this year. OU rolls...so say the "experts." Then the Sooners travel back to Norman to play the Oklahoma State Cowboys. This would fall under the "in-state rivalry" game (see Oregon-Oregon State) but this poses no problems for the Sooners and they will be the Big 12 South Champion heading to San Antonio to play with Kansas or Missouri. But the Cowboys have become famous for knocking OU from the ranks. Never mind...still not an issue. Thank the "experts" for that.

There is a lot of football to play and the "experts" who are already annointing champions are not giving any of the opponents of these teams and freakin' credit. They don't consider things that come into play when we are talking UPSETS in the year of the UPSETS. The "experts" can ramble on all they want but PLEASE use some kind of intelligence and give these other teams some kind of credit. But they won't and don't and that makes no sense to me. And it could continue to make no sense to me and I wouldn't freakin' care...so long as the ramifications of the upset weren't so harsh. I mean...we all know upsets will happen. Hell, that's why we play 'em on the field. But you have teams that go into hostile environments to play in-state rivalry games and if the lose...the fall is catastrophic. Why? Because the "experts" give no consideration to intangibles that have bearings on the outcomes of some of these games. There is absolutely no way OU should EVER lose to Colorado. On paper I might agree. On the road in a different atmosphere with a HISTORY of these kinds of things happening...I don't think it is realistic to assume that the Buffaloes should NEVER beat OU. This happens all over the country between the "top" teams and the...not so top teams. Especially this year when upsetting top teams is so...for lack of a better phrase...common place!

Personally...Texas Tech worries me this weekend and I probably won't get any satisfaction out of the next two weeks unless OU actually does end up in the Big 12 Championship game. If I were an Oregon fan I would be concerned with all three of our remaining games. I know Nooch has some concerns. If I were Kansas and Missouri I would take heed to thisseasons history and not take this weeks opponents lightly...in any way. Same for LSU who...in my humble opinion...has been winning "lucky" lately and...well...sometimes the luck runs out.
I don't really care if these "experts" continue to ramble on and on about who will be here and there based on who SHOULD be here and there. I base my opinions on being as realistic as I can possibly be...and that's why I could NEVER be a college football "expert."

And that's the bottom line...

GO SOONERS!!!

College football is here and I'm lovin' it. I'm lovin' it because I get to read a lot of great posts about who is doing this...and why this team is this...or that team is that. I'm lovin' it because it means I get to spend a week of quality time with my dad with no interruptions from the rest of the clan. I'm lovin' it because for the first time in a few years the Oklahoma Sooners...are blowing the doors off of their opponents in the early part of the season. I fully understand that it is only two games into the season. I fully understand that there may be a high school team or two in the country who could give North Texas a run for their money (at least that is the consensus of some Sooner detractors). I fully understand that the Miami Hurricanes aren't the Miami Hurricanes of the 1980's and that they are on the comeback trail. However, after watching the Sooners of the past few years play down to the competition (and once below it) in early season games...it is good to see them crushing teams like they are supposed to...when they are supposed to.

Hammering North Texas 79-10 gave the Sooners some confidence at positions that were questionable, at best, heading into the season. Starting the year with a redshirt freshman, Sam Bradford, at QB, the loss of their most proficient DE's to graduation, and the loss of their two primary linebackers...along with Adrian Peterson's departure for the NFL left many questions for the Sooners. Bradford opened up strong with a 21-23 for 363 yards and 3 touchdowns against North Texas. DeMarco Murray answered questions regarding the loss of Peterson (and Peterson's projected replacement Allen Patrick) with a 5 TD performance. The DE's and linebackers pressured all day. But this was against North Texas. Who cares? Well, the Sooners did. And all of the neighsayers said "Wait until they play Miami!" They'll get a true test against that defense. We'll see what OU has after that game."

Well...! Miami's defense...had a tough time on Saturday. The redshirt freshman at QB was 19-25 for a paltry 205 yards. Yea, but he ripped the Hurricanes for 5 TD passes. So for two games he is 40-48 for 568 yards and 8 TD's. Not bad! Allen Patrick finally carried the ball this year. After sitting out the North Texas game he carried the ball 7 times for 47 yards. Chris Brown returned from a team suspension in the North Texas game and carried the ball 15 times for 42 yards. The big gun again for the Sooners was Murray who added 15 carries for 64 yards bringing his season total to 32 carries for 151 yards and 5 TD's. Malcolm Kelly caught 4 passes for 102 yards and 3 touchdowns. Yardage wise this game was no where near as out of control as the North Texas game was. Miami's defense had its hands full all day with multiple looks in plays and personnel from the Sooners. Five different Sooners carried the ball against Miami and eight different Sooners caught passes from either Bradford or his backup, Joey Halzle, who played the end of the game and completed a 61 yard scoring pass to Adron Tennell. The point here is that as good as Miami's defense is...the Sooners could throw out relatively fresher bodies all day. Their OL handled the Hurricanes D line all day with the exception of Calais Campbell recording his first sack of the season. It took its toll on the Hurricanes defense. The Hurricanes offense had issues of its own.

I commented before this game how Miami worried me because of their defense. Their offense didn't concern me for two reasons. Their QB, Kirby Freeman was 9 for 21 the previous week and I didn't expect much more than that against an Oklahoma defense that is young...and loaded...and getting better. The second reason Miami's offense didn't bother me was that as well as they ran the ball a week ago against Marshall...this week they were playing Oklahoma. Bragging...arrogant...realistic!!! It has long been a point of contention that Miami's strength is their defense...NOT their offense. With Freeman at the helm against Marshall it was up to Javarris james and Craig Cooper to rush for 215 yards in that game. Relying on more of the same against the Sooners helped the Sooners actually. They held the Hurricanes to 54 yards on the ground and limited Freeman and his QB partner, Kyle Wright to a 10 for 23 day for 82 yards and a touchdown...which came after 2 pass interference penalties against OU and a fake field goal. This was late in the second half and OU was up 21-3 at the time. And while I am lamenting Miami's struggles on offense it wouldn't be fair to take away any of the OU thunder on defense. Miami's field goal in the first quarter was the result of an absolutely horrible snap on a punt that sailed 2 yards over the hands of OU's punter and was finally recovered by him on the 8 yard line giving Miami a first and goal on the 8. Four plays later they had to settle on a field goal by Francesco Zampogna to get on the board. Within minutes of that score OU's Reggie Smith returned a fumble by James 61 yards for a score. OU took the ball on the second half kickoff and proceeded to lose it on a Chris Brown fumble resulting in Miami's last score of the day...another field goal. Roughly 5 minutes later Bradford hit TE Jermaine Gresham for his second TD of the year and the Sooners started pulling away from Miami at this point.

So, after two games the Sooners are looking very, very good. Not so much because of who they played and beat...but how they played them and beat them. When playing inferior competition in any sport you are supposed to win...and win big. The past few years OU has not done that. This year they have while others have not. They have racked up 1,079 yards in offense and given up 386. As I was informed last week...232 of it was in passing yards to North Texas. What my informer neglected to mention was that most of it was in the second half when OU had 3rd and 4th string guys on the field on defense. But I digress. They have outscored their opponents 130 - 23. Their defense has scored as many touchdowns as they have had scored on them. Yes...it's early and we have a long way to go. Let's us Sooner fans enjoy the ride as long as it lasts and hope coach Bob Stoops keeps the guys focused. If his comments this week are any indication...he will.

When asked about them getting cocky and overconfident Stoops had the following comments.

"This group has always been so good about their attitude and their habits and not being that way," Stoops said. "I'll mention it, but I don't believe it'll be a big deal. They understand that we've got a long year in front of us." 

When asked about his team Stoops offered up this statement.

"I've always felt like we've got the chance to be a solid and really good football team, but I always feel the year is about building and getting better as you go through it," Stoops said. "So it doesn't matter where you start. You've got to improve as you go through the year. I feel we're on schedule or about where I hoped we would be."

Accurate statements if you plan on playing for the big prize at the end of the year. Especially with teams like LSU and USC and, of course, Texas in the way (not to mention some others who are yet to be identified).

We'll see how accurate he is when the Sooners take on the Utah State Aggies this week. The Aggies are 0-2 coming into this one but have had the lead in both games going into the 4th quarter and lost it. Against Wyoming last week the Aggies were outscored 15-0 in the 4th quarter in a 32-18 loss and in the opener against UNLV they led 10-9 going into the 4th quarter and lost 23-16. Their QB is Leon Jackson who handles the punting duties as well. Their leading receivers are WR Kevin Robinson and RB Curtis Marsh who have 8 catches each while the rest of the team has 14 catches in total. On defense they have FS Antonio Taylor who leads the team in tackles with 25 in 2 games and LB Devon Hall who returned a  third quarter interception 38 yards for a TD last week. He had a 65 yard fumble return against Boise State last year.  It will be interesting to see if the Sooners keep up the intensity and continue to play at the level THEY SHOULD play at...the same one they seem to have finally realized they should play at.

And that's the bottom line...

Go SOONERS!!!