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!!!

It's been a while since I actually posted anything other than some random comments here and there. But a few things have happened recently that have left me thinking. And lately that can be a very scary proposition. But what the heck...I'm in a sharing mood today.

ME THINKS...that going into this weekend the Oregon Ducks are the best team in college football...consistently...on both sides of the ball. Dixon and Stewart are lighting it up and the defense is making huge plays when they need to. And that's what it's all about...ain't it?

ME THINKS...that Boston College is NOT the second best team in college football whether they are undefeated or not. When they lose they will fall almost as fast as South Florida did. I do think they have a pretty good QB but...it won't last.

ME THINKS...that the Ohio State Buckeyes have a great BIG TEN defense and an offense that is conducive to BIG TEN defenses. I think they will have problems when speed teams and quicker teams appear before them. The offense...while coming along to support that great defense hasn't faced a quality defense playing well yet this year. Don't misunderstand. This is a quality college football team whose quality of oppnent has been suited to their style of play. Same story as last year? We'll see.

ME THINKS...that the Oklahoma Sooner football team needs a huge effort on both sides of the ball this weekend. They can't afford another peformance like the one they gave us in Ames, IA a couple of weeks ago. I wasn't at the Colorado game when the Sooners lost but I was at the Iowa State game and some of the Sooner fans there made the trip to Colorado and said they looked exactly like they did against the Buffaloes. They can win out...but if they are barely getting by and everyone ends up with one loss...they will be out of the National Championship picture because quality of wins is important in the BCS and polling picture. That said...They should win out at home but the Texas Tech game in Lubbock looms very large. Can the Sooners play on the road? A questionable proposition so far this year. But...what the heck...I love my Sooners! BOOMER SOONER!!!

ME THINKS...the goalie on the Women's USA soccer team that left the team and made such a commotion when she didn't start based on the coach's gut feeling...is a spoiled brat and the concept of teamwork has never occured to her. Yea, I know this was a while ago but...like I said...it has been awhile since I posted. Argue all you want on her motivation but coaches in every sport make changes all the time based on their "gut feelings." If I'm not mistaking this team and coach only lost one or two games in his tenure and he got fired for losing this one. The prima donna goalkeeper didn't help matters. Oh I long for the days when a coach could make a decision and not get chastized or ridiculed in the press and by his own players in public. Me also thinks those days are gone forever. And people wonder where quality coaches have disappeared to and why they disappear.

ME THINKS...the Minnesota Wild need to monitor their strength and conditioning program or personnel a bit better. At one time this year they had up to 5 players out with groin issues including...again...Marion Gaborik. If this guy ever plays a full season at this pace it will be considered miraculous. Take the numbers he has posted in the games he has played and only Dany Heatley has a better goals per game ratio than Gaborik. Last year he would have totalled something like 53 goals and 97 assists in a full schedule. How can you have this guy getting hurt all the time? His stride or his change of direction pace or his core strength...whatever...they need to figure out a way to keep this guy on the ice.

ME THINKS...in this age of performance enhancing drugs...Martina Hingis is accused of using cocaine. What is the song..."Champagne don't make me lazy and cocaine don't make me crazy...and it's nobody else's business but my own." It ain't nobody else's business. But in this day and age...aparently it's everybody else's business. Retire Martina...you did it before. Only this won't go away until the vultures have been satisfied.

ME THINKS...Barry Bonds is acting like the only mature person in his latest public comments. He is absolutely right when he says the HOF should NOT display his 756th HR bal with an asterisk on it...or anything else with an asterisk on it as well. What a freakin' joke. I said before that I would quit watching MLB and would never set foot in the HOF if they took the ball with an asterisk on it...regardless of the votes of the public that some wealthy #### put up. I'm boycotting MLB and the HOF alng with Bonds. The saddest part of that is that I am the paying public and this is just further evidence that the actions of the loud affect the enjoyment of the quiet. Go Barry!!!

ME THINKS...that the Japanese photographer who took "secret" photos of Maria Sharapova's #### is a ####. But "secret" photos? What was he supposed to do...whisper to her #### that he was going to be taking pictures of it. The guy is pathetic. And now Maria will probably be wearing jeans or sweatpants in every photo shoot. Of course...it ain't like she dressed like Anna Kournikova anyway!

ME THINKS...that Brad Childress is NOT head coaching material in the NFL. Any coach who has someone like Adrian Peterson on their roster...and has to write himself a note to make sure you get him the ball 25 times a game is...well...to be blunt...a total ####. So far he continues to prove this on a game to game basis.

ME THINKS...running the score up on everybody or not...the New England Patriots will beat Indianapolis this weekend and will then run the table and we will have another team join the 1972 Miami Dolphins as the only undefeated teams IN NFL history. Belichek is like a woman scorned...as in "Hell hath no fury like..."

ME THINKS...that all of this is moot when you get down to real life and death stuff. Like a young man who I have known since he was 8 years old. Who played hockey for me. Who dealt with adversity in athletics all his life. Who worked hard and never showed his teammates the disappointment he felt at times when things were hard for him. Who came to the rink and went to class to be the best he could be. Who would work my goalie camps and had EVERY kid in those camps wanting him to work with them and hanging their heads when he wasn't at camp for a session. A kid who everybody loves because he thinks about others first and foremost. A kid who at 21 years of age...when things are supposed to be getting going for him...was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Who has had surgery to remove a couple of walnut sized tumors and is just finishing up his last round of chemotherapy which drains him and fatigues him to the point that whenever I talk to him it saddens me and often brings me to tears. A kid who said to me...after his first surgery..."It's nothing, Coach...just another obstacle I'll get over like we have in the past." A kid who wants to continue to work in the sports world in an adminstrative position who looks on-line and applies for jobs on-line fully expecting to beat this opponent like he has less dangerous ones. The prayers and thoughts of those who love him coun't much more than any of this other stuff. I love this kid and the smiles from his face and the faces of his teammates that project themselves from pictures on my walls help me to remember when things were fun for him and not so dangerous. They remind me of those that love him like I do and how we have talked about him and those times since he was diagnosed. I want more of those types of pictures with him and these friends...I wouldn't even mind a new one say...twenty years from now. I love Sooner football and hope they play in the BCS National Championship game. But I have more important things to pray for right now. Like the opportunity to get that picture twenty years down the road.

And tha's the bottom line...

BOOMER SOONER!!!

Alright, enough already.

The game is over. The University of Oklahoma lost to the University of Oregon. The score was 34-33. Sooners go to 2-1 and Ducks go to 3-0.

Yes, everyone of any importance to this story knows what happened. Game officials blew on-side kick call. Ball should have been OU's, game should have been over. OU should have defeated UO 33-27. Didn't happen.

President of University of Oklahoma makes a few worthless demands. But, in the midst of those demands there are a few good points.

PAC 10 Commissioner suspends entire officiating crew, field and booth, for one game. In his statement he admits the poor officiating cost Oklahoma the game.

"Errors clearly were made and not corrected, and for that we apologize to the University of Oklahoma, coach Bob Stoops and his players," PAC 10 Commissioner Tom Hansen said in a statement. "They played an outstanding college football game, as did Oregon, and it is regrettable that the outcome of the contest was affected by the officiating."

"The fact that the errors on the onside kick altered the outcome of the game is most unfortunate and unsettling," Hansen said. "We had a solid veteran crew assigned, and the instant replay official had a fine career as a referee in the PAC 10."

In the article I am quoting from Hansen said the onside kick was touched by an Oregon player before it had traveled the required 10 yards, and, therefore, the ball should have been awarded to Oklahoma.

Should have been. Wasn't. SO FREAKIN' WHAT.

One of the University of Oklahoma Presidents requests was to have the game struck from the record books. Not going to happen. Even I agree that would be absurd. Kind of like striking all of Barry Bonds' records from the books. Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg says the game result will stand.

Another request he made was that the NCAA consider not allowing the PAC 10, or any conference,  to have conference officials for non-conference games. THIS ONE MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

He got his apology. He got all the suspension of the officiating crew he is going to get. He asked for the entire season.

So, now that we know what we know, let's get past the ####.

Oregon fans. In victory, unfortunately, this action by the Commissioner of the PAC 10 ensures that your victory will remain in question forever. Sorry about that. So all of your arguments that OU should have stopped Oregon  and then kicked the field goal to win are worthless comments now. Your own conference said you should have lost the game. All the comments about how many yards the Ducks threw up against a Big 12 defense mean little.

Oklahoma fans (and I am one). It is over. The Ducks receive credit for the victory no matter how diligently and passionately we argue for a different outcome. They will hold their spot at #13 in the polls and OU will move to #17. They will play the rest of their season and the Sooners will play theirs. All of the complaining in the world will not change it. Let's move on.

That being said, I want to bring attention to a blog out there that lumps every OU fan into the world of a fanatical few.

The replay official who blew the call (he also admitted that) claims he is receiving death threats aimed at him and his family. I love the Oklahoma Sooners and I clearly think they got the wrong end of the stick on this one. But, DEATH THREATS! That ain't right.

There is also a rumor out there, and I have not seen it, read it, or heard it anywhere but on this particular blog, that OU fans are yelling conspiracy theory. I don't know about that one. I think OU got homered. Not by the University of Oregon but by the PAC 10. While I am not spouting it I would listen to arguments for or against. Great discussion material.

My point is this. I would bet that 99.9% of Oklahoma fans have expressed their frustration at the water cooler, in blog sites and chat rooms, in discussions with friends and neighbors, etc., etc. I have seen name calling here and from OU and Oregon fans and from "I am not a fan of either team" fans. But DO NOT LUMP ALL OKLAHOMA SOONER FANS in with a few closet morons who have resorted to DEATH THREATS! That shows shallow thinking on their part and it is shallow thinking on the author of the post.

I don't think the Oregon Ducks really proved anything with this victory. Why? Because this Sooner defense is young, getting better, but it ain't there yet. So even without the acknowledged outcome I don't think they proved what they really wanted to prove. Regardless of the yards, when the game really became questionable, OU was ahead 33-20. The Ducks are a very good football team with two "high end " players in Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart. They played a very good football game.

The Sooners didn't set the world on fire, either. You can't play one half of football and be very successful. You can't make the lack of discipline mistakes they made and be very successful. If they don't start tackling better and getting Adrian Peterson the ball more from somewhere other than the middle of the line it will be a longer year. Let Paul Thompson throw on the run more. He is pretty accurate on the move. The one thing the Sooners did better than Oregon was capitalizing on turn-overs. That was the difference in the scoring.  If Oregon didn't have 4 turn-overs they would more than likely have been ahead and all of the other stuff would have been moot. BUT THAT IS PART OF THE GAME THAT CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THE PLAYERS. OU did what good teams do, they capitalized.

I'm tired. I'm tired of all the comments left out there that are mean spirited and nasty. I have left some commens on other blogs. But I try to be logical and present my comments intelligently . And I think I do a pretty good job of that. NO MATTER how frustrated I was, and am, about the outcome of this game.

It's over. Oregon 34, Oklahoma 33.

And that's the bottom line.....

Ya'll have good day now, ya hear.

Quotes used here are from Minneapolis Star Tribune and AP.