Month: October 2021

I listened to some various comments today on the Sports Animal in relation to what should happen with the OU quarterback job.

If I were Lincoln Riley I’d make Caleb Williams my starter this week versus TCU at home. But I’d make it clear at this point this is going to be a performance thing. You don’t perform at an acceptable level then I’d give Spencer another look in relation to the score, time, matchup etc.

In anotherwords, as a team we are in this together to be the best team we can be. Period.

Obviously we live in a different college world with the transfer portal, but ultimately as a coach you have to give your football team the best chance to win while at the same time being fair.

If Spencer and his father can’t live with this…then they should leave and go get ready for the NFL combine or start exploring the transfer portal for next season.

I hope for Spencer Rattler’s sake he considers how Jalen Hurts handled himself when he was faced with the same situation several years ago.

Most writers around the Alabama program to this day say Jalen Hurts is much more popular with the Bama fan base than Tua.

It’s called respect.

The fact Lincoln Riley inserted Spencer Rattler for that critical two point conversion would indicate to me he hasn’t given up on Spencer Rattler to the extent the OU fan base has already.

Again..like I wrote a month ago…Chris Leak and Tim Tebow won a national championship picking each other up at Florida back when Urban Meyer wasn’t a sad joke.

Lincoln Riley is a smart dude. We’ll see how this goes at the presser. His parents didn’t raise a dumbass. Just saying.

If you call yourself a real college football fan, this Chris Leak video might be an interesting watch considering what happened in Dallas this past week-end.

I read various comments just last week from Joe C in relation as to how impressed he is with Lincoln Riley’s human relations skill set. I agree with Joe C. Lincoln sees the big picture and I hope he can reach out to Spencer Rattler and if nothing else make a human connection this week which goes beyond football.

Lincoln and Spencer should have something in common…that being, an understanding of how tough it is being the face of the OU football program.

If you want to be a big time college quarterback with aspirations of playing on Sundays it can be a tough cold world out there.

The first things I thought of when Spencer Rattler got benched on Saturday were the benchings of Jalen Hurts at Alabama (2017-18) and Kelly Bryant at Clemson (2018-19).

*Jalen Hurts led Alabama to the natioal championship game a season before as a freshman and lost at the end in a thriller to DeShaun Watson and Clemson. Then was benched his sophmore year at halftime in the national championship game versus Georgia. Tua replaced Hurts and the Tide won the national championship.

Jalen and his father decided he should stay at Alabama and was Tua’s backup for another season before he played his last season of college football at Oklahoma.

The second situation was when Trevor Lawrence as a true freshman replaced Kelly Bryant as the starter at Clemson six games into the season. Clemson went on to win the national championship.

Trevor Lawrence led Clemson to the College Football Playoff the next two seasons and was the No. 1 pick in the past NFL draft class.

Kelly Bryant transferred to Missouri and it didn’t work out for him.

Trevor is now struggling with the 0-5 Jacksonville Jaguars while Jalen Hurts is actually exceeding the expectations of some as the starting QB with the Philadelphia Eagles.

So who was Bobby Reid?

Bobby Reid was one of the best high school quarterbacks in America in 2004. He played in the Houston area and was thought of as a can’t miss college quarterback. A dual threat QB who could be the next Vince Young or maybe even better.

Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State eventually won the Bobby Reid recruiting battle.

Bobby Reid broke his shoulder as a freshman then played at O State in 2005, 2006, and some of 2007 before he was benched before a road loss to Troy State.

This is when the infamous Jenni Carlson story created such a furor with Mike Gundy that it caused him to rant his iconic, “I’m forty, I’m a man…come after me.” What a postgame that was with Mike Leach from Texas Tech basically calling his own defense and offense a group of pussies in the other interview room. Leach actually fired his defensive coordinator the next day. Since he calls his own plays I guess he couldn’t fire himself as offensive coordinator.

I love Leach. He has an undergraduate degree from BYU and is a law school graduate from Pepperdine. Never played football. His Mississippi State Bulldogs host Alabama down the road in a game I have to watch.

After his famous incident of locking the son of ESPN’s Craig James in a an equipment shed at Texas Tech because of bad practice habits….Leach went on to write…Swing Your Sword: Leading the Charge in Football and Life.

Bobby Reid eventually left O State and played one season for Texas Southern.

So there are multiple examples for Spencer Rattler as to how to handle his future…especially in the day of the transfer portal.

I’ll be interested to see if Spencer Rattler takes the Kelly Bryant or Jalen Hurts route.

Archived from Mullet King: The Boone Pickens-Mike Gundy Saga

• Correction from yesterday. Yes…even I do occasionally go back and somewhat proof read. As a freshman Jalen lost at the end in a thriller to DeShaun Watson and Clemson. His junior season was when he sat the bench as Tua’s backup. BTW…Paul Finebaum is in agreement with me that perhaps Lincoln Riley will give Spencer Rattler another look at some point like Auburn did with Bo Nix after his horrific game versus somebody who calls themselves Georgia State.
• Lo and behold Bo Nix was getting a helmet sticker from yours truly in the win at LSU the very next Saturday. Sometimes…if the colt isn’t listening you have sit him for a race or two.

Just saw this on the internet after another Saturday of college football upsets.

Kirk’s Top 6

1 Georgia

2 Oklahoma

3 Cincy (Kirk abbreviates just like I do)

4 Iowa

5 Ohio State

6 Alabama

The only thing I’d change here on my Top 12 is inverting Iowa with Cincy.

I think I’ll do my entire Top 12 on Tuesday morning. Very big Big 12 game next Saturday in Austin with undefeated O State and Texas playing a pivotal conference game.

Kirk has a book out if you enjoy his insights on ESPN. Hopefully, he’ll give my book… Mullet King: The Boone Pickens-Mike Gundy Saga a shout out when that time comes. Can’t wait to do a book tour.

I would say yes and both games were in a sense a mirror of one another.

OU jumped out to 31-14 first half lead, but couldn’t come back in the third period and put Georgia away.

Caleb Kelly had the huge strip late in the game which led to a Stephen Parker TD and the Sooners’ brief lead. Yesterday…Caleb Kelly’s takeaway led to the Sooners’ taking a 48-41 lead.

See what I mean?

Maybe one of our local media will ask Lincoln Tuesday at his weekly presser if he thought of that game when his Sooners were down 28-7 at the end of the first period.

But clearly the game changed when Caleb Williams took the field and stayed on the field.

At some point Lincoln had to make Spencer Rattler accountable for bad turnovers. Both the interception and the fumble were terrible. It’s not like on either play a Texas defender did anything special. Just two very bad plays.

The OU quarterback position is like no other in the country. If you want to play QB at OU…you better perform at a certain standard and have some very thick skin.

It will be interesting to see how this is handled by Lincoln at the Tuesday presser as far as naming the starter for TCU on Saturday.

Long story short…the team responded to Caleb Williams and he saved the Sooners’ season as far as having any aspirations of making the college football playoff.

I tried watching ten minutes of the Thunders’ preseason game vs. the Milwaukee Bucks tonight and lasted about ten minutes before wanting to puke.

Keep in mind the defending world champion Bucks are anchored by Giannis who the 15th player taken in his draft. By Jrue Holiday who was the 17th player taken in his draft. By Khris Middleton from Texas A&M who was a second round pick.

I wonder if any of our local scribes could ever muster enough substance to ask Sam Presti how this could be?

Anyway…that plus yesterday’s instant classic are what got me watching the 2018 OU-Georgia game.

What a day of college football! OU with a comeback for the ages and Alabama fell to unranked Texas A&M.

Let’s get to the OU helmet stickers:

1 Kennedy Brooks with 217 rushing yards and the game winner in the waning seconds. Bijan Robinson wasn’t the best back in this RRR. The best back was Kennedy Brooks.

2 Caleb Williams with an off the bench performance which will go unrivaled in the Sooner history books. Now we know why Spencer Rattlers’ play has been so insecure at times this season. Spencer probably knew from practice what would happen if Caleb Williams got extended playing time in a game.

3 Marvin Mims finally caught a couple of touchdown passes six games into the season. That in itself is a barometer of how much the OU offense had struggled before the Kansas State game.

4 The OU offensive line with a special pat on the shoulder for right tackle Tyrese Robinson who after getting the bad penalty at Manhattan redeemed himself with an excellent performance.

5 Lincoln Riley for not losing his mind when the Sooners got down 28-7, made the QB change, and kept running the football. Note to Mike Gundy: OU finshed with 339 rushing yards exactly six more yards than Arkansas had against the Horns in Fayetville. Is there a chance Lincoln rope a doped Sarkisian’s Horns? Tramel needs to ask this at the Tuesday presser.

6 Caleb Kelly for the great takeaway from Xavier Worthy on the Texas kickoff return. How many remember Caleb’s hit which created a touchdown return in the epic double overtime game to Georgia? Great job, Caleb.

7 Jaden Davis what an irony. He went air on that first play from scrimmage on Worthy’s first touchdown, but made the tackle on the last play of the game when Texas tried to return a kick.

8 The OU Band showed great stamina in that heat in the second half having to play Boomer Sooner after so many clutch scores/plays against the wilting Longhorns.

That’s it. That’s my OU helmet stickers.

They should have a parade in Norman tomorrow.

BOOMER!

I’m just glad Kennedy Brooks scored that touchdown to cover. When you can run the football…you’re never out of a game. I was still okay at halftime down 38-20 even after the disastrous start for ONE REASON…because our O line was starting to control the line of scrimmge late in the second period.

Chris Jackson wasn’t as calm. He was crying in uncontrollable joyous bliss when I last talked to him after the game. He was crying for God’s sake.

I think we have a new starting QB in Norman.

I’ll recap this after all of this has sunken into my brain.

I feel for Spencer Rattler. This was a tough day for the kid.

I had OU… they covered. Chris had Arkansas +6 so he covered. I feel like I might catch him after Alabama surely destroys the Aggies tonight. I know Saban…he wants to destroy Jimbo’s arrogance. Don’t let me down, Nick Saban. Tear his throat out and give them a beatdown for me.

They maybe beat OU one time with Johnny Football and you would have thought they had actually done something.

Roll… Tide.

I need a victory song. This seems about right. texas will drop to No. 25 and OU will move up from No. 6 to No. 4 on my next Top 12 poll.

I wonder how many sets were turned on to Baylor vs.West Virginia?

Boomer!

The five games I have circled today all involve SEC teams other than the outlier game of Penn State vs. Iowa. If I had to pick a sixth game it would be the Nebraska vs. Michigan game.

This is why OU and Texas are leaving the SEC beyond just the money…it’s the relevancy, the exposure, the better television time slots, the ability to recruit both sides of the football, etc. The ability to move into the future landscape of college football and be relevant.

If you count unbeaten Kentucky versus LSU today there’s five SEC games I’d like to watch today.

1 OU-Texas, 2 Arkansas-Ole Miss, 3 Texas A&M-Alabama, and 4 Georgia-Auburn. Three of these games are rivalry games with the exception of the Alabama-A&M game.

Jimbo Fisher ran his mouth this summer about his team beating Alabama. This would be the time, Jimbo. Good luck, buddy.

If you look at the Big 12 moving forward they will be a league minus any real rivalry game in football with any national appeal. The Red River Rivalry and Bedlam are/were clearly the league’s best national exposure games.

If I were O State prez Kasie Shrum I would strongly reconsider continuing Bedlam even if it’s only once every three years or so. Just suck up your pride and play the game for exposure and branding if for no other reason. Show recruits you’re not afraid to play a nationally ranked team in a non-conference game. Maybe do this with Texas every five years.

OU-Arkansas and OU-Missouri will be the rivalries for OU fans which quickly replace Bedlam as far as the second most anticipated rivalry game. Most real OU fans still remember the Joe Washington iconic run versus Missouri and the iconic beatdown absorbed from Lou Holtz’s Arkansas team in the Orange Bowl.

But for today OU and Texas are still in the Big 12. Sure…there’s some ‘possible’ national implications for the playoff. But this is a game which should set the tone for the race for the Big 12 Championship Game at Jerry’s World in December.

O State is off today and they go to Texas next Saturday which will be my Big 12 Game of the Week.

I would think Mike Gundy and staff like the fact they’re getting Texas after today’s game in Dallas.

I’m going OU 38 – Texas 34 for one primary reason…Spencer Rattler. I think Lincoln gets him outside the pocket and allows him to use his legs more in this game and put more pressure on the suspect Texas defense. Spencer actually ran for 51 yards and a TD last year in this game.

When Spencer gets moving and outside the pocket he creates space and lanes for the other OU playmakers. And at the end of the day that’s what will decide this game if OU can ‘somewhat’ contain Bijan Robinson.

Kirk… you and Chris Fowler can take it from here.

BOOMER!

An interesting day. We set an all-time high temp record in OKC today with a mark of 96 degrees. One more day of 90’s it appears and that will fall on OU-Texas gameday.

OU reserve running Marcus Major got himself eligible and will provide OU with another physical runner besides Kennedy Brooks. Eric Gray will in my mind become more of a specialist in the Percy Harvin/Alvin Kamara mode and run and catch primarily outside of the tackles.

This is good for OU. Another weapon for Lincoln Riley and quality depth at running back.

The point spread dropped to 3 points. I’m taking OU at -3 as one of my two spread picks tomorrow. The other pick will be Alabama at -17.5 at College Station against the listliss Texas A&M Aggies’ offense.

It’s not that I think OU is in the sphere of Alabama or Georgia, just more that I think the Texas defense isn’t very good. And I won’t be shocked at all if these two teams meet again in December at Jerry’s World.

I’ll go OU 38 – Texas 34.

I believe Chris Jackson is too nervous to pick OU and is consequently going with Arkansas +6.5 at Ole Miss and with Georgia -17 at Auburn. He and Little Robert will be watching their first Red River Rivalry together from the backyard patio in Bonnie Brae. I can’t wait to see that video from Elaine.

Chris leads 6-4 to 5-5 heading into Week 6 in our very informal contest.

So basically…every game we’ve picked this week involves SEC teams present and future.

O State prez Casey Shrum… which scintillating Big 12 game are you going to watch tomorrow outside of OU-Texas? Which three hours of your time are you going to invest watching a Big 12 team play not named OU or Texas? See my point.

You know… Casey Thompson at one time was committed to OU in 2017– then it fell apart. I think he’s the second best QB in the conference behind Spencer Rattler. A very down overall year for the QB position in the Big 12. I’m not sure who I would say is the third best QB in the conference. Spencer Sanders still needs to show me he understands how to manage a game. That he understands how critical turnovers are to the outcome in games against quality opponents.

Here’s a great stat…in the RRR since 1999– the team with the quarterback who has started a previous Red River Rivalry game is 14-4-1. This stat becomes even more interesting when you consider two of the four who won in their first RRR game were Jalen Hurts and Spencer Rattler.

We all remember last year with Spencer Rattler being benched then coming back and winning the game in quadruple overtime. Jalen Hurts was Jalen Hurts. Two national championship games and three Iron Bowls so this stat didn’t really apply to him.

But what will it be like for Casey Thompson in that first half as he gets his indocrination as to what makes OU-Texas such a special game. Good thing for Casey is he’ll have the best running back in America to lean on as the nerves settle down.

I still can’t believe Steve Sarkisian picked Hudson Card as the Longhorn starter given how Casey performed in the Alamo Bowl.

It almost makes me give the Horns a pass for their loss at Arkansas. But here’s the thing….the Razorbacks shreaded the Horns on the ground for 333 rushing yards.

That stat and Spencer Rattler are why I ultimately have to pick OU and give the three.

I’m just settling in tonight drinking a little red wine and listening to music. Maybe I’ll watch the Dodgers-Giants game.

Or maybe I’ll just zone out sports for the second straight night in mental preparation for the Red River Rivalry.

I love this rendition of Every Little Thing She Does by this band even more than the original by the Police. I love bands like this.

It was in the 70’s today in Denver. Snow expected next week. My grandson starts ski school pretty soon. I have to get my knee fixed so I can chase him on the slopes. He will be fearless. There won’t be any snowplowing.

It was a hot day in Oklahoma today. Upper 90’s are being predicted on Friday and I would think it will be hot on the Cotton Bowl floor this Saturday.

OU is a 3.5 Vegas favorite. I have the game at OU at 2.5. Both teams have excellent kickers. The two best quarterbacks in the league. The two best coaches in my estimation.

So like most football games it should be decided by who controls the line of scrimmage from a physicality standpoint and who doesn’t do stupid things to hurt themseleves throughout the game.

No sports on television for me tonight after wotk. Maybe…I’ll catch the Dodger-Giant game on Friday night. I’m clearing my head right now on Thursday.

That epic wildcard baseball game is enough to keep me jacked up until Game Day on Saturday morning. ESPN Game Day will be at the Texas State Fair for this Red River Rivalry despite the fact Iowa vs. Penn State is a battle of two top four ranked teams on the last poll.

What does that tell me?

That tells me ESPN thinks this is the game this week in college football.

I hope my daughter in-law has Chris and Little Robert dressed to kill in crimson for Little Robert’s first Red River Rivalry where he actually knows what’s going on watching the game.

We all in Sooner Nation get jacked in our own ways for this game.

This video is an annual rite of passage for me.

Spencer Rattler…this is the game. You set the tone. You lead and they will follow. Let’s go, buddy.

BOOMER!

THIS WAS A GREAT BASEBALL GAME!!!

It had everything you’d ever want in a one game winner take all wild card game which sends the Dodgers to the next round versus the San Francisco Giants.

For me it was especially great because Chris Taylor, Cody Bellinger, and Corey Seager all came thru Oklahoma City in AAA ball.

And of course I have this thing for Nolan Arenado who now plays for the iconic St. Louis Cardinals instead of the going nowhere Colorado Rockies.

So…I was going to come of this as a winner either way the game went down on Wednesday night.

Chris Taylor was/is my favorite Oklahoma City/LA Dodger because of his vesatility and his blue collarness. Chris Taylor is to the Dodgers is kind of like what Nick Collison was to the Oklahoma City Thunder. My kind of player…as in old school. He does whatever his teams needs from him to be better. What a quaint notion.

I was very conflicted with his game winning at bat though. There was that part of me which wanted Nolan to be the hero. That part which wanted Adam Wainwright and Yadi to advance in what was their next to last season playing major league baseball.

I wish there were more games to be played between these two teams.

And then Max Scherzer the Hall of Famer from the championship Washington Nationals who I thought was going to kick LA manager Dave Roberts’ ass when he took the ball away from Max in the fifth inning.

I love Max Scherzer. Max Scherzer is a bulldog. In fact—I can’t wait to see him against the Giants and beyond.

Coming into this game the 106 win LA Dodgers were the first ever Vegas favorite as a wild card to win the World Series.

What would I say to Nolan and the Cardinals? Come out of the gate strong next season and win your division. Don’t wait until September to start balling. Use this experience as a building block.

Mookie Betz and Trea Turner…nice players. But this was Chris Taylor’s night. This is a guy who didn’t make the Dodgers’s roster in 2017 and was sent to Oklahoma City. Tonight shows what hard work and tenacity can do for you.

Good for you, Chris Taylor…even though you were just trying to hit a single to bring in Cody Bellinger from second base.

This was a great baseball game!