The Oklahoma - Texas Debate (and it's heavy reprecussions...)
I hope everyone had a great holiday and ate plenty of turkey (I know I sure did...). At the end of Thanksgiving, I happened to catch the Texas - Texas A&M game, and thus decided to post this in concerning to the Oklahoma - Texas "debate" that has grown in significance with a shot at not only the Big Twelve crown, but national title. Alas, this debate has serious BCS implications.
One thing I noticed during the Texas beatdown of Texas A&M is their penchant for "reminding us" of the fact they beat Oklahoma 45 - 35 (note, tacky hats in the Texas stands Thursday) at the Cotton Bowl. Slightly ridiculous, considering that same team they lost to got ran off the field in Norman. Do they not realize head-to-head results are essentially null when you have an A beat B, B beat C, but A lost to C situation? Or that of the three head-to-heads, Oklahoma's was the only run-away victory of the three thus carries a heavier weight? I don't care that they lost on what was called a "fluke" play at the end of the game. A loss is a loss, and that doesn't change the fact Texas Tech harassed and dominated McCoy and the offense for about 50 minutes of the game. If anything about that loss was a fluke, it was what would have been their game winning drive had Crabtree not had his Heisman highlight on the last play.
That being said, I personally think Mack Brown and Bob Stoops are two of the top coaches in the country. They both have won consistently over the years and both have national titles. I prefer their laid back coaching style and persona over other "mega-weights" (the Urban Meyer's and Pete Carroll's of the world) - and have immense respect for the programs they run. I also happen to think they are two of the best teams in the country this year. As Mack Brown told Bob Stoops midfield after the game this year - these are two doggone good teams... and it's a shame they're in the best division. He couldn't have been more right. If you throw your biases and misconceptions aside - it is extremely difficult to take one of these teams over another.
I have watched more Oklahoma - Texas - Texas Tech games this year than ever before (probably combined). I had one opinion, up until the Oklahoma - Texas Tech game. Oklahoma had a better offense and Texas a better defense... but mostly across the board - these were two evenly matched teams. I still believe that to a degree - but after watching Oklahoma absolutely harass a previously confident (and taunting) Harrell and mostly shut down Crabtree - you have to acknowledge they obviously have talent on that defense that can step it up and play.
As has been noted - up until this point, none of the teams have a marquee road win. Should Oklahoma beat a good Oklahoma State team in Stillwater - a place that has often gave them fits - whether it is close or another rout, I would elevate OU ahead of Stoops and thus into the Big Twelve game with a shot at the national championship. A marquee road win would be about all there is to separate these teams, and thus the deciding factor. I took in to account overall results, records, results against common opponents, non-conference schedules, and team intangibles when coming to this conclusion.
I totally understand both Bob Stoops' and Mack Brown's comments concerning this mind-twisting situation. It is unfair that they are reduced to politicking why either team deserves a shot. Make no mistake, one team will be slighted, but coaches and teams must realize, once you lose - your destiny is not in your own hands anymore with this current BCS set-up. Luck, timing, and fortunes (amongst other things) can just as much determine the national championship participants as does results.
First things first - we'll see how Oklahoma fares later tonight. Maybe if the marbles fall just right - these teams could rematch for the national championship. This is something I have hypothesized and theorized on since their early October match-up, and is something I'm not opposed to if other scenarios fall into place (one of the SEC title game participants losing to a rival this weekend, then rebounding to win the SEC title). Just imagine the BCS backlash then.
Coming soon -
Part II. Texas Tech for it all should Oklahoma lose?
Part III. Heisman - Colt McCoy or Sam Bradford
Part IV. A BCS Title Game Rematch?
Ariel Meredith
Tatiana Golovin
Yankees World Series Parade
College Football Top 25 Review
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I'm sure all OU fans are sick of hearing 45-35. Fact is, they lost. All the OU whiners start out with " yes, they beat us, but....." But what? Texas beat OU, it is a fact. And another fact is that Texas played TT in Lubbock, OU got them at home. All OU fans should just be thankful that Big 12 three way tiebreakers scenario is not what it should be, like the SEC has. A three way tie in the SEC basically says they throw out the lowest ranked team, in the case of the Big 12, TT, and simply go by head to head results of the top two. OU will simply NOT ADMIT or come to grips with the fact they lost to Texas this year. If the outcome had been reversed, the score is ALL they would be talking about. Let's see if they can win a tough one on the road tonight. If they beat the Cowboys like they did TT, my hat will be off to them. OU has also not played, let alone beaten Missouri yet, either.
spectra
Total Comments (27)
I'm not railing for either. I like them both being non-partisan. But, fact is, Texas also lost as well. It's not Oklahoma's fault they happen to have them at home. From the looks of that game, it could have been played at Texas Tech and the result wouldn't have been much different. 39-33. As I said, when you lose, you're destiny is out of your own doing. Had Texas not given up that significant yardage drive to end the game, we wouldn't be having this conversation. Regardless, I have already decided to root for either who advances in both the Big Twelve Championship and national title game against their assumed SEC foe.
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Texas won a head-to-head against OU on a neutral field, granted. Texas also lost a head-to-head against a team that OU spanked. Fact is that if the 'kids' did 'everything they were supposed to', as Mack Brown mentioned on national TV tonight, the Longhorns would be undefeated right now. As it stands, the Big XII South has 3 teams with equal records, and all three are intertwined with this odd A beat B, but lost to C scenario. The SEC method is only being rallied around by Mack Brown and the Longhorn Nation because it benefits Texas. Same goes for the RRS 'head-to-head' somehow being more important than the other head-to-heads. One thing I am glad for is to not hear Bob Stoops clamoring for this that or the other just to give 'the kids' a chance for doing 'everything they were supposed to'.
Desert Sapper
Total Comments (6)
I agree #3. After watching the game last night (and the unnecessary mid-game call to Mack Brown), I feel like a lot more of the politicking is coming from the Texas side of the field, as if we need that after a president election year. What is lost is that these are both two great teams who've accomplished great feats, and that the Big 12 will be well represented in the national title game by either, barring a major upset by lackluster Missouri.
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Debate settled... 45-35!!! wait a minute...... BOOMER BABY! BCS #2!
MindofMine
Tulsa , OK
Total Comments (17)
Congratulations to both Bob Stoops and Oklahoma.
For Texas - don't give up hope just yet... just check the BCS.
I love the Texas barricade on Florida that's going on (2nd week).
Coming soon - an article on a possible OU/TX rematch.
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And if the outcome were reversed, Texas and Mack Brown wouldn't be complaining about the BCS determining the 5th tie-breaker. I like this blog, written by a non-partisan football fan, which states these two teams are pretty much dead even in talent and overall performance. Sure we can admit we lost to Texas. Even with evenly-matched teams someone has to lose head to head. Texas didn't blow us out of the water like we did TT. Nuetral field? I don't agree completely...even with halvsies on the tickets it is in Texas, but ok, fine. What about the highly-emotional game that is OU vs. Texas, in one of, if not the greatest, most celebrated college football rivalries of all time? Anything can happen in that game. I'm not saying it's a fluke that we lost. Texas played better football on THAT day, between two outstanding, teams of pretty much equal caliber. Football teams develop and improve throughout the season and I think we've seen that with OU, especially in our quality win over OSU in Stillwater. We are fortunate the BCS Wheel of Fortune spun in our favor, but I think we are no less deserving.
soonersrock
Total Comments (19)
I agree with this one 100%. I'm die-hard Oklahoma, Sooner born, Sooner bred, etc., etc., etc., and I despise Texas like any true OU fan does. But I supported them in the NC game against USC and would do the same if they were representing the Big 12 this year. I don't agree with the politics either and thought the Mack Brown phone call during the OU - OSU game was in poor taste.
soonersrock
Total Comments (19)
You lose late , you go to the back of the line thats how it has always been, you cant expect to stay in the front of the rankings with a loss at the end of the season that degrades the hard work other teams have put out to battle back to the front! Sorry Mac.....back of the line.... your win in Dallas was somewhat dubious to say the least anyway!
Objective1
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