FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Lately, I've been reading a lot of posts here on FN that OU should fire Coach Bob Stoops.  These come both from fans of other teams and from a few bonehead OU fans. 

I acknowledge that OU has lost the last 3 BCS National Championship games it's played in, as well as other bowl game losses, 4 losses in 5 years to UTx, and some embarrassing upsets.  This seems to some to be an indication that Coach Stoops "can't win the big games."  First of all, the coaches don't play the games - the players do ... but I'm willing to admit that the coaches are an integral part of the "the team".  When teams lose, the players and coaches have to accept that they were part of that loss.  I think Coach Stoops has always been willing to admit to his share of the responsibility for team losses, and teaches his players to accept their parts, as well.  An objective look at the record contradicts the idea that OU has lost all their "big games" recently.  Yes, the record isn't dazzlingly in favor of OU during the Stoops era, which started out strong (leading to the "big game Bob" label by the media) - reality has set in, but not overwhelming against the Stoops-led Sooners, either.

Many of the negative posts regarding Coach Stoops seem to suggest that their losses in big games are due to one or more of the following coaching responsibilities:  play-calling, team preparation, player motivation, choice of assistant coaches, etc.  Apparently, these fans believe they know better than Coach Stoops how to coach a football team.   For my part, since I wasn't part of the team and don't know what went on in particular situations, I'm not in a strong position to question their decisions.  If I knew more about the details, perhaps what seems like a poor decision to me might be more sensible than meets the eye.  Nor am I a college football coach, so I have no professional qualifications to back up any criticism I might offer.  It's the right of any fan to criticize, of course - but most of us fans don't know enough to give our comments much credibility. I certainly don't claim that for myself.  

Virtually every team that's a perennial winner (as OU has been under Coach Stoops) has losses - including some blowouts once in a while.  OU has been blown out of some recent games, and that's not something anyone is proud of, least of all the coach.  And most every team has streaks where they can't seem to "win the big game".  But I don't think you can lay the responsibility for losses (and blowouts) at the feet of the coach alone.

Most college football programs would be proud with a record that looked like this:

• 2008:  12-2 / played in BCS NC game / Won Big-12 Championship

• 2007:  11-3 / Fiesta Bowl (BCS) / Won Big-12 Championship

• 2006:  11-3 / Fiesta Bowl (BCS) / Won Big-12 Championship

• 2005:  8-4 / Won Holiday Bowl

• 2004: 12-1 / played in BCS NC game / Won Big-12 Championship

• 2003:  12-2 / played in BCS NC game / Played in Big-12 Championship

• 2002:  12-2 / Won Rose Bowl (BCS) / Won Big-12 Championship

• 2001:  11-2 / Won Cotton Bowl 

• 2000:  13-0 / Won BCS NC game / Won Big-12 Championship

Over 9 years, the record is 102-19 (roughly, an average season record of 11-2) That's not the absolute best team performance in the land over that period, but it's one that shouldn't require any apologies by Coach Stoops and certainly doesn't seem to represent a plausible reason for replacing him.

Anyone who remembers the years of OU football mediocrity following Coach Switzer's unglorious departure, and before the arrival of Coach Stoops, should be grateful for what has happened under Coach Stoops to make OU fans proud of their team again and generally spoiled - expectations of endless national championships have arisen.  A string of poor coaches and mediocre teams made it easy to buy game tickets during that stretch as fair-weather fans abandoned the team - only to climb back aboard in 2000, naturally.  Most college football teams would be ecstatic to have OU's record over the span from 2000-2008! But there's more to this debate than wins and losses.

Fans of other teams (and some OU fans) may not know about the other aspects of being a college football coach.  Coach Stoops works very hard to help his athletes live up to the responsibility for keeping up their grades, providing many different ways to support their academics.  He also doesn't hesitate to hold his athletes responsible for their off-the-field behavior, up to and including dismissing egregious violators from the team.  He has a very strong intolerance for bad behavior by his players and won't hesitate to initiate appropriate disciplinary actions.  OU fans during the Switzer era remember a much greater tolerance for shameful player behavior on and off the field that was an embarrassment to OU and to many fans, despite the winning record.  Coach Stoops has made it point to win the right way.  If he can't win the right way, he won't go beyond the lines just for the sake of more victories.

The coach also donates large sums every year back to the University to support academic, not sports, programs.  I don't think he does so just as a tax dodge.  I think it's because he genuinely cares about that side of the University.  He creates a "family" atmosphere around the program that is an example to all the other coaches and especially to the players.  Adrian Peterson could speak volumes about that I'm sure - he's a fine example of a young man who prospered under the tutelage of Coach Stoops.

And look at how many head coaches have been developed who were part of Coach Stoops' program here at OU!  Despite losing assistant coach after assistant coach, the program rolls on successfully, year after year.  Coach Stoops encourages the career development of his assistants and wishes them success on their own.  In the same way, he encourages his best athletes to seize the opportunity to turn pro when it's best for them.  It's not just about helping OU win all their games and in the process make Coach Stoops record even more successful than it is - it's about helping young men become successful. That's what being a college football coach is supposed to be about, imho.

So I think the talk about him being fired for losing BCS bowl games is outrageous nonsense.  There are many OU fans who value him not just for his winning record, but for his ability to win in a way that reflects credit on his players and on the University, making most fans proud to be associated with the team.  Please, let him stay on here at OU until he chooses to retire!!