Fact or Fiction: Oklahoma Football Off-Season Edition
Jan 2, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Lacoltan Bester (11) catches a pass in front of Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Eddie Jackson (4) in the second half at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Oklahoma defeated Alabama 45-31. Mandatory Credit: Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports
Of course being in the off-season, recruiting is now in high gear. We are a week away from National Signing Day, and with commits such as Joe Mixon, OU fans have plenty of reason to be excited for the 2014 season. Though during this down time, we not only reflect on the past season, but also look forward to the upcoming one. In this edition of Fact or Fiction, the Stormin’ in Norman staff tackles a few statements up for debate.
OU’s win over Bama was Bob Stoops’ biggest victory in his tenure.
Joe Buettner, Editor-in-Chief (@joebuet): Fact. Oklahoma’s win over Florida State was a huge victory in 2000. However, this team was ripped apart by Baylor. Needed three quarterbacks to win Bedlam. They were considered a “business decision” and not a team deserving of a BCS berth. This was Stoops’ best coaching job hands down.
Christopher Long, Staff Writer (@the_real_clong): Fiction. Though, it is most likely ranked second on the already impressive resumé of Bob Stoops, the 2000 national title win over the two touchdown favorite Florida State Seminoles still has to to rank at the top. Though, beating Alabama is a nice feather in Coach Stoops’ cap.
Sean Forster, The C3 Show Co-Host (@Onikuno): Fact. It’s easy to say that winning the 2000 National Championship is without question Stoops’ biggest win. But, you have to remember that team in 2000 was virtually 100% healthy outside of a nagging shoulder injury Josh Heupel was dealing with. The 2013 Sooners had zero consistency in QB play, had to reshuffle an offensive line with only one starter playing his true position through out the entire season, and was a 17-point underdog to boot. Nick Saban is the gold standard in college football coaching today. Few have beaten one of his teams like the Sooners did in the 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Joe Mixon becomes the premier running back his freshman year.
Joe Buettner: Fiction. I like Mixon, but give him a year before he becomes THE man on campus. Keith Ford showed some signs of greatness in 2013, and I think he performs well enough to make an argument as OU’s best running back with Mixon still adjusting to the college game and learning Oklahoma’s system.
Christopher Long: Fact. Given Joe Mixon’s ability not only to run the ball, but accumulate all purpose yards, I see him making an instant impact. A DeMarco Murray type runner, and receiver. Between him, Keith Ford, and Trevor Knight. The running game should be even better than it was this year.
Sean Forster: Fact. The door is wide open for Mixon to become the starter by the clash with Texas in Dallas…hmmmm, why does THAT sound so familiar? Keith Ford will have an advantage early by going through spring as the favorite, but that all changes once Mixon officially steps on campus.
OU is ranked in the 2014 preseason top five.
Joe Buettner: Fiction. I say Oklahoma does not make the cut, because while the nation had to be impressed by the Sugar Bowl win, there are a lot of teams vying for those spots, and Oklahoma is poised to be the odd man out.
Christopher Long: Fiction. Though beating Alabama earned OU a ton of respect, I believe that the Sooners will just miss out on the top five in the preseason polls, not moving from their 6th spot. Which is honestly fine with me, because preseason polls are dumb anyway. Oklahoma’s schedule sets up for them to be in the top four when it comes time for the selection committee, and at the end of the day, its not always how you start, but how you finish. If Bob Stoops gets another title starting the year off at 6th in the nation, that is okay with me.
Sean Forster: Fiction. Take this with a grain of salt, but I think there are too many teams that will get the benefit of the doubt (i.e. Bama, Auburn, Oregon etc.). OU will definitely be in the top ten, but I think they’ll be somewhere in the neighborhood of #6 or #7.
At least one Sooner will take a home an NCAA College Football Award.
Joe Buettner: Fact. OU actually might have multiple guys win awards. This a talented group coming back, and I would give Charles Tapper, Geneo Grissom, or Eric Striker to get some national love. Trevor Knight could also be the next dual threat quarterback to contend for a national award (maybe the Heisman???). Then there’s Michael Hunnicutt, but hopefully he won’t be needed too much if the offense can score seven a lot this year.
Christopher Long: Fact. You have arguably two of the best freshmen defenders in the country in Dominique Alexander and Zach Sanchez coming back for their sophomore year. Eric Striker, is a beast, who should improve for his junior season. I would wager atleast one of the players mentioned could bring home a Butkus or Thorpe award. Then of course, Trevor Knight, should he play the way he played Alabama all season, is a Heisman Finalist, and possibly the winner.
Sean Forster: Fact. If OU plays like they did in the Sugar Bowl for most of the 2014 season you can expect to have two or three players on national award lists. But there is one that I think has a great chance to be an award winner—Michael Hunnicut for the Groza.
Oklahoma makes the first four-team playoff next season.
Joe Buettner: Fiction. The Big 12 should not be an overly tough conference to win, but road trips to Morgantown, Lubbock, and a possible Thursday night trip to Ames are a bit concerning. Oklahoma will have to prove they can play like they did at the Sugar Bowl on a weekly basis before I can put them in that category.
Christopher Long: Fact. Oklahoma’s schedule just plays out for a run next year. The home games include Baylor, Oklahoma State, Kansas State. OSU will be down, Baylor lost several key offensive players, though Bryce Petty is still behind center. Kansas State has very real potential to be a good team in the Big 12. Texas, underwent a coaching change. Though Coach Strong is an excellent coach, I believe he will have the Longhorns up and going, much to the dismay of Sooners fans. However, I am thinking that Bob Stoops should be able to get the better of Charlie Strong this season, and most likely a few others in the near future. Should Oklahoma go undefeated next year, and win the Big 12, there is no reason that Oklahoma should not be in the final four.
Sean Forster: Fact. The schedule, the returning starters, and the potential of imapct freshmen are all there. Baylor and OSU are home games, the defense should only get better, and Joe Mixon could easily be a star if everything falls into place. A trip to New Orleans or Pasadena is definitely in OU’s future.