Bob Stoops Talks About the Sooners’ 2015 Opening-Game Win

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops liked what he saw from his team in the Sooners’ opening-game win over Akron, but he also knows they will have to play even better to achieve the same result this weekend at Tennessee.

One of the areas in Saturday’s victory that was highly disconcerting to the man who over the past 16 seasons has brought the OU football brand back to prominence in the college game, was lost yardage through penalties.

Sep 5, 2015; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Bob Stoops watches his team in action against the Akron Zips during the third quarter at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Sooners were flagged nine times in the Akron game for a total of 90 yards. It would be easy to chalk this up to first-game nerves and the general rustiness that comes with starting out a new season, but these are the kind of mistakes that, if perpetuated as the season progresses, will lead to a team beating itself, especially as the competition gets tougher.

A year ago, against Louisiana Tech in the 2014 season opener, Oklahoma committed just three penalties for 34 yards the entire game. Over 13 games last season, the Sooners averaged just under 50 yards a game in penalties.

Stoops talked about the new Sooner offense, his team’s huge defensive stand and what needs to happen between weeks one and two as OU gets ready to take on nationally ranked Tennessee on Saturday.

Here are excerpts of what the OU head coach had to say after the 2015 season opener against Akron:

On how the new Air Raid offense struggled before eventually taking off:

"“(As the game progressed) the execution was a little better. We didn’t hurt ourselves as much. We had a couple of penalties. When you have a holding penalty, all of a sudden, it’s first and 25 or first and 20, and it’s just hard to overcome. We had a few bad plays like that where we hurt ourselves, and we’ve got to play smarter and with better discipline.”"

On the Sooners’ defensive effort:

"“Anytime you keep someone under 200 yards…I thought they did a great job. The guys were very good with their communication and adjustments (something that was lacking many times last season). When you’re doing everything right and you’re making people beat you, that’s a good thing.”"

What the Sooners need to do to be ready to take on Tennessee there?

"“We need a lot of improvement. I think the guys have done everything we’ve asked of them through the spring and summer, but we’ve got to make a big jump from now to next Saturday. I think, as much as anything, starting better…We’ve got to eliminate (foolish penalties) and play in a smarter, better way next week.”"