Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: Five best Oklahoma defenses since 2000

By Chip Rouse

Oklahoma's Jalen Redmond (31) pressures Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.Presto Id
Oklahoma's Jalen Redmond (31) pressures Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders (3) in the first half during the Bedlam college football game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, in Norman, Okla., Saturday, Nov., 19, 2022.Presto Id /
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Oct 30, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker DaShaun White (23) and defensive back Key Lawrence (12) tackle Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Donovan Smith (7) during the first half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2021; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners linebacker DaShaun White (23) and defensive back Key Lawrence (12) tackle Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Donovan Smith (7) during the first half at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

1. 2003 Oklahoma Sooner defense

There is a reason why four of the five best Oklahoma defensive teams are the first four seasons of the new century. The No. 1 reason, of course, is that they had good defensive players. The coaching staff — which, in all candor, included three elite defensive coaches (head coach Stoops along with assistants Brent Venables and brother Mike) — was heavily slanted to defensive football and that was a hallmark in the early years of the Bob Stoops coaching era, and during that time, the OU offense continued to get better and better.

No. question that 2003 was a stellar defensive year for Oklahoma football. The Sooners finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record and 8-0 in the Big 12. OU did not win the Big 12 championship, however, losing to Kansas State. Despite that, OU’s dominance throughout the regular season earned them a spot in the BCS National Championship against an LSU team coached by Nick Saban.

Oklahoma and Heisman Trophy quarterback Jason White lost to LSU 20-14, but that did nothing to diminish the outstanding season turned in by the Sooner defensive unit.

The 2003 Oklahoma defense, which included names such as Tommie Harris, Dan Cody, Teddy Lehman, Antonio Perkins and Derrick Strait. ranked No. 3 in the country in total defense (260 yards per game). They were No. 2 defensively in pass defense, giving up just 146 yards through the air per game, and No. 20 in run defense, allowing 113 yards per contest.

As a result, teams did not sustain many scoring drives against the Sooners. The 15.3 points averaged against OU were the fifth fewest in the country.

All five of these Oklahoma defensive teams are examples of how good this Sooner team was defensively in the not-too-distant past, but more importantly can be once again.

Brent Venables was an integral part of all of these outstanding Oklahoma defensive teams. No reason why he can’t be again. Sooner fans are banking on it.

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