Weis’ Dismissal A Matter Of Wins & Losses

By Mark J. Zavodnyik

When Charlie Weis arrived at Notre Dame, he found a program severely lacking in talent, facilities, and direction.

The university and its fans expected the team to compete for national championships, but there was no infrastructure in place to accomplish that goal.

Under Weis, the talent level at Notre Dame has been significantly upgraded. Weis brought a cache that resonated with recruits and made the school a factor in the decision-making process of many of the country’s top players. Weis’ recruiting classes were consistently rated among the top ten by national recruiting services.

Today, the Notre Dame football program is a well-run, modern machine. The talent and facilities have been upgraded. The administration, admissions department and the football program are now on the same page and communicate effectively.

Weis was able to accomplish all of this while running a clean program that finished first in graduation success rate this year.

But in the end, it’s about wins and losses. And nobody knows this more than Weis.

Weis’ first two seasons at Notre Dame were successful. The Irish went 19-6 during that period and played in BCS games following the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Since that time, however, Weis has guided Notre Dame to paltry 16-21 record.

The numbers get worse. Weis was 1-25 against teams finishing in the top 25 of any major poll. In 2007 Weis became the first Notre Dame coach to lose to Navy since 1961. He did not once, but twice.

His 10-15 record from 2007-2008 is the worst two-year period in Notre Dame football history. And the most significant stat: Weis’ record against Southern Cal: 0-5.

After weeks of speculation, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick announced on Monday that Weis had been fired.

"We have great expectations for our football program, and we have not been able to meet those expectations," Swarbrick said. "As an alumnus, Charlie understands those goals and expectations better than most, and he's as disappointed as anyone that we have not achieved the desired results."

With that, a nation of fans begins to continuously refresh message boards, blogs and websites hoping that a kernel of news will spill out of the rumor mill indicating that the next Notre Dame head coach will bring inspiration to the masses. Urban Meyer, Bob Stoops, Bruce Springsteen.

As the next days unfold, and F5 buttons are worn down, a multitude of candidates will be whispered as the savior of Notre Dame football.

“So-and-So just bought a house in South Bend.” Or, “I just heard from my cousin that the Notre Dame plane was spotted on a runway a few miles from Gainesville.”

Whether the next coach is Stoops, Brian Kelly, or Mike Ditka, he will be expected to win quickly. The pieces are in place. Weis put them there.

At his introductory news conference in 2004, Weis said: "You are what you are, folks…and right now you're a 6-5 football team. And guess what? That's just not good enough. That's not good enough for you, and it's certainly not going to be good enough for me."

The record of 6-5 was not good enough when he arrived, and 6-6 is not good enough as he leaves.

Photos Courtesy of Notre Dame Sports Information

Bowl Projections

Breaking Down the Bowl Game schedule, and some potential match-ups

THE TITLE GAME:

1.7.10 - Citi BCS Championship Game (BCS #1 vs. BCS #2) Texas vs. Alabama - A very satisfying Championship: Two coaches with rings and 13-0 squads. What’s not to love?

THE BCS BOWLS:

1.1.10 - Rose Bowl presented by Citi (BCS/Big Ten Champ If Available vs. BCS/Pac-10 Champ If Available) Ohio State vs. Oregon - Only thing you’d need is Keith Jackson to make it complete.

1.1.10 - Allstate Sugar Bowl (BCS/SEC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Florida vs. Cincinnati - An undefeated Bearcats team could prove themselves to all the Big East haters out there by knocking off the SEC runner-up.

1.4.10 - Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (BCS/Big 12 Champ If Available vs. BCS) Boise State vs. Iowa - Some other candidates for this bowl game would be…Oklahoma State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Stanford or USC.

1.5.10 - FedEx Orange Bowl (BCS/ACC Champ If Available vs. BCS) Georgia Tech vs. TCU - Perhaps one of the most entertaining potential match-ups of any of the BCS games, it features pass rushers, quirky offenses and a galore of speedsters.

THE REST OF THE BOWL SCHEDULE:

12.19.09 - New Mexico Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Nevada vs. Ohio - These are the glory years for Wolf Pack football…this would be their fourth consecutive bowl game.

12.20.09 - R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (C-USA vs. Sun Belt) Southern Miss vs. Troy - The Troy Trojans have been sort of a dynasty in the Sun Belt.


12.19.09 - St. Petersburg Bowl (Big East vs. C-USA) South Florida vs. Central Florida - The winner will take home a trophy and an edge in the recruiting battle. Not to mention the right to talk smack all off-season.

12.22.09 - Las Vegas Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10) Utah vs. Arizona - Could the Wildcats make it back-to-back Vegas Bowl wins?

12.23.09 - San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Mountain West vs. Pac-10 or WAC) BYU vs. California - Could feature two pre-season Heisman candidates in Max Hall and Jahvid Best. Get your scoreboard ready!

12.24.09 - Sheraton Hawaii Bowl (WAC vs. C-USA) Fresno State vs. East Carolina - Christmas Eve football is always fun.

12.26.09 - Meineke Car Care Bowl (Big East vs. ACC) North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh - Head Coaches Dave Wannstedt and Butch Davis once hooked up in the NFL when the Dolphins defeated in the Browns. One of the two will get their first bowl victory at their current school.

12.26.09 - Little Caesars Bowl (MAC vs. Big Ten) Central Michigan vs. Iowa State - There’s a chance a Big Ten team would be in this one, imagine Michigan? We can’t either…

12.26.09 - Emerald Bowl (Pac-10 vs. ACC) Boston College vs. Stanford - Two of the more surprising teams of the year.

12.27.09- Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl (ACC vs. SEC) Clemson vs. Auburn - Getting your money’s worth. These two teams could be ranked coming in.

12.28.09 - AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl (SEC vs. Big 12) South Carolina vs. Kansas State - Two coaches who’ve seen better days (Steve Spurrier and Bill Snyder).

12.29.09 - EagleBank Bowl (ACC vs. Army/Conference USA) Duke vs. Marshall - The Blue Devils are one win away from becoming eligible, an amazing turn around from 1-11 in 2007.

12.29.09 - Champs Sports Bowl - (ACC vs. Big Ten) Florida State vs. Michigan State - Could be Head Coach Bobby Bowden’s final game.

12.30.09 - Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl (WAC vs. Mountain West) Idaho vs. Middle Tennessee State - Idaho A.D. Rob Spear refused to fly on Horizon airlines because their planes featured Boise State colors (and logo), now his team is likely to play on the Smurf Turf. Can anyone offer him a ride?

12.30.09 - Texas Bowl (Big XII vs. Navy) Texas Tech vs. Navy – Would Coach Mike Leach be more likely to twitter on the sidelines or run Navy’s triple-option?

12.30.09 - Pacific Life Holiday Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big XII) USC vs. Oklahoma - Pete Carroll vs. Bob Stoops.

12.31.09 - Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl (Mountain West vs. C-USA) Air Force vs. Southern Methodist – Classic contrast: Run and Shoot vs. Triple Option.

12.31.09 - Burt Sun Bowl (Pac-10 vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Oregon State vs. Notre Dame - A Notre Dame coach once got fired right before a bowl game facing Oregon State. Tyrone Willingham right before the 2004 Insight Bowl.

12.31.09 - Insight Bowl (Big 12 vs. Big Ten) Missouri vs. Minnesota - Gophers looking to end their Insight Bowl woes – lost in both 2006 and 2008.

12.31.09 - Chick-Fil-A Bowl (SEC vs. ACC) Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech – Expect bigger things in 2011…

1.1.10 - Outback Bowl (Big Ten vs. SEC) Wisconsin vs. Georgia - Two underrated teams, two hardnosed running games.

1.1.10 - Capital One Bowl (SEC vs. Big Ten) LSU vs. Penn State - Daunting defenses and classic jerseys, however a potential one-sided match-up.

1.1.10 - Konica Minolta Gator Bowl (ACC vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame) Nebraska vs. Miami (FL) - 1984, 2001, 2010?

1.2.10 - International Bowl (Big East vs. MAC) Rutgers vs. Temple - It used to be a battle for the basement in the Big East, now is a contest between programs on the rise.

1.2.10 - Papa John.com Bowl (Big East vs. SEC) West Virginia vs. Kentucky - Sounds more like this year’s Elite Eight in the NCAAs.

1.2.10 - AT&T Cotton Bowl (Big 12 - SEC) Oklahoma State vs. Ole Miss - Features two exciting quarterbacks in Jevan Snead and Zac Robinson. Remember, in the pre-season these two teams were considered to be national title sleepers…

1.2.10 - AutoZone Liberty Bowl (C-USA vs. SEC) Houston vs. Arkansas - Over/Under around 83?

1.2.10 - Valero Alamo Bowl (Big Ten vs. Big 12) Northwestern vs. Texas A&M - For only the second time in school history Northwestern will be heading to back-to-back Bowl games. Now can they get their first post-season win since 1948?

1.6.10 - GMAC Bowl (ACC or WAC) Northern Illinois vs. Wyoming - The Wyoming Cowboys are just one win away from being bowl eligible.

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media, Jaren Wilkey/BYU, FSU Sports Information, Dave
Stluka/Wisconsin

CFI Countdown: #2 Oklahoma Sooners

2008 Record: 12-2 (Big 12: 7-1)
Bowl Game: Lost BCS Championship Game to Florida 24-12
Location: Norman, Oklahoma
Stadium: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)
Head Coach: Bob Stoops
Overall: 109-24 (11th season)
@ Oklahoma: 109-24 (11th season)
Link to OU Football Page

Boomer Sooner overcame a loss to Texas to win their sixth Big XII title under Coach Bob Stoops (in 10 seasons), including their third straight (no other team has consecutive conference titles). Oklahoma also made their fourth BCS Championship game in the Stoops era, but fell for the third time in a row (Stoops won a title in 2000, his second season at OU). The 2008 edition—led by Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford—was an offensive juggernaut, but expect the 2009 version to get back to basics with the defense leading the way, just as it did at the start of the decade.

When the Sooners Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Kevin Wilson (8th season)
Scheme: No Huddle Spread Offense (Multiple Sets)
Starters Returning: Five
Key Losses: WR Juaquin Iglesias, WR Manuel Johnson, OT Phil Loadholt, OG Duke Robinson, C Jon Copper, OG Brandon Walker

Bradford returns after his splendid sophomore season, giving up the chance to potentially be the number one overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. Bradford has exceptional touch and accuracy on his passes, and one of the quickest releases in the game. The Sooner signal caller makes great decisions and knows how lead his receivers with the ball, allowing them to make things happen after the catch. He can beat you underneath, over the top, and everywhere in between. Their top receivers from a year ago are gone, so look for sophomore Ryan Broyles to step in as the number one target. Broyles has the speed to burn teams deep, as well as take a short pass and work his magic in the open field. This is the last chance for 6’ 4” senior Adron Tennell to fulfill his potential, and he gives Bradford a big target. There will be several other talented players competing for playing time with former tailback Mossis Madu, a very intriguing backup. Of course in crunch time, don’t be surprised if Bradford looks for senior tight end Jermaine Gresham who, like his quarterback, looked away from NFL riches in order to wear the OU on the side of his helmet for one more season. Gresham moves like a wide receiver, owning impressive athleticism and good hands. The 6’ 6” playmaker also checks in at nearly 260 pounds—a small man he is not. At tailback, senior Chris Brown and junior DeMarco Murray give Oklahoma a classic one-two punch—each went over 1,000 yards last season. The shifty Brown excels between the tackles and has a nose for the end zone, while the powerful and speedy Murray is as explosive as they come. Losing four starters from the offensive line makes that unit the biggest question mark in Norman, bar none. They should be set at left tackle where potential All-American Trent Williams takes over. The ability is there, but they need to gain the continuity last year’s unit had when they were among the best in the nation.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) QB Sam Bradford (JR), 2) TE Jermaine Gresham (SR), 3) TE Trent Williams (SR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Brent Venables (11th season)
Scheme: 4-3
Starters Returning: Eight
Key Losses: S Nic Harris, S Lendy Holmes

The defense has a chance to be the best in the nation and the best in the Stoops era, which is saying something. It begins with junior tackle Gerald McCoy who at his best is simply unblockable. McCoy can hold the fort with his 6’ 4”/297-pound frame and use his quickness to be a penetrating force—in a word, he’s gifted. If senior DeMarcus Granger can ever get it together, watch out. On the outside, senior Auston English joins junior Jeremy Beal, and the Oklahoma bookends form what is arguably the top pass-rushing duo in the Big XII. Both bring length and are impressive athletes who excel at getting into the backfield. They have two of the fastest linebackers around in sophomore Travis Lewis and senior Keenan Clayton. Lewis had as much impact as any freshman defender in the nation last season—he flies all over the field and is a big time hitter, while Clayton is a former safety who still runs like a defensive back. If senior Ryan Reynolds and sophomore Austin Box recover from their injuries this is the best front seven in America. Both Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson are back after stepping into the starting cornerback roles a year ago. Franks is the better cover man with excellent speed, while Jackson brings a little more size. The only question mark they have is at safety, where they must replace both starters from 2008.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) DT Gerald McCoy (JR), LB Travis Lewis (SO), 3) CB Dominique Franks (JR)

The Schedule

Unlike their rivals from across the border, the Sooners actually play a decent non-conference schedule, even taking on a ranked foe in BYU. They open up the season this Saturday with the pass happy Houston Cougars in Dallas and make a trip to Miami beach to take on the ‘Canes in a classic 80’s matchup (Barry Switzer versus Jimmy Johnson anyone?) before they begin conference play. Like every year this decade, the Sooners’ biggest game comes when they make the annual trip to Dallas to take on the ‘Horns in the third Saturday in October. A third journey to the Lone Star state is one of three challenging Big XII road games as they visit Texas Tech. They also make road trips to the top two teams in the North, traveling to Lawrence (Kansas) and Lincoln as they renew their rivalry with Nebraska (Barry Switzer versus Tom Osborne?). They close the season with a visit from one of the most dangerous Oklahoma St. teams in years.

Pivotal Point

With a team that is stacked with NFL prospects at every position, the one unit that could derail a return trip to the BCS Championship game is the offensive line. Everyone knows what Bradford, Broyles, Brown, Murray, and Gresham can do. It will be the job of the O-Line to make sure the offense doesn’t take a step back—Bradford and his backs can’t block for themselves. Even the one “sure thing”, Williams, is entering new territory as he shifts from right tackle to protecting Bradford’s blindside. Center Brody Eldridge is a senior and junior guard Brian Simmons has experience with sophomore guard Jarvis Jones, an LSU transfer, and junior tackle Cory Brandon manning the right side of the line. They have five games to get ready for Texas.

CFI Final Analysis

“Paging Big Game Bob…paging Big Game Bob.” The offensive line is the unit with the spotlight on them, but the responsibilities of how the Sooners play in big games fall on Coach Stoops. Early in his career the Sooners knocked off top ten teams at will, owned Mack Brown and the Longhorns, and won a National Championship, earning Stoops the “Big Game Bob” moniker. While their Big XII dominance continues, Big Game Bob has been missing. Oklahoma has dropped three of four to Texas and some of their BCS performances have been downright ugly. It’s time to turn that around and 2009 could leave many saying Big Game Bob is back.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies
#8 Georgia Bulldogs
#7 USC Trojans
#6 LSU Tigers
#5 Ohio St. Buckeyes
#4 Alabama Crimson Tide
#3 Texas Longhorns

Photos Courtesy of OU Athletics Department

Boomer Sooners Say Later to the NFL

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has decided he will play at least one more season in Norman. Many had Bradford slotted as a sure-fire top five pick, if not the number one overall choice. However, at the Heisman Trophy presentation Oklahoma headman Bob Stoops told the NFL Draft Bible that anyone who believes Bradford is a consensus top five pick wasn’t talking to the same NFL people he was.

"I've dreamed about playing at Oklahoma since I was little,” Bradford said earlier today at a press conference. “My three years here have been probably three of the best years of my life, and I really feel that there's no need to cut this experience short."

Bradford threw for 4,721 yards and 50 touchdown passes while completing 67.9 percent of his passes on his way to the Heisman Trophy. Bradford, 21, was a red-shirt sophomore. Perhaps making his decision to stay an easier one is the fact he will have tight end Jermaine Gresham to throw to and offensive tackle Trent Williams to block for him. Gresham and Williams were both juniors, who many believed would forgo their finals season in Norman for an NFL payday. Gresham, the 6’6/261 pound tight end caught 66 passes for 950 yards and 14 scores, while many believed the 6’5 Williams had a better season than either left tackle Phil Loadholt or left guard Duke Robinson – a pair of potential day one selections.

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

FedEx BCS National Championship Game Oklahoma vs. Florida

By RALPH MANCINI

January 8, 2009 * 8:15 * FOX

Coach Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma Sooners will be marching into Miami’s Dolphin Stadium to capture the program’s eighth national championship, but to do so they must rein in a high-powered Florida squad known as the “fastest team in America.” Both offenses can light up the scoreboard in the blink of an eye. While Urban Meyer’s crew leads the Southeastern Conference in scoring (45.2 ppg) and total offense (442.4 ypg), the Sam Bradford-led Sooners are a point-a-minute machine that has produced 18 scoring drives of 60 seconds or less during the regular season and is riding a five-game streak in which their offense has scored 60 or more points.

When Boomer Sooner Has the Ball

Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford has the perfect blend of size, arm strength, accuracy and on-field intelligence. The 6’4” signal caller completed 68 percent of his passes in 2008 for 4,464 yards with a ridiculous 48-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. But for all his throwing skills, Bradford’s ability to move in the pocket and side step pressure make him nearly impossible to contain. The 21-year-old’s job is made that much easier by his fearsome group of bodyguards led by mammoth left tackle Phil Loadholt. The 6’8”, 338-pounder regularly engulfs defenders with his long arms and powerful hands that also allow him to steamroll all those who dare cross his path. Playing alongside Loadholt is guard Duke Robinson, who at 6’5, 335 lbs. is a road grater in the running game, but is also versatile enough to move over to tackle if necessary. Robinson’s athleticism as a pull blocker and the quickness with which he fires off the line make him arguably the best player at his position. Center Jon Cooper may not be as big as his gargantuan line-mates, but the Colorado native always plays with a high motor and has tremendous foot speed, which allows him to perform as an effective drive blocker. Oklahoma’s 1,000-yard rushing duo of DeMarco Murray and Chris Brown was instrumental in supporting Bradford this season with consistent production that took some pressure off the quarterback. Brown may not be as flashy as his backfield partner, but he often uses his balance and good feet to get around tacklers and run to daylight. Despite his lack of bulk, the 190-lb. back is very reliable as a short-yardage runner. The fast and agile Murray, on the other hand, won’t be seeing any action versus Florida due to a partially ruptured hamstring that will reportedly take months to heal. All purpose back Mossis Madu will be filling in for the hobbled star. The unheralded backup showed his wares by rushing for 115 yards and three scores in the Big 12 Championship game versus Missouri. In addition to being able to make people miss, Madu is an excellent receiver that can also line up in the slot, as well as return kicks. Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, Ryan Broyles and Quentin Chaney make up OU’s top-notch receiving corps. Iglesias, in particular, is especially quick off the line of scrimmage. The senior wide out combines his silky-smooth route running with the willingness to make catches in traffic. Defensive backs often fall prey to Iglesias’ head nods and quick double moves. Tight end Jermaine Gresham’s size, speed and penchant for hauling in spectacular catches make covering the 6’6” tight end a Herculean task.

Florida’s cohesive all-for-one and one-for-all defense uses a straight-up 4-3 scheme that primarily relies on individuals winning one-on-one match-ups up front. While there’s no one standout along the defensive line, the 6’6” Carlos Dunlap is a freakish competitor with long arms and 4.7 speed that he uses to disengage from blockers and run down plays from the backside. A bit of consistency is all that’s preventing Dunlap from being one of the elite defensive ends in college football. Playing opposite the sophomore is defensive end Jermaine Cunningham, who also gets off the line very quickly and confounds blockers by changing directions very well. Some added bulk to his 250-lb. frame should help this pass rusher overpower offensive linemen, not just outmaneuver them. Interior linemen Terron Sanders and the much-improved Lawrence Marsh have helped hold down the fort versus the run despite injury to the front four. Middle linebacker Brandon Spikes sets the tone for the Gator defense with his toughness and instincts, which often put him in the right position to disrupt the opposition. While the 6’3”, 245-lb. Spikes is a bigger linebacker that can drop back into coverage, it’s his ability to inspire his teammates and urge them to work harder that makes him a special athlete. Brandon Hicks is a hard-hitting linebacker with blazing speed. The workout warrior took over for the injured A.J. Jones in mid-November and forced South Carolina into two first-quarter interceptions during Florida’s 56-6 whitewash of Steve Spurrier’s group. Red-shirt junior Ryan Stamper is versatile enough to play all three linebacker positions and is an all-out hustler. Backup Dustin Doe keeps Stamper on his toes with his athleticism and aggressive pursuit of ball carriers. Strong safety Ahmad Black is a whiz at reading quarterbacks, as evidenced by his six interceptions. Free safety Major Wright is a heat-seeking missile, always ready to deliver the knockout blow, while over at corner, freshman Janoris Jenkins is a confident, if not cocky, impact player with superior anticipatory skills.

When the Gators Have the Ball

Florida’s athleticism at multiple positions gives them the upper hand over most defenses, and it all starts with quarterback Tim Tebow--the perfect fit for Urban Meyer’s spread-option attack. The sturdy passer is a dual threat who can pound the ball between the tackles like a fullback, or put the ball in the hands of one of his many playmakers. Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey and Percy Harvin are all blessed with mesmerizing speed and all three can catch the ball, as well as run it out of a variety of formations. Freshman running backs Demps and Rainey, in particular, have been the driving force behind Florida, averaging 263.6 rushing yards per game and 6.6 yards per carry. Harvin is technically a wide out, but he can also be seen lining up at quarterback. The 5’11” speed merchant is a dynamic weapon who specializes in making defenders miss, and is very dangerous in the red-zone. Louis Murphy is Robin to Harvin’s Batman at wide receiver with his ability to use his own speed on both downfield routes and shallow gadget plays. Complementary wide out Deonte Thompson can also flash track-star velocity when given the opportunity and his acceleration off the ball is hard to contain. One component who’s frequently overlooked is Bristol, Connecticut’s own Aaron Hernandez, who ranked third on the team in receptions with 29 this season. The solid tight end combines an aggressive demeanor with the ability to produce big yardage after the catch. The Gator offensive line features the superb run blocking of the Pouncey twins, Maurkice and Michael, at center and guard. Maurkice is a drive-blocking center who explodes out of his breaks. He usually takes his defender out of the play when he keeps a solid base and keeps his feet moving. Maurkice’s brother, Mike, also packs a punch by moving his adversaries off the ball. New Jersey native Phil Trautwein is an excellent technician at left tackle.

Oklahoma’s strategy on defense will be to create pre-snap confusion and force Tebow to throw more often than he wants to. In order to accomplish that feat, the Sooners will need to apply constant pressure with similarly-built defensive ends Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal. Alexander has proven to be lethal at times off the edge, while the 6’3”, 253-lb. Beal is the team sack leader (8.5), who defensive coordinator Brent Venables often employs as a chess piece by lining him up in a three-point stance, as well as dropping him in underneath coverage. End Auston English should also be active in this year’s title game with numerous reports indicating that he has fully recovered from a mid-season knee injury. English is arguably OU’s fastest lineman. Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy is the glue of the unit with the way he ties up blockers and frees up teammates. The sophomore combines with nose tackle Adrian Taylor to push the pocket and disrupt offenses all game long. McCoy is always drawing comparisons to former Sooner interior lineman Tommie Harris, who was probably the best, if not quickest, OU player of all time at his position. Oklahoma’s linebackers may not be as big as they’ve been in the past, but they more then compensate for that with quickness and playmaking ability. Austin Box has done yeoman’s work in his replacement of injured middle linebacker Ryan Reynolds. The former quarterback is smart enough to read the play in front of him, and quick enough to cover plenty of ground defending the run. Box sprained his knee late in the season, but is expected to play. If he doesn’t, the hard-hitting 250-lb. Mike Balogun will take his place. Weakside linebacker Travis Lewis is the most athletic OU performer at the position. The 235-lb. former running back is extremely quick to the ball, a fundamentally sound tackler, and reliable in pass coverage. The 6’3” Nic Harris headlines the secondary due to his hitting prowess and on-field smarts which allow him to constantly be around the ball. Corner Dominique Franks joins the senior safety as being a difference-making performer. The sophomore has shutdown or contained some of the best receivers in the country this year. OU’s ability to generate pressure with its front four has also played a role in preventing the Sooner secondary from getting torched too often.

Final Analysis

In a battle of high-flying offenses, Florida’s firepower will prove to be too much for OU to keep under wraps. With a healthy Harvin in the fold, the 65th ranked Sooner defense is no match for Urban Meyer’s spread-option attack. OU has allowed 5.06 yards a play and a total of 42 touchdowns to the opposition this season and will be hard pressed to hold the Gators to under 40 points. In addition, Florida holds a sizable edge in the special teams department as top-ten team in punt returns and net punting. Combine all of that with the supernatural powers of Tebow, and the Blue and Orange will bring home their second national title in three seasons.

Prediction: Florida 48 Oklahoma 33

Photo Credit: College Press Box, OU Athletics Department, SEC Sports Media

NINE FINALISTS NAMED FOR 2008 EDDIE ROBINSON AWARD

DALLAS (FWAA) - The Football Writers Association of America has announced nine finalists for the 2008 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award to be voted upon by the entire membership.

With the 2008 regular season completed, the FWAA, in conjunction with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, has tabbed the following finalists: Texas' Mack Brown, USC's Pete Carroll, Texas Tech's Mike Leach, Florida's Urban Meyer, Penn State's Joe Paterno, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Alabama's Nick Saban, Oklahoma's Bob Stoops and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.

The finalists will be placed on a ballot which will be sent to the entire FWAA membership.

Two of the finalists, Boise State's Petersen and Utah's Whittingham, have directed their teams to unbeaten regular seasons, while seven of the nine coaches have led their teams to Bowl Championship Series games.

Of the nine finalists, four have previously been named the FWAA's National Coach of the Year, led by Penn State's Joe Paterno, who has been honored by the FWAA three times (1978, '82 and '86). Paterno has been a finalist on two other occasions (1997 and 2005). Florida's Urban Meyer (2004), Alabama's Nick Saban (2003) and Oklahoma's Bob Stoops (2000) are the other previous winners. Saban is trying to become the second coach to win the honor at two different schools after earning the award at LSU five seasons ago.

While USC's Pete Carroll has never won the award, he has been a finalist three times in three consecutive years (2003-05). This also is the third time Texas' Mack Brown has been named a finalist, the second time at Texas (2005). In 1997, he was a finalist for the award at North Carolina. Boise State's Petersen is a finalist for the second time in three years, while Texas Tech's Leach and Utah's Whittingham are the only two first-time finalists. The FWAA began naming its coaching award in honor of the late Robinson, the legendary Grambling State University coach, in 1997.

The winner of the FWAA/Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award will be announced and honored at a reception on Jan. 6 in Miami sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and presented in conjunction with the FedEx BCS Championship Game.

The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,000 men and women across North America who cover college football for a living. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards, a national poll and its annual All-America team.

For more information on the Eddie Robinson Award, visit eddierobinsonaward.com.

LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE AND ARCHIE MANNING ANNOUNCE 2008 LIBERTY MUTUAL COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD FINALISTS

College Football Fans Invited to Vote for Winners at www.CoachoftheYear.com Dec. 12 - Dec. 22

NEW YORK (December 9, 2008) - Today Liberty Mutual Insurance and Archie Manning, chair of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame, announced the 25 finalists for the 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award. The finalists represent standout college football coaches across the four NCAA divisions who best exemplify excellence in coaching - on and off the field - as determined by a combination of hundreds of thousands of fan votes at www.CoachoftheYear.com and an objective scoring model endorsed by the College Football Hall of Fame.

Each Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year finalist will have an opportunity to receive recognition in the permanent College Football Hall of Fame display in South Bend, Ind., $50,000 to support personal civic and charitable activities, and a $20,000 scholarship donation for his alumni association. After this season, the total Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year charitable and scholarship contributions will reach $680,000. The Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award was introduced in 2006.

"I've had the opportunity to observe these coaches and their teams throughout the season and this lineup of finalists tells me that fans embraced what is unique about this award by voting for their favorite coach," said Manning who helped Liberty Mutual announce the finalists at the National Football Foundation Annual Awards press conference in New York City. "Being a successful college football coach is a balancing act that requires the ability to inspire a team to win on the field while developing responsible student-athletes off the field."

2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award Finalists The 25 award finalists represent 10 coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) and five coaches each from the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), Division II and Division III. To qualify as a finalist, a coach had to be among the top 25 fan vote getters in his division at www.CoachoftheYear.com and then be scored by an objective model that considers, among other criteria: wins, team penalties, on-field comportment, academic achievement by the student-athletes, and civic and philanthropic commitments.

The Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) finalists are, in alphabetical order: Mack Brown, University of Texas; Brady Hoke, Ball State University; Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern University; Urban Meyer, University of Florida; Joe Paterno, Pennsylvania State University; Chris Petersen, Boise State University; Nick Saban, University of Alabama; Bob Stoops, University of Oklahoma; Jim Tressel, Ohio State University; and Kyle Whittingham, University of Utah.

The Football Championship Subdivision (Division I- AA) finalists are, in alphabetical order: Mike Ayers, Wofford College; Henry Frazier III, Prairie View A&M University; Mickey Matthews, James Madison University, Jerry Moore, Appalachian State University; and Danny Rocco, Liberty University.

The Division II finalists are, in alphabetical order: Chuck Broyles, Pittsburg State University; David Dean, Valdosta State University; Danny Hale, Bloomsburg University; Chuck Martin, Grand Valley State University; and Bill O'Boyle, Chadron State College.

The Division III finalists are, in alphabetical order: Greg Debeljak, Case Western Reserve University; John Gagliardi, St. John's University; Larry Kehres, Mount Union College; Dan MacNeill; SUNY Cortland; and Mark Speckman, Willamette University.

"These finalists represent what is great about college football," said Greg Gordon, Liberty Mutual senior vice president of Consumer Marketing. "Today we recognize 25 coaches who understand that how you win is every bit as important as winning itself, and who are revered by their fans for exhibiting characteristics of sportsmanship, integrity and responsibility."

2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Winner Selection Between Dec.12 and Dec. 22 college football fans are once again invited back to www.CoachoftheYear.com to cast their vote for the winner. On the site, fans have the opportunity to review bios and fan testimonials supporting each finalist before they make their selection and enjoy episodes of "Coach's Corner" which offer Archie Manning and Kirk Herbstreit's perspectives on the latest topics in college football.

To ensure candidates are evaluated fairly and measured against the specific values of responsibility and integrity, a Selection Committee composed of College Football Hall of Fame players and coaches and the national media will also cast votes for the winners. Fan votes account for 20 percent of each coach's final score while the College Football Hall of Famers and national college football media account for 55 percent and 25 percent, respectively.

The 2008 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award winners will be announced on ESPN during halftime of the Music City Bowl on Dec. 31.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Game of the Week: #1 Texas Tech @ #5 Oklahoma

For the third straight game, the Texas Tech Red Raiders could be playing the biggest game in the program’s history. This time an invitation to the Big 12 Championship game is on the line, which would also serve as a de facto BCS semifinal final game for Tech. The same could be said if the Sooners advance. Oklahoma has been laying in the weeds since dropping the Red River Rivalry game to Texas, not so quietly rolling off four straight wins to stay in both the Big 12 and BCS title pictures.

When Tech Has the Ball

GRAHAM HARRELL CONTINUES to put up record setting numbers as he leads the Big 12’s top rated passing offense, averaging 407.2 yards per game. Harrell has now topped 4,000 passing yards and 35 touchdowns for the third straight year. He is also battle tested, throwing for 930 yards and eight touchdowns (no interceptions) against Texas and Oklahoma St., the Red Raiders’ toughest foes. Maybe the most impressive accomplishment by the senior signal caller has been the silencing of the “system quarterback” nay-sayers. Although he might not match last season’s numbers (5,705 yards, 48 touchdowns), Harrell is the Heisman Trophy frontrunner. He makes quick decisions and is an accurate passer. Recently, we’ve seen Harrell use his legs more than ever. Playing a major role in Harrell’s success is Tech’s impenetrable offensive line, which has allowed a mere five sacks in 499 pass attempts. Leading the way have been left tackle Rylan Reed and right guard Brandon Carter, neither of which has given up a sack all season. Reed, a former minor league pitcher, knows a little something about pitching a perfect game, having shut out eventual No. 2 overall pick Chris Long in last season’s bowl victory. Leading one of the deepest stables of wide outs is sophomore Michael Crabtree. Despite being in just his second season, the Biletnikoff Award winner is a man among boys. He possesses impeccable hands, the quickness to make people miss, and the strength to simply break free from want-to-be tacklers. Crabtree runs crisp routes and no one in the game does a better job of coming back to the football. If teams pay too much attention, Harrell does not hesitate to look to one of his other targets – Detron Lewis, Eric Morris, Edward Britton or Tramain Swindall. Britton has two 100-yard games in his last three contests and Morris is particularly adept on third down situations coming out of his slot position. Not to be overlooked is Tech’s ability to run the football. Sophomore Baron Batch has a good burst, while senior Shannon Woods has used his shiftiness to find the end zone 11 times thus far.

WHILE THE SOONERS pass defense is holding opponents to a conference low 52.7 completion percentage and is one of only two Big 12 schools to have more interceptions than passing touchdowns allowed, they are susceptible to the big play. The top three quarterbacks they have faced, Colt McCoy, Todd Reesing and Josh Freeman, have combined to average 366 yards against them. However, their combined touchdown-to-interception ratio is a very average six-five. Cornerbacks Brian Jackson and Dominique Franks must be on their game. King-sized strong safety Nic Harris needs to remain disciplined and not over-pursue. Oklahoma’s top ball-hawk is free safety Lendy Holmes. Helping the secondary is a speedy linebacking corps led by Travis Lewis and Keenan Clayton. Lewis leads the team in tackles as a freshman, while Clayton (six forced fumbles) has made the move from safety rather seamlessly. They have struggled to replace Ryan Reynolds in the middle since he went down against the Longhorns, with freshman Austin Box learning on the job. With junior Austin English out with an injury, a pair of sophomores in defensive end Jeremy Beal and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy now lead the line. Beal is a versatile pass rusher, while McCoy is emerging as a disruptive force. He is very effective tying up blockers to free up teammates, not to mention making plays himself. It should come as no surprise that the former five-star recruit is beginning to draw comparisons to former Sooner star and current Chicago Bear, Tommie Harris.

When Boomer Sooner Has the Ball

THE SOONERS’ high-octane attack has been nothing short of a nightmare for defenses, in fact the big red machine leads the conference in scoring at 51.4 points per game. Sophomore signal caller Sam Bradford tops the Big 12 with his 38 touchdown passes. With a powerful arm, excellent touch, ability to read defenses and superior decision making skills, it should come as no surprise he is also its highest rated passer. While the Sooners lack a leading man comparable to Crabtree, Bradford has no shortage when it comes to his supporting cast. The most consistent performer of OU’s fantastic four is senior Juaquin Iglesias. He is as sure-handed as they come and very quick off the line of scrimmage. Most known for his ability after the catch thanks to his quickness and breakaway speed, Iglesias doesn’t shy away from making the tough catches in traffic. Red-shirt freshman Ryan Broyles has tremendous running skills after the catch – his middle name should be ‘shifty’. Working his way back from injury is senior Manuel Johnson, who was having a breakout season. He is not as productive as the others, but at 6’4”, Quentin Chaney gives Bradford a big target and the ability to stretch the field. The toughest cover on the Sooners might not even be a receiver – tight end Jermaine Gresham is arguably the best player at his position. The pass-catching phenom possesses excellent size and superior athleticism and is equally adept at running over defenders as he is leaving them in his dust. The scary thing is, OU’s running game is coming on strong. DeMarco Murray, their speedy tailback, is starting to display his breakaway speed after having off-season knee surgery. He has the ability to cut on a dime and is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Like Murray, Chris Brown is coming off his second 100-yard performance in his last three contests. Brown is one of the nation’s top short-yardage backs with the requisite toughness and vision. Both Murray and Brown have scored double digit touchdowns this season. When they are playing at their best as a cohesive unit, the Sooner offensive line is a physical group. The potentially dominating unit features four seniors that average 6’5”, 311 pounds, led by guard Duke Robinson, who is considered by many to be the best lineman in the Big 12 – a classic road grater. Left tackle Phil Loadholt is another massive individual at 6’8” with the long arms and powerful hands to make him a force in both the run and pass games.

ARGUABLY THE MOST overlooked unit in all of college football is the Texas Tech defense. The Red Raiders rank second in the Big 12 in scoring defense (22.2 points per game), which is why they control their BCS destiny and come into this contest leading the Big 12 South Division. Manning the middle is sophomore linebacker Brian Duncan, who at 238 pounds provides solid bulk. He is flanked by fellow sophomore Brant Bird and junior Marlon Williams, who has made his presence felt in big games. The same could be said of senior strong safety Daniel Charbonnet (five interceptions, three fumble recoveries), who is one of those players with the knack for being at the right place at the right time. Joining him in the defensive backfield is free safety Darcel McBath, who is the playmaker of the Red Raiders’ secondary. He leads the Big 12 with his six interceptions and 13 passes defensed. Their top coverman is junior Jamar Wall, who typically lines up on the left side. His nine pass break ups lead the team. Another league leader on this Tech defense is explosive defensive end Brandon Williams, who has racked up 10 sacks in 10 games this season. He can wreak havoc coming off the edge and looks to do even more damage — he’s caused three fumbles – once he gets to the quarterback. Defensive tackle Colby Whitlock, Tech’s lone starter from Oklahoma, is a bit undersized, but he is active and plays smart.

Final Analysis

THE LAST TIME Mike Leach led the Red Raiders back to his old stomping grounds with the Big 12 Title on the line (2002), Tech was rudely rebuffed, 60-15, by Bob Stoops’ boys. But this is a different Red Raiders team, one that will be looking to win for the third time in its last four tries against the Sooners. Of all the numbers, the most difficult to overlook is Stoops’ 60-2 home record as OU’s headman. Expect the Sooners to edge out the Red Raiders and create a three-way tie atop the Big 12 South.

Prediction: Oklahoma 41, Texas Tech 37

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department, Texas Tech Athletics

Game of the Week: Oklahoma vs. Texas

THE ANNUAL showdown between the fifth-ranked Texas Longhorns (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) and the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 1-0 Big 12), also known as the Red River Rivalry, goes all the way back to 1900. Texas leads the all-time series (57-40-5), although the Bob Stoops-led Sooners have reversed the trend in recent times by winning six of the last eight contests. This year’s game will be held at the neutral site of the Cotton Bowl, as it has been since 1929. While OU is routinely dominating opponents with a quick-strike, no-huddle offense that puts up points in very rapid fashion, Texas features a stifling defense that has surrendered only five touchdowns so far this season. Something simply has to give.

When the ‘Horns Have the Ball

FOLLOWING A sub-par season in 2007, former Big 12 offensive freshman of the year, quarterback Colt McCoy, has bounced back in grand style this seaso, passing for 1,280 yards along with 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions. In many ways, McCoy has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor, Vince Young, in the way he seemingly pulls victory from the jaws of defeat. The junior already has already registered five fourth-quarter and three second-half comebacks in his career. In addition to being visibly stronger than last season, McCoy is also showing improved mobility along with better judgment by curtailing his tendency to throw into coverage. Vondrell McGee, Cody Johnson, Chris Ogbonnaya and Foswhitt “Fozzy” Whittaker form the Longhorns’ four-headed rushing attack. Ogbonnaya—the senior of the group—is the team’s designated third-down specialist and best blocker. In last week’s 38-14 trouncing of Colorado, the 6’1”, 225 lb. back had his best day as a collegiate, scoring twice while gaining 71 rushing yards on nine carries along with 116 receiving yards on six receptions. Although none of the quartet offers the game breaking skills of last year’s lead man, Jamaal Charles, they all do their share to contribute. McGee, in particular, shows signs of being a complete back that runs with balance, good speed and cut-back ability. The only knock on him is his less-than-ideal size at 205 lbs. At wide out, seniors Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley are a dynamic duo that have combined to catch 56 passes for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns less than halfway through the year. Cosby is a paragon of consistency, who has recorded a least one reception through 36 consec-utive games. The 25-year-old former minor-league baseball player is an acrobatic deep threat, who also serves as a dynamic kick returner. His counterpart, Shipley, is a top-notch route runner with solid run-after-catch ability out of the slot position. The offensive line is led by fifth-year guard Cedric Dockery, who’s strong, physical and quite athletic for a 320-pounder.

OVERLOOKED BY many during the off-season, OU’s linebacking corps has taken the college world by storm with the exceptional play of Ryan Reynolds, Travis Lewis and Keenan Clayton. As the leader of this unit, Reynolds has made a quantum leap, becoming an omnipresent force in the tackling department. In his past two games, the physical defender has racked up 24 tackles while maintaining perfect technique and lining up his two partners in crime. Clayton is just oozing with potential thanks to the former safety’s instincts and speed utilized to track down ball carriers. Weakside backer Lewis is a former running back with 4.3 speed, who’s using his remarkable athleticism to mask his inexperience at his new position. The 6’2”, 232 lb. San Antonio native has really come on as one of the team’s best pass rushers. Defensive end Jeremy Beal is a weapon that coordinator Brent Venables enjoys using as a chess piece by lining him up in a three-point stance, as well as dropping him in underneath coverage. Beal’s versatility poses a myriad of problems for opposing teams in their pre-snap reads. Defensive end Auston English is another Sooner that can rush the quarterback, as evidenced by his 2.5 sacks in the season opener versus Chattanooga. At the tackle position, Gerald McCoy is an invaluable component despite not putting up big numbers. His effectiveness in tying up blockers and freeing up teammates has drawn comparisons to former Sooner and current Chicago Bear Tommie Harris. In the secondary, the 6’3” Nic Harris is a king-sized strong safety blessed with the speed and intelligence to constantly be around the ball. Overall, the Sooner defense has surprised many with the way they’re generating pressure with four linemen, all of which have played a key role in preventing the secondary from getting torched so far this season.

When Boomer Sooner Has the Ball

THE SOONERS’ high-octane attack has been nothing short of a nightmare for defenses. Due to their high-flying passing game, this big red machine churns out 49.6 points-per-game. The general of this point-scoring brigade is signal caller Sam Bradford. The soon-to-be 21-year-old is a tall passer (6’5”) that can not only put extraordinary power behind his throws, but also provide excellent touch. His uncanny method of reading defenses makes him a superior decision maker, and the Heisman Trophy candidate is second in the nation in passer rating. OU’s fantastic four at receiver are Juaquin Iglesias, Manuel Johnson, Ryan Broyles and Quentin Chaney. Among the wide outs, Iglesias’ star has shone the brightest. If his sure-handedness wasn’t enough, the senior is also very quick off the line of scrimmage, but doesn’t shy away from making catches in traffic. His do-whatever-it-takes work ethic combined with his field-stretching speed make him one of top receivers in the country. The shifty Broyles has tremendous running skills after the catch and does a fine job of making people miss. If that weren’t enough, tight end Jermaine Gresham is arguably the best player at his position. The pass-catching phenom is averaging 29.5 yards per touchdown. The scary thing is, OU’s offense would be even more terrifying to opposing defenses is they had a fully healthy DeMarco Murray. The speedy tailback has yet to fully recover from off-season knee surgery, and his breakaway speed and ability to cut on a dime, while still impressive, are only going to increase as the season goes on. Chris Brown is the short-yardage back with the requisite toughness and vision to gain tough yards in crucial moments. The Sooner offensive line is a physical group featuring four seniors that average 6’5”, 311 lbs. Guard Duke Robinson is the best lineman in the Big 12, the classic road grater. Left tackle Phil Loadholt is a massive individual with long arms and powerful hands that make him a force in the run game. Steady, center Jon Cooper leads the team with 55 takedowns.

BROUGHT IN to inject life into a moribund defensive unit, coordinator Will Muschamp has infused his players with a new attitude. The antics of the animated 37-year-old have had an especially profound effect on the Longhorns’ defensive line, which is one of the most aggressive fronts in the country. Nose tackle Roy Miller along with ends Brian Orakpo and Henry Melton form an athletic bunch that do an excellent job of shutting down the run. The extremely powerful Miller is the one who holds the point of attack. In addition to benching 500 lbs., the senior is extraordinarily quick and disruptive. The explosive Orakpo is the team’s workout warrior, who started his collegiate career at 210 lbs. and has since added 50 lbs. of muscle while maintaining eight percent body fat. “Rak” uses his brute upper-body strength and lethal first step to wreak havoc in the opponent’s backfield. Orakpo has registered six sacks in his first five games, as well as 14 pressures. Melton is a technically sound lineman, who’s also an impressive athlete in his own right. Roddrick Muckelroy is the face of Texas’ linebacker corps. This year, the 6’2”, 230 lb. has come of age in terms of leadership and performance. In addition to leading the team in tackles with 40, the determined defender has also strung together dominant performances. UT’s secondary remains the weakest part of this unit. Corners Ryan Palmer and Chykie Brown have held their own, but have never faced the level of receivers they’re about to encounter. They will occasionally be left in man-free coverage on blitzes, which places the onus on safeties Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon to cover the deep middle, an area which Bradford will likely look to exploit.

Final analysis

UT’S SECONDARY will not be able to account for Oklahoma’s plethora of targets in the passing game. Iglesias, Johnson, Broyles, Chaney and Gresham will be too much to handle with Bradford at the controls behind an impenetrable offensive line. The Sooners may not jump out to one of their typical fast starts, but in the end they’ll force enough breakdowns in coverage to walk away with the win.

Prediction: Oklahoma 34 Texas 22

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department, University of Texas Athletics

CFI RANKINGS: #3 OKLAHOMA SOONERS

2007 RECORD: 11-3; BIG 12: 6-2
Lost Fiesta Bowl vs. West Virginia 48-28
LOCATION: Norman, Oklahoma
STADIUM: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)
HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops
OVERALL: 97-22 (9 seasons)
AT OKLAHOMA: 97-22 (9 seasons)


The talk in Norman and around the country about the Sooners surrounds OU’s inability to win a BCS game of late. Last season was their fourth straight BCS Bowl loss (they were favored in three of those games) and the second by at least 20 points. Of course, getting to those games means that the Sooners have fared extremely well in the regular season and in Big 12 play. In fact, since 2000, OU has won five Big 12 Titles and reached 11 wins in seven of eight seasons. Whatever your standards…it’s hard not to be happy with that.


WHEN THE SOONERS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Kevin Wilson (7th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
KEY LOSSES: Malcolm Kelly, Allen Patrick, Joe John Finley

The Sooners return all five starters along the offensive line, which should bring smiles to everyone in Norman. While Malcolm Kelly decided to leave early, the fact that the left side of the line, OT Phil Loadholt & OG Duke Robinson, returned may wind up being more significant. Both clear 330 pounds and move well—when they are motivated it can be a long day for defenders. Standing behind the line is sophomore Sam Bradford, who is coming off a record setting season freshman season. He has a good arm and is accurate—when he gets on a roll, this offense can be unstoppable. Even without the aforementioned Kelly, Bradford will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Senior Juaquin Iglesias is among the most dangerous players in the nation after the catch with his speed and shifty open field moves, while slot man Manuel Johnson provides another option that can run. Two more veterans, Quentin Chaney and Adron Tennell, provide length and the ability to go up and get the football. At tight end, Jermaine Gresham may actually be their toughest cover, while Brody Eldridge is more of a blocker. When OU decides to take to the ground, Las Vegas native DeMarco Murray, a Reggie Bush-esque runner, will make opponents miss using his quickness and breakaway speed. Chris Brown is the perfect complement to Murray—he excels between the tackles and in short yardage situations.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) TE Jermaine Gresham (JR), 2) OG DeMarco Murray (SO)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Brent Venables (10th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Reggie Smith, Curtis Lofton, Marcus Walker, D.J. Wolfe, Lewis Baker

The Sooners are loaded up front. It begins at defensive tackle, where highly touted recruits junior DeMarcus Granger and sophomore Gerald McCoy both return and figure to take a step closer to fulfilling their potential to dominate. Pushing them and providing depth are Cory Bennett and Adrian Taylor. Coming from the edge, Auston English is so quick you’d think he knows the snap count, as he consistently keeps offensive tackles on their heels. As long as he remains healthy, he figures to be the Big 12’s most dominant pass rusher. Manning the middle is junior MIKE Ryan Reynolds who showed glimpses last season after suffering through injuries in the early part of his career. Former safety Keenan Clayton adds speed to the second level of the defense. In the defensive backfield they have an excellent blend at safety, where SS Nic Harris checks in ten pounds heavier than Clayton and is one of the hardest hitting safeties in the nation. Joining him is FS Lendy Holmes, whose experience as a former corner will allow him to provide support in pass coverage. That coverage will be needed—the Sooners are breaking in two new starters at cornerback. No one doubts the talent Brian Jackson and Dominque Franks possess, but the duo is unproven.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) DT Gerald McCoy (SO), 2) DT DeMarcus Granger (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

The out of conference schedule is challenging enough. The Sooners take on a 2007 bowl team in Cincinnati, visit the Washington Huskies, and host TCU, one of the top “mid-major” programs in country. Those are all solid teams, but all games the Sooners should win fairly handily. The conference schedule is not an easy one, but again features games the Sooners are “supposed” to win—they play the ‘Horns on the second Saturday of October and the Red Raiders from Texas Tech come calling in November. Those two contests should decide the fate of the Big 12 South. Missouri is off the schedule, but Kansas is back, as are the rival Cornhuskers. The two games that anyone who watches the Sooners will be most concerned about are their trips to College Station and Stillwater, two places OU always seems to struggle, regardless of the talent discrepancy.

PIVOTAL POINT

The Back Seven: This group could be vulnerable against the pass. One starting corner, Jackson, hasn’t started a game at the college level and the other, Franks, has started only one. At safety, Holmes has experience (19 career starts) but mostly at corner, while Harris’ strength is playing near the line of scrimmage, not as a last line of defense. They have even less experience at linebacker, where they will break in two new starters alongside Reynolds who is the veteran of the unit with his seven career starts. If they were playing in the old run-oriented Big 8 this might not be a problem…but they don’t, so it is. The Big 12 is pass-happy and the Sooners will have to square off against the likes of Colt McCoy, Todd Reesing, Josh Freeman, Joe Ganz, Stephen McGee, Graham Harrell and Zac Robinson. In other words, they have to defend over 20,000 yards and nearly 200 touchdowns in conference play alone.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

OU has the ideal blend of raw talent, experience and favorable schedule to make a run at Bob Stoops’ second BCS Championship as the Sooners’ headman. Yes, their vulnerability plays into the strength of their conference foes, but they get five games to get ready before they have to face any of the quarterbacks mentioned above. By that time they should be ready and should be favored in every game. While everyone is focusing on the OSU-USC winner and which school will represent the SEC in the championship game this season, the Sooners could sneak past everyone and make it all the way to Miami, the site of their last national championship.

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

Patrick's career day leads Oklahoma to 49-17 Bedlam win

By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Allen Patrick returned to form just in time for the postseason, running for a career-best 202 yards and two touchdowns as No. 10 Oklahoma wrapped up a spot in the Big 12 championship game with a 49-17 win Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Patrick, who had four 100-yard rushing games after Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone last season, passed the century mark for the first time since September and also caught a touchdown pass in easily his best game of the season.

The Sooners (10-2, 6-2 Big 12) had been all but assured of playing in their fifth Big 12 title game in the past six seasons even with a loss, but a Bedlam blowout left no doubt.

Sam Bradford returned after sustaining a concussion in Oklahoma's 34-27 loss at Texas Tech last week to break the NCAA freshman record for touchdown passes in a season. He had four scoring passes, including two to tight end Joe Jon Finley, to give him 32 this year. Nevada's David Neill (1998) and Texas' Colt McCoy (2006) held the old record with 29.

The Sooners were playing without leading rusher DeMarco Murray (knee), but that didn't stop them from pummeling their in-state rival with a constant ground attack. Oklahoma went with the rush on 28 of its 35 first-half plays, and Patrick carried most of the load a week after a fumble on his first carry led to Bradford getting hurt while making the tackle.

Patrick went for more than 100 yards for the first time in eight games, clearing the mark early in the second quarter with a 32-yard run around the left end that set up Chris Brown's 3-yard touchdown push to make it 21-7.

By that point, Patrick had already been in the end zone twice on an 11-yard scoring pass from Bradford and a 5-yard TD run.

The Sooners then came up with a huge goal-line stand, stuffing Oklahoma State (6-6, 4-4) on four straight rush attempts from the 1-yard line. On fourth down, three Sooners converged on quarterback Zac Robinson just shy of the goal line to jar the ball loose, and safety D.J. Wolfe scooped it up to end the threat.

Patrick ran on each of the next four plays to pick up 31 yards, and Oklahoma cashed in on Bradford's 2-yard touchdown pass to Joe Jon Finley for a 28-7 lead.

Finley also caught a 12-yard TD pass from Bradford, and Patrick's 2-yard run in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 42-17.

Bradford finished with 150 yards on 11-for-15 passing with one interception, which set up one of the Cowboys' two touchdowns on the day.

Dantrell Savage scored them both, catching a 16-yard pass from Robinson and rushing in from 6 yards out. He ran for 112 yards for his ninth straight 100-yard game.

Pregame warmups brought a glimmer of hope for Oklahoma State, as leading receiver Adarius Bowman jogged around and went through drills a week after coach Mike Gundy announced he'd be out for the rest of the regular season. Bowman was in uniform and had his helmet on, but didn't play in the game.

The result was Robinson's least productive passing day since he took over as the starter in the third game of the season. He completed 8 of 20 passes for 105 yards before being replaced by backup Bobby Reid in the fourth quarter.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

CFI: THE BIG 12 SOUTH REPORT

BY BROCK MURPHY
BIG 12 INSIDER

SOUTH DIVISION:

1) There was much drama in Texas Tech’s 59-43 loss to Texas. Red Raider Coach Mike Leach spent several minutes blistering the officials for perceived bias going so far so to suggest their actions altered the outcome of the game. “Am I condemning the crew? Hell yeah, I’m condemning the crew,” he declared. Tech turned the ball over on downs on its only third quarter possession after two separate touchdown passes were taken away – one by instant replay and the other on a holding call in which Leach was certain a roughing the passer penalty should have also been called. Leach suggested that, as occurred on Saturday, officials from Austin should not officiate games played in Austin. If only to insure the perception of equity and fairness, he is probably correct.

2) Staying with Texas Tech for a moment, it seems the offensive production of QB Graham Harrell and his top target need to be placed in perspective. While it was not enough to carry the Red Raiders to a win, Harrell completed 36 of his 48 passes (75%) for 466 yards and five touchdowns against the Longhorns. As he has all season, freshman receiver Michael Crabtree led Tech with nine catches for 195 yards and two scores. For the season Harrell’s averages 437 yards of total offense per game leads the nation and ranks third in the nation in passing efficiency (including, a nation-leading 73.6% completion rate; 4,878 yards; 43 TD’s and 12 INT’s). To put his numbers in perspective, consider that he has 157 more completions (421) this year than the nation’s most-efficient passer, Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford has attempted (264). With still one game left in the season (against the Sooners next week), Crabtree leads the nation in both receiving categories (receptions and yardage) with 113 catches, 1,707 yards and 20 touchdowns.

3) Oklahoma has quietly claimed the nation’s #4 ranking this week. The nation’s most efficient passing attack (70% completion rate), 29 touchdowns and six interceptions does a great job protecting its quarterback (3rd-ranked; .8 sacks per game). Aiding Sam Bradford’s production and efficiency has been the balance provided this season by the three-headed backfield of Allen Patrick, Chris Brown and freshman-sensation Demarco Murray. Together, they have combined to produce 1,680 yards (191 ypg) and 23 scores (13 of which were Murray’s). Defense is, of course, always a hallmark of any Bob Stoops’-led team. Sure enough, they are the 6th-ranked rushing defense (84.9 ypg) and have produced the 7rd-most tackles for a loss this year (8.3). However, they are only the 60th-ranked pass-defense (227 ypg; 61% completion-rate; 16 INT’s/12 TD’s). That could be a problem as they face the nation’s leading air attack this weekend in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech managed only 10 yards rushing against Texas last weekend. OU will seek to continue that trend. Last year, the Sooners were down 17-24 at halftime but held the Red Raiders scoreless in the 2nd half. Tech’s Graham Harrell managed only 250 yards passing.

4) While Oklahoma State suffered a loss to Kansas on Saturday, they had a lot to be proud of, including the emergence of freshman receiver Dez Bryant who, in the absence of Adarius Bowman (who left the game in the 2nd-quarter after banging up his knee), managed eight catches for 155 yards and a score. He entered the game with a total of 19 catches and 268 yards. Okie State gave up 352 passing yards to the Jayhawks. They have now given up an average of 309.8 yds per game and only two teams in the nation (Rice and UTEP) have given up more. And while their offense has only given up one sack per game (5th-ranked, nationally), the Cowboy defense has only managed to pick up one and a half per game (96th) and is ranked 102nd in producing tackles for a loss (5.1 per game).

5) While the problem is not as bad as it was two years ago, Texas A&M has struggled against the pass this year (63% completion-rate; 12.4 ypc; 267 ypg; 6 INT’s/20 TD’s; 103rd, nationally). On offense, Stephen McGee has only thrown five picks this year – but that is three more than he threw through all of 2006. He has thrown for over 1,785 yards through 11 games this year but has struggled to find a true receiving threat to compliment his efforts. With a total of only 423 receiving yards, Kerry Franks leads the Aggies – and he has scored only once. Meanwhile TE Martellus Bennett’s 31 catches and three touchdowns lead the team in those two categories. Of course, McGee, Jovorskie Lane and Michael Goodson allow A&M to attack defenses through inside and outside running as well as through the option. They have combined for 2,079 yards and 22 touchdowns to help post the nation’s 14-ranked rushing attack. Texas is the final game on the menu and, evidently, Dennis Franchione’s coaching career in College Station. The Longhorns allow less than 93 ypg on the ground but struggled the last two years to stop the Aggies’ option attack.

6) Baylor started this season with much optimism based on the productive passing game they created last season. The nation’s worst rushing attack in 2006 (40.17 ypg), that part of the offense was obviously targeted for improvement in the off-season. With one game left this season, the ground game has been nearly twice as productive (77.36 ypg) but is hardly substantial. The biggest problem for Baylor, though, has been an inefficient aerial assault. True, the Bears have eclipsed the 3,000-yard mark (3,055) and tossed 21 touchdown passes. However, no team has thrown more interceptions (25) and only 54 percent of its passes are completed. The Bears are among the nation’s worst in turnover margin (118th), pass defense (110th, 286 ypg), total defense (106th, 454 ypg) and net punting (30.24). The last category was not unexpected since 2006 was the year the nation’s premier punter, Daniel Sepulveda, graduated. The defensive stats will not likely improve this weekend as Baylor ends its season against the highly-talented offense of Oklahoma State.

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department