Boomer Sooner
The ESPN/USA Today coaches poll has OU ranked #1 to start the college football season.
I think they're a definite Top 5 team, and they might be #1 by the end of the year, but it strikes me that a team that lost so much at QB and RB and doesn't have a sure answer at either position going into the season (although there are options) is a precarious #1 pick. I would probably have voted for Ohio State.
How about the strength of the Big 12, though? Three teams in the Top Five. Impressive.
I cannot understand why Oklahoma State is in the Top 25 and Texas A&M is not, though. A&M has more talent and a better coach, and barring last year's injury bug, will finish ahead of OSU in the South. If not, ya'll can come back here and give me a rash of shite.
Posted by Kevin Whited @ 07/31/03 23:33 | Big 12 Football | Technorati
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Comments
What??? Are you just writing this babble to taunt me? :)
I think that OU is a top 10 team, but they don't have the horses on offense to carry them through the season to a top 5 finish. And the deal with Brent Rawls is really weird. Too much talent to be a scrub team QB.
As for the Pokes, I am as surprised as you that they snuck into the Top 25. (Ending the season with a six of seven winning streak and a good bowl game victory will help pre-season perceptions.) I don't think early accolades bode well because OSU frequently fails to meet high expectations. But, at this point in the conversation, it's always fun to mention Stoops & Co. record vs. OSU. Cough, cough.
But, as for you other observation, regardless of who is stomping the sidelines, I don't think A&M has earned their national pre-season respect because of their poor year last year. But, they will get there.
Posted by Dave @ 09:09 on 08/01/03
I'll be surprised if Rawls doesn't wind up transferring. Too bad his brain doesn't seem to match that arm. Falling out of pickup trucks and nearly flunking out of your classes (as an OU athlete!) don't inspire much confidence.
I like OU's defense and o-line. Lots of good talent at QB, RB, and WR, but man, somebody has to step up. I keep telling myself the talent on offense is much much better than what Stoops had his second year (just no Heupel!), and is surely close to 2001 levels (#6 finish behind Texas at #5, which I still count as a #5 finish). That may be the OU fan in me talking, tho. :)
If Texas weren't coached by Doofus, they might be my South pick. But the Doofus factor is significant. Of course, you Pokes like to say that about Stoops v. Miles too, I suppose. :)
Posted by Kevin @ 09:44 on 08/01/03
Stoops is no Doofus. I fully beleive that he is one of the top coaches in the nation. His teams just got outplayed two years straight because the players didn't take the rivalry as seriously as the team on the other side of the field - no matter what they told the media.
Heupel was the key ingredient for OU's national championship team. Nothing flashy, but understood his role in the offense and executed to the letter. I don't see that on this year's team, but it's still much too early to be passing that kind of judgement. And that's why I would favor OSU at this point because Josh Fields understands his role and executes well. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he's got the entire Woods family surrounding him.
Posted by Dave @ 11:32 on 08/01/03
I like OU's chances because of the O-line and defense (and I like the way the Big 12 schedule lays out for them). They couldn't run the ball in 2001 and had QB issues, yet still finished #6 (#5 *smile*). The line should be good enough this year that they can run the ball whoever is in the backfield. Trent Smith may be the biggest loss on the team, given the shaky nature of the QB situation and his ability always to be there for Hybl last year. *shrug*
OSU's schedule looks brutal to me about midseason, Not to mention starting with Nebraska! Kind of crazy to have so much riding on such an early game.
Posted by Kevin @ 20:48 on 08/01/03
Well, don't look now but OU is still number 1 and not going anywhere. OU-Tx is this weekend and it should put any doubt anyone has about OU away. After this weekend you might as well just hand them the National Championship as long as the can handle OSU at the end of the season, there is NO ONE that can beat these SOONERS. Not even the 2000 SOONERS.
Posted by Justin @ 09:20 on 10/10/03
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