JimBob
10-11-2008, 07:20 AM
Everybody 6-0? It's not impossible
By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
10/11/2008
Last Modified: 10/11/2008 3:04 AM
Decades from now, the first five games of the 2008 season will fondly be remembered as the halcyon days for this state's three major-college football teams.
Forty years after the CBS debuted "Hawaii Five-O" in 1968, the Golden Hurricane, Sooners and Cowboys have produced "Oklahoma 5-0."
It also is "15-0" if you combine the identical 5-0 records Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa have posted during these historic times.
It was CBS that also gave us the show "Mission Impossible" in 1966.
Many experts are predicting that a sweep on Saturday for TU, OSU and OU is an impossible mission.
Balderdash.
It obviously won't be easy. But here are some reasons why it is possible, even though all three teams are on the road.
TU seemingly has the easiest assignment of the three in the Hurricane's 7 p.m. contest in Dallas against a 1-5 Southern Methodist team.
But for some inexplicable reason, the Hurricane is winless in its past six visits to SMU. TU's last road victory over the Mustangs came in 1991, when Hurricane coach Todd Graham was defensive coordinator at East Central University in Ada.
That history isn't the only reason this could be a "trap game" for TU. But I don't think Graham will allow the Hurricane to lose focus over the controversy surrounding TU as the only undefeated team that hasn't cracked the AP Top 25 or coaches poll.
"As soon as you think you've arrived, you're fixing to get knocked down," Graham said. "You have to stay hungry, you have to stay focused, you have to stay humble and understand to respect the next opponent."
OU, which also is in Dallas today for an 11 a.m. meeting with bitter rival Texas at the Cotton Bowl, hasn't had to worry about rankings. But the No. 1 Sooners, who were No. 4 in the preseason, will get their first real test against the No. 5 Longhorns, who are also 5-0.
"Up to this point, we've played good teams," said OU defensive end Auston English. "But I don't think anyone on our team is saying we're the greatest or the best.
"You don't know how good you really are until you have played this (Texas's) level of competition."
If OU wins this 103rd meeting of the Red River Rivalry, don't be surprised if redshirt freshman receiver Ryan Broyles plays a key role.
Broyles had a sensational debut when he caught seven passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in OU's 52-26 win over Cincinnati in the season's second game. Since that game, Broyles has had a combined six receptions for 115 yards and two scores.
Has Broyles been overshadowed because OU is loaded at receiver? Or has the Sooner coaching staff purposely let Broyles slip into the background, as they prepare to spring his big-play abilities on a young Texas secondary?
Oklahoma State faces the biggest challenge of the state's three 5-0 teams. Like OU, the No. 17 Cowboys also will face an undefeated and Top Five opponent in their 7 p.m. Big 12 Conference contest at No. 3 Missouri (5-0).
The obvious key for OSU is to use its nationally ranked (No. 2) rushing attack to dominate time of possession and keep the Tigers' high-octane offense on the bench. The Cowboys' already daunting task will grow in difficulty if tight end Brandon Pettigrew misses the game with an injury. Pettigrew's blocking has been critical as OSU has averaged 315.2 yards rushing per game.
But there is another way for OSU to upset Mizzou — get inside the head of Chase Daniel, the Tigers' cocksure quarterback.
OU defeated Missouri in the Big 12 title game last season in large part because linebacker Curtis Lofton was relentless in his pursuit of Daniel, and also successful in frustrating the Tigers' leader by getting in his grill with some trash talking.
Daniel spent most of the game either pouting on the sideline or playing right into Lofton's hand by attempting to out-trash talk Lofton.
There has to be someone on OSU's defense who can talk smack and back it up with his play. The Cowboys need to identify that player and assign him to not only hit Daniel on every single play, but also gloat about it by going facemask-to-facemask with Daniel.
All three Oklahoma's teams 6-0 by late tonight? It is unlikely, but not impossible.Read Dave Sittler's blog at
tulsaworld.com/sportsextra
where he writes about what he's hearing in Dallas regarding TU and the Orange Bowl.
By DAVE SITTLER Sports Columnist
10/11/2008
Last Modified: 10/11/2008 3:04 AM
Decades from now, the first five games of the 2008 season will fondly be remembered as the halcyon days for this state's three major-college football teams.
Forty years after the CBS debuted "Hawaii Five-O" in 1968, the Golden Hurricane, Sooners and Cowboys have produced "Oklahoma 5-0."
It also is "15-0" if you combine the identical 5-0 records Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Tulsa have posted during these historic times.
It was CBS that also gave us the show "Mission Impossible" in 1966.
Many experts are predicting that a sweep on Saturday for TU, OSU and OU is an impossible mission.
Balderdash.
It obviously won't be easy. But here are some reasons why it is possible, even though all three teams are on the road.
TU seemingly has the easiest assignment of the three in the Hurricane's 7 p.m. contest in Dallas against a 1-5 Southern Methodist team.
But for some inexplicable reason, the Hurricane is winless in its past six visits to SMU. TU's last road victory over the Mustangs came in 1991, when Hurricane coach Todd Graham was defensive coordinator at East Central University in Ada.
That history isn't the only reason this could be a "trap game" for TU. But I don't think Graham will allow the Hurricane to lose focus over the controversy surrounding TU as the only undefeated team that hasn't cracked the AP Top 25 or coaches poll.
"As soon as you think you've arrived, you're fixing to get knocked down," Graham said. "You have to stay hungry, you have to stay focused, you have to stay humble and understand to respect the next opponent."
OU, which also is in Dallas today for an 11 a.m. meeting with bitter rival Texas at the Cotton Bowl, hasn't had to worry about rankings. But the No. 1 Sooners, who were No. 4 in the preseason, will get their first real test against the No. 5 Longhorns, who are also 5-0.
"Up to this point, we've played good teams," said OU defensive end Auston English. "But I don't think anyone on our team is saying we're the greatest or the best.
"You don't know how good you really are until you have played this (Texas's) level of competition."
If OU wins this 103rd meeting of the Red River Rivalry, don't be surprised if redshirt freshman receiver Ryan Broyles plays a key role.
Broyles had a sensational debut when he caught seven passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in OU's 52-26 win over Cincinnati in the season's second game. Since that game, Broyles has had a combined six receptions for 115 yards and two scores.
Has Broyles been overshadowed because OU is loaded at receiver? Or has the Sooner coaching staff purposely let Broyles slip into the background, as they prepare to spring his big-play abilities on a young Texas secondary?
Oklahoma State faces the biggest challenge of the state's three 5-0 teams. Like OU, the No. 17 Cowboys also will face an undefeated and Top Five opponent in their 7 p.m. Big 12 Conference contest at No. 3 Missouri (5-0).
The obvious key for OSU is to use its nationally ranked (No. 2) rushing attack to dominate time of possession and keep the Tigers' high-octane offense on the bench. The Cowboys' already daunting task will grow in difficulty if tight end Brandon Pettigrew misses the game with an injury. Pettigrew's blocking has been critical as OSU has averaged 315.2 yards rushing per game.
But there is another way for OSU to upset Mizzou — get inside the head of Chase Daniel, the Tigers' cocksure quarterback.
OU defeated Missouri in the Big 12 title game last season in large part because linebacker Curtis Lofton was relentless in his pursuit of Daniel, and also successful in frustrating the Tigers' leader by getting in his grill with some trash talking.
Daniel spent most of the game either pouting on the sideline or playing right into Lofton's hand by attempting to out-trash talk Lofton.
There has to be someone on OSU's defense who can talk smack and back it up with his play. The Cowboys need to identify that player and assign him to not only hit Daniel on every single play, but also gloat about it by going facemask-to-facemask with Daniel.
All three Oklahoma's teams 6-0 by late tonight? It is unlikely, but not impossible.Read Dave Sittler's blog at
tulsaworld.com/sportsextra
where he writes about what he's hearing in Dallas regarding TU and the Orange Bowl.