Cowboys must seize moment BEDLAM BIRTHRIGHT | IF OSU WANTS TO JOIN SPORT’S ELITE, THIS IS THE PLACE TO START
Berry Tramel btramel@ opubco.com
SATURDAY’S GAME
Oklahoma (9-2) at Oklahoma State (10-1) 7 p.m. Saturday › When: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater › Where: KOCO-5 (Cox 8) › TV: › Radio: KXXY-96.1 FM, KRXO-FM 107.7, KOKC-AM 1520 › Live chat: NewsOK.com/sports BEDLAM ON NEWSOK
COMMENTARY
The Oklahoman and NewsOK.com will have wallto-wall coverage of Bedlam football this week in the paper and online. Here’s a look at some of what we’ll have online:
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TILLWATER — Esau comes back to camp hungry. So hungry, he’s willing to trade his birthright to little brother Jacob for a bowl of porridge. If only college football birthrights were so easy come, easy go. The most staid of games, the most classentrenched sport, embraces its tradition. Which is both good and bad. Good in that it’s comforting to know that what was yesterday will be tomorrow. Good to know that something changes slowly in this warp-speed 21st century. Bad in that you’re stuck. Bad in that status is moved not just by performance, but by time. Alabama. Oklahoma. Southern Cal. Ohio State. Texas. Penn State. The bluebloods don’t change much in college football. It’s a tough club to crack. Just ask TCU and Boise State. It’s a tough club from which to get ejected. Just ask Notre Dame and Michigan. College football is European in culture. To whom you are born is paramount. What you did 20, 40, 60 years ago matters as much as what you did last week. Which brings us to Bedlam 2010. The Sooners and Cowboys play Saturday at Boone Pick-
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SOUND OFF
Brandon Weeden, front, and the Cowboys have a chance to make a dent in college football’s current class system with a Bedlam victory. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
ens Stadium for the Big 12 South title. And it’s OU’s birthright to be in Arlington, Texas, next week. That’s what Sooners believe. Championships and BCS bowls and Bedlam victories are a way of life. Not so in Stillwater, where such lofty heights are a luxury. A dreamscape. That’s why Bedlam 2010 is so important. If the Cowboys ever want to grab a piece of the birthright, ever want to walk into every season believing autumn glory is the norm, it has to start somewhere. It has to start here. “Our goal is to win the conference,” Mike Gundy said. This game could put OSU in position to do just that. Offensive tackle Levy Adcock went out of his way to declare Bedlam
just another game, no bigger than the first 11, but in the end, he had to admit, victory Saturday “would be one of the biggest in school history.” The Sooners aren’t Esau. They don’t hand over their birthright for a cup of porridge. The Sooners like their birthright. They cherish their birthright. The Sooners aren’t giving away their birthright. The Cowboys will have to take it, or at least shove their way to the table to share. That can’t happen without championships. The occasional Bedlam upset is nice. But it does not change the natural order. It does not make the Sooners quiver in their cleats. Start winning Big 12 titles. Start going to BCS bowls. Start relegating the Sooners to the Alamo or
Insight bowls. Then birthright becomes an issue. Do what in the ’90s Oregon did out West and Wisconsin did in the Midwest. Do what Auburn has been doing down South for two generations. Stand up to the aristocracy. Stand up for yourself and declare the class system un-American. USC and Ohio State and Alabama still are bluebloods, they just have to share the wealth a little. No reason that can’t happen in Bedlam. But it takes time. And it has to start somewhere. It has to start here. Berry Tramel: Berry can be reached at (405) 760-8080 or at btramel@opubco.com. He can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can also view his personality page at newsok.com/berrytramel.
Are you a fan of the scat SPORTS back or the power runner? Do you think Oklahoma’s SOUND OFF! DeMarco Murray or Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter is the better running back? Let us know who you think is better by calling our Sports Sound Off hotline at (405) 586-0704. Keep it clean and have some fun and you might see your thoughts online or in the paper.
PHOTO GALLERIES Log on to NewsOK.com/sports and take a look at our Bedlam photo galleries in the upper-right hand corner of the screen. We’ve got photo galleries of the Bedlam quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers as well as a Best of Bedlam gallery.
BEDLAM COUNTDOWN Also on NewsOK.com/sports, check out a special video series with columnist Berry Tramel. In a five-part series, Berry breaks down the best Bedlam football games of all time. Find out which Bedlam game tops his list.
SECTION CREDITS Editor: Mike Sherman › Sports Asst. Sports Editors: Scott Munn, Hayley Riggs, ›Ryan Sharp, Darla Smith design: Bill Bootz, Hayley Riggs › Page Copy editors: Dean Bailey, Kendall Matthews, ›Dirk Linenberger › Cover design: Bill Bootz OKLAHOMA PUBLISHING CO. The Oklahoman/NewsOK.com 9000 N. Broadway Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Sports phone: (405) 475-3314 Sports fax: (405) 475-3315
A way out of the wilderness for OU N Jenni Carlson
jcarlson@ opubco.com
COMMENTARY
Bob Stoops’ Sooners could put a stop to talk of their road woes with a Bedlam victory. PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
ot even two years have passed since Oklahoma played for a national championship. It seems like longer. The months since then have been tough. A neverending rash of injuries led to a five-loss season a year ago. A possible return to glory has been derailed by serious road problems this season. Forty years of wandering in the wilderness, it isn’t, but still, this hasn’t been a two-year era flowing with milk and honey either. But win on Saturday at Oklahoma State, and all will be right with the Soonerites. Consider what a Bedlam victory would mean to OU — validation that
the road woes are a thing of the past, victories against rivals Texas and OSU in the same season for the first time since 2007, a Big 12 South title and a trip to the conference championship title game. The Sooners have played for the Big 12 title seven times in the past decade. Going back to the championship game would be familiar. Playing again the first weekend of December would be comforting. It would also be a chance to say goodbye to longtime rival and Big Ten wannabe Nebraska, the likely North Division rep. A fitting parting gift? Perhaps a swift kick in the backside, just for old time’s sake. But before the Sooner
Nation starts making plans for a big-red reunion, there’s this serious matter of Bedlam. Winning in Stillwater is going to take a big-time effort and a high-level performance. There have been plenty of years when OU has taken a superior team to OSU and struggled. 2006: The Fiesta Bowl team squeaked by OSU, 27-21. Lendy Holmes tipped a potential game-winning touchdown pass away from D’Juan Woods on the final play of the game. 2004: A team that would play for a national championship won arguably the best Bedlam game of all time, 38-35. A game-tying field goal hooked left with 11 seconds remaining.
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2002: A Sooner squad with a shot at the national championship game had those title hopes dashed with a 38-28 Cowboy victory. Bedlam in Stillwater over the past decade or so has almost always been a competitive game, no matter how much better the Sooners have been. But here’s the thing about this year’s contest — OU isn’t better than OSU. How will the Sooner defense handle a Cowboy offense that is explosive yet balanced? How will the Sooner offense fair against a Cowboy defense that continues improving? OSU isn’t without its faults, but the Cowboys have been more consistent, more predictable than the Sooners this
season. Yes, OU finally got a win in a true road game last week at Baylor, but it could’ve been a fluke. An inferior opponent. An out-of-theordinary road performance for the Sooners. Or maybe OU really has its road woes solved and proved it by smacking around a decent Baylor team. We’ll know for certain Saturday. Straight up, OSU is the better team heading into this game, which would make an OU win even more meaningful. Go to OSU and leave with a win, and it would be a bigtime accomplishment. It would be the highlight of the season. It would be the signature win. It would be a way out of the wilderness.
OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL
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Defense will make OU work for it MOVING THE BALL | SOONERS WILL HAVE TO EARN THEIR WAY DOWN THE FIELD AND AVOID MISTAKES AGAINST THE COWBOYS
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ORMAN — The philosophy of Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Bill Young is not exactly bend don’t break. But it’s close. Realizing the OSU offense is going to score in droves, Young doesn’t feel compelled to take chances with man-toman coverage or all-out blitzes. Instead, he’s content to make opposing offenses earn their way down the field and wait for them to make mistakes. To knock off the Pokes, Oklahoma will have to accomplish the former and avoid the latter. “They make you work,” Sooner coach Bob Stoops said. “They have gotten turnovers and stops in different ways. That’s the idea going against them. You’ve got to be able to hold it together, sustain drives and get your big plays when you can.” OU is going to get its yards. But whether the Sooners also get their points depends on if they can bubble screen their way down the field, manufacture a couple of big plays and avoid turning the ball over against the nation’s sixth-best defense at causing turnovers. “I wouldn’t call them a bend-but-don’t break team by any means, but they’re not going to let you just run by them and throw bombs,” said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. “They don’t give up a lot of big plays. They don’t give up a lot of cheap scores. And what I see
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from afar is a defense that plays with a lot of confidence. Meaning if the other team has some success on offense, I don’t think their defense gets rattled because they know their offense is going to do well.” The good news for the Sooners is they possess the kind of offense that can give the Cowboys fits. OU doesn’t turn the ball over, the lifeblood of the OSU defense. Only Iowa, Oregon State, Wisconsin, Navy and TCU have turned the ball over fewer times than the Sooners this season. And while quarterback Landry Jones has had some breakdowns on the road, he’s only thrown five picks in OU’s last 10 games. OU also doesn’t need big plays to score points. While they’ve been much more explosive of late, the Sooners still only have 13 scoring plays from outside the red zone, a low number compared with other Big 12 teams. That hasn’t, however, prevented OU from boasting the No. 16 scoring offense in the country with almost 37 points per game. The Sooners have made a living on bubble screens to Ryan Broyles and swing passes to DeMarco Murray and slants and outs to Kenny Stills. Those plays should be there against the Cowboys. If the Sooners can execute those plays, they’ll bend OSU’s defense. And if they can hold on to the ball, eventually break it.
Oklahoma State defenders, including Justin Gent, bottom, takes down Kansas’ Kale Pick, middle left, during the Cowboys’ Nov. 20 victory over the Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan. The Cowboys’ defense is the nation’s sixth-best at causing turnovers, but the Sooners have the No. 16 scoring offense in the country and don’t turn the ball over a lot. PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
BEST OF THE BLOGS: BERRY TRAMEL’S BLOG
Diamond formation isn’t anything new
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n Sept. 4, Oklahoma State unveiled a new formation for a few plays against Washington State. A fullhouse backfield, in which backup tailbacks Joseph Randle and Jeremy Smith joined Kendall Hunter on the field. One lined up in what has become known as the pistol position, a tailback lined up directly behind a shotgun quarterback. The other two lined up as halfbacks, one on each side of QB Brandon Weeden. It’s a power-running formation that OSU has continued to use occasionally. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen calls the formation the “cross.”
Berry Tramel btramel@ opubco.com
COMMENTARY
Last Saturday in Waco, Texas, OU flattered the Cowboys in the best way possible: imitation. The Sooners unveiled their own full-house backfield, with the same formation. It, too, worked very well as a power-running formation. Bob Stoops says the Sooners call the formation “backs,” while some media dubbed it the “diamond.” There is little new under the autumn sun. OU got the formation
from OSU, and I don’t know where Holgorsen got it, but I know at least how far back it goes. 1969. In Chuck Fairbanks’ third season as OU’s head coach, the Sooners used a similar form of the cross or the diamond. OU called it the Diamond T and surprisingly unveiled it as their primary offense in September 1969. The Diamond T was not exactly like OSU’s cross or OU’s backs, because sophomore quarterback Jack Mildren did not line up in the shotgun. So it truly was a diamond; tailback Steve Owens lined up directly behind Mildren, with fullback Mike Harper and wingback Roy
Bell each lined up behind a guard, a few yards behind Mildren and a few yards in front of Owens. The Diamond T was designed to continue the benefits of the I formation — Owens was a decent I formation tailback, if you hadn’t heard — and incorporate some option possibilities, too. Here’s what The Oklahoman’s Bob Hurt wrote about the Diamond T after OU opened the 1969 season with a 48-21 rout of Wisconsin: “Certain disadvantages are built into the Diamond T. There’s only one wide receiver, the split end, which allows defenses to gang up and makes quick passes more difficult. Fairbanks, however, plans
to use all three running backs as receivers. “The coach subscribes to the nothing-is-newin-football theory. The Diamond T wasn’t invented, he said. It evolved. The exact position of the backs may be unique but the theories were borrowed from others and refined to suit OU’s personnel.” Alas, the Diamond T didn’t last at OU. The Sooners didn’t stick with the Diamond T, migrating back to the traditional I formation during a bittersweet season, which OU went 6-4 but Owens won the Heisman Trophy. For more from Berry Tramel, go to blog.newsok.com/berrytramel.
POLL RESULTS NewsOK.com ran several Bedlam-related polls throughout the week. Here are the results as of Thursday evening: Which quarterback is better? OSU’s Brandon Weeden — 78.05% (2,009 votes) OU’s Landry Jones — 21.95% (565 votes)
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Which running back is better? OSU’s Kendall Hunter — 72.52% (2,525 votes) OU’s DeMarco Murray — 27.48% (957 votes)
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Which receiver is better? OSU’s Justin Blackmon — 65.37% (2,467 votes) OU’s Ryan Broyles — 34.63% (1,307 votes)
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Which team has the better defense? OU — 61.99% (393 votes) OSU — 38.01% (241 votes)
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OU ROSTER No. Player 1 Tony Jefferson 2 Trey Franks 2 Julian Wilson 3 Jonathan Nelson 3 Joe Powell 4 Kenny Stills 5 Joseph Ibiloye 5 John Nimmo 6 Cameron Kenney 7 DeMarco Murray 8 Brandon Caleb 8 James Haynes 9 Gabe Lynn 10 Blake Bell 10 Rashod Favors 11 Kevin Brent 11 Ben Sherrard 12 Landry Jones 12 Austin Box 13 Marcus Trice 14 Aaron Colvin 14 John Sosanya 15 Drew Allen 15 Lamar Harris 16 Jaz Reynolds 17 Mossis Madu 17 Jimmy Stevens 18 Justin McCay 18 Michael Hunnicutt 19 Ryan Caro 19 Demontre Hurst 20 Quinton Carter 21 Tom Wort 21 Brennan Clay 22 Roy Finch 23 Jermie Clahoun 24 DeJuan Miller 25 Corey Nelson 25 Emmanuel Jones 26 Jonathan Miller 27 Derek Hellard 27 Sam Proctor 28 Travis Lewis 29 Zach Brown 29 Quentin Hayes 30 Javon Harris 31 Daniel Franklin 31 Dominique Whaley 32 Jamell Fleming 32 Marshall Musil 33 Trey Millard 34 Billy Batchlear 34 John Weakley 35 Julian Winters 36 Tress Way 37 David Welchert 38 Derrick Bradley 39 Dillon Schooley 40 Aaron Franklin 41 Erik Lee 41 Josh New 42 Jesse Paulsen 43 Patrick O’Hara 44 Jeremy Beal
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OU DEPTH CHART
OU LEADERS Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl. S 5-11 198 Fr. WR 5-10 190 Fr. S 6-2 175 Fr. DB 5-11 188 Sr. WR 5-11 162 Fr. WR 6-0 183 Fr. S 6-3 215 So. QB 6-2 210 Sr. WR 6-1 193 Sr. RB 6-1 207 Sr. WR 6-1 193 Sr. CB 6-0 183 Fr. DB 6-0 189 RFr. QB 6-6 227 Fr. LB 6-0 230 Fr. S 5-11 216 RFr. QB 6-4 214 So. QB 6-4 219 So. LB 6-2 232 Jr. S 5-8 186 So. CB 5-11 176 Fr. WR 5-11 179 So. QB 6-5 232 RFr. S 6-1 187 So. WR 6-2 192 So. RB 6-0 197 Sr. K 5-6 167 Jr. WR 6-2 208 Fr. K 6-1 190 Fr. WR 5-7 172 Jr. CB 5-9 178 So. S 6-1 200 Sr. LB 6-1 225 RFr. RB 5-11 192 Fr. RB 5-8 180 Fr. RB 6-0 216 So. WR 6-4 221 Jr. LB 6-1 208 Fr. S 5-11 198 Sr. RB 6-0 198 So. WR 5-8 171 So. S 6-0 216 Jr. LB 6-2 232 Jr. WR 5-10 165 Jr. CB 6-0 169 Fr. S 5-11 212 So. LB 6-2 219 So. RB 6-0 195 So. CB 5-11 191 Jr. FB 6-2 241 RFr. TE/HB 6-2 246 Fr. DE 6-1 227 Sr. RB 5-11 210 So. DB 5-11 175 Fr. K 6-1 220 So. FB 6-2 225 Fr. DB 5-10 178 So. DB 5-11 171 Fr. LB 6-1 205 Fr. LB 6-2 205 RFr. TE 6-2 238 Jr. DB 6-0 193 So. K 6-0 185 So. DE 6-3 267 Sr.
PASSING Landry Jones
Comp
311
RUSHING DeMarco Murray Roy Finch Mossis Madu Brennan Clay
RECEIVING Ryan Broyles Kenny Stills DeMarco Murray Trey Franks Dejuan Miller Cameron Kenney Trent Ratterree
PUNT RETURNS
Att
Int
465
7
Yds
3479
TD
Ryan Broyles
No
Yds
220 61 52 36
973 319 234 127
No
Yds
106 44 58 25 15 14 8
1309 590 494 237 199 184 173
TD
130
0
30
KICK RETURNS No
Yds
20
TD
14 2 1 0
TD
12 4 5 1 0 1 1
No.
DeMarco Murray Mossis Madu
Yds
10 8
INTERCEPTIONS Jamell Fleming Quinton Carter Jonathan Nelson Travis Lewis
249 241
No
Tony Jefferson
No
1
TACKLES
SCORING DeMarco Murray Ryan Broyles Jimmy Stevens James Hanna Kenny Stills Patrick O’Hara Trey Millard Roy Finch Trent Ratterree Trey Franks Drew Allen Ronnell Lewis Mossis Madu Cameron Kenney
19 12 0 5 4 0 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1
FG
0-0 0-0 20-13 0-0 0-0 4-6 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
0 0 0 0
LB CB CB CB TE FB OG C LB DT DS DT DS LB LB LB DT OT OL C DE OL/C C/G OG OT DE OG OT OT OT
6-1 20 Fr. 5-11 188 Jr. 5-10 160 RFr. 5-11 196 So. 6-3 246 Jr. 6-1 242 Sr. 6-4 298 Fr. 6-4 299 Sr. 6-1 212 Fr. 6-2 329 Fr. 6-3 238 Fr. 6-2 301 So. 6-4 228 Jr. 6-2 230 So. 6-2 240 So. 6-2 215 Fr. 6-2 292 Fr. 6-6 309 Jr. 6-4 299 So. 6-3 292 So. 6-2 250 Fr. 6-3 300 So. 6-4 282 RFr. 6-3 273 So. 6-0 310 So. 6-4 221 Jr. 6-4 316 Fr. 6-6 289 Sr. 6-7 324 Sr. 6-4 311 Fr.
72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 81 82 83 84 85 85 86 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 94 96 97 98
Tavaris Jeffries Josh Aladenoye Adam Shead Tyler Evans Jarvis Jones Stephen Good Jake Reed Daryl Williams Joshua Neal Jarrett Brown Nyko Symonds James Hanna Mark Long Frank Alexander Ryan Broyles Geneo Grissom Adrian Taylor James Winchester Lane Johnson Sheldon McClain Austin Haywood David King R.J. Washington Stacy McGee Daniel Noble Bryce Easley Pryce Macon Torrea Peterson Jamarkus McFarland Chuka Ndulue
QB
Landry Jones Drew Allen
So. 6-4 219 RFr. 6-5 232
FB
33 32
Trey Millard Marshall Musil
Fr. 6-2 246 RFr. 6-2 241
RB
7 22
DeMarco Murray Roy Finch
Sr. 6-1 207 Fr. 5-8 180
WR
2 6
Trey Franks Cameron Kenney
Fr. 5-10 190 Sr. 6-1 193
WR
4 8
Kenny Stills Brandon Caleb
Fr. 6-0 183 Sr. 6-1 193
0
SL
85 3
Ryan Broyles Joe Powell
Jr. Fr.
5-11 183 5-11 162
AT
TT
TE
82 47
James Hanna Trent Ratterree
Jr. Jr.
6-4 237 6-3 246
LT
59 76
D. Stephenson Jarvis Jones
Jr. Jr.
6-6 309 6-7 277
LG
64 77
Gabe Ikard Stephen Good
RFr. 6-4 282 Jr. 6-6 299
C
61 51
Ben Habern Brian Lepak
So. 6-3 292 Sr. 6-4 299
RG
75 68
Tyler Evans Bronson Irwin
So. 6-5 316 Fr. 6-4 316
RT
69 73
Eric Mensik Josh Aladenoye
Sr. 6-6 288 RFr. 6-5 316
DE
44 90
Jeremy Beal David King
Sr. 6-3 267 So. 6-5 258
DT
97 94
J. McFarland Pryce Macon
So. 6-2 293 Sr. 6-1 249
DT
92 53
Stacy McGee Casey Walker
So. 6-4 275 So. 6-2 301
DE
84 56
Frank Alexander Ronnell Lewis
Jr. 6-4 251 So. 6-2 240
SLB
56 5
Ronnell Lewis or Joseph Ibiloye
So. 6-2 240 So. 6-3 215
MLB
21 12
Tom Wort or Austin Box
RFr. 6-1 225 Jr. 6-2 232
WLB
28 25
Travis Lewis Corey Nelson
Sr. 6-2 232 Fr. 6-1 208
FCB
19 14
Demontre Hurst Aaron Colvin
So. 5-9 178 Fr. 5-11 176
BCB
32 9
Jamell Fleming Gabe Lynn
Jr. 5-11 191 RFr. 6-0 189
SS
3 30
Jonathan Nelson Javon Harris
Sr. 5-11 188 So. 5-11 212
FS
20 27
Quinton Carter Sam Proctor
Sr. 6-1 200 Jr. 6-0 216
Nckl
5 1
Joseph Ibiloye or Tony Jefferson
So. 6-3 215 Fr. 5-11 198
K
17 43
Jimmy Stevens Patrick O’Hara
Jr. Jr.
P
36 6
Tress Way Cameron Kenney
So. 6-1 Sr. 6-1
220 193
KO KR
43 36 7 9
Patrick O’Hara Tress Way DeMarco Murray Trey Franks
So. So. Sr. Fr.
185 220 207 190
KR
22 17
Roy Finch Mossis Madu
Fr. 5-8 180 Sr. 6-0 197
H
5 81
John Nimmo Nyko Symonds
Sr. 6-2 210 Fr. 5-10 160
LSP
86 50
James Winchester Austin Woods
Jr. Fr.
6-4 205 6-4 298
LSK
50 86
Austin Woods James Winchester
Fr. Jr.
6-4 298 6-4 205
42 41 32 21 33 25 18
XP
0-0 0-0 40-40 0-0 0-0 9-10 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
89 86 81 63 61 55 55
Tot
114 72 70 30 24 21 18 12 6 6 6 6 6 6
PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Caleb Gastelum Jesse Bell Jordon Finch Zach Montana Trent Ratterree Brandon Crow Austin Woods Brian Lepak Jerico Rogers Damon Williams Wade Sheppard Casey Walker Sean Morrison Jaydan Bird Ronnell Lewis Kale Sawatzky Eric Humphrey Donald Stephenson Drew Serruto Ben Habern David Driskill Brett Coppenbarger Gabe Ikard Kyle Callison Christian Peterson Matt Wilson Bronson Irwin Eric Mensik Cory Brandon Tyrus Thompson
Cl. Ht. Wt.
12 15
TD
6
Ryan Broyles OU’s leading receiver
45 46 46 47 47 48 50 51 51 52 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71
No. Player
Yds
47 45 49 42 28 30 37
TD
TD
4 34 0 43
UA
Travis Lewis Jonathan Nelson Quinton Carter Jamell Fleming Tom Wort Jeremy Beal Tony Jefferson
0 0
Yds
4 2 2 2
FUMBLE RETURNS
TD
Pos.
OG 6-4 309 Sr. OT 6-5 316 RFr. OG 6-3 330 Fr. OG 6-5 316 So. OT 6-7 277 Jr. OG 6-6 299 Jr. OT 6-7 296 RFr. OT 6-5 300 Fr. WR 5-11 192 Jr. DE 6-3 248 RFr. WR 5-10 160 Fr. TE 6-4 237 Jr. WR 6-1 198 So. DE 6-4 251 Jr. WR 5-11 183 Jr. DE 6-4 233 Fr. DT 6-4 302 Sr. DS 6-4 205 Jr. TE 6-6 264 So. WR 6-2 184 Fr. TE/HB 6-3 237 Fr. DE 6-5 258 So. DE 6-3 244 So. DT 6-4 275 So. DT 6-3 281 Fr. K 6-1 206 RFr. DE 6-1 249 Sr. DT 6-3 295 Fr. DT 6-2 293 So. DE 6-2 252 Fr.
5-6 167 6-0 185
6-0 6-1 6-1 5-10
BEDLAM MATCHUPS
When OSU has the ball OSU’s Brandon Weeden and the Cowboy receivers vs. OU’s secondary
OSU’s running backs vs. OU’s linebackers
OSU’s offensive line vs. OU’s defensive line
backs cannot make and his accuracy is underrated. Justin Blackmon is the nation’s most consistent receiver and Josh Cooper is a solid No. 2 target. But when Blackmon is not on the field, OSU struggles to have a perimeter threat. OU: Sooner safeties Quinton Carter and Jonathan Nelson are versatile defenders who can make plays against the run and pass and Jamell Fleming is one of the Big 12’s most underrated covermen. But Blackmon has gone against the nation’s best and had success and Weeden will test the Sooner secondary unlike any quarterback they’ve faced in 2010.
The only teams who have sold out to stop him (Tulsa, Baylor) gave up over 700 total yards. But the Sooners linebackers could be the most athletic group OSU has faced. OU: Travis Lewis is one of the Big 12’s elite defenders, Tom Wort and Austin Box are solid and Corey Nelson could be a future star. But as talented and athletic as this group is, the Sooners have really struggled to stop the run in recent weeks.
They give Brandon Weeden time to go through his progressions and give Hunter lanes to run through. But this group struggled at times against Texas A&M, which brought pressure similar to what OU will bring to the table. OU: Jeremy Beal is a problem for any offense, the consistent pressure he provides makes life a lot easier for OU’s secondary. An unstoppable pass rusher can be any offense’s primary concern. But the Sooners’ interior has been hit by the injury bug and former defensive end Pryce Macon could make just his second career start in the interior.
OSU: Weeden’s production has been second to none. His OSU: The Cowboys have three quality running backs ›arm ›including › OSU: The Cowboy offensive line has been the key to an strength allows him to make throws other quarterthe nation’s No. 5 leading rusher in Kendall Hunter. OSU attack which ranks No. 1 nationally in total offense.
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Brandon Weeden
Quinton Carter
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BY BRANDON CHATMON
Kendall Hunter
Travis Lewis
Levy Adcock
Jeremy Beal
When OU has the ball OU’s Landry Jones and the Sooner receivers vs. OSU’s secondary
OU’s running backs vs. OSU’s linebackers
OU’s offensive line vs. OSU’s defensive line
pable and Kenny Stills will have to be accounted for. But Broyles is the only Sooner receiver averaging more than four receptions per game. OSU: Andrew McGee leads the Big 12 in interceptions while Markelle Martin is one of the league’s top safeties. But OSU has true freshman backups at every position and has struggled in pass coverage in multiple games this season.
Roy Finch has emerged as an X factor in the Sooner offense since returning from ankle injury. But Murray has just four games of 100 rushing yards or more and one of more than 115 rushing yards. OSU: Orie Lemon is one of the Big 12’s top linebackers and is the foundation of the Cowboy defense. Justin Gent is solid and OSU’s defense has improved in the four games since freshman Shaun Lewis entered the starting lineup including two games holding opponents under 300 total yards. But Murray and Finch both excel in one-on-one situations with linebackers.
(470.27) and No. 16 in scoring offense (36.3). But they’ve struggled to create running lanes for DeMarco Murray as OU averages just 3.47 yards per carry this season and allow 1.55 sacks per game. OSU: Chris Donaldson and Shane Jarka have been solid at defensive tackle after entering the season as a potential question mark while defensive ends Jamie Blatnick, Richetti Jones and Ugo Chinasa have combined for 11 sacks. But OSU lacks the dominant pass rush threat who must be accounted for on every snap.
DeMarco Murray
Donald Stephenson
OU: Jones has been stellar at times this season and is DeMarco Murray brings athleticism and versatility to › OU: The Sooner offensive line has helped OU rank No. 4 ›coming ›theOU:table off a great game at Baylor. Ryan Broyles is unstopwith his pass catching abilities while freshman nationally in passing yards (324.4), No. 13 in total offense
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Landry Jones
Andrew McGee
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Orie Lemon
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BY BRANDON CHATMON
Chris Donaldson
7B
Bedlam in the pulpit ONE LORD, TWO TEAMS | THE FOOTBALL ALLEGIANCES OF TWO PASTORS AT ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC CHURCH MAKE IT A HOUSE OF WORSHIP DIVIDED
BY JOHN HELSLEY Staff Writer jhelsley@opubco.com
E
When it comes to football teams, Father Dan Letourneau left, worships Oklahoma State, while Father John Metzinger has his allegiance with Oklahoma.
PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN
8B
DMOND — Father John Metzinger knew something wasn’t quite right when the new associate pastor moved in at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. “I brought all my orange clothes to the rectory,” said Father Dan Letourneau. “I think Father realized I was an OSU person.” Right then it was on, a House (of the Lord) Divided. The Edmond priests share the faith and the word and the bread, yet no common ground when it comes to Bedlam. yyy Father John: “I gave you a condolence card once. ‘Sorry for your loss.’ I don’t remember which one that was after.” Father Dan: “I don’t either, there’s been so many. I haven’t enjoyed an OSU victory as a priest. I’ve seen it happen, but not as a priest.” yyy With Father John — last names are far too formal at St. John’s — his Sooner spirit developed during 16½ years in Norman, including 11 as the pastor at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, where none other than Bob and Mike Stoops were parishioners. When Father John can break free from church responsibilities to attend a game, he’s on the list for tickets through Stoops’ office. “I got to know coach a little bit,” said Father John, who was born in Kansas and grew up in Joplin, Mo. “I think he’s a great guy. I admire what he’s done for the program. That’s another reason to continue to be a fan today.” Father Dan was born in Ponca City and attended Oklahoma State, served as the drum major there from 1979-
81 and played in the basketball pep band during the Paul Hansen era. Last January, he attended the Cotton Bowl with the grandparents of former Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson, who also went to St. John’s. Last week, he was pushing popcorn and hot dogs at a Gallagher-Iba Arena concession stand, working on a night off to benefit the OSU alumni band. Talk about Live Orange. So it was in Stillwater in the late ’70s, when Letourneau was a scholarship music student attending the local Catholic church, St. John The Evangelist University Parish, where the late Reverend Bob Schlitt pushed God and the Pokes. “I was his music director,” said Father Dan, “played the guitar at masses in Stillwater. He played the fight song, sold barbeque in front of the church. “He would wear orange. I do that, kind of thinking of him.” Both priests bare their allegiances proudly, which has livened things up a bit at St. John’s. Parishioners at the church are fully into the Bedlam bragging being waged beyond the pulpit. One recent tradition involving the church’s school, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, has featured a Bedlam food drive, with students donating food items as fans for either OU or OSU. To the winning side: the losing side’s priest forced to wear the other team’s color while working the lunch line. For the first time this year, OSU won. Yet Father John couldn’t quite bring himself to go full orange, opting instead for a gray t-shirt sporting the helmets of both teams. “I said I would wear orange,” said Father John, “I didn’t say I wouldn’t wear red also.” There’s a bit of a competition, too, when it comes to decorating the Christmas tree, with ornaments representing both sides strategically placed among the limbs.
COMMANDMENTS BY BERRY TRAMEL, ILLUSTRATION BY BILL BOOTZ, THE OKLAHOMAN
yyy Father Dan: “I have my Pistol Pete tree ornament that I bought at the student union. One year I slipped it on the Christmas tree when Father John wasn’t looking. It went from down low to up high.” Father John: “He kept putting it higher on the tree. He’ll probably want Pete on top if they win.” yyy Almost on cue each fall Sunday, at least at the masses led by the Bedlam priests — Father Long Phan, another associate priest at the parish, carries
no allegiances — there are references to the previous day’s games leading into each priests’ sermons, whether at 7:30, 9 and 11:30 a.m. or 5:30 p.m. An at-ease moment of sorts, before breaking into the lessons of scripture. “People just sort of expect it when you do it for a while,” said Father John. “Of course, you try not to show too much favoritism, or people say, ‘Why don’t you talk about my team?’ “It’s not a sports report. If you want a sports report, you read the paper. But just a little comment.” The playfulness of the priests has
started something. Fans of all schools, Cowboys and Sooners, but also Longhorns and Aggies and Cornhuskers and others, wear their own school’s logo shirts and outerwear following big wins, particularly wins over OU and OSU. “What’s also been fun here is the Friday morning mass,” said Father Dan. “Everybody, if they want to, wears their college shirts. There’s a couple of OSU gals who always sit in the first row, right in front of the pulpit. “I’ve decided to let Father John say the mass and I’ll wear my shirt and sit with them. We try to do the wave.” Said Father John: “A couple of weeks ago, I anticipated them and I brought my sunglasses. And just before I started to preach I said, ‘I came prepared.’ So I put on my sunglasses so I wouldn’t be blinded by the orange.” It’s even opened new lines of communication between parishioners and priests. “Here, the fun part is to kind of skirmish with the OSU fans, especially this year,” said Father John. “They’ve been doing a little more sparring, a little more trash talking than usual, anticipating a victory. “We’ll see.” Would a priest return trash talk? “I wouldn’t put it that way, of course,” said Father John, before laughing a bit, “but I make an occasional remark.” This is the week for it. yyy Father John: “It may be hard to contain him if it happens this year.” Father Dan: “It’s in the Bible, ‘The Lord is my shepherd, He leads me to still waters.’ Psalm 23. Not our Bible, but … Should be on a t-shirt.” yyy Father Long has been a godsend to St. John’s, not only in helping to serve a large parish, but in filling gaps
in Saturday schedules, like when two certain teams may be taking the field. Serving the people comes first, of course. “I’ve had people come to confession,” said Father Dan, “and say, ‘Well, Father, they’re up by seven.’” Still, when time allows, the Bedlam priests get out to see their squads. They’ve watched the Bedlam game together – once – driving to Stillwater for the 2008 game, a 61-41 Sooner win. Neither has tickets for this week’s game, but if a pair might happen to fall their way… “I’ll be up there in a second,” said Father Dan. “Oh, yeah,” said Father John. Father Dan figures he’ll go anyway, to tailgate parishioners who favor orange and maybe luck into a ticket. After all, for a change, the vibes are good concerning the Cowboys. They’ve got a better record, a higher ranking, and the game is in Stillwater. “People have said, ‘Boy, Father Dan is wearing his orange everywhere,’” said Father John. “I said, ‘Well, you have to understand, for OSU fans, this kind of year doesn’t come along very often. We’ve had these years before, but for OSU fans, this is a big deal.’” Smiles are exchanged across the table as he fires off one more subtle Bedlam jab. For both, clearly it’s all in good fun. When it comes to gifts, they frequently go for items of one another’s favorite team. Father John has given OSU jackets and sweatshirts; Father Dan has given books and framed pictures celebrating the Sooners. “We enjoy it,” said Father John. “Father Dan and I, at least as far as I know, we get along pretty well. “The reality is, while we both have our teams, and we’re much happier when they win than when they lose, life does go on. It is just college football. But it’s a lot of fun.”
9B
OKLAHOMA STATE FOOTBALL
WITH BRANDON CHATMON I BCHATMON@OPUBCO.COM
FOLLOW @BCHATMON ON TWITTER
Containing Broyles could be the key SLOWING DOWN OU | RECEIVER SHINED IN ’09 BEDLAM, AND HE’S BEEN EVEN BETTER THIS YEAR
S
TILLWATER — Visions of Ryan Broyles darting through Oklahoma State tacklers must be seared into the minds of Cowboy fans. The Oklahoma receiver was the best offensive player on the field during Bedlam 2009. Broyles finished with 316 all-purpose yards, including 209 return yards and 103 receiving yards. For OSU, containing Broyles could be the key to slowing Oklahoma’s offense when the Sooners visit the Cowboys at 7 p.m. on Saturday. “He’s very good,” coach Mike Gundy said. “He’s elusive in space, he catches the ball well, he catches the ball down the field well. “He’s going to make some plays, you have to understand he’s going to make some plays and try to limit those.” As good as Broyles was in last year’s Bedlam matchup, he’s been even better through 11 games in 2010. The junior has 106 receptions for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns. Few players in college football can match Broyles’ explosiveness in the open field. “One thing we can do for him is not miss the tackles,” OSU cornerback Andrew McGee said. “He’s quick, he’s elusive, he has the ability to make you miss. If we can do our job and make the tackles in open space and limit the big plays, we will be ok.” Easier said than done. OU runs a bubble screen to
10B
Broyles that is close to unstoppable if executed correctly. It’s lethal because the play gets Broyles the ball quickly in the open field with blockers ahead. “The reason it is so tough is because it gives the receiver a chance to go make a play,” McGee said. “It gives them an opportunity to catch the ball and not worry about getting hit, getting smashed right after they catch it. So they have time to think about what they are going to do.” It’s a play that always looks like the defender could jump the route and intercept the pass, but OU runs variations of the play to keep defenses honest and the outside receiver — with Broyles lining up in the slot — blocks the cornerback on the perimeter, giving Broyles open space to operate. “It’s tough because they always have that one blocker in front of you,” McGee said. “It would have to be a heck of a read for someone to intercept a bubble pass. It would be one of the greatest plays ever.” Tackling will be the key. OSU’s tackling was its downfall in the Cowboys’ lone loss against Nebraska earlier this season, and Broyles is the type of dynamic talent who will take advantage if OSU doesn’t wrap up. “He’s going to catch the ball, we know that,” McGee said. “It’s hard to say Ryan Broyles will not catch a single pass this game. We have to limit the big plays, limit the missed tackles.”
OU’s Ryan Broyles, left, gets away from Utah State’s Chris Randle during the Sooners’ Sept. 4 victory. Broyles has 106 receptions for 1,309 yards and 12 touchdowns this season. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
OSU ROSTER No. Player 1 Joseph Randle 2 Lavocheya Cooper 2 Nathan Sorenson 3 Victor Johnson 3 Brandon Weeden 4 Justin Gilbert 5 Chris Dinkins 6 Patrick McDonald 6 Andrew McGee 7 Michael Harrison 8 Johnny Deaton 8 Daytawion Lowe 9 David Gordon 9 Bo Bowling 10 Markelle Martin 10 Clint Chelf 11 Wes Harlan 11 Shaun Lewis 12 Trey Munden 12 Johnny Thomas 13 Quinn Sharp 14 Justin Horton 14 Jase Chilcoat 15 D.J. Martin 15 Adrian Richards 16 Andrae May 17 Brandon Stringer 17 Charlie Moore 18 Devin Hedgepeth 19 Brodrick Brown 20 Larry Stephens 22 James Thomas 22 Joe Aska, Jr. 23 Zack Craig 24 Kendall Hunter 25 Josh Cooper 25 Yves Batoba 26 Anthony Hill 26 Nehemiah Mundy 27 Kirk Zachary 28 Michael Roberts 28 Deion Imade 29 Joe Mitchell 30 David Paulsen 31 Jeremy Smith 31 Brandon Speth 32 Jarrod Fields 33 LeRon Furr 33 Christian Schroeder 35 Mathies Long 36 Teddy Johnson 37 Bryant Ward 38 Zach Fullingim 38 Grayson Buster 39 Jerry Reagan 39 Kyle Hale 40 Nick Rockwell 40 Tyler Johnson 41 Orie Lemon 42 Justin Gent 44 Grant Goodwin 44 Stephen Stadler 45 Caleb Lavey
OSU DEPTH CHART
OSU LEADERS Pos. Ht. Wt. Cl RB 6-0 190 Fr. S 6-1 185 Fr. QB 6-3 200 Fr. S 6-0 195 Jr. QB 6-4 224 Jr. CB 6-0 180 Fr. WR 6-2 205 Fr. IR 6-2 197 RFr. CB 6-0 191 Sr. IR 6-1 208 RFr. QB 6-2 200 Fr. S 6-0 195 So. CB 5-11 170 So. WR 5-10 186 Sr. S 6-1 198 Jr. QB 6-1 200 RFr. H 6-0 190 So. LB 6-1 210 Fr. WR 6-0 192 Jr. S 5-11 200 Jr. P/K 6-1 191 So. IR 6-3 225 So. QB 5-11 198 RFr. CB 5-9 178 Jr. WR 6-4 208 So. CB 5-11 180 So. QB 6-4 216 So. WR 6-3 199 RFr. CB 5-11 180 Fr. CB 5-8 190 So. DB 6-0 180 Fr. LB 5-11 216 Jr. RB 6-0 200 Fr. S 6-3 180 Fr. RB 5-8 197 Sr. IR 5-11 192 Jr. CB 5-9 175 RFr. WR 5-11 193 Sr. CB 6-0 178 Jr. LB 5-10 210 Fr. RB 5-8 191 Jr. S 6-0 175 Fr. LB 6-3 217 Fr. RB 6-2 255 So. RB 5-10 210 RFr. ATH 5-8 180 Fr. CB 5-10 190 Jr. LB 6-2 230 RFr. WR 5-11 182 Fr. S 6-1 210 Sr. LB 5-11 219 Fr. RB 5-11 223 Sr. LB 6-1 230 Fr. P/K 5-11 186 Jr. RB 5-10 180 So. S 5-11 189 RFr. WR 5-7 178 RFr. LB 6-3 210 Fr. LB 6-1 240 Sr. LB 6-1 236 Sr. FB 5-7 200 Fr. LB 6-0 180 Fr. LB 6-3 225 Fr.
PASSING Brandon Weeden
RUSHING Kendall Hunter Joseph Randle Jeremy Smith
Comp
Att
289 427
No
248 76 46
RECEIVING Int
Yds TD
10 3780 30
Yds
1461 421 212
TD
16 2 5
Justin Blackmon Josh Cooper Joseph Randle Bo Bowling Isaiah Anderson Colton Chelf
PUNT RETURNS Josh Cooper Justin Gilbert
KICK RETURNS Justin Gilbert Joseph Randle
INTERCEPTIONS Andrew McGee Markelle Martin Johnny Thomas
No
Yds
94 51 33 35 12 11
1560 599 393 365 216 200
No
TD
17 4 1 0 0 1
14 8
138 55
Yds
TD
No.
Yds
TD
1 0
FUMBLE RETURNS
449 260
No
Yds
5 2 2
90 0 26
1 0
TD
0 0 1
63
UA
Orie Lemon Brodrick Brown Justin Gent Johnny Thomas Markelle Martin James Thomas
Dan Bailey Justin Blackmon Kendall Hunter Jeremy Smith Josh Cooper Michael Harrison Joseph Randle Hubert Anyiam Justin Gilbert Colton Chelf Tracy Moore Charlie Moore Wilson Youman Johnny Thomas James Thomas
Yds
1
TACKLES
SCORING 17 11
No.
James Thomas
81 55 42 39 38 36
TD
0 19 16 5 5 4 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
FG
22-26 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
AT
TD
1
TT
26 10 17 12 8 10
107 65 59 51 46 46
XP
60-61 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Tot
126 114 96 30 30 24 18 18 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Brandon Weeden OSU quarterback has thrown for 3,780 yards and 30 touchdowns. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
46 47 48 49 49 50 51 52 53 54 57 58 58 59 59 60 60 61 62 63 64 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75
Shane Jarka Will Garrett Tyler Fields Will Jeffcoat Kenny Alexander Jamie Blatnick Brandon Webb Connor Sinko Andrew Suter Jacob Jenkins Chuck Major Jarid King Daniel Koenig Tolu Moala Michael Reichenstein Daniel Cooley Evan Epstein Brian Johnston Javius Townsend Jordan Taormina Casey LaBrue Anthony Morgan Aaron Barker Lane Taylor Marc Yerry Jonathan Rush Parker Graham Christian Littlehead Levy Adcock Grant Garner Nick Martinez
DT DE LB K LB DE OL LS LS OL OL DT OL LB P DL OL DL OL OL OL OL DT OL LS OL OL DT OL OL OL
6-3 6-6 5-11 6-3 6-1 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-6 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-4
295 Sr. 262 RFr. 212 So. 170 Fr. 227 Sr. 270 Jr. 320 RFr. 253 RFr. 270 Fr. 255 Fr. 304 So. 285 So. 260 Fr. 230 Sr. 189 RFr. 271 Fr. 290 So. 250 Fr. 280 Fr. 327 Sr. 290 Jr. 310 Sr. 270 Fr. 301 So. 241 Jr. 314 Jr. 289 RFr. 305 Fr. 320 Jr. 290 Jr. 317 Jr.
76 77 78 79 80 80 81 82 83 84 85 85 86 87 88 89 89 90 90 91 92 93 93 94 95 95 96 96 97 98 99
Eli Dickerson Gerron Anthony Bryson Hutchins Andrew Smith Cooper Bassett Ryan Williams Justin Blackmon Isaiah Anderson Colton Chelf Hubert Anyiam Montra Nelson Justin Southwell Wilson Youman Tracy Moore Kevin Johnson Nigel Nicholas Jeremy Gunnells Bobby Stonebraker Joe Okafor Ugo Chinasa Darius Hart Patrick Hoog Andrew Hudson Anthony Rogers Chris Donaldson Dan Bailey DeJuan Davis Peter Okonofua Diamonte Wheeler Davidell Collins Richetti Jones
OL OL DE DT DT WR WR WR WR WR WR IR DE IR WR DT IR P/K DE DE DE OL DE DT DT P/K DT DL DT DE DE
6-6 280 Fr. 6-3 315 Fr. 6-0 241 Jr. 6-1 245 RFr. 6-5 265 So. 5-9 175 So. 6-1 207 So. 5-10 175 So. 5-9 170 Sr. 6-0 198 Jr. 6-3 215 Fr. 5-7 158 So. 6-5 250 Jr. 6-2 215 So. 6-2 190 Fr. 6-3 280 So. 6-2 235 Jr. 6-1 170 Fr. 6-7 250 Fr. 6-5 260 Sr. 6-5 250 Sr. 6-4 296 So. 6-5 225 RFr. 6-3 285 RFr. 6-1 299 Sr. 6-0 200 Sr. 6-2 308 So. 6-1 259 Fr. 6-3 255 Fr. 6-6 255 Fr 6-3 264 Jr.
Pos. No. Player 3 Brandon Weeden QB 10 Clint Chelf 24 Kendall Hunter RB 1 Joseph Randle 37 Bryant Ward FB 30 David Paulsen 82 Isaiah Anderson WR 7 Michael Harrison 25 Josh Cooper IR 17 Charlie Moore 9 Bo Bowling IR 14 Justin Horton 81 Justin Blackmon WR 83 Colton Chelf 75 Nick Martinez LT 63 Jordan Taormina 70 Jonathan Rush LG 93 Patrick Hoog 74 Grant Garner C 64 Casey LaBrue 68 Lane Taylor RG 65 Anthony Morgan 73 Levy Adcock RT 71 Parker Graham 50 Jamie Blatnick or DE 99 Richetti Jones 95 Chris Donaldson DT 80 Cooper Bassett 46 Shane Jarka DT 89 Nigel Nicholas 91 Ugo Chinasa DE 92 Darius Hart 11 Shaun Lewis SLB 22 James Thomas 41 Orie Lemon MLB 45 Caleb Lavey 42 Justin Gent WLB 59 Tolu Moala 6 Andrew McGee CB 18 Devin Hedgepeth 19 Brodrick Brown CB 4 Justin Gilbert 10 Markelle Martin SS 2 Lavocheya Cooper 12 Johnny Thomas FS 28 Deion Imade 85 Dan Bailey K 13 Quinn Sharp 13 Quinn Sharp P 95 Dan Bailey 12 Johnny Thomas KR 4 Justin Gilbert 25 Josh Cooper PR 9 Bo Bowling 69 Marc Yerry LS 53 Andrew Suter 11 Wes Harlan H 13 Quinn Sharp
Cl. Ht. Wt. Jr. 6-4 224 RFr. 6-1 200 Sr. 5-8 197 Fr. 6-0 193 Sr. 5-11 223 So. 6-2 255 So. 5-10 175 RFr. 6-1 208 Jr. 5-11 192 RFr. 6-3 199 Sr. 5-10 186 So. 6-2 225 So. 6-1 207 Sr. 5-9 170 Jr. 6-4 317 Sr. 6-6 327 Jr. 6-4 314 So. 6-3 295 Jr. 6-3 290 Jr. 6-3 290 So. 6-2 301 Sr. 6-5 310 Jr. 6-6 320 RFr. 6-7 289 Jr. 6-3 270 Jr. 6-3 264 Sr. 6-1 299 So. 6-5 264 Sr. 6-3 298 So. 6-3 280 Sr. 6-5 260 Sr. 6-5 250 Fr. 6-1 210 Jr. 5-11 215 Sr. 6-1 240 Fr. 6-3 225 Sr. 6-1 236 Sr. 6-0 234 Sr. 6-0 191 Fr. 5-11 180 So. 5-8 190 Fr. 6-0 180 Jr. 6-1 198 Fr. 6-1 185 Jr. 5-11 200 Fr. 6-0 175 Sr. 6-0 200 So. 6-1 191 So. 6-1 191 Sr. 6-0 200 Jr. 5-11 200 Fr. 6-0 180 Jr. 5-11 192 Sr. 5-9 183 Jr. 6-2 241 Fr. 6-3 270 So. 6-2 171 So. 6-1 194
11B
BEST OF NEWSOK: BERRY TRAMEL’S BLOG
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT BEDLAM
New formula could lead to bigger mess
David Ubben, ESPN.com
T
Oklahoma State’s defense has made big strides down the stretch, and they’ll be the difference this week. Mike Gundy gets his first win over the Sooners with the most on the line and on the biggest stage. Couldn’t ask for a better time.
his is the Big 12’s new tiebreaker formula, as it relates to the BCS needing to break three-way ties: “The highest ranked team in the first Bowl Championship Series poll following the completion of Big 12 regular season conference play shall be the representative in the Big 12 Championship Game, unless two of the tied teams are ranked within one spot of the other in the BCS poll. In this case, the head-to-head results of the top two ranked tied teams shall determine the representative in the Big 12 Championship Game.” This, of course, is the Texas Amendment. The Longhorns, still seeking justification for getting bypassed in the great three-way tie of 2008, pushed through the new rule — which adds the “unless two of the tied teams are ranked within one spot of the other” element. I can picture the rest of the Big 12 athletic directors getting hungry for dinner, getting tired of Longhorn rhetoric and just voting in whatever
Berry Tramel btramel@ opubco.com
COMMENTARY
was on the ballot. But did anyone catch the problem? One of my readers did. Go back and look at this segment of the rule: “unless two of the tied teams are ranked within one spot of the other in the BCS poll. In this case, the head-to-head results of the top two ranked tied teams shall determine the representative in the Big 12 Championship Game.” Now, read it again. The letter of that law does not compute to what was intended. That rule states that if two of the tied teams are ranked within one spot of each other, the head-to-head result of the top tworanked tied teams will determine the champion. That rule DOES NOT STATE that the two teams within one spot of each other have to be the top two-ranked teams. Do you see the prob-
lem? In other words, if OU beats OSU and A&M beats Texas, forging a three-way tie, and the BCS rankings on Sunday could come out something like this: OU ninth, A&M 13th, OSU 14th. By the letter of the law, two of the tied teams are ranked within one spot of each other. So it goes to head-to-head among the top two teams. OU and A&M are the top tworanked teams, and A&M beat OU, so the Aggies would go. Big 12 director of communications Bob Burda said the tiebreaker language is accurate but said “the reference to the teams being within one place of each other only applies to the highest and second-highest ranked (Big 12) teams in the final BCS Standings.” Well, I think Burda is right. But that’s not what the rule says. And what is A&M supposed to do if this scenario comes to pass? Let it ride? If I’m OU athletic director Joe Castiglione, I’m a little worried. This whole BCS tiebreaker thing has been one pain in the butt for three years, for no good reason.
The BCS standings are a wonderful tiebreaker when results can’t pick a winner. So because of Texas animosity and a lack of attention to detail, we’ve got a potential mess on our hands. “In layman terms, if the two highest ranked teams are within one place of one another in final BCS Standings, head to head result between those two teams would determine,” Burda said. Layman terms are good terms. Why layman terms weren’t used with the written rule, I have no idea. Of course, OU could win Bedlam and nothing like this comes to pass. OSU and A&M could be more than spot apart. Or OSU could be ranked one spot ahead of A&M, which means even applying the letter of the law, A&M would be eliminated. But this is a classic case of something simple that became complicated because someone griped, and placating the gripers was more important than doing things right. For more of Berry Tramel’s blog, go to http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel
No. 9 Oklahoma State 47, No. 13 Oklahoma 38: Ex›pect this one to be well worth the price of admission.
Bruce Feldman, ESPN.com
Oklahoma State 42, Oklahoma 41: The Cowboys’ ›offense has been spectacular all season, and Brandon
Weeden has completed more than 70 percent of his passes and thrown for an average of more than 400 yards in the past three games. The bad news: OSU is 108th in pass D and 95th in TFLs. The Sooners are loaded on offense, too, and have been very sharp in their past two games.
Pat Forde, ESPN.com
State 34, Oklahoma 28: Cowboys shooting ›forOklahoma their first Big 12 South title outright with a victory. The Sooners are a bit of a disappointment, continuing their unexceptional play away from Norman. The Cowboys rank among the biggest surprises in the country. Oklahoma has won seven straight in this rivalry, but they’ll struggle to slow down the explosive Pokes.
Stewart Mandel, SI.com
State 38, Oklahoma 34: It’s hard to believe ›OUOklahoma won this game 27-0 just a year ago. Landry Jones
and Ryan Broyles will have another big day for the Sooners’ offense, but it’s hard to keep up with the Cowboys in a shootout. Oklahoma’s secondary is shaky, which is not a good thing with Brandon Weeden throwing bombs to Justin Blackmon. On to Dallas you go, Mike Gundy.
Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com
›
Oklahoma State: The three best offensive players in the Big 12 play for the Cowboys (Kendall Hunter, Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden). They’ll go against a middling OU defense (62nd nationally). This one is fairly simple. At home, with T. Boone’s investment finally paying off, the Pokes win the Big 12 South, their first title of any kind since 1976. FROM WIRE REPORTS
Berry Tramel
Columnist
OSU, 33-31 I like the way OU is playing, and the Sooners most definitely could win, but I like the way the Cowboys are playing, too, and even more so, WHERE the Cowboys are playing. In Stillwater.
OSU, 37-31 The Cowboys have too many offensive weapons. Getting pressure on Weeden is key, but the Sooners aren’t going to be able to do that consistently without blitzing and leaving the secondary vulnerable.
OSU, 38-31 In a high-scoring, competitive game, OSU pulls it out thanks to its opportunistic defense, which forces at least one game-changing turnover. Offensively, the Cowboys’ running game has great success as Hunter, Randle and Smith each make key play in the victory.
Jake Trotter
OSU beat writer
OSU beat writer
Columnist
BEDLAM PICKS Oklahoma at Oklahoma State (OSU by 2.5) Explanation
John Helsley
Brandon Chatmon
Jenni Carlson
Mike Sherman
Mike Baldwin
OU beat writer
Sports editor
OU beat writer
OSU, 41-35
OU, 34-31
OSU, 38-31
OSU, 37-35
Cowboys’ offense just keeps revealing weapons. And Weeden and Co. are only getting more comfortable and proficient in the system. In a Bedlam classic, OSU’s edge at kicker is the difference.
OU is accustomed to the national stage, while this is relatively new territory for the Cowboys. All pressure is on them. Plus, anytime a Bob Stoops team is not expected to win, it often does (See Bedlam 2009).
OU’s defense at times has been vulnerable against good running backs. Kendall Hunter is the best back the Sooners have seen. Hunter is the difference in a shootout.
OU’s ability to run and defend the run has been its biggest advantage in this series in the Stoops era. This time the Cowboys hold the edge there.
BEDLAM MATCHUPS
BY JAKE TROTTER
QUARTERBACKS
RUNNING BACKS
RECEIVERS/ TIGHT ENDS
OFFENSIVE LINE
DEFENSIVE LINE
LINEBACKERS
SECONDARY
SPECIAL TEAMS
Both OU’s Landry Jones and OSU’s Brandon Weeden have been playing their best ball down the stretch. And their statistics are similar. But Weeden has been the most consistent player. Edge: OSU
Both teams are loaded at the position, explaining why the “diamond” three-back offense has been such a weapon for both. But as good as OU’s DeMarco Murray has been, OSU’s Kendall Hunter is a Doak Walker finalist for a reason. Edge: OSU
The Biletnikoff Award could come down to whoever plays best between OU’s Ryan Broyles and OSU’s Justin Blackmon. If one is better than the other, it’s by a small margin. OSU’s supporting cast of Josh Cooper, Bo Bowling and Michael Harrison (99 catches, 1,088 yards, 7 TDs combined), however, has been more prolific than Kenny Stills, Trey Franks and James Hanna (79 catches, 948 yards, 9 TDs)
The Sooners are better this year up front and have reduced their penchant for penalties dramatically. But they still haven’t quite put it together for a string of games. OSU, meanwhile, might have the best line in the entire Big 12 and can run block just as well as it protects Weeden. Edge: OSU
The Cowboys have a quartet of consistent performers in tackles Shane Jarka and Chris Donaldson and ends Ugo Chinasa and Jamie Blatnick. But OU end Jeremy Beal, who leads the Big 12 in sacks and tackles for loss, might be the best defensive player in the league. Plus, the Sooners are getting healthier with the return of Casey Walker, and end Ronnell Lewis is finally honing in on his immense talent.
Both teams have on-field leaders and tackling machines in OSU’s Orie Lemon and OU’s Travis Lewis. But the return of Austin Box, who’s played great football since coming back, gives the Sooners the slight advantage. Edge: OU
The Cowboys have two All-Big 12 caliber defensive backs in safety Markelle Martin and cornerback Andrew McGee. But the Sooners match that with safety Quinton Carter and corner Jamell Fleming and a host of rising stars in the secondary like safety Tony Jefferson and cornerback Aaron Colvin. Edge: OU
OSU kicker Dan Bailey is a Lou Groza finalist and punter Quinn Sharp should have been a Ray Guy finalist. Tress Way is a solid punter, and Jimmy Stevens made 3 of 3 field goals at Baylor. But add on that Sharp is turning 67 percent of his kickoffs into touchbacks — compared with Way/ Patrick O’Hara, who have a combined 17 percent touchback rate — and this category isn’t close. Edge: OSU
›
›
›
Brandon Weeden OSU quarterback PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Kendall Hunter OSU running back PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
›
›
Edge: OSU
Josh Cooper OSU receiver PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
Nick Martinez OSU left tackle PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN
›
›
›
Edge: OU
Jeremy Beal OU defensive end PHOTO BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER, THE OKLAHOMAN
Austin Box OU linebacker PHOTO BY SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN
Quinton Carter OU safety PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN
Quinn Sharp OSU punter PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN
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BEDLAM PAST Some Oklahoman sports covers from memorable Bedlam games:
1995: OSU 12, OU 0
Devoted enough to stay home BEDLAM FANS | SUPERSTITIONS AND RITUALS NOT UNUSUAL FOR OU, OSU SUPPORTERS
Mike Baldwin mbaldwin@ opubco.com
OU FOOTBALL
1988: OU 31, OSU 28
1984: OU 24, OSU 14
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Jeff Kukuk is so devoted to the Sooners he will not attend Saturday’s Bedlam game at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater. It has nothing to do with Oklahoma being the visiting team, knowing Oklahoma State fans might choose some choice words to remind him he’s not in Norman. Kukuk’s reasoning is, if he’s at the stadium history says the Sooners probably will lose. Rooting for the Cowboys and Sooners can be a religious experience for some, so much so some fans adhere to superstitions or rituals. Kukuk, from Perry, said the Sooners are 1-3 when he’s attended Bedlam. His first game was OSU’s 12-0 win nearly two decades ago that ended a 19-year Cowboys’ drought. He also attended OU’s back-to-back losses when Les Miles was OSU’s coach in 2001 and 2002. The only game he attended that the Sooners won was the 2000 game in Stillwater. “Even that year I turned my back and watched on the Jumbotron as Derrick Strait tipped away the winning TD pass,” Kukuk said. “I was there when Rashaun Woods was still open. The last seven years I’ve watched at home on my TV and OU has won every game. I will never go to another Bedlam game.” Larry Sumpter is a converted OSU fan. Growing up his father, brothers,
OSU’s Marcellus Rivers, right, falls to the turf with OU’s Derrick Strait, who had just knocked away OSU’s last chance to score on fourth down in the 2000 Bedlam game. PHOTO BY DOUG HOKE, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
cousins, almost everyone he knew, were diehard Sooner fans. He attended a few OU games. But when deciding his major, he realized OSU best met his professional goals. Sumpter attended OSU for four years and lived in Stillwater another three years. He now bleeds orange and follows all OSU sports teams, including the equestrian team. He’s so devoted to the Pokes he has a strange ritual. “It may sound crazy but I talk to my OSU flag before every game,” Sumpter said. “I wear the same shirt every week as long as we’re winning. If we lose I change shirts for the next game. “I was out of town when we played Nebraska. I didn’t have my lucky OSU shirt on and we lost. And I always post the OSU fight song on Facebook on game day.”
Some rituals involve family traditions. The Johnsons in Dallas put up Christmas lights every year on Thanksgiving Day. They only use red and white bulbs. Obviously, they’re Sooner fans. Each school’s colors are a hot-button topic. “Crimson and cream? Really?” said Stephen Jones. “Is cream even a color?” Lonnie Page said: “I don’t own anything orange. Nothing in my house is orange. No orange clothes. Not for me or my boys or my wife. I don’t even drink orange juice.” Part of Bedlam is the heated debates between the two fan bases. Responding to an online question on newsok.com many fans simply wanted to make predictions. “I have a theory the strongest team usually wins,” said Kevin of Plano.
“This year the strongest is wearing orange.” Joel, of Oklahoma City, said the term Bedlam is a misnomer in football. “OSU fans would like to believe there’s some type of rivalry but OU has dominated this series so much there just isn’t one. Seven wins in a row by one team, you don’t have a rivalry. You have an annual beat down. It should be a decent game this year. But if OU plays to their potential the Sooners will win.” The Cowboys are favored for the first time in the Bob Stoops era but one OSU fan, Gary, from Oklahoma City, knows the series history. “I have a superstition I’m afraid that if my team shows up to the Bedlam game wearing either orange or black they’re going to lose,” Gary said. “I’m hoping this year is different.”
BEDLAM SERIES (104 games) Overall Record: OU 81, OSU 16, tie 7
2009: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 0 2008: Oklahoma 61, Oklahoma State 41 2007: Oklahoma 49, Oklahoma State 17 2006: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 21 2005: Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 14 2004: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 35 2003: Oklahoma 52, Oklahoma State 9 2002: Oklahoma State 38, Oklahoma 28 2001: Oklahoma State 16, Oklahoma 13 2000: Oklahoma 12, Oklahoma State 7 1999: Oklahoma 44, Oklahoma State 7 1998: Oklahoma State 41, Oklahoma 26 1997: Oklahoma State 30, Oklahoma 7 1996: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 17 1995: Oklahoma State 12, Oklahoma 0 1994: Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 14 1993: Oklahoma 31, Oklahoma State 0 1992: Oklahoma 15, Oklahoma State 15 1991: Oklahoma 21, Oklahoma State 6 1990: Oklahoma 31, Oklahoma State 17 1989: Oklahoma 37, Oklahoma State 15 1988: Oklahoma 31, Oklahoma State 28 1987: Oklahoma 29, Oklahoma State 10 1986: Oklahoma 19, Oklahoma State 0 1985: Oklahoma 13, Oklahoma State 0 1984: Oklahoma 24, Oklahoma State 14 1983: Oklahoma 21, Oklahoma State 20 1982: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 9 1981: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 3 1980: Oklahoma 63, Oklahoma State 14 1979: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 7 1978: Oklahoma 62, Oklahoma State 7 1977: Oklahoma 62, Oklahoma State 28 1976: Oklahoma State 31, Oklahoma 24 1975: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 7 1974: Oklahoma 44, Oklahoma State 13 1973: Oklahoma 45, Oklahoma State 18 1972: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 15 1971: Oklahoma 58, Oklahoma State 14 1970: Oklahoma 66, Oklahoma State 6 1969: Oklahoma 28, Oklahoma State 27 1968: Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 7 1967: Oklahoma 38, Oklahoma State 14 1966: Oklahoma State 15, Oklahoma 14 1965: Oklahoma State 17, Oklahoma 15 1964: Oklahoma 21, Oklahoma State 16 1963: Oklahoma 34, Oklahoma State 10 1962: Oklahoma 37, Oklahoma State 6 1961: Oklahoma 21, Oklahoma State 13 1960: Oklahoma 17, Oklahoma State 6 1959: Oklahoma 17, Oklahoma State 7 1958: Oklahoma 7, Oklahoma State 0 1957: Oklahoma 53, Oklahoma State 6 1956: Oklahoma 53, Oklahoma State 0 1955: Oklahoma 53, Oklahoma State 0 1954: Oklahoma 14, Oklahoma State 0 1953: Oklahoma 42, Oklahoma State 7 1952: Oklahoma 54, Oklahoma State 7 1951: Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 6 1950: Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 14 1949: Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 0 1948: Oklahoma 19, Oklahoma State 15 1947: Oklahoma 21, Oklahoma State 13 1946: Oklahoma 73, Oklahoma State 12 1945: Oklahoma State 47, Oklahoma 0 1944: Oklahoma State 28, Oklahoma 6 1943: Oklahoma 22, Oklahoma State 13 1942: Oklahoma 0, Oklahoma State 0 1941: Oklahoma 19, Oklahoma State 0 1940: Oklahoma 29, Oklahoma State 27 1939: Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 0 1938: Oklahoma 19, Oklahoma State 0 1937: Oklahoma 16, Oklahoma State 0 1936: Oklahoma 35, Oklahoma State 13 1935: Oklahoma 25, Oklahoma State 0 1934: Oklahoma 0, Oklahoma State 0 1933: Oklahoma State 13, Oklahoma 0 1932: Oklahoma State 7, Oklahoma 0 1931: Oklahoma 0, Oklahoma State 0 1930: Oklahoma State 7, Oklahoma 0 1929: Oklahoma 7, Oklahoma State 7 1928: Oklahoma 46, Oklahoma State 0 1927: Oklahoma State 13, Oklahoma 7 1926: Oklahoma 14, Oklahoma State 14 1925: Oklahoma 35, Oklahoma State 0 1924: Oklahoma State 6, Oklahoma 0 1923: Oklahoma 12, Oklahoma State 0 1922: Oklahoma 3, Oklahoma State 3 1921: Oklahoma 6, Oklahoma State 0 1920: Oklahoma 36, Oklahoma State 0 1919: Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 6 1918: Oklahoma 27, Oklahoma State 0 1917: Oklahoma State 9, Oklahoma 0 1916: Oklahoma 41, Oklahoma State 7 1915: Oklahoma 26, Oklahoma State 7 1914: Oklahoma 28, Oklahoma State 6 1913: Oklahoma 7, Oklahoma State 0 1912: Oklahoma 16, Oklahoma State 0 1911: Oklahoma 22, Oklahoma State 0 1910: Oklahoma 12, Oklahoma State 0 1908: Oklahoma 18, Oklahoma State 0 1907: Oklahoma 67, Oklahoma State 0 1906: Oklahoma 23, Oklahoma State 0 1904: Oklahoma 75, Oklahoma State 0
RANKING ALL 104 BEDLAM GAMES Saturday marks the 105th Bedlam football game. Ranking the first 104: 1. 2001: OSU 16-13 — Upset supreme. T.D. Bryant’s catch set up Rashaun Woods’ TD catch, and OU was knocked off Rose Bowl Road. 2. 1988: OU 31, OSU 28 — Garrett Limbrick’s taunting penalty put OSU in 4thand-16 desperation with 56 seconds left. Still, Mike Gundy’s heave into the end zone found flanker Brent Parker’s hands. Parker dropped the ball. 3. 1926: Tie 14-14 — OSU’s Gordon Peery threw a 29yard TD pass to Claude Poole with less than a minute left, capping a 70-yard drive that set a standard for early two-minute offenses. 4. 2004: OU 38-35 — It all came down to Jason Ricks’ 49-yard field goal with 15 seconds left. The kick sailed wide left. 5. 1969: OU 28, OSU 27 — OU’s Albert Qualls sacked OSU’s Bob Cutberth on a 2-point conversion play with 1:15 left. 6. 1983: OU 21-20 — The Sooners trailed 20-3 with 10 minutes left. But OU rallied with a series of weird plays, and OU’s Tim Lashar kicked a 46-yard field goal to win it. 7. 1965: OSU 17-16 — Lynn Chadwick’s spectacular catch set up Charles Durkee’s 35-yard field goal with 1:41 left, ending OU’s 19game Bedlam winning streak. 8. 1948: OU 19-15 — A classic battle of conference champs, with OU winning thanks to Darrell Royal’s interception and Jim Owens’ sack of Jack Hartman. 9. 1966: OSU 15, OU 14 — OSU hadn’t won Bedlam at home in 24 years until Cowboys Willard Nahrgang and Charley Trimble nailed OU tailback Ron Shotts on a 2-point conversion screen pass. 10. 1976: OSU 31-24 — Terry Miller rushed for 159 yards at Owen Field and OSU went on to claim its only Big Eight title. 11. 1992: Tie 15-15 — OSU’s Lawson Vaughn and OU’s Scott Blanton each
BY BERRY TRAMEL
OSU receiver Rashaun Woods, left, made the gamewinning touchdown catch in front of OU’s Derrick Strait in the 2001 Bedlam game. PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
kicked field goals in the final two minutes. 12. 1958: OU 7-0 — QB Bobby Boyd’s 31-yard TD run with five minutes left averted a scoreless tie. 13. 2000: OU 12-7 — Bob Simmons’ final game. The top-ranked Sooners held on when freshman Derrick Strait knocked away an end-zone pass to Marcellus Rivers. 14. 1924: OSU 6-0 — OSU’s second Bedlam victory ever came courtesy of a TD run by Jim Lookabaugh, who would coach his alma mater to its greatest glories. 15. 2006: OU 27-21 — Sooner safety Lendy Holmes tipped backup quarterback Zac Robinson’s desperation pass on the game’s final play, preventing D’Juan Woods from a 25-yard TD catch. 16. 1964: OU 21-16 — Bobby Page threw two fourth-quarter TD passes to Ben Hart. 17. 1947: OU 21-13 — In a classic battle of quarterback Jacks — OU’s Mitchell, OSU’s Hartman — the Sooners won with two fourth-quarter TDs by George Thomas. 18. 1984: OU 24-14 — Teams ranked No. 2 and 3
benefited from dubious calls. Rusty Hilger’s second-half concussion ended OSU hopes. 19. 1921: OU 6-0 — Six OSU regulars were ineligible for the game because of restrictions by the Missouri Valley, OU’s league. 20. 2008: OU 61-41 — Wild shootout in which the Sooners scored the final 17 points and the teams combined for 1,009 total yards. 21. 1917: OSU 9-0 — OSU finally broke its Bedlam drought, setting off a celebration in Stillwater when a telegraph relayed the news. 22. 1985: OU 13-0 — The Ice Bowl. Tim Lashar kicked two field goals. Spencer Tillman ran for a TD. 23. 1959: OU 17-7 —Two fourth quarter TDs, the first on Ronnie Hartline’s 31-yard run, held off the upset. 24. 2002: OSU 38-28 — Hey, there goes Rashaun Woods for another TD. 25. 1977: OU 61-28 — OSU led 28-21 in the third quarter, but Thomas Lott’s 80-yard run ignited an avalanche of big plays. 26. 1961: OU 21-13 — OSU’s Jim Dillard fumbled into the end zone from the
OU 1-yard line, and Sooner Wayne Lee recovered for a touchback. 27. 1923: OU 12-0 — Eddie Johnson’s 90-yard interception return for a late TD ranks as one of Bedlam’s greatest plays. 28. 1989: OU 37-15 — OSU drew within 23-15 late in the third quarter, but Mike Gaddis struck with an 80-yard TD run. 29. 1922: Tie 3-3 — OSU dominated, but OU’s James Marsh blocked a field goal try. 30. 1996: OU 27-17 — DeMond Parker ran for 166 yards and James Allen 128. 31. 1954: OU 14-0 — Quarterback Gene Calame scored on a 1-yard run on the last play of the first half. 32. 1942: Tie 0-0 — OU’s Dub Lamb dragged down Oscar Williams a foot shy of the end zone on fourth down in the second quarter. 33. 1930: OSU 7-0 — Hayden “Trigger” Trigg ran 26 yards for a TD on the game’s seventh play. 34. 1927: OSU 13-7 — OSU’s Ab Wright threw the winning TD pass in the final game between the Bedlam rivals as Missouri Valley members. 35. 1990: OU 31-17 — Cale Mary. Freshman quarterback Cale Gundy’s 52 yard TD pass to Adrian Cooper on the final play of the first half sparked OU. 36. 1929: Tie 7-7 — OSU coach Lynn Waldorf, who went 3-0-2 vs. OU, made his Bedlam debut. 37. 1940: OU 29-27 — OSU scored 21 points in the last 3 1/2 minutes to surpassed 14 for the first time ever in Bedlam. 38. 1974: OU 44-13 — With 18 minutes left, OSU led 13-10. But OU reeled off five TDs, including Joe Washington’s greatest run, a disappearing act on a 57 yard punt return. 39. 1908: OU 18-0 — Sooners scored three second-half TDs. OSU’s biggest threat came on a run to the 10-yard line by THE Ed Gallagher.
40. 1995: OSU 12-0 — Tone’ Jones’ 47-yard pass to Terrance Richardson set up the lone TD, and OSU celebrated its first Bedlam win in 19 years. 41. 1913: OU 7-0 — Claude Reeds, OU’s first All-American, scored the game’s only touchdown. 42. 1987: OU 29-10 — Lasting image: Sooner quarterback Jamelle Holieway, with a blown knee, limping into the arms of OSU coach Pat Jones. 43. 1910: OU 12-0 — Harry Price scored on a blocked punt and Earle Radcliffe scored on an onside kick. 44. 1932: OSU 7-0 — Clarence High passed the Pokes downfield, then scored on a 1-yard sneak. 45. 1941: OU 19-0 — OSU was inside the OU 5-yard line six times but did not score. 46. 1960: OU 17-6 — A post-game brawl between OU’s Ruf/Neks and OSU students sent 15 people to the hospital. 47. 1981: OU 27-3 — OSU entered with a better record and a higher Big Eight standing, but John Truitt’s 3-yard intercepted return for a TD sparked OU. 48. 1933: OSU 13-0 — Gov. Alfalfa Bill Murray ordered the National Guard to serve as ticket sellers, saying he had heard rumors of “misused” athletic funds. 49. 1943: OU 22-13 — In the first Bedlam game played in Oklahoma City since 1919, Rice transfer Bob Brumley scored 16 points for the Sooners. 50. 1975: OU 27-7 — OU’s defense dominated. Dewey Selmon stuffed OSU fullback Robert Turner on 4thand-goal from the 1-yard line. 51. 2003: OU 52-9 — Bob Stoops exacted revenge of two straight Bedlam defeats. Defining image: brother Mike motioning to the OSU sideline with his arms out and palms up. 52. 1950: OU 41-14 — Claude Arnold threw four first-half TD passes as the Sooners secured their first national title.
53. 1982: OU 27-9 — OSU trailed just 13-9 in the third quarter, but OSU’s Stanley Blair fumbled Michael Keeling’s 62-yard punt, setting up Marcus Dupree’s TD. 54. 1912: OU 16-0 — Bedlam started brewing, as 300 fans and a band traveled to Norman on a special train, the biggest visiting contingent to OU at that time. 55. 1986: OU 19-0 — Tim Lashar kicked four field goals, and OU’s defense ran its Bedlam shutout streak to almost 10 quarters. 56. 1963: OU 34-10 — New OSU coach Phil Cutchin had the Cowboys up 10-7 in the third quarter. But OU scored four TDs to roll. 57. 1937: OU 16-0 — Jack Baer scored a TD and kicked a school-record 46-yard field goal. 58. 1991: OU 21-6 — OU staged a goal line stand, turning back OSU after 2nd-and-goal at the 1-yard line late in the third. 59. 1914: OU 28-6 — OU ruined OSU’s 5-0 start to the season, but the Pokes finally scored their first Bedlam points. 60. 1998: OSU 41-26 — OSU beat OU in Stillwater for the first time since 1966 and sealed John Blake’s fate. 61. 1916: OU 41-7 — Tommy Graham scored two first-quarter touchdowns. 62. 2009: OU 27-0 — The Cowboys managed just six first downs and 109 total yards, and Ryan Broyles’ 87-yard punt return secured the victory. 63. 1918: OU 27-0 — Earl Pritchard, who in 1917 coached OSU to its first Bedlam victory, returned from the war two days before the game and reassumed command of the team. 64. 1915: OU 26-7 — 5,000 fans saw the game at Oklahoma City’s Fair Park, where OSU took its first Bedlam lead before Trim Capshaw scored two TDs. 65. 2005: OU 42-14 — Adrian Peterson ran for 237 yards, including a 71-yard TD in the fourth quarter that put away the Cowboys. SEE RANKINGS, PAGE 16B
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Rankings FROM PAGE 15B
66. 1935: OU 25-0 — Big Bill Breeden scored on a 2-yard run for OU’s first Bedlam points since 1929. 67. 1951: OU 41-6 — OSU’s 6-1-1-2-1 defense clogged the middle against fullback Buck McPhail, but quarterback Eddie Crowder directed the rout. 68. 1906: OU 23-0 — OSU played tougher in the series’ second meeting, coach Bennie Owen’s first Bedlam game. 69. 1925: OU 35-0 — Bennie Owen’s last Bedlam victory. OU led just 7-0 at half. 70. 1911: OU 22-0 — OSU didn’t score in its first eight Bedlam games but came close here — Frank Comstock returned a fumble 51 yards before OU’s Claude Reeds ran him down at the 4-yard line. 71. 1973: OU 45-18 —Jimbo Elrod’s blocked punt ignited the Sooners, who capped their first unbeaten season since 1956. 72. 1997: OSU 30-7 — OSU came in with a better
Sooner fans’ ovation for OSU’s Jim Lookabaugh made the 1949 Bedlam game memorable. FROM THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE
record and higher ranking than OU for the first time since 1945. 73. 2007: OU 49-17 — Allen Patrick ran for 202 yards as the Sooners clinched the Big 12 South title. 74. 1949: OU 41-0 — Jim Lookabaugh’s last game after 11 years as OSU’s coach came at Owen Field. P.A. announcer Bruce Drake paid tribute to Lookabaugh, and the Sooner crowd of 47,937 offered a tremendous ovation. 75. 1967: OU 38-14 — Steve Owens ran for 136 yards and Ron Shotts added 108 as the Sooner tailbacks finished 1-2 in Big Eight rushing.
76. 1944: OSU 28-6 — OSU dominated the last Bedlam game played at Taft Stadium. Bob Fenimore scored the Pokes’ only offensive TD, and OSU accepted a bid to the Cotton Bowl. 77. 1972: OU 38-15 — Dave Robertson threw a 68-yard TD pass to Albert Chandler on the game’s fourth play. 78. 1919: OU 33-6 — In the last Oklahoma City Bedlam game for 24 years, Myron Tyler blocked three OSU punts. 79. 1956: OU 53-0 —In the final moments, Bud Wilkinson inserted an all senior team that marched to the OSU 2 yard line. Tackle Ed Gray and halfback Clendon Thomas traded positions, and Gray scored the only TD of his career. 80. 1962: OU 37-6 — Monte Deere threw three TD passes. 81. 1936: OU 35-13 — The Sooners sent coach Biff Jones out a winner. Jones, a member of the military, had been transferred to Fort Leavenworth days before. 82. 1994: OU 33-14 — Jerald Moore ran for five touchdowns in the last Bedlam game for coaches Gary Gibbs and Pat Jones.
83. 1957: OU 53-6 — In their first home game since ending a 47-game winning streak, the Sooners rolled against an OSU team that stood 6-2-1. 84. 1968: OU 41-7 — Sooner quarterback Bobby Warmack ran for two TDs and passed for two more. 85. 1953: OU 42-7 — OU entered 8-1-1, OSU 7-2, but OU rolled after OSU’s Bobby Green returned a firstquarter punt 57 yards for a TD. 86. 1938: OU 19-0 — The Sooners stayed on track for the Orange Bowl. 87. 1999: OU 44-7 — Josh Heupel completed 22 of 32 passes and OU kept OSU from qualifying for a bowl. 88. 1920: OU 36-0 — Harry Hill, OU’s Flying Dutchman, scored four touchdowns. 89. 1931: Tie 0-0 — Owen Field was muddy, slippery and frigid, leading to a game of few gains and many fumbles. 90. 1945: OSU 47-0 — Bob Fenimore ran back the opening kickoff 59 yards to spark the most lopsided loss in OU history, until 1996. 91. 1979: OU 38-7 — A new feud. Bedlam week started with news that
Barry Switzer angered Jimmy Johnson with a couple of alleged minor recruiting violations, one of which Switzer admitted to. The week ended with Billy Sims’ four TDs. 92. 1939: OU 41-0 — Beryl Clark led the Sooner rout in Jim Lookabaugh’s first Bedlam game as OSU’s coach. 93. 1934: Tie 0-0 — OSU shut out OU for the fifth straight time. 94. 1980: OU 63-14 — J.C. Watts scored four TDs to douse the hopes of Orange Bowl officials who invited OU but openly preferred Nebraska. 95. 1952: OU 54-7 — OSU’s Bill Bredde returned the opening kick 98 yards, but the Sooners dominated. 96. 1904: OU 75-0 — The first Bedlam game — and one of the most famous, thanks to Cottonwood Creek in Guthrie. A freezing wind blew a punt back behind the goal. Under the rules of the day, the ball was free even if out of bounds. It ended up in the creek, with wet players in tow. 97. 1970: OU 66-6 — The OU wishbone’s first big explosion, the Sooners zoomed to a 45-0 halftime lead.
98. 1928: OU 46-0 — A crowd of 10,000 in Stillwater was disappointed by the largest Bedlam rout since 1906. Earl Flint’s 33yard TD run was the highlight. 99. 1978: OU 62-7 — Billy Sims ran 209 yards to break Terry Miller’s Big Eight rushing record of 1,680, then the Sooners celebrated news they would get an Orange Bowl rematch with Nebraska. 100. 1955: OU 53-0 — Clendon Thomas’ 65-yard punt return sparked the rout. 101. 1946: OU 73-12 — Sooner coach Jim Tatum’s only Bedlam game started an amazing run of domination. Between 1945 and 1995, OU went 45-3-1 against OSU. 102. 1971: OU 58-14 — Playing nine days after the Game of the Century against Nebraska, the Sooners rolled up 696 total yards. 103. 1907: OU 67-0 — A battle of brothers — OSU’s Roy Campbell and OU’s Ralph Campbell were dueling centers who battled throughout the blowout. 104. 1993: OU 31-0 — OSU recorded just one first down, and that came on a fourth-down, roughing-thekicker penalty.