Buzz,
While I understand the sentiment, the fact OU beat us doesn't change the fact that Bob Stoops crumbles nearly every single time he's in a big game. Maybe we need to play OU with something actually at stake - I have a hunch we'd see a different result.
oops came up big in 2000. No argument. But ever since then he has not only lost, he has crashed and burned in spectacular style MULTIPLE times. His rep was not earned because he lost one close game to Boise State. If that were his only faux pas, Stoops would be in that category of great coaches who had an occasional hiccup. Coach Saban lost to UAB his first year at LSU, ULM his first year at Alabama, and Utah in the 2009 Sugar Bowl after we'd been number one for five weeks late in the year. Those were considered somewhat humiliating losses. However, Saban's record is full - far on the other side - of big wins like the 2001 SECCG, the 2004 BCSNCG (against Stoops, no less, where Saban was the underdog), and the great run since 2009. Our losses during that time have been to GOOD teams, including this year's OU team.
Stoops not only loses at inopportune and ridiculous times - he gets humiliated. One week his 2003 OU team was being called the greatest ever; the next, he was losing by four TDs to a three-loss K-State team, and the game wasn't even that close (KSU could have beaten them by a couple of more TDs). Then there's the USC obliteration. Losing is one thing; not even showing up FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME is something different. I don't care if USC's entire offense was on the take, there's no way they should have been 36 points better than a good OU team.
Now regarding the three recent OU wins over us - in 2003, OU BARELY (with a fake punt) beat a 4-9 mediocrity with a head coach on the job only four months serving major sanctions. Ole Miss beat us by double what OU did. For that matter, Hawaii - HAWAII - had an easier time with our 2003 disaster than "the greatest team of all-time." We were supposed to lose that game, but we weren't supposed to be within seven at the end.
Look, OU beat us fair and square on the field, and I've never said anything else about that. Seven turnovers - give them credit and you won't beat anybody. You've not heard me say things like it was because we weren't ready or whatever. I think it stands to reason that letdowns DO happen and lack of intensity and focus can help you lose, but it's no acceptable excuse to me.
I guess you may be right about us in particular, but let's not act like Big Game Bob is anything other than a colossal flop artist, either. His past record certainly suggests that had the Sugar Bowl been unbeaten us versus unbeaten him, he would have lost in spectacular fashion. It wasn't - he won, give him credit. It's just like the fact his team won doesn't prove his stupid claim about the SEC being overrated true. Simply look at the on-the-field results in bowl games and everywhere else.
