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5 Reasons to Absolutely Hate Our Schedule

  • 1. Two open dates in September. Some early breaks will allow for additional tinkering as needed, that's a positive. However, I'd much prefer to have an open week in November or late October such that we could have an extra week of practice for WVU, TCU, or OSU. Our Sooners literally have to play every week from October through the first week of November, nine straight games with six of them against teams that stand some reasonable chance of beating us.

    2. We play Notre Dame...in late October. Don't get me wrong, I'm very pleased that the Domers are making their way to Norman. I personally consider their trip to OU as a payback game from our 1999 visit to South Bend (which went unreturned; why in the world did we agree to that at the time?). I'm simply displeased because it robs us of an off-week when it might be most needed to prepare for the end stretch and heal up some minor injuries. Late out of conference games are unusual in the Big XII but more popular in the SEC; the major difference, strikingly, is that in the SEC the late opponent is someone like McNeese State or Furman.

    3. @TCU, @WVU. We've got to play our newest conference members in their respective houses....late in the season...and both teams are extremely dangerous. It's no one's fault that the schedule set up like this since TCU/WVU are filling in for A&M/MIZZOU, but that doesn't mean I can't be disappointed with how it sets up for our boys. Morgantown is going to be unpleasant no matter the time of year, but in November we may also have the weather working against us. November 17th of 2011 stacked up as follows: average temperature in the high 30's, low of 32, 1/2" in rain. Gross.

    4. The A&M band. It would be our luck that we schedule Florida A&M, reknowned for their exceptionally talented, rhythmically-gifted 'Marching 100', on the year that they suspend the group for hazing. I do not wish to make light of a tragedy, but consider it somewhat aggrevating that the one redeeming quality of our opponent has been suspended.

    5. We begin the year @UTEP. I know circumstances, many of them outside of our control, caused this unusual visit to Mexico del Tejas...but dang! UTEP...in El Paso...to begin the year. It just won't feel the same!

    All in all, pretty impressive schedule strength and the conference did us no favors. It may end up costing us, and I sure hope I'm wrong.

    Stuck in Mexas

  • That is one view; however, there is another.

    Except for the double open dates in September, and the worthless home opener (Florida A&M), I like the schedule.

    1. You can’t beat them if you don’t play them. OU has 8 losses and only one win against the Fighting Irish. This is a wonderful non-conference game.

    2. Tough road to a potential championship. If OU is really a legitimate national title contender, they will get the opportunity to prove it. The conference road schedule, which includes trips to Texas Tech, West Virginia and TCU, is a worthy challenge for a championship team.

    3. Finish strong. The toughest stretch of games is at the end of the schedule, when the Sooners should be playing at their best.

    SoonerTraveler

  • I think Bob was not too pleased to play both TCU and WV at their homes. And all the night games are a problem for the athletes as students (people forget that they are students and have those pressures as well)..but there are some positives here. One, with all the new WR's, TE's and RB's on the squad OU needs early season practice and work-as much as possible. Due to the fact that guys like Gardner, Bester, Latu and others are relative late arrivals (if Gardner makes it, Bester is) they need a great number of early season reps and practice reps. And they will get them due to the fact that the first month of the schedule is basically just a warm up.

    This team could be one of deepest that Bob has had in a while, although every team has some weak points. I do think that the month of September is very important this year in order to get some really superb talents serious rep time. By October guys like Bester, Gardner, Latu and Jalen (I am assuming that they get to play) should be pretty much on track. And that is not going to be the case in August, although all of these guys are such talented guys that they will embarrass some opponents along the way.

    The real test is November. Simply stated, that is when we find out how much the newbies have learned, and how much real depth has been developed. I don't think OU can get through this season undefeated, but I could easily see a team with 1 loss and serious MNC contention.

    One thing I am sure of is that this team has tremendous talent in some of the new faces. In that regard this is a very different OU team since Stoops has traditionally been one who relies on very experienced players and not new ones. But this year it has to be a different scenario, if guys like Phillips, Nelson and other new faces play well on defense this team could be at least solid there. And if Gardner, Bester, Saunders, Metoyer, Green, McNamara contribute at the level that they are able then this will be an overwhelming offensive team. We will see this team put "half a hundred" on a number of teams. I can tell you that Jalen, Courtney, and LaColton are simply the real deal, as is Damien. If these guys play, and if Sheppard and Metoyer play as they should this will be an incredibly talented team on offense.

    Canyoneer

    pantheraonca

  • My thought is damned the torpedoes on the schedule issue. Time to put up or shut up! We got a senior quarterback, solid line play, and talent at the skill positions. Oh by the way......we got the stoops brothers tag team combo ready to take the other teams to the turn buckle. No Excuses!

    tatertot

  • schedule is perfect... sets us up to finish strong and control our own destiny.. the road games are perfect.. will prepare us both mentally and physically for the title game if we make it!! the bcs will be very kind to us!!! we need west va, notredame, and tcu to have great years!!!

    IreallyloveOU

  • I just wish one of those two open dates had been later in the year- those often give us a chance to heal up a little and do some quick remedial training.

    hooknladder

  • I 100% agree this schedule for many reasons largely beyond OU's control has its share of disappointments. The WVU / TCU at home problem is unfortunate, but its not like playing at College Station has been an easy path over the last decade for OU. The extra league game allows for a simpler schedule, and will hopefuly get a better and more stable schedule in the years to come.

    This post was edited by Sooner5020 on 7/12/2012 at 9:48 AM

    Sooner5020

  • hooknladder said...

    I just wish one of those two open dates had been later in the year- those often give us a chance to heal up a little and do some quick remedial training.

    Agree hook. It is what it is though...lets hope it plays to our advantage as Canyoneer stated above.

    Sooner5020

  • Sooner5020 said...

    I 100% agree this schedule for many reasons largely beyond OU's control has its share of disappointments. The WVU / TCU at home problem is unfortunate, but its not like playing at College Station has been an easy path over the last decade for OU. The extra league game allows for a simpler schedule, and will hopefuly get a better and more stable schedule in the years to come.

    So do you think we'll see a similar Big 12 schedule every other year?

    MannaSooner

  • MannaSooner said...

    So do you think we'll see a similar Big 12 schedule every other year?

    In terms of difficulty, I think our league is set up to be quite challenging year in and year out...perhaps "perfectly" difficult given the impending 4 team playoff format. It's possible, with prestige and on-field results, that we'll regularly lose one game and still make "The Series", or whatever they're calling it.

    This post was edited by Stuck in Mexas on 7/12/2012 at 2:58 PM

    Stuck in Mexas

  • I hate A&M's band.

    oumodguy ●

  • We signed a two for one with Notre Dame with the wrong end of it. It was done before Joe was here. He let Notre Dame out of that contract which had essentially become a home and home. They then agreed to the current home and home. I guess it worked better for both teams but I would have loved to got them when they were terrible. Not that they are great now.

    vbdad

  • oumodguy said...

    I hate A&M's band.

    Which one, Florida A&M or Texas A&M?

    Stuck in Mexas

  • I don't know why anyone would hate Florida A&M's band.

    Maybe a silver lining is that next year, when we have a new QB, then WVA and TCU will be coming to Norman. It may work out better for us that way.

    jimnrh

  • MannaSooner said...

    So do you think we'll see a similar Big 12 schedule every other year?

    Yes. The Big 12 is fine just unlucky to get one good and one very good newcomer in their first year.

    Would prefer to have the bye week later in the season is all.

    Sooner5020

  • We have tended to always catch ND strong or on their way back; while we were down or on our way down or up, not as ready as we should be this year; I too wish we had them a couple years back. oh man......talk about pay back, now we will have to fight like yard dogs to get it done, which is okay, then again........sure wouldn't have minded a cake walk with them, not going to happen this year as they will be good to very good this year

    Sevenmm33

  • Stuck in Mexas said...

    Which one, Florida A&M or Texas A&M?

    Texas

    oumodguy ●

  • I agree on all Stuck's points, but just maybe if we're doing well @ the end (meaning no losses) and the voting is tight, pollsters would look @ the fact that OU went into very hostile environments and picked up 2 victories as well.

    That's who I am... a Sooner.

    burbanksooner1 ●

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