When you analyze the turbulence of this season, it’s crazy to think the Oklahoma Sooners stunned the world almost a year ago with their 45-31, 2013 Allstate Sugar Bowl victory over two-time National Champions and SEC darling, the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Following last week’s 48-14 loss against Baylor at home in Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., head coach Bob Stoops’ response to media informing him of fans expressing disgust via social media with, “So what?”
For good measure, he did add some clarity to his remarks on Monday.
“I think our fan base is great, and I think our booster base is great,” said Stoops. “I can’t worry about social media. That is not something I participate in, or ever will. So to clarify, that’s what I’m talking about.”
The 16-year head coach also said, “Our fans, I have always acknowledged and appreciated, and that doesn’t change when you lose a game.”
The initial arrogant tone that reverberated from that response sent several fans over the edge, and with good reason, as the Sooners were preseason ranked No. 1 in the Big XII at media days in July, taking home 47 of the 56 possible first-place votes. This was largely due to the fact that the Sooners had 20 returning starters including specialty players, and the team had won eight previous Big XII titles.
Considering Oklahoma is currently ranked fifth in-conference (and that’s being generous as Baylor and TCU are tied for first), with a 6-3, 3-3 record, it’s easy to justify the responses declaring Stoops’ position on the hot seat.
One of the major reasons the Sooners are under such heavy scrutiny as of late is because before the game, they were ranked No. 16 in the nation, but following the loss, Oklahoma dropped out completely. With that in mind, it’s easy to quantify the negativity that Sooners’ fans are expressing, of a season they see imploding right in front of their very eyes.
In last week’s loss, Oklahoma was held to just 13 first downs against a high-flying Baylor offense that amassed 544 total yards of offense, and scored 45 unanswered points against an Oklahoma defense that is ranked 19th in the nation in run defense; a defense that allowed five rushing touchdowns that night.
The Sooners are already bowl eligible, and analysts at CBS Sports are projecting them to play in the Russell Athletics Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Dec. 29. There are Big XII and ACC tie-ins to that particular bowl, so as of now, Oklahoma could be playing Duke.
Oklahoma heads to Lubbock, Tex. to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-6, 1-5 Big XII) on Saturday.
*Section Photo credit to Streeter Lecka, Getty Images; Featured Photo (above) credit to Derick E. Hingle, USA Today Sports
