But the biggest reason might be the depth of the Big 12 Conference. Prior to the Big 12’s formation, OU and Texas were atop the pecking order in the Big Eight and Southwest Conferences. It was a lot easier to pour all the chips into the Red River Rivalry when what followed was easy wins.

Not anymore. The Sooners host No. 16 Kansas next week. Texas gets No. 3 Missouri.

“Both fellas have to go back to work next week. This is about the conference championship,” Brown said. “We won the game two years ago and everyone thought we were in great shape to win the Big 12. Then we lost to Kansas State and Texas A&M.

“I know Bob feels the same way. The game is really important to all of us. But after the game, we have to go back to work. That’s one of the things that’s changed, too.”

Stoops pointed to college coaches being a part of the same fraternity more nowadays than ever. Job security is almost nonexistent. Talk radio and message boards are constantly banging away at every move. It can turn rivals into kindred spirits.

“We have all bonded more and have each others’ back,” Stoops said.

John Shinn

366-3536

jshinn@normantranscript.com