Blowout doesn't help

John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

September 17, 2007 12:20 am

— • Sooners fall a spot to No. 4 in Associated Press poll
Oklahoma played Utah State Saturday, but the Aggies weren’t the opponent the Sooners were most concerned with.
“Our greatest opponent this week was us and what we do,” offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said after the Sooners’ 54-3 victory over Utah State. “It all starts with how you prepare, how you invest and you work.”
The statement wasn’t brash and it wasn’t meant to demean an overmatched opponent. It showed where OU’s focus has been in the first three games.
Getting better is the only thing that matters. Through three games it’s hard to argue the Sooners haven’t done just that.
Three games have produced lopsided routs for many reasons. The Sooners were certainly more talented than North Texas and Utah State. The athletic gap wasn’t as vast against Miami, but the difference in execution was gaping.
The only way that could change most days is by self-inflicted wounds.
Saturday would have been an obvious time for that to happen.
The Miami game was one of the biggest to hit Owen Field in several seasons. The college football world was watching and OU played like a team with a purpose beyond merely winning the game.
It was a chance to make a statement.
The Sooners didn’t have that opportunity Saturday. To illustrate the point, OU dropped one spot in the latest Associated Press Top 25 despite another convincing win.
The only ones watching what was going on at Owen Field were the ones in attendance and those who plopped down $29.95 to watch on pay-per-view.
But the Sooners played with the same effort and focus.
“It’s funny, its almost like everyone tries to convince them that they have to have a let down after a big game,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “In reality we have been very methodical in the way we approach the game week, in practice and meetings. The players understand the value of the preparation and are getting into the habit of this is how we play, and this is how we prepare. Hopefully that will continue and I believe it will.”
Sam Bradford’s meteoric rise continued, throwing for three more touchdowns and completing 19-of-26 attempts. The Sooners ran the ball at will with both Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray rushing for over 100 yards.
The defense held a third straight foe to less than two touchdowns.
It’s a consistency the Sooners haven’t show since 2004.
The defense’s play, in particular, illustrates the improvement. Both the 2005 and 2006 seasons were plagued by shaky defensive efforts early in the season. The broken coverages and missed tackles stuck out after every game, even the wins.
There’s been a few this season, but the mistakes aren’t as glaring.
“We want to be a great defense. We don’t want to have any letdowns so we stay focused,” middle linebacker Curtis Lofton said. “We came in focused on this game just like any other game. Each time we play we want to get better and that’s what I think we tried to accomplish today.
The Sooners travel to Chapman Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday to face Tulsa (3-0). Beating the Golden Hurricane and rolling into Big 12 Conference play undefeated is the main objective.
But OU will once again be playing against itself, too.
“That’s truly the greatest opponent every game,” Wilson said. “You have to continue to push and work.”
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com