It is still the only sport in which the NCAA doesn’t even crown a national champion at its top level, and yet the NCAA was still calling all the shots before the Sooners and Bulldogs became renegades.

The old rules produced the Game of the Century.

It was a great game, yes, but only the draconian NCAA could make anybody who wanted to watch college football that day have to watch OU and Nebraska. The old rules also made the 1974 Sooners the best team never seen by anybody but the ticketholders. OU was on probation and, thus, off the screen.

It is a tale of unintended consequences. The amazing thing is how long it took everybody to take advantage of the new rules.

ESPN was revolutionary when it started broadcasting marquee games on Thursday. Equally revolutionary, way back in 1984, was the thought that anybody anywhere would ever want to broadcast or sit down on their couch to watch Rice at Texas Saturday night. But those who do will get their chance by tuning into Fox Sports Net at 6 p.m.

OU doesn’t need tonight’s game, period.

The Sooners have little to gain in playing Tulsa and a ton to lose, but you have to respect and salute their willingness to take on the Golden Hurricane any day. For years and years Kelvin Sampson refused to play Tulsa. It’s nice to see Stoops run the other way.

Too bad, then, that an in-state showcase has to be marred by a Friday night kick that will leave crowds down at high school stadiums across the state. Of course, Tulsa absolutely loves this game.

The Hurricane might land a monumental upset, could move forward even in defeat and absolutely will be introduced to the nation, because other than The College of New Jersey at LaSalle, which I’m pretty sure isn’t on television, OU at Tulsa is the only game in the nation.

How about the irony?

OU doesn’t like it, wishes it weren’t the case and would prefer to play Saturday. Meanwhile, this is Tulsa’s deal, the Golden Hurricane’s chance to shine in front of millions. And you know who gave Tulsa its chance?

OU, all those years ago.

The Sooners and Bulldogs couldn’t have been more right way back when, even if 23 years later they made way for something wrong.

Clay Horning

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