Saturday the 14th Part One: Sooners Take Manhattan

by: Justin Waganer

October 15, 2000

This just in, OU is really good.  Doubters of the 63-14 drubbing of Texas were turned to believers after a 41-31 victory in Manhattan over then 2nd ranked Kansas State.  Any doubts that still remain about this Sooner team will be answered when the Nebraska Cornhuskers come to town in two weeks. 

Damian Mackey said after the game," Now, I think the country understands.  OU is here, and we're going to be here to stay."

The Sooners announced they were back after the Dallas Massacre last week and made the call home yesterday.  Not just to say they would be home on October the 28th to play Nebraska, but to announce they were taking up residence in college football's elite once again. 

National Champs?  Probably not.

National Power?  Definitely. 

Fact is the Sooners are a contender.  Not just for the Big 12 South or the overall Big 12 title, but for the national title. 

Why?  Because they've won the games they must win to get respect.  The K-State Wildcats have not and once again have fallen out of the National Championship picture for the time being. 

" We feel we can beat the best teams in the nation.  That's our main goal right now.  We're just getting ready for Nebraska."  said Antwone Savage whose 74 yard TD catch and run was huge in the Sooner victory.

The Wildcats were overwhelmed from the start, never appearing to be in the game until the busted tackle by J.T. Thatcher that allowed a long TD pass and a blocked punt made it 38-31.  Then Josh Heupel showed his talent bringing OU back down the field, twice.

"He's a really calm quarterback.  We tried getting to him.  But he never changed his facial expression the whole game,"  said K-State defensive end Monty Beisel," They're real proud and they should be proud."

Heupel, 29-37 for 374 yards and 3 TD's ( 2 pass, 1 rush), led OU down the field once only to have Renaldo Works throw an interception.  After the Sooner Defense held again, Heupel took OU down the field one last time to clinch the game with a field goal to make the score 41-31.

Heupel for Heisman?  Probably not.

Heupel a candidate?  Most definitely.

Barry Switzer agrees, "I'm telling you folks.  Sixty-three points last week, forty-one this week.  That quarterback is a hell of a football player."

Heupel will be one of the top five and be invited to the Downtown Athletic Club for the Heisman presentation.  What a change from a school that played 5 different QB's two years ago.

As I said before the season, OU will go to a big time bowl game.  However, I said on New Year's Day, I might have been a couple of days off.  The Orange Bowl is January 4th.

Is OU back?  Yes.

To Stay for a while?  Yes.

Will #7 be this year?  Who Knows.

Is it the start of the 4th Sooner Dynasty?  I think so.

As Barry Switzer said, "Kind of neat, isn't it?"