|
|
|
|
ws
|
A Victory for the Ages by Justin Waganer Senior Sports Writer October 6, 2001
Mack Brown need not apologize to everyone including the nacho guy this year, he had his team ready. The problem was that Stoops and Company had their team prepared too and it appears at this time in college football that there is no answer for that. Stoops Troops have defeated Bill Snyder (three times), Mack Brown (twice), Frank Solich, R.C. Slocum, Fisher DeBerry, and Bobby Bowden in ways that nobody predicted entering the game and baffled us all beyond our football comprehension.
Last season they used Heupel's arm in some games and the threat of Heupel's arm in other games. A defense that seemed to give up too much at times, but gave up nothing in the end. This season they've scored on all angles with all threats and found ways to win a few games that seemed to have them overmatched at times. A week ago Kansas State had better numbers offensively and defensively when you looked at the stats that are recorded. More yards and more offensive touchdowns, but Oklahoma found ways to score and ways to turn a good drive bad.
On Saturday afternoon the Sooners scored a defensive touchdown yet again as they have in four of the five games this season and the stat that won't show up was one that would have made Roy Williams day even more incredible. Roy Williams forced the interception at the two yard line that linebacker Teddy Lehman ran in for a game-clinching touchdown. Williams, as Brent Musberger pointed out, appeared to be two people during the game with tackle after tackle. With all do respect to Rocky Calmus, who yours truly tabbed the best defensive player in America in the preseason, Roy Williams is the best defensive player in America.
Play after play #38 was in the area and made the play almost every time, but he wasn't the only one. Andre Woolfolk showed us all what the coaches have seen in him defensively all along. When Woolfolk was on Roy Williams, #4 was invisible. Woolfolk out-jumped him for an interception, jumped in front of Roy to tip a ball away, and blocked a field goal that turned the early momentum toward the Sooners.
Then, as happened a few times during the previous Switzer Dynasty, Jason White came off the bench to replace the gutsy, tough Nate Hybl and just made plays to win the game. If Hybl is healthy enough to play next week there should be no doubt about his place as the starter, but Jason White was amazing. A pass here and a run there and the Oklahoma offense was making plays to run the clock and give the defense a rest.
The bottom line in this rivalry is that it is back to the classic, "big-game" form and whether it is a "hate" rivalry or not, this time the respect must be felt. Texas is a good football team with a great defense, but Oklahoma is just plain better. A game that was even more impressive than the game last week, a defensive performance reminiscent of the Orange Bowl, and a win that feels as good to the coaches and players as any during the 18-game winning streak. Oklahoma is good, they're real good. They just might be the best.
|
Listen to National Championship Game
|
