How might Sooners offer something actually meaningful against lowly Owls?
Delivering on these three items might just do the job
Author’s Note: I write a weekly column in The Norman Transcript appearing in the paper’s “Gameday” section. I don’t go as deep, nor as long as I typically do here at Oklahoma Columnist as a result of space constraints on the page. As a result, I’ve frequently chosen not to post my Gameday columns here. But I’ve decided that’s just silly. If you enjoy my writing, good chance you’ll enjoy this, too. So, season’s greetings. Enjoy.
Sooner fans will be cheering for their team Friday night, of course, but if they take pleasure in looking ahead, there’s another team they should be cheering for Saturday and a week from Saturday, too.
Tulane.
Given what some are calling Oklahoma’s easiest out-of-conference schedule in forever, one quality opponent on the slate before playing host to coach Josh Heupel and No. 15 Tennessee would be nice and the Green Wave’s the best bet.
They open against Southeast Louisiana, which they’ll beat and follow with No. 18 Kansas State, in New Orleans, which they could beat.
Root for that scenario, because Temple, 3-9 and 1-7 in the American Athletic Conference a year ago and chosen to finish dead last this season is of little quality, as is Houston and it's with that in mind one wonders what OU might possibly do against the Owls that might prove enlightening.
Monday, head coach Brent Venables summarized what he hoped to see.
“Really looking forward to watching,” Venables said, “… an offense that runs the ball downhill, takes care of the football, creates explosive plays, [is] really efficient and puts pressure on the defense.”
He continued.
“Seeing a defense that stops the run, swarms the football, tackles well, gets off the field on third down,” Venables said, “creates turnovers, plays and competes with great passion.”
The usual fare.
Yet, the truth is, if the Sooners don’t do at least those things against the Owls, it could be a sign of trouble.
Here, in this space, we’re shooting higher.
If looking for a few things that might translate into victories over future opponents of quality, here are three.
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