Oklahoma certainly isn’t hoping for a replay of what happened on its last trip to play a Pac-10 team.
The third-ranked Sooners are headed West to play Saturday night at Washington, a game they considered canceling two years ago after a tough loss that came when an official’s call went against them in another Pac-10 stadium.
“It was already scheduled and you know how hard it is trying to get games,” coach Bob Stoops said. “Washington already came here. We’re living up to the agreement.”
A week after Oklahoma beat the Huskies at home in 2006, the Sooners went to Oregon. That was the game when a Pac-10 officiating crew incorrectly awarded a late onside kick to the Ducks, who scored twice in the final 72 seconds for the 34-33 upset victory.
The replay showed that an Oregon player touched the ball before it traveled the required 10 yards, which means Oklahoma should have been given possession. That video also showed than an Oklahoma player actually recovered the ball, although that aspect of the play was not reviewable under the instant replay rule.
been an Oklahoma victory, Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen apologized for the mistake. The officiating crew that worked the game was suspended for a game, and the replay official who didn’t overturn the call took an extended leave of absence.
Oklahoma officials said then that they might cancel their trip to Washington if the Pac-10 didn’t change its rule requiring league officials to be used in its home stadiums.
That rule hasn’t changed.
“That’s the way it is,” Stoops said. “We’ll go play and play as well as we can.”
The Sooners (2-0) have scored more than 50 points in victories over Tennessee-Chattanooga and Cincinnati. Washington (0-2) lost 28-27 to No. 18 BYU last weekend after an extra point was blocked with 2 seconds left, following their 44-10 loss to No. 16 Oregon.
Despite the fiasco with Pac-10 officials, Stoops is glad to be playing a quality team from another Bowl Championship Series conference.
“We need to meet that kind of challenge,” Stoops said.
—
M, Kansas State and Colorado already have open dates this week. And their coaches plan to take full advantage of the extra time.
“The off week is huge for us,” first-year Aggies coach Mike Sherman said. “There is no question, you look at yourself and analyze what we are doing well, look at personnel and make any changes.”
Sherman called a “raggedy” performance a week after losing the coach’s debut, at home against Arkansas State.
Kansas State and Colorado are both 2-0, but have rosters filled with young players who still haven’t played in a Big 12 game.
Wildcats coach Ron Prince said he’s used 60 players so far this season, and 28 of them were first-timers.
“This comes at a really good time with players who have been in a game for the first time at this level to make corrections,” Prince said. “It is a unique 21-day period where we feel like we’re getting a lot of players prepared for the rest of the season.”
Colorado opened the season with a 38-17 victory over instate rival Colorado State, but needed Cha’pelle Brown’s 27-yard interception return for a tiebreaking touchdown with 1:44 left Saturday to beat Eastern Washington, a team from the lower-tier Football Championship Subdivision.
“We’re so young, different issues crop up each time,” Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins said. “We’re battling. The attitude is good and all that. We have to continue to clean up a lot of little things.”
—
ly one was too reckless, too aggressive. We weren’t in rhythm.” The Red Raiders still won 35-19, and converted a fourth-and-2 inside Nevada territory late. … Kansas coach Mark Mangino doesn’t believe his 13th-ranked Jayhawks have run the ball as effectively as they need to, but he doesn’t sound too worried. “We’re throwing the ball so well,” Mangino said. “Are we patient enough for the run game, and do we need to be patient enough for the run game?” The Jayhawks are getting 334 yards passing a game, and 127 rushing. … Iowa State has forced 11 turnovers in two games. The Cyclones had only 18 takeaways all last season…. Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is certainly familiar with Nevada coach Chris Ault. They even faced each other twice in the same season, including a historic game. Pinkel was at Toledo when his Rockets beat Nevada 40-37 in 1995 Las Vegas Bowl, the first overtime game in Football Bowl Subdivision history. Nevada won 49-35 in the regular-season matchup that year.
—
HONORED: Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant (311 all-purpose yards, four touchdowns) was named the Big 12 offensive player of the week. Brown and Kansas State defensive back Courtney Herndon (43-yard fumble return for touchdown, blocked punt recovered for TD and an interception) shared the defensive player of the week honor. Nebraska kick returner Niles Paul (85-yard kickoff return for touchdown) was the special teams player.
Add A Comment