So this is the year, huh? This is it. This is when those longhorns on Texas’ helmets no longer represent a yoke of ineptitude against Oklahoma. Ah, yes. Finally. The tides of college athletics have turned just enough for Texas to have all the talent and Oklahoma to rebuild.
After five consecutive losses to its hated rival, Texas can finally dance in Dallas. Right? Um … right?
“That’s not the first time you’ve read that,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said with a laugh. “I’ve heard that every year.”
Stoops was in a giddy mood on the phone this week. All those preseason stories you’re reading about 15 lost starters, breaking in a new quarterback, rebuilt offensive line? They’re all true. Only one thing.
“I don’t necessarily look at it that way,” Stoops said. “Reason being, it’s not like we haven’t lost guys before. Everybody else graduates players and moves on. We’re no different.”
He provided a quick history lesson. The youngest, most inexperienced team Stoops had was in 2000, his second year at Oklahoma. All that gang of unknowns did was win the national championship.
“Think about it,” Stoops said. “We had 23 freshmen and sophomores on our two-deep. Both our cornerbacks were new. No one knew Derrick Strait at the time. (Safety) Michael Thompson was a true sophomore and never started a game. (Tailback) Quentin Griffin, no one knew him at the time. (Josh) Heupel had been written up. We were chuckling that there was even some Heisman Trophy talk, but people said he was only the third-best quarterback in the league.
“Everyone forgets.”
This team is similar but Stoops’ latest recruiting classes, coming off two consecutive national title games, are considered much better than his first couple, coming off John Blake’s 12-22 train wreck of a tenure.
No one knows redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar, but he was the best prep quarterback in the country two years ago and is in a neck-and-neck battle with junior Paul Thompson to start the Sept. 3 opener against Texas Christian. No one knows Clint Ingram, a senior linebacker who may become the defense’s biggest playmaker.
Ever heard of Larry Birdine? He had seven sacks and 11 tackles for loss last year. Remember Dusty Dvoracek, the best defensive tackle in the Big 12 two years ago? He’s back from his suspension, and his alcohol problems apparently are behind him.
Stoops’ last recruiting class was so strong he expects at least half of the 24 true freshmen and four junior college transfers will play this year. Defensive back Reggie Smith was the top recruit in the Midlands.
Throw in sophomore tailback Adrian Peterson, who broke the school rushing record as a freshman and is a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, and you wonder who really will be favored Oct. 8.
“Think back to two years ago this time of the year,” Stoops said. “Who knew anything about Jason White except his two rebuilt knees? No one thought he could complete two or three games. No one picked him preseason offensive player of the year.
“We’re in no different shape.”
Meanwhile, Texas is loaded.
They have Heisman candidate Vince Young at quarterback, 14 starters back, the best offensive line in the country and possibly the best defensive line in the country. Every preseason publication picks Texas to beat Oklahoma in the Big 12 South.
If Texas can win at Ohio State on Sept. 10, a victory over Oklahoma could put the Longhorns on the fast track to the national title game in Pasadena. Not that Texas is talking national title yet or anything, but for its Sept. 3 opener against Louisiana-Lafayette, it will wear throwback uniforms from 1963, the year of its first national championship.
Texas coach Mack Brown has closed preseason practices to the media and public because, among other reasons, “there are 10,000 Oklahoma boosters in this city.”
Meanwhile, Oklahoma lurks behind the scenes, unusually quiet. Over the phone, you could imagine Stoops smiling like a Cheshire cat.
“I’m just putting out facts,” he said. “I’m not selling.”
John Henderson can be reached at 303-820-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
