Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops promises changes, and he isn’t just speaking of the switch he made at quarterback on Monday.
Stoops said that redshirt freshman Rhett Bomar will take over for Paul Thompson as the starter.
Not all is well in Norman, and the problems are in areas that aren’t usually an issue for the Sooners. Stoops wants adjustments in attitude and being physical.
Of all the negative aspects of the seventh- ranked Sooners’ 17-10 loss to Texas Christian in their season opener, the lack of quality in those two areas disappointed Stoops most.
“Guys are going to make mistakes, but (not being physical) has not been one of our characteristics,” Stoops said Monday. “I take full responsibility. I’m not sitting here pointing fingers at players. They were not those things. For some reason, I haven’t been able to get them to be those things, and it’s my fault and all of our assistant coaches’ fault.”
Stoops is seeking more physical play all over the field, but particularly in the running game.
“When you have four turnovers and you’re not very physical up front, don’t establish a running game, you’re going to get beat and that’s what happened,” Stoops said.
He also said he believes the current players might have too inflated a view of themselves.
“Sometimes it concerns you when you’ve won for a good period of time like we have, that the players start to take it for granted, that it’s just a right to win,” Stoops said. “It isn’t a right. You’ve got to earn it every week.”
Smith’s hot start
It may be only one game, but Missouri quarterback Brad Smith looked as comfortable passing as he ever has.
Missouri unveiled a spread offense in its 44-17 win over Arkansas State, and Smith was just short of spectacular, connecting on 29-of-37 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran 12 times for 95 yards.
According to Missouri coach Gary Pinkel, Smith’s performance was the first step in the senior’s plan to silence the critics who question his passing skills.
“There was no guy in our program more excited about the season getting here than Brad Smith,” Pinkel said. “I think he wants to earn some respect back. Not only for our football team, but him personally.”
State of football in Iowa
Iowa State hosts in-state rival Iowa on Saturday in a game that has had meaning within the state’s borders over the years.
Nationally, however, the game might slowly be growing in stature. Iowa is ranked No. 11, and Iowa State is picked by some to win the Big 12 North.
“I think it’s turned into a great college rivalry,” Iowa State coach Dan McCarney said. “And it seems like more and more of the country is starting to figure that out.”
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-820-5455 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
