OU football: Oklahoma seeks revenge against Texas Tech
Kingsley Burns
Defensive tackle Stacy McGee (left) and defensive end Frank Alexander tackle Texas Tech running back DeAndre Washington during the OU-Texas Tech game Oct. 23, 2011 in Norman. OU lost the game 41-38.
There’s no need to play up the importance of this weekend’s game.
No need to twist, spin or put a special flavor on it: Never has there been a bigger road game against an unranked conference opponent during coach Bob Stoops’ 13-year tenure.
“I think every game from now on is a must-win,” junior safety Tony Jefferson said. “This game, you know, you got a little baggage on you — we know what they did to us last year at home. We know what we’re getting ourselves into.”
What the Red Raiders did to OU at home last year was snap the Sooners’ 39-game home winning streak by drubbing them to the tune of 452 passing yards and 41 points.
OU looked shaky at best against Kansas State two weekends ago in its first-ever home loss to a ranked team, and the Sooners are 3-4 against Texas Tech since 2005 and haven’t won in Lubbock since 2003.
But OU has never lost back-to-back games under Stoops.
Something’s got to give.
With the loss to Kansas State, OU dropped its second home game in five games dating back to last season — when the Sooners owned the nation’s longest home winning streak until losing to Texas Tech.
For the first time in a long time, the Sooners have something to prove.
“We’ve been called out,” senior defensive lineman David King said. “I called out the defense this week: How are we going to respond to losing two weeks ago? Are we going to do a better job?”
A year ago, Texas Tech shredded the Sooners’ defense for 572 yards and 27 first downs.
“It doesn’t take long to turn on the film (of last year’s Tech game) and see we just got beat individually and as a defense,” defensive coordinator Mike Stoops said. “We just have to play better overall defense. We just didn’t play a very good game a year ago. It was a game that certainly left a bad taste in OU’s mouth.
“We’re going to need all 11 guys to play well and play fast and be in the right spots. Because if they’re not, you’re going to get exposed.”
If the performances of Stoops’ past teams are any indication, the Sooners will come out swinging.
“You’re still going to have to go and execute well,” Bob Stoops said. “We did at Kansas State a year ago (after losing to Texas Tech) and didn’t turn the ball over. So yes, I see the same kind of attitude in how they’re working, coming to practice, coming to meetings. So in that regard, yes, I do see the same kind of attitude and hopefully resiliency.”
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