Drake Stoops is more than familiar with the Red River Rivalry.
After watching his dad, former OU coach Bob Stoops, helm the Sooners in the rivalry game for years, Stoops is now making his sixth and final visit as a player to Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Red River Rivalry.
Stoops remembers enduring the Sooners’ 49-0 blowout loss to the Longhorns last season, but his experience has taught him not to dwell on past games.
“It left a bad taste in all of our mouths,” Stoops said. “At the end of the day we want to go 1-0 each week. That's really the goal. The past has nothing to do with the present. Here we are this year ready to put our best foot forward and go to battle.”
Stoops has certainly experienced the highs of the rivalry as well, including catching the eventual game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth overtime period to secure OU’s 53-45 win in 2020.
Similarly to his mindset regarding the blowout loss, Stoops’ full focus is on this season’s matchup.
“I’ll remember that play in 2020 for a long time,” Stoops said. “But I’m onto better things this year.”
“... It’s an honor really. I’m grateful for the opportunity and all my teammates, coaches, everyone trusting me to be in a position I’ve been in in the past to … make plays like that. But again, it has nothing to do with now.”
Stoops knows a big difference entering this season’s game is OU’s quarterback situation. After suffering a concussion against TCU the week prior, Dillon Gabriel was inactive for last season’s contest. Without Gabriel, the Sooners mustered 39 passing yards with a combination of backup Davis Beville and non-quarterbacks passing from the wildcat formation.
This season, Gabriel is playing at the top of his game, throwing for 1,593 yards, 15 touchdowns and two interceptions while leading an unbeaten OU team.
“The momentum from last game, we know that plays no role this week, but he's definitely playing really good football, really efficient football and leading our offense,” Stoops said. “It feels great to have him (entering the game) as a leader on offense and someone who's playing really well as of right now.”
With Gabriel riding his hot streak into the rivalry game, Stoops is eager for the Sooners to showcase their improvement in his final appearance in the historical rivalry.
“Regardless of last year, I think it's just a big deal to try and win this year given the historic rivalry that it is,” Stoops said. “Pride is obviously a big deal but at the end of the day, you want to honor the endeavor in itself and play to win, put your best foot forward and play for the guy next to you. Win or lose, I think if you do that you can live with the result.”
