Instant Analysis - Sept. 5
BYU 14 ... Oklahoma 13
Pete
Fiutak
The first game of
the year? Really? Nothing against BYU and I wasn't
rooting one way or another, but the shoulder injury
will cast a pall over the season one way or another.
If BYU goes unbeaten, many will complain that it
only beat OU because Bradford got knocked out. It's
not fair, but that's going to be the cry from
everyone outside of the Mountain West. Oklahoma
still has the talent to do big things and get to the
BCS, Bradford is supposed to be back in about a
month, and it has to keep on pressing because it
could get the benefit of the doubt if it goes
unbeaten. What happens if the Sooners roll through
the rest of the schedule ... do voters assume OU
would've beaten the Cougars if Bradford didn't get
hurt? Losing a superstar of Bradford's caliber isn't
just bad for the season, college fans, and OU. And
it's also bad for a BYU team that will have to spend
the rest of its season convincing everyone that it
would've won even if No. 14 was under center. It's
not fair.
Richard
Cirminiello
Whatever you do, please avoid the knee-jerk reaction regarding Sam Bradford’s shoulder injury. No, his decision to return to school for another year was not foolish just because he got dinged in the opener.
Listen, injuries are always going to be a possibility in this game, which Bradford knew when he returned to Norman and, subsequently, took out an insurance policy. The kid wanted to be back at Oklahoma and loves being a college student, so lay off the pat responses and inevitable criticism. It’s already tired and not particularly original. No one knows the extent of the injury. If you like the sport, you hope it’s not serious because losing the reigning Heisman winner from the nation’s No. 3 team is a rough way to start a season. Regardless of the prognosis, Bradford will still have his chance to play in the pros and make his millions. If a lengthy rehabilitation precedes that day, so be it. Don’t rip his choice to come back. You’re better than that.
Matt Zemek
"No way."
That's the honest reaction.
My deeper thought after 5 minutes of reflection:
"If only OU can battle through this game and win, the Sooners could still make a big run at the brass ring."
The Sooners couldn't get its head back, Landry Jones
was average, the running game didn't bail him out,
and BYU pulled off the win. It's a shame, because
fans are going to wonder all season long whether or
not the BYU victory should have a "what if?"
attached to it.
Michael Bradley
None of those Okies who traveled down to Irving for the Sooners’ season opener were too scared when Sam Bradford became part of the carpet at the Do-Overdome, were they? Think about it. Oklahoma had already seemed mortal offensively in the first half against a game BYU team before Bradford got hurt, but what happens to the Sooners if his shoulder/collarbone/season is shot? Forget about coming close to last year’s offensive numbers. Forget about beating Texas. The Sooners will still get their share, but if Bradford has anything serious, they can kiss anything on the national scene good-bye. No fan should be rooting for an injury, but they won’t be too upset in Austin or Stillwater if Bradford is sidelined for a considerable amount of time. All of a sudden the Texas-OSU matchup looks pretty big – in the Big 12 and national pictures. Of course, if Bradford comes bounding back, the Sooners return to Death Star status.