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[SIZE=+2]Urgency the theme for Red River Rivalry
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]02:22 AM CDT on Saturday, October 6, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
ccarlton@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE] Whatever the AT&T Red River Rivalry lost in luster last weekend, it gained in urgency.
The upsets of Texas and Oklahoma signaled a distinct change for today's annual Cotton Bowl showdown, the 102nd meeting in the series.
No, the game won't have the biggest national impact, not with defending national champion Florida facing No. 1 LSU. South of Dallas, Texas A&M will be hosting Oklahoma State with first place in the Big 12 South at stake.
The prize for Texas and Oklahoma (besides the Golden Hat) has become survival.
Colleges Blog: Colleges
Red River Rivalry
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Ch. 8)
2:30 p.m. Sat., Cotton Bowl
KSKY-AM 660, KKGM-AM 1630
"It's a huge game at midseason, and it's very, very difficult for both teams," Texas coach Mack Brown said.
One team will emerge from the slice-of-Texas State Fair backdrop with its goals relatively intact. Given the parity in college football, a one-loss team could easily play for the national title.
With two defeats in the Big 12, the loser can start thinking about which Sea World city it would like as a bowl destination – San Diego or San Antonio.
"I wouldn't say desperation, but a sense of need," said Oklahoma safety D.J. Wolfe, who told reporters he doesn't even want to think about a 0-2 conference start. "That could be it ... Hopefully, it's not us."
For either team, it would qualify as a significant disappointment.
Oklahoma began the season with four wins, averaging 61.5 points per game. Only LSU might have had a better opening stretch.
Then came the Sooners' loss at Colorado, with the offense producing seven second-half points. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford suddenly looked human instead of like the nation's leading passer. The Sooners dropped to 10th in the AP poll.
People began examining Bob Stoops' record, not for the wins but for the games he should have won. Even former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer offered his opinion.
And after a five-year win streak against Texas, Stoops has lost his last two.
Stoops sought inspiration from last year. Many of the same players remember falling to Texas and losing star Adrian Peterson in the process. The response: eight consecutive wins and a Big 12 title.
"These guys went through this a year ago," Stoops said. "I do feel that they'll understand that, hey, this is what has to change and this is what has to be better. For me, our first goal always is to win the Big 12 South and win the Big 12 championship. We've got a lot of work to do to get that done."
The situation may be even more urgent at Texas.
Six summer arrests have brought nagging questions. National title hero Vince Young returned to Austin last weekend and offered advice on leadership.
Quarterback Colt McCoy, who did little wrong last season as a redshirt freshman, will start despite suffering symptoms of a mild concussion last week. His numbers have suffered behind a rebuilt offensive line, and he threw a career-high four interceptions last week against Kansas State.
No. 19 Texas hasn't started 0-2 in either the Big 12 or the Southwest Conference since 1956. Back then, a former Sooner named Darrell Royal was a promising young coach at Washington. The Longhorns probably need a win to extend a 114-week stay in the AP Top 25.
"It's about hunger now at this point," Texas linebacker Scott Derry said. "The winner of this game is faced with an outcome where they can still run the table and win the Big 12. It's a chance to gain momentum from this game to further the rest of the season."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/10-07/1006mccoy.jpg AP
Colt McCoy, despite suffering symptoms of a mild concussion against Kansas State last week, will start at quarterback for UT.
Like Oklahoma, Texas has an encouraging parallel.
Back in 1999 – the last time each team entered the game after a loss – the Longhorns had stumbled the week before against Kansas State. Quarterback Major Applewhite had a hand in six giveaways in what became known as the "Apple Turnover" game.
The next week, Applewhite led a comeback for a 38-28 win with Hodges Mitchell rushing for 204 yards.
"We just refocused and said we were going to start our season again," Mitchell said this week. "We realized we couldn't turn the ball over and win games. We were down 17-0 but we never panicked because we were moving the ball.
"We thought we were going to win that game."
UT fans in familiar spot
UT fans will still be sitting in the end zone opposite the Cotton Bowl's tunnel for today's game.
The school had the right to sit over the tunnel as the designated home team but chose to remain in its traditional spot.
Seating over the tunnel was once considered a big edge, but improved security measures now limit contact between fans and players. And by staying put, UT fans have a clear view of the replay screen over the tunnel.
Chuck Carlton
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]02:22 AM CDT on Saturday, October 6, 2007
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By CHUCK CARLTON / The Dallas Morning News
ccarlton@***BANNED-URL*** [/SIZE] Whatever the AT&T Red River Rivalry lost in luster last weekend, it gained in urgency.
The upsets of Texas and Oklahoma signaled a distinct change for today's annual Cotton Bowl showdown, the 102nd meeting in the series.
No, the game won't have the biggest national impact, not with defending national champion Florida facing No. 1 LSU. South of Dallas, Texas A&M will be hosting Oklahoma State with first place in the Big 12 South at stake.
The prize for Texas and Oklahoma (besides the Golden Hat) has become survival.
Colleges Blog: Colleges
Red River Rivalry
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Ch. 8)
2:30 p.m. Sat., Cotton Bowl
KSKY-AM 660, KKGM-AM 1630
"It's a huge game at midseason, and it's very, very difficult for both teams," Texas coach Mack Brown said.
One team will emerge from the slice-of-Texas State Fair backdrop with its goals relatively intact. Given the parity in college football, a one-loss team could easily play for the national title.
With two defeats in the Big 12, the loser can start thinking about which Sea World city it would like as a bowl destination – San Diego or San Antonio.
"I wouldn't say desperation, but a sense of need," said Oklahoma safety D.J. Wolfe, who told reporters he doesn't even want to think about a 0-2 conference start. "That could be it ... Hopefully, it's not us."
For either team, it would qualify as a significant disappointment.
Oklahoma began the season with four wins, averaging 61.5 points per game. Only LSU might have had a better opening stretch.
Then came the Sooners' loss at Colorado, with the offense producing seven second-half points. Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford suddenly looked human instead of like the nation's leading passer. The Sooners dropped to 10th in the AP poll.
People began examining Bob Stoops' record, not for the wins but for the games he should have won. Even former Oklahoma coach Barry Switzer offered his opinion.
And after a five-year win streak against Texas, Stoops has lost his last two.
Stoops sought inspiration from last year. Many of the same players remember falling to Texas and losing star Adrian Peterson in the process. The response: eight consecutive wins and a Big 12 title.
"These guys went through this a year ago," Stoops said. "I do feel that they'll understand that, hey, this is what has to change and this is what has to be better. For me, our first goal always is to win the Big 12 South and win the Big 12 championship. We've got a lot of work to do to get that done."
The situation may be even more urgent at Texas.
Six summer arrests have brought nagging questions. National title hero Vince Young returned to Austin last weekend and offered advice on leadership.
Quarterback Colt McCoy, who did little wrong last season as a redshirt freshman, will start despite suffering symptoms of a mild concussion last week. His numbers have suffered behind a rebuilt offensive line, and he threw a career-high four interceptions last week against Kansas State.
No. 19 Texas hasn't started 0-2 in either the Big 12 or the Southwest Conference since 1956. Back then, a former Sooner named Darrell Royal was a promising young coach at Washington. The Longhorns probably need a win to extend a 114-week stay in the AP Top 25.
"It's about hunger now at this point," Texas linebacker Scott Derry said. "The winner of this game is faced with an outcome where they can still run the table and win the Big 12. It's a chance to gain momentum from this game to further the rest of the season."
http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedcontent/dws/img/10-07/1006mccoy.jpg AP
Colt McCoy, despite suffering symptoms of a mild concussion against Kansas State last week, will start at quarterback for UT.
Like Oklahoma, Texas has an encouraging parallel.
Back in 1999 – the last time each team entered the game after a loss – the Longhorns had stumbled the week before against Kansas State. Quarterback Major Applewhite had a hand in six giveaways in what became known as the "Apple Turnover" game.
The next week, Applewhite led a comeback for a 38-28 win with Hodges Mitchell rushing for 204 yards.
"We just refocused and said we were going to start our season again," Mitchell said this week. "We realized we couldn't turn the ball over and win games. We were down 17-0 but we never panicked because we were moving the ball.
"We thought we were going to win that game."
UT fans in familiar spot
UT fans will still be sitting in the end zone opposite the Cotton Bowl's tunnel for today's game.
The school had the right to sit over the tunnel as the designated home team but chose to remain in its traditional spot.
Seating over the tunnel was once considered a big edge, but improved security measures now limit contact between fans and players. And by staying put, UT fans have a clear view of the replay screen over the tunnel.
Chuck Carlton