Should Another BCS Loss Show Bob Stoops the Door in Norman?

Entering this, his tenth season at Oklahoma, Bob Stoops had already posted a 97-22 record, a feat that would be met with cheers and excitement for the majority of the country’s college football programs. At first in Norman, it was likely met with a similar reaction, as after all, Stoops managed to build the Sooners back into a legitimate and consistent National Title contender—pulling them from a long and painful funk.

The 2008 season was no different, posting a 12-1 record and a berth in the BCS National Championship.

Still, let’s take a step back and look at what’s most important for a college football fan—not just winning… but winning the big games. Translation in Norman: beating Texas in the Red River Rivalry and winning a major bowl game—preferably a National Title.

And with that being said, one should lean in and mutter, “What about Bob?”

Indeed, what about him?

Oklahoma Sooners (Recent Bowl History)

2003 Season – Sugar Bowl - #2 LSU 21, #3 Oklahoma 14
2004 Season – Orange Bowl (NC) - #1 USC 55, #2 Oklahoma 19
2005 Season – Holiday Bowl – Oklahoma 17, #6 Oregon 14
2006 Season – Fiesta Bowl - #9 Boise State 43, #7 Oklahoma 42 (OT)
2007 Season – Fiesta Bowl - #11 West Virginia 48, #3 Oklahoma 28
2008 Season – BCS National Championship - #2 Florida vs. #1 Oklahoma

That’s four consecutive BCS bowl losses and a mind-numbing Holiday Bowl victory over Oregon. What about the “artist formerly known as the Red River Shootout?" The Sooners crushed Texas in ’03 and shut them out in ’04, but since then, it’s been a struggle to say the least.

Red River Rivalry (Since 2005)

2005 - #2 Texas 45, Oklahoma 12
2006 - #7 Texas 28, #14 Oklahoma 10
2007 - #10 Oklahoma 28, #19 Texas 21
2008 – #5 Texas 45, #1 Oklahoma 35

The Oklahoma boosters may love Stoops for restoring order to the school’s football program, but poll the fans, and see where their loyalty lies. Top dollar says the Sooner-faithful is ecstatic to have order restored, but more hungry for titles.

They appreciate Stoops’ winning percentage, and realize how much better it is compared to the 61-50-3 record posted in the “Post-Switzer-Pre-Stoops era”, but they’re sick of being embarrassed in the big games. They love the five BCS bowl appearances over the last six seasons, but they’re sick of hearing about the Statue of Liberty play. They’re sick of hearing about Boise State. They’re sick of hearing about USC dropping fifty-five points on them in a National Title game. They’re sick of losing to the ‘Horns.

They love the sixty-plus points per game scored over the final month plus of the 2008 season, but they want to see that kind of offensive explosion in a National Championship game.

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