Oklahoma Football: Bob Stoops, Sooners Look to Extend Home Streak Against FSU

Norman, Oklahoma is home to the nation's longest current home-field winning streak, 31 games and counting.

Since the arrival of Bob Stoops back in 1999, Oklahoma has a record of 67-2 for an incredible .970 winning percentage on Owen Field.

Visiting teams have about the same chance of winning in Memorial Stadium as a jelly doughnut has of escaping from Kirstie Alley's hand. Odds are, it ain't gonna happen.

Among these 67 hapless victims have been some of the top teams in college football. Many of these opponents have entered the game ranked in the top 25 of the polls. Regardless, the Sooners have dominated the competition, winning by an average score of 43-14.

Nebraska came to town in 2000, undefeated and ranked No. 1. After bolting to an early 14-point advantage, the Cornhuskers were shucked as the Sooners rolled to a 31-14 victory on their way to the program's seventh national championship.

In 2008, Texas Tech came in ranked second, undefeated and thinking BCS, before a 65-21 pounding from the Sooners sent them home, sobbing and rocking in the fetal position.

Top teams from around the country have made the trip to Norman only to get smacked around like a hooker caught stiffing her pimp.

Alabama, Oregon, Miami, TCU, North Carolina, Cincinnati, Washington, UCLA, South Florida, Air Force, Fresno State, and Houston have gone into Norman with visions of upsets, and all have left with blurred vision.

What Sooner fans saw last week from the team in crimson and cream was not what they have come to expect when OU hosts a game. The fact that this sub-par performance came against a school, Utah State, that should only be there to pick up a paycheck and a fat lip should be cause for concern.

So, with Florida State and Heisman Trophy candidate QB Christian Ponder heading to Norman this Saturday, what do OU fans hope to see?

Well, for starters, Oklahoma fans should hope for a blowout. In their only two home losses under Bob Stoops, OU was outscored by a total of 10 points. The odds that FSU could dominate the Sooners in Norman are extremely remote, so a lopsided game definitely favors the home team.

A shutout isn't very likely against such a high-powered offense, but visiting teams have laid that goose egg nine different times, including three games just last season. Only 11 times has an opponent scored at least 25 points.

Oklahoma should have one of their top defensive ends back in Frank Alexander. He will join Jeremy Beal on the edges to provide additional outside pressure. Tackle Adrian Taylor will be a little closer to full strength.

If Oklahoma collapses the pocket and contains Ponder with the defensive line, the secondary won't need to cover the receivers downfield all day, as was the case last week.

The new players on defense need to settle down and make the plays they have shown themselves capable of making. The Sooners cannot afford to extend any Seminole drives with stupid penalties and missed tackles.

Mix up the blitzes and coverage packages as needed, but not enough to confuse the youngsters on defense.

Stuffing the run and getting after the quarterback like a shark on a baby seal should be the main point of the defensive game plan.

On offense, the Sooners need to establish the running game early. This should force the Seminole safeties play closer to the line of scrimmage, opening up the field for play-action passes.

The line has to be more consistent in run blocking and picking up blitzes. FSU is going to try everything short of a sniper in the stadium to get to Landry Jones and rattle him early.

Jones needs to start out hot and keep that up against a questionable Florida State defense for the entire game. He needs to trust his protection, go through his reads, and even throw it away when necessary.

Receivers need to work to get open and catch anything thrown in their direction.

The tight ends have to prove they are legitimate threats to catch the ball down the field while also helping with blocking on running plays.

Finally, the Sooners need to get the ball into the hands of Ryan Broyles and DeMarco Murray in the open field as often as possible. These are two of the most electrifying players in the country, and both are threats to go the distance any time they touch the ball.

Oklahoma has the talent to beat any team in the country, and as we all know, winning in Norman is not an easy task for any visitor.

If the Sooners can learn from last week's mistakes and intimidate the Seminoles from the start, there is no reason the nation's longest home winning streak cannot be extended to 32 games.