Can Bob Stoops Ever Get Oklahoma Back to Elite Status?

This was supposed to be a special year for Oklahoma. Coming off a Sugar Bowl rout of Alabama, the Sooners entered 2014 as a preseason Top Five fixture and a strong pick to make the inaugural College Football Playoff.

Well, the Sooners aren’t making the College Football Playoff. They aren’t winning the Big 12 championship. And after Saturday’s ugly 48-14 home loss to Baylor, it’s fair to wonder if they can even end the season on a high note.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has been one of college football’s best coaches, with a BCS national championship and eight Big 12 titles on his resume. But days like Saturday raise the question: Can he return the Sooners to their former position as a national power, or is it time for both sides to explore other options?

There’s plenty of reason for unrest in Norman. The Sooners have lost back-to-back home games for the first time in Stoops’ 16-year tenure, and Saturday marked the program’s worst home defeat since 1997’s 51-7 loss to Texas A&M. The Oklahoman beat writer Ryan Aber quotes Stoops:

Sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight has failed to live up to the potential he flashed in the Sugar Bowl with consistently uneven play. He left Saturday’s game in the fourth quarter immobilized on a stretcher following a hard sack, but was moving his arms and legs and waved to fans as he was carted off.

He missed star receiver Sterling Shepard (who sat Saturday with a groin injury) but hasn’t taken the next step in his development.

A defense that was expected to be nasty and tough hasn’t delivered, either. The Sooners are allowing an average of 31.5 points per game to Big 12 opponents.

Perhaps a change of scenery is in order for Stoops. Per Patrick Stevens of Syracuse.com, Stoops is the third longest-tenured head coach in the FBS. He’s 12 years behind Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, and with the impending retirement of Troy’s Larry Blakeney, he’d be No. 2 nationally (one day ahead of Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz).

This week, Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel suggested that Michigan, which will likely have an opening very soon, would be a perfect place for “a new challenge and a fresh start.”

NFL.com’s Bryan Fischer reported in September that it would be “feasible” for Stoops to pursue an NFL job with a successful 2014 season. Per NFL Network reporter Albert Breer:

Or can he turn it around in Norman? A core of young talent will remain after this season. Knight is only a sophomore. So are tailbacks Keith Ford and Alex Ross. Shepard is a junior. So is standout linebacker Eric Striker (although he could test the NFL waters following this season). Ball-hawking cornerback Zack Sanchez is only a sophomore. Per 247Sports, OU has the nation's current No. 21 recruiting class, with five 4-star commitments. 

That young talent could help alleviate the current unrest in the Sooners' fanbase. The Oklahoman beat writer Jason Kersey noted Sanchez's reaction:

And don’t forget, transfer wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham would be eligible next season (assuming he doesn’t declare for the NFL draft).

Changes and improvements must be made for the Sooners to return to their former glory. But the potential certainly remains, if Stoops is interested in sticking it out and moving forward.