No rest in Red River Rivalry
Posted: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 9:09 PM
They’re like Angelina Jolie and Jennifer Aniston at the Oscars. While going about their own business at a crucial time of the year, everyone else wants to know what they think about each other. They won’t publicly divulge any thoughts, but you know that inside they also share in the obsession.
In this case, the obsession that is Oklahoma and Texas football.
The Longhorns opened spring practice last Friday, getting a jump on the Sooners, who began their offseason workouts today. This signals the start to yet another round in the Red River Rivalry that has been as hot as ever in the last few years and is likely to get even hotter.
Last season might have been the apex. Texas won the head-to-head battle by 10 points (45-35), but the Sooners edged past the Longhorns in the final regular-season BCS ranking by .0128 (.9351-.9223). Although there is no substitute for beating Texas on the field, Oklahoma was more than pleased with the way the 2008 regular season played out, eventually participating in both the Big 12 and BCS championship games ... instead of the Longhorns.
Turning the page to the upcoming 2009 campaign, both teams are now hard at work trying to get an edge on the other.
Mack Brown, eager to learn more about what caused the head-to-head victory in October to not matter much in December, has invited BCS bigwigs and computer geeks to Austin to meet with his team and explain the much maligned system. If knowing more about it prior to the season could somehow help down the road with a few fractions of a point, then why not?
If that ruffles some feathers across the border in Norman, than so be it.
It’s more likely that they’re laughing. The Sooners, who scored more points than any team in college football history last season, know exactly what it takes to gain the upper-hand.
Points on the scoreboard equal points with the BCS. It’s as simple as that. So, let the beat-downs begin.
This time around, however, Oklahoma won’t be as equipped to score 716 points. Of course, Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Sam Bradford stayed in school and will be rejoined by a healthy helping of weapons to choose from, but the front wall that kept him so well protected will need to be rebuilt with four new starters.
Texas knows that and would normally be licking its chops, but the Longhorns aren’t sure if they’ll be able to take full advantage. Last year’s bunch that led the nation with 47 sacks certainly would have, but many of the key figures within that unit are gone.
Oklahoma knows that and would like to unleash the full fury of its point-a-minute offense on Texas, but isn’t quite sure it will be able to do so.
Here’s where spring practice comes in, as the Sooners and Longhorns feverishly prepare their units to go head-to-head in Dallas on Oct. 17.
Each team has five games to play before the Red River Rivalry, but make no mistake, they are already sizing each other up.
Oklahoma’s situation along the offensive line could have been even more dire if tackle Trent Williams didn’t decide to stay in school for his senior season. The sole returning starter, Williams will switch from the right side to the left where he will protect the backside of Bradford’s previously spotless jersey.
The Sooners feel like they’ll be solid at right guard with senior Brian Simmons now starting after serving in a reserve role for the past two seasons. The rest of the interior figures to be manned by underclassmen. Sophomores Stephen Good and Alex Williams were the top two at left guard going into spring drills, while sophomore Jason Hannan and redshirt freshman Ben Habern are set to duke it out at center.
A pair of 6-foot-7 juniors, Jarvis Jones and Cory Brandon, are the front runners to take over Trent Williams’ spot at right tackle. Jones played in seven games during LSU’s 2007 national championship season as a true freshman, before Les Miles booted him off the Tiger team and he transferred to Oklahoma.
It’s not a group that’s lacking in the talent department, but they certainly will put all 15 spring practice sessions to good use, gaining experience and learning to play with one another as a unit.
Much the same can be said of Texas’ defensive line, which needs to replace three starters.
Brian Orakpo, who registered 11.5 sacks last season, will no longer be causing sleepless nights. Neither will be Roy Miller, Aaron Lewis or Henry Melton. That trio accounted for 24 tackles for losses, including 11 sacks.
With several freshmen seeing time in the defensive backfield, the Longhorns’ experienced defensive line was an absolute godsend, while navigating through the aerial circus that is the Big 12.
The Texas secondary surely will be more formidable next season, but it remains to be seen how much the defensive front led by senior swingman Sergio Kindle will be able to help out. Playing both linebacker and defensive end last season within a veteran front seven, Kindle finished with 10 sacks.
