Big XII Farewell #4: Oklahoma

Saturday evening will mark the final game between OU and CU before the Buffs scamper off to the greener fields of the Pac 12. Colorado began its long relationship with Oklahoma way back in 1912. CU won that match 14-12. But over the years, the Sooners have dominated the series leading the Buffs 39-17-2.

I will miss OU.

For me, the most iconic image of OU is the drunken, reckless, lawless red-neck genius, Barry Switzer. Said differently, he's the Micky Mantle of college football. He was the proprietor of the beloved wishbone and inspired Coach Mac to follow in his triple optiony footsteps. Barry was forever off-color, indelicate and rabid with gleeful disregard for decorum and NCAA rules. But he was an undeniable winner and for that I will always honor him. Also, he was prone to doing interviews like this:



The other icon of OU is, of course, the Boz. Brian Bosworth was a spiritual soul mate of his afore mentioned coach. He was brash, unrefined and unapologetic. He broke every rule, repeatedly, especially those involving performance enhancing drugs. He also broke every rule (of good taste anyway) of haircuts - behold the mohawk mullet (the "Mulhawk"?). In a classic moment, he once flipped off the entire CU student section who were collectively taunting him.

I suppose the thing I've liked the most about OU over the years is their hatred for Nebraska. And the Sooners inflicted plenty of pain upon the dickish plainsmen of NU. Hey, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, no?

Of course, the current version of the Sooners don't have the same lovable brashness of the Switzer era. They are led by the successful and talented but patently unlikeable Bob Stoops. They are consistently top notch yet still melt in their most critical games. And, god, Stoops is such a whiney bitch.

So what to expect in this final matchup between the long-time conference mates?

OU is very good. And very angry after coming off of their first defeat of the season courtesy of Mizzou. So they will be looking to incinerate the next opponent in order to make a statement that they belong in a BCS game - still possibly the Championship. That unfortunate next opponent is a Buff team that, already shaky, has been positively decimated by injuries. We've lost our 2 leading tackers (Perkins then Major), our second leading rusher (Lockridge), every damned one of our nickelbacks (Orms, Sandersfiled, Vigo) and now our starting quarterback (Hanson).

On top of that, the Sooners have not lost at home in 5 years. That's right, FIVE YEARS.

So to say that the Buffs have absolutely no chance is to state the obvious.

Yet long time readers of this blog will recall another team led by a certain Cody Hawkins who dared to stand up to a number 2 ranked Sooners Evil Empire. This will forever be known as the Star Wars game . And I think we all remember how that turned out.



So how will the final episode conclude? Hey, maybe the rebel coalition has one more lucky shot.

At any rate, we will miss you, OU. I hope that when the BIG XII ultimately disintegrates in 2 years time, that you will win up in a good conference. You'll likely have your pick of the litter - SEC or Big 10. Shoot maybe we'll be re-united one day in the Pac 12 expansion. Until then, farewell old friend.