(9/4) Sooner's pick up pieces after TCU lost, complete coverage and more.
Oklahoma Football Notes and Articles
Sooner Nation left in shambles: The Horned Frogs whooped, hollered and belted out the school song after holding sophomore Adrian Peterson to 63 yards rushing and forcing fumbles by quarterbacks Paul Thompson and Rhett Bomar in key situations. "Go back to Fort Worth!" an OU fan yelled. The Frogs did just that, only the 26-point underdogs were the ones sporting a 1-0 record. The Sooners, who had won 18 straight games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, were the ones struggling for answers. "Disappointed across the board, definitely," said OU coach Bob Stoops, who also questioned the team's desire. "I told the players, 'Just because you had it before doesn't mean you're going to do it again.' Maybe they tune me out." It was TCU's biggest win over a ranked opponent since a 6-0 victory over top-ranked Texas in 1961. The announced crowd of 84,332 was also the third-largest crowd to witness a TCU football game. Hard to tell how many were also on hand in 1996, the last time OU suffered a season-opening home loss. The opponent: TCU. (Complete Story at Dallas Morning News)
Sooner's still trying to find their man: Is it Thompson or Rhett Bomar? "We're still trying to find that guy," said offensive coordinator Chuck Long, who indicated OU would probably continue to rotate quarterbacks next week against Tulsa. Neither quarterback was effective Saturday, in OU's 17-10 loss to TCU. They combined to complete 13 of 31 passes for 128 yards. "Oklahoma's going to become a lot better football team as their quarterbacks grow up," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. To be fair, the quarterbacks were hampered by the play of the offensive line, which struggled to protect them. They were sacked twice. And OU's running game was nearly nonexistent. And yet, there were open receivers. Thompson and Bomar didn't hit them. "We were just a tad off," Bomar said. Thompson, who started, led OU on its only sustained drives, including a nine-play, 72-yard drive for OU's only touchdown. But an earlier opportunity ended when Thompson fumbled at the TCU 5.Long said he went with Thompson in the fourth quarter because "he's been around the longest." Coach Bob Stoops said coaches considered playing Bomar in the fourth quarter. "But I don't know that there weren't some occasions where we felt he could have performed a little better," Stoops said. "It's not like that was the obvious thing to do." (In part from NEWSOK.com)
Williams out with ACL injury: OU defensive end John Williams didn't make it through the game healthy, though. Coach Bob Stoops said Williams suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the fourth quarter. He is most likely finished for the season. Williams was having a strong game. The sophomore had four tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. His injury further hurts the Sooners' depth at defensive end. (Dallas Morning News)
Sooner's show poor sport: The Sooners displayed little class after Saturday's 17-10 upset loss to TCU on Owen Field. No more than a dozen Oklahoma players shook hands with the Horned Frogs. The Sooners' remaining players headed straight for the locker room. Those spotted offering congratulations included running back Adrian Peterson, quarterback Paul Thompson, tight end Willie Roberts, cornerback D.J. Wolfe, safety Lewis Baker, wide receiver Lendy Holmes and, the head classman, fullback J.D. Runnels. TCU wide receiver Cory Rodgers forgave the Sooners' snub and said, "Me and (OU receiver) Travis Wilson are real cool. Me and (OU linebacker) Clint Ingram are real cool. I'm not holding a grudge against them for being upset, being mad and running off the field. I understand that, so I don't think we looked at it as an insult, a slap in the face or anything like that." (NEWSOK.com)
Largest crowd for TCU players: For every member on the TCU roster, they had never played in front of a bigger crowd (84,332) than Saturday. "We kept our cool in a hostile environment,'' TCU cornerback Drew Coleman said. "We kind of kept the crowd out of it.'' (NEWSOK.com)
Peterson sprains ankle: OU running back Adrian Peterson appeared to suffer a high ankle sprain. The sophomore said after the game that he wasn't in a lot of pain, but he was scheduled to meet with athletic trainers after talking with reporters. (Dallas Morning News)
Impact from Millington quitting the team? OU's would-be starting right tackle, Akim Millington, quit the team four days before the opener. How did the changes impact the line? "A very small amount. Plain and simple, as an offensive lineman your job is to dominate the guy in front of you. No matter what position you play, no matter if it's your right hand down, left hand down. You have to dominate the guy in front of you. That's something we didn't do today." TCU collected three sacks, held the Sooners to 2.7 yards per rush and continuously harassed the quarterback. "Whether it was discipline, toughness, attitude ... all of that, we just weren't very good," said OU coach Bob Stoops of the line. "Guys running through on us, getting penetration. Not being able to hold up the pocket and give the quarterbacks time. It just wasn't near good enough." (NEWSOK.com)
Sooners stepped it up in 3rd quater: OU outgained TCU 102 to 12 in total offense during the third quarter. The Horned Frogs had nearly twice as many yards of offense, 225 to 114, in the first half. (Sooner Notes at Soonersports.com) OU-TCU Quotes
Change in return: Senior receiver Jejuan Rankins was the starter at punt returner and joined Travis Wilson on kickoff returns Saturday. However, after two punt returns for 22 yards, Rankins was replaced by Lendy Holmes on punt and kickoff return teams. (NEWSOK.com)
TCU quarterback Gunn sets record: After a three-and-out by the Sooners, Gunn hit running back Lonta Hobbs for a 41-yard gain down the left sideline to set up a 25-yard field goal by Peter LoCoco. Gunn, a senior, set a TCU record by opening his career with 10 straight wins, but injuries sidelined him after the Frogs' third game last season. He was slow to get up after defensive end John Williams planted him on an option play late in the first half, but was able to walk off the field without help. He returned two plays later. (SoonerSports.com)
TCU scores biggest upset in 45 years: ESPN.com
Frogs stun Sooner: The Oklahoman
We've got to make a lot of improvement,' Stoops says: The Oklahoman
Bob the Rebuilder: The Oklahoman
Stoops calls OU defense unproductive: The Oklahoman
OU injury report: The Oklahoman
TCU shocks Sooners: Norman Transcript
Sooners' futility a one-day deal or could it: Norman Transcript
Sooners missing toughness: Norman Transcript
OU quarterbacks fumble opportunity: Dallas Morning News
TCU defense leaves Oklahoma in state of confusion: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Sooners' kicks go Frogs' way: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
Sooners disappear in second half: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
This was no cockroach win; it was even more impressive: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram
OU-TCU Stats: SoonerSports.com



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