NORMAN, Okla. -- It got to where I was worrying about the ponies.
You know, Boomer and Sooner.
They were in the corner of the end zone at Oklahoma's Owen Field, just standing there and enjoying the game like the rest of us. But the Sooners kept scoring and the guns kept blasting, and that's always the cue for Boomer and Sooner to take off and run wild, and I think I got tired just watching them.
So yeah, it seems like it's going to be a fun year for OU fans. But those damn ponies are in for it, I tell you.
"(The Sooners) resemble a championship football team," said Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly. "They have that championship demeanor to them."
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| Led by Sam Bradford, OU's fast-break offense is averaging 54.5 points in two games. (AP) |
The Sooners scored on their first two possessions, then let Cincinnati hang around for a while like any nice host would. But by the time the third quarter was winding down Oklahoma was wrapping up to the point where the final margin doesn't portray the fact that most of the 84,476 fans in attendance were actually nervous heading into halftime.
At that point, it was 21-13.
But three third-quarter touchdowns in a span of less than six minutes officially ended Cincinnati's hope of an upset, and Boomer and Sooner might never be the same. I mean, it was hot and humid on this afternoon, so much so that the OU players would regularly move into the shaded part of the field during measurements, reviews and other stoppages.
Boomer and Sooner were afforded no such luxury. They stood in the sun and trotted out after every score.
That means they made eight laps total (seven touchdowns and one field goal), and though they seemed to survive it should be noted four members of the RUF/NEKS pep squad had to push the Sooner Schooner wagon from behind to give the ponies a boost as they exited Memorial Stadium up a ramp. Boomer and Sooner both looked tired and irritable by then. But Devin Newsom swore they were fine.
"They're great," insisted Newsom, a freshmen member of the RUF/NEKS who helped guide the ponies. "But they did get a lot of practice."
They did indeed.
And it looks like they'll need it because this Oklahoma offense is something serious -- a fast-paced, no-huddle attack that might go down as the best OU offense in history, which is saying something considering OU has a ton of history. The Sooners have won seven national titles, 41 league titles and 24 bowl games. They've had an NCAA-best 30 10-win seasons to go with 144 All-Americans and four Heisman Trophy winners.
As I said, there's a ton of history around these parts, but trust me, the record book is in trouble.
Oklahoma put 57 points on Chattanooga in Week 1 and 52 on Cincinnati in Week 2.
That's an average of 54.5, or nearly nine points better than the 46.6 the Sooners averaged in 1956, which still stands as the school record for points per game. Now obviously it's still early -- I get that. Things could balance out, I guess. But you should recognize Cincinnati has a respectable defense featuring All-Americans Mike Mickens and Terrill Byrd, who are two of the 16 returning starters that helped the Bearcats win 10 games and finish 17th in the Associated Press poll last season.
In other words, the Bearcats are a formidable team.
And Sam Bradford just picked them apart, completing 29-of-38 passes for 395 yards that accounted for the third-most in history by an OU quarterback. He also had five touchdowns. So most of the ponies' fatigue can be attributed to him.
Meanwhile, Ryan Broyles had seven catches for 141 yards. Both numbers are OU freshman records.
"That's the first time I have heard that," Broyles said when the news was relayed to him. "I am so blessed."
No, son, you are the blessing!
At least for Oklahoma, that is.
For the rest of the country you are more like a nightmare, a dynamic part of an offense that just tallied 592 yards against a Cincinnati defense that allowed only one score in its season opener. Of course, that season opener was against Eastern Kentucky and this game was against Oklahoma, which has an offensive philosophy that is simple and straight to the point (not to mention the talent required to utilize it).
"We are trying to score as much as we can as soon as we can," explained OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.
So take that, Boomer and Sooner! You have been warned.
So I wish you luck going forward. And I think you're going to need it.
