Coach Nick Saban has done it again and I absolutely love it when it gets under another coach’s skin so badly that they feel the need to respond. I’m sure all of you heard Coach Saban’s comments about last year’s Sugar Bowl game where he called it a consolation game. I just knew Bob Stoops wouldn’t be able to sit back and not say a thing.
"“We’ve played in a bunch of national championship games, right? … That’s a good one. So that means I’ve got a built-in excuse the next time we don’t play for a national championship?”"
I would probably keep this one on standby considering the last time Oklahoma played in a BCS Title game was 2008 and even then you lost. In fact, Oklahoma hasn’t won a title since 2000. Do you realize how long that is? Kids that were born the last time Oklahoma won a national title are only 1 year away from obtaining a learner’s permit for driving in the state of Alabama.
"“We have nine conference games and we’re playing Tennessee. In a few years we have Ohio State, we just came off a series with Notre Dame and Florida State. So that’s like 10 conference games. If you’re playing a tough non-conference schedule to go with nine [Big 12] games, that’s a tough schedule.”"
According to FBschedules.com’s strength of schedule, Oklahoma’s schedule is ranked 93rd in the country. This year’s opponents had a combined losing record last season of 71-78. Using those same numbers from the link above, the SEC has 9 teams in the top 30 toughest schedules for 2014. Surely that means that the Big 12 numbers are off the chart, right? They have 4 in the top 30.
"“They said ‘the SEC this, the SEC that,’ ” Stoops said. “I said, ‘You talk like all 14 teams are this, that and the other thing.’ I said, ‘You have to give credit to the first one or two that have won the national championship, but don’t act like they’re all doing that.’"
Let me get this straight. You don’t want the SEC to act tough because not every school is winning BCS Title games? Which way do we go here, Bob? Only 2 Big 12 teams have won a BCS Title: Oklahoma and Texas. On the other hand, the SEC has had 5 teams to win it. Looks like we have reached a bit of a problem. You want to take a look at records in the big game? We can do that, too. The Mighty Big 12 holds an impressive record of 2-5. The SEC is currently at 9-2 with one of those losses coming from the Alabama vs LSU title game. Pretty good. No other conference in the country holds a winning record in BCS title games. Not one. The closest one is the ACC with a .500 record. But don’t let facts get in your way. The next time before you try to craw up to the Big Boy table and have a seat with the other Big Boys, your team probably should have at least a winning record when given the chance to play for a national title (1-3). I guess we now know where the name “Big Game Bob” comes from. Keep arguing your relevance and try to get Coach Saban off your brain. You will live longer with less stress in your life.