[h=1]Oklahoma football: Bob Stoops talks last season, the Russell Athletic Bowl and staff turnover[/h]
by Jason Kersey Modified: June 10, 2015 at 12:50 pm • Published: June 10, 2015
University of Oklahoma head football coach Bob Stoops holds his pre-Spring football practice press conference in the Adrian Peterson meeting room at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Okla., on Thursday, March 5, 2015. Photo by Steve Sisney, The Oklahoman
NORMAN -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has never been one to discuss his personal feelings.
That certainly didn't change during our recent interview in Stoops' temporary office inside the Bud Wilkinson House, where the football offices have been relocated for stadium renovation.
But Stoops still discussed his team's massively disappointing 2014 season, the ugly Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Clemson and staff turnover.
Here is a quick Q&A on those topics from the interview, which was wide-ranging and covered a number of subjects.
Q: During your press conference when you announced that Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell were let go, you seemed different than I've ever seen you before. That was a week after the bowl game. Did last season take a toll on you personally?
A: All of them do. I’m not gonna … that’s not something I’m public about. Sure, it was hard.
Do you get the sense that next season, the pressure on you to turn thing around will really be amped up?
No. It’s always that way. But it is everywhere.
Even coming off last season?
No. It’s the same every year in my eyes.
It's easy to forget sometimes how close you guys really were. I mean, you were a couple missed field goals and pick-sixes from being 8-0 going into that Baylor game.
That’s fair to say, but I’m not the one to talk about that, because nobody wants to hear that. But in the end, that is true that we weren’t far off from having another 10-win season, which, we’ve had a lot of them. Twelve of the last 15 years. I don’t think anybody else has done that. But it didn’t happen. We did miss a few field goals, threw a pick-6, and all of a sudden you’re on the wrong end of it and that’s how it goes.
Have you been able to diagnose exactly what happened in that Clemson game?
In the end, to me, it ultimately falls in my lap. I didn’t do a good enough job getting -- maybe, again, maybe, part of it -- a little bit of a hangover over the last game (a stunning 38-35 home loss to Oklahoma State).
You look around, and in a lot of cases, teams who lose that last game before the bowl game, it can have a little bit of an effect. I didn’t do a good enough job being able to erase that, whether it be coaches or players. In the end, we didn’t do a good enough job.
But what can you really do in that situation to erase that feeling, especially when you're dealing with 18-to-22 year olds?
I don’t know. You talk a lot about it. You try to challenge them. You do your work, which we did. But in the end, you also have seniors who are leaving and entering the draft. There’s a lot that goes on in that period of time, and obviously when you don’t do well, you didn’t manage it well enough to have a chance to play well.
Your staff was pretty consistent throughout your first several years in Norman, and when assistants left, it was often to take a head coaching job. Guys have been leaving under much different circumstances the last couple years. Has that been hard on you?
Well, that’s hard in itself, too. It’s always hard when there are staff changes. You’ve gotta try and get everybody to work in the right direction, and the way you want them to, so it’s always a little bit of a challenge for sure.
by Jason Kersey Modified: June 10, 2015 at 12:50 pm • Published: June 10, 2015
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NORMAN -- Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has never been one to discuss his personal feelings.
That certainly didn't change during our recent interview in Stoops' temporary office inside the Bud Wilkinson House, where the football offices have been relocated for stadium renovation.
But Stoops still discussed his team's massively disappointing 2014 season, the ugly Russell Athletic Bowl loss to Clemson and staff turnover.
Here is a quick Q&A on those topics from the interview, which was wide-ranging and covered a number of subjects.
Q: During your press conference when you announced that Josh Heupel and Jay Norvell were let go, you seemed different than I've ever seen you before. That was a week after the bowl game. Did last season take a toll on you personally?
A: All of them do. I’m not gonna … that’s not something I’m public about. Sure, it was hard.
Do you get the sense that next season, the pressure on you to turn thing around will really be amped up?
No. It’s always that way. But it is everywhere.
Even coming off last season?
No. It’s the same every year in my eyes.
It's easy to forget sometimes how close you guys really were. I mean, you were a couple missed field goals and pick-sixes from being 8-0 going into that Baylor game.
That’s fair to say, but I’m not the one to talk about that, because nobody wants to hear that. But in the end, that is true that we weren’t far off from having another 10-win season, which, we’ve had a lot of them. Twelve of the last 15 years. I don’t think anybody else has done that. But it didn’t happen. We did miss a few field goals, threw a pick-6, and all of a sudden you’re on the wrong end of it and that’s how it goes.
Have you been able to diagnose exactly what happened in that Clemson game?
In the end, to me, it ultimately falls in my lap. I didn’t do a good enough job getting -- maybe, again, maybe, part of it -- a little bit of a hangover over the last game (a stunning 38-35 home loss to Oklahoma State).
You look around, and in a lot of cases, teams who lose that last game before the bowl game, it can have a little bit of an effect. I didn’t do a good enough job being able to erase that, whether it be coaches or players. In the end, we didn’t do a good enough job.
But what can you really do in that situation to erase that feeling, especially when you're dealing with 18-to-22 year olds?
I don’t know. You talk a lot about it. You try to challenge them. You do your work, which we did. But in the end, you also have seniors who are leaving and entering the draft. There’s a lot that goes on in that period of time, and obviously when you don’t do well, you didn’t manage it well enough to have a chance to play well.
Your staff was pretty consistent throughout your first several years in Norman, and when assistants left, it was often to take a head coaching job. Guys have been leaving under much different circumstances the last couple years. Has that been hard on you?
Well, that’s hard in itself, too. It’s always hard when there are staff changes. You’ve gotta try and get everybody to work in the right direction, and the way you want them to, so it’s always a little bit of a challenge for sure.
Like I've said before w/ Stoops; he's making his last stand! This is it. He's brought in some great young coaches and he's going "all in". Either they'll be a contender/make the playoffs in the next couple of years or (imo) he retires and enjoys life while he's still relatively young.
I think the OC was a homerun hire. We'll find out real soon....
I think the OC was a homerun hire. We'll find out real soon....
If OU runs at all I'll be happy. When they brought in Hot Rod Lincoln Riley the first thing that went through my mind was pass pass pass pass pass screen pass pass pass shuttle pass pass pass pass draw pass pass pass run......I hope that's not the case. But this has been Riley's modus operandi throughout his coaching career. It's why I'm not as overly excited about this hire as some people. Do I think he's a good offesive coordinator? Yes. Should a Blueblood program need this kind of offensive coordinator if they have bigtime talent on offense? No. But the problem is OU has sprung a leak with their recruiting in recent years, so they basically have no choice but to add the smoke and mirrors to their offense.
Riley likes to run the ball. Coaches like him get that stigma that all they do is pass (hell, Spurrier had it when he was at UF and his very first RB - Errict Rhett - set the UF record for career rushing yards). Most coaches know that having a balance is important to long term success. ECU had 28 rushing TDs last year and a 850 yard rusher, a 500+ yard rusher, and two others w/ nearly 300 each. That's not bad.
We'll see, only time will tell what kind of game plans he comes up with in a conference like this. I would rather OU have around a 1,500 yard rusher and a little less than the 63% pass to run average that Riley is known for. But something tells me that's not going to happen..Like I've said before here, it's not the offense that worries me as much as the defense. I just think Mike Stoops has lost it as a DC. Gary Patterson is a NASA engineer compared to this guy. Stoops utilized the 4-2-5 defense 90% of the time between 1999-2003 when he was at OU. He needs to go back to it because he doesn't know squat about the 3-4.
3-4 is tough in college because it requires a legit (and large) NT and large DE's. 18-21 year old kids may not have the physical maturity to run that type of scheme. If you have an all Junior/Senior DL you maybe could do it. Most colleges have smaller DE's (who end up as NFL LBer's if they make it to the next level), that are around 245-260lbs. That's too small to run a 3-4 scheme.
In this day and age of hurry-up and passing offenses running a 4-2-5 is most prudent, especially if you have a good pass rush from those 4.
OU needs to get off to a fast start, because their last three games are very difficult. At Baylor, TCU and at Oklahoma State. They also go to Kansas State after the Texas game. The schedule maker did not do OU any favors. The OU offense should be good enough to put points on the board. The question becomes if the OU defense can stop the passing game. They were unable to last season and the results showed. OU gave up 30 or more points in 7 of their 13 games. Here is another alarming fact. OU has NOT won a Big 12 Championship outright since 2010. Is Stoops getting old and/or predictable. I do not think that OU wins the Big 12 this season. I think they are in a fight with Okie State, K-State and Texas for the 3 thru 6 spots in the Conference. I give them more of a chance in 2016 IF they can get past Ohio State at home. The conference schedule reverses itself in 2016.
OU will do just fine. I do not usually get all fired up about them but there is a distinct attitude change in Norman and the coaching changes have inspired the players who like them. I like it when other people get down on the Sooners before a season than I do when other people get high on them before a season starts. Scheduling those 3 games at the end of the season is a good thing in my book and works in OU's favor as they should improve on a game to game basis. By then the new coaches will know all the strengths and weaknesses of the players and use that to their advantage. Being 3 deep at QB is a plus and their RB's are top of the line. If their OL comes thru they will be tough to handle. Stoops can still get it done and this is the most motivated he has been in several seasons. There is a positive attitude at OU right now and if they build on that and have success look out.
Got to agree with Russ. The strength of the offense is the running backs. (Can the offensive line step up?)
In my opinion, the strength of the defense are the linebackers. (Can the defensive line step up?)
Oklahoma the past few years have been what I call soft....they need toughness this year or they will be wondering what
happen again.
In my opinion, the strength of the defense are the linebackers. (Can the defensive line step up?)
Oklahoma the past few years have been what I call soft....they need toughness this year or they will be wondering what
happen again.
This is the problem Clover. OU had the same excitement and aspirations last year before the season. Mainly based on their Sugar Bowl win. But it's basically been the same things every year for OU. I don't think there is a strong atmosphere of winning and change in Norman like there was in 1999 when Stoops took over. The last 5 years have looked more like Stoops and OU searching for the right formula and identity. And he just hasn't been able to find it. They've tried different things on offense, some have worked, most haven't. They've tried different defensive schemes, some 3-4, some 4-3, some 4-2-5 and a combination of all. They just don't quite know what they want because they don't have quite the talent there that they had 5-10 years ago. There have been 7 assistant coaching changes in the last 3 years. And I'm sure there will be more before it's over. There is a huge problem with OU and the Big 12 in general. The bluebloods of the conference have lost a lot of their swagger, and the Big 12 in general has lost the ability to attract and recruit the top notch players. There are simply more attractive places for these players to go right now such as Ohio State, Bama, A&M. What is left is a crapshoot between 3 or 4 teams each year. They are all good teams, but not what I would call great. Ten years ago OU and Texas were SEC good. Not anymore. As for this seasons Sooners team, it's going to be a wait and see for me before I bet on them. I really don't have a good betting spot for OU right now. Not with a rebuilt offensive line, questions at QB and coaching on defense. I hope the Sooners surprise me. But I'm not holding my breath..
This early game between Oklahoma and Tennessee should be a good one. Both teams need to win because it could set the stage for a really good season. Some of my Tennessee buddies tell me the Vols will be ready. I'm sure the Sooners are taking this game serious also.
Should be one hell of a ball game between the Big 12 and SEC with two teams wanting to prove themselves not only to their fans but also their conferences.
Look forward to watching this one!
Should be one hell of a ball game between the Big 12 and SEC with two teams wanting to prove themselves not only to their fans but also their conferences.
Look forward to watching this one!
I won't have a strong opinion about OU/Tenn until I see a line on the game. I'm curious to see where Vegas sets it. I think I would have to have more than a FG to bet on OU on the road that early in the season with an unproven offensive line. I'm not quite as worried about the Vols offense as I will be down the road when OU plays the better Big 12 offenses.
