Cards and Bedlam

Brief comments only on Webb City's 9th state title and OSU's Bedlam loss last night.

Webb City

I had a feeling that Warrenton was over-matched and I was right. You have to feel for them, well, I do at least, I've been on the wrong side of a blowout state finals game. Webb was never challenged in this one, which to me is a little weird, to just walk all over the finals opponent. Their toughest challenges proved to be Aquinas, Carthage, Helias, and Harrisonville.

I would argue that Aquinas was a turning point in the season. Up to that point they had not shown anything like championship level play. Carthage was Carthage, you have to get over that one every year. Helias and Harrisonville were tough opponents.

In the end, WC had enough this year. Congrats.



Bedlam

First the bad. It was frustrating watching OSU's "high-powered offense" sputter most of the night. I told my wife early on that I had a feeling about that time OSU's offense got their stuff together the Defense would collapse from having been on the field all night. For the record, I'd trade big stats next year for big game wins.

Coach Gundy: Thanks for turning the program in the right direction. A couple of requests.

1. Teach the guys how to win big ballgames. We're tired of creeping into the top-15 only to get knocked off the first time we play a decent opponent.

2. Let us see the "I'm a man..." fire once in a while. You can be cool the rest of the time, but that swagger is part of the reason we like you.

3. Please make sure that we win the bowl game. We'll need the momentum to build on for next year.




You have to give OU credit, they did what they needed to do.

Now the good. For once, OSU's season wasn't entirely wrapped up in whether it won that game or not. Don't get me wrong, it burns me that we lost when we had a chance to win the division and play for a BCS bid, but losing that one doesn't mean the season is a failure. 10 wins is huge and we still have a shot at number 11. Beating all 4 Texas schools in one year is a big deal. Having 4 road wins in a row is a big deal. But the thing that gives me the most hope is the following:

One thing you didn't see last night was an OSU squad hanging on for dear life and getting pushed around all over the field. You saw an OSU squad go toe to toe with OU, make lots of mistakes and still have a shot at it late in the game. OSU wasn't over matched in every phase like we have been for the last 100 years (minus a couple of seasons), we just didn't play well enough to win. If that is a sign of things to come, I'll eat the loss and wait for another shot next year. I want OSU's next bedlam win to be one that can't be looked at as anything but the better team winning the game - none of this stealing one while OU is looking ahead to the next week.