Having been around the Oklahoma Sooner football program for the balance of sixty years, I can say that the aficionado’s of the men of Norman can be the most disloyal to their team in the country when the they lose a game in which they were suppose to win. I do not say this with delight, but with agitation toward my fellow members of the Sooner Nation.
Oklahoma’s home loss to Iowa State 38-31, in a game dominated by the visitors after they fell behind to the Sooners 14-0 in the first quarter, has brought out the stinking ugly in the supporters of the program.
The universal theme is the want by this so-called “we have your back” fan base is “fire” Mike Stoops. Coach Mike is the defensive coordinator at OU and the brother of former legendary head coach Bob Stoops. New head man for OU, Lincoln Riley retained Mike Stoops in his transition to the lead position this year.
The history of Mike Stoops as the leader of the defense has been good at times, with a National Championship in his brothers first year in Norman back in 2000, but his tenure has been spotty since his return to the Sooner program after a five year stint as the head man at Arizona in the PAC-12.
With today’s loss to the Cyclones, the heat is on to get Mike Stoops fired, the “sooner” the better. The internet is currently burning up on this move, the word on the streets of Soonerland is this man must go, and OU will never reach the highest echelon of a great defense with Coach Mike running the show. It could be considered brutal, but that would be an understatement.
Some of the comments that I have heard today:
“Thanks Mike for another great defensive stand. 3rd and 12 on the 2 and they score…. pathetic.
“We all know our D is trash because of one weak….mike stoops”
“I would fire him today!!! ( Mike Stoops) Third string quarterback and I saw one blitz!!!!”
I think you get my point. I will not bother you with the comments that were filled with curse words toward Coach Mike Stoops.
I was in the stands in 1975 when this fan base of seventy-five thousand booed the Sooners for losing to Kansas after winning 33 straight. That day, for me, it was not the loss by the defending National Champions, a team that would recover and win another title at the end of that season. It was the disgusting attitude of the Sooner fans. That reared it’s monster hate today, in spades.
When OU gets beat, and they were taken-to-the-cleaners today, I do not boo my team or act disrespectfully toward players or coaches. I respect them win or lose. And most importantly, I respect the opponent that defeated my Sooners. They deserve that respect. Sports fans, it has to be that way.