Norman, Oklahoma USA

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Mike

Mike has 115 articles published.

Soonerguys Editor

Mike: Playoff game hopefully just a another step toward a magical season

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They said the Michigan game was the biggest of the season. Then it was the Tennessee game. Then it was at Alabama. Then it was LSU. And now the first round of the playoffs against Alabama tonight is the so called biggest in Sooner history.

Well, I have attended more than 250 Oklahoma football games in person. Several national championship games. One won. Several lost. I’ve attended prior college playoff games in Pasadena and Atlanta against some of the best teams ever to play college football.

I was here in Norman when Oklahoma beat Nebraska in 2000. No, I had nothing to do with tearing the goal post down, although I have no comment about whether I was on the field after the game. I’ve seen huge games in the Cotton Bowl in October. Big games in Lincoln. I was there for the heartbreak ending against Boise State out in Glendale.

So, while I know having a playoff game for the first time in Norman is a big deal, I’m going to hold back on making it bigger than several others, including the win over Nebraska in 2000. That was a magical year. This could end up that way — but if it does, then the game tonight will just be one step toward that magical conclusion.

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Sooners find a way to win — again

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Imagine a drunken sailor behind the wheel of a beat-up pick up held together with bailing wire — and then watch him win the Daytona 500.

I don’t know what else to say about this Oklahoma Sooners football team, the team that came from behind and defeated LSU tonight 17-14 to punch its ticket to the College Football Playoffs.

It was a crazy ending to an improbable 10-win regular season.

The Sooners were behind 13-10 with only 4:13 left in the game, when QB John Mateer found Isaiah Sategna wide open downfield — as if the LSU secondary had a shock of dementia after an unexpected fireworks show from OU Ruf/Neks at the close of the third quarter and forgot to shadow the Sooners’ best player — and heaved an arching pass his way.

Sategna caught it, then scampered untouched to the end zone to give Oklahoma a 17-14 lead in the waning minutes of the game.

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Stadium renovation plan hurts fans, risks game day experience

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Today the OU administration announced plans to spend nearly a half billion dollars, tear down the historic west side of Memorial Stadium and reduce seating to one of the smallest in the SEC, displacing 7,000 season ticket holders.

With excitement for the football program at its height in several years — Saturday’s crucial game against Missouri is a must win to maintain a shot at a playoff berth — the timing of this announcement is a balloon popper.

The cost will be $450 million. Renovation will be complete in time for the 2029 season.

A close look at the initial conceptual drawings released today shows a redesign of the west side of the stadium that includes large walls to separate the high dollar suite holders from the pauper fans.

I’m wondering how OU President Joe Harroz will react to any smattering of “boos” that will greet him in case he does one of those grip and grin plaque presentations after the details of the plan reveal its disruptive impact on fans that don’t pay $50,000 a year to attend football games.

This plan trades thousands of long-standing football fans who have been loyal to the program, for a few hundred pocket books.

Did the OU administration think this through? Well, the disturbing answer is, yes.

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