‘Short pants’ Sandell kicks OU to big win
Kicker Tate Sandell ripped his pants warming up at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville on Saturday night, causing him to hike his pants up so they wouldn’t fall down and giving him a bare-legged look when he went on to make field goals — from 40, 51 and two from 55 yards — to kick the Sooners to a 33-27 win and keep Oklahoma’s playoff chances alive.
Sandell said afterward he didn’t know the pants were so high until after the game. No matter, he may not fix the pants. No sense in messing with the Juju.
“I’m not going to say I’ll change it, because it’s working,” Sandell said.
Sandell’s most valuable player performance set a stadium record and kept playoff chances alive for Oklahoma (now 7-2).
“Probably the MVP. An absolute animal,” Coach Brent Venables said of Sandell.
The Sooners’ offense was stumbling in the first half, managing only 99 yards before intermission. But three Tennessee turnovers that were forced by a tenacious Sooners defense — which also stuffed the Vols run game (only 63 yards on 35 attempts) — kept Oklahoma in the game and with a 16-10 lead at half.