Sooner Fans Perspective

[FWSooner]

Good morning, Mean Green. I wanted to return to your board and share a few of my thoughts about yesterday's game:

First, I want to let this board know how impressed I was with your fans. Not only were they friendly, as expected, the majority stayed until the end to support their team. Very impressive.

On offense, I thought that your offensive line gave Meager lots of time to throw the ball on several downs. When the pocket collapsed, Meager did a great job of scrambling and either tucking the ball or throwing on the run to attempt to make a gain. I thought Vizza provided a spark and some leadership to make some things happen against OU. When he ran with the ball, he took the hits and didn't slide. That showed me that he is tough and competitive, and I am sure it showed his teammates the same thing. Considering what both QB's faced with the speed of the OU defense, I think that North Texas has a lot of upside with either QB - which is not a bad problem to have.

On defense, I was impressed with your interior d-line play. OU couldn't seem to get any running lanes open on the inside for their running backs. When DeMarco Murray could get to the outside, not many teams would be able to stop him - he has the fastest 40-time on OU's team, so you have to take that into consideration. Speaking of speed, I thought that a lot of your defensive backs had some good overall speed. Your cornerback, #37 (Roman?), played well against OU's receivers. When I saw him on the field, I thought "Bradford needs to throw to whomever #37 is covering" based on the height mismatch. However, he had some good speed for his size and seemed to position himself well to make plays. On special teams, I thought that North Texas did a great job. Your punter had a few booming punts that silenced the OU crowd. Coverage was fast and effective as well.

To add some perspective here, I don't think that anybody predicted that OU would be so effective on offense with a redshirt Freshman QB. Turns out he is sensational. He went 21-23 for 363 yards passing, throwing for 3 touchdowns. Most of this was in the first half, too. He tied Heisman winning QB Jason White's record of 18 consecutive completed passes before being pulled. Unreal. While the scoreboard indicated that Stoops was "piling it on", please keep in mind that Bradford needed to throw the ball to get ready for the season, not to mention a huge, early test against Miami. I am sorry that it had to come at the expense of North Texas. OU beat Texas A&M a few seasons ago 77-0, where Stoops was telling players to fall down to try not to score anymore. Each team has to play full tilt for four-quarters at this level.

Keep your head high and the support flowing. North Texas has a bright future. I think despite what the scoreboard indicated, North Texas has some components in place to make them competitive this season. Todd Dodge will be the top recruiter in your conference, no doubt. Best of luck against SMU, and the remainder of the season.

[UNTflyer]

Every single Sooner fan I met was friendly and supportive of UNT. They are some of the nicest people I've ever met.

Although, I don't get some of your traditions... like the kickoff. I kept looking up at the sky and asking "What's everyone pointing at??!!" I never got a straight answer!

[NTPhiKap99]

I will admit Sooner fans have been gracious in victory every time I've been up there. Thanks for your opposing insight and congrats on the win.

[hickoryhouse]

Appreciate the support, it is oing to be interesting to see how hw fare the rest of the year butyou guys definately gave us a great test and hopefully a great learning experience.

I watched the game with my father, a former OU BBall player, and of course the old guy gave me some crap but all in all he and his OU buddies were pretty supportive of us, especially when Vizza threw that long TD!

[UNTflyer]

I will admit Sooner fans have been gracious in victory every time I've been up there.

When I left, a Sooner fan was sitting on his tailgate (obviously drunk, hehe) and yelled "GOOOO Mean Green! Hey, man, how bad was it in there? Come over shere and... hey, man, you wanna beer?! No, really have a beer, come sit down fer a minute... man, you guys gotcha selfs a good coach! Yeah, man... I think you guysh are gonna be good in a few yearsh!"

Good fans, great atmosphere. While trying to get to my seat, some Sooner fans behind me said "Hope we get to our seats before kickoff... it's like this every game." I laughed and said "I wish NT had your problems!"

[GreenTiger_OriginalAcct]

A few of us saw ONE OU fan that appeared to be less than receptive. However, she was obviously drunk and the OU fans that were walking with us were blasting her pretty good. Despite the score, it was a great event.

[mad dog]

I guess the further out from Norman, the worse the fans must be. Because I was beyond impressed by the actual OU fans at the game. To a man, every single one was supportive, welcoming, and friendly. The fans in Dallas tend to be jerks, so I (wrongly) assumed that must be true of the university. For that, I apologize.

Beat the hell outta Texas, guys.

[Green Mean]

You are a very generous man FWSooner.

I understand this was more of a scrimmage for OU and Bradford but when you score 49 points by the end of the first half.....what can you possibly accomplish in the 2nd half against a team of NT caliber or really any team for that matter? Again I am not pissed or anything but I have never understood that a final score of 79-10 would mean that a team or qb is getting more prepared for a game next week....it just doesnt sink in. The first half proved that they were far superior and they had their timing. In the end its all about talent and even if you guys scored a 150 points it wouldnt have proved anything more next week against Miami because its a different team and a far more talented team.

As for NT and its future I am greatful that you are being really sincere and are thinking of nothing but positives for NT. I think Vizza has a little something and if he is really what he showed in the game albeit when it was over, then I think we will have a really good QB for the next 4 years.

Oh and by the way....OU will have no problem against Miami because they stink and will for atleast a few years. I think you guys will role by them.

[JayDub]

Thanks for the kind words FWSooner. Don't be a stranger to our little board...you're always welcome.

In fact, if FW is for Fort Worth...come on up to Denton for a game. I'm sure the guys and gals that are able to make every game will welcome you to their tailgates.

Edited September 2, 2007 by JayDub

[the green rokemi]

Thanks for your comments. Interesting that you thought Roman played well. I thought Bradford was picking on him and Roman was getting beat everytime...

[EagleMBA]

FWSooner, you are as gracious as the MANY Sooner fans we encountered BEFORE, DURING and AFTER the game. Without eception, they engaged in conversation, gave us good advice and directions, and INVARIABLY thanked us for being there. A tip of our caps to all Sooner fans and we wish you good luck the rest of the way. That whipping won't sting so much if you bring home another national championship. OU's talent, depth and execution is TRULY impressive.

[emmitt01]

I for one don't think the score was run up at all. I think we all need to remember that when their first team gives way to their and then their second team gives way to their third team each of these players WANTS TO PLAY. Their second and third team QB's and RB's want to get in the end zone too. They were just out there trying to play. It's silly to think Stoops should have included in his pre-game speech "Ok, I only want the first teamers to score. Second and third team, if you get in there I want you to take a knee."

[akriesman]

I have a feeling that OU is going to have one hell of a football team this year. That QB was poised and accurate all night long. The receivers are huge, fast and have terrific moves.

I knew the OU defense was good. But, it was OU's offensive talent that blew me away.

A freshman QB that completes 18 passes in a row ? Are you kidding me ?

I know that the NT defense is not up to par with others that OU will meet up with. But, it would be tough for any college QB to complete 18 straight passes against a high school team.

OU may very well crush a lot of teams this year.

Good luck FWSooner. Thanks for the kind words.

[NTEdgex2]

Some more compliments for the OU fans. All were very nice and talked about neat things in the area to see (museums, etc,) while we stood in line for the shuttle. Also, after the game as we were walking to catch the shuttle an older OU fan remarked to us that North Texas has really good fans! I also heard some complements for Truman Spencer. During the game, an OU fan behind us remarked we had a better punter than they did.

Looking forward to visiting Ford Stadium Saturday!

GMG!

[Daddy Dumpsalot]

Sooner fans as nice??

How bout getting heckled after the game by a drunk guy and his boyfriends who didn't mind cussing at us when there was nothing said to him and saying 'hey what was the score? oh you can't count that high'. Or the two trailer park females that we walking behind us calling us 'poor babies'. Or my best yet: The white trash guy who did a number on scrappy. Maybe he was thinking that he was a football player and just wanted to take out an eagle. Then getting escorted off the field gets high fives from the other sooner inbreds.

There was one nice person who wished us 'good luck' before the game.

But as for me I have always disliked Texas but my trip to OU has now made me a Texas fan. I hope they get smoked this year, but sadly I do not think they will.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I sat in the north end zone smack in the middle of Sooner fans, they were fine. Most of them were busy watching those side score boards and talking about how Oklahoma State was getting whipped by Georgia and how Texas was struggling with Arkansas State. I think that pleased them more than anything. Besides, most of them left during the third quarter.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

----Don't judge of any college by the actions of few drunks.. Unfortunately we all have a few of them...

--- On the other had SMU has done and said a lot mean things about us and to us when completely sober.... those are the thing that really bother me.... plus the "I am greater than thou attitude" that so many of them display constantly.

[NTEdgex2]

It probably has something to do with age. We really weren't around any of the younger fans, just the "over the hill" type. Also, nobody will talk smack with an old lady!

GMG!

[DallasGreen]

Thanks for your comments. Interesting that you thought Roman played well. I thought Bradford was picking on him and Roman was getting beat everytime...

What game was this guy seeing????? # 37 may be of of the worst players every to don an NT uniform. If he is even close to imulating a D-1 DB, I'm Santa Clause.

[FWSooner]

Glad to hear that everyone, for the most part, experienced good sportsmanship. Of course, every team has those drunk fans that have to run their mouth that ruins the schools image.

[FWSooner]

What game was this guy seeing????? # 37 may be of of the worst players every to don an NT uniform. If he is even close to imulating a D-1 DB, I'm Santa Clause.

Of course I saw him get burned a few times - their was a huge size/talent mismatch. Also, I didn't watch him all night long. I was more focused on the OU offense. I did notice a few times that he got himself into position to make a few plays. Also, he has speed, which is why I guess your coach put him on special teams. Maybe he will learn from his mistakes and develop into a better player for North Texas this year.

[wolfpoke74]

When I left, a Sooner fan was sitting on his tailgate (obviously drunk, hehe) and yelled "GOOOO Mean Green! Hey, man, how bad was it in there? Come over shere and... hey, man, you wanna beer?! No, really have a beer, come sit down fer a minute... man, you guys gotcha selfs a good coach! Yeah, man... I think you guysh are gonna be good in a few yearsh!"

Good fans, great atmosphere. While trying to get to my seat, some Sooner fans behind me said "Hope we get to our seats before kickoff... it's like this every game." I laughed and said "I wish NT had your problems!"

You sure he was drunk?, as that is what most Sooner fans talk like.

[UNTflyer]

Sooner fans as nice??

Of course, there are always buttheads everywhere. I'm sure we have our share. But my experience with the Sooners fans yesterday was very positive.

[Ibleedgreen]

I have to add my 2 cents here. I spent the weekend with a dear friend whose husband is on the faculty at OU. We ate in a restaurant right off campus, walked all over the campus, waited until the gates opened in an academic building's lounge, sat in her season ticket seats amidst a sea of red. All the time I had on my green shirt and UNT cap. Everyone was kind and gracious to me. The only negative I'll interject (if it's a negative for them) is that they wanted a shutout awfully bad, based on the noise both before and after our first score. Now that I think about it...denying them the shutout was pretty big.

[Ibleedgreen]

GMG1999...That was a forest green shirt and UNT cap!