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What We Learned Three things we learned after the Sooners' 14-3 victory
Updated: Saturday October 06, 2001 11:39 PM
By Stewart Mandel, CNNSI.com DALLAS -- Here are three things we learned about Oklahoma's 14-3 victory against Texas: 1. Oklahoma's backup quarterback is pretty good. It's pretty ridiculous, when you think about it. The defending national champions, winners of 18 consecutive games, have a quarterback controversy on their hands. A week after singing the praises of starter Nate Hybl following his gutsy performance in a 38-37 victory against Kansas State, Sooners coach Bob Stoops was singing a similar tune about his quarterback this week. Only this time, he was talking about Jason White. "Jason showed great leadership and toughness," said Stoops. "He executed exceptionally well today coming off the bench." White, the backup since two-a-days who had attempted four passes prior to Saturday, was pressed into action when starter Hybl banged up his shoulder early in the contest. The sophomore didn't flinch, completing 12 of his first 15 passes en route to a 16-of-23, 108-yard day. He stood in under a ferocious Texas pass rush, withstanding two sacks.
And to top it off, he showed impressive running ability, gaining 58 yards (before sacks) on 12 carries, including three long dashes on one fourth-quarter drive that enabled OU to pin Texas deep. "I had no time to get nervous," said White, who as a native of the Dallas suburb Arlington grew up dreaming of playing in the Red River Shootout. "It was warm up and get in." No question White played well, but it's not like Hybl has done anything wrong himself. If Hybl is ready to go next week, Stoops says he'll start. But don't be surprised if offensive coordinator Mark Mangino devises something to get White involved in the action. 2. Andre Woolfolk is the new Charles Woodson. Or at least he's doing his best impression. Primarily a wide receiver for the Sooners, Woolfok served exclusively as a defensive back against Texas, and with great results. In addition to seven tackles, he notched an interception, two pass deflections and a blocked field goal. Coaches wanted to use the taller Woolfolk (6-foot-1) to match up with top Texas receiver Roy Williams, himself 6-5. Starter Derrick Strait (5-11) still helped out plenty, but it was Woolfolk who made the big plays. On the interception, when Chris Simms attempted to go deep down the sideline to Williams, Woolfolk had actually been pushed out of the play but recovered in time to see the ball and grab it. On another occasion, he was isolated on Williams in the middle of the field on a fly pattern. If not for Woolfolk getting his hand on it, Williams would have been gone for six. And on the field-goal block, Woolfolk simply skied. The only question is whether the junior, who gained 539 yards receiving last year, now sees himself primarily as a defensive player. "I don't know what I am right now," said Woolfolk. "If they need me at receiver next week, I'll play receiver." 3. This is one heckuva rivalry. OU-Texas has always been one of the country's most storied rivalries. It just took a little time off. Overshadowed for more than a decade by Florida State-Florida, Tennessee-Florida and the like, Saturday's game proved why OU-Texas should always matter. For one, it's the only football game in America played just steps from livestock stalls, antique cars and ferris wheels, where parents push kids in strollers from attraction to attraction the same way their parents and their parents' parents once did. And the timeless imagery didn't end with the whiff of corn dogs and cotton candy before kickoff. In front of the traditional split crowd of orange and red, the game that transpired was straight out of the 1950s. Two heated rivals engaged in a 60-minute struggle, both defenses controlling the tempo, neither squad able to surge in front of the other. Afterward, the triumphant Sooners walked off the field amidst a salute from their fans and band so loud you'd think they'd just won the national championship again. "They might as well call this the national championship game," said OU's Jimmy Wilkerson. For Sooners and Longhorns, beating the other means just as much.
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