OU fans won’t have a chance to be fickle this year

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September 2, 2006

By Bruce Campbell Commentary The Enid News and Eagle Sat Sep 02, 2006, 12:38 AM CDT

Legend has it after Oklahoma lost 7-0 to Notre Dame in 1957 to end the Sooners’ 47-game winning streak, an OU player asked a fan for a dime so he could call a friend.

The fan, the story goes, gave him two dimes and told him, “Here you can call both of them (friends).”

Yes, OU fans can be fickle.

Ask Rhett Bomar.

Two months ago, he was the golden boy, ready to take the Sooners to three national championships.

Since his suspension from the team, it’s amazing to hear all the phone calls on sports radio about how bad a guy he is and how little difference there is between him and new starter Paul Thompson.

Thompson is a fan favorite now. Will that last if he throws an early interception against Alabama-Birmingham? As always, the No. 2 quarterback is the most popular player on the OU roster.

Remember, people after the fact said Thompson should have replaced Heisman Trophy winner Jason White in the 2003 national championship game against Louisiana State.

Thompson, with his maturity, should hold up to the pressure. His popularity will rest on his win-loss record.

Remember the boos against Jack Mildren his sophomore year in 1969 when OU went 6-4?

Another joke about OU fans — they raised money to buy the coach a car one year (before coaches were making $2 million a year) and bought out his contract the next.

If OU falls below expectations this year, will there be some anti-Bob Stoops talk in Norman?

Don’t look for that to happen. A 10-2 regular season still will be good under the circumstances. If Adrian Peterson has a Heisman Trophy-like season and Thompson thrives in the spotlight, OU could return to the BCS Championship game.

Campbell is a News & Eagle sports writer.

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OU fans won’t have a chance to be fickle this year

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