The Enid News and Eagle, Enid, OK

Sports

June 11, 2008

Ranking OU’s top wins of decade

University of Oklahoma’s athletic Web site is surveying Sooner fans on what are OU’s 10 greatest wins in this decade.

This is something for fans during the slow days of June to pass the time until the Sooners open the season Aug. 30 against Chattanooga.

Fans were given 20 games to chose from.

So here goes.

1. OU 13, Florida State 2, 2001 Orange Bowl — No brainer here since this win gave the Sooners their first national championship since 1985. OU fans can still laugh at Lee Corso’s pregame assessment that the Sooners thought they could win and the Seminoles knew they could win.

2. OU 31, Nebraska 14, 2000 — This might have been the most emotional postgame seen at Owen Field. Fans had to be sprayed with pepper spray as they rushed the field to take down the goal posts. A win over the No. 1-ranked Huskers showed the Sooners were indeed back among the nation’s elite.

3. OU 63, Texas 14, 2000 — This win gave legitimacy to OU’s national champion hopes and that second-year head coach Bob Stoops was a keeper. It would start a string of five straight wins over the Longhorns.

4. OU 41, Kansas State 31, 2000 — A win over the No. 2-ranked Wildcats showed the win over Texas the week before wasn’t a fluke. It was the Sooners’ first win over the Wildcats since 1993.

5. OU 38, Missouri 17, 2007 Big 12 Championship — The Sooners were in the rare role as spoilers in knocking the Tigers out of the national championship game. OU became the first team to win back-to-back Big 12 championship titles.

6. OU 28, Texas 21, 2007 —OU needed this one after a 27-24 loss to Colorado the week before. Redshirt freshman Sam Bradford showed he could perform under pressure in a tight game in front of 75,000 fans.

7. OU 27, Kansas State 24, 2000 Big 12 championship — The pressure was on the Sooners after what some felt were so-so wins over Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

8. OU 14, Texas 3, 2001 — Roy Williams’ Superman-like dive hit of Chris Simms which forced a Teddy Lehman interception for a touchdown is probably the play of the decade.

9. OU 38, OSU 35, 2004 — OU has learned never to take OSU for granted anymore, especially in Stillwater. Adrian Peterson ran for 249 yards, but the Sooners escaped when the Cowboys missed a field goal in the final seconds.

10. OU 35, Texas A&M 31, 2000 — Any win over the Aggies in College Station is a big one. Torrance Marshall’s 41-yard pass interception for a touchdown might be the second biggest play in the decade for the Sooners, who still needed a late goal-line stand to assure the victory.

The other 10 games listed on the ballot were:

• OU 31, Missouri 24, 2002.

• OU 35, Texas 24, 2002.

• OU 34, Washington 14, 2003 Rose Bowl

• OU 20, Alabama 13, 2003.

• OU 65, Texas 13, 2003.

• OU 12, Texas 0, 2004.

• OU 42, Texas A&M 35, 2004.

• OU 17, Oregon 14, 2005 Holiday Bowl.

• OU 17, Texas A&M 16, 2006.

• OU 21, Nebraska 7, 2006 Big 12 Championship.

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