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University of Oklahoma Athletics
It's That Time of Year Again
October 06, 2008 | Football
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For players and fans alike, it's difficult to describe the energy and excitement inside the stadium until you've experienced it firsthand.
The tradition of both programs and all the legendary players and coaches who have suited up on both sides serve as inspiration for the new chapters written by the current cast of characters each October.
The game traditionally carries both conference and national title implications, but this rivalry stands above the rest because of the incomparable setting and the genuine resentment between OU and Texas fans.
And while the buildup is always enormous, this year's contest seems to be generating just a little extra buzz.
For the 11th time in the history of the rivalry, both teams enter the game ranked in the top five in the country. It is the 12th time one of the schools have been ranked No. 1, with the Sooners holding the top spot on eight occassions.
Beyond the rankings, an additional 16,000 seats will make this year's atmosphere even more deafening, and the presence of ESPN's College GameDay will ensure college football fans across the country will have their eyes fixated on Dallas.
In preparation for the 2008 edition of the Red River Rivalry, which has all the makings of a classic, we take a look back at some of the top OU-Texas moments from the past decade.
This past summer, Sooner fans cast more than 38,000 votes at SoonerSports.com for their top 10 wins and top 10 plays of OU's championship run in the 2000s.
The reverence for the Red River Rivalry was evident, as four OU-Texas contests were among the 10 greatest, while Roy Williams' "Superman" play was voted the best of the era.
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Top Play of the 2000s | Complete List |
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No. 1: Roy Williams Goes Superman |
October 6, 2001 |
Watch
the Play | Cotton Bowl Stadium The game will be forever remembered by OU and Texas fans alike for one amazing play in the fourth quarter. But the Oklahoma defense stymied Chris Simms and the Longhorn attack for much of the game, limiting UT to just one field goal.
After a scoreless first stanza, OU took a 7-0 lead in the second when Quentin Griffin scored from two yards out. After an injury to starting quarterback Nate Hybl, Jason White came in and led the Sooners down the field. Utilizing White's speed and decision-making ability, OU ran the option offense to perfection on the 11-play, 61-yard drive.
Texas added three with just 14 seconds remaining in the first half when Dusty Mangum's 27-yard field goal sailed true. The 7-3 score held through the third quarter as the teams flexed defensive muscle and played field position.
In the fourth, OU's Tim Duncan lined up to kick a 27-yard field goal, however he instead pooch punted the ball and Texas' Nathan Vasher inexplicably downed the ball on his own three yard line. Texas had 97 yards to go for the winning score, however Roy Williams dashed those hopes on a play that had to be seen to be believed.
Williams leaped over a UT blocking back and hit Chris Simms' throwing arm before he was able to throw the ball. The deflected pass went directly into the arms of Teddy Lehman and the sophomore linebacker dashed in for the game-clinching score.
"I don't know if Roy knows it," said Lehman later when asked about the famous play. "I should have told him, but if it weren't for me, it would have just been second down (laughs)."
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No. 2 Win of the 2000s | Complete List |
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No. 2: Oklahoma 63, Texas 14 |
October 7, 2000 |
Watch
Video Highlights |
Photo
Gallery There was never a doubt in this one, as Oklahoma began a memorable October run by running all over its arch-rival. Quentin Griffin set a school record with six rushing touchdowns, while OU held the Longhorns to -7 yards on the ground. The rout put an exclamation mark on a great start and signaled bigger things were yet to come.
Why it was great: The 95th meeting between OU and Texas was settled in the rain at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas. The wet weather didn't slow the Oklahoma offense as the Sooners used a 29-yard TD strike from Josh Heupel to Andre Woolfolk to draw first blood at the 11:37 mark in the first quarter.
The Sooners scored again in the opening stanza when Heupel optioned to his left from the Texas two and running back Quentin Griffin -- making his first appearance in the Red River Rivalry -- rolled across the goal line.
Oklahoma pulled away in the second quarter, dropping 28 points on the Horns and surging to a 42-0 lead before Texas finally scored with three minutes left in the half. Linebacker Rocky Calmus returned an interception 41 yards for a score and the rout was on. UT would score just once more, in the fourth quarter, after the game had long been decided.
Griffin apparently enjoyed the ambiance in the Cotton Bowl end zone. The sophomore from Aldine, Texas, amassed six rushing touchdowns in the game, breaking the school record of five shared by Steve Owens (vs. Nebraska, 1968) and Jerald Moore (vs. OSU, 1994).
When the smoke cleared, OU's defense had smothered the Texas ground game, pushing UT back for minus seven yards overall and holding the Horns to just 154 yards of total offense and 14 points.
The 49-point win against Texas in 2000 set the stage for "Red October" as the Sooners would next defeat No. 2 Kansas State in Manhattan and No. 1 Nebraska in Norman to vault to the top of the polls. Navigating the remainder of the schedule unscathed, OU would clinch the program's first Big 12 title en route to the program's seventh national crown in the Orange Bowl vs. Florida State.
Although the 51-6 victory against Texas A&M in October of Coach Stoops' inaugural season in 1999 provided a hint of things to come, the 2000 Texas game served as official notice to the rest of the conference and the nation that Oklahoma football was back.
The 63-14 win certainly signaled a seismic shift in OU's rivalry with Texas. Oklahoma would win five consecutive against the Longhorns and six of eight from 2000-07. The Sooners would go on to clinch the South Division six times and the Big 12 Conference title five times after this game.
| Texas | |||||
| Oklahoma |
Game balls go to:
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Quentin Griffin |
Sophomore Running Back Set school record with six rushing touchdowns on 87 yards. |
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Josh Heupel |
Senior Quarterback 17-of-27 passes for 275 yards, one TD and no interceptions. |
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The Oklahoma
Defense Held Texas to -7 yards on the ground and just two scores. |
The Quote: "Texas is a good team but our guys were determined to make a statement about how good we might be. I'm happy for our players, our assistant coaches and happy for our fans."
- Head Coach Bob Stoops
Our Take: We settled on five criteria for what makes a great football game and used those as guides to select the initial 20 wins of the 2000s to present to fans: buildup, setting, memorable plays, exciting game and ramifications. Here's how the 2000 OU-Texas game in Dallas scored for us:
Buildup | No. 11 Texas was the first of six ranked opponents the Sooners would defeat during the 2000 season (No. 2 Kansas State, No. 1 Nebraska, No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 8 Kansas State and No. 3 Florida State). 2000 marked OU's first victory in the series since an overtime win in 1996.
Setting | As always, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas housed an overflow crowd split down the 50-yard line. Rain didn't dampen the emotions of the crowd and no one (at least on the Oklahoma side of the stadium) left their seat before the final gun sounded. This was a statement game for the team to their fans, opponents and college football overall. The Sooners were back.
Memorable Plays | The image of Quentin Griffin crossing the goal line must have seemed like a DVD gone bad for the Horns, repeating the same scene over and over. The option toss on his first touchdown in the first quarter was signature Sooners as was Rocky Calmus' 41-yard interception return for a score in the second. Quarterback Josh Heupel was brilliant with 275 yards passing, a TD and no interceptions.
Exciting Game | This one-sided affair got out of hand in the second quarter when the Sooners pushed to a 42-0 lead before the Longhorns could score a point. Once Oklahoma added another 14 in the third, moving to 56-7, most on the Texas side had seen enough and headed for the exits. It would be a long drive back to Austin. Most of the excitement came after the game as the Sooner players posed for team photos in front of the scoreboard and planted the crimson OU flag at midfield.
Ramifications | This game will be remembered as Coach Stoops' first big win. The 51-6 thrashing of then-No. 13 Texas A&M during the '99 season was a harbinger of the things to come but this game against arch-rival Texas signaled the start of the something special. Indeed, Oklahoma would topple the No. 2- and No. 1-ranked teams in their next two games and roll to conference and national titles in 2000. Long term, the Sooners would become the class of the Big 12 and join an elite group of programs with a legitimate shot at a national championship each season.
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No. 3 Win of the 2000s | Complete List |
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No. 3: Oklahoma 65, Texas 13 |
October 11, 2003 |
Watch
Video Highlights |Photo
Gallery The emotions were evident when players from both teams had to be separated at midfield before the game. Then Oklahoma silenced the Longhorns with the most lopsided victory in series history. OU's defense forced six turnovers, Jason white threw four TD passes and Mark Clayton set a school record with 190 receiving yards.
Why it was great: No. 1 Oklahoma produced the most lopsided victory in the 98-game OU-Texas series: a 52-point win that marked OU's fourth consecutive against the Horns. What wasn't to like in the blitzkrieg for Sooner fans?
Oklahoma's offense set a school record with its fourth consecutive game scoring 50 or more points. Jason White hit 17-of-21 passes for 290 yards and four touchdowns -- all this while throwing only three times in the second-half and spending the entire final quarter on the sideline.
Junior receiver Mark Clayton snagged eight passes for a school-record 190 yards and a TD while running back Renaldo Works churned out 112 yards and a pair of scores on the ground.
The Sooner defense forced six Longhorn turnovers including a pick and 30-yard return by Derrick Strait which set up OU's first score. The senior DB added a career-high 11 tackles, three passes broken up and two fumble recoveries.
Redshirt freshman Vince Young relieved UT quarterback Chance Mock in the third series of the game but was harassed for much of the day. Texas hadn't thrown an interception all season but Mock and Young each had one in the first quarter. Both were converted for OU touchdowns.
After putting together a promising drive, Young fumbled while diving at the goal line and the Sooners marched 74 yards for a field goal. Later in the second quarter, Young threw an interception that Oklahoma end Jonathan Jackson returned 21 yards for another score.
When the smoke cleared, the Sooner coaches and players took their customary photo in front of the Cotton Bowl scoreboard to commemorate the win. Sooner fans streamed north, satisfied that the Golden Hat Trophy would remain in Norman for another year.
| Oklahoma | |||||
| Texas |
Game balls go to:
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Mark Clayton |
Junior Receiver Slippery receiver set school record with 190 yards. |
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Derrick Strait |
Senior Defensive Back Set up OU's first touchdown with INT and 30-yard return. |
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Jason White |
Senior Quarterback Would go on to win program's fourth Heisman Trophy. |
The Quote: "They did a great job, and we got whipped. That happens in this business. I don't think it was as much as what we were doing as we got licked."
- Texas Defensive Coordinator Carl Reese
Our Take: We settled on five criteria for what makes a great football game and used those as guides to select the initial 20 wins of the 2000s to present to fans: buildup, setting, memorable plays, exciting game and ramifications. Here's how the 2003 OU-Texas game in Dallas scored for us:
Buildup | Undefeated Oklahoma was No. 1 while Texas came into the game at No. 11. The Sooners had impressive wins at Alabama and at home against UCLA and Fresno State. The Longhorns were still smarting from the 10-point home loss to Arkansas. The Texas end of the stadium would reveal baby blue seats in the fourth quarter as OU rolled to its fourth consecutive win in the series.
Setting | Hard to top Cotton Bowl Stadium in early October split down the 50-yard line, Big Tex howdy'n folks to the fair, corny dogs and fried coke along the midway, Bevo and the Sooner Schooner. The game is pure college football pageantry and the passion of the fans is what makes the game special. Ask any player about running down the tunnel...
Memorable Plays | Jason White and Mark Clayton hooked up plenty against a dazed Texas secondary. Derrick Strait snatched a pass and returned the ball 30 yards to set up OU's initial touchdown. A Vince Young-fumble at the goal line and Jonathan Jackson's INT return for touchdown kept the Sooner fans entertained.
Exciting Game | The Sooner coaching staff would take a "boring" 52-point win against Texas any October. Top-ranked Oklahoma demoralized the Horns with one big play after another. It was plenty exciting in the stands as OU fans celebrated early while Texas fans headed for the exits.
Ramifications | Oklahoma would roll through the rest of the schedule to a date with Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game in Kansas City. One of the most dominant Sooner teams in recent memory inexplicably hit a wall at Arrowhead Stadium as the Wildcats ran wild to deny OU the conference title. The strength of Oklahoma's season propelled the Sooners to the Sugar Bowl for a shot at the national championship but LSU would win in home-turf New Orleans, 21-14.
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No. 7 Win of the 2000s | Complete List |
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No. 7: Oklahoma 14, Texas 3 |
October 6, 2001 |
Watch
Video Highlights |Photo
Gallery The lead was just 7-3 in the fourth with Texas driving deep in Sooner territory. OU's defense rose to the challenge, intercepting Chris Simms on three straight possessions. First, it was Antonio Perkins in his own end zone. Then, with the Horns pinned deep, Roy Williams went Superman and Teddy Lehman waltzed in for the clinching score.
Why it was great: The game will be forever remembered by OU and Texas fans alike for one amazing play in the fourth quarter. But the Oklahoma defense stymied Chris Simms and the Longhorn attack for much of the game, limiting UT to just one field goal.
After a scoreless first stanza, OU took a 7-0 lead in the second when Quentin Griffin scored from two yards out. After an injury to starting quarterback Nate Hybl, Jason White came in and led the Sooners down the field. Utilizing White's speed and decision-making ability, OU ran the option offense to perfection on the 11-play, 61-yard drive.
Texas added three with just 14 seconds remaining in the first half when Dusty Mangum's 27-yard field goal sailed true. The 7-3 score held through the third quarter as the teams flexed defensive muscle and played field position.
In the fourth, OU's Tim Duncan lined up to kick a 27-yard field goal, however he instead pooch punted the ball and Texas' Nathan Vasher inexplicably downed the ball on his own three yard line. Texas had 97 yards to go for the winning score, however Roy Williams dashed those hopes on a play that had to be seen to be believed.
Williams leaped over a UT blocking back and hit Chris Simms' throwing arm before he was able to throw the ball. The deflected pass went directly into the arms of Teddy Lehman and the sophomore linebacker dashed in for the game-clinching score.
| Oklahoma | |||||
| Texas |
Game balls go to:
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Roy Williams |
Senior Safety Superman flies over Longhorn line, into OU-Texas lore. |
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Jason White |
Sophomore Quarterback Future Heisman winner takes reins in second quarter. |
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Jimmy Wilkerson |
Sophomore Defensive End Ended up on cover of SI for three-sack performance. |
The Quote: "I don't know if Roy knows it, I should have told him, but if it weren't for me, it would have just been second down (laughs)."
- Teddy Lehman on "The Play" |
Watch "The Play" Our Take: We settled on five criteria for what makes a great football game and used those as guides to select the initial 20 wins of the 2000s to present to fans: buildup, setting, memorable plays, exciting game and ramifications. Here's how the 2001 OU-Texas game in Dallas scored for us:
Buildup | The No. 3-ranked Sooners were riding a 17-game winning streak as the defending national champs. No. 5 Texas had ballyhooed quarterback Chris Simms and the nation's fourth-highest scoring offense. It marked the first time since the infamous 1984 game that both teams entered the Cotton Bowl ranked in the top 5. Let's just say it was festive in the stands for this one.
Setting | Another State Fair of Texas, another split Cotton Bowl crowd, another classic game between the Red River rivals. The 2001 meeting marked the 96th game in the 101-year history of the series and in contrast to the wet 2000 clash, there was perfect weather in Big "D" for this one.
Memorable Plays | If this game doesn't receive a five-star rating for memorable plays, what would? Roy Williams provided an iconic moment for Sooner fans with his leap over the Texas line. The Sooner defense intercepted Chris Simms on three consecutive possessions (Williams intercepted Simms on the very next offensive play for the Longhorns after "The Play"). The first INT came courtesy Antonio Perkins in his own end zone to deny Texas a TD in the game.
Exciting Game | The 75,587 fans in the Cotton Bowl plus an ABC television audience watched a defensive slugfest that culminated in a decisive fourth quarter. Oklahoma clung to a 7-3 lead with its 17-game winning streak hanging in the balance. Texas had 97 yards to go for the winning score. But Longhorn hopes evaporated when Teddy Lehman crossed the goal line and the Gold Hat went back to Norman for the second consecutive year.
Ramifications | With the win, Oklahoma rolled to a 20-game streak until old nemesis Nebraska handed OU its first loss of the 21st century behind the heroics of eventual Heisman winner Eric Crouch in Lincoln. In the regular-season finale, OSU would deny the Sooners a spot in the Big 12 Championship game with a stunning 16-13 upset at Owen Field (one of only two losses in Norman for OU under Stoops). The Sooners would stifle Arkansas in a cold, January Cotton Bowl to end the season at 11-2 and ranked No. 6.
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No. 8 Win of the 2000s | Complete List |
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No. 8: Oklahoma 12, Texas 0 |
October 9, 2004 |
Watch
Video Highlights |Photo
Gallery Slowly and painfully, No. 2 Oklahoma devastated the fifth-ranked Longhorns, handing Texas its first shutout in 25 years. OU's defense bullied Vince Young all day, and while the final score suggested a defensive struggle, Adrian Peterson provided plenty of offensive fireworks, rushing for 225 yards in just his fifth college game.
Why it was great: Let's start with keeping the Longhorns out of the end zone. The game marked the first time an opponent had delivered Texas a goose egg on the scoreboard in 25 years. Oklahoma's first shutout of Texas since 1972 also secured OU's fifth consecutive win in the series.
Midway through the first quarter, freshman back Adrian Peterson took a handoff from Jason White in his own end zone and swept around the right end for 44 yards. A.D. went on to shred the Longhorn defense for 225 yards on 32 carries in his first appearance in the Red River Rivalry. He rolled up some of his yardage in one shoe and challenged would-be tacklers for every inch of Cotton Bowl turf.
Wet conditions in Dallas made the footing treacherous but Sooner kicker Trey DiCarlo knocked in 22- and 26-yard field goals to provide Oklahoma a 6-0 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Sooners then removed all doubt by marching 80 yards on 11 plays capped by a six-yard TD scamper by Kejuan Jones.
OU's defense frustrated Texas quarterback Vince Young and running back Cedric "I'd rather win a Heisman than beat Oklahoma" Benson much of the day. End Dan Cody delivered memorable sacks while Clint Ingram and Rufus Alexander had banner games from the linebacking corps.
| Texas | |||||
| Oklahoma |
Game balls go to:
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Adrian Peterson |
Freshman Running Back Battled the Longhorns for every inch of his 225 yards. |
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Dan Cody |
Senior Defensive End Positioned prominently in Vince Young's grill much of game. |
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Rufus Alexander |
Sophomore Linebacker Crowd roared "Ruuuu-fus" throughout game with 10 tackles. |
The Quote: "Peterson personally outgained all four other teams the Longhorns have played this season and became the first Oklahoma player to crack 100 yards in each of his first five games."
- The Associated Press
Our Take: We settled on five criteria for what makes a great football game and used those as guides to select the initial 20 wins of the 2000s to present to fans: buildup, setting, memorable plays, exciting game and ramifications. Here's how the 2004 OU-Texas game in Dallas scored for us:
Buildup | The 99th edition of the OU-Texas rivalry featured Peterson in his very first trip to Dallas in crimson. Both teams were ranked in the top 5 (OU at No. 2, Texas No. 5) and the largest crowd (79,587) in series history was on hand in the Cotton Bowl.
Setting | Early October in Dallas, Cotton Bowl split down the middle -- half burnt orange, the other half crimson, State Fair, Big Tex and hot corny dogs. Hard to find a college football setting more steeped in history, tradition and fanfare than this. There's a reason both programs tout it as a bowl game in the middle of the season. Wet weather didn't have a chance to dim this spectacle.
Memorable Plays | Lots of turnovers and big defensive stops. Adrian Peterson broke loose on scintillating runs to power all three OU scoring drives but didn't get in the end zone. This was the first look for Texas at a Sooner back that would put his head down and challenge for every inch of turf.
Exciting Game | Not much scoring but the game was in doubt until midway through the fourth quarter with OU hanging on to a six-point lead courtesy of two DiCarlo field goals. OU's scoring drive in the final quarter sealed the victory for the Sooners. Any OU-Texas game provides plenty of drama with the fans split 50-50 providing noise on every play.
Ramifications | Oklahoma firmly established its dominance in the recent rivalry with its fifth consecutive win against the Longhorns. The Sooners would roll on to the Big 12 Championship and a second consecutive appearance in the BCS title game before melting against USC. This game was Adrian Peterson's first big show on a national stage.
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