I've always wondered what a Sooner is. Just like I've always wondered what a Cornhusker is (sounds vaguely gay, maybe Pfeffer can fill me in), but that's not the subject of this week's column. A Sooner, according to the almighty wiki, is...
The term Sooners was used to describe settlers who entered the Unassigned Lands, located in the current state of Oklahoma, before President Benjamin Harrison officially proclaimed them open to settlement with the Indian Appropriation Act of 1889 on March 2, 1889. The name derived from the "sooner clause" of the Indian Appropriation Act, which stated that no one should be allowed to enter and occupy the land prior to the opening time and that such people would be denied rights to illegally-claimed land.
Alrighty. So Sooners are people that not only steal Indian land, but do so before the gubmint says it's okay to do so. Now that we know basically who we're dealing with, let's take a look at the modern day Oklahoma Sooners. Are they for real? Well, they're averaging 61.5 points per game, while only giving up 11.75. Of course, they've played Tulsa, Utah, North Texas (which sounds a little like my personal version of hell), and Miami. Of the four, the 'Canes are the only team that'll likely go to a bowl game worth mentioning (Tulsa might go to one, but it'll be something like the Pizza Chris Kodiak Bowl @ the KANA Field and they'll probably play Oregon State). Still, the points for and points against averages are impressive, and I think Oklahoma probably is for real. Besides, there aren't any other teams that have had to face real competition either. We'll see when the Soooners play Texas in two weeks (will the ghost of Vinnie Young be in full effect?)... For now, though, I've said it the past two weeks and I'll say it again, Oklahoma is probably the best team in the nation (at this point anyway).
Other thoughts... Rumor has in that the ESPN Gameday Crew will be in Eugene next week for the Oregon-Cal showdown... Look at Dennis Erickson getting Arizona State into the top 25. Now it's a race to see what happens first: half his team gets arrested or Erickson takes off to coach the Atlanta Falcons... Two wins in a row for Michigan, who'd a thunk it?... No way Wisconsin should be ranked number 9, not after barely beating Iowa... Also, who has West Virginia beaten to deserve a number 5 ranking? No one (sorry Preacher Paul)...
-CK1
