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Postgame NotesWow. I still can't believe I saw this. BYU really made good. Not since 1990 has BYU recorded such a big win. That year, it was #1 Miami at then Cougar Stadium.
It'll be really interesting to see how BYU handles the throng of media attention from here. Expect it. There will be national championship talk in the national media. BYU has its remaining games against ranked teams -- Florida State, TCU and Utah -- at home. The potential is there for a banner year for BYU.
Oddly, the Cougars did so many things well that were question marks before the game. The line, with only one returning starter, came to play. The Cougars ran the ball enough to shorten the game and take some pressure off Max Hall. Hall had two picks, but came up clutch under pressure.
The keys now? BYU must continue to have fun. They also have to avoid letdowns during off weeks -- like at Tulane this next week, or at UNLV down the road.
Final Fourth Quarter
(20) BYU 14, (3) Oklahoma 13
Wow!.... is all there is to say here....ok maybe a few other things.......Max Hall huge on the winning drive, The Cougars ran the ball just enough, but this one goes to the Defense!.......Rock solid!!!!!!
3:00 Fourth Quarter
(20) BYU 14, (3) Oklahoma 13
DEFENSE!!! (BOOM) (BOOM) DEFENSE!!! (BOOM) (BOOM)
11:51 Fourth Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 13, (20) BYU 7
Oklahoma deep in Cougar territory and the Cougar Defense once again comes up strong......JP looks solid at the LB position.....Goal line stand forces FG .....One score game still.....Can Max and the offense awaken the giant within????
1:00 Third Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 10, (20) BYU 7
BYU's defense is doing a great job. The problem is, Oklahoma is doing a better job. Max Hall's interception is a huge problem because now Oklahoma's run game is starting to take control in Sam Bradford's absence.
4:45 Third Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 10, (20) BYU 7
Where have you gone first half offense????? The Cougars have dried up on the offensive side of the ball.....Defense still looking good....
Randolph Fairbairn
4:07 Third Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 10, (20) BYU 7
It's been impressive so far to see OC Robert Anae's commitment to the run. With no Harvey Unga in the lineup, it would be easy to go very pass heavy -- especially considering that has been Anae's tendency.
Running the football is shortening the game, and along with good defensive play, kept it close throughout the first half when Sam Bradford was in the game.
The Cougars just need to string a good series or two together and keep putting pressure on Landry Jones. It's still surprising Oklahoma is not running the football more.
HALF
(3) Oklahoma 10, (20) BYU 7
Max Hall is throwing all over the Sooner defense (224 yds at the half) and the Cougar defense has brought the atmospheric OU offense back to earth. So why are the Cougars down at the half? Turnovers and penalties. Time for Bronco to wax philosophical with his halftime speech about "perfect execution" and "team accountability" because those are the things that are killing BYU. But BYU gets the ball first in the second half and with Sam Bradford all but done in this game, there isn't a better chance for the Cougars to beat a top 5 team!
1:25 Second Quarter
(20) BYU 7, (3) Oklahoma 7
The defense knows that they can play with Oklahoma and hopefully that impressive drive will get the offense on board in the same mentality. The Cougs have outperformed the Sooners on offense and defense...all this without Harvey Unga. Now, hold on to that football. Alex Kirry
5:00 Second Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 7, (20) BYU 0
Turnovers, Turnovers, Turnovers. The defense is keeping the cougars in this one. If BYU can get at least a field goal on this drive before the half, the Cougs, despite the turnovers and penalties, will be in business in the second half.
10:25 Second Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 7, (20) BYU 0
The Cougars are hanging with the Sooners so far......Bryan Kariya looks to be a North-South runner and is doing a solid job....Max Hall looks relatively comfortable and the Defense has been very good.....it's great to see Wayne Gretzky being recognized by Riley Stephenson wearing The Great one's #99..... Randolph Fairbairn
2:57 First Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 7, (20) BYU 0
Oklahoma looks like it wasn't quite ready to go early. BYU historically has been a team to attract penalties, but I don't know that I've ever seen anything like Oklahoma's first series.
BYU is hanging tough right now. I think if the defense can continue to hold OU's offense in check, the Cougars can stay in this game. Also, I've been very encouraged by BYU's ability to run without Harvey Unga. Bryan Kariya has looked good early, and the line is blocking well for him. It's nice to see running back Anthony Heimuli, a true freshman, in the game as well. - Andrew Adams
4:56 First Quarter
(3) Oklahoma 7, (20) BYU 0
Put that score on the special teams and not the defense. When you give the Sooner offense that many chances they are going to capitalize. So a delay penalty cost 3 points for the Cougars and a turnover cost them another 7.
8:34 First Quarter
(20) BYU 0, (3) Oklahoma 0
The Cougars come out and make a big defensive stop to start the game....taking over about their own 43 they have a strong drive, but the kicking game which has many a question to be answered comes up short and the Cougars come up empty blowing a great opportunity to get on the board early....Manase Tonga was a pleasant sight in the back field with a few monster blocks on the first drive.....Looks like Harvey Unga will not be a factor today.....
Randolph Fairbairn..... Pregame Notes
Hi everybody.
We're standing by in the Cougar Scoreboard Studios at KSL and we're excited for another year of BYU football. If this looks new to you, that's probably because it is.
Starting this season, we will be blogging our pregame, in-game and postgame observations right here on the KSL Live Blog. Be sure to check back and follow along for insight from KSL Newsradio's Andrew Adams (me), Randolph Fairbairn and Alex Kirry.
I've got to say, the anticipation of a new season is killing us right now. With BYU's kickoff against #3 Oklahoma not far away, it's been encouraging to see underdogs go in to big venues and put scares into highly favored opponents. Navy came THIS close to evening it up with Ohio State in the 4th Quarter, but a two-point conversion was picked by the Buckeyes and returned for two points the other way. It was a 31-27 final and a sigh of relief for Ohio State fans.
It was also nice to see Northern Iowa take Iowa the distance, before losing 17-16 after two blocked field goals to end the game. Remember, that's the same Northern Iowa team BYU waxed, 41-17, in the opener at Lavell Edwards Stadium last year.
Optimism is running high before kickoff at the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford faces some obstacles -- only one returning starter on the offensive line, new receivers and no Jermaine Gresham today (knee). If BYU and its revamped defense can put pressure on Bradford and force him into some rushed decisions and mistakes, the Cougars should have enough offense to make it a ballgame. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out.
