Come One, Come All

An open letter to OU, OSU and even Arkansas fan: Dear football fan in dismay. You are cordially invited to hop aboard the Golden Hurricane bandwagon express.

The good news is there are seats available. According to this past Saturday night's numbers, there's still 33 percent availability on the train departing H.A Champman Stadium (22,710 out of 35,542 seats sold).

The perks are countless. Class, dignity, sportsmanship, intelligence and teamwork are just a few of the intangibles you gain through osmosis by becoming a TU supporter. Can you claim the same high standards with the other three area schools? Are you sure about that?

As a TU fan, when you discuss offensive, you typically are referring to the play on the field and not a squabble between an overmatched coach and an outclassed, bush-league columnist.

Coach Graham's team ranks 4th in the nation in total offense. You had no idea did you? It's understandable.

You've heard the moniker -- the punishment fits the crime? Well, with local sports, the coverage doesn't always fit the deservedness.

TU is amassing 371 yards through the air and 181 yards on the ground through four games. The teams ahead of Tulsa nationally? Texas Tech, Louisville and Kansas. Tulsa has arguably played the toughest schedule.

All news emanating from the TU sidelines isn't hunky-dory. The Hurricane defense is giving up almost 500 yards per contest. Their company at the bottom of Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as I-A)? Toledo Rockets and Rice Owls.

However, Tulsa is currently 3-1 (1-0 in Conference USA). The team has the wherewithal to outscore all comers so perhaps this team will play like the Phoenix Suns of the NBA. Anyone watch the NBA these days?

Additional fringe benefits from riding the TU Express to a C-USA Championship are the quotes. Let's compare the two and you tell me which is more suitable for a post-game news conference following a victory.

"I told the kids at half time we do not need to be patting ourselves on the back and looking behind us and talking about how good we are. We need to look ahead to the next week and get better. I think we got better this week."

Or how about this one.

"I want to talk about this article right here. This was brought to me by a mother -- of children. This article embarrasses me to be involved with athletics."

I could go on but by now, unless you hibernate in a cave during the month of September, you have seen the video of Mike Gundy going loco on the media. The quote above the rant? Todd Graham talking about, gasp, the team and their play on the field.

Remember, this could be your team. Tickets are still available for the Old Gold, Royal Blue and Crimson colored train.

Sooner fan -- there is a special section of the train set aside for you. You helped TU sell out H.A. Chapman Stadium a few weeks ago. We thank you for your patronage.

Oklahoma could conceivably still pull out a miracle trip to a BCS game. However, the more likely scenario? Another loss along the path keeps the Sooners heading back to the Lone Star State toward a Cotton Bowl-type berth.

It's a let down for sure. Especially after the fanbase and mediabase (myself included) crowned them champions of the universe. The choice is easy.

"We've already talked about Texas. We talked about some things we didn't do very well today and what we need to get done for next week so that we can have a chance for the rest of the year," said Stoops in his post-game presser.

Was this quote taken out of context? Probably. But isn't he admitting to looking past Colorado? Shouldn't he have waited to talk about Texas after the win in Boulder?

Get ready for the coach-speak. Since the BCS title seems a million-miles away from Norman at this point, Stoops will talk about the Big 12 Championship. Great.

You looking for a more exciting ride? How about the train departing Skelly Field? They're steering a winning team in the direction of a C-USA Championship. The road less traveled is often the more exhilarating one.

Arkansas fan -- one word for you. Quarterback. You're going to need one. People love the signal caller and with good reason. Look at these numbers from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Modern Era Quarterbacks -- 23. Modern Era Halfback-Fullback combined - 25. In other words, for every Darren McFadden and Felix Jones you need a Paul Smith. Instead, you are trotting out Casey Dick.

Paul Smith is second in the nation with 10.7 yards per attempt. This ranks him ahead of Florida's Tim Tebow and OU's Sam Bradford. Obviously, light-years ahead of Dick.

The quarterback rating is cryptic. I'm just getting comfortable with the NFL's rating system. Of course, the college system is completely different.

Here's what do I know. Smith's 175 rating is good for 5th in the nation. Dick's? 122. Translation? Smith is superior to Dick in every way.

The TU express serves up chicken on long distance journeys. The players mothers could proudly serve their children home cooked meals and not be chastised.

Players are proud of this fact and would rather eat chicken than streak through campus naked or in a thong. The media covering TU (EB) doesn't find this to be earth-shattering news. Neither does coach Graham.

Next stop on the 'Express'? A stopover in El Paso, TX. The UTEP Miners stand in the way of a 2-0 Hurricane start to conference play. Kickoff is set for 8:05pm this Saturday.

All aboard!