Bedlam 2010

#1 > Oklahoma Sooners 47, Oklahoma State Cowboys 41 Nov. 27

  We’ve remembered a lot of great games from 2010, but since this site has a specific emphasis on sports in Oklahoma, of course this has to be the top game on our list.

  It was the third of three games from Thanksgiving weekend that really seemed to be worth listing in a Top Ten.  This Bedlam matchup had more pre-game hype than any Bedlam game since OU was No. 2 and OSU was No. 3 back in 1984, although a lot can be said for the amount of talent that was suited up for both teams in 1987.

  The two teams went back and forth with eight scores, four apiece, throughout the first three quarters, with the scored tied at 24-24 at the end of the third period.  It was in the fourth quarter that things really got wild.

  The Sooners really won the game with their ability to convert on third down.  They picked first downs on seven tries on third down late in the third quarter and through the fourth.  This was especially big on the 17-play drive that culminated in a field goal early in the fourth that ultimately gave OU the lead for good.  The two teams would score 40 points in the final period that featured a 76-yard TD pass, an 86-yard TD pass, and an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

  Landry Jones outdueled Brandon Weeden in passing yards, 468-257, but the majority of the stats for the game showed equality for both teams.  (Incidentally, Jones' 468 passing yards is an OU record, tied with Sam Bradford.)  Each team had three interceptions.  Weeden was picked off midway through the fourth quarter, when the Cowboys were still within one score of taking the lead.  But the signature play of the game was when Broderick Brown leapt up at the sideline and knocked an errant pass from Jones back inbounds to Shaun Lewis to complete the interception.

  The Sooner win put both teams at 10-2 and for the season, also tied with Texas A&M.  BCS ranking gave OU the Big XII South championship and the Sooners defeated Nebraska 23-20 in the Big XII title game.  Oklahoma State would go on to dismantle Arizona 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl and claim the school’s first-ever 11-win season.  We’ll find out tomorrow whether OU stop a five game BCS Bowl losing streak in the Fiesta Bowl against Connecticut.

First Time in 50 Years

#2 > United States 5, Canada 3  Feb. 21

  The Outside The Arc staff knows about as much about hockey as we do about soccer.  However, it’s easy to spot national pride when it’s on display.  And when the United States played Canada in hockey at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver back in February, it was definitely on display.

  The Americans needed to win to continue to gain points in Group A, not necessarily just because it was against Canada.  A win against the “home team” would be big, though, and the U.S. team wore the jerseys that brought back images of the first gold medal that the Americans had won in hockey, all the way back in 1960, 50 years ago.  On top of that, the date was one day shy of being the 30^th anniversary of the “Miracle on Ice” at Lake Placid in 1980.

  The Canadians needed to win because, well, they were the home team, the favorites, and they were expected to.  This was just about the biggest stage in an already huge venue that had the world’s eye for two weeks.  Much was invested in this team, as well as these Olympic games.

  The United States got on the board quickly, very quickly, with a Brian Rafalski goal just 41 second into the game.  Canada’s Eric Staal would tie things up about 8 minutes later, but just 32 seconds after that, Rafalski put the U.S. back on top, 2-1.  They would trade a pair of goals and go into the third period 3-2.

  A goal that went in off Jamie Langenbrunner’s skate, gave the U.S. a 4-2 lead and all the margin they would need.  Sydney Crosby got on the board late in the game for the Canadians to make the score look better, but an empty-netter at the end put the final score at 5-3, with the U.S. on top.

  The Americans were clearly the underdogs playing in front of a raging sea of red in Vancouver and they had not beaten Canada in Olympic competition in 50 years, but they found a way to win.  Canada would ultimately get the prize, though, as seven days later they would avenge the loss with a 3-2 victory in the Gold Medal match and salvage some of that national pride.

First 11-Win Season

 Quite simply, there was too much Oklahoma State talent on the field Wednesday night.  The Cowboys dismantled the Arizona Wildcats 36-10 in the Alamo Bowl.  Yes, OSU coach Mike Gundy had his team ready to go.  Dana Holgorsen, as usual called a brilliant game. And Arizona coach Mike Stoops couldn’t seem to buy a call.  But the fact is that Oklahoma State, now 11-2, simply outmatched Arizona at every position.

  Cowboys QB Brandon Weeden was 24 of 41 through the air for 240 yards and touchdowns Almost half of those yards (117) went to Justin Blackmon.  Blackmon picked up those yards with nine catches, two of them for the two touchdown passes from Weeden.

  It was the 12^th consecutive game in which Blackmon had at least 100 yards receiving and at least one TD reception.  Blackmon also now owns the single-season records for yards receiving and TD receptions (20).

  The future of both of these players is in question right now as either or both might try to make the jump to the NFL.  And with Blackmon, who won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top receiver, and who was named the Big XII Offensive Player of the Year, there may not be much incentive to return to the collegiate ranks next season.  Money may be a bigger incentive.

  Gundy would like to see them stay, however.  “I think they both need to come back,” he said.  “Both of them can mature.”

  One future that is not in question is that of Holgorsen.  The Cowboys’ offensive coordinator extraordinaire is headed to West Virginia to fill that position for Mountaineers in 2011 and assume the position of head coach in 2012.  The part he played in the first-ever 11-win season for Oklahoma State really can’t be overstated.

  And senior running back Kendall Hunter suited up for the Cowboys for the final time.  He carried the ball 10 times for 32 yards.  Hunter finishes his career as the fourth leader rusher in OSU history.

  Senior Dan Bailey also capped off his Cowboy career with 12 points.  He had a rare miss on a point-after attempt, but still finishes as the all-time leading scorer in Oklahoma State history with 370 points.  On top of that, this year's Lou Groza Award winner also took over punting duty for the absent Quinn Sharp.

  Arizona fell to 7-6 on the season.  The Wildcats lost their final five games.

The Butler Almost Did It

#3 Duke Blue Devils 61, Butler Bulldogs 59  Apr.5

  The game could be summed up in the scores from each half:  Duke won by a point in the first half, 33-32, and by a point in the second half, 28-27.

  No one, except maybe some folks Indianapolis, expected this matchup in the title game.  It was reminiscent of 1979, when little Indiana State took on big ol’ Michigan State for the championship.  The result was the same with the upstart “mid-major” coming up just a bit short.  There is not enough room in one blog column to cram in all of the stories that could be told of the journey of this Butler team along the tournament road to the title contest, or of the legend that grew along that same path, so I won’t try.

  Though it was neutral site, Butler played in front of a “home crowd” in Indy with the vast majority of the more than 70,000 fans cheering for the Bulldogs.  However, the extra support wasn’t enough to get the offense going. The Bulldogs shot 20-58 from the field.  And still thye stayed in the contest.

  If there were marquis players on this year’s Duke squad, and Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski probably likes it best when there aren’t, they would have to be Kyle Singler, Jon Scheyer, and Nolan Smith.  To go along with the great defensive effort from the Blue Devils, they still had to get 19, 15, and 13 points, respectively, from those three.

  No team led by more than six in the game.  And even at the end there was one more chance for an ending that many would have called Hoosiers-like.  Butler’s leader, Gordon Hayward, had only 12 on the night, but was clearly the lead ‘Dog. He threw up one last attempt from halfcourt, which hit the backboard and front iron and fell away.

One Play Can Win a Ballgame, But One Play Can't Lose It

#4 Nevada Wolfpack 34, Boise State Broncos 31 [OT] Nov. 26

People across the country had many and varying reasons for cheering for Boise State in college football.  The team from the northwest, who had become the NCAA football counterpart to the Gonzaga Bulldogs in NCAA basketball, was seen as an outsider trying to get into the party that was invitation-only and for insiders.  Many people wanted to see another undefeated Bronco team be turned away at the door of the “National Championship” game in hopes that it would be another step toward the implosion of the BCS.

But in 2010, this was not to be.  Late on a Friday night in Reno, Boise State and Nevada played an incredible game that will most likely and unfortunately be remembered for two missed field goal attempts.

Boise State jumped out to an early lead and looked to be cruising to yet another win as they held a 24-7 lead at the break.  But the Wolfpack offense came to life in the second half, led by senior quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who will leave big shoes to fill next season.  His rushing TD got Nevada on the board in the second half and the 7-yard TD pass to Rishard Matthews with 13 seconds left looked like it was all that Nevada would need to send the game into overtime, tied at 31. Instead, it was a missed opportunity for Boise State that would force an extra session.

With just nine seconds remaining in regulation and on his own 38-yard-line, Bronco QB Kellen Moore flung a 53-yard pass down the field to Titus Young and Boise would have it at the Nevada 9 to set up a potential game-winning FG from 26 yards away.  Unfortunately for the usually reliable Boise kicker, Kyle Brotzman, he pushed it and the Broncos would have to try to win this one in OT.

Even more unfortunate for Brotzman was that Boise State couldn’t get the ball across the goal line in overtime and needed his services again.  This time, he pulled a 29-yard attempt and the game remained tied.  It was tied, that is, until Reno’s hometown hero Anthony Martinez connected on a 34-yard attempt, bringing Boise State’s perfect season to an end, 34-31. 

The New Conference and New Speculations

Outside the Arc is a little late to the party when it comes to the news about Southeastern leaving the Lone Star Conference. There were reasons. Trust me.

Varying reports started leaking in June that six Arkansas schools in the Gulf South Conference were looking into seceding from the union and forming their own government. With UCO and NSU looking into the possibility of breaking the Lone Star Conference ranks to join the MIAA, the Arkansas schools were in talks with SOSU, East Central and Southwestern to form a nine-team league. In July, these schools made it official.

It wasn’t until late November that the conference got a name: the Great American Conference. It’s definitely a somewhat bold statement for an affiliation of schools from only two states.

Now, it the opinion of the OTA staff that nine teams is a bit small for a conference, but we’re sure that the officials of these nine schools have already considered this and have something else in the works.

Enter Northwestern and Southern Nazarene.

Here are two schools that have stated they have been considering the move from NAIA to NCAA DII for over a year. The announcements of their applications to the NCAA to make the jump both came within the last month. It would seem to be a perfect fit, as these two schools fit the mold around which the other nine have formed their alliance.

Just something to consider.

Largest Viewing Audience Ever To Watch "The Who"

#5 > New Orleans Saints 31, Indianapolis Colts 17 Feb. 7

Super Bowl XLIV was the most watched program in television history. (Yes, something finally surpassed the series finale of M*A*S*H back in 1983.) And it really was a game worth watching.

At this point, the Department of Full Disclosure here at Outside The Arc mandates that we let you know that we were cheering for Indy at our house. My wife and I have been Peyton Manning fans since his days at the University of Tennessee and would like to have seen him get his second ring. But Drew Brees is a pretty good guy himself and he led his team admirably throughout the game.

When the Colts got out to a 10-0 lead, it looked like this could be another Super Bowl blowout. Then the Indianapolis offense went silent and two Saints’ field goals kept the game close with a 10-6 halftime score.

Surely the Colts could get things going when they would receive the ball to start the second half, but that kickoff proved to be the turning point in the game. Coach Sean Payton’s decision to attempt an onside kick was gutsy and ultimately successful. And the Saints capitalized on this big play with a six play touchdown drive that gave New Orleans its first lead.

Indianapolis regained the lead on the next possession and held on to it, going into the fourth quarter up 17-16. The Saints went back on top for good on Brees’ second TD pass, capped off with an amazing catch by Lance Moore to complete the two-point conversion. A 74-yard interception return for a touchdown by Larry Porter sealed the deal for the Saints, who captured the first Super Bowl victory in team history.

The All-Powerful NFC West

My beloved Seahawks are 6-9, have lost 5 of their last 6 (while being outscored 202-128), and lost 7 of their last 9 (and outscored 294-174). And STILL... if they win next Sunday against Sam Bradford and the Rams, Seattle will win their division and grab the #4 seed in the NFC playoffs.

There are many people who are displeased with the fact that a team with a non-winning record will be in the playoffs, but that's just the way that the rules are set up. Deal!

Just One Win Can Make a Difference

#6 > United States 1, Algeria 0 June 23

Admittedly, OTA doesn’t follow soccer (or fútbol) that much. In the 1970s and 1980s, there was much more opportunity to watch and play baseball, basketball, and football (fútbol americano). But the World Cup is becoming increasingly popular and with the significant coverage that ESPN gave it this year, it was easier to follow. And besides, the United States’ team was exciting to watch.

The U.S. came into the third and final match of the round robin session with one win and one tie, and really needed a win to advance. They had put themselves in difficult positions in the first two games by allowing early goals and almost did the same thing against Algeria, with a shot on goal hitting the bar, but not going in. The U.S. had chances throughout, but couldn’t convert. And of course, there was another controversial disallowed goal. This time it was Clint Dempsey who had his taken away on a questionable (at best, outright lie at worst) offsides call.

After 90 minutes, there was still no score and it looked like the U.S. team might not advance, even though it hadn’t lost any games. But thankfully, there is the mysterious equivalent to overtime – extra time or stoppage time. And in the 91st minute, the United States had a long breakaway down the field. It looked like Dempsey might get poetic justice and a goal, but his shot was blocked. However, U.S. star Landon Donovan was following at a perfect pace and put the rebounded ball into the corner of the net.

Bandwagon fans came out of the woodwork to celebrate this amazing victory. But maybe some of them will stick around long enough to influence the popularity of this sport before the World Cup rolls around again in 2014.

Two Games Today

#7 > Auburn Tigers 28, Alabama Crimson Tide 27 Nov. 26

Because it’s Christmas Day, OTA will give you two games on our Top Ten for 2010 list today. No. 7 on the list is one of three games that took places in the same weekend. If you’re a college football fan, you had a lot to be thankful for during Thanksgiving weekend.

Of course, if you’re an Auburn fan, you’ve had a lot to be thankful for this season just having Cam Newton as the quarterback for your team. But for the first 20+ minutes of the 2010 Iron Bowl, Newton seemed almost human against the arch-rival Alabama Crimson Tide. Alabama QB Greg McElroy and the Tide offense looked invincible in the early going. With a great offensive gameplan and very much momentum, Alabama moved ball through the air and on the ground and were up 21-0 at the end of the first period.

Then the game changed on a seemingly harmless fumble. With the Tide up 24-0, last year’s Heisman winner Mark Ingram fumbled on a long run toward the endzone, which would likely have been too much for Auburn to overcome. The Tigers came back and Newton finally got his game going. A touchdown pass to Emory Blake got Auburn on the board and down only 24-7 at the half.

The Alabama defense looked good for a half, but that was about as long as they could keep Newton down. Auburn outscored Alabama 21-3 in the second half and a big hit took McElroy out of the contest when Alabama looked to be making a final game-winning comeback. Auburn hung on for a one-point win, which probably sealed the deal for the arrival of the Heisman Trophy in the state of Alabama for the second consecutive season.

Remembering March Madness on Christmas

#8 > Kansas State Wildcats 101, Xavier Musketeers 96 [2OT] Mar. 25

The label “instant classic” was thrown around quite a bit following this Sweet Sixteen matchup in Utah. And if you had a chance to watch it, you would have most likely agreed.

Kansas State rattled off 15 straight points in the first half to break a 4-all tie and go up 19-4. But the Musketeers would gradually work their way back into it and actually take a one-point 32-31 lead at the half. The second half would prove to be a see-saw battle throughout. KSU superstar Jacob Pullen’s two free throws with 10 seconds left gave the Wildcats a three-point lead, but Xavier’s Terrell Holloway was fouled on a crazy three-point shot and made all three baskets to tie the game at 72 and send it to an extra session.

Neither team wanted to miss in the first overtime and 30 points later the game would play on, tied at 87 after the five more minutes.

In the second OT, the players started to feel the wear and tear of the high pace and intensity of the game. Pullen’s three-pointer with 35 seconds left gave the Wildcats a 97-94 lead, which they would not relinquish.

It was an incredible offensive output from both sides and really was one of those games in which it was a shame that there had to be a loser. Kansas State would go on to face the fifth seeded Butler in the Elite Eight contest. We’ll hear from Butler again a little later on…

OTA's Countdown Continues

#9 > Texas Rangers 5, Tampa Bay Rays 1 Oct. 12

OK, so this game in and of itself wasn’t the most dramatic, but it did consummate a playoff series victory for the Texas Rangers for the first time in franchise history. The series was also unique in that it was the only one in MLB history in which the road team won every game.

Rangers manager Ron Washington had the good sense to leave Cliff Lee out on the mound for nine innings and Lee did not disappoint. He gave up only one run and six hits in the series finale that sent Texas to its first appearance in the American League Championship Series.

Ian Kinsler finished strong with three RBIs, with two of them coming on a ninth-inning “icing on the cake” home run. Kinsler was 3-4 in Game 5, as was Nelson Cruz, who also scored on a throwing error.

Finally, Rangers fans had something to cheer about in October.

Outside The Arc's First Countdown

#10 > Arizona Cardinals 51, Green Bay Packers 45 [OT] Jan. 10

Outside the Arc would like to close out 2010 with some actual blog entries and also get ready for 2011. As there are in each calendar year, there were in 2010 some spectacular moments in the world of sports. OTA would like to submit a Top 10 worth of games that really were worth watching during the past 12 months. If you saw any one of these contests, you knew when it was done that you had seen something worth remembering. So let’s kick this off…

At #10, we take you back to the January and the highest scoring game in NFL playoff history. The Arizona Cardinals took a 17-0 lead into the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers, but quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Aaron Rodgers made watching the rest of the game like viewing a tennis match with all of back-and-forth scoring and momentum changes that followed. Warner actually had more touchdown passes (5) than he had passes fall incomplete (4).

Rodgers' touchdown pass to Spencer Havner with less than two minutes remaining tied the game at 45 and allowed for an overtime session. However, although the Packers won the toss and got the ball first, three plays into the extra period, Rodgers fumbled the ball and Karlos Dansby ran it in for the score. (Somewhere in the northwest, Seahawks fans were celebrating the poetic justice of the playoff loss for the Packers.)

And in a postscript, if there was any question as to the impact that Warner made during his tenure with the Cardinals, we submit to you Exhibit A: The 2010 Arizona season, complete with the blazing disarray at the quarterback position.

Haven't I Seen This Before?

The Dallas Mavericks busted another streak with the 98-96 win over the Miami Heat tonight. However, with the way that the calls were going throughout the game and especially in the 4th quarter, I really had to check myself, because I thought I was watching Games 3, 4, 5, & 6 of the 2006 Finals. The officials tried really hard to keep the Heat win streak alive, but Jason Terry played out of his mind in the final period and his every one of his 19 points in the period was crucial to the victory.

Still though, every now and again, I think I'm hearing another whistle being blown and Dwayne Wade is shooting another free throw in Game 5...

Rangers Win!

The 2010 ALCS goes to the Texas Rangers in six games!

Texas 6, New York 1.

Josh Hamilton is most deserving as the series MVP and all he wants to talk about is his teammates and his Savior!

Hello Win Column!

Hello World Series

Rangers Win!

Rangers win! Rangers win! Rangers win!

Game Five: Texas 5, Tampa Bay 1

Oh Vancouver

March Madness is my favorite sporting event to watch annually. However, there is an event that trumps it. It's just that this event happens every two or fours years (depending on your perspective).

The Olympics are still the most captivating sports event out there. Yes, there are politics involved. Yes, there are "sports" in which the outcome is based on judges. Yes, there are more human interest stories broadcast in 16 days than you might see in 9 months of other sports viewing.

And still, the Olympics has always and will probably always have first place in my heart. I look forward to talking about them.

Allow Me A Moment To Be A Dad

Did you happen to have a chance to see the Durant 7th Grade girls' team this season? If you didn't, you've already missed your chance.
They finished the season tonight with a 29-9 victory over McAlester to take the Durant Tournament Championship. The Lady Lions finished the season with a 13-4 record. The future for this squad looks especially bright.
I was also very proud of my own daughter, who managed to have her best game of the year in the final contest. I got to attend each game this season. It took a sacrifice or two, but being with her during this season was very special and I would do it again.
Go Lady Lions! And watch these kids as they grow!