Oklahoma's Bob Stoops brushes off issues with officials

After being the victim of an officiating controversy in a loss at Oregon in 2006 — a seemingly annual occurrence in the Pac-10 — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said the school would consider canceling a future game at Washington.

Stoops obviously didn't follow through as that future arrives this week and the Sooners are still scheduled for a game Saturday at Husky Stadium.

And fittingly, the conference is again embroiled in an officiating controversy concerning the unsportsmanlike-conduct call on Jake Locker in the final seconds of the Huskies' 28-27 loss to BYU.

Stoops complained after a game at Oregon two years ago — there were two late calls that the Pac-10 later admitted were incorrect — about the conference's policy of using its officials for home nonconference games. The controversy in the Oregon game revolved around an onside kick that gave the Ducks possession late in the game, and a pass interference call a play before Oregon's winning touchdown in a 34-33 victory.

Most conferences have their officials work nonconference games on the road. The Pac-10's policy, in place in part for financial reasons, is still in effect, though Stoops didn't really want to dwell on any of it during a conference call with reporters on Monday.

"Hey, that's the way it is," he said. "We are going to go play so hopefully we will play as well as we can."

When asked why he didn't pull the plug on the UW game, Stoops said: "Well, it was already on the schedule and you know how it is trying to get games scheduled. It isn't easy to do. I know Washington had already come here, so it's living up to the agreement. So we are good with it and excited to go play. Great, great stadium, and they have a great atmosphere, as well."

In fact, UW had played at Oklahoma the week before the Oregon game; the Huskies lost 37-20.

Considering the Huskies are 20-point underdogs, they might wish Stoops had followed through with his threat not to show up.

The Sooners come to town ranked No. 3, the highest-ranked nonconference foe at Husky Stadium since Ohio State came to Seattle ranked No. 1 in 1969 (a 41-14 Buckeyes win).

Oklahoma boasts one of the best offenses in the country, though it's not the old wishbone attack of Sooners teams of yore.

Instead, while the Sooners again have a punishing ground attack, their most prominent threat is sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford, who has completed 76.7 percent of his passes for 578 yards and seven touchdowns in two games.

Bradford threw for five TDs Saturday in a 52-26 win over Cincinnati, one to redshirt freshman Ryan Broyles, who in the first game of his college career caught seven passes for 141 yards.

"He's a big-play guy and hopefully that will continue through the year," Stoops said.

The Sooners also have five seniors across the offensive line and the player they hope is their next great running back in DeMarco Murray, a sophomore who is averaging 7.1 yards per carry.

"It's a pretty potent group that really doesn't have a lot of weaknesses," said UW coach Tyrone Willingham.

The end result Saturday was a team that Daily Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel said looked like the 2003 team that ended up playing for the national title.

"We're about where we hoped we'd be," Stoops said. "It's just so early. There isn't anything to talk about yet."

There could be, however, if Oklahoma's defense rises to the level of its offense. The Sooners' defense had to replace six full-time starters from last year's team and has just two senior starters.

But through two games — the first was a 57-2 win over Tennessee-Chattanooga — the Sooners are allowing just 2.9 yards per play, along with 18 tackles for loss and eight sacks.

In other words, a team that looks typical of the entire Stoops regime at OU. He took over before the 1999 season and after going 7-5 his first year has won 11 or more games every year except for an 8-4 season in 2005. Stoops is 99-22 at OU's coach; obviously he can hit a milestone Saturday.

"I'm pleased with how it's gone to this point," Stoops said Monday, talking about the season, but a phrase that could also fit his career.

And as of now, Oklahoma has no future plans to play a road game against a Pac-10 team.

Bob Condotta: 206-515-5699 or bcondotta@seattletimes.com