Just to set the record straight, Texas Tech linebacker Bront Bird said anyone who thinks the Oklahoma Sooners aren't that good because they've already lost four games isn't paying attention to the game.
The Sooners are 6-4 and have lost as many as four games in a season for just the third time under coach Bob Stoops. OU posted a 7-5 record in 1999 in Stoops' first season, and were 8-4 in 2005.
But Bird insist that OU's four losses doesn't mean the Red Raiders (6-4) are going to walk all over the Sooners when the two teams square off at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Lubbock.
In the ultimate respect paid to OU, Bird said: "One thing I know about Oklahoma is that _ we always say this as a joke _ whenever they step out on the field and they are coming out of their tunnel, that is what some of the best athletes in the whole country look like and it’s true. It doesn’t matter if it is their second string, third string, whatever.
"Those guys get amazing recruits and whoever it is going to be that lines up is going to be good. And you can never underestimate a team like that, when you have that kind of recruiting and that kind of coaching and that kind of school history.''
Major injuries, particularly a season-ender to quarterback Sam Bradford, who won the Heisman Trophy last year as a sophomore, have seriously hampered the Sooners this season. But Bird said not to cry any rivers for the Sooners, who lost to Florida in last season's national championship game a few weeks after embarrassing the then-No. 2 ranked Red Raiders 65-21.
Despite the injuries, Bird believes the Sooners can simply turn to their exceptional depth and re-load. Especially with their annual raid of several Texas high schools.
Bird said: "To say that a certain (OU) player isn’t as good or they are lacking talent this year or they are not as good as they were last year or injuries, I promise you that none of that is going to matter when it comes down to Saturday.''
Tech coach Mike Leach agreed with Bird's assessment of the Sooners.
"The biggest thing is they don’t have any serious holes,'' Leach said. "They are a team that would like to have some games back, but they don’t have any serious holes.
"They have good talent and good coaches. They played together really well last year.''
-- Dwain Price
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