You know that old saying, controversy creates discussion? Well actually it is controversy that creates cash, but in this situation it creates discussion. The Oklahoma Sooners are no strangers to controversy.
The latest bit involves the Texas Longhorns and well Oklahoma Sooners for the most part. Recently during the Big 12 media days, the director of football officials stated that players will be penalized for directing ‘horns down’ at UT players during games. A conversation that is so old that everyone from Texas to Oklahoma and beyond is tired of it.
There are other topics that spark controversy, such as last year’s Red River Rivalry game. In that game, the clock operators added a total of 46 seconds to the clock. Texas was able to tie it up and force overtime with 14 seconds left to play. If that time wasn’t added then perhaps the game ends there and doesn’t become a four-overtime affair on an October Saturday afternoon.
That wasn’t the only game that is viewed as controversial for the Oklahoma Sooners. In 247Sports’ list of most controversial games, we have the Oregon Ducks and Sooners game from 2006.
When it comes to unforgivable officiating errors in college football, few top what transpired at Autzen Stadium in September 2006. Carrying national title aspirations into the season and a roster headlined by running back Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma had the chance to pick-up a ranked win on the road when Sooners visited the Oregon Ducks as part of non-conference play, only for the game to unfold into a nightmare for the Crimson and Cream and an embarrassment for what was then the Pac-10.
Officials ruling an Oregon recovery despite video clearly showing that Oklahoma recovered the ball on a kick never even traveled the required 10 yards. However, officials despite that, upheld the call after review — the call would later expose shortcomings in the replay system used by the conference — before Oregon immediately drove downfield for what would be the game-winning touchdown.
That game in 2006 is still a sore subject for Sooner fans. It was one of three losses on the year but they still won the Big 12 Conference to earn a BCS bowl bid but what could have been for Oklahoma.