This is absolutely too funny. Where the hell was Bob Stoops during this whole deal? http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/122204dnspooulede.30bc0423.html OU defensive end Larry Birdine issued more bulletin board material in a 10-minute span than the entire Sooners team has dispensed all season. Birdine said that outside of running back Reggie Bush, Southern California was an average team and that Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart was over-rated. "Definitely," Birdine said. "He's definitely overrated." "I'm not going to count my chickens before they hatch," Birdine said, "but I'm not going to be one of those guys who feels like USC is everything, like they're unbeatable and everyone has an 'S' on their chest. "Put it this way from a defensive perspective, I haven't seen anything that just stood out besides Reggie Bush." Birdine also blasted the Pac-10, saying that Washington State was supposed to be "all-everything" two years ago. "Then we got to the Rose Bowl, we beat them up," Birdine said. OU won the 2003 Rose Bowl, 34-14, against Washington State. "The Pac-10 has no speed," he continued. "Our receivers are bigger than their receivers. Our D-line is faster than their D-line. And I feel like, hands down, that we're just the best conference with the best players."
He has somewhat of a point about Bush. You take Bush out of the equation, and this team scores about 10 points less a game (maybe more). But Leinhart is the real deal. He'll be an excellent NFL QB as well. OU fans must be cringing after hearing this.
Bulletin board material is a myth, you don't run faster and tackle better because this guy talks trash. And I don't mean to start anything, but islstl, if you're such an expert on Leinart and you're so sure he will be a great NFL QB how come you haven't learned how to spell his name?
As much disdain I have USC, Reggie Bush is one heck of a player... He is going to be a star in the NFL one day.
IMO most of what he said is valid, but my problem with this is now Carroll can use this as motivation just as Saban used premature "National Championship" shirts made by OU last year to motivate our squad. He may be shooting himself in the foot here. Stoops can't be happy about these comments. On a side note, this is why Saban would prohibit players from talking to the media. They are always putting their feet in their mouths.
Well Saban prohibited Freshman from talking to the media, the difference is Saban would make sure our players did not make these kinds of statements. Upperclassman were free to speak to the media. The difference is Saban kept a tight command of his ship (Yes I am aware I am speaking in past tense here, just preparing myself for inevitable) Matters not OU is going to roll USC...
Does Leinart have the arm to be NFL Qb? He has never looked very strong-armed to me. Plus he slower than molasses.
Well, it ain't bragging if you can back it up. He can say, "Did I stutter?" and s-l-o-w-l-y repeat what he said, every day, twice a day, between now and the Orange Bowl...and USC will still lose by three touchdowns.
