Comedy of errors plague Sooners

An unsportsmanlike conduct flag on the Sooner Schooner in the 1985 Orange Bowl is the most infamous on-field behavior in Oklahoma football history, but that act might have been topped on Wednesday.

Mountaineers slam Sooners in Fiesta Bowl

See a slideshow of the game.

Fiesta Bowl notebook: W. Virginia’s Slaton is hamstrung

It was not a single mistake that did OU in during the Fiesta Bowl. Rather, the volume of foul-ups — turnovers, penalties, questionable decisions, you name it — tipped the game to West Virginia, a 48-28 winner.

“(The Mountaineers) were more physical, and more important, disciplined,” coach Bob Stoops said. “It was disappointing to finish the year this way after playing the way we did to get here.”

The performance belied an Oklahoma squad that, all season, prided itself on execution — which it did so consistently that many felt that the Sooners should be playing for the national championship. OU entered the postseason ranked 18th in the nation in total offense and defense.

An offense that allowed less than one sack a game in the regular season gave up three. In the second half, the Sooners’ defense was sliced and diced by a West Virginia running game that finished with 349 yards. Oklahoma contributed to its own misery by committing 13 penalties for 113 yards.

“It was embarrassing,” Stoops said. “We had no discipline whatsoever, and that is a reflection on me. I obviously am not doing enough to get these guys to play smart. We had (a lot of) penalties in the Big 12 championship game, so our guys are continuing to make foolish choices.”

Most disappointing for Oklahoma fans, their team overcame its mistakes to cut the Mountaineers’ lead to five points in the third quarter. But Stoops opted for an onside kick, and its failure sapped the momentum from the Sooners.

The game-changing, third-quarter series of events defined the evening for Stoops and his team:

• Oklahoma’s offense was finally hitting a rhythm as a Chris Brown rush moved the ball inside the WVU 20, but a holding penalty negated the play. The Sooners had to settle for a field goal.

“I think we were in the red zone three times, and penalties brought us out,” Stoops said. “Two other times, we had to kick field goals. That was a big key to the game.”

• OU got to the end zone on its next drive, making the score 20-15. However, the ensuing onside kick by Garret Hartley failed to travel 10 yards, giving the Mountaineers the ball on the OU 39. Six plays later, West Virginia scored on a 17-yard run by tailback Noel Devine

• After a three-and-out on its next possession, Oklahoma punted, and it took West Virginia just three plays to make the score 34-15. Game over.

The tone for Oklahoma’s night was set by quarterback Sam Bradford, a true freshman who led the nation in passing efficiency. His biggest mistake thwarted a first-quarter scoring threat, when he threw into triple coverage for an interception in the end zone.

“I know I missed some throws in the first quarter that could have got us going,” Bradford said. “We made some mistakes that got us playing behind the chains, and you can’t do that against a good defense.”

At least the Schooner did not screw up on Wednesday — because it was not on the field at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“You can’t forget this game too quickly,” Stoops said. “Next year, we need to play more disciplined. You can’t play like that.”