Boomer Sooner

Lance Mitchell

There is very little sweeter on this earth than fall afternoons in Norman, OK when the Sooners take the field at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. So tomorrow it isn't exactly fall yet and the game won't quite start in the afternoon but I must say that I can hardly contain myself right now.

It's a good thing that the season is starting as I am very tired of hearing all the speculation from everyone as to what will happen this season. As I've grown older I've learned to be cautiously optimistic about the seasons, because very little in life is guaranteed. I must say though that this season could be a special one. It is really a great time to be a Sooner fan. It makes all those years under Schnelly and Blake worthwhile. Even when last season ended with the collapse, it is still so nice to be that good. I've learned to appreciate the losses because it makes me value the wins so much more.

I guess as I look to this season, the things I'm most looking forward to are as follows:

1) Will AD turn out to be as good as advertised?

Overall the running game should be improved over last season. The big question though is if Peterson will turn out to be as dominating as the number 1 recruit in the country should. If so then this could be an amazing season. Even if he doesn't, we should be much improved with just the fact that Kejuan is older and D.J. Wolfe looks to be a special back as well. I'm excited to see the answer.

2) Will Lance Mitchell be back at 100%?

Lance was such a dominating player two years ago and I really believe we missed him badly at the end of last year. He is one of the best tacklers I've seen and is such a presence. If he is fully recovered then our defense once again has a chance to be special.

3) Will we run more 4-3 this year?

Two players I have been excited about for some time are Clint Ingram and Demario Pleasant. We haven't had a dominating SAM linebacker in quite sometime and therefore have run so much nickel the last few years. I've always been a big Ingram fan and I hope he comes to play this year and allows us to keep 3 linebackers on the field much more of the time.

4) Will we be more mentally tough this year?

This one may not be answered for some time as we don't figure to be tested too much until the Texas and K-state games, but last year we really collapsed when facing adversity for the first time at the end of the year. I know the Colorado game was tight and so was Alabama but we didn't play from behind in either of those contests and when finally getting down, especially against K-state in the Big XII championship, we really didn't respond well. I know it was White's first full year as a starter so hopefully the experience will make a difference this year. Of course I'd prefer if we never trailed at all this year, but what fun would that really be?

Well I really have many more questions but it's approaching 2 AM and I don't want to be too tired for the game. I can't wait to see the band take the field!! Hopefully I'll feel as good after the game as I do now!