BEDLAM FULL RECAP: Oklahoma 33, Oklahoma State 24

I tip my hat to you Squinky.

This may have been your best performance ever.

A TD on the first play from scrimmage for OSU which, if it stood, might have begun one of the greatest blowouts in Bedlam history. Alas, it was not to be, as Charlie Moore was called for a holding penalty that, if the ref is in a different position, might have gone unnoticed.

That was just the beginning.

Drive killing drops and penalties, complimented by inexplicable play calling and utterly horrible clock management brought us memories of the West Virginia game. An offensive game plan that, with two weeks to prepare, went completely vanilla after incredible outings against Texas and Baylor.

You can bitch about the officiating all you want, but I don't think the officials did anything except suck really bad both ways. The Cowboys lived out what Gundy said was his greatest fear as a coach...handing the game to the other team, and this one was on the coaches more than anything.

Some of you will hate this, but I tip my hat to Oklahoma. When the opportunity presented itself, you took advantage. We can yap about being the better team, but like so many sports "how" never means as much as "how many." The team that wins is the better team that day, period.

I'm sorry to say I pretty much predicted the outcome, calling for a 28-24 Sooner victory. I'm not counting the last goofy TD, so for me the final was 27-24. Big woop.

I could go on and on, but I really don't want to right now. It still stings too much. What makes it worse is that Baylor gets to be outright champs.

It took a social outing (and "some" adult beverages) this afternoon and evening to take the edge off, to remember that I'm just a fan and this is just a game.

I can't begin to imagine what it feels like for these players, particularly the seniors.

Guys who got extra years due to injuries.

Two of the best LB's in school history.

One of the best cornerbacks ever at OSU, who will be remembered in the pantheon of Squinkydom. Brent Parker is no longer alone in the closet of "The Drop."

Probably the most enigmatic Cowboy QB ever, otherwise known as Choo Choo.

That this is how Kye Staley's career in Stillwater ended almost makes me ill all by itself.

BUT, let's take a moment to reflect.

This is the third "10 or more wins" season in the last 4 years. It was the 2nd time in 3 years that OSU was playing for a conference title and BCS bowl. Second time in three years that the Cowboys spent significant time in the top ten of the BCS.

While gut wrenching, this is two years in a row that OU needed "magic" to pull out wins at the very end. The last time a team was blown out in Bedlam it was the Sooners. OSU still lost, but this is a different era of Bedlam.

And it doesn't look to be ending anytime soon. The coaches that we like to bash for today's egg also led this team to great performances in the previous four games that put the Cowboys in this position.

So now we wait for OSU's bowl assignment, which could range from the Sugar (not gonna happen), to the Cotton, Alamo, BWW, or Holiday.

After that will come the arrival of some early enrollee recruits, most notably Mason Rudolph and Tyreek Hill. Then we await spring football.

But this time around we won't be sitting unoccupied trying to come up with ways to kill the days/weeks/months. OSU has a basketball team that has the potential to do things not seen since the days of Sutton.

That should get us through.

In the meantime, just remember...as bad as this was for us, we get to do this again next fall. Many of these kids who we watched grow into young men, who gave of their bodies and time to entertain and thrill us, have just one more game to play. There are a few that we likely will get to watch on Sundays, but after the bowl game the vast majority must assume a "normal" life.

We at CRFF salute the seniors. Here's hoping that you claim one more victory to cap off your careers as Cowboys.

As for the rest of you, we will be anxiously and eagerly awaiting your return for what we are sure will be another great season of OSU football.

GO POKES!!!