Oklahoma Football Spring Game - Shining Moments In April Don't Necessarily Mean Shining Moments In The Fall

Drew Allen was Oklahoma's leading passer in the 2011 spring football game. He completed more passes (16) than starter Landry Jones attempted (11). However, last fall brought very little fanfare to OU's back up quarterback who only completed 9 of 16 passes during the season for 71 yards. Instead it was third string quarterback Blake Bell who came off the sidelines and electrified the crowd...not with his arm but with his feet. The "Belldozer" package helped him to lead the team in rushing touchdowns (13) and ultimately led to an Insight Bowl MVP award.

Last April Bell only completed one of four passes and had two rushing yards on three attempts. There was absolutely nothing in that spring game that would have led fans to believe Bell would become the player he was in 2012. If April was the tell tale sign then we would have expected Allen to be the guy if a quarterback had to come off the bench to make plays.

Trey Franks and Dejuan Miller combined for 13 receptions, 116 yards and the only two receiving touchdowns of the spring game last year. They tied for sixth on the team in receptions last fall with 22 each. Then there was Brennan Clay who rushed for 59 yards and was the only player to cross the goal line on the ground for the Sooners in the spring game. He finished a distant third on the team in rushing during the fall with 274 yards and one touchdown.

The point is this. Don't look too much into a players stats when they have an amazing game this Saturday or when they are utterly unimpressive. See the game for what it actually is. Its an opportunity for to catch a glimpse of the future (Trey Metoyer) and well as see some changes in philosophy with new coaches (Mike Stoops). More importantly its our final chance to see the team on Owen Field until September 8th. It is not, however, a game in which we can put a lot of stock into what could actually happen this fall. The track record proves that.