We’re only TEN (!) days away from the start of the 2016 season, and today we take some time to remember two of the three best defensive plays of the Stoops Era. Roy Williams’ “Superman” play takes the cake as the memorable play in OU history (at least defensively), but two plays made by guys wearing the No. 10 saved the 2000 and 2015 seasons.
We’ll start with Torrance Marshall’s play in 2000, which gave the Sooners a win in front of an extremely hostile crowd in College Station. OU trailed 31-28 halfway through the fourth quarter when Marshall picked off a Mark Farris pass over the middle and took it to the house. Of course, OU went on to win the national championship that season.
That game was an emotional rollercoaster if there ever was one. There’s a door at my parents’ house that still doesn’t shut properly because of this play earlier in the quarter.
Steven Parker’s play has to be No. 3 on the list behind “Superman” and “The Pick”. It not only saved OU from what would have been an EMBARRASSING loss after blowing a big lead, but it paved the way for a playoff appearance that seems to have put OU back on the map.
Man... I had forgotten how crucial this leap was. If Parker doesn’t get up in the air at exactly the right moment, no one is in position to make a play (I’m looking at you, Sanchez). Now that I think about it, this might have to be No. 2 ahead of the Marshall play. Then again, Marshall’s play came in a national title year. Hmm...