2018 Oklahoma Sooners Countdown to Kickoff | 43 Days!

It’s that time again, Sooner fans! There are 43 days left in our Countdown to Kickoff, so for today’s installment, I want to take a look back on one of the biggest plays in last season’s wild Bedlam game, as well as a guy who definitely doesn’t skip leg day, senior kicker/punter Austin Seibert.

With under a minute left in the third quarter, the offenses had finally slowed down a bit — at least temporarily. The Oklahoma Sooners led the Oklahoma State Cowboys 41-38, but neither team had scored in the second half up to that point.

Suddenly, with a plan clearly in mind but the defense closing in, Baker Mayfield found his target, Rodney Anderson, leaking out down the left sideline with nobody within 15 yards of him. A Cowboy defender closed in on Anderson at the goal line, but Anderson showed off his athleticism by going airborne for the last four yards, capping off the 43-yard score to put the Sooners up by two possessions.

Anderson’s second half of the 2017 season was full of big plays and highlights, and this 43-yard touchdown reception was as dazzling as any of them.

Now, punter/placekicker Austin Seibert has been a mainstay for the Oklahoma Sooners for seemingly forever. Going into his senior season, Seibert’s leg will be heavily relied upon once again and in more ways than one. His three-year experience with kicking and punting double-duty has been impressive, so if the Sooners are ever in a bad spot, he’s a guy who’s proven capable of getting the job done.

He also has enough leg power and accuracy to do this:

Basically, if Oklahoma’s offense ever crosses the opponent’s 35-yard line, prepare yourself some for points, because No. 43 will likely be kicking field goals or extra points in those instances.

Now let’s cover the days we missed since our last countdown post:

44 days! - Bookie & The Boz

There are few players in college football history that can match the level of swagger that Brian Bosworth played with from 1984-1986 under Barry Switzer and the Oklahoma Sooners. Affectionately known as ‘The Boz’, Bosworth was a two-time Unanimous All-American and two-time Butkus Award winner in ‘85 and ‘86, and was a major factor in Oklahoma’s national title-winning season in 1985.

For as amazing as Bosworth was on the football field, his personality was even greater. The Boz not only walked and talked like a superstar — he backed it up. His iconic dyed hair and bandana was a visual expression of who Brian Bosworth was.

No. 44 will forever be a Sooner fan-favorite, even if he irks us from time to time.

Today, there’s another guy in Norman wearing No. 44, and his name is Brendan Radley-Hiles, but you might know him better as Bookie. He was a five-star defensive back prospect that signed in the recruiting cycle of 2018, and he hasn’t disappointed yet. It still remains to be seen if Bookie will be the defensive star on Saturdays that he’s been throughout the offseason, but I wouldn’t bet against the talented playmaker.

Bookie was voted preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year by the media, so there are many who already think very highly of him. Count me as one of those who expects big things from this new No. 44.

45 days! - 2016 Red River Shootout

A year after one of the more puzzling results in OU/Texas history, the Oklahoma Sooners sought revenge against the Longhorns in 2016. Baker Mayfield and Dede Westbrook put on a show for a capacity Cotton Bowl crowd, but UT true freshman Shane Buechele showed guts with big answers of his own. Fortunately, Oklahoma took back the Golden Hat Trophy in a 45-40 nail-biter that probably shouldn’t have been a nail-biter.

46 days! - Myles Tease scores 46-yard TD vs. West Virginia

With the outcome of Oklahoma’s Senior Day game no longer in doubt, Kyler Murray hit Myles Tease for a 46-yard score. Months later, Tease was awarded a scholarship.

47 days! - Renaldo Works

Why aren’t we going with the winning streak for this one? Well, we’ve referenced it a number of times in this countdown, so we figured we’d mix it up a bit.

Renaldo Works showed flashes of brilliance from 2000-2003 and . For his career, Works amassed 1,948 yards from scrimmage and 23 total touchdowns. Perhaps his finest individual moment came in 2002 against the Alabama Crimson Tide. With under three minutes remaining in what would have been a pretty big upset win for Bama, Works put the team on his back and scampered down the field to put the Sooners in striking range. Moments later, Kejuan Jones would reach the end zone to put Oklahoma ahead for good.

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