The 1963 Sooners and this year's team seemed to underachieve.
The 1963 team in Bud's final year played uninspired at times, especially in the #1 vs #2 match with Texas, losing 28-7.
The season started with a big win over USC, 17-12, then OU was blasted by Texas 2 weeks later.
Then Looney punched an assistant coach was was kicked off the team. The season went on to tally an 8-2 record as the two losses to Texas and Nebraska were decisive.
So much was expected after the resurgence of 1962, when a team laden with studs (Neely, Grisham, Looney, McCurdy, Rentzel, Flynn, Burton, Ringer, Pannell, Skidgel, etc.) was ranked a preseason favorite to win a championship. Look Magazine had OU playing Navy and Saubach in the Orange Bowl.
I have thought since then that Wilkinson was more focused on politics in his last 2-3 years than maintaining OU's excellence. His recruiting tailed off and by his own admission he did not utilize jet travel to visit recruits. He left Gomer Jones to carry on, but Jones was not head coaching material.....much as Gibbs was when he replaced Switzer.
Riley's 2021 team, in my view, played uninspired (and sloppy) as well and Riley and his staff did not elevate the overall play as the season wore on. The team stagnated.
I felt Riley would jump ship after the season, but USC was a surprise.....until I realized Riley wanted no part of SEC competition and was overwhelmed by USC's resources, especially in recruiting. Plus, he should be successful against the PAC 12's members.
I don't blame Riley for leaving, but the deceitful way he did it was bad. He used LSU as a "Trojan Horse" to get his USC position.
Again, I think this event could eventually be for OU's benefit if it can get a coach who can play big boy football in the SEC. And Riley's exit was something I had hoped would happen before OU entering the SEC.
It won't be easy, but some good coaching candidates are out there to be had.
