The battle lines were drawn and it was quite easy to figure out what side everyone was on in the Mike Gundy-J. Carlson debacle.

Coaches and former players loved what Gundy said. They liked the way a journalist was put in place when attacking another athlete. If a journalist can criticize a coach or an athlete, why can’t they fire back?

On the other end side of the spectrum, journalists stick together. They don’t like when a coach acts like that. So it was no surprise when Gundy took a big hit from the national media people. This was expected.

I’ve said it over and over again, I have no problem that he called Carlson out. I just wish he would have done it in a different way. I think he should have done it behind close doors.

This former Oklahoma State standout quarterback should have learned from former coach Pat Jones. Jones wasn’t winning a lot of games in his final years at OSU. But he wound up hanging on because the media liked him.

By the way, Jones thinks it was a mistake the way his former signal-caller handled the situation. He thinks it will hurt him in the long run. However, I do think Gundy has won over players and fans with the way he did things. However, in the end, Mike Gundy will build his future on his won-loss record. . .

IVE BEEN WRONG a lot before, and I’ll probably be wrong once again, but I still contend that the OU game with Colorado will be a lot tougher than just about everyone expects.

Maybe to me it’s just a matter of history. But Oklahoma has struggled in Boulder the last couple of decades. I realize this Cololrado team isn’t as good as others and this OU team is one of the best that has played there during this time period.

But you at the time Bob Stoops has been at OU, he’s had tremendous teams. And the bottom line is that only a handful of conference road games have been easy. This is the first true road test for the Sooners this year.

I think it’s a perfect tune-up for the Texas game. OU is going against a good defensive team and Sam Bradford will be playing against a hostile crowd for the first time in his career.

I think Colorado will make it interesting for awhile. The problem the Buffaloes will have is moving the ball. Freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins has been very inconsistent. If OU doesn’t hurt itself with a bunch of penalties or turnovers, it comes away with a victory in the Rocky Mountains.

I’ll go Oklahoma 31, Colorado 10. And Oklahoma State 52, Sam Houston State 17. Let’s see how Rhett Bomar does against Big 12 competition once again.

Run the ball and stop the run.

That’s a very simple formula. But if Oklahoma is able to accomplish those two things there’s a good chance the Sooners are going to come away with a victory in their intersectional match-up with Miami.

There were time against North Texas last week OU had problems sustaining an inside running game, particularly in short-yardage situations. Many fans were saying the reason for this was the fact that Allen Patrick and Chris Brown didn’t play.

Bob Stoops had other ideas.

“I think the main problem is that early in the year it’s a matter of timing. In practices we don’t go down low in practice and block on the legs because we don’t want to get anyone hurt. So I think it takes a little time to get the players going. I’m not concerned. I think we’ll be able to get the job done.”

There has been a perception that Oklahoma is going to use the running back “by committee” this season. I’ll really be surprised it that happens. I think a key is to get the ball to Patrick and DeMarco Murray and much as they can.

“We’ll just see how the game is going. We’ll see what the flow is. If one of the backs is hot, we’re not going to take him out of the game,” says Stoops. “There will be a lot of variables on how we will employ our running backs. I just know we’re very talented at that position.”

Sam Bradford was really good in his Sooner debut last week. He did all the right things. He played with a lot of poise and the players will tell you that he had excellent control of the huddle. That’s so important.

Now let’s see what he does against a tremendous defense. Let’s see how he handles things on a physical level when the Hurricanes hard-hitting and super-quick defense is putting pressure on him. And let’s see what he does mentally when Miami changes things up and makes him audible at the line of scrimmage.

If Bradford plays well in this encounter, the Sooners could be rolling the rest of the season.

The key on the defensive side is to stop the Miami run game. Make them throw the ball. That’s been its downfall the last couple of years. Kyle Wright, who had been the starter the last couple of seasons, has been a major disappointment. That’s why he’s on the bench now watching Kirby Freeman lead the team.

Freeman is a nice athlete who can make things happen with his legs. However, make him throw the ball on third and long situations and he may have his problems.

The recipe for victory? Again, it’s quite easy. Don’t turn the ball over, stop the run on defense and be able to run the ball on offense.