Its the type of tradition that Oklahoma Sooners' head coach Bob Stoops would love to keep going.
In a game that reminded some fans of the 2000 and 2003 edition of arguably the best rivalry going in college football, the Sooners took the Texas Longhorns behind the woodshed, let the Ruf-Neks send the Sooner Schooner to do a few laps around the Cotton Bowl, then bring the entire team together with the Golden Hat in hand for the team photo.
Oklahoma's resounding 55-17 victory over Texas in the 2011 edition of the Red River Shootout Rivalry was a testament to OU being the more mature and proficient team versus a Longhorn squad that looked more green than burnt orange. They say that attitude reflects leadership, and that leadership came from OU junior signal-caller Landry Jones.
Landry Jones finished up with a terrific stat-line, going 31-50 for 367 yards and three touchdowns as the whispers of Jones being a Heisman candidate can now be screamed and yelled by both pundits and prognosticators alike. Jones is the beneficiary of possibly the best wide receiver duo in America, as Kenny Stills and Ryan Broyles combined for 14 catches, 173 yards, and three touchdowns.
For the Longhorns, five turnovers from the two-headed hydra of quarterbacks David Ash and Case McCoy, an inconsistent passing game and an inexperienced secondary made for a bad formula for Mack Brown in the Cotton Bowl. For such a young team, the hope has to be that these lumps will provide a character-building experience for the boys in Austin.
Texas will look to rebound with another tough test from the Sooner state as the No. 6 Oklahoma State Cowboys will take the ride down I-35 South to Austin next Saturday. The Sooners will take their talents up to Lawrence to face the Kansas Jayhawks next Saturday night.
For more insights and commentary on the Longhorns and Sooners, checkout SB Nation Longhorns blog Burnt Orange Nation and SB Nation Sooners blog Crimson and Cream Machine.