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(Texas A&M ran well to defeat Oklahoma. Pat Clifton photo)
By Pat Clifton
No. 25 Oklahoma and #16 Texas A&M’s early morning, 80-minute tussle kicked off a full slate of Big XII rugby Saturday in Norman, Okla., and with the Sooners standing 1-0 after a league win over Nebraska earlier this season, the Aggies expected a slower start than the 50-17 romping they handed the Sooners.
“We were a little surprised. It’s our first hit out of the year, so we kind of thought we’d have a rough first half and the second half would be better,” said A&M assistant coach Johnny Smith “But we came out guns a blazing and did really well in the first half, and then had a little bit of a let-up on the second half. We’re going to have to put a full 80 minutes together to compete in the West.”
| All photos Pat Clifton: Top to bottom: Oklahoma State defends v. Kansas State, OSU fullback slides onto the ball, Nebraska attacks v. KU, Oklahoma up high v. Kansas State, A&M attacks against KU |
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The Sooners limped away from the loss humble, also knowing there are certainly things they need to work on before a deep run in the West is possible.
“I think the A&M game was an eye opener for some of (out players),” said OU coach Kenneth Forehand. “We knew what they were about, but you never know how fit you are until you’ve been pushed to that limit, you never know physical you are until you’ve been pushed to the limit, especially for our young guys, who haven’t played against a team like that. Well, now they have.”
After letting it all hang out against the Sooners, A&M let many of their top players take the rest of the afternoon off.
“I think main focus this weekend was on OU, we have quite the rivalry with them. Both of us go out of our way to play each other every year, so I think that was our main focus,” said Smith. “I think for our younger kids, them coming in in the Nebraska and the KU game is really a chance for them to shine, and to fight for a spot to be in that OU game, or to get into our cup team that’s coming up in the end of the Fall and Spring.”
The OU/A&M game was the only 80-minute match of the day, as the rest of the Big XII Tournament was played in 50-minute matches, featuring a festival format. OU would bounce back from their early loss to defeat Kansas 45-26 and Kansas State 24-10. The Aggies’ second-side handled Nebraska 61-7, but was blanked by the K-State Wildcats 15-0.
Nebraska also fell to the OU Alumni 29-5 and Oklahoma State 26-5. The Jayhawks did not register a win on the day, and the Wildcats posted a 2-1 record.
The only team who made it through the Big XII Tournament unscathed, thus being crowned the honorary champions, despite no actual tournament taking place, was Oklahoma State, who defeated K-State, KU and Nebraska. The ’Pokes can ride out of Norman with their heads held high.
“Just taking away getting our team together, putting everything together that we’ve been working hard for this year,” said OSU coach John Supon. “Forwards played like they should, backs played like they should, and we went three and out. I can’t say I’ve ever been more proud of this team, because they showed their class out here and they showed they could play rugby, and we went home with a win.”
Given the makeup of collegiate rugby’s competitive structure, the schools that make up the Big XII in varsity sports don’t play for much more than pride when they meet in Norman each year. However, the coaches say that pride is prize enough.
“It’s always been great because the traditional matchups come into play,” Forehand said. “College kids identify with playing Texas A&M, KU, K-State, Nebraska. They grew up watching those teams play, so they identify with the school. It’s also great to get several college kids together.”
“It sort of sets up for the rest of the season, our cup matches, when we go play the same teams again. We haven’t played a lot of the Big 12 teams yet, so this sort of shows us what they have and what we need to work on,” said Supon. “It’s good to get all the teams here and get the camaraderie of the Big 12.”
Forehand also believes large college tournaments like the Big XII can be beneficial to American rugby as a whole. “We want to get more men’s clubs here to get out here and recruit. We’re not taking enough of these great athletes and getting them into men’s clubs. Next year we’d like to get 10, 12 teams together - the Texases, Coloradoes, the Iowa States, who are traditionally strong - then we’d have (hundreds) of rugby players here for men’s clubs to take a look at and see who they may want.”
Saturday’s results.
OSU 3-0, wins over KSU, KU and Nebraska
A&M 2-1, A-side win over OU, B-side loss to KSU, and B-side win over Nebraska
OU 2-1, loss to A&M, wins over KSU and KU
KSU 1-2, losses to OU and OSU, win over A&M’s B-side
NEB 1-3, win over KU, losses to OU Alumni, OSU, and A&M’s B-side
KU 0-3 losses to OU, Nebraska and OSU
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