Last two trips to Manhattan memorable
NORMAN — Anything can happen on a trip to Manhattan, Kansas.
Stranded in an airport in 2015. Down by 11 at halftime after a rain delay in 2017.
The Sooners have had some interesting trips to Kansas State in recent years.
After a tough loss to Texas four years ago, Oklahoma was waiting at Will Rogers World Airport to fly
No. 5 OU at Kansas State
When: 11 a.m., Saturday
Where: Bill Snyder Family Stadium; Manhattan, Kan.
TV: ABC (Cox 8)
Radio: KRXO-FM 107.7
out to play the Wildcats.
The Sooners ended up being stuck there for eight hours, eating fast food and having meetings in a conference room.
“That was a terrible experience,” redshirt senior receiver Nick Basquine said. “I mean outside t he f ood, but nah I don't want to do that again."
The delay di d have s ome positives for the team. It gave them a chance to bond with one another, and for players from all sides of the ball to spend some time with one another, which was mostly a result of the close quarters the team was in while it waited to depart.
“You could only look at your phone for so long, and we had guys just— there was no privacy because I mean literally there were just bodies laying everywhere,” Riley said.
That trip was a turning point for the Sooners' season. They beat Kansas State 55-0 the next day, and Riley said the momentum carried through to the rest of the season. The adversity the team had to go through, the bonding that took place, gave the Sooners a new motivation.
“We were just OK on offense at that point in time,” co-offensive coordinator Bill Bedenbaugh said. “We were pretty good on defense then. We were just OK. I think it was just the guys were together. It was a tough situation. It was overcoming adversity.”
Two years ago, kickoff i n Manhattan was delayed 35 minutes due to rain and lightning. Once the game started, the Sooners performed the exact opposite of the way they had two years before.
Oklahoma went i nt o t he locker room down 21-10 at half, and Riley was as mad as he can ever remember being at halftime of a game.
“That mad at a half?” Riley said. “I don't think so. That one's up there. That's one of those, you get done talking, you see stars for a second.”
Riley's fiery speech worked. The Sooners went on to win the game 42-35, thanks to a strong second half performance by running back Rodney Anderson.
What will happen this year? While the trips to Manhattan h a v e b e e n d i f f e r e n t f o r Oklahoma lately, the things the Sooners can expect from Kansas State have remained the same.
Junior wide receiver CeeDee Lamb remembers it was loud in Bill Snyder Family Stadium, and Basquine said he likes playing in loud road environments.
“I don't know how much they hold, but I just remember, because I was hurt that year so I really got to pay attention to that stuff, that they were pretty loud and it was a good environment," Basquine said.
The Wildcats might have a new coach, but, Riley said, the team still has the same positive traits they've always had. Kansas State is a physical team, and Oklahoma will have to play physical to win.
“I can't wait to go back out there like my freshman year and come out victorious,” Lamb said.