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Tramel's ScissorTales: Are Samaje Perine & Joe Mixon OU'due south greatest running-back duo ever?

Tailbacks Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon were three-year OU teammates. They came in together equally freshmen in 2014, with Mixon touted as one of the nation'due south top recruits.

But Mixon was suspended for the 2014 flavor after slugging an OU coed on Campus Corner. Perine became a freshman star. Mixon joined Perine the adjacent yr and they became quite the tandem.

Now they are together again with the Super Bowl-bound Cincinnati Bengals, with Mixon the star and Perine as the understudy. But Perine took a screen pass Sunday in the briefing championship game and turned information technology into a 41-thou touchdown confronting the Kansas City Chiefs.

The success of Mixon and Perine raised a question. What is the best running-dorsum tandem in OU football history?

The Wednesday ScissorTales remind us why players are so quick to transfer or rescind a delivery, and we bank check in on former OU and OSU basketball head coaches. But we beginning with corking Sooner running-back tandems.

Tramel: OU loved Caleb Williams yesterday, simply in higher football, yesterday's gone

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops hugs Joe Mixon (25) and Samaje Perine (32) following their 31-24 victory over Tennessee in Neyland Stadium Saturday, Sep. 12, 2015.
Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops hugs Joe Mixon (25) and Samaje Perine (32) post-obit their 31-24 victory over Tennessee in Neyland Stadium Saturday, Sep. 12, 2015.

The Listing: OU's greatest running-back tandems

Here are the height five Sooner running-back duos, using OU production as the primary approximate but also factoring in National Football game League careers.

one. Clendon Thomas & Tommy McDonald, 1955-56: Fabled collegians, fabulous pros. Who else could exist No. 1? In the single-platoon days of 1955, when anybody played both offense and defense, Thomas wasn't even on the A team. Bob Burris was an all-Large Seven halfback. Simply in those two seasons, McDonald rushed 233 times for 1,568 yards, a six.vii yards per bear average. He also caught xix passes for 382 yards, xx.1 yards per reception. Thomas rushed 180 times for ane,323 yards those two years, 7.35 yards per carry. He had 13 catches for 262 yards. Combined, they scored 58 touchdowns those two years. And in the NFL, Thomas played mostly defense, making all-pro in 1963 with the Steelers, but he also occasionally played offense and had an 80-yard touchdown take hold of in 1965. McDonald, as a wide receiver, made the Pro Football game Hall of Fame.

2. Samaje Perine & Joe Mixon, 2015-16: Offenses exploded in the 21st century, and Perine and Mixon evidence it. Perine rushed for 2,409 yards his ii seasons with Mixon; Mixon rushed for 2,027 his 2 seasons with Perine. They also combined for 90 catches and i,107 yards. Together, they scored 56 touchdowns. Perine is an NFL journeyman, but Mixon is a star, having rushed for 4,564 yards and caught passes for ane,322 yards, for a combined 41 TDs.

3. Billy Sims & Kenny Rex, 1977-78: Sims was OU's greatest running back ever; Male monarch was Barry Switzer'due south best wishbone fullback. Sims was not the marquee ballcarrier in 1977 but won the Heisman Bays in 1978. Rex was a bulwark both seasons. In those two seasons, Sims rushed 302 times for ii,175 yards and King rushed 218 times for ane,468 yards. That'due south a combined 7.0 yards per deport. They combined for 32 touchdowns. In the NFL, Sims was a star, rushing for v,106 yards in 5 seasons before a catastrophic genu injury ended his career. King rushed for 2,477 yards over seasons and famously took a Raiders screen laissez passer lxxx yards for a touchdown in Super Bowl 15.

4. Greg Pruitt & Leon Crosswhite, 1970-72: Seems similar nosotros ofttimes forget Pruitt'due south greatness, equally the original wishbone halfback star. If nosotros forget Pruitt, think how we overlook Crosswhite, who quickly took over at fullback midway through that transitional season of 1970. In 2½ seasons together, they combined for 4,865 yards on 809 carries. Sure, defenses had no clue how to defend the wishbone. One reason they had no clue was Pruitt'due south majesty on the perimeter and Crosswhite's tough running inside. Pruitt was a long-time NFL star, but Crosswhite played two seasons with the Detroit Lions himself.

v. Chris Brown & DeMarco Murray, 2007-09: Murray was a ballyhooed recruit who lived up to the billing and became an all-fourth dimension OU great and an NFL star. Dark-brown was a solid, tough runner who never played in the pros. But don't sleep on Brown's numbers. In three years as Murray's sidekick, Dark-brown carried 457 times for 2,580 yards and 36 TDs, and he caught 44 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns. In iii years as Chocolate-brown'due south sidekick, Murray carried 477 times for 2,471 yards and 35 touchdowns, and he defenseless 86 passes for 977 yards and eight TDs.

More: Which players accept signed with Oklahoma football's 2022 recruiting form?

Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28), right, congratulates Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine (34) on a 41-yard touchdown in the second quarter during the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, to advance to the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28), correct, congratulates Cincinnati Bengals running back Samaje Perine (34) on a 41-yard touchdown in the second quarter during the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 30, 2022, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Mo. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24, to advance to the Super Bowl.

Alamo Bowl passenger vehicle Bryan McClendon on the move, again

OU lost another highly-rated football recruit from the 2023 class when broad receiver Deandre Moore Jr. on Monday renounced his commitment to the Sooners. A twenty-four hour period later, the Caleb Williams news overshadowed the loss of Moore.

All in all, a bummer for OU. But no big surprise. Quarterback Malachi Nelson and receiver Makai Lemon, Moore'south loftier-schoolhouse teammates from Los Alamitos, California, also were committed to OU only reneged afterward Lincoln Riley's exodus to Southern Cal. They accept declared their fidelity to the Trojans, and Moore is expected to do the same, eventually joining Williams.

If y'all want to stay aroused at Riley for the continual defections, knock yourself out. Coaches deserve all the malice that falls on their caput.

But don't be mad at Moore. And don't exist mad at Williams. This is learned behavior.

And the latest example is a name you know, merely barely.

Become back five weeks agone, to the Alamo Bowl, a showdown betwixt interim coaches. Bob Stoops vs. Bryan McClendon.

Stoops was Sylvester Stallone, returning to the Rocky franchise in "Rocky Balboa" and tying a nice balboa to a beloved movie series. Stoops again became an iconic Sooner hero, steadying the Schooner in Riley'south wake.

McClendon was broad receivers coach at Oregon, and with Ducks head coach Mario Cristobal pulling a Riley and heading out for the University of Miami, McClendon stepped into the void.

Tramel: Bob Stoops was OU'south first selection, but Brent Venables was correct man for the job

McClendon didn't exactly become the palm-branch treatment that Stoops received, particularly after Oregon lost 47-32 to the Sooners. And being just 39, McClendon wasn't ready to live a life of marketing tequila, golf and Pull a fast one on's pregame evidence.

So McClendon took a job on Cristobal'south new staff at Miami.

McClendon stayed 26 days.

On the same day that Moore bolted on the Sooners, McClendon bolted Miami. He accepted a coaching job at his alma mater, Georgia.

Moore is a loftier school kid who has signed nothing. McClendon is a professional who may or may non have had a contract with Miami, but who worked four weeks recruiting for the Hurricanes and developing relationships with the holdover Miami players.

And and then McClendon was gone. Bryan, nosotros hardly knew thee. Heck, some of the Miami players probably didn't know McClendon.

But don't weep for Miami. The Hurricanes are on both sides of this pirate ship. Cristobal on Mon hired Kevin Steele equally defensive coordinator. The same Kevin Steele who on Fri agreed to join Mike Locksley's staff at Maryland and had begun recruiting for the Terrapins, while his agent finalized contract details with the university.

Trust coaches at your own risk.

The commitment of coaches to their jobs is mostly self-motivated. They are showing trivial interest in being role of something bigger than themselves. In coaches' minds, null is bigger than themselves.

Football game players discover. They notice when they're on campus and realize the transfer portal and new eligibility rules give them the aforementioned kind of freedoms the coaches savour. They discover when they're in high schoolhouse, and the coaches who sell them on an idyllic scenario suddenly is pitching a dissimilar ideal.

Don't blame Deandre Moore Jr. for switching his allegiance away from the Sooners. Or Caleb Williams from hitting the road. They didn't invent this civilization. They were coached into information technology.

More: Who are the transfers most likely to brand a quick impact for OU football in 2022?

Thunder lineup a constant shuffle

The Thunder plays at Dallas on Wednesday night, and I accept no idea who will beginning for OKC. I can guess, of class.

With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out with a sprained ankle, nosotros're probable to come across Luguentz Dort and Josh Giddey. Across that, who knows?

In the final 4 games, eight Thunders have fabricated at to the lowest degree ane start. That'southward more than started in the unabridged 2009-10 flavor. More than on that later on.

Twelve players take started for the Thunder this season, with I'm sure more to come. Neither Kenrich Williams nor Mike Muscala has started this season, and they're what, the 4th- and fifth-all-time players on the squad? Theo Maledon has not started, and he led the Thunder in minutes played concluding flavor.

Aleksej Pokusevski has fabricated two starts. Ty Jerome has fabricated three. Paul Watson has started thrice, and you couldn't selection him out of a lineup if he was wearing burnt orange in Lubbock, Texas.

But this Thunder roster is much more stable than a year ago, when 16 players made starts and 21 averaged at least x minutes a game. You can look it up. The Thunder used 22 players last season, and all played at least 9 games, and all but Justin Robinson averaged ten minutes a game. Robinson averaged 9.eight.

That's what happens in a rebuild/tank situation. It'south a far cry from the celebrity days.

More: What will modify with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander out? Not much, Thunder says

Oklahoma City coach Mark Daigneault during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The Pacers won 113-110 in overtime.
Oklahoma Urban center motorbus Mark Daigneault during an NBA basketball game game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma Urban center, Friday, Jan. 28, 2022. The Pacers won 113-110 in overtime.

In 2013-xiv, the Thunder used only nine starters. Kevin Durant and Serge Ibaka fabricated 81 starts each. Kendrick Perkins started 62 games, Thabo Sefolosha 61, Russell Westbrook 46, Reggie Jackson 36, Steven Adams 20, Andre Roberson xvi and Perry Jones 7. That'due south stability. If Westbrook was out, Jackson started. If Perk was out, Adams started. There was no reason to mix and lucifer.

In 2012-13, the Thunder as well started nine. Westbrook started all 82 games. Durant and Sefolosha started 81 each, Ibaka 80 and Perk 78. Scotty Brooks filled in with reserves when necessary. Those were the days before load management.

In 2011-12, the Thunder started just eight players. Durant, Westbrook and Ibaka started all 66 games in that shortened season. Perk started 65. Sefolosha 42. When you lot came to the gym, you lot knew who you lot'd be seeing. What a concept.

In 2010-11, the Thunder started 10 players, mostly due to a trade. Westbrook started all 82 players. Sefolosha started 79 and Durant 78. Jeff Greenish started 49 and Nenad Krstic 47, earlier they were traded to Boston in February. Ibaka moved into the lineup and finished with 44 starts. Perkins started 17 after his arrival. And in 2009-10, the year the magic started, Durant, Westbrook, Light-green and Sefolosha each started all 82 games. Krstic started 76. Nick Collison replaced Krstic five times, and Etan Thomas made a random November showtime against Houston. Seven starters full. Those were the days, my friend.

Of course, when things are rotten – injuries, rebuilds, whatever – more players are needed. The Thunder started 15 players in its first OKC season, 2008-09, and 17 in the injury-crazed season of 2014-15. That'southward more final flavour.

Information technology tin be marginally entertaining to encounter new faces and new players. But it can be wonderfully comforting to know that the tried and the true will be at midcourt night after night.

Here's to when that happens again in OKC.

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Sampson, Underwood riding loftier

Fred Hoiberg's record at Nebraska caught my eye.

You remember Hoiberg, the corking Iowa Country basketball player in the 1990s, who went on to be an NBA player and front-role executive. Hoiberg returned to his alma mater in 2010 as head passenger vehicle, and the Cyclones went 115-56 in his five seasons, with four NCAA Tournament victories.

But Hoiberg got sideways with Iowa State able-bodied director Jamie Pollard and left to coach the Chicago Bulls. It didn't get well. His Chicago teams went 115-155 and he was fired in December 2018.

Hoiberg resurfaced as the caput autobus at Nebraska, a long-suffering hoops program that has nevertheless to win an NCAA Tournament game. E'er. Nebraska was a natural fit; Hoiberg's granddad, Jerry Bush, once was the Cornhusker basketball jitney.

But it has not gone well for Hoiberg. The Huskers are 20-60 under Hoiberg, including this flavor, when Nebraska is half dozen-15 overall and 0-10 in the Large Ten.

And Hoiberg's plight got me to wondering. How are OSU and OU expatriate coaches faring?

At that place are five Division I coaches who had been head coach of either the Sooners or the Cowboys. A couple are coaching dandy teams. Some are struggling. Here's an update.

Tramel'due south ScissorTales: Big 12 basketball loses bragging rights in SEC Claiming

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson speaks to guard Taze Moore (4) on the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against East Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson speaks to guard Taze Moore (4) on the sideline during the beginning half of the squad's NCAA college basketball game confronting East Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)

► Kelvin Sampson, Houston: Sampson, OU's jitney from 1994-2006, got the Cougars into the 2021 Final Four. And UofH could get back. Houston is eighteen-2 overall and No. 2 in the Cyberspace rankings used past the NCAA basketball game committee.

► Brad Underwood, Illinois: Underwood, OSU's coach in 2016-17, got the Illini to a No. 1 seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament, before they were upset by Porter Moser'southward Loyola-Chicago team. These Illini are 15-5 and ranked 14th in the NET. So Illinois is headed for a practiced NCAA seed.

► Travis Ford, Saint Louis: Ford, OSU's coach from 2008-sixteen, is doing a skillful job with the Billikens. He 103-71 in 5½ seasons, the all-time record of the 12 Saint Louis coaches since 1965. Ford coached Saint Louis to the 2019 NCAA Tournament, and the Billikens almost surely would have returned in 2020, had the pandemic non wiped out the tournament three days before Selection Sunday. This flavour, the Billikens are xiv-6 overall, 5-two in the Atlantic-10. They are ranked 64th in the Net. So without an A-10 Tournament title, Saint Louis is not in great shape for an NCAA Tournament berth, but a hot streak could change that.

► Leonard Hamilton, Floria State: OSU's coach from 1986-90, has produced a glorious career, ranging from Miami U. to the Washington Wizards to Florida Country. Hamilton has been at the latter 20 seasons, with a tape of 413-235 and eight NCAA Tournament appearances. Hamilton's best team, 2019-twenty, was headed for a possible No. 1 seed in the NCAAs before Covid struck. But this Seminole team is just thirteen-7, with a 6-iv record in the mediocre Atlantic Declension Conference. FSU is 79th in the Cyberspace rankings.

► Jeff Capel, Pittsburgh: OU's omnibus from 2006-11 went back to Knuckles every bit an assistant coach, then took the Pitt chore in 2018. Information technology has not gone well. In four seasons, Capel is 48-61. These Panthers are viii-13 overall, three-7 in the ACC. His task could be in jeopardy.

More: February signing day anticipation is dorsum for OU football with Brent Venables in charge

Mailbag: OU quarterback transfer history

The Caleb Williams news Tuesday set off a diverseness of responses from Sooner fans.

Max: "Troy Aikman was no slouch, merely nosotros did just fine without him."

Tramel: Ah, yes. Some other Sooner QB who fled West. The stories of Aikman and Williams aren't remotely similar, and Williams can only promise that that changes.

In 1984, Aikman was a 17-yr-old, emergency starting QB for the Sooners at Kansas. Danny Bradley was injured. Backup Mike Clopton had been declared ineligible. Barry Switzer was down to two true freshman quarterbacks. He started Aikman, a big-armed, skinny kid a month shy of his 18th birthday. The Jayhawks swarmed Aikman and the Sooners, winning 28-11.

Merely in 1985, things were dissimilar. Aikman won the quarterback job — at historic period 18! — and though the offense wasn't great early, OU won its first 3 games, including Texas. Then with Aikman throwing well against what proved to be a mighty Miami team, he suffered a broken ankle when sacked by the Hurricanes' Jerome Brown. Miami went on to a 27-14 victory.

Some other freshman, Jamelle Holieway, took over at quarterback, the Sooners went away from the newly-embraced pass and the traditional wishbone clicked. OU didn't lose over again and beat Penn State in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.

Aikman transferred to UCLA, became the No. 1 pick in the 1989 NFL Draft and led the Dallas Cowboys to iii Super Basin titles. He'southward in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Williams, too, left OU because of changing circumstances. His chore was secure, but with a new charabanc. Williams was a great quarterback equally a freshman. Far better than was Aikman was a freshman. If Williams keeps such a pace, he's headed for gridiron glory.

But I agree. OU volition be fine.

Berry Tramel: Berry can exist reached at 405-760-8080 or at btramel@oklahoman.com. He tin can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.grand. on The Sports Animal radio network, including FM-98.1. Support his work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Are Samaje Perine & Joe Mixon OU football'due south greatest running-dorsum duo?

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Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/tramels-scissortales-samaje-perine-joe-191332883.html

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