by AmberRMW

Created on: April 27, 2007   Last Updated: May 06, 2007

Few coaches have overcome adversity and led their teams to success the way that Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops has. Whether you are a fan of the University of Oklahoma or not, it is not hard to argue that Stoops is by far one of the greatest current college football coaches, and perhaps of all time. The 2006 football season provided numerous examples to show how Stoops triumphed over the naysayers.

Before the season even started, the University of Oklahoma announced that two players would be dismissed after receiving monies from a local car dealership without working. One of those players was current starting quarterback Rhett Bomar, which sent OU into a media frenzy of wondering what they would do next and how the season would survive. However, Stoops held strong to his decision and after the first press conference promised he would address the issue once and never again. He did not speak ill of the players, and said the team would move forward with a new quarterback.

OU started out a shaky season, but were undefeated until they arrived in Eugene, Oregon and were once again thrown into a sticky situation. In the fourth quarter, the officials on the field blew a call on an on-side kick that incorrectly awarded the ball to the Oregon Ducks. After review, the play was not overturned, which stunned not only OU fans, but sports commentators across the country. Stoops, although upset, let his feelings be known and then went back to work. He did not fall victim to an "if" attitude (If the officials did this..., If Oregon did this...).

Then Stoops lost his Heisman candidate Adrian Peterson running back in a touchdown run against Iowa State that caused him to break his collarbone. The season did not end their, although so many media thought that was the end.

At the end of the 2006 season, OU had won the Big 12 Championship and gained a bid to the Fiesta Bowl. Most teams would have not made it past replacing the quarterback, but Stoops would not let OU fall and he delivered a dynamite season that any fan would be proud of.

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