Bob Stoops retired as head coach of the University of Oklahoma football program. After 18 very accomplished seasons, Stoops’ sudden retirement shocked the entire sports world, including his own team.
In 18 years, Stoops won a national title in 2000, won 10 Big 12 titles, more than all other coaches in the conference combined. He had a 66.7 percent winning percentage against AP top 25 opponents, which is the best in the county over the pst 18 years as well.
Below is a brief, but concise timeline of his accomplishments.
1999:
- Record: 7-5
- Big 12 finish: 5-3 (T-2nd in Big 12 South)
- AP ranking: Unranked.
2000:
- Record: 13-0
- Big 12 finish: 8-0 (1st in Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Orange (Beat Florida State)
- AP ranking: 1st.
- Highlight: Won a national championship.
2001
- Record: 11-2
- Big 12 finish: 6-2 (2nd, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Cotton ( Beat Arkansas)
- AP ranking: 6
- Highlight: Elite defense, but a Bedlam loss spoiled any national title hopes.
2002
- Record: 12-2
- Big 12 finish: 6-2 (T-1st, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Rose (Beat Washington State)
- AP ranking: 5
2003
- Record: 12-2
- Big 12 finish: 8-0 (1st, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Sugar (Lost to LSU 21-14)
- AP ranking: 3
- Highlights: Many considered OU as one of the greatest teams ever after they started 12-0.
2004
- Record: 12-1
- Big 12 finish: 8-0 (1st Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Orange (Lost to USC)
- AP ranking: 3
- Highlights: Indefeated regular season and third national title game in five years.
2005
- Record: 8-4
- Big 12 finish: 6-2 ( T-2nd, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Holiday (Beat Oregon)
- AP ranking: 22
- Highlights: Upset No. 5 Oregon.
2006
- Record: 11-3
- Big 12 finish: 7-1 (1st, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Fiesta (Lost to Boise State)
- AP ranking: 11
- Highlights: Recovered from QB Rhett Bomar being dismissed from team.
2007
- Record: 11-3
- Big 12 finish: 6-2 (1st, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Fiesta (Lost to West Virginia)
- AP ranking: 8
- Highlights: Beat top-ranked Missouri in Big 12 title game.
2008
- Record: 12-2
- Big 12 finish: 7-1 (T-1st, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: BCS Championship Game (Lost to Florida)
- AP ranking: 5
- Highlights: Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy.
2009
- Record: 8-5
- Big 12 finish: 5-3 (T-3rd, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Sun (Beat Stanford)
- AP ranking: Unranked.
2010
- Record: 12-2
- Big 12 finish: 6-2 (T-1st, Big 12)
- Bowl: Fiesta (Beat UConn)
- AP ranking: 6
- Highlights: Beat Nebraska in Big 12 title game.
2011
- Record: 10-3
- Big 12 finish: 6-3 (T-3rd, Big 12 South)
- Bowl: Insight (Beat Iowa)
- AP ranking: 16
- Highlights: National title contender until November.
2012
- Record: 10-3
- Big 12 finish: 8-1 (T-1st)
- Bowl: Cotton (Lost to Texas A&M)
- Ranking: 15
- Highlights: 8 straight wins after Kansas State loss.
2013
- Record: 11-2
- Big 12 finish: 7-2 (T-2nd)
- Bowl: Sugar (Beat Alabama)
- AP ranking: 6
- Highlights: Won at Notre Dame then big upsets at the end of season.
2014
- Record: 8-5
- Big 12 finish: 5-4 (T-4th)
- Bowl: Russell Athletic (Lost to Clemson)
- AP ranking: Unranked
2015
- Record: 11-2
- Big 12 finish: 8-1 (1st)
- Bowl: Orange/College Football Playoff Semifinal (Lost to Clemson)
- AP ranking: 5
- Highlights: Big 12’s only appearance in the College Football Playoff.
2016
- Record: 11-2
- Big 12 finish: 9-0 (1st)
- Bowl: Sugar (Beat Auburn)
- AP ranking: 5
- Highlights: 10-game winning streak to end season.
Bob Stoops and his legacy will be remembered forever and will forever be legendary in Sooner Nation.
