Overlooked Oklahoma playing with chip on its shoulder

— -- KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Say this for Bob Stoops and his Oklahoma football team: They seem to be at their best when discounted or disrespected, or even when they've been dismissed as dead in the water in one of the most hostile road environments you can imagine.

Their 31-24 escape in two overtimes Saturday against Tennessee in an orange-and-white checkerboarded, ear-splitting Neyland Stadium was a reminder of what Oklahoma players and coaches have been preaching ever since the bitter end of last season's collapse that left the Sooners at 8-5 after a 4-0 start.

This is a different Oklahoma, a feistier, more resilient Oklahoma, and an Oklahoma that takes it personally that it has supposedly been relegated to second-class citizenship in the new world order of the Big 12.

The start of OU's Big 12 season is still more than two weeks away, but the Sooners served notice on Rocky Top last weekend that they're not going to toil aimlessly in the shadow of Baylor and TCU this season.

Not this Oklahoma team, anyway, one that's been seething ever since last season ended.

"We were embarrassed last year," said senior defensive end Eric Striker, Oklahoma's emotional leader.

"We didn't like the way we finished last year. We're doing everything as leaders and players to bring change around here with this team. You've got to be pissed off every game, every time you step up on that field."