(Editor's note: Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops will file a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season. For more on the Sooners, visit the official Oklahoma site.)

Oct. 6, 1999

Notre Dame just whipped us in the second half. We did some good things early but weren't strong enough to finish. Let's give them credit. Their players fought hard and their will to win outdid ours. They certainly deserved the victory.

	THE FULL DOSE OF DIARIES
	UCLA's Danny Farmer: Record is small consolation
	Oregon's Reuben Droughns: Waiting to get back in the game
	Oregon State's Ken Simonton: Can't let another slip away
	Georgia Tech's Joe Hamilton: Overcoming a stereotype
	Ole Miss' Todd Wade: Climbing to the top 25
	Wyoming's Jared Jarnagin: Defense was the key

I'm asked a lot how well we match up with Notre Dame and contrary to what's written sometimes, I tell our players that we're a good football team. I've said that and believed it all along. That fact is that we played a Notre Dame that is a good football team. We knew that, everyone did. It was a team that had two weeks to prepare for us. We played in their stadium. For a large part of the game, we were ahead and earned every bit of it. Let's face it. They didn't have a turnover the entire day. The bottom line is we didn't finish it. They made more plays down the stretch than we did.

This week, we're excited about the opportunity to be involved in this great rivalry with Texas. We're going down to the Cotton Bowl to meet Texas. There'll be great excitement, and we're looking forward to the competition.

Everyone wants to tell you how important this game is, and I recognize that. Recruits from both states pay attention to this game. It's a big game and they'll all be watching. I understand that I won't have a job next week if I don't win (chuckle).

I like the game being in the Cotton Bowl. Like coach (Barry) Switzer said it's their state fair, and Dallas is in Texas, isn't it? I guess I could stick to what he's said before, and I'd be safe.