Norman, Okla. ? The question comes up every year after Oklahoma plays Texas: Will the Sooners suffer a letdown after what is always such an emotional game?

Coach Bob Stoops’ answer has always been the same: No.

“I hear people talk about a Texas hangover. I kind of chuckle at it,” he said. “I don’t know where that comes from. At least in our four years here, that hasn’t been the case.”

Barry Switzer’s teams were nearly ambushed by outmanned opponents in 1977, ’78, ’83 and ’84. They won those four games against Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Iowa State by a combined eight points.

Gary Gibbs escaped Iowa State with a three-point victory the week after playing Texas in 1989, but wasn’t as fortunate the next year the Cyclones came to Norman and won, one week after Oklahoma lost 14-13 to Texas.

The biggest victory in John Blake’s three years as coach was a 30-27 overtime victory against Texas in 1996. One week later, the Sooners held on to beat lowly Baylor 28-24.

But under Stoops, Oklahoma (6-0, 2-0 Big 12) has been unaffected by a post-Texas haze.

In 1999, the Sooners followed a loss to Texas with a 51-6 victory against Texas A&M. In 2000, a 63-14 victory against Texas led to a 41-31 defeat of Kansas State on the road. Last year, OU won a thriller in the Cotton Bowl and followed it with a 38-10 rout at KU.

“We have played some of our best football in our four years here three years, anyway after this game,” Stoops said. “I think it does springboard us and catapults us into the meat of the schedule.”