PROVO, Utah — Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game” in the 1997 NBA Finals should have been called the “Food Poisoning Game,” Jordan admitted in the documentary “The Last Dance.”
Jordan blamed it on the bad pizza.
Danny Stutzman blames it on bad currency.
That’s right, 45 miles south of Salt Lake City — where Jordan played one of his signature games while sick — Stutzman was pulling the strings during OU’s 31-24 victory over BYU on Saturday. Will Edwards Stadium staged its own “food poisoning game.”
Stutsman’s sack and forced fumble in the fourth quarter was one of two key points in the second half, along with Billy Bowman’s pick-six, that the Sooners defense forced. The Sooners committed three turnovers on the day, all of which resulted in OU touchdowns.
OU outscored BYU 21-0 in turnovers. Those key performances helped mask an otherwise porous defensive performance. BYU had the worst rushing attack in the Big 12 with 217 yards. The Cougars averaged less than 100 rushing yards per game on the day.
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But giving up all those yards is easier to swallow when you’re on the good side of the scoreboard. Especially when the defense’s dominance tilts the game in OU’s favor.
Bowman’s 100-yard interception gave the Sooners a seven-point lead in the third quarter when BYU could have easily taken a touchdown lead.
“You have to create these plays,” Stussman said. “The defense has to step up because of everything that’s happened to Dillon (Gabriel).”
The OU offense was without starting quarterback Gabriel throughout the entire second half. He had an apparent head injury.
In the hours leading up to the game, it was questionable whether OU’s defensive ace would be able to perform. Well, everyone doubted it except him.
“I’m not going to let any food come between us and the Big 12 championship,” Stutsman said.
The Sooners had no control over their fate heading to Arlington, but their division title hopes could have been dashed on Saturday if not for Stutsman, who had been smitten with IV before kickoff.
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“It’s been a brutal couple of days,” Stuisman said.
I started feeling ill on Friday morning.
“I had some pasta,” he said. “I don’t want to say where because that’s where I go all the time. It’s a nice hotel. I just felt like it was undercooked or something. “That’s it for me, man. ”
Have you ever done it.
After the game, Stausman said he hadn’t eaten in two days and tried a few spoonfuls of chicken soup and half a Hawaiian roll before Friday night’s game.
“It didn’t stay long,” Stuisman said, adding, “I looked like a zombie.”
He really scared BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff. With 8:43 left in the fourth quarter, Stuisman came from the edge and slammed Retzlaff from the blindside. Stuisman hit the ball and teammate Jacob Lacey recovered the fumble.
Stutsman’s sack/fumble led to OU’s go-ahead touchdown.
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The junior linebacker had a team-high 10 tackles.
“We called him the Winter Soldier,” Bowman said. “Man, I didn’t even see him in the hotel last night, this morning. I don’t even know where he is. But I know he traveled. “He came here, did his thing, led us The defense leads our team. ”
After the game, Stuisman was asked if he had considered the similarities to Jordan. After all, the Sooners wear Jordan Brand gear.
“I thought the flu was a little bit serious,” Stutzman said.
According to Jordan himself, he was surprised to hear that Jordan actually had food poisoning that night in Utah.
“Really?” Stutzman said. “Hats off to MJ. It’s brutal, man.
“Oh my gosh, this flight was horrible. I could go on and on, but hey, we got the dub. “We did what we had to do. “
Joe Mussato is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support the work of Joe and other Oklahoma journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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