It's hard to think about Oklahoma-Kansas State games in the Stoops era without thinking about the 2001 matchup in Norman.

That was the year Nate Hybl quarterbacked the Sooners to a 38-37 win after the Wildcats sold out defensively the entire game and planted OU's newest QB into the turf play after play. Hybl threw for 283 yards that day, including touchdown passes of 63 and 75 yards to Antwone Savage.

But the biggest mark made on that game was by Hybl, who stood in the pocket and took a beating, all for a chance to make Kansas State pay for gambling away their coverage in order to blitz as many defenders as possible.

"Strangely enough that's the game a lot of Sooner fans remember for me coming on the scene," said Hyble this week from his Atlanta, Ga., home. "We had an offensive line trying to figure out who we were and we lost a lot of guys from the year before. I just remember a lot of cover zero and if you're a quarterback and you believe in the guys up front, you're kind of licking your chops because there's no safety back there."

If you'll remember, Hybl had a difficult time recovering from that beating. The next week against Texas, the Longhorns knocked Hybl out of the game, setting the stage for Jason White's heroics. White entered the game game and led the Sooners to victory in the Red River Rivalry.

But for Hybl, as he looks back on that Kansas State win now, it resonates as one of his finest moments in an OU uniform.

"It was one of the most refreshing games I've ever played because sometimes when you get knocked around and you hear that crowd roar when you're laying on your back, that's one of the best feelings in the world," he recounted.

When you talk about the rivalry of OU and Kansas State, that 2001 matchup illustrates how contentious this series has become.

That group of Wildcats came to Norman after the Sooners took away their hopes of a Big 12 and national championship the season before.

OU beat K-State in Manhattan 41-31 to start their 2000 Red October run the previous season. They finished off the Wildcats in Kansas City during the Big 12 Championship game by winning 27-24. From there, OU won the national title in the Orange Bowl against Florida State.

The 2001 season was their chance for revenge. It was as if they released all their frustrations on Hybl, but the Sooners still came away with the win.

"We hit a couple bombs and we paid the price for them. I remember feeling a little woozy after a couple of them," said Hybl. "If you could ever have fun getting the crap knocked out of you, I certainly did for three or four hours."

Today Hybl lives life away from Sooner football. He watches games when he can, but he's spent the last four years of his life starting up a new restaurant company in his home state of Georgia.

Looking back at his time at Oklahoma, Hybl remembers it all. He has fond memories of that game against Kansas State, he has fond memories of leading the Sooners to a Big 12 Championship in 2002, and he also remembers the criticism of that season as well.

If you search the Internet, you can find the most infamous moment of Hybl's career. It was after he led the Sooners to a 29-7 victory over Colorado in that 2002 Big 12 Championship game.

Hybl's contributions were being downplayed by hosts on the Sports Animal radio station as they were broadcasting live from the Reliant Stadium turf. Hybl was asked to pick up a microphone and defend himself, which he did.

"Oh really?" Hybl asked over the air when told he had little to do with the win that night. "Well, I was the leader out there. I think I did. I made some big throws. I missed a couple. I've been hearing it second hand from you boys for a while."

When played back the audio from that exchange, Hybl could only laugh, but still remembered it all like it was yesterday.

"We won the game and we won the Big 12 Championship so I was kind of taken aback," explained Hybl. "I always clammed up and didn't deal with that stuff the best way. I was raised to be respectful and go about my business. I was the son of a coach."

Hybl said his time in the spotlight as an Oklahoma quarterback, including that exchange with media after one of his finest moments, is a big reason why he's chosen to spend his last four years developing this restaurant chain, which is still in the developmental stages.

"I think I probably would have been a better quarterback had I been more cocky," Hybl said. "I'll never forget coach Stoops pulling me aside and essentially saying that one day. He told me to not be afraid of being great.

"I want to have my own voice and I want to have my own influence and I want to say what I want to say anytime. I find myself as a quarterback for a multi-million dollar university and being the head of that and having to fall in line with the program's personality. I always tried my best to do that. Now I'm a grown man and can be whoever I want to be and answer to that accordingly."

Don't think Hybl harbors any regrets or hurt feelings over some of the rocky sections of his OU career. He doesn't. Finishing off with a Rose Bowl Championship and MVP trophy was certainly a cherry on top of a football career he considers a success.

"We ended up having one of the best trips of my lifetime out to Pasadena and it ends up launching me confidence-wise to be able to play at the next level for three years," said Hybl. "I'm very proud of that and we won a lot of games. I think we could have contended for championships, but I think there's been a lot of teams between now and then that would have said the same thing. It's really hard to do."

Hybl also doesn't get caught up in the fact he isn't often mentioned alongside Josh Heupel, Jason White or Sam Bradford when it comes to OU's great throwing quarterbacks. He's just happy to be a part of that legacy. A legacy he feels is underappreciated.

"I had a very mild career and I'm very proud of being able to make it to the next level, but there's something to be said for OU being a quarterback U in terms of college football," he says. "We've strung together a lot of really good ones in terms of wins and passing efficiency and wins and touchdowns."

Hybl also believes Landry Jones is carrying on that legacy to a greater degree than some Sooner fans are willing to recognize. He also understands the difficult situation Landry is in by replacing legendary figures at quarterback.

"Heupel was in his own situation and they did an incredible thing. I had the unfortunate/fortunate opportunity to follow in those footsteps," said Hybl. "Jason White comes along and he's one of the passers in the history of college football with a great lineup around him.

"There hasn't been many Sam Bradfords in the history of football and I still think Sam will be an elite NFL passer if they can get somebody to freakin' help him up there.

"It's Quarterback U. We've put together a lot of impressive leaders and the expectations are out of control out there, but I understand why that is."

According to Hybl, Jones has made his own mark.

"I'll say this, he's more talented," he said. "I think he can have a great career at the next level if he falls under the right coaching regime. I really think as limited as my watching has been the last couple of years, I really think Landry is one or two clutch plays away from being that elite Heisman quarterback. He's put up ridiculously gaudy numbers and he's going to end up being the most heralded stat guys among OU passers.

"I hope that he can take that next step. He's really impressive as an athlete. He throws a really tight ball and his mechanics are sound. I would think there wouldn't be a better man on this planet than Josh Heupel to get him to that maturity level to be an elite passer and transition into the next level because I think he can be a pro quarterback."