Emails are in on OU-Florida
The most interesting email week of the year is always after a Sooner bowl loss. Well, I guess a loss to Texas gives it a good run. But this week’s batch of emails are rich, rich I tell you, with readers torn between killing themselves, killing me and killing Bob Stoops, who had the audacity to lose another national title game
Jeff wrote, “Bob Stoops has played in four championship games in 10 seasons. That’s astounding. But he’s lost the last three. That’s very frustrating. To repeat a point you made — if he ever manages to win another championship, or tie Switzer and Wilkinson by winning three, then suddenly all these BCS appearances will look like badges of honor. As you said, though, who knows when we’ll be playing in another championship. Don’t you find it ironic that if you make it to the championship game (a remarkable accomplishment made by only two out of a 100+ teams), you have to win it or else it’s devastating? Sports and our society in general are so framed in terms of winners and losers. Would Stoops be more of a winner if he was winning the Cotton Bowl, or heck, the Independence Bowl, every year?”
Call it the Buffalo Bill syndrome. Would you rather be a Buffalo fan in the ’90s, or the 2000s? Anyone who says 2000 is nuts. Yes, Buffalo now has less grief. But it also less glory. Remember Garth Brooks’ song. “I’d have missed the pain, but I’d have had to miss the dance.”
Chris wrote, “The Ohio State comparison is humbling. OU simply does not have the game to win championships – an aerial circus gets you 60 points but does not work against SEC opponents. The fact that OU over the years has harvested nearly $100 million in BCS revenues is a remarkable accomplishment. Wonder whether someone keeps their eyes on the money.”
Oh, I think OU has the game. It just fell short. The Sooners left 10 points on the table. And lost by 10.
Wayne was “particularly impressed with Florida’s receivers. I think that they are used to catching the ball in tight, harassing coverage. Several different receivers made very difficult receptions. I feel sorry for the players. Stoops makes $31/2 million (I think). His is a business relationship..I don’t feel sorry for him.”
Well, there’s not a to feel sorry about over anybody. It was a good football game played by two teams that just spent a week on Miami beachfront hotels. There’s worse ways to live.
Danny “was just wanting to ask why OU (Kevin Wilson) never utilized Matt Clapp as an actual offensive weapon? Screen pass, handoff at goal line? He is actually a very talented athlete. Teams are rarely looking for that from OU. In fact J.D. Runnels was rarely used, which was very frustrating. I think towards the end of his career he carried the ball a few times and made several great receptions.”
Hardly anyone in football, college or pro, gives the ball to the fullback anymore. And darn few toss any passes. I don’t know why.
Robert wrote, “You were right — OU’s bowl woes continue. While I hate to admit it, the same thought was lingering in the back of my mind, but I was hoping against hope that OU’s offense could overcome it. I know a bunch of fans are going to write in and say Bob Stoops, Kevin Wilson, Brent Venables, fill-in-the-blank should be fired, but I think OU played pretty well. I honestly think the layoff hurt OU more than it hurt Florida. I know both teams had the same time off, but I think the layoff generally hurts offenses more than defenses and OU’s offense is better than Florida’s offense, thus negating some of OU’s advantage. I think both D’s played great. However, I honestly believe it was more OU’s offense being out of sync vs. Florida’s defense being great. Play this game in December and there’s no way OU doesn’t score on at least one of those failed drives in the first half. They would’ve stepped on Florida’s throat for all it was worth.”
Blaming the layoff is like blaming the guy who designed the field for 100 yards instead of 95, else Chris Brown and Jermaine Gresham would have had more touchdowns. The layoff is what it is. And I see no evidence that the layoff hurts offenses.
Larry wrote, “I am really proud of the way the Sooners played and competed all season, and especially against Florida. You are right on target in saying Florida’s pass coverage was outstanding. It has been all season and I knew going into the game that every pass would be contested, that OU wouldn’t have any long breakaway touchdowns, and that Bradford would be rushed and pressured more than he had been all season. Holding Florida to 24 points, their lowest all season, was an incredible defensive accomplishment. And that gives me high hopes for next season, as long as McCoy returns. You are absolutely right in saying that OU needed Sooner magic to win that game. With Sooner Magic they could have, would have scored two more touchdowns and won the game. But they needed Sooner magic because Florida’s players and SEC players in general are just as strong, a tad quicker, a step faster. Florida’s team is just a couple of ‘missed opportunities’ by OU better.”
You know, I don’t hear all that much Brent Venables criticism after this game. Although I’ll bet it’s coming.
James wrote “I am sure that we would all be happier if Oklahoma had won the game, but let us not go overboard in our analysis of the event. On the subject of the death of Sooner Magic, it is not enough to merely proclaim it dead but to associate a cause. If I care to speculate, one obvious culprit among many are the chicken**** billboard advertisements on the exterior of the south end zone. The players practice under that and one wonders whether this has an effect on their psychology. The fact that the chicken**** advertisements are there at all cannot create a positive influence, but at worst can instill a notion in the players that the whole thing is a sad joke. I think that what we need now is an good old-fashioned Justinian purge of advertisements from the stadium. After all, the baby must give up his bottle if he will be a man.”
You’re not the first person to complain about the ads behind the scoreboard. Wonder if there’s a correlation?
Bill, a Texas fan, chimed in: “How sweet it is! OU crashes again. Texas should have been in that game after controlling the ball for 15 minutes longer than OU on a neutral field. Get ready for another Texas victory over the Sooners next year. It will be Texas players against Texas players, as usual. But the ones wearing burnt orange will prevail. Another prediction. You might remember that I said a few weeks back that OU would never win another national championship. I firmly believe that. My new crystal ball reading is that Baylor will beat OU in the Sooners next trip to Waco. Also Tech is likely to beat the overrated ones next year in Lubbock. At least two conference losses await the loud, abusive, and supremely arrogant Sooners. Listening to talk radio now is delicious.”
Think how empty this guy’s life is. Hating the Sooners is all that fulfills him.
Enos wrote, “Tramel, you’re such a slug. Your column on our Sooners started off negative and the poorly written thing ended negative. Why couldn’t you have said how hard the Sooners fought and what a wonderful season they had. Instead you trashed our beloved football team. Move to Florida, please.”
I might think about it, except I’d be surrounded by Florida fans, and that doesn’t seem to be any better than being surrounded by a bunch of Enoses. Anyway, you’re right. The column started off negative and ended negative. Hmm. Just like the football game for the Sooners.
Lisa wrote, “I appreciate that you are just doing your job reporting the truth of the game. However, do you have to use such harsh headlines? Please remember these are student athletics, they are kids and while football is very important to most of us Oklahomans we need to remain positive and supportive of our children.”
Were the headlines harsh? “Gator Done.” “OU has become the new Buckeyes.” Doesn’t seem harsh to me. And please, let’s have no more references to 20-year-old college football players as “children.”
James wrote, “It would serve the Sooner Nation well if Stoops would just tell you all goodbye and we could revert back to the good ol’ days of John Blake. Ask Mac Brown what he would prefer – five BCS losses and five Big 12 championships or what Texas has gotten since Bob has arrived at OU. Get real and tell it like it was. They played well enough win, gave great effort and that we will fill the stadium next year rooting for the Sooners.”
If your point is that OU’s 10-year record with Stoops is better than Texas’ 11-year with Brown, my point would be, what does that have to do with Florida?
Dan wrote, “I have started to become a believer in the old adage that defense wins championships. Before the game, I looked up the stats for OU and Florida. The scoring defense for Florida was 12.4 per game, while OU’s was slightly over 24 points per game. The final score (24-14).”
I don’t know what that means, but it’s interesting.
Larry wrote, “I think you are over-reacting to last night’s game. OU could be back sooner than you think. At least OU is getting to the title game. That’s something Texas can’t say. OU will get their eighth title before Texas gets their fifth, in my humble opinion. As you know, all this criticism of OU will disappear when OU wins another BCS game, and they will.”
Of course they will, but it’s been five games and six years, and no matter how many times OU fans bring up Texas, it doesn’t change the bowl slump.
Rick wrote, “Let’s be fair. 1. Poor officiating, two blown obvious calls for pass interference. 2. Stupid play-calling. 3. Stupid penalties for doing dumb things. OU beat OU. T-Bone and Florida didn’t win the game. You’re so lucky that Oklahoma has only one newspaper.
Losers blame the refs. Idiots blame the play-calling. Idiot losers blame both.
Chris wrote, “A friend of mine asked me on a scale of 1-to-10 how disappointing OU’s loss to Florida in the BCS Championship game was. I thought I’d go a little further and rank all five BCS losses. I would be curious to get your feedback: 1. USC (because the Sooners were totally and completely humiliated in all aspects); 2. West Virginia (lack of desire to be in the game); 3. Florida (all the baggage built from the previous disappointing performances, not because of how they played in this game); 4. LSU (because of how they fell apart in the last two games); 5. Boise State (humiliating loss but a great game from a general fan’s perspective).”
I would rank them this way in terms of disappointment: 1. USC; 2. Florida; 3. LSU; 4. Boise State; 5. West Virginia. USC was embarrassing. Florida was winnable. LSU was a national-championship game, so it goes ahead of the Fiesta Bowls.
Jim wrote, “One thing I cannot understand. Where is it in journalism 101 that says you have to pile on after a painful defeat? There is not anyone more disappointed about that game last night than the coaches and the players. But do you have to rub it in? If I was Bob Stoops, I wouldn’t let any of you media into another practice and I wouldn’t show up at press conferences. I am a Baptist preacher and I would like to hit someone for the frustration I feel. Why don’t you talk about a few of the stupid calls by officials? I have yet to read from anyone about the play on the first drive of the game where the Florida defensive back nailed Manny Johnson before the ball got there? And if you say he arrived at the same time as the ball, which he didn’t, he led with his helmet, which is an automatic penalty. Both of Bradford’s interceptions were flukes. Berry, sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way, and it didn’t for the Sooners last night. Just leave it as that. Is your article intended to sell newspapers or to tell the truth or what? I am so glad I serve a God who doesn’t remind me of my failures on a moment by moment basis. The media as a whole are like vultures. What would have been your story if OU had scored those two times in the red zone and ended up winning 28-24?”
What kind of question is that? What would have been my story had OU won 28-24? Are Baptist seminaries turning out idiots these days? I’m glad I serve a God who asks me to take responsibility for my failures and doesn’t condone whining and blaming others. Is that what the Baptists teach these days? Here’s what’s funny. Read all these people who are mad at me, and find something IN PARTICULAR they didn’t like or disagreed with. It’s not there. Most fans are upset because they lost, and I’m their punching bag. Which is fine. Somebody has to be, and I’m glad to do it. But when preachers trot out the Lord trying to do their dirty work and justifying their over-the-top kookiness concerning football, I tend to punch back.
Gene wrote, “Another year of shoulda, coulda, and woulda has came and gone. And, for whatever reason, the issue of little things has seemingly been sweep under the rug by the Oklahoma football coaching staff and The Oklahoman. If Barry Switzer’s teams had led the nation in yards penalized, number of touchdowns allowed on kickoff returns, plus speed of play calling, and poor choice of plays inside and out of the red zone, The Oklahoman would have berated him worse than David Walters during his term as governor. However, for whatever reason, these actions by Big Game Bob and his staff have been downplayed, minimized, or overlooked. I, along with others, wonder why?”
I say we put you in a room with the Baptist preacher and may the best man win.
Tana wrote, “It is bad enough to have to read and hear the views of the national media the last three weeks. Florida, Florida, Florida. Then the network hires the two biggest donks to call the game. If I hear another word about Tim Tebow I will be SICK! To add insult, I have to open my own paper and both of you don’t have one nice thing to say about the coach or the team. Do you think the OU supporters want to wake up to negativity and sarcasm? Don’t you think the coaches and the players wanted to win more than any fan or sportswriter? Don’t you think the kids are bummed enough without speculating if their coach is coming back or if they are the ‘New Buckeyes?’ Let’s cut everyone a little slack . These coaches and kids have worked hard all year and worked hard practicing in Miami. An article congratulating and encouraging the team would be the least you can do.”
I did too have one nice thing to say about the team. I’m getting a little tired of this.
Kathy wrote, Hey Berry Tramel, Go talk to yourself where no one else can hear it and write an article that builds and does not tear down. I don’t like you.”
I’ll try to survive.
Ragan wrote, “I just wanted to let you know how stupid all you sportswriter —holes in the Big 12 Conference look for not bothering to vote for Tim Tebow for the Heisman. You all put your little vote down for the QB in your area and then didn’t even put Tim Tebow’s name on the ballot. 153 of you bastards left Tim Tebow’s name completely off the ballot. Did you think he did not even deserve to get voted for at all? Let me make it clear that I am a Georgia Bulldog fan and I hate the Florida Gators, but with that said the SEC continues to rip the Big 12. You all wanted to do what you could to make your conference look good. Oklahoma did well scoring 50 points up against the defenses in the Big 12, but when they had to play a real team they got their (butts) handed to them. I am sure that you know now that Tim Tebow is better than anything the Big 12 has ever had to offer.”
Hey, Ragan, I didn’t vote in the Heisman. But I’ll tell you this. If you ever send me a profanity-laced email again, I’m coming to Georgia and kick your butt.
We’ve heard from the Georgia precincts. So now let’s hear from LSU’s. Will wrote, “OU did not lose to LSU’s fans. And the game was not even close to what the final score would indicate.”
I assume Will is talking about the Sugar Bowl, a game in which OU lost 21-14 and drove to the LSU 20-yard line in the final minutes. The SEC is full of idiots. Hey, Will, pipe down while you’ve got a chance for Florida to pass you as the most classless fans in college football.
Stephen, a Florida fan, wrote, “Choklahoma had never seen a D quite as good as ours all year. Oklahoma was outplayed in every facet of the game, and the better team clearly won, as did the better Heisman winner.”:
I think I’ve figured it out. It goes back to the Civil War. The Southerners are still trying to win the war and justify their goofy way of life, only they’re doing it through NASCAR and SEC football.
Justin wrote, “I take great exception to your condescending story about OU losing the title game to Florida. Just like all the other worthless media, you can only criticize those that do things you have never, will never and could never do. Give the Sooners AND Bob Stoops some credit for six Big 12 titles in 10 years. I guess you would be happier if OU just finished with two or three losses each year and never played for anything meaningful. That way, you wouldn’t get your hopes up for a national title and then cry yourself to sleep after a tough loss and write a classless article criticizing OU. Everyone fails to give OU credit for holding Florida to their lowest point total of the year. You didn’t give OU credit for playing their best in a BCS game in five years. I hope kids don’t read your columns and see that you only care about winning, 100%, nothing else. I care about winning 95% but being positive about the Sooners after a tough defeat is the classy thing to do.”
Justin, that’s a great idea. That should have been my story from Florida. “Hey, Sooners. At least you beat Missouri.”
Gary wrote, “I’ve disagreed with Stoops before, but I’m sticking up for him today. His team was ready to play and the defense showed up. It was Wilson that choked trying to run four times inside the 10 behind Loadholdt, who is only a good pass blocker. Bradford also had a good game; both interceptions were receiver errors.
Well, I think Loadholt’s a pretty good run blocker. It’s speed rushers who give him trouble.
Bob wrote, “They played their hearts out and came up short. I hurt but have a different feeling than the last three years. I feel that I watched a good national championship game. Just because we are Sooners is not a guarantee that we win every game. Nothing to hang our heads down.”
I agree completely. Unfortunately, the previous bowl problems compound this one.
James wrote, “Observations from your biggest fan in Ardmore. l. Lousy, terrible play calling by OU’s offensive co-coordinator. Awful. 2. Defensive scheme of ‘let ‘em have the 7-11 yard pass but don’t get burned’ killed us. 3. Even with those mistakes, OU should have won. It stings so bad. Oklahoma is now officially “Chokelahoma.” I am really, truly embarrassed.”
There is no cause for embarrassment. The Sooners played hard and could have won. They just didn’t.
Mike wrote, “OK, Mr. Tramel, you got me. Coach Venables is the great defensive guru that you all media types claim. Shame on me for not being able to see it before. Only problem now is, how do we keep him? When the really elite, big schools come waving million dollar contracts in his face, what can poor little OU do to keep him. I guess we’ll just appeal to his sense of loyalty. And before you start with the standard arguments. Exactly when did OU lower the bar? I guess I just missed that particular item in the papers. Ten and two seasons, and playing in the Big 12 championship two or three times out of five and winning a national championship once every decade is now the new standard. My bad. I just missed it. Forgive me. And pleeease spare me the lame excuse about defenses not having had time to catch up with the new high powered offenses out there. Florida certainly had no problem with OU’s.”
Interesting. Your sarcasm blames this loss on the defense. Very interesting after a game in which OU’s offense scored 14 points. And by the way, it’s 12-2, and six Big 12 South titles in seven years, and four Big 12 titles in five years.
Eric wrote, “I read your take on last night’s championship game. I must disagree with you on one point. You said the defense was not to blame for OU’s loss. While on the whole, the defense did a commendable job to hold the Gators to half of their usual point total, the lack of sound tackling skills by the back seven enabled Tim Tebow and the Gator offense to extend drives. The conservative play calling in short yardage situations hurt the Sooners. And there were some key plays that might’ve turned the tide for Sooners had Oklahoma receivers been able to secure passes. So, while most of the burden of this loss will rest on the offense, it’s still a team sport, and the defense didn’t completely hold their end up, either.”
Well, yes. But come on. The Sooners gave up 24 points, and Florida never threatened except on its four scoring drives. Holding Florida to four scoring threats is good defense.
Kent wrote, “Wasted opportunities. Wilson ever hear of a quarterback sneak on 3rd-and-1 at the goal line. Then in third quarter comes back with the stretch play, loss of four yards and then kick with a suspect kicker. BAD move Bob. That reminded me of Nick Saban last week. Alabama has 4th-and-1 at Utah’s 30 late in the third quarter, they run in kicker, still down 11 points, and he misses. Alabama never threatens again. FOX should be banned from broadcasting college games, poor announcing and worse replays, never saw one of Brown near the goal line in the second quarter.”
I agree. FOX is mostly awful on college games.
John wrote, “Well, after ESPN gets through with the final BCS evaluation, I suggest we urge St. Tebow to walk down the Gaza Strip unannounced. His air of saintliness will permeate the area, people will cease fighting without knowing why and peace will ensue for 100 years. ESPN has become to athletics what the liberal mainstream press is to politics. Quite sickening.”
You should have been in Florida for a week. Tebow was worshipped and adored by the media in Miami.
Jerry wrote, “Well Chokelahoma does it again. I thought the defense played as good as it has all season. Stoops’ and Wilson’s play calling was horrible! OU should have won the game 28-24. Bradford needs to go pro and get away from the $6 Million Man.”
Yes, people’s careers certainly have crashed hanging around Bob Stoops.
Bill wrote, “I think it’s time for Stoops to resign, don’t you? I’m tired of these end-of-season losses. You’re tired of them, the whole state is tired of them. Stoops seems to be the only one who enjoys them, as he sure doesn’t seem to know how to correct it. Same old crap; year, after year, after year. I also read where the athletic director says Stoops is worth every penny. Just looking at that athletic director shows me he’s several bricks short of a load. They could use a replacement for him at OU, also. I think Sam better head for the big leagues before Stoops shows him how to be a full-time loser. Hanging around a loser is not a good practice.”
Wow. Losing sure can fry some brains.
Unsung heroes of Florida’s victory
Amid all the Tim Tebow/Sam Bradford talk, the unsung heroes of Florida’s victory over Oklahoma was the Gator secondary. Think how rare a Sooner receiver ran free.
Bradford completed his share of passes — 26 of 41 for 256 yards — but the Sooner receivers had to work for their catches. Little dump passes out in the flat were open most of the night, but nothing else.
Throw it deep? Well covered; Bradford landed a couple of balls with perfect accuracy that were knocked away.
Throw it short? Florida defenders converged like peace officers responding to a 9-1-1.
I thought Florida’s pass rush would be the key, and it was important. The Gators sacked Bradford twice and flushed him some other times. But Florida’s pass coverage was outstanding.
“Our defense always feels like we have to make a stand,” said sophomore DB Joe Haden. “They have a great offense. We like challenges. We like playing against good offenses. We like to show how good of a defense we are. Playing against them was proving how good we are.”
Case closed. Florida’s defense indeed proved that the title of SEC defense packs a wallop. The SEC defense stared down the Big 12 offense. And the prime reason was pass coverage.
My Prediction: Florida 35-34
I had to pick the Big Bowl score almost a month ago and said Florida 35-34. My reasoning was simple: After the Fiesta Bowl last January, I said I wouldn’t pick the Sooners in a bowl again until they won a bowl.
So I didn’t.
But I really don’t have a feel for this game. I think it could go almost any direction. OU blowout. Florida blowout. Close game won either way.
I think the kicking game remains huge, and not just the kickoff coverage fiasco. OU’s net punting is not good. OU’s field goals always are an adventure. If Florida wins the kicking game by one touchdown, that’s a big margin to make up.
Not that the Sooners can’t do it. But until I see this bowl slump end, I can’t pick OU.
Tebow’s teammates revere their leader
It’s been an interesting week in South Florida. Maybe Nic Harris has been the most interesting Sooner.
Harris decided to be a pain in the butt awhile back. Ask him a question, and he’ll cop an attitude.
Back in Norman, I asked him what did he think was the problem on kickoff coverage. His response: “I am neither coach nor critic, therefore I cannot answer.”
Here in Florida, he offered some of the same kind of answers. “I am not an electrician, I am not a mechanic, I am not a carpenter. I don’t fix things.”
Oh, OK. Hope that attitude doesn’t prevail when his coaches ask him to fill a certain gap on the kickoff unit.
But my favorite Harris quote of the week came when he was asked if it was cool to be a part of only the second game in history that matches Heisman Trophy winners. “Cool for who?” Harris asked. “Cool for fans? Cool for critics. Not really cool for us. It won’t be cool until we get a win. I could care less who won the Heisman.”
I don’t think that’s the mindset of most Sooners, and I promise you it’s not the mindset of the Florida Gators, who adore, if not worship, their quarterback, 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow.
When Tebow made his now-legendary vow after the loss to Ole Miss in September, he entered mythical status in Gatorland. And that includes with his teammates.
Flanker Louis Murphy: “It meant a lot to me that my quarterback could stand up as a man of character, and when our backs were against the wall and when everybody doubted us out, he stood up and was like, ‘We’re going to make it.’ Everybody felt the same way in the locker room.”
Tebow actually delivered the message to the media first, in the press conference after the loss. Then the next day at a team meeting, he repeated his vow to not let down the Gators again
“He got us energized,” said offensive tackle Phil Trautwein. “He kind of cried a little bit. His face was all red. He was ready to go.”
Offensive tackle Jason Watkins said, “Seeing our quarterback stepping up like that, that’s a great motivation for our O-line and especially for our team. We took it as a chip on our shoulder, and each day we work even harder in practice to make sure we can uphold the promise that he made. And from then on we took it on ourselves that we’ve just got to go out and work to our potential.”
O-line coach Steve Addazio, who will become Florida’s offensive coordinator after this game, made a great point. He said Tebow’s speech made everyone realize “how fragile every football game really is. That’s really what you realize in that scenario, that the margin for error is not that great. As a player, as a coach, as a program, you really have to understand that you go into every contest, you’ve got to bring you’re A game. It was a wakeup call to everybody.”
Florida, of course, hasn’t had a close game since, other than a 31-20 victory over Alabama in the SEC title game.
Tebow said his speech wasn’t off-handed. He knew what he was doing and wanted to do it. A lot of his teammates felt “the same way I did. A lot of them tried to console me after the game, which I appreciated.
“When I was sitting in the locker room trying to think and pray about what I wanted to say, I didn’t want to just go out there and speak straight out of emotion or just ramble on just out of anger. I wanted to say something that meant something, something that was going to last.”
Mission successful.
Spreading out all over South Florida
If you’ve been reading our stories on the Oklahoma-Florida game, you’ve been seeing a lot of different datelines. I know it has to be confusing. So I thought I would explain.
MIAMI — This is the big place, of course, but relatively little has taken place in Miami proper. The Sooners flew into Miami’s airport, so the arrival stories were set here. Nothing else.
MIAMI BEACH — This is the famed incorporated city that stretches thinly out from Miami, with Biscayne Bay on the west and the Atlantic on the east. South Beach is here. Jackie Gleason’s theater is here. And the Fontainebleau Hotel, home of OU’s Orange Bowl trips since the 1950s, is here. Any story stemming from OU’s hotel had a Miami Beach dateline.
FORT LAUDERDALE — Media headquarters is at the Marriott Harbor Beach on this other resort spot. Fort Lauderdale has become a huge city in its own right. Three pre-game press conferences are held in Fort Lauderdale.
MIAMI SHORES — OU’s practice facility, at Barry University, is here. It’s just a suburban municipality, same as a Moore or a Choctaw.
MIAMI GARDENS — This is home to Dolphin Stadium, and it didn’t exist until recently. Dolphin Stadium was built in an unincorporated area. Most people called the stadium in Miami. But several census-designated places that wanted better representation consolidated and incorporated. Places like Andover, Opa-Locka North and Carol City, the latter of which produced former OU nose guard Johnny Lewis in the 1970s. Anyway, the new city was named Miami Gardens.
HOLLYWOOD — A big beach resort city between Miami and Fort Lauderdale and home to the Westin hotel, where Florida is staying.
BOCA RATON — Home to Florida Atlantic University, where Howard Schnellenberger coaches, and the practice site for Florida. Boca Raton sits north of Fort Lauderdale.
Tips for OU fans in Miami
1. The Orange Bowl committee plans a Fan Fest from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday at Bicentennial Park in downtown Miami. The All American Rejects will headline the event, the largest national championship celebration in town.
OU and Florida play for the national championship Thursday night at Dolphin Stadium.
Fan Fest tickets are available for $20; $15 with “The Patch,” which is available online at www.orangebowl.org.
The All-American Rejects, I’m told, are a pop-rock sensation. They will be joined by alternative-rock band Low vs Diamond.
The Fan Fest will include both schools’ marching bands, cheerleaders and former players. Fan Fest serves a pep rally, with music, entertainment and food and drink from local restaurants.
Bicentennial Park overlooks Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. Bicentennial Park is located at 1075 Biscayne Blvd., north of American Airlines Arena and south of the MacArthur Causeway.
2. Game day will include a tailgate party beginning at 11:30 a.m. in the northwest bus parking lot at Dolphin Stadium. The event will feature entertainment by American rock sensation Smash Mouth as well as the Miami Heat Street Band, along with interactive games and entertainment.
3. The Florida Department of Transportation offers a free traffic information system. Call 511 and receive access to real-time road conditions, congestion and construction updates.
Thursday is a work day, and traffic is expected to be heavy around Dolphin Stadium.
Gators experienced on offense, not on defense
Florida will post an interesting lineup in the Big Bowl. The Gators start five seniors on offense, including three on the line, plus junior quarterback Tim Tebow, who seems like he’s been around forever. But UF starts no seniors on defense.
That means a few things. Mostly, if Florida’s defense produces against Oklahoma, or even if it doesn’t, the Gators have a chance to be big-time good on defense next season.
Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong admitted earlier this week that this defensive line doesn’t compare to the d-line the Gators used to beat Ohio State in the 2006 national title game. And you can see why. Three sophomores start on this line.
Florida looks to be really good in 2009, when it could be bucking for its third national title game in four seasons. The Sooners could stop a budding dynasty in Miami Gardens on Thursday night.
The Sooners will field a similar lineup. Six seniors start on offense, just two on defense.
Of course, these days, you lose more than seniors. OU’s 2009 fortunes will be largely determined by whether Sam Bradford, G.K. McCoy and Jermaine Gresham decide to turn pro.
The Sooners should be really good on defense next year, with just safeties Nic Harris and Lendy Holmes for sure gone, and maybe McCoy, their best player.
OU returns great pass rushers in Frank Alexander and Jeremy Beal, cornerbacks Dom Franks and Brian Jackson, and a linebacker star in Travis Lewis.
Offensively, the Sooners will be rebuilding without Bradford. The offensive line loses four starters, all but Trent Williams, and even he could turn pro.
Don’t expect to see Oklahoma in Pasadena, Calif., for the national title game next season. But Florida could be there.
Texas squeaker means what for OU?
Texas beat Ohio State 24-21 Monday night in a Fiesta Bowl thriller, and Mack Brown says he’s going to vote Texas No. 1 in the coaches poll Friday morning. Isn’t that special. Thursday night, the Waterford crystal trophy will already be in the hands of Sooners or Gators.
AP voters, of course, are not bound by the BCS national championship game, and they can do whatever they want in poll voting, and FOX broadcasters kept asking if the Longhorns could jump to No. 1 in AP.
Let me get this straight. The No. 3-ranked team is supposed to ride a narrow victory, achieved in the final seconds, over the No. 10 team, and leapfrog whoever wins the No. 1 vs. No. 2 shootout of Oklahoma-Florida?
This is not a discussion for people dealing in reality. There is not, and there was not, a scenario by which the Longhorns could jump to the top.
The voters spoke last time. If the voters were going to reward Texas for beating OU, they would have done it after the Sooners beat Missouri, not after the Sooners beat Florida in Miami.
Much more relevant is what Texas’ performance means. And the truth is, the Fiesta gives a little credence to Big 12 bashers. Not a lot, but a little.
Trailing 6-3 at halftime, Texas’ offense seemed quite mediocre, making you think that maybe Big 12 defenses are shoddy, as some claim. Of course, the 21-point second half was impressive. Quarterback Colt McCoy was fantastic; no one ever has said Ohio State doesn’t play defense. The Buckeyes can’t pass to save their lives, but they can guard you.
So we really can’t take too much from the game as it pertains to the Oklahoma-Florida showdown. Anything still seems possible. Tight game. OU blowout, via its explosive offense. Florida blowout, via another Sooner bowl meltdown.
Texas’ hurryup offense bothered Ohio State in the second half. That has to concern Florida, which already has admitted the Sooners’ no-huddle offense has them a little worried. OU’s offense is even more uptempo than UT’s. I think you’ll see the Sooners go into high gear early against the Gators.
Texas’ victory means the Big Bowl will be for Big 12/SEC bragging rights. The Big 12 now is 4-2 in bowls; the SEC is 5-2. The OU-Florida winner will give its league the better record.
Taking a look at Dolphin Stadium
Big Bowl Media Day just concluded a couple of hours ago, and I got a chance to really look at Dolphin Stadium, where OU will play Florida on Thursday night for the national title.
I like Dolphin Stadium. I like it a lot. For football, it’s a great venue. It stinks for baseball, which is why the Marlins are going to get a new stadium, eventually. But for football, it’s a lovely place. Great sightlines, good look, great field.
All in all, a great place to host a championship game, which is why the Super Bowl is played here routinely — and will be next season again — and why the Orange Bowl is in the rotation to host the college football title game every four years.
I’ve only got one suggestion for Miami. And it involves the stadium name.
Dolphin Stadium is fine, and in this age of corporate names, Dolphin Stadium is great. But Dolphin Stadium was built as Joe Robbie Stadium, after the late Miami Dolphins owner, and was called Pro Player Stadium during the Sooners’ two national title games in Miami this decade, 2000 and 2004. Joe Robbie is a better name than Pro Player, and Dolphin Stadium is a better name than Joe Robbie.
But here’s a name for the stadium: the Orange Bowl. And here’s why:
1. The original Orange Bowl is gone, torn down a year ago after a glorious run as one of America’s great coliseums. It’s no sin to call a new stadium by an old name. Madison Square Garden is not the original MSG. The new Yankee Stadium won’t dishonor the old Yankee Stadium. Calling Dolphin Stadium the Orange Bowl would be a great tribute to the old stadium.
2. The name fits. Dolphin Stadium is a bowl and its seats are mostly orange.
3. The Orange Bowl — the name of the stadium and the name of the game — is synonomous with Miami. It would be a great fit for the tradition of the city and its status as one of the football capitals of America for championship games.
No feel yet for Big Bowl
I’ve been in Fort Lauderdale for more than 24 hours now, and talked to a dozen participants in the Big Bowl, and still I’ve got no feel for the Big Bowl. OU blowout? Florida blowout? Classic?
I have no idea. I don’t know how this game will go. I picked the Gators 35-34, for no other reason than fool me twice. The Sooners’ Fiesta Bowl performances the last two seasons have been so shoddy, maybe there is something to the bowl slump.
Or maybe not. Maybe it’s just that weird things happen in bowls. And in title games. The truth is, the BCS title game has replaced the Super Bowl as America’s great blowout.
LSU-Ohio State? Florida-Ohio State? USC-Oklahoma? Miami-Nebraska? Four of the last seven championship games have been over by halftime.
Could this one? You always doubt it, but you never know.
But several things puzzle me. I just can’t accept the notion that Florida is faster than Oklahoma. Maybe it’s true. But decades of watching the Sooners match any speed in America makes me hesitant to buy it. Then I think back to West Virginia, which in the Fiesta obviously outran Oklahoma, and here we go again.
Let me say this about Florida. All the talk about defensive arrogance appeared to be empty. Six Gator defenders met with the media Saturday, and none talked smack. All were confident, but none were dismissive of OU. In fact, I thought they were very complimentary of the Sooner offense. There was none of that “SEC defense” stuff. Truth is, the quotes that Oklahomans clung to as a sign that Florida claimed superiority were mostly empty.
Sunday morning, we meet with the OU defense and the Florida offense, which means the Tim Tebow show. I’m anxious to see if the Florida media is as reverential to Tebow as has been proclaimed. Wouldn’t surprise me if that has been overstated, too.
