Dom Franks, meet Larry Birdine
So, Dom Franks went a little Larry Birdine on everyone Sunday.
You remember Birdine spouting off a few years ago. The Oklahoma defensive end said some things before the national championship game against Southern Cal that ended up looking down right silly after the Trojans blitzkrieged the Sooners.
Fast forward four years. Franks, a normally calm and collected defensive back, stepped out on a limb Sunday and said Florida signal caller Tim Tebow would’ve been the fourth-best quarterback in the Big 12 this season.
Truth is, you could make that argument with Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy and Graham Harrell.
But the other truth is, that is big-time bulletin board material for the Gators.
Listen, I’ll be the first to say that bulletin board material isn’t worth squat once the game starts. Winning and losing comes down to blocking and tackling, Xs and Os, not something someone said four days before the game.
Heck, the Gators have been offering up their own bulletin board material before they even secured a spot in the national championship game. Everyone from coaches to stars to reserves has offered up their two cents.
Am I surprised Franks said what he said? Frankly, I’m surprised a Sooner hadn’t popped off before.
But here’s where things get tricky — the Sooners haven’t won a BCS game since these current players were in middle school. Not a national championship game. A BCS game. The program’s BCS swoon is well-documented, so comments like Franks’ look worse than they are.
All that changes if the Sooners back up what he said. If they go out Thursday night in Miami and win the ball game, all of this talk becomes mute. If they stop the slide and claim the title, that will be the focus.
But if they don’t, then things like Franks’ comments will be remembered and re-hashed.
Franks wasn’t foolish for saying what he did, but he’ll look that way if the Sooners lose on Thursday.
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The whole thing seems a little rediculous if you asked me. There is a wierd dance that happens in every bowl/big game, year in and year out:
First Step. The week before the game the players and coaches are expected to praise the opposing team like they were the God’s gift to football. Anything short of “gifted” and “talented” and “quick” and “powerful” etc. etc. etc. is considered a slight.
Second Step. The press baits the players/coaches and and verbally pokes them, and prods them, and taunts them, and implies that their team sucks. Eventually, in an unguarded moment, one of the players/coaches says something remotely negative.
Third Step. The reporters throw their hands up in the air and scream “we’re shocked, I tell you, just absolutely shocked” and they run around in circles.
Fourth Step. Everybody then goes and writes a column about it.
Fifth Step. Go to opposing team and confront them with the comment until somebody eventually fires back.
Sixth Step. Repeat Steps 3-5.
Are we having fun yet?
At that point, all members of the press gasp in horor