Bob Stoops Quotes & Notes

QUOTING BOB STOOPS

On the BCS
"I don't have any control over (the BSC). If we're in that position, it speaks for itself. Our strength of schedule, our quality wins, everything they take into consideraton, indicates that we've earned our way. We'll do our best to do everything in a positive way and to win.

I think it's pretty obvious that although I respect both those programs (LSU, USC), we've come 13-14 straight weeks of being No. 1, carrying that burden the entire year, and playing pretty well. In the end, we're No. 1 in the BCS. I find no shame in that. We (OU and LSU) each played an extra game, playing a top 10 team, to get where we are. I'm not going to apologize. We're No. 1 in the entire system. There is nothing to apologize for."

On playing LSU in New Orleans
"It's the same thing when we played Florida State in Miami. We look at it as a challenge. We can reflect on the fact that we won the Orange Bowl. You draw on whatever positives you can make. You get on the field and if you're doing things well enough you're going to hear your crowd. If you don't, you're going to hear theirs. In the end, that's the thing that matters most."

On getting his team ready to play
"We're not a fragile team. We've played in a strong way this entire year up until last night when we didn't feel like we played as we're capable. There's not much to do (in motivating). In the last four weeks, everyone wanted to tell us we were the greatest team in the history of college football. We didn't listen to that just like we're not going to listen to some saying that maybe now we're not worthy."

On Jason White being injured in Saturday night's game
"He was dazed and there are still some sequences that he has a hard time remembering. He'll be ready for our bowl game. It wasn't an ideal situation for Jason, but give Kansas State the credit. We don't make excuses."

NOTES

* This OU team is gunning for the school's eighth national title. Three of the previous seven also endured a loss.

* This is the second time in a row that Oklahoma has gone to play a team in its home state with a national crown on the line. In 2000, the Sooners defeated Florida State, 13-2, at the Orange Bowl in Miami.

* This is Oklahoma's sixth apperance in the Sugar Bowl. The Sooners are 4-1 in the game. They downed North Carolina in 1949 (14-6), defeated LSU in 1950 (35-0), lost to Kentucky in 1951 (13-7), defeated Auburn in 1972 (40-22) and turned back Penn State in 1973 (14-0). None of Oklahoma's previous seven national titles came as the result of a win in the Sugar Bowl.

* Oklahoma won its first national championship in 1950 and played in the Sugar Bowl season. Ironically, the Sooners lost (1951 game) to Kentucky, 13-7.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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