Stoops Has Complete Confidence in Hartley

MIAMI, Fla. -- There have been 14 Orange Bowls decided by three points or fewer, and many people believe this year's Oklahoma-Southern California matchup will be a classic that may come down to a late kick.

If that's the case, Sooners coach Bob Stoops insists he won't be worried - even though his kicker has never tried a field goal in college.

Freshman Garrett Hartley replaced Trey DiCarlo in Oklahoma's regular-season finale against Baylor, and already has Stoops' complete confidence.

"I'm not asking him to go catch a touchdown pass or go run over their tackle," Stoops said. "He's going to do something he does every single day and has been for I don't know how many years. And he's awfully good at it."

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Hartley seemed set to keep his redshirt until Stoops put him in against Baylor. Hartley kicked four extra points.

"He's here on scholarship like everyone else," Oklahoma defensive back Antonio Perkins said. "He'll make a play when it comes down to it."

DiCarlo was a Lou Groza Award finalist last season. But he was only 8-for-16 on field-goal tries this season, did not make any from beyond 35 yards and missed six of his last eight kicks.

Linebacker Lance Mitchell said Hartley's big-game inexperience comes with one advantage.

"That guy's loose all day," Mitchell said. "I don't even think he's aware of what's going on."

FIRST LOOK
The Orange Bowl logo was freshly painted at midfield, team logos adorned the sidelines and the end zones were painted in Oklahoma and USC colors.

Players got their first look Sunday at the field on which they'll decide the national championship Tuesday night and suddenly, the magnitude of the Bowl Championship Series title game began hitting home.

"It just kind of signified getting this whole process started, with the big game coming up and everything," USC star Reggie Bush said. "Seeing the stadium and seeing that atmosphere that we're going to be playing in ... I've been visualizing all this."

Being in Pro Player Stadium, the home of the Florida Marlins and Miami Dolphins, had added significance to Oklahoma offensive lineman Davin Joseph. He grew up a short drive away in nearby Hallandale, Fla.

Joseph said he'd been to the stadium only a handful of times in the past.

"It's something out of a dream, almost it's something you really never expect to happen," Joseph said. "And for it to happen to me feels unreal."

Perhaps the biggest highlight wasn't seeing the logos and the signage. Many players made a beeline to the spot where the BCS championship trophy - a Waterford crystal football worth an estimated $30,000 - was set up on a small table.

With security guards keeping a watchful eye, players posed near the trophy for photos - but no one dared touch the prize.

Oklahoma running back Kejuan Jones opted to keep his distance. Much in the same manner that some hockey players avoid the Stanley Cup until they can win it on the ice, Jones didn't want to jinx his chances.

"I'm ready to kiss it," Jones said. "I can't kiss it right now, so I'm going to have to wait until after the game. I'll definitely have my hands on it after the game."

ANSWERS, PLEASE
After answering a lot of questions Sunday, some of the USC and Oklahoma players took a more active role at Media Day. They commandeered microphones and cameras and conducted interviews with leery teammates and coaches.

Trojans lineman Sam Baker spotted offensive coordinator Norm Chow and demanded to know why coaches call pregame workouts "walkthroughs" when running takes place.

Chow told him they should be called "crawlthroughs" when offensive linemen are involved.

"We're trying to do what we feel needs to be done," Baker said. "We're asking the hard questions."

Baker's crew later got USC coach Pete Carroll to answer a few questions, which he lightheartedly did. Asked if he thought the players had a future as sportscasters, Carroll said, "they haven't got a chance."

FINAL PREPARATIONS
USC and Oklahoma each held their final formal practices Sunday; the Sooners went directly to the practice field from their Media Day obligations, while USC worked out under the lights at the facility they're using in Davie, Fla. - adjacent to the Miami Dolphins' complex.

Both teams have walkthroughs scheduled at Pro Player Stadium on Monday.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Stoops Has Complete Confidence in Hartley

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