OU vs. Oregon in Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

OU vs. Oregon
For the first time in their illustrious history, the Oklahoma Sooners are going to play in the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl in San Diego. OU will collide with the Oregon Ducks, a team it met last year in Norman and will see again in Eugene, Ore., next season.

The 2005 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl will be played Dec. 29 in San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium. ESPN will televise the game, which will start shortly after 7 p.m., central time.

Sooner Holiday Bowl Central - OU vs. Oregon | Bowl Tickets

“We consider it an honor to be invited to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl," said OU head coach Bob Stoops. "This game has certainly earned its position among the elite bowl games nationally. We know from our conference peers of the professionalism and hospitality exhibited by the bowl game and the people of San Diego. We are anxious to play in such a prestigious game and in such a wonderful destination."

Stoops is taking OU to a bowl game for the seventh time in his seven seasons. His 7-4 team went 6-2 in the Big 12, good enough for a second-place finish in the rugged South Division. The Sooners won five of their last six games.

Oklahoma was ranked No. 23 in the final BCS Standings. Oregon finished 10-1 and was No. 5 in the final BCS listing.

“Our program has great respect for Mike Bellotti and the Oregon program, "Stoops said. "They have put together another exceptional season and we know that they present a tremendous challenge as an opponent. At the same time, we appreciate the fact that we can compete against a program of high standards. We look forward to a great game.”

Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts will call the game for ESPN. In addition to airing on the Sooner Radio Network, the game also will be broadcast on nationwide radio, also by ESPN. Mark Champion and Garry DiNardo will call the action.

This will be Oklahoma's 39th bowl game appearance and its 12th different bowl game.

Oklahoma holds a 5-0 series lead over Oregon, including a 31-7 victory in Norman last season. The teams are slated to meet again in the 2006 season on Sept. 16 in Eugene.

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BOWL NOTES
The game will start shortly after 5 p.m., PST, on Dec. 29 (7 p.m. CST)
Stadium gates will open at 3 p.m., PST
The minimum payout per team is $2 million
Each school was allocated 10,680 tickets ranging in price from $20-$48
OU is the designated home team and will wear crimson jerseys
Qualcomm Stadium runs east/west and Oklahoma will occupy the south (press box side) bench
OU fans will be seated on the south side, as well
For the 10th time in 12 games during the 2005 season, OU will be playing on natural grass
The pre-game show will include a parachute drop and military flyover
ESPN TV and Radio are carrying the game nationally
TV announcers are Keith Jackson and Dan Fouts
Radio announcers are Mark Champion and Gerry DiNardo

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OKLAHOMA HEAD COACH BOB STOOPS
On the invitation to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl:
“We're excited to accept the invitation and we know we're going to play a great Oregon team. They're 10-1 and a top 10 team. It's an exciting challenge. We can't wait to go. It is such a great destination. I was there as an assistant coach with Iowa and Kansas State and know what a great job the people there do. Our players are really excited.”

When asked if Oregon preparation has begun yet:
“We had an idea how this might go, but we didn't know how it would unfold. We'll now zero in on Oregon and start getting as much information as possible. Recruiting was such a priority for us last week. We took four days off and then practiced over the weekend. We'll do the same thing this week.”

On playing Oregon for the second time in three consecutive seasons:
“December 29, that's all we care about. We play a lot of people every year so I don't see that as a big deal.”

On whether Oregon should be in a BCS bowl:
“I would say yes, but it's not for me to decide. They have a strong argument to be in a BCS bowl. They've had a great year with their only loss to USC. I can see where that could be difficult. At the same time, they've got a great bowl game in the Holiday Bowl. There might be some peace in going to San Diego to a great bowl.”

On how Oklahoma overcame a slow start to land a strong bowl:
“There is a sense of pride that we fought back and grew as a team. They players earned their way to the Holiday Bowl and can put a strong finish on the season after a difficult September. We weren't as strong for legitimate and different reasons. Our seniors did a great job of keeping the team together. Nobody panicked. We trust our system and stuck with it.”

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OU DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS JOE CASTIGLIONE
“We had a pretty good idea how this would work out but you never take anything for granted. The people at the Holiday Bowl do a great job. We're very appreciative of being invited. We always want to go after the best and we now have a chance to play a very good Oregon team.”

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OREGON HEAD COACH MIKE BELLOTTI
On the invitation to the Pacific Life Holiday Bowl:
"The Holiday Bowl is a tremendous bowl. Our players loved it the last time we were there. We had a very successful outing beating a tremendous University of Texas team."

On playing Oklahoma:
“We look forward to playing the University of Oklahoma. Our team is very focused in the fact that we have evolved as a program that is no longer just happy to go to bowl games; we want to win bowl games. We feel that is part of our job.

On the Oregon team:
"This is a special group of kids. Our whole motto has been focus and finish, especially after last year. Our 13 seniors have done an awesome job in terms of leadership and performance on the field. We have a chance to match the best record in school history. This has been the second-most prolific offense in school history and an improving defense that has really made a difference down the stretch. In my mind, this may be the best group of kids I've ever been associated with in my 33 years of coaching in terms of their ability to support each other and to find a way to win football games.”

University of Oklahoma Athletics

OU vs. Oregon in Pacific Life Holiday Bowl

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