No controversy. No split polls. No debates concerning who the real national champion is. Oklahoma, lead by an incredible defense, defeated heavily favored Florida State 13-2 to finish the season 13-0 and capture the school's seventh national title. The Sooners' Orange Bowl triumph climaxed a very interesting bowl season and gave us an undisputed champion for the third year in a row.
Oklahoma's victory is remarkable for a number of reasons. First and most obviously, no one predicted the Sooners would finish number one. They began the season ranked twentieth. Not only was Oklahoma the best team this season, their improbable championship run, which included upset victories over Texas, Kansas State, Nebraska, and finally FSU, provided the best story of the year. Every major publication and media organization outside the state of Oklahoma predicted that FSU would take OU to the woodshed even after Oklahoma had finished the season undefeated and ranked first. Odds makers installed the Seminoles as 12-point favorites. Obviously, the supposed experts in college football are not as wise as they think they are. Are you listening, Lee Corso?
Second, the outcome of the OU-FSU game proves the old adage that defenses really do win championships. Although much of the hype preceding the Orange Bowl concerned Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke of FSU and runner-up Josh Heupel from OU, neither player dominated as their defenses did. Heupel outperformed Weinke, but could only lead the Sooners to 13 points, one of their lowest outputs of the season.
It didn't matter. OU's defense made sure that the Orange Bowl would belong to the Sooners. Had it not been for a bad snap that went over punter Jeff Ferguson's head, Oklahoma would have handed FSU their first shutout in 12 years. Appropriately, Sooner linebacker Torrance Marshall, playing in his hometown, was the game's MVP. The third team All American had six tackles and a huge interception that led to a 3-0 OU lead early in the game.
Third, the Orange Bowl proved that Bob Stoops, who is only in his second season at Oklahoma, is not only one of the best young coaches in the game, but one of the best coaches period. Stoops put together a very talented staff once he was hired at OU, and that staff out-coached an older, highly touted, and more experienced Seminole staff lead by 71 year-old Bobby Bowden.
Perhaps most importantly, the much maligned Bowl Championship Series, in its third season, once again gave us an undisputed national champion in addition to four interesting, if not always exciting, bowl games. Had FSU won, the debate would have raged as to whether the Seminoles or Miami was the rightful champion. The Washington Huskies also could have laid claim to the title. It's all a moot point now though. OU is number one.
The other BCS games provided interesting story-lines of their own and proved that the bowl system, although not always perfect, can be just as exciting as a playoff. The Pac Ten proved that it could still be a dominant conference on January 1st. Washington, who some people (most of whom live in Seattle) felt should have played for the national title, defeated Big Ten champ Purdue 34-24. The Boilermakers were making their first Rose Bowl appearance in over a quarter of a century. In a quarterback duel, the athleticism of Huskie QB Marques Tuiasosopo triumphed over the wide-open aerial assault of Purdue, led by Drew Brees, a Heisman finalist. Later that night, Oregon State, for years one of college football's laughingstocks, proved they belonged with the heavyweights as they humiliated the most storied program in the nation, Notre Dame, by a final score of 41-9. Despite numerous penalties and some sloppy plays, the speed of the Beavers was far too much for the Irish, as OSU capped off an incredible turnaround under second year headman Dennis Erickson.
In the Sugar Bowl, Miami pounded in-state rival Florida 37-20 in a renewal of a rivalry that had not been played in 12 years and tried to stake a claim to a split poll. Miami won't win a national title this year, but at least they can take some solace in knowing that they won the state title of Florida by defeating both the Gators and Seminoles. Florida was beaten soundly by Miami, but the young team that coach Steve Spurrier brought to New Orleans will be returning a number of key players next year. Some expect the Gators to compete for the BCS championship in 2001.
Going into the Orange Bowl, Miami had to hope for an FSU victory so they could claim a piece of the National Title. It was not to be. Oklahoma was too good on this night. They had been too good all season, and they would not be denied. So, on a rainy night in South Florida, another glorious college football season came to an end. We can only hope next season is as exciting and that the BCS again provides us with four great games and an undisputed champion.
