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Florida, Oklahoma Were Natural Selections

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2008

GAINESVILLE - In something of an extended family gathering, the Florida Gators reported to their plush football facility Sunday night to wait on an announcement they so enthusiastically anticipated, yet, in a small way, feared.

It's the BCS calling.

Already having done all they could do - a 31-20 Southeastern Conference-winning victory Saturday against Alabama - the Gators positioned themselves in front of television sets throughout the Gator Room banquet area, awaiting announcement of their postseason fate.

Nos. 1 and 2 in the BCS standings released Sunday would play for the national title on Jan. 8 in Miami.

Florida, No. 4 going into Saturday's action, took out No. 1 Alabama, but No. 2 Oklahoma routed Missouri and No. 3 Texas - a team that beat OU in the regular season - was idle. All, in addition to Pac-10 champion Southern Cal, Big Ten winner Penn State and Alabama, finished as one-loss teams, creating the unnerving uncertainty.

Finally, the good news arrived - at least if you happen to pull for Florida or Oklahoma.

The No. 1 Sooners will meet the No. 2 Gators on Jan. 8 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.

The 2006 national champ, UF will be making its second trip in three seasons to the BCS title game.

"I had a pretty good feeling before I got here," Florida quarterback Tim Tebow said.

An early indicator was when The Associated Press poll released earlier in the afternoon put Florida No. 1 and OU second.

Nonetheless, Coach Urban Meyer, being Coach Urban Meyer, remained on edge until it was announced - even though early word indicated the expected news.

"A little bit of doubt? That's not correct," Meyer said. "A lot of doubt. It's an imperfect system, but I think it's a system that's functional right now. But you just never know."

The Gators earned their No. 2 BCS ranking and national championship berth thanks to the human touch.

Florida is No. 1 in the Harris Interactive poll (a panel), No. 2 in the coaches' vote and No. 3 according to the computers.

Controversy and cries for a playoff aside, Oklahoma-Florida will be an offensive junkie's dream and a defensive coordinator's nightmare.

With Tebow, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, leading the way, Florida's offense averaged more than 45 points per game and set a school record with 587 for the season.

In this pairing, the Gators look like the ball-control offense.

Oklahoma, the highest-scoring team in major college football history with 702 points, beat Missouri 62-21 Saturday to become the first school in 89 years to reach 60 in five consecutive games.

The Sooners are led by sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford, who, with 48 touchdown passes this year, is a likely Heisman finalist along with Florida's Tebow.

The championship meeting also will reunite OU coach Bob Stoops with Florida. Before accepting the Sooners' job, Stoops served as defensive coordinator for the Gators under Steve Spurrier from 1996 to 1998. When Spurrier left for the NFL in 2002, Stoops was atop the Gators' list of potential replacements, but remained committed to OU.

The Gators hope several of their assistants do the same.

Defensive assistant Dan McCarney, a former boss at Iowa State and an assistant last season at USF, has met with New Mexico for its vacant head coaching position. Also, offensive coordinator Dan Mullen has had conversation with Mississippi State, although as yet no contact.

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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