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Defense Is Making Plays

Tribune photo by MICHAEL SPOONEYBARGER

Florida defensive end Duke Lemmens, No. 44, plays around with the BCS Coaches' Trophy during the 2009 FedEx BCS Championship media day at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens Monday.

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By KARL HYPPOLITE

Tribune Correspondent

Published: January 7, 2009

FUELING THE FIRE

As the BCS Championship Game inches closer, the war of words between Florida and Oklahoma is increasing steadily.

It began with Sooners DB Dominique Franks implying that Gators QB Tim Tebow would be only the fourth-best quarterback in the Big 12. It continued when Gators star LB Brandon Spikes said Big 12 teams put their speediest players on offense, not defense like in the SEC.

On Tuesday, Sooners LB Austin Cox responded coolly, if not firmly.

"We try not to pay attention to that stuff, but it's just fueling us," he said. "We take that in and hear what people are saying, but in the end all of that talk doesn't matter if you can't prove it on Thursday night."

WAIT NEARS END

It has been nearly five weeks since Florida and Oklahoma played a game. With a possible national championship only a day away, the Sooners are beginning to feel relief that game day is nearly here.

"It's starting to bear down on me," OL Trent Williams said. "It's been like a month, but it seems like a year we've spent getting ready, a lot of practice."

If anyone is wondering if the Sooners will have trouble regaining the edge they played with throughout the season, Williams said not to worry.

"There's nothing to worry about there," he said. "This is the national championship game. There's no problems with that. If you can't get high for this game, then check your pulse."

MIAMI - Oklahoma has been among the best defensive teams in the nation in recent years, but the Sooners and all other Big 12 defenses have taken heavy criticism this season.

While the Sooners understand they have been inconsistent defensively this season, they think their ability to force turnovers has been overlooked.

"If you've watched us all year, you can see that we can do a lot of great things, especially causing turnovers," LB Austin Cox said. "It's something that isn't talked about very much, but I know that we're among the top teams in the nation in forcing turnovers."

Cox also noted that while the Sooners' offense has been prolific this season, much of its success has come as a result of prime field position following a turnover.

"Our offense has put up tremendous numbers this season, but what they don't see is that the defense is setting up a lot of those scores," he said. "They're not doing it all on their own."

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