A first for a No. 1

Oklahoma will be first top-ranked opponent to play at Bryant-Denny

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Justin Smiley loves the tradition of Alabama and Oklahoma, the championships, the All-Americans -- everything down to the understated crimson jerseys.

"It's kind of like a throwback game," the Crimson Tide offensive lineman said. "Their uniforms and our uniforms kind of remind me of old-school, back-in-the-day football. It's going to be a good battle.

"It's going to make for an awesome environment."

The game Saturday night between two of college football's traditional heavyweights isn't a total throwback. There's a No. 1 team playing at Bryant-Denny Stadium, and it's not Alabama. That's a first.

Of course, the Tide hasn't been ranked No. 1 in the regular season since Nov. 1, 1980, losing to Mississippi State 6-3. Alabama did win the 1992 national title with a 34-13 win over then-No. 1 Miami in the Sugar Bowl, and has won three of its four meetings with top-ranked teams since 1977.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has already restored the Sooners to national title contenders, claiming the 2000 championship. Alabama fans are hoping an unproven, 38-year-old Mike Shula can have similar success -- once NCAA sanctions are history.

"It's probably one of the hardest places to play in the country," Oklahoma linebacker Teddy Lehman said. "It's a huge game, big as it gets. It's a huge confidence builder if we win.

"They've won the SEC hundreds of times, it seems like."

Alabama doesn't rule the Southeastern Conference like it used to and is ineligible for the league title.

The Tide would love to provide a helpful reminder that there still is a dangerous football program in Tuscaloosa, despite probation and a recent coaching turnstile with Dennis Franchione and Mike Price exiting and Shula entering during a six-month span.

"We know it's a chance to show everybody that we're still going to play football here," Alabama tailback Shaud Williams said.

It used to be hard to separate the two programs. Oklahoma has seven national championships; Alabama has six.

Oklahoma ranks fourth in winning percentage among Division I-A programs; Alabama ranks third.

Oklahoma had Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer; Alabama had Bear Bryant and Gene Stallings.

"You talk about Oklahoma and Alabama and start adding up national championships, conference championships ... you're talking about two special programs," Stoops said. "Put them together and it's exciting."

Last year's meeting -- only the third ever and first since 1970 _ certainly lived up to its billing.

In the second half, Alabama played like it was gunning for a title again, not just pride. The Tide scored 24 straight points to overcome a 23-3 halftime deficit only to watch the Sooners score two touchdowns in the final 2:11 for a 37-27 victory.

"That's a game you don't like to see either of the two teams lose," Tide defensive back Charles Jones said. "It was a great game to play in. Alabama and Oklahoma is just a great feeling."

Shula, a former Tide quarterback, had a successful debut with a 40-17 win over South Florida at Birmingham's Legion Field. This will be his first time running the show on campus.

"I don't like to use the word pressure," he said. "I just like to think of it excitement. It's the old cliche if you want to be the best, you've got to beat the best. You can't get any higher than the No. 1 ranking."

Shula grew up in Miami watching the Sooners make frequent trips to the Orange Bowl. He'd like to work from Stoops' blueprint in taking over a major college program with no college head coaching experience and raising it to its old heights after some lackluster years.

"The bottom line is they've got a great deal going," Shula said. "They've got a lot of talent and the players play well and are well coached and they get after people for 60 minutes.

"As a head coach, I'd like that to be something people say about my program."