'It's just another game'

LSU, Oklahoma have little interest in Rose Bowl

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- To hear Oklahoma star Teddy Lehman tell it, that big matchup out West this week means about as much as, oh, say the Tangerine or Continental Tire bowls.

Because to him and many others at the Sugar Bowl, the Rose hardly rates.

"To me, it's just another game," the All-American linebacker said Wednesday. "I don't see how you can lose to a very, very average team and still be considered No. 1 in the country. But that's just me."

Sure, Southern California fell 34-31 to California in triple-overtime in late September. Yet a victory by the top-ranked Trojans over Michigan will likely give them The Associated Press' championship.

Regardless of who wins in the Rose, No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 2 LSU will play for the Bowl Championship Series title Sunday.

So would a split crown be OK?

"No, not really," Lehman said.

Most of the Sooners and Tigers insist they have no set plans to follow the proceedings in Pasadena. Some were even more in the dark about the Rose.

"What day is it?" Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Brent Venables asked. Told it was Thursday, he said, "What time?"

LSU was scheduled to be on the practice field at the Superdome when that other game kicks off. Oklahoma players will just be finishing up a goodwill visit to a hospital.

"I'm not going to make a special point to watch it," Tigers lineman Rodney Reed said. "USC is certainly deserving, but the trophy is going to be here at the Sugar Bowl, and whoever wins this game is going to get it."

If Michigan pulls an upset, the Sugar winner would have a sure shot at a unified crown.

"But it's not like I wish Michigan kills USC or anything like that," added another one of Oklahoma's five All-Americans, defensive lineman Tommie Harris. "I've got friends on both of those teams."

LSU quarterback Matt Mauck intended to tune in for a bit, fully aware that a Wolverines' victory would pave the path to having just one champion.

"It's nice to have that finality for fans," LSU quarterback Matt Mauck said. "But however it works out, it probably won't be a big deal."

Well, maybe not.

The specter of a split title has again sparked calls for a playoff system and prompted more complaints about letting computer rankings determine who plays in the BCS title game.

"The system is not equipped to handle three very closely ranked teams at the top," LSU coach Nick Saban said. "We all started the season thinking that this is the system we have, that we're going to be loyal to that system and have respect for it."

And that leaves no room for the Rose in his mind.

"I don't really care about that game, because there's nothing we can do about that game," he said.

Added LSU lineman Stephen Peterman: "I might take a peek. I know a lot of people are saying that it's the national championship game. The system selected us and Oklahoma. I wish there was a way to figure out the what-ifs, but that's the way things are."

Oklahoma beat Washington State 34-14 in last season's Rose Bowl. Venables said he steered clear of any news about the game this year until reading a comment by Sooners defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek that the Rose Bowl means nothing to his team.

"Our focus is on LSU," Venables said. "We need to let everyone else talk about everything else."

Said Saban: "I think there will be enough accolades to go around."

Which is fine with Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who isn't sure whether he'll watch much of the Rose.

"If USC were to win and it would end up being a split champion, it's still a national championship. They only give one of those crystal footballs out, and we got one just three years ago, and our guys like it.

"Not in any way do I believe it hurts this game. And in the end, I don't believe it hurts college football," he said. "In the end, it gives you guys who talked about it for an entire month, instead of the playoffs or the NFL, you're talking about college football. It's positive."