By Tim Griffin, Special to CNNSI.com
Memories of their surprising national championship have been put aside to be appreciated and savored in later years.
Returning members of the Oklahoma Sooners are intent on the here and now rather than the past. So don't expect many players to get wistful remembering their string of upsets capped by the Orange Bowl victory against Florida State.
"We don't wear anything that reflects what we did last year," Oklahoma offensive lineman Frank Romero said. "That's really for 10 years from now, when we have a family and we can say, 'I used to play at Oklahoma.' Right now, we have bigger and better goals in front of us."
Mainly, becoming the first team to repeat as national champions since Nebraska in 1994-95.
The Sooners' returning talent lode might give them the opportunity, despite a rigorous Big 12 schedule that will include games against Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska.
"We've got a realistic opportunity to be a better team," Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops said. "I think we will be better. Last year, 23 of our top 44 players were freshmen or sophomores. And our older players are experienced in big games and know how to win those games. We can be a better team for those reasons."
Even though Heisman Trophy runner-up Josh Heupel has joined the Miami Dolphins in the NFL, Stoops is confident that either junior Nate Hybl or sophomore Jason White can direct the Sooners' potent spread offense. OU's two returning quarterbacks have combined for 10 career completions between them.
Stoops said Hybl has a "slight edge" heading into practice, but expects both will get chances to play early in the season.
"With what we've seen in practices and scrimmages, we're confident that either one of them can do the job," Stoops said. "Now, all they have to do is show it on game days. Both Nate and Jason have had two years to learn our system. Josh had about 15 days to learn the offense. Two years ago, no one was bragging about him."
The Sooners return six starters from a defense that ranked ninth in the country and had a knack for making big plays in clutch situations. Although playmaking linebacker Torrance Marshall graduated and cornerback Michael Thompson will be lost for the season after an automobile accident, players like safety Roy Williams, linebacker Rocky Calmus and linemen Cory Heinecke and Kory Klein return.
"I think we can be even better defensively," Stoops said. "Our defensive line is stronger and quicker than last year. Our secondary is more experienced and Rocky Calmus is an oustanding linebacker."
His players might not be thinking about last year. But Stoops said living last year's dream season will give them a boost this year.
"We know how to win championships and big games," Stoops said. "That's got to give us more confidence. So we really believe we've got a great opportunity to be better than we were a year ago."
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Kliff Kingsbury was willing to try anything to boost his weight after wearing down at the end of his first season as Texas Tech's starting quarterback. Even if it kept sticking to the roof of his mouth.
Kingsbury supplemented a four-meal-a-day menu with five peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches per day. The result has boosted his weight by 26 pounds to 212.
"I was sick and tired of eating it," he said about his peanut butter binges. "I got tired of eating all together. But I feel healthy now."
Kingsbury, who set a school record for passing yards in a season with 3,418 yards, was bounced around the pocket as his offensive line struggled with injuries. He expects smoother sailing in his second season operating head coach Mike Leach's pass-happy offense.
"I see a big year from offense this year," Kingsbury said.
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HOT: Iowa State RB Ennis Haywood
Rushed for 1,237 yards last season to lead the conference.
NOT: The Texas Tech offensive line
Allowed 30 sacks and averaged only 66.4 yards rushing per game -- next-to-last in the country last season.
HOT: Texas WRs B.J. Johnson, Roy Williams and Sloan Thomas
Accounted for combined totals of 90 catches, 1,715 yards and 14 touchdowns as freshmen.
NOT: Baylor
Ranked in the bottom 10 nationally in scoring offense (111th), scoring defense (107th), pass offense (106th), rushing offense (110th), total offense (114th) and total defense (109th).
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Oklahoma players added a little fuel to their already intense rivalry with Texas after celebrating last season's 63-14 victory against the Longhorns by remaining on the field to pose for victory pictures.
Texas quarterback Chris Simms hasn't forgotten Oklahoma's behavior after the game.
"Their players were a little too excited and we were a little too down," Simms said. "They were ready to go hug and we were ready to go cry."
Expect a couple of those OU pictures taken after the game to turn up around the Texas locker room in the week before this year's game.
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 Iowa State coach Dan McCarney
Led the Cyclones to a 9-3 mark -- their first time to nine wins in 94 seasons -- and a victory in the Insight.com Bowl.
Texas Tech LB Lawrence Flugence
Paced all Big 12 players with 156 tackles and notched four sacks during the 2000 season.
Kansas State WR Aaron Lockett
Led the nation with a 22.8 punt return average, including three touchdowns.
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Oklahoma and Texas already have an intense rivalry unmatched by many across the country. This year's Oct. 6 battle could be the biggest battle in two decades if both teams arrive undefeated at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
The Sooners' 63-14 pasting of the Longhorns last season -- the widest margin in the rivalry since 1908 -- helped serve as a springboard for their national championship run.
The winner of this year's game should get a big jump in the Big 12 South Division's title hunt and a legitimate early-season claim for a shot at the national title. The loser's Rose Bowl aspirations will likely be snuffed out.
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Baylor WR Reggie Newhouse caught passes from five quarterbacks last year. ... New Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel is taking over a team that has had 15 losing seasons in the past 17 years. ... Colorado head coach Gary Barnett took players Andre Gurode and Michael Lewis for a tour of Texas Stadium, site of this year's Big 12 championship game, after leaving the Big 12 preseason media gathering. "We're on a mission to get there," Barnett said. "Anything less, we'll consider a failure." ... Only three coaches in college football history -- Walter Camp at Yale, George Woodruff at Pennsylvania and Barry Switzer at Oklahoma -- have won more games in their first three seasons than Frank Solich's 31 triumphs in his first three years at Nebraska. ... Colorado players missed a combined 82 games because of injuries last season. ... Nebraska enters the season with a streak of 39 consecutive winning seasons, including 32 seasons in a row of at least nine wins and a bowl appearance. ... Simms is being mentioned as a Heisman candidate after his strong season, including a breakout 383-yard game against Texas A&M last season. A&M CB Jay Brooks vows revenge at the Nov. 23 rematch in College Station. "We made Chris Simms what he is now," Brooks said. "He did a great job during that game. But now, Chris Simms and Texas have to come to Kyle Field and play. We're ready for them."
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