|
|
 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Video Plus Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities 
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE
|  |
Just like old times Nebraska, Oklahoma are Big 12's preseason favorites
Updated: Saturday July 28, 2001 12:52 AM
DALLAS (AP) -- Nebraska coach Frank Solich knows a little something about undefeated seasons and national championships. As head coach of the Cornhuskers for the past three seasons and an assistant there for 19 more, Solich has taken part in three national titles and undefeated seasons. So, when he says Oklahoma may have a tough time repeating as national champs -- or even as Big 12 Conference champs -- this year, he speaks with authority. "There's a lot that goes into a season like that -- you've got to be a little fortunate," Solich said. "Any one of five or six teams in the conference could have that kind of year." Welcome to the Big 12, where as many as three teams could be ranked among the nation's top-10 teams.
In the media's preseason poll released Thursday, Nebraska was picked to win the conference's North Division, while Oklahoma was tabbed as the favorite in the South Division just ahead of Texas. That means the Sooners and the Cornhuskers could be headed for a titanic showdown on Oct. 27 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Neb. Solich and the Cornhuskers will have the added incentive of trying to avenge a 31-14 loss at Oklahoma last season. "There have been some great teams, great players and great coaches in this rivalry," Solich said. "It has a long and storied history behind it. It's great for college football." Solich will lean on a team that returns Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Eric Crouch and nine starters on a defense that ranked sixth in the conference last season. "It's my last year and I am going to make sure no one says anything about Nebraska's defense failing," said preseason All-Big 12 cornerback Keyuo Craver. Despite the absence of record-setting quarterback Josh Heupel, All-Big 12 linebacker Torrance Marshall and seven other starters from Oklahoma's surprising run to the national title, the Sooners are looking to duplicate last year's feats. "I believe we have a stronger, faster and undoubtedly, more experienced group of players," said Bob Stoops, now entering his third season as Oklahoma's head coach. "The important thing going into this season is the fact that the players know how to win."
As one of the conference favorites, the Sooners know they won't enter many games as underdogs anymore. "We've been experienced, and we've played in big games and we know what it's all about," said Oklahoma receiver Josh Norman, "and I think that after the first four games last year, we didn't sneak up on anybody." The Sooners won their first four games by an average of 31 points, then blitzed their way through the conference's top teams. They handed archrival Texas a frenzied 63-14 pasting, knocked off then top-ranked Nebraska by 17 points and held off Kansas State twice, including the conference's championship game. They entered the Orange Bowl as 10 1/2-point underdogs, but closed out their season with a dominating 13-2 win over Florida State to clinch the school's first national title in 15 years. And Stoops said either of Heupel's potential replacements, junior Nate Hybl or sophomore Jason White, could put up just as many dazzling offensive numbers. "Two years ago, no one was bragging about Josh Heupel," Stoops said. "With what we've seen in the practices and scrimmages, we're confident either one of them can do the job." Even with Oklahoma and Nebraska shaping up as the Big 12's teams to beat, the consensus at Thursday's media event was that both teams could struggle in conference play. "All of us feel a great sense of pride of being in the conference," said Kansas State coach Bill Snyder. "The negative is you are on thin ice because everyone is so good." In the media poll, Nebraska was followed by Kansas State, Colorado, Iowa State, Missouri and Kansas. In the South, Oklahoma was picked ahead of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and Baylor.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
