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One-on-One Sooners expected to surprise critics with their play
Paul Crane: Oklahoma beat more than the odds -- it dominated Florida State to win the national championship. Coach Bob Stoops, I know you were confident about winning this game. Did you think it would be in such dominating form? Bob Stoops: I figured we'd play well. We fully expected to play well. Our defense has been outstanding all year and then you watch what Nebraska and K-State have done in their bowl games and how we played those guys. We knew coming into this game, we'd play good defense, and offensively we moved the ball. [We] had a few too many turnovers but, heck, we dropped four interceptions that hit us in the hands. We figured we'd play well, but Florida State's a great team. It just sort of worked out. Things fell into place and it was a great game.
Crane: How was your defense able to have an answer every single time for everything Florida State threw at you? Stoops: Well, we've got fast players, too. Our kids are coached well and they play well. They play in a confident, aggressive manner and made the play on the ball all day. It was a great defensive plan. My brother, Mike Stoops, and Brent Venables, coordinating the defense with Bobby Wright, Jackie Shipp, just had an incredible plan and we tackled so well. And we just really played in a great way. It's fun to watch it. Crane: What kind of a role did the fact you came in an underdog and heard all that talk about a possible split national championship -- how much of a role did that play in your preparation and emotion? Stoops: I said all week, it didn't bother us. We fully expected to win. They've been wrong on us all year, so why would today be any different? Crane: Well, there's no more argument now. The national championship ... no argument. Stoops: I never understood all the debate about a split national championship. It was pretty simple, if we were undefeated, that's how it would be and it's worked out that way, so the formula right now is still working.
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