Sooners, Seminoles both seeking redemption
Published: 7/13/2010 9:08 AM
Last Modified: 7/13/2010 9:08 AM
The winner of the Sept. 11 Oklahoma-Florida State game at Owen Field gets a big push en route to a memorable 2010 season. As a bonus, the winner also takes a big step toward erasing 2009 from memory.
The Sooners beat Stanford in the Sun Bowl to finish 8-5. The Seminoles knocked off West Virginia in the Gator Bowl to finish 7-6. As of Nov. 8 of last year, some wondered if the two traditional powers were even worthy of El Paso or Jacksonville. That's when OU stumbled at Nebraska 10-3 and FSU was rocked at Clemson 40-24.
The headline in the Nov. 9 edition of the St. Augustine (Fla) Record: "Believe it, Oklahoma and Florida State are that bad"
"After this weekend, I am sure of two things," wrote Record sports editor Justin Barney. "Bob Stoops' season at Oklahoma has to be one of the biggest disappointments since the second 'Matrix' movie. And if Florida State's Bobby Bowden goes to a bowl game, it will be as a paying fan. I have a difficult time believing that both of these teams are this bad. But after seeing them Saturday, I am convinced that they are."
Looking back, we should probably rate OU's season more along the lines of the second 'Grease.' Remember? They tried making that one without John Travolta, just as the Sooners tried making a go of '09 without Sam Bradford. The results were similar.
And Bowden not only went to a bowl, he won the dadgum thing. Even got to plant the spear in the middle of the Gator Bowl field before kickoff.
The point remains, however. The Sooners and Seminoles were not up to standard last year. One of them will be in '10. The one that wins on Sept. 11.
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
