Cotton Bowl storylines
BY GUERIN EMIG World Sports Writer
Friday, January 04, 2013
1/04/13 at 3:15 AM
It takes gunslingers to win a shootout
If Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M isn't quite as appealing as Alabama vs. Notre Dame, it does boast the superior quarterback matchup. They don't come any more interesting than Landry Jones vs. Johnny Manziel. One's a senior who lives in the pocket by the strength of his right arm, the other is a freshman who uses every inch of the field to torment defenses with his arm and legs. Both will be very difficult to stop in a game that should wear out the JerryWorld scoreboard.
League of tensions
The last time the Sooners played in Cowboys Stadium, they won a Big 12 championship against turncoat Nebraska. Coaches acknowledged the inherent pressure afterward. It's not quite as heavy tonight, but OU is back in Arlington and back in the role of league protector against league defector. It falls to the Sooners to uphold Big 12 pride against a program and fan base that would like nothing more than to chant "S-E-C!" while leaving the stadium.
Stoops and Sumlin: Friends or foes?
There is another old guard vs. new breed matchup worth watching on the sidelines. Bob Stoops coaches his 14th bowl game in as many years at OU, while Kevin Sumlin coaches his first at Texas A&M in just his 13th game at the school. The two are close friends from their days together on the Sooners' staff, and they shared a natural camaraderie in the weeks leading up to the game. That changes for 3 1/2 hours tonight, as pride gets in the way and both shift into competitive overdrive.
