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OU: Daily Log

SENIOR SEASON
Lendy Holmes: OU safety missed last year’s Fiesta Bowl due to academics.

By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer
Published: 1/5/2009 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 1/5/2009 3:45 AM

What they're writing

When Urban Meyer was pondering a job offer from the University of Florida four years ago, he reached out to the people who knew the program from the inside. One of the many with whom he consulted was Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Florida's defensive coordinator from 1996 to 1998. Stoops gave Meyer the seal of approval, and they have shared a friendship ever since.

"Our relationship really began when Urban was considering taking the Florida job and wanted an unbiased opinion," Stoops said. "He called me, and we started to talk over a couple of days just about what my experience was there and what the possibilities were. We have had some good conversations."

When Florida and Oklahoma meet Thursday in the BCS title game, it will be a strange, full-circle moment for Stoops. Not only will he face the man he encouraged to take over the Gators, he will compete against a program he helped win its first national championship in 1996.

The irony isn't lost on Meyer, who characterizes his relationship as "great."

"He's a guy I entrusted the decision I made in my career because I knew I'd get an unbiased opinion," Meyer said.

Although Stoops' loyalty now, obviously, lies with the Sooners, he has said he will always have a soft spot for the Gators.

— By Antonya English, St. Petersburg Times

OU senior moment

Lendy Holmes, free safety: You could go with the TCU game on Sept. 27, when Holmes forced two

fumbles and saved a touchdown by chasing down a kick returner. Or Kansas on Oct. 18, when he intercepted two passes and stopped two other drives by defending third-down passes. Or maybe, given how he missed last year's Fiesta Bowl due to academics, Holmes' big moment will come Jan. 8.

"Yeah, it means a lot," he said. "It would have been a big disappointment if I didn't make this one, knowing this is my senior season, my last game. It's real special to me. I can't wait to play it."

Matchup to watch

Brent Venables vs. Florida's offensive coordinators: If it wasn't enough for Venables to contend with one of the fastest sets of skill position players he's ever seen, he has to match wits with three coaches, really, Jan. 8.

There's Dan Mullen, who remains with Florida and will call plays against OU despite accepting the Mississippi State head coaching job last month; Steve Addazio, the offensive line coach promoted into Mullen's offensive coordinator position; and Urban Meyer, who has perfected the spread option since first becoming Bowling Green's head coach in 2001.

If Venables can crack that tri-layered code, then all he has to do is slow down Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin.

Quoteworthy

"No. Because when we win, we don't want no excuses."

— Oklahoma cornerback Dominique Franks, asked if it would help the Sooners if Harvin was less than 100 percent Jan. 8

Looking back

Orange Bowl, Jan. 1, 1988

Miami 20, Oklahoma 14

Brings back one fond memory for the Sooner faithful — the 29-yard touchdown rumble by All-America guard Mark Hutson off the "fumblerooski." Anything, even stealing from Tom Osborne's playbook, to topple Jimmy Johnson's Hurricanes in the national championship. It wasn't quite enough, though. Melvin Bratton capped the game's opening drive with a 30-yard touchdown catch. Michael Irvin snagged a 23-yard score. And Miami kicker Greg Cox launched an Orange Bowl-record 56-yard field goal to break a 7-7 third-quarter tie.

Day in review

Select defensive players along with coordinator Kevin Wilson met the media Sunday morning. The Sooners practiced in the afternoon, then wrapped up their day with a team dinner at Brazilian steakhouse Fogo de Chao.

Looking ahead

The main event on Monday's calendar is Media Day at Dolphin Stadium. The Sooners show up for interviews and a team picture at 9:30 a.m., with the Gators following at 11 a.m. By GUERIN EMIG, World sports writer

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