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Clash of the titans
Game full of weapons finally gets under way

Florida coach Urban Meyer (left) and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops stand with the Coaches' Trophy during a press conference Wednesday in preparation for Thursday's BCS national championship game. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 1/8/2009  2:26 AM
Last Modified: 1/8/2009  3:19 AM

 MIAMI, Fla. — Sitting side by side in a dimly lit room last month in Orlando, Tim Tebow and Sam Bradford talked of the admiration they had for each other as quarterbacks, and as citizens of the world.

Sometimes they looked like adversarial world leaders, discussing sensitive issues without a hint of backing down. Sometimes they resembled strangers on a bus, passing the time with small talk. Sometimes they seemed like just a couple of guys having a drink, passionate about their convictions yet tuned in to the other.

And now the 2008 college football season sits between them, these Heisman Trophy winners, these 21-year-old role models to nations — Bradford the Cherokees, Tebow — Philippines.

They'll meet again on Thursday inside Dolphin Stadium as No. 1-ranked Oklahoma and No. 2 Florida decide the Bowl Championship Series national title game. Kickoff is 7:17 p.m. on Fox (KOKI 5/23).

"We've probably got the two top quarterbacks in the nation, and the two best teams," said Florida offensive lineman Markice Pouncey. "It's going to be a brawl."

Both teams are 12-1 overall. Florida (No. 2 in the BCS standings, No. 1 in the Associated Press poll) won the Southeastern Conference. OU (No. 1 in the BCS, No. 2 in the AP) won the Big 12.

Florida seeks its third national championship overall, Oklahoma is pursuing its eighth.

It's the Gators' second trip to the BCS title game in the last three years (they won it in 2006 in coach Urban Meyer's second season), and it's OU's first since the 2004-05 Orange Bowl (and the Sooners' fourth title shot under coach Bob Stoops). The winner becomes the first team to win two BCS titles (the system went online in 1998).

In bowl games matching the AP's No. 1 and No. 2 teams, each has won nine times. In 10 meetings of the BCS's No. 1 and No. 2, the lower-ranked team has won five times — but five of the last six. The only exception since 2001 was the Sooners' collapse in the '04-05 Orange Bowl.

For all the importance in Thursday's game on turnovers and field position and winning the line of scrimmage, for all the great running backs and receivers and offensive linemen, for all the defensive stars, the trophy could come down to which quarterback blinks first.

"That's what most people look at," said Gators offensive lineman Jason Watkins. "Present Heisman versus past Heisman. They'll hype it up."

Only once before have two Heisman winners squared off in a bowl game, and it didn't turn out well for Oklahoma. In that Orange Bowl, 2004 winner Matt Leinart's USC team scored 55 points; 2003 winner Jason White's OU team scored 19.

Still, a Heisman showdown is unique.

"It's cool. It is," said OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables. "It's neat to be a part of that and witness it."

Tebow won the Heisman in 2007, the first sophomore to take home sport's most famous individual award. He was the first player in history with more than 20 TDs both rushing and passing.

A year later, Tebow finished third behind Bradford, also a sophomore, and Texas' Colt McCoy.

Bradford's uncanny mental makeup took root in a fast-moving offense and allowed OU to become the first team in history to score 50 points nine times in a season.

The success of both Tebow and Bradford lies in their lack of turnovers. Bradford has thrown just six interceptions among his 442 passes, including a streak of 102 consecutive throws without one (and just one of his last 257). Tebow has been picked off just two times in his 268 throws this season, including a streak of 110.

That's 212 consecutive throws between them without an interception. Since October, they've combined for 525 passes and just two picks.

Accuracy is also paramount. Tebow has completed 64.9 percent of his passes this year and 66.1 in his career. Bradford connects at 68.3 percent this year, a school record 69.5 last year. (As good as Bradford's receivers played in 2008, they've dropped 33 passes this season, which would put his completion percentage at .758.)

"His accuracy is pretty good," said OU offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "He can win a bunch of teddy bears at the fair."

Tebow, of course, is more than just fancy passing. At 240 pounds, he runs with the wrecking ball mentality of a fullback, yet has surprisingly nimble feet.

In two seasons as the starter and one as the backup, Tebow has run for 1,928 yards and 43 touchdowns.

"There's not a lot of Heisman Trophy winners running around out there. Anywhere. That speaks for itself," said OU coach Bob Stoops. "He's an exceptional guy, and we know that."

Said Venables, "He's the heart and soul of their team. He's the leader of that team, very emotional, wears it on his sleeve and you've gotta love that."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com

BCS CHAMPIONSHIP:NO. 1 OKLAHOMA VS. NO. 2 FLORIDA

7 p.m. Thursday • Dolphin Stadium • Miami, Fla. • TV: KOKI-5/23 • Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430

Tale of the tape

BRADFORD  TEBOW
302 COMPLETIONS 174
442 ATTEMPTS 268
4,464 YARDS 2,515
68.3 COMPLETION PCT. 64.9
48* TOUCHDOWNS 28
6 INTERCEPTIONS 2

* led nation

Sources: NCAA, AP

By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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12 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Oklahomer, (1/8/2009 6:19:03 AM)
Enough talk. Tee it up, already!!!!

Boomer Sooner!!
Report Comment
Big Harp, Florida (1/8/2009 7:14:20 AM)
BOOMER SOONER!!!!
Report Comment
SoonerDJ, Lisbon, Portugal (1/8/2009 7:29:12 AM)
Tebow a role model for the Philippenos? HA! Most of them don't even know what American football is! I would think Manny Pacquiao would be thier first choice. He sings, he acts, he kicks butt in the ring!
Report Comment
Bird1, Tulsa (1/8/2009 7:51:13 AM)
Manny who? Is he Defense or Offense?
Report Comment
Bird1, Tulsa (1/8/2009 7:53:51 AM)
At least the Cherokee Nation is here and definately knows OU Football. Osyo OU Kanaly.

Boomer Sooner!
Report Comment
Tank, (1/8/2009 7:55:00 AM)
By the way, They will not be the first team to win two BCS Championships (LSU won that honor last year), it will be the first coach to win two championships.
Report Comment
SoonerDJ, Lisbon, Portugal (1/8/2009 8:40:35 AM)
Haha Bird1. I would say offense, but he is way too small to play football. Manny is the Lightweight Boxing Champ of the world. He destroyed Oscar De La Hoya last month. Can't wait to watch my Sooners at 0100 in the morning. Boomer Sooner!
Report Comment
love 918, (1/8/2009 9:21:42 AM)
Roy, you really believe that OU defense can hold Florida to 13 points?

Have you watched any OU football games this year? Their amazing offense has allowed their defense to give up some big points and still escape with a win i.e. KU 31 KSU 35 OSU 41 Tex 45

Florida's defense has only given up more than 30 points in one game. Ole Miss 31

I think OU can win, but they will have to expect more bigtime points (>45) from their offense.
Report Comment
Bird1, Tulsa (1/8/2009 10:25:44 AM)
SoonerDJ - I thought Oscar would do better, but he is getting kinda old.

01:00??? Where are you? 6 hrs ahead ahead or behind?
Report Comment
SoonerDJ, Lisbon, Portugal (1/8/2009 10:41:20 AM)
I live in Lisbon, Portugal. It's on the Atlantic and is bordered by Spain. Same timezone as London. About 5 or 6 hours ahead of EST. It was cold today, it only got up to 50! Great place to live if you can stand the driving; though Italy, Panama, and India are way worse.
Report Comment
No Right Wing Nut Jobs, (1/8/2009 12:37:36 PM)
Get ready to take your OU gear back to Wal-Mart tomorrow. "We" are going to take a whuppin.
Report Comment
asweetdad54, Tulsa (1/8/2009 12:53:34 PM)
did I say it was going to be 38 to 31, go gators. hahahaha losers.
 

 
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