Oklahoma, LSU Offer No BCS Regrets

By Mike DiGiovanna

Dec. 30, 2003 12 AM PT

Times Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS — Oklahoma and Louisiana State can empathize with USC, which failed to reach the bowl championship series title game despite being ranked No. 1 in the media and coaches’ polls, but the Sooners and Tigers will make no apologies for playing in Sunday night’s Sugar Bowl game to determine the BCS champion.

“We lost [to Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference championship game Dec. 6], and all everyone is talking about is how we shouldn’t be here,” said Dan Cody, Oklahoma’s junior defensive end. “I don’t take it personally, but it can be frustrating at times. I don’t think people have wanted us to win all year.”

Oklahoma and Louisiana State both finished 12-1, but the Tigers gained the BCS edge over the 11-1 Trojans because their schedule was deemed tougher.

“Oklahoma, LSU and USC played good football all year, but when all the numbers went in and everything came out, we were No. 1 and LSU was No. 2,” Sooner defensive lineman Dusty Dvoracek said. “You can see why USC has an argument, but this is how the system is, and we didn’t choose the system.”

Said LSU offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth: “They created the BCS for two reasons -- media attention, and to make it exciting -- and that’s exactly what they got. USC is not here, but they have to take care of business [in the Rose Bowl], and we have to take care of business, regardless of what the computer says.”

Though several New Orleans Saints have complained about the new synthetic turf in the Superdome -- the grass-like surface is called AstroPlay and is a special blend of rubber and sand in-fill -- the Sooners and Tigers gave the recently installed turf good reviews after practicing on the surface for the first time Monday.

“The field gives when you need it, and you can make cuts when you have to,” said LSU defensive end Marquise Hill, who grew up in New Orleans. “That old stuff was like concrete. This is like rubber. It’s nice.”

Oklahoma, which is hoping to shake the rust from a three-week layoff, spent much of Monday’s workout in full-speed, full-contact scrimmage mode, and quarterback Jason White said, “No one slipped in practice. I didn’t have any trouble.”

LSU quarterback Matt Mauck said that he will wear special cleats, a cross between turf shoes and regular cleats, and that many teammates will wear tennis shoes. The Tigers’ Dec. 6 Southeastern Conference championship game victory over Georgia came on the same surface in the Georgia Dome.

“I don’t see it being a real problem at all,” Mauck said.

If this was gamesmanship by Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops, it didn’t work. The Sooners’ Superdome practice Monday ran a half-hour longer than scheduled, and as it dragged on, LSU players stood on the sideline, getting “a little antsy,” Whitworth said.

“I guess they were trying to cause a distraction, but it wasn’t a distraction to us,” LSU receiver Skyler Green said.