Bowl Preview: Brut Sun Bowl

Brut Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl, El Paso, Tx.
Stanford vs. Oklahoma
Date: Dec 31
Time: 2 p.m.
TV: CBS (NOT ESPN, HOLY CRAP)
Line: Oklahoma -9.5

About Stanford (8-4): The Cardinal haven't seen this kind of postseason glory since Ty Willingham was at the helm. But now, it's former (ugh.) Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh whose overbearing arrogance is a perfect fit for a school filled with students and faculty who are overbearingly arrogant. And they've got this Toby Gerhart kid who's like Tommy Vardell but with talent.

Intangibles:
Tiger Woods: -4
Michelle Wie: -1
The Buddy Tevens Era: -6

About Oklahoma (7-5): Taking the positive on this sucky season for the Sooners, at least Bob Stoops can't lose a big bowl game! Am I right, Sooners? So Sam Bradford got hurt and Oklahoma fell apart like a house of cards in front of Beano Cook. It was like Gary Gibbs was back in charge of the Sooners. Crap were they bad.

Intangibles:
Sooner schooner: +2
Anything else in Oklahoma: -3
The Boz: -2
Jamelle Holieway; +2

Impact player: Gerhart. This dude just ran over Pac 10 defenses like they weren't there - and for the most part, they weren't. OU has some serious studs up front.

Bowl Slogan: "Mmmm. You smell like Brut."

Little known fact: I like El Paso salsa. Bet you didn't know.

Watchability (1-5): 4.3

The pick: Stanford 31, Oklahoma 30

Podcast: Episode 51

It may be championship weekend in many of the conferences, but nothing seems to be more important than who'll replace Charlie Weis as coach at Notre Dame (OK, maybe Tiger Woods is more important, but this is about college football). Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer have said no thanks. Brian Kelly is politicking hard for the spot, but hey he's trying to get out of Cincinnati. So what's wrong with Notre Dame? Is this job just not as highly coveted as the Fighting Irish faithful think it is?

We couldn't overlook the retirement of Bobby Bowden and what faces Jimbo Fisher now that he's in charge. Phil and Tom also break down the championship games, as well as look at Toby Gerhart's chances of winning the Heisman Trophy, and they also give you their picks for second-half surprises.

So if you have the time listen to this week's podcast.

Podcast: Episode 50

We're coming at you a little early this week because of the Thanksgiving holiday, but we are definitely in a celebratory mood as we hit the 50 mark in podcasts. So here's what's on this week's An 'Eye and an 'Eer: College Football Podcast.

Of the remaining undefeated teams who is most likely to lose? Calling Cincinnati ... Bearcats do you hear me? We also look at the big Florida State-Florida game and wonder if Bobby Bowden and Mickey Andrews can call up the ghosts of Charlie Ward and Deion Sanders to pull off a major upset in The Swamp? Probably not, but it's nice to consider.

So who do you think has done the worst coaching job in 2009? There are some easy choices, but it seems are fearless podcasters don't like some guy name Weis and another one named Stoops. Tom and Phil also dissect Les Miles' meltdown in Mississippi as well as the Heisman Trophy race.

Podcast: Episode 49

With just a few weeks remaining in the regular season it's the time of year when the coaching rumors really begin to fly. Did you hear? Bob Stoops, Brian Kelly and Kirk Ferentz are all going to coach at Notre Dame next year. Well, we decided to look at what coach may get the ax who doesn't deserve it and what coach should get fired who won't (Stan Parrish we're talking about you).

We also couldn't ignore the national bashing Ohio State and Iowa took for how last week's game finished (Gregg Doyle were talking about you). It's just interesting to see when Florida and Alabama play to their defensive strengths that it's called hard-hitting SEC football. When two Big Ten teams play that way it's a travesty against mankind.

We also look at The Rivalry, possible bowl match ups and the exciting race in the Mid-American Conference.

Podcast: Episode 43

There's a lot going on in this week's podcast. Here are some highlights.

Can you believe Chucklin' Charlie Weis is griping that Notre Dame isn't ranked higher? Hey Chuck, beat a team that matters and then maybe we'll listen. How do you think Boston College, Michigan and West Virginia feel? The Wolverines already beat the Irish, Boston College will later this season, and we're both pretty sure the Mountaineers would roll in South Bend or Morgantown.

Of course, we couldn't overlook the big clash in the SEC this weekend. Is this the week Florida's long winning streak ends or will LSU become another chapter in the Tim Tebow lore? We also try to figure out why Bob Stoops gets a pass in the national media for "sucking it up" in big games, but other coaches (e.g., Jim Tressel) doesn't.

We're also pleased to welcome back Mike Eisenberg from Eisentower30.com. He gives us some insight into the Hurricanes as well as some outlandish early week betting lines. Tune in as this is another excellent episode from your favorite College Football podcasters.

Stoops makes right call with Jones

The headline reads: "Bradford out for Sooners' game at Miami."

It may sound crazy, but it's actually the best news for Sooner fans. Heresy, right? Not at all. Bob Stoops may choke in big games, but he's smart enough to know eighth-ranked Oklahoma's best chance to beat the No. 17 Hurricanes Saturday night is for Landry Jones to remain the QB and not force reigning Heisman winner Sam Bradford back into the lineup.

"Our team has a lot of confidence in Landry's ability and we're looking forward to going into the game with him at quarterback," Stoops said in a statement. "Our approach will be the same that it has been in the last two games."

Both of those wins. This decision may impact the 'Eer's pick in this game. Check back Friday for that.

Late observations on Week 1

All right. Enough already. Sorry for the late post, but family time and the UConn-Ohio game last night have kept the 'Eer away from the laptop. So here are my thoughts from the first weekend of games (with a few still to play).

- I guess I'm a little more a believer now. The BCS busters came up big this week. I don't want to take anything away from Boise State and BYU, but is that really the best Oregon and Oklahoma could muster? Seriously Chip Kelly. You've had all that time to get the Ducks motivated and prepared. Instead your offense executed as well as Coca-Cola execs trying to market New Coke back in '80s. Thanks for letting Boise believe it belongs. Maybe I should be more surprised by Oklahoma's showing against BYU, but this is so Bob Stoops. When's the last time this guy really beat a good team? Don't tell me Texas Tech. At least now the Sooners should be eliminated from the national title discussion.

- Do you think Iowa's Kirk Ferentz and Ohio State's Jim Tressel are glad not to be lumped into the same conversation with Virginia's Al Groh? I don't see how Groh can even make it through the year after the Wahoos lost to William & Mary, 26-14. The loss was Virginia's first to a Football Championship Subdivision school since 1986.

- Crap. Did both 'Eye and 'Eer really underestimate how much Notre Dame and Michigan have improved? Maybe. But after this week, one of them will be 1-1 and the coach will be on the hot seat again. Also, I'd still be a little concerned watching how both offenses failed to execute as well in the second half.

- It may be a loss, but as someone with nothing to gain, Washington's nice showing against LSU in Steve Sarkisian's first game is a good sign for the Huskies and also important for the Pac-10. However, if I'm a Tigers fan I'd be concerned that LSU is going to struggle again in 2009.

- The Big East didn't do much to help quiet the critics, but we should give credit to Syracuse and new coach Doug Marrone for almost pulling an upset of Minnesota in the Carrier Dome. Greg Paulus also played a solid game, despite throwing an interception in OT.

Enough of that. Now we're ready for Miami-FSU on Monday.

Stoops gets raise, doesn't earn it

Let me see if I have this right.

Lose five consecutive BCS bowl games, including two title games and an embarrassing loss to West Virginia in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. Manipulate the BCS system by running up the score in your final six games to impress voters so you can get the BCS bid over a much better Texas team that you lost to earlier in the season.

It appears that's enough for the University of Oklahoma execs to give the overrated one (Bob Stoops) a hefty raise. According to a number of stories circulating on the web today, OU may pay Stoops about $5 million a year starting in 2011.

I can't argue that Stoops isn't a great coach. His record is 109-24 since joining the Sooners in 1999 and has won a national title (actually Miami was the best team that season). But in these tough economic times and with academics on many campuses being slashed does someone who can't coach in the big game deserve this?

Little more Sooner bashing

Thought I was done beating up on the Oklahoma Sooners, but some last-minute perusing before bed led me to two pretty funny developments. First, someone has registered the website www.chokelahoma.com and then redirected it to www.soonersports.com. The second is the latest video/song from Ryan Parker at ryanparkersongs.com.

Enjoy.

OU ... Sooner or later the new Ohio State

Here's a solution:

Next year, let Oklahoma and Ohio State play in a BCS bowl game. At least then one of them would win (someone would win right?).

For all those Big Ten and Ohio State haters, it's time to clear something up. Oklahoma is way more over-rated than the Buckeyes. In my eyes, the Sooners are now the nation's most over-rated program ... even ahead of Penn State, Virginia Tech and Georgia.

For some reason The Choke and the Sooners have been given a pass on their BCS futility and will probably be ranked in the Top 5 for 2009. The only group who really calls OU out is, of course, Texas Longhorns fans.

In my opinion, and I think the facts prove me right, Oklahoma has been more feeble in big games than the Buckeyes (don't tell me playing Texas Tech at home was a big game).

We all know Ohio State has lost three consecutive BCS games, including the title game in 2007 and 2008, and the disastrous trip out west to play USC earlier this season. How about the teflon Sooners? The Choke's boys have muffed their past five BCS contests:

2004: Lost to LSU, 21-14, in the BCS National Championship
2005: Lost to USC, 55-19, in the BCS National Championship
2007: Lost to Boise State, 43-42, in the Fiesta Bowl
2008: Lost to West Virginia, 48-28, in the Fiesta Bowl
2009: Lost to Florida, 24-14, in the BCS National Championship

It's moratorium time here. Even if Oklahoma is the lone undefeated team at the end of the 2009 regular season the Sooners are banned from the title game. Let's just say it's Florida and USC now so we can stop all of the playoff talk.

Sooners National Champions?

Maybe Bob Stoops should be the first caller. Might even be funnier to see Tim Tebow throwing these around during spring practice. (Tip of the cap to Awful Announcing for this video).

FOX F-ups

'Eye and 'Eer have duly noted our disgust for the coverage that FOX-TV has tormented all of us to during the BCS Bowls. Well, it didn't get much better last night. Clearly, Thom Brennaman and Charles Davis were watching a different game than the rest of us. This exchange in the second quarter drove me nuts.

Brennaman was getting all jacked up for no reason. Isn't there someone talking to him in his earpiece to let him know he's f-ing up? The down and distance is right there at the top of the screen. Someone tell these idiots.

So when Brennaman and Davis are telling Bob Stoops to go for it on fourth down it is actually third down. They even seem surprised when the Sooners are stopped on third down why the offense isn't leaving the field.

This doesn't even touch on the poor play calling by BCS choke artist Stoops.

Help me out ...

With the BCS title game just hours away, I still don't know whether to cheer for Florida or Oklahoma. Neither team is very appealing to me.

Bob Stoops is a horrible big-game coach, so maybe I'd like to see him change his fortunes (not really). Urban Meyer is pretty arrogant for someone who gets to coach and recruit one of nation's hotbeds for college players. It's easy to be cocky when you get to pick and choose the best players in the country and not work that hard.

Sam Bradford is just plain. He simple looking and his game is one dimensional. Sit in the pocket, hope for no pressure and pick apart a defense. Get pressure on him and he looks like Marcus Outzen. Tim Tebow .... OK, I know all of the great things about Tebow. He loves his family. He loves his country. He loves God. He's the perfect man. I'm just tired of Tebow.

Oklahoma has a huge offensive line and they mowed down opponents all season. Florida has crazy speed and no one can keep up with them.

So on and so.

I just don't know who to root for. So I'm open to pitches from our fans. Tell me who I should pull for tonight.

OU doesn't deserve it, but Sooners will win

Special Report

Retired Coach Rick
ACC correspondent

I still cannot figure out how Oklahoma is ranked above Texas. There is no rhyme nor reason for it. At this time Oklahoma might be better but they were not better when they played each other. If the BCS would have gotten it right we'd be watching Texas against USC in the title game.

Oklahoma will beat Florida. Everyone says their defense sucks. They play good defense and they have what we used to call, "Here he comes and there he goes speed!" Their overall quickness and speed is better than everyone else. They also have a quality everyone wants on their team and that is called, "nastiness with an attitude."

My prediction: Oklahoma 45, Florida 24. Bob Stoops will have them ready.

Can someone please tell me how Notre Dame deserves to be in a bowl game? This is the most undeserving bowl team in history.

45-35

A lot of people are listening to Bob Stoops talk and talk and talk and ... about how his Oklahoma Sooners should be playing for the national championship. Or how we need a playoff to decide the national champion.

The fans at Texas seem to have a different opinion. Seems the Longhorns believe it has been decided on the field during the regular season, which is really just a playoff that no one admits is. So some Longhorn fans have set up a website that is simple and to the point.

Check out 45-35.com.