Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops doesn't so much answer questions as he does attack them.
He sniffs out a query the way the former Iowa defensive back used to level unsuspecting split ends. And when he speaks, he spits out his answers in his deep voice, like a drill sergeant reading roll call.
So when he arrived at the Big 12 media days in Dallas earlier this month, Stoops didn't even wait for the question on everyone's mind: Can his Sooners repeat as national champions?
|  | | Bob Stoops is 20-5 entering his third season at Oklahoma. |
"Our players know how to win big games and win championships," Stoops said, tersely. "Overall, that is going to give us more confidence. We really believe we've got a great opportunity to be better than a year ago."
Better? Stoops would have you believe there are several reasons why Oklahoma's rocket rise from 7-5 in 1999 to 13-0 in 2000 will continue into 2001 and beyond. But there are just as many reasons why the path to Pasadena could be thorny.
First, three reasons for the Sooners' Rose-colored glasses:
Defense. News flash: Defense wins championships. And Oklahoma's championship defense returns many of its playmakers. The Sooners' lost headhunter Torrance Marshall. But linebacker Rocky Calmus, the preseason Big 12 defensive player of the year, and strong safety Roy Williams are among six starters that helped the Sooners reach these ungodly rankings: eighth in total defense, seventh in scoring defense, fifth in turnovers forced and second in pass efficiency defense. And those regular-season rankings didn't even factor in the Sooners' complete domination of Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke and Florida State.
Experience. Stoops noted that 23 of his top 44 players in the national championship game were freshmen and sophomores. Eight starters return on offense. And a host of talented newcomers, especially at running back, are bound to push the veterans.
Hunger. Bob Stoops is no Buster Douglas, and the Sooners are not the Florida Marlins. In other words, they're not satisfied with just one title. Stoops already has his team's eyes set on becoming the first school in NCAA history to win back-to-back national titles three different times. And his players already are miffed that Big 12 coaches picked Nebraska to win the conference title.
For further incentive, Stoops plans to continue to parade past champions in front of his team. During halftime of the Tulsa game -- the last game before OU opens Big 12 play against Kansas State -- the players who helped compile Oklahoma's NCAA record 47-game winning streak will be honored.
Come to think of it, why would the ultra-competitive Stoops stop at 13 when someone else once won 47 in a row?
Three thorns:
Quarterback. Nate Hybl is bigger, thicker, stronger and quicker than Josh Heupel. But Heupel thrived under high pressure, performing his best in the face of bright lights and blitzing linebackers. Can Hybl?
"Obviously, you'd like to have your (starting) quarterback come back, but you have to remember Nate has been there a couple of years," said Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who worked with Hybl as OU's offensive coordinator in 1999. "He'll be able to acclimate quicker. It's not going to be as difficult as it was that first year (1999) when Josh came in from scratch."
Texas and Nebraska. With 37 of their top 44 players back, the Longhorns have as much talent as OU. And they have revenge on their minds. The Huskers have the home field advantage. And they have revenge on their minds. But the Sooners, with their swagger, seem unfazed by their rivals' bloodlust.
"It's not like we haven't already had the bull's eye on our back," Calmus said. "Texas-OU is a bull's eye game every year. And after (the Nebraska game) last year, we were No. 1 the rest of the season. So we're used to it."
Fate. Of all the reasons for OU's success last year, this may be the most telling: The Sooners haven't had a major injury on the field in two years. In fact, the only player they've lost for any kind of time is cornerback Michael Thompson, who broke his leg after slamming his truck into a tree in May. He's out for the season.
Mike Stoops, Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator, said the team's good health has more to do with good fitness than good fortune.
"For us to go virtually two years without any injuries has been big," Mike Stoops said. "I think that goes to (strength) coach Jerry Schmidt's great preparation and our players' preparation."
Yeah, but even the fittest sometimes fall. Unless Bob Stoops has some sort of superpower, the injury bug is bound to bite.
Then again, fate could work in OU's favor. In NCAA history, only six teams have won back-to-back titles. And Oklahoma has done it. Twice.
"Traditionally, you see it's very, very hard to go back to back," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "But no one thought they could win the national championship last year -- outside of them, if they even did. They've got 18 starters back. They've got so much confidence coming into this year. They have to be the pick from our league."
Todd Cooper is a staff writer at the Omaha World-Herald.
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