Stoops

While this year's Fiesta Bowl was not the back and forth thriller of last year, it was still a great game...if you are not a Sooner fan, which I am definitely NOT. The announcers across the board said West Virginia didn't have a chance. You've got to love an underdog (except when they are playing your team). Good for WVU bad for Oklahoma...again!

Which leads to my question. Did anyone else here the announcers of last nights game draw a comparison between Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops, saying something to the effect of "Bob Stoops has found himself in many of the same situations as Pete Carroll over the past few years in BCS Bowl games?"

Now I am paraphrasing here, as I can't remember the exact quote, but I'm close, and my reaction this morning is the same as last night. WTF?

Seriously...W.T.F?

Bob Stoops wishes he has been in the same situation as Pete Carroll in BCS Bowl games, or to quote my dad, he wishes he was a pimple on Pete Carroll's ass.

Let's compare, shall we?

Pete Carrol's first year at USC was the 2001 season, in which neither he, nor Bob Stoops' Sooners made it to a BCS Bowl game. Year 1 ends in a tie.

In the 2002 season, USC defeated Iowa in the Orange Bowl by 21 points (38 to 17) and ended the season ranked 4th in the nation. Oklahoma played in the Rose Bowl, and defeated Washington State by 20 points (34 to 14) , finishing the season ranked 5th.

I will give those announcers the edge on these first two seasons. Obviously, Carroll and Stoops were as close as could be. Still, I must point out, being a USC fan and all, that Carroll does have the edge here. I'm just sayin'.

But this is where the similarity ends, my friends.

In the 2003 season, USC played Michigan in the Rose Bowl, which they won 28 to 14, finishing 1st in the AP Poll. Oklahoma lost to LSU in the Sugar Bowl 21 to 14, finishing the season ranked 3rd.

In the 2004 season, USC won the Orange Bowl, which was the national championship game by a score of 55 to 19, and finished 1st in all polls. Yes, that's a 36 point win. Who did they beat? Uhm, Oklahoma! Not so much similar that year, huh?

In the 2005 season...(I am shaking my head and crying at the very mention of the 2005 season, thank you very much) USC (sniff) suffered their only loss of the season to that school that shall not be named, in the Rose Bowl. The final score was 41 to 38 (sniff...wail!!!). They finished the season ranked 2nd. But as bad as all that was...Okalhoma was worse. They didn't play in a BCS at all, and finished the season ranked 22 with a record of 8 and 4.

In the 2006 season, USC defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl, 32 to 18, and finished the season ranked 4th. Oklahoma lost the Fiesta Bowl to Boise State (which was the most exciting football game I have ever seen, by the way) by a score of 43 to 42, and finished the season ranked 11th.

Finally, in 2007, USC beat Illinois in the Rose bowl 49 to 17, while Oklahoma lost to West Virginia 48 to 28. I dare say USC will jump ahead of Oklahoma in the end of season rankings.

So let's recap...USC is 5 and 1 in BCS bowl games under Pete Carroll. Oklahoma is 1 and 4 during that same time period. That, coupled with the 36 point beat down USC put on Oklahoma in the 2004 season, makes me wonder how anyone could ever say that Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops have been in similar situations the past few years with regard to BCS Bowl games.

Seriously. WTF? That is just stoop-id.