By John Shinn
Transcript Sports Writer
GLENDALE, Ariz. — It would only scrawl across to the bottom tenth of a television screen, but to Oklahoma that one little line might as well have been as big as a neon billboard in Times Square.
Ever since the bowl season began, it’s been a constant on ESPN. Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia … OU 0-3 in last three BCS games.
Every day the Sooners have been in Arizona, they’ve turned on a television and seen it. Those who didn’t notice were quickly informed.
“It’s been talked about a few times,” Sooner quarterback Sam Bradford said.
More like etched into OU’s psyche like a tattoo. It’s been a while since the Sooners won a big bowl game.
For OU’s fifth-year seniors, tonight’s 7 p.m. game against No. 11 West Virginia (11-2) will be their fourth trip to a BCS bowl game.
They’ve yet to walk off the field with a victory in those games.
The 2003 and 2004 seasons started the string. OU’s national championship hopes were cremated by LSU in the Sugar Bowl to end to the ’03 season. USC ended plans for another the following year in the Orange Bowl.
Those games hurt because getting that close to college football’s biggest prize and coming home empty handed is frustrating.
Last season’s loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl, however, was more irritating.
The Sooners have spent an entire year hearing about being on the losing end of the 43-42 thriller.
“It’s seems like every time there is something on about college games they always show Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl,” OU linebacker Curtis Lofton said. “I’m getting tired of seeing that. I can’t wait to play this game and get rid of that memory.”
To do that, OU must reverse the plague of miscues its created during its last three January games.
Turnovers have been the biggest cause. The Sooners have given the ball 11 times in their last three BCS bowl games.
Mistakes are magnified when going up against another highly-ranked foe.
“There’s always a combination of issues,” Stoops said. “You’re playing good people. That’s always a big factor. And if you turn the ball over or make some poor plays, it’s going to show up no matter what game you’re in. I believe in some of those games, we made some poor plays and turnovers that really hurt us.”
There was a time not too long ago when OU was considered a team that did the exact opposite. It was considered one of the best bowl teams around when OU claimed its seventh national championship in 2000 with a victory over Florida State in the Orange.
That win was followed by a Cotton Bowl triumph over Arkansas and Rose Bowl thumping of Washington State.
Most of OU’s players took notice of the program at that point. They saw a program that played in big games and won them.
Some say the only bowl game that really matters is the one Jan. 7 for the national championship. A well-reasoned argument can be made for that opinion.
Doesn’t matter to the Sooners.
They’ve been in Arizona for more than a week and during that time they’ve heard and seen a constant bombardment of past bowl failures.
They’ve seen it on television, they’ve been asked about by every form of media and even Stoops has pointed out that being 0-3 in anything is unacceptable.
“He’s tired of looking at it TV. We are, too,” OU wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said. “That’s the reason why you come here — to win championships.”
Tonight’s Fiesta Bowl championship will do just fine.
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