Mac94
12/6/2008, 05:05 PM
In 1999 Bob Stoops took over a historical national program 14 seasons removed from it's last MNC (1985). Oklahoma, under Stoops, went 7-5 in his first season and ended the year in the Independence Bowl. The next year Oklahoma started out as a very dark horse but went undefeated to face a powerful one loss team in Florida St. However, there was BCS controversy as Florida St. had lost head to head with rival Miami who alos ended the year with one loss, The Seminoles, though, behind a powerful offense and Heisman trophy winning QB got the nod to go to Miami. WE all know this story and it's 13-2 ending.
In 2007 Nick Saban took over a historical national program 13 seasons removed from it's last MNC (1992). In their first year under Saban the Crimson Tide went 7-6 and ended their season in the Independence Bowl. This season, Saban's second, Alabama entered as a very dark horse candidate but has gone undefeated. If they beat Florida today they will go into the MNC game in Miami undefeated and #1. If Oklahoma wins they will likely go in with their powerful offense and Heisman trophy contending QB as a one loss #2. But, it will, as we all know, be controversial dues to Oklahoma's loss to rival Texas who also finished with one loss but behind OU in the BCS.
We'll see how this day ends ... but watching the SEC title game, there are some funny similarites here.
In 2007 Nick Saban took over a historical national program 13 seasons removed from it's last MNC (1992). In their first year under Saban the Crimson Tide went 7-6 and ended their season in the Independence Bowl. This season, Saban's second, Alabama entered as a very dark horse candidate but has gone undefeated. If they beat Florida today they will go into the MNC game in Miami undefeated and #1. If Oklahoma wins they will likely go in with their powerful offense and Heisman trophy contending QB as a one loss #2. But, it will, as we all know, be controversial dues to Oklahoma's loss to rival Texas who also finished with one loss but behind OU in the BCS.
We'll see how this day ends ... but watching the SEC title game, there are some funny similarites here.