Chizzy
04 Jan 2004, 08:41 PM
Notable: Of the 28 bowls, this features the best combined records of participants, 24-2. ... The Tigers are 4-7 all-time in Sugar Bowls, Oklahoma 4-1. ... LSU won the Southeastern Conference title; Oklahoma lost in the Big 12 championship game.
When LSU has the ball: To be successful against the nation's No. 1 defense, the Tigers and QB Matt Mauck must spread the ball among the usual playmakers — RB Justin Vincent and WRs Michael Clayton, Devery Henderson and Skyler Green. A big night from Green on punt returns would be a huge help in providing solid field position. LSU has to have balance, stay out of negative plays and exercise patience because big plays might not be plentiful against an Oklahoma defense whose players cleaned up on awards. They include DT Tommie Harris (Lombardi), LB Teddy Lehman (Butkus and Bednarik) and DB Derrick Strait (Nagurski and Thorpe). The Sooners' defense is itching to make amends for its poor performance against Kansas State. If Oklahoma can force an early turnover or two, it could deflate the pro-LSU crowd.
LSU's intangibles: A team that was off the national radar screen for a good part of the year while Oklahoma, Miami, USC and Ohio State got a ton of publicity, LSU is eager to prove it has arrived as an elite program. The Tigers have won seven in a row, including critical victories against Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia in the last three games to lock up the SEC crown. Best of all, this is essentially a home game for LSU, with New Orleans overrun by tens of thousands of Tigers fans, providing lots of good mojo. The crowd noise at Tiger Stadium often is deafening, and even if there will be fewer LSU fans in the Superdome than on a typical Saturday in Baton Rouge, the closed environment could make things sound just about as loud. Oklahoma was beaten badly by Kansas State in a similar "neutral" field game four weeks ago in Kansas City, Mo.
When Oklahoma has the ball: The Sooners led Division I-A at 45.1 points a game (and set a school season record with 587) but will have to solve an LSU unit that's tops in scoring defense (10.8 a game). Heisman Trophy winner Jason White threw for more than 4,000 yards with 40 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Mark Clayton is the go-to receiver with 1,393 yards and 15 TDs, but eight other players had TD catches. Oklahoma will have to solve an LSU defense long on speed and aggressiveness with the added threat of a complex array of blitzes. The Sooners must handle All-American Chad Lavalais, centerpiece of LSU's defensive line.
OU intangibles: Oklahoma will play with a definite attitude created by those who harp the Sooners don't belong in the championship game despite a 12-win season. Oklahoma also will benefit from Bob Stoops' success in big games: He has led OU to victory in the Orange, Cotton and Rose bowls the past three years (allowing a total of 19 points) and won the national title in 2000 against Florida State.
When LSU has the ball: To be successful against the nation's No. 1 defense, the Tigers and QB Matt Mauck must spread the ball among the usual playmakers — RB Justin Vincent and WRs Michael Clayton, Devery Henderson and Skyler Green. A big night from Green on punt returns would be a huge help in providing solid field position. LSU has to have balance, stay out of negative plays and exercise patience because big plays might not be plentiful against an Oklahoma defense whose players cleaned up on awards. They include DT Tommie Harris (Lombardi), LB Teddy Lehman (Butkus and Bednarik) and DB Derrick Strait (Nagurski and Thorpe). The Sooners' defense is itching to make amends for its poor performance against Kansas State. If Oklahoma can force an early turnover or two, it could deflate the pro-LSU crowd.
LSU's intangibles: A team that was off the national radar screen for a good part of the year while Oklahoma, Miami, USC and Ohio State got a ton of publicity, LSU is eager to prove it has arrived as an elite program. The Tigers have won seven in a row, including critical victories against Mississippi, Arkansas and Georgia in the last three games to lock up the SEC crown. Best of all, this is essentially a home game for LSU, with New Orleans overrun by tens of thousands of Tigers fans, providing lots of good mojo. The crowd noise at Tiger Stadium often is deafening, and even if there will be fewer LSU fans in the Superdome than on a typical Saturday in Baton Rouge, the closed environment could make things sound just about as loud. Oklahoma was beaten badly by Kansas State in a similar "neutral" field game four weeks ago in Kansas City, Mo.
When Oklahoma has the ball: The Sooners led Division I-A at 45.1 points a game (and set a school season record with 587) but will have to solve an LSU unit that's tops in scoring defense (10.8 a game). Heisman Trophy winner Jason White threw for more than 4,000 yards with 40 touchdowns and only eight interceptions. Mark Clayton is the go-to receiver with 1,393 yards and 15 TDs, but eight other players had TD catches. Oklahoma will have to solve an LSU defense long on speed and aggressiveness with the added threat of a complex array of blitzes. The Sooners must handle All-American Chad Lavalais, centerpiece of LSU's defensive line.
OU intangibles: Oklahoma will play with a definite attitude created by those who harp the Sooners don't belong in the championship game despite a 12-win season. Oklahoma also will benefit from Bob Stoops' success in big games: He has led OU to victory in the Orange, Cotton and Rose bowls the past three years (allowing a total of 19 points) and won the national title in 2000 against Florida State.