NEW ORLEANS - Oklahoma and Louisiana State can sympathize with Southern California, which failed to reach the Bowl Championship Series title game despite being ranked No. 1 in the media and coaches' polls.
Neither the Sooners nor the Tigers, however, will make apologies for playing in Sunday night's Sugar Bowl to determine the BCS champion.
"We lost (to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game Dec. 6), and all everyone is talking about is how we shouldn't be here," Oklahoma defensive end Dan Cody said Monday. "I don't take it personally, but it can be frustrating at times. I don't think people have wanted us to win all year."
Oklahoma and Louisiana State both finished 12-1, but the Tigers gained the BCS edge over the 11-1 Trojans because their schedule was deemed tougher.
"They created the BCS for two reasons - media attention, and to make it exciting - and that's exactly what they got," LSU offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth said. "USC is not here, but they have to take care of business (in the Rose Bowl), and we have to take care of business, regardless of what the computer says."
LIBERTY: While Utah defensive end Marquess Ledbetter hoped to go to Southern Miss, Utah offensive tackle Thomas Herrion actually signed with the Golden Eagles. "For about an hour," he joked. Herrion said he wanted all along to attend Utah out of Kilgore Junior College in Texas. But he said he allowed the Eagles, who the Utes face Wednesday in Memphis, to pressure him into signing a letter of intent. Only because Herrion's mother refused to co-sign the letter did he avoid going to Southern Miss. Herrion said he told the Eagles he planned to go to Utah, but they refused to give up on him. "When somebody says they're going somewhere, you should respect their feelings - "Good luck, sorry this is how it is' - and just be through with it, you know what I'm saying?" Herrion said. "But that didn't happen." Herrion, who has been nursing a sprained ankle, insists he does not hold a grudge against the Eagles. "I respect Southern Miss," he said. "I like Southern Miss. It came down to these two teams."
CAPITAL ONE: Talk about good timing. Georgia coach Mark Richt took a break from preparations for Purdue on Thursday in Orlando to catch up with one of his favorite players - Charlie Ward, the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback at Florida State in 1993, when he was his QB coach. Ward is in his 10th season with the NBA's New York Knicks, who were in Orlando to play the Magic on Monday night. Ward led the Seminoles to their first national championship. After college, he gave up football to play in the NBA. He's been with the Knicks ever since. "Charlie is one of the finest human beings I've ever met," Richt said. "I'm so happy his career has gone so well."
The exile of Randall Swoopes is over. The offensive lineman has re-enrolled at Georgia after spending a year at Georgia Military College. He'll return to the Bulldogs in January, ready to take part in offseason workouts and spring practice. "He's done everything I asked him to do," Richt said. Swoopes left Georgia after being one of five players charged with marijuana possession. The others were suspended for the first two games of the season.
GATOR: West Virginia freshman quarterback Dwayne Thompson's biggest contribution this season is impersonating Maryland quarterback Scott McBrien. Like McBrien, Thompson throws left-handed. This week he's helping West Virginia's defense become more accustomed to McBrien rolling out to his left as they ready for Thursday's game in Jacksonville. McBrien has beaten his former school both times he's played the Mountaineers since transferring after the 2000 season.
MUSIC CITY: Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said cornerback Kevin Hobbs will play in Wednesday's game against Wisconsin after recovering from a flulike illness. Redshirt freshman Montavis Pitts worked with the first team while Hobbs was ailing, but secondary coach Phillip Lolley said that Pitts had been making a case for a move up the depth chart anyway.
ROSE: Southern California defensive end Omar Nazel played TV reporter on media day, chuckling and questioning teammates about preparations for Michigan. He plans to be even more involved on New Year's Day. Nazel has been cleared to play after missing three games and having what was thought to be season-ending hand surgery. Coach Pete Carroll said sophomore Frostee Rucker would start, but he expects Nazel to play.
