Bob Stoops: No. 1 Ranking 'Doesn't Matter at All'

The Sooners in general made it clear they do not care that they are atop the initial BCS rankings.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:59 am

By: News On 6

Bob Stoops: No. 1 Ranking 'Doesn't Matter at All'

Originally Published: Oct 19, 2010 4:37 PM CDT

Corey DeMoss
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma – The Oklahoma Sooners are the No. 1 team in the nation after the first BCS rankings were released Sunday, but players and coaches have made it clear they are not concerned with that distinction.

“What’s it matter?” head coach Bob Stoops said. “I don’t remember anybody talking about a goal that on Oct. 15 we want to be No. 1 in the BCS. That doesn’t matter at all.”

Being awarded the initial top spot in the BCS rankings is generally more of a curse than a blessing. Since the BCS was instituted in 1998, only two teams have gone on to win the national championship after being No. 1 in the initial rankings. One of those two teams was USC in 2004, which has since had wins vacated from that season.

“I'll say this: We've been in the position before,” Stoops said. “We've managed it, for the most part, pretty well. Keeping our focus on the team in front of us and especially the quality of the opponent that we need to go there and play. It's a big deal.”

The Sooners’ rise to the nation’s top spot this season is thanks in large part to top-ranked teams around them falling. The two previous No. 1 teams – Alabama and Ohio State – each lost in the last two weeks. OU will be trying to avoid the same fate.

“When you’re put as that No. 1 team, teams tend to lose their edge,” linebacker Travis Lewis said. “We’re still 80th and 90th in the country in defense, and we’ve got a lot to work on. So don’t mention it, don’t think about it, don’t make it an issue. You’ve still got to go out there and win all your games to get to where we want to be.”

Lewis went on to say he did not want to be ranked No. 1 this early in the season. After OU’s game Saturday against Iowa State, he said Boise State should be the nation’s top team.

“Not that I don’t think we’re one of the best in the country; I don’t think we’ve deserved it yet,” Lewis said. “We’ve played two good games and then the rest have been inconsistent. So put someone deserving of it up there.”