Ice storm delays Oklahoma's arrival in Miami

The team's plane took off from Oklahoma City in sleet and freezing rain, four hours behind schedule and arrived in Miami at 6:30 p.m. It was 21 degrees when the 241 players, coaches and family members boarded the chartered plane, and 71 degrees when they got off.

``I left my jacket at home,'' said coach Bob Stoops.

Oklahoma's opponent, No. 3 Florida State, was scheduled to arrive in Miami on Wednesday to prepare for next week's national championship game.

Oklahoma's coaches took their wives and children along for next Wednesday's game rather than leave them at home the day after Christmas. Most of the first 40 passengers to get off the plane were children.

``Coaching this week will be easy,'' said Stoops, who was carrying his 18-month-old son Drake. ``The hard part was getting all our families on the plane.''

The players laughed as the coaches had a hard time quieting down their children before takeoff, said Stoops, who was also accompanied by his wife Carol, and Drake's twin brother, Isaac.

Oklahoma immediately went to Barry University to practice after a three-day holiday break, beginning with stretching exercises.

Oklahoma is 3-1 lifetime against Florida State, including a 24-7 victory in the 1980 Orange Bowl and an 18-17 win at the 1981 Orange Bowl.

The Sooners lost to the Miami 20-14 in 1988 in their last Orange Bowl appearance.