OU's return to No. 1 tops 2000 sports scene in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ In a state where it has often been said football is king, the top sports story of 2000 was clear: Oklahoma's return to No. 1. <br><br>In just his second season in charge, coach

Tuesday, December 26th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ In a state where it has often been said football is king, the top sports story of 2000 was clear: Oklahoma's return to No. 1.

In just his second season in charge, coach Bob Stoops saw his team rise to No. 1 by blowing past Texas, Kansas State and Nebraska during consecutive games in October. Oklahoma didn't stumble down the stretch, capping the year with another victory over Kansas State in the Big 12 title game to send the Sooners into the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl for a shot at the national title.

Oklahoma is 12-0 for the first time in school history, only two years after Stoops took over a program that had been 12-22 in the preceding three years.

``We never had a timetable,'' Stoops said. ``After our first conditioning workout (last year), I didn't know if we'd beat Norman North.''

The Sooners won seven games in 1999 and went to a bowl game. The overwhelming majority of players then stayed through the summer to work out together, and the added weight training and familiarity with the offensive and defensive systems showed itself this year.

Josh Heupel had the kind of year that made him a Heisman Trophy finalist and The Associated Press player of the year. He was particularly impressive during the October stretch, when Oklahoma beat teams that at the time were ranked 11th, 2nd and 1st.

Heupel and the offense struggled in the latter part of the regular season, but the defense came through and helped the Sooners remain unbeaten. The only hurdle left was the Orange Bowl game against Florida State.

``I knew we could compete with anybody. I'm really fortunate to be here when it all got turned around,'' said linebacker Rocky Calmus, an All-American and finalist for the Butkus Award. ``I knew we were capable of it, but two years? It's turned around pretty quick.''

Oklahoma State's football season began with high hopes but ended with coach Bob Simmons resigning under pressure. He announced his resignation after a loss to Texas A&M that assured the Cowboys of their third straight losing season and fifth in six years under Simmons. His replacement is Les Miles, who worked as Simmons' offensive coordinator at OSU before leaving to coach tight ends with the Dallas Cowboys.

``I would not be here if I didn't think that we could win and win consistently,'' Miles said.

Tulsa's football prospects brightened a bit during Keith Burns' first year as coach. The Golden Hurricane finished 5-7, its highest victory total since 1991.

The Tulsa basketball team began the 2000-2001 season with a new coach, Buzz Peterson, who was hired after Bill Self left to take over at Illinois. Self last season led Tulsa to within one victory of its first Final Four appearance, and used that success as a springboard to his new job in the Big 10 Conference.

Tulsa wasn't the only team that got within a whisker of the Final Four. Oklahoma State's senior-dominated team also made it to the Elite Eight, where a loss to Florida denied the Cowboys their second Final Four trip under coach Eddie Sutton.

Oklahoma's basketball team went to the NCAA tournament for the sixth consecutive year under Kelvin Sampson, but the big hoops news in Norman was made by the women's team. The Sooner women, after being picked in the preseason to finish well down in the conference standings, tied for the Big 12 title and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament.

Another OU women's team had a big year. The softball team, coached by Patty Gasso, won the school's first national championship by beating UCLA in the title game in Oklahoma City.

``This is a moment we envisioned, and sometimes all that we have been able to do is envision,'' Gasso said. ``I can't even begin to explain all the emotions that run through because of all the hard work we have put into it.''

Also in 2000:

Oklahoma State's golf team won its ninth national championship and first since 1995. Cowboy player Charles Howell won the individual title with a tournament-record score of 23 under par, then turned pro.
Gymnast Shannon Miller failed in her bid to make a third Olympic team. Miller worked herself back into shape, but injuries kept her from competing at qualifying meets.
The Jenks High School football team won its fifth straight Class 6A title, beating crosstown rival Tulsa Union 31-12 in the championship game. During the regular season, the two played before 40,385 people at Skelly Stadium, the largest crowd to watch a high school game in Oklahoma.