MIAMI GARDENS — Both teams combined to score 392 points during the first quarter this season, so it was a tad surprising when top-ranked Oklahoma and second-ranked Florida were each held scoreless during the first 15 minutes of Thursday’s BCS Championship Game at Dolphin Stadium.
It was the first time the Sooners were shut out in the first quarter this season. In fact, it was only the sixth time this year that the Sooners failed to score in any quarter, and four of those occasions happened during the final 15 minutes of blowout wins.
It happened to the Gators once, and that came during their loss to Ole Miss in the fourth game of the season.
Oklahoma outscored its opponents 225 to 30 in the opening quarter, while Florida held a 167-20 advantage.
Both defenses ruled the South Florida night.
Florida twice stopped Oklahoma inside the Florida 5-yard line, and Oklahoma intercepted Tim Tebow twice. Tebow had thrown only two interceptions all year.
Thursday was the first scoreless opening quarter since the intial BCS title game between Tennessee and Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl after the 1998 season.
Thursday’s game also marked the first time a BCS title game was tied at the half.
And the 14 combined points were the fewest scored in any first half of the BCS title games.
What the?
The Gators became the first team to score first on the Sooners this season when Tebow connected with Louis Murphy with 14:02 to play in the second quarter.
Tebow stay or Tebow go?
Former Gators quarterback Danny Wuerffel was asked if Tebow should return for his senior season.
“Yeah, I think he should come back,” Wuerffel said. “I’m a Florida Gator, and we definitely want him to come back. He, like a lot of guys, has got a tough decision to make, and I don’t know how (Thursday’s game) will play in or not to that. But I know a big question a lot of folks ask is, ‘Do I think or do we think he has a chance to play in the NFL?’ I think if he gets in the right place with the right coach that can utilize his talents, he can be very effective.”
For the record, Tebow hasn’t announced his plans.
Sanders starts
Gators defensive tackle Terron Sanders made his 12th start of the season Thursday.
The former Southeast High star is the first Manatee County product to start a national championship game since Southeast’s Todd Williams started at tackle for Florida State in the 2001 Orange Bowl against the Oklahoma Sooners.
Welcome back, Gators
Thursday was the first time the Gators played at Dolphin Stadium since the 2002 Orange Bowl, a 56-23 victory against Maryland.
That game is memorable for two reasons: Brock Berlin started for Florida, and, perhaps more importantly, it was Steve Spurrier’s final game as the Gators’ head coach.
Welcome, Heisman winners
A total of 15 Heisman Trophy winners played in the Orange Bowl game, including the first matchup of Heisman winners when USC’s Matt Leinart and Oklahoma’s Jason White played in the 2005 national title game.
That number grew to 17 on Thursday when Tebow and Sam Bradford met in the BCS title game.
Though it wasn’t an Orange Bowl game, the event was hosted by the Orange Bowl committee.
Ten past Heisman winners were honored before the game. They were Wuerffel, Billy Simms, Doug Flutie, Desmond Howard, Andre Ware, Tony Dorsett, Marcus Allen, Ty Detmer, Joe Bellino and Gino Torretta.
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