To Stoops, One Size Fits All

Congratulations to the Orange Bowl for giving berths to twins.

No. 1 USC versus No. 2 Oklahoma for the national title Jan. 4 appears to be as evenly matched as Tiki versus Ronde Barber.

First-year Arizona Coach Mike Stoops, who coached at Oklahoma for five years and coached against USC on Nov. 13, probably knows as much as anyone about both programs -- and even he can’t tell them apart.

“This game is as good a matchup you can find with teams that mirror each other in a lot of ways,” Stoops said.

The similarities are almost creepy, like President Lincoln having a secretary named Kennedy and Kennedy having a secretary named Lincoln.

Let’s move beyond the point of both teams being 12-0 to consider:

* Both have seven-letter nicknames (Sooners and Trojans).

* Both have Heisman-winning quarterbacks -- Jason White and Matt Leinart -- who might not be the best players in their huddles. You could argue freshman tailback Adrian Peterson is Oklahoma’s best player, and maybe there isn’t an argument about USC tailback Reggie Bush, given that he was recently named the Trojans’ most valuable player.

* Each school has an Associated Press All-American defensive lineman named Cody. Shaun (first team) plays for USC, and Dan (second team) plays for Oklahoma.

* Oklahoma averaged 36.1 points a game and gave up an average of 13.7. USC averaged 36.8 points and gave up 12.5.

* USC scored 57 touchdowns to Oklahoma’s 59.

* The coaches, Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops, are defensive coordinators by trade.

Stoops has a secretary named Carol and Carroll has a secretary named Bobbie?

No, but each has won one national title, coached in one Rose Bowl and will be coaching in his second Orange Bowl.

USC outscored its opponents in the third quarter, 104-39. Oklahoma outscored its opponents, 121-34.

USC averaged 85,229 fans for six home games; Oklahoma averaged 84,532.

USC scored 441 points to Oklahoma’s 433.

Each defense posted two shutouts.

This could be the first national-title game that ends with one coach calling, “Checkmate.”

We asked Mike Stoops, Bob’s brother, to break down the differences between the schools.

Mike reported back that he couldn’t find any.

Stoops served as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma for five years before taking over in Tucson this year.

Blood being thicker than Pacific 10 Conference water, Mike promised Bob he would supply all the information he could to help Oklahoma defeat USC.

Unfortunately, what Mike reported to Bob about USC was: They’re the greatest team I ever faced.

Arizona played USC tougher than that 49-9 final score posted Nov. 13 at the Coliseum, trailing by only 12 points in the third quarter before USC pulled away.

“They’re as complete a football team as you can find,” Stoops said of the Trojans. “And so is Oklahoma.”

Leinart versus White?

“As even as it can be,” Stoops said.

“No question. Both are cool, don’t get rattled, have great confidence in what they’re doing, great confidence in their offensive coordinators, and when they get down, they know they’re going to fight back.”

Running backs?

Oklahoma was vulnerable here last year, but that was before tailback Peterson became the first freshman to finish second in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

USC counters with the one-two punch of Bush and LenDale White.

Stoops gives Oklahoma’s offensive line, led by Outland Trophy-winning tackle Jammal Brown, a slight advantage over USC’s but only because the Sooners are more experienced.

Receivers?

Again, Oklahoma’s combination of Mark Clayton and Mark Bradley is more experienced. USC starts a freshman in Dwayne Jarrett, but he isn’t just any freshman.

“Don’t underestimate USC’s receivers, that’s what I told those [Oklahoma] guys,” Stoops said. “Jarrett’s made great improvement throughout the year, he’s got a big body and Matt likes to throw him the ball in certain situations. Jarrett, to me, is the freshman of the year. Him and Adrian Peterson. And they got Steve Smith back, so they’re dangerous.”

Stoops rated the defensive lines and linebacker groups even.

He said both teams had been vulnerable in the secondary. USC has undersized cornerbacks that have been, at times, exploited by taller receivers. Oklahoma boasts Travis Wilson and Brandon Jones, both 6 feet 3, and the 6-2 Bradley.

Oklahoma’s defense, however, gave up 846 total yards in consecutive road victories over Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.;

Granted, the Sooners were playing without standout cornerback Antonio Perkins, who has since returned from injury.

Oklahoma gave up six points in its last three games.

“Perkins is back, that’s the key,” Stoops said. “They were playing with two guys they hadn’t played much with, and I think that threw them into a little bit of a tailspin. You lose a little confidence. It’s easy to happen on the road, and it’s hard to stop.

“But they got it turned around. I think they’re a much more confident team now, playing the last three games with Perkins back in there. He gives them a big lift. He’s a premier cover guy, so that’s going to give them a lot more confidence ultimately.”

Special teams?

Even, Stoops says.

USC has the rabbit-like Bush on returns, and Oklahoma’s Perkins, when sound, is Bush’s equal. Last year, remember, Perkins set an NCAA record with three punt returns for touchdown against UCLA.

Coaches?

Carroll and Stoops are at the top of their class.

So what’s it come down to?

Mike Stoops said the defensive fronts are good enough to shut down the other team’s running attack, meaning the game could be decided by the quarterbacks.

USC got a decent look at Oklahoma’s defensive schemes when it played Arizona because the schools run the same defense.

“I would say we showed them everything we’re going to do,” Stoops said. “We threw the gamut at them. They [Oklahoma] are going to see how they [USC] attacked us. So they’re going to be a little bit more prepared maybe. But I am sure USC’s going to change up some of the things they did against us as well.”

The X-factor, as usual, could be Bush.

Arizona held Bush to almost ordinary numbers (12 carries for 45 yards, four catches for 19 yards, no touchdowns) using the same defense Oklahoma will use.

Mike Stoops said he wasn’t as worried as much about containing Bush as he was White, who pounded Arizona for 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

Stoops said the zone defense employed by Arizona and Oklahoma may be less vulnerable to leaving Bush lined up against an opposing linebacker.

“You’ve got to be very conscious of where he is located on the field,” Stoops said of Bush. “There are certain things they like to do with him from certain positions on the field.

“But with a substantial amount of time to prepare, [Oklahoma] will know exactly where he’s at, you would think. But the other kid, White, you better bring it or he’s going to run through you, that’s for sure.”

Will Oklahoma load up the line and take the run away?

Will USC try to stuff Peterson and take its chances with Jason White?

Can Oklahoma use its taller receivers to its advantage?

Will Oklahoma even kick the ball to Bush?

“This is where it becomes a little bit of a coaching chess match,” Stoops said. “This is a great matchup.”