FEDEX ORANGE BOWL: OKLAHOMA v FLORIDA STATE

December 31, 2000

Josh Heupel

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, for me, I wanted to win a National Championship and be the best football player I could for that football team.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, no. I envisioned playing somewhere else for the national title -- things happened the way they did. The Lord brought me here for a reason, given me a great platform, and I'm excited to play with the opportunity for a national title.

JOSH HEUPEL: It is a great experience for everyone involved. The greatest part of it would be winning the national title, though.

JOSH HEUPEL: We are handling it very well. I would also add that we have been involved in a Championship Game and a championship-type atmosphere already this year, the Big 12 Championship Game, and I don't foresee this being too much different. Again, it is a little higher stakes than what we had a couple weeks ago.

JOSH HEUPEL: You don't get a chance to know each other too well. The thing I know about him is he is a great leader for his football team and he is a great player.

JOSH HEUPEL: It's not a head-to-head match-up. If you get caught up in a head-to-head match-up, you're doing your team a disservice. January 3rd is about Oklahoma Sooners against Florida State Seminoles and whichever teams comes out on top.

JOSH HEUPEL: I haven't had a chance to watch him. I'll be more concerned with their defense than anything else.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, they are extremely athletic. As anyone would guess, they make a lot of big plays and don't give up many. So the offense needs to take care of the football, give us -- take what they give us and know that we both have a chance.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, both of very aggressive, run after the ball, very athletic.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, I think the way they go about it; they are more of a zone-blitz game.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think everyone on this football team is more concerned with team goals and team efforts than individual awards. And that's a special thing, and that's what got us to the point that we are at today.

JOSH HEUPEL: I got a chance to talk to Mike Leach from Kentucky. I knew what type of offense they were going to run. I spent a lot of time with them on a recruiting trip. I also had a chance to sit down and talk to Coach Stoops and look into his eyes. And a question I had was: "Were we going to be able to compete and even win a Big 12 Championship and a National Championship?" And he strongly believed that we would have that opportunity if we gave it everything we did. The team bought into the vision, and that's what a head coach needs to do, sell his vision to the kids inside the program. If they are able to do that, then they are going to be successful.

JOSH HEUPEL: You know, the thing that Mike Leach told me was: "Go to a place that you feel comfortable. Go to a place that you believe you have an opportunity to excel and you are going to be given a great shot to play."

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't think I was breaking down film by myself at five eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. (Laughs.) But as soon as I could walk, I spent time with my dad. It was not about the game of football. More than anything at that time it was just the opportunity to for me to spend a lot of time with my father, and I guess naturally you just kind of soak up knowledge around the game.

JOSH HEUPEL: You're naturally watching film with him. When it's time for him to go to the office and there are a few days and you want to go with him, you know, at six in the morning, you're going to be watching film and eating a doughnut or whatever they have got.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, you know, I don't think I was consciously thinking about the game at that time, but you pick up things if you're an independent kid.

JOSH HEUPEL: Again, I'll answer this question. Again, we are not concerned with how people outside of our program perceive us. If we were concerned with that or believe what they wrote about us, we would not be in the position that we are today. We would be a 7-4, 6-5 team.

JOSH HEUPEL: Yeah. We're going to be ready to play them. We're going to go out there and handle our business.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, whether or not she knew it at the time, she did. I enjoy being around the game of football. I enjoy being around my dad. I enjoy being around the athletes. It is a dream come true. At least it was my dream come true, to spend time with athletes, kids much older than me.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think every coach has a hard time when they are sitting in the stands. It is a little bit different atmosphere for them, something they are unaccustomed to and feel like they have little control over what is going on.

JOSH HEUPEL: Yeah, they came in -- I think the 28th. So they have been here enjoying the city a little.

JOSH HEUPEL: I didn't get a chance. When you're doing the circuit, or whatever you want to call it, you don't get a chance to know each other real well. You meet and talk a little bit. But the most I know about him is what he does on the field. He's a great leader and a great player.

JOSH HEUPEL: No.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't know if you can compare them to any one team. I think every team, every defense has it's own style, it's own characteristics.

JOSH HEUPEL: It's been good. We got to enjoy some experiences that we don't see happen very often; so enjoy them when they do happen. But also prepare yourself to play a great game.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think everybody is anticipating the game and will be ready for it.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. This team does not get nervous. We are a very poised, confident group. We are prepared to go out and play each and every game, and this week is no different.

JOSH HEUPEL: You know, it is a little bit different. I think more than anything, the media exposure of it is different. But our football team doesn't see a lot of that. A lot of guys don't worry about what is being said in the media or what is perceived of us. We are worried about our own perception of ourselves.

JOSH HEUPEL: Hopefully we can transfer some of the history here over to Joe Robbie.

JOSH HEUPEL: Again, the media is going to look for something, blow something out of proportion. That's something that's been blown out of proportion.

JOSH HEUPEL: You know, offensively, we are were not as successful earlier on in the year. Hopefully on the 3rd we are.

JOSH HEUPEL: What you always see from their defense is great athletes who don't give up big plays and make a lot of big plays. They are extremely athletic, extremely quick to pass. We've seen some of those styles of defenses before.

JOSH HEUPEL: Kansas State is a fast, aggressive team. Texas.

JOSH HEUPEL: Right now it's summertime compared to what we've seen.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't believe that I am the catalyst to this football team. I believe that I am the leader for this football team, but we have a lot of leaders on this football team, and that is what has allowed us to be successful.

JOSH HEUPEL: Completely different.

JOSH HEUPEL: Really wasn't too disappointed. No one on this team is concerned with individual awards. Before the season set out, I didn't set a goal to be the Heisman Trophy winner. I set a goal to win the National Championship, and hopefully, I can attain that goal on January 3rd.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, it's obviously a different experience. Something that I'll definitely remember. Something that I'll look back on with fond memories.

JOSH HEUPEL: We went around the City for a couple days. You know, you don't get a lot of free time, actually, while you're there.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think everything, every decision everyone makes in their lives every day dictates and forms them who they are as an individual and a person, and for me, it's no different. I've enjoyed every step of the way, I've enjoyed everywhere I've been, and I thank God took me to all of those different places for a reason. I've matured and grew a lot as a person and as an individual during that time.

JOSH HEUPEL: A great leader. Strong vision. He's able to sell that vision to everyone on the football team.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, first of all, his coaching style is very aggressive. He's not playing not to lose. He's going to give it everything he has got. He's going to make sure his team is prepared. Make sure his coaching staff is prepared.

JOSH HEUPEL: Oh, I would say that. He's very calm. Everyone insides loves him.

JOSH HEUPEL: That's a nice -- something that we would like to add to our collection.

JOSH HEUPEL: I tell you, there are a lot of hardships while you're living your junior college life. I was living with seven other people, but it was one of the best times of my life. I really enjoyed the place. You know, football isn't about the media exposure, TV. It doesn't matter where you're playing. We shared lockers with one other person. It was a great experience. I enjoyed it. I enjoyed playing football.

JOSH HEUPEL: Not very big. We had three people living in one and two people in two other rooms. I had a single which was about as big as this box I'm standing on right now.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, you know, you're cooking for yourself, paying for your own school. So you're not living high on the hog, I guess you could say.

JOSH HEUPEL: We tried not to eat too much Ramen, but a lot of rice.

JOSH HEUPEL: Snow -- athletically, they only gave one scholarship a year.

JOSH HEUPEL: I haven't had the time to look back on it. When I'm done playing, I will, and enjoy it.

JOSH HEUPEL: There's not time in the day. Again, at the same time, you need to be very thankful for what God has placed in your life, and I am.

JOSH HEUPEL: They are an extremely fast, athletic team. I can't compare them with someone else, but they are very athletic.

JOSH HEUPEL: I do. The one memory I have of Jamelle Holieway throwing a touchdown pass to Keith Jackson.

JOSH HEUPEL: I was in Aberdeen. The other one I have is Colorado and Notre Dame, that was here, wasn't it in, with Rocket.

JOSH HEUPEL: To me it is just another huge game on January 3rd, a day completely filled with football.

JOSH HEUPEL: First of all, we need to get Seth Littrell involved in the running game, get him a couple leads. And then if we can get Quentin Griffin on the edges a little bit, that will help us play put defense on and make some big plays.

JOSH HEUPEL: Yeah, that was something we did. My dad and I enjoyed.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. January 3rd is, and we're thankful for that.

JOSH HEUPEL: I got of lot of balls. Didn't matter what it was. I played hockey as a kid hockey and basketball at the same time, soccer, baseball, I did it all. I was involved in athletics as long as I can remember. It was something I enjoyed. Football has always been my greatest passion.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. I that's something I wasn't too worried about playing with.

JOSH HEUPEL: I haven't got a chance to watch them offensively at all this year. I know he does a great job. Offensively, he's a great leader and a great player.

JOSH HEUPEL: Obviously, we had two long journeys to the place where we are on January 3rd, and I think it shows a lot of character on both of our parts to stay strong and perservere.

JOSH HEUPEL: I got to see like a quarter against Clemson.

JOSH HEUPEL: That is extremely important for us in offense. To be as successful as we need to be, we need to have both parts of our game going, and, you know, January 3rd, we intend to have a great time.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. Actually, this is quite warm compared to what we were involved in at home. We like it.

JOSH HEUPEL: First of all, this year we have been involved in a Championship Game, championship atmosphere already. I think the team is very confident and realize we're going to get ready to play the game on January 3rd.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think it has been a long stretch. We've played a lot of big games, and for us to get a little bit of a break, a breather, mentally and physically was important.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think everybody is excited about the game. They have enjoyed their experience and they are going to be ready to play.

JOSH HEUPEL: At the beginning of the year did I believe that was going to happen?

JOSH HEUPEL: Before the season began, we thought we could be very successful, and we paid the price to have a chance to win. Each and every week, we believed that if we went out and played our best football, we would be in this position.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't get caught up in that. I go out ask there and get myself prepared to play a big game and worry about winning.

JOSH HEUPEL: It's been one of the most enjoyable things of my life. I truly enjoy it. It has been an honor playing at the University of Oklahoma. Proud to be from Oklahoma now, and I'm excited about representing the University on January 3rd.

JOSH HEUPEL: Those guys do a great job. I don't think their youth is necessarily too important. I think their excitement about the game, their enthusiasm about it going out there and coaching getting better each and every day are important. Those are characteristics that those guys will have throughout their career.

JOSH HEUPEL: He's done a great job in the offense. Because we lost Mike Leach, Coach Long has come in and helped us to grow and mature from a year ago.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, he's done a great job with all of his quarterback techniques, a better job of understanding the offense, getting the better plays.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. Those things were blown out of proportion.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. Again, obviously, we would like to be more successful as an offense, but the thing we're concerned about is winning.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't think Andre lacked anything. I think Andre has all of the tools to be a great player, and he is a great player.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't think there was one thing that I helped him with. I think Andre is probably giving more credit to me than I deserve.

JOSH HEUPEL: No one on this team cares about individual awards. Not something that anyone needs to be concerned about. That's the ultimate goal. That's what we set out to do at the beginning of the year.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. Again the Heisman Trophy was something that I was not concerned about. It was not a goal of mine before the season started. My goal, our goal, was to win a National Title.

JOSH HEUPEL: People want to say that -- I think if you go through a Big 12 confidence undefeated, you can win a Championship Game, you have done more than earn your way to a National Title. And I think there's no doubt that we earned our way here.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think the only time that people are talking about that is when you come up and ask that. Nobody on the team is concerned about that. We believe we belong here, and, you know, we'll be ready to play on January 3rd.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. It's not an individual match-up. It's Oklahoma against Florida State.

JOSH HEUPEL: They are very enthusiastic, very energetic. But to say that that is because of their age would be a disservice to them. Those guys are going to be like that, going to coach like that throughout their careers. They are very understanding of the game, very knowledgeable, playing experience, as well as coaching experience.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't know if he says that, but those guys are -- they make the game enjoyable. They make going off to practice every day enjoyable.

JOSH HEUPEL: These guys all have open doors. You're able to go and talk to them, and they want you to go and talk to them.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, I don't know if that's true or what it is. I think preparation and opportunity, those two things combine, good things happen.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. I'm not stupid, either. I can sit there and watch that on film, as well. (Laughs). I'm not worried about what and what not I am as a quarterback. I know who I am as a quarterback. I know what I need to bring to this football team for it to be successful, and I'll bring those things on January 3rd.

JOSH HEUPEL: We don't care how a team plays. We're going to go up there and execute, and if we execute and take care of the ball, we are going to be successful.

JOSH HEUPEL: Doesn't have to make sense. It really doesn't matter to us. It doesn't matter to anyone on the football team. We're going to go out there and play the best we can on January 3rd.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't know that they have to explain it, either.

JOSH HEUPEL: Obviously, they are experienced in this game, the National Title game. They have not faced us in the National Title game; so it is a different scenario for them. As far as not having experience, you know, we have been involved in a Championship Game already this year. It was a not a National Title, but nonetheless, a championship-type atmosphere. So we'll be ready.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. It's not what the trip is all about, and it is not going to help get prepared to play the game.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, obviously he does a great job for the football team. He's a great leader and makes great plays for them.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think what everybody sees in them, they are very athletic. They don't give up a lot of big plays and they make good plays.

JOSH HEUPEL: I guarantee you it is nothing like South Dakota right now. It is definitely something below zero right now.

JOSH HEUPEL: I answered that question earlier about being five years old and breaking down film. I don't think I was breaking down film at five years old. But it was time that I got a chance to spend with my dad, being around him and be around the game. I got a chance to be around bigger kids. That's how I looked at it back then, the athletes that were playing for him, which is kind of like a kid's dream come true.

JOSH HEUPEL: I can't even explain what a Sooner is.

JOSH HEUPEL: Well, we'll see who has the edge as far as the crowd goes. But, again, we're not concerned about the crowd. The crowd doesn't make plays on the field. So once it crosses that other white line, it is all the same.

JOSH HEUPEL: The two schools I was looking at were Utah State and Mexico.

JOSH HEUPEL: Very athletic, make great plays and do a great job covering people.

JOSH HEUPEL: It's been a good time. I got a chance to enjoy the city a little bit for a couple of days, look around. And again, it's been business at hand.

JOSH HEUPEL: Again, that's not something we're concerned about or worried about. If those people decide a football game, we'd be 7-4, 6-5.

JOSH HEUPEL: No. That's not a motivation. The only motivation to me is the opportunity to win a National Title.

JOSH HEUPEL: No.

JOSH HEUPEL: Coach Leach now about me.

JOSH HEUPEL: It is something that you just grow up with, deal with. Again, the weather there is a little bit different than what you see down here.

JOSH HEUPEL: I think it's the personality of the team. I think this team is a very poised, confident group, hard-working.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't necessarily think it is an advantage. You know, we have been involved in a Championship Game already this year. But once you cross the white lines, it is all the same.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't know. You'd have to look back -- again, we don't even -- I don't think this team even knows that it is an underdog or not. We head into the game with the same mindset every week.

JOSH HEUPEL: They actually flew down here.

JOSH HEUPEL: Athletic. Makes good plays. Does a good job blocking. He's a key for us.

JOSH HEUPEL: Just the same way you do every week. Go out and get yourself prepared the same as you would.

JOSH HEUPEL: We enjoyed the offense because we were -- it was successful for us. We were able to put up points.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't know if that is necessarily true. You know, I think it was a little bit different than what the conference had seen in the past. It's definitely the direction that the conference is heading in right now.

JOSH HEUPEL: Those guys do a great job. I don't think the height is a key thing. I think, again, we've just got to make plays.

JOSH HEUPEL: I don't know about it is remarkable. I think it is a testament of what people can endure or persevere.