Sooners passed on Taylor

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A kid from Norman — the son of a Sooner — will quarterback his team in the Big 12 title game tonight.

His team: Nebraska.

His name: Zac Taylor, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and the son of Sherwood Taylor, an Oklahoma defensive back from the '70s.

OU passed on recruiting Taylor twice, the first time when he came out of Norman High, then again when exiting Butler County Community College in Kansas.

OU coach Bob Stoops compared Taylor's tale to that of former Heritage Hall product Wes Welker, deemed too small by most major college schools. Welker went on to star at Texas Tech when offered a scholarship late.

"When I spoke to Wes Welker after the last game when we played him in his senior year, I said, ‘Wes, we blew it. We should have had you here.'

"He goes, ‘You know what, coach? That's not true. This is the perfect system. For what we're doing, this has been the best for me.' And I said, ‘You know, on second thought, Wes, you're probably right.'

"And that's always stuck with me, that everybody, for different reasons, they find their way. And (Zac's) found a great place there in the way they're playing and what he's doing. That's been great for him. So in the end, why second guess it? I'm sure he wouldn't. And we don't."

"I've told a lot of people through the week ? everybody wants to compliment you and congratulate you ? ‘Well, we really don't have what we're after yet.' The Big 12 championship is what's most important." — OU coach Bob Stoops on the week's .

"In the end, all that matters is what's happening on the field. We're pretty oblivious to what's happening in the stands. So I don't see where that will be ? should be ? a factor." — Stoops on an anticipated Husker-heavy crowd.

"I'm glad the weather held up nicely for us. This is northern weather at its best." — Nebraska coach Bill Callahan putting a spin on the chilly conditions.