Sooners ready for fun in the sun
Fiesta Bowl bound: Oklahoma vs. Boise St.
Fiesta Bowl will complete BCS bowl trips for OU's 5th-year seniors

Standing on the frozen floor that was the Arrowhead Stadium turf Saturday night, Oklahoma's Reggie Smith already was looking forward to some sun and fun in the desert.

"Lovely," Smith said. "I won't carry no long-sleeve nothin'. All shorts and stuff. I'll be having a fun time."

The Sooners are headed for a Jan. 1 Fiesta Bowl meeting with Boise State, a matchup made official with the pieces of the BCS puzzle falling into place Sunday.

A matchup made possible by OU's 21-7 win over Nebraska in the Big 12 title game Saturday.

And a matchup spurring warm and fuzzy feelings for all involved.

"It's a dream come true," said quarterback Paul Thompson, who may have entered Sooner lore by leading this team's improbable charge after moving from wide receiver on the eve of the preseason's first practice.

"Definitely wanted to be in this situation, be the leader of this team, lead us to a Big 12 Championship. Whew, it worked out. Big 12 Champions. I'm loving every minute of it."

There's even more to love, with the Fiesta Bowl completing a Sooner Slam of sorts for several fifth-year seniors.

For Thompson, Rufus Alexander, Larry Birdine, Jason Carter, Zach Latimer, Chris Messner, Laenar Nixon and Calvin Thibodeaux, this bowl trip will complete a tour of the BCS bowls. The Sooners were in the Rose Bowl in 2002, when most of these players redshirted. OU played in the Sugar Bowl in '02 and the Orange Bowl in '03.

For a core group of younger Sooners, it could be the start of another BCS run. OU features 27 freshmen and sophomores on their current two-deep.

"I've never actually won a championship," said Smith, one of the sophomores. "I've been close. But I just won a Big 12 Championship. I'm going to get a ring, and I'm excited about that.

"A BCS bowl? Sheesh, I never would have thought that at the start of the year."

The Sooners started the season without dismissed quarterback Rhett Bomar and by Game 5 had absorbed two losses.

Now they've won eight straight to stand 11-2. Only Ohio State, Boise State and BYU have longer streaks in Division I-A, with Wisconsin matching OU.

Fiesta Bowl officials are happy about having the Sooners, who haven't been in their game since 1983.

"For us to have Oklahoma in the game after a 24-year absence," said Fiesta Bowl president and chief executive officer John Junker, "is the answer to our prayers."

Boise State players and coaches are pleased, too. The Broncos are in a BCS bowl for the first time. Beating a team like OU, on such a stage, would be a notch on the belt not only for themselves, but for teams in small conferences everywhere.

"Nobody doubts Oklahoma, the type of team they are, the type of program they are," BSU coach Chris Petersen said. "We go down there and play well, I think it's going to do a lot for all of us, for all the little guys."

Said Boise quarterback Jared Zabransky: "That's a great final chapter to the storybook."

The Sooners have their own idea for writing a proper ending to this season's drama.

And what a setting.

"I've actually been to Arizona one time," Birdine said. "I love the weather there. We knew if we got through (Saturday), we would be rewarded.

"I've got my Tostitos all ready."

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