Sooners no longer have lone distinction

ATLANTA — Until Monday night, Oklahoma had been the only Division I school ever to play for the national title in football and men's basketball in the same school year.

Florida and Ohio State have now both joined the club, and simultaneously at that.

The Gators and Buckeyes met in football's national title game on Jan. 8 and had a rematch for the basketball crown Monday inside the Georgia Dome.

The Sooners pulled off their impressive daily double in 1987-88.

"I did not see it coming,” said Donnie Duncan, OU's athletic director at the time. "Football is a little more clear-cut. Basketball, with its format, is a more involved process. It's an unusual happening. It's remarkable to play in one of them. But to play in both? You need some sort of bookie to figure out those odds.”

Good fortune plays a part in advancing to the season finale, but so do good talent and good coaching.

"None of these things happen by accident,” Duncan said. "We had two coaches who were clearly in the top of their profession. Barry (Switzer) had his way, and Billy (Tubbs) had a style that not only was exciting, but kids wanted to play it.”

The Sooners lost both title games in a span of four months. Tubbs was quick to point out the respective venues of each game.

The OU football team lost 20-14 to Miami in the Orange Bowl on the Hurricanes' home field.

The OU basketball team lost 83-79 to Kansas in Kemper Arena, located just 41 miles from the Jayhawks' home arena and a facility in which KU has played more than 100 games.

"At least they got to play on a neutral floor,” Tubbs said of Monday night's combatants.

The Sooners men's golf team also finished second that school year, adding fodder to those who deemed OU as Avis University.

Tubbs marveled at the football-basketball rematch between the Gators and Buckeyes.

"I think it's really pretty neat. Because unless I'm being forgetful, I don't think KU played for the national title in football that same year we did,” Tubbs deadpanned.

Although earning the right to play in college football's national title game is quite an achievement, Tubbs said he believes earning the right to play for college basketball's national title is even more impressive.

"Football doesn't have to win six games to get to the title game,” Tubbs said. "They just kind of get selected.”

Switzer admitted he follows basketball casually.

"I knew they were good in football,” Switzer said of the Gators, "but I didn't know they were this good in basketball. It's quite a feat, and my hat's off to them.”

In degree of difficulty, Switzer insists the Sooners' journey to both title games was far more challenging due to the huge discrepancy in population bases. Florida has 17.8 million residents, Ohio has 11.5 million and Oklahoma has 3.5 million.

"It's easier for them to do it than it was for Oklahoma,” Switzer said. "That's the way it always is. It's always the numbers. Because when you have to import your talent, I just know how hard it is when you have to recruit out of state.”

Does an athletic director play a key role when a school double-dips for the national title, or is he simply along for the ride?

"It's important that an athletic director totally supports what you're doing and understands your problems,” Switzer said. "I think it's good to have a football guy as athletic director (Duncan was a football coach), because he understands the problems a football coach faces. And if he's not a strong personality in his support of your program, you're in jeopardy (of failing). I always thought it was very important that I had a football guy as my AD.”

Current OU athletic director Joe Castiglione has prospered despite not being a former coach in any sport.

"Joe's been around long enough and has been educated by the right people,” Switzer said. "It's also important to listen to your coaches and not to the fans in the stands.”