Oklahoma

Cheerleader of the Day

Thanks to our friends over at Icon Sports Media, CHN has access to thousands of great college & NBA basketball photos.  Each day, along with our daily Big Picture, we'll be featuring a Cheerleader (or Dancer) of the Day.

OKLAHOMA

After a hiatus for the holiday season stock watch is back with a look at who is rising and falling in the early part of 2009. Not much has changed at the top of the list, but with conference play getting underway, some names are starting to separate themselves as legitimate prospects.

It's halftime and the offensive explosion that many of us anticiapted hasn't come to pass yet. Florida and Oklahoma head into the locker room tied at seven, with both defenses making critical stops to steal some of the offensive momentum. The two quarterbacks have combined for three interceptions so far, but the offenses have been unable to take advantage of the good fortune. A few points that I saw in the first thirty minutes:

1. Percy Harvin's ankle looks fine. And with Chris Rainey going down it had better hold up for another thirty. 

The biggest game on the college football landscape is finally here, with the media days (should there really be a Super Bowl-like media day for a college football game? But we're all supposed to eagerly go along with the NCAA's assertion that these are student-athletes. When the schools and governing body treat them as such I'll truly believe that.) finally done and all the talking stopped. It's time for Florida and Oklahoma to settle this on the field once and for all.

Tonight at the Nokia Theater in New York City another college football player was awarded the Heisman Trophy, adding another member to the prestigious fraternity. Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford (1,726 points) won the trophy in a close vote, becoming the fifth Sooner to win the honor. Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (1,604) was second while 2007 winner Tim Tebow (Florida) finished third with 1,575 points. Tebow had the most first place votes, but now it will be Bradford who looks to avoid the "Heisman hangover" that hits so many winners in their bowl games.

The Story: USC's Leonard Washington hit Oklahoma Blake Griffin below the belt (video) in the second half of last night's game. Preseason All-American Griffin hit the floor immediately. It appeared as if Washington gave an elbow to the gut and/or a punch to the groin. The referees called a foul and reviewed the play. Upon review, Washington was assessed with a flagrant foul and was ejected from the game. Griffin, still shaken up, missed the two free throws and went to the bench to gain a second wind.

Clip of the Day

Thanks to the genius of YouTube, the world has access to thousands of great college basketball videos to keep us busy every second of every day.  We'll be featuring daily movies to whet your college basketball appetite. Even if you've seen them before, some clips are just too good not to watch again and again.