Pair in Familiar Territory

MIAMI —  You almost can’t spell “bowl championship series” without Jason White and Dan Cody.

The two Oklahoma senior citizens have the distinction of suiting up for their third BCS national-title game in the last five years, pretty incredible when you consider that the Jan. 4 Orange Bowl will be only the seventh BCS title game ever played.

White, the Sooners’ 2003 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, and Cody, the team’s star defensive end, were young-pup members of the 2000 Oklahoma team that won the national title with a 13-2 win over Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Four years later, here they are again -- playing much more significant roles.

White, who began his career at Oklahoma in 1999, played a subservient part on the 2000 title team as a backup to starter Josh Heupel.

White helped the Sooners then by playing the part of Florida State quarterback Chris Weinke, the 2000 Heisman winner, in pregame preparations.

“I played scout team,” White recalled of his assignment before the 2001 Orange Bowl. “I considered myself the best scout quarterback in America ... just because we were No. 1. I just tried to help out the defense playing scout team quarterback. It was definitely more of a relaxed type of atmosphere.... I had a good time. I know a lot of things around here. I’m pretty familiar with the area, and it’s helped out.”

White might have never imagined then that, three years later, he would be a Heisman Trophy winner.

Cody is the only Oklahoma player on this year’s team that got on the field in the 2001 Orange Bowl, recording three tackles in the title-game win.

“It’s really unique,” Cody said. “I’m very fortunate to be in this situation.”

Cody has played in three of the four BCS bowls -- Orange, Sugar and Rose -- missing out only on the Fiesta.

“It’s not so much of an accomplishment as being part of it,” Cody said.

For their careers to be complete, though, White and Cody need a BCS title victory they can call their own.

They were key members of last year’s team that lost the BCS title game to Louisiana State in the Sugar Bowl.

“In 2000, going into the national championship, being in that caliber of game was new,” Cody said. “It was a young team. It’s a lot different now because everyone’s been in it. Playing in it last year, granted we lost, but guys have been there. They understand what it’s about.

“You play for memories here.”

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Several other Sooner players were on the team in 2000 but redshirted that year, including offensive lineman Jammal Brown (this year’s Outland Trophy winner), receiver Will Peoples, offensive lineman Wes Sims and defensive backs Antonio Perkins and Brandon Shelby.

After Wednesday’s practice, Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops was asked if it was uncommon for a freshman running back to be as durable as Adrian Peterson has been this year.

“Everything about Adrian is uncommon as a freshman,” Stoops said. “He’s not like many.”

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Wednesday’s top visual: Peterson, standing in socks drenched by a post-practice rain, signing autographs for kids outside the gates at Barry University.

Fame has come fast to the tailback from Palestine, Texas, sometimes too fast.

Peterson recalled Wednesday an incident on campus this year in which a zealous fan lurched at him from the shrubbery.

“I was coming out of class, and I saw somebody peeking out of the bushes,” Peterson said.

“I kind of like walked by and he ran out and asked for an autograph and said, ‘Can I take a picture?’ It was kind of crazy.”

Was it a student?

“It didn’t look like a student.”