Columnist Steve Guiremand: Sunshine State can get ready to crown national champion

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 | 11:16 a.m.

Steve Guiremand covers college football for the Sun. His Around Campus column appears Friday during the football season.

Believe in trends?

Well, in the year of the Subway World Series, how about an all-Florida Orange Bowl for college football's national title?

It's not as farfetched as one would think.

The BCS ratings going into this weekend's games find Oklahoma first followed by Virginia Tech, Florida State, Nebraska, Miami (Fla.) and Florida.

With Michael Vick ailing, there's an excellent change that Butch Davis and company will finally find a way to knock off the Hokies on Saturday at the Orange Bowl.

Goodbye Virginia Tech.

Meanwhile, No. 1 Oklahoma's biggest obstacle would appear to be defeating either Nebraska or Kansas State in a rematch in the Big 12 title game.

Let's say that Bill Snyder's Wildcats knock off the Cornhurskers next week in Manhattan, Kan. Goodbye Nebraska.

Barring any upsets, that sets the stage for an Oklahoma-K-State rematch on Dec. 2 at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Sooners won the first game, 41-31, in Manhattan. But the weather figures to be a whole lot colder and windier in December in Kansas City. And that wouldn't exactly be the greatest news for an Oklahoma offense that lives mainly by the passing arm of Josh Huepel. Moreover, the Big 12 championship game has been full of upsets the past five years. So say K-State pulls the upset.

Goodbye Oklahoma.

Meanwhile, defending national champion Florida State takes care of business against Clemson this week in Tallahassee this week, and against Steve Spurrier's Gators on Nov. 18, also at home.

As long as Miami doesn't trip up in its final three games against Pitt, Syracuse and Boston College, you have all the makings for a Miami-Florida State rematch on Jan. 3.

Say What?

Although it's a foregone conclusion around Heritage Hall these days that USC will fire Paul Hackett at the end of the season, forget about speculation that controversial athletic director Mike Garrett will also be given the boot.

USC president Dr. Steven Sample made that much clear when he finally came out of hiding this week to issue a statement to Orange County Register columnist Steve Bisheff.

Said Sample: "Mike Garrett's job is absolutely secure. I'm very, very high on what he's done. Being athletic director is a complicated position, and in my judgment his performance has been outstanding."

Earth to Sample: The football coach Garrett hand-picked to replace John Robinson (Hackett) is 17-15 the last three years, and this season's 0-5 conference start is the worst in the school's storied history.

By the way, despite Oregon State head coach Dennis Erickson's non-denial denial that he'll bolt Corvallis for USC at the end of the season, strong rumors continue to circulate in both Oregon and Los Angeles that he's already agreed to replace Hackett.

Of course, three years ago Lou Holtz was in a similiar position before getting cold feet at the last minute. His No. 1 drawback with the job?

Mike Garrett.

Once around the nation

Once around the Mountain West