It's a Festivus Miracle

What an exquisite chess game the Fiesta Bowl proved to be. Texas 24, Ohio State 21.

First, Ohio State using Beanie Wells so effectively until he left the game with a concussion. If he could have stayed in, OSU would have won, I think.

Then Texas putting the Buckeyes on their heels with the Big 12 no-huddle offense for which a Big 10 defense, used to climbing up slowly after three yards and a cloud of dust, is ill prepared.

Then Ohio State using Todd Boeckman at quarterback throwing to fellow quarterback Tyrelle Pryor for a touchdown. What a twist on the wildcat! But with Pryor taking the snap, Jim Tressel has to start considering the triple option to really expand his offensive game.

The offense wins games these days. Defenses, given the rules, must rely on athletes, not deep thinking, no matter what Longhorn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp thinks of himself. I don't fault Ohio State for putting everyone in the box on Texas' winning play.

My only quibble with Ohio State was scoring too quickly late in the fourth quarter with McCoy lurking slack-jawed on the sidelines. Herron, the OSU halfback who replaced Wells, should have fallen down at the one, and Ohio State should have leisurely taken its time pushing into the end zone, but who among us thinks of that when all one sees is green grass ahead?

And, of course, the Texas QB. Over 400 yards passing and unflappable. My heavens, the man has it all, except the Heisman. I'd give it to him or Quan Crosby, who scored the winning TD on a dart from the real McCoy (couldn't resist the obvious adjective).

Great game, but now I must sing because I dread the beating Florida will give the Sooners in Miami, thus giving the evil empire ensconced in brutal Sparta (also known as Austin) its right to stand over shining Athens (aka Norman):

"Don't send my boy to Texas, the dying mother said. Don't send my boy to Texas, I'd rather see him dead..."

And whether OU wins or loses Thursday in the BCS championship game, the one or two mourners at my burial plot, or the lone drunken Irish priest if there should be no one else there, should intone:

"O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A
Our chant rolls on and on.
Thousands strong, join heart and song
In alma mater's praise.
Of campus beautiful by day and night.
Of colors proudly gleaming red and white.
'Neath a Western sky
OU's chant will never die
Live on University."

OK, I'm done. It's been a great bowl season. Just hope the BCS championship game is uninteresting. I like 66-0 games. In any event, I'm voting for Utah as the national champ.