MIAMI - It all started with a playful jab. It's become a war of the words.
CBS analyst Verne Lundquist said during the Southeastern Conference Championship Game broadcast that UF quarterback Tim Tebow, while discussing his Heisman vote, had joked he would like to go up against a Big 12 defense. The comment referred to some critics who have deemed the offensive statistics put up by Oklahoma's Sam Bradford, Texas Tech's Graham Harrell, and Texas's Colt McCoy inflated.
The Sooners' defense is tired of answering questions about Tebow and the UF offense, and defensive back Dominique Franks finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"If you look at the three best quarterbacks in the country, (they) came from the Big 12," Franks said. "The three best receivers in the country came from the Big 12. The three best tight ends came from the Big 12. So we've faced some great offenses, and a lot of people don't understand that other conferences don't have what we face."
While Franks' teammates and coaches said they didn't feel Franks meant any disrespect, the sophomore declined all interview requests the following day.
Tebow made light of Franks' comments and said that his remark to CBS had been misunderstood.
"I didn't say it like that," Tebow said. "I dream of playing teams like Texas, Oklahoma, but also the Penn States, USC. So when I was talking about it, I was talking about it in a way like that, not like we're superior to them. That wasn't what I meant."
And the debate between SEC and Big 12 defenses has carried on. The stats show SEC backers may have a point - 11 of 12 league teams rank in the top 40 in total defense.
How many Big 12 teams rank that high? Zero.
UF linebacker Brandon Spikes made his opinion of Big 12 defenses known. He thinks they're a joke.
"When I watch SportsCenter, I look at the scores, and it's 56-49, just basketball scores," Spikes said. "I feel like it's a joke. Like I said, Ole Miss ran up and down the field on a Big 12 defense.
"If they can stop our offense, hey, my hat goes off to them. But I don't really think they can. As long as we play well on defense, give the ball back to Tim and the rest of those guys, we should roll."
Oklahoma's defense will have plenty of motivation but will have to improve on its regular-season statistics. Nationally, the Sooners ranked 63rd in total defense and 98th in pass defense.
Defensive back Nic Harris was short when asked about preparing for UF playmaker Percy Harvin.
"No other difference than preparing for (Texas Tech receiver) Michael Crabtree or (Missouri receiver) Jeremy Maclin," Harris said. "Next question."
Sooners coach Bob Stoops said his defense has had clutch tendencies. Oklahoma leads the nation in turnover margin and ranks third in sacks per game (3.23).
"We have stepped up in different times when we've had to," Stoops said. "But we've been inconsistent. I think that's fair to say."
Harris added that all the statistics will go down the drain after 60 minutes of football.
"At the end of the day, the only thing that's going to matter is who plays better defense (Thursday night)," Harris said. "The old cliché is offense wins games, defense wins championships. This is a championship."
