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Dec. 31, 1999

By OWEN CANFIELD
AP Sports Writer

SHREVEPORT, La. - When bowl bids were extended in early December, Mississippi coach David Cutcliffe immediately talked to his team about not being disappointed.

With two games to play in the regular season, the Rebels were 7-2 with their sights on a big bowl game. When the season ended, they were 7-4 after consecutive three-point losses, and were headed back to the Independence Bowl for the second straight year.

"None of us were in a real good mood, to be honest with you," Cutcliffe said.

That disappointment has since faded, he said, and he expects a good showing tonight when the Rebels face Oklahoma.

Both teams are 7-4, although Oklahoma might be the hungrier of the two because the Sooners haven't been to a bowl since 1994. But Cutcliffe said his team will match Oklahoma's emotion.

"I think both teams are really happy to be here," he said. "If you're a competitor, when the whistle's going to blow and ball's teed up, you better come to play."

Oklahoma has had a difficult time winning on the road. All four losses came away from home, where the Sooners went 5-0 and outscored opponents 222-23.

When he took over as Oklahoma's coach, Bob Stoops was miffed that the Sooners had only five home games. Tonight's may seem like a sixth, given that Oklahoma fans have bought in the neighborhood of 25,000 to 30,000 tickets.

"We've played well on the road," Cutcliffe said. "If it comes across as a road game, we'll handle that."

The bigger challenge may be getting a handle on Oklahoma's offense. The Sooners use a pass-now, run-later approach that resulted in them scoring 36.8 points per game.

Quarterback Josh Heupel set 13 single-season school records, including pass attempts (500), completions (310), passing yards (3,460) and touchdowns (30).

"The scheme is never as big a difference as everybody makes it out to be," said Cutcliffe, a former offensive coordinator. "It's players, and putting your players in a position to make plays.

"The key is a coach being able to recognize the weapons he has and being able to put those weapons to use. I think Oklahoma has done a great job of doing that in one year."

Unlike Oklahoma, the Rebels try to establish their running game first, then mix in the pass. Running back Joe Gunn ran for 951 yards and Deuce McAllister had 809, and each averaged more than 5 yards per carry.

They are complemented by quarterback Romaro Miller, who completed 54 percent of his passes and threw 14 touchdowns.

Ole Miss also is unlike Oklahoma when it comes to bowl experience. Only one member of the Sooner team - sixth-year senior Jay Smith - has made a bowl trip. This is Mississippi's third straight postseason game and its second consecutive visit to the Independence Bowl.

Both coaches said their players should be excited about playing in the final bowl game of the millennium. The game likely won't end much before the new year arrives.

"It'll be one of those trivia questions 50 years from now, who played in the last game," Stoops said. "And most importantly everyone will ask who won the last game. Certainly, we're part of history, so it is special."

The game is sponsored by Sanford Manufacturing.