Oklahoma lost to Florida 24-14 in the national title game tonight. Repeat of 2004. 2003. Bowl repeat of 2007, 2006. Rinse. Repeat.

Never. Picking. OU in a bowl. Again. No matter what.

The only thing keeping Oklahoma from being the true, blue Buffalo Bills of college football is the 2000 title. Truth is, OU did some nice things tonight. Didn’t get wiped off the carpet like in 2004 against USC.

(Editor’s note: I had a list of things that went wrong for OU tonight, and I am just deciding, resolving to cut everybody a giant break.)

I’ll give it up to the defense. Overall, they did enough. Plenty enough. Gerald McCoy and Nic Harris were terrific. Jeremy Beal.

One absolutely has to give it up to Tim Tebow. But he’s no Matt Leinart, sorry. In fact, I found Matt to be very likable in a gosh-wouldn’t-you-love-to-be-that-guy sort of way. I find Tim Tebow to be kind of an ass. That Gator chop in the fourth quarter was unbecoming for a guy wearing John 3:16 eye makeup.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Bob Stoops isn’t the same Bob Stoops from 2000. Don’t know what it is, but it’s not a lack of a big-game mentality. We had several big games this year, and the play-calling was great. The stretch of 60-point games was among the best in Oklahoma history.

In the post-game news conference, he said that “if this is the biggest burden” had had to face in his life that he’s a pretty lucky guy.

For some Oklahoma fans, that will wreak of apathy.

But, dude, I gotta tell you: It’s kind of what I like abou him. He’s got perspective.

On the other hand, just once I would like to see him step to the podium like Tebow did earlier this year and say, “I’m sorry. I’m going to do everything in my power, work harder than anybody else to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

But it wouldn’t change the fact that Bob doesn’t throw a pass, make a block, make a tackle or kick a field goal. At the end of the day, all you can ask is that your coach get you into position to win a national title, and there is nobody better at it than Bob.

Unfortunately, for the rest of Division I, it’s becoming a wet dream to land Oklahoma in a title game.

My prediction: Good two or three more seasons, and Stoops will call it a day in Norman, either heading to the NFL or retiring for a broadcasting gig or to take a break. He’s still the third-best coach we’ve ever had.

Something to look out for? Dare I say Gus Malzahn in Norman by 2012?