Under the lights of Dolphin Stadium, Florida’s junior quarterback Tim Tebow and coach Urban Meyer hoisted the crystal ball, while the Gator faithful celebrated their third national championship, and their second in three years.

In the tunnel on the lower concourse of the stadium outside of the Sooner locker room, the sight was less jubilant.

The roars from the Gators could be heard in the background, as senior safety Nic Harris sat on a golf cart with his head in his hands, minutes after OU’s loss in the BCS National Championship game.

“[It is] extremely disappointing,” Harris said. “It’s the last game of the season for the team. I was the captain on the defensive side of the ball. I wanted to get a win and took it primarily upon my shoulders, and that’s something we didn’t do in the long run.”

Inside the locker room, another senior, free safety Lendy Holmes was emotional in a different way.

He ran around tapping teammates on the back telling them to keep their heads up.

“This loss, just for the seniors, is their last one,” Holmes said. “For the young guys they have another chance at it, and I’m just heartbroken that we just can’t get it this time and that the seniors can’t leave out with [a win].”

Head coach Bob Stoops continually acknowledged the leadership throughout the year, and he did again after the loss in the National Championship.

“They’re great kids, young men,” Stoops said. “I told the seniors in there [that] I’m just incredibly proud of them.”

Many of the seniors were responsible for the businesslike attitude the Sooners took into this year’s title game intended to help them focus.

Although the Sooners didn’t accomplish their goal of winning the National Championship, Stoops didn’t put the blame on a lack of leadership.

“I thought [the seniors] did a fabulous job this entire year [with] the attitude of our team, the way we took the field,” Stoops said. “The attitude throughout the whole season could not have been much better. I was incredibly pleased. I told them I was proud of them, and they’re on to other things as seniors. But they did a great job for us and represented Oklahoma great.”