New Orleans ? Oklahoma almost was ready to take its team picture for the Sugar Bowl when Bob Stoops realized someone was missing.

Hiding out in a car in the Superdome’s parking garage was Stoops’ younger brother and former co-defensive coordinator, Mike, now the head coach at Arizona.

“I wrestled him out of the car,” Bob Stoops said, “and I said that the guys wanted him in their team picture for the year. That’s not a big deal.”

No one is more responsible for the Sooners’ recent success than Mike Stoops, whose defense was the nation’s best this season and has been among college football’s top units since he and his brother arrived in Norman five years ago.

But Mike Stoops will be on the sideline wearing street clothes, not a headset, when Oklahoma faces LSU today for a piece of the national title in the Sugar Bowl.

Stoops left Tucson, Ariz., for New Orleans this week, hoping to provide a steadying influence for a defense that was thoroughly dominated in its last game, a 35-7 loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference championship.

“I’m here in more of a supportive role,” he said. “You know, answer any questions if there’s anything that comes up. I’m just providing a comfort level for the guys.”

That admission conflicts with almost everything the Sooners said in the buildup to their stunning loss to the Wildcats.

Stoops accepted the Arizona job a week before the Big 12 title game, but his brother and his players stressed all week the coaching change wouldn’t affect them in the game.

Oklahoma’s uncharacteristically flat performance suggested otherwise.

Kansas State had four plays go for longer than 60 yards — the longest plays all season against Oklahoma. The Wildcats finished with 519 yards and averaged 8.9 yards per play.

“We just didn’t have that edge,” OU defensive end Dan Cody said. “We went out there and we cracked. To look up at the scoreboard was disbelief.”

Stoops has politely offered a few pointers to the players and coaches the past few weeks, but he’s been nothing like the fiery motivator he was before.

He’s even turned more benevolent, offering a box full of Arizona hats to some of his old players earlier this week.

Brent Venables, who took over as defensive coordinator after sharing those duties with Stoops for the past five years, understands the dilemma facing his longtime friend.

“It’s a no-win situation … (you) devote all your time and energy once you’ve taken a job somewhere else,” Venables said, “and the people you made a commitment to feel slighted, and you’re not going to win there. From our end, if you stick around and you don’t perform well, then it will stick in your minds, and it’s very difficult to be there.”