Open Post | Wednesday, Dec. 17th (UPDATE 11:15 am)

Image of Fotu Leiato via Hudl

Fotu Leiato: This past Monday, OU offered 2015 LB Fotu Leiato out of Steilacoom, Washington. Fotu has garnered a ton of interest from a number of schools lately, primarily due to his ridiculous tape, and has been picking up offers at a pretty nice clip. Most recently he has picked up offers from the Sooners and UCLA.

Yesterday, we caught up with the recruiting coordinator at Steilacoom to get a little information about Fotu. We were told that OU is looking at him as, “a safety who can drop down to play run support and blitz.” The recruiting coordinator told us that his accurate measurements are 6’0″ (without shoes) and “197 lbs, as of a week ago.”

As far as his recruitment goes, we were told that Fotu will “definitely consider Oklahoma.” But it sounds like he really wants to talk to the coaches at OU more to see what kind of rapport he has with them. We do get the sense that it’s going to be tough to pull him away from the west coast, because a Washington State visit has already been set. And we were told that “UCLA is going to get a visit…other than that…nothing is set.”

Daishon Neal: It looks like OU has indeed decided to get involved with at least one Nebraska commit with their offer last night to 2015 DE Daishon Neal (Omaha, NE). OU is still very much in it with guys like Neville Gallimore and Gabriel Campbell to go along with current commits Kenneth Mann and Tyrell Jacobs. So it will be interesting to see what, if anything, comes of this offer.

Boren and Bob: We got a tip last night that we thought y’all might find interesting. We’d normally put this information on TOP because it hasn’t been fully vetted just yet, but it does jive with some general things we’ve been hearing. Essentially, we were told that Bob Stoops and David Boren had a day-long meeting recently to discuss the concerns of fans and some of the major boosters regarding the current state of the football program.

We have been hearing for a while that changes to Stoops’ staff will happen, but nothing concrete has really developed to date. And until it does, we remain cautious with respect to whatever possible changes may or may not come. But this also isn’t the first time we’ve heard there are some concerns from inside the administration and, perhaps just as if not more importantly, from major boosters.

Martinas Rankin: 2015 JUCO offensive lineman and OU offer Martinas Rankin will be announcing his decision this morning. It is scheduled for around 9:30 am CST. He is deciding between OU, Ole Miss and Miss. State.

– UPDATE (9:01 am): With today being the first day 2015 JUCO mid-year enrollees can sign, the Sooners have their first NLI in the books. Jamal Danley sent in his paperwork bright and early this morning.

danley

 – UPDATE (9:31 am): Martinas Rankin has committed to Mississippi State.

 – UPDATE (9:40 am): CB Will Johnson has now also officially signed.

– UPDATE (9:51 am): WR Dede Westbrook now officially in as well. Other than Rankin, day went as expected.

– UPDATE (11:15 am): Just wanted to quickly add to something I (Jordan) saw mentioned in the comments. OU is announcing ‘five’ new arrivals this morning; the three JUCO guys you know about, plus Bobby Evans & Rodney Anderson. The latter two of whom have signed their financial aid agreements, but have not signed their letters of intent. The financial aid agreements are not binding, while NLIs are, so all that has really changed is that OU can know acknowledge them publicly without getting into any hot water with the NCAA. Hopefully that clears things up, assuming there was any confusion in the first place.

312 Comments

  • Travis Hill says:

    Come on 9:30…

  • Boom says:

    would love to be a fly on the wall with the Boren/Stoops meeting. I’m sure Boren is fully supportive of Bobs changes.

    • Fear The Magic says:

      Maybe Bob is trying to talk Boren into being his new Defense Coordinator thinking he’d at least be a step up from Mike.

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      My guess is that Boren thinks it’s just as ridiculous as Bob does, and they spent more time trying to figure out had to placate the donors/fans that are fussing, rather than anything else. JMO.

      • Jordan Esco says:

        This depresses me greatly, mainly b/c it makes the most sense IMO.

        • Rashad See says:

          Jordan,
          As much as I would like to see some coaches who were not as comfortable as this group seems to be, I don’t believe the best idea is to allow boosters/donors (terrorists) to dictate the direction of your program. I believe that we need to find more go-getters on the coaching staff that aren’t content with being a position coach but have real aspirations to move up. When you have a goal you work harder. The people that are the problem on the staff seem to lack the fire to move up and potentially move on. I know most coaches don’t relish constant turnover and that may have been what led to the construction of this staff but you need people who are constantly pressing forward to be better.

          • hOUligan says:

            Would agree much of the time, but there are guys like Mike Gundy who work their tails off, get results and are content where they are.

          • Jordan Esco says:

            Oh, trust me, I definitely agree w/ your sentiment re: the inmates/boosters running the asylum. But I also don’t think this is a case of those “demands” being unjustified, like they might be in some other instances.

            You’re not asking for changes b/c they are unwarranted. You’re asking Bob to make changes b/c they need to be made.

          • Jeremy Phillips says:

            You hired a guy to run your football program. Let him run it.. If you don’t like the way he’s doing it. Get rid of him & hire someone else.. Undermining & micromanaging does way more harm than good…

          • Jordan Esco says:

            There’s definitely a lot of truth in that line of thinking

          • Herman Bubbert says:

            Boren is a habitual micromanager, so this fits his profile.

            Beyond that, Jeremy, I am inclined to agree with you to a point. However, Bob’s track record of pushing change itself is poor, as is his track record of professional introspection.

            So warming up his seat is fine with me, regardless of the method employed.

          • Jeremy Phillips says:

            My point is, if you’re going to second guess the guy you hired to do his job properly.. Then you should probably hire someone else. Whether you agree with his methods or not.. You’re just undermining his authority with his players & coaches..

          • Boom says:

            Let me see, Stoops reports up to Boren, not the other way around. Bob does run his program but there are plenty of stockholders who provide Bob with financial support. Any CEO realizes they have to make their stockholders happy and make a profit. Currently, some of these stockholders are not getting their dividends. That how I see it.

          • SoonerGoneEast says:

            If you hire someone to run your program, you should absolutely voice concerns. If you’re not willing to do that, then prepare to be disappointed in your hire. The majority of all people require supervision to varying degrees regardless of the pedestal some may place them on. If he is not willing to accept constructive criticism or listen to concerns (and I’m not implying that he is) voiced in a private setting from his employer, then he has indeed became too arrogant to effectively lead the program.

        • Cush Creekmont says:

          Considering the info on Shannon and talk of Mixon, It is reasonable to think that those two individuals’ situations might have taken some of that time. While I would never eliminate CYA discussions as a topic in any bureaucracy, there are several real issues that Stoops and Boren should discuss. Besides the two players I mentioned, staff salaries might reasonably be discussed in light of the competition for high-quality staff members.

  • Jim says:

    Thank God. I was wondering if Danley would be swayed by the $EC.
    Now, c’mon Rankin!

  • AMKing00 says:

    To touch on the point about changes needing to be made, I was driving to work this morning listening to 105.3 the fan with Shan & RJ. They brought on Spencer Tillman, a former Sooner Great and the discussion was brought up about Michigan and who he thinks will be the next head coach in Ann Arbor. He mentioned he had heard Stoops name be thrown out and but then he fell off topic for a minute and started to discuss the Sooners head man as well as the program itself. In his words –

    Stoops signed a huge contract through 2020 that he ‘doesn’t feel has been earned’ and stated that there are ‘some issues within the program that have been refused to be dealt with’ that are a major problem.

    So not only are fans seeing it as well as former players but now you have proof from K that the high ups in the University are now feeling the pressure to make changes. Got to think something will be done this off-season. Now the question is, what will that be?

    • Jim says:

      The changes that need to be made are the 2 toughest Bob has ever had to make:
      1. Fire his brother
      2. Fire the guy that brought him his only NC

      Lastly, fire Kish. That should be easy.

    • Easton says:

      We will see. We will see. I think Stoops should have a few constant advisers like Tillman who objectively make recommendations. Improvement cannot happen in a closed system: something new has to come into the OU Football Program. A coach, coaches, a paradigm shift.

      • LXXIV says:

        It seems to me that Tillman has, for some reason, always been critical and ready to understate the OU program. Perhaps he wants to be seen as neutral, but neutrality occasionally calls for positive comments about a team. I have not seen him ever express a high level of approval for OU. That is just my opinion.

        • Easton says:

          I don’t disagree. I see Tillman as a CBS guy who keeps his Alma mater at a distance, professionally and personally.

        • JB says:

          The problem is, where is Spencer wrong? He’s simply pointed out problems that are obvious to those with eyes. I have heard him praise OU and OU players when they’ve done well while on the CBS set, so I don’t think he’s a paid detractor. I think he’s giving his honest opinion of the state of the program.

          • Boom says:

            I truly believe it’s hurts Spencer to see the program in the state it’s been over the last 5 years. He is loyal to OU. He wants OU to be mentioned with the top schools every year. I agree, Spencer provides a slice of his insight on air but I would love to hear him off air.

    • Herman Bubbert says:

      It’s going to be interesting to watch. Some of the money people think Bob himself is the problem, and I will be anxious to see how the criticism is handled by Bob.

      • LXXIV says:

        Which ” money people” have been sharing their thoughts with you? That was a thoughtless question, because now that I think about it I am sure you don’t want to give up your insider source, presuming you do have one.

    • Stephen Dale says:

      Since this is a guessing contest, I’m going to say mike Stoops , Tim Kish, & BJW will all be replaced and OU will go after DJ Durkin as LB/DC , add Chip Viney as DB/recruiter, and find a QB coach to assist JH…..If Norvell leaves, another WR coach will be needed to replace him………..

      • Mr. Jones says:

        I would love to see Viney get that promotion. From what I’ve seen from him on twitter I bet he could recruit the heck out of some kids.

        • Spartacus says:

          Viney is very hands on when it comes to the CBs. He basically is the CB coach at this point, he does most of the work. With that being said, there is no way on earth I want him teaching our CBs after the way they played this year. That crap of 8 yards off and slow to react, Wilson giving 8 yards and still getting burned deep, and then Thomas playing bump and run without the bump. That was really really bad. Dude can recruit, but IF the CB play this year is an indication of his coaching ability, we can do much much better.

          • JB says:

            I would probably tend to agree, although I think the decision to play such soft cushions probably rests with the DC (Mike). That said, I’m all about bringing in some new blood. If we’re going to change, let’s truly change, not bring someone else from a different spot on the staff to get a new job title. We need more than a recruiter. Coaching is important.

          • ccmosaic says:

            I agree. I really like Viney and his California connection. I hope this year was due to Mike not having a clue. But if Viney was responsible for how the CBs played then he is an issue.

          • Mr. Jones says:

            I would want to know how much of the alignment decision was Viney verse how much of it was Mike. That’s something I truly don’t know. I also think we can both agree Wilson was probably better suited at safety. Seeing as how Thomas only got real game experience in a few games this year we have to expect him to make dumb freshman mistakes. If he is still doing that next year with Viney working with him, I’ll agree with you on that point.

  • Jordan Esco says:

    I want to be wrong, but my gut say Miss St. for Rankin

  • SoonerWarVet says:

    I’ve heard from a reliable source that some of the major boosters are threatening to withhold substantial donations if major changes are not made. I heard this yesterday. So I would assume that it was a topic of discussion in the meeting. Hopefully, that resonates with Bob.

    • Herman Bubbert says:

      As have I. The definition of “major changes” tends to differ by the donor, though.

      I rather wonder whether that will “resonate with” or anger Bob, given the size of his ego.

      • Wilson says:

        You know I always hear people talking about Bob’s large ego. Just not sure that anyone is qualified to make that claim. That is a pretty personal claim.
        Now if someone can give personal facts or instances to the claim then ok. The media and general public perceptions are only surface.
        I’ve had some interaction and I see a modest conservative man that pretty much follows the cultural behavior of his roots. I would describe him more as ‘irritated’ than egotistical.

        Egotistical is defined as: given to talking about oneself; vain; boastful; opinionated. indifferent to the well-being of others; selfish.
        I just don’t see it..unless the ‘others’ are media…lol

        • Herman Bubbert says:

          Ask the people around him. Bob doesn’t handle criticism of his job performance well. That is a fact.
          Going to be fun to watch this meeting shake itself out. Perhaps that’s why the Michigan boards are replete with reports Stoops’ agent reached out to them.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            Who does? I’m pretty sure that the coaches discuss issues among themselves. Fans, media etc…are not privy to the actual meetings. They know what needs to get done as well as the talent or lack thereof, they have to get it done with. Players make plays or they don’t.

          • Wilson says:

            Not a whole lot of people do right? lol….doesn’t make him egotistical, ah but what do I know…

          • bmrsnr says:

            lol

        • boomersooner says:

          a lot of internet know it alls love to spew anything they want to because there are no repercussions. if they knew they would get knocked out if they said some of this stuff to some of these people they have problems with to their faces, then it would be a different thing entirely. until then, they will continue to spout off at the mouth. there’s 1 billion fickle people in the world and maybe a few million people who give someone a little rope. anybody who is done with stoops…i am done with

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      I have a lot more to say on the subject, but OU doesn’t need to let donors/fans dictate coaching changes being made. Sorry, but if that were going on at any other school, we’d be laughing at them.

      I’m not saying there isn’t a small reason for concern. But it’s getting a little ridiculous if fans/boosters/donors are threatening OU in this manner. It’s just silly.

      • Steve Johns says:

        Agree. Hope those issuing ultimatums are prepared to live with the consequences, Bob might just tell them to shove it.

      • Zack says:

        The donors threatening to withhold money (that was expected perhaps pledged for the renovations) is part of the problem here at ou. People often feel way too entitled. And fans and donors need to be a part of the changes/improvements as far as supporting the direction boren, joe c, and stoops want to go. Now I admit coaching changes must be made but I don’t know the coordinators need to go. We just need a couple more tireless recruiters for linebackers and secondary positions.

    • Super K says:

      We’ve heard the same.

      • Rashad See says:

        Question,
        Is a meeting of this type normal for Stoops/Boren to have? Was Joe C. involved? Could this meeting include discussions about salaries for coaches on the open market?

  • BigJoeBrown says:

    One thing that impress me is Stoops saying he hasn’t earned his contract. That say’s a lot. If you think about how long Stoops has been here, he has busted his tail to get a well deserved high dollar contract. He knows what is takes/deserves. Years of working hard, playing for championship both Big 12 and National. It didn’t just fall in his lap, a la….Kevin Sumlin, Brady Hoke, ect. He worked for it. You know Stoops sees contract being thrown around right and left at guy’s and has to think to himself, what?

    • SoonerfanTU says:

      I think he’s earned it as much as any coach can “earn” a $5M/year salary.

      What coaches have been decidedly better over the last 16 seasons? Saban. Probably Meyer. That’s about it.

      • Easton says:

        Yeah.

      • Boom says:

        Saban, Meyer are behind Stoops since the BCS started. Stoops has won more games than any coach, just not championship games.

        • Zack says:

          And stoops has done it at one spot. Can’t say much about saban though I think he runs a clean program but I doubt Meyer does.

          • boomersooner says:

            I just can’t call over signing completely clean. Is it illegal? No. But if you get a couple guys that don’t pan out, you should have to wear it for 4 yrs just like everybody else

          • Mysterio1 says:

            I don’t think Bama runs a clean program. Boosters get involved and players like Henry Tweet pictures with very nice cars.

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          At some point though, the NC’s outweigh regular season wins. Saban definitely fits that. But I agree, Bob gets credit for his one NC, and I give him credit for making three other NC games. That means something. That is important. Just like coaches now should get credit for making the playoff, even if they don’t win it.

          Bob’s overall body of work is still mighty impressive.

    • Easton says:

      No no. Tillman said that about Stoops’s contract.

    • soonerschooner says:

      I think Spencer said that, not Stoops

  • Indy_sooner says:

    Rankin selects MSU

  • Jordan Esco says:

    It’s obviously irrelevant at this point, but I’m not entirely sure what to make of Rankin not even having an OU hat on the table. Oh well.

  • Jordan Esco says:

    Will Johnson is in. Just waiting on Dede Westbrook.

  • Rashad See says:

    I am in the camp of those of you that don’t want boosters/donors running OUr program. The fact is people are fickle by nature. All fans, of all types, just want to win. If we win then there won’t be any uproar for changes. I do believe that some changes need to be made and concerns addressed. My only question is: whether this type of meeting is a norm each year between Stoops and Boren? Boren seems to be near the program and he would be smart to understand the inner workings while also relaying his information to the head ball coach. With free flowing information they can work as a cohesive team so that they can accomplish their goals together, winning and raising money for the university. The fact remains that when any school has a successful football program attendance increases and booster donate more. It’s in Boren’s best interest to keep Stoops and encourage him to lead the program back to the heights that we all desire.

    • ccmosaic says:

      I agree with this sentiment but, it will take the money men to get the ball moving. Until Boren feels the heat from the boosters change will not happen. It is obvious to most fans that something is wrong in the program. If Bob is not willing to fix it on his own then I am happy to have the money men put the pressure on the administration.

      • Stephen Dale says:

        mosaic………………………….well said…………….

      • CTSooner says:

        The only heat that Boren feels is his legacy. He is more concerned about his $500 Live On, University Academic fund raiser then he is about stadium expansion. In ’95 when he started his first large fund raiser the football program was in the crapper and he blew out that number. I found this quote from a LA Times article in 2001 from Boren “We don’t ever want to go back to the era of win at all costs,” he says. “And we don’t ever want to go back to the time in which OU is a football school. We want to be known as a great academic institution, where we also love to win at football. And I sure do want to win.”

        On if and when an academic booster says, by the way Dave I won’t give until the team wins 11 games again, will Boren become concerned, and well I don’t see that happening.

    • soonerschooner says:

      With the capital improvement donation campaign, in which they need to raise big money for stadium improvements, this might be taken more seriously by admin. than it would in other years. Unhappy donors=no $

    • rphokc says:

      ……a kick-in-the-ass is felt more coming from certain people……..

    • Rene Goupillaud says:

      Get real, money talks and the rest walk. I don’t want too stir the pot, but comments like yours demand an acknowledgment that the rest of us aren’t all that important. If you want to be important, donate big time dollars, or else accept the benefits provided by those that do. It’s silly to think that small donors or non-donors are important to anything but the margin (do we pay the strength and conditioning coach and his staff and extra $50k in the aggregate.

      You may not like it if you aren’t a big donor, but that is the way it works. And it should work that way. Moreover, we should all want to be big time donors to the University off Oklahoma.

      Basically, if it were’t for big donors, you would be a fan of a program like Kansas. So quit complaining about big donors having a big impact.

      • Rashad See says:

        You have to realize that the university pays bob stoops for his expertise and although the results aren’t what many of us would like, knee jerk reactions aren’t how things should be handled. I have been as critical, if not more, of many of the issues that ail this program but don’t believe the idea of one being willing to donate capital gives them the right or greater insight to dictate what happens. The fact that someone is willing to make a donation doesn’t make them the best person to determine who or what desicions should or need to be made. We have watched programs be run by boosters and how those programs have fallen. (Aka Miami) Ideally we should place our trust in the president, athletic director and head football coach. If you no longer trust them to make the right decisions then they all should go because if you have to resort to threats then this will essentially establish the terms of the relationship moving forward. Please remember whenever someone is given absolute power it will corrupt absolutely.

  • hOUligan says:

    OK. So OU bats .500 on juco olinemen. Will take that same avg on their LB recruits.

    • Zack says:

      Agree but one has to be deberry.

    • Stephen Dale says:

      absolutely agree, hOUligan……………..

    • Gary Robbins says:

      Agree. 1st would be Deberry. Then 2 or 3 of the 6 left. J. Smith, A. Wheeler, A. McGinnis, A. McKee, D. Thomas, M. Jefferson.

      • soonerborn says:

        I want DeBerry, McGinnis, Jefferson and Smith, if we got to pick.

      • hOUligan says:

        Of course DeBerry would be my 1st if I get to pick. Would love Malik but… McGinnis is a beast in the making and as important as DeBerry. Josh Smith looks fantastic on film. In no order, Thomas, Wheeler, McKee and late offer to Griffin. Anyone else out there under the radar at present? Any Okie sleepers?

  • kt-raida says:

    Like K said Bendenbaugh ha s put in great work not too worried about Rankin. Congratulations to him, but back to mediocrity for MSU though.

  • Spartacus says:

    If you aren’t moving forward, you are moving backwards. The program is stale right now. The S&C program isn’t up to the times IMO and it’s fairly obvious when you look at programs like Fla. St., Auburn, and Oregon. Not only that but at DC. Mike doesn’t know how to run a 3-4 scheme, he simply doesn’t. If he were at Bama, Fla St., or Ohio St. he would be fired for the schemes he rolled out there 2 of the past 3 seasons. It’s gut check time for Stoops. He got lazy in recruiting and made some poor Coordinator hires. You can only compete for championships if you 1. Recruit in an elite fashion and/or 2. Have a scheme or system that is superior to your peers (Oregon, Baylor). OU has neither.
    LIke I said, gut check time. I’m glad Administration is putting a squeeze on Bob. OU is behind the times in both scheme, S&C, and recruiting. The only way to change such things (humans usually don’t have a massive change of phylosophy on their own) is to bring in new staff with up to date schemes and teaching practices. The coaches that OU has right now will not winj a championship, plain and simple. Heupel will not magically learn how to not piss the bed in big situations. Mike will not learn magically how to run a 3-4 the correct way. I wish the could but they won’t. It’s up to Bob to make tough decisions and surround himself with coaches that are hard recruiters and have innovative or sound schemes. If he doens’t, we will keep getting what we’ve got.

    • Soonerfandave84 says:

      I complain about Heupel quite a bit, but OU lost 3 games while scoring 30+ points. OU should never a lose a game when scoring 30. Sorry Mike but you haven’t fixed any problems and if it werent for Striker in the Sugar Bowl your leash probably wouldve already been up before this season.

      • hOUligan says:

        Won’t say ‘never’ in this day of the spread and BB scores. Even ‘Bama is finding that to be a new reality. But it should be rare. Agree, Mike’s D needs the biggest ‘fix’.

      • Spartacus says:

        JH is good overall. He can field a good offense statistically, but he padded those #s by playing some pretty horrid defenses (Tech, Iowa St., Kansas). He is still the guy who decided to NOT run the the QBs vs. Texas last year, and the guy who decided to air it out vs. Baylor. We can win with Heupel, and Mike is for sure the bigger problem, but JH is still gonna JH at least once or twice a year that will leave teams saying “WTF was that?”. Plus his QB develoment has been poor as of late.

        • Rashad See says:

          the major issue with JH is he has been so predictable and disjointed with his play-calling. In all of our losses his offense has failed to pick up a short yardage situation late in the game or against Baylor did nothing the second half. Also his QB threw either a pick six or near pick six. Had he been able to solve those two major issues we would be 11-1 at worst. The offense provided it had talent but he was never able to raise the performance to its potential. As far Mike he needs a LB coach who can recruit, a dedicated DB coach and another voice to provide ideas which preferably would be the new LB coach or montgomery.

          • Spartacus says:

            I see that arguement quite a bit. The whole “Mike needs help let’s replace everyone but him” thing. I get it, but again I don’t. Let’s be real. The whole scheme 2 years ago was funnel the tackles to your safety (Jefferson). Making us get gashed in the run game. Then he had the bright idea to run a 4-0-7 against WVU. Then last year was good, but not great. This year he decided to not rush the passer, and when he did, to play off coverage, allowing simple and easy throws and quick throws. This is Mike’s fault. You can replace his helpers but it will still be him making these boneheaded decisions. Don’t get me wrong I think Kish and BJW should be gone, but they shouldn’t fall on the sword for Mike to be spared. I just don’t get the rationalization of keeping a guy who makes such poor decisions and gameplans. He adds zero value right now

  • Zack says:

    Well good thing no surprises today our 3 jucos signed and rankin isn’t a surprise at all. I guess the rumor of wariboko committing today may have been wishful thinking. Heard yesterday his plan is to wait, I assume for his all star game.

  • Bob Edwards says:

    Seems to me that some of the changes that need to be are more structural in nature than specifically personnel, though personnel may be part of that. We are running schemes that none of the personnel have experience in. We are running a 3-4 defense with a bunch of guys who have worked in a 4-3. We are running a zone read option type offense with a bunch of spread offense guys. That’s bad organizational planning.

    It’s no wonder our players look confused at time. I am not sure the coaches know what the players are supposed to do in some situations.

    • ccmosaic says:

      I fully agree. If Bob is determined to run a zone read he needs an OC that knows the system inside and out. And if Bob wants to run a 3-4 he need a DC that knows the system inside and out.
      Honestly I think they should go back to the spread and mix in the I to keep teams off balance. As far as the D goes, I have lost faith in Mike. I believe he needs to go. Poor guy seems to be at the end of his rope anyway.

      • JB says:

        Clearly, he hasn’t figured out a new way to stop the same old pass. I was excited about his return. This season and his multitude of mistakes has made me regret that he ever came back.

    • MrBigsby says:

      I’m not convinced there’s actually a “read” in the zone read offense Heuple is trying to run. Just in the OSU game, there were numerous times the DE was crashing HARD, and Thomas still handed it off.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        Yeah, that was pretty much the whole season. We saw that a lot with TK9 too. I think either Bob or Josh are too afraid of the QB getting hurt to really run those plays. Then don’t run the stinking offense!

      • D Hunter Sanchez says:

        No backup that is ready. We saw that CT was not able to move the offense. CT not running was more understandable than not running Knight most of the year. But the injury to Knight and the lack of passing skills exhibited by CT has vindicated JH in not running the zone read all that much.

        • MrBigsby says:

          You can’t play scared. A true zone read opened up the passing game for Knight, could have done wonders for Thomas too. No way JH is vindicated! He still needs to go hone his craft at a DII school.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            My stats show OU averaged 36 points a game this year. In three out of four losses the QB threw 2 pick sixes and a nearly a third. The defense was crushed by Big 12 offenses. That’s not on JH. I agree you can’t play scared, but facts are facts, TK got injured twice. If Thomas went down then what? Burn the redshirt of Hansen? Who is, at this point, less skilled than CT? I see what BS is doing and he was trying to win without a true zone-read JH said as much. They were erring on the side of caution. Think of it, if TK gets injured in the WV game? The whole Big 12 title is up in smoke!

          • MrBigsby says:

            If the passing game is opened up by a true zone read, then OSU never gets the ball back (3 n out on 7 of last 8 possessions), we score a TD against KSU instead of missing a chip shot field goal, we don’t turn the ball over on downs at TCU. Doesn’t matter what the offense did against Baylor, as Briles toyed with Mike in that game.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            No offense brother Sooner, but you haven’t addressed the issue with the lack of passing skills exhibited by CT or Hansen? The coaching staff felt that CT was not ready. I bet this year that Knight having Mayfield or preferably, Mayfield having Knight as his backup, the zone read will be in full effect.

          • MrBigsby says:

            They were both good passers when recruited. What happened? Can Heuple not develop QBs and manage a game plan at the same time? I’m not sold on Mayfield either. His gaudy stats at tech were against inferior competition and he’s not a zone read type of QB. Don’t expect improvement out of him either as long as JH is QB coach and OC. I know, I know….he looked good in the spring game. But now we all know that ANYONE could look good throwing against Mike’s D.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            Decent points. However, the sky isn’t falling. People make the claim that JH not being on the sidelines hurt the QB’s. Players make plays period. There is just so much you can show a player. They have to “get it” and go.

          • MrBigsby says:

            Does Heuple not know how to evaluate talent then? Why has he struck out on QB’s so often?

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            See Boomer Sooner comments below. He agrees with my view.

          • boomersooner says:

            i agree with you here. no backup you trust or feel is ready=no zone read. only run it if you have to on a scramble and then get down quick is probly what he was told

    • lovethemsooners says:

      I have a hard time believing Boren would be talking to Stoops about X’s and O’s. If there is discussion, and concern from high level boosters, you can pretty much bet it’s going to about “personnel”.

      • Bob Edwards says:

        But this isn’t about X’s and O’s, its about the people who are responsible for the X’s and O’s and what you are asking them to do. You need to either have people familiar with the schemes you are trying to run or run the schemes your people know. Besides, X’s and O’s is how you evaluate the personnel.

        • SoonerfanTU says:

          I think it’s silly to suggest these coaches can’t be tought the 3-4 and zone read. It isn’t rocket science, especially the zone read. I’m sure your response will be that obviously they can’t teach it, look at our results, but I think there is MUCH more to it than that.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            We know MS grew up with cocoa pops cereal and football plays. He knows more football than most people posting. Venerables, who has the no 1 defense in the country, was getting torched by Big 12 defenses as well. TCU, who everyone loves gave up 61 FREAKIN POINTS in a game. Having watched OU since 1973, I firmly believe as the King does that players win and lose games.

          • JB says:

            Players are only part of the equation. We could have the most talented team and still lose. Coaching is equally important. I also don’t think anyone thinks Mike Stoops doesn’t know football. However, Mike is stubborn and slow to learn from his mistakes. I’m guilty of the same thing at times, so I can easily recognize it in others. Instead of making needed changes, the temptation is to dig in deeper and stand your ground even in the face of failure.
            Anyone who’s ever played defense and has a basic understanding of football can see the schematic and position coaching mistakes. It may take an electrical engineer to design a lighting system for a home and it may take an electrician to install it. It doesn’t take a college graduate to learn how to flip a light switch, or recognize that when something is broken/malfunctioning when you flip the switch and the lights don’t come on. Same thing with football. It doesn’t take a PhD to figure out that we aren’t successful with what we’re doing.

          • John Garner says:

            Lou Holtz, when he was at Arkansas and played OU in the Orange Bowl, definitely proved that coaching can make a difference. That was one of many NC’s we lost. The other, I recall, was when we lost to Washington.

          • Bob Edwards says:

            Got it. Coaches don’t matter. So we don’t need coaches anymore just let the players make it up themselves.
            Having watched the Sooner since 1968 (if we have to play that card), I think you are misunderstanding what Switzer is saying.

            I also remember Switzer saying the way you could tell a good coach was that you he would beat you with his guys and then turn around and beat you with your guys. Sounds to me like he thought coaches made a difference too.

          • Travis Coyle says:

            I have been watching since 1967. lol

          • Bob Edwards says:

            Well you know more than I then. What did Fairbanks have to say about this?

          • Rene Goupillaud says:

            I sat next to Chuck on a flight from Denver to LA when he was HC of the Buffs. When I told him I was a Sooner and at OU during his tenure, he launched into a barrage of criticisms of OU fans. He said we were spoiled and expected too much. I replied that I though he should have done better in 1969, with 3 first round draft picks (Owens, Zabel and Files) and a 4th rounder, when we were drubbed by Kansas State, Mizzou, and Nebraska ands lost to Texas. I didn’t think that was expecting too much. He didn’t say another word for the rest of the flight.

          • paganpink says:

            Because you proved his point.

          • Rene Goupillaud says:

            Really don’t think it was expecting too much. OU lost to KSU 59-2, to Mizzou 44-10, to Nebraska 44-14 and to Texas 27-17. Way too much talent on that squad to get hammered that way. The next year we lost to unranked Oregon State when Jack Mildren and the Veer offense generated just 150 yards of total offense to Oregon State’s 450. I really think it’s fair to say that most fan bases at Top 20 schools would be displeased.

          • Rene Goupillaud says:

            then you’re a youngster in my eyes.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            Belicek is the classic example. He couldn’t win in Cleveland. He wins with the Pats. Why? He had players like Brady who could execute his system. It’s not MS or JH. BS would not have hired these guys or moved them into positions of such great responsibility if they did not know what they are doing.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            I never said coaches don’t matter. But on a certain level coaches with a proven track record of success (JH/MS), you cannot assume they forgot how to coach or are responsible for an 8-4 season. JH didn’t throw pick sixes did he? MS didn’t give up deep passes down the middle or over the top.

          • Spartacus says:

            I don’t think it’s as easy to learn as you think. JH spent time with the Nevada dude who was an expert in the zone read. Mike had spent time with Bama to learn the 3-4. Mike thinks he can recruit 3-4 Dlinemen, 4-3 LBs, and 4-2-5 Safeties, and big physical bump and run corners and then throw them all in a soup and form a non attacking 3-4 that drops 8 into coverage yet gives 8 yard cushions. Dude is completely lost and defeated. Not only is he defeated, but he’s taking out his shortcomings on the players and his assistants on the sideline. If I was a coach for another school I would negative recruit the crap out of any back 7 defensive player I’m competing with OU for, and it wouldn’t be hard to do.

          • John Garner says:

            The Nevada dude you reference is an expert on the “pistol” not the zone read. The pistol is a formation/offensive system in which a zone read can be run. Just sayin’

          • Bob Edwards says:

            I never said they can’t learn it. But you don’t hire someone for $850,000/year to come in and learn on the job. You pay that kind of money to someone who already has expertise in the field.

          • Mysterio1 says:

            This!!!!!!

      • Jed says:

        Is it just me, or does anyone else feel that a day-long meeting with a coach is waaaaay below the dignity of a major university president? I get that major donor concern is automatically presidential concern; but, really, a day-long meeting?
        To me, it’s more like one fifteen minute meeting that goes along the lines of, “Bob, the money boys are not happy. Fix it. You have a month to announce your plan….or your resignation.”
        Followed up by another 1-3 fifteen minute meetings over the next couple of months culminating in either congratulations and a quiet cognac whilst watching the snow fall out Boren’s office window or an announcement of a new coach search committee.

        • JB says:

          No, not in the slightest.

        • Brent says:

          The OU football program is the university’s breadwinner in terms of annual alumni dollars. Definitely not below the dignity of the president to meet all day with your economic kingpin

          • Travis Coyle says:

            Well said.

          • Jed says:

            I look at it in much the same way I look at the military vs. civilian authority: without the team, the uni goes on (consequences? Of course, but still); without the uni, there is no team. For Boren to spend all day on team matters has a distinct tail-wagging-the-dog feel to it.

          • paganpink says:

            No, Jed. It’s more like a symbiotic thing with a major football university. You can have full professors that are total idiots but tenure is so strong they aren’t going anywhere, and the head of the department would speak with them about problems. No one is more visible then the head football coach, not even the President of the University, and the football program brings in hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue, and tens of millions in profit for the sports budget for all of the Universities athletics programs, unlike any of the professors mentioned above. Imagine what tuition and enrollment would be like if we were a school that depended on that tuition, and student fees, to support the football team and the sports programs as so many of them do. It is the source of a huge amount of recognition and a source of pride that draws in many of the students who enroll their to begin with. You could make the argument that there is no one more important to the university then the head football coach at a major college with a tradition like ours. It reflects well- or poorly- on almost everything other then academics, but the enrollment is very much affected by the one man on campus making 5 million dollars a year. And that isn’t the President of the University. Boren is aware of all that and how crucial it is that the right person for that job be in that position because he has to be! They are

          • Jed says:

            If you think I was being, or am, anti-football team, be disabused of that notion. I wouldn’t be here if I was. My point was simply that it seemed odd to me that Boren devoted a whole day to it. I get the importance of the program to the school, but Boren’s proper role requires, in my view, a certain distance. Like a CEO has distance from a company president…who he may have to fire if need be.

          • paganpink says:

            I get you. And he is his superior. But my point was that they are very much dependent on each other; the school and the football program, that is. I know that some people think it is heinous for football coaches to make more money then a college professor but their roles at the University are very different even though both are expected to develop young people into adults. I know you love football and that’s not what you meant. But it is different at a real big time football program like ours, then it is at most schools, it seems to me, and the football coaches don’t get enough credit for balancing the extraordinary demands that they have on them while keeping so many different parties happy. So maybe I sounded defensive and, if so, I apologize.

          • Jed says:

            It’s all good. It is interesting to note that the topline income generated by the football team is several orders of magnitude larger than any bottomline profits. I seem to recall the profit on football ops is somewhere around $1 million per month. A nice chunk of change, to be sure, but ground clutter when put against the overall university operating budget.
            The real value of the program to the uni is the publicity. And it is in that arena that Bob is as superb a player as he is a coach.

          • SoonerSpock says:

            A major football program like OU’s fills 85,000 seat stadiums every Saturday. This success keeps a multitude of alumni returning to campus multiple times annually. This close association with the campus allows the administration to develop relationships with alumni that results in tens of millions of dollars in contributions for academic facilites, endowments, hundreds of academic scholarships, etc. These donor dollars are above and beyond the $20 million plus in annual donor contributions to the athletic department.
            Without the football program helping develop a relationship with the alumni many of these academic donations would never happen.

          • Jed says:

            True, though Harvard seems to do okay-ish without a football team of much note.

          • Rene Goupillaud says:

            Jed, I doubt it was a “whole” day. Probably just lunch if at all( since it is still an unsubstantiated rumor). I hope it is true because Boren and Joe C. should be assessing the program and the future all the time. At a minimum it is oversight, at a maximum it is top down management. That’s what companies do, why not Universities.

        • BleedCrimson says:

          They could also have been in discussions on money being offered to replacements. That could get time consuming.

      • JB says:

        As a coach, you should know you’re in trouble when the number of empty seats during games continued to increase through December, and at one point in the season, your fans started booing you and your coaching staff during a home game for not even bothering to make a single, significant defensive adjustment…not to mention the final embarrassing score.

        • D Hunter Sanchez says:

          You do recall that after Wilson’s antics and the booing, He moved closer to the WR and still got beat deep. I think that was a microcosm of MS problem with most of the cover guys.

          • Mysterio1 says:

            Wilson never had the hips to go against speedy good WR’s. The outcome wasn’t going to be different, unless he jammed them at the line.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            The jamming would have to be supplemented with pressure on the QB. MS scheme wasn’t the issue. The bigger question is why was Wilson playing CB?

          • JB says:

            And why did go away from putting pressure on Petty when we were getting to him early and forcing him to hand off? Makes no sense. That IS a coaching issue.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            No. Petty went to a quick passing scheme.

          • SoonerSpock says:

            Because in Mike Stoops and Bobby Jack Wright jointly believed Wilson could play CB better than any other DB available to them.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            So, what you are saying is that not only has MS and BJW forgot how to coach, they are now unable to evaluate players? I think MS knows nore about the game than even long time fans like you and I.

          • JB says:

            It was a mistake to ever play him at CB in the first place. He’s a safety.

          • Spartacus says:

            That’s a big misconception. Wilson didn’t jam him. He was still 8 yards off and got beat deep. The announcer got it wrong and thus a good portion of the fan base thinks “well that’s what happens when you jam”. He didn’t jam him. He was still 8 yards off and just got burned.

          • D Hunter Sanchez says:

            I reject the notion that they could have successfully jammed their WR’s. If you know anything about OU opponents during the Stoops’ era like TT…they played a type of defense that gave the WR some room, but required tackling in space to prevent big gains. I think that that was the scheme.

          • DCinAZ says:

            They move closer to the WR’s but they don’t actually JAM them. That’s not press coverage.

      • tfb_fortyseven says:

        It’s about the money vs results. I’m sure Boren is not talking X’s & O’s, but rather, he is encouraging Bob to get the X’s & O’s right via whatever means necessary worthy of the 2nd highest paid coach in college football …. at least, that is my 2 cents.

    • Boom says:

      Bob, what do you think most HS are running for their offense – zone read. Defenses – 3-4. The majority of kids coming out of Texas run these schemes since they were in 9th grade.

    • ccmosaic says:

      Yes!!! This is huge for our O next year. If DGB is going pro we need another WR that is a real threat. This is big as far as I am concerned.

      • SoonerfanTU says:

        Would love to see us running Shepard, DGB, Quick, and Westbrook out there next year. That’d be a pretty talented WR core.

    • hOUligan says:

      Frickin’ great news. If OU’s recent success with juco and transfer WRs is any indication, this guy will be on the field next season. Just need some of the pups to grow up in the off season and make their mark.

      • Indy_sooner says:

        I think they will. Quick showed ALOT of promise, so did KJ Young. If anything, I feel like they will only get better on the stuff that comes with experience… routes, separation etc. Jalen and Justin Brown brought that immediately. Some, like Shep are just special and it’s unfair to expect that from everyone.

  • Doobie74OU says:

    Lost Rankin to Mississippi State!

  • Troyce Lewis says:

    So with the signing of Johnson and confidence in PJ’s commitment are the Sooners set at the corner position for this class?

    • Will Narramore says:

      Think they should still take one more. Besides Sanchez and Thomas who has shown you anything to instill confidence in them going forward?

      • SoonerfanTU says:

        To be fair, nobody else has played. I’d like to have seen what Austin and the other kid could do in game situations, but maybe they haven’t done well in practice.

        • hOUligan says:

          Kept hearing good things about Tito Windham’s camp appearances and hoping for the development of Marcus Green, 6’1 FR top 100 out of texass. Guys are young. Still would like 1 more CB. More concerned with S at this point. Only 3 scholly players; Parker, Thomas and Byrd.

      • D Hunter Sanchez says:

        Parker, not Thomas.

    • Jordan Esco says:

      I agree w/ Will. Think they’d like at least one more.

    • Soonerfandave84 says:

      I think Austin or Taylor will transfer, so another CB would be nice.

    • JB says:

      I think if there are quality CBs available, they’d easily take another and maybe even one more if they’re out there.

    • Zack says:

      I think we still take dalton or Orr if they choose ou maybe both with dalton possibly being a hybrid guy. I think Sheffield and Marshall are less that 0 % chances for ou.

  • rphokc says:

    …so, to those of you who pay attention to the oline positions/recruiting, how many more do we need a/o are looking at, or is it a wrap as long as they all sign………

    • Jordan Esco says:

      Barnett
      Wariboko
      Teuhema (not realistic, IMO).

      Only ones I’m aware of at the moment. Maybe Coach B gets in on someone else late, but I suspect they’ll wait on these guys and roll w/ what they got.

      • rphokc says:

        I noticed that the ol moore in tx, that ou was after early along with ut,………we apparently held off due to barnett and he signed with minn recently

    • Soonerfandave84 says:

      they’d take Barnett, Wariboko, Wheeler, Haughton and DeBerry. Getting all of those guys would push OU into the top according to the 247 class calculator

  • lovethemsooners says:

    Nasty rumor on another board that Dorial has an agent. Anyone have any info on that?

  • SoonerBredCD says:

    So, rumors of DGB going the NFL are important enough for a Twitter mention, but no mention of it anywhere on the actual TFB site?

  • Kyle Roach says:

    It;s on here. scroll up and look to the right under ORIGINAL POSTS

  • OU_Sooners says:

    Perception is a very important thing. Many people have already forgotten that we had the #1 pass defense in the Big XII last year. But since we graduated our great players on the back end, our front 7 isn’t looking as good. It’s a two-way street– the front 7 helps the back 4 with their coverage as well as the back 4 let the front 7 get pressure/sacks. I don’t think it’s as much a coaching issue (there are issues) as there is a lack of seniority. There’s lots of youth and I fully expect the defense to be vastly improved from this year, next year.

    As far as the offense goes, we need a coach with an identity that knows what he wants to do with the ball every time we possess it. Next year, as long as the youthful offensive line is shored up, we should be able to do whatever we want if DGB stays. You’d have heisman contender in the backfield, 2 Biletnikoff caliber wideouts on the outside with Durron Neal in the slot. Should be able to hand off up the middle or off the edge due to the lack of safeties bracketing Shep and DGB. BUT, maybe I’m an idealist :).

  • disqus_uj44WuVjt2 says:

    Why does it seem that we are fairly consistent to pick up on these guys?

    • Gary Robbins says:

      Just wondering who is the coach responsible for getting the 3 jc athletes. Seems like 3 good kids coming aboard.

  • SoonerfanTU says:

    Anderson and Evans also signed this morning. Not sure that has been posted.

    • Zack says:

      Did they sign or just enroll early? I know they both signed the financial aid agreement that helps basically get them a step closer to a LOI but there was a kid who did that last year with 3 schools and no one was sure which school he was actually committed to.

    • Jordan Esco says:

      What Zack said. They’ve just signed their financial aid agreements, but those are not binding like an NLI is. Basically it just allows OU to publicly mention them w/o getting into trouble w/ the NCAA.

      • SoonerfanTU says:

        Gotcha. I just saw their names in a release from OU with the three JUCO’s, and assumed. My bad.

        • Zack says:

          With them enrolling early they are all but signed. I bet both redshirt since Evans is recovering from a knee injury and unless something crazy happens at running back, I see Anderson spending a lot of time bulking up and running scout.

        • Jordan Esco says:

          No worries. I can definitely see how the way OU phrased things it w/b confusing.

  • Zack says:

    I think this recruiting class has a chance to break into the top 10. If we get deberry, haughton, wariboko, Barnett, McKee, mcguinnis and either Campbell/gallimore/Daniels, then we would be looking at a very strong finish. To me all of those guys are 50/50 at this point so I guess we should expect to miss out on 2 or 3 of them.

  • MrBigsby says:

    Sounds like it was Bob’s chance to ask permission to fire Heuple! But I’m sure Boren’s response would have been, fire Mike, then we’ll talk. So back to square one, stuck with the same terrible coordinators and some position coaches will be the scapegoats.

    • JB says:

      Bob doesn’t need permission to fire anyone, although I assume this post was a bit tongue-in-cheek. In all seriousness, I do believe that the topic of shedding Mike from the staff was discussed. They are probably trying to find a way to make it look like he’s leaving to pursue other opportunities–for example, he might go off to Kentucky to serve as his other brother’s DC–to spare him the humiliation of demotion/firing, similar to what they did with Brent Venables’ when Mike was re-hired to fix the bad defense Venables produced.

      • CoachTalk says:

        It cant be just he guy… BV now leads the nations best defense…

        • Mysterio1 says:

          That defense plays two great offenses twice a year. T hat ranking wouldn’t hold up in the Big 12.

          • EasTex says:

            True, but this year they got FSU without Crab Legs.
            They sure handled South Carolina St and Georgia St, though.

          • JB says:

            Couldn’t have said it better…
            The ACC is nowhere near as tough a conference to defend as the Big 12. As bad as the Big 12 is right now, I’d venture to say we’re still better than the ACC. I was praying TCU would get in and play FSU because they would beat FSU.

      • MrBigsby says:

        I’d say it would be very difficult to fire Heuple without Boren’s blessing.

        • JB says:

          I respectfully disagree. He didn’t need his permission to hire him, I can’t imagine it’d be much different in firing him, especially if the big money guys are calling for his head.

          • MrBigsby says:

            With JH’s sister being married to Boren’s son, it at least makes it a sticky situation.

          • JB says:

            So is losing millions in donations.

          • JB says:

            I know what I do when my hands get sticky with honey…I wash them off.

          • paganpink says:

            I am sure that regardless of whether permission is needed that Stoops always brings Boren in before hiring or firing someone. It’s good business practice as well as common courtesy. You don’t want your boss blindsided

  • Jeremy Phillips says:

    I believe Humphrey is an early enrollee as well, but he hasn’t signed a financial aid agreement.. So the school can’t acknowledge him..

  • CoachTalk says:

    So who would OU hire as a better OC and DC? Name some names.

    • Easton says:

      There are some good articles on this site that have gone to great lengths to address this very question. Both writers, contributors, and posters have named a few.

      • CoachTalk says:

        Do you see it happening?

        • Easton says:

          No I do not CoachTalk. But I don’t have a single unit of information that is relevant on this subject. And, I am no longer considering this or encouraging discussion on it. We’re going to be okay.

    • JB says:

      Pat Narduzzi as DC, Sonnie Cumbie as OC

      • D Hunter Sanchez says:

        Cumbie would be excellent, as long as he isn’t too pass happy. OU should have a dominating pass game as well as a run game that can win games without having to throw 25 times. Never respected TT nor this year’s TCU running attacks.

        • JB says:

          I don’t think we’d be able to get Narduzzi away from Michigan State though. He makes more than Mike does at MSU, so we’d have to be willing to open up the checkbook to get him.
          Meanwhile, Cumbie’s offense is #2 in scoring, #4 in total offense and he only makes like $275,000/year. He doesn’t have what I’d call quality running backs which he would have at OU. And anyone who can get that kind of performance out of a guy who was a sorry passer (i.e., Trevone Boykin) prior to his arrival is one hell of a QB coach.

    • Spartacus says:

      Narduzzi would be great but he won’t leave his buddy for a lateral move to OU. You’d need someone who is an up and coming assistant at a big school or a coordinator for a lesser school like Illinois (random school) or something like that. As far as OC, my first call is to Lashlee from Auburn. He is the Co-OC there and has been with Malzahn since his highschooll days. I would sell him on the idea of being the only OC and full time play caller. This dude could do some damage if he could transition from Auburn style backs to the downhill backs we have on campus.

  • Mark slavin says:

    What about John Humphrey has he signed a financial aid agreement?

    • Stephen says:

      I actually really liked this guy but I heard OU didn’t really try to make a push with him. At least we got Dede Westbrook.

  • Stephen says:

    Saw somewhere that DGB should be in consideration for the Heisman next season. A part of me laughed but then a part of me smiled. It could be the sleep deprivation and the 40 something hours of studying but I feel like it wasn’t all that bad of an idea.

    • boomersooner says:

      how’d finals go? or do you know yet?

      • Stephen says:

        For the most part, pretty well. Thanks. I will say that I advise never taking business calc, it is evil and not easy to pass.

        • boomersooner says:

          haha. i’m 37 and i still can’t spell calculus without autocorrect 🙂

        • Brent says:

          took that as a summer class and it ruined my entire summer

        • Sooner_Ace says:

          glad you did well, just finished my masters and yes Bus Calc sucked 🙂

        • Dustin says:

          Maybe I’m just a nerd, but I loved Bus Calc.

          • Stephen says:

            If I were stronger in mathematics I think I would enjoy it. Sadly I’m a marketing major who’s comfort zone lies within in the creative and conceptual side of business and strategy.

          • paganpink says:

            I used to have to go get help from two of the physics majors in my dorm. Super nice guys; also complete and utter nerds. They ATE math like it was candy. Mumbling and making little inside jokes to each other they could just look at my stuff and figure it out in seconds. One dude could square 5 digit numbers in his head. I finally realized physics people are the real math majors!

  • Syyner says:

    Can anyone link some tape on Dede? Plz and ty.

  • paganpink says:

    Lets hope Boren simply asked Stoops what he needs to make the team more successful. I don’t think there’s much more he would do then that anyway, because it is his job to hold Stoops accountable to the school and the fans for many things- but not to micro-manage anything. He would ask for some commitments, hopefully, while asking what changes BOB thinks need to be done. That locks him in to the things that need to be done and it isn’t trying to force him into anything that someone else has decided. You could call it giving him enough rope to hang himself but that isn’t true because if B.S. is able to correct the problems then there won’t need to be future discussions. And if he is unable to fix things it is, of course, all on him as head coach. As it should be.

  • Stephen says:

    Does anyone remember who the DL transfer from Tulsa was and is that still a thing?

    • Boom says:

      Dalton Rodriguez who went to Tulsa to play DE and then he walked on OU and I think they want him at OT. 6’6 guy but I have no clue. He’s not listed on the roster so it may be a spring thing.

  • D'Brickashaw Ferguson says:

    Remember when we all thought Kyler Murray might choose OU? Good times.

    https://twitter.com/TheKylerMurray/status/545292963698319361

  • CastorTroyBoy says:

    It seems my post was deleted so I will make this clear..I will always back a great Sooner who has earned this right by performance weekly and yearly! You folks want me to go along with this everythings alright, lets all drink the koolaid special? I’m not here to pamper one hit wonders and coddle god worshiping bubbas because they raise their arm out to the Lord after scoring a facking touchdown? Barry Sanders did not do it. He kept his lord worshiping to himself. That may go over well with the bible thumpers in boomerland but I don’t agree with Oklahoma politics nor their conservative hate Obama beliefs! I’m a progressive and proud of it. Now back to Trevor, he has played one good game in the 3 years he has been here imho…He has not earned sooner lore like Tillman, Bosworth, Dante Jones, Randy Hughes etc. As for changes I gave you folks 3 things in my earlier post that was deleted so I’ll give the “shock & awe” another swipe shall we? While plenty of posters on here and especially on the scout board bash a probation riddles USC program while Kiffin was there, at least he brought in top players at every position while on a probation that was worse than hours in 1989! What did Gibbs do? Lost Jesse Armstead(This is something only a true blood Sooner) like myself would know! Gibbs was hired to steady the ship under that idiot president who put pressure on Switzer to resign and the clueless Donnie Duncan. Anyways while a majority of Sooners got a kick out of Kiffens struggles at usc I knew first hand it was alot going on there that made it tough for a guy like Kiffen. So he gets fired in the most humiliating way, world mocking him, what is he to do..? He quietly goes about his life, gets hired by his rival in Saban and completely re-vamps Bama and so who is laughing now? Did USC go 12-0?? Kiffen and that offense knowledge he has with that ability to recruit is why I say he is a young Barry Switzer the Only thing that saved Barry and Fairbacks was the wishbone and getting those Selmon Brothers in 1970-71 or likely there would be no 37 straight w/o a loss!

    • Brent says:

      Slow your roll on Lane “Kiffen”. He has always been a firecracker that screams back down to earth very quickly after that initial skyrocket. And he did not “completely re-vamp” Bama’s offense. They run the same offense, but have an all-world player in Amari Cooper making plays downfield.

    • Boom says:

      So, in summary, what is your point?

      • Perry Dickey says:

        Ever walk along a hot tar paved road in Oklahoma and see a petrified frog flattened into it? Its kinda interesting.

    • Super K says:

      Just a heads up, none of us deleted your comment. It occasionally happens due to some glitch but we didn’t intentionally delete anything.

    • Easton says:

      Alright, glad you got that out on paper because iit was extensive, and historical. We’ll keep playing ball.

    • Gary Robbins says:

      Somebody help me. Is Castor Troy Boy for OU or pro Kiffin.. Just got back from “happy hour” and was wearing my “Super Santa Hat” and might be a little confused!!!

    • boomersooner says:

      Drugs are bad umkay

      • CastorTroyBoy says:

        BoomerSooner coming from methhead heaven that is rich….lol

      • EasTex says:

        What a goof ball.
        For the heck of it I checked his profile and he is consumed with a bad attitude, foul mouth and hateful ideology.
        Put your icon on his image, click on his profile and check his recent activity.

    • Boomer4life says:

      Meanwhile…..back at the ranch!

    • J.r. Kamm says:

      Did you seriously upcheck your own post?

  • Austin says:

    Ou made the top 6 for Kareem Orr

  • Zack says:

    Cavil going to utsa sounds reasonable.

  • CastorTroyBoy says:

    If 9-3 is unacceptable at Nebraska then 8-4 w/o a Nat’l title in almost 15 years should be unacceptable at my OU!

  • CastorTroyBoy says:

    Keep it coming bubbas I can do this all night and then some!

  • EasTex says:

    Pelini’s last meeting with his players.
    The link to the podcast and the transcript is below.
    I have some mixed feelings about the way he handled it, but then I can’t imagine the kind of pressures he must have felt for the past few years.
    Personally, I recommend reading the transcript as there are some very colorful adjectives in Bo’s rant.
    http://www.omaha.com/huskers/bo-pelini-transcript-shawn-eichorst-didn-t-support-us/article_4f3583d6-8637-11e4-b708-3fa46a3a8147.html

    • KellyB says:

      interesting….to say the least. Thx for sharing. Curious how many times did he say “at the end of the day?”

    • rphokc says:

      I read the uncensored transcript………….rambling, repetitive, sprinkled with ‘locker room language’…….if his description of neb was accurate, what a circus……..he has some money and sounds like he could use a yr off but he would probably go nuts, so maybe it’s better he goes nuts jumping into another coaching gig……..do you think the youngstown people will read about him and wonder what did they just do? ….

      • EasTex says:

        He has always been tightly wound and I’m sure the folks in his home state know that.
        I sensed a lot of pain in his rant. It would suck to be so unhappy with your job and keep going in every day for the sake of others.
        I wish him well.

    • paganpink says:

      He may not have a close and friendly relationship with his AD, it appears.