Open Post | Wednesday, Dec. 9th (UPDATE 6:07 pm)
Posted on: December 9, 2015
Image of Malcolm Askew via Scout
– Jack Jones: We have confirmed that star 2016 ATH Jack Jones (Long Beach, CA) will be take an official visit to Oklahoma this weekend. I spoke with someone who knows Jones and was told that Oklahoma is a very unlikely destination. Jones has been telling people that Texas A&M is his leader but as we all know, pulling kids out of Long Beach Poly from USC (or other in-state schools) is tough.
That said, the Sooners have a lot going for them right now and tend to make a great impression on prospects during their visits. So maybe they pull a rabbit out of their hat here, but it sounds like, for now, you’d probably be wise not to get your hopes up. – (Super K)
– Malcolm Askew and The New Recruiting Reality: Last night I spoke with 2017 ATH Malcolm Askew (McCalla, AL), whose Twitter has been chock full of OU related items of late. So I wanted to reach out and see what the deal is with him & OU.
Askew has offers from just about everyone in the country, including in-state programs Auburn and Alabama. It turns out Askew doesn’t have any particular tie to Oklahoma, he just likes the Sooners. With all the changes happening at schools like Georgia and Alabama, and the success of Oklahoma, it seems the Sooners have really caught his attention.
Askew also seems to like Kerry Cooks quite a bit, which makes sense as the Sooners are recruiting him as a defensive back. “Coach Cooks and I haven’t met yet but talking to him on the phone, he seems like a great guy…a guy I can relate to…I want to try to get out there on a visit soon…” Askew has a good head on his shoulder and knows what he’s looking for, “kids in-state want to go to Alabama, but what good is going to a school if you may not make it on the field for whatever reason…you have to look at where the best fit and opportunity is…”
If OU’s success continues, situations like this one with Askew — where a national recruit has high interest in the Sooners — will continue to pop up. We all remember how Oklahoma was able to recruit in the early 2000’s. – (Super K)
– Omar Manning: Sooners offered 2017 WR Omar Manning (Lancaster, TX) last night. Manning seemed excited about the offer, and said that he will be in Norman for one of OU’s Junior Days after the New Year. – (Super K)
– West Virginia Job: Many of you may seen the reports today that TCU Co-OC Sonny Cumbie turned down the Texas’ OC offer. Somewhat related (bear with me), there have been some rumors about Dana Holgorsen’s future at West Virginia and whether or not he will be retained.
I spoke to someone with knowledge of the WVU situation and asked whether this Holgorsen was just talk or if there were actual legs to it. I was told, “it is a possibility (that Holgorsen will not be retained). He feels good and is confident that, if they win their bowl game, he’s good. Others aren’t as confident, however.”
If Holgorsen is in fact let go, the two names floating around down here in Texas as possible candidates to replace him are Doug Meachum and Lincoln Riley. I have also been told that in the off-chance it came to fruition and Riley were to leave Norman, Sonny Cumbie would be at the top of OU’s list to replace him. And the impression I have been given is, unlike the Texas opening, the OU offensive coordinator job isn’t one he’d likely turn down. It’s worth reminding Cumbie was one of Bob Stoops’ primary targets during the OC search last year.
Admittedly, a lot of this is simply speculation at this point. Clearly Holgorsen is still the HC at West Virginia and Cumbie has just said he’s happy at TCU. But whatever may or may not happen in the coming weeks/months, Bob Stoops and the Sooners would appear to be in an advantageous position regardless. – (Super K)
– UPDATE (3:17 pm): Regarding the WVU/Lincoln Riley possible scenario above.
Dana Holgorsen will return to West Virginia next season, a source told @ESPN
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 9, 2015
– UPDATE (5:04 pm): Sooners’ 2016 RB commit, Abdul Adams.
https://twitter.com/Abdul_Adams2/status/674725892053012480
– UPDATE (5:54 pm):
Great having HC Bob Stoops and Lincoln Riley on campus to see our RT and OU commit Ashton Julious #OLineU #LackLife pic.twitter.com/67A38IpqIQ
— Josh Pardini (@CoachJPardini) December 9, 2015
– UPDATE (6:07 pm): 2016 DL & OU offer, Sci Martin, has committed to TCU.
325 Comments
first…
Said no OSU fan ever….until now.
We should allow this one, Kyle seems like a good guy
He no speak with forked tongue like most cowpokes.
Irish guy are ya, Mr. Bull?
haha that is hilarious
I was looking and I actually know Kyle have played basketball with him and his dad he is a good guy and a realistic OSU fan.
hey bud!
Thought you looked familiar, mean the name obviously but, was like no way he, is an OSU fan and wouldn’t be on here lol
ha ha, yeah man, I am the sacrificial OSU fan everyone can pester on here…
Just having a little fun with him.
Just having a little fun with him.
My wife is an OSU fan and she never comes first!
I know, right. I mean not your wife, talking about mine. Almost screwed up there.
Ha that’s what she said
Better be careful I hear Lincoln Riley may be in line to replace you.
Are you saying he is looking at any opening lol
lmao
Try harder! LMAO
Bazinga!!
Bazinga!!
BOOM!!
Hey, Bud … still hangin’ out here? I think maybe the Force may be getting to you and you are going to come over to the light side. Can I hear a “Boomer” from you?
Haha, no… I am still loyal and true. Graduating Friday with my masters from OSU. I like me some TFB, I just keep returning for the company. You all are always entertaining and haven’t ran me off yet 😉
I wonder if Charlie will find a decent oc to step in to that pile of sh*t? I can’t wait until we win the National Championship. Facebook post to all the Longhorn losers. It’s 8am and the 8 time National Champions still suck! Meanwhile, in Austin, crickets….
Definitely difficult to sell to a potential hire that the OC job requiring the implementation of a new offensive system while given only one year to successfully implement is an opportunity instead of career suicide.
What Charlie needs to appease the UT fans is a name OC. Unfortunately a name OC is not going to commit hara-kiri.
Thanks for the info. Just too much coaching-change talk for me. I really would like some early Christmas present Booms – 2 weeks from this Friday is not too early, right?
I suspect that with only 5-7 slots open for 2016 class and our targets being national recruits I suspect we be fortunate to get any booms in December. Most should occur after the first week in January when most of the high school all star games have been played. Might get one or two until signing day. Guess we will all have to be on pins and needle a while longer.
Interesting regarding Riley, WVU, Cumbie, and UT. I had not heard that Cumbie turned the job down. That is very interesting. Also not sure why WVU would want to replace Holgerson with two guys that are clones of him (though younger).
I was worried about the WVU possibility until you made that very good point. Thank you for making it quickly.
It takes a innovative coach to win there…. no instate talent or prestigious history.
It takes a innovative coach to win there…. no instate talent or prestigious history.
If Riley ended up at WV ( which I doubt ) maybe we should just take Holgerson. Im sure hes still a pretty good OC.
He would have to sit in box with Mike
lol.. now thats a scarey prospect.
Mike gets cranky, Dana beans him with beer bottle.
That’s a funny image right there …
He would have to sit in box with Mike
replied this as well. I would take Holgey over Cumbie
Man I don’t know about that. Holgerson has had some questionable play calling this year. Did you see the end of the KSU game?
If Riley ended up at WV ( which I doubt ) maybe we should just take Holgerson. Im sure hes still a pretty good OC.
I agree, Dana is a good coach and he has WVU doing well. They don’t get the amount of quality talent it takes to consistently win more than 8 games a year and compete in this conference. They are working towards that however, and have been putting talent in the NFL on both sides of the ball. If I were a mountaineer I’d be patient.
I agree, Dana is a good coach and he has WVU doing well. They don’t get the amount of quality talent it takes to consistently win more than 8 games a year and compete in this conference. They are working towards that however, and have been putting talent in the NFL on both sides of the ball. If I were a mountaineer I’d be patient.
The Texas job would be a big promotion for Cumbie but with Strong in such deep trouble a move to Texas could easily mean getting fired with Strong after the 2016 season and that would not be a good career move for Sonny.
The WVU situation with Holgorsen is just another example of listening too much to disgruntled fans with false high expectations. Some the OU administration is very familiar as they deal with its fickle fans constantly.
If WVU dumps Holgo.. They will be looking to replace him with a West Virginia guy..
Unfortunately for WVU, no amount of money could get the most famous coach out of WV to have to face all of the spread offenses of the Big 12.
Who fits the definition of a “West Virginia” guy?
Jimbo Fisher or Nick Saban…neither one are happening.
Neither one of them are alums and even if they were I don’t see wvu paying $6 million a year for their coach. The best thing for wvu is to go with another guy from the leach coaching tree. All the young guys run the ball considerably.
Nick Saban is from Fairmont, Wv…
So he probably knows that he doesn’t want to go back
In general, someone who spent multiple years there coaching or playing.. More specifically, Jeff Casteel. DC at Zona.. or even the current WVU DC, Tony Gibson..
Are either of them being mentioned for jobs anywhere?
No…
I take that back.. Dan Wolken reported this morning that multiple coaches are targeting Gibson for a DC position..
More fingers than teeth.
Rich Rod
Rich Rod
Skilled couch burner? An obscenity screaming drunk? LOL. I don’t know Jeremy, things could go bad going that way.
Dana’s already there…
Skilled couch burner? An obscenity screaming drunk? LOL. I don’t know Jeremy, things could go bad going that way.
Aaron Hansford?
I thought we somewhat cut ties with him or he was just interested in other schools?
Story on 247 about him visiting OU. Not sure when. It’s behind a pay wall.
Thanks for the update on askew. I saw the offer the other day and saw his offer list and was like “what are we thinking??” But if the kid is open to playing outside sec territory then it sounds like a good chance to take.
Very interesting note on the Cumbie situation K. I got a good chuckle out of Cumbie, at TCU, turning down Texsa. The times they are a changing
So Jack Jones will bring Mique and both will commit this weekend?
/s in case the dripping sarcasm was missed 🙂
/S ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Getting recruits starts with baby steps.
So Jack Jones will bring Mique and both will commit this weekend?
/s in case the dripping sarcasm was missed 🙂
I can’t imagine a top-line OC considering the position at Texas, due to the uncertainty of Strong’s job security. Short of a miraculous turnaround, I don’t see Strong being UT’s HC after next season. Why would someone leave their existing job only to be on the streets looking for a job after next season.
1.3 million per yr for three years was reported as the offer. That’s security 🙂
It would have to be guaranteed which is generally not the norm for assistants.
It would have to be guaranteed which is generally not the norm for assistants.
But if you come in there and turn it around…. cha-ching! Big money and HC job. Have to remember defense wasn’t great but also wasn’t the weakness. So with a good offense they could have a descent team
Haha, “descent”, how fitting a misspell!
It will be hard to turn it around in one season without a QB. I heard a UT recruiting guy on the radio last week and he said that their likely starter isn’t on campus yet meaning either Shane Beuchele is the anticipated started or a transfer who can play immediately.
I think they’re looking at some Juco guys too.
I think I will apply, does once having AD run for 432 yards and 8 TDs on 8 carries in Heisman mode a solid thing for my resume?
FCS east?
Texas(seriously)
I used to play 2003 or 2004 on JV and would pad stats but if I would go over 1000 yards in a game in any category, it would drop to 0 and every yard after 1000 would be a negative yard. So if I had 1200 yards rushing it would end up being -200
I usually played in AA mode so I could pad stats for recruiting.
I don’t remember the recruiting on the older versions. I know it got a lot harder by the time 2011 ncaa was released.
It’s actually easier than it used to be. Now each call you can set a time limit and each comment you want to discuss is 10 minutes. It used to be you’d try to talk about something and it could take an hour for that one thing. Drove me nuts.
I usually played in AA mode so I could pad stats for recruiting.
And you could only score 256 points. 🙂
I still play 2013 on the PS/3. But I play in Heisman mode with the AI settings to make it an actual hard game. I take a MAC team and barely have a winning record. Sometimes though it is like the RB is in slow motion. LOL
I do the same except on XBox. But I heard that a new NCAA Football will be coming back next year. With a generic team to start, but you can upload and download similar to what you could do with the 2013. I downloaded this years teams just to see how they played.
I used to bring Texas southern up to D1 and play with them. They had the worst team on the game back in 03/04. I would change the running back to a corner because he was the fastest guy and was still only like 85.
Man, that had to be hard to play with them. It is bad enough taking someone like W. Michigan or FIU and trying to win. Recruiting with them is excruciating. The first year I was lucky if I could get interest from 2* guys. LOL
If you haven’t, check out “Breaking Madden” over at SBNation; the stats he racks up are far beyond reasonable .
I think I will apply, does once having AD run for 432 yards and 8 TDs on 8 carries in Heisman mode a solid thing for my resume?
If money = security, then WVU would have been the better job. Given the climate at UT right now, there’s just too much risk for a coach with real options, IMO.
It may not be security but it’ll do until real security shows up!
It may not be security but it’ll do until real security shows up!
Yeah, but still, that’s a black mark IMO. For one, you need more than a year to establish an offensive philosophy and validate it. For two, rarely are OCs retained when the HCs are let go (purely anecdotal) It’s easier for someone like Cumbie to take a lower tier job like Tulane, Memphis…etc and route up to HC positions than go to UT for a year, get fired and have to re-establish even with 3MM (est, best case)
Lincoln Riley did not need a year at OU to establish an identity.
OU’s offense wasn’t a dumpster fire either when he came in. Ineffective at times, absolutely, but the situation at Texsa is much, much worse imo.
Oh I would agree with you about 10,000% on that one Drew!
He is an outlier and its a fallacy to assume that he’s precedent. Not every day you get a 32 year old whizz come in and win best assistant coach of the year award in a P5 blueblood. At UT the tools are just not there to launch a spread offense meaning at least 2 years *at best* to get the right players to even suit the system. Linc would not have achieved the air raid w/o a competent QB…and this is not s slight on any one.
Wonder how long it would have taken to establish an identity without Baker. I do not see anyone close to him at Texsa.
I’m available
1.3 million per yr for three years was reported as the offer. That’s security 🙂
I can’t imagine a top-line OC considering the position at Texas, due to the uncertainty of Strong’s job security. Short of a miraculous turnaround, I don’t see Strong being UT’s HC after next season. Why would someone leave their existing job only to be on the streets looking for a job after next season.
Reports Doug Meacham to be named Tulane HC.. If true, that made Cumbies decision easy..
& now it’s being reported this was a false report & Meacham isn’t even a candidate at Tulane..
Wow. That means he chose Tulane over North Texas. I don’t know about that one.
Just saw below. Never mind. lol
Why would OU go after a coordinator that has never called plays before. I doubt that would ever happen. We would go after Meachum before we went after Cumbie.
I think Cumbie is the QB coach of the two
So Norvell isn’t the answer in Texas?
Surprise Surprise
Norvell wasn’t supposed to be their play caller.
It was a facetious question.
No, that’s Joe Wickline’s job, lol
If we lose Riley and WVU lets Holgorsen go, Holgorsen’s the new playcaller in Norman. Then Stillwater burns itself down.
If we lose Riley and WVU lets Holgorsen go, Holgorsen’s the new playcaller in Norman. Then Stillwater burns itself down.
I don’t think Riley would care about the WVU job.
I think that Askew kid is amazing and I want him to be a Sooner for real like.
I think Meachum is going to Tulane, so Cumbie will get a shot calling plays and a raise and not need to move to UT in order to take the next step in his career.
I’d love to know why ANY kid would rather attend college in College Station over Norman…..for any reason? I just really don’t get the intrigue?
I hope Bob is working on learning the Riley offense and on his next targets because I can’t imagine keeping him for more than one more year.
A really hot co-ed telling you how great you are + a few 100$ handshakes is pretty enticing to 17 and 18 year olds…
A really hot co-ed telling you how great you are + a few 100$ handshakes is pretty enticing to 17 and 18 year olds…
I don’t think Riley would care about the WVU job.
I think that Askew kid is amazing and I want him to be a Sooner for real like.
I think Meachum is going to Tulane, so Cumbie will get a shot calling plays and a raise and not need to move to UT in order to take the next step in his career.
I’d love to know why ANY kid would rather attend college in College Station over Norman…..for any reason? I just really don’t get the intrigue?
I hope Bob is working on learning the Riley offense and on his next targets because I can’t imagine keeping him for more than one more year.
While cumby sounds like a nice fit. I would go hard after Holgerson if this was to occur. Jmo
No way. Holgerson’s personality doesn’t fit. Bad chemistry.
Sure he does. He is a good guy.
Sure he does. He is a good guy.
Him and stoops are good friends. Just FYI. Alot of respect between the two.
Holgerson and Bob Stoops are very good friends.
Agreed. Stoops is very good friends with Mangino and Spurrier, too, but that doesn’t mean he’ll ever hire them. Mangino has come and spent a lot of time at OU practices but Stoops will never hire him. I don’t know as much about Holgerson, but don’t think Stoops would hire him either. It’s really a moot (or is it “moo” [Friends] point).
No way. Holgerson’s personality doesn’t fit. Bad chemistry.
“pulling kids out of Long Beach Poly from USC (or other in-state schools) is tough”
“Jones has been telling people that Texas A&M is his leader”
I just don’t get it.
I. don’t. get. it.
“pulling kids out of Long Beach Poly from USC (or other in-state schools) is tough”
“Jones has been telling people that Texas A&M is his leader”
I just don’t get it.
I. don’t. get. it.
247 seems to think Jones is going to USC
The other Jones Velus looking like Tennessee is the team to meet
Don’t get that either. Tennessee……where WRs careers go to die.
Well since Robert Meachem yes
SEC SEC SEC
You still exist?
He’s USC. LB Poly kids don’t usually go far from home, but I’m sure he will enjoy the recruiting process.
He’ll stay in SoCal. I’m about 99.999999% sure he wont go to A & M.
Stupid. We score so much and get wr’s touches, if they will hold onto the ball. If Baylor gets top wr’s we ought to have no problem.
maybe J Jones just wants to play for Sumlin ?
And his sinking ship?
Jones or Cleveland … either would make me feel tons better about the 2016 class. I can’t see why we shouldn’t get a blue chip WR, given our offensive system and our success.
Top five sleeper stars who could break out in the College Football Playoff:
Oklahoma: Defensive end Charles Walker
The Sooners powered their way into the CFP behind the arm of Mayfield, with the help of the soft hands of Sterling Shepard and some strong running from Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon.
That being said, they have some impressive defensive players too, and if they are to make some noise in late December and early January, they’ll need some help from that side of the ball. One player who has really stood out this year: Walker.
Coming off a knee injury, and with questions about where he would fit in the defense, Walker has looked right at home as a defensive end in their 3-4 defense. Stout against the run, he has made 21 tackles resulting in a defensive stop. Coming on 191 snaps against the run, that gives him a run-stop percentage of 11.0 percent, the third-highest mark of all 3-4 defensive ends in the nation. He’s not just limited to being a run defender though, adding seven sacks and another 15 hurries as a pass-rusher. Against a tough Clemson offense, the Sooners will need both of those traits plenty.
-via ESPN ($)
To all real OU fans, Walker is a known commodity. Glad he’s starting to get some national attention though.
OU’s Dline is the best in the country , so many stars
OU’s Dline is the best in the country , so many stars
Man, if Jordan Philips had come back for his senior year this line would have been out of control.
And if DGB came back too
Pretty scary.
Damn right. No one ever wants a bacon shortage.
If pigs could fly there might be a bacon shortage.
We don’t talk like that…
You gotta mouse in your pocket?
I liked the guys we played with this year better than Phillips, because they were guys that wanted to be here and avenge a disappointing season last year.
If Philips developed a true motor you are right.
In my humble, uneducated, and strictly outside perspective, i believe Lincoln Riley is a wonderful coordinator but this interest in head coaching positions is very premature. Would he have been looked at these jobs if he would have stayed at ECU? No, and he’s only been at OU one year,definitely not enough time.I think people jump to early on the next hot thing. Let the young man Grow and be groomed for success. And just to be clear I am a big Riley fan.
“i believe Lincoln Riley is a wonderful coordinator but this interest in head coaching positions is very premature”
Bingo!
I’m right there with you on this. He hasn’t even been here a year and everybody is coming after him already. It’s waaaaaaay too soon for anybody to be pursuing him for a HC gig.
If people believe Riley is “special”, they are better off trying to get him on board early. The schools that simply retread old, already been unsuccessful coaches, and expect different results, usually don’t get different results.
Riley isn’t in his 4th year of coaching. He has been a coach of some sort for 13 years, if I remember correctly. Been an OC and called plays for about 5-6. He worked and played under Leach at TT. And under the guy that just got fired from ECU over there (forgetting his name). And for Bob now for a year.
I’m not saying he should be in a hurry to leave, and I’m not sure I’d take a job like ECU if offered, but there were people on here suggesting he should turn down the USC job if offered. That is crazy talk.
There are a lot of ways to get a top tier HC job. None is more “right” than any others. The all work out and fail equally as often. If Riley wants to stay and learn from Bob, great. If he wants to take a job like USC or WVU. Great. If he wants to take a job like ECU or North Texas or Tulane. Great. I’d support him in that, b/c it’s obviously something HE wants to do.
I don’t think enough schools, especially schools with little history, take enough chances. Rather than giving some retread another shot, go out and try to find the next big thing. Maybe that’s Riley.
Before this year he was getting zero HC offers. but putting up great production. The OU factor was 85% of the interest not to knock him like i said he is awesome. but the above is MY opinion not gospel.
He has BM and both running backs returning. He has a chance to “show off his talent” with those guys next year.
IF OU has a great 2016, he will get an offer good enough to leave.
Yes. And from his standpoint, you have to strike while the iron is hot. This business is so cyclical, and he is riding high right now. It never hurts to step into a job with the skill players he has. And that is not to say he isn’t a good coordinator, because he is. I am in the camp that thinks sticking around to “learn more from Bob” is a bit overvalued. To me, the most important thing that a young coach has to compensate for is his smaller network of coaches to draw from to build his staff. Aside from that, though, more power to him if he wants to take a head job. I wouldn’t blame him, and I wouldn’t blame them for taking the risk.
Just asking – LR is 32…surely he hasn’t been coaching since he was 19, has he?
He was an SA in 2003. So yeah, 12 years or so.
Daaaang. That young fella does have some experience under his belt.
Just asking – LR is 32…surely he hasn’t been coaching since he was 19, has he?
Agreed. Extremely premature.
Great updates today. I have red shades, but why would Cumbie turn down UT for us, especially when he himself rebuffed us in the past? Also, for the record, if we lose Riley, I want Holgorsen. One of the sharpest OCs out there IMHO.
Not sure Cumbie “rebuffed” us last year. Every coach in the world says they turned down the job when someone else gets hired for a job they wanted.
update added
Wouldn’t it be easier to list all the programs that DON’T want Lincoln Riley? Just sayin’…
You should edit this to Awesome update added. 🙂
Keep dodging those bullets
Yes! Thanks for the update Jordan!
Now we can go another day without a Riley rumor.
In other news…..Texsa didn’t want Cumbie anyway….lol ooookkkkkkk.
Wait…never made an offer, right? Because everyone with an offer from Texsa accepts.
Just like Mack’s recruiting days.
They tried to hire him as a Safety Coach.
https://twitter.com/Joe_MainMixon/status/674678521285894144
I love DeDe but yeah…….no way DeDe is BIG XII offensive newcomer of the year over Primetime. Nah!
Dede needs to become a primary next year.
Not sure I like this tweet since the award did go to a team mate, also I’m not sure they were going to give the award to someone with a history of violence with women, after giving it to Tyreek Hill last year. A lot of people have forgiven you, but politics go as such.
The kid will use the accolades given to members of his football family as motivation to be even better. I don’t take it as a bad thing whatsoever.
I don’t either. That one word could mean almost anything, but considering what a great team mate and play maker he has been, I view it in as a positive expression.
That’s quite a stretch for interpreting a one word tweet.
I’m absolutely sure it is about being left off everyone’s post season lists. I don’t jive with that, as a father of a future man I don’t let my son pout. Get off twitter and worry about getting on an honor roll.
Kick that big kitteh butt, Joe.
Context?
No postseason recognition. From as far as I can tell.
My guess would be that the team is focused, motivated.
May have been posted already, but Steven Parker got one of the top 10 most defining plays of the season…
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/14323710/the-10-plays-defined-2015-college-football-season
This is sort of capt obvious…..but I think part of it is….we had so many underclassmen step up big for us….and just not enough spots to go around the conference for them AND our upperclassmen. Our young guys time will come.
Gotta think that the leadership on this team is responsible for breaking the new kids in the right way- teaching them that it’s all about TEAM, all about accountability and doing your job. This should pay dividends for a few years.
Wow. I didn’t know that Emmanuel Ogbah had transferred to OU: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fancy-stats/wp/2015/12/09/the-seven-clear-cut-contenders-for-the-2016-college-football-playoff-right-now/
Shepard as a player that is possibly leaving lol he is a Senior and Dom Alexander isn’t likely to leave or shouldn’t Sanchez yes and Ogbah lol, did the guy that wrote this even watch OU? Suggesting Baker leaves a year early is stupid also since he is wanting that extra year that he lost back! What a joke this article was.
Funny!
We gotta get Riley paid, man. Everyone is trying to poach him these days.
He’ll get paid. I don’t think he would take any job but a P5 HC gig anyway. If that happened, nobody could blame him.
I heard he’ll go to Oregon.
Now that is just uncalled for.
LOL
Makes little sense to fire someone then hire another with the same pedigree …Cumbie to OU down the road would be hilarious when talking to texsa fans
Never underestimate the stupidity that can happen when big money donors try to run an athletic department. They may have known what they were doing to make their money but that doesn’t mean they do when it comes to hiring football coaches. After all, we actually hired John Blake as our football coach.
Texas boosters are about the same as Jerry Jones?
Let it be so and continue to be so.
texsa can’t trade H. Walker for a new team like Jerrah did.
That was at Switzer’s urging, too, though! He was adamant that Blake was the man for the job and almost single handedly got him hired. He had worked with Barry at the Cowboys, remember. So maybe almost everyone outside of the team isn’t a great judge of what coach the team needs!
I actually heard rumors that the reason Switzer got him hired at OU was he wanted him out of Dallas. But I’ve never heard that confirmed from a reliable source.
Not sure Switzer would do it like that. I think Barry saw himself, he saw someone who could relate to the players and coach em up. But what he failed to realize was that he knew a hell of a lot more than Blake and his old foe, scholarship limitations was stronger than ever.
I have always thought Blake was Barry’s revenge on OU. LOL
Well, in all fairness, John Blake looked good on paper. Long time successful coordinator, good recruiter, etc. We just had the misfortune of being the school to give him a shot and stepped on his…well you get the point.
Except John Blake has never been a coordinator. He was totally unqualified when we hired him the most he had ever been was a position coach. Since then no one has ever hired him as a coordinator.
He was all out of sorts. In the mid 90s and maybe even today you can win with a “figurehead” coach especially one who can be a great motivator, but that whole tenure sans recruiting was an embarrassment.
Yeah they wanted to make him a figurehead. They brought in two experienced coordinators to make up for his lack of experience. The problem was he wasn’t smart enough to let them run their areas. Offense in particular was a disaster. It was constantly changing.
I remember. I just think with a “figurehead” like a JoePa or lets be honest Les Miles, you have to reign them in consistently.
I know this has been said, but Sanchez as and AA and he wasn’t even our best CB arguably. I get Worely no issues there and I get both Thomas’s made the second team, but SP being left out is crazy Stern, Kindred, and Dillon IDK enough about tho. Mixon has made the most of his touches in fact with almost half the touches/rushing attempts he would be on pace to out rush Perine actually. 135 rushes and rec by Mixon for 1094 yards, 11 TDs. Perine 224 rushes and rec, for 1,375 yards and 16 TD’s. Impressive if you ask me and this isn’t a bash on Perine just saying Perine made it and Mixon should of as well.
Just not a spot for Mixon. He shared time and there were other good RBs across the conference who had a lot more volume. If there were a spot for and athlete then Mixon would walk away with it.
update added
*constantly hitting refresh and not seeing anything*
same…nothing yet
Me either.
I got nuthin.
Can anyone tell me how Steven Parker isn’t 1st or 2nd team all-Big 12?
No. It makes zero sense.
I think Riley is a great young coach with a bright future ahead of him if he is patient and plays his cards right. With that said, OU would be looking at 7-5 at best without Mayfield. Baker has saved Stoops this year and brought Riley to the big stage.
Or has Riley made a walk-on QB look like a Heisman contender? Ha!
I don’t get why this type of thinking still pops up. Mayfield is a QB, and a very good one. He has nothing to do with writing the playbook, setting up personnel groupings, conditioning, etc. Bob Stoops has lost multiple games in a season prior to 2014. It’s not like he had morphed OU into Idaho. The man has won the Big 12 in over 50% of his seasons as HC and taken OU to the NC game about 25% of his seasons. He might just know more about how to win games than his QB.
What do you think OU’s record would be this year with TK? What makes Mayfield so valuable is his ability to scramble, improvise and make good decisions as well as his leadership qualities. He has an effect on the whole team. These are things you can’t coach. Stoops is a terrific coach over his tenure at OU, but never had this type of quarterback. But I believe it would be another five loss season this year to Tennessee, Texas, Baylor, TCU and OSU and who knows about the bowl game. If that indeed did happen he would be in trouble. In addition your looking at TK at quarterback next year with no real other prospect.
Don’t agree at all. TK would be much improved in this new system, much like Boykin was from his SO to JR years. OU is better b/c they had everyone returning at DB, plus the backups, and two true FR from ’14 grew up (Parker, Jordan). They had everyone returning at LB, plus an all-big 12 LB who couldn’t even start when he came back better (Shannon), plus all the backups back and Bond. The DL was much better, plus the backups from the year before. The kicking game was better with Seibert. The RBs were back and improved, plus Mixon. The WRs were back and health (Shep) and starters couldn’t even get their starting position back (Quick). TK was back, in a better system, and still was 2nd string. The key backups were back on the OL but couldn’t win the starting position. All this, not just Mayfield, plus Riley’s new system is why this team is better, and we would have beaten, IMO, every team we’ve beat this year. It’s hard coming in as a backup QB when you haven’t practiced as starter all week and all year. Don’t make too much of the 2nd 1/2 of TCU; it would have been different w/a different game plan and if TK was the weekly starter.
Also, in the second half of the tcu game Perine went down on the second play and Mixon went down a few minutes later. Suddenly, the offenses playmakers were down and not quite the same down the stretch. If we hadn’t had Perine hobble for that TD late not sure what would have happened.
What a strange and ugly game.
Sorry, just don’t see that TK is anywhere near the QB that Mayfield is. TK seems to be a great team player, but other than the great game he had in the Sugar Bowl, he has been very average at best. If Riley and Stoops thought TK was close, he would of started based on his experience alone. Again, Mayfield makes plays with his ability to scramble and most of his big plays are ones that he has improvised. He’s pretty much had to behind a raw offensive line. I certainly support all the coaches and think they have done a great job, but you just can’t coach all the intangibles Mayfield brings. His own team members has said his enthusiasm and leadership is contagious and they play better because of him.
Again. Just look at Kevin Sumlin without Johnny Manziel. Riley looks great so far and I believe he will prove to be very good. But a great QB always makes the OC look good.
I totally disagree. Baker Mayfield is 10 times the player he was at TTU and even in the spring game. To pretend that Baker Mayfield somehow made LR famous is ridiculous. I suggest it’s the other way around. That Lincoln Riley has turned a benched FR at TTU into a AA in less than a year, is absolutely amazing.
It is somewhere in the middle with the two above posts. These two fed off of each other. We lucked into a very good QB coach and OC as well as a QB that was better than any of our wildest hopes.
It’s right in the middle. Riley was the right OC needed and baker was the right qb needed. I will actually give baker more credit for the type of season we’ve had because I think a lot of coordinators could have had success with baker. But I think Riley is a very good OC and will probably only get better. I also think he will be a good head coach one day because of how well he appears on the sidelines and with the media but you never really know
I think with Baker’s gunslinger mentality his interception rate would have been significantly higher as would our sacks (36 as it is) had Riley and especially Stoops not demanded that keeping possession of the ball is priority #1 if you want to play. Think of all the very good running backs that have come through OU and continually put the ball on ground and were soon riding the bench. Bob does not tolerate turnovers.
Had Mayfield thrown 15 interceptions instead of 5 we might still be shuffling QB’s trying to find one that would not throw the ball away. For certain his history indicated he might throw 15. Attribute the change primarily to Riley. He is the QB coach and he sets the standards.
Riley has done an excellent job of reining Baker back without suffocating Baker’s agressively attacking mentality. Not an easy task. It is also Riley who has developed a power running attack into his air raid offense such as to minimize pressure on the QB to allow Mayfield to flourish.
How did we luck into Riley. Bob did his research evaluated several candidates including Cumbie and chose who he thought was the best man for the job. He was right. That is not all luck.
Oh, I think Riley is a great OC. But do you believe that with TK, the Sooners would be where they are now and/or would Riley be getting all this national attention? Mayfield was considered by many as the best QB on this team last year, but couldn’t play. I agree with an article I read earlier that said the biggest adjustment made after the Texas game was putting Perine and Mixon back further in the backfield at their request. Along with the OL improving made OU a more balanced team.
One additional point. You simply can’t coach what Mayfield brings to this team. His ability to scramble and throw on the run in something OU has never really had. Also his leadership skills and ability to inspire the defense as well as the offense is amazing.
True. This has been a great season but if TCU would have won with TK blowing the lead, things would smell differently.
Jason White was really good at that too until he blew out both of his knees.
Now he just blows air through people’s homes
No way to tell.. The answer is quite possibly that we will never know. TK thrived off of a diffetent system than BM took on. The Bama game gives me faith that Knight had what it takes… Something Riley echoed post-TCU. I would have loved to see what 10 games did under Riley before dismissing him. Just my .02
No question Baker had a great game in the Sugar but for certain history has proven it was an anomaly. Baker does not see the field, he cannot pick up second and third receivers, he stares down where he is going to throwing the ball, he does not know where the defenders are and he chokes massively under pressure. Great kid but below average QB.
But some of his anomalies are things that are resolved with time. Remember that TK9 practices against the 2nd team, meaning his timing, routes and the like are not as developed. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a TK9 apologist- he has severely underwhelmed, compared to, say, Baylor’s 3rd string, but I am trying to be objective too.
^^ This. We crowed about Cumbie/ Meachum at TCU and Boykin but when it’s happens at OU the skeptics come out. If you do basic research, you’ll see that Riley turned Shane Carden at ECU into a star, and their WR also broke Broyle’ NCAA record. People seem to forget that Riley is responsible for QB development and falsely assume Baker magicslly transformed. Under his watch, Mayfield has morphed by being put in a position to succeed. Ask Heupel what he did with his guys in 4 years…
BM made plays that were not scripted or designed. He brought some magic to the field.
Not to mention we will never know how LR would have or could have tailored the offense around TK. Our offense would look completely different if TK had been our #1 qb from the start and for the record I think they knew real early on the BM was our guy.
I don’t think I agree with 7-5. Stoops is leaning on Mayfield and Baker is leaning on Shep and so on and so on. This team is full of competitors and winners and Baker is every bit worthy to be the QB of such a team. His arrival at OU was by chance and Bob should be thankful as I’m sure he is but Bob deserves a QB like #6. Stoops has always voted fairly in the polls, always been more than fair to his staff and players, and most importantly always WON. I’m not sure he needed saving.
I think Stoops is one of the best coaches over his tenure with the Sooners. But after a 8-5 season with blowouts to Baylor and Clemson and a terrible loss to OSU many believe he was in trouble. I think with TK we have another 5 losses to Tennessee, Texas, Baylor, TCU and OSU. Who knows about the bowls. If that indeed did happen, I think it would be very tough on Stoops and a new OC. I am just glad things lined up how it did. Stoops deserves the credit for the hirings and his coaching. Riley deserves credit too. Mayfield was the right man at QB at the right time and it inspired the whole team.
I don’t think I agree with 7-5. Stoops is leaning on Mayfield and Baker is leaning on Shep and so on and so on. This team is full of competitors and winners and Baker is every bit worthy to be the QB of such a team. His arrival at OU was by chance and Bob should be thankful as I’m sure he is but Bob deserves a QB like #6. Stoops has always voted fairly in the polls, always been more than fair to his staff and players, and most importantly always WON. I’m not sure he needed saving.
I agree to an extent. We don’t really know yet though. Not until Baker is gone and by then Riley might be also. Look at how Sumlin’s done without Johnny Football. A great QB makes an OC look good. No doubt about it.
No doubt BM was a huge factor in OU’s success. Perhaps LR was able to help bring out the best in him.
I agree and it will always be a difficult task for Riley as Mayfield’s style of play has him taking much more risk than is necessary. At Tech in continually threw the ball in too tight of coverages with often unwanted consequences. Riley has got that under control. But Baker’s refusal to give up on a play has been a big part of our being sacked four times as much this year as last year (36 vs 9) on only 10 more pass attempts.
Unfortunately that same go for broke style has resulted in a multitude of big plays that would not have happened if he had thrown the ball away. But at the same time Baker has repeated got the Sooners behind the chain because of failure to throw the ball away.
I suspect that is an ongoing process where Lincoln is trying to get Baker to thow it away more but not so much as to temper his ability to pull a rabbit out of a hat on occasion. I guess it is somewhat damned if do and damned if you don’t.
OU.
I’m not playing. I can talk about whatever I want. If Mayfield signs up on TFB (cool) and starts posting then we have issues.
update added
My word! Julious has some huge “stompers.”
update added
Acceptable updates, except for that last one I just noticed.
Long time reader, i don’t post, but you guys haven’t figured it out, the next great one
Bennie, Bud, Barry, Bob,not Lincoln but Baker
Pretty cool to have the B12 Coach of the Year and the B12 Assistant of the Year come visit you.
Not to mention the Broyles Award winner for the National Top Assistant Coach.
If your going to make a big deal outa breaking a Barry Sanders record, shouldn’t you have to do in the same amount of games.. Barry set it at 11 games and MaCaffery is at 13.
Exactly. People were flipping out the other day about it.
But that is one of the consequence of the changing times. All records have not been subject to the same number of games as college migrated from 10 game seasons, to 11 and to 12.
Also bowl yardage from Barry’s bowl game is excluded from his numbers as they are today. When the change was made to include bowl performances in season and career numbers the NCAA did not go back and add the bowl numbers to the old existing records. They are included only in the new records.
https://twitter.com/a_kendall11/status/674743885315313665
I guess we don’t have to worry about wvu.
https://twitter.com/alleerspg/status/674752808382545920
We just have to worry about every next coach vacancy because Riley is so focused on becoming a head coach right now.
I don’t know that that’s the case.
Over-react much?
I detected sarcasm . . .
Is this old https://youtu.be/9S3-ZZIQPXw
TFB posted it yesterday I think.
Thx
It’s so awesome it needs to be posted every day till we win the Natty on January 11th.
Dakota Austin deserves an award for coming in and playing lights out. He needs a Sixth man award equivalent.
Maybe the 12th Man award.
Yeah I was weary of anything 12th man. Haven’t had to go to College Station in years but I still have nightmares.
Friends dont let friends go to college station.
Will Johnson?
Both deserve more playing time for sure although Johnson has been getting plenty since the kstate game.
This Jackson winrow kid from Shawnee looks like a pretty decent receiver. Just got offered by vandy.
http://www.hudl.com/athlete/3418528/highlights/302328378/v2
No rating and no stars.
I find it interesting how many kids from smaller schools get so little recognition.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jackson-Winrow-186978
Seems like laziness from the recruiting agencies.
Many kids from small schools don’t have the resources to attend camps and get noticed.
Recruiting services aren’t proactive in recruiting, they are reactive.
To be fair to the recruiting services, there are roughly a million high school football players in the US. If a quarter graduate every year that is 250,000 seniors. If you only spent one hour evaluating each player that would require a staff of 125 people. It’s not surprising they miss some with numbers like that.
They don’t look for recruits, they rely on recruiters to produce the names.
Which is why regardless of whether they have to borrow, beg or steal the money to get to a camp if they are from a small school and really want to play college ball they need to do it. There are just too many folks out there to even start to evaluate them all.
Soooooooo is it so far-fetched to think that maybe Coach Riley likes his gig in Norman? I mean, if I’m going to leave a premier program, I’d want to go to another premier program as a HC. What if he likes doing what he’s doing right now?
I think that is the case with Riley. Reports are that he interviewed for the South Carolina job, but is it kinda like telephone? “Riley spoke to sc” “Riley met with sc AD” “Riley is a candidate for the sc job”
I just don’t understand why so many people are upset about it if he did interview with sc. Like everyone should question you if you want to interview for a better and higher paying job.
It is going to be VERY tough for him to land a HC gig at a premier program from here, with no HC experience. Not impossible. But difficult. I think I came up with just 2-3 names that have done it in the last couple of decades.
Was Bob Stoops one of the names..should have been
Yes. Stoops to OU. Muschamp to Florida. And Smart to Georgia (if you consider Georgia a premier program).
How about Switzer to OU…Blake…not sure on Gibbs…just looking at our program you can find a few…it does happen more than 2-3 times but I get what your saying
Switzer was obviously farther back than a few decades but I got carried away lol
Even o Lane Kiflin did it…Being a HC isn’t priority 1..was Stanford Harbaughs first gig..not sure
I believe Harbaugh was at the University of San Diego before Stanford.
Correct.
Nope. Lane Kiffin was a HC before he went to Tennessee. It was in the NFL, but he was a HC.
Thats right..forgot he went from coordinator in college to head coach in the NFL…non the less…still quite a feat and I wouldn’t consider him needing to take a smaller school job before becoming a head coach at a premier school
Yeah, he was the DC in Florida. When he came to OU, they were pretty lowly though. The 90’s were a train wreck.
You do realize he was DC on a champ team right
Kirk Ferentz never even served as a coordinator before he got the Iowa HC gig.
Iowa also isn’t a premier job.
I disagree.
I agree with the disagree.
Iowa is a solid program, but not premier.
Yeah, not sure how anybody could call it premier. Would love to hear EasTex explain that one.
If Iowa is premier, darn never everybody outside of the KU’s of the world is as well.
In Iowa, we are talking about a team that has been irrelevant for the last 50+ years. That is not premier.
Kirk Ferentz never even served as a coordinator before he got the Iowa HC gig.
You mean like the other 43% of coordinators that get gigs with no previous HC experience.
You keep saying that. Has NOTHING to do with this discussion. Nothing at all. Yes, coordinators with no HC experience get college HC jobs all the time. I agree. What they don’t get is HC jobs at premier schools. THAT is the discussion. Not sure why you can’t understand that. Did you attend OK State? Look for an explanation of you not getting a simple concept.
And you keep parsing words and moving the goalposts. You also have a serious superiority complex.
People can disagree with you and be right. I think you have a twisted view of what a premiere school HC job is. I am not alone.
If you think I went to OSU, you clearly must have attended UT.
My point has remained the same since I first made it. It’s very difficult, and unlikely that Riley will land a true “premier” HC job straight from the OC position. Why did I make that statement/point? Because people were suggesting the USC offer to Riley was an easy job to turn down. I’ve backed up my point with facts. The only facts you have presented have zero to do with the point I’m trying to make.
Riley will not leave OU for a HC job at a school like Bama, or Tenn, or Michigan, or Ohio State, or So Cal, or Texas, or ND, or whomever. He is going to end up somewhere like South Carolina, or North Texas, or East Carolina, or West Virginia. Nothing wrong with those jobs, especially the SC and WVU ones, but those are not premier jobs.
Will Muschamp to Florida comes to mind.
A potential problem could be in the extreme examples such as Tom Herman. OC at OSU, wins NC and then goes to Houston and absolutely kills it. Now he’s making $3 million/year, right? Young guys like Riley could see that and be open to other potential sleeping giant group of 5 schools instead of only looking at premier programs.
Josh McCuistion @JLMcCuistion 11h11 hours ago
#Sooners recent RB commit @Abdul_Adams2 has picked up a fourth star in the @Rivals rankings. https://oklahoma.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1834951 …
Fascinating.
OUDNA
Just as he commits to OU his ranking goes up. C-O-N-SPIRACY.
In regards to Lincoln Riley:
https://twitter.com/EricBaileyTW/status/674976705409392642