Making A Case For Why ‘DGB-To-OU’ Seems Like A Fairly Low Risk Proposition
Posted on: June 19, 2014
Image via CBS Sports
Based on a number of the comments/opinions I’ve read here on the site in the days since TFB broke the news on the ‘DGB-to-OU’ talk, I expect what I’m about to say to be fairly unpopular. But if all of the stars were to align and somehow Dorial Green-Beckham found his way to Norman, I see it was a pretty low risk proposition from an Oklahoma standpoint.
Before I state my case as to why, let me qualify a couple things. First, I understand the stance some have taken in wanting no part of this to happen. Clearly Green-Beckham has been given multiple chances and by all accounts appears to have wasted each of them. I get the argument of some who have said they do not want OU giving him yet another one. I’m not saying you’re wrong. Those of you in that camp have a point, and it’s a valid one. Second –as we’ve said on here countless times already — even if this does eventually happen, as things stand today that is very, very far from being the case. So this could just as easily all be for naught. I’m NOT saying that it’s going to happen, or even that it should happen. You might say I’m simply attempting to play the role of devil’s advocate and present the flip side of things.
So if you’re left wondering why Oklahoma would even entertain the idea in the first place, then allow me to try and present that side of the argument.
You don’t need me to tell you Green-Beckham has NFL first round talent. And we all know guys with that kind of talent tend to get an additional chance or two (or four) that others probably wouldn’t get. This Oklahoma offense is relatively unproven in terms of the guys who are expected to man the outside receiver spots this coming season, so there is obviously a ‘need’ there from OU’s standpoint. Which I realize is a point some fans might try and argue, but it’s an argument I’d have a hard time taking seriously.
It’s also important to remember just how heavily this same OU offensive coaching staff pursued Green-Beckham during his recruitment back in 2012 (and prior to), and the relationship they developed with not only DGB but his family as well. If Bob Stoops and co. are considering this, as they are believed to be, one can safely presume they have done their homework. As hard as it may be for some to believe, they (the OU staff) know more about this situation than any of us do. They probably even know more than what you or I have read online or in the paper…..gasp!
Now, does that excuse the trouble Green-Beckham has found himself in and on multiple occasions? I’d say it certainly does not, but that’s also not for me to decide. If you want to second guess Stoops, I suppose you have every right to do so. Lord knows I’ve done more than my fair share of exactly that on Saturdays during the fall. That said, rarely have I found myself second guessing Stoops when it comes to judging a kid’s character. Which I’m sure will only invite whatever trolls may be lurking about to rattle off any and every name of a kid who got in trouble while at OU. I suppose have at it and enjoy missing the point entirely.
And while some would say it’s one of convenience, there is an argument to be made that a change of scenery and getting him away from the possible element so close to home that may have played a role in his off-the-field issues would play in OU’s favor as well. I can’t definitively say that would be the case, but one would think it certainly couldn’t hurt.
My point being with all of this that they aren’t going to just blindly bring this kid, no matter how talented, into the program without doing a considerable amount of legwork on his transgressions over the last couple years AND without having a plan in place for managing things when/if he did make it to Norman.
I mean, seriously, what is the downside here? Let’s say somehow both sides were able to make this work. I feel pretty confident in saying Bob Stoops has done more than enough during his time here to earn the benefit of the doubt. You know there would be multiple conversations having taken place making it abundantly clear there would be a zero tolerance policy in place should even the most minor of issues develop. There would be no “See, coach, what had happened was….” If Stoops is going to go to bat for this kid with Joe C. and/or David Boren, which one would presume he may have to do, he’s not going to waste that juice he’s established and built up with his superiors if he’s not confident they can keep Green-Beckham on the straight and narrow.
If he gets in trouble again, then he’s gone. No questions asked, goodbye. The kid obviously has a troubled past, but here is Oklahoma giving him one last opportunity (at the college level anyway) to redeem himself. If he blows yet another chance, why wouldn’t it look worse on him than it would OU? Would they take some heat for taking the chance in the first place? Probably. But pending whatever this theoritical transgression would be, the focus would almost assuredly be on the ‘what a waste of talent’ narrative then it would on the University of Oklahoma. Of course that’s an assumption on my part, and it’s clearly up to Stoops and whoever else to determine if it’s even a risk worth taking to begin with.
This is all also based on the presumption that he could somehow manage to get the necessary NCAA waiver allowing him to play at the D-I level in 2014, which one could easily say is unlikely to happen. And let’s say that is the case. Well, you could still bring him in and he’d effectively redshirt but still practice and workout. Personally, I think he’d leave after one year regardless so this “theory” is a speculative one at the very best and probably doesn’t make a tone of sense. But, again, where is the risk? Worst case scenario he screws up again and you boot him. Best case scenario you’ve helped a kid get back on the right track and potentially help repair his NFL Draft stock. And it would say a hell of a lot about Bob Stoops and his staff’s character to do something like that without reaping any of the on-field rewards if Green-Beckham did have to sit the year. I can already feel a number of you rolling your eyes at this whole thing, and I’ll openly admit it is pretty far-fetched. But I’m just throwing everything out there in attempting to look at this from all the angles.
I am absolutely convinced there are any number of people in the OU administration very worried about how something like this would play out (and/or already is) from a PR perspective. And I can all but guarantee you those same people and the OU coaching staff are not happy this got out before they were ready for it to. And that’s if it had got out at all. If they’d brought in DGB and/or his family, decided there was just no way it could work out and each go their separate ways, then it’s likely nobody outside of the program would have ever been all the wiser. We certainly wouldn’t have all the talk that is currently taking place or stories like the one I’ve just written. It would have probably been nothing more than an OU urban legend, a story many told but few believed.
Which, after all that I’ve written, is not to say this is something I necessarily believe Oklahoma should do and/or pursue. I’m simply saying if they choose to do so, it sure looks like a low risk/high reward type of situation to me from the outside looking in.
Everybody runs out of chances at some point. Maybe that statement applies to Dorial Green-Beckham, or maybe it doesn’t. Only time will tell whether or not he gets another, potentially in Norman, or whether this was just one of the most epic of epic offseason goose chases.
104 Comments
As long as we aren’t cheating, I have no problem with making any move that will make the OU football team better.
Sorry, but if he really is guilty of domestic violence against a woman, I do not care to have him associated with OU in any manner.
If he was convicted of a domestic violence crime, then I agree with you whole heartedly.
Since DGB’s ex convinced the roommate not to press charges (and reportedly some coaches), that makes it okay? Would you feel the same–that it’s okay as long as there’s no conviction–if your daughter were the victim of his violence? Because she’s somebody’s daughter who bled for this guy, and I’ll bet that father would castrate DGB if he could.
You must be privy to some facts that I am not. If what you say is true, then I agree with you. I’ve witnessed enough he said/she said BS in all of my years to take allegedly with a grain of salt.
It’s public record and in the Columbia Police Dept’s report, which included text messages by the gf or ex-gf, whatever she is, where she begged the roommate not to press charges even though what he did “was clearly wrong”.
I understand what you are saying, but you would be greatly disappointed in some of your favorite OU players who hit on women, but were never prosecuted.
I’m sure there have been some. But ANY former player that fits that bill loses massive respect from me, no matter how great a player they were. Their athletic prowess does not justify their behavior. They are a disgrace and bring shame to some alums such as myself. No sacred cows for me. I’ve lived my whole life without beating a woman and it isn’t a difficult feat to accomplish.
Man, the sheer number of self righteous people I have run across regarding this topic is astounding. I actually spoke with a group of guys, one of which was a convicted armed robber, getting all righteous about how irredeemable this guy was.
We just take our OU football serious.
btw…I’m just partially joking. I think we all want just what is best for the team.
I’m with you, on both statements.
I don’t know whether he’s getting his act together or not. However, Stoops & co. have been really careful the last couple of years and have assembled a very cohesive team of good character guys. I just don’t know if it’s worth the risk of worth upsetting that applecart. Why put a potential bad apple in the barrel with the good ones.
Not sure it makes one self righteous to not want this guy associated with our team. As someone who hasn’t been arrested multiple times, has never hit a woman and who believes in 2 and even third chances, if not wanting a guy who is now looking for his 4th or 5th chance makes me self righteous in your book, I’m alright with that.
I find it kind of telling that you try to illustrate your point about people getting self righteous on this issue by pointing out that a convicted armed robber thinks it’s a bad idea to bring DGB here. I look at that as further proof that we should be leery of it… even guys who have had problems with the law look at this guy and say “he’s bad news.” You know, sometimes it takes one to know one.
All that being said, my biggest concern for bringing him in now is simply that it is too soon. He has been in multiple times, and it isn’t just one thing. He has been in trouble for drugs and now he’s just gotten in trouble for something totally different, which to me kind of indicates that he doesn’t have problems with one thing… he has problems with thinking the rules apply to him at all. And it’s not like he’s had time to show that he has really changed his thinking, that he has more than “jailhouse religion” now because he knows it’s the only way to get a second chance.
If like Dusty Dvoracek, he sat out a year, went to rehab, got counseling, proved for an extended period that he really had changed the way he thinks, not just that he’s capable of controlling the way he acts because he knows he’s being watched… then I wouldn’t have a problem at all with OU being the place to give him another opportunity to prove he’s turned things around. But, to me it’s way too soon to be entertaining giving him his 4th or 5th (or whichever one he’s on) chance now. If he isn’t willing to wait, doesn’t feel like he should have to wait… then that to me would suggest that he still thinks that everything should be on his terms and he should be able to do what he wants when he wants.
But, ultimately, it’s Boren and Castiglione’s decision to make IF BGBS is willing to consider it. And whatever they decide, I’ll live with and continue to support them and the program, even if I disagree with their decision.
Nah, it’s a 2nd chance. 10 years from now no one will care that the kid used a little pot. Although it is technically illegal(for now), he(nor anyone else) should be demonized for that.
You mean smoked a little and TRAFFICKED A LOT OF POT? Don’t forget he beat up his ex’s roommate too.
You have more to fear from your local liquor store than you do from any pot dealer. Quick—-when is the last time you heard about someone dying from marijuana poisoning?
When was the last time you heard of 5 dead in an alcohol deal gone wrong? About the only deaths you hear of tangentially related to an alcohol transaction is when some drug addict kills a liquor store clerk he’s robbing.
@sooner_4ever:disqus
I believe that was during prohibition when alcohol was illegal………….hint, hint, hint.
I bet it happened quite frequently back when alcohol was illegal. I agree with your take on most drug use and the problems they cause. Just not willing to lump cannabis into the same category as all those other drugs.
About a month ago…ever heard of wax? Oh, the only reason there are more alcohol deaths than weed is because alcohol is legal across the country. Make pot legal everywhere, it’ll take the lead.
There is not a single documented case of death from marijuana usage @disqus_GnJonT0jVg:disqus
I think you’ve seen Reefer Madness one too many times my friend.
A month ago from “wax”
Lol! Stay on topic @disqus_GnJonT0jVg:disqus
JB. I’m with you 100%. This kid has a history of trouble. It bothers me when people speak of “he smoked some weed, what’s the big deal”, “he pushed a woman, big deal”, etc… In my day, we didn’t coddle kids like this. If we did wrong, we got our butts kicked. But now, we have to give “kids” 3-10 chances. I see very little good coming from this. Some people, I’m not saying DGB is, are just bad to the bone.
Would “trafficking” be similar to what “bootlegging” was back in the ’30’s?
My post was just in regards to DGB’s use of cannabis. I obviously don’t condone any of that other activity, though I do believe people are capable of change, and he’s young enough to pull it off.
You’re perfectly illustrating my first point. Whether you think pot should be legal or not, it is STILL illegal now. He knew this, yet chose to use and sell it anyway. He got in trouble for it and went back and did it again. That shows that he doesn’t think he has to obey the law or the rules of the university he played for. However, if it had just been the pot, I might not see it as necessarily illustrating an “above the law” attitude… simply because there are lot of people, like yourself seemingly, that seem to think that because they don’t think pot should be illegal, it’s okay to break those laws, AND they obey all other laws.
But, when he moved on from breaking drug laws with impunity to breaking into a house, assaulting women and kidnapping girlfriends… to me that is more indicative of someone who is lawless, not someone who thinks that pot laws are unjust and thus can be ignored.
@sooner_4ever:disqus
And at one time in this state, interracial marriage was also illegal and many of the arguments made for keeping it that way are some of the same ones being used by the reefer madness crowd to keep marijuana illegal now.
It doesn’t matter. I personally don’t care if whether the state chooses to make it legal or illegal in the future. The fact remains it’s illegal now. It was illegal in Missouri when he was using and distributing. By your logic, if I decide that it should be legal for me to kill anyone who annoys me, I should just started blasting away. My defense then could be “I think it’s wrong that the government won’t let me kill who I want, so I shouldn’t have to follow the law.”
“By my logic”? Smh @sooner_4ever:disqus
Reductio ad absurdum at it’s finest………….
I love guys like you ND52. If you think a law is unjust, it’s okay to ignore it. If someone else points out that by that logic any law can be ignored, that’s taking it to the absurd. There are a lot of laws that I disagree with. For example, I would never use the services of a prostitute… but as a person who leans towards pro-freedom libertarianism, I don’t see why the government makes it illegal for a woman to receive money for sex, but that same woman could stand on that same street corner and pick up 50 guys a night to have sex with if it’s free. Just because one disagrees with a law does not exempt them from following that law.
Unless you’re talking civil disobedience for the purpose of drawing attention to the unjustness of said law. Otherwise, we could all just pick and choose which laws we think are just and should apply to us and should be able to violate the others at will.
argumentum ab auctoritate
Anymore logical fallacies up your sleeve @sooner_4ever:disqus?
I didn’t want to see this turn personal between posters, name calling/insulting. We are passionate on how we feel about it but let’s respectfully agree to disagree without the personal insults, please.
I’ve insulted no one on here @disqus_GnJonT0jVg:disqus
All I’ve done is point out the flaws in @sooner_4ever:disqus’s position.
Comparing interracial marriage to drug use is like comparing eating an apple to swallowing cyanide. They are unequal in every way.
@disqus_GnJonT0jVg:disqus
And that is why I did not do any such thing. I did not compare one activity to another—-I compared the laws which restricts/restricted them.
What do you mean by self-righteous? Look the kid hasn’t been able to abide by the established team rules at Mizzou. You really want a guy who beats up on girls on your team? He has had two chances and blew both off.
I don’t know why anyone would want a kid on your team that has proven that he can’t be counted on to abide by the rules. It isn’t being self-righteous not want a kid on your team that you don’t think can be counted on to do things right. Besides you aren’t doing him any good by allowing him on the team.
I’ve thought from his first offense that DGB would’ve been better off at OU. Mizzou hasn’t had the previous experience of dealing with a superstar recruit, which I believe led to him having a few more liberties than normal. The culture at OU is different in that even if he had committed a first offense, Stoops’ harsh penalties would’ve likely prevented future transgressions.
Easy to jump on the kid. What he did was wrong, period. However, he’s getting counseling so that is a first start in rebuilding his life. It’s what people do after they receive counseling and have that second chance is what matters.
DGB of all people knows how much he hurt his draft stock & $’s. That said, to rebuild his image and ability, Stoops & Co along with the team leadership might be his best option.
OU players always talk about family and how this bond lasts till their dying days. Maybe DGB will find this family and strive to become one of our proud family members.
Boom!!! And it’s not like this kid can’t help OU on the field and looks to be a early round NFL type player if he gets his head straight. Natty’s are hard to come by and OU sets up nicely for a run next year. My biggest concern # 1 is getting him cleared by The AA. #2 him toeing the line. Stoops will have zero tolerance with him. One strike and your out. More then the self righteousness of some on DBG is how fickle fans are toward Stoops and staff if and when they get beat. Some of the same posters that were calling for Stoops head after the Baylor game are taking the negative side of this issue.
Look at Dvoracek, do any of y’all listen to him? Look at his past and how he came back. Didn’t he make OU proud? Is he still one of us or is he cast away. Look at what he’s done with his life, we should all be proud of what led him to be who he is now. Stoops knows how to deal with kids, I will leave it to him.
And Dusty was on his final strike. Listen too him and even Jazz Reynolds talk about how much they owe Coach Stoops for giving them “one” more chance. Listening too Jazz talk is pretty impressive. And he’s not talking about saving his NFL chances but for saving his life on the path he was taking. He’s grateful for that degree.
Dvoracek made it back one year and didn’t get in trouble then, but he got arrested in Chicago & like before, he was drunk. Not a great example.
Quite frankly, I loved Dusty as a player but I think it was wrong to let him back. DGB has had multiple chances already. He’s an adult now, he needs to pay adult consequences.
I guess I’m clueless on what All DBG has been accused of and convicted of. Help me out here.
Just read all the stuff DBG allegedly done. He has been ticketed one time for $200 trespassing fine. The alleged offense he was in a car as a passenger with a pound of dope. No charges were filed. The third problem was he allegedly push a female down stairs. No charges were filed becAuse she didn’t press charges and wouldn’t contribute with prosecutors. All of these allegations and he has one conviction and a $200 ticket to show for it.
J.K. Let’s play with this for a minute since your a student of the game and I only played through HS. DGB gets his waiver, plays this year. Bell at TE, DGB WR, Shepherd slot/WR & Smallwood maybe. Throw in a little Quick in the action later and now you have Madden saying Boom again.
Boom that would drive all the DC’s in the Big XII to drinking hard whiskey.
There are more important things than being able to catch a football. I don’t know how many of you are alumni of the University of Oklahoma. That’s fine if you are not but happen to be a big fan. But as an alum, the integrity and reputation of my alma mater isn’t worth sacrificing for a football player. Could he help us win more games? Maybe. That doesn’t justify bringing in a person of low character.
One more thing…this isn’t a kid we’re talking about. This is an adult male who can’t discern right from wrong or worse, chooses to do wrong. If he doesn’t know right from wrong by now then that’s a serious problem. If he chooses to do wrong then he’s s lost cause.
People rarely change their character. It’s too much work for most.
“Then he’s a lost cause”. We agree too disagree then JB. IMO nobody is a lost cause no matter the age. That’s my faith speaking here.
No problem. We agree to disagree. I’m a cop. That’s my job experience speaking.
Coach Switzer always said to play the percentages. The percentages here are poor.
My point is this: I can list names of current and past OU Sooner players who have broke the law, have you excepted all those Sooners if they redeemed themselves?? Are you good with all the past players who have committed crimes and were given second changes and redeemed themselves??
How about a list of players that screwed up elsewhere, got kicked off the team, and came to OU for a second chance?
I don’t know of too many felons that were let back on…DD was probably the closest and I already said I didn’t agree with letting him back on. He’s one of my all time favorite players, but I think Stoops should have let him go permanently.
JB, yes I’m an alum and very proud of it. I grew up in Oklahoma too. Stoops has had several players mess up. He kept them and made solid citizens who love him and the program.
If you are perfect, I guess you can throw those stones. Would you give an alcoholic a second chance if he went through the program? Life is about second chances and new starts. Ask the one above.
What if DGB comes to OU and does well and then promotes OU. Telling everyone they took a chance on him and he strived. How would that make Stoops/Joe C/Boren look. I say pretty good.
Even if he doesn’t work out, he’s cut. If you want to call out OU because they are trying to help a young man, then we are on two different pages.
I couldn’t have said it better.
I think you’re taking this to a personal level. As a person, I hope DGB gets his act together and goes on to a great life. That has very little to do with how I feel about taking on someone else’s reject.
AMEN. I would consider it nothing short of miraculous and worth celebrating if he got his life on the right track. That said, I don’t want him at my alma mater.
I’d take that bet because the odds are strongly in my favor he’d do wrong again. Stoops has kept some trouble makers but booted a lot more. I never said I was perfect but unlike him in his 19-20 years, in 41 years I’ve never trafficked narcotics or beat a women. I would not invite a known drug-trafficker and woman beater into my house. But that’s just me. I’m funny that way.
I’m with you JB. I don’t care how gifted/talented a kid is, or how much he can help us win. I care about his character and how he represents the school.
I realize we’ve our share of troubled guys that turned it around, but those guys were Sooners before and we did all we could to help them become better people (some took to it, others didn’t). This isn’t one of those cases.
I heard another person make a comment that said it all for me. We have great team chemistry now, loaded with TEAM guys. Sure, players want to make plays, show what they can do, and make it to the NFL. But they are able to do that within a team concept. Look at Blake Bell. Is there a better for example of a TEAM guy than him? He was the Belldozer who essentially won the 2012 game vs osu on 4th down to send it to OT. He won the road game at ND. He saved the day with a masterful 4th qtr performance in Stoolwater. And he sat on the sidelines & cheered in the Sugar Bowl. He made the switch to TE for this year, but he wouldn’t need another snap to be recognized as an all-time Sooner great by many of us. He’s already there.
Now compare DGB to Bell. Need I say more?
With the Frank Shannon situation still up in the air.. I just don’t see this happening..
I am starting to wonder why that is taking so long and when we will hear the verdict.
Maybe it has been settled for weeks now and the public just hasn’t heard about it because they aren’t inside the program or school 🙂 might be a telling sign that he is practicing…
geez………let’s use your hypothetical with running it by joe c/boren……..all boren needs to see is a recount of why mizzou dismissed him and throw in the fact we have a player now in title IX ‘reeducation’……….that alone would nix this bad idea and rightfully so
……don’t like that, try this……let’s say he’s a current hs recruit with a record of doing the ‘mizzou stuff” that got him tossed……would stoops touch him….I think not
the ONLY way I could see being interested in him for ou would be if he spent a yr at some small school and turned into mr good citizen with not a whiff of problems……..if he then wanted to transfer to ou then one might take a look
did you bring this topic up to see if the responses would outnumber the redskin’s name thread..lol
all fair points
One thing I thought of that would really help this kid’s reputation would be if he isn’t granted this waiver. He transfers to OU anyway & sits out a year while keeping his nose clean. Instead of entering the draft, like most think he’ll do after next year, he comes back to play one more season of CFB before he goes pro. That would be a scenario that would show that he had matured & he’d also help his draft stock if he played well.
That’s my thought
The more time that passes between the incident(s) and the NFL Draft, the better it is for this guy’s draft stock.
First off, great read Jordan, glad to see your optimistic side. lol.
I think the DGB thing is a little blown out of proportion. I mean sure, he screwed up, I get it, yet he wasn’t convicted that I am aware of. OU was after him big time when he was in high school. And for anyone to say that he is a bad person or troubled kid when they have in no way been apart of the situation is laughable. “Well he shouldn’t have been in that situation..” Yeah sure, but if he knew it would have ended up that way I am guessing he would have made some different choices. My stance is that I don’t know what happened, but since he isn’t sitting in a jail cell right now, it couldn’t have been that serious or that trustworthy. It may very well have been something blown out of proportion and some girl calls the cops on him. Bam he is in the news about domestic abuse, and with the Jameis Winston thing still fresh in peoples minds, schools are hard pressed to over look that even if they know its BS. FSU is going to be answering questions about that for years.
If he comes to OU there is going to be discipline, and if he breaks that he will be off the team. He can help on the field and just maybe the coaches can help him off of it. I mean we all lose sight of the fact that even in college, coaches are still shaping the type of men these student athletes become. Worst case if he does end up at OU, he screws up and people say, he is a screw up, cause OU gave him another shot. The negativity will be on him not on the school.
“glad to see your optimistic side” – A rare appearance to be sure
Sasquatch film at 10 😉
Meh. If we weren’t just coming off a few seasons (not last year) of having some chemistry issues and such, I might not be so against it. But I like our current roster and the way things are going, so I’d pass.
I’m more excited about Sterling Shepard, Dallis Todd, Derrick Brooks, Michiah Quick and others.
Yessir and I want to see more of Derrick Woods, Duron Neal, K.J. Young and Austin Bennett. They have put in the work for PT.
The best thing might be to let DGB enroll with a zero tolerance policy and then hope his waiver gets denied. Even if he only stays one year and bolts to the NFL, you would still get his talent on the scout team each week. You cant tell me that making Zach Sanchez man up against DGB in practice every day wont make him a much better player. The same could be said for any of our young DB’s. The toughest matchup of the year would probably be the one in practice every day since I don’t think there are many WR’s that have DGB’s talent in the Big 12. DGB plus some of our other young talented WR’s, plus Baker Mayfield means our defense will be getting a real solid look every week. That has to be a good thing.
this is one of the better comments I have read. not only are strides made during the offseason, spring, and summer, but between each week. Sanchez only got better week after week and seeing a player like DGB everyday in practice and having to man him up every day is only going to make our secondary stronger and more prepared for any elite reciever we might face such as Goodley from Baylor.
I am kind of up in the air about this situation. If he learned from his errors and corrects the issues like Jaz Reynolds then I guess I am all for it, but like a lot a people, DGB would have a lot to prove.
I leave the decision up to Stoops. Ultimately, he will bear the responsibility of success/failure for this kid if he allows him into the program. And Stoops has a great record of enforcing his policies. Trust in Bob.
Do you have a link to the previous article?
I say let’s get him. We’d only have him for what? One season anyway?
Agree completely, great write-up.
I trust Ol Stoopsie. If he decides DGB is worth the risk I’m all for it. Maybe the kid straightens out with the right guidance.
Honestly, I hope he makes it to OU and works out his issues. I have nothing personal against the guy, and the idea of Knight having a 6’6″ WR with first round talent to chuck it to makes me very excited. (Even though the “Knight is like Manziel” comparisons would go overboard with everyone casting DGB as Evans)
Nice write-up and all solid points. I’m firmly in the ‘high risk-low reward’ camp BUT…obviously never met the kid or his family and don’t have any insight vs Bob Stoops and staff knowing DGB, his family and situation inside and out. Love your comments on ‘using his juice’ with Boren/Joe C. Don’t think any of us would be shocked to see Bob bring DGB in. It’s just the heat and scrutiny it would bring, which I see as more serious, the ‘win at any coast’ label, especially if the experiment failed.
DGB has learned only one lesson in life…be good at a sport, you can almost get away with murder and some fool will still take a chance on you. I just replied yesterday to a post about Devon Thomas and why we don’t take people like him or Prentiss Elliott. This guy is the same kind of person WE DON’T NEED AT OU. It doesn’t matter if the coaches know more about the situation than we do. What we do know is more than enough to say, “Thanks, but no thanks. Pass.”
There would be no upside to this. If he manages to stay out of trouble, we still look bad for taking a player who got booted from an SEC school! The appearance of sacrificing integrity is more than enough reason to shy away. But the most likely scenario is that he’ll get in trouble again causing huge embarrassment to the program. Leave the armed robbers/attempted murderers & drug dealers to oSu. We don’t need it. 25 years ago today Barry Switzer resigned due to controversy over players he brought in. We must learn from our mistakes.
Stoops kicked off a bunch of players 2 years ago for being bad chemistry guys–the right move. But now, if Bob is even considering this move of bringing in a known, repeat felon…my stomach churns and blood boils.
I hope this is all rumor. I do not ever want to see this guy on the field wearing crimson & cream. That would be a disgrace.
DGB is the reason I started reading anything about recruiting. I really hated to see him stay in MO and not getting away from the crowd that wants nothing more than to watch you fail. At OU the kid would have a position coach of the highest of character in coach Norvell. I truly think getting this kid in the company of men of the highest of character would do nothing but make him wake up and produce on the field and in live.
If he can prove that he won’t be a liability then by all means the coaches should give him a second chance. For all we know he got in with the wrong crowd and needs a change of scenery.
I trust Bob Stoops will do what he deems best for the program. If that means bringing DGB to Norman, so be it, and I’ll support the young man.
I say that, to say this:
My personal feeling is that he should not be brought to OU. I get that he’s young and we all made mistakes, although his were more grievous than most, I still understand that young people make stupid decisions. I also believe in giving people second chances. What I don’t believe is that OU, under any circumstance, should be a program where players end up for a second chance. DGB had a chance to be Sooner, he chose a different direction. I respect that. OU shouldn’t be in the market for kids that go a different direction, screw up, and look to them for help.
I really like the players OU already has.
Based on the behavior he has exhibited to this point, I see them as red flags. It is possible he can change his ways, he is still young, but based on years of experience in dealing with people that is seldom the case.
My view would be assuaged if the Coaches want to bring him in and would feel even better about that scenario if the players were involved in the decision making process.
It’s going to be really hard for me to accept DGB as a Sooner (if it were to happen), but I also know enough to know I don’t know enough about him or his family. Stoops knows far more than we do, so If he does become a Sooner, I’ll take some solace in the fact that Stoops is okay with it, and really, that’s what matters.
Yessir, same for me. If he were to become a Sooner, it would take a lot for me to embrace him as I have so many over the years.
I have no ill will for the young man, but I am mostly concerned with the well being of the team and its reputation.
Maybe many others here remember the sad saga of Lawrence Phillips when he was at Nebraska and after.
This is all rumor at this point…but I have a way where I could make this palatable to all if DGB came to OU. Here would be my conditions:
-Pay his own way to OU at out-of-state rates for the duration
-Has to live in regular dorms not athletic dorms
-Weekly drug tests on random days
-Wear an ankle monitor & have a strict 10pm curfew EVERY night of the week
-Perform 15-20 hrs community service each week
-Attend Church every Sunday (or Temple every Saturday)
-Take 18 hours/semester and go full time in the summer
-Sit out football, including practice, until his bachelor’s degree. Once that is complete, THEN he can walk on to the football team as he starts the master’s program
-ZERO tolerance policy for the duration
If he can abide by those terms & stick it out, he’ll build some character, he’ll have earned his chance and everything else he accomplishes, and he’ll bring honor to himself and the University. The disciplined existence will keep him too busy to get into trouble. He’ll have a degree and not have to rely on football for the rest of his life. And maybe, just maybe, he won’t find himself in prison.
Dang, son. You’re tough.
I was thinking a team captain vote after polling the players and if they and the coaches agreed to let him in, he had to wear a choke chain and a hackamore bridle for the duration with a RufNeck holding the leash and reins.
Your ideas would be included as well. 🙂
This group of OU players seem to have good chemistry. Why bring someone in that very well could change that, because he seems not to respect rules.
I say throw him in the mix and see what happens. He can only make our defense better.
I have heard a lot from inside and outside the program about the character of the players on this year’s team. I find it hard to believe one player can turn them to the “dark side”. I have a feeling it might be the other way around. I keep following the stories online and in the media about the mission trips, community involvement, FCA contributions, etc..and think that this is something that someone like DGB cant help but be impacted by both on and off the field. I am not sure if the culture we are building started with Josh, Jason, or Sam and continued with Landry but it definitely was pushed to the forefront with Landry but it has continued with Blake and Trevor along with other players on this years roster as well as previous years. It is something I am VERY proud of. I have many friends that are fans from other schools (SEC mainly) that have commented on the way our program is being run in the last few years and the work our kids do off the field. I am sure that our coaches are making this a recruiting priority during the process whether it be selling the moms on this topic or telling the kids that we are going after that they will have to live up to the”Sooner Standard” but either way I think it is something that we as fans have to be proud of. I realize that we have had a few issues in the past with players but I guarantee they are nothing like what all of us are seeing out of other programs. Bob has always been quick to get rid of someone who he feels is “unreachable”. He has also given second chances to players he has deemed reachable and it has paid off. He makes them work for it though… I WILL GIVE YOU ONE REALLY BIG EXAMPLE>>>>> RYAN BROYLES>>>>… This guy has turned into one the best representatives we could have as a fan of this University. He has taken that second chance and made a HUGE impact on not only me but others who follow him off the football field. We are starting to build a culture here at OU and the biggest part is our players are buying in. I think DGB might see this. Also not only are our coaches recruiting the right players but our current players are recruiting them as well. I like what is going on in this program and I hope this strong, positive leadership continues.
Sorry that was really long
Letting a friend give you a free tank of gas isn’t nearly on the level of drug trafficking or domestic violence. Comparing DGB to Broyles is apples to oranges.
that was no “free” tank of gas. Look a little deeper.
Again, still not on the level of narcotics trafficking or domestic violence
OU should be recruiting DGB (if it is allowed) and certainly let him on the team. If he screws up again, he will be booted like all the other screw ups in the past. Simple, no need to sweat it.
Appreciate all the feedback on the post!