Open Post | Wednesday, December 14th
Posted on: December 14, 2022
A Pirates Life For Me | My Friend Mike Leach
– James Hale – Posted on: December 14, 2022
I lost one of my good friends today. Sometimes I hate getting old. I am 65, and Mike Leach died today at the age of 61 after suffering a major heart attack on Sunday.
I don’t know if I am one of Mike’s best friends, but I was a good enough friend that we would talk five to six times a year. He would come on my radio show at least one time a year. He kept up with what was happening at Oklahoma, and if something happened to me, he would call me to see how I was doing.
When I was let go at KREF, he called a few days later and wanted to know how they let a guy that is so good at covering OU (his words and not mine) when they want to be an OU station. He told me he would do anything to help me and call and let him know where I would land next.
Soon after that call, I got on at CBS Radio 105.3 HD1 and called him to tell him I had landed on another great station. He was very happy for me and soon came on my show and was vintage Mike Leach. We talked about his time at OU, pirates, Geronimo, and his current team at Mississippi State. The segment was supposed to be 10 to 15 minutes, but it was about 40, and he was late because he was on the phone with his pharmacist and the Doc wanted to ask a couple more questions.
I have a couple of stories about my relationship with Mike or my opportunity to cover Mike during my career.
Mike was hired as Bob Stoops first offensive coordinator in 1999. Coach Stoops has told the story many times when he was at Florida as the DC that the team that gave him and his defense the most trouble was Kentucky. Hal Mumme coached the Wildcats, the inventor of the Air Raid offense, and his right-hand man was Mike Leach.
One of Coach Stoops first calls when he was first hired was to Coach Mumme. Coach Stoops knew that Coach Mumme would not come to OU as the OC because he was the head coach at Kentucky. So, Coach Stoops inquired about Coach Leach, and Coach Mumme told the new Sooner coach that he would be a great hire to run his offense.
Coach Stoops asked Coach Mumme if Coach Leach could call plays because Coach Mumme was calling them at Kentucky. Coach Mumme told him that Coach Leach would be great play caller. Then Coach Stoops asked Coach Mumme if he could command an offense and motivate offensive players, and Coach Mumme assured him that he would be a great leader of the offense.
Based on that recommendation by Mumme, Coach Leach was hired sight unseen by Coach Stoops. Coach Stoops admits he didn’t know much about him, but he knew that he wanted that offense to be the Sooners offense, and Coach Leach would be the coach to bring the offense to Norman.
Obviously, today was a tough one for Coach Stoops.
Other coaches that worked with him also pointed out how much they cared about him.
First Order of Business
The first order from Coach Stoops to Coach Leach was for him to go get a quarterback because OU didn’t have a scholarship quarterback on the roster. I played a hunch and went over to the coach’s trailer, and Coach Stoops was there, and the first coach on campus was Bobby Jack Wright. I knew Coach Wright from his days as a Texas assistant coach because he would come on my radio show every year before the OU vs. Texas game.
The recruiting files has been erased when the new staff arrived at the trailer, and they were working from scratch. Sure, coaches had names they could call because they were recruiting on other teams, but OU needed a list of who the Sooners were already recruiting. I was covering recruiting hot and heavy at the time, and when I walked into the trailer, I started talking to Coach Stoops and Coach Wright and told them that I had a list of recruits that OU had been recruiting.
I just met Coach Stoops in person for the first time, and while I had a relationship with Coach Wright, we had never seen each other before. I told him he looked a lot different in Crimson because he had an OU polo on, and not the Texas polo’s that I had always seen in the Texas press guide.
Before I left that day, I asked Coach Stoops if he had found a quarterback because I had a list with a bunch of players on it, but there was not a quarterback on it. Coach Stoops did me a solid and told me that Coach Leach was working to find a quarterback, and he gave me Coach Leach’s number and told me to give him a call.
That night I called Coach Leach, and when he answered, I introduced myself and told him that I had gone to the coaching trailer and met Coach Stoops and Coach Wright, and Coach Stoops told me to give him a call. He said Coach Stoops had already called him, and I asked him if he needed some help finding a quarterback.
I told him about two or three prep quarterbacks that were not committed at the time, and he then told me he was at Snow Junior College seeing this left-handed quarterback Josh Heupel. I had never heard of Snow Junior College or Josh Heupel, and he even told me he wasn’t sure how good he was, but he was a coach’s kid, and he would find out a whole lot more about him.
Off that visit, Coach Leach invited Heupel and his family to Norman for an official visit. OU had this big weekend planned, rolling out the red carpet for a quarterback that nobody knew much about but the only quarterback that OU was recruiting. Heupel wanted nothing of it, and instead of touring the campus and hanging out at restaurants, he and Coach Leach sat in his office and watched film.
Before Heupel leaves the campus, he and his family commit to OU, and Heupel would never have left Norman, but he had to go back and get his stuff and was back for good in Norman two days later.
Coach Stoops convinced Jason White not to go to Miami and to go to OU instead. The opportunity to play in an Air Raid offense convinced White that was a good thing. In 1999, OU had two scholarships on campus in Heupel and White, and White would redshirt in 1999, and Heupel’s backup in 2020.
I was getting to know the new staff, and I had called Coach Leach to ask him if I could come over to the office. The coaches had moved from the trailers into the football stadium and built offices for the coaches. I wanted to record something with him that I could run on my radio show, and he said sure and told me to come on over.
When I reached his office, Heupel was in his office. They both were barefoot, and both had their feet up on the desk with several Subway Sandwiches sitting on the desk with several bags of potato chips. When I got there, Coach Leach was watching a video of a quarterback he was interested in named Nate Hybl. Heupel was also watching video of him, and Coach Leach told me that Hybl was transferring from Georgia and going to come to OU.
I was struck by the casualness of Coach Leach and his new quarterback as they were watching this film of maybe the next starting quarterback after Heupel and Coach Leach was asking Heupel a ton of questions about what he was seeing. They offered me a sandwich and chips, and Coach Leach gave me money to go get some soft drinks from the vending machine. He told me to get several and I asked what kind he wanted and he said to surprise him.
That was a lot of pressure on a reporter trying to make a first impression. So I get the diehards that all of you know Coke, Dr. Pepper, and Sprite, and then I went wild and got an Orange Crush and a Cherry Soda. Coach Leach wanted the Orange and Cherry Soda and said I was his soft drink guy from that point on.
I was meeting Heupel for the first time and immediately knew that he was a football savant like Coach Leach. Coach Leach then put on some game film with Heupel at Snow Junior College and I could tell he could play. Heupel would become Coach Leach’s coach on the field and would accelerate OU’s transition to the Air Raid but two years ahead of schedule with his knowledge of the passing game.
Swing Your Sword
The great thing about the first Bob Stoops staff is that they were always out and about around town, and the most popular place for them was Othello’s on Campus Corner in Norman. As a reporter covering a college team living in town, I was always out and about at the best spots, and Othello’s was always a top choice. It was nothing for a couple of coaches to be there after games and throughout the week. Thursday was always a popular night, and usually, a few coaches would be there with their families. That didn’t stop them from telling me to pull up a chair, and the information and stories would be flying.
Those were great days as the coaches were young and footloose and free, and if they trusted you, they would talk to you just like you were one of them. Not like today, where coaches are all paranoid and never seem to come out of their houses.
One Thursday night, Coach Leach sits at the bar drinking a glass of wine. He chats up any student or fan that wants to come and say hi, and he is having a good time. He sees me and tells me to take a seat beside him.
I watched a few people come up to Coach Leach and tell him about a play they thought would be good for him. He would always tell them to draw up the play so he could figure out how to block for it. Sometimes that would spook the fan, and sometimes it wouldn’t, but it was always fun to watch fans try to draw up plays with Coach Leach asking them how he would block for this play against a three, four, or five-man front.
He would tell them if I can’t block for it, I can’t run it, and usually, the fans would walk away laughing because the Sooner offensive coordinator had given them the time of day.
A pretty blond sorority girl came up to Coach Leach and was one of the young ladies in college that could always grab the attention of any man, no matter the age of the men. So, she had Coach Leach’s and my attention, and she told the coach that she had a play that she thought he should run. She said it was somewhat of a trick play with Heupel at quarterback and Trent Smith at tight end that she thought there was no way a defensive could cover it. Coach Leach told her to draw it up.
The young woman then told us her dad was a high school football coach, and she had seen a million plays drawn up. Coach Leach asked about what his high school was, and when he heard where it was, he knew it was legit. She proceeded to draw up the play even with a defense on the other side. Coach Leach and her talked for about 30 minutes or more, and when she walked off, he told her he would probably run it Saturday.
I will be damned if Coach Leach did not put that play in his playbook, as that play became the ‘Ninja’ at OU. After the game, I remember somehow getting alone with Coach Leach and asking him if the formation was the play that the sorority girl had drawn for him, and he said that was the inspiration for him to put it in at OU. He told me that the formation had been used at other schools but that the young lady was so into drawing it up he tried to put it in just like she drew it up.
Pirates Take No Prisoners
In 2007, OU went to Lubbock, Texas, with a National Title opportunity still in their sights. It was a tough game that went back and forth, and freshman quarterback Sam Bradford was knocked out of the game on the Sooners second possession with the Sooners up 7-3.
With Bradford out of the game OU put in little-used Joey Halzle, and it took a while for the Sooner offense to get it together. Tech reeled off 24 straight points against the Sooners, and by the time the Sooners got it together with 14 second-half points, it was too late as the Red Raiders beat the Sooners 34-27.
At that time, when I traveled, it was usually with Al Eschbach of WWLS. We didn’t work together, but on the road, we would also find a great place to eat on Friday, and at times a Bobby Jack Wright would be with us or another OU coach. The real mystery was always where we would go after the game to find some local place that could make a good pizza.
After this game, Al and I both had long post-games for our respective radio stations, and around midnight we got in my car, and with a couple of recommendations, we went looking for a good pizza and beer. Al got a wild idea and said I wonder where Mike (Leach) is tonight. I said let’s find out and call him, and I called him up, and low and behold, Coach Leach answered the phone.
He said he couldn’t believe that we called and we asked where he was, and he told us and invited us to join his victory party. When we got to this restaurant, it was obvious they were staying open just for Coach Leach, and the victory party consisted of his wife, Sharon, and a few close friends. It was a group of ten, and Al and I and Coach Leach would not want it any other way.
He introduced Al and me to his friends and said we were great friends of his in the media back in Oklahoma. We drank wine, and Al and I got our pizza, and it was delicious, and we were there until 3:00 am. Coach Leach and all of us laughed, and he told stories all night. He talked about the game and was so happy for his players and coaches that they had beaten this good of an OU team.
He said that Coach Stoops was very nice to him after the game, and he couldn’t say enough about the coach that gave him a break by hiring him to be his first OC. Finally, Coach Leach was ready to go home, and he told both of us to call him, and that he would come on our shows, and that the fact we showed up made his night.
That is how Coach Leach always made everyone feel like they were the life of the party, while he was the life of the party all the time.
A Pirates Life Indeed
I called Coach Leach at the start of the ’22 college football season and was shocked he answered the phone. He asked how I was doing and wanted to know how things were going with Coach Venables. Before I could answer, he talked about how great he thought Coach Venables would be in his new role as OU Head Coach.
He said he liked Dillon Gabriel and thought Jeff Lebby had some great concepts and was a good offensive coordinator. He was high on the staff that Coach Venables put together at OU.
We talked about coming back on my radio show. To be honest, we decided to do it after the season, and now that day will never come.
I have cried enough tears today, and he’s probably wondering what’s all the fuss. Coach Leach was a Division-1 football coach and didn’t feel he was above anyone else doing any other job. He loved walking or riding a bike to work, and it was nothing for him to stop and talk to anybody that was along his route.
He appreciated people that were in the work force because he looked at himself as a guy that was in the workforce. Football was his job, just like the person that makes his coffee at Starbucks that was his/her job.
He was unique as a coach because he didn’t always talk football. So many coaches come from the head coach cookie-cutter factory, but not Coach Leach, who was so eccentric there is not really another coach like him.
Like selection team captains.
Or giving a pep talk to the Mississippi State band
Early in 1999, Coach Leach would go on Bob Stoops coaches show and talk Sooner offense.
Or whether there is a Bigfoot or Aliens?
I truly loved the man and will miss him like so many others who played tribute to him today. Coach Leach was a one-of-a-kind coach, and I am not sure there will be another ever like him again.
OU Players and NIL Offers | Sourced
– Super K – Posted on: December 12, 2022
***Around the country, players are receiving NIL deals from collectives. It’s not only attractive in terms of landing high school prospects and transfers but it also seems to be factor in players staying an extra year.
***As I’ve mentioned, the Sooners have been behind in the NIL collective world. However, I also noted a while back that I expected the newest collective (Crimson and Cream Collective) to help in that regard.
***It sounds like it is. I spoke with a source who tells me that the collective began making some sizable offers to players currently on campus.
***For a player who made be thinking about trying their luck as a late draft pick or undrafted free agent, the prospect of signing a solid deal with a collective can be enough of reason for them to stay.
***As far as I can tell, this is a consideration for some OU players and may end up helping the Sooners keep some guys who are considering leaving or even originally had the intention to leave.
***I still think it’s unlikely that either of the tackles stay but if the Sooners can hold on to Mims and perhaps even Jalen Redmond, I think it would hugely helpful.
***I believe the contract offers from the collective began going out about a week or so ago. We shall see what it leads to but this is a good step for OU.
Potential Tight End Portal Target
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 11, 2022
The Sooners already picked up a tight end commit in the transfer portal when Austin Stogner committed.
As I have mentioned, I did not believe they were necessarily done there and an intriguing name hit the portal tonight in Seydou Traore (6’4 210) who has been at Arkansas State.
Traore is an international guy that works with Brandon Colliers group. Collier takes international kikds around to different colleges and he has stopped in Norman multiple times in the past. We are checking to see if Traore was on one of those trips.
Traore had 50 catches for 655 yards in ’22 and he added 4 touchdowns.
What I do know is that Traore has interest in OU as I hit him up as soon as he announced he entered the portal and he confirmed that OU is among the schools he will be considering.
Just a name to keep an eye on as a bunch of the Sooners staff is now following him as well and it appears they will make a push for him.
Sooners offer ’23 WR Chance Fitzgerald
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 12, 2022
The Sooners have extended an offer to ’23 wide receiver Chane Fitzgerald, out of Nolensville, TN.
His name may sound familiar to you because back on November 9th, I brought him up as a name to know HERE.
I found Chance in part because he is Taylor Wein’s teammate…
‘While I was communicating with Taylor Wein, I noticed a teammate of his who plays wide receiver liked a tweet I put out so curiosity poked me and I went and checked out his film.
The recruit’s name is Chance Fitzgerald. He is a 6’3 180 lb 2023 wide receiver at the same school that Wein attends (Nolensville, TN).
I watched his film on HUDL and even before looking for his recruiting profile and I sent it to Darius and K to get their thoughts because this kid appears to be exactly what Lebby is looking for. He’s tall, has good speed, and shows good athleticism and hands.
I followed Chance and he quickly followed me back so I hit him up and told him I liked his film and I mentioned that I thought he fit exactly what OU is looking for in their receivers and I wondered if OU had been in contact since they were aware of his teammate.
He got back to me and informed me that he actually talks to coach Lebby and coach Washington ‘often’.’
I like this offer a lot, I just wish OU had extended it a bit earlier.
Something could come together here for a visit, and I will be checking with Chance, but I am kind of scratching my head as to why he was not offered immediately after Anthony Evans decommitted.
Will stick a pin in this and update if anything arises in regard to a visit.
Trace Ford Plans on Visiting | Quick Hitter
– Charlie S – Posted on: December 12, 2022
Just touched base with Oklahoma State transfer Defensive End Trace Ford and he let me know that the Sooners will be getting a visit from him.
Trace responded that he will be in Norman ‘this week’ when I asked him if he was planning on making it in this weekend, so the Sooners appear set to host him in a one on one setting.
Ford was down at Auburn this past weekend.
Sooners Defensive Line Efforts in the Portal
– Super K – Posted on: December 13, 2022
So let’s do a summary of where things are with OU’s defensive line portal adventures.
***It’s worth noting that what OU will need in the portal is probably going to depend a lot on whether Jalen Redmond comes back. That would be ideal. We saw how Neville Gallimore (Redmond is a similar type of twitchy DL) didn’t really break out until his last year at OU. That’s how it is for a lot of big men. So, this could be a chance for Redmond to not only get some NIL money but to become the draft pick that his athleticism would indicate he’s at least capable of.
***It will also depend on whether the Sooners can pull off a win in the DJ Hicks department.
***The Sooners did add Notre Dame DL transfer, Jacob Lacey. Lacey is a small twitchy guy whose skill set is probably going to be much better suited in the Big 12 than it was up north.
***The three additional defensive line transfer targets for the Sooners have been Louisville transfer, Caleb Banks. Big body kid with very little playing experience. This past weekend, he committed to Florida.
***The Sooners were also pursuing another big body DL in Miami’s Darrell Jackson who has now committed to Florida State.
***The uncommmitted guy that they are currently working on is another big bodied DL in Western Michigan DL, Braden Fiske. Fiske has some nice production with 32 solo tackles and 6 sacks. Fiske has one year left and is basically looking to put himself in draft position. I’m told he’s looking for a spot where he has the best chance to come in and immediately start.
***Most consider Notre Dame the favorite here but I know OU has been working on getting him down on a visit. I’m going to see if we can find out if that is going to materialize.
***Let’s just do a quick recap here of what the interior DL could look like.
Guys you’d expect to play: Isaiah Coe, Kelvin Gilliam, Jacob Lacey, Gracen Halton, and Jordan Kelley. If you can keep Redmond that gives you a solid 3-deep with some good experience and plenty of room for growth in year two of BV’s system.
Freshmen incoming: Ashton Sanders and Derrick LeBlanc. Got to think they’re going to want to get LeBlanc going early. Sanders certainly shows the kind of explosion you want but is a sawed off guy. Either way, hard to know how a freshman will take to the trenches early.
Transfer target: Braden Fiske. Would jump to the top of the depth chart and make that three deep look a lot better.
Remaining High School targets: DJ Hicks and Markus Strong. Hicks would play right away and again would make the three deep look that much better.
Sooners Tried | WR Portal Recruiting
– Super K – Posted on: December 13, 2022
One of the guys the Sooners were recruiting behind the scenes was Alabama wide receiver, JoJo Earle. Last week there was some confidence they may be able to pull that one off.
Unfortunately, it does sound like TCU sealed things up this past weekend. Sources on the OU side aren’t feeling as good as they were last week. Earle would have been a heck of an addition.
The Sooners are now going to have a chance to battle Rashaad Samples for the Idaho State burner, Xavier Guillory.
Trending | OU & 2023 DE Tausili Akana
– CJ Vogel – Posted on: December 13, 2022
My friends in the north, happy December.
You may have noticed some crystal balls and predictions coming in for four-star defensive end Tausili Akana over the last couple of days.
Wanted to point you back to some updates Charlie and K had on the talented front seven prospect from a week ago.
Here is what our Super K had to report on Akana recently: (LINK)
***Also, I know Charlie mentioned that he was hearing good things on the possibility of OU landing 2023 4-star DE/OLB Tausili Akana (Lehi, UT).
I wanted to add to that. I spoke to a separate source who also indicated to me that OU some reason to feel confident.
Based on what I’ve heard I’ll put this one trending OU at 55/45.
As well as Charlie who expressed a bit more confidence on the front just a day prior. (Link)
Source said they had heard that things have ramped up lately with Akana and OU and they may actually be out front. Source went on to say that while no decision has been made, OU remains the one constant school he mentions when talking about who is at or near the top in his recruitment.
With that said, the current momentum is catching on. OU sits in a strong position for Akana just a week out from the early signing period.
