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Is the Sooner Football Empire Shrinking?
Published: 5/7/2012 2:08 PM
Last Modified: 5/7/2012 2:08 PM

First, fewer and fewer OU football players were being listed above "Others" in the NFL drafts.

Next, defensive coordinator Venables was told in so many words not to let the opponent's extra point kicker hit him in the backside as he considered other jobs.

Next, Stoops fired a coach, an outsider-type, first firing ever.

Next, failed Arizona coach Mike Stoops was hired to save the D.

Next, Landry Jones went on his own to study under a quarterback guru.

Next, Landry Jones was not listed in USA Today's top ten draft picks for the upcoming season.

And now, in ESPN the magazine's current Overpaid Issue, Bob Stoops is pictured along with his fat salary and 3-5 BCS bowl record.

Here's what keeps Stoops so secure despite the radical changes and elapsed time from a national title won: Multitudes of bad hirings, like all the TU hoop coaches before Manning, like the football coaches who preceeded Stoops at OU. One rotten hire equals five bad years.

There may be a number of better coaches than Stoops now. But there are worse coaches galore. It's just something of a shame he's not open to newer ideas now and again.


Reader Comments 21 Total
JS (10 months ago)
"Bad hirings, like all the TU hoop coaches before Manning." What on earth does that mean? Are you saying that Richardson, Smith, and Self were "bad hires." This is even less coherent than your usual standard, Picker. Perhaps you should edit for clarity.
                    
soonerk (10 months ago)
You should know by now that nothing of substance comes from "The Picker". He/She just likes the shock journalism method....say something that fires people up.....tabloid approach.
                    
hootie (10 months ago)
Manning is a "good hire"???? Based on what????
Robert Murray (10 months ago)
I guess I just don't get it; but your analogies
are just not understood by this ol' boy.

Thought TU and OU had pretty good coaches in the past.
                    
Razor1911 (10 months ago)
When he references OU, I believe he's talking about Gary Gibbs (whose main problem was not beating the rivals and not being Barry Switzer), Howard Schnellenberger, and John Blake.
Blue Max (10 months ago)
Watch the stands. If the empire is falling, the crowd will be thinning. Football fans are a fickle lot.
                    
Opus (9 months ago)
The red and white wally mart crowd is already looking for black and orange tee shirts.
Razor1911 (10 months ago)
I'm sure if I had the time and the desire that I could easily find a Picker column in the last 2 years that lamented the fact that Stoops had not fired a coach ever. Yet here he is being slammed for doing such. The Picker would gripe if someone had covered his/her sneeze at the buffet table rather than splattering the food.
bjorn2run (10 months ago)
Maybe Stoops is paid a lot because he actually got his team into 8 BSC bowls.
                    
forever orange (10 months ago)
Stoops is overpaid! 3 wins, 1 against a very inferior CT team and 5 losses - embarrassing losses to USC, WV, Boise, LSU. Not to mention, but I will, the embarrassing Big 12 title loss to KSU. As the other reader says - 2000 was a long long time ago.
                    
colhi64 (10 months ago)
Never is even longer ago, forever orange.
                    
soonerk (9 months ago)
Forever Orange: Your opinion is over exalted in your own mind. I don't think you have a rational valid point about OU's record in bowl games and NC games. All you have is a jealous viewpoint.
241362 (10 months ago)
2000 was a long, long time ago.
GoBlueGal (10 months ago)
I hear Bobby Petrino is available. ;)
206615 (10 months ago)
j cronley
colhi64 (10 months ago)
Travis Lewis would have been a higher pick but for injuries. Landry Jones would have been a top ten pick if he had come out. Broyles would have mabye been 1st round pick if not injured. Injuries are part of the game, but to say OU is down and out because they are lacking high draft picks? I dont buy that. They recently had 3 of the top four picks and didnt win a NC.
Also, OU was a young team last year, there are plenty of draft picks on the roster. Let them grow up.
Rapid Robert (10 months ago)
I just wish Stoops could replicate the successes of other Big XII coaches - Gundy, Brown, etc.
241362 (9 months ago)
Good thing OU fans have great memories.
                    
colhi64 (9 months ago)
Wish the Cowboys just had something to remember at all!
steven arthur (9 months ago)
rapidrobert......rapid must refer to how quickly your memory dissipates. Check Stoops record against every coach in the big 12 including Gundy and overpriced Brown, I think your closed eyes might open just a crack if only you had some inkling of what your are talking about. Forever orange is just a typical aggie trying to strike while the iron is still hot. Stoops owns the big 12 and has since the day he hired on.
old roper (9 months ago)
colhi64. . . .so do they!!!
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Out Pick The Picker

The Picker began entertaining – and infuriating – sports fans in 1993. Each week during football season, he writes about his picks of college and NFL games in his Thursday Sports column. He's never afraid of sharing his opinions about the game and the personalities who play it. Readers have a chance to go against him each season in the Outpick the Picker contest. He welcomes the competition.

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