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Sooners beat OSU in pits of "hell"
Published: 3/9/2008 6:21 PM
Last Modified: 3/9/2008 6:21 PM

I've heard Gallagher-Iba Arena called many things over the years. "House of noise." "Orange palace." "The rrrrowdiest arena in the country."

Now, thanks to Oklahoma coach Jeff Capel, I can add something else.

"Hell hole."

It happened right after Bedlam last Wednesday, when ESPN's cameras invaded the winning locker room and caught Capel addressing his team. He talked about how the Sooners were more than just Blake Griffin,and how they had just proven it by winning a game nobody thought they could.

Then he gathered everyone together for a huddle and said, "Let's hurry up and get a shower and get the hell out of this hell hole."

Wow. I had a recent conversation with former Billy Tubbs in which the notoriously outspoken former coach lamented how his business had become so buttoned-up since he left the scene.

Seems Capel just ripped off his shirt.

Wonder if he'll hear about it next year in Stillwater.

-- Guerin Emig

Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer



Reader Comments 4 Total
OSU_mktg_91 (5 years ago)
Plenty of good coaches have shown the respect due GIA. Capel doesn't need to look far to find a "hell hole" of a basketball arena.

Although I would agrue against him, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant Stillwater in general. It's all in fun, but I think of Norman the same way.
JB (5 years ago)
You can take that comment one of two ways. Either, "this place is a piece of junk," or, "this place is tough to play in."

It's all in context. And, most interestingly, which side of the fence you rest on. GIA is a really nice arena. I doubt it was a comment about the appearance or upkeep of the facility. The same can be said of LNC.

I think Mr. Capel was referring to the rowdy nature of that arena, the frustrating time teams have there, and the added fact that those facets are magnified in a rivalry game.

I would think OSU fan would adopt that newly coined nickname for the place, and let GIA be known as "The Hell Hole."

Stillwater in general is not a hell hole, and Capel would probably agree with that if you asked him directly. And, OSU_MKTG_91, neither is Norman. Both are picturesque college towns.
Craig Monroe (5 years ago)
Maybe Capel knows he doesn't ever have to go back there because he'll have plenty of job offers once the season is over with. OU basketball: Heart, Hustle and Hop to the next job.
Patton (5 years ago)
JB: Stillwater and Norman "picturesque"? You need to get out more. Fun, friendly, and convenient is more like it.
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OU Sports

Tulsa World Sports Writer Guerin Emig has covered University of Oklahoma football and men's basketball for the Tulsa World since 2004. He lives in Norman, where he keeps the fact that he is a University of Kansas graduate on the down low.

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Tulsa World Sports Writer Eric Bailey covered TU sports before coming over to the OU beat. He came to the Tulsa World in September 2004 after working eight years at the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader. He attended Haskell Indian Nations University and the University of Kansas, where he was a 1996 Chips Quinn scholar, a national award given to minority journalism students.

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