Stoops on realignment: 'I'll be surprised if it happens this quick'
Published: 5/14/2010 9:29 AM
Last Modified: 5/14/2010 9:29 AM
Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe and University of Oklahoma president David Boren were among the heavyweights who addressed Big 12 realignment/expansion/upheaval Thursday.
(Beebe to WHB Radio in Kansas City: "We need to have a very frank conversation about where we're going and who's going to be on the plane when we take off." Boren to Jeff Latzke of the Associated Press: "We're very happy with the Big 12 Conference and we certainly expect to stay in the Big 12 Conference. And I really think that the likelihood of any of the schools leaving the conference is really being blown out of proportion. I think the conference will stay intact.")
Also weighing in was OU coach Bob Stoops, when asked about the issue by KWTV-OKC sports director Dean Blevins.
"I guess I'm just never surprised," Stoops said. "I say it a lot. In life, very little stays the same forever. There are always things evolving and changing. It will be interesting to see where it all shakes out.
"I'll be surprised if it happens this quick. I would think it's going to take some time. But I wouldn't doubt in the future that who knows. Like everyone talks about, there may be four huge conferences of 16 teams or so...
"I don't sit and worry about it because I'm not going to be the player that makes the difference in it. Joe (Castiglione) and I confer in our conference meetings. It's been talked about. We didn't just start talking about it this year...
"I still think at Oklahoma we'll be in good shape one way or the other. With the size of the stadium and the following we have, the tradition, we'll be a player for somebody."
-- Guerin Emig
Written by
Guerin Emig
Sports Writer
