Excuses

[Snake98]

"you can blame it all on me, but I don't play"!; "take away the 80 yd run and Texas only averaged 4 yds/run"!

Can't believe those were statements by Bob Stoops at his presser this morning. I feel even worse about the Texas loss after listening to these statements.

Right now, I have zero confidence that Coach Stoops can ever win another championship of any sort while at OU.

 

[jsmitty2.0]

"you can blame it all on me, but I don't play"!; "take away the 80 yd run and Texas only averaged 4 yds/run"!

Can't believe those were statements by Bob Stoops at his presser this morning. I feel even worse about the Texas loss after listening to these statements.

Right now, I have zero confidence that Coach Stoops can ever win another championship of any sort while at OU.

I'm really starting to wonder if he is delusional. He also said that OU played good last year against Texas. What the heck is he talking about?

 

[td71sooner]

He did his part. He showed a game film. Why didn't the players get motivated? At the end of the day it comes down to coaching. Look what Harbaugh is doing at Michigan. Not his players that he recruited, but he has motivated and coached them to where they a relavant.

We have had a coaching problem for many years. The capability is there, but there is no longer ability to get it done. By the end of the year, the deer in the headlights look will continue with the coaches and the players will be looking for leadership from their coaches.

High school players do not become great college players without proper coaching. College players do not become great NFL players without coaching. You have to continually develop players to get the best from them. The players that have been recruited at Oklahoma have talent. If not, they would not be there. You can blame players all you want, but without the proper coaching and development, they will not improve.

More importantly, it is the coaches responsibility to develop a plan for each game. If the coaches do not appropriately anticipate the other team's approach on Saturday and are unable/unwilling to make adjustments, you can't blame the players for looking unprepared in their execution.

Bob has been great for Oklahoma, but I am wondering if he has lost a clear vision of the current state of his team.

 

[jsmitty2.0]

He did his part. He showed a game film. Why didn't the players get motivated? At the end of the day it comes down to coaching. Look what Harbaugh is doing at Michigan. Not his players that he recruited, but he has motivated and coached them to where they a relavant.

We have had a coaching problem for many years. The capability is there, but there is no longer ability to get it done. By the end of the year, the deer in the headlights look will continue with the coaches and the players will be looking for leadership from their coaches.

High school players do not become great college players without proper coaching. College players do not become great NFL players without coaching. You have to continually develop players to get the best from them. The players that have been recruited at Oklahoma have talent. If not, they would not be there. You can blame players all you want, but without the proper coaching and development, they will not improve.

More importantly, it is the coaches responsibility to develop a plan for each game. If the coaches do not appropriately anticipate the other team's approach on Saturday and are unable/unwilling to make adjustments, you can't blame the players for looking unprepared in their execution.

Bob has been great for Oklahoma, but I am wondering if he has lost a clear vision of the current state of his team.

What happened to the no excuses motto he used to preach when he first got here? Now its nothing but excuses

 

[SoonerTulsan]

i won't be shocked at all if Stoops calls it quits in the next year or two. He's not too fond of people telling him what to do when it comes to his program. That happened last year I believe. Hope I'm wrong Pryorfan.

 

[mojo1fan]

i won't be shocked at all if Stoops calls it quits in the next year or two. He's not too fond of people telling him what to do when it comes to his program. That happened last year I believe. Hope I'm wrong Pryorfan.

Bobs' not a quitter. He knows that fans can change faster than an ON/OFF switch. OU fans may not be happy now, but he and the money making football machine in Norman know Bob is one big win away from being like the exulted Jesus riding into Jerusalem (for the ?th time). Fickle fans are all part of sports.

Now... if Bob finds something better, he owes it to himself to leave. Who wouldn't?

 

[Refdawg]

I don't think the pieces are there for Stoops to deliver a playoff team in the next two or three years, and I'm not sure he can recruit it. He has a long-term contract that is very lucrative, and I don't see him retiring. Despite the fact that he is the head man, he is not the type that believes that it is his fault. Someone else must always be the problem: Long, Wilson, Jackie Shipp, Heupel, player attitudes, etc. He has no reason to leave, and I don't think anyone wants him any more, except maybe Joe C and Boren.

We have declined in our expectations from #1 to top five and 10-2 to "well, it could be worse." We could have Blake. I don't know that it will get much worse than the 8-5 type record since Kansas, Iowa State and a couple of preseason patsies will always get us four. We may struggle to get more than eight.

 

[mojo1fan]

I don't think anyone wants him any more, except maybe Joe C and Boren.

He could ink a deal with a top program in less than 24 hours.

 

[Refdawg]

He could ink a deal with a top program in less than 24 hours.

Who? USC or uSC? I doubt that he can get a five-year $5.5 million deal to replace what he has. I suspect that they would both prefer youth. Fuentes?

 

[mojo1fan]

Who? USC or uSC? I doubt that he can get a five-year $5.5 million deal to replace what he has. I suspect that they would both prefer youth. Fuentes?

Now you're adding stipulations, which is the same as back peddling. You plainly stated that you don't think anybody wants him anymore except Joe C. and Boren.

And I agree that Justin Fuente may be the next big head coach somewhere. Or just another college football fan and sportswriter flavor of the month. I remember when Sooner fans were clamoring for Watson Brown or Jim Donnan to come to OU. Flavor of the month. We'll see about Fuente. I wish him well.

 

[Refdawg]

Frankly, I think his reputation is down, and nobody other than a Boren who is looking for a short-term political solution would want him. I don't see a responsible program looking to the future that would want Stoops.

 

[Snake98]

Still hope that Bob Stoops can get it turned around but just wish he would lose the arrogance and denials (huge turnoffs) and get back to the Bob that turned the program around in the early 2000s.

Right now he needs to get the team ready to travel to Kitty Cat land or there is an old ball coach who will hand his rear end to him. This is a huge must-win game to have any chance for a respectable season.

 

[JB4AU]

And I agree that Justin Fuente may be the next big head coach somewhere.

Fuente is a name on my list, but so far he hasn't done well at all against ranked teams. He's only been there a couple of years though, so it's still a work in progress. I will be watching his game with Ole Miss this coming weekend closely to see how it plays out. But no doubt, Fuente is becoming a hot name in coaching circles.

 

[mojo1fan]

Fuente is a name on my list, but so far he hasn't done well at all against ranked teams. He's only been there a couple of years though, so it's still a work in progress. I will be watching his game with Ole Miss this coming weekend closely to see how it plays out. But no doubt, Fuente is becoming a hot name in coaching circles.

One of my most embarrassing moments as a Sooner fan was the first Red White game featuring Fuente as QB. My buddy and I sat there laughing at how slow he was rolling out of the pocket. "Slow white QB. We're doomed!". Wouldn't you know it... his mom and dad were sitting smack dab in front of us. We got an ear full!

 

[ETU]

I personally don't think Bob will be at OU in five years, and I don't think he will win another championship at OU....perhaps a Big 12, but not the big one. However, at this time, if it were up to me, I wouldn't have the foggiest idea who I would/could hire to replace Stoops. It would really be a risky hire to replace a Bob Stoops with some one that is viewed to be a up and comer. Ideally, you would want a proven coach that has been successful in the major conferences. So, IMO, Bob will be allowed to go out on his own. He won't be dismissed. The powers that be feel he has earned that right. I think he has as well, but only because I think he will not allow himself to sink to how Spurrier and Brown ended up. Bob may not be the coach he once was, but he is very prideful. He will know when its his time and take the high road. So until then, it may be pretty frustrating for Sooner fans.

 

[phillinois]

Well, I'm going to preclude myself from these arguments as much as possible.
They're fruitless really.
Bob has positioned himself where only he, of his own volition will retire or switch teams, and that's the ***** of it.

I'm just going to enjoy things, such as they are and not sweat that which I have no control over.
It's a survival technique that has served me well, lo these many years.

 

[JB4AU]

One of my most embarrassing moments as a Sooner fan was the first Red White game featuring Fuente as QB. My buddy and I sat there laughing at how slow he was rolling out of the pocket. "Slow white QB. We're doomed!". Wouldn't you know it... his mom and dad were sitting smack dab in front of us. We got an ear full!

Ouch...ya that would be a pretty uncomfortable situation. Better you than me S22 that's all I gotta say!!! haha

 

[SoonerTulsan]

Bobs' not a quitter. He knows that fans can change faster than an ON/OFF switch. OU fans may not be happy now, but he and the money making football machine in Norman know Bob is one big win away from being like the exulted Jesus riding into Jerusalem (for the ?th time). Fickle fans are all part of sports.

Now... if Bob finds something better, he owes it to himself to leave. Who wouldn't?

Not being a quitter as much as being fed up. I'm sure he'd have something else lined up, and it's not the fans, it's the boosters and administration that applied pressure last year. Again, hope I'm wrong.

 

[JB4AU]

Not being a quitter as much as being fed up.

Fed up with what?? The current situation with his program is on his shoulders. So not sure who he would be fed up with other than himself for allowing things to digress to this point.

 

[da wiz]

One of my most embarrassing moments as a Sooner fan was the first Red White game featuring Fuente as QB. My buddy and I sat there laughing at how slow he was rolling out of the pocket. "Slow white QB. We're doomed!". Wouldn't you know it... his mom and dad were sitting smack dab in front of us. We got an ear full!

You didn't HAVE to tell on yourself, 22, but I'm glad you did...Gave me a True LOL Moment!

 

[ETU]

Not being a quitter as much as being fed up. I'm sure he'd have something else lined up, and it's not the fans, it's the boosters and administration that applied pressure last year. Again, hope I'm wrong.

ST, I agree. I see Bob retiring from coaching or going to the NFL if he still has the want to. He could demand a pretty penny if he goes at the right time. One last big contract would the be my bet. I don't know how much Spurrier got to keep of the Redskins' money, but that is kind of the way I see it for Bob. I certainly don't see him staying at OU unless he can actually get the program back to where it was five or six years ago. Every season going forward will be telling. Just how many 4 or 5 loss seasons will have an impact is unknown. Do you think he can stay on even if he only losses 3 games a year for the next five years....with one loss a year being like Clemson, Texas, or Oklahoma State recently? Nah, I think he will jump to the NFL before that happens, or just retire with all his money. He is coming up on 60 in a few.

 

[jsmitty2.0]

Fed up with what?? The current situation with his program is on his shoulders. So not sure who he would be fed up with other than himself for allowing things to digress to this point.

Agree. I'd love to be fed up with 5.5 mil a year. Lets not kid ourselves, Stoops is no the hot name in coaching that it used to be.

 

[John Otterstedt]

One of my most embarrassing moments as a Sooner fan was the first Red White game featuring Fuente as QB. My buddy and I sat there laughing at how slow he was rolling out of the pocket. "Slow white QB. We're doomed!". Wouldn't you know it... his mom and dad were sitting smack dab in front of us. We got an ear full!

This happened to me in high school. The poms were on the basketball court doing a dance. A friend asked me the difference between the poms and the cheerleaders to which I replied something about them being pretty similar except the cheerleaders were all of the goody girls and the poms were all of the sluts.
That didn't sit over too well with the pom's mother sitting in front of me. Man, I took it that night.

 

[Refdawg]

I think the two best coaches that OU ever had were both offensive coordinators at OU----Bud and Barry. Neither had been a head coach.

Usually, sideways transfers are rumored, but rarely true. We were always going to get Royal back to OU. If you are established, why would you want to change schools. It causes you to start over. Some of the best hires, other than to get a good assistant, are to get someone from a school that is not quite at the same level---a Billy Tubbs from Lamar, an Urban Meyer from Utah. You look at who is doing a good job with what they have, like Fuente. We even brought in a former national championship coach. How did that work out?

A lot of times, you can watch what a team is doing on the field given the talent that they have to work with. I was almost certain that Urban Meyer would be a national championship coach when I saw his teams at Utah. They didn't have as much talent, but they performed with precision. They had been drilled on execution.

I feel somewhat the same way about Fuente. I felt the same way about Leach at Tech and Washington State. I was very impressed with Mangino at Kansas. You wonder if Snyder would have won national titles at OU. I wonder about Ken Niumatatolo. Frankly, I'm impressed with Wilson. I'd look at Rod Carey.

 

[RumphSquatch]

He could ink a deal with a top program in less than 24 hours.

Maybe at one time, but not anymore. His age and price tag don't equate to a 'home run hire'. A top 5 program is going to want someone with a proven track record (which Bob has, but not the one we think), someone that can recruit 5 stars nationally and relate to the HS kids, and someone that plays entertaining football. Bob may have fit that profile, but it was circa 2003/4.

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

He could get a job in CFB w/o any issue. Some schools might pass him up, but not many. His hire by name alone can rejuvenate & energize a program for a few years and sell seats along the way. Hell his old college in his playing days would snatch him up.

 

[phillinois]

He could get a job in CFB w/o any issue. Some schools might pass him up, but not many. His hire by name alone can rejuvenate & energize a program for a few years and sell seats along the way. Hell his old college in his playing days would snatch him up.

Oh yeah, you natty title in your second year anywhere, that's what everyone will remember, and little else since. Which, in Bobs case aint too shabby really.
It's true...that's gold.

 

[BUDDY G_rivals25215]

Next season will tell me more about Bob's future than anything (just my opinion). Lots of new faces on the staff, so if next year looks like another ho hum season, I think we'll see a change soon, through whatever circumstances.

I'm confident that Riley can get the offense clicking soon and Bedenbaugh will have the offensive line up to snuff by next season.

What I think plaguing us, for whatever reason, is stagnation. Even when replacing staff members or high turnover on the roster, we still look like the same team most seasons. A team that seems to be missing the mindset that separates them from being okay/good and great. We'll get the "great" effort a couple games a season, a "good" effort for he majority of the games, and then a couple absolute stink bombs that leave a stain in the underwear of our season.

We appear to play with the mentality of an NFL team. Like it's a business on Saturdays. Attitude separates the good and the great at the collegiate level. Often we start the season with that attitude and swagger, but somewhere before the first half of the season, we start going through the motions.

 

[RumphSquatch]

He could get a job in CFB w/o any issue. Some schools might pass him up, but not many. His hire by name alone can rejuvenate & energize a program for a few years and sell seats along the way. Hell his old college in his playing days would snatch him up.

Really? Think about that for a minute. No one is coming around asking. He hasn't been considered for a job since Florida 10 years ago. And his old college? Iowa? You mean the program that can't fire Kirk? That would be another perfect job for Bob because there's no accountability in that one either. Please God make Iowa take Stoops. It's time for a change.

 

[BUDDY G_rivals25215]

Really? Think about that for a minute. No one is coming around asking. He hasn't been considered for a job since Florida 10 years ago. And his old college? Iowa? You mean the program that can't fire Kirk? That would be another perfect job for Bob because there's no accountability in that one either. Please God make Iowa take Stoops. It's time for a change.

Let's just be real here; you don't have the slightest clue what college or NFL programs have thrown a lure out Bob's way.

Bob isn't the same young guy he was when we hired him, that should be expected. Now it might be time for Mike to move on and find a hot, fiery young defensive coordinator to get things moving again...but if you recall, the Green Bay Packers just stole that guy from us.

 

[JB4AU]

I'm confident that Riley can get the offense clicking soon and Bedenbaugh will have the offensive line up to snuff by next season.

I'm no so certain bc. This years line has 3 seniors. So next season may be a repeat of what OU is going through this year. In a way I would almost say throw the underclassmen in there and let them take their licks this year and get experience. But hell it's halfway through the season and OU only has one loss. Still too much to play for this year to throw the towel in on the OL. But I also don't see it really improving all that much either.

And btw...the rest of your post is spot on!!

 

[Blair Sanderson_rivals]

Really? Think about that for a minute. No one is coming around asking. He hasn't been considered for a job since Florida 10 years ago. And his old college? Iowa? You mean the program that can't fire Kirk? That would be another perfect job for Bob because there's no accountability in that one either. Please God make Iowa take Stoops. It's time for a change.

I'm thinking no one is coming around these days because he has expressed his desires to stay at OU and most know this. I think if he threw his name out there (or his agent did), he'd get calls.

 

[phillinois]

I'm thinking no one is coming around these days because he has expressed his desires to stay at OU and most know this. I think if he threw his name out there (or his agent did), he'd get calls.

That's a firm.

 

[BUDDY G_rivals25215]

That's a firm.

Getting told "no" is a dent in their image, and Bob has said "no" a lot in 15 years.

Just ask Texas what it feels like to be told "no" by 1st option coaches.

 

[RumphSquatch]

I'm thinking no one is coming around these days because he has expressed his desires to stay at OU and most know this. I think if he threw his name out there (or his agent did), he'd get calls.

Just like Saban is never chased after initially saying 'no', right? Saban said no to Alabama, remember? And what did they do? They backed up the truck and made him an offer with so much $$$$ he couldn't say no. Oh, but wait - you're right, Saban's the best, we shouldn't expect the same, right?

No one is making Bob those offers. And for whomever that said to be realistic and that I don't know what offers he's had over the years - you're right. Just like I would be right in saying you don't know, and you can't show proof of one offer he has received...if you want to go find even a rumor that he has been contacted, BY ANYONE, I'll wait...

I think we all want what is best for the program, and not the man....at least I think most of us do. If you want what is best for the program, then you have to concede it's time for a change. And he used his bogey last year in firing Norvell and Josh. This year, it's him and him alone.

And my biggest complaint isn't the blame game he routinely uses, or the nepotism, the bad game decisions, the arrogance,the disappearance in big games,losing games as double digit favorites - this is it right here. We haven't had a 5 star recruit from the state of TX since 2004. Our last 5 star was from CA that couldn't play immediately (not Bob's fault, I admit). We are not recruiting the players we need to win. Period. And those that cannot recruit are allowed to remain.

Does anyone else realize our best player this year is our P/K? Our kicker?

 

[phillinois]

Eh, lash yourself to the mast there stuck.

These things are traditionally cyclical.
Bud and Barry both had their lean years, and that well before the scholly limits and the resulting parity.
I think we'll look back someday and say, what was all that tumult about?

Bob hears the drumbeats of a disenchanted fan base, he really does.
When it's proper, and when he feels he can't 'do it' anymore, he'll move on, he's smart and intuitive that way.
If that time isn't soon enough for some of you, well, that's unfortunate for sure.
None of us have any control over that.
Notta!

 

[RumphSquatch]

Eh, lash yourself to the mast there stuck.

These things are traditionally cyclical.
Bud and Barry both had their lean years, and that well before the scholly limits and the resulting parity.
I think we'll look back someday and say, what was all that tumult about?

Bob hears the drumbeats of a disenchanted fan base, he really does.
When it's proper, and when he feels he can't 'do it' anymore, he'll move on, he's smart and intuitive that way.
If that time isn't soon enough for some of you, well, that's unfortunate for sure.
None of us have any control over that.
Notta!

You can consider myself to be properly lashed...there is a reason I waited until today to post but clearly, I did not wait long enough. I just disagree, and I also don't think Bob gets to determine how long he stays. That's our decision. But, I digress.

Cheers.

 

[jsmitty2.0]

Just like Saban is never chased after initially saying 'no', right? Saban said no to Alabama, remember? And what did they do? They backed up the truck and made him an offer with so much $$$$ he couldn't say no. Oh, but wait - you're right, Saban's the best, we shouldn't expect the same, right?

No one is making Bob those offers. And for whomever that said to be realistic and that I don't know what offers he's had over the years - you're right. Just like I would be right in saying you don't know, and you can't show proof of one offer he has received...if you want to go find even a rumor that he has been contacted, BY ANYONE, I'll wait...

I think we all want what is best for the program, and not the man....at least I think most of us do. If you want what is best for the program, then you have to concede it's time for a change. And he used his bogey last year in firing Norvell and Josh. This year, it's him and him alone.

And my biggest complaint isn't the blame game he routinely uses, or the nepotism, the bad game decisions, the arrogance,the disappearance in big games,losing games as double digit favorites - this is it right here. We haven't had a 5 star recruit from the state of TX since 2004. Our last 5 star was from CA that couldn't play immediately (not Bob's fault, I admit). We are not recruiting the players we need to win. Period. And those that cannot recruit are allowed to remain.

Does anyone else realize our best player this year is our P/K? Our kicker?

Our last 5 start recruit from Texas was in 2004? I didn't know that, but I know its been discussed about how our Texas recruiting has been poor lately. Guess its starting to catch up with us.

 

[SoonerTulsan]

Interesting thoughts all the way around. Personally, I think he will decide, and it could be much "Sooner" than most of us want. I'm VERY comfortable he's not losing sleep over fan opinions. However, if his boss is calling the shots influenced by boo$ster$, I don't see him as the type that will tolerate that kind of "fun" for long. Again, just speculation, but a cause of concern for me personally. I'd hate to see that happen.

Hopefully, he'll once again make some lemonade out of lemons. Hope so.

 

[YourCrimsonNightmare]

Stoops won the NC in 2000 in his second year, challenged several times thereafter. But in recent years OU hasn't been close to the top dogs, and it's been painful even if it is reality.

The longest the Sooners have gone without a title since the first one was 18 years (1956 and 1974). Next year is the 16th season since OU won, and I think the big money donors are reaching the end of their restraint. Nothing suggests that OU might challenge to win a championship anytime soon.

I'm thinking that pretty much total complacency has set in. Not good.

[edited to correct misstated fact]